{"id":896007,"date":"2026-09-15T00:04:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T00:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/896007\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T00:04:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T00:04:14","slug":"gillian-taylforth-71-stays-strong-with-these-simple-fitness-habits-from-power-walking-to-weights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/896007\/","title":{"rendered":"Gillian Taylforth, 71, stays strong with these simple fitness habits \u2013 from power walking to weights"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

Over the years, the EastEnders star has shared the workouts and habits that help her stay strong and keep moving.<\/p>\n

‘I\u2019ve always looked after myself fitness-wise. And I\u2019ve always exercised and get frustrated when I can\u2019t,’ she told The Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n

‘I love keeping fit \u2013 it gives me such an adrenaline rush,’ she added in an interview with Prima<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n

Her routine combines strength training<\/a> with cardio.<\/p>\n

‘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\u2019ve got my music on,’ she said.<\/p>\n

She keeps her workouts varied\"manchester,<\/p>\n

Mike Marsland\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

‘I love power walking,’ she told The Mirror<\/a>, while Zumba has also helped her change her body composition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

‘I started doing Zumba classes three or four times a week and I love it. I\u2019ve lost weight from my legs, waist and hips,’ she said.<\/p>\n

Even when she’s away from home, Gillian finds ways to stay active.<\/p>\n

‘[When] I\u2019m 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!’<\/p>\n

Mixing up different types of exercise may have benefits beyond keeping workouts interesting. A major 30-year study<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Part of Gillian’s motivation is keeping up with her young grandchildren.<\/p>\n

‘Now I\u2019ve got grandchildren, I like to keep myself going and keep fit, because twin boys of three isn\u2019t an easy task,’ she told Prima.<\/p>\n

She focuses on consistency\"gillian<\/p>\n

Karwai Tang\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

That consistency extends beyond exercise, with Gillian taking a balanced approach to food and sleep.<\/p>\n

‘I still do what I did before, I still train as much as I can, I\u2019m still working, I still eat right, I still see my friends,\u2019 she recently told Good Housekeeping<\/a>. \u2018Nothing’s changed.’<\/p>\n

Her diet centres around simple, nutrient-rich foods.<\/p>\n

\u2018Breakfast needs to give me energy and get me through to lunchtime,\u2019 she said in a separate Good Housekeeping<\/a>interview.<\/p>\n

\u2018It 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,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

Sleep is another non-negotiable.<\/p>\n

\u2018I go to bed at 9pm because I believe in a good eight hours\u2019 sleep,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

One of our most frequently asked questions here at Women\u2019s Health? How to build muscle and burn fat at the same time. So, we asked superstar trainer Oyinda Okunowo<\/a> exactly how to do it. In this 4-week plan \u2013 created exclusively for Women\u2019s Health COLLECTIVE members \u2013 you\u2019ll get the workouts and nutrition guidance needed to help you on your way to better body composition. Tap the link below to unlock 14 days of free access to Oyinda’s plan and start training today.<\/p>\n

Get the plan<\/a><\/p>\n

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