JAMES Argent has lost FIVE stone after his gastric band surgery.
The Towie star says "he feels 10 years younger" since shedding the pounds – but he’s still got three stone to go.
Arg, 33, hit 27st when he underwent lifesaving stomach surgery in April after doctors warned him: “Lose weight or die."
Now he's feeling better than ever after the op helped controlled his diet, which spiralled out of control in lockdown.
A source told The Sun: “Arg feels amazing and about ten years younger. He’s never been as fit and healthy as this and he only wants to continue going in the same direction.
“Its given him new found confidence and he is determined to stretch himself with more and more challenges.
“On the downside all this working out means he has less time to meet someone – but there will be plenty of time for that.”
“Arg is in a great place right now and it is all down to his weight loss journey.
“He looks in the mirror and, day by day, sees the old Arg returning. Losing weight has been the most liberating experience of his life. Arg is aiming to lose at least ten stone and may even carry on if he can."
Arg ballooned to 26 stone when he stopped exercising in lockdown — and replaced drink and drugs with fast food.
Arg said his shocking weight gain left best friend Mark Wright and footballer brother Josh, who run a fitness company together, in tears when they stepped in to help their childhood pal.
Speaking about his weight loss on Steph’s Packed Lunch, Arg said: “It felt horrible, I was always extremely uncomfortable, I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror.
“It felt depressing and it just wasn’t me. Now I’m starting to feel like myself again and I’m excited about what the future is going to bring.
“It was scary being 27 stone… It was serious, doctors were telling me how dangerous it was… I knew it was something I had to address pretty quickly.”
Arg added: “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.
“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 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.”
Talking about how fame played a part in his embarrassment over his figure, Arg revealed: “It can be a lot of pressure… 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…”
He added: “Now I’m in a place where I’m on this journey, I’m losing weight gradually and accepting the way I look now.”
Arg's rep told The Sun: "He's doing really well since his gastric band and he's back training in the gym now too."
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