The Most Gorgeous Celebrity Weight Loss Transformations Of The Past Decade
Celebrity weight loss transformations are no easy feat. Simply put, for the vast majority of people, celebrities included, losing weight just isn't easy. It takes a lot of hard work, will-power, abstinence, and even the right genetics to be able to keep it off, let alone lose it in the first place, according to U.S. News & World Report. That's why so many diets wind up failing in the long run.
However, there are some people who not only make the commitment to lose weight, but also have the grit and determination to keep it off. That includes celebrities, whose dramatic transformations are front and center in the media due to their high profiles. And over the last decade, there have been a handful of famous folks who made the big change — and really stand out from the rest in their new, slimmer form.
So just who is it that found a way to shed the excess pounds and look like an entirely new person? And what did they do in order to drop the weight they no longer wanted to carry around? Read on the learn everything about the most gorgeous celebrity weight loss transformations in the last ten years.
Graham Elliot worked his butt off to achieve a celebrity weight loss transformation
Celebrity chef Graham Elliot, by virtue of his profession, is constantly around food, which likely made any kind of celebrity weight loss transformation difficult. To that end, at the beginning of the decade, Elliot's weight was hovering just around the 400-pound mark, something he decided had to change after visiting his son Milo's kindergarten class. "A fellow student put a soccer ball under his shirt and said, 'Look at me, look! I'm Milo's dad. Look how fat I am,'" he recalled in an interview with WTTW News. "That's when it was clear to me that not only was it, you know, my health I had to worry about ... but also, he was going to be embarrassed [of me]." So Elliot made the decision to get weight loss surgery.
Years later, Elliot is still rocking his new, svelter bod, having dropped well over 100 pounds, according to a post on his Instagram page. And unsurprisingly, he feels amazing, as it's "like an entire person has been lifted off my shoulders," he noted.
Mama June went from not to hot in the last decade of her celebrity weight loss transformation
Reality television viewers were first introduced to June "Mama June" Shannon in 2012, when she and her daughter appeared on TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras and later Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Back then, Shannon clearly wasn't interested in healthy eating and nutrition, and she frequently fed her family some questionable foods.
Since then, however, Shannon has dropped a significant amount of weight following surgery, a celebrity weight loss transformation that has been chronicled on the show Mama June: From Not to Hot. But while she does look fantastic on the show, Mama June's stunning transformation has taken a toll on her. "I've had so many surgeries in my last six months that I've had to lay down," she confessed in a 2018 interview with E! News. "I haven't been able to go to the gym." She added that she's gained back some of the weight she lost, but she's fine with it, as she felt like she lost too much, too fast.
Unfortunately, Shannon got into some legal trouble in 2019, according to TMZ, and she has reportedly been battling addiction issues. We hope she gets the help she needs.
Jonah Hill learned to love himself and underwent a jaw-dropping celebrity weight loss transformation
When Jonah Hill broke into the film industry in the teen comedy Superbad, he was definitely not a small dude. But as the next decade began, Hill, who's just one of the men who've been body-shamed by Hollywood, decided that he was ready to make the changes needed to shed unwanted pounds — without weight-loss surgery. "I went to just a nutritionist," he revealed in an interview with ABC News. "He really helped me understand nutrition." And that put vegetables on the menu for Hill for perhaps the first time in his adult life, something he truly enjoys now, especially in Japanese food.
Hill's weight has fluctuated here and there in the last ten years, but, as a whole, he has maintained the majority of his weight loss. "I'm under construction, like we all are," he shared in an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "We're all just trying to figure it out." Amen to that, Jonah!
After undergoing a dramatic celebrity weight loss transformation, Hill also released a free zine in 2018 as a compliment to his film Mid90s, with the goal of helping people learn to love themselves as he has, according to a post on his Instagram page. Talk about wholesome.
Shonda Rhimes put in the work when it came to her weight loss transformation
If you're obsessed with Scandal or Grey's Anatomy, you have creator Shonda Rhimes to thank for that. The writer and producer is responsible for some of the best television shows out there.
Rhimes also decided to take charge of her health in the last decade, dropping a significant amount of weight and undergoing a celebrity weight loss transformation, for a very good reason. "I did not do it because I thought I would become beautiful like in the movies," she clarified in a newsletter sent to Shondaland subscribers (via Health magazine). "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."
However, Rhimes was rightly horrified by the way people treated her after her weight loss, which was dramatically different than before. "After I lost weight, I discovered that people found me valuable. Worthy of conversation," she continued. She wondered, "What the hell did they see me as before? How invisible was I to them?" Good questions, Shonda.
