Pop Idol ITV star, Michelle McManus, has gone from 22 to
14 stone. She spoke to us about the benefits of losing weight
and keeping healthy.
Congratulations on losing eight stone. What inspired you to lose weight?
Well, it was when I weight myself for the first time in ages. I
knew I was big but it was really shocking to see 22 stone on the scales!
I guess it was a wake up call, particularly since I'm only 5 foot 2
inches tall and in my mid twenties.
How did you go about it?
Through changing my diet and exercising basically. I was
too scared to try a fad diet because I didn't want to go through all the
dieting to put the weight back on again. I needed to be completely
re-educated in food, diet and lifestyle. To be honest, I was quite
happy being big so losing weight was never a consideration. I wasnt
bullied at school and I enjoyed eating junk food. But in terms of my
long-term health I knew I had to do something about it. So I told my
management company and they put me in contact with the Channel 4
programme, "You Are What You Eat", which helps people back into shape.
Was it helpful having Dr Gillian McKeith around to motivate you?
Gillian McKeith was very supportive, although completely
evil at times! She was strict but gave me the shake up I needed. She
also gave me the tools and advice to go on the diet. But she couldn’t
hold my hand or watch what I ate twenty four seven. Only you can only do
that by yourself.
What were the main hurdles for you losing weight?
Trying news foods was one of the hardest challenges for me
because I was so set in my ways. I was very unadventurous at meal times
and would usually have big helpings of pizza or pasta. So when I started
eating fruit and vegetables it was a strange sensation and I didn’t
really enjoy it much. But after two weeks my taste buds kicked into
action. Take beetroot, I hated it as a kid but now I love it!
Is it important to have variety in your diet?
Variety is an extremely important part of a diet otherwise you
will get bored pretty quickly. I basically don't eat the same food
more than twice a week. Also if you do eat the same foods your body
falls into the same patterns and it becomes harder to lose weight.
What difference has it made to your life and the way you feel?
I feel a million times better. My energy levels have
improved, my hair and skin feels great and I don’t have any spots. I
also sleep well at night too.
As well as watching what you eat, have you started exercising?
Yes, I swim three times a week and do kick-boxing twice a week,
which isn't bad for someone that was called 'taxi arse' on national
television! I'm now really active and I walk everywhere. Walking is
great because it burns calories but it also gives you space to think
and get some fresh air.
Has losing weight given you more confidence when it comes to relationships?
I don’t actually have a boyfriend at the moment but losing weight
has definitely given me more confidence when it comes to clubbing and
flirting with guys! I also feel better going shopping and being around
my friends. As a group we are 100% healthier and I now cook fresh
dinners for them instead of serving up ready-made meals! We’ve also cut
down on the amount of alcohol we drink, which it’s good because it’s so
calorific!
Has it altered your voice in any way?
Yes, my voice does sound different since losing weight. It’s got a
slightly different tone, which is quite weird. I only noticed it when I
sang All This Time again. But I think it’s got more texture. So it’s
definitely got better.
Do you think your weight loss will impact on your career?
Absolutely! It has opened a lot more doors for me. I’m now
auditioning for theatre and TV presenting work. I’m also featured in
more lifestyle magazines, which wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t gone
on the diet. I’m also working on my new album, which comes out in the
summer. So it’s an exciting time for me and I see 2006 as the year of
the unknown.
Despite the pressure of being a Pop Idol and
receiving criticism about your weight, you seem very grounded and down
to earth. What keeps you so strong?
Well, two reasons really; I never craved fame or dreamed of being
famous. I mean what music producer would be interested in someone my
size? I also worked from the age of 16 and have great friends and
family around me. I never get special treatment and still have to do
the washing up!
Do you think it will be easy to maintain your new way of life?
Well never say never, but I’m pretty confident that I can
continue. I always prepare all my food and freeze it for the week ahead.
So there’s always a salad in the fridge or a lovely fruit smoothie to
hand. I also enjoy cooking, which is something I never did before. I was
the kind of person who would put a frozen lasagne in the microwave and
burn it! So yes, I think I can keep it up.
Are you allowed any treats?
Well I’m not a fan of chocolate but I do like the odd glass
of wine. I tend to drink just once every two weeks instead of going on
big benders like I used to. After drinking I tend to detox and drink
lots of water. This is important for hydration and keeping the junk food
cravings at bay. Having said that, I did have a piece of garlic bread
with my meal the other day but that was a real moment of weakness for
me.
Are you going to lose any more weight?
Ideally I’d like to. My goal is to get down to 10 stone but it
will probably take another year to get there. When you’ve dieted for a
long time it gets harder to lose weight so you need to do more exercise
and have patience.
Finally what five top tips would you give to anyone who wants to change their diet and lead a healthy lifestyle?
- Well firstly cut out everything white. So no white bread or rice and stick to wholemeal foods.
- Don’t add salt to your food. It’s one of the worst things for your heart and it retains body fluid.
- Drink at least two litres of water a day. It’s great for your skin and for clearing out toxins.
- Try and eat as little processed food as you can. Instead of
going to the shop at lunchtime why not make your own sandwiches? You'll
be surprised how many preservatives are in ready-made meals.
- Finally walk everywhere; it’s really good for you. And of course be happy!
