The well-known I’m A Celebrity star, Lisa Riley, has recently opened up about her inspiring journey of weight loss. After having a breast lift and drastically changing her lifestyle, she managed to drop six dress sizes along the way.
At just 49 years old, Riley has been quite honest about her transformation, revealing that she sheds an astonishing 12 stone over these past few years.
Currently, she’s embracing the wild jungle life on the latest season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, alongside fellow contestants Eddie Kadi, Shona McGarty, and Kelly Brook.
Reflecting on the surgical procedure she opted for post-weight loss, Riley said, “I’m now a size 16-18, but at my largest, I was a size 28.”
She opened up about her battle with eating habits, confessing, “For years, my guilt came from not understanding portion control… I’ve completely cut down on mindless snacking,” which became a pivotal mindset adjustment that has allowed her to maintain her weight.
Riley commented, “I don’t think I’m inherently lazy; I believe it runs in the family.”
The actress has shared that she follows a specific eating schedule — consuming carbs only before 1:30 PM, enjoying a hearty lunch, and opting for a light dinner before 7 PM.
In a candid discussion during the episode, she also opened up about her past struggles with alcohol. She reminisced about times she would consume up to three bottles of Malbec and two packs of cigarettes each night at the peak of her addiction.
The topic arouse when Jack Osbourne inquired if she completely avoids alcohol, to which Riley proudly stated she has been sober for a decade. Reflecting on her past, she d her old habits as “crazy”, mentioning, “I needed three bottles of Malbec every night. I frequented places like New York and attended AA frequently, finding everyone there incredibly interesting.”
Osbourne, being a supporter of sobriety himself for over 20 years, recognized her dedication to the process.
Riley’s descent into addiction was triggered by personal loss when her mother, Cath, passed away in 2012 at just 57 years old after battling breast cancer that metastasized to her pelvis, ovaries, and pancreas.
She elaborated on what led her to give up drinking: “I decided to stop for various personal reasons when I realized I had to take complete control over my life.”
According to Riley, taking responsibility for her drinking habits and mental health became necessary as, “Only I could take control of my sobriety.”
She admitted to putting on a brave face while battling internal struggles, stating, “I would head to work saying, ‘I’m fine, let’s play some music, all is well,’ while feeling completely shattered inside.”
“I reached a point where I couldn’t silence the noise in my head. Wine suffocated me while I was struggling, drowning everything out with two packs of Silk Cut,” she confessed.
Previously, Riley had discussed her commitment to sobriety on the Loose Women panel back in 2018, revealing she recognized troubling changes within herself due to excessive drinking.
During her heaviest drinking phase, Riley was filming for Fat Friends for as many as 12 hours daily and failed to notice just how extreme her alcohol consumption had escalated.
While talking to Nadia Sawalha, Kaye Adams, and Linda Nolan at that time, she provided insight into her various motivations for quitting alcohol for good.
If this story has resonated with you, support and advice can be found atalcoholchange.org.uk.
Want to stay updated with incredible stories? Click here to receive daily newsletters from The Standard.
