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.

When is the best time to workout?
I like to exercise in the morning because it gets me going for the day. I’m not good at going to the gym in the evenings because by the time seven o’clock comes around I’m ready to have my dinner and chill out.

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.