with this month’s cover stars Charlotte Fantelli / @cfantelli & Lorenzo Bernaudo / @lorenzobernaudo
Photographer: Andy Hornby
Charlotte Fantelli is an award-winning businesswoman and film producer, while her
partner, Lorenzo Bernaudo, is a multi-talented consultant surgeon and model. Together,
they embody the perfect blend of ambition, creativity, and discipline. When they’re not
jetting between film sets and medical consultancy commitments, they divide their time
between the UK and Italy, embracing a life filled with travel, culture, and, of course, fitness. We caught up with Charlotte and Lorenzo between flights and shoots to discover how two high-achieving, high-pressure professionals maintain balance, well-being, and peak performance, all while nurturing their relationship.
Both of you operate in high-pressure, high-achievement fields. What core mindset helps you stay grounded, healthy, and high-performing across fitness, work, and life?Charlotte: “Mindset has always been the foundation of my health and well-being. Having faced a number of challenges in my youth, I learned very early on that mental health is the core pillar that everything else rests upon: physical strength, emotional balance, and even creative clarity. Because of that, meditation and yoga are absolute non-negotiables in my routine. They keep me grounded, centred, and connected, and that translates directly into how I train and how I work. My fitness and my career both rely on that inner calm and intentional mindset.”
Lorenzo: “To perform at the highest level, whether in a demanding career, in sport, or simply in life, mindset is essential. Positivity is something both Charlotte and I value deeply. We consciously help each other stay focused on the bright side, no matter the challenge, and keep our attention on the goals we’re working toward individually and as a couple. That supportive, focused mindset is what fuels our consistency and our drive.”
When motivation dips, as it does for everyone, what inner dialogue or mental strategy gets you moving again? Lorenzo:“Motivation is wonderful when it’s there, but it’s also fleeting; that’s why discipline becomes everything. I often draw on the resilience I built during medical school: the late nights, the constant pressure, the intensity of twelve years of training. You learn to show up even when you’re exhausted, even when it’s the last thing you feel like doing. That ingrained discipline carries me through any dip in motivation, whether in fitness or in life.”
Charlotte: “I completely agree with Lorenzo, discipline is a shared trait for both of us, even though it comes from very different origins. Mine was shaped less in lecture halls and more through life experience. I’ve always had what I call a ‘Rocky Balboa mindset’: when life knocks you down, you get back up; when the path gets hard, you keep moving forward. That grit has carried me through my career and personal challenges, and it’s what gets me training even on the days I’d rather not.”
Lorenzo (laughing): “And Rocky is definitely something we have in common. Along with a love of other cheesy 80s movies.”
Your careers require intense focus, creative focus for Charlotte, clinical precision for Lorenzo. How do those mental frameworks spill over into how you train and live? Charlotte: “It’s fascinating because Lorenzo and I have arrived at very similar places in life with very similar mindsets, but we’ve traveled completely different roads to get here. We’re both intensely focused individuals, but we’ve also learned the importance of balance and truly enjoying the moment. Of course, we’ve both done the six-pack, macro-counting, laser-focused approach to fitness. But now, staying healthy has become more about consistency and well-being than perfection. Focus is still vital, our careers and lives are full-on, but enjoyment and living fully are just as important as what the scales say.”
Lorenzo: “Absolutely. This year has been incredible: traveling, working, eating, laughing, and simply living life together. Fitness remains a priority, but it’s balanced with enjoyment. We’re on the road a lot, so it’s not always about doing the same routine. Charlotte had me doing yoga on the banks of Lake Como, and I got her sea swimming in Sorrento. Gym sessions are important, of course, but eating well and training doesn’t have to mean strict calorie counting or relentless precision. Life is richer when fitness fits naturally into it.”
Do you ever train together? If so, what kind of sessions bring out the best (or most competitive) sides of you both? Lorenzo: “We do train together sometimes, and we’ve found a great balance between the things we each like to do individually and what we enjoy as a pair. When we hit the gym together, it definitely gets competitive. Our circuits are designed to give us both an edge. Charlotte is incredibly strong and flexible thanks to her gymnastics background, so her wall sits and balance exercises are on point. And of course, there are areas where I can push the limits, like push-ups and weights. But it’s always fair, and above all, it’s fun.”
Charlotte: “We’ve shared a few gym sessions, and yes, they’re always sweaty and competitive! I also love getting Lorenzo to join me for yoga. For a man of his size and strength, he’s astonishingly flexible and agile, and I’m always impressed. Yoga is a daily practice for me, and I try to convince him to join whenever I can It’s a great way for us to connect while staying active.”
What role does nutrition play in your lifestyle, and do you share similar eating philosophies or have completely different approaches to food? Charlotte:
“One of the things I was overjoyed about when we met was discovering that we share the same philosophy on food. I love good food, and Lorenzo does too. We both focus on fresh, simple, home-cooked meals whenever possible, no processed rubbish, just honest fish, meat, salads, fruits, and vegetables. During the week, we tend to avoid carbs, but we allow ourselves treats on weekends and especially when we’re in Italy. And of course… wine for me!”
Lorenzo: “I’ve always enjoyed eating clean, and having Charlotte, who’s an amazing cook, really helps me stay motivated. I stick to simple, easy dishes; meats, fish, salads, while Charlotte loves to experiment. We follow an 80/20 approach: 80% of the time we eat super clean, and 20% we allow a little indulgence. Charlotte would probably go 100% organic if she could, but we’ve found a balance that keeps us healthy while still enjoying the pleasures of pasta, chocolate, and wine for Charlotte.”
How do you each reset mentally when life becomes overwhelming, and does movement play a part in that? Charlotte: “For me, it’s definitely yoga and meditation. About two years ago, I discovered Dr. Wayne Dyer and Louise Hay, and I’ve really immersed myself in their philosophies around positivity, gratitude, meditation, and manifestation. I wake up super early, usually an hour or so before Lorenzo, and I use that time for a morning meditation and yoga session before breakfast. It sets the tone for my entire day and is absolutely the best way for me to reset mentally and emotionally.”
Lorenzo: “For me, it’s water polo. I stay active in other ways, of course, but water polo is on another level. It’s fun, physically challenging, and an incredible workout, but it’s also a mental reset. It requires focus, energy, and teamwork, and after a session, I feel completely recharged in both body and mind. It’s my way of hitting the reset button and staying sharp, mentally and physically.”
How do you support each other’s goals, whether they’re fitness-related, personal, or professional, and how does that shape the strength of your partnership? Lorenzo: “We are truly supportive of each other, both as individuals and as a couple. Communication is key; we are open about what’s important to us, and we actively help each other achieve those goals. Meeting when we were both around 40 has been a blessing. At this stage of life, we were already strong, capable individuals, so there’s no sense of competition; support comes naturally. Charlotte is incredibly encouraging of my goals and genuinely wants me to succeed, just as I do with hers.”
Charlotte: “Absolutely. Meeting later in life, when we were both fully formed and confident in ourselves, has been a real gift. There’s no insecurity, only readiness for a supportive, encouraging partnership. We truly bring out the best in each other in life, in our careers, and in fitness.”
