Extreme weight loss: Celebs Post Malone, Jessica Simpson, Chris Pratt reveal how they did it

Health and fitness are not always easy to focus on, even if you're a celebrity with bountiful resources at your disposal.

Sometimes, though, a small change can make all the difference, as was the case for rapper Post Malone, who says he cut out sugary soda and saw a major transformation in his weight.

Other stars like Chris Pratt and Jessica Simpson launched intense regimens to lose major weight but keep more basic habits to maintain their success.

Here are some of the ways a few celebrities have achieved their health goals.

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Alyson Hannigan

Alyson Hannigan took to Instagram to celebrate her 20-pound weight loss following her time on "Dancing with the Stars." (Getty Images)

Actress Alyson Hannigan shared her unexpected weight-loss journey in an Instagram post, showing pictures of herself before and after she lost weight.

"The before and after says it all. I lost 20 pounds of both weight and emotional baggage during my time on @dancingwiththestars," she captioned the post. "I can’t thank @sashafarber1 enough for helping me shed my insecurities and getting me to the confident and strong place I am today!"

Hannigan competed on the latest season of "Dancing with the Stars," with professional dancer Sasha Farber as her partner. The two made it to the finale of the competition, placing fifth overall.

"I can’t believe @dancingwiththestars is over," she wrote on Instagram after the finale. "But the memories, friendships, and learnings will last a lifetime! I’ve learned that I am capable of doing things that I’ve told myself my whole life that I’m not capable of doing."

Alyson Hannigan and  Sasha Farber made it to the finale of "Dancing with the Stars," placing fifth overall. (Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images)

"And to really just go in with a positive attitude and try and work hard," she continued. "The fact that I got to perform in the finale to me is a win. The support that I’ve had is indescribable and I’m forever grateful!" 

Elle King

Elle King revealed she lost weight over a two-year period, saying she feels much healthier now. (Getty Images)

Singer Elle King opened up about her weight loss in an Instagram post. In her lengthy caption, King discussed her two-year postpartum journey, emphasizing "it doesn't happen over night" and that for her, "it didn't even happen in a year." 

"I fell into a very deep depression during my pregnancy. I also didn’t even realize how intense postpartum depression is and was until I very slowly began to crawl out. I felt trapped in my body. I couldn’t even sing. So I started slow," she wrote. "Metabolic workouts. Light cardio to warm up my body, my lungs, my voice, and my spirit. I am a creature of habit, so I changed my f---ing habits. Every few weeks I feel my body getting stronger."

The singer admitted she had help, as she exercises with trainer Paul Dominic, but told her followers, even "if you don’t have one of those then YOU have to be your own champion. Find music you like! Ride a bike! Go for a swim!."

She did not specify how much weight she lost, but revealed she started out at 284 pounds. She went on to explain, "I thought I wanted to lose weight, but it’s so much more," saying "MY BRAIN functions better on the days I move my body." 

Elle King stressed she is not using any weight-loss medication. (Mark Horton/Getty Images)

"Some days I count stretch marks. Some days I hug myself and say thank you to my body," King wrote. "Today is a kind day. I’ve been tiny, I’ve been huge, BUT RIGHT NOW IM HEALTHY. I can’t believe that I even have to say this, but no, I am not on any weight loss medication."

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"I have PCOS and am pre-diabetic. My diabetic grandfather died when I was 10 years old," she continued. "I watched him prick his finger and give himself shots. I do not judge anyone who is trying to live a healthier life. I can only share MY OWN JOURNEY! I just hope to live a long, wonderful, healthy life where I can drink a lot, eat fish, laugh as much as I can, and die happy."

John Goodman

John Goodman has lost 200 pounds since starting his weight-loss journey in 2007. (Getty Images)

Actor John Goodman has been open about his struggles with weight since his time on "Roseanne," telling David Letterman in 2010 he would lose massive amounts of weight in between seasons, only to gain it back when the season kicked up again. He also shared he was close to 400 pounds at one point in the '90s.

He decided to make a lifestyle change in 2007, revealing in 2010 he had lost 100 pounds up to that point, cutting alcohol out of his life and working out six days a week. He hired trainer Mackie Shilstone, who told People in 2015 that the actor was following the Mediterranean Diet, which focuses on consuming vegetables, legumes, seafood and olive oil, while cutting out fried foods, saturated fats, red meat and refined sugar.

