I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been at 11st 5lbs says Gemma Atkinson, as she slams pressure on mums to snap back into shape
GIVEN the opportunity to go to bed with Strictly Come Dancing pro Gorka Márquez, curling up with a good book would not be top of most women’s lists – but that’s exactly how Gemma Atkinson likes to spend her evenings with the 31-year-old Spanish dancer.
The couple have been together since meeting on Strictly in 2017 and have a two-year-old daughter Mia.
“Mia goes to bed at 8pm and we get into bed at 8.45pm.
“I love reading in bed and he watches his Spanish telly and that is kind of as romantic as it gets. We’ve got this little mundane routine that we love,” says Gemma, 37.
“Date night for us is the cinema or a takeaway. We don’t really go out.
“If Mia stays [overnight at Gemma’s mum Sandra’s], we won’t do anything. We will have a cosy night in and we’ll get up and go for a walk.
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“That is more appealing than a big boozy night out. We just love when we can spend time together.”
These days, the pair have their parenting routine nailed, but Gemma says that when Mia arrived, they struggled after Gorka left to go on tour just days after the birth.
“We got a lot of grief for that. He had people messaging him saying: ‘What kind of father chooses his work over his child?’
“They didn’t realise he was contractually obliged – and how do they expect him to fund this child without working?
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“But I resented that he was back on the road touring.
“What I didn’t realise was that he was feeling resentment towards me for being at home.
“Giovanni [Pernice, fellow Strictly dancer] texted me and said: ‘You need to ring Gorka to check [on him] because he’s not come out with us.’
“I FaceTimed him and he was in the hotel room on his own and he got upset and said: ‘I just want to come home. I don’t want to be here.’
“Then I felt upset and said: ‘Oh my god, I’ve been thinking you are having a whale of a time,’ and he replied: ‘You’re crazy!’
“If we’re lucky enough to do it [have a baby] again, we’ll know next time that the grass isn’t always greener, but we have to do what’s necessary for the family.”
And despite their rather unromantic bedroom routine, more babies are “definitely” on the cards.
“Yes, we’d definitely love to give Mia a sibling. I’m one of two, Gorka’s one of two. I think growing up it’s nice to have someone.
“When my dad passed away [Gemma’s dad David died from a heart attack, aged 52, when she was just 17], without my sister Nina there, I probably wouldn’t have coped very well at all. I would love for Mia to have that kind of support network.”
Hollyoaks star Gemma looks absolutely stunning on our shoot – but unlike some celebrity mums, she didn’t hit the gym within weeks of Mia’s arrival.
“Exercising was the last thing on my mind after I had Mia. I waited 16 weeks before I started walking with her in the pram. I wanted to be in this little newborn bubble with her at home.
‘BE YOUR OWN BIGGEST FAN’
“Instead, I focused on my nutrition and that gave me energy and made me feel good mentally.
“When Mia was four months, I started exercising again, but it took me six months to be able to get back to my pre-pregnancy training regime safely.”
She’s trying to inspire other mums to ignore the pressure to “snap back” via unhealthy diets and unrealistic fitness plans with her second book, The Ultimate Body Plan For New Mums.
Gemma shares her experiences of the highs and lows of motherhood, as well as how to deal with the faceless social media “pregnancy police”.
“There’s a lot of unsolicited advice when you have a baby. And a lot of it’s lovely and helpful, but there’s a lot of it where it’s like: ‘I really didn’t ask your opinion on that.’
“Normally it’d be fine to ignore it. But after a baby your hormones are all over the place and anything can get at you. My advice is to talk to the people you trust.
“You have to be your own biggest fan and give yourself credit for what your body’s just accomplished. Women doubt themselves all the time. We undermine what we’re capable of.”
Gemma created her new book as a follow-up to her 2018 release, The Ultimate Body Plan, and it is specifically aimed at new mums, helping them get back on track with a 12-week programme of diet, exercise and mindfulness.
She explains: “The first book helped so many people. I still get messages and photos from people who did the transformation and felt so amazing, physically and mentally.
I thought it would be nice to do a version of The Ultimate Body Plan for women who have had babies and need to find themselves again.
“This is not a ‘Get your body back’ plan. It’s a ‘Feel stronger, healthier and more confident’ plan.”
Gemma feels that it’s also important to set a positive example for her daughter – and avoids using scales, preferring to judge how her clothes fit and how she feels.
“You have this little human and you are desperate to be the best version of yourself for them. But at the same time, you’re exhausted and covered in puke.
“I did 15 minutes of yoga this morning and felt amazing. We need to get out of the idea that you have to train for an hour and deprive yourself of food.
“I’m about 11st 5lb – the heaviest I’ve been in my life [apart from when she was pregnant with Mia, when she was a stone heavier] – but I’m also lean, strong and healthy. Weight doesn’t bother me.”
