Celebrity Weight Loss- Who Lost Massive Amounts and Got Into Shape?

We just can’t help it, can we? As a society – for better or worse – we’re fascinated by celebrities and how they look. If a famous person drops a significant amount of weight, you can be sure that photos of them will surface all over the tabloids and the internet for the world to see and obsess over.

Scroll through to see some of the most notable celebrity weight loss transformations and find out why and how they decided to commit themselves to change and get healthy. Did we leave someone out? Make sure to let us know who else belongs on the list and don’t forget to SHARE this with your friends!

Kirstie Alley

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Kirstie Alley was a leading actress on both the big screen and small. Once known for her beauty, her struggles with weight gain became tabloid fodder and overshadowed her acting career. During her back-and-forth battle, she lost 75 pounds with the help of Jenny Craig and starred in a show, Kirstie Alley’s Big Life (2010), which documented her mission to lose weight. Once nearly 230 pounds, Alley looks as healthy and fit as ever today.

John Goodman

The comedic actor, perhaps best known for his role as the lovable father on Roseanne, had been extremely overweight throughout his career — and as far back as we can remember. When he nearly hit 370 pounds on the scale, he decided to make a change. Goodman quit smoking, began working out tirelessly — he was on a six-day-a-week routine — and reduced his sugar intake. The result? A dramatic 100-pound loss that has him looking and feeling great.

Perez Hilton

The celebrity blogger decided to take after the people he covers, changing his eating habits and hitting the gym. (In the photo to the right, he’s seen taking part in a Zumba class.) He gradually increased his gym workload until he was in there seven days a week. In 2010, the columnist even incorporated his new healthy lifestyle into his professional life, creating the website FitPerez.com. The site is “focused on fitness, health, and wellness.”

Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson made a name for himself as a bassist, but he really gained fame as one of the three original judges on Fox’s American Idol in 2002. Jackson weighed over 300 pounds when the show began, and the following year he underwent gastric bypass surgery. He lost 114 pounds after the operation and has kept it off by watching his diet closely, staying active, hitting the treadmill, and playing tennis. Good for you, dog!

Jonah Hill

There’s the Superbad Jonah Hill and then there’s the 21 Jump Street Jonah Hill. The comedic actor — wanting to transition to more serious roles — reportedly got into shape with the help of a nutritionist, who gave him the guidance and discipline that he badly needed. His diet revolved around sushi, and he worked with a trainer to complement his new commitment to health.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey’s weight has famously fluctuated over the years, but she’s currently looking as healthy and fit as ever. It’s been a difficult and challenging ride for the media mogul, who went from 160 pounds at the turn of the century to 200 pounds in 2008, all the while being hindered by a thyroid condition. In 2010, she declared that she was done with dieting for good. She may no longer be dieting, but she’s certainly taking care of herself and eating in moderation. In the photo on the right, Winfrey absolutely glows at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards.

Aretha Franklin

Mad R-E-S-P-E-C-T for the late Aretha Franklin! The legendary singer/songwriter lost and gained weight throughout her life, but her biggest drop came in 2011, when she appeared on ABC’s The View 85 pounds lighter. “I feel wonderful,” she said during the appearance. “I’ve got more energy. I’ve changed my diet — going to Whole Foods now, getting the best stuff. Dropped the chitlins, dropped the ham hocks, getting some — I won’t say better food, I’ll say other food.” Far more important than her appearance is her health, which has been an issue for Franklin over the years.

Seth Rogen

Like his buddy Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen decided to get serious about his weight and make some changes. The comedian hired celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak and he did wonders- Rogen shed 30 pounds in just nine months. In the photo on the right, a slimmed-down Rogen poses for the camera at the 2017 AFI Fest in Hollywood.

Al Roker

Al Roker weighed over 340 pounds in 2002 — wearing a size 60 suit — when he opted to turn to surgery. The bubbly weatherman on NBC’s Today show underwent gastric bypass surgery that year and lost 140 pounds as a result. Even after the operation, one has to work to maintain his or her weight, and Roker has worked hard not to fall back into bad habits. In 2013, Roker published a book titled Never Goin’ Back- Winning the Weight-Loss Battle for Good.

