Neil Ruddock inspired to have gastric sleeve surgery by James Argent

EXCLUSIVE ‘I cheated death’: Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock sheds seven stone after being inspired to have gastric sleeve surgery by James Argent when his weight ballooned to 27 stone

Former Premier League star Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock has shed seven stone after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery.

The ex-Liverpool and Spurs defender, 54, who has also appeared on reality TV shows I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Celebrity MasterChef, told MailOnline the op ‘saved my life’ after admitting his eating and drinking had gotten out of control.

He was inspired to have the procedure by James ‘Arg’ Argent, who lost 13 stone since having the same op in May 2021, after meeting the former TOWIE star, 35, at a celebrity football match.

Speaking exclusively, Razor says his weight ‘ballooned’ up to 27 stone during lockdown after he discovered takeaway service Uber Eats and he could order ice cream direct to his house.

Razor said: ‘I struggled during Covid, that was a big factor, just sitting on my backside at home getting bigger and bigger. I got lazier.

The ex-Liverpool and Spurs defender told MailOnline the op ‘saved my life’ after admitting his eating and drinking had gotten out of control (pictured after the surgery) 

Former Premier League star Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock has shed seven stone after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery (pictured in 2019) 

He was inspired to have the procedure by James Argent, who lost 13 stone since having the same op in May 2021, after meeting the former TOWIE star at a celebrity football match

‘I was eating loads and loads of takeaways, making bacon sandwiches just for something to do.

‘It really didn’t help when they brought out Uber Deliveries, I was getting ice cream delivered from Co-op… it’s f****** madness.

‘It was just fate that I met Arg when I did at a charity football match. I knew I had to have it done after seeing how great he looked.’

Speaking about how his life was in danger, he added: ‘I feared for my life, definitely.

‘I know a lot of people will read this and say I’ve cheated, and I tell you what I did… I cheated death.

‘The way I was going, who knows how long I could continue like that.’

The England international, regarded as one of football’s most colourful characters, underwent surgery on September 8 with the Transform Hospital Group, the specialist clinic who also operated on Arg.

Father-of-four Razor, who’s been married to former glamour model Leah, 41, for ten years, explained how doctors removed two thirds of his stomach, so he no longer can overindulge on food, as he gets full up quicker. 

Father-of-four Razor explained how doctors removed two thirds of his stomach, so he no longer can overindulge on food, as he gets full up quicker (pictured in 2013) 

Neil, regarded as one of football’s most colourful characters, underwent surgery on September 8 with the Transform Hospital Group, the specialist clinic who also operated on Arg

Neil, who’s previously appeared on I’m A Celeb and MasterChef, looked slim in a recent Instagram post, captioning the image about treating himself on Valentine’s Day (pictured in February)

James has lost 13-stone after having gastric sleeve surgery in 2021. In addition to the procedure he had a tummy tuck in January to remove excess skin around his stomach (pictured in 2019) 

He said: ‘I can still eat what I want but now I can only eat about four mouthfuls.

‘So, when I’m at my local curry house, I’ll order three dishes and have a bite of each. I get the same satisfaction because it fills me up.’

He continued: ‘It also takes some hormones away. I can drive through McDonald’s with the kids, and I don’t want anything. Whereas before even if I wasn’t hungry, I’d have had it.

‘My usual order would be a large Big Mac meal, a Filet-O-Fish, a cheeseburger and a chocolate milkshake… that was lovely.’

Razor, who was fitted with a pacemaker after being diagnosed with a heart problem while appearing on ITV1 series Harry’s Heroes in 2020, suffered pain in his knees courtesy of his weight, which has now eased.

And the ex-Millwall and Southampton star was also a heavy drinker, but courtesy of his op, he can no longer consume fizzy drinks, so his favourites tipples beer and cider are off limits although he can still enjoy a glass of wine.

‘I now understand my wife’s wine hangovers, I used to tell her to ‘man up,’ he joked. ‘But I get it now, they’re so painful.’

The popular after dinner speaker, who also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2013, intends to lose ‘a couple more stone’ by continuing his new healthy lifestyle, while also playing more golf as he no longer needs to use a buggy to get round the course.

Razor also says he’s got even more confidence to pose nude, something he did regularly while appearing as a guest on Sky Max comedy sports panel show A League Of Their Own.

He added: ‘The old wedding tackle has got a lot bigger, I can do helicopters and everything with it. I can actually see it now!’

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