James Arg Argent enjoys a bonfire night after life-saving gastric sleeve surgery

James Argent appeared in great spirits as he enjoyed Bonfire Night with friends and family in Matching, Essex on Friday after spending the summer in Spain.  

The former TOWIE star, 33, covered up his incredible 9.5 stone weight loss in a black puffer jacket and tan sweatpants, finishing off the look with a beanie and sneakers.

Arg had a gastric sleeve fitted earlier this year and has been shedding the pounds, after doctors ordered him to ‘lose weight or die’ after weighing in at 27 stone.  

Picture of content: James ‘Arg’ Argent (centre) looked happy and healthy as he enjoyed Bonfire Night in Essex on Friday -after his incredible 9.5 stone weight loss 

The reality star looked happy and healthy as he enjoyed the bonfire and fireworks display at The Chequers Matching Green with his mum Patricia Argent and pals.

He engaged in banter with his pals and at times was engrossed on his phone.

James also shared a slew of snaps from the night to his Instagram Stories including one of him showing his affection for his mother.

Casual: The former TOWIE star, 33, covered up his incredible 9.5 stone weight loss in a black puffer jacket and tan sweatpants, finishing off the look with a beanie and sneakers

Staying connected: He engaged in banter with his pals and at times was engrossed on his phone

Company: The reality star looked happy and healthy as he enjoyed the bonfire and fireworks display at The Chequers Matching Green with his mum Patricia Argent (right) and pals 

‘Love you my mum so much,’ he captioned a gorgeous photo of the pair embracing in front of a bonfire. 

Late last month, James showed off his incredible weight loss in a baggy shirt, teamed with white jeans and black loafers. 

He beamed in the social media photo while his grown out brunette hair was parted in the middle.   

Dropping the weight: James had a gastric sleeve fitted earlier this year and has been shedding the pounds ever since

Life or death: Doctors ordered him to ‘lose weight or die’ after weighing in at 27 stone 

Catching up: James appeared in great spirits as he mingled with pals after his return from Spain 

Attire: He dressed for the occasion in a black puffer jacket, tan sweatpants, a pink beanie and tan slip-on sneakers 

James has been very open about his weight loss journey and took to Instagram after his surgery earlier this year: ‘Back on solid foods. I’m Delighted with the results, 5 1/2 Stone weight loss so far! Thanks to the team @wearetransform who have been guiding me on the how to integrate solids back into my diet.

‘I’m aiming to stick to nutritionally packed foods as part of a well balanced diet to help me reach my weight loss goals.’  

In June, the reality star appeared on Steph’s Packed Lunch where he talked about his weight loss journey. 

Updating his fans on his journey: James has been very open about his weight loss journey and took to Instagram after his surgery earlier this year

He told fans: ‘Back on solid foods. I’m Delighted with the results, 5 1/2 Stone weight loss so far! Thanks to the team @wearetransform who have been guiding me on the how to integrate solids back into my diet’ 

James continued: â€˜I’m aiming to stick to nutritionally packed foods as part of a well balanced diet to help me reach my weight loss goals’ 

Journey: In June, the reality star appeared on Steph’s Packed Lunch where he talked about his weight loss journey

He explained: ‘It felt horrible, I was always extremely uncomfortable, I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror.

‘It felt depressing and it just wasn’t me. Now I’m starting to feel like myself again and I’m excited about what the future is going to bring.’   

He went on to say: ‘It was scary being 27 stone… It was serious, doctors were telling me how dangerous it was… I knew it was something I had to address pretty quickly.’

He explained: ‘It felt horrible, I was always extremely uncomfortable, I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror’ 

Looking to the future: ‘It felt depressing and it just wasn’t me. Now I’m starting to feel like myself again and I’m excited about what the future is going to bring,’ he said 

James went on to say: â€˜It was scary being 27 stone… It was serious, doctors were telling me how dangerous it was… I knew it was something I had to address pretty quickly’ 

Goals: James reached 27st during lockdown and previously said he wanted to lose a total of 10st but now wants to shed 15st, more than half his previous body weight 

‘Love you my mum so much’: James shared this snap to his Instagram Stories embracing his mother Patricia Argent while at the bonfire in Essex on Friday

He reached 27st during lockdown and previously said he wanted to lose a total of 10st but now wants to shed 15st, more than half his previous body weight.

James reportedly hoped to ‘lose at least a stone every month between now and 2022’ and has enlisted the help of close friend and fitness fanatic Mark Wright.  

Mark, 34, told MailOnline in June: ‘Arg is doing very well, exceptionally well, I’m so, so proud of him.’ 

He has been on hand to encourage his former TOWIE co-star, giving him a nudge in the right direction from time to time.  

Slimmed down: James looked as happy as ever in a photo shared last month (left) after his incredible nine-and-a-half stone weight loss (pictured right in 2019) 

Weight loss journey: James had a gastric sleeve fitted earlier this year and has been shedding the pounds ever since (pictured in April 2021) 

Mark explained: ‘With Arg it’s all about motivation, just keeping him motivated, just giving him compliments and telling him that he can do it.

‘We’ve trained together a couple of times and just changing his lifestyle really. Making sure he gets up and getting the workout done first thing because otherwise he won’t.  

‘Just going through the motions and helping him live how I live. Dieting and eating the right foods and letting him know that he doesn’t have to eat the bad foods that sometimes he chooses.

Cheering him on: Mark Wright, 34, praised his former TOWIE co-star James following his gastric sleeve surgery, telling MailOnline in June: ‘He’s doing very well, exceptionally well’

‘He’s doing really, really well and I think within a few months we’re going to see a really huge change in him. He’s going to look the best he’s ever looked.

‘He’s doing very well, exceptionally well, I’m so, so proud of him.’ 

The reality star’s next ambition is to swim the English channel and he also has hopes of running a marathon.

Reflection: James explained on Steph’s Packed Lunch in June: ‘It felt horrible, I was always extremely uncomfortable, I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror’ (pictured in 2019)

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