Activewear designer Lorna Jane Clarkson reveals 11 daily wellness tips

Activewear queen Lorna Jane Clarkson reveals the health and wellness tips she lives by that has her looking oh so fabulous 

Healthista spoke to the one and only Lorna Jane Clarkson of the popular Australian active wear brand Lorna Jane.

Lorna Jane really does practice what she preaches when it comes to living an active and healthy life in her gorgeous best-selling activewear.

Each piece of clothing she creates, encourages the women that wear them becomes a fitter, faster and stronger version of themselves.

Also known as the activewear queen, Lorna, 57, reveals the 11 wellness tips she lives by…

#1 Breakfast helps set me up for the day

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day and I love it so much that I eat it twice.

I have a black coffee and fruit plate before training and then something more substantial before heading into work.

I have a black coffee and fruit plate before training

My second breakfast can be anything from avocado on sour dough toast, to soaked oats with yogurt and fruit, a breakfast salad with roast pumpkin and eggs or a grab and go breakfast bar (homemade of course!).

I try to be healthy in everything I eat but with breakfast I think about it a little more because I’m setting myself up for the rest of my day.

#2 Meditation is a morning MUST

I have a few things that I like to do in the morning

In order to feel at my best in the morning and throughout the rest of the day, I always start my day with around ten minutes of meditation to clear my head and get focussed.

I then move onto a morning work out – because if I don’t do it in the morning it might never happen and  then I have my healthy breakfast mentioned above.

I always start my day with around ten minutes of meditation

#3 Supplements are a great addition to a healthy diet

I believe that ‘we are what we eat’ so mostly I rely on the food that I eat as a good source of vitamins and minerals, but I also supplement my diet with magnesium, Vitamin C and Collagen.

During Covid I also started taking Vitamin D, zinc, and an immune support.

#4 Snacking for the win

I love to snack and always have some healthy options on hand for those times when I need a little something to keep me going between meals.

Some of my favourites are hummus with carrots and cucumber, a homemade protein ball, apple slices with peanut butter or even something as simple as a banana.

#5 Make dinner delicious

During the week, by the time I’ve finished work there’s a seriously short amount of time between when I get home and when I’m ready to eat – so dinner needs to be quick and easy to prepare but also super delicious and healthy.

Think grilled fish with salad (the grilled Miso Salmon and Bean and Pea Salad in NOURISH is a fav), an easy stir-fry with fresh herbs and loads of vegetables or a Lasagne that I usually make on the weekend, so I just have to re-heat it and serve with my fav rocket salad with Pear and Parmesan.

When friends come over, I like to prepare the food ahead of time so I can spend as much time with them as possible.

dinner needs to be quick and easy to prepare but also super delicious and healthy

In the summer we’ll do a BBQ with a mix of meat and fish served with loads of fresh salads that I can prepare before they arrive.

In the winter, I often go for Lasagne or Beef Ragu, for the same reason – they can be made ahead of time and I just have to throw a salad together when my guests are there.

#6 Weekend treats

I tend to eat less on the weekends because my days are less structured. I’ll often have a late breakfast, skip lunch and go straight to dinner, with maybe a snack in between.

I am a fan of Almond Croissants which I save for the weekends and dinner may be three courses instead of the usual two.

#7 Eat as much fresh produce as possible

In a nutshell my diet would be healthy, in-season and predominately plant based.

I made a promise to myself a long time ago never to deny or deprive myself when it came to food but to love and nourish my body instead.

try to eat a predominantly plant-based diet of fresh, in-season and nutritious ingredients

That being said, I also believe that to look and feel at your best you need to eat predominantly REAL food and limit anything that is overly processed and refined.

So, I don’t ‘Not Eat’ anything in particular but try to eat a predominantly plant-based diet of fresh, in-season and nutritious ingredients.

#8 There’s nothing wrong with dessert every day

I do have a sweet tooth and will admit that I eat dessert every day.

But I also make sure that if I’m going to eat something sweet that it’s as nutrient rich and delicious as humanly possible.

I treat dessert as my third snack for the day and my go-to’s are Homemade Raspberry and Hazelnut Chocolate (from my NOURISH Cookbook), Yoghurt with Homemade granola and berries, one of my homemade bliss balls (my fav is choc-peanut butter) or a peanut butter and cacao nib topped date that I make ahead of time and keep in the freezer – they seriously taste like caramels!

#9 Don’t fall for the diets

I played with a few diets when I was in my late teens and early 20’s but quickly learnt that it wasn’t sustainable and downright anti-social.

So, I decided to look after my overall health and wellbeing instead with a balance of exercise and healthy eating that allowed me to be more indulgent at times without impacting my overall health or lifestyle.

I do need a re-set after special occasions and holidays

Like everyone I do need a re-set after special occasions and holidays but it’s more about eating MORE foods that are health promoting than restricting myself.

#10 Mix up your fitness regime

What does a week of exercise look like for you? Is this always the same or do you tend to mix it up?

I like to mix it up but prefer to do it first thing in the morning before things get too hectic and I’m tempted to cancel.

I strength train twice a week with a trainer, do yoga at home or at a local studio two to three times a week, walk my dog twice a day for about 30 minutes and like to do a long beach walk or hike on the weekends.

I used to be a ‘Cardio-Queen’ running and doing high impact classes every day but now I prefer lower impact exercise – choosing weights, Pilates, yoga and walking.

#11 Grab a bedside notebook to jot down worries

I’ve always been a good sleeper but tend to wake through the night when I have a lot on my mind.

To overcome this, I have a notebook by the side of my bed so I can jot down what’s on my mind and quickly get back to sleep.

#12 Go with the flow

How have you been keeping sane recently amidst the global pandemic and running a business?

There are always challenges in business, but the biggest challenge with the pandemic would have to be the unpredictability and inability to plan too far ahead.

Keeping sane hasn’t been easy, but what I’ve learnt is to go with the flow a little more than I would have in the past, to be more adaptable and to let go of the things you cannot control.

#13 Treatments are a necessity not always a luxury

Massage is a ‘once a week’ thing for me – and I’m not talking about the type of massage you can fall asleep through but more of a deep tissue ‘fix my tight muscles’ type of massage which I actually love.

I also, have a facial once every six weeks and love light therapy for my skin that I try to do once or twice a week.

More Healthista Content:

Workplace overwhelm? Psychologist reveals how to find the perfect work/life balance

How to be successful: 8 ways to master your physical intelligence

5 reasons healthy eating has become SO complicated

This Morning’s Dr Zoe Williams reveals 7 things she has learnt since becoming a mother

Front-line doctor reveals 6 ways to manage your mood post-pandemic