It may have been a few months since Strictly star Tess Daly graced our screens alongside her work wife Claudia Winkleman, but rest assured the presenter has not been sitting with her feet up. As well as running her own business and parenting her two children with husband Vernon Kay, she has a formidable fitness routine to keep up. We asked her for the inside scoop on her fitness regime, from her favourite playlists to freshening up her faithful old gym kit with Lenor Unstoppables In-Wash Scent Boosters.
What benefits do you most appreciate from your workouts?
‘Working out makes me feel stronger, obviously – with regular exercise, there's visible evidence of improved muscle tone. But for me, it’s how I feel after a workout that’s the main benefit. You can’t beat that endorphin high – it just makes me feel able to tackle the day better. Mentally I find it really beneficial as well because when you’re working out, you’re completely in the moment, with no distractions, which in itself is a mindful exercise.’
What do you do on days when you find it difficult to motivate yourself?
‘The most difficult part of a workout for me is the motivation to get started! But once I do, I never regret it. I’ll make a protein shake before [heading to the gym] and do a few flexibility stretches at home in my gear to get myself in the mindset. I also leave my kit out the night before so I can see it and there’s no way of avoiding it.
‘I’ll also award myself a treat – a bit like dangling a carrot – post-workout, such as meeting a friend for a coffee. Luckily I can feel confident that I don’t smell too much of the gym, thanks to these clever Lenor Unstoppables In-Wash Scent Boosters that keep my kit smelling fresh.’
Lenor Unstoppables In-Wash Scent Booster 320g, £5.40
Lenor Spring Awakening In-Wash Scent Booster 320g, £5.40
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What’s your favourite type of exercise?
‘It has to be yoga – it’s like mindful exercise in itself. And I love that it affords me flexibility – each time I do a new position, I feel I can go deeper into that stretch. Like a lot of us, I’m a very busy person who doesn’t stop and switch off often enough, so yoga really works for me. I’ve also gotten into strength training lately, because I enjoy the feeling that it’s stimulating the muscles and building them.’
What tricks have you got for keeping your workouts fresh?
‘Beyond Lenor Unstoppables In-Wash Scent Boosters, which keep me literally smelling fresh throughout my workout, I do different routines all the time. That and a great playlist of hardcore arms-in-the-air dance music – shout-out to the great Calvin Harris for keeping me going! I subscribe to a really good app which you can build to your specific needs, eg upper body, lower body and flexibility exercises. It works for me because I can fit it flexibly around my schedule.’
When’s your favourite time of day to work out?
‘For me, it’s in the morning or nothing. If I tell myself I’ll work out at the end of the day after dinner, it’s never going to happen. I’ll end up doing emails – I run my own business and as any small business owner would tell you, it never ever sleeps. Plus I’m one of those people who just can’t work out past 8pm – it doesn’t feel right. So I’ll force myself to get up a bit earlier, or if I’m not working first thing I’ll create an hour post-school run.’
Has your relationship with fitness and exercise changed over the years?
‘I rarely exercised in my 20s and 30s. I felt like I didn’t need to – I was constantly on the move, living in different time zones, travelling a lot for work and basically running on adrenaline. Of course now I know better – and when you become a parent, you realise you want to stay strong to keep up with your kids! Health and wellness are surely the most precious possessions we own.’
Enjoy a boost of non-stop freshness (for up to 12 weeks in storage) with Lenor Unstoppables In-Wash Scent Boosters
