Friday, 8 December 2006

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Michelle Heaton: I struggle to maintain my weight

The Liberty X star doesn't diet - but she won't eat carbs after 3pm

Sexy pop babe Michelle Heaton is the first to admit that she struggles to maintain her weight. It's hard to believe she was ever overweight with her enviable figure and hundreds of glamorous photo shoots under her belt. But Michelle, 26, says it hasn't always been easy.

'I struggle to maintain my weight and it does fluctuate quite a lot. Within a space of a week I can look like I've put on 7lb,' she says. 'I do retain water, so I have to take care of myself. It's awful because the minute I put on weight it really shows on my face.'

However, these days Michelle appears to be striking a balance and is revelling in her new figure. 'I'm in the best shape I've been in for a long time,' she says.

A stint on Celebrity Wrestling sparked off a fitness regime

Michelle, who took part in ITV1's reality show Celebrity Wrestling, owes her new-found curves to the girl-on-girl action in the ring and the gruelling three-month training schedule.

'I really pushed myself as far as I could go. We were given personal trainers to use as often as we liked – so it was as intense as you wanted it to be. I was determined to prove that I could do it. And it's real wrestling – it's not choreographed like most televised wrestling.

'I surprised myself because I never expected to do so well and I actually loved it. I didn't escape without cuts and bruises, though – and I even pulled a tendon. Thankfully, I didn't rip it as it would have taken ages to heal and that would've certainly meant the end of competing for me.'

The results of her efforts speak for themselves and 5ft 4in Michelle confidently says: 'I've definitely lost weight and my clothes fit me differently. More importantly, the training made me lose inches from my hips and waist, which is fantastic. I weigh 8st 9lb, which is about right for my height. I weigh myself every Monday morning, but if I forget, I tend to gauge whether I've put on any weight by the way my clothes fit me. If they start getting a bit tight then I know I have to cut back a little.'

I drink loads of water but don't really diet

The singer doesn't advocate dieting though. 'It's boring dieting all the time. I don't ban anything, as I just tend to crave it more. I'll have a fun week where I'll go out drinking and treat myself to a McDonald's. Then the next week I'll restrict myself. As a rule I tend to steer clear of carbs from 3pm.'

Michelle's secret tip for weight loss is water. 'I try to drink 1 and a half litres a day and, believe me, I can really see a difference. My skin's clearer, I feel healthier and I don't feel sluggish any more.

'I've never really eaten lots of fruits, but a multi-vitamin a day tends to make me feel more alive,' she laughs.

But while Michelle's a picture of health these days, it was a very different story when she joined Liberty X.

'I was at my thinnest when we formed the band, even thinner than I am now,' she says. 'But at the time I was going out with a man who was heavily into diet pills and I took that mentality on board and became really conscious of my body. Looking back, I was actually too thin.'

Things took a turn for the worse when Michelle split from her partner and her future with the band became uncertain when Liberty X's single Doin' It flopped in the charts. She began comforting eating and piled on the pounds within weeks.

'I was a single girl again, so I was out every night drinking and eating pizzas. Before I knew it I'd put on 21lb. Just A Little was our biggest hit, but I cringe when I look back at the video. I was at my heaviest and I promised myself that I'd never get to that stage again.'

Andy was really supportive when I was bigger

It was shortly after she sunk into the depths of depression that Michelle met her husband, Pop Idol finalist Andy Scott-Lee.

'He was absolutely brilliant and he never said a word about my weight, even though he met me when I was at my heaviest. Andy's always been really supportive and we tend to work out together.

'We try and work out three times a week. I only tend to do 30-minute sessions – 15 minutes on the stepper and then weights for the rest of the time. It doesn't sound like much, but it's enough to keep the definition going.

'I've never been in better shape and I'm finally happy with my figure – and so is Andy!'

Selina Julien