She’s been showing off the results of her body transformation on Instagram recently, following a diet and exercise overhaul.
And Amy Childs reveals she is now in the best shape of her life, after shedding 2st and firming up her “mum-tum”. The star admits the 15-month gap between having her two children – daughter Polly, two, with ex Bradley Wright, and one-year-old son Rich with ex Ritchie – caused her to struggle with her body confidence as her weight crept up to a size 14.
But six months after the birth of her son, Amy – who first shot to fame as the loveable beautician on TOWIE 10 years ago – embarked on a weight-loss mission, ditching her carb-heavy diet and doing daily 6am workouts at home. In six months, the star dropped two dress sizes and is back to a slim size 10.
“I’ve worked so hard and now feel the best I ever have,” says Amy, 29. “I felt like I was pregnant for two years, so it’s great to get my body back. I’ve taken inches off my waist and my mum-tum looks completely different. I’ve still got a little bit of a belly, but I think all mums should embrace that!"
“Polly was just six months old when I fell pregnant again. My body didn’t have time to get back to normal in between. I went up to a size 14 – the biggest I’ve been. After Rich was born, people were coming over with cakes and I kept putting weight on – but I’d just had a baby, so I gave myself a break.”
Amy – who swapped “vajazzling” in favour of running her successful beauty, clothing and baby furniture empire – was determined to avoid any quick-fix solutions in her weight loss journey.
She says, “I don’t understand how people can have a baby and want to hit the gym right away. I wanted to enjoy time with my kids. I gave myself six months off after Rich was born and once he was in a good routine, I decided I was ready.”
Amy started the Mum.fit fitness programme, following a daily 30-minute workout combining cardio and weights – though confesses she found the first day of training overwhelming.
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“My personal trainer came over to help me get started,” says Amy. “I got on the scales and told her I didn’t want to know what I weighed – so she didn’t tell me. Then I burst into tears and cried for about twenty minutes. I was worried I’d put on too much weight and that I just couldn’t do it.”
But after giving herself a good talking to, Amy pressed ahead with her morning workouts and began to see a difference. “Within two weeks, people started telling me how well I looked,” she says. “I could feel the difference in myself. Even though I was tired to start with, I had more energy after the workouts. I had an old photo of myself on my fridge to inspire me to keep going.”
She also overhauled her diet by following The Academy Masterplan – a healthy eating plan that she admits has revolutionised her attitude to food. “Before, I was eating one big carb-heavy meal a day, then snacking and eating pizza,” she reveals. “I wasn’t much of a cook – but now I’ve learned how to create healthy meals like chicken pie with filo pastry and veggie fajitas. I’m eating more than I did but losing weight!”
CHECK OUT TOWIE cast then and now
CLOSER: TOWIE Original cast then and now photos
1 of 27Lydia Bright
Lovely Lydia Bright had a tough job putting up with on/off boyfriend James 'Arg' Argent. After Arg's cheating ways proved too much to deal with, Lydia walked away from their relationship and the show in 2012, but returned for a few special episodes.
2 of 27Lydia Bright
Lydia had string of relationships and was most recently linked to mechanic Lee Cronin. She still runs her successful clothing business, Bella Sorella, and she took part in the Channel 4 TV show The Jump.
3 of 27James 'Arg' Argent
Arg was the loveable cheeky chap who could first be found singing around the bars of Essex. After proving to be a pretty lousy boyfriend to Lyds and being suspended from the show for partying, Arg went into rehab and came out a new man.
4 of 27James 'Arg' Argent
Arg is now in a relationship with another Essex blonde bombshell, Gemma Collins, and they have big plans to become the world's next big power couple.
5 of 27Lauren Goodger
Poor Lauren Goodger was always in distress over long-term boyfriend Mark Wright. The future never really looked promising for this couple. In fact, she famously pushed Mark into a swimming pool.
6 of 27Lauren Goodger
Lauren left the show in 2016, before appearing on Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Big Brother. She's now in a relationship with Joey Morrisson, who's currently doing a stretch in prison. Lauren occasionally makes a special appearance in the show that made her name.
7 of 27Mark Wright
Ah, Mark wright - he sure did have a way with the ladies in Essex. After finishing things with fiance Lauren Goodger, he had flings with Sam Faiers and Lucy Mecklenburgh. Mark left the show in 2016 after meeting actress Michelle Keegan.
8 of 27Mark Wright
Mark married Michelle in 2015 and now has a TV career in LA, presenting a show called Extras. The pair are VERY loved up and we reckon it's far less dramatic than his previous relationships.
9 of 27Kirk Norcross
Sugar Hut club promoter Kirk Norcross had relationships with Amy Childs and Lauren Pope. He even had 'his n hers' nose surgery with Popey before they split. Kirk also introduced viewers to his Sugar Hut owner dad, Mick, who had a one-sided love affair with Gemma Collins.
10 of 27Kirk Norcross
Kirk is now a dad to two kids and he has an ADORABLE Instagram feed of family photos. Kirk also had a stint on Celebrity Big Brother and Ex On The Beach, but it looks like he's now sticking to life as a daddy.
