Jump directly to the content

TINA Malone has urged the overweight folks of Britain to spend their cash on gastric bands rather than cigarettes and fake nails.

Speaking on today's This Morning, the ex-Shameless actress opened up about her own weight struggles, and how happy she is to now be a svelte size six after years of wearing size 28 clothes.

However, her methods for shaping up won't be to everyone's tastes - they're slightly more hardcore than regular exercise and no snacks.

 Tina Malone laughs off mean comments from online bullies
5
Tina Malone laughs off mean comments from online bullies

Tina said: "My advice is, if you can pay for acrylics and cigarettes, save up for a gastric band.

"Save your life. It has changed me as a person. I am less angry.

"[I had] fat growing out of every part of [my] body."

But the petite actress, who now weighs in at just 7st 10lbs, has plenty of reason to be angry - she's experienced more online bullying over the past few months than in her entire career.

She explained: "I've had more abuse with the last one and a half stone weight loss than I did being pregnant at 50, my nine ops or my gastric band.

 Tina plans to go to the gym to tone up
5
Tina plans to go to the gym to tone up

"It's been a shock, really."  "It affects my daughter Danielle and my husband Paul. I laugh about it, that's not bravado, that's the truth.

"I feel sorry for the Twitter trolls. They are sat in their room on their own.

 Tina before she lost 12 stone with the help of a gastric band
5
Tina before she lost 12 stone with the help of a gastric bandCredit: Kent News and Pictures

"I say to them, 'Maybe you need help, maybe you are unloved or lonely'."

The 53-year-old added that most of the nasty comments accuse her of having an eating disorder and now being TOO THIN.

She said: "They say I am anorexic and spiralling out of control. But I would never body-shame anyone."

 Tina is happier than she's ever been
5
Tina is happier than she's ever been
 Tina beamed as she arrived at the studios earlier that day
5
Tina beamed as she arrived at the studios earlier that dayCredit: WENN

But despite losing so much weight with a gastric band fitted in 2010, Tina is now heading to the gym to "tone up".

"I'm 5'1' and I'm starting exercise to tone up. It's given me the fear of God, thinking of spinning classes and personal trainers. It's been a hard slog," she said.

"I still eat chocolate. I have about four squares a day."

Tina, who has lost a staggering TWELVE stone over the past six years, arrived at the studios wearing a coat with a furry collar - and a huge smile.
She later told Holly Willoughby: "I'm a size six, I'm really happy."
The bubbly Scouser also spoke about her last time on the programme where she was accused of 'fat shaming' a child.

Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220


Topics