We pinned down the gorgeous Gladiator, Angel and pumped her for all her health and fitness wisdom. If you're going to take fitness advice from someone, it may as well come from the best.
So ... What's your background? What were you doing before you landed the Gladiators gig?
I was a journalist by day and Taekwondo instructor by night. I still write freelance and instruct Taekwondo when I can.
How did you score the job as Angel on Gladiators?
I fought for it with a lot of sweat and determination.
On the show, you're depicted as the "nice one". Are you really that sweet?
Never confuse sweetness for weakness. Halos come off you know ... I compete as a martial artist, a heavenly mix of grace and aggression. It keeps my Challengers guessing. Every girl should embrace her inner warrior but never forget her inner Goddess! Although I compete graciously with the intent to bring out the best in my Challengers, I compete with a fighting spirit.
Your motto is "The magic of Angel is knowing that no dream is unattainable when you have the courage to fly." How can young girls build courage and confidence in themselves?
Find your passion and use your passion as a compass to guide you throughout your life. The hardest thing I found growing up was establishing my identity. It wasn't cool at school to do full contact sports like Taekwondo. When all the other girls were doing gymnastics I was sparring. But once you realise that it's okay to be different and own it, then life becomes easier. The only expectations you have to live up to are your own. When you believe in yourself, it's magic. You realise no dream is unattainable. Confidence is then courage and you will soar.
How did you get to be super fit?
My health is my wealth and I have always been committed to a healthy lifestyle. Super fitness isn't achieved in an instant, it's many years of hard work and dedication but the rewards are worth it. Anyone can get fit, but maintaining fitness is a test of self-discipline. Unlike strength, fitness can be lost in as little as two weeks. You have to integrate fitness into your life as a habit and value your health over all other priorities in your life, even if it means waking up earlier to go for a run or sacrificing an hour of television a week to do a cardio class.
How did you stay fit as a teen?
I was extremely active in my teens and always ate healthy and drank more than three litres of water a day. While training was sometimes challenging, it was never a chore because I found a sport that I was addicted to. I started Taekwondo when I was four and fell in love with the martial art. At school I also did classical ballet, athletics, swimming, diving, surfing and soccer. For me, the secret to staying fit as a teen was finding friends who were interested in fitness too.
How can we get motivated to exercise?
Never use vanity as motivation because it doesn't create enough meaning to keep you exercising long term. The greater meaning you attach to exercise the more chance you will have of sticking to it. I'm always driven by health. I want to have more energy, live a long time, decrease chances of disease and be happy.
Also, you should find friends who will exercise with you. They will help you to stay motivated because you become accountable not only to yourself but also to your friend. Find a mate and coach each other to stay on track.
What are some ways you can get fit without spending a lot of money on a gym membership?
Walking is sensational, low impact and very effective and then you can advance to running and cycling. First thing I do when I jump out of bed is stretch, followed by push ups using my bed as an incline, dips on a chair and sit ups holding a heavy phonebook on my chest for resistance. I also love using play equipment to train on when no one is around. Monkey bars for upper body strength such as chin ups and traversing, rope climbing, tyre hopping and net climbing are all excellent strength exercises.
How can you exercise, get fit and tone without building too much muscle?
Okay. Let's dispel this fear once and for all — "I don't exercise because I don't want to end up looking like a body builder." To build visibly large muscles takes many years and a commitment to strict diet and a particular method of resistance training. It is a difficult, complicated process for women because of our hormones. So you should never worry about building muscle.
Exercising in winter can be a bit of a pain; what are your tips for staying fit through the cooler months?
If you don't want to join a club and exercise indoors with an indoor soccer team, martial arts or dance club then I love to rug up in my most fabulous leg warmers, matching gloves and beanie and run. Rugging up and running is the best! You don't get as hot and there are less people exercising so you can have the track all to yourself.
Eating healthy is usually more difficult in winter as well. What foods do you go for that are healthy and still warm and tasty?
Hot sweet potato salads and warm oats with honey and strawberries because they are Low-GI carbohydrates. Hot roasted nuts are yummy and provide you with important good fats. Vegetable stir fries, grilled chicken and turkey are also fantastic high protein, high energy and low fat choices. Always opt for wholemeal hot toast over white bread.
What is the best sport for overall fitness?
I can speak from my experience and say Taekwondo or martial arts because it combines resistance training, agility, flexibility, cardiovascular and anaerobic conditioning. It builds a strong, toned, agile body. Not only does it give you a full body workout but you learn effective life saving skills in self defence. Nothing beats being a chick with a black belt.
Click here for Angel's seven-day action plan.
