James 'Arg' Argent Says He's Loving Life After 4 Stone Gastric Band Weight Loss

James 'Arg' Argent is "so much happier" after losing four stone.

The former TOWIE star, 33, has always struggled with his yo-yo weight, having tipped the scales at a staggering 27 stone as he battled food and drug addiction.

However, six weeks after his life-changing gastric band surgeries, it seems Arg is back on track to losing weight and improving his mental wellbeing.

Watch the interview here.

Speaking today on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch, Arg told host Steph McGovern: "I feel so much happier already, I feel healthier already, I'm lighter on my toes, I'm more confident. I'm really loving life at the moment.

"I'm four stone lighter now. It's a really good start. Four stone out of 11 or 12 might seem like a drop in the ocean but I'm pleased I've made progress already."

Arg decided to get fitted with a gastric sleeve six weeks ago, after doctors warned of the health risks linked to his size.

Channel 4)

"It was scary being 27 stone... It was serious, doctors were telling me how dangerous it was," he said. "I knew it was something I had to address pretty quickly.

"[Surgery] was nerve-wracking, but it's the best thing I've ever done.

"I can still eat what I want now, it's down to me what I put inside my mouth. It helps me with portion control. It helps me physically, I've still got to do a lot of work to make sure I'm all good mentally."

Being in the public eye certainly took its toll on Arg, who quit TOWIE in May 2019. The star admitted he sometimes felt so low that he would only leave his house late at night, to avoid being spotted by the press or paparazzi.

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"IIt can be a lot of pressure," he said. "There were times when I was at my biggest I did feel uncomfortable about leaving the house and sometimes I'd wait until it was dark before leaving the house because I'd be conscious about having pictures taken of me...

"Now I'm in a place where I'm on this journey, I'm losing weight gradually and accepting the way I look now."

Having now taken up swimming to aid his weight loss, Arg now has huge goals he wants to achieve as he continues to get fit - and has an unlikely inspiration to keep him persevering.

Channel 4)

"I dream of swimming the English Channel by myself or from swimming from Europe to Africa. I've found a sport I'm passionate about... I want to achieve amazing things," he said.

"Tyson Fury was morbidly obese and suffered with addiction problems and he went on to become a world champion. If I can use him to inspire me and get me across the English Channel after everything I've been through, that would be a dream come true."

We're cheering you on all the way, Arg!

Steph's Packed Lunch airs weekdays at 12.30pm on Channel 4.

Topics: TOWIE, Celebrity News, TV & Film

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley