James Martin, the renowned chef, has confessed that despite shedding an impressive three stone, he still finds it challenging to stick to a healthy diet due to his work. The culinary star first gained popularity in the 1990s through various cooking television shows.
However, it was during his stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2005 that James slimmed down from 17st to 14st. This significant weight loss sparked a complete lifestyle change for the 52 year old, who previously had a habit of eating on the move during his busy schedule, often indulging in unhealthy foods like takeaway pizza or chocolate bars, as he revealed to Express.co.uk.
James made a conscious decision to overhaul his diet, incorporating more fish, fruits, and vegetables into his meals. Although he has a home gym, James prefers to keep fit by walking, often clocking up between 20,000 to 30,000 steps daily.
However, the ITV Saturday Morning host, who recently published a cookbook dedicated to cheese, admits that being surrounded by food all day presents its own challenges. He often feels the urge to “pick at bits” while working in the kitchen.
Speaking to the Leicester Mercury, James reflected: “Everything’s a balance – certainly as you get older with your diet. You get to 52 and you’re working in the kitchen, you run around the kitchen, [but] you’re not 22 anymore.”, reports Surrey Live.
James also said that a garden “keeps you busy”
(Image: Getty Images)
“You’re still working the hours, your brain is telling you, but your legs are telling you otherwise.”
James has found a balance in his eating habits, particularly when it comes to cheese, saying “there’s a happy medium”. Nearly ten years after shedding pounds on Strictly, James reveals an unexpected advantage of his weight loss.
As an avid motorsport fan, he previously struggled with some of the lower vehicles. Appearing on the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, James confessed: “It comes down to the fact that I race cars, or I still try and race a few cars and I actually struggle to get out of them now.”
“Getting in them, you kind of fall in them, but then you’ve got to get out of them and it just doesn’t look very good.”
He maintains his weight by being active, including racing cars, and jokes: “Getting in them, you kind of fall in them, but then you’ve got to get out of them and it just doesn’t look very good. I don’t go to the gym, [my weight loss] it comes down to the fact that I can get my a**e in and out of a car.”
James will be chatting with actor James Buckley and his wife Clair on his ITV show Saturday Morning today, while chefs Romy Gill and James Tanner will share tasty recipes.