Strictly’s size 30 Lisa drops seven dress sizes!
SHE made it through to the Strictly semis as a size 30, often jokingly lifting her dance partner in a self-deprecating nod to her weight.
But Lisa Riley is having a different kind of laugh these days – after losing an astonishing eight stone in less than a year. The former Emmerdale actress, 39, was spurred to overhaul her unhealthy lifestyle after her father Terry was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. And the change has been so dramatic – dropping from size 30 to 16 – even her fellow stars fail to recognise her.
She appeared on ITV’s Loose Women yesterday – and host Ruth Langsford accidentally walked past the star without realising it was her.
Miss Riley later said: ‘This is the reaction I never thought I could get. To be honest, it’s still hard to see my reflection because I look so different. It’s insane when I look back at old photos. I am so proud of what I’ve achieved – but I needed to do it. I am so happy now… sometimes, I get old clothes out of my wardrobe and when I try them on, they fit like a tent!’
Opening up about why she decided to lose so much weight, Miss Riley – who rose to fame in Emmerdale playing boisterous Mandy Dingle – explained that a visit to see her father in hospital was her motivation. She said: ‘While I was on the ward to see him, I noticed there were 21 men with type 2 diabetes. I didn’t want to be another statistic and so the fear factor kicked in. It was like a bulb going off in my head.’
Miss Riley has denied using a gastric band to drop the pounds and said she had simply overhauled her diet and started exercising. ‘I have smaller portions now,’ she said. ‘I have no food after 6.30pm. I only eat a carb if I need one and absolutely no bread or booze.’