EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy feels "at ease" with herself and more confident than ever after making simple lifestyle changes over the years.
The soap legend, who plays the loveable Sonia Fowler, has been open and honest about her weight loss and fitness journey.
She admits she made mistakes, such as releasing workout DVDs, but has now found what works best for her body and mind when it comes to diet and exercise.
Back in 2007, Natalie released two workout DVDs - Then and Now and The Perfect Ten.
But the BBC favourite previously told of how this wasn't the answer because the results weren't long-lasting.
"I was very overweight and they approached me and said listen, we're going to give you £100,000, we're going to get you really fit and you're going to lose four stone," she told the Comfort Eating with Grace Dent podcast.
"I was like happy days, let's go for it. I just thought, that's a lot of money; but it wasn't the right thing to do.
"You are losing a lot of weight in a three or four-month period, twelve or sixteen weeks, low calories and training every day.
"I got there, and as soon as that DVD came out, I ate for England. I put all the weight back on in eight weeks."
Following that, Natalie looked for "simpler" ways to lose weight and stay fit, and said a "boring" routine of "eating well, exercise and water consumption" as well as cutting out takeaways helped her to drop four dress sizes.
"I feel very at ease with myself now, as I've got older. Throughout the years I've gone through a lot of ups and downs," she previously told The Sun.
"Now, I just know the simple things that work – eat well, exercise, drink lots of water. All the boring things, but I feel like my body is the size it should be now.
"I've been through a lot in my life, and I feel more confident about who I am and what I look like, 100 percent."
"I cut out rubbish. I cut down on alcohol too, even though I love white wine."
As well as maintaining a healthy diet, Natalie is passionate about fitness and has taken up running as a hobby in recent years.
The EastEnders veteran dropped from a size 16 to a size 8 while training for the London Marathon in 2019.
Taking part in the run was important to Natalie because she wanted to honour her former co-star, Barbara Windsor, by raising funds for Alzheimer's Research UK.
Natalie also completed the London Marathon back in April of this year, once again in memory of Barbara, and took to Instagram to reflect how far she has come in her fitness journey.
She wrote: "Two marathons and two half marathons. I have never ever been a sporty person.
"I have always been ridiculed for my ever changing weight. I’ve woken up this morning and genuinely cannot believe I’ve collected these medals.
"I promise you- I am not a natural runner. If you put your mind to something you can do it. Whatever that is.
"Two years ago today I took my precious dad out of this world. I genuinely thought I wouldn’t be able to go on without him. But I have, and once again, your mind is a powerful thing.
"Whatever you are going through right now. Or whatever you would like to achieve- YOU CAN DO IT."
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