The ex-TOWIE star opens up about her recent health-kick, giving up fad diets for good
She’s been open about her struggle to maintain her weight in the past, admitting that years spent yo-yo dieting caused her figure to fluctuate. But since adopting a healthier approach towards diet and exercise, Frankie Essex believes she’s finally free of her weight demons. Last year, the star – who found fame on TOWIE in 2011 alongside brother Joey – gained 2st after an ongoing knee injury prevented her from exercising. But now the 32-year-old, who is 5ft 7, is back down to a slender size 8-10, weighing just over 11st, and her confidence has soared.
Frankie tells Closer, “For the first time in ages, I feel good about myself and I’m happier. At Christmas, I was heavier and used my knee as an excuse not to go to the gym. I’d tell myself it hurt too much to work out. But when the new year came and my knee felt better, I wanted to make a fresh start, so in March I signed up to run a 10k race. I was terrified, as I’d never run before, but it worked because I had something to train for. Now I run 5k three times a week!”
Alongside running, Frankie took up weight training, began walking her dogs for an hour every day, and started attending Bikram yoga classes at former TOWIE co-star Billi Mucklow’s yoga studio. She says, “I’ve lost a stone and a half, and I’ve dropped two dress sizes. I can see changes everywhere. I’ve also learned so much about diet and exercise in the last five months. Strength training is the best! My arms and my legs have toned up and I feel stronger. I’ve got a flatter tummy and a smaller waist, without doing any stomach exercises. I’ll never be a slim girl, and I don’t want to be skinny – I’ve got a bum! Accepting my curves has been good for me.”
Frankie has been open about being uncomfortable with her stomach – losing weight too quickly in the past left her with “saggy skin”. But as she confidently strikes a pose on our shoot, she admits she’s learned to live with it. She says, “I’m still not 100 per cent comfortable with my tummy, but the loose skin has become tighter and toned because I’m weight training. I’ve learnt to live with how it looks. Hopefully, if I keep up this healthy lifestyle, by next year it’ll be even tighter.”
And Frankie confesses she has another reason to smile, as she reveals there’s a new man in her life. “Yes, I’m in a relationship,” she says with a grin. Though she’s reluctant to reveal too much about him at this early stage, the pair will be going on their first holiday soon. She adds, “We’ve been seeing each other for a few months, and I’m really happy. He treats me well and is very supportive in every way – we’re good together.”
CHECK OUT these celebs who will inspire you to hit the gym
15 female celebrities who will inspire you to hit the gym - slider
1 of 15These ladies are all the gymspiration you need
2 of 15Binky Felstead
Named "gymspiration" of the year Binky Felstead is quickly becoming our favourite super-fit celeb. Not only has she recently been signed to Select Models, but the reality star is also the UK brand ambassador for sports brand Reebok.It's safe to say she's motivated after all, during her pregnancy with baby India she continued with her strict training regime with her personal trainer Tyrone.**How often does Binky Felstead work out?**Binky has revealed she likes to work out a few times a week: "I'm addicted to training, I love it so much. I probably train 3 times a week."I literally can't stop, and it makes me feel so much better and healthier and healthier," she told OK! magazine.
3 of 15Scarlett Moffatt
**How did Scarlett Moffatt lose weight?**Over the past year Scarlett Moffatt has gone through an incredible body transformation. After finding out she was putting herself in danger by being overweight, the Gogglebox star lost an impressive three stone.She told New! magazine: "I've just started exercising quite a bit actually. I'd say I do HIT [High Intensity Training] about three times a week."She has since become fit and healthy, and has gone on to release her own fitness DVD Scarlett's SuperSlim Me Plan so we can all follow in her slender footsteps.Thanks Scar!Check out Closer's guide to Scarlett Moffatt's incredible weight loss to see exactly how she did it!
