Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Michelle Mone: I lost 5st but I’ve still got boobs!

Ultimo boss reveals how a new slimming plan transformed her figure

Michelle Mone | Pictures | Now Magazine | Celebrity Gossip

Ultimo lingerie founder Michelle Mone talks about her battle with insecurities

Wearing a tight-fitting, size 10 dress, it's hard to believe that just 2 years ago Ultimo boss Michelle Mone weighed 17st and was a size 22.

‘Until I was 27 I'd never had a problem with my weight,' explains the 38-year-old. ‘I'm 5ft 10in and I weighed around 9st 7lb. But after my third child Bethany was born, life got really stressful and my eating spiralled out of control.'

As the lingerie business grew, so did Michelle's stress levels. ‘My husband Michael runs Ultimo with me and we were both so tense we started arguing,' she says. ‘That's when I turned  to food.'

In three years, Michelle ballooned from a size 8-10 to a size 22.

‘Michael knew I was unhappy and it made him really frustrated,' says Michelle. ‘He'd shout at me to stop if he saw me eating junk food. So my PA hid chocolate and crisps in the filing cabinet so that he wouldn't see them. At home, I'd hide packets of biscuits in the linen cupboard or eat takeaway meals when he was out.'

By now, Michelle was becoming known as one of the UK's top female entrepreneurs, but her confidence was in tatters.

‘The way I looked made me cry,' she admits. ‘I'd only look in the mirror to put make-up on and I wouldn't let Michael see me naked. When we were on holiday together, I'd feign illness during the day, so  I wouldn't have to go to the beach and reveal my body.'

Michelle's insecurities were made even worse by spending time with the slender celebrities who modelled the Ultimo range.

‘We'd do photo shoots on a Miami beach with Rachel Hunter or Sarah Harding modelling and they'd look stunning. I'd feel so self-conscious in comparison that even though it was boiling hot, I'd only go out swathed in huge black trousers - with an elasticated waistband - and a massive oversized top.'

Michelle tried every diet from Weight Watchers and Slimming World to Atkins and the South Beach Diet, but none worked and each time she'd give up within a month.

Then, in 2006, a friend told her about Professor Jan de Vries, a Dutch naturopath.

‘At the time, I thought herbalism was a load of nonsense,' remembers Michelle.  ‘I went to see Jan seven months later as a last resort. But I ended up crying and begging him to help me.'

Michelle agreed to take part in a trial to test the herbal capsules Jan had developed to aid weight loss. The capsules contain sinetrol xpur, a citrus fruit extract that's clinically proven to burn fat. Combined with a balanced diet and exercise, Jan expected users to lose up to 2lb every week.

‘I took three tablets a day, one before every meal,' Michelle explains. ‘I also had to drink 1½ltr of water a day and follow an eating plan.' To her delight, within two months she'd lost a stone.

‘People started to comment on how different I looked, which motivated me to keep going,' she says.

Typical day's diet

Breakfast: Orange juice, coffee, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon Cals 429

Mid-Morning snack: Handful of raspberries Cals 10

Lunch: King prawn salad and a coffee Cals 305

Afternoon snack: Small banana Cals 103

Dinner: Pasta with asparagus and spicy chicken. Glass of white wine Cals 384

'I've cut down on bread and potatoes and started eating a lot of fish and salad. I still have the odd glass of wine, but overall I cut down my alcohol intake.'

After 12 months, Michelle had lost a massive 5st.

‘I even felt confident enough to start exercising again, too,' she says. ‘I've lost another stone and I go to the gym every day. I weigh 11st now. I'd like to reach 10st, but I'm happy with myself as I am at the moment.'

What's more, despite the weight loss Michelle's lucky enough to have retained her enviable D-cup cleavage.

‘I'm a 36D now, not a 38D,' she says. ‘My friends have even started suggesting that I should model the Ultimo range! I haven't got the confidence for that, but I honestly do feel the sexiest I ever have.'

Michelle lost weight on the TrimSecrets plan. The new and improved TrimSecrets Double Strength is now available from trimsecrets.com, from £14.95

My top 5 diet tips
Set a goal I find the gym dull, but I'm going to motivate myself by signing up for a 10k run. If you've got something to aim for, you'll be more focused.

Have a mantra Every morning, I tell myself I want to lose weight because I want to be happy. Reminding myself why I'm dieting spurs me on.

Eat uber-salads Don't think of salad  as boring lettuce. Make a version with pieces of grilled bacon (fat cut off), peppers, avocado, tomato, cucumber - the more variety, the better.

Believe compliments When people tell you you're looking good, enjoy it! The more positive feedback you get, the easier it'll be to carry on.

Swap foods Instead of mayonnaise, try crème fraîche and instead of gravy, have a wine-based low-fat broth.

How TrimSecrets works
The fruit and botanical extracts in TrimSecrets capsules work in three ways. They help control your appetite, so even though you're eating a controlled number of calories and increasing your exercise, you don't get hungry. They increase your metabolism, so your body burns fat faster, and they improve your energy levels. But you have to take them as well as following the rest of the 5-Step Slimming Plan.

Plan:
Step 1 Follow a calorie-controlled diet.
Step 2 Take one capsule before each meal, three times a day.
Step 3 Drink at least  1½ltr of water every day.
Step 4 Avoid stress  and try to relax.
Step 5 Exercise regularly.