Strictly’s Shirley Ballas, 64, reveals secret eating tip that keeps her at a perfect size

THERE aren’t many women over the age of 60 who are a perfect size 10. Time and the laws of metabolism all too often conspire to see us pile on the pounds. But at 64, Shirley Ballas is one of those fortunate few. Her secret, she says, is simple — only having one meal a day. According to the Stricty Come Dancing judge, it is impossible to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner once you hit the big Six-O. “The first year on the Strictly Come Dancing tour, I gained ten pounds just in that one month,” she says.

“Then I realised you cannot eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, Shirley, you are over the age of 60!. “I had oversized portions and three meals per day, plus all the treats that go with it.”. Thinking something had to be done, she ditched breakfast and lunch. All she eats now is dinner. A nice dinner, for sure, with a decent portion of rice alongside her lean chicken or beef. But that’s pretty much her lot, apart from juices.

“I do intermittent fasting,” says Shirley, who confirmed her split from fiancé Danny Taylor, 51, in December. “I’ve realised the body doesn’t need as much food as I keep stuffing in my face, so I do take care of it. “I don’t have anything in the morning and normally around lunch I’ll have a juice, and then about 4 or 5pm my mother does a lovely meal. “She’s been making sticky rice because she’s bought me a rice machine for Christmas, so we’re all trying sticky rice with beef stroganoff or with chicken.

“It’s a welcome change to the salads.”. I’ve realised the body doesn’t need as much food as I keep stuffing in my face, so I do take care of it. Intermittent fasting, also known as 18-6 fasting, has become an increasingly popular way to lose weight and keep it off. The slowing of metabolism and an increase in fat mass and hormonal changes make weight gain inevitable for many women as they get older. Shirley’s intermittent fasting means she is allowed to eat during one six-hour window each day.

This rule makes it much easier to restrict calorie intake, with the 18-hour break reportedly giving the body time to burn fat. Celeb fans of the regime include Friends star Jennifer Aniston and actor Hugh Jackman. And last year TV presenter Carol Vorderman revealed she also skips meals, saying: “I generally have one meal a day — late afternoon.”. It certainly sounds simple enough, but that does not necessarily mean it is easy.

It takes rock solid discipline and determination — qualities not lacking in Shirley. Her one-meal-a-day regimen clearly works for her. She looks great, whether that’s in a slinky evening dress on Strictly, or a smart trouser suit. Her role model is her mum, Audrey, 87, who lives with her in London. Audrey is still as slim as a rod and Shirley follows her example. “My mum only weighs 8st and weighs herself every morning,” she has said previously. “If she puts on a pound, she gets that pound off. She eats because she needs a bit of fuel and doesn’t overindulge.

“That’s the way I am and I don’t see it changing. I’m a size 10 and when I first joined Strictly, I dropped to a size 6, but that wasn’t maintainable.”. Despite her strict regime, she revealed last year that she does allow herself one little treat a day. “One cup of coffee a day, in a china cup,” she said. “A teaspoon of brandy in it, Coffee Mate and two brown sugars. That is the highlight of my day.”.

It sounds very Shirley, very ladylike. And she allows herself an occasional sweet treat. “I’m prone to having a little cake here and there, which I love,” said the twice-married star. Once you get over 40 then I think it’s difficult, I can’t talk for anybody else, but for me it was difficult, so I’m quite vigilant about what I put in my mouth. You’d think being away from home and on the current Strictly live tour might scupper Shirley’s rigid regime, but no. She and fellow judge Motsi Mabuse are making sure they get their five-a-day by juicing.

“Motsi and I are sharing a changing room on the tour, so that’s marvellous,” says Shirely. “On tour, I’ll have two juices a day, and Motsi is going to join in, and we’ll try to go to the gym when we can. You do lose weight by juicing.”. Shirley’s battle to stay in shape did not begin at 60, though. She’s been watching her waistline since she was 40. By Amanda Ursell, nutritionist. Restricting yourself to just one meal a day can make it harder to meet daily recommended intakes of nutrients including B vitamins and fibre.

Many women in the UK already consume insufficient amounts of certain nutrients including iron, which causes extreme tiredness, mood swings and poor concentration. The same is true for calcium, with poor intakes profoundly adversely affecting bone health. Having only one meal a day can also leave some people feeling lightheaded and anxious. I would certainly not recommend it for teenagers or pregnant and breastfeeding women who have additional nutritional needs to the general population.