Celebrity Health – Chloe Loughnan
Irish model and influencer Chloe Loughnan from Blackrock, Cork has spent the past decade travelling the world. Over the past 13 years, she has modelled in Ireland, Paris, the US and Istanbul, where she branched into TV, launched her own range of juices and set up a swimwear brand. Interview: Lucy Taylor
Tell us about your past year Chloe.
The last year has certainly been different! I had just finished filming a movie in Cyprus and was preparing for a show in Milan for Fashion Week. I planned to come home to Ireland for a quick trip before heading back to Istanbul for the movie premiere, then onto Australia. However, the day I left Milan, the whole city shut down. I had no idea that I’d be stepping off the runway and directly into lockdown. I went from choosing evening gowns to living in loungewear in my family home. This is the longest I have spent home in 11 years.
I swapped travel plans for helping to homeschool my younger siblings. It’s been a strange and stressful year for everyone. It’s been a big adjustment, but I’ve really loved all the extra time I’ve had to spend with my family as we’re all very close. I finished a fashion buying and merchandising course during lockdown and look forward to exploring that sector more when normality resumes. I also plan to continue working in the TV sector.
What sort of exercise do you do to keep in shape?
Under normal circumstances, when gyms are open, my go-tos would be Pilates or kickboxing. I tend to always work with a trainer. If I walked into a gym without any guidance, I would be lost, so I can see why some people find the idea daunting. But these days it’s challenging to find motivation – it is tough to be strict on yourself when you are not in a routine. I will say that even getting out for a walk makes all the difference, and I find that after a blast in the fresh air I’m more likely to come home and pop on a workout video or do a bit of yoga. It also works wonders for your mind.
What sort of foods do you eat to stay healthy?
I usually try to keep as healthy as possible. I don’t restrict any food groups or cut anything out. For breakfast, I might have brown toast and a poached or boiled egg. I eat a lot of snacks and small portions throughout the day. I like to make soups and salads.
For dinner, I might eat fish or chicken with veggies and potatoes. I don’t eat much red meat – I have found that I feel better when I don’t eat it. My weak spot is for cheese – I like cheese on toast. I try to have a batch of home-made soup in the freezer so that it is always there and I am not motivated to eat other less healthy foods. I keep stir fry veg in the fridge so that it is easy to cook something like that. I make a lot of fresh juices – mostly green juices. After breakfast, I often make a celery, apple and lemon juice – it’s excellent for my skin. I lived in Turkey for eight years and had my own range of juices.
Do you take any natural supplements or drinks?
I take Zenflore – it was recommended to me. It's a probiotic combined with selected B vitamins, so it is good for the gut, and when I mix it with yoga and walking it really helps keep me calm. It helps to fight the effects of stress, such as fatigue. I have been taking it for two to three months, and I can definitely feel the difference.
What do you think of independent health stores?
I love them – I could spend hours in them. I don’t look for specific things, and then I find I buy tons of stuff I didn’t even know I needed! I look for supplements for hair, skin and nails, and I buy skincare products in health stores as I find that natural and organic products suit my skin. I trust products sold in health stores.
Do you ever worry about your health?
I go through phases – when I have a good routine going and keep active, I find my body doesn’t crave bad foods as much, and I don’t worry too much about my health. Like everyone, I have my bad days and lockdown doesn’t help with keeping a balance. It’s easy to fall into bad eating habits and have endless lazy days. It’s essential to put on that trackie even when you don’t want to and get moving.
How do you feel about dieting and fasting trends?
Over the years, I’ve tried most diets and fads. I’ve worked for stringent modelling agencies who put a lot of pressure on girls to be as small as possible. Honestly, I think restricting yourself only works against you in the end. If you tell yourself you can’t have carbs or chocolate, trust me, your body will crave it more. The trick is to keep a balance. Have the takeaway you’ve been craving and then eat healthily for the rest of the week. One thing I did, however, find great was intermittent fasting. This involves eating during an 8-hour window in the day and fasting for the remaining 16 hours. I did it on and off for a year and felt it helped me maintain a healthy weight and good energy levels throughout the day. It was actually much easier than it sounds.
Do you have any tips for Rude Health readers?
Self-care isn’t just about a healthy diet and exercise. It’s about being kind to yourself and making your mental health a priority.
More celebrity health articles...
Articles from our latest issue...