Revealed! How Celebrity Chef Nigella Lawson Lost 12 kg

Pro tips from this star chef's body transformation journey to inspire you.

By Charushila BiswasCharushila Biswas, MSc (Biotechnology), ISSA Certified Fitness Nutritionist  • 

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.

But, her 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 to slim down. Here’s how it all happened.

  • Foot Surgery Froze Her Trips To The Refrigerator

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 weight loss 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

Image: Instagram

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.

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. But add 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?

Image: Instagram

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.

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!

Image: Instagram

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

Image: Instagram

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

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.”

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.

Infographics Excerpts: 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 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)

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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. Yoga and stretches also helped her reach her fitness goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

Sources

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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