Paul Hollywood has shared his insights on maintaining a healthy weight without forgoing the occasional indulgence, even as he discusses his own weight struggles.
The Great British Bake Off judge acknowledges that he tends to “put a little weight on” during filming but manages to slim down afterwards. However, at 58, Paul admits it’s becoming tougher to lose the extra pounds.
In an interview with The Times, Paul explained: “I tend to put a little weight on, but then over the next few months I’ll lose a little bit and end up where I was at the beginning. As I get older, it’s harder to shift weight. I think I need not less food, just more exercise.”
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Paul is also keen to encourage viewers of Bake Off to bake their own treats at home, which he believes is not only “even cheaper” but also “very much healthier” than store-bought alternatives. He suggests that baking your own cake acts as a “natural brake” on overindulgence, reports Birmingham Live.
He believes people “wouldn’t eat half as much” if they had to bake their own cakes. Instead, he says they would “do it as a treat and not an everyday right.”
Paul Hollywood and the stars of Bake Off have opened up about gaining weight while filming the show.
(Image: Channel 4/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon/PA Wire)
He added: “A cake is a treat. It’s not something to be eaten every day.”
Despite being a passionate baker who makes bread every couple of days, Paul rarely indulges in cake himself. During Bake Off shoots, he consciously reduces his cake consumption to keep his calorie intake in check.
He revealed: “On Bake Off someone told me an amazing thing. They said, if you want to lose weight and have whatever you want, then simply cut the portion in half. If you want a slice of Victoria sandwich, you can, not a problem. Just cut that slice in half. You halve your calories straight away.”
Paul Hollywood, who is back on our screens with The Great New Year Bake Off on Channel 4 this evening, isn’t the only one from the show to talk about weight concerns. Co-hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding have also mentioned gaining the notorious “Bake Off stone” while filming.
Alison, who has impressively shed 11 stone since her rise to fame, decided to curb her indulgence in the on-set goodies. Chatting with MyWeekly, she shared her strategy: “Instead of eating the whole amount, I had little tastes here and there. I was quite good. I only had it when Paul did a handshake.”
She disclosed that it took her a full year to lose the extra weight she put on during her debut series.
Confessing her previous experience, she said: “You’re allowed to taste every bake and last year I put on a stone. It’s taken me a year to take that stone off.”
The Great British New Year Bake Off is set to broadcast at 7.40pm on Channel 4 tonight, bringing back a selection of well-known contestants to the beloved tent.