Losing weight is a journey filled with challenges, temptations, and moments of doubt. For women, metabolic and hormonal differences can make this journey even more difficult. However, countless women have achieved remarkable weight loss transformations by adopting realistic goals, finding enjoyable workout routines, and discovering methods that align with their lifestyles. These inspiring stories offer a powerful dose of motivation for anyone seeking to improve their health and well-being. Reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes, improving your energy and sleep, feeling more confident in your clothes…there are countless benefits to losing unwanted pounds.
Celebrities Who Have Shared Their Weight Loss Journeys
Many celebrities have openly discussed their weight loss experiences, offering insights into the strategies they found successful.
Adele: The singer debuted her 100-lb weight loss in 2020, attributing her success to key lifestyle changes that helped her feel better both physically and mentally. “I did it for myself and not anybody else,” she said in an interview with British Vogue in 2021. The singer incorporated gradual changes into her routine that ultimately helped reduce stress, anxiety and pain.
Miranda Lambert: The country superstar embarked on her weight loss journey in 2013. “I lost my weight the healthy and good old fashioned way,” she wrote in an open letter to fans after they speculated that she had gotten surgery.
Kelly Clarkson: The American Idol alum found weight loss success through the help of weight loss medication (though she noted it wasn’t Ozempic). “I am doing that wonderful shot that works for folks who need some help, and it’s been really good for me,” Clarkson said on the May 14, 2024, episode of her talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show.
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Jennifer Hudson: The EGOT winner lost 80 lbs by focusing on mindful eating. Hudson admitted that with her busy schedule, she doesn’t always have time to work out, so she’s careful and conscious about what she puts into her body. “I had to break my diet mentality,” she shared with Self. “I used to deprive myself, thinking that was healthy. I didn’t eat pasta, fried food, red meat.”
Melissa McCarthy: Like Adele, Melissa McCarthy is quick to say that her 50-lb weight loss didn’t happen overnight.
Ree Drummond: The Pioneer Woman recently debuted a 50-lb weight loss. In a blog post from 2021, she shared that she was feeling “tired, puffy and desperate” and knew it was time for a change. Drummond didn’t focus on medication, supplements or fad diets. For her, it wasn’t about getting skinny.
Lainey Wilson: The country singer shut down rumors that she had lost 70 lbs with weight loss gummies. “H*ll no!” she exclaimed while on the Big D & Bubba radio show. “I have lost weight. I probably lost about 20 pounds. She credits her active lifestyle on tour to her weight loss and how moving throughout the day is a big help.
Shonda Rhimes: The TV mogul behind shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgerton, has shared her 150-lb weight loss transformation.
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Chrissy Metz: Beloved for her role as Kate Pearson on This Is Us, Chrissy Metz captured fans' hearts with her personal story and weight loss journey. Although she always struggled with her weight, she managed to lose 100 lbs in five months by taking daily walks and following a 2,000-calorie diet. Metz is also an advocate for loving yourself and your body. “There’s so much stigma about weight. There’s this idea that you can’t put the food down or you’re lazy,” the actress shared on The Jamie Kern Lima Show.
Kathy Bates: Like many of us, Kathy Bates struggled with her weight for years. But after being diagnosed as prediabetic in 2017, she turned to mindful eating and healthier habits. Bates lost 80 lbs over seven years and another 20 lbs with the help of Ozempic.
Rebel Wilson: If you’re looking for an easy way to lose weight, you may want to take advice from Rebel Wilson, who found that walking was the best way for her to “get rid of unnecessary body fat.” “Sometimes the simplest thing like getting out and walking for an hour a day is the kindest thing to your body, and your body will respond to that,” the actress said during the season three premiere of Apple Fitness+’s Time to Walk series.
Amy Schumer: Several of Amy’s followers took note of her apparent weight loss transformation including fellow comedian Amy Sedaris, who commented, “You look incredible. Amy-who is mom to son Gene, 6, with husband Chris Fisher-has been candid about her appearance over the years, including her experience with Ozempic. “I was bedridden,” she explained during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show in January. “I was vomiting and then you have no energy. “I'm in bed and my son's like, ‘Can you play tag?’” she recalled. Ultimately, Amy explained the results of taking Ozempic weren’t worth the toll it took on her lifestyle.Instagram“I lost 30 pounds so quick,” she noted. “Everyone has been lying saying, ‘Smaller portions,’” she told Andy Cohen during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live in June 2023. “Shut the f--k up. You are on Ozempic or one of those things, or you got work done.
Andy Cohen: "I did, this summer, lose a good chunk of weight by micro-dosing a GLP-1," the 57-year-old revealed in September 2025 during an episode of his SiriusXM Andy Cohen Live radio show. "I was really unhappy with my weight. My doctor and I talked about this last year, had recommended a GLP-1 a few times to not only address what I was feeling about my weight, but treat plaque in my arteries and high blood pressure.
