I’m starting to understand why Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow were able to make it work for so many years: they both follow any silly diet fad that they hear about. People once believed that Chris was the more easy-going parent, that he was the one sneaking cheeseburgers and ice cream to Apple and Moses while Gwyneth forced them all into gluten-free, dairy-free, macrobiotic diets. While that might have been the case, Chris Martin is talking about his current diet, and it sounds just as terrible as anything Gwyneth has ever tried. Chris says he does the 6:1 Diet, where he eats normally for six days a week, then fasts on the seventh day.
He may jump around the stage as the frontman of Coldplay, but that’s not how Chris Martin stays trim. Instead of counting calories or signing up for Weight Watchers, the 38-year-old musician just doesn’t eat anything at all—for a day.
“I fast once a week,” the father of two told the hosts of Fresh 102.7. Instead of eating on that day, the “Paradise” singer just drinks water. Commonly known as the 6:1 diet, Martin’s dietary regimen began as an off-the-cuff suggestion.
“I started doing it because I was sick one time, and this guy said to me, ‘Just try not eating for a day because it will make your body feel healthier,'” he recollected. “I did it and then I found I could sing a bit better, and also I felt so grateful for food…and just grateful for everything in a way that I wasn’t so much before. I think that that feeling of gratitude and stuff naturally brings out a joyous feeling, and also when you’re hungry you are very focused, so both sides of it I think help creativity.”
However, in addition to well, not eating, there are some downsides to the diet.
“If you fast for a while, about 15 hours in, you get a little antsy, so you’ve got to be careful who you’re talking to at that point,” he said.
While he follows through with the fast, the Grammy winner admits that he does bend the rules every so often.
“Well, you’re supposed to go for something like a kale salad,” Martin added. “I tend to have Nutella and pancakes, which is terrible and completely defeats the point.”
While fasting for one’s health, one’s faith or one’s politics is nothing new, I think it’s a stupid idea for a fad diet. But maybe I think that because I simply wouldn’t have the will power for it. As I get older, I become more of a grazer… I eat smaller portions throughout the day and I’ve found that I get tired earlier in the evening. But if you didn’t eat anything all day… how could anyone function? Someone with a 9-5 job wouldn’t be able to function, I don’t think. And while Chris doesn’t have a 9-5 job, I seriously doubt he could fast on a day where he had a concert. He just wouldn’t have the energy.
Here are some photos of Chris and his son Moses at a Lakers game this week. I kind of love these photos, and I enjoy the fact that an Englishman takes his son to a basketball game for a father-son bonding experience. I also sort of love the fact that Moses looks SO MUCH like Gwyneth.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I’m on the Chris Martin diet in which I lose my appetite whenever I see him.
Ba-da-bum!
lmao
Ha ha, I first read this as ‘Chris Martin follows the 6:1 diet where he just farts for one day of the week’ !!!
Actually, an English Doctor has written a book called the 5:2 diet where you basically fast for 2 days out of every 7, so I just assume that is what he is (sort of) following. It’s supposed to bring all sort of health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar levels, decreasing inflammation and ageing etc.
That 5:2, 6:1 diet is popular in the UK. My hubby, who needs to lose weight, was doing it, and in a show of solidarity, I did it with him…until the day I stood up from the couch and passed right the F- out from hunger. It’s a diet best left to people who do not do intensive exercise. This girl needs to EAT
It’s always a good idea to trust “this guy”! He always knows what he’s talking about!
I don’t know why, but I’ve always found him insufferable. He and Gwen seem like the perfect match.
I have a treat day once a week which I think is a better plan. The rest of the week I try and eat sensibly. It’s the best I can do. Not eating for a whole day would make me think I was doing the prep for a colonoscopy. No thanks!
I’m the same way, and conveniently enough Friday is my treat day, lol. (Shall I have pizza tonight, I wonder?)
I try and eat sensibly as well, and my goal for the new year is to cut back on added sugar, but if I had to fast for an entire day I’d be homicidal after a few hours.
Yes, that’s a much more sensible way to maintain. He sounds silly.
Moses looks like mama Gwyneth; while Apple is the image of papa Chris Martin.
I never understood why people acted like he was so easy going? It seems like they just cast him in that part because they hate Paltrow and well.. hes a man.
Hes the one who attacked photographers kanye style and forbid his wife from talking about him, refused to leave and enter events with her or be photographed with her. He kept up the same thing with Jlaw. I think hes a total control freak. Probably a nice one but a control freak nonetheless. Furthermore he was a vegetarian before he met Paltrow.
This. He’s way more uptight than her, and it’s always been obvious. People just hate her, so they liked the idea that he hated her too.
