Tuesday, 26 September 2006

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How Charlie Brooks got her Hollywood figure

Actress Charlie lost 24lb in just two months

For most women, the comfort of being in a steady relationship and having a new baby is a recipe for disaster when it comes to looking after your figure. But it has clearly been the making of Charlie Brooks.

After following a regular exercise regime and healthy diet for two months after giving birth to daughter Kiki, the 24-year-old actress lost nearly 2st. The transformation is nothing short of a miracle for Charlie, whose 5ft 5in figure once tipped the scales at 10st 9lb.

'I'd got to the gym then eat at McDonald's'

As the Welsh actress openly admits, in the past she hasn't led the healthiest of lifestyles. 'I used to join gyms, go twice, eat a McDonald's and then think: "Oh well, it's all gone wrong now,"' she admits. 'Then I'd eat more and not go back to the gym again.'

Charlie gave up a 20-a-day cigarette habit and began losing weight while training for the London Marathon in 2004. Ironically, soon after taking those encouraging steps, she discovered that she was expecting a baby.

While pregnant, she piled on the pounds thanks to a diet of curries and cakes, leaving her with 24lb of excess weight to shift.

'At first I didn't worry about my weight because I was so happy being with my baby,' she says. 'But whenever I caught sight of my stomach, I felt a bit sick.'

A fun dance routine burns fat

Determined to get back in shape, she enlisted the help of a personal trainer, Dee Thresher, who came up with an easy-to-do home exercise routine for the new mum. It included fun dance routines to help her burn fat, as well as toning exercises to sculpt and shape her figure. The results are clear to see and the regime hasn't just had an impact on her figure, but on her attitude towards her diet too.

'I think the reason I've managed to keep up the healthy eating is that I've changed my whole way of life and attitude to food,' she says. 'If I eat a takeaway now it's not the end of the world because I know I'll burn off calories.'

Stick to fish and chicken with vegetables

Still, Charlie eats a lot more healthily than in the days when she'd scoff takeaways four times a week. She now sticks to fish and roast chicken with lots of fresh vegetables and salads.

After leaving her role as evil Janine on EastEnders, she's appeared in a new medical drama Golden Hour, starred in BBC period drama, Bleak House, and released a fitness DVD, The Charlie Brooks' Before and After Workout.

It's all a far cry from her unhealthy lifestyle during her time on Walford Square. In those days, her tip for posing for photographers was: 'Belly in and make sure you haven't got a double chin.' That's something she doesn't need to worry about now.

Charlie's slimming tips
• Don't eat carbohydrates after 6pm.
• If you're going to have a Thai or Indian takeaway, cut out the rice.
• Try to make lunch the biggest meal of the day and eat lightly in the evening.
• Eat loads of fish and fill up on vegetables.

Claire Alexander