Celebrity fitness file: Alex Westcourt

Do you prefer full-on cardio or mind/body exercise such as yoga?
Most of the exercise I do is cardiovascular. I should do more yoga because I’m a bit of a worrier and I do get stressed quite a bit.

Do you like going to the gym to workout with weights?
The gym bores me stupid. You have to make such an effort. When I do a weight training session at the gym I come out patting myself on the back because I’m so impressed with myself for getting through it.

So what is your favourite way to keep fit?
I’m obsessed with spinning at the moment. I started going to classes about two years ago. It’s the most motivating form of exercise I’ve ever done. Spinning is a class effort; everyone’s on bikes and you sweat so much. It’s great! When I first started going, the room where the class was held had ultraviolet lights and the instructor used to turn off the lights so if you were wearing white you’d glow. The atmosphere makes you really focused and it’s almost as if you’re going on a journey. The music and atmosphere are really motivational. You work hard but you enjoy it. I come out thinking that I can’t wait to go again.

Were you a sporty child?
Being an ex-dancer, I was very sporty. I danced from the age of five. I was a really active child and have carried this and the need to be in shape into adulthood. I went to a classical ballet school for five years so I could never imagine not doing any exercise – it’s always played such a big part in my life.

My mother’s an ex-dancer too, so it’s in the genes. She looks after her figure by going to the gym and watching what she eats so she is a good inspiration. We often go to spinning classes together and the teacher threatens to break us up because we compete with each other or gossip all the way through the class like naughty school children.