James Argent reaches goal weight afters doctors warned he was ‘dicing with death’

James Argent has proudly reached his goal weight of 15st 7lbs since undergoing gastric sleeve surgery in April this year.

Doctors had told him he was "on death row" due to his binge eating during the pandemic after kicking his cocaine and booze addiction following rehab in Thailand at the beginning of 2020.

However, James said it wasn't until his mum said she "didn't recognise him" that he understood the full extent of his situation.

Speaking to The Sun, James explained: “Bingeing made me tired and lethargic so I’d make plans every day to meet friends, do a job or achieve something.

“But after I binged, I was so exhausted I’d end up just staying in bed and not leaving the house. Then one afternoon my mum found me in bed and started crying.

"She said, ‘I don’t recognise my son any more.’ That was a big wake-up call.

“Also, I reached the heaviest I’ve ever been in the height of the – pandemic and doctors said I was ­dicing with death because I’ve got bad asthma and was morbidly obese, which was the worst possible combination if I was to catch Covid."

Doctors cut out 70 per cent of his stomach during the operation, which has meant he has to adhere to strict rules around eating and drinking.

The former TOWIE star said he follows the 20-20-20 rule, meaning he can only eat food the size of a 20-pence piece, he then chews the food for 20 seconds and then waits another 20 before taking another bite.

He's also banned from having fizzy drinks and can't drink liquid half an hour before or after eating.

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James, whose pal Ferne McCann recently said he inspires her with his weight loss journey, proudly added: “When I was morbidly obese, I was so unhappy and ­lethargic, I couldn’t achieve anything.

“Now, sitting here today, I have got my life back and I’m ticking things off a list every day and achieving things that I’ve always wanted to do.”

The reality star previously spoke out about his diet and fitness routine on Steph's Packed Lunch as he explained: "It felt horrible, I was always extremely uncomfortable, I couldn't look at myself in the mirror.

James Argent

"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."

He added: "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."

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