She lost almost four stone after undergoing the procedure in 2010, dramatically dropping from a size 24 to 14-16.
Yet Vanessa Feltz shared her gastric band hell on Monday’s This Morning as she revealed she once woke up feeling like she was ‘drowning’, as well as being unable to swallow food.
The legendary presenter, 56, went on to admit that she’s too scared to have it removed in case she starts ‘eating everything’.
Scary: Vanessa Feltz shared her gastric band hell on Monday’s This Morning as she revealed she once woke up feeling like she was ‘drowning’, as well as being unable to swallow food
Talking to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, as well as a doctor, about her decision to have the procedure, she said: ‘It was such an effort to lose weight, then it would creep back on.
‘I got fed up with the scrutiny. I didn’t like it. I bumped into an old male friend who had always been a bit chubby and he said he’d had a gastric band, so I thought I should have one.
‘The reason I wanted to talk about it today was that I thought that would be it. I’d be a beautiful size 12 and never would I be on telly discussing my weight again.
Surgery: The legendary presenter, 56, went on to admit that she’s too scared to have it removed in case she starts ‘eating everything’ again (pictured in 2009)
Candid: She said: ‘I’ve had it for eight years but now it’s acting up something chronic. I woke up feeling like I was drowning, my ears, mouth, nose, felt full of liquid.’
‘I’ve had it for eight years but now it’s acting up something chronic. I woke up feeling like I was drowning, my ears, mouth, nose, felt full of liquid.’
Yet despite her gastric band nightmare, she’s too scared to have it taken out, she continued: ‘I don’t want it taken out, I’m scared I’ll suddenly eat a camel or a field full of potatoes with a nice sauce.
‘I like going into a shop and picking up a generous 14 or tight-fitting 16, I’m not Cheryl, but I’m a lot slimmer than I was!
‘I don’t want an operation. The doctor said it’s not extreme but it sounds like it is! You can’t imagine how boring it is to be defined by weight.
Worries: Yet despite her gastric band nightmare, she’s too scared to have it taken out, she continued: ‘I don’t want it taken out, I’m scared I’ll suddenly eat a camel.’
‘Hating yourself for having another banana, loving yourself for having a salad. I just thought: ‘That’s it now, the band will cure me.’ But you remain yourself unfortunately, so you’re still eyeing up the custard!’
Talking about her yo-yo weight and dieting before the gastric band, Vanessa said: ‘I lost my mum. I think it’s a combination of eating the children’s leftovers, feeling a bit hungry. I think I just ate as many women do and next thing I knew I was on the telly and apparently I had a problem.
‘It’s no secret. Everyone’s seen me, I was a size 22- 24 about 15/16 stone. One critic said I ate my audience. I’m human, I wasn’t enjoying it much.
Upsetting: ‘It’s no secret. Everyone’s seen me, I was a size 22- 24 about 15/16 stone. One critic said I ate my audience. I’m human, I wasn’t enjoying it much,’ she added
‘After my husband left me, I was devastated, and I couldn’t eat and I lost a hell of a lot of weight. People said I looked terrific but I felt so heartbroken, but the happier I got the more pie I wanted to eat, and schnitzel and strudel.’
Vanessa then found love with her partner of more than 12 years, singer of Phats & Small, Ben Ofoedu.
She added: ‘I was always trying to hope he saw me looking thinner than I was but he likes chubby blonde girls. I seduced him with chicken soup…’
This Morning continues on weekdays at 10:30 am on ITV.
Happiness: Vanessa then found love with her partner of more than 12 years, singer of Phats & Small, Ben Ofoedu after her husband left her and she was left unable to eat over the heartache