She's lost a staggering 7.5 stone over the past five years but despite her total body transformation as Michelle Mone arrived at Closer's bikini shoot at a gorgeous mansion in Hertforshire, she admitted she was excited and a little nervous.
How are you feeling about the shoot? I've been training hard for this so I do feel prepared, I'm excited but yes it is a little nerve wracking.
You said you train hard have you been doing? I’ve been running – I’ve signed up for a few runs including the Great North Run, which I’m doing for the Cauldwell children’s trust. I’ve also been toning up in the gym with weights too. I’ve got a trainer in London and I’ve got a trainer in Scotland as well but then also I train myself as well. It varies all the time, if it’s the same thing I just get so bored. I do a lot of boxing, a lot of circuit training, weights and the spin bike too.
Are you competitive with yourself? Yes I try and beat my own times when it comes to running or holding a plank for as long as possible. I can hold a plank for two and a half minutes, but I’m always trying to push myself.
You credit Trim Secrets for helping you to lose the weight but what other supplements do you take? I don't take any other supplements other than Trim Secrets but I do get regular massages and I get Vitamin B injections in my ass every 6-8 weeks. I feel that helps to build up my immune system and it gives me energy. I haven't had a cold since I lost the weight, I’ve never had a day off sick. I used to get colds all the time when I was a size 22. I treated my body like a bin, that's why I weighed 17.5 stone.
What sort of things were you eating? We would have takeaways every night, fish and chips or Chinese. I was addicted to food, but worse, I was making my kids unhealthy too. They are so healthy now, they eat so well.
What are your top beauty tips? I swear by La Prairie face cream, but it is expensive. I want to develop a cream that is just as good but that doesn't cost the earth. I think all women should be able to have affordable skin care.
You're writing your autobiography at the moment what can your fans expect? I'm going to speak out about things I haven't spoken about before. I've really opened up in the book so it'll be a great read. There will also be lots of graphs and charts to help people with business and fitness too. I really want to help people.
Shoot secrets:
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Michelle stuck to her strict diet, drinking a fruit and vegetable juice for breakfast and having a caesar salad for lunch (with no dressing)
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The lingerie boss brought eight different styles of Ultimo swimwear and three pairs of Louboutins for the day - you can find Michelle's Ultimo.co.uk bikini (and oodles of other fab swimwear styles) here
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Michelle wasn't put off by the British weather and jumped into the (unheated) pool for a snap. She's a much braver lady than us!
You can read the full interview and see all of the pics of Michelle's amazing bikini body in this week's Closer magazine, on sale now.
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