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Jelly Roll: "I did this publicly for a reason," Jelly Roll said on his wife Bunnie XO's Dumb Blonde. "What I want the world to know and I want the people to see, he continued, "is that I didn't become successful because of my weight, I became successful in spite of it."
Oprah Winfrey: While Winfrey hasn't named the weight loss medication she's using, she told People in December, "The fact that there's a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for," she explained of adding that particular tool to her arsenal.
Tituss Burgess: "Sometimes you think you’re doing the right thing but what you actually need is redirection in order to see growth," he wrote. Enter: nutritionist Sean Torbati. Now, "I’m eating the right food & Hot yoga 1-2 times a week which is so good for my mental & physical state," the dad of three explained.
Danielle Brooks: "I weighed almost 300 pounds when I made Till," she said on the March 19 episode of the daytime talk show. "I had taken all those steroids, I was on all this stuff, and one of the things that's helped me drop the weight is Mounjaro. “I’ve worked with a dietician, made huge lifestyle changes, started exercising with a trainer and yes, I used science and support (shoutout to Mounjaro!) to help me after my 2nd pregnancy,” she wrote on Instagram in March 2025. “And I’m so glad I did because I feel great.”
Post Malone: "I've had a lot of people ask me about my weight loss and i'd suppose, performance on stage," he acknowledged in an April 2023 Instagram post. His inspiration, he continued, was the daughter he welcomed in 2022: "i guess dad life kicked in and i decided to kick soda, and start eating better so i can be around for a long time for this little angel. next up is smokes and brews, but i like to consider myself a patient man."
Kelly Osbourne: "It became my mission," she told E! News of dropping 85 pounds in that initial postpartum period. Not that she's recommending her strict AF approach. "It was a lot of work," she said. "It was miserable. I was hungry all the time, but I'm really happy with the results."
John Goodman: The Roseanne alum has hit a lot of highs and lows throughout his health journey. "In the old days, I would take three months out, lose 60 or 70 pounds, and then reward myself with a six-pack or whatever and just go back to my old habits," he explained in 2017. "This time I wanted to do it slowly. Move, exercise. His sensible approach-lots of walking and a Mediterranean diet heavy on fish, vegetables and nuts-has helped him maintain a 200-pound weight loss. "It's a life of rehab," he admitted to Men's Health.
Tammy Slaton: A huge loss has led to some pretty big gains for the 1000-lb Sisters star. "Like being able to buckle a seatbelt and not have to use an extender. It's big for me. Now, continued the reality star, "I'm more or less like giving myself a pat on the back for achieving something and doing it. Getting the weight off and living. That's what I'm doing. I can finally say I'm living life."
Brittany Cartwright: While the Jenny Craig brand ambassador is hoping to see some results now that she's recommitted to the meal plan, "I'm also just trying to maintain and be the best version of myself for my son," she explained to E! News in February. "I just think it's important to show him a healthy routine," said the future star of The Valley. "Working out is so important to me and for my mental health.
Shay Mitchell: When the world shut down in March 2020, mere months after the Pretty Little Liars alum gave birth to her first daughter Atlas, "I felt the least motivated I ever have," she shared with E! News. Workout plans were tossed out the window along with her long-held "everything in moderation" way of eating. After four straight weeks kicking off her mornings with lemon-infused warm water and a 30-minute sweat session ("It included HIIT, it included cardio, it included strength training," she said of the varied full-body routines) and recommitting to healthy meal choices ("If I want pizza, I'll have pizza and dump some spinach on it") she was a convert.
Lexi Reed: The social media star-also known as Fat Girl Fed Up online-revealed in a December Instagram that she didn't quite hit her goal of getting under 200 pounds. "I have to keep reminding myself progress is progress, no matter how small," she noted. "I just know I worked really hard this week. But it's OK, because I didn't gain all that weight overnight, I'm not gonna lose it overnight either. Because she knows all of her health goals are within reach. "I will get to wonderland," she said. "Whether it's next week or next year, we're gonna get there, eventually.
Paul Rudd: The ageless star "took the Chris Pratt approach to training for an action movie," he shared. "Eliminate anything fun for a year and then you can play a hero.”
Jessie James Decker: The Just Eat author has turned to her tried-and-true South Beach diet to feel more herself after the births of her older children. "I saw results instantly," she told E! News of the protein-heavy plan. But first she soaks up every second of the postpartum period. "I always tell mothers, like, that should be the last thing on your mind," stressed Decker, mom to Vivianne, Eric Jr., Forrest and February 2024 arrival Denver. "After you have a baby, please do not think about trying to lose weight. Just feed your baby. Love on your baby. You have a newborn. Your body is trying to heal. You will know when your body is ready.
Strategies Employed by Women in Their Weight Loss Journeys
These women employed various strategies to achieve their weight loss goals, including:
Mindful Eating: Jennifer Hudson lost 80 lbs by focusing on mindful eating, being careful and conscious about what she puts into her body.
Healthy Eating Habits: Ree Drummond didn’t focus on medication, supplements or fad diets, but rather on developing healthier eating habits.
Active Lifestyle: Lainey Wilson credits her active lifestyle on tour to her weight loss, highlighting how moving throughout the day is a big help.
Daily Walks and Calorie Control: Chrissy Metz lost 100 lbs in five months by taking daily walks and following a 2,000-calorie diet.
Mindful Eating and Healthier Habits: After being diagnosed as prediabetic, Kathy Bates turned to mindful eating and healthier habits, losing 80 lbs over seven years.
Walking: Rebel Wilson found that walking was the best way for her to “get rid of unnecessary body fat,” emphasizing that sometimes the simplest thing like getting out and walking for an hour a day is the kindest thing to your body.
Weight Loss Medication: Kelly Clarkson found weight loss success through the help of weight loss medication (though she noted it wasn’t Ozempic).
Lifestyle Changes: Adele debuted her 100-lb weight loss in 2020 and credits her success to key lifestyle changes that helped her feel better both physically and mentally. The singer incorporated gradual changes into her routine that ultimately helped reduce stress, anxiety and pain.
Real-Life Weight Loss Transformations
Beyond celebrities, many individuals have transformed their lives through weight loss and a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few of their stories:
Sharif Aboelnaga: “Running has completely energized me. It helps me sleep better and gives me a massive boost of adrenaline. My cholesterol is back to a healthy range, and I feel great. I am the same weight I was back when I graduated high school, and probably in as good shape now at 48 years old.”
Mike Murphy: “I had run in several long-distance races in my late 20s and early 30s. I was never “good” at it, but I loved it. There was something therapeutic about it for me-it was a way for me to gain mental clarity and focus. I knew I wanted it to be a part of my weight loss story, so in February of 2020 I signed up for a 5K. I wasn’t sure where running would take me, but I was determined to push myself beyond my comfort zone.”
Amanda Brooks: ‘To anyone who wants to start their journey, I know the unknown is really scary. There’s a lot you’re going to learn, but it’ll be so worth it in the end. For me, I knew I couldn’t continue to live my life the way I was, so I was willing to put myself out there no matter what happened.”
Bernie Isacovici: “Speaking of how I feel, I feel like myself now. I hear many people in their 60s say that they are old, but I also hear others in their 80s saying that age is just a number. I have regained my life. I do feel like I lost a lot by being so unhealthy in my 20s, but I am making up for that now.”
Lokesh Meena: “In November 2016, one of my three daughters was diagnosed with leukemia. As a father, it was tough to handle that news and the following treatment. For the next two years, running is what held me up and kept the family together. All of those races over those the next two years were my medicine as my family went through hell during my daughter’s chemotherapy. Luckily, she’s okay now, but without running, I don’t know if I would’ve been strong enough to make it through that journey.”
Christopher Hasty: “The miles were obviously slow, but each time I went out, I got a little better. I could see the progress physically, and I became hooked on setting and accomplishing goals. I made my weight loss one of those as I dedicated myself to a healthier lifestyle.”
Stephanie Hall: “The feeling after you finish your run is amazing to me. The point where you feel like you can’t go any further and you prove your body wrong by pushing through. I always feel so accomplished afterward. I use running as a stress reliever. It is very therapeutic. It has helped me more than any medicine I’ve ever taken.”
Kim Barefoot: “Everyone is different and everyone has their “moment” that motivates them to make that change, whether it’s an unflattering photo, a health reason, or whatever the case may be. My advice to anyone who wants to start is don’t make up excuses for not working out. When you least want to go is when you need to the most. There were plenty of evenings after working all day when it was raining and 40 degrees outside, but there I was with my bag headed to the gym.”
Bob Page: “I have had people I’ve known for years but haven’t seen in awhile not recognize me. I love that. I love the way I feel, the way clothes fit, and being able to shop in regular clothing stores. Mostly I stay motivated for the years, days, hours and minutes I’m hopefully putting on the end of my life. I’ve got two adult daughters and amazing wife, and I want to be here with them for as long as possible.”
Tanisha Crichlow: “Understand that it is a marathon, not a sprint. Some days may not be great but don’t beat yourself up. Also understand what works for you-maybe only for you. Tracking my food and running have been my unlock, but everyone must figure out what’s best for them. It could be meal prep, cutting out certain foods, doing more cross training… Whatever it is, do what you can practically manage, and also enjoy.”
Tim Gourley: “When I started running for real, my choice was validated that first time I was able to run an entire 5K without feeling like I was going to die. I experienced joy through the physical pain, and the freedom that comes with moving on your own. I was hooked to the point of obsession, reading every book I could find on running, watching documentaries, tweaking my training program, and signing up for every race that would fit my schedule.”
Rebecca Rybicki: “This journey has been incredible. My husband also lost 40 pounds after he started running, and my family lives a much healthier lifestyle, being active and eating well.”
Katie Rider: “The key to success is being consistent. I think many people get caught up in fad diets and then fall off the wagon quickly. I know because I’ve done it 1,000 times. This time I did what we are always told: eat right and exercise.”
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