1. Up and at it – what is your morning routine?
Well, I get to lie-in most mornings, thanks to my husband who is so great at getting up and taking our beautiful boy to nursery school. He then brings me a cup of tea in bed at around 10.30/11am – usually accompanied by the words, 'Right, get up out of bed...'
2. What might you eat in a typical working day for…
Breakfast? Another cup of tea with a slice of toast or fruit and yoghurt.
Lunch? My favourite lunch, or brunch, is a poached egg on a bagel with ham and cherry tomatoes.
Evening meal? I usually eat a full meal in the evening – either chicken, vegetables and some carbs, or a bowl of pasta to keep me going through a show.
3. Is nutrition important to you?
Nutrition is important to me and, I think, for most performers. Being self-employed, we have to look after our bodies as, if we get sick and can't perform, we don't earn money. I try to go to the gym two or three times a week to keep my fitness levels up. This in turn usually keeps me physically and mentally healthy and 'match-fit'. I always try to make sure that I eat vegetables, even if it's just in soups, and to fill myself up with fruit when I want to snack. I think it's also important to 'pig out' a little on my day off once a week. My husband and I would always look forward to going to our local Indian, or getting Chinese takeaway – with a bottle of wine, of course.
4. Are you a calorie counter?
I'm not a calorie counter, as I think the show helps to keep my calories down, as does running around after a four-year-old, combined with a bit of gym time. This should allow me to eat what I want whenever I want, but I can see that the older I'm getting, the harder this is becoming.
5. Best meal ever?
Our local Indian takeaway – the best-tasting food that never fails to disappoint and we really look forward to treating ourselves there.
6. Do you have a guilty pleasure?
After I've cooked a roast chicken, I love eating the two tiny wings and the crispy skin.
7. Have you ever been on a diet? If so, how did it go?
Growing up, I was always very active and sporty, but I did carry extra weight and was usually on and off diets, despite loving exercise too. I stopped dieting in my 20s but was very gym-fit and active. A few years ago, after having Ben, one of my first jobs back to work was for Sting’s Broadway show The Last Ship and they asked me to lose weight for it. I wanted the job, so I did go on a diet for that. I did the 5-2 diet – this is when two days a week you only consume 500 calories a day and the rest of the week you eat healthily. I didn't mind this, as two days a week I knew I just couldn't or shouldn't think about food and had a light meal in the evening – always leaving 100 calories out of my quota for a gin and slimline tonic. It's more or less fasting twice a week, but was easier when my husband did it with me.
8. Do you take health supplements?
I usually only take health supplements when I'm feeling run-down or I feel I'm about to get sick. I then take triple the amount of Vitamin C required, around 5,000mg a day (which recently I have found really worked for me) maybe some echinacea and extra multi-vitamins.
9. Teetotal or tipple?
Always tipple!
10. Fruit or fry-up?
Fruit.
11. Stairs or lift?
Hmmmm, depends; when getting to London, doing stairs only would be a nightmare, but I like to think I take the stairs if I can.
12. Do you have a daily exercise regime?
Yes, I love exercise – I try and go to the gym where I do 30 minutes on the cross trainer, or a 45-minute run on the treadmill, with some sit-ups, press-ups and stretches.
13. On a scale of one to 10, how fit do you think you are; how fit would you like to be?
At the moment I'm probably a six (and-a-half) on the fitness scale, but would really like to be an eight.
14. Best tip for everyday fitness?
Try and walk as much as you can to the shops rather than taking the car. Even if you don't have a dog, go for a walk in the park. Get off the bus or tube a stop or two earlier.
15. Were school sports happy times, or do you have a memory you would rather forget?
I really enjoyed sports and PE at school, so I've got very fond memories. However, I vaguely remember desperately needing a wee during a netball match and didn't quite make it to the toilet in time…
16. Did you ever have a health epiphany which made you change your lifestyle?
No, I have always tried to stay fit and healthy.
17. Best health advice you were ever given and would pass on to others?
Don't wait until Monday – try and do a little bit every day; even if you think it's not going to do any good, it will.
18. Who would you try to emulate in terms of fitness / attitude to life?
An old friend of mine, and a local lass, Josephine McAllister – or any of the McAllisters for that matter. I used to run with Josephine, her dad, brothers and sister, and they were the fittest family I've ever known and still are.
19. What time do you get to bed normally and do you think you get enough sleep?
I never get enough sleep – I have a four-year-old. I tend to get to bed at around 1am because of show times but, as I said, you do get a lie-in the morning after. When I’m not working, I love getting into bed with a cup of tea for 11 or 11.30pm.
20. Would you say you have a healthy attitude towards your own mortality?
Yes, I think I do. We all only live once, so enjoy yourself and live well, as I believe we're all going to end up in the same place.
:: Rachel Tucker's album On The Road is out now
