How Gordon Ramsay's Wife Tana Inspired Him To Make This Big Change
Gordon Ramsay is arguably best known for being the angry and sometimes harsh chef on shows like "Hell's Kitchen" and "Kitchen Nightmares," but in the more recent shows he's hosted like "MasterChef" and "MasterChef Junior," he has revealed a softer side. In fact, when asked what Ramsay is really like in an exclusive interview with Mashed, Christina Wilson, VP of Culinary for Gordon Ramsay North America (per LinkedIn), revealed that he is an "absolute puddle" around his family.
Ramsay and his wife Tana have five children ranging in age from two-years-old to 23-years-old, according to Parade, and Ramsay's patience and understanding that he's learned as a parent shines through when he mentors the budding talents on "MasterChef Junior." Evan Estrada, a Season 6 contestant of "MasterChef Junior," confirmed Ramsay's soft side in an interview with the Chicago Tribune: "He's absolutely amazing. He is not mean at all. He is super fun. He loves to joke."
Although Ramsay softens his demeanor around his family, his wife Tana was not afraid to mimic his signature blunt nature when she encouraged he take on this lifestyle change.
Tana gave Gordon a taste of his own medicine, with some tough love
That lifestyle change was getting fit and losing weight. According to an interview with the Daily Mail, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay revealed he started his weight loss journey in the early 2000s when his hectic work schedule was starting to get the best of him. He was not eating properly, constantly snacking at his restaurants, and he said his wife Tana (who has always been into fitness) took notice.
According to an interview with "The Today Show" (seen on YouTube), Ramsay said Tana was blunt and told him that he was getting "a little wide around his middle." In the same interview, Ramsay mentioned that he wanted to get in shape for his wife, but he also wanted to get in shape for his kids. His father passed away when he was merely 53-years-old of a heart attack, so Ramsay opted to change his eating habits and exercise routine to ensure he would be around to watch his kids grow up.
These are the workouts and diet that helped him lose 50 pounds
According to the Daily Mail, in true Gordon Ramsay competitive style, the TV personality set a huge goal of training for a 70:3 Ironman, which involves a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. He hired a trainer to get him to the finish line – Ramsay's vigorous routine consisted of three hour-long sessions on a stationary bike each week, long-distance swimming, rowing, running, and core work to prepare him for the competition. The training paid off when Ramsay and Tana both completed the Ironman in Staffordshire, England in 2018.
Ramsay's newfound enthusiasm for fitness also encouraged his children to get involved, too, as he told the publication. His son Jack and daughters Megan and Holly have competed in the London Marathon and his youngest daughter Tilly is an avid water polo and rugby player. When Jack competed in the 2019 London Marathon, his baby brother Oscar (a newborn at the time) was on the sidelines to cheer him on and got a glimpse of his future as a Ramsay athlete.
In addition to the rigorous workout routine, according to Hello! Magazine, Ramsay also changed his eating habits to accomplish his impressive weight loss. Ramsay practiced portion control, eating five small meals throughout the day instead of three larger meals. He told People that he started drinking plenty of water before he started eating to cut the amount he ate by one-third and has kept at it to this day.