It's no secret that Hollywood pressures its stars to slim down and tone up. But even celebrities gain big from time to time: They're human too, after all! It's time to take a look at the biggest weight-loss transformations in the biz. How did they pull it off, and what are the best-kept secrets?
Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley stole America's heart in the Look Who's Talking comedies. And who can forget her role on Cheers? With a place firmly in Hollywood history, her place in the industry was secure. Or was it? When she began to put on weight, her opportunities scattered for years to come!
To fight back, Kirstie joined Jenny Craig: In three years, she lost 75 pounds and became the spokeswoman. Evidently, some meal programs do work out!
Extreme evolution, next: The famous faces that shed the most, pound for pound!
Jonah Hill
Jonah Hill rose to fame as a tubby, funny character in Superbad. At the time, his physique seemed to be part of his comedy, and it worked. But the truth is, Jonah had wanted to lose weight for years. He just didn't know how! Who helped him find the right technique?
It was his 21 Jump Street costar, according to Jonah: "I wanted to get in better shape, so I called Channing Tatum and said, 'Hey, if I ate less and go to a trainer, will I get in better shape? [He said] 'Yes, you dumb mother****er, of course you will.' It's the simplest thing in the entire world." A nutritionist and gym membership did the trick in the end, big time!
Jessica Simpson
The sizzling, sultry Jessica Simpson once strutted on screen as Daisy in The Dukes Of Hazzard reboot. A blond bombshell with a killer physique, she was a fan favorite in the '00s. But since then, Jess got married and had three babies! Like many women, that came with a bit of extra weight — and it stuck around, for years!
While she tried different ideas to lose weight in between pregnancies, her third post-baby effort was the most successful. Celebrity trainer Harley Paternak made her 6,000 steps every day. Then, it increased to 14,000! These boots are made for walking, indeed.
Adele
With the voice of an angel, Adele easily topped charts. But fans noticed she succeeded as a plus-sized singer, and that became a big part of her charm! In an industry that judged looks so harshly, it was clear her talent stood all on its own. Recently, though, the world noticed a big change: She's now half the size!
How did it happen? According to Adele, the key was cutting sugar — but not carbs — while exercising. Clearly, it had an effect! But since premiering on Instagram, there has been a backlash. Some fans felt she had abandoned them by losing so much weight — one less gal in the club, in a way. Surprising, but true!
Seth Rogen
A long time tubby man, Seth Rogen made a big move when he was cast as a superhero in The Green Hornet. The actor decided to get ripped, for the first time in his life. Even though the movie probably won't last as a fan favorite, his new physique has endured!
According to Seth, it was tough but fair: “It’s not a mystery that if you eat healthy food and exercise you will lose weight. It will work for anyone. People know how to lose weight, they just don’t and I embrace that mentality for the most part because I’m lazy." Silly, self-deprecating Seth.
Christian Bale
Christian Bale has been an iconic fixture on the Hollywood scene for decades. And for good reason! He's always adapting, never afraid to try new things. And he's willing to use his body as art, sometimes in extreme ways. Whether he gains or loses weight, it's always memorable.
For The Machinist, he went slim. Very, very slim! The actor dropped a radical 63 pounds to play character Trevor Reznik, an insomniac. To accomplish this unhealthy feat, he consumed just one apple per day and a cup of coffee. His goal was 100 pounds, though. The studio stopped this madness before it got even more out of control!
Raven-Symone
Growing up in front of the cameras is never easy, but young girls especially get comments about their weight. Raven-Symone experienced that, and she suffered behind the scenes of That’s So Raven. Allegedly, people in the industry would ask her if she was pregnant!
As an adult, she decided to get a trainer. The result was shocking: A 70 pound loss! According to Raven, weight is complex: “It’s more than what’s just the food — it’s what’s in the food...Your cortisol level and your serotonin level have a really strong influence on your body type.” Not often talked about, is it?
Charlize Theron
Few know that Charlize Theron was a professional ballerina in her home country of South Africa before Hoyllywood. She also did modeling, back in the day. Keeping weight low is a requirement in all three professions, it seems. But Charlize decided she wanted a new image in the business in recent years. She's taken some real risks, physically!
For Monster, she gained 30 pounds to play a serial killer. The Oscars loved it! She won Best Actress in 2004. Losing the weight afterwards, Char returned to glam roles. But soon, she wanted to push her limits again. For the movie Tully, she gained even more: 50 pounds. Next nomination: Yo yo dieting hall of fame?
Chris Pratt
The funny, loveable Chris Pratt was never a ripped guy. At times, he was even pretty flubby! Luckily, in Hollywood, there is a demand for average joe roles. TV show Parks and Recreation, for example! Chris gained a huge fan base from just being himself. But years of the same image, he decided on a challenge.
