Twelve weeks ago, five FEMAIL readers embarked on a fitness challenge devised by Myleene Klass, and now they reveal how the star’s exercise programme can help anyone drop as many as three dress sizes.
The star devised MyBody By Myleene with fitness experts after getting into the best shape of her life at 40, aiming it at busy women who are low on spare time and energy to work out.
And she was overwhelmed by the change in the women who tested out her programme, especially Sue Pearson, 52, from Hertfordshire who wanted to get back to her wedding day weight in time for her 30th anniversary
Science writer Sue managed to drop a stone-and-a-half, while Miranda Meadows from London slimmed down by three dress sizes on the programme – without even adjusting her diet.
Sue Pearson, 52, from Hertfordshire (left, wearing New Balance and a Dorina sports bra) was a size 14 at the start of the programme. Twelve weeks on she has lost one-and-a-half stones and is down to a comfortable size 10
Nurse Paige Brown, 28, Lema Ahmet and Lema Ahmet, 22, from London and Janette Hutton, 44, from Essex also dropped a dress size on the programme.
Myleene told them: Seeing the transformations, I’m so proud, I’m like mother hen. I just saw all these goddesses walking around. You all look amazing.
‘I can’t take the credit, it goes to you for doing it. Ultimately you inspire me because you’ve done the work. What an amazing thing to change your own life. Now just stick with it.’
Read on to find out how they did it – and how you too can drop as many as three dress sizes even when you’re low on free time.
SUE PEARSON, 52, Hertfordshire
Before: Size 14
Now: Size 10
Since undertaking the 12-week challenge, Sue has gone from nine-and-a-half to eight stone and has dropped from a size 14 to a 10 – and can even fit into some of her daughter’s size eight clothes.
She was eager to be able to wear her favourite red dress again, feel confident in swimwear on her upcoming holiday to Mexico to celebrate her 30th wedding anniversary – and, most of all, feel like the same woman her husband married.
‘I feel fantastic, so much better,’ she said. ‘I now can fit into my old clothes and I haven’t got that horrible menopause middle I was developing.
‘My husband’s noticed, my children have noticed. They’ve said to me I’ve lost a lot of weight and look better for it.’
Sue, who has gone from nine-and-a-half to eight stone with Myleene. She’s now able to wear her favourite red dress, seen here teamed with The Pandora in Snake Print Leather £149.00 from solebliss.com
Sue said the best thing about MyBody by Myleene is that it’s not threatening.
‘As I’ve become older and menoapausal losing weight becomes much harder,’ Sue explained. ‘This programme is great because it’s designed for women who are not super skinny.
‘I was going to my local gym and a lot of them are doing these HIIT workouts. I’m 52, I can’t keep bending down and getting up.
‘It was hard but once I got a routine it was easier. I’d get up, get dressed and do my workout before workout. I found that was the best way to do it.’
In addition to her workouts, Sue cut a lot of carbs from her diet, swapping her morning crisps for nuts and seeds and her lunchtime toastie for cheese on crispbread, as well as eating extra veg with dinner.
She also used a FitBit Charge 2 to track her food and exercise and credits it with keeping her on track.
‘You put into your phone “cappuccino” and it counts up the calories. Going forward it’s going to be really useful in keeping the weight off.’
MIRANDA MEADOWS, 46, LONDON
Before: Size 20
Now: Size 16
Miranda has dropped three dress sizes after working out five nights a week and can fit into a favourite black floral dress she hasn’t worn in years.
She stuck with the programme while working and caring for her mother after major surgery.
‘It was difficult, but it kept me going. By the time I got back from the hospital, even though I was shattered I wanted to do it,’ she explained.
‘It kept me focused on doing the exercise rather than what was going on.’
Miranda Meadows (wearing an Air Control with patented Delta Pad bra by Anita Active and New Balance leggings) was a size 20 when she embarked on MyBody by Myleene 12 weeks ago (left). The 46-year-old from London has now slimmed down to a size 16 through exercise alone (right)
What is MyBody by Myleene?
Myleene shows how to perform a lunge using the sandbell
Devised by MyBody By Myleene’s team of Fitness Experts, including her personal trainer Louis Rennocks, the programme is made up of three difference workouts.
Subscribers receive two workout DVDs, a wallplanner and a 2.5kg sandbell, and can also access the workouts online.
MyStrength: Functional loaded movement exercises using a sandbell. 30 minutes
MyPower: Fat burning cardio boxing workouts. 30 minutes
MyCore: Slow tempo ab work with adapted Pilates and yoga moves. 15 minutes
Participants do one of each of the above workouts a week and then a fourth workout of their choice.
The MyStrength and MyPower workouts can be broken down into 12, 16 or 20 minute chunks, so that you could do one part before the school run and another later in the day.
Rather than the current trend for high intensity interval training, the programme focuses on continuous cardio that will burn fat, but is at a manageable pace that will encourage you to stick to the programme.
Boxing has been chosen for the fat burning cardio method as research shows it requires full-body engagement, and so burns more calories than running or cycling that use predominantly the lower body.
The workouts get progressively harder after week four and then again at eight weeks to ensure there’s no plateau in weight loss.
For more information visit mybodybymyleene.com (currently available for the reduced price of £24.97)
Her impressive weight loss came about from simply following the programme and she didn’t make any adjustments to her diet.
‘I’m feeling healthier, not so sluggish,’ she explained. ‘I’m moving around quicker and don’t feel so bloated.’
At the start of the 12 weeks, Miranda said she wanted to try the programme to improve her health, but has never struggled with body confidence.
