Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney has revealed that she is ditching dieting and prioritising "overall health and strength" rather than fitting into a certain size after shedding four stone. Claire, now 53, has a fresh approach to health and wellness. The ITV actress confessed she would previously vow to hit the gym or tackle a new diet every Christmas. But as she's matured, her perspective on health has evolved. It comes after Claire dropped a number of dress sizes as she took part in gruelling training for Dancing on Ice. The Coronation Street star took part in the show alongside skater Colin Grafton in January 2024. Reflecting on her physical transformation, Claire remarked: "I looked back to when I used to host 60 Minute Makeover and I didn't realise what good nick my physique was in. That was my goal." She revealed: "I had two pictures on my phone. One of me fat and one of how I wanted to look." In a candid discussion with Best magazine, Claire opened up about her perennial struggle to slim down, often starting each new year with a pledge to herself. Yet this year, there's been a marked change in her strategy towards health, reports the Liverpool Echo . She explained: "I was watching a documentary with Joan Plowright and she said she wished she'd discovered mindfulness years ago. It really resonated with me. "I went on holiday at Christmas and every morning I'd get up at 6.30am and go for a long walk along the beach and listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast. I'm learning loads from it." The soap star states that through meditation and education she has "learned loads", leading her to focus on being mindful in 2025, with a resolve to "stay in the moment". Although Claire's primary focus for the year may not be intense gym sessions, she does enjoy adhering to a regular exercise routine. In the gym, Claire prefers to mix things up by doing "a little bit of everything". For her, the goal is not about achieving a specific body size, but rather maintaining overall health and strength as she ages. Claire mentioned, "It's just about staying healthy and strong when you get older. I'm not worried about being a size eight." In the past, Claire had acknowledged that, like many others, she gained weight during the coronavirus lockdowns. While she confessed to having a love for food, she expressed her desire to "feel fitter". In a social media post, she wrote: "Love being curvy, but wanna feel fitter, stronger and shifting a little bit of timber won't go amiss." Claire initially gained fame for her role in the Liverpool-based show Brookside. Since then, she has appeared in various shows, including Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity Big Brother, and Holby City. In 2023, she joined the cast of Coronation Street as Cassandra Plummer. Claire was recently a guest on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on ITV One. Alongside actor Samantha Bond and theatre legend Sir Tim Rice, Claire will have the opportunity to meet young alpacas. The show also features Chris Hull sharing tips on revitalizing lawns this spring, and Jaega Wise selecting her top pints from across the UK.