James Haskell and Chloe Madeley show you how to get a six-pack in isolation with daily workouts
THEY are Britain’s fittest couple. Chloe Madeley and James Haskell are bolstering their his ’n’ hers six-packs in self-isolation thanks to daily workouts — which Sun on Sunday readers can now exclusively join online. And while the couple, who married in December 2018, may be fit — they are also incredibly fiery. So much so, […]
THEY are Britain’s fittest couple.
Chloe Madeley and James Haskell are bolstering their his ’n’ hers six-packs in self-isolation thanks to daily workouts — which Sun on Sunday readers can now exclusively join online.
And while the couple, who married in December 2018, may be fit — they are also incredibly fiery.
So much so, in fact, that one particular blazing row last June saw Chloe pack her bags and move out of the family home for two days.
Chloe, 32, says: “For five years when James was a pro rugby player, I supported him through everything.
“I can’t explain the countless nights in hospital by his side — the amount of money I had to pay for cots so I could sleep next to him for three or four nights after operations, and the holidays I had to postpone or cancel because he was playing or injured.
“So when he retired I was just so relieved — it’s so heart-breaking seeing the person you love hurt.
“But within a month of retiring, he was asked to consider becoming an MMA fighter. I laughed it off and told him he obviously wasn’t putting his body through all that strain again. I thought that was that.
“The next thing I know, I’m reading in the Press that he’s taken up MMA. I was so, so angry with him. Furious.
“So much so that I came back to London and stayed in my flat alone for two nights, which I have never, ever done before. It was a big row.
“But eventually I realised this was the man I loved and had married. I got my s**t together and my head around it, and have been supporting him ever since.
“I mean, we’re a hot-headed couple on the best of days.”
So how are the couple coping in self-isolation?
Happily, the pair have engineered a rigid routine and say, incredibly, they are now getting on better than ever — and haven’t argued once since lockdown.
The secret? Space. Chloe says: “I like to wake up and work out, while James prefers to sleep. So after that we have breakfast together for an hour, then I start my day and he starts his and we don’t really see each other again until around 5.30pm.
“If we didn’t do that, we’d f***ing kill each other. But isolation is working for us — we haven’t had one fight which is amazing.
“I also like that we remain very independent. We’ve never had a joint bank account and don’t share a property or mortgage.
“I guess that would change if we buy property or get a dog or have a child, but at the moment it works.”
The pair, who met via Twitter after James messaged Chloe to ask her out, are also keeping the romance alive with romantic date nights — and glasses of wine.
Chloe says: “We are trying hard not to drink every night, but are having the odd glass of wine . . . oh, and we are systematically watching every film nominated at the Oscars.”
Despite their seven-hour-a-week-plus training schedules, the couple — currently hunkering down in James’s Northamptonshire pad — know their pinot noirs from their cabernet sauvignons.
In fact, several shots of Chloe’s workout video show the numerous wine bottles they keep as mementoes.
The toned duo — former flanker James won 77 caps for England while Chloe is a qualified personal trainer who has written four best-selling diet and exercise books — are both self-confessed workaholics.
After retiring from rugby, James, 34, has enjoyed a spot of sports punditry and successfully carved out a career as a DJ.
He has launched Backrow Radio on Apple podcasts, and last year emerged from the I’m A Celeb TV jungle 16lb lighter.
Meanwhile, Chloe — daughter of Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan — recently launched a 12-week stay-at-home transformation plan on her website. She also has an Amazon Prime Body Blast series and a popular podcast.
For such a busy couple, who once gave an interview to Fabulous admitting they had sex “every night”, life in isolation must be proving, well, knackering.
But ex-Wasps star James won’t be bragging about it after that last chat got him fired from a £100,000-a-year deal. He says: “Oh God, we never lived that down.
“And actually afterwards, Range Rover, who I’d been sponsored by for 12 years, cancelled my deal — by email.
“They told me that drivers of Range Rovers don’t want to read about my sex life, so then I said, ‘Well, don’t people who drive Land Rovers have sex?’, to which they didn’t reply.”
With the coronavirus pandemic rendering people house-bound, the couple are encouraging everyone to start working out at home.
Chloe says: “Both mentally and physically, it is really important to have something to wake up for.
“Whether it’s walking the dog, going for a walk or working out to my circuit, self-care is so important.
“Now, more than ever, it is important to stay healthy.”
The Chloe Madeley workout
CHLOE and her rugby hunk hubby, James, are still working out every day to stay fit during the lockdown.
Here, are four of their exercises which will keep you in shape indoors.
1. The squat
A movement which does more than pretty much any other exercise.
Squats work your legs, glutes and core, and will keep your metabolism revved up after a workout.
2. Side jumps
A cardio move to really fire up your glutes – a mix between an over-the-top curtsy and an arm-heavy, ice skating move.
Go as fast as you can with these.
3. Hip thrusts
Lie on the floor and push your bum up, with your weight on your heels for an amazingly effective glute and hamstring workout.
4. Dynamic warm-up
In a sort of ‘on-guard’ fencing position, lunge and lift your back foot off the floor to feel the calf pull and stretch gently.
Bounce up and down to activate leg muscles.
MOST READ IN TV & SHOWBIZ
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk