As well as being a renowned soul singer and presenter, she’s also a busy mother-of-two who’s fallen victim to yo-yo dieting over the years.
But Mica Paris has now revealed how she has shed over two stone in just two months – by overhauling her diet and using therapy to work out what underlying issues were causing her to put on weight.
The 48-year-old has managed to go from a size 16 to a size 12, as well as reaching her target weight of 13st 12lbs.
She explained how learning new cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques has helped to stop her ‘mindless eating’ and instead make healthier and smarter food choices.
The singer also followed a simple diet plan made up of four meal packs a day, which came to 600 calories in total.
Mica Paris (pictured after her transformation) has shed two stone in just two months by overhauling her diet and using therapy to work out what was causing her to put on weight
Mica, who weighed 16st before her transformation, admitted that yo-yo dieting in the past had caused her weight to fluctuate dramatically, with short-term diet plans previously never working in the long-run.
‘I finally came to the decision that things had to change as, clearly, dieting alone wasn’t the only issue I had,’ she told FEMAIL.
‘I needed something which not only changed my weight but would also encourage me to change my mindset and, ultimately, my relationship with food.
‘Short-term diets never seemed to work for me in the long run, as they didn’t address the real reasons behind my overeating in the first place.’
The singer, 48, (pictured before her weight loss) admitted that she has been a yo-yo dieter in the past. She says she came to realise that dieting alone wasn’t the only issue she had
Mica (pictured on stage in 2010) says that diets she has tried previously have always failed to work in the long-term
Mica explained how the group counselling sessions that she attended as part of the LighterLife plan have been crucial in helping her to change her relationship with food.
‘The sessions were great for really thinking about why I’d behaved in the way I had towards food, as well as highlighting the underlying issues that I hadn’t realised were a contributing factor,’ she said.
‘I use the CBT techniques I learned in my group-counselling sessions so I make healthier and smarter food choices.’
She added: ‘I’ve realised that I don’t have to listen to those little voices telling me to eat when I’m not even hungry.
The mother-of-two (pictured after her weight loss) has managed to go from a size 16 to a size 12, as well as reaching her target weight of 13st 12lbs
Mica (pictured after her transformation) explained how learning new cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques has helped to stop her ‘mindless eating’
‘For me, understanding that has been a complete game changer. It’s shown me that I don’t have to give into unhelpful urges, as there is always another way.’
As well as addressing her attitude towards food, the singer followed a simple diet plan consisting of four meal packs a day, which replaced the unexpectedly calorific meals she had been eating before.
Mica said that before starting the plan she had been on auto-pilot when it came to what she ate.
‘Before I didn’t ever really think about the food I was eating,’ she explained. ‘I knew that I had some unhealthy habits but I’d ignore them as they were something I’d always had.
Mica (pictured before her weight loss) said that before starting the plan she had been on auto-pilot when it came to what she ate
The singer (pictured before starting the plan) said she would be caught out by the hidden calories in sauces and dressings
‘What used to creep up on me were the hidden calories in sauces, dressings and smoothies.’
However, Mica admitted that it was more difficult to adjust to the food packs – which come to 600 calories a day in total and give you your recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals, as well as protein, fibre and other essential nutrients.
‘At first, I found it tough. You’ve got to bear in mind that you’re not simply adjusting to having only foodpacks, but the reduction in calories and carbohydrates is switching your body into a state of constant fat burning, ‘ she explained.
‘You’re also tackling your relationship with food on an emotional level with the plan’s group counselling and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
Mica (pictured after her transformation) followed a simple diet plan made up of four meal packs a day, which came to 600 calories in total
However, the singer admitted that she found the plan difficult to follow at first, due to the reduction in calories
‘So yes, these are big changes, but they are totally worth it when you see the benefits to both your body and your mind.’
The singer, who is set to go on tour next month, now hopes that she will be able to maintain her weight loss after hitting her target weight.
‘The most valuable skill I’ve picked up from LighterLife is mental discipline,’ she said. ‘I’ve realised that I don’t have to listen to those little voices telling me to eat when I’m not even hungry.
‘For me, understanding that has been a complete game changer. It’s shown me that I don’t have to give into unhelpful urges, as there is always another way.’
Mica (pictured before her weight loss) said the most valuable thing she has learned from the process is mental discipline
The singer (pictured after her weight loss) says she now hopes to maintain her shape after hitting her goal weight
Mica (pictured after her weight loss) says she has picked up techniques that will now allow her to resist any ‘unhelpful urges’