"I was just eating all the time. I was just eating alcoholically," he told ABC News in 2016. "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."

In 2023, Goodman revealed he had lost 200 pounds since starting his journey to a healthier lifestyle. He told the outlet that walking his dogs was a good way of moving his body every day, and he also enjoyed taking boxing classes. 

Post Malone

Post Malone lost 60 pounds by avoiding soda. (Getty Images)

Rapper Post Malone, born Austin Richard Post, recently revealed he dropped 55 pounds with a simple trick.

On the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast in August, Post said he cut soda from his diet, noting, "Soda is so bad. It’s so good but so bad."

The "Better Now" rapper admitted he used to weigh 240 pounds before he cut soda from his diet. Without having the sugary drink, Post Malone said his weight dropped to 185.

He did add that he reserves the beverage as a reward if he puts on a good show.

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Post Malone still occasionally enjoys soda, but only as a treat for a "great show." (John Lamparski/WireImage)

"[If] I had a great show, and you know what, I’m feeling a little bit naughty, I’m going to have myself a Coke on ice," he said.

Fans noticed the "Sunflower" singer’s weight loss earlier this year and speculated about potential drug use as the cause.

Malone shot down the rumors in a social media post in April. 

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"I wanted to say that I’m not doing drugs, I’ve had a lot of people ask me about my weight loss and I’d suppose, performance on stage. I’m having a lot of fun performing, and have never felt healthier," he wrote. 

"I guess dad life kicked in and I decided to kick soda, and start eating better so I can be around for a long time for this little angel." 

Malone welcomed a daughter in June 2022 with his fiancée.

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Valerie Bertinelli

Valerie Bertinelli in 2022, left, and 2023. She credits cutting out alcohol with dropping a pant size. (David Livingston/ Tommaso Boddi )

Valerie Bertinelli shared at the beginning of the year that she had participated in Dry January, a tradition in which people start the new year off without drinking alcohol for the month.

In a TikTok post in February, she revealed that quitting alcohol helped her drop a size.

"So, here's a nice little side effect of Dry January," she said. "These jeans that I'm wearing were so tight a few months ago that I couldn't comfortably button them. Now, they're so loose it's time for me to go down a size.

"Yeah, I like that side effect."

Bertinelli said the month prior she wanted to cut alcohol for two reasons — to curb sugar cravings and help lower her stress.

Valerie Bertinelli was happy with the "nice little side effect" of Dry January, helping her lose some weight. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

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"I want to calm down the cortisol in my body that has been raging for the last five, six years. I've been in fight, flight, freeze, fawn mode. And I want to go into rest and digest," she shared. "I think cutting alcohol will help me do that."

In June, the "One Day at a Time" star revealed she was on the verge of dropping another jean size. 

She went on to detail some of her other healthy habits and said she planned to do another month of no alcohol in July. 

"I have cut back exponentially on alcohol and I’m sure that has helped with releasing the weight I was carrying for protection. And it did protect me. I’m grateful for that," Bertinelli wrote.

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Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson in 2019 and 2023, with husband Eric Johnson. (Raymond Hall)

Simpson has chronicled her struggles with body image issues over the years and shared a unique trick that helped her focus on her overall health.

In 2021, the mom of three told Hoda Kotb on "Today" she had thrown away her scale.

"It was like a Ouija board," Simpson explained. "I have no idea how much I weigh. Like, I just want to feel good and be able to zip my pants up. If I don't, I have another size. I have every size.

"I've really tried my hardest to not let that define me."

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The fashion designer dropped 100 pounds after giving birth to her third child, daughter Birdie Mae, in 2019. 

After a social media post sparked speculation that Simpson was too skinny and using Ozempic to continue her weight loss, the singer shot down the rumors.

"Oh Lord. I mean, it is not – it’s willpower," she told Bustle in July when asked whether Ozempic was involved. "I’m like, ‘Do people want me to be drinking again?’ Because that’s when I was heavier. Or they want me to be having another baby? My body can’t do it."

Jessica Simpson shot down rumors she was using Ozempic to keep her weight down. (David Livingston/Getty Images)

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Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran in 2013, left, and 2023. Sheeran credits quitting smoking with helping him lose weight and get in shape. (NDZ/Star Max )

Ed Sheeran made a major lifestyle change in 2019 when he dropped 50 pounds. He quit smoking.

