Stay-fit secrets of the stars

Celebrities\' healthy hobbies

Not all celebrities dine on lettuce leaves and spend six hours in the gym every day, you know. Many of them swear by more down-to-earth mind and body fitness secrets that could work for you, too. We reveal the healthy hobbies that help our favourite stars stay in shape.

By Jane Murphy

For more on exercise, click here

For more on celebrities, click here

Dame Helen Mirren, 63

Best known for... An illustrious acting career that\'s seen her win an Oscar for her performance as Her Majesty in The Queen and numerous accolades for her role as DCI Jane Tennison in TV crime drama Prime Suspect.

What\'s her healthy hobby? Although she does make the occasional trip to the gym, the actress says she gets \'lots of exercise\' by walking her dogs. Taking Rover for a leisurely hour-long stroll burns around 220 calories an hour. But that\'s not all: research also shows that just spending time with our four-legged friends can lower blood pressure and reduce stress levels.

Helen says: \'I\'ve never done anything to excess. I\'ve never drunk or eaten too much. It helps to stay balanced.\'

Madonna, 50

Best known for... Being the reigning Queen of Pop since the mid-80s. Having continually reinvented herself throughout her career, mum-of-three Madonna is currently strutting her stuff on-stage in her Sticky & Sweet world tour.

What\'s her healthy hobby? Madonna\'s current secret fitness weapon is Tracy Anderson, the personal trainer she shares with close friend Gwyneth Paltrow. Tracy puts Madge through her paces with a varied high-impact dance cardio workout, combined with toning exercises. Find out more at www.tracyandersonmethod.com.

Madonna says: \'There are no tricks. Tricks don\'t work. Discipline does.\'

Elle Macpherson, 44

Best known for... Her body, of course! Australian supermodel Elle - aka The Body - has also starred in several hit movies, including Sirens and Batman & Robin, and designs her own lingerie range, Intimates.

What\'s her healthy hobby? Elle goes for regular Power Plate workouts. These hi-tech exercise machines have proved massively popular with busy women like Elle because they can condense a full body workout into just 15 minutes. How so? Well, they work by transferring vibrations to your body\'s muscles, making them contract as if you were doing the exercise over and over again. Find out more at www.powerplate.com.

Elle says: \'Even after only two weeks I could see a difference in my legs and stomach. It really works: everything seems so much firmer.\'

Catherine Zeta-Jones, 38

Best known for... Graduating from the BBC\'s The Darling Buds of May to a fully-fledged Hollywood superstar with an Oscar under her belt - and marrying Tinseltown veteran Michael Douglas along the way.

What\'s her healthy hobby? Catherine snubs the gym in favour of a round of golf with husband Michael. That way, she gets to exercise in the open air - which is a great way to de-stress and boost your circulation - and spend quality time with her partner. An hour\'s golf can burn around 150 calories.

Catherine says: \'It clears my mind and I\'m not thinking about anything except that little white ball.\'

Want to try it? Here\'s our top 10 coastal golf courses

Kim Wilde, 47

Best known for... An illustrious \'80s pop career that saw her top the UK and US charts with hits such as \'Kids in America\' and \'You Keep Me Hangin\' On\'.

What\'s her healthy hobby? OK, so it\'s less of a hobby and more of a career - but Kim has now become a professional gardener. She spends as much time as possible indulging her passion in the great outdoors - and, of course, all that digging and weeding helps her muscles stay super-toned. An hour\'s gardening can burn around 450 calories.

Kim says: \'I was a bit starstruck when I met Alan Titchmarsh. I surprised myself. I was a bit tongue-tied.\'

Jennifer Aniston, 39

Best known for... Starring as Rachel Green in 10 series of US sitcom Friends - before carving out an impressive movie career. Oh, and having once been married to Brad Pitt, of course.

What\'s her healthy hobby? Jen keeps in shape with two-hour-long Pilates sessions with her personal trainer Mandy Ingber. This series of exercises helps to develop core muscle strength, as well as aligning and straightening the body. To find a Pilates class near you, go to www.bodycontrol.co.uk.