Drew Carey

Forget about looking good for a moment. Losing weight can dramatically improve your well-being and lifestyle, and Drew Carey is living proof of that. The comedian dropped 80 pounds by hitting the cardio machines and altering his diet. The Price Is Right host’s quality of life is better than it has been in decades.

Jennifer Hudson

A unique talent, Jennifer Hudson is both an Oscar winner — Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls (2006) — and two-time Grammy winner. When she puts her mind to something she excels, and that was also evident when she decided to lose weight and get in shape. Like Seth Rogen, Hudson worked out vigorously with celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak and complemented that with the Weight Watchers program. Hudson dropped 10 sizes, from a 16 to a 6, and became the face of Weight Watchers. What can’t this woman do?

Star Jones

Star Jones, one of the original co-hosts of The View, underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2003. The result was a 160-pound loss and a drop of 20 sizes, from a 26 to a 6. In a first-person piece for Glamour magazine in 2007, Jones wrote, “Gastric bypass is a very serious procedure with its own set of risks. I’ve been afforded the luxury of consulting numerous doctors, specialists, and colleagues who concluded that this surgery was the only way I could regain control of my life.”

Mo'Nique

Comedian and actress Monique Hicks — then 262 pounds — decided that she had to make a change, and her hard work paid off. Mo’Nique changed her diet — ridding it of fried food, junk food, and red meat — and subsequently lost 45 pounds. She also dropped six sizes, from a 20 t0 a 14. More important than the numbers, though, is the fact that Mo’Nique improved both her short- and long-term health prospects.

Ethan Suplee

Growing up, Ethan was limited to how much food he was allowed to have. He said, “So if I wanted to have more, I needed to do it privately, and it became something that I was withholding from people.” That turned into a lifestyle that he overcame in a big way. His goal now is to change his perspective on food and get a six-pack. He says, “I have my vain goal. I’m going after that. I want to dead lift twice my weight.”

Adele

Adele lost about forty pounds exercising around three times a week. Her representative said, “Adele never cared about or liked working out, but it has become a part of her normal routine, and she’s been alternating between cross-training and Pilates. Now that its part of her lifestyle, she looks better than ever!

Rebel Wilson

Rebel Wilson’s says her weight loss is due to exercise, Mayr Method diet amidst her “year of health” in 2020. She said on social media that her goal is to reach 165 lbs. by the end of the year before she begins production on a new movie.

Chrissy Metz

Chrissy Metz admitted she was always a bigger person and went on to say, “My friends could eat whatever they wanted to, but I knew that as a kid if I ate certain things I would totally gain weight. I had to be really cognizant of what I ate.” She is looking amazing now, but she stays focused on loving herself no matter what.

Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray does a mix of cardio and strength training. She said, “I started running 3 ½ miles every morning after throat surgery to remove a cyst last year. The gym used to be my adversary. But that has all changed. Now, I look forward to it every morning.”

Kaley Cuoco

How does Kaley Cuoco at 34-years-old get shredded abs like this? Between cycling, yoga, and horseback riding, she maintains a constant active lifestyle and spends plenty of time toning her core too. In 2020, she’s been a focus of fitness in Hollywood after making the cover of Fitness Magazine.

Melissa McCarthy

Melissa McCarthy, famous for her comedy role in films such as Tammy, Bridesmaids, Identity Thief, and many more, recently lost 75 pounds and looks amazing! She said she worked closely with her trainer to shape up, especially for the movie, Spy. She worked out five days a week including cardio and weight training combined with a strict meal plan.

Chaz Bono

Chaz Bono, son of Cher, lost 60 pounds after sticking to a diet of strictly meats and vegetables. “I really feel very satisfied and comfortable with the way I eat now, which is amazing, and for me, kind of a miracle,” he said.

