Suzanne Shaw unveiled her incredible body transformation on Instagram on Monday, as the star revealed a year-long regime has helped get her down to a size 8.
The former Hear’Say singer, 39, has disclosed that she achieved her svelte new frame by embracing a vegan diet, ditching alcohol and taking up running, after years of tried-and-failed diets left her tearful about her weight gain.
Sharing a before and after snap, the star also revealed that her breaking point came when she realised she was at her heaviest weight without being pregnant.
She wrote: ‘At the beginning of 2020 I wanted to change my lifestyle but not like I’d done in the past… starting a new regime for it to last 8 weeks max and then fall off the health wagon and then try a new type of diet or fitness regime and a few months later, fail again and turn to the blame game!
‘I wanted to TRULY change it and not let myself down for the 20th year in a row! This time I had to look at it all differently, take a long hard look at myself in the mirror and if I’m going to be completely honest, when I did, I burst into tears realising that I’d become desperately unhappy behind the smile I’d use to cover up the pain.
‘I’ve never been massively overweight but I had piled on the pounds and got to the biggest I’d been without being pregnant, and it was all down to eating and drinking (alcohol) my emotions.
‘I’d found myself stuck in my past being angry with the world and in major fear of my future – I was completely unrecognisable to myself.
Candid: Suzanne Shaw has candidly discussed her mental health battle and admitted that she has been sober for nine months after ‘self-medicating’ with alcohol (pictured in February)
‘If I was going to do it this time, I had to do it for very different reasons and that reason wasn’t going to be about getting into a size 8 dress, it was to be HAPPY again.’
Revealing how she achieved her weight loss, the former Emmerdale star continued: ‘So I formed a plan! EVERYTHING I changed and did was for my mental health….
‘RUNNING GOING ALCOHOL FREE PLANT-BASED DIET MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION The four main elements to my happy plan!
‘And for the first time EVER, I have stuck to it! I’ve completely transformed my life and I’m HAPPY again!!! Oh and I’m back into a size 8.’
Indicating that she plans to become something of a health, fitness and lifestyle guru in the near future, she concluded: ‘I will continue to share my journey in 2021 but will also be providing “The Shaw Happy Plan” again for those of you who want to make some positivity lifestyle changes. Keep an eye out for my upcoming posts!’
In September, Suzanne candidly discussed her mental health battle and admitted that she has been sober for nine months after ‘self-medicating’ with alcohol.
In an interview, the singer, who found fame in Hear’Say in 2000, also revealed that she wants another baby but worries about postnatal depression.
Suzanne suffered with ‘extreme paranoia’ and ‘dark thoughts’ following the birth of her two sons Corey, 15 and Rafferty, four.
The singer, bravely shared her secret mental health battle earlier this year and revealed that she has been on antidepressants for 20 years.
IN an interview with Closer magazine, Suzanne admitted that she wants another baby with her fiancé Sam Greenfield but worries for her mental health. She shares son Corey with actor ex Darren Day.
She said: ‘Paranoia was a big factor of my last bout of postnatal depression. It was extreme. I hated myself, too, and had such dark thoughts.
‘I would like to have another baby but am really worried, as I don’t want to have another horrible episode. I’m in a really good place and pregnancy does mess with hormones, I just want to get a little bit stronger, but I am thinking about it.’
Her family: In a new interview, the singer, 38, who found fame in Hear’Say in 2000, also revealed that she wants another baby but worries about postnatal depression (pictured with fiancé Sam Greenfield and sons Corey and Rafferty, now 15 and four, in 2017)
Postnatal depression is a form of the mental-health condition that affects more than one in 10 women in the UK and US within a year of giving birth.
Symptoms can include persistent sadness, lack of enjoyment, insomnia, struggling to bond with your baby, frightening thoughts or withdrawing from others.
Treatments can include self-help, such as talking to loved ones, resting when you can and making time to do things you enjoy. Therapy may also be prescribed.
In severe cases where other options have not helped, antidepressants may be recommended. Doctors will prescribe ones that are safe to take while breastfeeding.
Brave: The singer, bravely shared her secret mental health battle earlier this year and revealed that she has been on antidepressants for 20 years (pictured in 2019)
Suzanne also revealed during the interview that she has been sober for nine months after ‘self-medicating’ with alcohol, which ‘impacted’ her family.
She recalled: ‘I would self-medicate with alcohol after a hard day but then I would wake up the next day after a binge-drinking session and feel so low. I’d cancel weekend plans and have a duvet day. That did impact my family.’
The star also shared that her depression ‘impacted’ her relationship with Sam as she tried to ‘push him away’ over the years as she has issues with trust.
‘Self-medicating’: Suzanne also revealed during the interview that she has been sober for nine months after ‘self-medicating’ with alcohol, which ‘impacted’ her family (pictured together in 2018)
Yet despite her battle, Suzanne sweetly revealed that they have ‘stayed strong’ and he ‘hasn’t gone anywhere’.
The star has credited her new vegan diet, going sober and running at helping her keep on track with her mental health and getting her through ‘demons’ that still pop up.
Suzanne added that quitting booze has given her so much ‘confidence’ and it’s the ‘best thing I’ve ever done’.
In January, the television personality decided to do the OYNB (One Year No Beer) challenge and has since become an ambassador while staying sober since.
Fame: The singer was just 18 when she found fame on Popstars The Rivals and formed the band Hear’Say with the likes of Myleene Klass and Kym Marsh (pictured in 2000)
The singer was just 18 when she found fame on Popstars The Rivals and formed the band Hear’Say with the likes of Myleene Klass and Kym Marsh.
However, she admitted she struggled with being in the spotlight as it is so competitive and she struggles with rejection.
Suzanne revealed that as much as she loves the entertainment industry, it is not good for her mental health and she is considering moving to the wellness sector.
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
Struggle: However, she admitted she struggled with being in the spotlight as it is so competitive and she struggles with rejection (pictured with the band in 2002)