Strictly Come Dancing star sheds three stone with transformative diet change
by Amy Jones · ChronicleLiveErin Boag, the former darling of Strictly Come Dancing, was left heartbroken after her weight shot up by four stone during pregnancy. She feared she might never dance back into the trim shape that had won over fans for years, as per an OK! report.
But now at 49, the celebrated dancer has astonishingly dropped three stone post-pregnancy through a straight-talking lifestyle change. A stalwart of the Strictly glitterati from the start in 2004, Erin has been open about how essential the Rainbow Diet has been in her journey, going so far as to label it as nothing short of transformative.
"I was watching a TV documentary about overweight people and their whole food intake for a week was laid out on a table. It was all the same colour: beige," she shared, recalling an interview from yesteryears.
Her story didn't end there, with her adding: "Then they laid out a healthy diet on another table, full of vibrant colours. The idea is that if you put bright, fresh colourful foods into your body and avoid processed junk, generally you are on the right track. It's simple but it works."
Facing the reality of her weight gain during pregnancy wasn't easy, as Erin confessed: "I'm not ashamed to say that I stood on the scales halfway through my pregnancy and I burst into tears when I saw just how much weight I had put on.", reports the Mirror.
She candidly shared: "It might sound shallow, but being in good shape is part of my job. One of the reasons I decided to have a child in later life was to focus on my career. I had been a slim size eight for years. Then suddenly I was fat – not just on my bump but all over and it felt horrible". "I wasn't prepared for just how much my body would change."
After a successful tenure on Strictly, Erin Boag chose to leave the spotlight to embrace motherhood.
In 2014, she and her partner Peter O'Dowd were thrilled to welcome their baby boy Ewan, as detailed by OK! Magazine. Merely two weeks after delivery, Erin embarked on a vibrant diet and exercise routine, shedding her weight from 13st down to a svelte 10st.
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Her diet, which cuts down on fats and carbs, encourages eating a rainbow of foods. Erin replaced heavy carbs like potatoes and pasta with a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish.
Complementing her diet with four gym sessions a week, Erin's disciplined approach paid off, allowing her to dazzle on stage alongside her dance partner Anton Du Beke just two months postpartum.
Erin, who earned the nickname Miss Whiplash on Strictly for her knack of getting celebrities into dancing form, has previously been paired with comedian Julian Clary, hurdler Colin Jackson, former Manchester United star Peter Schmeichel and Lib Dem Vince Cable.
She opened up about her tough decision to leave Strictly, saying: "After 10 wonderful years, and with a truly heavy heart, I have decided to decline the BBC's very kind offer to compete again in series 11, and have withdrawn from being a competitive dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. It's been a very hard decision to make, but it's time for a change and to focus my attention on new challenges.
She then added a touch of optimism: "That said, it's not necessarily farewell to Strictly as I do hope to continue being a part of the show."
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