4 of 15Khloe Kardashian
**How did Khloe Kardashian lose weight?**The youngest Kardashian sister has proved that hard work in the gym REALLY pays off.Khloe Kardashian has a body that's toned-yet-curvy, and regularly posts photos that make us very envious. As well as hitting the gym five times a week with her personal trainer Don, Khloe also recently revealed that she now watches what she eats and drinks five to six litres of water a day.**How much does Khloe Kardashian weigh?**We know that Khloe lost 40 pounds but we're not sure if she even knows how much she weighs. She told PeopleStyle: "I don't weigh myself, I don't believe in numbers."
5 of 15Lorraine Kelly
**How did Lorraine Kelly lose weight?**We LOVE Lorraine Kelly. Not only does her show make our mornings that little bit better, but at 57-years-old she's proof that you can be fit and fabulous at any age. Over the last few years she's dropped from a size 14 to a size 10, and confessed that keeping fit and exercising has also helped her mentally.Want to get fit the Lorraine Kelly way? Well you can thanks to her fitness DVD Lorraine Brand New You.
6 of 15Louise Thompson
**How much does Louise Thompson weigh?**Binky's Made in Chelsea cast mate Louis Thompson is always posting photos of her body that make us want to run to the gym and eat a tub of ice cream at the same time (it's all VERY confusing tbh!). She regularly trains with her boyfriend Ryan Libbey - who happens to be an athlete, personal trainer and fitness model (hot!) - and has revealed that when she's in the gym she spends most of her time using weights.We're not actually sure how much she weighs - she doesn't either - but she has revealed a few of her workout routines to OK!: "We [Ryan and herself] will do four sets of eight reps for each exercise, which include things like deadlifts and weight squats."With the heavy weights, I have recently learnt to make a note of what I'm doing so that I can improve every fortnight and try to life heavier."Thanks for the tips, Lou!
7 of 15Davina McCall
**What does Davina McCall eat?**Davina McCall - who is in her forties and looks absolutely fabulous - has been giving us major fitness inspiration for years now. She regularly works out, and recently revealed that she's also cut sugar from her diet (yes, that means no more chocolate brownies, guys!).Want a hot bod just like hers? Then you need to check out her workout DVD Davina 5 Week Fit.
8 of 15Lucy Watson
**What does Lucy Watson eat?**As you can see from her social media photos, former Made in Chelsea star Lucy Watson has an amazing body. She eats healthy (she's recently been following a vegan diet), regularly goes to the gym and constantly makes us want to work out more.Lucy - what's your secret?!
9 of 15Kate Wright
**Has Kate Wright had surgery?**Did someone say body goals? Yes, TOWIE's Kate Wright has without a doubt one of the best bodies on Instagram. She's curvy, fit, toned, and regularly shares videos of herself working out. Not only do her videos help keep us motivated, but she's also really great at detailing exactly what exercises she's doing so we can all copy.Thanks Kate!And other than her lip fillers she's not had any plastic surgery.
10 of 15Helen Mirren
**How does Helen Mirren stay in shape?**Can you believe Helen Mirren is in her seventies? No, neither can we! The actress has previously revealed that she stays fit by doing a 12 minute exercise inspired by the Royal Canadian Air Force. Yes, 12 minutes! Now that's the kind of workout we're into. She told Hello! magazine: "It is the exercise I have done off and on my whole life."It just very gently gets you fit. Two weeks of doing that and you think: 'Yeah, I could go to the gym now."If it's good enough for Helen...
11 of 15Vicky Pattison
**How did Vicky Pattison lose weight?**Over the years Vicky Pattison's weight has fluctuated, but she's now settled at a healthy and happy size. Vicky's proven that you can be any size you want if you're willing to put the work in. The former Geordie Shore star lost four stones by cutting out junk food and alcohol from her diet.Want to follow in Vicky's footsteps? Then treat yourself to her fitness DVD Vicky's 7 Day Slim DVD.
12 of 15Lucy Mecklenburgh
**How much does Lucy Mecklenburgh weigh?**Since leaving TOWIE in 2013 Lucy Mecklenburgh has created her own fitness website, and regularly posts photos that make us envious of her body. In the past she explained she works out four to five days a week, and told MailOnline: "I always mix it up otherwise I would be bored. Variety is key to keep motivation."Noted!In the past she revealed she doesn't have any scales: "I don't even know what I weigh at the moment. You can get a bit obsessed and the scales mean nothing," she told Hello! Online.
