WEIGHING in at 27 stone James ‘Arg’ Argent was one of many largest celebs within the UK.
And the Essex star’s dependancy and binging on curry dinners, chocolate bars, fizzy drinks and ice cream left him dancing with demise.
James Argent reveals his physique for the primary time since his tummy tuckCredit score: Louis Wooden
At his heaviest Arg weighed 27stone
The fact star has swapped boozy nights out for bozing and swimming after his life saving gastric sleeve operation with Rework Hospital GroupCredit score: Louis Wooden
The chiselled star smashes out press ups in The Solar’s unique picture shootCredit score: Louis Wooden
The ex Towie star has shed 13 stone and is happier than everCredit score: Louis Wooden
However issues couldn’t be extra totally different for the ex Towie legend two years on, having shed 13 stone and unveiling his new physique in The Solar after a tummy tuck following gastric sleeve surgical procedure.
Bronzed, chiselled and sober, Arg is slimmer than ever in our unique images and proudly performs as much as the digicam – barely breaking a sweat whereas smashing out 20 press ups together with his high off.
4 months submit op and he’s additionally lined in scars, with two beneath his hips from his tummy tuck that can fade over time
And so they’re the one bodily reminder left of his former 27 stone physique.
In an unique interview with The Solar, Arg mentioned: “The surgical procedure went wonderful.
“There’s nonetheless a bit little bit of swelling, really, as a result of I feel the swelling goes down after, say, six months.
“And hear, I do have just a few scars, however I do know that they’ll go faint. I feel it’s fairly cool to have just a few little battle scars or battle wounds alongside the way in which.
“You by no means know, give it one other six months and perhaps I can be able to get into some good navy Speedos!”
The star – who catapulted to fame on Towie in 2013 – has almost 1,000,000 followers on Instagram and will get hundreds of likes per submit, however extremely, individuals do a double take once they see him.
Some suppose he’s “Arg’s slimmer brother”.
Arg laughs and says: “They recognise me, they usually know me. However they don’t clock it’s really me after which they’ll be like, ‘oh my God, you’ve misplaced a lot weight!’
“It feels good when individuals say to maintain going or ‘effectively performed’. And, ‘you look effectively’ and stuff like that. It all the time means loads.”
Arg hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol since he sufferd a terrifying relapse 18 months in the past on an evening out with friends, and paramedics had been referred to as to his residence.
Now he’s swapped boozy nights for romantic dates and holidays together with his gorgeous new girlfriend Stella Turian, and he spends his days boxing, swimming, and travellng the nation with The Arg Band.
The as soon as troubled star has his priorities proper for the primary time and is fiercely protecting of Stella, who’s youthful at 19.
He explains: “I’ve received a girlfriend and he or she lives in Italy. Yeah, we’re good. We’re blissful. However I simply don’t actually need to… for those who don’t thoughts. The factor is with Stella, she isn’t within the public eye.
“She’s actually working arduous on reaching issues in Italy in the meanwhile. And, in the interim, we simply attempt to hold it as non-public as attainable. I’ve by no means posted Stella on my social media and stuff like that.
“We’re very supportive of one another and we’re very blissful. And every little thing’s good.”
And his transformation has little question boosted his love life.
“I really feel good bare, I really feel good around the seashore, I really feel good around the swimming pool!
“I feel within the subsequent 5 years, a very powerful factor is being clear and sober. That’s primary,” he provides.
“Quantity two is maintaining my wholesome way of life. Be it a wholesome, balanced weight-reduction plan and train. Quantity three is being the most effective wedding ceremony singer I can probably be and having the most effective functioning band.
“Yeah, and perhaps progress in my relationship.
“My weight now could be good. I simply need to be extra toned, do extra work across the again of the legs.
“I did have a little bit of a person boob drawback again within the day and now it’s not too unhealthy, I’ve nonetheless received a bit of labor to do on my chest.
“Earlier than I used to be actually self-conscious about extra pores and skin and fats which I couldn’t shift irrespective of how a lot I dieted or exercised.
