Six months after undergoing brain surgery for a rare benign tumour, Davina McCall joined us on set for her latest Women’s Health cover shoot. She shared that during the early stages of her recovery, she lost four kilograms of muscle. However, with the help of the Strength and Sculpt challenge on her fitness platform, Own Your Goals, she has successfully rebuilt her strength.
The challenge was designed by Own Your Goals trainer Natalie Bhangal. She created a four-week functional fitness plan exclusively for Women’s Health members. This plan is based on the exact workouts Davina follows. It includes four workouts each week, all lasting no longer than 30 minutes, along with two low-intensity walks and one moderate-intensity cardio session. Bhangal says, “Working out shouldn’t be complex. Davina shows how great you can look and feel with a very simple formula.” She adds that Davina’s routine mixes HIIT, cardio, and resistance training for overall functional fitness.
When asked why Davina’s workouts rarely go beyond 30 minutes, Bhangal explained that it is not just about a gentle post-surgery approach. “Long, gruelling workouts aren’t ideal for women in their thirties and beyond,” she said. “This phase of life is often stressful, with growing work and family demands. Long workouts can increase stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.” Davina’s results prove that effective fitness can be achieved without spending excessive time exercising.
Davina now says her surgery has deepened her passion for fitness. “I felt like fitness was the missing piece of me,” she explained. “My memory was returning, and I was feeling stronger mentally. But working on my body was the final joy to come back into my life.”
