Jamelia said she's happier and healthier now she a size 10, left, compared to when she dropped to a size 6 after she had her second baby in 2005, right
Many
celebrity mothers seem to snap back into shape after having a baby and
singer Jamelia has admitted she felt under pressure to do the same after
she had her second daughter.
The Loose Women presenter, 34, told MailOnline that she dropped two dress sizes following the birth of Tiani in 2005.
She
said: 'After I had my second daughter, I dropped to a size 6 because I
restricted what I ate. I felt it was trendy to be skinny but I wasn't
happy.'
The singer said she's learnt the error of her ways and now as a size 10, she'd rather be healthy than super thin.
'It's all about having a healthy relationship with food, now I eat well but I don't deny myself a treat, if I want a biscuit, I'll have one. I've come to realise that good food makes you feel good.
'I am happy with my weight and size now. I know I could be a size 8 if I really wanted to and if I restricted myself but I would rather be happy and healthy.'
She added: 'Diets don't work, it's better to make healthy choices most of the time and to exercise. Being active means you don't crave fatty foods as much.'
The singer said she felt under pressure to lose her baby weight but because she restricted what she ate, she was thin but not happy, right, as a size 6 in 2007
Role model: The Loose Women presenter wants to set a good example to her two daughters
Jamelia realised she had to be more sensible about her eating habits for the sake of her daughters.
She said: 'My eldest daughter is now 13 and I noticed from the age of three she was looking up to me and copying my behaviour.
'I am my daughters first role model and it's important to me that they have a positive and healthy relationship with food.
'I want to set a good example for my daughters so I would never talk about dieting to them or be negative about my body in front of them. I want to promote a positive body image to my daughters so they can grow up feeling happy and confident about themselves.'
Jamelia said she has encouraged her daughters to eat healthily so it has become 'the norm' and they exercise by enjoying being active dancing and swimming, as well as joining their mother in games of tennis or badminton.
As Jamelia is an advocate of healthy eating, she has agreed to front a campaign for Warburtons as part of National Breakfast Week encouraging people to start the day eating foods low in sugar and fat.
JAMELIA'S HEALTHY BREAKFASTS
The singer recommends the following to start the day well...
- Scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast
- Smoked salmon on wholemeal toast
- Porridge
- Fresh fruit
The bakery brand's research found that 43 per cent of parents give their child unhealthy breakfast options such as pastries and sugary cereal.
Jamelia said swapping these items for something more nutritional is easy.
She said: 'There are lots of simple things parents can do to help their children eat more healthily - swap white bread for brown, keep the fruit bowl full. It's quick and easy to toast some wholemeal bread in the morning so it doesn't have to be inconvenient.'
She added that walking children to and from school is a simple way to get them more active.
Warburtons and The British Heart Foundation have joined forces to educate the nation on the importance of a healthy balanced diet. Pick up a special donation pack of Warburtons wholemeal and raise funds for the BHF