ROUTE TO WELLTH

The actress-turned-businesswoman, mum-of-three and WW ambassador talks snatching time for exercise and prioritising self-love

Hollywood A-lister Kate Hudson

RIDE

I’ve recently got a Peloton [the at-home spinning bike with online classes led by real instructors] and I’m obsessed. If I only have 20 minutes, then I get on the bike, work as hard as I can for that short period, and at the end I always feel as though I’ve done a real class. Knowing there’s a ready-made workout there in my living room gives me no excuse not to exercise. I want everyone to have this easy access to fitness.

NOURISH

I’m breastfeeding right now, so I’m consuming more calories than usual to keep my milk levels up. I like to have a healthy, energysustaining carb-based breakfast, such as oatmeal or something with sweet potato. I’ll have a smoothie to keep me going, then lunch on a salad with plenty of protein and quinoa. Most days,

I’ll have a portion of protein and vegetables for dinner, but I’m not overly prescriptive and tend to eat out at restaurants twice a week. Good nutrition is important to me, but I’m a real foodie, too.

BALANCE

Achieving and maintaining the sort of body you want is hard. And if you’ve not been raised in the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle, creating one is extremely difficult.

You need discipline, you need a support system and you need awareness. My gran was on WW [formerly Weight Watchers] and I always thought it was just a diet. But when I looked into it, I learned that it represents everything I talk about. You start to understand food and what you’re putting in your system. Through the meetings, you find community and a space to talk about what’s going on with your body and your mind.

FORTIFY

Pole fitness is like acrobatics in the way that it combines conditioning and expression through dance. You learn to hold your own body weight, like a Cirque Du Soleil performer climbing a tightrope without using their feet. Of all the workouts I’ve done, nothing has made me stronger. Not that I’m ready for it right now. I’m focused on rebuilding my strength after having my baby [Rani Rose, born last October] by doing Pilates, of which I’m a diehard and long-standing fan.

SCHEDULE

I’d love to say that my workouts were my priority but, with the baby, a seven-year-old and a teenager, that’s just not the case. In my professional life, too, I’m doing lots of different things. I’ve got my businesses, including fitness brand Fabletics, and my acting career is kicking off again later this year [Hudson stars in

Music, the directorial debut from singer

Sia]. When I don’t have time to work out, I’ll still head out for a walk. Daily movement is non-negotiable.

TREAT

My skincare essentials have changed over the years. I’ve recently discovered the True Botanicals range, which I love, especially the Renew Nourishing Cleanser, which is enriched with aloe vera and green tea – it smells amazing thanks to the lavender and jasmine flower extract. But my one hero product has to be

May Lindstrom’s The Problem Solver Warming Correcting Masque. I’ve noticed such a difference in my skin since using it.

NURTURE

I’m someone who’s always wanted a big family, and I wouldn’t have stopped until I had a girl. I think, especially being

Jewish [where heritage is passed down the maternal line], there’s a part of me that wants to carry that on. I guess the challenge is with raising a daughter, as it must be for fathers and sons, not to project your own experiences on to them and watch them become their own people. As Rani grows up, I want her experience to feel, and actually be, equal to that of men. I want her to honour herself, too. You have a much healthier life when you have good levels of self-love.

EVOLVE

I don’t fear my body changing; at 23 years old, I gained almost 5st when pregnant [with her first son, Ryder,

15] – so I know this process and respect that my body is different after having a baby. My body confidence is strong right now, and that’s probably because it’s more dependent on my state of mind than what I look like.

Kate Hudson teams up with WW, the new Weight Watchers, as a global ambassador for the ‘For Every Body’ campaign