Tom Kerridge admits he gained weight again after losing 12 stone
English celebrity chef Tom Kerridge started his career as a child actor before eventually pursuing his culinary passion at the age of 18. He worked in different British restaurants, including the Michelin starred Rhodes in the Square and Adlards.
He opened several pubs and earned his Michelin star through The Hand & Flowers. As a celebrity chef, he made appearances on TV shows like “Great British Menu” and “Saturday Kitchen.” He also fronted his own BBC programs, “How to Lose Weight For Good” and “Top of the Shop.”
Tom, whose real name is Thomas Kerridge, went on a weight loss journey and managed to cut down 12 stone (168 pounds). He achieved this by changing his diet, particularly turning his back on carbs. However, he also admitted that he’s gaining some again and eating more than he should.
In one of the episodes in 2020 of his BBC show, “Lose Weight and Get Fit with Tom Kerridge,” the celebrity chef revealed that he gained around 22 stone (308 pounds). This is quite alarming as the percentage of body fat around his organs has doubled.
“That’s a shock. I did not think I was in danger. A few years ago, I lost a load of weight, but lately, it’s started creeping back on again,” he said. “We can make all the excuses in the world, but the scales don’t lie. I’ve been eating all the pies!”
That’s when he realized that he had to step up his game so that he won’t lose the battle. He made sure that he would be living a healthy life, despite the significant weight gain. He engaged himself in doing more active workouts and following a specific diet.
Tom Kerridge's Weight Loss Tricks
The main keys to Tom’s successful weight loss:
- He changed his diet and turned his back on carbs
- He followed “dopamine diet,” a method that increases the levels of “happy hormones” through eating
- His “dopamine heroes” are dairy products, like yogurt and double cream
- He tried low-carb diet, as well
- He never allowed himself to eat delicious pastries
- He avoided alcohol
- He does regular exercise, including swimming and running
Related Weight-Loss Tricks
Tom Kerridge opens up about his weight
Tom has been very open when it comes to his weight. He believes that being a chef contributed to why he gained pounds earlier in his life. Speaking in an interview with GQ Magazine, he shared that, as a chef, he was “grazing and snacking throughout service.”
He once weighed 30 stone (420 pounds), which served as a wake-up call to him. At the age of 40, he realized that he must make a change before it’s too late. The chef explained that if he wanted to reach a certain age, he should start living healthy.
“Say we live to 80. Well, I thought, I’m halfway there. And then, I thought… I’m not going to get there. If I’m like this, I’m not going to make it,” Tom told the Sunday Times.
The Michelin starred chef began with his weight loss journey, and he shared the progress he made on his Instagram. He’s been posting photos of him looking slimmer. He also credited his success to the so-called “dopamine diet.” He also published a book about it, titled “The Dopamine Diet.”
Tom Kerridge says the "dopamine diet" has helped him to lose weight
A dopamine diet is a method of losing weight by increasing the levels of the “happy hormones” through what we eat. It is believed that a lot of food could boost dopamine – including fruits, vegetables, eggs, nuts, and dark chocolates.
Tom’s dopamine “heroes” consist of dairy products like yogurt and double cream. Moreover, his meal plan has good-quality meat – beef, chicken, and turkey. He also tried a low-carb diet the first time he lost weight and it helped him get through.
“When I first went on a diet to lose a load of weight, I was on a carb-free diet, so Peperami was like a good meaty snack. I’m still a huge fan,” Tom told Express.
The celebrity chef still treats himself even though he cut down carbs and sugar on his diet. He admitted that he enjoys flapjack, which he consumes in the afternoon. There are also carbs exception for the fruits: grapes and apples. Furthermore, he likes cheese and refers to it as “mood boosting.”
“It’s impossible to lose weight and keep the weight off for good if you don’t enjoy what you’re eating,” he shared to Mirror.
What else did Tom Kerridge do to lose weight?
In 2016, Tom revealed that his job on “The Great British Bake Off” professional series “Bake Off: Crème de la Crème” challenged his new eating habit. Although it’s quite difficult for him, he never allowed himself to eat any delicious pastries – pies, cakes, puddings, and bread.
“I was very well behaved,” he said. “I wasn’t a judge, they were the guys who had to judge it and eat it and test it.”
Apart from avoiding unhealthy foods, Tom revealed he had cut down on alcohol in order to lose weight. Since he owns pubs, the chef said he’s quite good at tasting and drinking. But because he turned to a healthy lifestyle, he ditched all of these.
“So I knocked all booze on the head. Stopped drinking, went completely teetotal,” Tom shared.
Does Tom Kerridge follow a specific workout routine?
In addition to the dopamine diet, the chef also incorporates regular exercise into his healthy routine. He wakes up at around 6:15 in the morning and goes to a swimming pool at a hotel. When he’s doing a lot of work, he swims a kilometer. When he’s free, he’ll do a mile.
However, Tom had a hard time getting himself to swim at the beginning of his weight loss journey. In an episode of the radio show “Desert Island Disc,” he said: “It’s a big step and to get into a swimming pool being that big. Being conscious of your body and worrying about it.”
He started to swim a mile, and although he tends to be slow, he never gave up. Tom added that exercising is not just going to the gym with your clothes on. Swimming is a good form of workout because you become isolated. No one talks to you, and you’re on your own.
Yet, Tom also engaged himself in other routines, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown. He began to run about 20 to 25 km to maintain his weight and keep a healthy body. The chef is proud of his achievement, as he often shares pictures on his social media.