@meghanmarkle
Meghan Markle lives a busy life. Having been in the spotlight since she landed the role of Rachel Zane in Suits back in 2011, the actress is also juggling a long-distance relationship between London and Toronto with Prince Harry, and still manages to fit in the philanthropic work she does – having been an ambassador and advocate for the UN and various charities in recent years.
So how, then, does she manage to maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle at the same time? This is how…
1. Doing yoga
“Yoga is my thing,” Markle said in an interview with Best Health. Explaining that her mother is a yoga instructor, she started the discipline as a child and has continued doing it ever since. And there’s no doubt she loves it: “There are so many benefits that come with the practice of yoga… increased flexibility and muscle strength, greater happiness, increased mental focus, a greater ability to relax, decreased anxiety and better sleep.
“That practice is in my blood,” she told Women’s Health UK.
2. Running
While the actress runs less now – “as I’ve gotten older, running has become hard on my knees, so I can’t run outside the way I used to,” she told Best Health – it used to be a regular part of her work-out routine. “I used to run all the time, but I typically get picked up for work at 4:15 in the morning on a Monday, so there isn’t much time for jogging and I would rather have that extra hour of sleep,” she told the magazine.
Speaking to Shape, Markle explained that she gets a lot more from running than just the fitness side of it. “I love running but I think you have to find a work out routine that really speaks to you beyond trying to get goals for your body,” she said a couple of years back. “For me, running, I need it as much for my head and to clear my head as I do for keeping in shape.”
3. Avoiding foods that make her feel sluggish
“I definitely try to eat as clean as possible. I definitely just try to avoid the things that I know are going to make me feel lethargic or sluggish,” she once told Shape. I eat mostly just fish and veggies – but I am also a foodie.”
4. Not depriving herself of the things she loves
Proving she’s just like any one of us, Markle said: “I could eat French fries all day. And I love pasta. I love carbs – who doesn’t love carbohydrate?” The actress did clarify while speaking to Best Health, however, that “when I’m filming, I’m conscious of what I eat. I try to eat vegan during the week and then have a little bit more flexibility with what I dig into on the weekends.”
This is a notion she’s always followed, saying in another interview: “On the weekends all bets are off, I think if you deprive yourself of anything you’re just going to crave it more, so for me it’s just finding that balance. Eating really good during the week and then treating yourself to whatever it is that you want over the weekend.”
5. Self-motivation
Markle usually tends to work out on her own, saying she’ll “do DVDs at home or I go for a run by myself”, but this obviously requires the motivation to get up and do it. “I think if you can self-motivate that’s half the battle,” she told Shape.
Speaking to Women’s Health UK, she explained what it is that encourages her to be active so often. “My health, my state of mind, the feeling you have after a workout; all of this things drive me to step onto my mat or go to the gym,” she said. “Sometimes the idea of working out sounds absolutely dreadful, but I always remind myself of how good it will feel afterward. Euphoric, almost!”
6. Making time to relax
Now this is one we can get on board with. She might work hard, but Markle also remembers it’s important to chill once in a while. “I give myself the luxury of downtime,” she told Women’s Health UK. “We are all so incredibly busy and juggling so many things but I always take an hour to just decompress, watch mindless TV, snuggle with my dogs and enjoy a glass of wine. That’s all part of the investment. It’s a balance.”
7. Drinking Green juices
Speaking to Shape, Markle revealed she opts for a natural source of energy every time. “I think trying to go for coffee or things like that only end up hurting you in the end, so [I like] to get a really good natural source of energy like a great green juice. Something that just gets right into your system is a nice pick-me-up,” she said.
8. Home cooking
“I love to cook, so every day I’m cooking something, even if it’s just making a pesto that I can put in the fridge for later in the week or any little component that you feel like you can take some pride in I think is really important versus going out to eat, for me,” Markle once said. The fresher, the better as far as she’s concerned.
9. Drinking – but within reason
We knew we loved her for a reason. “Of course I’m going to have that glass of wine – it’s delicious and I enjoy it,” she said in conversation with Best Health. “Do the things you enjoy within reason. Know your body and what works for you and you’ll be fine.”
From: Harper’s BAZAAR UK