He’s actually the one who introduced her to a lot of her more restrictive diet practices. She’s considerably less restricted than him, and it’s notable that she gained some weight and has kept it on in the wake of their separation. I’d say if anyone was keeping tabs on what the other ate in that household, it was him.
thanks. just because gwyneth (whom i don’t like either btw) is more outspoken she gets the blame, however he’s bad as she is. and yes, the thing of not wanting to be seen with her was gross. it was fine at the start of their relationship, but after 2 children it got ridiculous. funnily enough he seems totally to be papped with his new (much less famous than he is) girlfriend. he’s the worst.
This. He is a control freak, he’s shown that many times. His behavior has been immature and rude so many times…yet somehow that doesn’t “stick” to him, he should have a bad reputation. There are strong similarities control-wise between him and Affleck; I think Gwyneth has a high tolerance for “creative guys” with bad attitudes & controlling behavior.
Well now i get why he and Gwenyth stayed toegether and why JLaw left him
i think he left both, tbqh.
I guess sliding into irrelevance was very important to him.
It seemed mutual too me.
But if i was going to put money on who was most ready to get out of the marriage it would be Paltrow.
The rumour about the glee producer Brad something was that it started while she was married to Martin. Gwyneth is still with that Brad guy and that seems like a pretty serious relationship as opposed to Martins dalliances with various actresses.
Moses is a beautiful child.
Don’t get the appeal and his music doesn’t do it for me. All I can remember is ONE particular song that was played anytime there was a death/divorce on this show over here called Cold Feet. After that no no no. and on the diet note.. I do 5:2 and it works for me and have done it for a while it’s not for everyone but I don’t mind it and probably psychological makes me more conscious of what I eat the other days. To each its own I suppose.
I use 5:2 as well, for a couple years now actually, and it works well for me as a “lifestyle plan” rather than a “fad diet.” I don’t think there’s one perfect be-all end-all diet solution for anyone, but this one works for me. I tend not to eat when I’m at work anyway so on the “fast days” I actually just keep it to about 500 calories of nourishing food when I get home instead of inhaling my refrigerator, ha. I completely agree that it makes me more conscious and appreciative of what I have available to me and what I put in my body.
Doesn’t sound like a fast if you’re taking Nutella pancake breaks.
Intermittent fasting isn’t so much a diet as an eating schedule. You can fast anywhere from 16-24 hours in a day (this includes the time you’re sleeping), and it does help (at least in my experience) in controlling hunger pangs on a daily basis. Really nothing too crazy about it. Gwennie’s definitely the crazier one of the pair.
Yes, intermittent fasting is really popular right now as one way of reducing net calorie intake and avoiding appetite spikes, with many people swearing by it. There’s several methods (as you alluded above, but I’ll just describe the ones I’ve heard of for the general audience): fasting an entire day, fasting over breakfast every single day, fasting after lunch one day until dinner the next day once or twice a week.
I’ve never had success doing this because it makes me feel crazy, food obsessed and weak. I walk and cycle everywhere, and run a few times a week, so I can’t do those things well if I’m coasting on fumes. The closest I’ve ever gotten to this was fasting between a late breakfast and dinner on the weekend so I could eat a bigger dinner with some wine. Also, I tend to fall asleep fantasizing about eating oatmeal the next morning, and I’m guessing it works better if you’re “not really a breakfast person” or someone who naturally forgets to eat meals.
Yes, it really isn’t that crazy, especially if you are consuming fluids like water, tea, or broth. I do this once a week as well and I do work a full time job as a public school teacher, I don’t get cranky or tired, I actually feel very calm, peaceful, and focused on fast days. It helps cleanse my system and definitely helps keep weight under control. I do eat as healthfully as possible on non fast days though, no Nutella pancakes for me.
I have done fasting based diets- usually 2 days a week. By day’s I mean 24 hour periods. For me, this is actually easier then typical calorie cutting. But it helps to be smart about it- you time the 24 hour fast so you are most “hungry” while sleeping, and your body has transitioned to fasting state by the time you wake up so your not feeling terribly hungry. Also using hunger suppressing techniques- black coffee is calorie free and totally fine and caffeine keeps hunger down. Yerba Matte tea is also good for this. Also working out during the end of the fast helps. It effects cardio but not strength training capacity so you just have to pick the right work out. It also matters what you eat before the fast, I never calorie cut between fasts but I know if I eat a bunch of sugar or junk the 12 hours before my body won’t tolerate it nearly as well.
