Revealed! How Celebrity Chef Nigella Lawson Lost 12 kg

Nigella Lawson's body transformation is credited to her balanced and guilt-free approach to mindful eating.

Written by Charushila Biswas, MSc (Biotechnology), ISSA Certified Fitness Nutritionist Charushila Biswas MSc (Biotechnology), ISSA Certified Fitness Nutritionist linkedin_icon Experience: 6 years
Edited by Ravi Teja Tadimalla, BSc, Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition and Health Ravi Teja Tadimalla BSc, Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition and Health linkedin_icon Experience: 10 years
Fact-checked by Sindhu Koganti, BTech (Biotechnology), Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach Sindhu Koganti BTech (Biotechnology), Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach linkedin_icon Experience: 6 years
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Nigella Lawson’s weight loss has received mixed reactions. The London-based celebrity chef is known for her voluptuous curves, seductive cooking style, and her brunette curls. And, you cannot discount how relatable it is to see her pantry hunting in the middle of the night to find something to eat.“Umm, look at that luscious golden syrup,” Nigella says, looks up mischievously at the camera, smiles through the corner of her lips, and drizzles the syrup over freshly-baked dessert. If you can picture this, you are most certainly a Nigella Lawson fan, a foodie, and have binge-watched her cooking show at some point in your life.

Concerns about Nigella Lawson’s health and sudden weight loss has sparked a lot of conversations. But hey, it’s her body, her choice! If she wanted to lose weight, then good for her. Today, we are going to see how Nigella lost 12 kg. Sit tight and enjoy this ride to learn how this beautiful chef lost weight. Scroll down!

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Nigella, the London-born celebrity chef, is known for her voluptuous curves, brunette curls, and seductive cooking style.

Not to forget the late night binging and pantry hunting. But on the news lately is her weight loss story. Some fans are excited and happy for her. Some, not so much.

What interests me, though, is how the Domestic Goddess did it. After all, losing 12 kg is not a joke when you love food! If you can relate to it, sit tight and let me take you on a smooth ride to lose weight. Just like your favorite chef did. Keep reading!

How Did Nigella Lawson Lose Weight?

Nigella Lawson, the 58-year-old chef, lost 12 kg over 3 years before appearing on TV as a guest judge in MasterChef Australia in 2016. It was not a cakewalk. But Nigella accidentally did the right things for slimming down. Here’s how it all happened.

  • Foot Surgery Froze Her Trips To The Refrigerator
Nigella Lawson's foot surgery led to her weight loss journey
Image: Shutterstock

Yup! Nigella Lawson underwent double bunion surgery. Bunion surgery is a procedure to correct a deformed area of your foot near the big toe. After surgery, Nigella Lawson was on bed rest for a while. And that was the beginning of her body transformation journey.

In an interview, she admitted that she started losing weight. “Not because I stopped eating but because you can say to someone, ‘Can you get me a slice of cake?’ but it’s kind of embarrassing to say, ‘And now could you get me a second slice?” Well, that’s true! She also did the following to drop from size 16 to size 12.

Tip #1 For You – Slash the times you rummage through your kitchen cabinets and refrigerator. It’s going to be difficult, and you may not succeed the first few times you try to stop yourself. But do not give up yet. Do it one time, and it will get easier for you to resist the urge to look for something to eat in the refrigerator.

  • She Loves Balanced Eating
Nigella Lawson loves balanced eating for weight loss
Image: Instagram @nigellalawson

Nigella Lawson loves to indulge in food. She also believes in the art of balancing. She said, “I wouldn’t want a life where I lived on chia seed pudding, just as I wouldn’t want to live where I lived on eggs Benedict or steak and chips.” Nigella Lawson enjoys eating greens as much as a generous serving of vanilla ice cream with caramelized peaches.

protip_icon Quick Tip
Habitual intake of avocado is associated with a lower prevalence of excess weight. It also reduces body weight (1).

The winner of British Book Award for Author of the Year revealed, “I love kale and I am avocado obsessive.” Kale is rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants, and avocado is loaded with healthy fats, which promote weight loss by reducing inflammation in the body.

Tip #2 For You – You do not have to consume kale and avocado. Incorporate healthy eating by adding non-starchy veggies, dark leafy greens, fruits, a source of lean protein, and healthy fats to your daily diet so that your body gets complete nutrition.

