Famously curvy TOWIE star Gemma Collins debuted a huge body transformation in the new year, and revealed she’d been keeping a “secret” from her fans, reports the Mirror. Taking to her Instagram, a visibly slimmed-down Gemma said she was starting the year two dress sizes smaller, and was on her way to being free to “live her best life” without the stress of constantly trying to lose excess weight.
The reality star then stunned some of her 2.2million followers when she went on to reveal she’d signed up with a company – Yazen – that prescribes weight-loss jabs and offers round-the-clock support from a host of medical specialties alongside them. “I will finally be free,” she said. “I will finally be able to live my best life and just be free from all that upset and stress and turmoil that comes with constantly trying to lose excess weight.”
Gemma said she’d decided to start taking medication – which is listed on Yazen’s website as GLP-1 weight loss injections – after trying “every diet her whole life”, and seeing the results first-hand around her. Over the years Gemma, who turns 44 at the end of the month, has talked about having a “hypno gastric band” fitted by a hypnotist.
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She has also been open about surviving a month-long stay at a juice retreat where she consumed only liquids, and adopting a fibre-only diet which she said helped her lose 20lbs in one week. A few others questioned what happened to her recent fibre-first approach, which Gemma claimed was the answer to all her weight woes when she worked with health coach Steve Bennett, author The Fibre First Diet, last summer.
However, Gemma said on Instagram: “I’m so excited for anyone that has struggled like me for years. This has been life changing for me. I hope we can all embark on this journey together. It’s important to remember everyone’s weight loss journey is personal and unique and you can talk to your GP if you’re concerned!
Gemma opened up in her video about the emotional toll her dieting has taken in the past, and said she’d suffered years of “being bullied and tortured” for her appearance.
“I feel like a massive weight’s been lifted off my shoulders because I’ve finally found something that works for me…. The struggle is real. Only if you’re overweight do you know the struggle, you know the downfalls, you know what you go through.”