Six months of no beer and a personal trainer later, Chris posted a shirtless selfie online. He was open about the secret to his results: “Three or four hours a day of just consistent, ass-kicking hard work.” The actor did swimming, boxing, running, and more. No surprise, really!
50 Cent
Since the very beginning, rapper 50 Cent had a reputation for a killer physique. In video after video, and live on stage, fans were impressed by his abs and the low body fat percentage that made them pop. But in recent times, he hasn't been 'In Da Club'. He has been trying out acting!
Although he is back to normal these days, some recall scary old selfies. For the 2011 film All Things Fall Apart, 50 Cent lost 50 pounds! The rapper played a character with cancer, and he wanted it to look realistic. How did he do it? Drinking only liquids and running for 3 hours a day on the treadmill, he claims. Audiences were shocked by the transformation!
Jared Leto
Jared Leto is actually very well known for transforming his body for art. He has gained massively in the past, both muscle and fat, for roles. But it was his attempt to portray an HIV-positive trans character in Dallas Buyers Club that stunned people the most. He lost 40 pounds after starving for a month!
Posting pics online to reveal his frame, he explained he had stopped eating. He seemed to have a good attitude about it: ''Historically, people have done it for pursuit of self, to achieve a meditative state, so I’m hoping for that. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.'' Doctors disagree, of course. Medically, it was crazy!
Missy Elliott
Rap queen Missy Elliot was always the first to talk about her cute face, chubby waist, thick legs, in shape. But recently, she decided to go on a healthy journey. She lost 30 pounds, and stuck to a few key rules. What were they?
Missy explained to fans: "Proudly to say it’s been 4 months I have only drunk water no other juices or soda and I cut out bread and Lord knows that’s been the hardest for me...See I’ve never been a water drinker but this has helped my skin [raised hands] it really restore glow back and I don’t feel sluggish." And junk food? She says she limits herself to two cupcakes a month!
Zach Galifianakis
According to funnyman Zach Galifianakis: ''Fat jokes to me are always, always hilarious, as long as they're done towards yourself.'' But did he want to make those jokes forever? Evidently not, by his recent weight drop! Zach has lost 50 pounds. What was his technique?
Zany Zach says his physical transformation was due to simple changes. First, The Hangover star cut out alcohol entirely. Then, he cut out junk food to boost his energy levels. Finally, he started walking all the time and tried squats, lunges, and other moves that could be done on the road. Voila, Zach 2.0!
Drew Carey
The 90s loved Drew Carey on his own sitcom, and the 00s got to know him on The Price is Right. All the while, he was always the same size. But recently, Drew decided to make a big change. He lost 80 pounds on a diet, going from a pant size 44 to a 34. What was his strategy?
When Drew learned that his extra weight was putting him at risk for Type 2 diabetes, he jumped into action. He cut carbs and tried running and walking six days a week. Old fashioned, perhaps. But the results are undeniable!
Boy George
Boy George was the fab face of Culture Club, back in the 80s. But during all that fame and fun, he found himself using too many substances. When he got sober, food became a fixation. Georgie wanted to lose weight when he turned 50, recently. What did this Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon do?
The singer revealed his method: “I cook everything myself and I don’t buy anything that’s in a packet. Eating out becomes a bit difficult. But you just have to ask if they use sugar in a dish – and you’d be surprised how much gets put in." Plus, he makes sure to drink lots of fizzy water. Looking good, Boy!
Gabourey Sidibe
Gabourey Sidibe stunned audiences in Precious as a 16-year-old pregnant teen. For this first job in the industry, she was nominated for an Oscar! Her heavy body was part of the character at the time. But in real life, the actress wanted to make a change after being diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes. After getting stomach surgery, she lost 50 pounds!
According to Gab, it was still tough: “The surgery wasn’t the easy way out. I wasn’t cheating by getting it done. I wouldn’t have been able to lose as much as I’ve lost without it." Now, she works out several times a week with a trainer, and swims in between!
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey always received praise for her incredible vocal range and her incredible body. But after having twins with husband Nick Cannon, she had some baby weight to lose. Like many women, she tried out Jenny Craig! Mariah lost 25 pounds. But then, the rumors started.
Reportedly, the singer actually got gastric sleeve surgery to shrink her stomach. Many were shocked, because she was not heavy enough to qualify. There was no shortage of body shamers online, but now there is a new class of critics. Mariah hasn't confirmed this as the truth, but the gossip goes on!
