Ruby Barker is rocking climbing and showing off her fit figure. In a few new social media posts, the Bridgerton star reveals that she recently broke her arm after engaging in one of her favorite workouts: Rock climbing. “My left arm looks jacked 💪🏽 @lastsundance still climbing; still here; still humbled; and still loving life.” How does the actress, 27, approach health and wellness and how has she transformed her mental and physical health over the last year? Here is everything you need to know about her health journey.
In September 2023, Ruby shared a before-and-after photo of her “beautiful bodies” and opened up about her journey. “It’s not been an overnight thing, it took months for me to completely surrender to my lifestyle adaptations with the aim to better my physical, spiritual and emotional health; small changes quickly became big wins,” she explained. “I would have panic attacks at the thought of stepping foot in a gym, I would pretend I wasn’t out of breathe after climbing stairs and run to the bathroom to catch it back, I would starve myself all day, then binge, binge, binge, feel like crap then do it all over again.”
“In the first picture, I was not happy. I felt like I’d lost not only my mind, but my will to take care of my inner child and cook for her, clean for her, work for her, get out and live for her,” Ruby continued in the post, adding that “weight loss and toning up” was “a byproduct of inner work.. Cooking, moving, sleeping, accepting where I am and still getting back up.”
“Getting outdoors, going for walks,” has also been instrumental in her journey, she revealed in a social media post. Going for a daily walk can be a game changer in terms of exercise, especially at a brisk speed. One study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that walking at a brisk pace for about 30 minutes a day led to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia and death, compared with walking a similar number of steps but at a slower pace.
Ruby trains with Muyi, a personal trainer and Online Coach, who promotes strength training mixed with cardio. She also joined his O.Fit Run Club, a running club. “With the guidance of @o.fit.uk @muyi.o.fit and my friends, I’m in love with being more active and self caring than ever before. Health is wealth,” she wrote in her September 2023 post. According to the Mayo Clinic, strength and weight training help reduce body fat, preserve and increase lean muscle mass, and burn calories more efficiently. Strength training may also help you:
- Develop strong bones
- Manage your weight
- Enhance your quality of life
- Manage chronic conditions
- Sharpen your thinking skills
Ruby is very open about her mental health struggles. She recently revealed that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
According to the NHS, rock climbing boasts mental and physical health benefits. It can improve stamina while working multiple muscle groups at once. “Climbing involves concentration and thought, as well as physical exercise, which helps to keep you focused, clear your mind of outside worries, and build your confidence and self-esteem,” they add. “This may help to alleviate the symptoms of some mental health problems.”