Honey Boo Boo

With Mama June’s incredible weight loss journey going extremely well, it seems Honey Boo Boo is deeply inspired to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She is now on a no-grease diet, cutting out fried foods and soda altogether.

Missy Elliott

Missy Elliott told fans she lost her weight by eliminating two major things from her everyday diet. In 2018, Missy shared her secret on Instagram, where she wrote that she had given up bread and all forms of drinks that weren’t water.

Ariel Winter

Ariel attributes her incredible body transformation to a change in her everyday medication that had been responsible for keeping the weight on. Accompanied with that, she also started a workout regiment that transformed her lifestyle. She even wants to put some weight back on now in the form of muscle to be as healthy as she can be.

Lena Dunham

In an interview with Howard Stern in 2017, the Girls star attributed her weight loss to not being able to eat following the election of Donald Trump. That may or may not have had an impact — we won’t comment — but the bigger reason for the actress’ new look is unquestionably her commitment to fitness. Dunham got into shape with the help of fitness entrepreneur Tracy Anderson, who also helped Gwyneth Paltrow mold her fit frame. Dunham maintains that she wanted to get healthier, not lose weight. For her, it wasn’t about body image. “She didn’t come to me to make her body look different,” Anderson told People magazine in 2017. “She came to me to feel better.”

Lauren Alaina

Lauren Alaina showed the world her incredible transformation live on weekly television while competing on ‘Dancing With The Stars’. Her constant training throughout the competition showed her getting more and more fit with each performance. Maybe we all need to dance a little more.

Sherri Shepherd

Sherri Shepherd worked incredibly hard to lose weight and she looks amazing now. However this is a constant effort to maintain the body she wants. After recently sharing that she had gained a little back she made another commitment to stay focused. “Have to admit I gained some lbs bc I’ve been traveling non-stop, eating out & no exercise,”. Now, she’s on a mission to lose 15 pounds in six months and invited others to join her on her journey.

Sara Rue

The actress, best known for her roles on the WB’s Popular and ABC’s Less Than Perfect, lost 50 pounds after taking up running and committing herself to the Jenny Craig program. Like Jennifer Hudson with Weight Watchers, Rue became a Jenny Craig spokeswoman after having success with the company. “I feel so confident and comfortable,” Rue said in a Jenny Craig press release ahead of her wedding and honeymoon in 2011. “What woman doesn’t want to feel comfortable in a swimsuit? It’s incredibly empowering.”

Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson is a fashion icon and actress with the looks of a model. It was a complete shift for her to be pregnant and have to lose the weight thereafter, but inspirationally, she showed women exactly how its done.

Khloe Kardashian

Kardashian has been hitting the gym three or four times a week for strength sessions, boxing circuits, and medicine-ball workouts. She also maintains a healthy diet, though she admits that she likes to eat- “If I were better with food, I’d probably lose weight faster, but I don’t want to. I work out really hard so I can have my champagne and that part of life. I’d rather take longer to lose weight but have fun doing it.”

Christina Aguilera

In 2013, Christina Aguilera stepped away from The Voice as a coach to de-stress and take time to be her best self. That seemed to be the start of her weight loss journey. While taking time out from all her engagements, according to Insider, Aguilera reportedly followed the 7-Day Color Diet. This regimen involves eating the food of a specific color, depending on the day of the week. Apparently it worked marvelously for the singer and TV personality, who shed an estimated 50 pounds that same year.

Jordin Sparks

Singer Jordin Sparks only ever had the goal to go down a size in her jeans. Sparks said that she has never, and will never, count calories to keep the weight off. Instead, she just pays attention to her body and how it feels. Sparks ultimately lost 50 pounds in 18 months, and the secret for her was to take it in stages.

Snooki

They say the camera adds 10 pounds, but for Jersey Shore star Nicole “Snooki” LaValle, it was probably all of the partying from the show. Snooki told People Magazine, “Even though I want to be healthy for myself…I mainly want to do it for my kids.” Initially working with a trainer, Snooki found that getting to the gym every day became difficult. While a daily workout would be ideal, the mom of three doesn’t always have the time. Still, even when she’s busy, the reality star will try to take the kids for a walk around the block — anything to get her, and them, moving.

