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As one of the most famous faces in the world,Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is always on her A-game. Any time she steps out, she becomes the subject of international intrigue, and everything she does is photographed and worthy of recognition. With this notoriety comes immense pressure, which I believe Meghan handles with dignity and grace, and many questions about every element of her life.
Since Meghan joined the royal family, many of her fans have been impressed by her fit physique and her holistic approach to health, wellness and exercise. I’m incredibly proud to say that Meghan has been a long-time and loyal fan of the Lagree Fitness Method, from her early acting days, throughout her career, and likely even now, in her life as a royal. The Lagree Fitness Method is a high-intensity, low-impact muscular endurance workout that all fitness levels, body types and ages can partake in, and it essentially combines strength, endurance, core work, cardio, balance and flexibility training.
As a Lagree devotee, Meghan shares our values and fitness philosophy, and I’m thrilled to see how many people have been inspired to change their lives and get in better shape because of Meghan. If this is you, and you’re determined to make 2020 your year, look no further: here are the Meghan’s secrets for success, and the ultimate tips you need to implement into your life in order to look - and feel - as good as the duchess herself:
1.Fall in love with fitness
Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, is a yoga instructor, “so that practice is in my blood,” she told Women’s Health U.K. in 2017. The former actress has always been passionate about yoga and pilates, taking after Doria, so Lagree Fitness on Megaformer machines was the perfect addition to her life. Meghan raved about Megaformer workouts, which are more intense than a typical Reformer machine and give the user a full-body workout with the opportunity to shed up to 800 calories in less than an hour. “The results are incredible,” Meghan told WH. “There are so many workouts that you can try and never go back to; [this] is the complete opposite. You keep coming back for several reasons; first off, your body completely changes immediately. Give it two classes, and you will see a difference.”
2.Consistency is key
Working out has always been a routine part of the royal’s life, and she has prioritized hitting the gym despite her busy schedule. I believe that Meghan, who reportedly has her own yoga studio in her Windsor home with Prince Harry, uses the Megaformer machine approximately three times a week. I always recommend that my clients use Lagree two or three times a week. Meghan is in great shape, and regularly works out; she goes to Studio Lagree in London, took classes at Pilates Platinum in Los Angeles before moving across the pond, and also regularly took Lagree classes in Toronto while she was filming Suits. Women like Meghan absolutely love the Megaformer because it focuses on strengthening, sculpting, and tightening, and it is evident through Meghan’s appearance that her workouts incorporate all of these factors. You don’t bulk up using the Megaformer; you get long and lean.
3.Develop healthy habits
It’s essential to nourish your body while increasing your workout routine in order to ensure you’re living a balanced life and your body can handle the new demands you are putting on it. Eating your greens is easier said than done, but Meghan has offered some creative suggestions in the past to make eating healthier not as boring as it has to be. She told iThe Chalkboard in 2015 that, for breakfast, she makes a vanilla shake with blueberries, or an acai bowl with fresh berries and honey. She also champions smoothies for extra energy, rather than over-indulging in caffeine. “It’s easy to fall into the trap of rushing for a coffee when you hit that 4 P.M. slump,” she told Today in June 2012. “But if I blend some apple, kale, spinach, lemon and ginger in my Vitamix in the morning and bring it to work, I always find that sipping on that is a much better boost than a cup of espresso.”
4.Get cooking
While eating out is fun, so often the food we are served excessively includes ingredients our bodies do not need. Whether it be the butter, seasoning, unhealthy oils, or portions that are far too big for one person to consume, restaurants can be tricky. When you’re on a roll in your fitness routine, do as the duchess does, and cook at home! This way, you can be fully in charge of what you are making and putting into your body. “I really love to cook,” she told Good Housekeeping in May 2017, noting that she loves making chia seed pudding, zucchini pasta, and snacking on hummus, carrots, green juice and almond milk while getting busy in the kitchen.
5.Accept yourself
As you develop a comfortable relationship with food and fitness, embrace yourself for all of yourself - not just the positive parts. Self-love is an on-going journey, something the duchess knows far too well. “It takes time. To be happy.” she wrote on her former lifestyle blog The Tig in August 2014. “To figure out how to be kind to yourself. To not just choose that happiness, but to feel it.
Got a fitness question? Email Sebastien at [email protected] for his expert opinion!
