Tuesday, 26 September 2006

Carol Vorderman's cellulite busting plan

The diet that keeps her lean and toned

When Carol Vorderman returned to our screens in the latest series of Countdown, the 46-year-old presenter looked more slender and glamorous than ever.

Not only has the TV star transformed her figure in the last few years – dropping from a size 14 to a svelte size 8-10 – but her skin's glowing and her body is super toned and lean.

Carol, who's become as well-known for her detox diet as for her talent with maths, puts this down to a weight loss plan that specifically targets the fat deposits that causes cellulite.

Cut out caffeine for a start

By cutting out ready-meals, caffeine drinks, wheat and dairy for a month on detox and increasing antioxidants and omega-3 fish oils in her diet, Carol says that she's achieved smoother skin and helped rid her body of those unsightly lumps and bumps that we all dread.

'I've given birth twice and with the all bad eating habits my body's had to endure over the years, my cellulite just got worse and worse,' says Carol. 'At my heaviest I was more than 2st overweight and three dress sizes bigger than I am now.'

A devotee of detox

At that time, Carol decided to give her diet an overhaul – and she's never looked back. Now she maintains her svelte look by regularly following a detox plan whenever she feels she wants to give her body a spring-clean. Since then, often working with top nutritionist Anita Bean, Carol's written books on both detox and cellulite-busting plans.

Of her first detox, she says: 'I didn't do anything drastic – it's exactly the same detox plan that we eventually made into the first book. I did it for a month and dropped two dress sizes. The condition of my skin and hair improved, I lost a lot of weight and I felt less bloated and really well.'

Find a balance

Six months later, Carol tried the plan again and dropped another dress size to the size she is now. But she's since admitted that her busy schedule, dieting and lots of exercising may have left her a bit too thin at one stage. She believes she's now found a perfect balance – and weight – which she maintains through the eating habits she's learnt.

'I don't like being too thin, it's not my natural state,' she says. I lost too much weight at one point and I didn't like it, even though, sadly, it made me look better in photographs.'

Now Carol's proud of her slender curves and has focused on toning up and following a healthy eating regime that provides her with much needed energy.

'This way of eating is about what you eat, not your calorie intake,' says Carol. 'I replaced processed food, caffeine drinks, wheat and dairy with fresh fruit and veg, mineral- and vitamin-rich foods and lots of water.

'The fat dropped off and the bumps seemed to melt away. I wanted something that didn't just help you lose weight, but also helped get rid of "orange peel" legs, dimpled bums and bingo wings.'

Eat To Beat Cellulite

The exact recipes she follows in her toxin busting diet are revealed in her book Carol Vorderman's Eat To Beat Cellulite Recipes (from £7.79 on amazon.co.uk). 'You can expect to lose up to 10lb in 30 days by eating this way,' says Anita, who assisted Carol in the writing of her book. 'In our trials, those women who followed either the diet alone or the exercise plan alone got noticeable improvements, but those who did both got the best results.

'On average, the women following the diet and exercise plan lose around 9-10lb in 30 days and, as the before and after photos in the new book show, there was a dramatic improvement in the appearance of our volunteers' cellulite.'

Burn that fat

The recipe book contains 100 recipes – from nutritious breakfasts, salads, homemade soups and starters to delicious main meals and mouth-watering desserts. 'Exercise is important, too,' says Anita.

'The original diet plan recommends including weekly toning and resistance exercises as well as regular aerobic activities to increase the amount of calories – and therefore fat – that you burn. The exercises also boost circulation and lymphatic systems and firm-up underlying muscles in cellulite-prone areas.'

'This diet will do your skin the world of good, too, and your energy levels will soar,' says Anita. 'It's not a fad diet – you eat foods that are nutritious, enjoyable and make you feel satisfied. It focuses on low-GI foods, which release their energy slowly, helping you control your appetite naturally and reducing hunger.'

Cellulite superfoods
• Apples
• Avocados
• Berries
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Hummus
• Kiwi fruit
• Nuts
• Oats
• Pumpkin seeds
• Spinach

Foods to avoid
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Sugar
• Saturated and processed (trans) fats
• Refined carbohydrates
• Salt
• Wheat
• Animal protein