Former X Factor star Monica Michael has unveiled her incredible new look after losing five stone in 18 months. The singer appeared on This Morning on Thursday to talk about her dramatic transformation, and explain her decision to get a gastric band.
"I was always battling with my weight," Monica told hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford. "It's always been a problem of mine. Ever since I was in primary school, I was the chubby one. And then I went to secondary school, and I put on more weight. It was always a demon of mine that I had to battle."
Monica Michael showed off the result of her five stone weight loss outside the This Morning studios
Her decision to make a change came about in 2015 while she was on tour with Blue. "I had just done an 18-date tour, and I could really feel how unfit I was on the stage, how unhealthy I was," Monica admitted. "I felt groggy. I couldn't move the way I wanted to move.
"I remember coming off the stage, going into my dressing room and crying my eyes out… I thought, 'I've had to deal with this my whole life. I feel like now I have to nip it in the bud.'
"So I finally decided to take some drastic action and I decided to opt for a gastric band, which is what I went to have done in April 2015."
The former X Factor star pictured in 2015
Monica then gave her hosts a rundown of her daily food intake, and revealed she has cut out carbs and bread from her diet.
"In the morning, I'll have eggs and some salmon and avocado, and then for lunch I'll maybe have a mozzarella salad or a tuna salad," she said. "And in the evening, I'll have my steamed fish and my vegetables."
The star also shared her plans for the future. "I'm lucky enough to be getting shows and appearance, and I write my own songs," she said. "I've built my studio, my personal studio… Who knows that the future will bring. As long as I'm writing and I'm singing, I'm happy."