Kathy Bates, the legendary actress who has won Oscars, Emmys, and probably a few epic staring contests, just dropped some serious weight-loss wisdom on us. And not just a little bit of wisdom—like, a whole 100 pounds worth. Yes, you read that right. She’s shed 100 pounds over the past 7 years. That’s basically like losing a full-grown Labrador retriever!
So how did she do it? Was it a magic potion? A deal with the diet gods? Nope, it was good ol’ fashioned hard work (and a sprinkle of Ozempic because, hey, why not?). The “Matlock” star says 80 of those pounds waved goodbye thanks to lifestyle changes and diet, while the other 20 decided to take the Ozempic express train to Splitsville.
Of course, the rumor mill has been churning like a salad spinner on overdrive, claiming Kathy just sat back and let Ozempic do all the heavy lifting. But Kathy’s here to burst that bubble. “This was hard work for me,” she told People, giving us all a virtual side-eye. “Especially during the pandemic.” I mean, who among us didn’t binge-eat our feelings when the world felt like it was on fire? She admitted to eating because she was afraid, and also, in a relatable twist, because she just wanted to flip her self-esteem the bird.
Kathy’s reason for getting healthy wasn’t just about looking fabulous (which she obviously does). Diabetes runs in her family, and after seeing her dad go through a leg amputation and her sister dealing with serious health issues, she decided it was time to kick fear in the face and make some changes. “It scared me straight,” she said. Yeah, that’ll do it.
Her secret? Stop eating when you’re full! Groundbreaking, I know. And, brace yourself, she gave up her holy trinity of indulgence: burgers, Cokes, and pizza. Somewhere, a fast-food chain just shed a tear. Kathy also has a curfew for her stomach—it’s lights out after 8 PM. No late-night snacking for her!
And what about exercise? Kathy’s got a treadmill at home, which, let’s be honest, is already more motivation than most of us can muster. She’s even thinking about giving Pilates a try. But if you think she’s out there with a personal trainer yelling in her face, think again. “People always ask, ‘Don’t you want a trainer?’” Kathy said, before hitting us with, “No, I really don’t.” She doesn’t need someone watching over her shoulder while she works on her fitness. Kathy Bates is a one-woman powerhouse, and she’s determined to keep that weight off without slipping back into old habits.
Kathy Bates: Oscar-winner, self-esteem slayer, and weight-loss warrior. Bow down, because she’s clearly got this whole life thing figured out.