LM: Congratulations on your dancing debutante in the blockbuster hit Beauty and the Beast. Do tell us a little more about how you got involved?
CP: Thank you! It was honestly one of the best experiences I’ve had! I’ve grown up watching Disney films, and Beauty and the Beast is definitely one of my favourites, so it was amazing to see behind the scenes of a childhood classic – it felt very surreal! I was cast for the role when I was actually still at college, which was really cool. I was completely star struck when I met Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and all the cast. It’s a memory I’ll never forget and knowing
I’ve been in a feature film will be a great story to tell the grandkids one day!
LM: What are your own fitness goals?
CP: My fitness goals are to keep progressing and to get fitter, faster. I’m always thinking about how to be a better version of myself. Setting short-term goals is the way forward, for example, improving my squats or cardiovascular fitness. I never limit myself because I’m always striving to be the happiest, strongest person I can possibly be. I absolutely love lifting heavy weights and trying to continuously better myself, so that when I get older, I’ll be even fitter!
LM: What does your nutrition look like both when you are training as well as on your days off?
CP: Every day I focus on my nutrition, even when I’m resting I think of it as a refuel day for the next day’s training, so you’ve got to ensure that you’ve taken in enough food. When training, I always listen to my body, if I’m under energised I give myself more carbs and would never skip my post workout protein and carbs.
LM: Is it ok to treat yourself occasionally?
CP: Of course I treat myself every now and then. We’re all human and we all get cravings! My ethos is, ‘no one is making us live this life, it’s a personal choice’. Life is too short, so you don’t want to look back when you’re older and think why didn’t I let myself have that slice of cake! Getting enough nutrients is important, but a treat here and there isn’t going to kill you. Having something you really like to eat every day is the key to long-term success. I have popcorn every day without fail, which is also a great alternative for crisps.
LM: How hard is it to get nutrition spot on?
CP: Getting your nutrition right isn’t difficult, but you’ve got to prioritise it, do some research, make a plan and stick to it. It’s not hard once you get into it, but it does help if you are in a good routine. Ensure that you prepare and think ahead each day, preparation is the key to progression and success.
LM: What advice would you give people who want to improve both their nutrition and fitness?
CP: Start slowly. No one is going to change their body overnight. It always depends on where you’re starting from, for example, if you’re coming from not doing any training and having a bad diet, don’t cut out all ‘bad’ food from your diet at once. Start by making small changes like increasing your water intake or eating 3 meals a day with vegetables. Going to the gym 2-3 times a week is advisable, to begin with, if you start off with 7 sessions in a 7-day week, you won’t be able to stick to it, as well as being a big shock for your body!
You should ensure you allow time for recovery, as this prevents injury. Setting realistic goals within a sensible time frame is also vital, unrealistic goals demotivate us and you’ll be back at square one before you know it, yet exceeding our expectations feels amazing and will motivate you to carry on and set new goals to further improve your body.
LM: What are your future plans?
CP: Haha, now that would be telling! But… I’d love to set up another studio in London and perhaps start running more events at my studio, One2One London. The possible expansion of One2One into a gym would be an amazing long-term opportunity too. I’d also love to write a recipe book and one day have my own healthy cooking show. My ethos is all about not cutting out the delicious flavours that we all enjoy, but finding healthier ways to make those meals work, with just a few ingredients swaps. We can honestly still have the pizza, curry and fish & chips nights, but by incorporating some simple alternative ingredients into our diets, we’ll start to feel a lot happier and healthier!
LM: Thanks so much for your time Courtney. We are certainly inspired!
CP: You’re welcome. I aim to motivate.
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