Monday, 25 September 2006

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Zöe Lucker: My no-sugar diet

The actress reveals how she keeps her enviable figure

Footballers' Wives star Zöe Lucker, 32, swears by her no-sugar diet. She remains determined to maintain the slender curves that were always in full view when playing Tanya Turner.

An enviable size 8-10 figure, at 5ft 5in Zöe weighs around 8st 9lb and is happy to be slim, not skinny.

'I do watch what I eat, but I don't starve myself,' she says. 'I've never been someone who can go for a long time without food. If I do, I feel dizzy and get really grumpy.'

Zoe says:

'I've never followed a faddy diet. Cutting out loads of foods will just leave you craving them and you run the risk of a big binge blow-out!

It's all about balance

'Eat a healthy balance from all the main food groups, like protein, carbs and the good fats found in fish which provide all-important omega fatty acids. I eat a lot of tuna, salmon and seafood, such as squid. But I'll have pizza, too, if I fancy it.'

Don't yo-yo diet

'It's best to stay at a healthy, stable weight. All women fluctuate a bit, but you want to avoid the crash diet trap.'

Get off the sugar roller coaster

'I used to eat bags of sweets and drank a lot of fizzy drinks and coffee. But I ended up getting palpitations and feeling edgy, so I gradually reduced these in my diet. I've learnt that the energy slump afterwards isn't good for you.'

Drink red wine, not white

Zöe sticks to red wine instead of white – as there's too much sugar in white – and eats chicken, fish and whole grains which keep you fuller for longer. She eats complex carbs, such as pasta and wholegrain bread. White rice, white bread and other processed foods are out.

Hate the gym? Buy a running machine

Running's a great fat-burning exercise that not only keeps Zöe's legs in shape, but also helps tone her arms, which she keeps moving as she jogs. But she admits to not always feeling motivated to work out.

'Sometimes I'll go for a week where I don't use the machine except to hang my washing on and then another week I'll do lots of regular 20-minute workouts.'

Enjoy life

'The most important thing is to enjoy life. I'm the first to admit I love having a few glasses of wine. Since hitting my thirties I'm more relaxed about my body than ever. Now I think: "Big deal, so what if I put on a couple of pounds?" You have to keep things in perspective.'

Typical day's food for Zöe

Breakfast Bowl of muesli or a smoothie.
Lunch Tuna salad, with olive oil ad balsamic vinegar instead of creamy dressing.
Dinner Chicken with lemon grass and spinach.
Snacks Nuts such as cashew, macadamia and pistachio, or bread dipped in olive oil rather than butter.

Zöe's top tips to beat the bloat

Whether she's filming or off on a night out, if Zöe knows she'll be wearing something slinky she follows these golden rules:
• Avoid bread and rice on the day, especially white versions of these.
• Avoid all fizzy drinks.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Take a peppermint capsule of drink peppermint tea after eating.

Ali Agnew