Strictly's Shirley Ballas (Image: shirleyballas/Instagram)

Strictly's Shirley Ballas eats two-ingredient meal to keep weight off

Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has previously spoken about her weight struggles and how she lost 9lb in just one week with a military-style routine

by · Daily Record

Strictly Come Dancing's head judge, Shirley Ballas, has shared her daily two-ingredient meal that helps her maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The 64 year old judge, who has openly discussed her lifelong struggle with weight and how she lost 9lb in a week through a bootcamp-style routine, revealed that she eats chicken with lemon every day.

Speaking on the Comfort Eating podcast with Grace Dent last year, Shirley admitted to avoiding the food backstage at Strictly, describing it as "calorie food".

She said: "I like to walk around the table because they have lots of yummy cakes, sweets and biscuits, and they have all sorts of fantastic food, but it definitely is calorie food, because the dancers are dancing all day and are young with fabulous bodies. Nope, I get my chicken from Marks and Spencer or Sainsbury's that has been cooked. They bring me a lot of salad and we might have a little bit of sushi in the afternoon."

Strictly's Shirley Ballas (Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

When asked if the chicken was marinated, Shirley replied: "Just lemon chicken and then I cut it. But it's a hot chicken that has just been baked and that's what I have on Strictly. I have had that every year, every week."

Over the years, Shirley has faced negative comments about her body during her career as a professional dancer, but she now says she "feels proud of herself".

She shared: "I've constantly had people tell me I needed to be thinner or that I had to look a certain way. Comments throughout my life have always stuck with me and in my past they've made me feel conscious of how I look. Sadly I thought that validation from others was necessary."

Strictly's Shirley Ballas (Image: BBC)

Shirley then said: "I'm proud of myself and pleased with how I look. I feel good in my own skin."

BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing is set to sizzle screens tonight at 7pm as the celebs hit the stage live, all relieved as there's no fear of elimination tonight.

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