She’s a mum-of-three who juggles a hectic family life with multiple businesses, but Billie Shepherd always looks red carpet-ready. Now the former TOWIE star reveals one of the secrets to her success is fasting – the celebrity dieting trend beloved by the likes of Jennifer Aniston and the Kardashians.
Billie, 35, says that adopting intermittent fasting has helped boost her energy levels, feel less bloated and improve her overall wellbeing. She tells Closer, ‘It’s great, I feel so much better and have more energy. Getting started in the first day or two can be tricky as I can get hungry but, once you’re in the rhythm, you feel so much better. I try to eat my last meal before 6pm and not eat again until midday the next day.
‘It’s not possible every day – I need to be able to eat at midday, so if I’m travelling or busy and know the timings won’t work, I’ll leave it. But if I’m at home, I’ll try to stick to it.’
The size 8-10 star admits she loves food, and while she tries to follow a nutritious diet, she doesn’t deny herself treats. ‘I find lunch is the hardest meal to be healthy,’ she says. ‘I usually don’t have time to make a fancy salad, so it’s often just a sandwich. If I’m fasting from the night before, it can also be a brunch meal at midday like scrambled eggs, avocado and sourdough toast. I love tea and biscuits in the afternoon – it’s usually Rich Tea or Digestives, I love them! That usually gets me through to dinner, which we’ll have together at about 5.30pm.’
And Billie, who’s teamed up with kids’ smoothie snack brand, GoGo squeeZ, for a campaign to encourage kids to eat better and get back in touch with nature, says that nutritious meals and outdoor play are key.
‘We gave the kids loads of fruit and veg from a very young age and they are all great with eating them,’ says Billie, who shares Nelly, 10, Arthur, seven, and one-year-old Margot with husband Greg, 39. ‘The Go Go squeeZ smoothie pouches are great for on-the-go, because they count as one of their five-a-day. They all love being outdoors, which is great because fresh air is so important. Luckily, none of them are fussy eaters so we all eat the same thing at dinner. Trying to meal plan and prep definitely helps. The kids love my chicken casserole and chicken noodle soup – I chuck loads of veg in them. We try to have spaghetti Bolognese on a Thursday because Nelly is away horse riding that evening and it’s the only thing she doesn’t eat. But everyone else loves it!’
Billie also exercises two to three times a week, usually a combination of Reformer Pilates and weight training. ‘I’ve really learnt the importance of exercise since hitting my 30s,’ she says. ‘It gives me so much more energy and I sleep and feel better overall. I don’t train every day. I go through phases when I’m really on the ball, and other times when work gets in the way, but taking time to do it is a form of self-care. I’m feeling pretty body confident at the moment.’
With three million Instagram followers herself, Billie is keen to shield her own children from too much exposure online. Shes says, ‘Nelly has a lot of friends in her class who have social media, but it’s a straight no from me. I let her use my phone and, because she loves horse riding, I’m now following all these horse influencers online. I let her have a little look at TikTok. It’s hard because you don’t want to shut them off so they’re left out in conversations at school, but it’s important to maintain a balance.’
She adds, ‘Nelly knows the nature of our jobs and what we do – and while she doesn’t have social media herself, she’s very smart about it. I’ve warned her people can say mean things online. When she does have her own, I’ll be monitoring every stage and chatting openly with her. We have a rule where it’s no screen time after 6pm, and they can have devices for around an hour after homework, otherwise it becomes too addictive. I said to Greg, “I think it’s what me and you need to do now as well!”’
Earlier this month, Billie joined sister Sam, 34, in Dubai to promote her collagen skincare brand Revive Collagen, and Billie couldn’t be prouder of her little sister’s stellar success. She says, ‘We had such a brilliant time and I was so happy to be by Sam’s side. We’re each other’s biggest cheerleaders. We’ve gone through so much together and are always there to give each other advice. The kids love hanging out, we have big sleepovers with six kids and my mum. It’s so much fun!’
While she quit her reality show, The Family Diaries, last year to give her children a break from the spotlight, Billie admits she’d be keen to face some Bushtucker Trials in the future, saying, ‘I’d love to go on I’m A Celebrity!, I think life in the jungle would push me out of my comfort zone.’
And she doesn’t rule out a TV reunion with Sam either. The duo, who previously starred together in The Mummy Diaries, are rumoured to be launching a new TV series showcasing their entrepreneurial ventures. Billie teases, ‘We’d absolutely love to – watch this space!’
Billie has teamed up with GoGo squeeZ, the kids’ fruit smoothie snack committed to helping parents make healthier choices. For expert advice, download the ‘squeeZ The Day Report’ at www.gogosqueez.co.uk