Kerry: ‘I’m on top of the world’
Tuesday 21 February 2012
She’s famously struggled with her weight for years but, last week, it looked as if Kerry Katona had finally put her body battles behind her when she showed off her slender size 8 figure.
By early January, 5ft 4 Kerry, 31, had dropped a stone on a four-week health kick with Closer, going from 10st 4lbs and a size 10-12 to 9st 4lbs and a size 8-10.
But, as speculation grows that her former band, Atomic Kitten, are planning a comeback, insiders say the mum-of-four has lost another 1st 4lbs, dropping to 8st and a size 8. Over the past few years, Kerry has fluctuated between 8st 5lbs and 12st.
A source says: “Kerry says she’s on top of the world at the moment. She’s been doing two-hour workouts with a personal trainer every day from 5am at her house in Surrey and is running at least six miles a day. She’s also cut down on booze, cigarettes and junk food. She’s been eating muesli for breakfast, chicken and salad for lunch, then steak with vegetables for dinner.
“Her skin is glowing and her face is no longer bloated. She vowed never to go back to her unhealthy ways and joked her ‘beef curry with chips days’ were over. She hasn’t felt this good about herself since before having kids.”
Last week, Closer reported how Kerry had shocked her inner circle by leaving her manager, Max Clifford, in favour of Martin O’Shea, her agent from her Atomic Kitten days.
And pals say the star – who was seen doing a one-day fitness course at a military-style boot camp two weeks ago – has slimmed down in preparation for a four-piece Atomic Kitten reunion. The line-up is set to include Liz McClarnon, Natasha Hamilton and Jenny Frost, who replaced Kerry when she left in 2001 to have her first child.
However, Jenny is said to be less than pleased at the idea of Kerry, who has struggled with drug problems and bankruptcy, joining them. The pair have been frosty since Jenny replaced Kerry, with Jenny branding Kerry “tacky” in the past.
Last week, Jenny was quoted as saying: “I did read in a paper that we’re getting back together with Kerry… but I’d rather eat my own kidney with a spoon.”
A pal says: “Kerry’s been in meetings with Martin, who’s told her she’ll be part of the four-piece band. Jenny isn’t too happy, but Martin has said he’ll stand his ground. The other girls are happy with Kerry there. He’s told Kerry she could make £5million in 12 months if it goes well. She’s thrilled and thinks it will sort her out for life.”
And Kerry, who is dating part-time artist Steve Alce, 34, has told pals she thinks the reunion could have come at a good time for her family. She is mum to Molly, 10, and Lilly-Sue, eight, from her first marriage to Brian McFadden, and Heidi, four, and Max, three, by her ex-husband Mark Croft.
A source reveals: “Kerry knows the reunion will mean time away from the kids, but she feels OK about it. Molly and Lilly-Sue are older and independent, while the younger children are happy with the nanny and Mark, who they see at weekends. She’s hoping it’s all go for the comeback and thinks it’s a short-term way to sort out her life for good.”
By Katie Banks