Madelaine Petsch Shares the One Trick That Gets Her Motivated for Workouts

You probably know Madelaine Petsch from CW's Riverdale, where she plays the feisty, confident, and iconic Cheryl Blossom. The actress has played the character for the past five seasons, and the show is still going strong with mystery, sex appeal, and flipping the script when it comes to "teen" dramas.

In addition to her acting roles, Petsch is a big YouTuber, creating popular videos that give fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her life, including showing people what a day of shooting Riverdale is like, baking and doing crafts with her co-stars, and demonstrating her workout routines.

Petsch's latest venture is an activewear collection with Fabletics, which just launched on February 18. The Madelaine Petsch x Fabletics collection features utilitarian-inspired pieces and sets in bold colors. The pieces are great for layering, comfortable, flattering, and customizable. They're practical, too—some of the pieces have mesh panels for breathability, and others have adjustable drawcords. In total, there are 10 outfits available in sizes XXS to 4X.

We chatted with Petsch about the new collection, her wellness and fitness routines, and what she does to unwind after a long day of filming. See what she had to say below.

What has your wellness routine been like these days?

It definitely varies day to day, but I think the most important thing I've been focusing on is my mental health. I always make time for my weekly therapy session no matter how busy I am and 10 to 15 minutes of meditation first thing in the morning, even if I'm going to work at 5 a.m. It's such an important way to start my day. So I guess overall just making sure I actually set aside time to check in with myself.

Are there any wellness or self-care strategies you picked up in quarantine?

I taught myself how to do my own nails because I realized that it was a simple act of kindness I can do for myself to make me feel like I'm looking after myself. Journaling has been imperative to me as well during this time, and I definitely picked that back up during quarantine.

How do you unwind after a long day of filming?

I love taking a bath with some bath salts, candles, and tea and memorizing my lines for the next day in the tub or bringing a good book with me to fully unwind for the day.

What is your fitness routine like? Do you have any favorite workouts?

I work out probably six days a week with my trainer LA Thoma Gustin. She's incredible and really kicks my butt. I definitely love when we do circuit days because they always seem to go by way faster. She's great at keeping my workouts interesting.

How do you stay motivated with workouts?

It's not always easy. I usually work out in the morning, so a key to me actually going is picking out my workout outfit the night before in my bathroom, with socks, undies, everything right there. Then, I have no excuses. Rolling out of bed and to the gym is easiest for me because I don't have much time to think of reasons why I shouldn't go—if you know what I mean, haha! It definitely helps when you have a super-cute outfit you're excited to put on waiting for you in the morning!

What elements do you look for when it comes to activewear? Pockets? Stretch? Support?

I need a good, supportive sports bra that's comfortable and holds me. I'm all about high-waisted leggings, so that's key. Stretch is a must! I hate when it feels like I'm fighting with my leggings to go into a lunge. And then, there's the feel factor. The fabric itself has to be quality. No more itchy leggings 2021! That's why, when I built this Fabletics collection, fabric was of the utmost importance to me—that and color. I love this color palette. It makes me excited and ready to tackle my day, and you can really mix and match any of the pieces!

When creating this new Fabletics collection, what were your goals? What was the inspiration for the pieces?

My goal was to make something completely different from my last collection. I picked colors and silhouettes that I felt would be on-trend in a couple months' time (since we do the design process almost eight to nine months ahead of production) but that were also unique in their own right, flattering, and had a story! Another goal was to make a collection that made people excited to put together their outfit for the day, whether it be the gym, a Zoom call, or lounging at home. Last year, we really leaned into comfortable fashion, and I wanted to achieve that with this collection. I know I have days where I want to put together a cute outfit to be at home, so it's nice to have the option to do that, feel good, and still be comfy!

Do you have a favorite piece from the collection? Why do you love it? 

Hmm, this is a hard one for me to answer. Right now, I'm really leaning on my tan leggings with the cutout at the hips! I wear them all the time. They're super comfortable, and they look so cute with a black hoodie/blazer combo and some combat boots. I also have a soft spot for my pale-yellow Abriella Zipped Pullover ($75). The fabric is out of this world—I didn't even think fabric that soft was possible. Lastly, the Mckenzie Woven Jumpsuit ($100). It's such an easy piece to just throw on with some earrings and boots and look put-together. It's so fun and different from anything else in my closet.