Khloe Kardashian
In a family so focused on image, it was hard for Khloe Kardashian to shine. She struggled with comments that she was the least beautiful in the family, and admitted feeling awkward she was taller than all of them. How did she deal with the cruelty? Getting revenge, of course!
Her reality show focused on weight loss was literally named Revenge Body. Khloe Kardashian lost 40 pounds with a trainer in the process and inspired fans. She reflected that she never thought of herself as a fitness role model: ''I would’ve laughed in your face. Me? The chubby one? No way!" Now, it's hard to deny!
Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams is the host of none other than The Wendy Williams Show. Surprise! With her segments on hot topics, fashion, and beauty, idealized bodies are always on the screen. But in real life, that's hard to maintain. How did the host recently get over her own struggle with weight?
Everyone finds their own methodology. According to Wendy, she had a mantra: “Just push back, fatso. Just stop eating so much.” While that might sound harsh, it paid off for this host. She lost 50 pounds after a few months!
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks made a career out of having the perfect Victoria's Secret body. But she's still a woman who self describes as an ice cream addict. The lingerie model literally hired as an angel still lives in the real world! Tyra gained after she had a baby, recently.
But her weight has fluctuated throughout her career, anyway. According to the model: “My nutritionist says, 'If you bite it, write it.' Writing down everything that you put in your mouth really helps. I don’t count a damn calorie. But when I’m really trying to eat healthy, I write everything down. It really holds me accountable and puts me on a healthier path.” The result? Tyra lost 30 pounds!
Carrie Fisher
The iconic Carrie Fisher played Princess Leia in the old Star Wars trilogy. But after those hits, her Hollywood career mostly ended. In her personal life, Carrie struggled with mental health and comfort eating. But George Lucas missed her. He convinced Carrie to come back for the reboots!
She lost 35 pounds, in preparation. But she really doesn't like this aspect of the industry: “They don’t want to hire all of me – only about three-quarters...Nothing changes, it’s an appearance-driven thing. I’m in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance. That is so messed up.” Decades later, that still seems to be the name of the game!
John Goodman
Actor John Goodman has undergone a noticeable transformation. Fans may remember Roseanne’s sitcom husband as a large man, but it's time for an update on his major lifestyle change. After a dedicated regimen of working out and skipping junk food, the actor lost 100 pounds!
According to John, portion control and consistency is key. Working out with a trainer most days a week has helped, too. But he explained: "It's an ongoing process for the rest of my life...whatever is healthy and right.'' Slow and steady wins the race, as they say!
Mo’Nique
A legend in stand up comedy, and an Oscar-winning actress? Mo’Nique has no shortage of loyal fans, whether she's trying to make them laugh, think, or cry. A theme throughout her work over the decades has been her larger size. But recently, Mo lost 80 pounds and tried many workouts to keep things fresh.
Mo’Nique posted about weight lifting, jumping rope, yoga, basketball and more. And she shared: ''You don't have to let them staple you up. You don't have to let them give you a pill. You don't have to let them put a band around your organs. If you just put the work in, baby, I promise you, it comes off.''
Rosie O’Donnell
Rosie O’Donnell has been in the public eye for decades, and observers always seemed to comment about her weight. Fair or not, it was a topic conversation in tabloids. But no more: In 2013, the comedienne went under the knife. She got gastric bypass surgery, and lost 70 pounds!
But Rosie gave fans a reality check: "It's not like all of a sudden you change and, boom, you lose the weight, everything's fine, you got on a size 10, life is great...all of the stuff that you carry with you as a heavy person in the world will still be there when you're a thin person in the world." Something to think about, no doubt!
Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah has an impressive resume. She's been pretty busy rapping, singing, modeling, and acting over the years. Her fame never had anything to do with her body, either. Fans just worshipped her considerable talent! Still, they noticed this star lost 20 pounds recently. How, exactly?
Queen Latifah explained: “I don’t really diet. I kind of keep everything in moderation, exercise, and eat right...I eat a lot of vegetables and lean meats, and I drink a whole lot of water. I wish I had known more about nutrition and exercise and how really good it could affect you at a younger age. Then I would have kicked it up a lot sooner.” Information is key, for sure!
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is one of the biggest names associated with weight struggles. She always incorporated her own story in her work, and the women of America found it endlessly relatable. In the 90s, she tried a crazy liquid diet and became very thin for a short amount of time. But that wasn't sustainable, at all!
These days, Oprah's attitude is totally different. She strives for balance and health. And she's open about the process: “Here’s the thing about exercise, I still hate it so much...I think everyone’s waiting to love it. You’re not going to love it but you do the thing you need to do to make yourself feel whole and well.” Honest and real, as always!
Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes is the woman behind the success of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How To Get Away With Murder. Perhaps the focus on work was priority number one, for a time. But now that Shonda is a verifiable power player, she has space for other goals. Recently, she lost 150 pounds!
She's been honest about her struggle, though. According to Shonda: "Losing weight is not a topic I like discussing. Why? Because there is nothing fun or interesting or great about it. I hated losing weight. I hated every single second of it. And I hate every single second of maintaining my weight, too." Fair enough, say fans. Hard to deny the results, though!
Jerry Ferrara
Turtle from Entourage made some big moves after the end of the HBO show — not in acting, so much as in eating and exercising. After a scary visit to a doctor, Jerry Ferrara lost 60 pounds over 10 months. Maximizing his health became goal number one, the camera doesn't lie!
According to Jerry: ''I passed the exam, but I weighed about 200 pounds and I’m 5’7”. It’s hard to carry 200 pounds on that frame...I devoted myself to working out, quit smoking, committed to an annual physical.'' Slow and steady, it looks like Turtle really won the race here!
Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy has made millions laugh out loud in Bridesmaids and on Mike & Molly. But privately, she wasn't laughing about her body. Although she was always comfortable with it, she knew it was important to protect her health as she got older. After losing 75 pounds, Mel has some tips!
The actress credits going to bed early and getting enough sleep, surprisingly. According to Melissa: ''No trick, nothing to tell, just super boring life. You bring it real down, you don’t do anything fun and you go to bed at 7:30 — that's the trick.'' She also says that regular excise was a big factor. Now, she's a size 14!
Mama June
Yes, it's the reality star who once explained that “all that vajiggle jaggle is not beautimous” to tell women to cover up. Mama June looks different after a break from Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. It's not an optical illusion! What happened here, behind the scenes and off the screen?
Here come skinny boo boo: After weight loss surgery, this infamous TV mom lost 150 pounds. She has a nutritionist to keep her on track, forbidding her from eating a diet of soda and chips again. And she is working with a personal trainer, too!
Action Bronson
Beloved equally for his culinary exposes and rap hits, Action Bronson always did his thing with his trademark humor. His newest project is a bit different, in that regard. Documenting a weight loss journey online, fans for serious with him as he pursued a major goal. In the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, he decided to focus on his health.
Why did he do it? According to the rapper: “I’ve been a big boy my whole life and it got out of control...I got myself together and here we are in December and I’m 249 pounds this morning — shredded.” At his heaviest, he weighed in at around 400 pounds. So far he has lost 127 of those!
Busta Rhymes
It's been a while since most people have seen rapper Busta Rhymes. But truthfully, behind the scenes, he had been packing on the pounds. Those who saw him found him nearly unrecognizable from his chart-topping days. It was time to make a change! In 2020, he revealed a brand new Busta, almost 100 pounds down.
During corona restrictions, Busta found a way to work off the weight. The rapper offered a little thinspiration: “Don’t ever give up on yourself!! Life begins right now...I would never put out an album and not be in the best shape of my life. I respect myself too much and I respect y’all too much.” Pass The Courvoisier, maybe no more!
Jenna Jameson
Jenna Jameson has gotten married and become a mom, in recent years. Often, that comes with a few extra pounds. Jenna knew she wanted to get back into the old shape she was famous for, but that required major changes in her diet. She tried out a keto regimen for around 6 months. How did it all work out?
Very well, in fact: On Instagram, she revealed a loss of 80 pounds in just six months. The actual menu included coffee, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs with cheese, and arugula salad. And of course, lots of ribeye steak!
Kevin Smith
Director Kevin Smith once said: ''More often than not, a hero’s most epic battle is the one you never see; it’s the battle that goes on within him or herself.'' In 2018, he suffered a near-fatal heart attack. How true his words would turn out to be, for real life!
When his doctor told him to lose weight, he got right to work. A few months in, he posted an update on Instagram: "I've lost 37 out of the 50 lbs. the doc told me to drop, with 13 more pounds to go to hit my goal — and I lost the last 5 eating fun foods that I actually like!" Way to go, Kevin!
Kelly Osbourne
Experiencing the teen years on reality TV must have been tough for Kelly Osbourne. She was ridiculed for her weight, not because her eccentric father Ozzy, even as a minor. It caused her immense distress, behind the scenes! According to Kelly: "I took more hell for being fat than I did for being an absolute raging drug addict...I will never understand that."
Crazy times, indeed. And perhaps things are a bit different now. But Kelly decided she wanted to move past her old image after rehab, and she started a health journey. Recently, she shocked the world: A loss of 85 pounds with regular exercise and portion control!