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Celebrity fitness file: Alex Westcourt
Actress Alex Wescourt, who plays Brookside’s Shelley Bower, tells us why getting fit leaves her in a spin
Workout or veg out?
Both. I work out as much as my schedule will allow. If I have a day off it’s very rare that I don’t go to the gym. I’d go every day if I could, but I usually end up getting there about three times a week. That’s just enough I think. To relax, I usually lock myself in my room where I’ve got my stereo, TV, video and books. I just veg on my bed.
How do you feel about your body?
I’ve grown to be much more comfortable with my body. But every woman, unless you’re like Naomi Campbell, has something about them they’d like to change. With me it’s my bottom and my hips. I try so hard to work out to get a firm bum and it never seems to get as toned as I want. I come from a dance background and it’s very difficult to get your mind out of the mentality of ‘I could be slimmer’ or ‘I could tone that bit up a bit more.’
What does your diet consist of?
Being an ex-dancer I have had a slightly unhealthy relationship with food in the past. At one point I didn’t eat as much as I should – though I wasn’t bulimic or anorexic.
It’s only over the past couple of years that my attitude towards food has become much healthier and I don’t count calories much. I love really delicious food like Thai or a really nice pasta dish with a glass of red wine. I’m not the type who’ll just shove anything in my mouth because it’s going to fill me up. I haven’t eaten red meat for 13 years, although I eat chicken and fish. The only other thing I try not to do is mix my carbohydrates with my proteins because I have digestive problems.
How do you make up for lost exercise sessions?
I’m probably a bit more watchful of what I eat. I won’t have the packet of crisps or the bar of chocolate that I otherwise would have. I’ll just be a bit more controlled. I’m a fairly disciplined person though and if I go slightly off track, say on holiday, it doesn’t take long to get back into my routine. Luckily, my weight doesn’t fluctuate easily. It takes a lot for me to put on or lose loads of weight – so I shouldn’t really complain.
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