Exercise Keeps Me Sane!'

Morning TV host Lorraine Kelly tells Faye M Smith how she’s taken back control of her body for good…

- Faye M Smith

There’s a big difference between ITV presenter Lorraine and a lot of celebrities who’ve released their own fitness DVDs, and it’s not just that the daytime star is turning 60 next year (something she’s fully embracing, by the way). But, almost two years since she launched her first high-energy dance aerobics DVD Brand New You, Lorraine has successfully sustained her weight loss, is happier with her body, and now feels passionate about exposing how fad diets and extreme workout regimes just don’t work in the long-term.

‘I literally worked my bum off, and I’m still working it off, to maintain that weight loss – you have to make it part of your life,’ says Lorraine, who dropped d three dress sizes after joining instructor and good pal, Maxine Jones’ London-based fitness classes almost five years ago. ‘If there was a shortcut we’d all do it, but there isn’t. I look at some of these DVDs and it breaks my heart as I know that the celebrity who has had that big transformation will put the weight back on. You can’t stick to eating under 1,000 calories and exercising for three to four hours a day – it’s not possible in the real world.’

Lorraine’s own weekly workout regime is far more achievable, as it’s the same as her DVD and, more importantly, she loves it. She still goes to Maxine’s class on a Monday, and clears her living room on a Wednesday to stream an online class from home. Then, if she has time, she’ll follow it up with 5-10 minutes of arm exercises or a shorter version of the class on Friday.