STAYING STRONG

Whether you’re in lockdown, escaping the encroaching cold indoors or simply want a push to get fitter at home, follow the actor and fitness icon’s guide to keeping your mind, body and spirit in top shape

- ELSA PATAKY

I could not imagine my life without exercise. For me it is the glue that holds everything together: my health, my happiness, my relationship. I had been interested in exercise from a very young age, but I became seriously interested when I was 15 years old. At that time, I was going to the gym a lot in Madrid. I was working as an actor in a leading TV series, and going to the gym helped me release all the stress from my days on set. It was then that I started to learn everything I could about training and nutrition.

Since then, I have trained consistently, though there have been times when I was less active—such as when I had my children. So I also know how hard it can be to start exercising again after you’ve had a break. The best way to stick to training is to do something you love and, if you can, do it with someone you love. My husband Chris [Hemsworth] and I are always looking for opportunities to keep active together doing things we enjoy. Having three kids makes it a bit more complicated, but we always find a way. It enriches all of our lives.

My friends have often asked me for advice on how to get in shape, or they’ll ask me to share my training program with them. In my experience, the best way to improve both your body and your fitness is through high-intensity interval training [HIIT]. To get the maximum benefit from HIIT, which is mostly about building cardiovascular fitness, you will also need to tone your muscles. I know that some women are not comfortable with the idea of weight training, but you must trust me on this: the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn.

TRAIN WITH A PARTNER IF YOU CAN