I'll Get You Beach Body Happy!

Want to feel your best on holiday this year? Lucy Mecklenburgh shares her secrets to a fit body and a contented mind

- Jo Ebsworth

If there’s anyone who knows about feeling their best on the beach, it’s Lucy Mecklenburgh. Thanks to six years of consistent healthy eating and regular workouts with her PT Cecilia Harris – also co-founder of Lucy’s online fitness, nutrition and wellbeing platform Results With Lucy (RWL; resultswithlucy.com) – the former reality star-turned-entrepreneur is always snapped looking honed and toned on her holidays. But prior to turning her lifestyle around, Lucy wasn’t always so happy to flash the flesh in revealing swimwear.

‘I can’t say I had zero confidence, but I didn’t feel great,’ the 27-year-old explains. ‘I was used to eating loads of rubbish and not exercising and, as a result, my weight gradually crept up; I was getting more cellulite and my skin got worse. I started developing body hang-ups and feeling a bit horrible about myself, reaching for a big kaftan to cover up every time I left my sun lounger. But once I started working out and eating nutritious food, I felt so much better in my body and mind. My confidence skyrocketed because my skin cleared up – meaning I didn’t have to wear loads of make-up in the hot sun – my muscle tone improved and my anxiety reduced. I don’t think to feel self-conscious and exposed on the beach is a size thing. It’s a confidence thing. I’d love for all women to have the confidence to parade around in their cossies without a care in the world and enjoy their holiday to the maximum.’

Strong, not skinny