Jane McDonald, a beloved singer and TV personality, has captivated audiences not only with her talent but also with her remarkable weight loss journey. Open about the challenges her career posed to maintaining a healthy weight, Jane has successfully transformed her lifestyle, shedding an impressive four stone and adopting a sustainable approach to well-being. This article delves into the details of her journey, exploring the dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, and mindset shifts that contributed to her success.
The Hectic Career and Weight Gain
The Loose Women presenter candidly admitted that her hectic career had contributed to her weight gain. Since 2017, Jane has been hosting her Channel 5 travel show, "Cruising with Jane McDonald." Despite loving her job, she previously confessed that she tends to put on weight easily while on cruise ships. She said in 2019: "That is the first cruise I've put about eight pounds on. I ate my own body weight on that cruise. If I have a breakfast, I don't have a lunch. If I have a lunch, I don't eat breakfast."
"I don't eat everything that I could eat on a cruise. I eat a lot of salads when I'm at home. But when I'm away, I'm away.", reports Surrey Live. "I don't want to be on a diet on a cruise because I want people to see what they can have."
The Turning Point: Sugar Free Farm
Jane's journey towards a healthier lifestyle took a significant turn when she participated in ITV's "Sugar Free Farm" in 2016. This experience proved to be a catalyst for change, equipping her with the knowledge and motivation to make lasting improvements to her diet and overall well-being.
Contestants were put on a sugar-free diet to boost their overall health. After her stint on the farm, she said: "I lost a stone and a half from taking part in the TV show Sugar Free Farm. I used to eat so much rubbish. I didn’t realise how much rubbish I used to eat. I’ve always loved a pie and I was very carbohydrate-led as I was always hungry. I ate far too much and all the wrong things. I didn’t realise that if you eat the wrong things, it doesn’t feed your body so you will want more." Jane, for instance, dropped over a stone within the first two weeks after cutting out sugar.
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She spoke with Express.co.uk about her journey: "I lost a stone and a half from taking part in the TV show Sugar Free Farm."
Dietary Changes and Discoveries
One of the most impactful changes Jane made was reducing her sugar intake. Participating in the programme taught her significant lessons leading her to avoid yeast bread. She explained to Daily Star: "The only bread I eat is one that I've got a recipe for from Angelique Panagos [the ITV show nutritionist]."
Detailing her new favourite, she added, "It's got no yeast in it and it's made with lots of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, wholemeal flour, oats and yogurt of all things." "It's literally 20 minutes and it's made - ready to put in the oven," In terms of dealing with cravings for carbs, Jane remarked: "I don't eat a lot of it but when I'm really craving a bit of starch I just get some out of the freezer and stick it in the toaster and it's done.
During Jane's incredible four stone weight loss journey she met Angelique Panagos. Angelique was the resident nutritionist on the TV show Sugar Free Farm. After the show, Jane continued with some of the meals on the diet plan, but amended it accordingly. Now she says: “The only bread I eat is one that I’ve got a recipe for from Angelique". The bread hack that she discovered on the show is one of Jane's favourite things she picked up. The Express reported that Jane said of the bread: "It’s got no yeast in it and it’s made with lots of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, wholemeal flour, oats and yogurt of all things. The paper reported that the star has gave further insights into her eating habits. "I don’t eat a lot of it but when I’m really craving a bit of starch I just get some out of the freezer and stick it in the toaster and it’s done."
In 2015, Jane revealed the extent of her diet changes, which included eliminating alcohol, cakes, biscuits, and fast food. Not having red wine was particularly challenging for her, but she managed to reduce her intake to just one glass per week.
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Jane made impressive strides in her weight loss journey, shedding one and a half stone by the end of her programme and continuing to lose weight until she reached a four-stone loss by 2016. She followed the show's dietary guidelines closely, which involved cutting out alcohol, cakes, biscuits, and fast food.
The 59 year old singer has previously shared that she cut out crisps from her diet and limits "white carbs" like white bread, flour and pasta. She enjoys starting her day with a green smoothie every other morning, saying: "I blend up a mixture of raw greens, flax seeds, chia seeds, spinach, kale, mint and a banana. It really is lovely."
Shifting the Mindset
Jane's weight loss journey wasn't just about changing her diet; it also involved a significant shift in her mindset. She recognized that her eating habits were driven by emotional needs rather than nutritional requirements.
Jane conceded: "I ate far too much and all the wrong things. I didn't realise that if you eat the wrong things, it doesn't feed your body so you will want more." Her lifestyle became challenging as she noted, "I like my life, and my schedule takes a lot of energy, but I was beginning to get quite tired and I was blaming it on age." Continuing: "It’s because of a change in my mindset.
She says: "I used to live to eat, but now I eat to live"
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Maintaining the Healthy Lifestyle
Having achieved her weight loss goals, Jane is now focused on maintaining her healthy lifestyle. She has successfully slimmed down from a size 12-14 to an 8. She continues to follow a balanced diet and prioritize her well-being.