‘I WAS A SUGAR ADDICT'

Former Hollyoaks star Davinia Taylor talks exclusively to Woman’s Own about her weight loss and mental shift

- JORDAN PARAMOR

After losing three-and-a-half stone and dropping from a size 16 to a toned size eight, former Hollyoaks star Davinia Taylor has written a book, It’s Not a Diet, charting her journey from bloated to feeling brilliant.

The 44-year-old mum of four, who used to be a member of the Primrose Hill set with Kate Moss, explains how you can follow in her footsteps and get healthy in 2022.

How did your weight-loss journey start?

The funny thing was, I wasn’t aware of how overweight, inflamed and unfit I was. I just assumed that because I’d had four kids it was middle age. Then suddenly I noticed how vulnerable and depressed I was. I went to see my doctor and he said, ‘Well you can either go back on antidepressants or start exercising.’ At that point I could barely walk up a flight of stairs, let alone work out. Then I discovered the Wim Hof Method and began taking cold showers in the morning and I felt a mental shift. After that I started going for walks and building up from there.

How about the diet side?

I started learning more about inflammation and about how sugar, carbohydrates and vegetable oils like sunflower and rapeseed oil inflame you. I realised I wasn’t just fat, I was also swollen and had water retention. I had basically stagnated and I was a walking, talking, bloated bruise with brain fog, swinging from one snack to the next. I had no idea how to break my sugar addiction because I am an addict. I’m an alcoholic and I stopped drinking at 30, but you can’t just cut out food like you can alcohol.