WHO
When Bonnie Sveen sat down to watch the first episode of The Secret Daughter on television in October, she was taken aback when Layla Chapple, the character she plays, came on the screen. “It was the first time I noticed how much my body had changed,” she tells WHO at our exclusive shoot.
However, the reasons for the change in body shape were not deliberate. It was more brought on from her change in lifestyle that came from leaving Home and Away in 2015 and go “freelance!”
“It gave me more freedom to do things I love with more regularity, like yoga and hiking. And heading back [home] to Tassie,” she says, adding that getting more than five hours sleep a night also meant her 3PM slump – and subsequent need for sugar became less frequent.
Sveen, 28, has gone from a size 12 to a size 8-10, but, rather than focus on size the biggest change has happened mentally. “As our lives change, so do our bodies,” she says, adding how yoga has become her self-care. “It’s a woman’s job to love and care for her body, no matter how it appears or is perceived by others.”
BONNIE’S TOP HEALTH TIPS FOR A POSITIVE MIND AND BODY
1. Be an Early Bird! Sveen practices yoga first thing in the morning. “It’s about getting those endorphins high at the start of the day. You’ve dealt with all your thoughts and you’ve got a nice balance of hormones and it’s not just [stress hormone] cortisol.”
2. Give it a go! When it comes to exercising, Sveen has a relaxed approach. “Don’t beat yourself up about it if you’ve heard your leg or feeling tired. Maybe still attend the class but pull back. You might surprise yourself. Energy creates more energy.”
3. Eat for your type! Sveen generally tries to eat foods best for her blood type, which is A. “I’m a pescatarian, which is fine for A’s because we digest vegetables and grains better than meat and potatoes.”
4. Love yourself! “It’s important to love your body, no matter what it looks like,” advocates Sveen.
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