How Alison Hammond’s childhood trauma and an incident with her drug smuggler father led to a lifelong battle with her weight – as TV presenter, 49, opens up about losing 11 stone

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As I delve into the vibrant tapestry of Alison’s life, I am struck by the intricate patterns of her journey – a tale woven with threads of resilience, humor, and a zest for living that is truly inspiring. From her humble beginnings to her meteoric rise in the world of entertainment, Alison has navigated the twists and turns of life with grace, fortitude, and an unquenchable spirit.

This week, Alison Hammond left fans amazed as she disclosed that her remarkable 11-stone weight reduction was accomplished without relying on Ozempic.

Alison, a host on “This Morning,” reached a peak weight of 28 stones. However, it was the passing of her mother, Maria, that inspired her to shed those pounds. Maria, who had been a significant influence in Alison’s life, had expressed worries about Alison’s pre-diabetic condition before her death.

Losing weight was by no means an effortless task for Alison, given that she’s openly discussed her battles with disordered eating.

Alison, aged 49, had attributed her weight struggles in the past to a distressing event in her childhood, and disclosed that she has been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of being bullied about her weight during school years.

In her memoir, “You’ve Got to Laugh,” she asserted that her father Clifford’s behavior prompted her excessive eating, as he would threaten physical punishment if she left food uneaten on her plate.

When Alison reminisced about her past, she shared an experience that happened when she was eight. She said, “On Sundays, my mom’s fantastic cooking really shone, especially when she prepared the roast. However, on one particular Sunday, I became full from eating.

Initially, she asserted that her mother was fine with her leaving some food behind. However, she went on to explain: ‘My father glanced up. “Finish the rest of your dinner,” he commanded sternly. I declined. “I’ve already had enough. I don’t want any more.”‘

‘“Eat your dinner, now.” His eyes bored into me and then he started taking his belt off.

At the age of eight, I made a swift mental calculation: If my father were to punish me with a belt, my mother would attempt to shield me, but ultimately, he would be stronger. So, I concluded that I had no choice but to endure eating the food.

‘To keep the peace, and out of self-preservation, I ate every last bit of my dinner.’

In sharing the event with a therapist, Alison learned that this experience might be the origin of her struggles with food.

She shared: “When I told him about the incident, he implied that I’ve been subconsciously holding onto that experience throughout my life.

After pondering his words, they resonated with me deeply. They were logical and clear-cut. I don’t overlook any point, which might be one factor contributing to my larger stature.

On that particular Sunday, the meal made a deep impact on me psychologically: I consumed all my food to safeguard myself, and this incident forged an enduring connection in my mind between eating and self-protection.

After establishing such a link, you ought to take action, but I’ve allowed the situation to drift somewhat.

In June 2020, Clifford, a notorious drug trafficker residing in Jamaica, sadly passed away. This tragic event occurred only four months following the loss of Maria, Alison’s mother, who had bravely fought liver and lung cancer.

In her publication, Alison shared insights into her complex connection with her less-than-honorable father, who occasionally dropped by Alison and her mom during his stays in the United Kingdom.

Alison grew up under her mother’s care in Birmingham, whereas Clifford maintained a different family in Jamaica, simultaneously transporting vehicles between the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.

During one of his visits, she penned: ‘On that particular day, he arrived directly at our home from the airport. Look at these boots!’, she exclaimed, pointing to her feet with a grin. “These are the most pricey snakeskin boots in existence”, he declared. “What makes them so costly?” her mother inquired. He crouched down, unzipped one boot and a heap of cannabis spilled out.

‘That was my dad! Cliff was charismatic and charming, but he was naughty. He’d illegally bring drugs into the country in the days when people could get away with it, before they introduced sniffer dogs and body scans at the airport.’

Although Alison held a deep affection for her father, she openly acknowledged that she felt ‘ashamed to disclose’ that the bundles of money he handed to her mother during his visits were likely the result of ‘illegally transporting marijuana’. Impressively, she added: ‘Oh, so sneaky!’

In her published work, Alison, a former Big Brother contestant from 2002, detailed that Clifford seemed to embody a lavish lifestyle and often spoiled her with presents and Chinese takeout meals, which were viewed as high-end indulgences back then.