Combining work and family life continues to be a balancing act for Gemma, as Gorka is tied up with Strictly from July until Christmas.
She presents the Drivetime show weekdays on Hits Radio in Manchester – she describes the job as a “win-win” because it’s “on her doorstep”, a short drive from her home in the city.
She’s recently returned to Hollyoaks as Lisa Hunter, who she first played when she was just 15.
The character went from a bullied schoolgirl to the soap’s temptress, and recently returned for one episode – Gemma ruled out staying on the show longer as the hours are too gruelling.
‘I ALWAYS TELL HIM HE’S LUCKY’
It was reported that she’d been drafted in after her co-star Sarah Jayne Dunn was sacked for refusing to delete her OnlyFans account – but she says that was not the case.
“I was asked to come back about four months before Sarah left. I don’t really know Sarah very well.
“But [with regards to her OnlyFans page] I always say each to their own. As long as everyone’s happy and not hurting anyone, then go for it.”
Gorka and Gemma have also made a pact that one of them is always at home with their daughter while the other works.
Does she ever selfishly hope that Gorka will crash out of the BBC1 dancing show early, so he’s not spending his days pressed up against a female celeb and instead back at home with her and Mia?
“No, it’s the opposite. I’m always hoping he gets to the final, because I know how much he loves it.
“When it was in lockdown, we had to spend 16 weeks apart [in 2020, the professionals formed bubbles with their dancing partners] and that was tough.
“I knew he would get to the final then because he was with Maisie [Smith, who finished as a runner-up], who was incredible. And he struggled.
“But I was so grateful that he had Maisie, who he got on so well with. They kept each other going – otherwise it would have been awful for him.
“He jokes that I prefer to be on my own. And people always say to him: ‘Is Gemma coping?’ and he’s like: ‘She loves it.’
“I always tell him he’s lucky, because if he was with someone who was very needy and wanted to be with him 24/7, it’d be a nightmare.
“And he’d be put in a position to choose between the job he loves and his missus. It works out really well because I love my own company. It makes me miss him.”
- The Ultimate Body Plan For New Mums by Gemma Atkinson (£16.99, Headline Home) is out on April 14.
GEMMA’S CARDIO, ABS & CORE WORKOUT
(takes 20-25 mins)
Don’t put pressure on yourself, but if you want to feel firmer and fitter, here are some easy exercises to fit into your day…
Windmills (five sets)
1. Set your feet wide in half squat position with your toes turned out. Extend your arms on either side.
2. Reach one arm up towards the ceiling, with your upper body still facing forwards.
Looking up at the hand that is reaching upwards, try to touch the floor with your other hand, without rounding the upper back. Only go as far as you comfortably can.
Hold, then slowly return to the start position. Repeat nine times, then swap to the other side.
Alternating toe touches (five sets)
1. Stand up tall with your chest proud, your core engaged and arms down by your sides.
2. Bowing from your hips and with your knees slightly bent (don’t lock them), touch your left foot with your right hand.
Rise up with a controlled movement, then repeat on the other side, touching your right foot with your left hand.
Alternate sides for the set amount of time (30 seconds).
Resistance band anti-rotational step back (three sets)
1. Hook a resistance band over a mid-height anchor (eg a door handle).
Hold the other side in both hands, arms out, and stand side-on, far enough away to feel its tension.
2. Engaging your abs, take a step back with the foot furthest from the anchor point.
Feel the glute closest to the anchor and obliques fire to stabilise you. Hold, return to start and do 10 reps on each side.
Kneeling Superman (four sets)
1. Kneel on all-fours, with hands under shoulders and knees under hips. Your feet should be hip-width apart.
2. Engage your core and slowly lift and extend one arm (fingers pointed).
At the same time, extend the opposite leg (toes pointed). Maintain a neutral spine and resist any shifts in your body weight.
3. Hold this position for 5 seconds before returning to the starting position, then repeat for 5-10 reps on each side.
Hollow hold (three sets)
1. Lie flat on your back with your legs straight and arms extended above your head. Engage your core.
2. Slowly raise your arms and legs at the same time (keeping your lower back on the floor).
Hold for 5 seconds, keeping your abs tight – remember to breathe!
Return to the start position with a controlled movement, and repeat for 5-10 reps on each side.
Dead bugs (four sets)
1 Lie on your back with your arms extended in front of you, towards the ceiling, palms facing forward.
Engage your core and raise your knees in the air so they’re bent at a 90-degree angle (the position of a dead beetle!)
Make sure your lower back stays flat against the floor throughout the movement.
2 Inhale, then as you exhale, slowly lower your right arm to the floor behind your head, and simultaneously straighten your right leg (so it’s lowering to the floor).
Keep going until your hand and heel almost touch the floor. Pause, then return to the start position before repeating with your left arm and leg.
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Keep your non-moving arm and leg as stable as possible throughout.
Repeat for 5-10 reps on each side.