Gareth Gates says women prefer him 'skinner' despite working on buff bod for years
The singer, 33, said he had more attention from the ladies in his baby-faced Pop Idol days
Gareth Gates has revealed it's taken him six years to achieve the body of his dreams - but women still preferred him when he was a 'skinny beanpole'.
The 33-year-old singer - who shot to fame on Pop Idol - believes he was considered more of a heartthrob to fans when he wasn't slaving away in the gym every day.
Gareth shot to fame as a teenager on the 2002 reality show and won the hearts of the nation with his baby-faced charm and spiky locks.
But despite undergoing a huge body transformation, Gareth says: "I definitely got more attention back then. I was a pop star with loads of hits."
“But I think I look better now," he told The Sun. "It’s taken me six years to get this body. I got into the gym when I was 30 and stopped partying.
“But in the last couple of years I’ve started to take my fitness really seriously," he shared.
Gareth said these days he would rather waking up looking and feeling good ready to hit the gym that waste the day hungover.
Shedding some insight into his strict regime, Gareth said he works out for two hours every single day.
He said he bench presses 120kg (almost 19st) and eats 4000 calories a day.
But he's not filling up on junk food, Gareth maintains a clean diet and has switched meat and dairy for protein shakes.
While Gareth insists he doesn't get as much fan mail as he used to, he said there are still many women who slide into his DMs sending him messages that are 'too rude for publication.'
But these days Gareth is happily loved-up with DJ Chloe McLennan.
The pair met just before lockdown in March and decided to move in together.
Last year, Gareth went through a heartbreaking split with long-term girlfriend Faye Brookes.
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