How a mum lost a stone for summer - by just eating GREGGS

But high street bakers Greggs has launched a summer diet programme it says has been scientifically proven to help people lose weight.

The eating plan was devised following a month-long experiment featuring four dieters including a bride-to-be, a new mum, a sales rep and a teacher with a hectic lifestyle.

The dieters have collectively lost more than two stone in weight and 14 inches from their waists in just 30 days by eating exclusively from the Greggs menu.

They had particular weight-loss goals ahead of the summer and were provided with tailored exercise and meal plans.

These were made up mainly of Balanced Choice menu items providing a range of meal and snack options at under 400 calories - with the odd sausage roll thrown in. 

Hannah Barth, a new mum who took part in the experiment, said: “I put on a lot of weight during my pregnancy and have struggled to lose it since my son was born.

"Like any new mum I’m always rushing around so have found it difficult to find the time to diet. The Greggs Minimise Me plan was so simple to follow and incredibly convenient, making it easy to stay on track.

"I’m thrilled to have lost over a stone and have made positive adjustments to my lifestyle, being more active which has resulted in more energy - I’ll definitely continue with a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.”

Dietitian Laura Clark recommends the average person could lose up to 1 to 2lbs per week following a Greggs Minimise Me plan

Greggs’ porridge, fresh salads, wraps, fruit and cold pressed juices made up some of the choices, with popular items such as sausage rolls, baguettes and doughnuts also included enabling each of the challengers to drop at least one clothing size each in just four weeks.

Hannah Squirrell, customer director at Greggs, said: “Most of us have tried to tone up with a summer holiday looming and we wanted to show that you can achieve amazing results by making simple, balanced food choices. 

"We wanted the experiment to be enjoyable and fun and as far as we know this is the only diet plan to incorporate sausage rolls and doughnuts – all in moderation of course!”

Dietician Laura Clark’s top tips for pre-holiday diets

1. Monitor what you're eating either through a diary, online tool or quick photos taken on your phone. Raising awareness of the food you put in your mouth is a powerful first step and those that monitor their intake have been shown to double their weight loss.
2. Don’t be afraid of eating on the go – there are lots of healthier options out there. Try opting for a salad or low calorie wrap for your lunch.
3. Try to eat breakfast every day! This sets you up for the day. Porridge pots are a great option if you’re pushed for time and eating on the go.
4. Look at how much protein you’re eating. Regulating it across the day and including at each meal or snack can help to keep you fuller. Lean protein sources are best - chicken, eggs, fish and pulses for example. Look at the ways that fitting light exercise into your day can lead to a healthy lifestyle.
5. Regular exercise tends to breed healthier dietary habits. Using a step tracker to aim for the national guideline of 10,000 steps per day is a great start to burning more calories.