As well as divulging the secrets to her svelte new frame, the stunning mum-of-two agreed to play a little game of Truth or Dare with us. Watch the exclusive video below to see what happened and read on for a sneak preview of our revealing interview...
Claire on her diet battles...
It's a daily struggle, but I've finally changed the way I eat and think about food. I used to pile up my plate, whereas now I'll have smaller portions and go for the healthy options.
I don't cut things out altogether because I think depriving myself of the things I want is what's made me always revert back to eating the wrong way.
"The only reason I decided to try and lose weight was because we wanted a baby and it just wasn't happening."
On her newfound confidence...
I feel more comfortable in my own skin now, but that started before I lost the weight. I did the Steps tour as a size 16 and that was a huge learning curve. I'm not as skinny as the others, but I can do my job and give it as hard as anyone else, no matter what size I am. The only reason I decided to try and lose weight was because we wanted a baby and it just wasn't happening.
On her longing for a third child...
I'm not sure if we will get pregnant naturally, but IVF doesn't feel like the right thing for us at the moment.
I've always had crazy hormones and when you think what I've put my body through in the last 13 years of losing and gaining four to six stone at a time, it's just taken its toll. If it happens, it happens and if it doesn't, I've got a boy and a girl. I always wanted a little gang of kids, so another would have been the cherry on the cake, but I know I'm blessed with what I've got.
On going solo...
With Steps, everything's carefully managed, so it's all perfect and there's a few of you up there, too, but being on stage alone just standing behind a mic is a totally different experience. I've always been worried about my solo stuff not living up to people's expectations. Then I just thought, ‘What am I so scared of?
I love singing, this is what I should be doing'. Now I'm just figuring out whether I want to look for a record deal or put my songs out myself.
To read the full interview with Claire, pick up the latest issue of Essentials on sale now.
Inside the new issue you'll find:
- Exclusive interview with Claire Richards: ‘It's a daily struggle but I've finally changed the way I eat'
- Fitter in just 7 minutes
- Healthy not skinny rules!
- Tasty recipes from the freezer
- Find your fashion fix from only £6.99
- 20% off Elemis
