Martin Clunes is back on our screens tonight as the cantankerous surgeon Doc Martin in the hit ITV drama. The 60-year-old actor may look a little different compared to the last time he appeared on our screens from Port Isaac, after dropping a significant amount of weight.
The much-loved British actor has been showing off a slimmed down figure in recent times, which he achieved through the renowned 5:2 diet, WalesOnline reports. Clunes, who showcased his new look in 'Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific' in January, is a huge advocate of the diet, which allowed him to lose three stone in three months.
Speaking to MailOnline about his new figure, the actor revealed his reasoning for taking on the diet. He told the publication: "I was fat and while I was getting heavy, I had tired knees and stuff. So, I thought Id try that diet and the weight came off."
Read more: Martin Clunes' first marriage ended in a bitter Chinese restaurant row
Clunes added: "I lost about three stone in as many months. Its great and its supposed to be good for cholesterol, too."
The method utilised by Clunes to achieve his goal, intermittent fasting, is a well-known method for losing weight, and was made popular by TV doctor Michael Moseley. The Fast Diet, as Clunes' diet is known, allows people to slim down fast.
Other celebrities, such as Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch, have enthused about the diet. Those who follow the diet tend to eat a 'normal' amount of food for five days of the week, and fast for the other two days.
Whilst many diets centred around weight loss dictate what followers should eat, the 5:2 diet is all about when you eat. Those who follow it do not have to eat or avoid certain foods, although fasting days see women cut down to 500 calories a day, and men to 600.
Now that Clunes has lost the weight he wanted to, he has been able to hold onto his ideal body through following a different diet. Not too different to 5:2, Clunes now swears by the 6:1 diet when it comes to ensuring he does not gain or lose any more weight.
The actor said: "Now I do 6:1 and that seems to work fine. I eat anything I want on the other days. Its easy and seems to keep the weight off me."
As the name of the diet implies, the 6:1 diet involves six days of eating whatever the dieter wants, and a day of fasting. For maximum results, followers of the diet are recommended to eat meats, dairy products, eggs, fish, seeds, oils, grains, legumes, vegetables, and berries - although they don't have to.
When it comes to the singular fasting day, followers of the diet are advised to eat eggs, white fish, green vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. To remain on track, it is also recommended that those on the diet should prepare their own meals, and fit their fasting days in around their lives.
In addition to following a diet, Martin also exercises regularly. The star, who lives with his wife, Philippa, and daughter, Emily, in Dorset, said: "I have a couple of big horses and ride them.
"Im very healthy. This is a difficult age, obviously, but Im doing fine Im not on any medication."
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