However, she admits that the change has given her self-esteem even more of a boost.
‘My friends have noticed I look different. I hold my head up a little bit higher,’ she explained.
Enjoying shopping more again because I can get into the smaller sizes.
I’m going to keep doing it and see how much more I can drop. Even if I do it three times a week, it’s still something. It’s easy to do at home and time-wise it’s easier, you don’t have to get in the car, drive somewhere. Do it at home, done and dusted.
Just do it. Pick the same time slot every night
Miranda Meadows from London, 46, is able to fit into her favourite floral dress again after dropping three sizes and admits she’s holding her head up a bit higher. Miranda wears The Cat in Electric Blue Suede (£139, lisakayshoes.com)
JANETTE HUTTON, 44, ESSEX
Before: Size 16
Now: Size 14
Janette used to love exercising but piled on weight after suffering the heartache of suffering two miscarriages.
‘I felt lost and depressed, finding comfort in food. I am usually a very confident person and I felt ashamed to ask for any help,’ she explained.
After 12 weeks of MyBody by Myleene – her favourite exercise was boxing – Janette’s jeans are ‘much easier to put on’ and she’s not out of breath when walking up the stairs
Janette Hutton, 44, from Essex (wearing leggings from Souluxe at Matalan) was a size 16. She has now dropped a dress size and is determined to continue slimming down by following Myleene’s exercise programme and making gradual changes to her diet
‘I’ve definitely got much more energy and it does make a difference to my confidence,’ she said.
‘My husband said I’m looking healthier and my mother noticed too. But I’m doing it for myself, nobody else.’
In addition to her workouts, Janette cut down on carbs and takeaways, but is determined to do things at a sensible pace.
‘I can’t do major change because it scares me and I won’t stick to it. I just want to do it slowly. Food-wise I need a long time.
‘I plan on keeping it up, definitely. I want to join the gym soon and I’m still going to do Myleene’s programme. It’s convenient, you just put a DVD on and that’s it, you go for it.’
Janette Hutton, 44, from Essex dropped a dress size on the programme and intends to stick with it so that she can lose more weight over time. Janette wears a fitted wrap effect dress by Lauren Ralph Lauren, £120, from navabi.co.uk
LEMA AHMET, 22, London
Before: Size 16
Now: Size 14
Lema managed to stick with the programme despite suffering a sprained ankle and dropped a dress size.
She introduced more salads to her diet, drank lots of water and didn’t eat after 8pm, as well as the occasional shake made from Natures Plus Organic Almond Protein Powder.
Before the challenge, Lema Ahmet, 22, from London was a size 16 (left). She’s since dropped a dress size and has noticed her waist and shoulders are slimmer (pictured wearing a Dorina sports bra and New Balance leggings)
‘Family have noticed a change in my shoulders and at the size of my waist,’ Lema said.
‘I thought the programme went really well and thanks to working out on a regular basis along with healthy eating, I managed to drop a whole clothes size from a 16 to a 14.
‘In future I will still try and maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle and would like to go on to lose more weight. Eating salads and not eating after 8pm have definitely helped me a lot and couldn’t be more grateful for that.’
Lema has dropped a dress size by following Myleene’s exercise programme, despite nursing a sprained ankle. Lema wears a Nutmeg at Morrisons striped dress, £18 (available in sizes 8-22) teamed with The Cat in Coral Red Suede (£139, lisakayshoes.com)
PAIGE BROWN, 28, LONDON
Weight: 16st 11lb
Before: Size 18
Now: Size 16
While fitting in her workouts around her busy job as a nurse, Paige has managed to drop a dress size.
‘Everyone at work keeps commenting that I look different. When I look back at the first picture I can see it,’ she said.
Before the challenge nurse Paige, 28, was a size 18 (left). Paige, who has dropped a dress size to a 16 wears a Dorina Sports bra and New Balance leggings (right)
She’s now dropped a dress size and has found the confidence to go for a new job and hopes to spend more time focusing on her own health and wellbeing. Paige wears a H&M jumpsuit and The Cat in Pink Suede (£139) www.lisakayshoes.com
Paige working out on the Mandala Yoga Mat Price, £80, from YogaClicks.store. Paige wears a New Balance top and leggings
‘At first I was getting more breathless and now I feel fitter when doing it.’
To keep up her energy levels while working long shifts and antisocial hours, Paige supplemented her diet with shakes made from Natures Plus Paleo Protein Powder
Since starting the programme, Paige has been thinking more about her work-life balance and has secured a new job with better hours that will allow her to put more focus on her health and fitness.
Dorina sports bras are available from Asos and House of Fraser
Hair by James Johnson. Make-up by Jade Ewen
The ladies with their glam squad! Left to right: Janette Hutton, Lema Ahmet, celebrity hairdresser James Johnson, Sue Pearson, Miranda Meadows, make-up-artist Jade Ewen and Paige Brown
Five Femail readers have unveiled their transformations after following the MyBody by Myleene programme for 12 weeks. Left to right: Paige Brown, 28, from London; Janette Hutton, 44, from Essex; Myleene Klass; Sue Pearson, 52, from Hertfordshire; Lema Ahmet, 22, and Miranda Meadows, 46, both from London
Paige, Lema, Miranda, Sue and Janette, pictured with Myleene 12 weeks ago before embarking on her fitness programme
Myleene with (clockwise from left) Sue Pearson, Paige Brown, Janette Hutton, Lema Ahmet and Miranda Meadows who have dropped between one and three dress sizes since embarking on her fitness programme