Michelle McManus revealed the heartbreaking truth behind her drastic nine stone weight loss live on Good Morning Britain.
The Pop Idol winner, 44 told Rob Rinder and Kate Garraway on Friday that she had been trying to lose weight for years and had been scared about what would happen to her children if she were to die young.
She told the breakfast show that she had tried various diets over the years without success and revealed the key to her recent weight loss.
The Scottish singer explained that she had wanted to be happy with her body but struggled to like what she was seeing.
Michelle revealed that the key to her success has actually been a life coach and weight training, insisting that she’s now happier than ever.
+10
Michelle McManus, 44, revealed the heartbreaking truth behind her drastic nine stone weight loss on Good Morning Britain on Friday
+10
The Pop Idol winner told Rob Rinder and Kate Garraway that she had been trying to lose weight for years but she hadn’t found a diet that worked until now
During the interview, Michelle shut down rumours that she had had surgery or tried the weight loss drug Ozempic
During the interview, Michelle shut down rumours that she had had surgery or tried the weight loss drug Ozempic.
She told host Rob that as a type 1 diabetic, she wouldn’t be able to take the celebrity favourite weight-loss drug and confirmed she had not used any shortcuts to achieve her new figure.
She then explained that over the years she had tried several weight loss programmes without success.
She said: ‘I started to try and lose weight and I tried all these diets.
‘But the more I tried to lose the more I gained and I was looking at myself in mirror thinking “this body has given you two kids and you should be happy”.
‘It shouldn’t matter about clothes size, you should like what you see in the mirror.’
Michelle also candidly discussed the heartbreaking truth that led her to diet.
She told the show that she had considered surgery but had been scared about the side effects and was terrified that going under the knife would mean leaving her children.
+10
Michelle explained how she felt conflicted by her body saying: ‘The more I tried to lose the more I gained and I was looking at myself in mirror thinking “this body has given you two kids and you should be happy”
+10
The singer and presenter added that she hadn’t realised what a transformation she had gone through until she went to get a new photo for her BBC staff card and they showed her an old photo
The reality star said: ‘I looked into surgery but it gave me heightened anxiety because what if I did it and what about my kids?’
Michelle explained that she didn’t want to put them through that experience and instead turned to calorie deficit.
She revealed: ‘I started calorie deficit and I thought it was old fashioned – it was something my mum would do in the 80s.’
Michelle criticised online fad diets, describing them as making weight loss look ‘sexy’ when the reality is a lot of hard work.
She said: ‘I met my life coach Liza Hardingbuck and we set out a plan and started weight training and swimming.
‘It’s totally changed my relationship with food. Slowly but surely I lost the weight.’
The singer and presenter added that she hadn’t realised what a transformation she had gone through until she went to get a new photo for her BBC staff card and they showed her an old photo.
‘I actually lost the weight a while ago but it wasn’t until they showed me my old picture card and I don’t think I realised how far I’d come.’
+10
Michelle criticised online fad diets, describing them as making weight loss look ‘sexy’ when the reality is a lot of hard work (pictured in 2021)
+10
The singer credited her life coach Liza Hardingbuck with he weight loss, revealing that the pair made a diet and exercise plan
+10
She told the morning show: ‘I met my life coach Liza Hardingbuck and we set out a plan and started weight training and swimming. ‘It’s totally changed my relationship with food.’
Michelle also candidly discussed the reaction to her weight loss, describing it as ‘lovely’.
‘I’ve lost nine stone and its been the most joyous experience on social media.’
The performer explained the importance of body positivity and emphasised that she had loved the previous version of herself but just didn’t recognise her anymore
‘It’s body positivity. It’s not that that person wasn’t beautiful but I couldn’t connect with her in the mirror but now I’m in a place where I like myself.’ she said.
‘I feel so much healthier and I think thy key to life is no one should tell you what to weigh – if someone feels happy then that’s fine.
‘At the age of 44 I’ve found inner piece because there was a lot of shame but now I’m happy.’
Michelle’s candid confessions come after she admitted that during her time on Pop Idol she struggled with people scrutinising her looks.
+10
Since her weight loss Michelle explained: ‘Its body positivity. It’s not that that person wasn’t beautiful but I couldn’t connect with her in the mirror but now I’m in a place where I like myself.’
+10
Michelle – who won season two of Pop Idol in 2003 (pictured) – revealed that during her time on the show she struggled with people scrutinising her looks
Speaking on Lorraine in 2016, she said: ‘It was difficult, everyone wants to look the best they can look. I was only 24, I’d never been to London, it was always made such a big deal, I’ve been up and down, It’s always going to be a part of me.
‘I think it will always be a part of me, even if I was to lose all the weight and become a real skinny minny, it would still somehow be there.’
Michelle also said that she wanted to ‘wire her jaw up’ ahead of her wedding in order to lose weight.
Last year, Michelle opened up on her decision to cut out alcohol, admitting that when drinking she ‘didn’t have a stop button’ and is now much happier.
