Kate Ferdinand’s workout for your body and soul
Kate Ferdinand on her love of exercise and the secret behind that waist
If you’ve ever caught any of Kate Ferdinand’s workouts on Instagram, you’ll know she takes her fitness very seriously. Obviously, being married to ex-professional footballer Rio Ferdinand probably helps. But despite her rock-hard motivation, Kate has struggled with body dysmorphia for 15 years. Now, instead of trying to get her best bikini body, she focuses on strengthening her mental health and has found that regular exercise has helped her handle her anxiety.
You’ve been on a journey with your body confidence – how do you feel now? I think it has been a journey and that it is always going to be, but I’m feeling good at the moment. I still have my bad days when I feel rubbish and need to wear my baggy clothes, but I understand my body and I understand myself, which I didn’t before. I love fitness and I want to help other people love their body. What’s your motivation for working out? It used to be, “I’m going on holiday, so I need to train every day,” but it’s a lifestyle now. I train to look good, to feel good and to be happy. I love working out and it’s something that me and Rio have in common. You do have a pretty banging gym in your house… We’re really lucky as we get to work out at home. It’s good because I scream loads in the
gym. I just have to get on one. Of course, I want to give up sometimes. I just have to think, “Come on, I can do this!” How often do you exercise? Maybe four or five times a week for about 45 mins or an hour. People think that I’m a bit of a machine, but I’m not. Most days, I’ll walk the dog, too. I love it as I feel really free and it clears my mind, plus it’s steady-state cardio. I’m not obsessed with my body. Working out just makes me feel better. How does it feel having so many women looking up to you as #bodygoals? It’s crazy when you say it like that! I do want to be a good role model, which is why I speak about myself a lot in the book. I don’t want people to have an unrealistic view of how I work out and what I eat. It was important to be honest about who I am, so they can feel more comfortable with who they are. What do you get asked most by your insta followers? How I get my waist this small. It’s genetics, though, I’m afraid. Do you look at instagram for training tips and body inspo? Me and Rio sit in bed and look at people’s fitness Instagram accounts. We’ll be like, “Ooh, we like that, let’s try that.” What are your current goals? I have lots of goals, not just necessarily with fitness. I have actually written them down on my phone – I’ll show you. I want to stay fit, healthy and feeling good. I want to be positive and not let negative people control my thinking, I want to go to watch the children [her three stepkids] play football more. They are just little things, really. What three changes would you recommend to someone starting out? This may sound clichéd, but move more, eat less and sleep often. We can get caught up in trying to do really mad diets, but if you just move a bit more, eat a bit less and get a good night’s sleep, then that’s all you need. and what other advice would you give to them? Just give it a go, because we can achieve anything we put our minds to. It’s going to be really hard at first, but once you’re in the routine, you’re going to feel so much better about yourself. Not just your body, but your mind, too.
‘People think that i’m a bit of a machine’