Ross Mathews, the beloved television personality known for his infectious humor and bubbly personality, has recently opened up about his remarkable weight loss journey. The 41-year-old media figure, who rose to fame as "Ross the Intern" on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," shared his story of transformation during quarantine, inspiring many with his dedication to health and well-being.
A Year of Loss and Gain
For Ross Mathews, 2020 was a year marked by significant losses but also profound gains. Like many, Mathews felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing a loss of time with family and disruptions to his work life. However, instead of dwelling on what he had lost, Mathews resolved to gain something positive during this challenging time: his health.
"I feel like everyone during this COVID thing has been focused on what we've been losing," Mathews told TODAY Health. "You know, I've lost time from my family. I've lost time from my job. I've lost this and everyone feels like they've lost a year. And I just thought: How can I gain something during this time?"
A Turning Point: Loss and Remembrance
In addition to the challenges of the pandemic, Mathews faced another devastating loss in May when his mother, Gaye, passed away from breast cancer at the age of 69. The close bond he shared with his mother served as a catalyst for change. Mathews realized that he had the power to control his health and honor his mother's memory by prioritizing his well-being.
"My mom and I were so close, just beyond close and all my life, I've lost weight and gained weight, done unhealthy things to my body," he shared. "And I decided, you know, this is the one thing I can control and what I can gain in this time when we're losing so much because I can gain my health. Because I think if you lose a parent and you don't pay attention … You're missing out on a gift. And so I paid attention to what it means to have your health."
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Breaking Unhealthy Habits
Mathews acknowledged his struggles with unhealthy habits, particularly late-night snacking and unlimited pizza consumption. He recognized that these behaviors were detrimental to his health and decided to make a change.
"Snacking at night is my downfall," he explained. "I'll be pretty good during the day, and then it's like, a bag of Doritos at night, because I'm sorry, but when you're watching ‘90 Day Fiancé,’ you gotta eat something! And then the other one is pizza for me. After mom died, I really found comfort in what I called ‘grief pizza,’ which is like unlimited pizza."
To overcome these challenges, Mathews focused on changing his behavior by cutting out snacking or replacing unhealthy snacks with healthier alternatives like pickles. He understood that lasting change required consistent effort and a commitment to breaking old habits.
"So for me, it was about changing behavior. It was about cutting out snacking. Or if I did, I would snack on like, a pickle or something. I was looking for the crunch. It was about replacing some things and really just knowing that if nothing changed, nothing changed. That if I didn't make some changes, I would be stuck in the same unhealthy place that I was."
Embracing a Holistic Approach
Rather than resorting to fad diets, Mathews adopted a holistic approach to weight loss, emphasizing education and mindful eating. He delved into the world of nutrition, learning about different foods and their impact on his body. He also experimented with creating his own healthy recipes, which he affectionately calls "Ross-cipes."
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"I didn't do a real diet," he revealed. "Really… I just started learning about food, talking to people, dabbling in this and that and then I start making my Ross-cipes. I've done it just eating as healthy and health-fully as I can, while not feeling like I'm giving up anything."
In addition to dietary changes, Mathews embraced physical activity by incorporating walking into his daily routine. He found that walking was a sustainable and enjoyable way to stay active, especially after moving to New York City.
"I just moved to New York City so I'm walking tons, which helps," he said. "There’s nothing scarier than the gym. I'd rather watch those awful Halloween movies over and over again. Yeah, the gym is not for me.”
The Importance of Mental Health
Mathews emphasized the importance of addressing the underlying emotional and psychological factors that contribute to weight-related issues. He sought therapy to understand why he had struggled to maintain weight loss in the past and to address the emotional triggers that led to overeating.
"I promise you I will mess up along the way, but the thing that is different this time is that I had talked to a therapist throughout this process," he shared. "I really wanted to understand why I could lose it but not maintain it because losing is not the problem, gaining it is is not the problem… maintaining is the problem. I think you have to get down to the root of that and all weight-related issues are not really about the food, I don't think. I think it's about why you're overeating? What you're pushing down by shoving food in?”
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A Commitment to Health and Longevity
Mathews' commitment to his health extends beyond weight loss. He has also become an advocate for quitting smoking, partnering with Nicorette to launch the #StartStoppingShoutOut campaign. This initiative encourages people to quit smoking and embrace a healthier lifestyle. Mathews' personal experience with losing both of his parents inspired him to prioritize his health and longevity.
"That's why I'm working so hard to get people to quit smoking with Nicorette," he shared. "That's why I want to do this campaign. Let's get healthy. Life is so short. Let's go."
Mathews' father died when he was young and he quit smoking then. Later, witnessing his mother's passing reinforced the importance of making healthy choices. He realized that every decision he makes about his body will impact his future and his ability to live a long and fulfilling life.
“I have been lucky enough to hold both of my parents as they died and you think that would be sort of a terrible thing,” he said. “It was not easy in many ways, but it is a gift. Because they were there for you when you were born, and to be there for them as they leave is a beautiful thing. Also, what you realize is somebody laying there, taking their last breath is at the end of the day, it's just you and your body. That was powerful for me. I was really young when my dad died. So I kind of got it, so I quit smoking.”
“When my mom died, for me, it really hit home in terms of… I was much older, almost twice as old and there's a clock now ticking. Every decision I make now about my body will determine how long I get between now and that moment when it's just me and my body, taking my last breath. So I'm gonna do everything in my power to keep my longevity here on this planet as long as possible.”
Looking to the Future with Optimism
Despite the challenges he has faced, Mathews maintains a positive outlook on the future. He encourages others to seize the opportunity to improve their lives and pursue their goals.
“I also really insist, you know, this corona is going to end… it will end and we're all going to sort of emerge," he said. "I know a lot of people are going to emerge, having put on a ton of weight, wearing sweat pants where the elastic is worn out because they've been wearing them for a year, right?"
"Don't waste any more time to get what you want or to be who you want to be. Get going."
Mathews believes that we all have the power to choose a better future for ourselves and that honoring the memory of loved ones can inspire us to make positive changes.
“I refuse to do that. I want to come out of this in a better position than when I entered it. The reason? Because I can. I have a choice. I have the power to choose that. Not to be totally a cheese-fest, but I think any other choice that I made would be disrespectful to what my mother's death taught me.”
A Message of Hope and Action
Mathews hopes that his weight loss journey will inspire others to "pay attention" to their health and well-being. He encourages people to take action and pursue their goals without delay.
On what he hopes people take away from his weight-loss journey is for people to “pay attention.”
"Don't waste any more time to get what you want or to be who you want to be. Get going."
Ross Mathews: A Multifaceted Career
Ross Mathews (born September 24, 1979) is an American television host and personality. He began his career as an intern on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and has since become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
Mathews has appeared on various television shows, including "Chelsea Lately," "Celebrity Fit Club," "The Insider," "Celebrity Big Brother," and his own talk show, "Hello Ross." He is currently an executive producer and judge on "RuPaul's Drag Race" and co-hosts "The Drew Barrymore Show" with Drew Barrymore.
In addition to his television work, Mathews has written three books: "Man Up! Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence" (2013), "Name Drop: The Really Good Celebrity Stories I Usually Only Tell at Happy Hour" (2020), and "Tío and Tío: The Ring Bearers" (2025), co-written with his husband, Dr. Wellinthon García.
Mathews married Wellinthon García in 2022. They dated long-distance for months, with Mathews based in Los Angeles and García residing in New York City. Mathews credits Drew Barrymore for fast-tracking his marriage.