Exercise Makes Me Feel Strong

Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe reveals all about her diet, exercise regime and why she’s the most body confident she’s ever been

- Jo Willacy

Jennifer Metcalfe has her head screwed on when it comes to fitness. The Hollyoaks actress, 34, who recently celebrated 10 years as the show’s Mercedes McQueen, gained a degree in health and fitness before making her mark in soapland, so she knows her stuff.

‘I love exercise so I always try to make time for it,’ she says. ‘Even when my filming schedule is hectic, there’s a way to fit it in. I have a smart TV so I squeeze in quick workouts if I have a spare few minutes.’ And, after our energetic photo shoot, she set off for an hour’s yoga on her ‘smart telly’!

Yoga is one of three exercises Jennifer loves – along with going to the gym and walking. ‘They work well together for me. If I only did yoga one week, I’d miss my gym session where I put music on, sweat it out and go hell for leather. And if I just walked each week, I’d get bored. Variation keeps me motivated.’

Jennifer fits walking into her routine by swapping the car for her feet twice a week to get to work. ‘It’s only a mile and a half each way but it just adds more physical activity into my week without much effort. I’ve got in the habit of leaving my phone at home when I walk to work. It makes me more in the moment when I’m walking, more mindful.’

‘A diet I can control’

There’s another factor to Jennifer’s walk-to-work days. She does them on her two fasting days as part of LighterLife Fast, for which she’s an ambassador. Based on the 5:2 diet, LighterLife Fast 5:2 is a diet plan whereby on two days each week you eat 600-800 calories with four LighterLife Fast products.