Claire: “At 46, I’ve got my dream body after losing 2st”
Claire Sweeney opens up about how she was called out on her weight by a friend and why she went on to embrace a new healthy lifestyle
She’s made no secret of her S fluctuating figure since having her son, Jaxon, in 2014, and has admitted her “binge mentality” made it hard to shift the pounds. But for the first time in years, Claire Sweeney reveals her confidence is at an all-time high.
The star has lost 2st and slimmed down from a size 14 to a 10 in just three months by overhauling her diet and fitness regime.
Claire, 46, tells Closer: “I feel great – the best I’ve felt in years. I’ve surpassed my dream weight of 10st and I have the body I had 10 years ago. I can finally wear my skinny jeans and body-con dresses again, which I’m loving!”
BREAKING POINT
While she’s bursting with energy now, a year ago, Claire says she felt overweight and sluggish. In April last year, she took to the stage in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and admits her gruelling schedule caused her weight to spiral. She says: “I’d work till late, get home and order a Chinese takeaway or go out for an Indian and have four glasses of wine. My worst mistake was constantly picking at Jaxon’s food – every mother can relate to this. I’d have a bite of his fish fingers or nibble on his sweet potato fries and I told myself it didn’t count as it wasn’t on my plate. The calories were mounting up, though.”
But Claire reveals her sugar cravings – which she’s attempted to curb in the past with hypnotherapy – were her downfall. She says: “I craved chocolate while I was pregnant and couldn’t give it up. Once, I was picking up a friend and I was craving a Kitkat Chunky. I was on my hands and knees like a crack addict looking for coins in my car as I was 20p short and I needed this Kitkat. I was going bonkers!”
And the 5ft 8 former Brookside actress says the weight gain led her to loathe her body. She explains: “I took a selfie in my dressing room and all I could see were these rolls. I felt fat and middle aged and – because I was touring – it was hard to keep up with exercising. I thought: ‘This isn’t how I want to be.’
“By the end of the tour, I weighed just under 12st – I had big old thighs and put Kim Kardashian to shame with my big butt!”
Claire reveals she reached breaking point when weeks later a close pal bluntly pointed out she looked “really big.” She says: “My friend Pete is very vocal about his opinions and one night, after I’d been on stage, he said: ‘Claire, I’m a bit upset you look really big – sort it out.’ I didn’t take offence but I told myself: ‘Come on, you can do this.’”
Now the star credits Slimfast and regular exercise with helping her lose wight and she admits she’s brimming with body confidence.
She reveals: “The other day, I wore a croptop for the first time in my yoga class and a body-con dress without Spanx – and they were massive moments for me! My thighs are toned and I’m working hard on my stomach!”
A REALISTIC APPROACH
Claire adds: “I remember doing one of my first bikini shoots for Closer in 2010 wearing this tiny pink bikini – I’ve kept the photo on my phone since and that’s been my inspiration!
“I’ve lost weight on diets before, but got fat again as they’re so restrictive and hard to sustain. For me, replacing just a meal a day with a milkshake works because I’m getting all the benefits of a balanced diet the rest of the time. I cut down on alcohol too, and the weight steadily came off.”
On a typical day, breakfast is porridge or an egg-white omelette, followed by a raspberry shake, lunch is chicken stir-fry, then dinner is either a healthy roast or something with turkey mince.”
a new lifestyle
And Claire says her weight loss has not only transformed her figure, but her health too.
She says: “I feel fitter and stronger. In yoga, I couldn’t even stand one on leg, but finally I can. I’m more energised when it comes to running around after Jaxon and I’m sleeping better. My face is more defined as well.”
To maintain her figure, Claire works out four times a week. She says: “My ethos is 80 per cent diet and 20 per cent exercise. I’ll do Bikram yoga, take Jaxon to the park, and walk instead of getting the bus.”
Meanwhile Claire, who has remained single since splitting from her ex-fiancé Daniel Reilly nine months after Jaxon was born, adds her new look has attracted lots of celeb attention.
Claire reveals: “At Lizzie Cundy’s birthday party last month, Kate Garraway came running up to me and said: ‘Oh my God, I need a photo with you looking like this – you look amazing!’ A compliment from a woman I respect means more than any bloke saying ‘you look hot.’”
And after being called out on her weight by her pal, Claire says he’s since eaten his words. She laughs: “I saw Pete recently and he came up to me and said: ‘You’ve done it! I’m so sorry I was horrible but look – it’s worked!’ I was thrilled!”
‘My friend told me I looked big and to sort it out ’