Kelly Brook recalls being so happy and comfortable in the early days of her marriage to husband Jeremy Parisi that any weight loss intentions she had went out the window.
She’s back to feeling her best thanks to SlimFast, but the former Big Breakfast anchor insists it’s not about size but about being well on the inside.
The 43-year-old model and broadcaster has been an ambassador for the weight loss business for four years, and the current campaign has a recognisable figure beside her.
Big Narstie, a rapper, presenter, and comedian who has been on his own weight reduction journey for eight years, has released new single Oomph For Your Boomph, and the hilarious grime-inspired music video stars none other than Kelly, making for the most unexpected yet amusing dynamic combo.
Seeing Big Narstie, 37, on his drive to get in shape reminded Kelly of when she started her own.
She married actor and model Jeremy last July after meeting and falling in love in 2014.
Kelly told Metro.co.uk about the early days of their romance: ‘I was living out in the countryside, I’d gotten with this Italian gentleman, and we never missing a meal [laughs].
‘We were eating a lot, I was comfortable and wasn’t on shoots or red carpets. The weight just crept on and I didn’t recognise myself anymore so it was really important for me to get back to my best and feel good, and I wanted to feel good in my clothes.
‘I couldn’t put my jeans on and I’d say to my cleaner, “have you put my jeans in the tumble dryer because they’ve shrunk?” she’d just look at me and be like, “no you just don’t fit into them anymore because you’re fat”. I’d be like, “oh God!”’
Kelly continued: ‘I thought I’ve got to rein this in now, it’s not going well. So I just started with a SlimFast plan, lost two stone and then just wanted to keep the weight off because my biggest fear is yo-yo’ing and going up and down.
‘It just fits into my lifestyle now, is always there for me and keeps me on track and I’m able to keep the weight off.’
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She added of husband Jeremy: ‘He’s European it’s all about sitting down – eating is like a religion for Italians, it’s about time with the family, sitting down, you’re all together and that was just so alien to me. Now if we do have pasta, it’s always for lunch and not for dinner.’
With so much emphasis on women’s bodies, Kelly couldn’t have been more delighted to collaborate with Big Narstie.
‘When I was told there was a new ambassador, I just didn’t know who it could be and so I wasn’t expecting this. For me it was so exciting to be a part of a video like this. It reinforces what SlimFast wants to put out there and it’s all about giving you that Oomph For Your Boomph, giving you that energy during the day when you’re feeling sluggish,’ she said.
‘It’s a testament to Big Narstie writing that brilliant song and getting the message out there in a way that I could never even imagine.’
Big Narstie, who claimed it was ‘intergalatic’ working with the ‘ivory’ to his ‘ebony’ aka Kelly, recalled taking his health seriously after becoming’really unwell and fainting’ when filming The Great British Bake Off.
He subsequently quit drinking alcohol and began training in mixed martial arts four to five times a week.
The TV personality – real name Tyrone Mark Lindo – explained: ‘It’s a sub-conscious change; first I noticed small things like going up the stairs quicker and I weren’t out of breath. Then I started to notice small things in just my agility and moving. I’d never think now I’d learn how to backflip and do the splits at 37.
‘I’ve always been big, I’ve never been slim but my most important thing was about being healthy.’
Big Narstie highlighted the importance of instilling confidence in people from a young age as ‘a lot of it is left too late’.
He continued: ‘A lot of men have issues with their body confidence that’s why plastic surgery is so big in men and women. Everyone’s trying to find a cheat code but my thing is this; yeah, I can do something now and get a quick three-month result, but then what happens if I have a bad day and I want to binge eat. Is it a thing you can sustain?’
His new bestie Kelly agreed: ‘We’re both confident in our bodies no matter what the size. It doesn’t matter what size you are, it’s not about being a size, it’s about just being happy in your own skin, but also about being the best version of yourself. That’s why he’s such a good ambassador.’
Big Narstie has recorded his weight reduction journey on social media, and the’supportive’ response from his fans has touched his heart.
However, he’s keen to put out the right image, stating: ‘As a celebrity, it’s our responsibility to show a full picture of what’s going on instead of the clean-cut end result.
‘I would rather you see my fail sometimes, fall off the wagon and get back on then just see me be perfect because that’s not real.’
He continued: ‘If you see my bad days as well as my good days, it gives you a whole visual of what to expect. You’re only fooling yourself because I know I didn’t do all of this in three months, the way my body [now] looks has been over seven years.
‘On any part of your journey you have to hit the floor, there’s no way around it but it’s how you get past it and still enjoy it.’
Big Narstie and Kelly Brook’s Oomph For Boomph advert with Slimfast starts airing on TV on May 14.
