We don’t really need to say it, do we? Losing weight is never an easy, nor a fun task, to undergo. And that couldn’t be more on point for Hollywood stars, their lives are always under the microscope and everyone has an opinion if there is even a smudge of weight fluctuations (doesn’t matter if it’s up or down either). This is precisely why we took a look at the most impressive weight loss stories to come out of Hollywood, the ones that give cause for inspiration.
Gabourey Sidibe
Sidibe rang out like a true Hollywood legend due to her impeccable performance in Precious, however when she didn’t receive the recognition for her role as she would have liked, the 33 year old realized that unfortunately her size was a major. Recently, she underwent weight loss surgery to help on her weight loss journey because she “doesn’t want to worry anymore” about the health consequences that come with being overweight.
Gabourey Sidibe
Janet Jackson
As one of the world’s most awarded artists, Janet Jackson has helped to shape and redefine the scope of the popular music scene tenfold. On another note, Jackson received a ton of criticism over her past weight fluctuations and in 2012, she endorsed Nutrisystem, helping to sponsor their weight loss program.
Janet Jackson
On another note, Jackson received a ton of criticism over her past weight fluctuations and in 2012, she endorsed Nutrisystem, helping to sponsor their weight loss program.
Chris Pratt
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you should know all about Chris Pratt’s weight loss transformation (along with the fact that he’s been dreamy even since day one!). For his role on the seriously hilarious television series Parks and Recreation, Pratt sported a Santa Claus sized belly. Once the show ended, Pratt turned heads with his washboard abs in Zero Dark Thirty and shortly after in Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic Park – pretty much affirming his status as one of Hollywood’s leading and sexiest men.
Chris Pratt
Christina Aguilera
One of the biggest (no pun intended!) pop divas ends up on our list. At just 36, Aguilera looks better than ever after losing almost 50 pounds. In 2012 though, she ended up in the spotlight, receiving copious amounts of criticism for her curvy figure – we know, how baffling. Just a year later, she went onto lose a ton of weight and the media was suddenly favorable towards her.
Christina Aguilera
Carrie Fisher
Our dear Princess Leia is on our list and it almost hurts seeing her face again. Fisher had the courage to publicly acknowledge her struggles with bipolar disorder, drug addiction, and weight gain. With the help of the Jenny Craig weight loss program, she was able to shed the pounds and even appeared in a few television ads for the program. Just another reason Carrie Fisher was absolutely brilliant, inside and out.
Carrie Fisher
John Goodman
John Goodman is the Hollywood legend who was formerly known by his sizable frame, at one point he weighed near 400 pounds. Then in August 2010, he made everyone’s jaws drop when he stepped out with a slim figure, having lost 100 pounds. He credits his weight loss to exercise and maintaining a journal of what he eats. Goodman is still on track to lose even more weight.
John Goodman
Adele
Ugh, is there anything Adele can’t do? The multi-Grammy-winning singer has lost an incredible amount of weight just by watching what she eats, however she isn’t totally obsessed with the whole counting calories bit. Adele completely cut out drinks like tea or coffee, as she used them multiple times a day AND with two spoons of sugar! Honestly, it’s the little things that make such a massive impact.
Adele
50 Cent
This rapper-turned-actor made headlines when he lost some 50 pounds to play a cancer patient in the drama flick All Things Fall Apart. 50 Cent explained that he studied the likes of Tom Hanks, Christian Bale, and others in order to drastically lose weight for the role. It worked.
50 Cent
Jordin Sparks
Our girl Jordin Sparks was always stunning but now even more so after having lost 50 pounds in just 18 months. She decided to take her weight loss in stages and slowly because she didn’t want to torture herself!
Jordin Sparks
Rosie O’Donnell
Over the years, Rosie O’Donnell has had an impressive career, one that was however almost always overshadowed with his weight problems. O’Donnell suffered a heart attack in 2012, which she credits as a huge wake up call. Shortly after, O’Donnell underwent a gastric bypass surgery and has lost 64 pounds but understands that hard work will come a long way. She said, “[surgery] is not a magic pill, you need to put in the work too.”
Rosie O’Donnell
Christian Bale
As one of Hollywood’s most respected and accredited actors, Bale is not just known for his brilliance on screen but also his intense weight loss and gain journeys. His transition from the crazy skinny lead in The Machinest to the buff Dark Knight in Batman Begins dropped jaws and for good reason.
