ROCHELLE HUMES
The former Saturday and mum of two talks snacks, pre-bed Pilates and pushing herself out of her comfort zone
WORK OUT
Pilates is my go-to exercise. Finding time to work out during the day is hard, so if my husband Marvin [Humes, 33] is in, I’ll get the kids in bed by 7pm, jump in the car to Zero Gravity near my home in Essex and squeeze in one of the 7.30pm reformer classes. Those 45 minutes are enough to help me transition out of working-mum mode and just... do me. People think it’s just stretching, but they’re wrong. Those classes are so challenging, I can’t think about anything else when I’m in that room.
FUEL
I’m not the type of person to follow a meal plan. I can take or leave breakfast, and it’s rarely anything more exciting than a bowl of granola. Since I’ve recently reduced my meat intake, a typical lunch is a prawn stir-fry, which is my favourite quick meal. I’m a big snacker; my current favourites are apple slices with peanut butter in a snack pot. Dinner is something like halloumi or salmon with roasted vegetables and new potatoes.
FOCUS
When I began my training for the 2018 London Marathon, I couldn’t even run a mile, but I wanted to push myself and raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. When my trainer, Peter Mac (@pmacfitness), assessed my technique last October, he was like, ‘Right, we’ve got some work to do.’ But, in April, I ran the 26.2 miles in just under five hours. Yes, my body got stronger, but it was my mind that got me through it, along with supportive videos from friends and family, which Marvin kept sending me during the race.
INSPIRE
My eldest daughter [Alaia-mai, five] came to watch the marathon and she was so proud that she took my medal to show-and-tell at school. It’s good for her to see me training towards an athletic goal, as opposed to thinking about fitness in relation to weight loss. I have to be so careful [to shield my daughters from diet talk] – the other day, we were out in the garden with my mum, who was talking about going on a diet, and I was like, ‘Shhhh!’
MOTIVATE
The reason I train is simple: it’s nice to feel nice. The physical challenge is worth it for that feeling I get afterwards – like I can take on absolutely anything. Later today, Peter, who helped me get fit after giving birth to my youngest [Valentina, one], is taking me to train at a boxing gym. Fingers crossed for an Anthony Joshua sighting!
ENERGISE
I’ve never learned to like coffee. The taste, the smell… it’s just not for me. My friend owns the Grind coffee chain in London, and he’s so insulted when I visit and order a turmeric latte. I manage to keep my energy levels up with snacks and staying hydrated – I’ll drop a Twinings
Cold In’fuse iced tea bag into my bottle, as it’s a healthy way to make water a bit more interesting. EMBRACE
My daughter was my inspiration for going back to wearing my hair in its natural curls. She told me she wanted ‘princess hair’ like Rapunzel, and I tried to explain that she did have princess hair before deciding to set an example myself. My Instagram page (@Curlslikeus) began as a hashtag; I hadn’t worn my hair curly since I was a teenager and I needed all the advice I could get in terms of products.
REFLECT
Give me a reason to go somewhere special for dinner and I’ll book at table at London sushi restaurant Roka. It does a great yellowtail sashimi with the most amazing dressing – I could eat endless portions. That said, my all-time happy place is when I’m chilling at home with Marvin and my daughters, having just polished off a big Sunday lunch, with a glass of rosé in hand.