“Since my surgical procedure at the beginning of the 12 months I’ve been in a position to go on vacation with my girlfriend and my mum, and I’ve no hesitations about what I’m sporting and now not panic on the prospect of taking my t-shirt off.”
That is all worlds away from his life two years in the past earlier than his gastric sleeve surgical procedure with Rework Hospital Group.
Arg after his gastric band operation with Rework Hospital Group in 2021
He met girlfriend Stella Turian a 12 months after his opCredit score: Instagram
Arg says he would find yourself on the couch in a torpid stoop after raiding the snacks cabinet very first thing within the morning.
With an expression of disbelief he remembers needing household to assist him to dress at his largest.
“To be sincere with you, after I was 27 stone, I used to put on slip-on footwear,” he says.
“I used to ask lots of people to assist me tie my shoelaces.”
Now he wakes as much as a wholesome shot of ginger, a small glass of recent orange juice, and a bowl of porridge oats. And for lunch and dinner, he nonetheless enjoys all of his favorite issues, however he’s extra thoughtful about it.
He says: “I don’t binge anymore. I’m not having tiny parts anymore, both.
“I’m nonetheless a giant, massive Indian lover. However I don’t have the poppadom, the naan breads, or the bhajis anymore.”
However Arg seems to indicate signs of PTSD from reliving his previous in his nightmares.
He says: “My lowest level was simply after I hit all-time low, and I used to be in an terrible place.
“You understand, there’s been instances, it was effectively documented, that I’d find yourself in an ambulance and be taken to hospital and issues like that. However I’m a great distance away from that now.
Requested if remembering these moments makes him afraid of a relapse, he says: “It’s actually humorous you say that as a result of individuals get complacent whenever you neglect how unhealthy issues had been.
“However I’m fairly good at remembering the unhealthy instances now, and even it’s humorous you mentioned that as a result of the opposite evening I really had my first type of, like, a little bit of a nightmare the place it was a relapse, however in a nightmare.
“And I keep in mind, you recognize when it’s so vivid and so actual. I even wakened and I used to be shaking.
“I wakened and it was like the most effective aid ever, realizing it was only a nightmare.
“I feel it’s necessary to recollect how unhealthy issues had been to cease you from pondering, ‘Oh, was it that unhealthy?’
“As a result of typically it’s important to watch out. Your mind can say to you want, ‘Oh, was it actually that unhealthy? Or, ‘it is going to be totally different this time, you possibly can management it this time’
“I’ve to be reminded, it’s necessary for me to be reminded about how unhealthy issues had been.”
He by no means had suicidal ideas, however had prayed for the nightmare to finish.
He says: “There positively had been instances after I was within the thick of it and in a horrible place the place I used to be identical to, I’m performed. Even asking God to take me.
“I by no means needed to take my very own life.
“It was troublesome although there have been instances the place I used to be so deep, I simply didn’t know if I may probably get out of it. However it’s good to know that not all people has to finish in tragedy.
“You understand, there are individuals that may actually flip it round.”
The star swapped sweets and takeaways for porridge, ginger photographs, and portion managed mealsCredit score: Louis Wooden
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes within the UK a life is misplaced to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of individuals in each nook of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and docs, actuality stars and footballers.
It’s the largest killer of individuals beneath the age of 35, extra lethal than most cancers and automobile crashes.
And males are 3 times extra more likely to take their very own life than ladies.
But it’s not often spoken of, a taboo that threatens to proceed its lethal rampage except all of us cease and take discover, now.
That’s the reason The Solar launched the You’re Not Alone marketing campaign.
The intention is that by sharing sensible recommendation, elevating consciousness and breaking down the limitations individuals face when speaking about their psychological well being, we will all do our bit to assist save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for assist once we want it, and hear out for others… You’re Not Alone.
Should you, or anybody you recognize, wants assist coping with psychological well being issues, the next organisations present help:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.web, 0800 585 858
- Heads Collectively, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Thoughts, www.thoughts.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Nervousness UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm