Constantly being in the spotlight, celebrities are always being scrutinized for the things that they wear, the way they look, and especially their weight. While they are people just like us, we subconsciously put them on a pedestal and expect them to look a lot better than the rest of us. It’s why we’re so critical of them; and why most of them have taken to living more privately as well. However, we can’t help but notice when they lose weight (through healthy lifestyle changes) and look almost unrecognizable in public!
Tons of celebs have put in the work to shed the weight over the past couple of years with rigorous exercise and a healthy diet. We’re here to encourage them as well as use their transformations as motivation for ourselves!
Here are 11 celebrities that have completely transformed their bodies:
America Ferrera
Starring in the popular television show Ugly Betty at a young age created immense amounts of emotional distress for America Ferrera. This led to poor eating habits and a lack of exercise. It wasn’t until Ferrera reached 30 pounds overweight, that she became motivated to make lifestyle changes. She focused on building a new, healthy relationship with food and exercise. Recently, she even became a triathlete!
In an interview, Ferrera said, “For me it’s not about looking like a supermodel – it’s about feeling good about who I am naturally.” This serves to inspire others to work towards feeling their best, and reduce focus on body image. She encourages others to maintain positivity and be their own motivators. Her biggest tip is to never skip breakfast, and maintain a daily routine that incorporates some form of exercise.
Jonah Hill
As expressed in his film Mid90’s, Jonah Hill’s young adult life was filled with weight related criticisms that affected how he viewed himself. Throughout his career, his weight fluctuated from role to role, which took a toll on his insecurities. He had originally lost a significant amount of weight in 2011, which he attributed to clean eating. However, his role in War Dogs in 2016 required him to gain about 40 pounds.
Following shooting the film, Hill felt the necessity to slim down to feel his best. He connected with a nutritionist, and learned how clean eating could once again fit into his lifestyle. He created and maintained a workout routine, including a variety of exercises such as boxing and Jiu Jitsu. He encourages others to maintain a body- positive mentality and not let anyone but themselves dictate how they feel about their body. In contrast with the person he felt he was earlier in his career, Hill considered his weight loss as “…part of maturing in body and in mind.”
Rebel Wilson
In January, Rebel Wilson declared 2020 her “Year of Health,” and spent the past 10 months devoted to adopting healthy habits, losing weight, and sharing her journey with her fans via social media. She began incorporating exercise into her daily schedule, which included walking, hiking and more strenuous activities such as stair sprints and tire flips. She also focused on consuming water instead of sugary drinks, in addition to overall clean eating.
Her social media presence serves to inspire others to make changes to their lifestyles. Wilson has posted several photos and videos showcasing different workouts, her progress, and helpful tips. She shared her goal weight of 165 pounds by the end of 2020, and is currently only 6 pounds away. She emphasizes the importance of loving yourself and embracing the weight loss process, yet acknowledges that it is by no means easy.
Gordon Ramsay
Celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsy, became motivated to lose weight when he recognized that his overweight self was not the strong, supportive husband that his wife deserved. He acknowledged the unhealthy habits associated with his career, and shared that “There’s a big downside to cooking loads for a living. It’s lethal: from obesity to heart attacks to cocaine habits.” As he felt his career consuming all his time and making all his decisions, he chose to prioritize healthy habits in his daily life.
Ramsay began working with a trainer, and engaged in bike and strength workouts a minimum of three times a week. He also chose to alter his eating habits, and in 2017 released the cookbook “Gordon Ramsay Ultimate Fit Food: Mouth-Watering Recipes to Fuel You for Life.” Following his 50 pound weight loss, he continues to be motivated to maintain health to avoid an early death, which his father had at age 53.
Adele
Singer and songwriter, Adele, recently posted on social media showing off her weight transformation. Following her divorce in April 2019, she chose to focus on herself, motivated to ensure that her voice stays in the best condition following her vocal hemorrhage in 2011. She took on the lifestyle change of adopting brand new eating habits, which cut out all processed foods and drinks, in addition to caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes. Adele also made changes to her level of activity, by working with a personal trainer and participating in pilates reformer exercises.
