New! Magazine – 19 August 2019

A Place In The Sun presenter Laura Hamilton, 37, reveals

why she can’t go vegan and her struggle with IBS

‘I got obsessed

with losing

weight’

HEIGHT 5FT 3IN WEIGHT 8ST 11LB DRESS SIZE 8

Hi Laura! How often do you work out?

At the moment not a lot because I’m in the

middle of filming A Place In The Sun, so

until 31 August I’m not able to get to the

gym. I travel with a skipping rope and try to

do exercises when the children are asleep.

When you’re not away filming, what

exercises do you do?

I go to my local David Lloyd gym and

do a class called Blaze, which is

a HIIT workout. I try to do it two

or three times a week.

What’s your favourite meal?

Lunch, because I make it a

bigger meal. I don’t like to

eat a heavy dinner.

Are you intolerant

to anything?

I’ve always suffered from IBS. It’s

awful. After having children [Rocco, five,

and Tahlia, four] it’s definitely eased up. I

don’t know if that’s because I’ve changed

my diet a bit and I don’t eat bread.

Do you play any sport?

Loads! My family are really sporty. My

husband and I play tennis together and

we’re massive skiers.

Are you body confident?

Seven months after having Tahlia I lost

weight and was the slimmest I’d ever

been. I got a bit obsessed with it and got

down to 7st 4lb, which I don’t think is

particularly healthy for me. I’ve always

been insecure about my legs so it was

the one time I felt confident about them.

Am I body confident? It’s hard, but

I try for my children.

Was the weight loss intentional?

I cut out sugar and carbs and exercised

every day for seven months.

People said how great I looked,

which spurred me on. But

it got to the point where

they said I needed to stop

because I was looking ill.

Do you feel under pressure

to be a certain size?

I feel I have a responsibility to

look healthy rather than skinny.

What’s your food or drink vice?

Sometimes I get a real sugar craving and

I need a full-fat Coke.

Are you tempted to go veggie or vegan?

If it weren’t for my husband I’d probably

try to be vegan, but you’ve either both

got to be up for it or not because it’s

harder cooking two separate meals.

Laura presents A Place In The Sun

on Channel 4

WORDS: Karmel Doughty PHOTOS: Getty

HEALTH MY DIET SECRETS

Follow Ian

Marber on

Twitter

@ianmarber

NUTRITION CONSULTANT

MY FOOD DIARY IAN MARBER SAYS...

Smashed avocado

on sourdough bread

with smoked salmon

Harissa chicken and tabbouleh

salad with an orange and

yoghurt dressing

Salmon fillet

with kale and

corn on the cob

Dry roasted nuts or almonds, sliced

cucumber with peanut butter

“By eating a combination of protein, fibre

and fat, as Laura had for breakfast, she is

taking advantage of the fact that together

they break down slowly in the digestive

tract. The result is reduced hunger for

longer. Salmon and avocado offer protein

and good fats, while there is fibre in the

bread and more in the avocado, too.

“Laura continues with this way of

eating, choosing wholegrains such as

tabbouleh, made with cracked whole

wheat, which is richer in fibre than

simple carbs. She’s also eating plenty

of veg rich in vitamins and minerals, plus

carotenoids that can reduce inflammation.

“Nuts are rich in fibre and are also a

source of protein. She could add an apple

or a plum to help boost nutrients.”

She feels a duty

to look healthy