She’s been ploughing forward with her fitness goals, having lost an impressive 3½st, and is reportedly dating her old flame Rami Hawash.
But insiders say that Gemma Collins still has a soft spot for ex James “Arg” Argent and has found it tough to be apart from him.
The former TOWIE stars finally ended their on/off romance last yearafter they started dating in 2012.
![gemma collins james argent](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/60c0/9048/7c03/fb10/aebb/b047/gemma-collins-james-argent.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
However, with Arg, 33, feeling fitter and healthier after rehab and a life-saving gastric sleeve op, his new-found confidence has recently seen him chatting to new women and liking girls’ photos on social media.
Last month, he also talked openly about being close with his ex and childhood sweetheart Lydia Bright again, saying, “Me and Lydia are extremely close again – we have kept that low-key and behind closed doors” – which reportedly left Gemma devastated.
And sources say that Gemma, 40, is secretly heartbroken to see Arg moving on and has started dating her ex-fiancé Rami in a bid to rile Arg.
Check out: James Argent's weight loss journey from OG TOWIE star to English Channel swimmer
James Argent weight loss journey - slider
![James Argent - 2010](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/542c/0a31/4941/af6a/cc07/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-1.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2010
Arg is an OG TOWIE star and when the series first aired back in 2010 he was in a relationship with Lydia Bright.
![James Argent - 2014](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/5448/0a31/49ff/826a/cc0e/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-2.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2014
James was suspended from the reality show that threw him into the limelight following allegations that he failed a drug test.
![James Argent - 2015](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/5514/0a31/493e/6a6a/cc40/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-3.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2015
The reality star decided to switch up his lifestyle and enter rehab; he even spent Christmas Day at The Priory (the same rehab facility Katie Price spent time in during September 2018). A few months later the reality star revealed on This Morning that it was "the best decision" he has ever made.
![James argent 2016](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/5d5c/0a31/4999/e16a/cd26/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-4.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2016 (March)
In 2016 after gaining weight, Arg attended two weight loss retreats; one in Norfolk and the other in Ibiza. After his fitness overhaul the TOWIE star dropped from 19st 1lb to 16st. He also went from 48 to 40 inches around his waist.
![james argent 2016](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/5d57/0a31/4947/be6a/cd1f/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-5.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2016 (July)
Arg told The Sunthat waking up at 6am helped him feel like a "new man". He explained: "I am not going to lie - it has been incredibly tough and, yes, I have had the odd lapse."But I am thrilled to have lost three-stone and I do genuinely feel like a new man."
![james argent 2016](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/5ddd/0a31/491c/fd6a/cd3c/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-6.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2016 (October)
At the end of 2016, Arg confessed on Instagram that he was "gutted at how unfit" he was. However he ended his post on a positive and insisted: "I'll get there and maintain it this time!"
![James Argent - 2017](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/5e3f/0a31/491e/476a/cd4c/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-7.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2017
In 2017 Arg flew out to a rehab facility in Thailand. He spent 10 weeks out there and manages to lose another stone. Arg's friend Jack Tweed revealed all the fitness activities he had been doing during his time abroad."He said he's been doing loads of stuff like Muay Thai boxing, jungle trekking, abseiling down waterfalls and zip lining."He's been eating really healthy food and he's lost over a stone. Arg is in a really good place at the moment and I hope he keeps it up, for his sake and his family's sake," he told new! magazine.
![James Argent - 2018](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/5ef0/0a31/494c/d96a/cd6b/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-8.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2018
The on-off TOWIE couple (Arg and Gemma) split in July 2018 but then reunited the following month. After getting back together, Arg decided to take a break from the ITVBe show and seek treatment. A source told The Sun: "James was under a dark cloud recently and has made the brave decision to enter back into a programme to help him get back on track."He has been attending regular therapy and secondary care at an outpatient treatment facility in London."
![James Argent - 2019](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/606f/0a31/4985/316a/cd9d/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-9.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2019
Despite struggling with his weight, Arg posted a video of the GC snoring and apparently fat-shamed her. It resulted in him being dumped but the pair reunited and managed to move on from the incident.
![James Argent - 2019](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/627f/0a31/499f/296a/cdf7/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-10.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2019
In April, weight loss professional Steven Miller revealed he was concerned about James Argent's weight and even warned he could be on 'death row'.
![James Argent - 2019](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/6333/0a31/49a1/2e6a/ce0a/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-13.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2019
Following the warning the reality star revealed he was taking up boxing to kick start his weight loss. He then vowed on This Morning to take control of his weight after Dr Ranj revealed he was significantly obese, long term he needed to lose 10 stone and drop 17 inches off his waist.
![James Argent - 2019](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d5d/62eb/0a31/499c/466a/ce03/james-argent-weight-loss-journey-12.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2019
Despite being dumped by the GC earlier on in the year after fat-shaming her, he then appeared to make more mean comments about her figure on her TV show. Fans urged Gemma to split from her boyfriend following his 'disgusting' insults.
![James Argent - 2019](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d66/52a3/a950/7705/9a7b/fd76/james-argent-ten-stone-weight-gain.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2019
In August as Arg prepared to swim the English Channel for Stand Up To Cancer it came to light that in the past two years he has gained ten stone.
![James Argent - 2019](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d94/b989/c11f/b206/5831/bf1d/james-argent-topless-gym.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2019
Although they didn't swim the entire English Channel, the Stand Up To Cancer team got pretty far before the weather conditions made them cut their journey short. Following his stint, Arg revealed he was heading back to the gym before teasing bigger things are on the horizon in 2020.He wrote on Instagram: "I'm going to have the biggest comeback of 2020!!! "After a few years of absence I'm now officially a member of @davidlloydchigwellofficial My 1st swim ud83cudfca♂ufe0f since attempting the epic challenge of the #EnglishChannel Its good to be back! ud83dude4cud83cudffd❤ufe0f".
![James Argent - 2020](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ebb/d8a2/ecdb/c71a/0518/0cfb/james-argent-gemma-collins-dubai.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2020
At the beginning of 2020 it was reported that Arg flew out to Thailand and entered rehab following allegations of a 'second overdose'.
![James Argent - 2020](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5ebb/d8ac/e87a/c818/8520/ee9f/james-argent-weight-loss.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Argent - 2020
While flogging curries on Instagram, Arg showed off his impressive five-stone weight loss.
![closer magazine](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/60c0/901d/bc6b/e17e/2d2b/9867/closer-magazine-cover.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
An insider says, “Arg has been out and about, having fun, meeting new people. He also likes a lots of girls’ pics on Instagram, like [TOWIE star] Ella Rae Wise. Gemma sees all of that and it hurts.
“She’s devastated that he’s grown closer to Lydia again as she always thought of herself as The One for him. She does like Rami, but her friends think it’s to try to get at Arg and apparently she’s constantly trying to think of things that she knows will bother him.”
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With both of the former lovebirds on major weight-loss missions – Arg recovering from his gastric op to help him lose 12st and Gemma shedding nearly 4st over the past year – sources say the pair are secretively competitive about their progress.
A source says, “They are both doing things their own way to lose weight and keep it off, but that hasn’t stopped the underlying competition between them.
“Gemma’s friends are reminding her that she’s on her weight-loss journey for herself. If she starts thinking about what Arg is doing, she could make herself more miserable, so they’re reminding her she’s done a great job of taking control of her health, and that she’ll be happy without Arg.”
Get the best celeb interviews in Closer magazine each week.