Going teetotal helped me lose 10 stone, says Lisa Riley

Former Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley says giving up alcohol for nearly a year helped her lose 10 stone.

Riley, who is turning 40 next week, has dropped from a size 30 to a size 14-16.

She told the Daily Mirror: "I realised there were lots of empty calories in booze so that is why I gave it up. If you add up through the week what I'd consume in alcohol calories it was mad.

"I used to come off stage and think I needed a drink to wind down, so that'd be maybe three bottles over the week. Then if I went out at the weekend with friends, and maybe did a Sunday lunch with my family, there'd be another few bottles there. It all added up."

The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant said going teetotal was never her intention at the outset.

"All my girlfriends gave up booze for nine months while they were pregnant, so I thought I'd do nine months, but it's nearly a year now and I don't even want a drink," she said.

She participated in the tenth series of Strictly with Robin Windsor as her partner. The couple were eliminated during the semi-finals.

Riley played Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale for six-and-a-half years.

She went on to host You've Been Framed! for five years.