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The only way is Less-ex!

I was too fat for TOWIE, but now I'm looking well reem!


Published by: Laura Hinton
Published on: 5 July 2012

Phew, I'd got back from the takeaway shop just in time! Kebab in hand, I settled down to watch The Only Way Is Essex.
I was addicted to TOWIE... Well, I did have a personal interest - it was filmed in Brentwood, Essex, where I lived.
Devouring my kebab in seconds, I glugged down a can of full-fat Coke. ‘Mmmm,' I mumbled. I'd have to hunt out a family-size bar of choccie later for dessert.
‘Oh. My. God. Shuuuuut up!' screeched Sam Faiers, one of the characters on the show. ‘I so need to get a vajazzle. I'm well jel!'
TOWIE had become such a success that almost overnight, Brentwood had been given a glamorous makeover. In fact, I only noticed how much when I was out with my pal Kerry, 27, a few weeks later.
‘Look at all these girls,' I groaned, as yet another perfectly- manicured, perfectly-tanned woman strolled past. ‘They're all so glam, so Essex!'
‘Reckon we could get a part on the show?!' Kerry chuckled. ‘Yeah, right,' I grumbled. When I looked at all the other Essex girls wandering past, I knew I wouldn't stand a chance.
They really were looking ‘reem' - the show's slang word for stunning - as they tottered off to the infamous Sugar Hut nightclub in a blur of fake tan, high heels, perfume and boob jobs. They were all slim and attractive - the complete opposite of me.
If I was honest, I'd have told Kerry that I'd almost cancelled our night out. At 16st 7lb, I felt like a fat frump. But as a single mum to Corey, six, and Kyron, two, I just didn't have the time to think - or care - about how I looked.
Over the last few years, the pounds had really piled on. I'd gorge on fatty fry-ups every morning then snack on crisps, cake and chocolate all day long.
Once I'd rustled up the boys some fishfingers and beans for dinner, cooking something for me was out of the question. I'd just order a greasy takeaway - usually a large kebab and chips.
‘With no man to impress, why should I worry?' I'd think. But as I sat in the bar tugging down my size 22 top, I felt so low. I'd had to buy it off eBay because nothing in the shops would fit - and it was straining at the seams!
Even my mum Wendy, 47, wore trendier clothes than me. She'd slimmed down from a size 22 to a 10 a few years before, and always looked glam.
‘I'm well jel of all these skinny minnies,' I moaned to Kerry, as I sipped on my wine. ‘I seriously need to lose weight. I feel just like Gemma Collins!' She was one of the ‘bigger' stars of TOWIE.
‘Don't be so mean,' Kerry teased. ‘Gemma's a larger woman, but she's happy in her own skin.' ‘That's the thing,' I sighed. ‘I'm not happy. If I was on the show, I'd definitely be the token fat one!' Whenever I'd catch sight of TOWIE stars like Amy Childs in Brentwood, I'd get that same pang of jealousy. I wanted to be slim and glamorous, to have that level of fame and adulation.
A few weeks later, I was out driving and got lost in Harold Wood. So I popped into a shop and asked for directions.
‘Where do you need to get to, love?' one of the blokes behind the till asked me.
‘Brentwood,' I smiled.
He looked at his workmate before stifling a giggle. ‘That's where you come from?!' he laughed. ‘You certainly don't look like you're from there!'
I rolled my eyes, not wanting him to know that I was upset. But as I walked away, I fought back the tears.
So he thought I was fat and frumpy, did he? Well, I'd show him - I'd show everyone in fact - that I belonged in my own home town!
Suddenly, my hunger for kebabs was replaced by a hunger for determination - to lose weight!
And to be honest, it was the wake-up call that I needed.
‘I'm losing weight,' I later told Kerry, as I filled her in. ‘I'm behind you all the way,' she smiled supportively.
‘It'll be like "No carbs before Marbs",' I chuckled, quoting a popular phrase from the show. Although TOWIE was my inspiration, I was shedding the pounds for myself as well. I knew I needed to get healthy for the boys - they deserved a mum who could keep up with them!
So I cut out junk food and chocolate, stuck to three meals a day, and began exercising regularly. I arranged for a fruit and vegetable box to be delivered every week too, so there was no excuse for not keeping to the healthy eating plan I'd devised.
I made sure it was still fun though, by fitting TOWIE into my new lifestyle... I didn't want to be left with any excess skin, so every night I did 15-20 minutes of toning exercises.
I'd get so swept up in the on-off relationship between Lydia and Arg, and laugh so much at Joey Essex's clothes that I'd forget I was doing sit-ups or using tins as makeshift weights.
‘You look so slim!' Kerry said proudly a few months on.
‘Oh, I've just cut out a few things,' I chuckled, flattered that she'd noticed already. But soon, it was really hard not to see the difference - the pounds were literally falling off me.
Mums at the school would do a double-take, and the compliments were coming left, right and centre. I was even getting wolf-whistles in Brentwood!
Seven months later I'd lost a whopping 6st, dropping to 9st 10lb. In fact, I'd lost a third of my body weight, slimming down from a size 22 to a 10.
‘Mummy's only turned into a skinny minnie,' I whooped to my boys. ‘I did it!'
Thanks to TOWIE, I'd been inspired to sort myself out and get healthier and happier.
Now, I go out in Essex loads of times. And as we're both looking reem, me and Mum even wear the same outfits!
I've treated myself to a new wardrobe and am planning to pop down to Minnie's - the shop owned by Billie and Sam Faiers.
Who knows, I might even make it on to to TOWIE myself one day!
Jade Smith, 27, Doddinghurst, Essex