Zara McDermott shares ‘drastic’ results of bread-free diet

EXCLUSIVE ‘I try not to be too self-obsessed’: Zara McDermott has seen ‘drastic’ results after transforming her diet and ditching bread in her quest for a ‘more toned and tight body’

Zara McDermott has seen ‘drastic’ results after transforming her diet and ditching bread during lockdown in her quest for a ‘more toned and tight body.’

The Love Island star, 23, told MailOnline she tries ‘not to be too self-obsessed’ but she often worries about her ‘progression’ while looking at her physique in the mirror.

In an exclusive interview, Zara revealed she’s tracking her food consumption for the first time in her life after being encouraged to keep fit by personal trainer Ryan Libbey, 29, who’s engaged to her boyfriend Sam Thompson’s sister Louise, 30.

'I was eating too much of it': Zara McDermott has seen 'drastic' results after transforming her diet and ditching bread during lockdown

‘I was eating too much of it’: Zara McDermott has seen ‘drastic’ results after transforming her diet and ditching bread during lockdown

Speaking to MailOnline, she said: ‘I have been training with Ryan on average three times a week.

‘I do weight training with him and the Live Like Louise diet plan, which made me realise I was eating way too much bread.

‘I was eating too much of it and not enough protein; over time I have balanced that out. 

‘Lockdown has been the first time I have properly focused on my diet. Up until this time last year I always ate what I wanted, when I wanted and I never thought of calories.

Throwback: Zara, who rose to fame on Love Island in 2018, said she longed for a 'more toned and tight body' and she hopes to maintain her current physique by eating healthy and training

Throwback: Zara, who rose to fame on Love Island in 2018, said she longed for a ‘more toned and tight body’ and she hopes to maintain her current physique by eating healthy and training

'I don't want my life to be consumed by my diet': Zara said she tries 'not to be too self-obsessed' but she often worries about her 'progression' while looking at herself in the mirror

‘I don’t want my life to be consumed by my diet’: Zara said she tries ‘not to be too self-obsessed’ but she often worries about her ‘progression’ while looking at herself in the mirror 

‘I want to be toned and a look a bit tighter. But I try not to be too self-critical and not become too self-obsessed because that’s when it consumes your life too much.

‘I don’t want my life to be consumed by my diet and exercise regime. I don’t want to be one of those body builder athletes.

‘I said to Sam the other week while looking in the mirror that I didn’t feel I had progressed all that much in the last couple of months. 

‘I saw the most change in the first few months and now I know it’s not going to be drastic anymore. It’s about maintaining.’ 

Zara has revealed the secret to her flawless Instagram posts that have amassed thousands of likes in lockdown.

Working hard: The reality star said she's been training on average three times a week with the help of Ryan Libbey, who's engaged to her boyfriend Sam Thompson's sister Louise

Working hard: The reality star said she’s been training on average three times a week with the help of Ryan Libbey, who’s engaged to her boyfriend Sam Thompson’s sister Louise 

'I don't want to be one of those body builder athletes': Zara showed that her taut stomach changes throughout the day and on occasion she can feel bloated by the evening

‘I don’t want to be one of those body builder athletes’: Zara showed that her taut stomach changes throughout the day and on occasion she can feel bloated by the evening 

She said boyfriend Sam has mastered the art of taking her bikini and lingerie pictures after she convinced him how important it is to have a successful profile.

She said: ‘My trick is you have to make your boyfriend passionate about your Instagram. Sam has become passionate about mine.

‘I asked for his advice on a couple of pictures and now he’s really into it.

‘He can see what will work for different brands and he tells me to turn to the front so you can see my dress a bit more. He’s got such an eye for it.

‘Sometimes there can be a little issue with his patience but still.’

Pose for the camera: Zara has revealed the secret to her flawless Instagram posts that have amassed thousands of likes in lockdown

Pose for the camera: Zara has revealed the secret to her flawless Instagram posts that have amassed thousands of likes in lockdown 

Last year Zara competed in The X Factor: Celebrity as part of band No Love Lost alongside former Love Island co-stars Wes Nelson, Samira Mighty and Eyal Booker.

The band split in March but Zara has revealed she’s still pursing a future in music after writing an album worth of songs in lockdown.

She celebrated the release of her first collaboration on Friday, which is a track called Closer with singer Brad O’Neill.

She said: ‘I have been working on my own music for a long time. Since X Factor finished I feel like I have got my confidence and I know how to write and this is now my time.

'He's got such an eye for it': She said her trick is to make boyfriend Sam passionate about her Instagram page, which features Zara in an array of sexy bikinis and lingerie

‘He’s got such an eye for it’: She said her trick is to make boyfriend Sam passionate about her Instagram page, which features Zara in an array of sexy bikinis and lingerie 

‘I have found in the music industry not a lot of people take you seriously; they assume you have no talent.

‘I get called a talentless, reality Z-Lister but I would say I am quite talented when it comes to music, I have been doing it since I was seven-years-old. It’s important for me to break that stigma.

‘I have loads more in the bank to release my first solo singer once this collaboration has come out. 

‘It’s an amazing song and it’s important to me to get that shared experience with someone else.’