BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
You just had your first child in August. When did you start working out again? “Within the first two weeks. This is not something that everyone can do, but as soon as I could, I was out walking.”
What is your exercise routine like as a new mom?
“Because I don’t have the time that I used to have to go to the gym, I incorporate
Aurora into my routine.
I love to take her out for walks. We have a wonderful neighborhood that we can walk in, so depending on my day, sometimes it’s 30 minutes, sometimes it’s an hour.
It also happens to be very hilly, so it’s a good cardio workout. She likes to be lifted up high, so I have a 15-pound weight with me that I carry around all day long. I can do tricep dips with her. I also do squats while I’m holding her.”
What do you eat in a typical day? “I’m vegan, so it’s mostly fruits and vegetables and protein and good, quality grains. That’s the beauty of eating vegetables, because you can eat more quantities without having to worry about weight gain like you would with other types of food. And, you can put them on things like pizza. I do snack, but again, I watch what I put into my body, like nuts or dark chocolate. I’ll have some vegan coconut ice cream every now and then, but I do try and keep that to a minimum.”
Did you have any trouble keeping cravings at bay while you were pregnant?
“More than cravings, I actually had aversions, and they were aversions to things I needed the most. I couldn’t drink water, and dehydration is a huge issue during pregnan- cy. I had to have coconut water, or I put fruit in my water. As soon as I gave birth, I was able to drink water again. I drink on average about three liters a day, but I couldn’t do it then. It was a struggle.” What do you do to stay motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle? “It can be hard, but I remind myself to think it through to the end of the day. On days when I don’t take the best care of myself, I remember that I actually feel more tired at the end of the day, so I will make myself go out for the walk, or choose an apple over the ice cream, because at the end of the day, I feel better, I have more energy, and I’m just a happier person.”
What is your fitness routine like? “It’s kind of nonexistent, honestly.
I still struggle to find a balance — that’s actually one of my New Year’s resolutions, to find a better balance between my work life and my self-care. I focus on what I can immediately control, which is diet. I try to eat healthy, and I pay attention to portion sizes.”
Tell us about your approach to eating. “I am making it a point to try and eat organically, and cutting out processed sugars. It’s amazing how overwhelming it is when you take a serious look at your diet and see just how much of what you consume is processed. I start my day with a cold-brewed coffee, and I like to have breakfast for lunch. So, I’ll have a healthy breakfast burrito or a breakfast sandwich.
For dinner, I try to keep it cleaner. Like, if I’m going to eat carbs, I’ll do that midday and in the evening, I’ll have some source of protein with some greens and vegetables.
But hey, I’m not perfect.”
Are there foods you make it a point to avoid? “The minute I start restricting myself, it becomes so much more tempting to me. I allow myself to eat what I want, when I want it. If I’m craving chocolate, I will have a little chocolate. It doesn’t become this forbidden thing, and I can eat just the right amount to satisfy my craving and not overeat.”
What kind of exercise do you do? “Walking is a good way to stay fit. For me, due to knee and hip injuries, walking is a great source of cardio and it’s low impact. I would also recommend swimming, which is also low impact. I wish I did more of that but I don’t want my hair to turn green [laughs]. I’ve started boxing again with Sean Carrigan [ex-stitch, Y&R]. It’s a great way to utilize my interest and experience in martial arts and get a great cardio workout at the same time, and it doesn’t take a toll on my knees and hips. I like exercise that doesn’t feel like I’m working out. The thing I hate the most is the treadmill. I don’t like the feeling of just moving in place. I have to trick my mind into thinking that I’m not working out.”
Any advice to offer someone who’s looking to incorporate healthy changes into their diet and fitness routine? “If I can do this, then so can you. Seriously!”