Retired Olympian Rebecca Adlington’s battle with her weight

Rebecca Adlinton, Great Briain's most decorated female Olympian, has admitted battling with her weight since retiring from professional swimming earlier this year.

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by Closer staff |
Published on

Now that Rebecca is spending less time training she is burning fewer calories and has found it hard to maintain her figure.

### 'As an athlete I was used to eating big portions and my body craved sugary stuff like chocolate all the time'

Rebecca Adlington
Rebecca Adlington

'It's been hard for me to manage my weight since I retired,' she has told a UK newspaper. 'As an athlete I was used to eating big portions and my body craved sugary stuff like chocolate all the time because of all the calories I had burnt off.'

She said: 'I have put a bit of weight on but nothing ridiculous. I like exercise so I will keep it up, I want to stay healthy.'

But at a healthy size 12-14, the 24 year-old has said she has no desire to be stick-thin and has embraced her new ‘womanly’ curves.

### 'The 24-year-old has said she has no desire to be stick-thin and has embraced her new 'womanly' curves'

Rebecca in her swimming costume

Rebecca said: 'I have no desire to be a size zero. I want to be healthy in the right way and keep a balance.'

She added: 'Only now I've stopped training I'm getting a womanly figure.'

But despite having won four medals for her country, Rebecca revealed that even Olympians can be self-conscious.

Admitting she still prefers wearing a swimming costume to a bikini in the pool, the retired swimmer said: 'I don't like having my belly on show.’

### 'All women can feel insecure so it's about finding what makes you feel confident'

Rebecca and her boyfriend

'All women can feel insecure so it's about finding what makes you feel confident.’ She added, and for her this means ‘eating right and doing exercise.’

Rebecca is engaged to marry boyfriend Harry Needs, a fellow swimmer, after he proposed in March.

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