Mel C unveiled her new shaped body in the Barbados sun - only to be showered
with criticism.  The Spice Girl has hit back at the headlines that labelled her
beefy and burly, saying: "There are a lot of young kids out there with weight
problems and I think it's irresponsible to focus on these issues.  A lot of
young people are screwed up about whether they're too fat or too thin when they
don't need to be.  It can have a lasting effect on people, especially when 
they're at an impressionable age."  Mel adds: "I'm a size 10.  I've put on
weight, but I must have been tiny before."


The criticism is a headache Sporty didn't need.  She'd booked the much-needed
weekend break on the island's £500-a-night Royal Pavilion hotel in a bid to get
away from it all.  Checking in under her pseudonym of Flo Cha, Sporty and her
friend and personal assistant, 28-year-old Chai Ling Yau, couldn't wait to hit
the beach and catch some rays.

Practically unrecognisable from her early days, when she constantly wore a
tracksuit and tied her long, dark hair in a ponytail, Sporty Spice says: "I got
that nickname because that's truly the way I am.  But we've all grown up a bit,
all had new experiences.  We're becoming Spice Women now and if one day I
decided I never wanted to do any exercise again, I wouldn't think: 'Well I've
got to because I'm Sporty Spice.'  I'd think: 'F*** 'em, they'll just have to
come up with a new name for me!'"

But 'beefy' was hardly the new name she was looking for.  In fact, Mel has her
love of training to thank for her new figure.  Her exercise routine at her
north London gym includes swimming, running, weightlifting, kick boxing and
yoga.  "I like lots of free weights," says Mel.  "Strength training is my
favourite, but I can't do much because I get too bulky."


Sporty Spice has been weight training for years and experts believe that she
fully intended to change her shape this way.  Dennis Duhaney, Now's fitness
expert and Vanessa Feltz's personal trainer, says: "I've seen Mel at the
Esporta gym in Swiss Cottage, north London.  She's very fit and has been
training for a long time so she knows what she's doing in the gym.  To build
up her body like that she's been concentrating on free-weight training and
using different techniques for maximum effect.  If she wanted to go back to
how she used to look, I'd advise her to do more aerobic exercise, such as
circuit training, swimming, cycling and running for about 30-45 minutes, three
times a week.  She'd also have to use lighter weights to tone down her body.
As for her diet, I'd advise low-fat food, with lots of fruit, vegetables and
carbohydrates like pasta and rice."


Mel, 25, had escaped to the girlie hideaway after a hectic time in Miami.  She
and the rest of the Spice Girls met up in studios to put the finishing touches
to their long-awaited third album.  But, unlike the rest of the group, Mel's
been working back-to-back notching up solo hits around the world.  Her return 
to the group comes after a long sabbatical spent pursuing her own projects and
doing everything she can to drop her Sporty image.  The wannabe rock chick has
added more tattoos to her ever-growing collection, cut and bleached her hair
and has now decided to change her shape.

The singer, who has millions of teenage fans, is hyper-conscious of
body-related comments.  Mel was one of the first to jump to the defence of
fellow Spice Victoria Beckham when false rumours circulated that she had an
eating disorder.  Mel said: "Victoria's in great shape, consider she recently
had a baby.  She eats like a horse and is very fit.  In fact, she eats a lot
more than me and no one calls me anorexic."