James 'Arg' Argent has updated his fans on his health and wellbeing following "life-saving" gastric surgery.
The 33-year-old, who underwent the procedure last month, spoke on ITV's Loose Women about the process.
The TOWIE star revealed he has since lost two and a half stone following the surgery, after the ongoing coronavirus pandemic saw him rapidly gain wait.
"I'm so pleased, sitting here today, two and a half weeks after the operation, gradually weight is coming off each and every day," Arg explained. "I'm going on long walks, I'm feeling happier, I'm feeling healthier, I'm starting to feel like my old self again. I think I definitely made the right decision. This is really going to be a positive new chapter for me. I'm buzzing.
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"Since I started the pre-op diet, just before the surgery, as of today I've lost already 2.5 stone, which is a great start. I'm absolutely over the moon with that. I'm starting to recognise myself in the mirror again, the confidence is starting to come back, my looks are coming back.
"So I'm just really, really pleased. I don't feel depressed, I just feel positive. Obviously there's tough days, it's a big operation and it's a big life-change for me. But I'm just so glad I went ahead."
Arg previously spoke on Good Morning Britain about his health fears, after he reached 27 stone while in lockdown.
He found himself forced to take action when doctors told him should he catch Covid-19, it could be fatal due to his obesity.
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And while he's starting to find himself fitter and healthier following the op, he added that recovery has not been without its difficulties.
"There are some days that are tougher than others. Initially after the operation, you're coming off the anaesthetic and it's a shock to the system for a couple of days," he said.
"The only battle at the moment I suppose is more mentally. I've been on nothing but liquids for two weeks. Onto the third week now, I've slowly moved onto mushy food, like baby food, I'm kind of blending soft foods and eating. It's difficult because I don't really have any cravings at all for fast food or takeaways.
"I've only got another two weeks of mushy food, soft food and then I'll be moving on to solids."
Arg has struggled with his weight since he was a teenager, and also faced issues around drugs and alcohol after shooting to fame on The Only Way Is Essex.
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He was axed from the show in 2019, with The Sun reporting he had failed a drugs test.
Now, Arg is proud to be clean and sober over the past year.
"It's actually been a year and four months, so I'm pleased with that. It's a great milestone," he said.
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"I'm very aware that me having this gastric sleeve surgery, it's going to help me a lot physically, but it's not necessarily going to help me mentally. I've still got to really keep on top of my meetings, keep on top of therapy sessions, counselling, group stuff and I know that just because I've had this surgery I've still got a lot to do and I still need to put a lot of work and effort into my mental health for sure."
He added his family and some of his former TOWIE co-stars and keeping him on the straight and narrow.
"Lydia Bright has been amazing," he said of his ex. "We're not together obviously, but we've known each other since we were teenagers. So we're always going to be extremely close friends, I'm glad I've got her back in my life as a friend, she's a close support, her and her mum Debbie. Debbie's amazing, she means the world to me.
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"My mum's been a great support obviously, my dad, my sister, my nan, uncle.. you name it, Mark Wright, Joey Essex, you name it, I'm so lucky to have so many people who care about me...I'm truly blessed."
We're proud of you, Arg!
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, contact Obesity UK on https://www.obesityuk.org.uk/
Topics: TOWIE, Celebrity News, TV & Film, Loose Women