Gillian Taylforth has made staying active part of her lifestyle for decades, with exercise playing an important role in both her physical and mental wellbeing.
Over the years, the EastEnders star has shared the workouts and habits that help her stay strong and keep moving.
‘I’ve always looked after myself fitness-wise. And I’ve always exercised and get frustrated when I can’t,’ she told The Mirror.
‘I love keeping fit – it gives me such an adrenaline rush,’ she added in an interview with Prima last year.
Her routine combines strength training with cardio.
‘I have a gym at home with a treadmill, rowing machine, a Peloton and some free weights. I can be in the gym for hours if I’ve got my music on,’ she said.
She keeps her workouts varied
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‘I love power walking,’ she told The Mirror, while Zumba has also helped her change her body composition.
‘I started doing Zumba classes three or four times a week and I love it. I’ve lost weight from my legs, waist and hips,’ she said.
Even when she’s away from home, Gillian finds ways to stay active.
‘[When] I’m on tour…my sister Kim and I exercise[d] in the park. When I get back to my dressing room, I get out my weights from my tour bag and do those for a bit. It all helps!’
Mixing up different types of exercise may have benefits beyond keeping workouts interesting. A major 30-year study, published in January and following more than 111,000 people, found that those who took part in the widest variety of physical activities had a 19% lower risk of premature death than those who did the least variety.
Part of Gillian’s motivation is keeping up with her young grandchildren.
‘Now I’ve got grandchildren, I like to keep myself going and keep fit, because twin boys of three isn’t an easy task,’ she told Prima.
She focuses on consistency
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That consistency extends beyond exercise, with Gillian taking a balanced approach to food and sleep.
‘I still do what I did before, I still train as much as I can, I’m still working, I still eat right, I still see my friends,’ she recently told Good Housekeeping. ‘Nothing’s changed.’
Her diet centres around simple, nutrient-rich foods.
‘Breakfast needs to give me energy and get me through to lunchtime,’ she said in a separate Good Housekeepinginterview.
‘It might be porridge, bran flakes or sometimes Greek yoghurt, but I’ll always add blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, then sprinkle milled flaxseed over the top. That’s great for fibre,’ she said.
Sleep is another non-negotiable.
‘I go to bed at 9pm because I believe in a good eight hours’ sleep,’ she said.
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