Jennifer says: \'I\'m a Pilates person. I had chronic backache, a pinched nerve and a hip problem, and it\'s completely solved all of it. I love it. It makes me feel like I\'m taller.\'

Cameron Diaz, 36

Best known for... Being one of Hollywood\'s most sought-after - and highly paid - actresses, having starred in hit movies such as There\'s Something About Mary, Charlie\'s Angels and The Holiday.

What\'s her healthy hobby? Californian girl Cameron takes time off to go surfing whenever possible - sometimes spending four or five hours out with her board. Surfing can burn up to 600 calories per hour. Want to try something a little less energetic? A gentle 20-minute swim in the sea can still burn around 100 calories.

Cameron says: \'Surfing is a religious experience for me. You get to be a part of Mother Nature and experience its power. I have a great respect for the ocean.\'

Want to try it? You\'re never too old to learn - read about \'silver surfers\' here 

Demi Moore, 45

Best known for... Starring in box office smashes such as Ghost and Indecent Proposal - plus marrying toy-boy lover Ashton Kutcher, who\'s 15 years her junior.

What\'s her healthy hobby? Demi\'s now given up her much-charted gruelling exercise regime, which involved long-distance runs and hours of exhausting gym work, in favour of regular brisk walks in the fresh air. This helps maintain muscle tone and aerobic fitness but still leaves plenty of time and energy to enjoy the rest of her life.

Demi says: \'I say everything in moderation. After three kids, gravity and nature take their toll. I don\'t kill myself any more.\'

Want to try it? Click here for our 24-week walking plan 

Halle Berry, 41

Best known for... Her Oscar-winning role in 2001\'s Monster\'s Ball - plus a string of other critically acclaimed movies.

What\'s her healthy hobby? New mum Halle got back in shape with a strict five-day-a-week post-pregnancy workout. But she also keeps her mind fit and healthy with regular meditation sessions. By clearing the mind of intrusive and worrying thoughts, meditation helps create \'inner space\' so you\'ll feel better able to deal with whatever life throws at you. To find a meditation class near you, go to www.meditationclass.co.uk.

Halle says: \'I meditate and pray all the time. The faith and respect I have in the power of God in my life is what I\'ve used to keep myself grounded.\'

Brooke Shields, 43

Best known for... Becoming an instant child star following her lead role in 1980\'s Blue Lagoon - before going on to star in plenty more big-screen and TV hits.

What\'s her healthy hobby? Brooke keeps in shape with regular Spinning classes - a fast-paced routine on stationary bikes. It\'s a ruthless calorie-burner and fabulous muscle-toner - but if you fancy something a little less leisurely, try going for a 30-minute bike ride instead. Even half an hour\'s gently cycling should burn off around 200 calories.

Brooke says: \'Spinning is the only way I ever lose weight. It\'s purely about keeping my heart rate up and burning calories.\'

Want to try it?  Read all about cycling for health and fitness

Davina McCall, 40

Best known for... Presenting our annual TV nightmare, Big Brother - as well as a disparate collection of other small-screen hits and misses.

What\'s her healthy hobby? For mum-of-three Davina, variety is key. She works out with personal trainers three times a week, and tries to do something different each time: one day, she\'ll be kick-boxing in the park, and the next she\'ll be doing jumping exercises. And when she\'s away from home, she works out to her exercise DVD, Davina McCall - High Energy Five (£11.98, www.amazon.co.uk).

Davina says: \'I\'m really pleased with my stomach. It\'s my flattest bit and I never thought I\'d get it back.\'

Want to try it? Click here for 100 inspiring exercise ideas 

Like that?

Try these:

Pick the right kit and make exercising easier: what to wear when you work out 

Stay fit and healthy whatever your age: be in tip-top condition in your 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s 

Get fabulous hair at any age: celebrity hair tips