Debbie McGee has been dealing with a damaged inguinal tendon in her abdomen for the past year, an injury that ruled out her usual routine of Pilates, yoga and dance. Any movement involving bending forward now aggravates it, forcing her to rethink how she stays active entirely.

But the TV star isn't letting an injury take exercise off the table. She's just moved it into the kitchen. 

Speaking to Good Housekeeping, McGee explained that rather than giving up on movement altogether, she's built exercise into moments she already spends standing around the house.

"While I'm around the kitchen, I do things like rising up on my feet to strengthen my calf muscles," McGee said. "And I do my old ballet pliés, which are like squats, really. If I'm bending down to go in a cupboard, I can't bend forward with my stomach, so I bend my knees out, like ballet second position."

That single substitution, bending at the knees instead of the waist, has effectively replaced an entire category of movement her injury took away, while still keeping her legs active throughout the day.

"I do that every time I go into a cupboard. So that's keeping me exercising all the time. That keeps your legs stretched and strong," she added.

Her upper body gets the same treatment, McGee said, according to Good Housekeeping. McGee keeps a pair of light dumbbells in the kitchen specifically for moments when she's stuck waiting, like watching water come to a boil.

"I've got two light weights in the kitchen for my arms, because I thought, 'Oh, no, my arms are starting to go a bit,'’ said McGee. “So, I've started doing bicep curls and things like that while I'm waiting for something to boil. I want to make sure my arms and my legs stay strong." 

Apart from working out, McGee uses nutrition to stay in shape.

How Debbie McGee stays in shape with her diet

Debbie McGee has long maintained a slim and healthy figure through a balanced approach to food and movement. At 5 ft 1 in, the television star says her weight rarely exceeds 8 stone. When she notices a few extra pounds, she simply cuts back on bread and fills her plate with plenty of greens instead.

Her preferred style of eating is relatively low in carbohydrates and higher in protein and vegetables. She enjoys salads and packs as many vegetables into her meals as possible while limiting sugary foods. Smoothies appear only occasionally in her diet because of their sugar content.

As per Express, a typical big breakfast consists of mashed avocado on toast topped with two poached eggs and bacon, giving her a satisfying and protein-rich start to the day.

By combining mindful eating with consistent, low-impact movement, the 67-year-old McGee continues to stay in excellent shape well into her later years.

Would you try attaching small exercises to routine moments as McGee does? 

Written by

Zaid Quraishi