Famous American actor and comedian Kevin James has been changing his appearance for various film roles. The “King of Queens” star made headlines for losing over 60 pounds through an extreme method that involved water fasting for over a month.
His weight loss journey is genuinely inspiring. He has amazed the audience not just with his hilarious comedic talent but also with his remarkable transformation. He has done such a transformation at least three times, all for acting.
How Did a Sports Fanatic End Up in Acting?
He began his career as a stand-up comedian before becoming an actor. Before that, he was an avid football player. Following his graduation, he enrolled at the State University of New York at Cortland, where he competed on the varsity football team until a back injury compelled him to permanently leave the sport.
While studying sports communications, he discovered his true passion in life—comedy—completely by chance. He tried his hand at a small theater play where he landed a minor comedic role. And he instantly fell in love with the response from the live audience. It took 10 years to get his first solo performance and only then did his career take a turn for the better.
During the 1990s, he appeared several times in the comedy series “Everybody Loves Raymond” and then got the lead role in The King of Queens.
When Did Kevin James Gain Weight?
The actor has gone through changes in his weight over the years. James was once an athlete, but his training stopped after a serious back injury. His weight rose to nearly 300 pounds before he made the decision to shed it. A number of factors may have contributed to his weight gain over time:
- Injury
Injuries can lead to weight gain because they significantly impact a person’s physical activity. This factor resonated strongly in James’ life. - Unhealthy eating habits
Diet choices and eating habits during childhood can be a big factor. - Metabolism
Metabolic rate plays a major role in how the body processes and burns calories. People with slower metabolisms are more likely to gain weight. - Hormonal factors
Emotional state and hormonal changes can greatly affect health. - Genetics
Some people have genes for slower metabolism or a history of carrying more weight.
The “Here Comes the Boom” Transformation
For the lead role in the movie “Here Comes the Boom,” he plays a biology teacher who tries to save his school’s music program by becoming an MMA fighter. That’s when the situation began to shift. For the role, James needed to shed 80 pounds and build muscle. This marked the beginning of his true weight loss journey.
James trained with MMA coach Ryan Parsons to get ready for the role. Kevin James weight loss regimen included a low-carb diet and engaging in daily exercise.
Parsons revealed that Kevin James weight loss routine consisted of healthy habits like eating healthy and exercising regularly. Kevin also followed portion control, used a ketogenic diet, and implemented wellness practices like meditation, staying hydrated, and getting good sleep.
His training consisted of kickboxing, boxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu techniques. He viewed his weight loss as a challenge and steadily made progress. These activities helped improve his cardiovascular endurance. It wasn’t just an hour of exercise every day, it was a very intense workout. He did push-ups, sit-ups, and medicine ball exercises, running up hotel stairs when he was on the road, or running around town. It was hours of high-intensity workouts.
This all-encompassing approach allowed James to maximize boost his metabolism, calorie burn, and promote lean muscle development, all of which were key elements in his weight loss journey.
He changed his diet. His low-carb diet removed all processed sugars and included fruit. To achieve the body he wanted, he controlled his calorie intake. The diet was beneficial in:
- Managing insulin levels
- Maintaining muscle growth and recovery
- Providing vital nutrients
- Creating energy and hormones
- Absorption of vitamins that dissolve in fat
He lost 80 pounds before filming began. He was able to do all those scenes in the ring without any injuries. After filming the movie, although he had the will to live a healthier lifestyle, he was unable to keep the weight off. He went from 300 pounds to 220, but it all came back.
The Role of a Priest in a Horror Film – 60 Pounds Goes
Losing weight again for a new role. For the role of a priest in the horror film, Kevin did not have a trainer, so he underwent drastic weight loss by fasting on water. In 41 days he lost 60 pounds. Kevin James did not use intermittent fasting, which is a highly recommended and popular weight loss method today, but he used water fasting where a person must live on only water and a little salt to lose weight quickly. A little salt is added to maintain electrolyte balance. Consuming only water and salt can lead to muscle wasting, extreme fatigue and nutrient deficiencies” “The body needs protein, healthy fats and micronutrients to function properly.
He himself said that it is not the best practice for losing weight. This method is not recommended at all because there are numerous risks associated with water fasting, such as:
- dehydration
- gall and kidney stone formation
- electrolyte imbalance
- serious damage to vital organs
- overall health
Appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Kevin James recounted his diet experiences.
Kevin James Lose Weight Again – Twice for the Same Movie
The third attempt is actually a continuation of the second. After filming the horror film, Kevin relaxed a bit again and gained weight. But since he had to finish filming new scenes, he had to lose 60 pounds again. And again, he did it with just water and a little salt. Kevin, don’t play with your life, we still want to see you in movies and series. Let him try Mitolyn capsules, which have natural ingredients and improve metabolism without negative consequences.
Long Live the King of Queens
Kevin James is following a healthy diet these days consisting of whole, lean proteins, vegetables, and fruits. He has also cut out highly processed foods, fried foods, and sugars from his diet. Moreover, he also exercises regularly. His regimen is a mix of strength training, cardio, and flexibility exercises.