SHE first hit our screens on Big Brother in 2010 – and Josie Gibson’s yo-yo weight loss has been up and down ever since then.
In her new two-part C5 show, ‘The 1970s Diet: Could it Work for You?’ which airs this evening and Thursday at 7pm, the TV presenter will travel back in time and eat, drink and live like we did 50 years ago in the hope of shedding the pounds.
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Josie, pictured in 2011, has been very candid about her weight loss journeyCredit: Twitter/brandonmcg
The TV presenter has been showing off her recent weight loss on InstagramCredit: Instagram
The 40-year-old, who previously slimmed from a size 20 to a size 8, will explore whether the food habits of the seventies could help to resolve obesity in modern-day society.
She received a bespoke diet from a nutritionist, which included smaller portions and food such as boiled potatoes, liver and span, and was asked to take six short, brisk walks a week to match the exercise levels of the ’70s.
‘If I’m taking on this experiment, then I’m showing it all, that’s the experiment. If you don’t show the experiment, what’s the point?” she said, speaking to The Mirror.
‘It was nice to know that even though I was overweight, I was at a supreme fitness level. I was expecting to have a low fitness level, even though I’ve always exercised. But he was like, ‘No, you’re at a superior fitness rate.’”
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The bubbly TV favourite revealed earlier this year she lost an impressive 5st, which she achieved without the help of fat jabs or surgery.
In a post shared to Instagram, she penned: “I didn’t get a gastric bypass; I got off my big a**e, moved more, ate less and educated myself on what I was stuffing into my body.”
12 WEEK FITNESS AND FOOD PROGRAMME
So it’s little surprise she’s been sharing glam shots on social media showing off her new svelte figure – including wearing a plunging dress while on a Caribbean cruise and looking amazing in a skimpy bikini in Antigua.
Josie, who is mum to son Reggie, revealed that as a part of her dietary changes she’s been following the Do The Unthinkable Plan.
It’s a 12-week fitness and food programme by MuscleFood, which includes delivered meals, workout plans, and support to help people reach their health goals through natural means.
She has six days where she sticks to the regime and one “cheat day” per week.
“Now on that one day off, I had one cheat meal,” Josie told The Mirror.
“I didn’t go crazy and drink 10 bottles of wine and binge all day on food and chocolate and all the naughty things I haven’t been having.
“I just had my one cheat and that was it.”
Josie was a size 20 when she left the Big Brother House in 2010Credit: Rex Features
The 40-year-old looked amazing on a recent holiday in AntiguaCredit: Instagram
She’s been open about her weight loss journey over the yearsCredit: Getty
But over the years, the Bristol-born star has tried and tested a whole range of different weight loss techniques.
“I’ve been on the Cambridge Diet and I ate about a week’s worth of food on the way home from the meeting. Some people love it but I just can’t get on with it,” she said in a recent interview with Closer.
“I’ve done everything, I’ve taken diet tablets back in the day. I have done some extreme things, but I can’t mess around with my body anymore.
“I cannot mess around with my metabolism, so I am where I am.”
6 STONE DOWN
After leaving the Big Brother House as the series 11 winner, Josie was a size 20 – but not for too long.
“I first embarked on a weight loss journey in 2013 when I shed 6st over a year with a combination of healthy eating and exercise,” she told Closer in 2021.
The TV presenter dropped a whopping five dress sizes, slimming down from a size 20 to a size 8-10.
Around the same time, she went on to release two workout DVDs – ’30 Second Slim’ and ‘Josie Gibson‘s 21 Day Fat Burn’ – and in 2014, published her book ‘The Josie Gibson Diet.’
In it, the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! star detailed the secrets to her dramatic weight loss and told how she cut out processed food and sugar.
The Bristol-born star has slimmed down from a size 20 to a size 8-10Credit: Handout
Josie first embarked on a weight loss journey in 2013 when she shed 6st over 12 monthsCredit: Getty
TUMMY TUCK
Then in 2016, Josie revealed she had a tummy tuck to remove 6lbs and 13 inches of loose skin following her dramatic weight loss.
“I woke up and I looked down and could just see flatness,” she told New! magazine.
“I was like, ‘Whoa! I can see my v*gina in full vision!’”
Josie continued: “I’ve had 6lbs of skin cut away! But I’m probably several pounds heavier than I was because I’ve not done any exercise.
I’ve done everything, I’ve taken diet tablets back in the day. I have done some extreme things, but I can’t mess around with my body anymore
Josie Gibson,
“I was 10st 10lbs before the operation and now I’m 11st 5lb. And I reckon I am a big size 12.”
However, the This Morning presenter recently admitted that the journey she embarked on to lose weight wouldn’t be possible today due to her career commitments and life as a mum.
“I don’t want to be really, really slim because it just kills me to get there – it takes a lot of exercise,” she told Closer.
“I used to cycle to the gym, do two HIIT sessions back to back and then cycle home again. I was so fit, but how can you do that with a two-year-old? I’m a mum with a job so it’s not do-able any more.”
The TV presenter attended the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards in May 2025Credit: Getty
The mum-of-one showing off her svelte figureCredit: Splash
BECOMING A MUM
However, Josie’s weight gradually crept back on over the years, and she’s admitted that it got worse when she welcomed her first son, Reggie, in 2018, due to her love of carbs.
She said: “I put on about four-and-a-half stone while I was pregnant with Reggie. I craved carbs. I’d eat bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I could.”
She set about to shed the excess pounds again, but the time took a much softer approach.
How cutting out sugar can help you lose weight
It might sound obvious, but cutting out sugar can help you lose weight – and this is why
- Reduced alorie intake: Sugar is calorie-dense but not nutrient-dense, meaning it provides a lot of calories without making you feel full. By cutting out sugar, you naturally reduce your overall caloric intake, which can create a calorie deficit and lead to weight loss.
- Lower Insulin Levels: Consuming sugar, especially in large amounts, causes spikes in blood sugar levels, leading to increased insulin production. Insulin is a hormone that promotes fat storage. By reducing sugar intake, you can help stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels, making it easier for your body to burn fat.
- Decreased Cravings: Sugar can be addictive and lead to cravings for more sugary foods. By cutting it out, you may find that your cravings for unhealthy, high-calorie foods decrease, making it easier to stick to a healthier diet.
- Improved Satiety: Foods high in sugar are often low in fiber and protein, which are essential for feeling full and satisfied. By replacing sugary foods with more nutrient-dense options like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, you can increase your satiety and reduce overall calorie consumption.
- Better Nutrient Intake: When you cut out sugary foods, you often make room for more nutritious foods. This can improve your overall diet quality, providing your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to function optimally, which can support weight loss efforts.
- Reduced Fat Storage: High sugar intake, particularly from fructose, can lead to increased fat production in the liver, contributing to weight gain and obesity. Cutting out sugar helps to reduce this effect.
- Enhanced Metabolism: Reducing sugar can improve metabolic health, including better insulin sensitivity and lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which can facilitate weight loss.
By cutting out sugar and replacing it with healthier options, you can create a more balanced and sustainable diet that supports weight loss and overall well-being.
“I managed to get back on track after being warned I was at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but I fell off the wagon again,” she told Closer in 2021.
She went on to say that her mission was to “overhaul” her diet and fitness to “reach a healthy size 12.”
Josie revealed she set herself more manageable targets, which included working on her sleeping pattern, drinking plenty of water, doing 30 to 45 minutes of exercise at least three times a week and switching to a healthy diet.
That same year she posted on Instagram and wrote: “It’s been the most giving weight loss plan I’ve ever been on and there has been no pressure just lots of love from WW [Weight Watchers] coaches, consultants and the community.”
In an exclusive interview with The Sun in 2022, she revealed that she’d gone from a size 20 to size 14, but added that she preferred kinder, more manageable solutions over fad diets.
