Gogglebox star Amy Tapper has revealed plans to undergo skin surgery in order to wear a bikini for the first time since she was a child. The television personality, aged 26, has shed an impressive eight stone and dropped five dress sizes through a combination of the weight loss injection Mounjaro and regular exercise.
After reducing from a size 26 to a size 18, having been 'overweight for as long as I remember', Amy has expressed her eagerness to showcase her slimmer physique in a two-piece swimsuit once her excess skin is removed. In an interview with Closer magazine, she disclosed that she will lose another stone before consulting specialists about surgery. She anticipates needing 'two surgeries' to remove skin from her arms and stomach, noting that 'no exercise' will eliminate it.
Amy explained: 'It's massive surgery and it will be a long recovery. But I think it will be emotional and overwhelming for me. It'll be the first time I'm able to wear a bikini since I was nine years old!'
Transformation and Future Plans
Having transformed her body over the past two years, Amy now enjoys a wider choice of clothing while shopping. She admitted she used to 'hate' shopping with friends due to being restricted to the plus-size section. Beyond fashion, her primary motivation is preparing her body for a future pregnancy.
She shared: 'I'm four years away from 30 now and things only get harder as you get older. I want to be able to carry a baby one day and not worry about having a dangerous pregnancy. It will help future-proof myself. I know that as I get older, I'm going to thank myself for this.'
The TV star also acknowledged that she will likely remain on weight loss injections 'for life' due to her genetics. In recent weeks, Amy has continued to impress fans with her new look after losing the pounds.
Addressing Criticism
While Amy, who rose to fame at age 13, has faced accusations of 'cheating' from trolls due to her use of the injection, she insists she maintains a consistent workout routine. This has also helped tone some of the loose skin on her body. She told the Daily Mail: 'I've been with the same personal trainer for five years. I love going to the gym anyway, just mentally, it makes the biggest difference to my week, and hand-in-hand with Mounjaro.'
Amy has been taking a 15mg weekly dose since February, having worked up from 2.5mg. At the peak of her weight loss, she shed 5lb within just one week of starting the drug, and six months later, she had lost 4st. She has partnered with online pharmacy Chemist4U to reclaim the phrase 'eat less, move more' after research revealed that 7 in 10 people on weight loss medication feel judged. DJ Fat Tony has recorded a new house track for the campaign, fittingly called 'Already Doing It', and appears with Amy in the music video.
Amy has been sharing her weight loss progress online with fans who have called her an 'inspiration', though she has also faced trolling. The scrutiny has taken a toll on her mental health. During an appearance on Good Morning Britain in March, she emotionally said: 'I do think of myself as strong minded and whatever they say to me I can say a lot worse about myself. But of course it affects you. No one is super human and I can be strong and confident, but when I've put all this work in, I do just kind of have to laugh about it.'
'The online trolls come in and it sort of affects your peacefulness in your head. This eat less move more, it's put there as some sort of an insult,' she added. 'But if you're doing that with the weight loss medication side by side, it's the most perfect pair so I don't know why it's bothering anyone.' She urged others not to place too much power in the opinion of others, concluding: 'I think you're doomed if you do and doomed if you don't so why not just do it?'
