Midlife Fitness Files: The Telegraph's new health series, in which we get keep fit advice from the experts as they talk us through their weekly workouts and daily diet
Bobbi Brown, 62, is founder of Bobbi Brown cosmetics, a brand she left in 2016 to pursue a career in wellness. She lives in Montclair, New Jersey, with her husband Steven, a commercial real estate developer. They have three grown up children: Dylan, 29; Dakota, 27; and Duke, 21.
'I thought: "I can't compare myself to these women"'
'I've always struggled with my weight. I'm five foot and only need a week of bread and cookies to put on ten pounds. When I graduated college at 21 and moved to New York City to work in fashion, I was surrounded by the eighties supermodels - and full of insecurities. I joined a slimming club and went on my first calorie controlled diet. For the ensuing decade, I was always on some cleanse or starvation diet.
'At 30, while pregnant with my first baby and doing a live swimsuit show, I looked up and saw Linda, Christy, Naomi et al, each of them 21 and perfect and thought: I cant compare myself to these women, I am always going to lose. The only person I have to compete with is myself. After that, I started taking better care of myself eating healthy and moving my body.'
My workout week: yoga, Peloton and circuit training
'Ive never felt better, fitness-wise, than I do now at 62! Until two years ago, though, I would do the most intense moves in classes full of 30-somethings and without modifying, then my back would go. I have learned where to adapt and adjust, and where to push myself. On Mondays, my yoga instructor comes to the house and my husband and I do an hour and a half of vinyasa flow yoga, followed by 20 minutes in our infra-red sauna, which helps with muscle recovery. Tuesdays and Thursdays, my trainer comes and we do circuits planks, squats, lunges and some weights. I have a Peloton [stationary] bike in my bedroom and do a class a week with [instructors] Ally Love or Alex Toussant.'
How I eat: intermittent fasting and clothes in two sizes
'Ive tried everything plant-based, keto, alkaline but what works for me is an intuitive eating style. Anything restrictive makes me want to eat more. Now, I eat healthy, quality food and avoid sugar and white flour but if Im in Paris, Im eating the baguette at every meal. The only trendy thing I do is intermittent fasting. I finish eating by 8.30pm and start eating again at 10.30 the next day. Its been a miracle. Ive suffered with gut issues all my life, but since starting in October last year Ive lost four pounds I want to lose another seven and no longer get stomach ache after eating.'
Typical day's eating:
Breakfast: none.
11.30am: scoop of chocolate protein powder in almond milk made into a hot cocoa or plain yogurt and berries.
1pm: salad with salmon or tuna, two rice cakes, two squares dark chocolate.
4pm: two crackers with mozzarella cheese and salsa, microwaved and made into mini-pizza.
7pm: Grilled fish, a green vegetable and, if I had an intense day, a carb (see below), cup of blueberries.
VITAL STATS
Body hack: Having accepted my weight goes up and down, I have my favourite clothes in two sizes. No one notices (but me) if Im having a fat day anyway.
Worst diet habit: Pizza. If I wont get off the table until I have had four pieces.
Alcohol: A vodka on the rocks about five nights a week. A good martini, up and cold with three olives, about twice a month but each one is two and a half serves of alcohol, so any more and I cant function the next day.
Carbs: A cup of brown rice, lentil pasta or half a sweet potato with dinner, if the day has been manic and I need calming down, otherwise none. Im obsessed with rye crackers, and will have about four before eating out so I dont get to the restaurant famished.
Coffee: A double espresso every morning (any more coffee makes me more tired than awake), a matcha tea in the afternoon.
Sugar: I have a sweet tooth, but sugary foods make me feel instantly awful, so I try and avoid them. I do love Halo Top, the low-calorie, high-protein ice cream for a sweet fix.
Meat: I like a good steak or burger once a week, but eat much more fish. My first dinner when I get to London will be at Scotts: their Dover sole is like nothing I have ever tasted.
Best diet for skin: Drinking lots of water. Olive oil, avocado, coconut oil, go low-fat and your skin will be terrible. Lots of fruit and vegetables; theyre full of nutrients that skin loves.
* Bobbis new supplement line Evolution_18 is available online and selected Boots stores
Read more here:
Midlife Fitness Files: Bobbi Brown on the best types of yoga and 'intuitive' eating - Telegraph.co.uk
