At 27 stone doctors said I’d die

SEVEN months in the past, James “Arg” Argent feared he was consuming himself to loss of life after bingeing on quick meals, fizzy drinks and snacks left him tipping the scales at nearly 27st.

Now the former Towie star has proudly revealed he has reached his goal weight of 15st 7lb after shedding nearly 11st.

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Arg, who started piling on the kilos in lockdown after kicking his cocaine and booze habit, says medical doctors informed him he was “on loss of life row” — but it surely took his mum Patricia breaking down in tears in his bed room for him to lastly search assist.

“Bingeing made me drained and torpid so I’d make plans daily to satisfy buddies, do a job or obtain one thing,” he tells The Solar.

“However after I binged, I used to be so exhausted I’d find yourself simply staying in mattress and never leaving the home.

“Then one afternoon my mum discovered me in mattress and began crying.

“She stated, ‘I don’t recognise my son any extra.’ That was a giant wake-up name.

“Additionally, I reached the heaviest I’ve ever been within the peak of the ­pandemic and medical doctors stated I used to be ­dicing with loss of life as a result of I’ve obtained dangerous bronchial asthma and was morbidly overweight, which was the worst doable mixture if I used to be to catch Covid.

“I may have been a goner, so I simply knew I needed to do one thing.”

Arg, 33, who in April had a major stomach op to limit his food consumption, says his consuming dysfunction ­spiralled uncontrolled after beating his substance addictions, which noticed him endure two near-fatal overdoses.

‘COMFORT-EATING TO ESCAPE FEELINGS’

After a profitable spell in rehab in ­Thailand firstly of 2020, he changed the drink and medicines with junk meals.

“I used to be in a superb place,” he says. “I had a wholesome steadiness of meals and train, a superb routine and I used to be three months clear and sober.

“Then as quickly as I got here house we went into lockdown, so the entire plans I needed to keep lively with boxing and swimming and staying busy with work have been thrown up within the air.

“I used to be dwelling alone and although I wasn’t doing drink or medication, which I used to be extraordinarily happy with, I used to be ­comfort-eating out of boredom and to flee emotions, and it obtained uncontrolled.”

The fact star wolfed down fried hen, pizzas, curries, pie and mash, burgers and chips for lunch and dinner, all washed down with sugary drinks.

“I’d have a giant lunch then I’d be snacking all through the day, after which having one other massive meal,” he says.

“My favorite was pie and mash, however I’d get three pies, three parts of mash and loads of liquor sauces — chilli, vinegar and pepper. Or I’d tuck into an Indian takeaway with ­poppadoms, onion bhajis, naan bread, hen madras, pilau rice and even a few lamb chops.

“After dinner, I’d undergo an entire tub of ice cream — both Aunt Bessie’s Jam Roly Poly & Custard, Ben & Jerry’s Phish Meals or ­Haagen-Dazs Salted Caramel.”

After  ballooning to 26st 13lb, Arg took drastic motion and opted for a gastric sleeve operation — the place a piece of the abdomen is eliminated to scale back the portion dimension it could maintain.

I wasn’t doing drink or medication, which I used to be extraordinarily happy with, however I used to be ­comfort-eating out of boredom and to flee emotions.

James Argent

The £10,000 op — which Arg paid for himself — was carried out by the Remodel Hospital Group on the ­non-public Burcot Corridor Hospital close to Birmingham.

“I used to be very nervous earlier than I had the surgical procedure as a result of I knew it was an enormous, life-changing determination,” he says.

“Some weight-loss surgical procedures will be reversed, however the one which I knew I wanted is everlasting, as a result of 70 per cent of my abdomen has been lower off.

“However I used to be to this point gone, my life was on the road. I’ve all the time yo-yo dieted, and gone up and down in weight, however I’d by no means reached something near 27st earlier than and this time I wanted assist.

“My surgeon, Martin Richardson, was wonderful all through the entire course of and the aftercare.”

Due to the large discount in abdomen dimension, Arg can solely eat tiny parts of meals. Fizzy drinks are banned and he can not drink liquid half an hour earlier than or after consuming.

Arg says: “The surgical procedure had an enormous psychological impact as a result of I misplaced the cravings for quick meals, sugary treats and meals that’s excessive in carbs.

