Sam Smith, the acclaimed English singer and songwriter, has been on a remarkable journey of weight loss and self-discovery. This transformation, both physical and mental, has inspired many. From grappling with emotional eating to embracing a healthier lifestyle, Smith's story is one of commitment, self-acceptance, and a newfound relationship with food.
Early Struggles and Emotional Eating
Smith's journey wasn't an overnight success. For years, the singer struggled with emotional eating, a common issue where food becomes a coping mechanism for dealing with difficult emotions. "From a young age, food has controlled me, basically," Smith confessed in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia. "When I was at school and wasn't having a great time or when music wasn't going very well, I would eat. When I felt lonely, I would eat." This pattern of using food for comfort led to weight gain and unhappiness with their body image.
The Turning Point: Amelia Freer and a New Relationship with Food
A pivotal moment in Smith's journey came with meeting Amelia Freer, a renowned nutritional therapist. Smith credits Freer with completely transforming their relationship with food. "Three weeks ago I met a woman who has completely changed my life," Smith wrote on Instagram. "Amelia Freer has helped me lose over a stone in 2 weeks and has completely transformed my relationship with food. Everyone go check out her incredible book, and start to live healthy. It's not even about weight loss it's about feeling happy in yourself."
Freer's approach focuses on nourishing the body with wholesome foods and developing a healthy mindset towards eating. Smith has praised Freer's book, "Cook. Nourish. Glow," for its health and nutrition insights, which have made them feel "so happy inside and out." Reportedly, Smith started making meals from scratch and cut gluten, dairy, and refined sugar.
The Initial Weight Loss and the Importance of Healthy Habits
The initial results were dramatic. Smith revealed a weight loss of 14 pounds in just 14 days. However, they emphasized that it wasn't just about rapid weight loss but about adopting sustainable healthy habits. In 2017, Smith noted that while it seemed like they shed the pounds overnight, they had to adopt healthy habits that affected their day-to-day lives.
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Continued Progress and a Focus on Fitness
Smith's commitment to a healthier lifestyle extended beyond diet. They incorporated regular exercise into their routine, working out three times a week with a personal trainer. Their workouts focused on cardio and weight training. These newfound diet and exercise habits have helped them continue to slim down even more.
Body Image Struggles and Self-Acceptance
Despite the weight loss success, Smith has been open about their ongoing struggles with body image. "When I was shooting my first music videos, I just wasn't happy with the way I looked, so I was trying to control the way the camera moved," Smith said. "I got a bit obsessive." They also acknowledged the pressures of the entertainment industry and the need to constantly challenge unrealistic beauty standards. "I need to constantly train myself to watch the right sort of films, to not look at certain ads and think that's how my stomach should look," Smith said.
Smith recognized the "self-indulgent" nature of their career, noting, "I have to listen to my voice daily." This awareness has fueled their commitment to self-acceptance and prioritizing mental well-being alongside physical health.
"Love Goes" and a New Era
Smith's journey of self-discovery coincided with the creation of their third album, "Love Goes." The album's release was initially delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis, but the extra time allowed Smith to reconnect with the songs and rediscover their love for them. "I am sorry it's taken a while," Smith said in a statement. "But these unprecedented times gave me the room and space to fall in love with these songs all over again. After it all, I still believe love is the answer."
Appearing on The Late Show on October 29 to perform two songs off their new album Love Goes, the Oscar-winning singer and songwriter looked better than ever. Sam, 29, recently lost 50 pounds and the results of their weight loss have never been more apparent.
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