Tuesday, 19 June 2007

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Gareth Gates: I took too many steroids

Pop star admits he tried too hard to beef up

Gareth Gates has admitted he took too many steroids in an effort to improve his physique.

The 22-year-old, whose new single Changes is out now, says 18 months ago he was into body building in a big way.

'I'd been on the steroids,' he admits. 'I was taking Creatine, which is a legal steroid, and I went through a stage of having that with lots of protein supplements and going to the gym five days a week.

'It got to the point where I looked in the mirror and the size of my neck was just ridiculous.

'So I had to say, "Woah", and ease off the gym a bit. That was about a year and a half ago and I haven't been since, so I'm back to my usual skinny self. I've still got the stretch marks...'

The Pop Idol star reckons he's not self-obssessed though.

'I take pride in my appearance,' he tells Celebs On Sunday, 'but I'm not vain, although lots of people would disagree.

'I spend 10 minutes getting ready - and then about half an hour looking in the mirror!'