British actress Martine McCutcheon is sharing some fitness inspiration via her social media. The EastEnders star, 47, shared sweet pictures of herself wearing black leggings and a matching tank top, laying back on a yoga mat next to her puppy. “Oooo I really wasn’t feeling it today! You know those days… The ones where you lack any kind of motivation and you simply can’t get going! 😩I knew I would feel better for doing my yoga (at the moment, I do a really gentle kind for my fibro & M.E.). But if I’m honest, I also felt like telling the world to bugger off and wrap up in my duvet! It took me a while to get to that yoga mat…😆🙈 BUT! I'm SO glad I did! I’m never sorry for the gentle stretching and breath work - It makes such a difference to my mind and body!” she captioned the post. Here’s how McCutcheon, who has fibromyalgia, stays fit, healthy, and happy.
1. No Crazy Diets
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McCutcheon enjoys a balanced diet where nothing is off the table. “For 80 per cent of my week, I will have mainly just healthy proteins, vegetables and fruit, organic and veggie juices, and Flora ProActiv spread,” she told Closer. “And then I’ll have treats 20 percent of the time. It’s taken me such a long time to look through all the stuff that’s out there, and just do what works for me. So it’s not as simple as just going on a crazy diet.”
2. Walking Her Dog
McCutcheon relaxes by walking her dog, stretching, cold showers, and daily meditation. “Getting your dog out in nature, getting fresh air and sunlight, is just as beneficial for dogs as for people,” Dr. Victoria Tomasino, owner and medical director at GoodVets Boynton Beach and GoodVets Delray in Palm Beach County, Florida, tells CNN. “It awakens the senses in both parties.”
3. Yoga Sessions
McCutcheon’s yoga sessions are a great way to manage stress, experts say. “While yoga cannot change our external stressors, it can allow us to respond rather than react to stress,” says Vanika Chawla, MD, Stanford Psychiatrist. “Yoga can counteract the harmful physical effects of stress and lead to changes in the body, brain, and mind that increase resilience and adaptability.”
4. Staying Grounded
McCutcheon hasher own method of staying grounded during busy periods. “It is making sure I work to my own routine, walk to the beat of my own drum, drink enough water, get enough sleep, take time to walk and meditate,” she told Breaking News. “It’s saying no to jobs, but also being brave and saying yes. When I make the time to do the things I love, to have time with my family, it keeps me really grounded.”
5. Living With Fibromyalgia
McCutcheon lives with fibromyalgia, something she says encourages her to appreciate life more. “You learn to smell the flowers a lot more, too – you become just so appreciative and grateful for the simple things,” she told Psychologies. “Generally, I think you become more sensitive, and it’s about protecting that sensitivity; using it to your advantage, but also having the coping strategies and tools to take care of yourself and walk to the beat of your own drum, especially as we’re now living in such a fast-paced world.”
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