Actor Helen Norton tells Patricia Westonthat instead of faddy diets, she tries to stick to a relatively sensible eating and a reasonable exercise regime.
Are you very fit?
Alas no, I can say with some degree of certainty that I am not very fit but I do exercise.
So what exercise do you do?
I try to train three times a week. Each gym session involves doing a lot of weights and abdominal exercises and I'm monitored to make sure I don't make a hash of it.
Have you ever suffered any illnesses or injuries?
I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) so it's very important to be aware of my diet and exercise. I damaged my Achilles tendon briefly doing a bit of Shakespeare a few years ago but thankfully nothing too dramatic.
Do you worry about your appearance?
Well, I'm an actor so of course I think about my appearance but I don't think I worry about it too much.
What would your typical day's eating plan consist of?
I try to eat protein at every meal with fruit, salad and lots of vegetables. I like to cook in the evenings; anything from a stir-fry to boeuf bourguignon. This plan works most of the time but there are moments of madness!
Have you ever tried any diets?
No, I don't think faddy diets work in the long term but different things suit different people. Relatively sensible eating and a reasonable exercise regime seems to be the most beneficial for me.
What stresses you?
Work, sometimes or no work, sometimes!
Patricia Weston's exercise prescription:
Women can benefit greatly from working with weights. But don't panic, you won't end up with the physique of Arnold Schwarzenegger, you'll just tone up and greatly improve your body. Here are a few good reasons to take a weight in each hand:
•You'll burn more calories and lose more weight because muscle is much more efficient at burning fat.
•You may notice the scales go up as you start to build muscle and tone up but this won't be weight gain, it will be muscle because muscle is heavier than fat.
•Weight training can help stave off osteoporosis in later life because resistance training can reduce bone deterioration and build bone mass.
•As we get past the age of 30 our muscles begin to atrophy, causing your metabolism to slow down, which can result in weight gain. But if you weight train, you can keep the muscles strong and increase your metabolism.
•You'll be more energetic because carrying around fat causes fatigue but carrying around muscle releases more energy making you feel fitter and full of life.
•By regularly weight training you can increase your overall body strength and, most importantly, your back strength, so you're less likely to suffer from lower back pain or discomfort.
•You can also increase your day-to-day functional strength and have a very strong, efficient body for everyday tasks such as lifting, housework or carrying groceries.
•Just two 15-20 minute weight-training sessions per week is enough to reap all these benefits for your body and you can start resistance training at any age.
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.
Consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before embarking on any exercise regime and stop exercising if you feel nauseous or dizzy.