On her daily menu
It depends on the day but in any given week for breakfast, I will have bircher muesli, avocado on toast, eggs with spinach, porridge, a savoury muffin or a green smoothie. Then throughout the day, I’ve always got a bag of nuts, an apple or some chopped veggies in my handbag or at my desk. For lunch, I’ll have leftovers from the night before, or a salad with quinoa and, if I have any beans or pulses left over, I’ll mix them in too. For dinner, I try to base our menu around what is seasonal and easy to prepare because our house can be really busy with three children.
On comfort eating
I love to make soups, stews and hearty sauces to put on polenta at this time of year – it’s my version of comfort food! I always eat three meals a day plus snacks – never skip meals; that’s my motto. I also like to stay hydrated which is just as important as what I eat.
On detoxifying
I always start my day with a glass of room temperature water and a freshlysqueezed lemon before breakfast – it helps to detoxify your body and lemon is also packed with vitamin C. I keep drinking water during the day and always try to keep a big bottle in my bag or on my desk.
On her workout playlist
I’m a pop and hip-hop junkie through-and-through, with an intense love of Beyoncé!
On rest day treats
I love a long bath with Epsom salts and no kids.
On her favourite workout move
Squats, because they make me feel powerful.
On her motivation
Feeling stronger at 41 than I did at 21 and being able to keep up with my children.
On her dream workout partner
It has to be Michelle Obama.
On her greatest fitness achievement
Always making it part of my life. On her favourite place to work out Outside, for sure! I do so many different forms of exercise inside – barre classes, spin classes, interval training and yoga – but my favourite exercise of all is a long fast walk with a friend, my sister or my mum! I really do believe that swift walking is the best all-round exercise for the body and mind.
On fitting exercise into a busy life
I schedule workouts into my diary in the same way I would a business meeting – they get logged in permanent marker. I look at my week as a whole and see what days I can fit in exercise and at what time. Sometimes it’s during lunch, in the morning and occasionally after work. There’s always an excuse if you don’t pro-actively schedule sweating in.
On her most embarrassing workout moment
Realising half-way through a barre class that my leggings were on inside out. I must have been tired getting dressed that morning!
Calgary has recently partnered with Highland Spring to launch a ‘Feel Good’ initiative on the benefits of healthy hydration. To find out more visit highlandspringmagazine.com.
