It's been a busy year for Gemma Atkinson. The two time Women’s Health cover star gave birth to her son, Thiago, in July – come August, she was preparing to launch her very own podcast, The Overshare. That's not all she's juggling: the 38-year-old actress and fitness lover also shares Mia, age 4, with fiancé and Strictly pro dancer, Gorka Márquez, 33.
Given all these exciting developments, we thought it was high time for a catch-up. Below, the actress fills WH in on her post-natal health, juggling two kids while Gorka is working away and the winning formula she landed on for her latest audio venture.
Gemma on: Juggling two kids while Gorka is filming
'Gorka had to go to rehearsals one week [after Thiago's birth],' Gemma says. That meant the dancer needing to base down in London, far away from the family's home in Manchester. Thankfully, Gemma's mum was able to help out. 'My mum said, "well, look, I'll move in with you."'
Which she did, staying for six weeks – and she's still helping out, now. 'She's with Tiago now because I’m working today. 'There’s just no way I could've done [everything] without my mum and stepdad,' Gemma says. 'It makes you realise the importance of having a support network after a baby – I wouldn’t have been able to work without them.'
Gemma on: Looking after her post-natal health
Before restarting her fitness journey after having Tiago, Gemma underwent a full-body post-natal medical and physio check-up, sometimes known as a 'mummy MOT'. Here, a new mum's pelvic floor and stomach muscles are examined, to ensure that things are okay, and for interventions to be made, if needed. It made sense, she says, to have the service, given that labour is 'the biggest workout you’ll ever go through'.
These checks are accessed via private clinics, but Gemma stresses that she believes that such services should be available on the NHS. 'I do feel like they [new mums] should have a full-on check,' she says.
'So many issues that women have down the line – chronic back pain, incontinence, feeling bloated, having a sore tummy – are all because they haven't healed the pelvic floor post pregnancy. It would save the NHS a fortune down the line.'
Gemma on: Getting back to fitness
As a hardcore fitness lover, Gemma was, naturally, keen to start working out again after giving birth. Her approach, though, has been 'really sensible. I'm doing a programme called Hatch Athletic, with a trainer who specialises in postpartum fitness. I started week four yesterday and it’s slow and steady.'
Right now, that's looking like three functional training and three cardio days (walking the dog, using the Stairmaster) a week, with one rest day. 'They're not intense workouts, they're all about rebuilding your core strength,' she says.
So what is her exercise philosophy, for those heady early months after birth?
'It's about understanding what your body's been through, respecting it and taking your time. There's no rush. No one expects you to look how you did a couple of weeks after labour. We have eye bags, our hair goes thinner, you look a bit of a wreck. But it's fine because you’ve grown a human!'
Gemma on: Launching her own podcast
After being the guest of countless pods in the past Gemma was keen to have her own conversations on air.
And, after putting out an Instagram call out for topics she should discuss on The Overshare, she was amazed to see floods of messages and requests for certain subjects to be discussed. 'It was actually hard to filter through the ones that would feature on the pod,' she says.
Since debuting the podcast in September, The Overshare has featured some gut wrenching stories, some of which have challenged Gemma personally. No stranger to grief – she lost her father age 17 – the subject of loss was covered on a recent episode. Featured were a range of people sharing how they moved through the dark days of the death of a loved one.
'There was a lady who'd lost both her children at different stages but both very young and then after dealing with that, she lost her mother. [...]. I couldn't even begin to imagine... she was just so open and honest and very brave about it. She said: "well, it is what it is, it's happened. My options are to crumble or to carry on being there for my other kids."'
When it comes to the podcast, the priority, Gemma says, was 'finding stories that every single person can relate to.' The strategy has paid off, with the venture being praised it for its authentic, kind tone. 'A lot of people have said it's kind of like having a therapy session,' Gemma says.
Gemma on: Lessons for her daughter about body image
Mia, Gemma says, is 'surrounded by strong women.' This, she hopes, will help her daughter to see that there are many ways to look healthy. 'I don't ever want her to think she has to be a certain shape or a certain size. And it's all about just teaching her that she can be strong and she can be athletic, and it's brilliant to be that way.'
Gemma's love of movement is being picked up on by the tot. 'The amount of times she asked me "can we go into gym today" – and she she just loves it. She sets up her own little obstacle course and goes to town.'
Gemma on: Her goals for the future
On the subject of goals going forward? 'I'd like to get back to my personal bests in my training, but that will be well into the summer. After having Mia it took a good 10 months before I was back to lifting as I was.'
But Gemma's aspirations are also deeply rooted in her family. 'Because Gorka isn't going his [Strictly] tour next year, it's [about] just us as a family being all together and spending as much time together as possible.
'And it sounds really cheesy but making really lovely memories in Thiago's first year and trying to be as healthy and as present as possible for them both.'
