Guy Fieri on His 30-Lb. Weight Loss: ‘Why Wouldn’t You Eat What You Enjoy?’ (EXCLUSIVE)
He gave Woman's World exclusive insight into how he sheds pounds—and still takes it to Flavortown
Guy Fieri’s daring and creative approach to cooking has long captured the hearts of Food Network fans. But outside of the kitchen, he’s made a few lifestyle adjustments that have helped him lose over 30 pounds since 2020. We caught up with Guy Fieri about his weight loss journey and got insights from health experts on how these strategies can be beneficial.
Guy Fieri’s weight loss journey: What worked for him
Fieri isn’t shy about his desire to live life to the fullest, which includes not cutting out his favorite foods entirely. In fact, the chef and television host told us in an exclusive interview, “I say it to people all the time, ‘Why wouldn’t you eat what you enjoy? You go and you live a life that is not fulfilling, and then you get hit by a truck.'”
Here’s how the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host adopted healthier habits to lose more than 30 pounds:
Woman's World Answers
He doesn’t rush through meals
What’s helped Fieri manage his eating habits is taking his time when having a meal rather than being in a hurry. “I have a choice. I can eat slower and then be fulfilled, or I can just eat what I’m going to eat, like someone’s going to steal it from me, and then just have to deal with the factor that I don’t get anymore,” he told Woman’s World..
It’s a smart strategy. A study published in the journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care found that eating more slowly increases feelings of satiety and suppresses hunger more than rushing through a meal. This helps prevent accidental overindulging that can make it harder to shed unwanted pounds.
In addition to not eating too quickly, he’s keen about using seasonings to flavor dishes without adding a ton of calories. “There’s a ton of flavor inside of seasonings and dry rubs that don’t necessarily involve sauces that maybe have more calories,” he noted. (Check out our interview with Fieri about the expansion of his Flavortown product line.)
He practices intermittent fasting
Fieri’s previously credited intermittent fasting (eating only within a restricted time window as a way to limit calorie intake) with aiding his weight loss results. In a 2024 Men’s Health interview, he spoke on his decision to reduce his caloric intake by eating only from noon to 8 p.m. after consulting with a dietitian. “Once I started getting more serious about that, the quantity of food I was eating and exercise, it really changed the whole thing,” Fieri told the outlet.
Since there’s no specific foods you’re required to eat while intermittent fasting, Krista Varady, PhD, professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois, says it’s why many people incorporate it into their lifestyle. “People love intermittent fasting because it’s easy,” she said in a statement. “People need to find diets that they can stick to long-term.”
He does HIIT workouts
Prioritizing workouts that can fit into his schedule is a key part of Fieri’s weight loss strategy, which is why he swears by high intensity interval training (HIIT). This type of intense workout isn’t as long as traditional routines, since it involves doing a short burst of physical activity (like brisk walking, cycling or burpees), followed by a short rest period before repeating the cycle again.
HIIT has been associated with promoting similar weight loss benefits to longer workouts because of the short yet vigorous intensity. However, Nidhi Kumar, MD, cardiologist and host of On Call with Dr. Kumar on CBS News, says you should carefully consider whether HIIT is a good fit for you.
“It’s not for everybody, because this is a really vigorous workout,” she said in a 2023 segment. “You need to get cleared by your health care provider if you want to start something like this. If you’re somebody who has injuries, [it’s] probably not the right exercise because it’s a huge impact to your muscles and your joints.” Kumar also points out that factors such as your form, nutrition and warm-up routine all play a role in a successful HIIT workout.
He goes rucking
In addition to staying active with HIIT workouts, Fieri also includes rucking in his exercise routine. Rucking involves walking with a weighted vest or backpack of weights as a way to burn more calories and build muscle. Fieri revealed in his interview with Men’s Health that frequently hikes the hills around his home using a weighted vest. (Learn how to get started rucking for weight loss here.)
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