‘Life is so precious. We have to enjoy it’ Davina Mccall reveals what keeps her happy

From saying no to diets to dancing the night away, Davina Mccall shares what makes her look – and feel – amazing

Davina, 51, lives in Tunbridge Wells. She has three children, Holly, 17, Tilly, 15, and Chester, 12, with ex-husband Matthew Robertson.

Feeling good is about being able to get my clothes on without struggling to fasten my top button. It probably sounds like I’m being harsh on myself, but I’m definitely vain in that respect – I don’t stress about it, but I do like to look nice. I don’t want to do it for anybody else, I just want to look good for me. It’s the same with make-up – when I go out, I put a bit of something on because it makes me feel better.

My job doesn’t follow a routine, so my workout doesn’t either. Most Saturdays, I do an 8am spin class so I can have a lie-in on Sunday. During the week, I’ll go for a run with my dog if I can’t find time for a gym session – it’s all about fitting things in as and when. If I’m travelling, I’ll follow a workout from my DVD, Power Box & Tone. The arm workout is great and very low impact, so I can do it in my bra and pants!

Cardio is what has changed my body the most. As someone who struggles to keep their weight down, cardio is the most important part of my workout, although, to stay toned, I also do weights. When I’m having a jam-packed week, I’ll aim for a 10-minute workout each day and that’s enough to make a difference.

I have to admit, clubbing is great exercise, too. Every year I throw a club night for my friends and the people I work with. It’s invite-only and we go nuts. At the last one, my friend wore her Fitbit, and when she got home, it said she’d done a five-hour aerobic workout!

I don’t believe in diets. In my 20s,

I tried them all. I remember doing all protein, no carbs, and my breath stank! Now, my approach is sensible eating and portion control. I try not to eat sugar, but when I fall off the wagon, I do it spectacularly – at Christmas, I had a two-day chocolate binge. My biggest enemy is not having enough time – that’s when I make unhealthy choices. I try to make sure I’ve got healthy snacks in the house, such as sugar snap peas and hummus. As for crisps and biscuits, they’re banned!

I get my energy from my dad. He has Alzheimer’s, and recently he made a lovely video for the Alzheimer’s Society. At the end, he says, ‘I just love life.’ Thanks to him I feel the same way, and the older I get, the more I appreciate life. My sister died when she was only 50 and it taught me that life is so precious. We’ve got to try and enjoy every minute.

Mental wellbeing is just as important to me – and getting outside is a big part of that. If it’s one of those weekends where the kids and I duvet-dive all day,

I’ll round everyone up and say, ‘Let’s go and walk the dog’ or ‘Let’s go get some popcorn for the film tonight.’ It’s so good to get outside, otherwise it’s easy to get locked inside your own world.

I’ve learnt that nice teeth make you look younger. If your teeth look good when you are smiling, people aren’t looking at your wrinkles! I’ve always been strict about going to the dentist, as I know it’s important for your health. Last year, I decided to do something about how my teeth looked and got braces. It’s been life-changing. I’ve gained so much confidence!

• Davina is an ambassador for Colgate’s new Total toothpaste, now available in all major supermarkets in the UK

‘I’ll aim for a 10-minute workout each day – that’s enough to make a difference’