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Thursday, 30 November 2006

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Nell McAndrew's body blitzers

She sticks to a strict regime - but won't say no to a slice of tiramisu

Nell McAndrew has one of the best bodies in Britain even though she adores chocolate. What's her secret? She says there isn't one!

'Last night I ate two giant chocolate bars, plus a bag of crisps while watching TV, says Nell. 'So this morning I woke up at six o'clock for a swim and a steam to give my a body kick-start.'

Here's her Q & A interview.

Do you work out?

I aim to train about five times a week. I do lots of cardio work – either running or cycling – loads of weights, abs and bit of stretching. Sometimes I do boxing and go swimming as well, for a change. When I don't have time to get to the gym, I exercise with my Peak Energy video at home. It's a class I regularly go to, and the people in the video are actually the real people from my class. I can't tell people to do the workout if I don't do it myself.

Do you have a personal trainer?

No, because I don't find it difficult to get myself to the gym. Working out is something I really enjoy, and there are so many benefits from exercising: it makes my skin glow, I enjoy my food more, and it makes me feel more confident and happier with myself.

Is there anything you'd like to change about your body?

Like most women, I have to keep an eye on my thighs and my bum. This is the area I pay particular attention to when I'm training.

Have you ever been on a diet?

I don't agree with them. If I eat sensibly, I don't need to diet. It's more important to familiarise yourself with how your body works and what it needs, and find out which foods and exercise suit your body best. There's no harm in having a treat such as chocolate or wine, providing it's in moderation. If you eliminate foods from your diet you'll only crave them.

What do you eat in a typical day?

I eat fruit or a yogurt for breakfast, or sometimes two boiled eggs. I eat a lot of pasta and salad, too. And, I always have a stash of tinned tuna for a nutritious, last-minute meal when I don't have much time. I'm always knocking up tuna salads and pasta bakes.

Do you eat out?

Coming from Yorkshire, I've been brought up on Sunday roasts and casseroles, so my favourite restaurant is The Ivy in London's West End as they do really homely food. The shepherd's pie is amazing.

Do you take any supplements?

At the moment I'm taking multi-vitamin tablets.

Do you have any quick-fix, weight-loss tricks?

Nothing's quick. If it's quick the weight probably won't stay off. It's important to lose weight gradually. Running's great because you're burning up so much energy. Cycling's a good alternative. Any form of exercise – even if it's walking – will help your body burn off more calories as long as you're doing more than you normally do.

What's your poison?

Red wine usually or champagne if I'm lucky. I get invited to lots of parties where there's always champagne, so it'd be rude not to! I usually try to limit myself to a couple of glasses and have a glass of water between each.

How do you relax?

I'm really fortunate as I've found a good masseur who comes to my house. It's the ultimate relaxation because I can just chill out straight afterwards rather than getting all stressed again by having to drive home. As I train regularly and suffer from tension in my shoulders and neck, I have deep tissue massages to break it all down. I also go to The Dorchester Hotel to see a therapist who walks up and down my back and the back of my legs. It doesn't hurt and I can feel all the pressure releasing. It's fantastic.

Do you have any vices?

Tiramisu's my weakness, definitely. If I'm in Pizza Express I order the same pizza and salad then, when it comes to dessert it does the best tiramisu so even if I know I'm full I always order it anyway!

What's your best health tip?

Drink loads of water throughout the day. It's an easy way to keep your system healthy and energised. If you don't, you can become lethargic and have problems with your skin. I drink at least two litres every day.

Ali Agnew