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Daily Record
Daily Record
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Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz & Nicola Croal

Inside 'one-meal-a day' diet followed by Gary Lineker, Chris Martin and Bruce Springsteen

Former footballer Gary Lineker has revealed how he's impressively managed to maintain a similar weight as he was during his 16-year football career with his gruelling workout routine and controversial diet.

The now 62-year-old BBC sport presenter credits his toned physique to the disputed 'One Meal a Day' diet which is also famously followed by the likes of Coldplay singer Chris Martin and Bruce Springsteen, the Mirror reports.

Gary, who used to be a Tottenham Hotspurs striker, confessed to the Evening Standard : "I only really eat one major meal a day. Breakfast I don't eat, and then I'll either pick in the evening if I've had lunch, or pick in the daytime, with nuts and fruits."

This restrictive diet has been difficult for the self declared 'big cook' who couples his healthy eating lifestyle with 'intense exercise' and finds it works for him. The sportsman star revealed he also does at least three sessions in the gym each week on top of doing Pilates.

Linker has managed to maintain the same weight he was when he used to be a Tottenham Hotspurs striker (Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)

Many followers of the one Meal a Day diet or OMAD say it helps them to keep their weight under control better and stay fit. As participants only consume one meal a day which usually equates to less calories, it's likely your eating habits will result in one weight loss.

Other fad diets such as the 16:8 diet are based on a similar principle but you can eat during an eight-hour window. The OMAD diet is a lot more intense and those who follow it can sometimes go for up to 23 hours without any food.

The debatable diet is also supported by other celebs such as Coldplay's Chris Martin who revealed: "I actually don't have dinner anymore. I stop eating at 4[pm] and I learned that from having lunch with Bruce Springsteen."

Gary also has an strict workout routine (AFP via Getty Images)

The OMAD diet is essentially a more extreme version of other kinds of fasting diets that only allows you to have one main meal each day instead of three.

However, several dieticians have spoken out about the dangers of the diet and the various health problems it could lead to. Nutritionist Abigail Roberts previously told the Mirror: "Eating just one meal per day can be considered an extreme form of intermittent fasting.

"Unless the meal contains all the necessary nutrients and calories required by the body, it's unlikely to be a healthy approach to eating, especially if done over a long period.

Chris Martin is also a famous follower of the OMAD diet (Getty Images)

"Research has shown that consuming only one meal a day can lead to inadequate nutrient intake, causing deficiencies that may lead to various health problems such as fatigue, weakened immunity, and impaired cognitive function.

"Additionally, eating one meal per day may increase the risk of binge eating during that meal, causing digestive discomfort such as bloating and constipation.

"Furthermore, some studies suggest that intermittent fasting can disrupt the body's circadian rhythm and negatively affect sleep patterns, which can lead to physical and mental health problems."

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