11 of 27Amy Childs
Queen of the vajazzle, Amy Childs was the beautiful beautician who only stayed in the show for a year. She soon starred in her own series, It's All About Amy.
12 of 27Amy Childs
Amy is now a mum to little Polly who she gave birth to in 2017. She is no longer in a relationship with Polly's dad, Bradley Wright, but she was recently snapped with a mystery man on holiday.
13 of 27Harry Derbidge
Young Harry was the cousin of Amy Childs and just as glamorous as her. Who can forget when he performed as Lady Gaga at his birthday party?
14 of 27Harry Derbidge
Harry started a relationship with co-star Bobby Norris but it ended after Harry reportedly cheated. Harry recently opened up about his battle with an eating disorder, but he looks to be doing well, and is now a pretty amazing makeup artist. Do you think he's had lip fillers? Hmmm.
15 of 27Sam Faiers
Sam Faiers first hit screens when best mate Amy Childs gave her a vajazzle. She gave in to Mark Wright's romantic pursuits for a short while, but it was her relationship with Joey Essex that won our hearts (sob).
16 of 27Sam Faiers
Sam now has a BEAUTIFUL family with her partner Paul Knightley and two kids. She went on to star in another reality show, Sam Faiers: The Mummy Diaries. Sam has also opened up about her battle with Crohn's disease and she still helps to run clothing boutique, Minnie's.
17 of 27Jess Wright
Sister of Mark Wright, she had to give him a few sisterly straight-talks. She was a model and singer, with dreams of making it big in the pop music world. Jess's big relationship was with co-star Ricky Rayment.
18 of 27Jess Wright
More recently. Jess split from Strictly's Giovanni Pernice after five months of dating. She's released a fitness DVD but that's all we've heard from her, really.
19 of 27Billie Faiers
The bond between Billie and her sister Sam was pure joy to watch. She always had her sister's back.
20 of 27Billie Faiers
Billie is now engaged to Greg Shepherd, who she has a son and a daughter with. She appeared in The Mummy Diaries with her big sis, but it's reported that she's to get her own reality show which will document her getting ready for the wedding.
21 of 27Lucy Mecklenburgh
Lucy Mecklenburgh caused a lot of trouble between Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger after she slept with Mark. But her big romance was with co-star Mario Falcone.
22 of 27Lucy Mecklenburgh
Lucy is now a fitness GURU. Honestly, nothing comes between this girl and her abs. She's now in a relationship with former Corrie actor Ryan Thomas after appearing on Celebrity Island together. She also runs a fashion boutique and an online fitness program - quite the entrepreneur.
23 of 27Lauren Pope
DJ Lauren 'Popey' Pope was already known for being a bit of a party girl on the circuit before starting TOWIE. She was in an on/off relationship with Kirk Norcross and dated Tom Pearce.
24 of 27Lauren Pope
Lauren is now the proud owner of a successful hair extensions business. She recently rejoined the show.
25 of 27Maria Fowler
Model Maria Fowler was Popey's best pal and she did NOT get on with her mate's BF Kirk Norcross. She went through some tough times in public after leaving the show just two series later.
26 of 27Maria Fowler
But now Maria looks VERY happy in her new role as a mum to Evie, who she had with boyfriend Kelvin Batey.
27 of 27Nanny Pat
Nanny Pat was the voice of reason that the TOWIE cast needed. She doted on her grandkids Mark and Jess Wright, and always dished out the best advice. She also knew how to let her hair down. Sadly, 80-year-old Pat died in 2015.
And Amy still allows herself some wine at the weekend. She says, “I’m a young mum and still like to socialise and enjoy myself!”
The businesswoman has been open about the surgery she’s had in the past, discussing her “deep regret” over having several boob jobs from the age of 18, as well as lip fillers. A few months ago, she revealed she’d been forced to undergo surgery in May, after one of her implants ruptured and left her with a lump. It was then the star decided to ditch her 32F boobs in favour of a smaller C-cup after agonising back pain, and says she is thrilled with the results.
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She says, “I had a breast reduction earlier this year and it was the best decision. I’d just had enough of having big boobs and my back really hurt. I wanted to be able to go out in a nice dress and not wear a bra. Now I can and I feel amazing.”
Reflecting on her image, the star adds, “In TOWIE, I had big red hair and huge lips – but now I’m more natural. I went overboard with my lips and I’ve stopped having filler as I realised they looked awful. I haven’t touched my lips in two years and I’m glad. I’d consider a bit of baby Botox, but that’s it.”
And Amy – who revealed in August she had sadly split up with businessman boyfriend Ritchie – admits she’s much happier as a size 10, despite being a size 6 on TOWIE. “I don’t want to lose any more weight,” she says. “I look back at how skinny I used to be, and I don’t suit it. I prefer having a bum, hips and curves. My body is different now I’ve had children, but I don’t mind. I’m happier than ever!”
Read more on this week's Closer mag, out now!