Gemma Atkinson spills on quality time with Gorka Marquez and tips for lockdown wellness
Exclusive: Gemma Atkinson has lifted the lid on how she keeps motivated in the gym, top tips for keeping a level head and spending lockdown with Strictly star boyfriend Gorka Marquez
Gemma Atkinson has lifted the lid on the simple joys of spending lockdown with her family as well as dishing her tips on staying motivated with fitness and wellbeing.
The actress has never been busier with her radio show, a presenting slot on Steph’s Packed Lunch, overseeing her activewear line and working on a soon to be released new book.
That’s on top of being a hands-on mum to daughter Mia and her beloved ‘fur babies’ Norman and Ollie.
35-year-old Gemma is also currently championing boyfriend Gorka Marquez as he competes in the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Romance blossomed for Gemma and the hunky Spanish professional when they met on the show in 2017. The loved-up pair have since welcomed their first daughter Mia, who turned one in July.
“He’s doing so well with the show and he misses home so much,” Gemma said of her partner, who topped the leaderboard in the first week of Strictly 2020 with EastEnders actress Maisie Smith.
Gemma, a former soap star herself, has been delighting fans with videos of daughter Mia dancing along to Gorka and Maisie’s routines, after giving their partnership a ‘ten out of ten’ rating herself.
While Gorka spent the first few months of the year touring with fellow Strictly professionals, he and Gemma were back under one roof full-time in lockdown, which Gemma says was one upside to going through the pandemic.
“It was actually really lovely to be all together,” she gushed. “Gorka works away a lot so it was good to have that time together. Obviously it was horrendous for some people, but we just said, ‘Look, it is what it is. We’re not going to get this time back. Let’s embrace it.
“Normally with us juggling our work one of us will look after Mia and one of us will walk the dogs for example, but during lockdown we could do things as a family.
“We had a lovely weather too which was great. Before lockdown we always had to juggle things. It sounds silly but even bathing the dogs after a walk with Mia involved it was just nice to do things as a family.
“We won’t have that back so we tried to make the most of it,” said Gemma, who has teamed up with dog food brand Purina to celebrate the dogs that helped their owners through lockdown.
The star said she and fellow fitness buff Gorka were also ‘very lucky’ to have full use of their at home gym during that time.
Gemma says that keeping her energy levels and well-being on track are more important than ever during testing times.
Giving away some of her top tips, Gemma revealed: “I always think getting up in the fresh air is the best medicine for anybody.
“I get up most mornings at 5 o’ clock – which sounds early – but I’ll be in bed by nine or ten o’clock at the latest.”
Gemma also told how she works out three to four times a week for about 45 minutes to an hour each session.
“I plan my training sessions like important business meetings scheduled throughout the day. Even to the point where if one of my friends wants to make arrangements or it’s work, I say, ‘Yes, I can do it but not during my planned training session.
“I always prioritise that because I think that taking care of myself makes taking care of Mia, Gorka and Norman and Ollie so much easier,” admitted Gemma.
But while she likes to work up a sweat with gruelling workout sessions, Gemma says she knows life is all about balance.
“I’m very wary of the importance of rest days and those days where you think, ‘Do you know what? I’m going to put the duvet on the couch and get the dogs involved while I eat a pizza and watch a film.
“It’s 80% what my body needs and 20% what my body wants. You don’t need to kill yourself in the gym or starve yourself,” she explained.
“For me fitness is never really a chore. I don’t think ‘Oh no! I have to work out today”, I think, ‘Yes! I get to move my body today, I get to exercise,” she added.
Gemma, who is the proud owner of dogs Sproodle Norman and Cocker Spaniel Ollie, is currently supporting the Real Dogs Campaign by PURINA BETA.
The campaign asks people to share stories of how their dogs have helped them through the Covid-19 lockdown.
The winning entry will be rewarded by having their dog’s face feature on a limited-edition pack of PURINA BETA.
“Dogs are so loyal and loving and I think it’s great that PURINA are repaying them for that,” explained animal-lover Gemma.
“Even before lockdown my dogs have unknowingly helped me through so much.
“But during that time it was so good to have the extra company and also having to go out and walk them classed as exercise
“And if you’re at home sat on the couch feeling sorry for yourself they can be a lifeline for you.”
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