{"id":827834,"date":"2026-11-08T06:40:31","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T06:40:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/827834\/"},"modified":"2026-11-08T06:40:31","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T06:40:31","slug":"how-eastenders-star-harriet-thorpe-69-builds-lifelong-fitness-3-low-impact-methods-she-swears-by","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/827834\/","title":{"rendered":"How EastEnders star Harriet Thorpe, 69, builds lifelong fitness \u2013 3 low-impact methods she swears by"},"content":{"rendered":"

When EastEnders favourite Harriet Thorpe isn\u2019t pulling pints as Elaine Peacock, you may well find her on a long walk or at the gym. The actor recently gave us an insight into her routine on Instagram, which included rowing and cycling<\/a> with a friend.<\/p>\n

\"harriet<\/p>\n

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

Below, we explore why walking<\/a>, cycling<\/a> and rowing<\/a> can all support lifelong fitness and strength while being relatively low impact.<\/p>\n

The benefits of walking<\/p>\n

A long-standing celebrity ambassador for breast cancer charity Walk the Walk<\/a>, Harriet has participated in many MoonWalk London events, including the full marathon<\/a> distance.<\/p>\n

\u2018Comedian and actress Victoria Wood was one of my dearest friends and it was through her that I ultimately became Walk the Walk\u2019s Ambassador. Over a regular cuppa, she suggested that we both took part in The MoonWalk London \u2013 I just said yes, absolutely, that sounds fantastic\u2026 that\u2019s how we started doing The MoonWalk \u2013 we walked the first one and were hooked,\u2019 Harriet explained on Walk the Walk\u2019s blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018The second year we took part, we\u2019d plan our training walks and would be there with an A to Z and one of those little rolling things that told you how many miles you\u2019d done. Nowadays, you just use your phone. We enjoyed our walks so much and just shrieked with laughter!\u2019<\/p>\n

Harriet\u2019s use of the words \u2018training walks\u2019 raises an important point: walking \u2013 which is weight-bearing but low impact \u2013 very much counts as a workout.<\/p>\n

Indeed, one scientific review<\/a> of research on walking concluded that \u2018the evidence overwhelmingly supports walking as a powerful anti-ageing intervention\u2019 that can reduce the risk of chronic age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease<\/a>, hypertension, type 2 diabetes<\/a> and cancer.<\/p>\n

The benefits of rowing<\/p>\n

As we know, Harriet also enjoys rowing, which has far-reaching health and fitness benefits.<\/p>\n

A true full-body workout, \u2018the rowing machine is unique in its ability to target 85% of your body’s muscles in order to perform the full movement or stroke properly,\u2019 vice president and founding instructor of City Row<\/a> Annie Mulgrew previously told Women\u2019s Health.<\/p>\n

\u2018The major muscles in your legs, arms, back and core must all activate, providing a total body workout that will increase your body strength as well as your cardiovascular capacity.\u2019<\/p>\n

The benefits of cycling<\/p>\n

As for the third low-impact activity we\u2019ve seen Harriet use, that also has unique benefits for both mind and body.<\/p>\n

One 44-year study<\/a> found that women who performed highly on maximal cycling tests had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia, while another recent study<\/a> found that 20 minutes of cycling at a comfortable pace created \u2018ripples\u2019 of activity in the area of the brain that processes and stores information.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a paper<\/a> published earlier this year suggested that incorporating cycling into daily life has potential fitness and body composition<\/a> benefits.<\/p>\n

Whether you choose to regularly include one or all three of these activities in your routine, there\u2019s plenty of evidence to suggest they can support your health and fitness.<\/p>\n

Want to train like Liz Earle<\/a>?
Her PT, Michael Garry, has created a 4-week training plan exclusively for members of the WH COLLECTIVE. It’s designed to remove one of the biggest barriers to fitness: time. You’ll train for just 35 minutes three times a week \u2013 Liz’s 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’s plan today.<\/p>\n

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

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

Hannah Bradfield is a Senior Health and Fitness Writer for Women\u2019s Health UK. An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Hannah graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in English and Sport Science and an MA in Media and Cultural Analysis. \u00a0She has been covering sports, health and fitness for the last five years and has created content for outlets including BBC Sport, BBC Sounds, Runner\u2019s World and Stylist. She especially enjoys interviewing those working within the community to improve access to sport, exercise and wellness. Hannah is a 2024 John Schofield Trust Fellow and was also named a 2022 Rising Star in Journalism by The Printing Charity. \u00a0A keen runner, Hannah was firmly a sprinter growing up (also dabbling in long jump) but has since transitioned to longer-distance running. While 10K is her favoured race distance, she loves running or volunteering at parkrun every Saturday, followed, of course, by pastries. She\u2019s always looking for fun new runs and races to do and brunch spots to try.<\/p>\n