I've beaten my food fear, says Mel C: Singer says taking up 80/20 diet has helped her conquer her eating disorder

By Laura Cox for the Daily Mail

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Victory: Mel C said she had conquered her battle with bulimia thanks to her adopting an '80/20' diet

Victory: Mel C said she had conquered her battle with bulimia thanks to her adopting an '80/20' diet

She has admitted eating next to nothing, suffering depression and exercising obsessively as a Spice Girl.

But yesterday Mel C said she had conquered her battle with bulimia and is no longer afraid of food – thanks to her adopting an ‘80/20’ diet.

The singer, 40, now watches what she eats Monday to Friday, but allows herself to tuck into her favourite foods over the weekend.

And it has led to a dramatic change in her attitude towards food.

‘[I have] learnt not to be afraid of food,’ said Melanie Chisholm, referring to her days as Sporty Spice when she would drastically limit what she ate, while putting her body through vigorous training sessions almost every day.

‘I have my 80/20 rule where through the week I’ll try to be healthy - and then at weekends, I’m a lot more relaxed, especially in front of Scarlet.

'My downfall is crisps and lager, but they’re usually reserved for weekends.’   

It is not the first time the singer has spoken about her weight and diet in relation to her five-year-old daughter.

In the past, she has described Scarlet as having ‘saved’ her from her eating disorder, after giving birth in 2009.

And rather than feeling compelled to lose the 50lbs she gained while pregnant with the child, whose father is Miss Chisholm’s former partner Thomas Starr, she found herself accepting her body for the first time. 

Diet: As Sporty Spice (far right), Mel C drastically limited what she ate and underwent daily training sessions

Diet: As Sporty Spice (far right), Mel C drastically limited what she ate and underwent daily training sessions

Mel Chisholm is pictured in Oslo Spectrum on May 28, 1998
The singer, 40, now watches what she eats Monday to Friday, but allows herself to tuck into her favourite foods over the weekend

Contrast: The singer now watches what she eats Monday to Friday, but allows herself to tuck into her favourite foods at weekends. Above, Mel C performs in Oslo in 1998 (left) and attends a London premiere in 2013 (right)

‘When I was in the band I hardly ate and I exercised obsessively as I was so focused on my weight,’ she has said in the past, ‘as my bump grew the more proud I became of my body and suddenly I felt more comfortable eating healthily.’

Five years after giving birth, Miss Chisholm’s figure has obviously changed. But her weight loss has been achieved in a healthy and natural way.

And Miss Chisholm, who has previously battled with clinical depression as well as bulimia, said she has cut her training sessions from six-per-week to four, while taking up the gentler exercise of yoga.

Cutting down: Miss Chisholm, pictured jogging in London last month, said she has cut her training sessions from six-per-week to four. She has described her child Scarlet as having 'saved' her from her eating disorder

Cutting down: Miss Chisholm, pictured jogging in London last month, said she has cut her training sessions from six-per-week to four. She has described her child Scarlet as having 'saved' her from her eating disorder

She said: ‘I spent most of my 20s feeling self-conscious about certain parts of my body, but as I’ve got older I feel more feminine.   

‘After having a child, it makes you realise how incredible your body is and it’s made me a lot kinder to myself. Becoming a mum gave me the freedom to finally love myself physically.’

She added: ‘I’m definitely fitter because I look after myself better. I tend to do four activities a week, like running, cycling, swimming or a yoga class.

According to Miss Chisholm, DJ Chris Moyles is nothing more than running partner, although there has been some speculation there could be more to it
Matt Cardle attends the Very.co.uk Christmas Catwalk Show at Victoria House on November 24, 2010 in London

Speculation: According to Miss Chisholm, DJ Chris Moyles (left) is nothing more than running partner. There has also been suggestions that the singer has had a relationship with former X Factor star Matt Cardle (right)

‘DJ Chris Moyles is my running partner and it’s great as we just chat while we run.’

According to Miss Chisholm, Mr Moyles is nothing more than running partner, although there has been some speculation there could be more to it. 

Now single, and having been so since breaking up with Mr Starr in 2012, there have also been suggestions of relationships with DJ Greg Burns and former X Factor star Matt Cardle but Miss Chisholm has said she is nothing more than friends with them all.

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