Home And Away star Ada Nicodemou reveals her fitness routine

Home And Away star Ada Nicodemou reveals the hardcore routine behind her impressive physique.

Ada Nicodemou is unapologetic about being an early riser. After all, years of crack-of-dawn call sheets will do that to a person.

“I’m one of those people who goes to the gym at 5am when I can,” the actor tells Stellar On Friday.

Nicodemou – who has played Leah Patterson on the Seven Network soap Home And Away for 21 years, and before that appeared on shows including Heartbreak High, Police Rescue and

Pizza – is one of the most recognisable and loved faces on Australian television.

And she’s also busy, especially as staying fit and healthy is a large part of her job. Most importantly, though, Nicodemou says that looking after herself keeps her mental health on track.

“I think it’s really important for my mental health to exercise.” (Picture: Steven Chee)

Still, winter makes it hard to get up and out early. “The biggest obstacle when it’s as cold as

it has been is getting out of the house,” she says.

“On days when I don’t feel like getting out and about, I’ll do body weights at home. I’ll do push-ups, sit-ups and star jumps and I’ve got some bands you can buy from Kmart or Big W, and some light weights. I do my own little workout for 20-30 minutes with music on.”

Boredom comes from sticking to the same workouts and can make it hard to stay on track,

Nicodemou adds, which is why she likes to mix it up with both home and gym sessions.

“It isn’t about losing 5-10kg or having the body you had when you were 20.” (Picture: Steven Chee)

“It keeps you motivated,” she explains.

“I think it’s really important for my mental health to exercise and I think it is for most people, so [it helps to do] whatever you can fit in. I’m such a believer of it being about feeling good within yourself and being your best possible self. It isn’t about losing 5-10kg or having the body you had when you were 20 – it’s just crazy. I enjoy exercise, it makes me feel good. And it means I can eat yummy food all of the time.”

For Nicodemou, who’s a mother to eight-year-old son Johnas, early mornings and late finishes on Home And Away are compounded by the fact she’s sometimes shooting up to 10 episodes a week.

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“I don’t sleep,” she admits.

“I’m a bit of an insomniac, so I naturally get up around 3-4am. I don’t know whether it’s because of waking up so early, my age orwhat’s going on, but I get up anyway.”

She continues: “It’s either get up and start doing housework, which – don’t laugh – I do, or go to the gym. If I’m being kind to myself, I’ll exercise or do a workout at the gym.

Otherwise, it’s stuff like making lunches or cleaning the house.”