“Even when I did have a longing for it, I get numerous discomfort if I eat the improper issues. As every part takes so lengthy to go down, I now eat utilizing a technique known as ‘20, 20, 20’.

“So the meals I put into my mouth ought to be the scale of a 20-pence piece, I ought to chew it 20 occasions after which wait 20 seconds earlier than I’m going for the following mouthful.

“If I drink water simply earlier than a meal it sits above my abdomen, and if I eat too quickly it could make me sick.”

Medical doctors informed Arg that to get to his goal weight of 15st 7lb would take a yr — however he has managed to hit his objective in half that point.

In addition to consuming more healthy meals, akin to hen salad or fish with combined veg, Arg drinks solely inexperienced tea and water, and dietary supplements his weight loss program with multivitamins. He has additionally caught to a regime of a minimum of 5 one-hour health periods every week, together with boxing, swimming and weight coaching.

‘GIRLS NOW SEEM A BIT MORE KEEN’

“Bodily, I don’t have a sort,” he says. “I feel I’m interested in girls who’ve their very own objectives, who’re onerous working and who need their very own success.

Greatest pal and fellow ex-Towie star Mark Wright has helped him on his health journey, teaching him within the fitness center periods and sticking by him by his darkest occasions.

Arg says: “Mark has by no means turned his again on me — he’s all the time exhibiting me love and help, whether or not it’s powerful love or not.”

One other low level of final yr’s lockdown for Arg was his split with long-term girlfriend Gemma Collins in July amid a poisonous confrontation which noticed him model The GC a “hippo”. The pair briefly reunited in October 2020, however known as time on the connection a month later.

Now he admits he was in a darkish place on the time and that any bitterness in the direction of Gemma — who is now dating former flame Rami Hawash — could be very a lot previously.

“Something unfavourable I’ve stated about anybody I deeply remorse and I apologise for,” he says.

The surgical procedure had an enormous psychological impact as a result of I misplaced the cravings for quick meals, sugary treats and meals that’s excessive in carbs.

James Argent

“However that row was a very long time in the past and numerous the time, while you say unfavourable issues about different individuals, you’re actually saying it about your self. It’s self-hatred.”

Though the pair — whose on-off romance spanned eight years — aren’t in touch with one another, Arg says he needs her properly in her new romance.

“I’m more than happy that she began courting Rami once more as a result of I’m truly fairly keen on him — he’s a pleasant man.”

Because the kilos have dropped off along with his new weight loss program and health regime, Arg’s self-confidence has grown and he’s now able to get again on the courting scene. He says he’s on the lookout for a “robust lady” — and hopes he’ll quiet down and have youngsters.

“I haven’t truly began courting but, however I’ve seen that numerous the women who didn’t have a look at me twice prior to now appear a bit extra eager.

“I’m getting a lot of compliments, however I’m not letting them go to my head. One downside is the skinnier I get, the larger my nostril and ears look, so I can’t win!”

Arg has loads of work initiatives up his sleeve too and is presently in rehearsals for a Christmas panto, enjoying Foolish Simon in Jack And The Beanstalk in Tenby, Wales.

The Arg Band, which he fronts as a singer, can also be enjoying common gigs at weddings and company occasions, in addition to a residency at Marbella restaurant Olivia’s, owned by former Towie star Elliott Wright.

He’s quickly to look on Unfastened Ladies fronting a particular report on consuming problems and is starring in new E4 present The Actual Soiled ­Dancing. Now wholesome and glad, he says his family and friends are relieved to get the true Arg again.

“My mum’s been by a hell of quite a bit and has had remedy and counselling herself, initially, I feel, due to me and what I put her by, however now it truly helps her personally,” he says.

“However together with Adele and boxer Tyson Fury, my mum has been certainly one of my greatest inspirations in my weight-loss journey.

“She misplaced a hell of numerous weight for my sister’s wedding ceremony. I’m so happy with her.”

Now Arg has plans to swim the English Channel or the Strait of Gibraltar earlier than the tip of 2022, and would additionally wish to compete in a boxing bout. He’s studying to play bass guitar, so he can lengthen his function within the band.

“Once I was morbidly overweight, I used to be so sad and ­torpid, I couldn’t obtain something,” he says.

“Now, sitting right here in the present day, I have got my life back and I’m ticking issues off an inventory daily and reaching issues that I’ve all the time wished to do.”

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