Regardless of your age, gender, and background, managing your weight is essential for improving your health. Yet despite this truth, the prevalence of overweight and obesity affects 30.7% and 42.4% of American adults, respectively, putting them at risk for developing chronic conditions like diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.
While excess weight gain can be attributed to genetics and underlying medical conditions, factors like physical activity levels, type of food and drink consumption, and sedentary behaviors also play a significant role in an individual’s weight. This means weight loss can be achieved through better diet, exercise, and daily habits.
Despite the obvious medical benefits of a healthy weight, people can also work towards their weight goal for various personal and social reasons. Let’s look at how the following celebrities’ weight loss journeys changed their health and overall quality of life.
1. Ayesha Curry
During the early months of the pandemic, Canadian-American actress and celebrity chef Ayesha Curry revealed her 35-pound weight loss journey. The reason for this change? Curry said she was motivated by her goal to be strong and healthy for herself and the people around her.
On top of portion control and mindful meal choices rich with green veggies, protein, and whole grains, Curry also made it a point not to give up the comfort foods she enjoyed, like wine and chicken parmesan.
What complemented Curry’s healthy diet was a fitness routine including cardio, strength training, and HIIT, which only required simple, at-home equipment like resistance bands. Her health and fitness lifestyle ultimately paved the way for more time with her family, mainly by sharing comfort food dinners with her three kids and going on bike rides with her husband, NBA player Stephen Curry.
Lastly, her partnership with FitBit allowed her to track her food intake, activity levels, and sleep quality, benefiting her physical health and mental clarity as a full-time mother, cookbook author, and entrepreneur.
2. Oprah Winfrey
Television host and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey is also no stranger to weight loss transformations. While she has previously struggled with the rollercoaster ride of regaining lost weight, she recently shared that her successful 42-pound weight loss was with the help of WeightWatchers.
The weight loss programs from WeightWatchers meant that the influential Lady O did not have to follow a rigid and restrictive diet. Instead, she focused on eating consciously and balancing her indulgent foods with healthier snacks like fruits and nuts. The science-based and personalized meal plans also helped her lose weight despite her underactive thyroid and metabolic problems.
For Oprah, weight loss was about intentional changes in her lifestyle, including meal choices, exercise, and water intake. She also emphasized the importance of viewing weight loss as a meaningful experience for one’s physical, spiritual, and emotional health instead of focusing solely on appearance.
3. Anthony Anderson
For actor and comedian Anthony Anderson, weight loss was not just encouraged by a desire to continue his 20-year career. Losing weight also meant combatting his diabetes diagnosis. This would allow him to be more present with his family and avoid befalling the same situation as his father, whose death was caused by the same disease.
Anderson’s nearly 50-pound weight loss and diabetes management were made possible by his proactive efforts to exercise more, give up alcohol, and even switch to a plant-based diet for a while.
According to him, a more positive outlook on one’s health and life can be achieved even if you don’t have the privilege of hiring a personal trainer or home chef. Even simple methods like daily walks that get you moving can help you lose weight and deal with health symptoms.
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