Real Housewives of Cheshire star Christine McGuinness has revealed she lost weight in lockdown – but is not happy about it.
Christine, married to Top Gear’s Paddy, said: “I haven’t lost fat, I’ve lost muscle, so I’m disappointed. I don’t want to lose weight, that’s not my goal. I want to gain muscle.
“I can tell my clothes are bigger. I don’t feel as strong, my thighs aren’t as big as they were.”
Christine, 32, is used to going to the gym three times a week, but went without for four months.
She said: “My goal is to be strong, not just slim. I want some shape and that’s why I go to the gym. When I’m lifting weights, I feel stronger.”
The mum-of-three battled anorexia as a teen and knows being healthy is not about fixating on weight.
“You need to focus on how you feel,” she said. “I had an eating disorder for 10 years. Constantly focusing on weight and losing it became an obsession.
“When you get into fitness, if you take away the scales and just go on how you feel and how your clothes fit, you become a bit more relaxed.”
Christine, who is a pescatarian and has been teetotal for 12 years, spent lockdown with Paddy, 47, and their three children, twins Leo and Penelope, seven, and four-year-old Felicity.
While she has been sticking to a healthy diet and not scoffing too many treats at home, she has noticed Paddy’s habits changing.
“My husband is not a big drinker but during lockdown, pretty much every night he had the odd beer,” she said.
“He kept it really healthy at the start and was training at home and then, towards the end, everyone’s gone a little more, ‘F*** it!’”
Paddy is now back filming Top Gear, while Christine announced last week she was quitting Real Housewives to focus on other TV projects.
She’s also launched her own range of gymwear, VIBE by Christine, which she designed in lockdown.
But being cooped up was an emotional roller coaster for their kids, who all have autism.
She said: “It’s common with autism for them to show regression when things change – and they’re going through a lot of change. Their speech has suffered. The eye contact, trying to get their engagement in any activity, has been more difficult.
“It’s emotionally exhausting. It’s awful to see your children struggling. I’m lucky I don’t get down about anything, even though it’s been difficult.”