Pop mogul Simon Cowell insists he has not had band aid - to lose more than two stone.
The X Factor boss says his new trim shape is all down to a vegan diet and cutting back on sugar.
Cowell, 59, explained: “People have said, ‘Oh, he’s had a gastric band fitted’ - but I haven’t.
“If I had, I would admit to it. This diet is all about what you put into your body. It’s not the Atkins diet or anything else. It’s just common sense.”
He told Best magazine: “It’s not hard at all. I met this doctor in LA and he told me my diet was appalling and I had to cut out fatty foods and certain drinks.
“Within a few weeks, I could see the difference. Cutting out sugar made a massive difference.
“The first few weeks were difficult, but then I stopped craving sugar. I have also found a brilliant gluten-free beer, which helps. The hardest part is when I see Eric [his five-year-old son] eat a pizza in front of me.”
He added that he has also changed his hours: “I now go to bed way before midnight and get up at about 8am, and I feel so much better for it.
“I never eat late at night any more.”
It was pal Sinitta who inspired him to lose weight, explaining: “I went to give Simon a hug last year and thought, ‘You’re becoming like a big teddy bear now’. I pointed to his tummy and he took my advice. He looks a million dollars now.”
Fellow Britain's Got Talent judges, and hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have jokingly pointed out that Cowell actually looks than he did over a decade ago.
When asked what is was like seeing old clips of Simon from series one, David Walliams said: "Well Simon looks younger now, which is curious. I don't know how he managed that."
Co-host Amanda Holden also had her say on her boss being 'half the man' he was during the regular edition of the show earlier this year.
