Clare Nasir: Now I'm size 6, I'm never going back to being obese again

By RICHARD BARBER FOR MAILONLINE
Updated: 04:02 EST, 5 May 2011

Meteorologist Clare Nasir, 40, was a weather presenter for ten years for GMTV and now presents weekend weather on ITV1. She is married to BBC6 music DJ Chris Hawkins and they live in North London with their daughter, Sienna, 18 months. Clare says:

Slimmed down: Clare Nasir feels much more confident about what she wears after losing weight. This is her favourite Armani dress

After my baby, Sienna, was born I was the largest I’ve ever been — at 5ft 1in and a size 16, I was officially obese.

I lived in bootcut jeans from Topshop because they elongate the leg, teamed with brightly coloured smock tops, often beaded or covered in fake jewels, from M&S, Coast or Monsoon.

At my largest, I was 12st, but after working really hard on my diet and fitness I’m now 7st 7lb and a Size 6.

I’m never going back there again. I’ve given all my large clothes to pregnant friends or to charity shops.

Now, I have so much more choice — not only of where I can shop, but the styles that suit me.

In general, my clothes now tend to be tighter, sexier and more fashionable.

I like boutiques because you’re more likely to find one-off designs, although I’ll still go to Miss Selfridge, Topshop and Debenhams where I picked up a purple ‘bandage’ dress from Lipsy, which I wear when I go clubbing and which makes me feel fantastic.

I didn’t even wear things like this when I was a teenager. Back then, I always wanted to look good, but not only did I lack the resources, I had very little confidence.

It was too easy to put on jeans and a T-shirt every day — although I had a good body back then, I tended to hide it.

During my 20s, I was a student and then a scientific officer in the Met Office, so fashion wasn’t my priority. But all that changed when I joined GMTV in 2000. The stylists kitted me out in bright, jewel-coloured jackets teamed with pencil skirts.

I still stick to reds and purples when the sun is out, and cream and bronze in the winter.

I wear bright colours on ITV, but I’m going for what I’d call a more professional, polished look — typically I fitted shift dresses which are smart and sassy but not overtly sexy.

Since I lost weight, exercise is a part of my life, and so is eating sensibly, but it’s not the be all and end all. I don’t weigh myself every day, and I’ve stopped buying smaller clothes — I have enough in my new wardrobe.

CLARE'S WARDROBE FAVOURITES

POSH FROCKS

I buy evening-wear from Coast and Frank Usher, and a designer called Hayley J who designed my wedding dress. Armani Exchange is my favourite place for cocktail dresses, and it’s not as expensive as the main Armani range. The red one I am wearing (above) is from there. The turquoise dress (below right) is from Guess. It hangs beautifully. In fact, I chose it for my bridesmaids when I got married six years ago.

DAY DRESSES

I love Next and its directory is great if you’ve got a one-year-old and can’t get out as much as you used to. I also have a navy and white striped Jaeger smock dress which I borrowed from Kate Garraway and she’s never going to get it back!

From left: Avoca Wedgwood blue coat, satin top from a Sheffield boutique and Guess dress

COATS

I’ve had the Avoca Wedgwood blue coat with the fur collar (above, left) for five years. I always get compliments when I wear it, as I did to my brother’s wedding. I’ve worn it on TV, too. I have numerous coats because I often used to deliver the weather outside. There was the famous occasion when a wave washed over me during a forecast on the seafront at Bridlington in my red cagoule.

TOPS AND JUMPERS

My knitted silk, multi-coloured, stripy sweater is from Desigual on Regent Street; I wear it with a plain camisole and leggings.

I’m also fond of a creamy, flowered satin top which my mum bought from a boutique in Sheffield, where she lives. 

TROUSERS

You can’t beat a smart pair of black trousers. I probably have a pair from every shop in the country. I just bought two pairs of skinny jeans, which I’d never have worn before I lost weight. 

LEISUREWEAR

I love my grey hooded top and trousers and trainers, all by Elle, to look funky when I go to the gym. 

From left: Suzy Smith bag, Next shoes and BoBangles necklace

BAUBLES AND BANGLES

I really like my heart necklace from BoBangles, which was designed by my friend, Serretta Bo.

SHOES AND BOOTS

I wore a pair of New Look animal-print stilettoes repeatedly on GMTV. I wear a lot of plain clothes, so it’s nice to go mad with shoes. I have royal blue, square-toed stilettos from Next which look great, although you wouldn’t want to walk far in them. My jewelled flip-flops by Aspiga were a gift from former GMTV presenter Penny Smith — we used to call her head of wardrobe.

BAGS

Etui started with a stall in Spitalfields market and now you can buy their bags in Topshop. Their rose clutch bag is a favourite. I have an animal print, faux-fur bag by Suzy Smith at John Lewis, as well as a black and white striped one.

Clare Nasir’s Boot Camp fitness DVD is available from Universal at £19.99.

CLARE'S WARDROBE CHECKLIST

DRESSES: I've probably got a dozen cocktail dresses and up to 20 day dresses.

SUITS: I must have had 40 different suits in every colour of the rainbow when I was on GMTV, but now it’s more like half-a-dozen.

COATS: These are one of my weaknesses, but then my work means I'm quite often outdoors. If you include everything from my
smartest coat to my tattiest cagoule, I probably own about 40.

JEANS: Maybe 20 pairs. Sienna already has five pairs and she's only one.

SHOES AND BOOTS: Perhaps two dozen pairs, plus ten pairs of flip-flops.

BAGS: Unlike a lot of women, I only have a few handbags — certainly less than ten — but good ones that will last. Etui’s rose clutch bag is a favourite of mine. Whichever bag I’m using, I’ll always pop in my perfume. I use So Flowers, by Montale,
which Kate Garraway gave me as a pregnancy present.

BIKINIS: My secret vice. I must have 40 and, now that I’m no longer ashamed of my body, I’ll be wearing all of them in rotation if we get anything like a good summer this year.