Christian Bale
Mariah Carey
This diva is one of the best selling music artists of all time and is no stranger to the weight loss battle. In 2011, Carey was named the new global ambassador for Jenny Craig, following her own weight loss with the program after she gave birth to fraternal twins in April. Since joining the program, Carey has lost 70 pounds.
Mariah Carey
Al Roker
Television personality, best remembered as NBC’s weatherman, Al Roker made headlines for his top notch journalism abilities but also for his battle with many failed dieting attempts. In 2002 that all changed when Roker underwent gastric bypass surgery to lose weight easy. He had lost around 100 pounds off his 320 pound figure, later in 2013 he published a book on his weight loss transformation titled, Never Goin’ Back: Winning the Weight Loss Battle For Good.
Al Roker
Shonda Rhimes
In Shondaland, anything is possible, especially when it comes to your favorite characters getting killed off (i.e. McDreamy, Lexie Grey, McSteamy, GEORGE, need we go on?!) Sorry, as a <Grey’s Anatomy fan, I’m still incredibly devastated and heart broken. While I’m not thrilled with the decisions Rhimes makes in TV land, I am impressed with her staggering 127 pound weight loss! Thanks to her kids, she made some lifestyle changes and incorporates a strict diet and intense cardio workouts.
Shonda Rhimes
Randy Jackson
Best remembered as a judge on American Idol, Randy Jackson is also a bassist, singer, entrepreneur, record producer, and television personality who has been battling weight loss issues for as long as he can remember. After he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2003, Jackson lost a staggering 114 pounds following a gastric bypass surgery.
Randy Jackson
Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi
During her Jersey Shore days, Snooki was something of a wild child, however that all changed when she learned she was pregnant. Snooki made some serious changes in her life so that she could be a healthy role model for her children, especially when she made the decision to eat right and exercise regularly, losing 100 pounds.
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi
Mama June Shannon
To kick-start her weight loss journey, Mama June underwent a series of weight loss and plastic surgeries, even documenting the entire process in a WEtv series, Mama June: From Not to Hot. After the surgery, she also enlisted trainer Kenya Crooks to help her continue to lose weight easy and on the right track. Since then, she’s lost over 150 pounds, going from a size 24 to a size 4.
Mama June Shannon
Queen Latifah
Just about everything Queen Latifah does, she succeeds in. Her career has consisted of her being a rapper, songwriter, singer, actress, model, television producer, record producer, and a talk show host. Over many years, she has admitted that she isn’t a skinny person and probably never will be but she’s good with that. Queen Latifah is confident in her body and is a champion to all to love themselves first. However with that being said, she did want to made improvements in her lifestyle and that started with the acknowledgement that she needed to lose some weight. Since then, she’s joined weight loss programs like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers, additionally, she is quite diverse in fitness activities like boogie-boarding, biking, and jogging.
Queen Latifah
EJ Johnson
The legendary Magic Johnson’s son EJ Johnson shed a ton of weight. He wa featured on the reality television series ‘Rich Kids of Beverley Hills,’ if you think he looks familiar from somewhere else. EJ lost a whopping 180-pounds, he underwent a weight-loss surgery, however, that does not mean he does not work hard to maintain the results. EJ says he eats well and exercises regularly in order to keep the pounds off!
EJ Johnson
Chaka Khan
As a winner of 10 Grammy Awards, it’s safe to say that Chaka Khan is insanely talented, as if that was ever in question. For a few years now, Khan is leading a vegan diet to help her lose weight and combat high blood pressure and Type-2 diabetes as well.
Chaka Khan
Adam Richman
Just about everyone followed Adam Richman’s intense food challenges on the television series Man Vs. Food. As a competitive eater, Richman packed on a ton of weight and eventually became depressed, therefore he announced his retirement in January 2012. After his retirement from the world of competitive eating, he lost 60 pounds and is now a spokesperson for healthy eating.
Adam Richman
Perez Hilton
As a blogger, columnist, and television personality in the world of Hollywood, the name Perez Hilton is well known. In 2004, his name was even more known when the then-206 pound Hilton appeared as a contestant on the reality weight loss show Flab To Fab. At that time, Hilton had 30% body fat and a 41″ waist, because of the show he went on to lose a whopping 45 pounds. In just three months, he had dropped 13″ around his waist and was down to 160 pounds.
