Monday morning saw Amanda Holden celebrate her 55th birthday by posting three incredible photos of herself on Instagram. The first photo sees Amanda posing in a statement blazer with nothing underneath, showcasing her washboard torso, while in the second and third snaps, the Britain’s Got Talent star dons a strapless swimsuit paired with killer heels, making the most of her toned legs.
Clearly proud of her sculpted physique, Amanda simply captioned the photos ’55’, proving that midlife doesn’t mean the end of sizzling photoshoots. Praise poured in with fans calling her body “stunning” and “mind-blowing”, and we’d have to agree.
Given that the Heart Radio presenter has spoken openly about how she “can’t stand gyms”, we wondered how Amanda stays so toned – so we turned to fitness and wellness experts for a deep dive into her incredible body at 55.
© InstagramAmanda Holden stripped down to her blazer to celebrate her 55th birthday
Yoga for a toned stomach
“I got into yoga because after [my daughter] Hollie was born, I’d been on a ventilator and I had a lot of lung problems,” Amanda said. “Kundalini yoga is all about breathwork, so I took it on to build my strength. A lot of people advised me to do it for calmness, too. I don’t really sit still, I’m always on the go.”
She also credits her washboard abs to the practice. “There’s one exercise called the Breath Fire which is great for abs,” she said. “But it’s also a good pick-me-up when you’re tired – honestly, it’s better than a cup of coffee! My body got strong and any excess fat disappeared. It’s definitely made my tummy flatter.”
© InstagramAmanda says her flat stomach is helped by yoga
Pilates for longevity
In the most recent series of Amanda and Alan Carr’s TV show, Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job, Alan can be seen taking to a reformer Pilates bed – perhaps an idea he picked up from Amanda, who is also reportedly a Pilates fan.
Though people often talk about ‘Pilates arms’ to describe the long, lithe limbs of the likes of Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa, at 55, Amanda likely also sees the longevity benefits of Pilates thank to its strength training powers, as founder of Pilates PT, Hollie Grant, explains.
Hollie Grant shares the benefits of Pilates
“One of the biggest contributors to healthy ageing is maintaining muscle mass. We naturally lose it as we get older – that’s just biology – but strength training can slow that process significantly.
“Pilates, especially when it’s progressive and loaded appropriately, absolutely counts as strength work. It helps maintain muscle, supports bone density, and keeps the joints feeling supported rather than worn out.”
Running for alone time
“I like to keep active, but I can’t stand gyms,” Amanda previously told Top Sante. On her preference, she elaborated: “I like to run for an hour a week, as I feel great afterwards. It’s also time to myself, which is worth its weight in gold.”
Hiking for sculpted legs
As well as running, Amanda is a keen hiker. She’s tackled the three peaks challenge for charity, plus enjoys scaling hills and mountains with her friends – and she has the low-impact exercise to thank for her enviable legs.
Amanda loves to hike with her daughter, Hollie
“One of the most important (yet underrated) exercises to get toned legs is walking,” confirms David Wiener of fitness app Freeletics. “Walking has so many different mental and physical health benefits and is incredibly important if you want toned legs.
Cold water swimming for calm
Amanda proves her dedication to health and wellness by regularly dashing into the freezing sea for a dose of cold water therapy. According to nutritionist and author Dr. Sarah Brewer, cold water therapy is not only helpful for calming stress and anxiety, but it can improve circulation, reduce water retention (great for Amanda’s eternally flat stomach) and even regulate blood pressure, as it improves the responsiveness of blood vessels.
© Photo: InstagramAmanda Holden braves cold water swimming
In addition, exposure to cold water can help support our immunity because it increases the supply of powerful antioxidant glutathione, which is important in our immune response.
Cycling for toned legs
Over the years, Amanda has shared several photos of herself atop a bike, proving she is a keen cyclist – which likely helps with her toned limbs.
Bike riding keeps Amanda lean
“Cycling is a great exercise which helps you tone your legs as you will be working your quadriceps when you pedal, which helps strengthen and tone your legs,” explains David Wiener.
“You will also be working the hamstrings and calf muscles, which gives you a true full leg workout,” David adds.
