Gregg Wallace reveals the secret of his 3st weight loss regime and how he ‘retrained’ his tastebuds
YOU can lose weight and stay slim by eating everyday food from your local supermarket.
One man who knows this is Gregg Wallace, who has lost 3st in the past few years by overhauling his diet.
Here, he tells CHRISTINA EARLE how he achieved his weight loss and offers tips on how you can too.
Gregg Wallace thought nothing of visiting a chippy once per week, ordering takeaways and boozing every day.
His unhealthy routine, combined with frequent calorie-laden meals consumed in expensive restaurants, ensured the telly presenter remained a hefty 16½st.
But realising he wasn’t getting any younger, Gregg vowed to change.
He said: “I made a conscious decision to cut down on fried and high sugar foods, as well as booze — which helped me lose weight.
“When I was at my biggest I was having a daily fry up, fish and chips once per week, takeaway a couple more times and drinking beer nearly every day. At first, I felt like I was missing out.
“But my body got used to what I was giving it and yours will too.”
Gregg retrained his taste buds to prefer healthier meals. And he now opts for fish, vegetables and homemade versions of takeaways.
He said: “Don’t cut out things you like - it will just make you miserable.
“I’m a huge fan of curries, chillies and stews and it is still possible to lose weight and eat hearty meals.
“Think about cooking with meats such as chicken and pork — all the things that don’t have much fat.
“Use lean mince to make chillies, fill up with tasty stews stuffed full of healthy, low-calorie veg.
“Try putting a chicken on a baking tray with potatoes, onions and olive oil and leaving it in the oven for a couple of hours. Serve it with a portion of steamed veg — which doesn’t take long to do at all — and it’s a balanced, healthy and good value meal, suitable for the whole family.
“These ingredients are basic and all in your supermarket.”
But Gregg also knows the importance of remaining active. He said: “I’m at the gym most mornings because it works for me. But you have to decide how best to fit exercise into your life.
“Make your routine achievable and something you can do for the rest of your life and it will help you lose weight and keep it off.
“But you have to find something you can sustain.”
Gregg now knows he’s in the best shape of his life.
MOST READ IN FABULOUS
He can squat holding 130kg of weights and can bench-press 105kg.
He said: “It has been a gradual lifestyle change. I now feel fit and strong because of it. But only you can move yourself into a healthier place.
“How you feel about yourself is one of the most important things in your life. Only you can change it.”
GREGG’S TOP TIPS
- Decide what meals to have as a family, write them down and stick to it. This will help you remain on track and budget accordingly.
- Check your cupboards and fridge before you go shopping and write a list. Stick to what is on it.
- Don’t shun frozen foods. They’re good quality and are invariably cheaper. So always put these on your supermarket shopping list.
- Sit at the table to eat and try to do this as a family. Mealtimes should be sociable, enjoyable occasions when possible.
- If you’re working or out and about for the day, try and take a lunchbox or pre-empt what snacks you might need. This could save you hundreds of pounds.
- Write down what you’re eating and drinking. Free apps, such as My Fitness Pal, are great for this. It will teach you about nutrition and help you stay on track.
- Exercise. Breaking a sweat is important to good health. It will leave you feeling energised.
Gregg Wallace is on tour with his show Gregg On Food. For tickets and info visit