Fern Britton has wowed us all with her amazing weight loss journey in recent years and has managed to lose an incredible 5st. The TV presenter, who has entered Celebrity Big Brother, went from a size 22 to a size 12 which has left the question on everyone's lips, how did she do it?
Losing weight usually involves eating healthily and doing regular exercise. But sometimes, people need to take more drastic steps, like having surgery, if they need to lose weight quickly and this is what Fern decided to do during her fitness makeover.
The TV star had a gastric band operation back in 2008, reports the Express. This is a type of surgery that some people choose when they need to lose a lot of weight, but it's not a decision to be taken lightly.
![Fern Britton](https://i2-prod.ok.co.uk/lifestyle/article32275977.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/2_Fern-Britton.jpg)
Speaking out about her weight loss to the Mail Online in 2011, Fern said she had the gastric band for "health reasons". She explained: "My cholesterol was high. My knee joints were starting to hurt. I wasn't able to run.
"I was approaching 50 and I thought: 'Do you know what? I'm going to be different when I'm 50'." After the operation, Fern said her health got better and she was able to live a healthier lifestyle.
She added: "For me, it's worked. I've got good cholesterol now. I'm incredibly fit." The former This Morning presenter also tries to eat healthily to stay slim.
![Fern Britton](https://i2-prod.ok.co.uk/lifestyle/article32275975.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_Fern-Britton.jpg)
![Fern Britton](https://i2-prod.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/article32274013.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/2_fern-britton-denies-big-brother-sign-up-is-to-spill-beans-on-phillip-schofield-itv.jpg)
Thanks to her ex-husband, TV chef Phil Vickery, we were given a glimpse at her diet plan. He said: "Fern has cut right back on carbohydrates and eats a really healthy diet now with loads of vegetables and fruit.
"She likes my cooking. Family meals are old-fashioned favourites, like cottage pie or chicken with lots of veg and salad." Following a low-carb diet plan can aid weight loss.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine found obese adults who restricted their carb intake to less than 30 grams a day lost around 8.8 pounds more than those who restricted their fat intake. Experts at Healthline also commented on its benefits and stated: "In general, reducing your carb intake can help you lose weight.
![Fern and Phil Vickery were together for 20 years before announcing their split in 2020](https://i2-prod.ok.co.uk/incoming/article32237924.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_TV-Quick-TV-Choice-Awards-Arrivals.jpg)
"Replacing carbs with protein or fat can help you feel more full and eat fewer overall calories, which in turn promotes weight loss."
"In addition, very-low-carb diets typically promote rapid weight loss in the first few weeks due to a quick drop in water weight. This is because every gram of carbs holds approximately three grams of water in your body."