James Argent opened up about how undergoing gastric sleeve surgery has changed his body during an appearance on ITV ’s Lorraine.
The former TOWIE star, 34, has lost a staggering 14 stone since he underwent the surgery last year, after deciding to have the life-changing procedure when he hit 27 stone.
The reality star sat down with host Lorraine Kelly to discuss how he has turned his life around following the surgery and his regrets over not doing it sooner.
Arg noted that the gastric sleeve was not a “quick fix” for him, but came after years of weight struggles and yo-yo dieting.
He said: “It wasn’t that I suddenly put on weight and did something drastic. I struggled with my weight up and down for many many years. A lot of diets. For me, it just worked.”
Lorraine then turned the conversation to the question of loose skin, which can be a side effect of losing a lot of weight in a short amount of time.
Arg noted he has been “fortunate” given his young age not to have suffered the issue too severely.
He said: “I haven’t suffered too badly with excess skin, but I’m not going to lie, around the stomach area there is a bit of excess skin.
“Obviously I’m conscious when I wear my swimming shorts around the swimming pool – you know the old Simon Cowell style, I have my swimming shorts right up where my belly button is.
“But that’s something I’m going to have to address. I’m quite lucky really. It’s not too bad. There is excess skin, but it’s minimal.”
Arg also went into detail on the aftermath of the operation, which he described as “a bit of a shock to the system”.
He said: “You go from binge eating, overeating, to all of a sudden you’re only on liquids and minimal amounts of food.
“It’s just getting your mind right. But as the weight drops down you start feeling fitter, you start feeling healthier.”
He added: “I promise you, it is the best thing I’ve ever done and if anyone says to me ‘have you got any regrets’, the only regret is that I didn't get it sooner. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s the truth.”
Lorraine replied: “Whatever works for you. There’s lots of ways to get yourself healthy and happy and if that’s worked for you that’s fantastic.”
Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV
