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Fit And Famous

Denise Van Outen talks fitness, food and turning 40

Healthista recently caught up with actress, presenter and DJ Denise Van Outen  to talk fitness, personal challenges and turning 40 (watch the video interview to see she really is as much fun as she seems on telly)

She hasn’t always been on top of her eating habits ‘In my 20s I used eat all the things that you shouldn’t eat. Crisps were my downfall but I had to reassess everything when I turned 30. Now I have a four year old daughter [Betsy], I want to set an example to her.’

She used to be partial to a crisp. Now she snacks on more saintly almonds ‘My trainer Nicki Waterman, a few years ago introduced me to the benefits of snacking on almonds.  I have handful twice a day to keep my energy levels up (but crisps are still a bit of a guilty pleasure)’.

"The West End Men" Press Night - Arrivals

She’s bored by the gym To maintain focus in her fitness she does yearly physical challenges for charity. She has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and trekked the Great Wall of China. ‘This year’s challenge is a cycle from Vietnam to Cambodia. I train according to the challenge I’ve taken on so this year all my fitness will be based around trying to get myself strong with my bike and going out and cycling for hours.’

She just turned 40 ‘ The best thing about it is the confidence – I don’t worry too much what people think anymore.’

"Strictly Come Dancing" 2012 Series Launch - Arrivals

She can’t live without mascara and bronzer. ‘I swear by Mac mascara. I’m an Essex Girl at heart so I love a bronzer too – Bobbi Brown’s is brilliant and makes such a difference.’

Note to readers: Her make-up artist Lottie Brooksbank made a bronzer-wielding cameo at the end of the film

Typical day’s eating?

Breakfast: Porridge with almonds, banana, dried fruit and maybe a boiled egg at her daughter’s request

Lunch: Baked sweet potato with salad

Dinner: Grilled chicken or fish with vegetables

Snacks: handful of almonds

Denise Van Outen has teamed up with California Almonds to launch the Snack Happy+ Challenge, which encourages women to snack on a handful of almonds for 21 days to see how it makes them feel. To get inspired visit almonds.co.uk and tweet your progress using #snackhappy

More celeb lifestyle on HealthistaTV

Kirsty Gallacher – Circuit training and smoothies 

Jo Whiley’s new love of running

Davina McCall’s trainer Greg Whyte on how she got so insanely fit

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