LOVE Island’s Zara McDermott has hit back at trolls to defend her one and a half stone weight loss.
The 23-year-old has taken to her fitness Instagram account to share her personal reasons behind why she decided to shed the pounds – admitting that she never thought she was fat – but needed to make changes because she wasn’t living a healthy lifestyle.
Zara McDermott hits back at trolls as she defends one and a half stone weight loss
Alongside a snap of her posing in gym gear which she shared to her 28.5k followers, the star wrote: “I thought I’d do a post about my weight loss. Every time I post about weight loss I get people attacking me, saying it’s harmful and damaging.
“However, the last two images of me were of a girl who ate ANYTHING and EVERYTHING she wanted. Who rarely exercised. That is not healthy or good for anyone!
“I never worried about my body, I never thought I was fat, I was content. It was never a mental thing and was never affecting my mental health. I was happy with who I was.”
Alongside her selfie which shows off her incredibly toned physique, Zara revealed that one day she had woken up and thought to herself that she’s not been that healthy – by not eating her five-a-day and not monitoring her body at all with what food she ate.
Zara has shared a series of snaps on her fitness account which show off her new body
The star has lost a stone in weight since her change in lifestyle which started in August 2019
She regularly posts gym pics to her 28.5k followers
After leaving the Love Island villa in 2018, Zara explained the combination of free meals, constant travelling and lack of routine took it’s toll on her body – which led to her weighing 68kg – but since changing her lifestyle she not weighs 58/59kg.
She added: “The hardest part for me was moving from the mentality of eating what I wanted my whole life, to starting to monitor it.
“For the first few months into my journey I was monitoring my calories closely and making sure I ate around 1300-1400 per day, although sometimes more sometimes less.
“In order to work out how many calories I needed my personal trainer worked out my calorie maintenance level, which is the amount of calories you need to function yet remain the same weight and maintain your body.”
Zara shot to fame in 2018 after her stint on Love Island – where she fell for Geordie lad Adam Collard
“Its important to not go under that drastically as it can mess with your metabolism, for me the quickest way I lost weight was by only going between 100 and 250 calories below this daily.
“After a month of calorie counting (which I must say is a bit monotonous) you can start to understand and learn what amount calories are in certain foods. Also, even though at first I definitely restricted myself to only healthy, high protein foods, I now still do eat what I want, but in moderation.
“Or if I know Im going out for dinner and want a pizza that night, Ill fast and drink water until lunch or if Im up early Ill have some fruit or a small smoothie, have a super light lunch (maybe scrambled eggs and some spinach for example or some fish) and then have my pizza for dinner and still be within my maintenance. I also dont drink hardly ever, so this helps too.”
As well as smashing it in the gym, the former policy adviser has over come personal issues by having hypnotherapy for crippling stage fright during her stint on X Factor: Celebrity.
In 2018 the Essex girl teamed up with fellow Love Island stars Samira Mighty, Wes Nelson and Eyal Booker and formed No Love Lost to be able to take part in the ITV show.
By taking part in the show, the brunettebeauty has overcome huge fears and even impressed the nation with her singing ability.
Speaking to The Sun Online, the brunette beauty said: “This experience has been more than just a TV show to me, its actually changed my life.
“Before the show I was unable to sing in public and I had hypnotherapy to help with my stage fright, but being in the band and having the support of Samira, Wes and Eyal standing by my side has meant I have overcome my fears of performing in public.”