Meanwhile, Clifford made her feel like royalty, but back in his homeland of Jamaica, the businessman ruled more like a monarch, causing local residents discomfort – probably because he always had a shotgun by his side.

It’s clear from how people talked about him that he was both respected and feared within the community. They referred to him as Mr. Hammond, and there was obvious apprehension in their expressions when they interacted with him. Frankly, I’m not shocked, given that he always traveled with a large shotgun concealed beneath his pickup truck. He didn’t mince words.

Alison also revealed that she suffers from PTSD after being bullied about her weight. 

She shared with The Mirror: “In school, when boys would say hurtful things about my appearance, I usually didn’t let it get to me much as humor and quick wit served as my protection.

Currently, I find myself struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to being consistently referred to as an elephant. A particularly distressing incident was when a boy remarked, “I didn’t know elephants are brown,” which struck me deeply at a more profound level.

‘Now, whenever I hear people talking about elephants, I panic, thinking they’re talking about me.

During my safari, I kept searching for any signs of people likening me to an elephant, which still lingers as an unsettling feeling within me. Perhaps I could benefit from some counseling or therapy to address these lingering fears.

This past week, the previous contestant on Big Brother shared insights about her weight loss journey during an interview with Good Housekeeping UK. She revealed that the main strategies behind her weight loss were eliminating sugary treats and high-fat meals from her diet, along with regular workouts under the guidance of a personal trainer.

Instead of opting for weight-loss injections herself, she expressed: “I believe they’re beneficial for those who require them, but when I encounter any alarming news about them, it instantly makes me anxious.

“I haven’t felt the need to employ them yet, but I might change my mind later on. And, by no means, do I judge others for using them.

I exclaimed: “You know, my mom battled with type 2 diabetes, and it made her anxious about me. So when I discovered that I was pre-diabetic myself, it really gave me a scare.

‘I thought: “I have to be an adult about this”. The sweets had to stop – and the fatty foods. 

Two times a week, I visit my fitness coach and at home, I’ve got some weights in my room. I take walks, perform stretching exercises, and on occasion, I engage in light yoga practices.

During her physical change, the broadcaster decided to donate her previous size 26 garments, which she sold this year for a charitable cause, in honor of her mother who died from Liver Cancer in 2020.

Over the years, the celebrity has been open about her battles with weight and once confessed that she felt deeply ashamed when she tipped the scales at over 286 pounds. In an effort to prioritize her well-being, she signed up for Weight Watchers in 2019.

Alison openly acknowledges that she’s subjected to daily online bullying regarding her body size, yet she resolutely chooses not to alter herself to please others. Instead, she embraces occupying a slightly larger portion of the world.

In a conversation with Lorraine Kelly and Rosie Smith on the What If? podcast, Alison shared that she intends to focus on eating healthier in an effort to alleviate her knee pain, while also acknowledging that we all inevitably face the end of life by saying “we’re all going to meet our end eventually.

She vowed to live her life to the ‘fullest’ and promised that she was going to have a ‘wonderful life’ in the candid chat. 

Alison, known for her cheerful personality, expressed a desire to focus on her health and overall wellness while managing her busy, mobile lifestyle.

She expressed that she desires her experience to inspire others to ponder over adjusting their lifestyle, aiming for self-improvement.

In the year 2023, Alison took over from Matt Lucas as a co-host for The Great British Bake Off. Earlier, she shared that due to putting on a pound during filming, she now strictly limits her cake sampling.

Initially, the TV host admitted that she decided to participate in the program primarily for the sake of the cake, but later on, she found out that she needed to control her dessert consumption.

Alison plans to restrict herself to trying out winning entries or pastries that receive Paul Hollywood’s well-known handshake as recognition.

She shared with the Off Menu podcast that she has recently begun filming The Great British Bake Off. To her surprise, she found the tent to be extremely chilly. It was bone-chillingly cold. Underneath her dress, she wore thermal clothing to keep warm.

However, my affection for that particular series primarily lies in its dessert offerings. Many people may not grasp this, but I’m essentially tuning in for the cakes. Every episode allows you to sample each creation, which is why I ended up adding a pound last year.

‘It’s taken me a year to take that stone off.

“I’ll eat something only when I receive a handshake or win a section. I don’t entertain other offers for now. Once food enters my mouth, I enjoy every bite.

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2024-12-07 12:37