Graham Elliott has found the perfect recipe … for losing weight.
Nine months after undergoing a sleeve gastrectomy, the "MasterChef" judge has lost a whopping 150 pounds, and he recently updated his fans on his stunning weight loss by posting before and after pics on Instagram.
"down 150lbs, currently at 255. Thanks everyone for the continued support! #Health #Family #Life #Change"
The TV chef underwent the sleeve gastrectomy last year on the recommendation of his doctor, who advised him it would be his best option, given his line of work: "With gastric bypass and other surgeries, there's some ingredients you can't eat because it will cause you to get sick," he told People last year. "This procedure will allow me to still taste and try everything."
Elliot shares his signature dish on "CBS: This Morning":
Now, 150 pounds later, Elliott works out at least every other day, runs up to five miles a pop, and has replaced the sweets in his dressing room with healthy munchies. With a stomach that's now the size of a banana, he revealed that he makes the choice to "either have a moment of sweetness but feel really bad" or order something "delicious and light like sashimi."
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The TV chef credits his kids ― Mylo, 7; Conrad, 3; and Jedidiah, 18 months — for inspiring him to lose the weight: "This is what I need to do for my family," he said. "What's going to make me healthy is the most important thing right now, so I can enjoy my kids and be around long enough to see them grow up."
Starring on a hit cooking show comes with a heaping helping of temptation, so Elliott isn't the first celeb chef to slim down.
Two years ago, Food Network star Alton Brown made headlines with his 50-pound weight loss. The "Good Eats" star created a Plan of Four Lists, which includes foods to eat daily (leafy greens and nuts), several times a week (yogurt and avocado), and once a week (red meat and alcohol). But some foods are a definite no-go.
During an appearance on "The Dr. Oz Show," Brown revealed, "My zero foods are: I do not eat fast food in any shape or form. If it has a drive-thru, I don't go through it. Soda, I don't drink sodas, and do not eat processed meals, canned soups, or anything with the word "diet" on it, because I believe in owning up to flavor, and I will not have diet dessert."
"Top Chef: All Stars" winner Richard Blais blamed his 60-pound weight gain on the social aspect of the food industry. After he ballooned up to 225 pounds, he no longer recognized himself in the mirror. But it was meeting his future wife, Jazmin, that really gave Blais's weight loss a jump-start.
"What kick-started my weight loss was a combination of a really joyous thing and some massive depression: I lost a restaurant, and I found the love of my life ― my wife," Blais told HLN.
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After running after her (literally), Blais proposed to his lady love at the end of his first 10K race. He also started incorporating healthy ingredients into his cooking and cut back on eating and drinking socially, but he still treats himself once in a while: "It's OK to have a cheeseburger," he said. "It's OK to eat food, but it's important to have a healthy relationship with the food you eat."
Celeb chefs Paula Deen and Art Smith got major wake-up calls when they were both diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago.
The "Paula's Home Cooking" star, who famously once created the "Lady's Brunch Burger" (a hamburger topped with fried egg and bacon and sandwiched between two glazed donuts!), dropped nearly 40 pounds in six months by eliminating carbs and adding more greens, sweet potatoes, and fruit to her diet. She also started walking daily.
Smith was diagnosed with the disease shortly before his 50th birthday. But a major change in his exercise and eating habits resulted in a 120-pound weight loss, and he even reversed his diabetes symptoms. The former "Top Chef Masters" star told Spry his go-to snack is fruit, and added, "But the best thing to do when you feel you're hungry is drink a glass of water." He also dished, "If it's not homemade, I don't eat it — it's not worth the calories."
And TV chef Rocco DiSpirito got some bad news during a routine physical. When he learned he had high cholesterol and high blood pressure, the "Rocco's Dinner Party" star changed his diet and amped up the exercise to avoid going on medication.
During an appearance on "The View," the TV chef revealed, "I walked into the doctor's office. He said, 'Here are some prescriptions,' and he told me what the side effects were going to be. And they're not good, trust me. A man of 37 doesn't want to hear about libido loss."
DiSpirito lost 40 pounds in one year, and he completed his first Ironman triathlon in the process.