Kevin Smith aimed to have a celebrity weight loss transformation after a life-threatening experience
Easily one of the most successful directors in Hollywood, Jay and Silent Bob's Kevin Smith was living the good life, eating whatever he wanted whenever he craved it. Then one day in 2018, he had a heart attack, and it wasn't just any heart attack, either — it was an acute myocardial infarction, also known as the widowmaker. "I was prepared to go," he confessed in an interview with Men's Health.
Fortunately, Smith beat the odds and survived, coming away from the life-threatening experience with a whole new perspective and a stunning celebrity weight loss transformation. "I ate the way I wanted to for 47 years," he continued. "I will try the way I'm supposed to for one year and see what happens." Well, it's been working, as the vegan and low-sugar diet that Smith adopted helped him drop to under 200 pounds.
Since then, Smith has kept the lessons he learned from the experience in the back of his mind at all times. "The idea is to always be scared," he added. "Once I'm not scared anymore, I'm scared, you know?"
Wendy Williams shed unwanted pounds as part of her gorgeous celebrity weight loss transformation
If your job demands that you appear on television almost every day, chances are you're going to be concerned with how you look. Certainly that was the case for talk show host Wendy Williams, who told her fans in a Q&A that she lost 50 pounds over the course of three years earlier in the decade. "I did it on my own and I love it because I no longer have to do that fight with clothing," she revealed in an interview with E! News, adding, "Those things get in the way of being a good host for the people." Williams also makes sure to get to the gym regularly for cardio and Pilates.
Specifically, Williams cut refined sugars, dairy, and all meat except for fish. And although she lamented that she does miss eggs, she says it's been worth it to be comfortable in her own skin. "This is as good as it's going to get," she continued, discussing her celebrity weight loss transformation. "I'm not gonna fight my body anymore, I've lost the weight, I feel fantastic."
Zach Galifianakis changed his diet to achieve a headline-making celebrity weight loss transformation
Comedian Zach Galifianakis admits that he enjoyed drinking alcohol for a long time, something that can easily contribute to weight gain. So when he decided to quit imbibing in 2013 after a run-in with some intimidating dudes, Galifianakis began to lose weight, which he discussed on an episode of Conan. "I stopped drinking, and I just kind of put the weight off," he shared, regarding his gorgeous celebrity weight loss transformation.
But after that, Galiafianakis also made some changes to his diet that helped him shed even more unwanted pounds. "I tend not to eat food advertised on television," he revealed in a subsequent interview on Conan. "Fast food you can't do — you have to eat whole foods, whole grains, and that kind of stuff." He also joked that it's important to cut out whipped cream pizzas. Yeah, whipped cream pizzas are probably one of the foods that can sabotage your diet.
While Galiafianakis has maintained that slimmer build ever since, it looks like the beard is here to stay.
Gabourey Sidibe had an impressive weight loss transformation for personal reasons
The incredible actress Gabourey Sidibe made her film debut in Precious back in 2009, which earned her an Academy Award nomination, and quickly cemented her as one of Hollywood's newest talents. But after being diagnosed with type II diabetes, she had bariatric surgery in 2016 (via People), and, after that, she began to lose weight — and Sidibe feels that her celebrity weight loss transformation is a personal journey. "What had been happening is, since I've been losing weight over the past year, people have been saying, 'Congratulations on your weight loss,'" she explained in a 2017 interview with Refinery29. "It doesn't rock me. It just annoys me because I'm just like, don't congratulate me on that." She added that if you do, you may as well congratulate her for having any bodily function at all.
The reason for Sidibe's ire over people complimenting her on her body is that her body is just that: hers. "My body actually has nothing to do with you, and I don't really need your support for it," she continued. "It seems ill-placed." Louder again for the people in the back, Gaby! Still, no one can deny Gabourey Sidibe's stunning transformation.
Penn Jillette worked hard for his celebrity weight loss transformation
In 2014, magician Penn Jillette was in some seriously bad health. He had high blood pressure and a 90 percent heart blockage, and he was taking six medications a day. And then he decided to make a drastic change and undergo a stunning celebrity weight loss transformation. "I want[ed] to lose a pound a day," he shared in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "So I went for a radical change in diet — whole-food plant-based, hard-core vegan, vegetables, no processed food, no sugar. And I limited my eating to just an hour a day, so I'm always fasting 23 hours."
Those big changes helped Jillette lose a hundred pounds, which he has managed to keep off thanks to his intense discipline, something he takes great pride in. "When dieting was compared to something simple, I had no interest," he continued. "But when someone said, 'This is going to be as hard as getting your own theater in Vegas' – then I was interested. That would be something I could be proud of."
Melissa McCarthy had a gorgeous celebrity weight loss transformation over the last decade
It's been one heck of a decade for Melissa McCarthy, who launched her own production company, got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and won an Emmy Award, to name just a few accomplishments. She also lost a significant amount of weight, something that's likely to ebb and flow, as she tells it. "I have [lost weight], but I'll be back again," she revealed in an interview with Refinery29 of her celebrity weight loss transformation. "I'll be up, I'll be down, probably for the rest of my life."