13 of 15Kelly Brook
**Has Kelly Brook had surgery?**Model and actress Kelly Brook has always had a stunning figure. The 37-year-old - who has her own fashion line for Simply Be - has revealed she mantains a healthy balanced diet and has an active lifestyle. Sounds easy enough, right?On whether Kelly has had surgery or not in the past she told Mail On Sunday's YOU magazine that's she's natural: "I'm careful with the message I give out. I am natural – I don't have hair extensions or anything like that."
14 of 15Charlotte Crosby
**How did Charlotte Crosby lose weight?**Over the years, former Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby has had an incredible body transformation, which she puts down to simply working out and eating well. The 26-year-old reality star has confessed that exercise has helped her body confidence, telling the Daily Star: "Exercise is the key. It makes you feel like you've achieved something and it's so much better than lying about all day."Want to get your abs in tip top condition? Then check out Charlotte's 3 Minute Belly Blitz.
15 of 15Billie Faiers
**Does Billie Fairs work out?**Even though the yummy-mummy Billie Faiers doesn't go to the gym, she has a body that motivates most people to do a workout. The ex-TOWIE star has revealed that her daughter Nelly keeps her active, telling MailOnline: "I'm constantly running about after Nelly so I tend to be active and on my feet all day every day."She added: "I do eat relatively healthily, my diet is quite good but that's not to say I'm strict with myself, I just eat what I want when I fancy it really."
And Frankie – who’s yo-yoed between a size 8 and a size 16 – has overhauled her eating habits too. She went on her first crash-diet aged 18, but she’s adamant she’s given up quick-fix weight loss plans for good. “I’m so against fad diets now,” she insists. “I tried most of them, like The Cambridge. I’d lose 5lbs and put 6lbs back on – that’s how it works. But you have to treat your body like a temple. One day, I want to have kids, and I want my body to function properly.”
“I used to think I couldn’t eat carbs, but now I have bread and rice every day. For breakfast, I’ll have five egg whites on toast followed by chicken with rice and broccoli for lunch or dinner. I can still eat cake too, because I’m exercising more.
“Drinking is a depressant and it makes me feel like s**t, so I’ve cut down. I’ve only drunk alcohol twice this year. Instead, I drink four litres of water every day and fill up on raspberries as they’re high in fibre.”
WATCH TOWIE's Chloe, Amber and Courtney answer our quick fire questions
But Frankie concedes her new, sensible approach is a far cry from the transformation she underwent for her weight-loss DVD in 2016, where she lost 2½st in twelve months, shrinking from a size 14-16 to a size 8. She reveals, “I was under contract for my DVD so I just had to lose the weight and reach my target. It was all about HIIT training and burpees, and it was so intense. I wasn’t eating much. Now I fully appreciate that if you want to lose weight, you have to do it slowly and not stress out.”
And Frankie admits her rapid weight loss led her to start experimenting with facial fillers. She says, “My face started to age because I lost the weight quickly and I noticed that I looked older in pictures. I looked in the mirror and thought, ‘God, I need filler.’” So now I have it in my lips and cheeks, and I love Botox. I had some in my jaw to relieve tension headaches and it’s made my face look slimmer, which is great.”
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But while she’s never been more body confident, Frankie admits she’s not completely happy with her body. The star had breast surgery aged 24 and went from a 32B to a GG-cup before having them reduced to a size 32D in 2012. But complications with her reduction made her loathe her breasts and she feels she needs further surgery.
She explains, “I wasn’t happy with my body when I had my boobs reduced; I just wanted to make a change. But I wasn’t in a good head space and my body rejected them. I had an abscess on my left breast, and for three months I was in so much pain. It left me with bad scarring and I hated my body.” She adds, “I will definitely, 100 per cent have another boob job. I’ll stay the same size but I’ll have an uplift.”