Mama June

Mama June is the mother of the popular pageant fixture Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson. She decided to make a drastic change with her body at 37 years old. At the time, her wedding to Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson was right around the corner, so she documented her weight loss journey on the WEtv reality series Mama June- From Not to Hot. Mama June underwent a gastric sleeve surgery, but that’s not all. In addition, the reality television star hired a personal trainer, and changed her diet dramatically. Once known for her signature dish “sghetti” (noodles with butter and ketchup), swapping healthier options into her diet made a real difference.

Kelly Clarkson

For American Idol winner and The Voice coach, Kelly Clarkson, all she needed was a book to point her body in the right direction. She credits the book The Plant Paradox with helping her understand which foods would help her be healthy. As a coach on The Voice, actively producing new music for her legions of fans, raising her two kids and two step-kids, all alongside hosting her own talk show, Clarkson is busy busy busy! But, just by altering her diet the singer estimates she’s lost 37 pounds so far, as she revealed in an interview on Today.

Chumlee

In 2014, Pawn Stars star Austin “Chumlee” Russell weighed 320 pounds when he finally decided to begin his weight loss journey. He said, “It was time for me to get healthy.” After dropping down to 225 pounds, Chumlee took a slightly less intense approach, “everything in moderation’ is my motto” the reality star said. Chumlee then decided to help further his weight loss journey along by undergoing gastric sleeve surgery. After the non-invasive surgery, he’s lost an additional 60 pounds.

Kate Hudson

Following the birth of her third child, Kate Hudson became a spokesperson for Weight Watchers. She said of her decision, “It was a smarter way to take weight off, because it stays off. I think the wonderful thing about what that is, is you can eat what you want, you just have to be conscious. It teaches you about food.”

America Ferrara

Actress America Ferrara, best known for Ugly Betty, Real Women Have Curves, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, spoke about her weight loss journey in 2018. She said at the time- “I had to change my relationship to my body, and I think the most drastic thing I did was train for a triathlon. I didn’t do it to punish myself. I didn’t do it to lose weight… I did it as a mental or spiritual challenge of kind of meeting myself, and all my stories about myself, and seeing if I could push through that. And I did… Not only did I push through it, I transformed my stories about myself- I’m not a runner. I can’t get in the ocean. I don’t know how to swim. I could never bike that far. All these things that we tell ourselves become what we think we are capable of.”

Shonda Rhimes

Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes dropped over 150 pounds in 2017. She said of her drastic weight loss, “I did not do it because I thought I would become beautiful like in the movies. I did it because I could not walk up a short flight up stairs without stopping to take a break and wiping sweat from my brow. I did it because my body was physically rebelling against the brain that had been ignoring it for so long.”

Janet Jackson

Following the birth of her first child in 2017, Janet Jackson lost a whopping 75 pounds. According to her personal trainer, “We had a very vigorous training schedule. We were training a minimum of four times a week and the sessions were never less than 45 minutes, no more than an hour. Very intense, though. Very intense training.”

Carrie Underwood

In 2019, singer Carrie Underwood spoke out about how her body had changed after the birth of her second child. Underwood explained in an Instagram caption,  “I promise to stop analyzing every angle and every curve and every pound and every meal. I’m going to keep staying the path because it is a journey and as long as I’m always working towards my goals, one day I’ll reach them… To me, working out—my husband has said it— he was like- ‘You’re, like, a more pleasant person to be about when you have a workout in the morning.’ And I was like, ‘I know! I feel better.”

Kirsten Vangsness

You probably remember Kirsten Vangsness from the CBS tv series, Criminal Minds for her role as Penelope Garcia. Kirsten’s weight loss journey was a success with a method of combining a healthy diet with daily exercise and a touch of strict discipline. She lost 50 pounds in a year. Meanwhile, the rest of us struggle to drop 10 pounds in half that time. Good for you Kirsten, good for you.