Even though McCarthy is an incredibly accomplished person, she's still asked about her weight constantly, something that she honestly believes is much less exciting than people seem to think. "The thing is, if that is the most interesting thing about me, I need to go have a lavender farm in Minnesota and give this up," she continued. "There has to be something more. There are so many more intriguing things about women than their butt or their this or their that." Amen, Melissa!
Rebel Wilson wanted to be healthier, so she worked toward achieving a celebrity weight loss transformation
From the very start of her career, Rebel Wilson knew that her size made her a unique asset in Hollywood, as she's best known for her work in Bridesmaids and the Pitch Perfect franchise. "I wouldn't ever want to compete with what I call 'the glamours' — the really gorgeous people," she explained in an interview with Cosmopolitan. "I'm about the brain, the heart and what's on the inside. I feel really lucky to be the body type I am." It's certainly helped her snag some seriously funny roles!
But despite the fact that Wilson's size makes her special, she did opt to make some changes in order to get healthier once she moved to L.A. in 2010, and people soon witnessed Rebel Wilson's stunning transformation. "Living in LA you learn a lot about health. I now drink green juices and I'm trying to do gluten-free," she said of her celebrity weight loss transformation. "But I don't do it 100 percent — I'm not a maniac!"
John Goodman became a new man after his celebrity weight loss transformation
John Goodman has never had a hard time getting cast in some of the best films and television shows out there. But he still decided to make some serious improvements on himself, starting with getting sober in 2007 (via The Guardian), followed by a dramatic weight loss over the last decade. So how did he do it? "It was basically just portion control, and 'I don't need it,'" he explained in an interview with AARP. "I was just shoving everything into my mouth."
But Goodman is cautious about his success when it comes to his celebrity weight loss transformation, and he isn't looking to be anyone's role model when it comes to his weight loss. "I don't want to be an example to anybody when the weight comes thundering back on," he continued. "When I start eating Crisco out of the can with a spoon and a side of confectioner's sugar." Given that Goodman is still maintaining his weight loss, it's safe to say that he's still putting in the work.
Adele showed off a stunning celebrity weight loss transformation in the last decade
What a decade it's been for Adele, one of the most popular and talented singers in the entire world. She began her career by releasing her insanely successful album 21 in 2011, and she's just kept on going.
Although Adele has yet to speak publicly about her celebrity weight loss transformation, which also became evident in the last decade, she's acknowledged how much she's changed in recent years on social media. "No matter how long we're here for life is constant and complicated at times," she wrote in a post on her Instagram page. "I've changed drastically in the last couple years and I'm still changing and that's okay."
Additionally, Adele says she's in a great place in her life, thanks to manifesting self-acceptance. "Learning to REALLY truly love yourself is it," she continued. "And I've only just realized that that is more than enough."
Rosie O'Donnell dropped excess pounds and experienced a true celebrity weight loss transformation
Sometimes it takes a serious health scare to help someone commit to losing weight. That was definitely the case for comedian Rosie O'Donnell, who found herself in the hospital one day in 2012. "I had a heart attack at 50," she revealed in an interview with People magazine. "When I woke up, they said, 'You should have died.' Doctors said, 'We need you to lose 50 lbs. in the next year, but you can't have surgery or anything in the next year because you've had a heart attack.'" What a scary experience that must have been!
But rather than despair or ignore medical advice, O'Donnell did her best until she could get surgical intervention, and then opted for a gastric sleeve. "Believe it or not, that surgery changed my life," she continued. "It doesn't reroute your intestines. You have no issue with going to the bathroom in public. But your relationship with food ends."
Losing weight also made O'Donnell's sleep apnea abate and helped her play with her kids much more easily. What an inspirational celebrity weight loss transformation!
Kathy Bates wasn't going to let diabetes get her, so she aimed for a celebrity weight loss transformation
The extraordinary actress Kathy Bates knew she had to lose weight when she realized she was at risk of developing a serious disease. "Well, I was facing diabetes — it runs in my family — and I really didn't want to live with that," she confessed in an interview with Extra. Discussing her gorgeous celebrity weight loss transformation, she shared, "This is the best health I've been in in years and I'm so grateful — it's a miracle." Good for you, Kathy!
The main tool in Bates' weight loss arsenal was portion control, which she was able to rely upon once she'd cultivated patience at the dinner table. "After you eat for 20-30 minutes, you experience an involuntary sigh," she continued. "What I discovered is if you listen to that sigh and push that plate away for just five minutes, you realize you're satisfied and you don't have to eat more." That's a good way to reduce your caloric intake, for sure.