The 10 diet and exercise rules Lorna Jane swears by

Fashion designer, entrepreneur, author and inspirer, Lorna Jane Clarkson has been encouraging women to live their healthiest, happiest lives since first opening the doors to her inaugural Lorna Jane retail store in Brisbane in 1990. Fast forward 27 years – and Lorna Jane has become far more than just a clothing label, with the brand wholly encompassing the ethos of ‘Move Nourish Believe’.

Having recently released her fifth book, ‘Love You’, we thought now would be the perfect time to sit down with Lorna to uncover her top 10 personal commitments when it comes to a life enriched in the health and wellbeing arena.

1. My first rule is NO DIETS!
You are what you eat and eating well is about loving your body, listening to your body and giving your body what it needs. I Moved away from calorie counting years ago and instead fuel my body with nutrient-dense food that make me feel and perform at my best.

2. I have a morning ritual that I stick to
I am a firm believer that what you do in the morning sets you up for the rest of your day – I think of it as setting myself up for success. The things I do in the morning like waking early, meditation, working-out and eating a healthy breakfast are what I need to start my day the right way.

3. I move
I move my body every day – no excuses – with a mix of strength training, yoga and cardio.

4. I choose happiness
I believe that our happiness depends mostly on our ability to choose positive over negative. So, I choose happiness – despite the weather, despite what people think of me, despite where I am with my life, despite what happens today, tomorrow, next week or next year. I choose to seek out happiness in the little things every day.

5. I find time to do what I love
What is life if you can’t spend time doing what you love? I want to feel passionate about my life so I find time to do all of the things (big and small) that I love to do.

6. I drink water all day
I know that water is the number one essential ingredient for good health and the cheapest anti-ageing potion on the planet – so I drink 2-3 litres every day no exceptions.

7. I spend time outdoors
I love to get outdoors a couple of times a day (usually with my dog) to breathe in the fresh air and allow myself to re-connect and re-energize.

8. I practice deep breathing and meditation
Taking the time to sit and just breathe every day is a practice that trains my mind to be still and helps me to cope with the many challenges I might face in the day-to-day running of my life and my business.

9. I stretch
Stretching is a twice-a-day thing for me, morning and night. I hold each stretch for 30 seconds at the point of tightness, relax into the stretch, breathe and release.

10. I make sure that I get enough sleep
Sleep is one of the most important gifts you can give to yourself because when you sleep your body repairs itself and prepares itself for the new day ahead.