**She recently hit back at weight critics, and Jennifer Ellison has confessed parenthood comes before keeping fit. **
The 32-year-old has three children with husband Rob Tickle – and looking after their boys doesn’t leave much time for working out, Jennifer explained.
Speaking to OK! Magazine, the former Brookside actress said: “I haven’t looked at myself at all since becoming a mum and I know I’ve let myself go.
“Since becoming a mum I’ve put my children first; looking after myself has been at the bottom of my priority list.”
The dance teacher recently took part in ITV’s Sugar Free Farm, and was forced to seek medical attention after quitting the sweet substance for two weeks.
But her time on the show, alongside celebrities including TOWIE’s James Argent, helped Jennifer to lose over a stone – and she’s not finished yet.
Jennifer continued: “It [the weight loss] has definitely helped me feel more confident. I have more energy too. Ideally I’d like to be a size 10 again, but I’m planning to do it gradually. I’m not putting any pressure on myself.”
One of the reasons Jen is so relaxed about her figure the constant reassurance she receives from Rob.
Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine last year, she said: “I don’t care about trolls. What I look like is not a priority. My husband still looks at me the way he did when I was nine stone, after doing my fitness DVD. I’m happy and I feel loved.”