Corrie’s Katie McGlynn weight loss transformation: ‘I’ve lost a stone and grown a booty’

She left fans in tears following her harrowing portrayal of cancer-stricken Sinead Tinker in Coronation Street last year. But as Katie McGlynn poses for our exclusive photoshoot, she says she feels “a world away” from her former on-screen character. The star, who appeared on the cobbles for over seven years, has lost a stone and dropped a dress size since her emotional farewell in October.

“If I’d have been posing in swimwear a couple of months ago, I would have been dreading it,” Katie, 26, tells Closer. “But I finally feel back to normal. I’ve trained hard, I’ve been lifting weights, and eating the right food. I’m more confident than I’ve ever been and I have much more energy.”

Despite keeping viewers gripped with her tragic storyline, which saw new mum Sinead lose her battle with cervical cancer, Katie admits a healthy diet fell by the wayside, as intense periods of filming led her to comfort eat.

She explains, “It was such a sad story to be taking part in. I was crying in nearly every scene, and quite often I’d eat cake to cheer me up. I was snacking on biscuits in the green room, or eating flapjacks made by the crew when I was exhausted.

“I was eating so much sugar. In between scenes, Rob Mallard [who plays on-screen husband Daniel Osborne] would always let me share his dessert. If I liked the taste, I’d grab one for myself too. I was having a lot of diet fizzy drinks, which aren’t good for you.”

After hours of filming, Katie admits she was “too lethargic and stressed” to be cooking healthy meals and admits portion control “went out of the window”.

She says, “When I got home, I’d be learning lines for the next day, so I didn’t have time to go to the gym or cook. I’d try to order healthy takeaways but I’d end up ordering loads of sides, like halloumi and pots of chicken, and have it all in one go, instead of saving some for leftovers!”

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But the down-to-earth star admits she only realised she was out of shape when it began to impact her physical health. She says, “I felt really lethargic. I was so tired, and I didn’t know if it was because of the storyline or because of my weight gain. I felt bloated because I wasn’t eating well and I realised my belly had become bigger.

“I was usually between a size 8-10 when ordering clothes, but I was creeping up to a size 12, which isn’t bad at all – but it was bigger than I usually am. I wasn’t fuelling myself properly and I’d put on over a stone.”

After finishing filming, Katie admits she was determined to get back into fitness, not only to boost her energy levels, but to feel mentally and physically stronger. She challenged herself to take part in a 12-week programme devised by Ultimate Performance Gym in Manchester, which also boasts fans like Gemma Atkinson and ex-Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley. She’s nearly at the end of the programme, which is designed to lose fat and tone muscle, and reveals she’s delighted with the results.

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She says, “It was hard work in the gym. I was there three times a week with a personal trainer, but it was simple to follow the diet. There were no shakes, or packets of this or that, just good fats, like salmon, eggs and nut butter. I don’t eat red meat, and I’ve been having oats at night because they help me sleep. After my programme is finished, I won’t stop. I’m going to carry on with it, because I have a taste for fitness now.”

Speaking about her transformation, she adds, “I wanted to lose fat on my stomach, because that’s where I tend to carry it. Within a few weeks of lifting weights, I started seeing results. My legs and stomach are more toned and I feel like I’ve got more of an hourglass shape. If I carry on, I think I could get abs, too.”

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But for Katie, there’s one particular part of her body that she’s most proud of. “I wanted to grow a bit of a booty!” she laughs. “I used to describe myself as the Grinch, because he has a bloated stomach and a flat a**e with skinny legs – that’s who I was!

“I’ve noticed a difference in the shape of my bum – it’s great! I’ve been doing a lot of split squats, where you lean forward while bending. It kills, but it works.”

And the actress, who has just finished a panto stint and admits she’d love to appear in a Netflix drama, has noticed a change in her outlook, too. She says, “I used to hate going to events. I didn’t want to be seen. My confidence was on the floor. I’d be worrying over small things, like how my hair looked or what I was wearing – but it was because I didn’t feel comfortable with myself. Now I’m up for anything. I’m more relaxed and confident. I feel like me again!”

Read more in this week's Closer mag, out now.