Reality television personality Gemma Collins has publicly announced that she is selling a significant portion of her wardrobe on the popular resale platform Vinted. This decision comes after a notable weight loss journey, during which she shed three stone and reduced her dress size from a 26 to a 20.
Openness About Weight Loss and Health Struggles
The 44-year-old former star of The Only Way Is Essex has been remarkably transparent about her experiences with Mounjaro weight loss injections. Gemma has historically faced challenges with her weight, including a past gastric bypass surgery that she described as leaving her in severe pain and fearing for her life.
Vinted Sale and Social Media Promotion
Following her reduction in dress sizes, Gemma took to her Instagram Story on Friday to advertise her Vinted page. She shared photographs of the available items and captioned the post with, 'Have you seen my Vinted!' Her Vinted profile currently lists an extensive collection of 153 clothing pieces, ranging from vibrant tops and swimsuits to various dresses.
The items for sale are priced between £3 and £40 and cover sizes from 20 to 30, catering to a wide audience. Gemma has consistently updated her Instagram followers on her weight loss progress, revealing last year that she achieved her size reduction in just three months through the use of Mounjaro jabs.
Health Concerns and Microdosing Approach
Despite the success, Gemma has encountered health issues, including a frightening 'gallbladder attack' in August that caused her to collapse in pain. She temporarily paused the Mounjaro injections, concerned they might be linked to her agonising symptoms, but medical professionals assured her otherwise.
Now, Gemma has resumed the treatment with a cautious microdosing strategy. She explained to The Mirror, 'I've given it a rest and I've really been managing what I've been eating. But I think I'm going to start microdosing because I feel with the microdosing, you don't get all the [side] effects.' Her dosage was previously increased incrementally from 2.5mg to a maximum of 15mg per week.
Previous Weight Loss Attempts and Difficulties
Gemma's journey has been fraught with difficulties long before Mounjaro. As a teenager, she used the appetite suppressant Reductil, which has since been withdrawn from the market. She admitted to feeling 'suicidal' during dieting periods and has maintained strict eating habits, such as weighing food portions and consuming boiled eggs daily for years.
In a prior attempt to manage her weight, Gemma underwent a secret operation to have a gastric balloon fitted. However, this led to severe illness, with Gemma recalling, 'It was scary. I should never have done it... I thought I was going to die. I could not get out of bed. The pain in my stomach... because it was like a foreign body in my belly.' Even drinking water post-operation made her violently sick, prompting her to urgently request the balloon's removal from the hospital.
Through these trials, Gemma Collins continues to navigate her health and weight management publicly, now turning to Vinted to part with clothes that no longer fit her transformed physique.
