Jenny Powell, 54, revealed that menopause has made it ‘harder’ for her to stay in shape and quipped she’s developed a ‘meni-belly’ since turning 50.
The television personality, who enjoys keeping fit with yoga, admitted that reaching her fifth decade didn’t affect her physically but mentally and emotionally instead.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Jenny opened up about how her body has changed despite the scales staying the same.
Wow: Jenny Powell, 54, revealed that menopause has made it ‘harder’ for her to stay in shape due to having a ‘meni-belly’ since turning 50
She said: ‘The menopause doesn’t help. You get a meni-belly around your midriff. It just happens. It’s harder to stay in shape once you hit your fifties.
‘The problem is it doesn’t just hit you physically, but it’s psychologically, mentally and emotionally as well, because you don’t feel great at all.
‘I think most menopausal women don’t have much confidence. You completely lose your mojo – it’s difficult and again, you’ve to work on all of that.’
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline Jenny opened up about how her body has changed despite the scales staying the same
Jenny said in the beginning she was ‘a bit confused’ due to being ‘perimenopausal’ for four years before reaching menopause.
She continued: ‘I’ve been a bit confused and don’t know what’s happening. It’s talked about a lot more, and it’s very current, but it took me a while to speak about it.
‘I had the worst case scenario because my dad passed away last year and with the stress of what was going on in the world at the time, and then the menopause.
Striking: Jenny explained that it’s been harder to stay in shape as she ages (pictured in 1999 at the age of 31)
‘Those three things made it very difficult. You should always be wary of nutrition and what you’re putting into your body, and broth is perfect for loss of hair, skin and your nails, so I’ve been using a lot of that.’
Jenny regularly showcases her sensational physique in bikini snaps on her Instagram account in the hope to ‘inspire other women to do the same’.
She added: ‘I don’t post the bikini shots to show off, but hopefully it inspires other women to do the same as well.’
Incredible: The television personality, who enjoys keeping fit with yoga, admitted that turning 50 didn’t affect her physically but mentally and emotionally instead
The Wheel of Fortune presenter said she now has ‘to work harder around the middle bit’ when she exercises to keep her incredibly toned figure.
Despite this Jenny, who is working with Boosh Foods to promote the health benefits of organic bone broth, put her age-defying looks down to ‘sleep’ as she goes to bed at 9pm to be able to be an early riser.
The TV star also ‘avoids sugar’ in her diet which she found difficult to start with as ‘it’s in everything’ however she has trained her palette not to crave it.
She explained: ‘I avoid sugar. It doesn’t agree with me, and the problem is it’s in everything if you’re not careful.
‘It’s just about training your palette, and after a while, you don’t crave it. I don’t have a lot of sugar at all, and I always read the label to see what’s in there.
‘I try and eat real food. It’s not about processed food being cheap, but if you do your due diligence you can find real food [reasonably priced].’
Amazing: Jenny regularly shares bikini snaps to her Instagram account in the hope to ‘inspire other women to do the same as well’
Jenny shares two daughters, Pollyanna, 13, and Constance, 21, with her ex-husband, Toby Baxendale, whom she separated from in 2009.
She believes it’s important to discuss menopause with her family so everyone understands what she is going through otherwise it will have a ‘negative’ effect.
The mother-of-two said: ‘It’s the ripple effect the menopause has on everyone. One minute they might think, “Where’s Jenny gone?”
‘I feel it’s a subject that needs to be talked about in the home, and it certainly is in our house, especially with two girls. It’s negative if you don’t speak about it.’
When she had her youngest daughter at 41 the TV star recalled how her body felt ‘amazing’ due to being boosted up by all the hormones.
Family life: Jenny shares two daughters, Pollyanna, 13, and Constance, 21, with her ex-husband, Toby Baxendale, whom she separated from in 2009
She said: ‘I quite enjoyed my pregnancy at 41. The thing is your body gets boosted up with all these amazing hormones, and it keeps you younger as well, because obviously now, I’m 54, and I’ve got a young teenager, so I’ve still got to rock it for her.
‘It does work, and I’m quite glad of the age difference as well [21 and 13] Polly has got this bigger sister that she can look up to as a role model, and I think Polly can teach her a lot, just as much as me.
‘I think women having children later is a positive experience, overall I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it second time round and you’re much wiser as well.’
Cute couple: Jenny has found love with sports therapist Martin Lowe following splitting with her ex partner in 2009 and is ‘relieved to have avoided dating apps’ (pictured in 2021)
Jenny has found love with sports therapist Martin Lowe following splitting with her ex partner in 2009 and is ‘relieved to have avoided dating apps’.
‘You really can’t go out there expecting to meet Mr. Right unless you love yourself because you just attract the wrong energy,’ she explained.
‘So you have to start off with the right energy, which we’ve all got in there. We’ve just got to make sure we nurture it, and then you’ll attract [the right person] – it’s as simple as that. I’m relieved I’ve managed to avoid dating apps – I don’t think they’d be for me.’
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