The "Shape of You" singer spoke about the decision and other lifestyle changes on the British running podcast "Behind the Medal."

"I didn't even touch exercise for a long time," Sheeran said at the time. "I was really into sports as a kid and then started music and started smoking, and then it all kind of went out the window."

He explained that he quit smoking in 2016 and started running to help improve his lungs.

Sheeran also shared that he had cleaned up his diet, particularly after touring in the U.S.

"You finish a gig in America, you get a tray of chicken wings, sit in the back of the bus, watch 'The Simpsons,' drink a couple of bottles of wine. But then that's every single day," Sheeran said.

Ed Sheeran also says he cut "American" food from his diet while working on losing weight. (Getty Images)

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Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt in 2013, left, and 2023. (Jason LaVeris/Getty Images)

Pratt launched a major weight loss and fitness regimen for his role in the first "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie in 2014, but he has incorporated other methods to maintain his physique.

Pratt spoke about his habit of intermittent fasting, first in 2018 on his Instagram story.

"So I’m doing this intermittent fasting thing; don’t eat till noon, try to get my cardio in in the morning. It’s super exciting actor stuff," Pratt joked at the time.

"Look it up! Check it out! It’s actually kinda cool. Works pretty good and I’ve lost a little weight so far."

In 2022, the actor did an interview with Men’s Health revealing his past diet habits during his time on "Parks and Recreation."

Chris Pratt revealed in 2018 he added intermittent fasting to his health routine. (Leon Bennett/FilmMagic)

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"I can’t believe I would eat five cheeseburgers for lunch. I lived in a constant state of ‘Oh, god. I’m freaking sick. I’ve eaten so much.’ And that was happiness at that time," Pratt shared. "Now, it’s the exact opposite. Now, eating is boring. But the times between eating I feel great. Before, eating was fun, but in the times in between, I felt like crap."

He also noted he was continuing to occasionally fast, focusing on lean proteins, vegetables and healthy fats in the six-hour window he gives himself to eat.

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Denise Austin

A side-by-side photo of Denise Austin wearing a pink swimsuit. (DeniseAustin.com)

Denise Austin has been a longtime fitness guru and points to short but consistent workouts to help maintain her physique.

In May, Denise told Fox News Digital the key to her toned body has been "30-minute workouts" for the last four decades.

"That’s right. I have been doing 30-minute workouts for 40 years," she said. "I truly believe that in 30 minutes you can get in everything. So, some days of the week, I do 30 minutes worth of cardio to burn fat, to work on [my heart] – it is a muscle. And then, on the other three days, I do 30 minutes of toning and stretching to keep [my] abs strong… to keep the body strong, toned and firmed up."

Denise Austin said she has committed to 30 minutes of exercise a day for the past 40 years. (Getty Images)

A month later, Austin highlighted an even shorter workout of just under 10 minutes to help get in bikini shape.

The 66-year-old posted several different routines that concentrated on the core and the lower body and low-impact cardio.

She explained that while the workout is "all low impact, easy on the joints," it would help "burn some body fat" and "boost that metabolism," adding that the "more muscles you’re using, the more calories you’re burning. That’s why I’m working the arms and legs all at the same time. Double the workout in half the time." 

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Shay Mooney

Shay Mooney showed off his weight loss in a new Instagram post. (Instagram)

Shay Mooney of Dan+Shay shared his weight loss on social media at the beginning of the year and noted that "consistency" was the secret to achieving his goal.

"Consistency. I changed my entire world in 6 months. No gimmicks or fads. Just consistency," he wrote beneath a photo showcasing his body transformation.

"If that tired guy on the left can do it so can you."

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In October 2022, Mooney shared that he had already lost 50 pounds and was following a simple routine.

"Been a little over 5 months I believe and I'm down almost 50lbs," he wrote at the time. "For those asking: Eating clean/not drinking alcohol and walking 7 miles a day. And some weights. That's it!"

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Mooney welcomed his third son, Abram, with wife Hannah in January, not long after he shared the before and after photos.

In March, he shared photos of himself at an arcade with his two oldest children, Asher and Ames.

He wrote a paraphrased quote that said, "‘I don’t doubt that you would die for your kids. But would you LIVE for them. Would you show up every day. Make the hard choices. Make sacrifices to spend time with them… you’d only have to die once. But you have to LIVE everyday.’

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"We only get one shot at this y’all. Let’s make the most of it."

Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Brie Stimson and Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report.