Ah yes, who could forget the reality TV series “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” If it were us, we’d leave it far behind in reality TV trash land, but hey… it’s kinda addictive. Dammit! Anyway, the matriarch of the show, Mama June, is next up on our list of celebs who piled on the pounds. However, Mama June always had an issue with her weight and was the brunt of many jokes due to her obesity. She sure showed the world and the haters when she dropped 300 pounds after gastric sleeve surgery.
Mama June was an exception – sometimes, gastric sleeve surgery is a more viable option when the weight loss is more than substantial. She then went on to go under the knife and had some excess skin trimmed, as well as a boob job just to make her feel, well, good! You can see all the deets on her own show: “Mama June: From Not to Hot.”
Marissa Jaret Winokur - 60 Pounds
Ah, yes, "Hairspray!" What a film! Taking the lead role in the musical was actress Marissa Winokur. The actress, who won a Tony Award for the Broadway adaptation of the colorful and very fun musical extravaganza, won hearts! However, she had a bit of a problem.
Always on the heavier side, Marissa was almost admitted with a medical emergency due to her weight. Her cholesterol shot up to an alarmingly high level, and her doctor advised her seriously to lose weight. She went on a restrictive 1,200-calorie diet and exercised her heart out. But hey, the final result was worth it: Winokur lost over 60 pounds!
Melissa McCarthy - 75 Pounds
Okay seriously. Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids" completely won us over. She absolutely killed in that movie! You may not know this, but she’s been on the scene a lot longer – the comedic actress appeared back in the ‘90s! Her role in "Gilmore Girls" gave her more of a name, and she was recognized in many American households.
But McCarthy always was on the heavier side, and well, she wasn’t always happy about being cast as the plus-sized actress who was funny. Stereotypes eh? The actress-comedienne hit her breakthrough with her weight, though: in 2016, McCarthy lost 75 pounds without the help of gastric bypass surgery! She just worked hard and got where she wanted. You go, girl!
Drew Carry - 80 Pounds
Decorated comedian and industry heavyweight Drew Carey rose to prominence with his show “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” This particular show also made him one very wealthy man. Did you know that in 1998, Carey was listed by "Forbes" as the 24th highest-paid entertainer? That year he earned $45 million, as well as $750,000 per episode for “The Drew Carey Show.”
Anyway, despite the cash inflow, there also seemed to be a lot of food going in without much exercise to expend those calories! After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (the lifestyle kind), Carey took charge of his health and decided to focus on dropping a few pounds. The comedian was determined, however, to do things the natural way, without the assistance of surgery. So he buckled down and lost 80 pounds. Sayonara Type 2 diabetes!
Lisa Riley - 140 Pounds
English actress and former star of "Strictly Come Dancing," Lisa Riley, has always had something of a weight problem. As well as being an actress on "Emmerdale" between 1995 and 2001, Riley hosted "You’ve Been Framed" between 1998 and 2002, and we’re expecting a revamp this year! Tipping almost 300 pounds, Riley was heavier and not feeling great about it. The actress, however, decided on changing her lifestyle and getting rid of the excess pounds!
With a tremendous effort, the actress and presenter lost an astonishing 140 pounds! That’s literally a whole person. With a ton of hard work and commitment, she tirelessly fought herself and her weight. Kudos!