James ‘Arg’ Argent was pictured working out in the park on Friday as he continues his weight loss campaign before having a gastric sleeve fitted.
The former TOWIE star’s outing comes a day after his on/off girlfriend Gemma Collins spoke out about how the breakdown of their relationship made her feel ‘suicidal’, during an appearance on Piers Morgan: Life Stories on Thursday.
After the episode aired, James, 33, said he was ‘so proud’ of Gemma in a sweet tribute to her posted on his Instagram page.
Exercise: James ‘Arg’ Argent was pictured working out in the park on Friday as he continues his weight loss campaign before having a gastric sleeve fitted
James has been told he needs to lose weight before his gastric sleeve operation later this year, after admitting he has struggled with an eating disorder for years.
Doctors have informed James that at his current weight – 26 stone – he is deemed too risky to operate on so he has been asked to lose some weight.
The reality personality was seen exercising at a park in Essex, as he made the most of the facility while indoor gyms are closed due to the national lockdown.
Working hard: James has been told he needs to lose weight before his gastric sleeve operation later this year, after admitting he has struggled with an eating disorder for years
Candid: The former TOWIE star’s outing comes a day after his on/off girlfriend Gemma Collins spoke out about how the breakdown of their relationship made her feel ‘suicidal’, during an appearance on Piers Morgan: Life Stories on Thursday
James was wearing a black hooded jacket and grey tracksuit bottoms with trainers, while he kept warm with a jacket, wooly hat and gloves.
It was recently claimed that James and Gemma have managed to reconcile their romance following an explosive public split last year.
During the show, Gemma revealed she felt suicidal as her on-off boyfriend James’ battles with drug addiction destroyed their relationship.
Committed: Doctors have informed James that at his current weight – 26 stone – he is deemed too risky to operate on so he has been asked to lose some weight
Work out: The reality personality was seen exercising at a park in Essex, as he made the most of the facility while indoor gyms are closed due to the national lockdown
Gemma sat down for an emotional interview with Piers, which aired on ITV, and confessed that when Arg hit rock bottom over Christmas of 2019, she considered taking her own life.
In the incredibly honest chat, she also spoke about suffering with her mental health earlier in life, admitting she used to self-harm.
As host Piers looked back over her tumultuous romance with James, Gemma broke down as she said to him: ‘For anyone that ever thinks about taking drugs or trying it for one night, you can end up getting really addicted.
Aw! After the episode aired, James, 33, said he was ‘so proud’ of Gemma in a sweet tribute to her posted on his Instagram page
‘I was really happy with James. We did get on, but the drugs changed him as a person. I fought every day for three years to get him well.’
When prompted to discuss her lowest moment throughout their struggles, she admitted: ‘I have felt suicidal… I think when my relationship broke down with Arg, that affected me. I just thought, I don’t wanna be here anymore. I can’t take it.
‘Christmas was an all-time low. I saved his life three times. I had this insatiable love for him. I never wanted to give up on him.’
Keeping warm! James was wearing a black hooded jacket and grey tracksuit bottoms with trainers, while he kept warm with a jacket, wooly hat and gloves
Back on? It was recently claimed that James and Gemma have managed to reconcile their romance following an explosive public split last year
Heartbreaking: During the show, Gemma revealed she felt suicidal as her on-off boyfriend James’ battles with drug addiction destroyed their relationship
Difficult times: Gemma sat down for an emotional interview with Piers, which aired on ITV, and confessed that when Arg hit rock bottom over Christmas of 2019, she considered taking her own life
James would go on to seek treatment at the start of 2020, jetting off to Thailand to spend several weeks trying to kick his drink and drug habit once and for all.
On his return, home, further heartbreak followed, when Gemma endured a miscarriage at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown last spring – news which took a toll on both her and James.
‘Definitely, I would have had the baby with James,’ Gemma insisted as she teared up at the memory of the ordeal. ‘I know obviously he’s had his struggles, but it is hard.’
Past struggles: In the incredibly honest chat, she also spoke about suffering with her mental health earlier in life, admitting she used to self-harm
As host Piers looked back over her tumultuous romance with James, Gemma broke down as she said to him: ‘For anyone that ever thinks about taking drugs or trying it for one night, you can end up getting really addicted’
Gemma said: ‘I was really happy with James. We did get on, but the drugs changed him as a person. I fought every day for three years to get him well’
‘There’s a lot of love there. The relationship turned very, very sour with James when he started to do drugs. James wouldn’t have deserted me.
‘You don’t dislike James when you meet him. What happened was, in March when he came home, obviously miscarriage, lockdown… around that time everything had come back for me. I couldn’t just sweep it under the carpet.’
Gemma, who branded James the ‘love of [her] life’, went on: ‘I can remember I was getting flashbacks, not realising how much had this had taken its toll on me. And I spoke with my therapist and she said, “You are suffering with PTSD.”‘