The star credits her weight loss journey to the book “Untamed” by Glennon Doy, which she encourages others to read, and spreads the word via social media posts. Like most people, she admits that following a restrictive diet and pushing herself at the gym is by no means easy and is not always what she wants to do, but prioritizes reaching her goals and maintaining a body positive mentality. She has lost almost 100 pounds, and is now focusing on maintaining her healthy lifestyle.
Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt has constantly struggled with his weight and its association with acting opportunities. He acknowledges that in the past, he neglected to consider his overall health, and rather focused on his career. His role in Guardians of the Galaxy required him to slim down, and he decided to take this opportunity to form long term lifestyle changes. He began working with both a personal trainer and a nutritionist, who taught him what exercises and foods would be best for his body.
Pratt engaged in high intensity workouts, including P90X, running, swimming, boxing, and even completed a triathlon. He focused on consuming the proper amount of calories to fuel his body, along with high water consumption. His switch to clean eating allowed him to feel as though he was eating more while losing weight. He has lost 60 pounds, all while enjoying the process, and is confident that he can maintain these changes.
Jessica Simpson
After giving birth to her third daughter in 2019, Jessica Simpson became devoted to taking on small lifestyle changes to enable her to lose weight in a safe and effective way. She steered clear of fad diets in order to promote long term changes.
Simpson focused on getting in a significant amount of steps per day, beginning with 6,000 and reaching up to 14,000 as her weight loss progress continued. Her diet regimen consisted of three protein- filled meals a day and two snacks, in addition to incorporating “cheat meals” from time to time, to maintain positivity and avoid cravings. She emphasizes the importance of sleep, as well as focusing on mental health. Since giving birth, Simpson has lost a total of 100 pounds, and hopes others will adopt similar lifestyle changes to look and feel their best.
Anthony Anderson
Black- ish actor Anthony Anderson was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2001. He didn’t see the importance in implementing new behaviors into his lifestyle until his father passed away from complications related to type 2 diabetes. This moment served as a wake up call for him; he wanted to live a long, fulfilling life with his wife and children.
Following this, Anderson began to work with a personal trainer and chef. He originally adopted a vegan diet, and now follows a pescatarian diet, which focuses on fish consumption. Following his 50 pound weight loss, Anderson hopes to help others with type 2 diabetes make beneficial lifestyle changes. He recognizes that many do not have the financial means to hire professionals, but emphasizes the ability for anyone to to implement healthy habits into their lives. He encourages others to “[have an] honest conversation about what it is you need to change in your life so you can live a long, healthy life.”
Janet Jackson
Motivated to lose weight after giving birth to her first child, Janet Jackson turned to a personal trainer. She began having four to five sessions a week that targeted not only weight loss, but muscle building. Her workouts consisted of high intensity weight training, and resulted in a 70 pound weight loss.
Jackson also began clean eating, with a focus on eating well 90% of the time, and feeling free to indulge the other 10%. Her strength, both physically and mentally, have allowed her to be a positive role model for many other individuals who strive to make similar changes.
Zach Galifianakis
The Hangover star and comedian, Zack Galifianakis acknowledged that he was feeling tired and sluggish, and linked his lack of energy to his eating habits. He decided to make small changes, resulting in a 50 pound weight loss. His biggest change? Cutting out alcohol. He admitted that this was a hard adjustment for him, but undeniably played a huge role in his transformation.
In addition, Galifianakis maintained a diet consisting of mainly whole foods and avoided fast food. He followed a workout regime which included walking, jogging, biking, weight lifting and TRX, and incorporated these activities into his schedule six days a week. His advice to others hoping to make lifestyle changes is to be as consistent as possible.
Missy Elliot
In 2011, Missy Elliot was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. Following her treatment, she was forced to take on a healthy and active lifestyle to feel her best in the long term. The rapper focused on mainly cutting out two products that don’t leave her feeling her best, despite them being her favorite: sugary drinks and bread. She shared that in addition to her 70 pound weight loss, her dietary changes have left her feeling less sluggish and have benefited her skin.
She integrated fitness into her busy schedule by partaking in workout videos by celebrity trainer Shaun T. These videos include high intensity interval training that combines cardio and weight lifting. Elliot utilizes social media to encourage others to “get up and get out and go get it!”
