Melissa McCarthy Lost Over 90 Pounds by "Destressing" and Here Are 5 Daily Habits She Credits at 55
Stress can cause more damage to your body that you may realize. In fact, it can even lean to weight gain—especially in the abdominal region—due to increased levels of cortisol. When this shift kicks into high gear, it fuels cravings for high-calorie, sugary foods, slows metabolism, and wreaks havoc on sleep. Moral of the story? Extra stress hinders weight management, and it's something to take into serious consideration if losing weight is your goal.
That's why it's inspiring individuals who have accomplished weight-loss success and learning what did—and didn't—work for them. Melissa McCarthy is a great example. She focused on stress reduction and ended up losing over 90 pounds. Here are a few daily habits the actress credits for her success.
She Struggled With Her Weight Since Her Teens
The Bridesmaids star told Rolling Stone in February 2017 that she struggled with anxiety about her weight during high school.
"I do think I worried about weight too soon, when it was only little-kid weight," she told the outlet. "I thought I battled weight throughout high school, but I look back at pictures of me as a cheerleader, doing sprints, lifting weights, doing gymnastics, playing tennis, while I wasn't reed-thin like some girls … I was a size six the entire time. So what on Earth was I freaking out about?"
She Lost "A Lot" of Weight Over Five Years
Successful weight loss takes hard work, dedication, and consistency. McCarthy developed healthy habits and stuck with them as she shed pounds gradually over the span of five years. In a May 2018 interview with Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club, the actress revealed she lost "a lot" of weight.
She Effectively Managed Her Stress
One key habit behind McCarthy's success was learning how to de-stress and properly manage her stress levels.
"I think everybody's always kind of working on something. And I was like, 'If I can de-stress and just do it slower and stop constantly trying to be on something.' And then it actually worked better instead of being like, 'I'm gonna not do this and do this and only drink this,'" McCarthy said. "I was like, 'I'm just gonna mellow out, give myself a break'" (via PEOPLE).
She Didn't Follow a Strict Diet
If a certain habit is too intense or strict, it makes it challenging to stick with in the long run. During McCarthy's weight-loss journey, she didn't follow a rigid diet.
McCarthy previously shared about strict diets, "14 hours in, you go bat sh*t crazy. So I was like, 'I'm just gonna mellow out [and] give myself a break … After I had kids, I was just like, 'I have to be realistic. It's not gonna go fast. But I mean, I feel great" (via Women's Health).
She Did Pilates, Boxing, and Martial Arts
When McCarthy learned she would star in Spy with Jude Law, she revved up her workouts.
"The second I knew I was doing the movie, I started training with an amazing martial arts instructor," the celeb revealed during an interview with Life & Style.
McCarthy also developed a passion for "Piloxing," a blend of Pilates and boxing.
She told ET (via Women's Health), "I've lost 30 pounds [doing the exercise] over the last year."
She "Stopped Worrying" About Her Weight
McCarthy told Life & Style that her mindset about her weight totally shifted.
"I truly stopped worrying about it. I think there's something to kinda loosening up and not being so nervous and rigid about it that, bizarrely, has worked," she said.
She's All About Body Positivity
In 2016, the celeb wrote on Instagram, "We have to stop categorizing and judging women based on their bodies. We are teaching young girls to strive for unattainable perfection instead of feeling healthy and happy in their own skin."
For more weight-loss success stories, check out Adele Lost 100 Pounds and Here Are 6 Workout Habits That Transformed Her Body.
