Nadia is arguably one of the most open people on TV, regularly talking about deeply personal subjects, such as her family life, her marriage and how she feels about her weight. Health & Wellbeing was excited to catch up with her to discuss everything from how she coped with the menopause to how she stays healthy with such a busy schedule.
On turning 50…
“I have an amazing acceptance of my body now. I try to be grateful for all that it’s done for me. After years of self-loathing, I’m now in a better place, even though my body probably looks the worst its ever looked, thanks to cellulite, the menopause, ageing and sagging. But, in a way, I think I love it more. I was such a party girl but now I’m really careful about my units in a week and my food, and I meditate and stretch. I definitely take better care of my health now. I’m 54, which means that next year, I’ll be five years off 60! And while it’s hard to get fit now, it’s going to be so much worse in another five years, so I’m trying to be more disciplined. That’s my biggest problem – I’m a great starter but a lousy finisher.”
On weight…
“I was in denial and never really looking in the mirror. I’d never run in my whole adult life, so I started by simply walking. I’d do 10 minutes one way and then turn around and walk back. If you’d said to me when I started those walks that within a year I’d be running a marathon, I would’ve bet my house that wouldn’t happen! When I did my DVD I got down to nine stone six. I looked amazing but for me to maintain that weight is just too much. It’s just not my natural body type. It would mean sticking to a rigid diet and never having a glass of wine or curry on a Friday night. I’d like to be 10 stone, to be honest, but I just love food too much!”
On meditation…
“I treated my menopause with homeopathy, healthy eating, meditation and exercise. I always do my meditation when I go to bed at night and when I wake up in the morning – that’s when I have some time to myself without kids and without everybody needing something. It’s just getting up 10 minutes earlier as I only do 10-minute meditations with apps. They’re really good, and now, when I get on the train, I’ll do another one. It looks like I’m listening to music, but actually, I’m trying to zone into how to have loving-kindness.”
Want to hear some more positivity from Nadia Sawalha? She spoke to us about learning to love her body.