I can’t stand CM but I do think it’s ridiculous when people bash a fasting based diet but not daily calorie cutting. In a week, it’s the same amount of food calories, but everyone is different in what works for them and their tolerance. I’m miserable on 5 mini meals a day, or calorie counting. Fasting I tolerate just fine.
My brother does a 5:2 diet thing. It’s quite popular here. You eat normally for five days and 500-600 calories per day for the other two. That sounds less extreme to me. It seems to enable him to maintain his weight, cos he puts on easily.
My parents have been doing the 5:2 for over a year and it really works for them. Both managed to get to within there ideal weight parameters slowly (healthy) now they do it mostly to maintain there weight.
@Sixer I do it as well, some say too hard but it works for me I mean the first couple of weeks you keep thinking of food but once you have done it it’s fine. For some weird reason when I have the 500 calorie days I feel more energetic??
I like the take of this article on it:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hunger-artist/201411/the-fast-diet-fast-route-disordered-eating
These diets emulate eating disorders, and use eating disorder tricks to stop feeling hungry. Period. When you have to stop taking social engagements or feel guilty or refuse to let yourself eat over a miniscule amount of food in any time period (500 calories) that’s disordered eating.
That’s a narrow minded view. In my own practice of this plan, I feel much less restricted. On my eating days, I eat as I please instead of obsessing about food 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Furthermore, I have never turned down a social engagement to fast. I simply choose my fasting days based on when it doesn’t interfere with my life.
Any method you use to lose weight is dangerous for people inclined towards disordered eating, for the same reason many socially acceptable “recreational” choices are dangerous for people with susceptibility to addiction. The reality is we live in a world were being an unhealthy weight is a very real health threat to many people, and there is no one solution that fits everyone. The solution is in the multitude of options for achieving a healthy weight and encouraging people to embrace what works for them.
I know quite a few people doing it and it does seem remarkably successful as a maintaining strategy. My brother’s a runner and he finds he has more energy on the low calories days too.
Intermittent fastin (I F) has been around for ages. It’s easier to follow than caloric restriction. I see many people doing high intensity interval training while on I F and they are fine. It helps them with their energy and blood sugar something like that not really sure. It’s usually done 16 to 8, meaning you can eat within the 8 hr. period then fast for 16 hrs ( you can sleep through it). 24 hours of fastng is taxing though. Lots of athletes follow I F and I heard Hugh Jackman too. No one’s raising an eyebrow on Hugh’s because he’s a lovely person.
Intermittent fasting works. We are socially conditioned to think that we need to eat 3 square meals a day in order to be healthy, but that’s not how nature works! So our bodies are fine if we skip a meal or two on a regular basis. I don’t have all of the scientific data for how it works, but it’s easy to find on line. Lots of fitness experts and body builders swear by it, there’s a whole system of timing your workouts around your fasts to increase muscle/burn fat.
I have a couple of family members who spent years trying to lose weight, and finally managed using the 5:2 plan and they practice a modified version for their regular eating plan now. It’s become their habit now and they don’t feel like they are missing out on a thing!
First world diet. But aren’t they all, I guess?
” I felt so grateful for food…and just grateful for everything in a way that I wasn’t so much before. I think that that feeling of gratitude and stuff naturally brings out a joyous feeling, and also when you’re hungry you are very focused, so both sides of it I think help creativity”
Rolled my eyes so hard at this nonsense
And I guess we can be grateful he only sings one day each week.
@size does matter : that is one day too many lbr.
Exactly. People in third world countries are sometimes without food and we do it to ourselves willingly. IMO, isn’t that unhealthy to not eat? I would be interested to see what a doctor thinks about it. Like someone else said, sounds like an eating disorder or disordered eating to me. I am surprised so many people are doing it. We are denying ourselves food willingly, while people are literally dying because they don’t have food.
why would anyone want his body though. i’m just imagining blokes going to the gym with a pic of chris goop and saying “that’s what i want to look like!”. just no.
CHRIS GOOP !!
He sounds like a loon just like his ex. I am not a big eater, never have been, but fasting one day a week sounds like 60’s model diet. Life is so much simpler than people make it. Like my mother says, anything done in moderation is fine. So idiot boy, eat but if you’re used to your ex’s cooking, I can understand why you avoid it a day a week….lol
I don’t know about his diet but generally with the 5/2 diet you’re supposed to eat healthily every day and on your two fast days you need to eat less than 500 calories. So it isn’t fasting as in eating nothing.
It’s difficult but you get used to it.
I think it can be the start of unhealthy behaviour for some people though – thinking of only food all day can lead to bad obsessions/eating disorders
Totally misread that as “then farts on the seventh day.”
Yes, sometimes I am that childish.