Jonah Hill’s Weight Loss: How Sushi and Running Helped Him Drop 40 Lbs.
The actor turned to friend and co-star Channing Tatum for advice
Since winning over fans in Superbad, actor Jonah Hill has become a beloved presence in Hollywood. But beyond his career, he’s faced struggles with self-confidence and losing weight. Over the years, he has opened up about his weight changes and how his health continues to be a work in progress. Keep reading to learn more about Jonah Hill’s weight loss journey and how his strategies set him up for success.
Jonah Hill’s winding weight loss journey
Like many of us, the 21 Jump Street actor has struggled with his weight for years. In 2018, he opened up to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres about how being in the spotlight made him more vulnerable to criticisms about his body.
“I think everybody has a version of themselves―I call it a snapshot―at some point in life… [you’re] trying to hide from the world. Even if you get success or grow up or become good-looking or whatever… you kind of carry some part of that with you,” he told DeGeneres during an episode of The Ellen Show. “For me, it’s definitely being like this 14-year-old kid, being overweight, wanting to fit in with these skaters and hip-hop kids, and just feeling lonely and maybe not understanding my own worth.”
Hill admitted that people would be incredibly cruel to him throughout his career, commenting on his body and looks, and it wasn’t until his movie Mid90s that he “started to understand how much that hurt and got into my head.”
He also noted, “I’m under construction like we all are,” reiterating that his weight loss is about progress not perfection.
What prompted Jonah Hill’s 40-lb weight loss?
Throughout his career, Hill’s weight has fluctuated frequently, influenced by the demands of his roles and his personal wellbeing. However, he revealed his most significant transformation in 2011 at the premiere of Moneyball.
When asked about his weight loss, Hill told Kidd Kraddick in the Morning that he felt it was time to be a “responsible adult” and focus on a healthier lifestyle. “I was like… a 22-year-old kid, so when I listen to interviews or anything from that time, you cringe because most people don’t have a snapshot from their most immature, idiotic time in their life… all my friends were in college, so I was living like a frat guy like everyone drinking beer and eating pizza.”
Though Hill has experienced some weight fluctuations, he’s now focused on a healthier lifestyle, crediting his success to working with a nutritionist and incorporating gradual exercise.
How Jonah Hill lost weight
Here, the healthy habits Hill incorporated into his daily routine that helped him lose weight:
He focused on healthy foods
While Hill didn’t cut out foods he loved, he recognized he needed to change some unhealthy patterns. “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 to change my habits and stuff,” he told ABC News at the time. “I found that Japanese food [especially sushi] was very helpful to me.”
For Hill, it’s also about enjoying the things he likes in moderation. “I still drink beer—that’s my Achilles heel,” he said on an episode of the Kyle and Jackie O radio show, as reported by Men’s Health. “It’s so annoying because if I don’t drink beer, I get really thin. And when I drink beer, I get a little bigger.”
Although a nutritionist isn’t always accessible, Jennifer Habashy, NMD, MS, assistant medical director at Claya recommends meeting with one if possible, as they can help provide individualized, precision-based guidance and accountability to support weight loss. “They can assess metabolism, dietary habits and lifestyle factors to create a personalized plan that is both effective and sustainable,” she says.
Dr. Habashy adds that moderation is better than giving up food for weight loss because it allows for a balanced approach to nutrition. And enjoying Japanese food, which focuses on weight loss-friendly foods like fish, grains and vegetables is also a smart strategy. To keep this type of fare even healthier, she notes that you can swap out fatty mayos and tempura for veggies and lean fish with vitamins and omega-3s, such as salmon or tuna.
He started running and strength training
Hill revealed that he gained 40 pounds for his role in War Dogs, but wanted to get back in shape when filming wrapped. “So I called Channing Tatum and said, ‘Hey, if I eat less and go to a trainer, will I get in better shape?’” Hill recalled on a 2016 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “And he said, ‘yes…of course you will. It’s the simplest thing in the entire world.’”
When Hill first began his 40-pound weight loss journey, he shared that running was a good way to ease into exercising. On the Kidd Kraddick episode, he said he “started physically running instead of emotionally running.”
Exercise is a wonderful form of self-discipline, explains Cristina Del Toro Badessa, MD, a board-certified physician specializing in personalized and integrative medicine at Artisan Beaute. “It’s obviously easier to stay on the couch or sleep in a little longer, but people who make the ‘hard’ decision to exercise feel better for it and can learn to choose it again and again.”
Hill also revealed that he did 10 push-ups a day until he could get to 100 push-ups a day, making it a staple in his workout routine. “These small actionable steps allow for wins that make bigger weight loss goals more accessible, adds Del Toro Badessa.
He took up boxing
In 2017, Hill was often seen shadowboxing or working with a trainer, though he hasn’t shared the specifics of his routine.
Still, boxing is a great full-body workout that can aid weight loss. Why? “It improves cardiovascular fitness, strength, coordination and agility,” says Dr. Habashy, who notes it can also relieve stress. “Additionally, the high-intensity nature of boxing supports calorie burning and muscle toning while keeping workouts fun and engaging.”
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