"Good morning and thank you for joining me on this very special day for me." This is how a very excited Elsa Pataky started the presentation of the new nutritional supplement she has just launched in collaboration with Longevitas, in front of the proud gaze of her 82-year-old father, who is fitter than a Marvel superhero.
Geared towards women (although men can also take it), 'Forever by Elsa Pataky' is the realization of a dream that the Madrid-born actress has cherished for years. "I have been exercising since I was very young and have always been very aware of the importance of supplementation to reach the recommended doses of nutrients as important as protein. Through my good friend Aitor Ocio, a member of Longevitas' strategic committee, I met Ilona Calparsoro, CEO and founder of this laboratory, and we got down to work."
As a result of this collaboration, 'Forever by Elsa Pataky' is born, a nutritional supplement that, in its 'statement of intent', includes milestones in women's health such as: enhancing muscle strength and performance; optimizing recovery and regeneration; increasing cellular energy and antioxidant defense; improving hormonal balance; enhancing women's well-being and caring for the microbiota. How? Through a formulation that includes, among its key ingredients, whey protein, highly concentrated botanical extracts for female balance (Sensoril® ashwagandha, chasteberry sage, black cohosh, angelica; as well as maca, fenugreek, damiana, artemisia); creatine; key amino acids (such as tryptophan and proline); vitamins and minerals; hyaluronic acid; and prebiotics and probiotics. "I was tired of taking so many pills and wanted something simple to make shakes for breakfast or after training. And this is the perfect solution because it also has a very pleasant taste. I love mixing it with frozen red fruits, which also have great antioxidant power," says Pataky, who claims that since taking it, she has experienced an improvement in the quality of her rest. "With supplementation, you don't notice a radical change overnight. You have to be consistent, and changes come gradually."
Being consistent and, obviously, resorting to supplementation as part of a healthy lifestyle, not as a substitute for either nutrition or physical activity. "It is very important to have a healthy and balanced diet and, of course, to exercise. I know that with the lives we lead, it is very difficult to find time, but we have to try. Now there is a lot of emphasis on strength training, which is great, but we must not forget about cardio and balance work, a fundamental factor to avoid falls as we age. And I encourage everyone to make an effort, not to settle. After a lower body session, even I feel my legs shaking when climbing stairs. Learning to listen to the signals our own body sends is the best way to find out what it needs. "I know I need to exercise. When I spend 30 hours on a plane, I feel my muscles atrophy and I have to do squats in the bathroom. It is a physical need, but also mental. I need that dopamine that exercise provides me."
The actress is aware that the current pace of life in big cities does not exactly help in taking care of oneself. "I know I am privileged, and that is why I have absolute admiration for all those women who work, take care of children, and not only do a thousand things throughout the day, but do them all well. They are my heroines."
Away from the hustle and bustle in her Australian paradise, the actress claims to have achieved inner peace as a result of maturity and, of course, motherhood. "Becoming a mother changed me radically. It is a mission as beautiful as it is complicated. And, over the years, I will say that, beyond the smoothness of the skin and all those obvious things, I value the experience and serenity that maturity brings over all the insecurities of youth. In the end, the secret lies in feeling good about oneself and being positive. And that's where I am right now, focusing on the beauty that life offers me and enjoying my children."
This does not mean that, occasionally, there are no clouds in paradise. "I am human and, obviously, I also have my moments of feeling down and crying in the car. Hormonal changes affect me too; we all experience dramas, things happen to all of us, but I am a very optimistic woman and always try to see the positive side. Feeling bad is human, but I don't like to dwell on sorrow. I try to get out of the hole of pain as soon as possible. I tell myself that everything passes and, in the end, they are lessons that life gives us."
Speaking of lessons... Aren't you tired of the media constantly lecturing us on how to have Pataky's butt knowing it's impossible? "Why would it be impossible?" she laughs heartily. "I set out to have higher glutes and did 100 squats as soon as I woke up and always took the stairs. In the end, every little daily gesture adds up. Even the smallest ones!"