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or every fan that has screamed in adulation as he has performed with his band mates in McFly and McBusted, or marvelled as he swept the dance floor before taking the Strictly Come Dancing glitter ball trophy home, it seems hard to believe that Harry Judd could ever be less than ready to take on anything that life can throw at him.
But as Harry ventures into his next career as an inspiring fitness star with a mission to have us exercise to boost both mind and body, he has revealed his own story of how, when life has been less than stellar, he has struggled with mental-health issues. As he joins us for today’s shoot in central London, Harry is relaxed, warm and – despite the early start – decidedly un-pop star in behaviour. In fact, a mid-morning coffee won’t even tempt him, choosing instead to enjoy one of Juice Master’s new Super Blend Me! ready-made bottles to give him a boost. Although he’s dressed down in jeans, it’s impossible to miss that Harry is in incredible shape with his T-shirt framing bulging biceps and honed pecs. The day before our interview he was on the road, cycling with Zoe Ball during her Sport Relief challenge. As he talks about taking on hills with ease, it’s clear that his peak physique is matched by super levels of fitness, undoubtedly the result of his latest project, Get Fit, Get Happy. The title is a great summation of Harry’s simple belief that, whatever your age, shape or current state of fitness, exercise can help you look and – more importantly – feel better. In fact, the very reason why Harry is so passionate about exercise is because it is important to him on a very personal level. In Get Fit, Get Happy, he tells his own story, from talented childhood cricket player, to band member on tour and even Hollywood film star. While these were undoubtedly good
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times, in the book Harry shares that he suffers from anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and that, as his pop career rocketed, he tried to stifle and conquer these problems with drugs and alcohol. At his lowest point, Harry was an exhausted wreck and had to seek counselling to help him quit alcohol and cannabis addictions. The book follows his journey to recovery and the one thing that has remained a constant as he tackled addiction, learnt to manage his symptoms and get his life back in order, has been exercise. Swapping nicotine for a run in a bid to quit smoking, his last vice, Harry writes about how exercise and good nutrition have become his constant supports and enable him to manage the feelings of anxiety or OCD when he feels them creeping up on him.
DAILY BLEND
Part of his routine is a daily hit of fresh fruit and veggies, and he starts each day with his young daughter, Lola, by blending up a smoothie for the pair to enjoy together. “I have a naturally fast metabolism,” he says, “and I know I need good nutrition to keep me going, so I make sure I get the veggies – my go-to blend is half an avocado, strawberries or blueberries, lemon and a handful of spinach.” Harry has also recently tried the Juice Master Delivered Super Blend Me! plan, enjoying the nutrient-packed, ready-made blends, which are perfect when life’s busy. “I loved them!” says Harry. “My favourite was the Creamy Tahini which tastes so good – the blends are great as they just give you a bit more when you’re working out and as active as I am.” While there are plenty of Insta-fit stars posting jaw-dropping workouts and incredible yoga poses online, what makes Get Fit, Get Happy different is it is accessible and inclusive. There are photographs of Harry and his mum working out, with exercises for different levels of ability, and you won’t find a chic gym or Californian mountain shot in sight. Harry’s