  • What Are Fad Diets Good For, Anyway?
Nigella Lawson believes fad diets are not sustainable
Image: Instagram @nigellalawson

Diet trends will come and go, but one thing that will remain the same is the fact that your body needs nutritious food to live a healthy, long life. And Nigella understands this. She said, “I have never been on a diet to try to lose weight.’ The former deputy literary editor of The Sunday Times (1986) believes that “no-one should be put on this earth to go on a diet.” What she means to say is that fad diets and restrictive diets are not fulfilling, generally cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and are not sustainable.

A recent survey conducted on 1241 adults in the United States found that 56% of people attempted to follow a diet to lose weight. Out of this 56%, 19% tried a keto (a high-fat, adequate-protein, low carbohydrate diet) diet while about 12% tried a south beach diet (a low glycemic index, and carbohydrates and fats diet).

Tip #3 For You – Fad diets are overrated, overused, and misused! It all boils down to your understanding of your body and how it reacts to a certain food. Get a customized diet chart from your dietitian who will take your age, sex, height, current weight, medical conditions, medical history, and body type into account.

  • Clean Eating Vs. Eating!
Spiced and super juicy roast turkey from Nigella Lawson's instagram
Image: Instagram @nigellalawson

Clean eating has cast a spell on almost everyone. But not on our beloved chef. She is, in fact, “disgusted’ by the notion of clean eating because it implies that ‘any other form of eating is dirty or shameful.” Hmm! I never really thought of it this way, but yes, it makes sense.

Well, just as Michelle Obama said in her book, Becoming, “there are other ways of being,” we have to understand and accept the fact that there are people who need more than just “healthy,” “organic,” and “nutritious” foods. It’s OK if you like to mix your meals with a little dash of high-calorie food. All that matters is you know that making junk food the only food you consume is harmful to you.

Tip #4 For You – Eat a balanced meal, which may also contain high-calorie, not-so-good-for-health foods. Consuming healthy foods half-heartedly is as harmful as eating only junk food. Strike a balance, and you will be all set. To understand what’s your upper limit of consuming junk food, you must consult a dietitian.

  • She Enjoys Treats
Chocolate cake
Image: Instagram @nigellalawson

It is important to enjoy and celebrate food. She reiterated this point by saying, “It is a celebration of home cooking. My books come out of my life.” She also said, “I love traditional food, and I’m never going to complain about having a pie! Roast chicken is my favourite food.” The mother of two further added, “I don’t like extremes. I think that’s the real truth. I think that food should not be used as a way of persecuting oneself and I think really one should look to get pleasure about what’s good.”

Tip #5 For You – Enjoy food. Things only take a dangerous turn when eating becomes an obsession and not a reason to celebrate life and the resources that Mother Nature has provided to us. Practice portion control, keep yourself hydrated, and eat home-cooked meals. And you will lose weight without being too restrictive.

  • Slow Yoga And Stretching Keeps Her Active
Slow yoga and stretching for weight loss
Image: Shutterstock

She started enjoying slow yoga and practices it three times a week. She said, “The older I get the more I realise I have got to do lots of stretching. So even if I’m not doing yoga, I make myself do lots of stretching.” She also admitted, “As you get on in life, you value feeling well as opposed to looking well. Yoga certainly makes you feel great, and you want to carry on feeling great. I just do a bit in a very slow way – sometimes lying down.”

According to one study published in ReasearchGate, practicing yoga can help obese people lose a substantial amount of weight and reduce their body mass index and waist-hip ratio, indicating that yoga may be a useful alternative therapy for managing their weight. This graph shows compares the waist-hip ratio in subjects before and after yoga training.

Role Of Yoga In Weight Management

Source: ROLE OF YOGA AS A THERAPEUTIC REGIMEN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY

protip_icon Quick Tip
Practicing slow yoga helps reduce stress, and anxiety, improve sleep patterns, and keep you active (2).

Tip #6 For You – Keep yourself active. Do what you love – playing a sport, walking the dog, swimming, kickboxing, lifting weights, HIIT, yoga, or any other form of workout. Working out regularly will release the “feel good” hormones. As a result, you will become more energetic and proactive, and your bouts of depression and/or anxiety will reduce.

Kelsey Kryger, a fitness trainer and blogger, shares her struggle with weight loss and her journey to a better lifestyle that suits her. She writes about her experiments with extreme diets, “I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve even bought ‘tummy-tucking’ teas and would exercise for hours to burn off calories.” She continues, “Having such obsessive, restrictive thoughts around losing weight made health and fitness feel like a chore (i).” She decided to change her mindset which shifted the way she approached weight loss that worked out for her.