Perez Hilton
Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard blew everyone away with his voice on the second season of American Idol, which he won of course in case you forgot. Ever since his debut, Studdard has gone on to lose 112 pounds.
Ruben Studdard
Khloe Kardashian
The youngest Kardashian ends up on our list as she’s lost over 25 pounds so far. Her weight loss transformation is all due to working out four times a week and eating in moderation. The will power is strong in this one.
Khloe Kardashian
Abby Lee Miller
The brilliant dancing mom went from a size 24 to a size 16 due to help from a lap band procedure. After she was Miller diagnosed with pre-diabetes, she knew she needed to make some serious lifestyle changes.
Abby Lee Miller
Angie Stone
Angie Stone was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and thus ventured out on her weight loss journey. To date, she’s lost 75 pounds!
Angie Stone
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin has done it all and continues to do so, affirming his status as a Hollywood legend. When he was diagnosed as pre-diabetic, it was a huge wake up call but with the help of his wife, Hilaria, he was on the right track. Together, they ate only healthy meals and worked out every day, helping Baldwin lose some 30 pounds.
Alec Baldwin
Jerry Ferrara
Just about everyone’s favorite Entourage character, Turtle, winds up on our list. Ferrara has lost over 50 pounds since the show went off air, crediting his weight loss to a strict diet and fitness regiment.
Jerry Ferrara
Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul has been dealing with weight issues for many years. Since the early 70’s, she’s undergone many rapid weight loss diet plans, although it wasn’t until later on that she realized weight loss shouldn’t happen in the snap of a finger and has instead shifted her perspectives to a more positive light.
Aretha Franklin
Raven Symone
Just about everyone recognizes Raven Symone from the hilarious and classic Disney television show That’s So Raven and if you don’t know what we’re talking about, open up your Netflix account ASAP and catch up on all four seasons. Don’t be surprised how much Raven has changed because as of 2011, she’s lost almost 100 pounds and credits a strict diet and frequent workout as the keys to weight loss success.
Raven Symone
Chumlee
The Pawn Stars star made rapid weight loss look insanely easy. Chumless worked with his friend and co-worker Corey Harrison to lose the weight, and it worked.
Chumlee
Kirstie Alley
The 66 year old legendary actress has always had issues with her iconic weight fluctuations which is why she turned to the Jenny Craig weight loss program for help. Over the years, the weight loss program has helped Alley, most recently, to lose 50 pounds.
Kirstie Alley
Jennifer Hudson
This diva and insanely talented singer wanted to drop the pounds, thus turning to the weight loss program Weight Watchers to do so. Hudson is constantly watching what she eats and makes it a point to stay away from junk food.
Jennifer Hudson
Graham Elliot
The MasterChef himself has turned to a more healthy lifestyle by losing over 150 pounds. In 2013, he reached the 400 pound mark and alarm bells went off, since then, he’s never looked back in wanting to reach his weight loss goals.
Graham Elliot
Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold’s son helped him turn things around and make a healthy lifestyle change. To date, he’s lost over 100 pounds. Whoa, nicely done!
Tom Arnold
Ricki Lake
The actress, producer, and television presenter has long since struggled with weight. However for the past few years, she has been on the right course, going from a size 24 down to a size 6. Impressive isn’t even the right word!
Ricki Lake
Sam Smith
Sam Smith’s weight loss has been one of the most talked about topics buzzing around the red carpet. He credits his trim figure to the nutritional therapist Amelia Freer’s book Eat. Nourish. Glow.. Smith has also cut out gluten, dairy, and refined sugar out of his diet, and does a ton of weight training and yoga.
Sam Smith
Jonah Hill
Jonah Hill’s weight loss and gains have been a bit of a roller coaster ride but it’s all for the many roles he plays. Whether or not that’s inspirational is up to you.
Jonah Hill
Seth Rogen
To date, Seth Rogan has dropped some 50 pounds, making him no longer the recognized actor for just his size but his acting abilities.
Seth Rogen
Melissa McMcarthy
That’s right our very own ‘Sookie Saint James’ from the amazing television series Gilmore Girls is on our list as she’s lost over 50 pounds so far. Such an inspiration. We love you, girl!
Melissa McMcarthy
Susan Boyle
Scottish singing Susan Boyle made a massive impact with her incredible voice back in 2009 on the television program Britain’s Got Talent. Recently, Boyle was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and doctors advised her to lose weight immediately. That’s exactly what she did.
Susan Boyle