Suzanne Shaw: I lost 2st in two months
All thanks to a wheat-free diet
Wednesday, 22 November 2006
Suzanne Shaw never thought she'd be able to be a mother, so it was a miracle when she discovered she was pregnant.
'I always thought I wouldn't be able to have children as I had polycystic ovaries, so I was beside myself when I found out the news,' she says. 'It was a dream come true.'
But Suzanne's pregnancy was far from trouble-free. Amid rumours that then fiancé Darren Day cheated on her when she was eight months' pregnant, she eventually gave birth in December 2004 to the best Christmas present she could hope for: 5lb 4oz son Corey.
'I had a very stressful pregnancy,' admits 25-year-old Suzanne. 'It was just one hurdle after another, but nothing beats being a mum and motherhood is the most fantastic experience ever. I wouldn't give it up for the world,'
Now, two years after her son's birth, Suzanne's back, looking better than ever. She's a tiny size 8 and puts it all down to her wheat-free diet and boxing – we don't need to guess who all that aggression is targeted at! – as well as running around after her new son.
I got up to 10st when I was pregnant
The petite 5ft 2in singer put on 2st while she was pregnant; at her heaviest she weighed 10st.
'I loved being pregnant,' she says. 'For the first time in my life, I didn't have to watch what I ate, which was great – especially being in this industry. And, believe me, I ate for England!
'I had the most bizarre cravings, too – I craved soil and twigs. The nearest thing to twigs that you can eat is Twiglets, so I became addicted to them.'
Suzanne is the first to admit the effect her pregnancy had on her figure. 'It completely changed the way I felt about my body,' she laughs. 'Everything turned to jelly and I felt less confident about certain parts, especially my legs.'
A wheat-free diet - and boxing - changed my figure
So once she'd settled into motherhood and got her energy back, she took charge of her figure.
'At that point I decided that I should begin to get back into shape, so I started the wheat-free diet. It's better for my stomach as I find it really hard to digest wheat. I replaced it all with wheat-free alternatives and the weight started dropping off naturally.
I'd have wheat-free bread, wheat-free pasta and lots of fruit and vegetables. Even the wheat-free biscuits are nice.
'Breast-feeding definitely helped – even though I only did it for four days as it was so painful. But I'm told those four days still make a difference.'
Suzanne gradually introduced exercise back into her routine and started boxing with a trainer. 'I only did it twice a week and the rest of the time I was just busy being a mum. Corey's so fast that I'm up every 30 seconds chasing after him – and that definitely helped speed up the weight loss.'
Now I feel better than ever
Suzanne was back on stage in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat six weeks after having Corey.
'Doing nine shows a week and having my partner walk out on me pretty much helped the weight drop off,' she says. 'I lost about 2st in two months, so I'm actually slimmer now than I was before I got pregnant. I wanted to do it sensibly and not go on any crash diets.'
Suzanne admits that quick-fix diets have never worked for her in the past.
'I tried the Atkins diet, but it didn't work for me. So far the only diet that I find does work is the wheat-free one. Every time I need to lose weight for a premiere or a big event I cut out wheat. It makes such a difference,' she says, adding: 'This is the best I've ever felt about my body.'
Where to get wheat-free foods
While wholegrains and wheat bran are high in fibre – which is one of the essential food groups that your body needs to function properly – it can cause bloating and discomfort in some people.
If you suspect wheat may be causing you to feel puffed up or sluggish, then a good indicator is to cut it out of your diet for a trial period of four weeks and see if you notice a difference. Include vital fibre in your diet by eating plenty of fruit and veg. And so you don't have to miss out on all your favourite foods, here are some great wheat-free alternatives...
Most supermarkets have their own 'free from' section offering a wide range of wheat replacements so you can enjoy your everyday favourite foods, such as cereal and bread. Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Co-op and Tesco have good information on their wheat-free and gluten-free ranges that can be accessed online.
Ok Foods has a range of wheat-free products, including cakes and puddings. Try the delicious Chocolate Sponge Pudding or tasty Fruit Cake Slices, both of which are also gluten free too. Visit
www.ok-foods.co.uk for stockist information or to buy online.
Dietary Specials product range includes everything from bread and pizzas to pasta and puddings and is available from Sainsbury's, Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons and Waitrose. Call 01925 258000 or visit
www.dietaryspecials.co.uk.
New VitaPro from Vogel's is a crunchy wheat-free option. It contains vitamin and protein- enriched soy cereal, flavoured with natural honey and cinnamon. It is also the first breakfast cereal in the UK to contain hi-maize, a completely natural food ingredient that's rich in resistant starch, fibre and probiotic properties, which may aid bowel health.
Selina Julien
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