The star chef also knew how to evolve her dishes from sweet indulgences to healthy delicacies. Let us check out a few of Nigella Lawson’s recipes below and learn about what she relishes in her breakfast, lunch, and dinner that helped her lose the stubborn weight!

Nigella Lawson Recipes

  • Nigella Lawson Breakfast

She likes to have a heavy meal for breakfast that is satiating and can keep her going strong throughout the day. The star shared one of her recipes on her social media made with leftover lentils, red peppers, and sautéed spinach, garnished with a poached egg and some homemade fermented hot sauce.

  • Nigella Lawson Lunch

She publicly shared how she likes to indulge in fresh greens and healthy bowls of salad or lunch, like one with kale, avocado, chickpeas, salmon, and roasted cauliflower.

  • Nigella Lawson Dinner

In an interview, Nigella talked about her love for traditional dishes. Her favorite is a roast chicken plus some noodles with lamb shank and broth.

Infographic: How Can Nigella Lawson’s Weight Loss Approach Help You?

Nigella Lawson achieved a healthy weight loss of 12 kg over the course of three years by eating a balanced diet. This successful weight loss journey has sparked much discussion and has become an example of what is possible with dedication to weight management and a well-planned diet. Let’s see how she achieved this weight loss and what you can take away from it.

how can nigella lawsons weightloss approach help you (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Nigella Lawson’s weight loss resulted from eating a well-balanced diet. She lost 12 kgs over 3 years, and this weight loss has led to many conversations. It started with her foot surgery, where she had to limit her food intake. She says never believed in fad diets and that the art of balanced eating helped her. She also credited portion control and mindful eating with helping her stick to her weight loss journey. Including yoga and stretching exercises in her lifestyle also helped her reach her fitness and wellness goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nigella Lawson’s approach to food and dieting?

Nigella Lawson promotes a balanced approach to eating, prioritizing enjoyment over guilt. She encourages indulging in favorite foods while practicing moderation and avoiding extreme diets.

How does Nigella Lawson stay so thin?

Nigella Lawson lost her weight by exercising and limiting her food intake. She explained that following a balanced diet and practicing yoga helped her stay thin.

What is Nigella’s favorite food?

Nigella loves traditional food items, and roast chicken is her favorite food.

Were there any challenges or obstacles Nigella Lawson faced during her weight loss journey?

Nigella Lawson has not publicly spoken about any challenges she faced during her weight loss journey. However, she has emphasized the importance of a healthy lifestyle. She mentioned that her weight loss was a result of regular stretching, healthy eating habits, and portion control.

Did Nigella Lawson work with a nutritionist or personal trainer to achieve her weight loss?

She has not publicly disclosed any specific details about working with a nutritionist or personal trainer to help her on her weight loss journey.

Key Takeaways

  • Nigella Lawson revealed that while being on bedrest after she underwent double bunion surgery was what started her weight loss journey.
  • Eating a balanced diet helped her lose weight and reduce inflammation in the body.
  • She avoided fad and restrictive diets as they can cause vitamin deficiencies.
  • Doing yoga three times a week helped her stay in shape.

Wondering how to lose weight without compromising on taste? If yes, you are at the right place! Check out this video to learn how to get rid of your extra weight with a food habit that incorporates both health and taste.

Personal Experience: Source

References

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

  1. Avocado Intake and Longitudinal Weight and Body Mass Index Changes in an Adult Cohort
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6471050/
  2. Exploring the therapeutic effects of yoga and its ability to increase quality of life
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193654/
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Charushila Biswas
Charushila BiswasHealth & Wellness Writer
Charushila is an ISSA certified Fitness Nutritionist and a Physical Exercise Therapist. Over a span of 6 years, she has authored more than 400 articles on diet, lifestyle, exercises, healthy food, and fitness equipment. She strives to inform, educate, and motivate her readers via authentic, straightforward, and fact-checked information.

Read full bio of Charushila Biswas
Ravi Teja Tadimalla
Ravi Teja TadimallaCo-Editor-in-Chief
Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over a decade. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

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Sindhu Koganti
Sindhu KogantiSenior Health & Wellness Writer
Sindhu Koganti is a Certified Health and Nutrition Life Coach and has over 6 years of experience in writing on health and wellness topics. She has a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, and a diploma in nutrition from Fab Academy.

Read full bio of Sindhu Koganti
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