Vanessa Carreira shares her baby slimming secrets!

Zalebs: How’s mommyhood treating you?

VC: Fantastic! I love being a mother; it’s my most fulfilling role to date.

Zalebs: You must have your hands full with the kids! How do you make time for exercise? 

VC: At this stage with the babies being so small it is difficult but I try to fit it in wherever possible. We have a staircase at home and obviously with four kids I'm constantly running up and down so I try to pick up the pace a little. I also fill arbitrary minutes with exercise if I can, for example, the four minutes used to sterilise baby bottles are filled with squats and lunges. The two minutes I take to brush my teeth are filled with leg raises. We also have a treadmill at home so if I have 10 minutes free I'll do a brisk walk - every little bit helps I think.

Zalebs: Are you currently on a strict eating and exercise plan? 

VC: Not at all! I’m breastfeeding so I need to keep my energy up so I try very hard to eat a healthy varied diet. Of course given the chaos it is easy to forget to eat proper meals so I try to graze on healthy snacks like fruit, dried fruit, energy bars and seed bars throughout the day.

Zalebs: What’s your top tip for women wanting to get in shape? 

VC: As I mentioned, every little bit helps. Start off slowly and build up gradually until you're feeling stronger. 

Zalebs: You’re the ambassador of Adventure Boot Camp for Women. What do you love about the camps? 

VC: It’s a great varied workout and I love working out outdoors, there is something exhilarating about being outside!

Zalebs: What do you love most about your body? 

VC: I love that it's healthy and that it has brought four children into the world. I feel strong and vital and I love that feeling of capability.

Zalebs: What do you enjoy most about being a mom? 

VC: The simple rewards, a smile or a hug from my three year old. The responsibility of raising children can sometimes be daunting but every minute is validated when you witness your child growing into a thoughtful, intelligent and conscientious person.

Zalebs: How do you take time out from your busy schedule? 

VC: I have an amazing husband who spoils me weekly by booking an at-home massage for me. It’s an hour of peace and quiet and I relish it!

1. Prev:Make the most of lunch time and lose weight
2. Next:Lose weight by walking or biking