{"id":940295,"date":"2026-10-25T10:38:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-25T10:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/940295\/"},"modified":"2026-10-25T10:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T10:38:15","slug":"lacey-turner-cant-be-bothered-to-exercise-the-simple-neat-movement-she-does-instead-and-how-to-try-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/940295\/","title":{"rendered":"Lacey Turner \u2018can\u2019t be bothered to exercise\u2019 \u2013 the simple NEAT movement she does instead, and how to try it"},"content":{"rendered":"

If doing a planned workout just isn\u2019t for you, Lacey Turner can relate. The Eastenders actor and Strictly contestant has previously been refreshingly honest about her lack of enthusiasm for traditional exercise, admitting that the gym simply doesn\u2019t appeal to her.<\/p>\n

\u2018Going to the gym is boring. Who wants to exercise? I can’t be bothered,\u2019 she told Heat<\/a>. \u2018I’d love to be one of those people born with a curvy, toned figure, but I’m happy with my shape. I don’t really care. And I wouldn’t like to be stick thin.\u2019<\/p>\n

That’s not to say she doesn\u2019t move her body. Strictly training aside, Turner has another hobby that\u2019s no doubt doing her fitness a favour: gardening. Since moving house, the actor frequently shares videos<\/a> of her and her children gardening on Instagram, and there’s a name for this kind of activity: NEAT<\/a>, or non-exercise activity thermogenesis. <\/p>\n

\"lacey<\/p>\n

@laceyturner\/\/Instagram<\/p>\n

It describes the energy we expend through everyday movements outside of planned exercise like going to the gym or going to classes, including walking around the house, gardening, cleaning and taking the stairs. Essentially, it’s the exercise you do without even realising.<\/p>\n

Can gardening actually count as a workout? Absolutely. \u2018Gardening can also give you a full-body workout,\u2019 says Nicole Chapman<\/a>, fitness coach and founder of Power of Mum. \u2018Think about mowing the lawn. You’re pushing against resistance. Digging works your arms, shoulders and core, while squatting down to tend to your flower beds works your legs and glutes. Even weeding can be surprisingly hard work on your arms.<\/p>\n

\u2018You’re also constantly using your core. Every time you lift, reach, push or pull, your abdominal and back muscles are working to keep you stable. More demanding jobs can also get your heart rate up and help improve your cardiovascular fitness if you’re doing them regularly.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Research<\/a> published in 2017 analysed 22 studies and found that gardening was associated with benefits across a range of health outcomes, including improved quality of life and reduced anxiety and depression. A separate review<\/a> found that many gardening tasks qualify as low-to-moderate-intensity physical activity. <\/p>\n

Of course, gardening won’t necessarily replace a balanced programme of cardio<\/a> and strength training<\/a> exercise \u2013 but it can help you move more, break up long periods of sitting and spend time outdoors, all without a gym membership. It\u2019s particularly useful if you\u2019re otherwise not wanting to move at all, like Lacey.<\/p>\n

How to boost fitness with gardening<\/p>\n

Chapman says: \u2018If you’ve got a morning of gardening planned, start with some gentle movement to warm up. All that kneeling and squatting can take its toll on your knees, so use a kneeling pad and change positions regularly. When lifting pots or bags of compost, don’t be tempted to lift more than you can comfortably manage and keep the load close to your body.<\/p>\n

\u2018Then, next time you’re tending to your flower beds, try squatting down rather than bending from your waist. This will work your legs and glutes while your core helps keep you balanced.<\/p>\n

\u2018Mix things up, too. Spend some time digging, then switch to sweeping, planting or weeding. You’ll use different muscles and keep your body moving rather than spending too long in one position. <\/p>\n

\u2018And if you’re not used to gardening at all, start with 15-20 minutes and build up. You wouldn’t go straight into a 3-hour gym session, so don’t expect your body to do the same in the garden.\u2019 <\/p>\n

The aim isn’t to turn gardening into another punishing workout; it’s to find a way to move that you genuinely enjoy.<\/p>\n

Want to train like Liz Earle<\/a>? Liz\u2019s PT, Michael Garry, has created a 4-week training plan exclusively for members of the WH COLLECTIVE. It\u2019s designed to remove one of the biggest barriers to fitness: time. You\u2019ll train for just 35 minutes three times a week \u2013 Liz\u2019s exact strategy to build muscle, boost metabolism and support long-term health. Tap the link below to unlock 14 free days of training and start Liz\u2019s plan today.<\/p>\n

GET THE PLAN<\/a><\/p>\n

\"liz\"Headshot<\/p>\n

As Women\u2019s Health UK\u2019s fitness director and a qualified Pilates and yoga instructor, Bridie Wilkins has been passionately reporting on exercise, health and nutrition since the start of her decade-long career in journalism.<\/p>\n

After earning a first-class degree in journalism and NCTJ accreditation, she secured her first role at Look Magazine, where she launched the magazine\u2019s health and fitness column, Look Fit, before going on to become Health and Fitness writer at HELLO!<\/p>\n

Since, she has written for Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle, The Metro, Runner\u2019s World and Red. Today, she oversees all fitness content across Women’s Health online and in <\/a>print, spearheading leading cross-platform franchises, such as \u2018Fit At Any Age\u2019, which showcases the women proving that age is no barrier to exercise.<\/p>\n

She has also represented the brand on BBC Radio London, plus various podcasts and Substacks \u2013 all with the aim to encourage more women to exercise and show them how. Outside of work, find her trying the latest Pilates studio, testing her VO2 max for fun (TY, Oura), or posting workouts on Instagram. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n