Life is one big balancing act for this busy mum. With a book series on the go, a creative collaboration with activewear brand Zakti, dance classes to teach, workouts to complete and a new baby about to arrive as we go to press, we caught up with this ex-Pussycat Doll to see how she packs it all in.
On her pregnancy diet and fitness regime
“While I’ve been pregnant, I’ve had to stay in tune with my body, listen and make changes accordingly. I’ve made sure I stay active throughout the nine months by carrying on dancing and teaching – the biggest adjustment I’ve had to make was putting a stop to my killer cardio run outside each morning, and pressing pause on my calisthenics training. Instead, I’ve been doing a lot more stretching, ballet and yoga. My diet has pretty much stayed the same except for skipping the occasional glass of wine!”
On keeping fit during pregnancy
“Swimming laps in the pool has become my favourite exercise, particularly during the third trimester – I found the weightlessness, the rhythm and the focus on breathing to be quite therapeutic. I like doing slow, invigorating yoga stretches and ballet barre work, as they have helped with the aches and pains in my hips and lower back due to the ever-growing bump! Taking long, slow walks has also been a good way to keep my blood pumping and endorphins flowing.”
On finding the time to work out as a busy mum
“I live by my iCal [the iPhone calendar app]. Scheduling is everything in my life. The so-called mummy juggle can be intense but ultimately I really enjoy what I do and I love how wellness and fitness make me feel, so all of it is important enough to make the time to work at.”
On a typical day (before the new baby comes along!)
“I wake up with my daughter Willow, make breakfast, tend to the garden, walk the dogs, have a healthy snack with Willow, put her down for her nap at noon and fit in some exercise. I then eat lunch at 2pm, work in my office until 5pm, make dinner for the family, give Willow a bath, put her to bed and finished the evening by watching TV with my husband Max before heading to bed.”
On her collaboration with active wear brand Zakti
“I teamed up with Zakti because it means positive energy – that’s 100 percent what I believe in when it comes to wellness and fitness. By collaborating with the brand, I was able to make an amazing danceinspired range that spreads important messages through the ‘Be You.’, ‘Be Fearless.’, ‘Be Authentic’, and of course ‘Be Fit.’ collections. You can’t always portray these beliefs through images in fitness magazines so I was excited about having a creative input and creating a line that would help all types of women To feel confident during their daily active lifestyles.”
On her goals
“I want to bring wellness and fitness activities through dance to primary schools around the country with my Well Fit initiative. Continuing to dance, perform and teach are high on my priority list, as are growing my Kimberly Wyatt’s Dance Academy and improving on the skills I learned while appearing on Celebrity Masterchef. I’d like to carry on writing my WEDA book series and help to transform them into a TV series and West End show, which will create many more opportunities for young dancers. Lastly, I want to keep on working with Max to create a sustainable home and teach our children about what it means to be eco-friendly, well, happy and fit and provide them with wonderful opportunities to find out what it is that they’re passionate about in life.”
On how she relaxes
“I find that being in nature helps me to destress and unwind – spending time outdoors is true bliss for me. I also love going on adventures with friends and watching films at home with popcorn!”
On nutritional advice for expectant mums
“I recommend eating good food, drinking lots of water and being easy with yourself. Try not to give in to the magnitude of sweet tooth cravings, tempting though they may be, and make sure you get enough iron-rich foods, such as dark, leafy greens.”
On getting back into shape after giving birth
“After I’ve given birth I’ll start with a ballet barre warm up and some light yoga at first. Then I’ll continue to build on pace and strength before gradually moving on to more calisthenics, Pilates and less intense cardio. I hope to move onto killer workouts and serious dance training soon too! My advice is to remember to stay hydrated, listen to your body, eat lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts, porridge, yoghurt, herbal tea and juice – and stay away from processed foods and sugar.”
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Try her top moves to get back in shape Guidelines: You’ll need a mat, a set of dumbbells (choose a weight you’re comfortable with) and a resistance band
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Downward dog 3 sets of 10 reps -
1. Begin on your hands and knees with your wrists under your shoulders and your knees under your hips
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2. Curl under your toes and lift your knees off the floor, keeping your core engaged. Your body should form an inverted ‘V’
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3. Breathe slowly here for 10 or more breaths
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Upper body bicep curl 3 sets of 15-20 reps -
1. Start by holding a dumbbells in each hand with your palms facing forwards and your arms by your sides, keeping your chest up and your back straight
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2. Bend your right elbow without moving your upper arm and bring the weight towards your shoulder. Then, slowly lower the weight back down to the first position, straightening your arm
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3. Repeat the move on your other arm. That’s one rep
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Lateral raises with a resistance band 3 sets of 8-12 reps
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1. Stand on a resistance band with your feet shoulder-width apart, your knees slightly bent, your core engaged and your arms by your sides, with each hand holding the band
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2. With your elbows slightly bent, exhale and lift your arms out to the sides, still gripping the band. Don’t raise your hands higher than your shoulders
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3. Inhale as you bring your arms back down to the starting position – that’s one rep
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Tip: If you don’t have a resistance band, you can use two dumbbells instead
