1. Balanced Diet With Lots of Protein
Allen enjoys a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of protein, vegetables, and healthy fats. “Breakfast is eggs with sourdough, smashed avocados and chillies on top, or I’ll have soya yogurt with fruit,” she says. “For lunch sometimes I’ll have a salad but, if I’m in a rush, I’ll have a few slices of banana loaf and a coffee. In the evening, I eat fish and roasted veg, like sweet potatoes, parsnips, red onions, mushrooms and broccoli. I’ll also have a turmeric, grapefruit and ginger shot every day.”
2. Tea All Day
Allen drinks tea all day and also loves cookies, which she admits isn’t the healthiest habit. “[I eat] chocolate digestives [cookies], I have about six cups of tea a day,” she says. “It’s the first thing I do when I wake up, so that’s where the biscuit count starts. I’ve made healthier snacks during lockdown, like pan-fried kale with salt. I hate ketchup, I’m team mayonnaise.”
3. Weight Loss, Not Editing
Allen lost 24 pounds and was accused of editing her photos, an accusation she adamantly rebuffs. “I've had a couple of people messaging me about my weight and saying I edit my photos. I'm like - hun - I've actually lost nearly 2st, so I am gonna look a bit different,” she says. “I feel enlightened—I'm strong in myself and I have that strength in my body that I used to have like over two years ago. I just had lost love for training, I'd lost love for myself."
4. Honest About Imperfections
Allen has struggled with skin issues in the past, but was upfront about her insecurities on TV. "I remember being in the villa and thinking 'all these girls are so beautiful and flawless' and there were guys I was trying to impress,” she says. “I wasn't gonna start sleeping in makeup - I haven't slept in makeup my whole life - I would have made it worse in the long run and I would have felt even more conscious of my face… so I owned it."
5. Empowered and Happy
Allen has learned to appreciate being in a positive state of mind, and to embrace new challenges no matter how difficult. “I’ve never felt this in-tune with myself like I do currently, I know who my friends are, I know what my goals are and I feel empowered for it!” she says. "I’m sure like me, many of us have lost ourselves from time to time but I can promise without struggle there is no success and you can’t enjoy the good if you have never experienced the bad."