How Claudia Winkleman looks so good at 52 despite HATING exercise – with at least 1 nap a day & more low-effort tips
WE can’t seem to get enough of Claudia Winkleman at the moment, as the BBC Traitors host has returned to our screens for the third series of the smash-hit show.
With her striking makeup, eccentric wardrobe and iconic hair do – faithful fans are desperate to know everything about her.
And there’s absolutely no denying that just a few days away from turning 53, Claudia looks years younger than her age.
So just how does she do it?
You’d be forgiven for thinking she sticks to a super strict workout regime to keep her lean and toned figure.
But actually, Claudia revealed on Gabby Logan’s podcast The Mid•Point she’s no exercise fan.
She told Gabby: “I don’t like physical exertion of any kind.”
Claudia said she doesn’t like the feeling of sweating, and she’s ‘too impatient’ to stick to a long-term exercise plan.
She joked: “I want to go twice and feel like Elle Macpherson. The moment they say you’ll see a difference in three months, I’m out.”
Instead, Claudia opts for low-impact, slow moving exercise without commitment and prioritises rest through a daily nap.
Claudia’s low-effort method
Walking
In November 2021, Claudia revealed to Marie Claire that she got really into walking during lockdown.
She said living in an urban area without a garden forced her and her family to get their fresh air by walking around London – dubbing their newfound hobby ‘urban walking’.
And she manages to fit some London stomping into her commute too, going on to say: “My only movement is to go on the Central line. I get the tube at 7.45am and 3.30pm. I like a march to the entrance.”
Reformer pilates
While guest starring on The Mid•Point, she told Gabi about her reformer pilates class: “It’s round the corner from me, so I can go there and everybody is lovely – it’s super quiet.”
But it’s a hobby she takes very casually: “They talk to me about parts of my body and say things like ‘the problem is you’ve never used your lats’, and I’m like ‘what’s that?'”
Reformer pilates boomed in popularity in 2024, loved by celebs like Margot Robbie, Selena Gomez and Meghan Markle.
But classes can be expensive, so if you can’t make it to a class like Claudia, there are at-home options instead.
Sleep
When she’s not busy keeping the nation entertained on their TV screens, clever Claudia also writes a column for The Times.
In March 2023, she wrote about the importance of sleep, and more specifically a ‘daytime snooze’.
Claudia wrote: “I’d like to discuss the importance of a daytime snooze. Call it a ‘meeting’, call it a ‘bit of me time’. Whatever: get into bed whenever you can – for 20 minutes after the school run, for 30 after work, definitely at lunchtime if you’re WFH.”
And this appreciation for some good shut-eye has likely been instilled by her mother, as she told Marie Claire in October 2022: ” I’d say [the best] advice on all things is from my mum, which is: get back into bed. Sleep. Sleep all the time if you can.”
How much exercise should you do and when?
There are guidelines issued by the NHS and the Government regarding how much exercise people should do each day.
People should be active daily, and avoid sitting for long periods.
The NHS recommends an adults – those aged 19 to 64 – should aim for 150 minutes of “moderate intensity activity” a week.
This works out to 21 minutes a day, or 30 minutes five days a week.
Or, they could do 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, which could be less than 11 minutes per day or 25 minutes three days a week.
Adults should also aim to do strength exercises twice a week, at least.
Examples of moderate-intensity activities include brisk walking, water aerobics, riding a bike, dancing, doubles tennis, pushing a lawn mower, hiking or rollerblading.
Examples of vigorous activities include running, swimming, riding a bike fast or on hills, walking up the stairs, sports, like football, rugby, netball and hockey, skipping, aerobics, gymnastics or martial arts.
Things like lifting heavy weights, sprinting up hills, spin classes or circuit training are considered very vigorous.
What time should you exercise?
Getting exercise into your day, no matter what time is a good idea.
But you may want to be more selective depending on your goal.
A 2023 US study on 5,285 middle-aged adults showed exercising between 7 and 9 am was the best time if you’re looking to lose weight.
Researchers found that early-bird gym goers had a lower body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference than those working out later.
A 2022 study led by Prof Paul J Arciero, Skidmore College, New York, found that the optimal time of day to get your kit on might differ according to your gender.
Prof Arciero said women wanting to lose fat around their belly and hips would do better to hit the gym in the morning, but those seeking to gain upper body strength or simply improve their mood might see more results from evening exercise.
The results were the opposite for men.
If you struggle to get to sleep, it’s been found that exercise in the morning may help, but exercise in the evening may help you to stay asleep.
Exercise, generally, can improve sleep quality.