Celebrity Health – Janette Manrara

Image of Janette Manrara © Nicky Johnston

Strictly star Janette Manrara talks to Liz Parry about how she maintains her health and fitness whilst juggling a busy schedule

The darker nights and colder temperatures may be here, but Strictly Come Dancing always brings a welcome burst of glitz and glamour to our TV screens. Professional dancer Janette Manrara first joined the show in 2013 and took part in eight series, partnering with the likes of Peter Andre, Aston Merrygold and Jake Wood. Currently, Janette presents the BBC Two show Strictly: It Takes Two and is the official host of the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Arena Tour. She is married to fellow Strictly professional Aljaj Skorjanec and the couple have a one-year-old daughter called Lyra.

Q As a busy working mum with a young child, how do you maintain good health and sustained energy?

Janette: I think I try and prioritise routine. When you have a lot going on and you have to raise a little baby, routine helps keep things in order. So I make sure that I get sleep when I can and I lock in my times in the gym to keep myself feeling good and motivated and high energy. I take a lot of supplements. I take B12, Lion’s Mane, magnesium and my New Nordic Collagen Shot, because I’m obsessed with my skincare. I think that routine helps me stay good and healthy with sustained energy for Lyra and work.

Q Do you like to follow a healthy diet?

Janette: I don’t necessarily follow a super strict healthy diet. I just do proportions. So, if I know I’ve been a little bit naughty for breakfast and had something like pancakes, then for the rest of the day I’ll be more cautious with what I eat. In the mornings, I love having a fibre-rich cereal with a little bit of honey and a banana. That is my go-to breakfast every morning. Lunch will be mostly chicken, prawns or salmon with some rice and veggies on the side. I do a little bit of fasting, so I try not to eat late at night after 6pm.

Q Do you enjoy cooking healthy food?

Janette: I’m not necessarily the best cook, so I don’t cook as much as I would like. But when I do cook, it does tend to be quite healthy. I love stir-frying veggies with different meats and having that with a side of rice or mashed potatoes.

Q What is your current fitness regime like?

Janette: I try to go to the gym two or three times a week. I go for an hour and do a tiny bit of cardio, and then I get into the weight training. I find that weight training has been really, really helpful for me and my fitness over the last couple of years.

Q What do you do to relax and switch off?

Janette: It sounds really clichéd but I love being at home and popping on a good Netflix series and ordering in some food. Best kind of way to switch off! Also, when the weather is nice, just going outside for a lovely walk. Where Aljaj and I live, we have beautiful walks where it’s really green and there are lots of trees. This weekend we went for the loveliest long walk and enjoyed the scenery, each other’s company and just the quiet.

Q What are your top health and fitness tips?

Janette: I know it’s not always easy to eat really healthily or have a balanced diet. So, for me, getting my supplements in, looking after my skin and getting to the gym makes me feel like I’ve done something to look after my fitness. Also it’s about finding something that you really enjoy doing and look forward to going back to. I’ve never done a gym session and not felt really good and high energy after I’ve finished it. So, remembering that on those days where it’s a bit tougher to get up and go is important.

Janette Manrara is the brand ambassador for New Nordic’s Collagen Shot, £29.99, a premium liquid collagen sachet with a natural berry flavour. Find out more at newnordic.co.uk

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