Too Fit To Quit! 23 Celebrity Body Transformations That Are Truly Inspiring

While many people make honest attempts to be more healthy and fit, celebrities have the added pressure of living under a microscope and are often subject to criticism about their bodies. Celebrity weight loss success stories that result in a huge transformation gain major attention about how they lost so many pounds. From Christina Aguilera, to Mariah Carey, John Goodman, and Jennifer Hudson, a number of celebs have adopted healthier habits and seen impressive outcomes.

More: 30 Jaw Dropping Celebrity Weight Loss Transformations!

For some famous faces, losing weight is part of the job, as they drop excess pounds to get fit for a role, while others look to embrace a healthier lifestyle and give up their bad habits. Some stars exclude sugar from their diet, others seek help from personal trainers, and still others work on portion control at each meal to meet their goals. While some celebs have admitted it’s not easy, the results definitely speak for themselves.

More: Mariah Carey Shows Off Slimmed Down Figure

In 2013, Christina Aguilera dropped some major weight, with a source telling Us Weekly, "It's more of a mind-body thing for her. She believes in exercise that she enjoys, doing strength work as opposed to intense cardio."

Pounds shed: 47

How she did it: Avoided unhealthy food, did yoga.

Singer Adele took a number of healthier steps to achieve weight loss success, including giving up smoking, regularly working out with a trainer and cutting down on sugar. According to reports, Adele spoke about how she saw massive results from quitting her tea habit, explaining: “I used to drink 10 cups a day with two sugars in each so I was on 20 sugars a day. Now I don’t drink it and I have more energy than ever.”

Pounds shed: 30+

How she did it: Cut sugar from her diet and generally ate clean, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbs.

Shonda Rhimes has shown she’s a successful multi-tasker in her professional life, creating hit TV series like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal, but she also managed to make her health a priority too, losing nearly 150 pounds. She told fans it wasn’t easy, however, noting in a 2017 newsletter: "Losing weight is not a topic I like discussing... there is nothing fun or interesting or great about it. I hated losing weight. I hated every single second of it. And I hate every single second of maintaining my weight, too.”

Pounds shed: 150

How she did it: Smaller portion sizes, enjoyed indulgences in moderation, did pilates.

Zach Galifianakis may have been a chubbier man in his early career, but he later slimmed down thanks to his decision to end an unhealthy habit. He told  Conan O’Brien in a 2013 interview: “I stopped drinking and I just, kind of, put the weight off. I was having a lot of vodka with sausage. Delicious, but bad for you.”

Pounds shed: 50+

How he did it: Started walking, stopped drinking.

Singer Mariah Carey saw her weight balloon during her pregnancy and after the birth of her twins, but successfully dropped the pounds after following the Jenny Craig plan and working out. After continuing to struggle with her weight despite dieting and exercising, Mariah also reportedly underwent gastric sleeve surgery.

Pounds shed: 30

How she did it: Jenny Craig program, weight loss surgery.

Actress Kirstie Alley was once so heavy she built a whole TV series around it called Fat Actress. Kirstie lost weight following the Jenny Craig program and continued to maintain her weight, explaining to People in 2017: “I’m on maintenance, so I have one Jenny Craig meal a day and then I’m on my own, but I also have my Jenny Craig consultant. So if I feel like I’m going awry, I just call her and she gives me some tips and a pep talk.”

Pounds shed: 50

How she did it: Avoided unhealthy food, followed the Jenny Craig program.

Kelly Osbourne kicked off her weight loss journey when she competed on Dancing With the Stars. In 2013, she told Self magazine: "I'm the most secure and content I've ever been. Though I'm still very self-deprecating: I look in the mirror sometimes and I feel like going back to bed. Everyone has good days, everyone has bad days."

Pounds shed: 70

How she did it: Avoided unhealthy food, practiced portion control and added fun workouts, like hula hooping.

Actor Alec Baldwin was svelte back in the early years of his career, but over the years, he gained a sizeable amount of weight. He credited his wife, Hilaria, a yoga instructor, with his turnaround on health and fitness.

Pounds shed: 30

How he did it: Eliminated sugar, dairy, pasta, refined carbohydrates from his diet; did yoga and pilates.

Part of actor John Goodman's persona has always been his weight, from his years on Roseanne, to roles in films like The Big Lebowski. He explained during a 2016 interview with ABC News: "I just stopped eating all the time... I was just eating all the time. I was just eating alcoholically.” Speaking about past weight loss successes, he noted, “I wanted to do it slowly, move, exercise. I’m getting to the age where I can’t afford to sit still anymore."

Pounds shed: 100+

How he did it: Gave up drinking, ate healthier and worked out six days a week.

Back in the day, actress and talk show host Ricki Lake was happily a plus-sized woman, but with the help of the food delivery system Freshology and regular exercise following her time on Dancing With the Stars, she trimmed down significantly.

Pounds shed: 80

How she did it: Healthy eating with food delivery system Freshology, regular exercise.

Actor and The Price Is Right host Drew Carey is another example of a celeb who became almost unrecognizable when he lost weight. He achieved amazing results with regular exercise and by eliminating carbs.

Pounds shed: 100

How he did it: Added exercise and followed a healthier diet, with some scheduled cheat days.

Actor Jonah Hill had such a dramatic weight loss journey that he was almost unrecognizable from his earlier years when he was a husky presence in films. He told ABC News: “It was mostly diet. I wish there was some crazy thing that I did, like a pill or a genie or something, but I went to see a nutritionist, and he told me what to eat and to change my habits and stuff."

Pounds shed: 30

How he did it: Stopped drinking beer, worked with a nutritionist and trainer.

Like the other American Idol alum on this list, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks' post-Idol experience saw the singer shedding a massive amount of weight. She credits walking, running, and Zumba for her success.

Pounds shed: 50

How she did it: Smarter choices, smaller portion sizes, worked out with a trainer.

Actress Sara Rue was once a plus-sized entertainer, but she turned to Jenny Craig and saw amazing results. She said of the program: "they send you the meals, you add in your veggies, your fruit and you're done."

Pounds shed: 50

How she did it: Jenny Craig program, worked with personal trainer.

Much like her former costar John Goodman, Roseanne Barr’s persona used to include her plus sized figure, but in 1998 she had gastric bypass surgery after reaching 350 pounds. She joked of the dramatic weight loss: "I had my entire digestive system removed, so I should look thinner!"

Pounds shed: 100

How she did it: Gastric bypass surgery, moved more and ate less.

Actress Melissa McCarthy may have had amazing weight loss results, but her method was anything but remarkable, as she told Extra in a 2016 interview that she credits "a super-boring life" to dropping weight, adding, "You go to bed at 7:30, that's the trick."

Pounds shed: 75

How she did it: Clean eating of lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Khloe Kardashian credits goal setting with her impressive results, noting in a 2018 blog post: “My number-one piece of advice for people starting their weight loss journey is to set small, attainable goals.” She explained, “Don't set goals that are unhealthy or unrealistic to achieve, like losing 30 pounds in 30 days. Aim small so you feel good about yourself once you've done it, then set another intention immediately after.”

Pounds lost: 25

How she did it: Ate in moderation, worked out at least four days a week.

Mama June, the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo star, made a dramatic life change, losing a whopping 300 pounds through gastric sleeve surgery, breast augmentation and skin removal surgery. She celebrated her weight loss on a spin-off reality series, Mama June: From Not to Hot.

Pounds shed: 300

How she did it: Gastric sleeve surgery, portion control, healthy eating and regular exercise.

Country singer Miranda Lambert credits portion control with attaining her weight loss goals, telling People in 2013: "I haven't given up everything! I try to just cut everything in half." She also brings a personal trainer on tour to stay in shape while on the road.

Pounds lost: 25

How she did it: Cardio, circuit training, gave up junk food.

Singer Sam Smith has built his music career crooning about love and heartbreak, but he also celebrated a major accomplishment along the way: slimming down by more than 50 pounds in 2015. Sam told Extra that he “basically stopped eating as much,” but noted, "I'm always going to be trying because I love food more than you could imagine. It's always going to be a struggle for me."

Pounds shed: 50

How he did it: Portion control, worked with personal trainer three times a week.

Marie Osmond started the Nutrisystem diet plan around the time she was on Dancing With the Stars and saw amazing results, losing 45 pounds in four months. In a 2009 interview she explained: "We can lose weight for many reasons—we can do it to look good or to get in those tiny little jeans. But I'm telling you, health is the only way. Not only health physically, but health mentally."

Pounds shed: 45

How she did it: Nutrisystem program, regular exercise.

As a kid actor on Nickelodeon, Josh Peck used his larger size as part of the comedy, but in later years, Josh really slimmed down. He explained during a 2017 interview on the Allegedly with Theo Von & Matthew Cole Weiss podcast: "Look, I’m so happy I can be an example or an inspiration in any way, but I lost the weight because I wanted to and I stay this way just because I feel better.”

Pounds shed: 110

How he did it: Worked with a nutritionist and trainer to adopt a healthy lifestyle.