Ashley James in Bathing Suit says "it's That Time of Year Again"
Ashley James is sharing a self-love message and photos of herself showing off her beautiful body in a swimsuit. The former Made in Chelsea star gets real about body image issues while flaunting her growing baby bump in one of her latest posts. "It's that time of the year again," she started the Instagram caption. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Ashley James stays in shape, read her self-love message and check out 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 Runs
Running is Ashley's go-to exercise method. "I did the marathon for the second time this year but my knees have suffered recently so I've been doing a 30 day Kobox class which is a combination of boxing and HIIT," she told Daily Star.
Here Is What She Eats in a Day
Ashley detailed her diet to Daily Star. "Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day – smashed avocado, seeds, scrambled egg, chilli flakes and a slice of brown toast," she said. "Lunch will be something like a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich and for dinner I love home-made chicken curry with lots of rice and spices. When it comes to snacks I like nut and dates – of the food and men type!"
Pizza Is Her Guilty Pleasure
Ashley allows herself to cheat. "I love pizza, but I'm not sure how much of a guilty pleasure it is because I don't feel guilty about having it," she told Daily Star. "I'd probably have it five times a week if I could. Chicken sweetcorn and mushrooms are my favourite toppings. I also adore mac and cheese!"
She Doesn't Pay Attention to Numbers
"I don't watch calories and I don't weigh myself – I tend to think if it tastes good eat it," Ashley told Daily Star. "I know the more exercise I do the more I eat, but I know if I've had pigged out a bit I tend to feel a bit disgusting so I make sure I load up with veg. And if my jeans feel tight then I cut back."
She Battled Body Dysmorphia
Ashley has been very open about her struggles with body dysmorphia. "When my body dysmorphia was at its worst I would look in the mirror and had no concept of how I really looked, but be convinced I looked fat," she revealed to Daily Star. "If there was the slightest bit of midriff or legs on show I'd think I looked disgusting and worried what were people were going to think. Exercise as a routine has really helped. When I was at uni I let exercise slip, now it's part of my routine. They key is not to make it a chore – do something you love and incorporate it into your life. I also relied on the advice of friends to tell me how I looked."
She Refuses to "Punish" Her Body
In her latest social media post, Ashley encourages her followers to love themselves. "Well, it's that time of year again! Our Christmas dinner has barely digested and we're already being bombarded with weight loss ads trying to convince us to feel insecure. Plugging the lie to us that we will be happier, healthier and more confident if we punish our bodies…But just because it's a New Year, it doesn't mean we need a new body! Please don't fall for this annual toxic narrative and remember that whether it's the latest celebrity weight loss program or a product – they are making money from your insecurities," she wrote. "Of course, we should and could all aspire to be healthier! But health doesn't always equal weight loss – especially if it's some unsustainable diet or fitness regime. I was my most unhealthy when I was the smallest version of myself. It also never brought me confidence or love or a high self esteem. It did make me obsess over my appearance. Made me more self critical. And convinced me if I could just change my appearance I'd be happier and more loveable. I wasn't. It was only when I learned to love and accept myself, and appreciate that my value and the things that brought me joy weren't tied to my appearance," she continued. "You deserve to enjoy food with family and friends. Don't let people convince you that you need to change your appearance so they can profit off your insecurities."
