Sometimes it’s easy to forget that celebrities face the same temptations and pitfalls as we do. They are just as likely to indulge in fast food as we are and they are certainly just as likely to fall off the fitness bandwagon. If you’re tired of looking for fitness advice from your usual sources, what about tried and true programs from Hollywood’s best? Let’s take a look at 4 celebrities who lost an incredible amount of weight and the techniques they used.

4. Melissa Joan Hart 

Let’s start with a blast from the past. Melissa Joan Hart, most famous for her roles in Clarissa Explains It All and Melissa and Joey, conquered a 70+ pound weight loss!

Melissa’s Secret

Melissa would often recruit her husband and friends to join her on her daily walks and workouts.

The Takeaway

Find a friend to keep you accountable for your fitness goals. Studies show that you’re more likely to achieve weight loss if you have someone teaming up with you with the same goal.

3. Zach Galifianakis

The star of the Hangover trilogy has always been known for being overweight, adding to the comedic value of his characters. Things took a huge turn when Zach revealed his new look at a recent awards ceremony. He lost over 50 pounds!

Zach’s Secret

Zach claims that one of his keys to weight loss was giving up drinking.

The Takeaway

Alcohol is packed with empty calories. You aren’t getting anything of nutritious value from drinking those cheap beers or liquors. While it’s okay to indulge once in a while, reducing your drinking will result in less empty calories being consumed. The result is (you guessed it) weight loss!

2. Jenna Dewan Tatum

The former back-up dancer for Janet Jackson and now star of American Horror Story had to worry about losing her baby weight after giving birth to her daughter, Everly.

Jenna’s Secret

Jenna reports that she would do lunges, squats, and other in-place exercises while caring for her daughter.

The Takeaway

You can always find the time to be more active. Whether you’re at your desk, feeding the kids, or waiting in the airport, take a few minutes to move around. The excess calories you’ll burn by keeping yourself active will have a big impact on your weight loss.

1. Gerard Butler

Gerard didn’t have a weight problem; however, he did get extremely shredded for his role in 300. This dramatic transformation featured Gerard gaining an incredible amount of muscle mass while stripping away body fat.

Gerard’s Secret

The 300 Workout. While there’s still some debate whether this is the exact program that he used, many people say that it works wonders.

• Complete the following with no rest in between exercises
• 25 pull ups
• 50 dead lifts with 135 pounds
• 50 push-ups
• 50 jumps on a 24-inch box
• 50 floor wipers
• 50 single-arm clean-and-presses using a 36-pound kettlebell
• 25 pull-ups

The Takeaway

Resistance training is an excellent way to achieve serious weight loss (and lean muscle gains). Whether you perform a full body routine (like the 300 Workout) or you do splits, try to incorporate 3 days of resistance training each week.

Tell Us What You Think!

Know any other celebrities who had an amazing weight loss transformation?

Let us know in the comments below!