5 Secrets to John Goodman's 200-Pound Weight Loss
The actor cut his bodyweight in half by following a few simple rules.
John Goodman famously shed 200 pounds after "pushing 400" lbs. at his heaviest in 2011, he once revealed on The Late Show. This week, the Righteous Gemstones star hit the red carpet of The Golden Nymphs event in Monte-Carlo, reminding the entire world about his miraculous transformation. "I just got tired, sick and tired of looking at myself. You're shaving in the mirror and you don't want to look at yourself. It gets dangerous," he told ABC in 2016 about his inspiration behind dropping half his weight. How did the actor get into the best shape of his life? Here are John Goodman's 5 secrets to weight loss.
One of Goodman's top secrets to losing weight has to do with putting down the bottle. Goodman explained to Rolling Stone in a recent interview that his drinking was fueled by anger. "Well, it was there, might as well use it," he said about alcohol. "Yeah, all that anger was fueled by fear, and the drinking was because it was fun. But I was probably born an alcoholic. But most of the anger's gone. If I don't watch the news, I'm cool." He added to ABC: "I think you're trying to fill a hole that can't be filled unless it's filled with goodness, some kind of spirituality, not saying religion…but just a belief in something higher than yourself, a purpose."
One big move that Goodman made to lose weight was hiring a health coach. Mackie Shilstone, who has trained many athletes including tennis player Serena Williams, immediately worked on revamping the actor's diet. The first thing he cut out? Sugar.
John also started working out with the help of Shilstone. In addition to "just getting out and walking the dogs," he started boxing, which he vows to start up again. "I'm lazy. I haven't been exercising, but I'm going to start a routine again this summer where I can get some stuff done. I've just let everything go just because I haven't had the energy because of the jobs," he confessed to Rolling Stone.
Goodman also maintains that consistency is key when it comes to losing weight and keeping pounds off. "In the old days, I would take three months out, lose 60 or 70 pounds, and then reward myself with a six-pack of Bud or whatever and just go back to my old habits," he told ABC. "Then this time I wanted to do it slowly, move, exercise. I'm getting to the age where I can't afford to sit still anymore. And it gives me the energy to work, 'cause work is very draining."
According to Shilstone he introduced Goodman to a "Mediterranean-style eating plan," which was a game changer. The health coach encouraged the actor to eat a lot of fish, nuts, olive oil, vegetables, and fruit.