Jimmy Kimmel Really Lost 25 Pounds Through Intermittent Fasting
Between hosting the Oscars or the Emmys, delivering heartbreaking monologues, and crafting Instaworthy pancakes for his kids, Jimmy Kimmel is undoubtedly one of the busiest men in television. This late-night vet is also a total foodie — and he's the first one to admit it.
During his younger years, he frequently binged on wings, pasta, and steak. As time went on, his bad habits got the best of him. Kimmel confessed that he didn't even know how much he weighed for most of his adult life. In 2010, he bought his first scale and was shocked by the number — 208 pounds.
It just so happened that around this time Dr.Oz appeared on his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live. During the interview, Dr.Oz called out Kimmel's poor eating habits and lack of exercise — and as expected, Kimmel made a joke out of it. "The next day he called me and said, 'I'm worried about you. You're a young man. You have to take care of yourself.' I was like, 'You know what? Dr. Oz shouldn't care more about my health more than I do,'" he told Men's Journal.
From then on, he started taking his health seriously. For the next eight weeks, his daily diet consisted of two protein shakes and a small dinner. Then he moved on to a strict 2,000 calorie-a-day diet. He saw quick results and ultimately lost the stubborn 25 pounds he'd been carrying for years.
From there, he discovered the 5:2 diet — a method of intermittent fasting reportedly loved by celebrities like Beyoncé and Benedict Cumberbatch. He eats whatever he pleases five days a week and then eats less than 500 calories on two other days. On Monday and Tuesday — the days that Kimmel restricts his diet — he drinks coffee and eat pickles, egg whites, apples, peanut butter, and oatmeal.
"I got the idea from a BBC documentary about this Indian man who seemed about 138 years old, and said his secret was severe calorie restriction," he told Men's Journal.
While extreme to many, Kimmel admits that this diet has allowed him to stay steady at a healthy 182 pounds — 28 pounds less from his highest weight. He also claims that following this regimented diet has made him appreciate good food.
Even though this diet works for Kimmel, Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, the former Nutrition Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, said you should steer clear from intermittent fasting of any kind if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, have a weak immune system, or previously struggled with an eating disorder.
If you're in the clear, London recommended easing into this diet — and stocking up on nutrient-dense foods for "feast days." "To get started, experiment with an early bird special for dinner," said London. "Then close your kitchen and eat a full breakfast at your usual time tomorrow." Of course, always check with your doctor before making any major changes to your diet.
A post shared by Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) on Nov 23, 2017 at 4:03pm PST
One thing's for sure: Kimmel's food obsession has continued despite his crazy diet. He often shares his pancake creations and annual Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes with his followers. Plus, he takes pointers from two of his closest pals, professional chefs Chris Bianco and Adam Perry Lang.
In the past few years, however, he has turned the focus away from his own health and toward his son Billy's. Billy was born with a serious heart condition, inspiring Kimmel to pay more attention to children's healthcare. It's evident that his children — Billy, Jane, Kevin, and Katie — are what motivate him to stay in shape (along with the thought of BBQ wings on the horizon).
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