The wellbeing secrets of the 44-year-old Peak Practice star I never go on the scales: doing the right exercise and eating good food is the key to being in great shape.  (Sarah's second from left in the photo.)

I fell in love with barre exercise classes in Vancouver, when my husband [actor James Murray] was filming there in 2011. It was so different from the gym and worked muscles I didn’t know I had.

I was at the age where everything drops a few inches. The barre exercises are fantastically toning for trouble spots – bingo wings, bottom, waist, tummy and tops of thighs – giving you the lifting and firming you never get on a treadmill.

I was quite a busty girl and hated it. In Canada, I dropped three cup sizes, and one dress size.

There was nothing like the barre exercise in England. I found two teachers via the internet and we created our own barre workout called BarreToned. Now we have opened a studio in West London.

BarreToned is more like pilates than ballet. The aim is to tone your body, giving you a long, lean look with graceful posture. It’s low impact and good for joints. But you need to do three to five classes a week to change your shape, and to work until you shake with the burn.

Eating well is vital too. If you live on sugar, burgers and chips, nothing will change. I have green tea and porridge for breakfast, a quinoa salad for lunch and nuts and fruit for a snack. In the evening I have fish with lots of veggies. We don’t eat rice or pasta after 5pm. And I drink lots of water. I take omega-3 supplements and vitamin C. I get slightly anaemic so I also take a Spatone iron supplement.  Spatone/£8.25 for 28 sachets - buy here.

Happiness is having time to potter at home. I feed our ducks and chickens, and bath our three-year-old daughter Nell.

BarreToned - www.barretoned.com/020-7229 866

 

Q. My daughter suffers with hives – red lumps over her body – when she overheats. Her doctor prescribed an antihistamine, which takes out the itch but not the lumps.

A. I used to get similar weals from monosodium glutamate, which is often added to Chinese and Thai foods. If she doesn’t suffer from any food sensitivity, pharmacist Shabir Daya advises that she uses Swanson Stinging Nettle Root.  Nettles are excellent at detoxifying the bloodstream, inhibit the formation of histamine and have an anti-inflammatory effect, he adds. Find Swanson Stinging Nettle Root at www.victoriahealth.com/£14.95 for 120 capsules - buy here.

 

SOFT AS A BABY'S...

Premature babies at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and Queen’s and King George’s Hospitals, Essex, are wrapped in super-soft bamboo rayon, which is ideal for their sensitive skin. The special care baby units are using Mini Swandoodle muslins by Cuski. Premature babies are prone to posseting and vomiting and placing these antibacterial moisture-wicking cloths under their heads avoids the need for frequent bedding changes. These multi-taskers are great for all babies, serving as winding cloths, bibs and breastfeeding covers. A pack of four costs £19.99, from www.cuskishop.co.uk.

 

SKIN SAVIOUR

Jane Iredale, founder of the eponymous mineral make-up range, tells me she has seen good results on the faces and bodies of acne- and rosacea-prone adults with a course of Skin Accumax.  This supplement contains vitamins A, C and E and a nutrient complex found in broccoli.  Skin Accumax/£39.95 for 60 capsules at www.victoriahealth.com - buy here.