Fleur East is enjoying her last days of vacation before getting back to work on Strictly Come Dancing. The British singer posted some pictures of herself in a gorgeous green bikini, basking in the sun with a cocktail. “Catching the last few rays of sun before the dancing begins!! #strictlycomedancing 🪩💃🏾🕺,” she captioned the Instagram post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways East stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don’t miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!
East knows that the right mindset is essential when it comes to exercise. “I think the main thing is your mentality,” she tells Marie Claire. “I think a lot of people see the gym as a punishment, chore, or something that’s really tough. Something that you can’t do unless you’re really fit already. Shifting your mindset to look at it differently and educating yourself about it so that you see it as part of your everyday routine is key. Even if that means waking up in the morning and just doing fifteen minutes – it counts.”
East likes to keep things interesting with exercise, so her body doesn’t become accustomed to just one type of workout. “It’s a mixture because I have a lot of choreography so I dance a lot,” she tells HELLO. “I do a lot of circuit training in the gym, so a lot of cardio, some weights, and I’ve just now started doing reformer classes which is really hard. I think it’s really important to switch it up, because your body gets comfortable if you do the same thing all the time. Also, it makes it more fun if you do different things each time.”
East says her cheat meal is a “massive plate” of Jollof rice, a classic West African dish. “Athletes often opt for white rice as a preferred source of energy, especially when refueling after exercise,” says nutritionist Kerry Torrens. “This is because refined carbs, like white rice, are a source of quick, easily accessible carbohydrate which is needed to replenish muscle glycogen after physical exertion.”
East works out for both the mental and physical benefits. “I don’t see it as a chore,” she says. “I see it as something that I need to maintain for my mental health and productivity. I need to make time for it. So rather than watching another Netflix episode, I might spend that time doing HIIT, doing some yoga on YouTube, or walking somewhere – you know, just doing something physical. Movement always sets me up for the day and keeps me focused.”
“I don’t really follow a particular diet but in general everybody knows what’s good for them,” East says. “I tend to eat healthy anyway, and every now and then I’ll have a treat day where I’ll have a pizza or something, every now and then. I don’t deprive myself, but then to be honest I think I’m quite lucky in that I don’t crave those things very often, I actually really like healthy food. I like chicken, grilled chicken and salad and fish and things like that.” Salad and healthy proteins offer a wealth of health benefits, experts say. “Several extensive scientific studies have shown that people who eat fish regularly (1-4 servings/week) have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, and complications from heart disease,” says registered dietician Jenn Gerard Lovewell. “Omega-3 fatty acids tend to get all the attention for this, but the beneficial effects are more likely due to the synergy of a wide range of vitamins and nutrients that are abundant in fish. Seafood provides more Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D than any other food, and both are critical for ongoing health and mobility. Looking to increase or optimize your high-quality protein intake? Seafood boasts the most protein per calorie (fun fact—spinach is up there too!)”