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Privacy NoticeBig Brother legend Nadia Almada has opened up about her incredible six stone weight loss journey. In an exclusive interview with OK!, the reality star revealed how gastric sleeve surgery has helped transform her life. It’s not the only cause the 47-year-old Big Brother icon has to celebrate, either: this year also marks the 20th anniversary of Nadia’s historic Big Brother win, after winning the show and the hearts of the nation in 2004. Speaking candidly about her dramatic transformation, Nadia shared that it was actually her mother who encouraged her to take the drastic step toward weight loss, saying: “My mum told me to do it! I was a size 20 at that point, with no energy, no vitality, and I was really worried about having heart problems or a stroke because of the weight I was carrying. I couldn’t even wear heels because my feet were so swollen,” she explained.
Nadia says she was worried about heart problems and strokes when she was at her heaviest
She’s now a trim size 12
(Image: INSTAGRAM)
After spending Christmas with her family in Portugal, Nadia told us that she made the decision to undergo surgery in Turkey in March this year. Since then, she has dropped from 112 kg (approximately 17.5 stone) to 75 kg (around 11.8 stone), moving from a size 20 to a trim size 12. Nadia said: “It’s a fresh start, a new beginning… I feel prettier, slender, but it’s not just about looks. I’ve been able to reverse a lot of damage I did to my body. My cholesterol and thyroid levels have gone down within just three months post-surgery.” But, the star’s weight loss journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Nadia revealed the unexpected side effects she faced after the procedure, comparing her eating habits before with her new lifestyle: “Before the surgery, I was eating massive amounts of food—I was vegan but a carbo-tarian. I could eat two large pizzas and three sides in one night, meant for a family of four!”
It’s been 20 years since Nadia was crowned winner of Big Brother
(Image: Press Association)
Post-surgery, her brain had to adjust to her new lifestyle: “I started watching mukbang videos just to trick myself into thinking I was eating what I was seeing. It was such a bizarre experience.” Nadia’s wardrobe has transformed with the weight loss, too. At size 20, she admits that kaftans had become her go-to, jokingly calling them “a tent” that she was hiding beneath. Now, she’s thrilled to be slipping back into jeans, something she avoided for years:, “Before, my fat was visceral fat, congested around my organs, which meant I had skinny legs, a massive belly, and no bum. When I wore jeans I looked like Mr. Potato Head!”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnBig BrotherChristmas
