Wednesday, 16 May 2007

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Liz McClarnon: My bikini diet secrets

The former Atomic Kitten lost weight after appearing on Love Island

‘Before I had to bare all in a bikini on Celebrity Love Island [in May 2005] I wanted to diet,' says Liz. 'At 10st I was heavier than I’d ever been, but somehow I didn’t get round to losing any weight.

'When I arrived on the island it was terrifying. There were cameras everywhere, waiting for me to bend over and reveal all my lumps, bumps and tummy rolls – which I did.

‘I was uncomfortable the whole time and hunched my shoulders, hoping the others wouldn’t notice my body. The other girls all had cracking figures and it was hard not to compare myself.

I wanted my spark back

‘When I came home and saw the pictures I knew I had to do something. It wasn’t just my weight that bothered me, but my lack of confidence. I didn’t want to be that shy, hunched girl on TV. Thin or not, I wanted my spark back.

‘My mum’s into organic food and the first thing she suggested was to cut back on sugar. I was drinking eight cups of tea a day, each one loaded with sugar, so I started using sweeteners instead and lost a few pounds.

‘Of course, I tried faddy diets, but they didn’t work. Once, I gave up carbs for a week and started working out with a personal trainer. One day he was telling me to do a sit-up and I got ratty with him and couldn’t muster up the energy.

'“For God’s sake, what’s wrong with you, Liz?” he asked. So I told him about my no carb diet and he went ballistic. “Your body needs carbs – it won’t work without them,” he told me. So I went straight home and had a bacon buttie – doctor’s orders!

Allow yourself treats

‘That said, I cut back on sarnies and ate lots of fish and chicken stir-fries instead.
I snacked on white grapes and drank tons of water and, slowly, the weight came off. The trick is to allow yourself treats. If I want a few glasses of white wine or a pile of biscuits with my cuppa, I have them – just not every day.

‘I lost a stone that way and couldn’t wait to get back into a bikini. When I look at footage of Love Island now, I feel sorry for that girl with the hunched shoulders. If they asked me back on it, I’d stroll down the beach with my shoulders back and head high, feeling like a million dollars!’

Liz’s Diet Then

Breakfast

Nothing

Lunch

A sandwich made with white bread

Dinner

Steak and chips

Drinks

Eight cups of tea with sugar

Liz’s Diet Now

Breakfast

Cereal with skimmed milk

Lunch

Jacket potato with cheese and beans

Dinner

Chicken and vegetable stir-fry

Drinks

Tea with sweeteners

Maria Casey