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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
James Moore

How celebrity chefs including John Torode and Gregg Wallace managed to lose weight

Celebrity chefs grace our screens often, with them aiming to make our mouths water on shows such as MasterChef - which returned for a new series just last month.

Being surrounded with tasty morsels all day means that the likes of John Torode, 56, can find themselves packing on the pounds whilst working on their culinary projects.

It's no surprise then that a number of TV chefs have changed their eating habits and exercise routines in a bid to shed weight, including Nigella Lawson, 62.

With this in mind, James Moore has discovered just how celebrity chefs have managed to get back to a healthy weight amid the temptation of working with food.

John Torode

John Torode is said to have lost three stone (BBC)

Weight loss: 3st

How he did it: As MasterChef returned to our screens last month, the 56-year-old judge, married to actress Lisa Faulkner, revealed he usually puts on a stone while filming the show.

But he recently shed 3st by working out in the gym and cycling, along with making sure he stopped skipping breakfast.

Why it works: Eating a breakfast high in protein can actually help speed up the metabolism.

Tucking into a healthy feast in the morning also stops hunger pangs during the day and helps manage blood sugar levels, so you avoid slumps and the temptation of reaching for unhealthy
snacks.

Gregg Wallace

Gregg Wallace feels 'fitter' than ever after losing weight (BBC)

Weight loss: 4st

How he did it: The MasterChef host and former greengrocer, 57, feels "fitter and healthier than ever" after losing weight and toning up.

Wallace says he didn't diet as such, but cut down on takeaways and booze, ate healthy home-cooked food and hit the gym five days a week.

Why it works: Takeaways have sky-high calorie and fat counts.

Adults who cook their family meals at home are 26 per cent less likely to be obese, according to a study in the Journal Of The Academy Of Nutrition And Dietetics.

Paul Hollywood

Paul Hollywood lost weight through activities such as cycling (Channel 4)

Weight loss: 1st

How he did it: After putting weight on during lockdown, the 56-year-old Bake Off star shed a stone by running and cycling.

He also ate lots of eggs for breakfast and soup in the evenings, while cutting out booze and only eating 1,100 calories a day.

Why it works: A US study showed eggy breakfasts led to 65 per cent greater weight loss over eight weeks.

Restricting your calorie count can lead to weight loss due to a deficit with the amount you use during the day, but you should take medical advice before following a low-calorie diet.

The NHS recommends consuming 2,500 calories if you're a man, and 2,000 a day if you're a woman.

James Martin

James Martin shed a significant amount of weight (Getty)

Weight loss: 5st

How he did it: The popular TV chef, 49, shed 5st in just two months by cutting back on fatty foods, eating lots of fruit and veg, and exercising, especially by adding walking into his daily routine.

Why it works: According to one UK study, people who do regular, brisk walking have smaller waists than those who do other forms of exercise such as going to the gym or playing football or rugby.

Nigella Lawson

Weight loss: 2st

How she did it: The TV cook has spoken about how her weight fluctuates, but says she shuns crash diets.

Instead, the 62 year old shed 2st by simply reducing her portion sizes at mealtimes to put her body into a calorie deficit.

She also regularly does yoga, which can reduce abdominal fat.

Why it works: A University of Colorado study found eating just 100 fewer calories a day – about three bites of a burger – curbs weight gain.

Tom Kerridge

Tom Kerridge changed his diet after reaching 40 (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Weight loss: 12st

How he did it: When the chef reached 40, he took drastic action to lose his paunch by cutting out alcohol, refined sugar and carbs, while following a so-called dopamine diet – munching on things such as dairy foods that increase "happy" hormones in the brain. The 48-year-old also swam a lot.

Why it works: Cutting down on carbs and alcohol reduces calories, and the feel-good dopamine diet is reckoned to help you stick to your weight-loss regime. Swimming burns 600 calories an hour - the equivalent of three chocolate bars.

MasterChef is on BBC1 on Wednesdays at 8pm.

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