Gabriel Jesús Iglesias, born on July 15, 1976, is an American stand-up comedian and actor known by his nickname "Fluffy." He has created numerous stand-up specials for Comedy Central and Netflix, including "I'm Not Fat… I'm Fluffy" and "Hot and Fluffy." Iglesias has also appeared in live-action and animated TV shows and films, such as the Netflix sitcom "Mr. Iglesias," the "Magic Mike" movies, and "Space Jam: A New Legacy," where he voiced Speedy Gonzales. Iglesias often incorporates his weight into his comedy, famously explaining the different "levels" of fatness, which include "Big," "Healthy," "Husky," "Fluffy," and "DAMN!"
This article explores Gabriel Iglesias's weight loss journey, detailing the health scare that motivated him, the lifestyle changes he implemented, and the support system that helped him along the way.
The Wake-Up Call: A Health Crisis
In "The Fluffy Movie," Iglesias shared a critical moment in his life when he weighed 445 pounds (202 kilograms). He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and his blood sugar levels were consistently over 300 mg/dl (16.6 mmol/L). Doctors warned him that he had only two years to live. This dire prognosis served as a wake-up call, prompting him to reevaluate his health and make significant lifestyle changes to ensure he could remain in his family's lives.
Embracing a Healthier Lifestyle
Faced with this health crisis, Iglesias committed to transforming his lifestyle. He consulted with a specialist who advised him against bariatric surgery due to his demanding touring schedule. Instead, Iglesias adopted a multifaceted approach that included weight-lifting, DDP Yoga, and a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. This comprehensive strategy enabled him to shed over 100 pounds (45 kilograms).
DDP Yoga: A Low-Impact Solution
Because of his knee issues, Gabriel took up DDP Yoga - a type of yoga developed by former wrestler Diamond Dallas Page. DDP Yoga worked out in the beginning because he was pushing 450, and so it's very low-impact. There's not a lot of hitting on the joints. Your own body weight is the workout. At 450, it was hard for him to go to the floor and then get back up without using a table, or a chair, or something. So when the workouts would start, he needed to put a chair next to him so he could grab it to get himself up. Eventually, he could go straight to the ground and then get right back up.
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Adapting Diet on the Road
As a stand-up comedian, Gabriel is constantly traveling from city to city. Because of this, healthy food options are limited. So he adapts fast food to fit into his healthy lifestyle: "If I go to Jack in the Box and I order a grilled chicken sandwich, I won't eat the bread. But I'll eat the grilled chicken itself. I could order four of those sandwiches, and as long as I don't eat the bread, that's four pieces of chicken that I can kill."
Gabriel loves Chipotle: "My favorite thing in the world is to eat Chipotle. I don't feel restricted when I eat one of those. I'll have triple chicken, with barbacoa on it, a little bit of sour cream and cheese. No carbs. No sugar. Take out the rice, take out the beans, don't put corn (the corn will mess you up, too), and I eat this every single chance I can."
While Gabriel is conscious of what he puts in his body, he still has the occasional cheat meal: "I like going to The Hat. They have the best grilled cheese sandwiches, with the sourdough bread, and they put like four pieces of cheese in it. So freakin' good. I also like The Hat's chili cheese fries with pastrami. So good, man!
The Role of a Supportive Friend
Gabriel spoke about his friend Martin, a fellow stand-up comedian and travel companion, who's helped him maintain a healthy lifestyle. "It's one of those things where we help each other out. … We pushed each other. He doesn't get enough credit for that." [When we're on the road], our goal is to find a gym. We'll get ourselves to go to the gym together and once we're in there, we go off and do our own thing. Because everybody has their own way and their own level of working out. Martin is all about lifting. He's got that penitentiary body. I can't keep up with him. But he'll get me into the door. And once I'm inside the gym, I'm like, all right. I'm here. I'm not just gonna sit down.
Career Highlights and Recent Events
Gabriel Jesús Iglesias was born on July 15, 1976, in San Diego, California, to Esther P. Mendez and Jesús Iglesias. His mother raised him as a single mother, and he is of Mexican heritage.
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Early Career and Breakthroughs
Iglesias began his career as a comedian, gaining recognition on the fourth season of the reality TV series "Last Comic Standing" in 2006. He survived elimination to become one of the final eight comics. In 2007, he voiced an entire Mexican family in an episode of "Family Guy."
Television and Film Appearances
Iglesias has starred in numerous television shows and films. From 2019 to 2020, he played Gabe Iglesias in "Mr. Iglesias," a Netflix series about a teacher in Long Beach, California. He has also appeared in movies such as "Magic Mike" (2012) and its sequel (2015), and voiced characters in animated films like "Space Jam: A New Legacy" (2021). Additionally, he was featured in the reality series "Fluffy Breaks Even," which premiered on Fuse in 2015 and was later renamed "Fluffy's Food Adventures."
Recent Performances and Recognition
In 2022, Iglesias achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first comedian to sell out Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. In 2025, he performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia, an event that took place from September 26th to October 9th.
Personal Life
Since 2010, Iglesias has resided in Whittier, California. He was previously in a long-term relationship with Claudia Valdez, with whom he has a stepson named Frankie. According to a 2020 article, Iglesias and Valdez divorced in 2017, which led him to cancel some performances and abstain from alcohol for two years. In a 2024 interview, Iglesias mentioned that he did not grow up with a specific religion, despite his family's Roman Catholic background, as his mother held syncretist beliefs.
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