Steph McGovern has raved about the lifestyle changes that settled her gut problems and caused her to lose weight.
The 40-year-old credited the dramatic transformation to a guest who appeared on Steph's Packed Lunch. After meeting wellness coach Dr Julia Jones, the Channel 4 presenter adopted habits that overhauled her health while dropping two dress sizes in the process.
Steph has been open about her longterm struggle with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The journalist previously shared the condition caused bloating so severe she'd been mistaken for being pregnant "all the time".
IBS is a common condition affecting the digestive system. It causes symptoms that come and go like stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation.
Feeling dispirited by the time she met Julia in 2021, Steph told the Express how bad things had gotten: "Up to that point I'd been struggling with IBS forever. And at that point I'd just accepted that I've got it and I can't do anything about it."
Back in 2019, Steph had begun altering her diet to improve her gut health, but put the changes on hold when when she became pregnant.
Fortunately, trying out the 'Smart Wellness' plan last year was a breakthrough for the mum-of-one. She enthused: "Julia's programme has totally transformed my life. I know that sounds really dramatic, but my IBS is really debilitating.
"Now my IBS is in total control and I very rarely now have any problems. But also I've just got better wellness in its entirety."
Steph changed her diet by intermittent fasting part-time as well as taking a probiotic supplement, and eating fermented food.
"So now I've started to focus on my gut health again and it's changed my life," she told the Mirror this summer. "I take a probiotic called Symprove, which helps massively, and I do intermittent fasting midweek – so I only eat between 11am and 7pm. I've also introduced more gut-friendly foods.
"Suddenly, I realised I'd lost my bloated belly, which was amazing. People would ask me all the time whether I was pregnant because I had this swollen stomach and now it's gone."
The presenter hadn't been trying to lose weight, but discovered that she'd dropped two dress sizes, adding: "So I wasn't trying to be super thin – I was pretty happy with how I looked – it was only by trying to help my IBS that I've lost weight."
As for exercise, Steph says she's always worked out, but isn't obsessive about it.
"Sometimes I do a spin class – I like to be in a group, mainly because I like to chat in between! – and I do a lot of weight training. Working out also helps me mentally."
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