Nell: “Celebs need to be honest about weight loss”
Fitness queen Nell Mcandrew hits out at celebrity exercise DVDS and vows to ban the word “diet”
She was the ultimate fitness star of the ’90s, releasing six workout DVDS and becoming a body inspiration to millions of women. But Nell Mcandrew has always been honest about the effort and dedication it takes to achieve the perfect washboard stomach.
Today, the world of celebrity fitness is very different to the one Nell remembers. Last year, TV star Scarlett Moffatt, 29, famously came under fire when it was claimed her drastic weight loss – going from a size 18 to an 8 – was the result of her attending an extreme boot camp rather than following her DVD, Scarlett’s Superslim Me Plan.
Countless other stars have jumped on the fitness DVD bandwagon, but while some have succeeded in keeping the weight off, including Geordie Shore’s Charlotte Crosby, others have continued to battle with their figure.
HONESTY
And Nell, 45, is an advocate of celebrities being honest about their weight-loss journey, and even wants to ban the word “diet.”
She says, “For years, I attended an exercise class run by Liam Duffy, who eventually became my trainer for all of my fitness DVDS. We worked out together every week. I wanted my fitness plans to be something that I really do – none of it was fake.
“There was no pulling the wool over people’s eyes – the word ‘diet’ should certainly be banned. I am always honest about how I have lost the weight – we need more openness. You can’t expect to lose 5st in three months, it’s not realistic and it’s not sustainable.
“You really have to know what you are doing when you decide to sign up to do a fitness DVD, and you do need to be qualified.”
UNHEALTHY OBSESSION
But there are plenty of stars who’ve made their mark on the fitness industry, who Nell does praise – including former TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh, 27, who runs her own fitness platform called Results With Lucy.
Nell says, “There have been celebrities, like Lucy, who turn into fitness stars and look fantastic.”
The star – who is currently training for the Virgin London Marathon – also feels that social media, particularly Instagram, has made us more obsessed with looking good than being healthy.
She says, “Social media has changed how we see our bodies and even I have suffered when I look at celebs on there and I think, ‘Ooh, I don’t look as great as they do.’
“But now I don’t buy into any of that, and I unfollow that person. If it’s making you feel a certain way, then it’s just not worth looking at.
“Too many reality stars nowadays obsess about their appearance, but I don’t really care what I look like, especially when I’m lining up at the start line of the London Marathon”.
HAVING MORE KIDS
Nell is mum to son Devon, 12, and five-yearold daughter Anya with her husband Paul Hardcastle – but despite previous reports that she’s feeling broody, she’s ruled out having another child.
She reveals, “I’m 45 now, it’s not a good idea and I have done my bit. It would be so exhausting to be an older mum, but I don’t mind cuddling somebody else’s child. But being a mum of two, I’ve already got so many other things to think about.”
Nell has fond memories of when her children were younger, and has no regrets about her decision to breastfeed until they were toddlers, praising fellow breastfeeding advocate Tamara Ecclestone, 34, who is mum to four-year-old Fifi.
Nell says, “I breastfed my children for three years. The first time around, I was
more worried about what people would say than the second time around. I felt really self-conscious in public because you think, ‘Oh gosh, am I the only one breastfeeding?’ and you are conscious of it.”
NO REGRETS
She adds, “But that’s why Tamara Ecclestone is so fantastic, because she is not ashamed to do it and she has done it for so long. “She has been such a positive promoter of breastfeeding in that way and I wish I had spent less time worrying about it. It did mean that I was exhausted a lot of the time, but it has given me that extra bond with my children and I have no regrets about doing it.” Looking to the future and her body goals, Nell adds, “I’m leaner and I’m older, but I am fitter and stronger now than I was 20 years ago. I just love the way that being fit and healthy makes me feel.” ● Nell is running the Virgin London Marathon for Caudwell Children, Cancer Research UK and Alzheimer’s Research UK. See uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ Missmcandrew