128 HEALTH & WELLBEING
AN INTERVIEW WITH DAME KELLY HOLMES
Dame Kelly Holmes , an iconic figure in the world of athletics , not only inspires us with her remarkable sporting achievements but also with her unwavering resilience and dedication to health and wellness .
As a double Olympic gold medalist and army veteran , Dame Kelly embodies the pinnacle of physical excellence and perseverance . Beyond the track , her journey is a testament to the importance of holistic well-being . We were lucky enough to sit down with her to discuss the benefits of supporting an active lifestyle with her favourite Ancient + Brave products .
Kelly , you ’ re such an incredible advocate for sharing the importance of physical activity for people ’ s well-being & mental health . Can you tell us why you ’ re so passionate about leading an active life ? From a psychological point of view , doing something for yourself is important . From a physical point of view , we undergo changes at different stages of our lives . Maybe you start experiencing aches and pains , feeling more lethargic , or noticing you are unable to do as much as you used to , and this all affects your mental health . So , for me , it ’ s really important that we have a lifestyle that is active .
You ’ ve achieved so much in your career , and many obstacles and setbacks to achieve extraordinary success , injury often being one of them . Where did nutrition play a role in this and what helped you to recover and get back into training ? When I was an elite athlete , it was all about getting the right fuel to perform and do all the different types of training that was required . Now , I still really enjoy keeping fit , but my nutrition has changed . I ’ m busy , like a lot of people , so I graze , and I eat on the go . That ’ s why I love working with Ancient + Brave , because for me it is convenient to take .
And how do you approach exercise and movement now ? After being retired for a while , but keeping active of course , my body shape changed again . Currently , I base my training around my working schedule , but I know I should also be fitting in recovery time , too . I do still want to achieve more though , because I want to prove to myself that I ’ m capable of still doing things as I age . Leading a healthy lifestyle as you get older becomes even more important .
It seems more and more people are understanding the importance and enjoyment of movement to help them do what they love , but struggle to fit it in - what ’ s your top tips for people who are looking to gain more confidence and consistency with exercise ? I ’ d recommend people set some goals . Know what it is you want to achieve and why you want to achieve it . And be active with other people - recruit a friend to join you !
You ’ ve spoken openly about some of your struggles with perimenopausal symptoms , specifically pain . What ’ s your experience of joint pain and what helped you personally ? A couple of years ago , I got to a point where I was getting extreme body pain , to the point that I couldn ’ t even do one press up . I didn ’ t realise that joint and body pain were symptoms of perimenopause .
I came across Ancient + Brave and started taking True Collagen on a regular basis and my pain alleviated . I now feel stronger and more physically able than I ’ ve felt in such a long time .
Noble Collagen is available from ancientandbrave . earth
THE ART OF LUXURY ISSUE 66 2024