{"id":70796,"date":"2023-11-05T17:51:47","date_gmt":"2023-11-05T17:51:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/montelagocelticfestival.com\/?p=70796"},"modified":"2023-11-05T17:51:47","modified_gmt":"2023-11-05T17:51:47","slug":"danielle-lloyd-on-the-brutal-realities-of-sas-i-was-black-and-blue-and-had-trench-foot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montelagocelticfestival.com\/celebrity\/danielle-lloyd-on-the-brutal-realities-of-sas-i-was-black-and-blue-and-had-trench-foot\/","title":{"rendered":"Danielle Lloyd on the brutal realities of SAS – ‘I was black and blue and had trench foot’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Danielle Lloyd has well and truly claimed the title of \u2018supermum\u2019 after her incredible achievements on Celeb SAS: Who Dares Wins.<\/p>\n

Through sheer grit, resilience and determination, the mum-of-five has made it all the way to the final stage of the process. <\/p>\n

Describing the experience as the \u201cmost difficult thing I\u2019ve ever done\u201d, viewers also saw Danielle \u2013 mum to Archie, 13, Harry, 12, and George, 10, Ronnie, six, and daughter Autumn, 24 months – bravely open up about going through \u201chell and back". <\/p>\n

Now happily married to electrician Michael O\u2019Neil, Danielle says she\u2019s proud of how far she\u2019s come since – and that the show came exactly at the right time. Just eight months after filming, the star discovered she had severe endometriosis and wouldn\u2019t be able to carry another child. She now faces surgery to destroy the lining of the womb \u2013 but if anyone can get through it, it\u2019s Danielle. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Here, the former glamour model, 39, tells OK!<\/b> how being a mum helped her throughout the gruelling process, as well as sharing her exciting birthday plans ahead of turning 40\u2026<\/p>\n

Congrats, Danielle! Did you ever think you\u2019d make it to the final?!<\/b><\/p>\n

I thought I\u2019d be gone in the first day. I was so unfit. But by the end I had abs and a six pack!<\/p>\n

Was there any rivalry between you and the remaining recruits?<\/b><\/p>\n

No. Honestly, when I made the final three, my body was just dead. I had nothing left to give. I was like, \u2018Oh my God, when is this torture going to be over?!\u2019 At the end I was just so thankful it was done, and so proud of myself. I was proud of the other two as well, they were so strong. It was an amazing journey for us all.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the response been like?<\/b><\/p>\n

Amazing. Even at the kids\u2019 football games \u2013 the men have been coming up to me, cheering me on. I think I\u2019ve shocked a lot of people with how strong I am. I\u2019m known as a glamour model and Miss Great Britain, but I gave it my all. People will think, \u201cGod, I\u2019m not going to mess with her!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How much of the process is about mental strength?<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s what gets you through. I was missing my family so much but I just wanted to make them proud, and do something for myself for once. I did it for all the mums out there who feel like all they do is look after their kids, and to prove to myself that us girls can do it.<\/p>\n

You even managed to get further than Perri Shakes-Drayton, an athlete. What gave you that edge?<\/b><\/p>\n

I honestly think it\u2019s having five kids \u2013 you\u2019ve got to be mentally strong for them. There\u2019s a different challenge every day with being a mum. You go through your own struggles in life and then think, \u2018God, I\u2019m finally happy, I\u2019m married, I\u2019ve settled down\u2019. And then the kids start having problems of their own. Mentally, I knew I was in a really good place.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Did the kids watch everything \u2013 even the tough bits?<\/b><\/p>\n

My older kids watched it all. They know what\u2019s happened in the past, I\u2019ve explained it to them, so they knew what was coming. They think I\u2019m really strong. They were talking about SAS in class and one of the kids said to my son, \u201cYour mum is so fit! She\u2019s hardcore!\u201d<\/p>\n

What was your lowest point?<\/b><\/p>\n

When we got the phone call home, I was just <\/b>emotionally and physically drained. I just didn\u2019t know if I was going to be able to go on anymore. The DS thought it was going to really break me at that point but for some mad reason it made me so much stronger. As soon as I saw their faces and knew they were fine without me, I thought, \u201cThis is it.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Did it take a toll on your body?<\/b><\/p>\n

I was black and blue all over and had the biggest bruise on the back of my leg from the tasks. And I had trench foot \u2013 it was horrendous. But I was in peak condition afterwards!<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve had a tough year, health wise. Did SAS prepare you for what was to come?<\/b><\/p>\n

I literally came out it so positive\u2026 I felt amazing. I was like, nothing is going to break me, I don\u2019t want anyone negative around me. Michael was like, \u201cwho are you?!\u201d It was honestly the most amazing experience of my life. I felt like I needed it. It made me stronger and more resilient as a person.<\/p>\n

Do you have a date locked in for surgery?<\/b><\/p>\n

I\u2019m still waiting. I was hoping it would be before December, but it could be next year. I\u2019d rather not wait around because of the health problems I have with it. I saw Vicky Pattison talking about her premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms recently \u2013 that\u2019s exactly what I get too. It\u2019s just horrible, it makes you feel so depressed and c**p about yourself. Nobody talks about it, so it\u2019s nice she\u2019s spreading the word.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You were close with Montana Brown and Amber Turner on the show. Have you made friends for life?<\/b><\/p>\n

Yeah! We\u2019re going to Paris to celebrate my 40th<\/sup> in December. I can\u2019t wait!<\/p>\n

How are you feeling ahead of turning 40?<\/b><\/p>\n

Age is just a number at the end of the day. Being on proves that it doesn\u2019t matter how old you are. It\u2019s how you feel about yourself, that\u2019s the main thing, <\/p>\n<\/p>\n