James Argent speaks on harrowing drug addiction and weight loss battle

James Argent has spoken out about his battle with drug addiction, admitting, “I battled it for years.”

Former The Only Way Is Essex star James, 35, this weekend recalled the hard memories of his troubled past, but insisted he was now clean, sober and in a much better place.

He continued to tell Nana Akua GB News: ‘I struggled with that for a number of years. But I got through it and I’m fine. I am fine. I’m clean, sober, and I’ve been for a long time.’

James also spoke candidly about his struggle with his weight, which increased during the coronavirus lockdown.

He underwent gastric sleeve surgery last year and has since lost a whopping 14 stones.

Honest: The former TOWIE star, who has lost 14 stone in recent months, recalled the hard memories of his troubled past this weekend, but insists he’s in a much better place now (pictured in 2021)

He said, “I actually didn’t really have a good routine and structure and definitely used food to balance that out when I wanted comfort. Being locked up was not easy for me.

“You know some people really started their workout and trained at home, while other people really struggled.”

Revealing how his relationship with food has evolved over the years, he continued, “I had a bad relationship with food. I wouldn’t exercise at all and binge or I’d starve myself and work out three times a day.

“I was morbidly obese or slim. I was yo-yoing constantly.

‘I now have a great relationship with food and exercise and I’ve found the balance well. I am proud of what I have achieved.’

He revealed how professional boxer Tyson Fury was his inspiration, saying, “Not all stories have to end in tragedy. Some people can turn things around.

“I was heavily inspired by Tyson Fury. He’s a friend of mine. He is one who struggled.

He managed to turn his life around and become world champion. That’s the ultimate comeback story. He is great.’

In the know: He told Nana Akua (left) on GB News: ‘I struggled with that for a number of years. But I got through it and I’m fine. I am fine’

James said he enjoyed his current job – working as a wedding singer with his group, The Arge Band.

He said, “I’ve always wanted to be a wedding singer. When people ask me what I do now, I don’t say reality TV star, I say wedding singer.’

James is now linked to girlfriend Stella Turian, with whom he took a trip to Venice, Italy last month.

And he recently stumbled across new girlfriend Stella, 18, revealing he’s been courting her with mafia movies in his home theater.

The reality star also recalled how they “serenaded each other” when they first met by chance in June at a restaurant in Greece, before embarking on a romantic relationship months later.

Speak against The sunhe confessed, “I feel very lucky, sometimes I have to pinch myself to remind myself that this is all really happening.”

As well as being genetically blessed, the beauty is fluent in four languages ​​as the TOWIE star works hard to improve his Italian.

Supportive friends: James, who works as a wedding singer with The Arge Band, credits professional boxer Tyson Fury (left) for inspiring him to lose weight

Arg also shared how he courted his new girlfriend, revealing: “I’m lucky enough to have a home cinema – there must be some perks to being in showbiz – and I’m obsessed with mob movies so I got her to go to Goodfellas to look. and some Sopranos and Casino too.’

The reality star – whose past has been widely documented – insisted he be completely upfront with Stella about the “ups and downs” he’s had.

He gushed, “We have a great bond, she’s extremely supportive, and she knows everything there is to know about me.”

Arg met Stella by chance at a fancy restaurant called Nammos while she was in Mykonos, Greece for a friend’s wedding in June.

He said they “serenaded each other” as he reminisced about how he showed her clips of herself singing Rat Pack songs, while she showed him clips of her singing Italian love songs.

The pair then exchanged numbers, and Arg explained how after performing gigs they would send each other videos of themselves singing, adding how Stella gave his microphone skills “her seal of approval.”

Romance: James is now linked to girlfriend Stella Turian, with whom he enjoyed a trip to Venice, Italy last month

Despite only meeting once in Mykonos, they spent the summer texting and FaceTiming.

Arg recalled how he finally mustered up the courage to fly to Italy in September to see her and see if there was any romance to be had.

The TOWIE star confessed that she was “incredibly nervous” for fear there wouldn’t be a romantic connection if they saw each other again.

But thankfully, the second their eyes met again, he gushed about how they felt “a great link” that continued to develop.

What it took to charm her: He recently gushed about his new girlfriend Stella, 18, and revealed he was courting her with mafia movies in his home theater