Abbey Clancy in Bathing Suit Says "Life is Better at the Beach"
Abbey Clancy, the presenter of Britain's Next Top Model, onetime contestant on the show itself and mother of four kids (with her husband, onetime footballer Peter Crouch), seems too busy to slip in workouts and have fun. But that's just what she's doing, as she shared photos from a vacation in Dubai. "Surfboard, surfboard," she captioned two photos of her in a swimsuit, next to boards that say "Life is better at the beach." How does she stay so fit while keeping so busy? Read on to see 5 ways Abbey Clancy stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!
She Drinks Green Juices
A smoothie made with kale or spinach can be full of belly-filling nutrients. When researchers at Columbia University crunched the numbers on six separate studies following dieters on either a smoothie-based plan (one or two smoothies a day) or a reduced-calorie plan, they found that both sets lost weight, but those on the smoothie-based plan experienced "significantly greater weight loss" at both the 3-month and 1-year marks. Just as important, after a year on the various plans, those who used the smoothie option had a significantly lower dropout rate.
She Works Her Core
Clancy works her core hard. To work your core, try a Side Plank: 30 seconds each side. Lie on your left side resting your left forearm on the floor for support. Raise your hips up so your body forms a straight line and brace your abs—your weight should be on your left forearm and the edge of your left foot. Hold this position for 30 seconds, then lower your body and repeat on the right side. Focus on not only pressing up with the side of our obliques that are closest to the floor, but also draw your navel into your spine. If 30 seconds is too long, go until exhaustion and then switch sides; you will be able to increase your time with each workout as you get stronger at these.
She Does Pilates
The Cleveland Clinic spoke with lead yoga therapist Judi Bar who says: "Everything's attached." "Pilates focuses more on muscle tone than building muscles and it specifically focuses on your core. While most people might consider just your abdomen to be the core of your body, Bar points out, it extends well beyond that," says the Clinic. "With the core, besides the stomach area, you're also talking about your sides, your back and your hips. What happens in your core affects the rest of your body."
She Works Out to Get a Charge
"I like to workout when I feel tired or sluggish because it's not a weight maintenance thing as I'm lucky genetically," she once told Radio One. There is science behind this. "Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance," says the Mayo Clinic. "Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily chores."
She Believes in Moderation
"I generally eat what I want to in moderation," she has said. Consider moderating foods that your body tells you it doesn't want. "Many people experience bloating from dairy, and find that their stomachs become leaner after cutting down on the stuff," says personal trainer Mark Langowski, in his book Eat This, Not That! For Abs. "While yogurt tends to be low in lactose, the natural sugar that causes bloating, milk and other non-fermented dairy products have higher levels. So consider eating dairy in moderation, focusing on the full-fat varieties."
