With her toned abs

and ultra-lean

limbs, it’s clear

Emmerdale’s

newest recruit

Gemma Atkinson, 30, enjoys a

workout. So just what is the ftness

secret that keeps her motivated

enough to get up at 5am and hit the

gym before work?

VERY PERSONAL‘My fella is my trainer, so I’ve got no excuse,’ she reveals, talking about her boyfriend Olly Foster, who she started dating in December 2013. ‘He’s brilliant. He’s not too hard on me but it’s just great to have that support of someone who’s on the same page as you..’

Of course Gemma is not the only soap star getting ft with the help of her fella. Corrie favourite Samia Ghadie (right) is currently being put through her paces by boyfriend Sylvain Longchambon, the ex-Dancing

On Ice pro who qualifed as a personal trainer 12 years ago. It’s changed her attitude towards working out.

‘It makes it more fun,’ reveals Samia, 32, who plays Maria Connor in the soap. ‘It’s a lot more motivating for me to have him telling me what to do,’ says the mum-of-one, and it’s something French-born Sylvain agrees with.

‘It’s always better to train with someone than on your own. If you’re not in the mood, but your partner

says, ‘Come on, let’s go,’ it pushes you.’

Back in April 2014, Kym Marsh, 38, who plays Michelle Connor in the soap, lost 10lb and toned up in six weeks, thanks to her then friendship with personal trainer Matt Baker. She’s now engaged to Dan Hooper, also a trainer, and still works out regularly. And Catherine Tyldesley, 31, who plays Eva Price, is frst-time mum to baby Alfe with her ftness instructor fancé Tom Pitford, who she met at a gym in Lancashire.

It’s not the only time she’s dated a gym bunny. Her ex-boyfriend Sam Witter is also a personal trainer, who she started dating a few months after hiring him to help her get in shape.

WhY dOES it WORk?So what about the rest of us who can’t afford our very own trainer? Well, help could be closer to home. While sweating off your make-up might not be everyone’s idea of looking attractive in front of a partner, working out with your other half can have huge benefts, physically and emotionally.

In a recent survey, 80% of people believe they’re more likely to ft in workouts and stick to their routines if they partner-up.

‘You’re helping each other improve your game and get healthy together,’ says Los Angeles–based psychologist Yvonne Thomas.

thE SciENcE bitStudies also show that couples

tend to mirror each other’s

health habits, with researchers

at the University of Pittsburgh

fnding that highly active men

were three times more likely

to have highly active wives.

So if your man is keen to

work out, his motivation could

rub off on you too. Plus a

mutual workout can even help

boost romance because

exercise makes your body

release the chemical hormone

oxytocin, the same hormone

released when you fall in love.

Be aware though, if

your partner’s ftness level

is different to yours,

working out together

could cause

competitiveness

or despondency.

‘Couples take

on a new type of

stress when the

one instructing the

other loses patience

or the one receiving

the instruction loses

hope,’ says trainer

Hannah Williams from

Reebok Sports Club.

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catherine and tom (above), now new parents… and Gemma and Olly

And those that didn’t last…✱ Demi Moore, the Hollywood star, 52, had a

three-year relationship with ftness trainer and

martial arts instructor Oliver Whitcomb, who

she dated after divorcing Bruce Willis.

✱ Madonna’s daughter Lourdes, 18, is from her

relationship with former squeeze Carlos Leon, a

ftness trainer she met jogging in Central Park.

We reveal why these celebs are working up more than just a sweat at the gym…

WOMAnmagazine.co.ukWOMAnmagazine.co.uk6 7

Date yourtrainer!

Want to stay slim?

couples who sweat together stay together…nicole Kidman & Keith

Urban SUrfinG

a-lister nicole and her

ex-American Idol judge

husband are often

spotted working

up a sweat while

hitting the waves.

Trudie Styler &

Sting yOGA

trudie, 61, still

going strong with

her man, says,

‘yoga helps with

relationships.

it helps with

listening, patience,

tolerance and

understanding.’

reese Witherspoon

& Jim Toth JOGGinG

reese, 38, and

hubby Jim are often

spotted running in

california.

Tom Hanks & rita Wilson

WALKinG

the couple have made a

pact to shape up.

93WMS15005107.pgs 23.03.2015 18:00 BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN