John Goodman, known for his roles in films and television shows like Roseanne and The Big Lebowski, has undergone a noticeable weight transformation over the years. The actor, who reportedly weighed over 400 pounds about a decade ago, recently emerged in new photos over the weekend, showcasing a strikingly significant weight loss, with various sources contemplating that he has shed an astonishing 200 pounds.
Goodman made an appearance at the Monte Carlo TV Festival, and his looks were quite surprising as it marked a notable departure from the image of the actor who rose to fame portraying the character of Dan Conner on the popular TV series Roseanne.
John Goodman shares details of his struggles with his weight
The 71-year-old has been open about his struggles with weight and has made efforts to improve his health. During an interview with ABC News in 2016, Goodman shared insights on his weight loss journey and shed light on how he managed to initiate his transformation. “I just stopped eating all the time. I’d have a handful of food and it’d go to my mouth,” he admitted. “I was just eating all the time. I was just eating alcoholically.”
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The actor also got candid about his personal battle with alcoholism for 30 years until he achieved sobriety in 2007. “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 confessed to ABC News. “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.”
“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 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,” he continued. “But just a belief in something higher than yourself, a purpose. But instead of filling it with booze or cocaine or food, you just acknowledge that it’s there. You can’t fill it. And you go on and live with it.”
The actor sought professional help while combatting his weight
During his struggles with his weight, Goodman sought professional assistance, which helped him on the journey. In a 2010 interview with People, the actor revealed that he contacted Mackie Shilstone, a renowned health coach known for working with athletes such as Serena Williams, and together, they implemented a regimen that involved eliminating sugar from his diet and incorporating six weekly workouts sessions, all aimed at helping him achieve his fitness goals and attain a slimmer physique.
Goodman further explained that although it was a bit difficult, he took it on because of his desire to be healthy. “I’m breaking a sweat, but I’m not going nuts,” he told People. “It takes a lot of creative energy to sit on your ass and figure out what you’re going to eat next… I wanted to live better.”