Hollywood star Kevin James revealed the extreme way he claims to have lost 50lbs in just 41 days.
The sitcom star and comedy movie favorite, 61, best known for starring in The King of Queens and Paul Blart: Mall Cop, claimed he lost the jaw-dropping amount of weight by not eating for 41 days.
He claimed to have lost 50lbs (23kg) after going on an extreme fast for almost six weeks – and it’s definitely something people should not try and copy.
Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Kevin revealed that he tried the questionable weight loss regime more to test what he was capable of mentally, rather than following a strict eating plan.
Kevin James opened up about his extreme weight loss approach. Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
While speaking about how his weight fluctuates between roles, and needing to lose 50lbs to film additional scenes for a role, Kevin revealed how he changed his body quickly.
He told the host: “I can lose it really quick. I can fast and lose it. Seriously, I could lose it quick. I could do it in a month – less than a month.”
After Joe asked whether he would “feel like s**t” by not eating for so long, Kevin claimed he surprisingly did not feel terrible while fasting.
When asked how long he managed to fast for in a row, Kevin revealed: “You don’t want to know. 41 and a half [days].”
The Grown Ups star explained that during that time he only drank water and electrolytes, adding: “When I lock on, I can do something.”
He revealed that it became a mental challenge during a difficult time for his family while his daughter was facing serious health battles.
Kevin explained: “It was mental. I felt so bad for my daughter, I said I’m going to do this for you, something that I could do and apply it to. It was like so emotionally tied into me.
“I started fasting, I didn’t say ‘I’m going to do 40 days,’ I just said ‘I’m going to do whatever I can, I’m going to start fasting now.’ And I was praying, I was worried. I did like four or five days and I was getting through it but I was wanting to get off it then.”
He revealed that he spoke to his daughter who thanked him for fasting for her, which spurred him on to continue for longer despite the hunger.
Kevin added: “It’s amazing how your body… you don’t need it. You don’t need food, as long as you have fat on you like that. I lost, I think, like 60lbs.
“It cleansed everything out of me. I’m not saying it’s the way to go for everyone – I don’t know, I’m not a doctor.”
However, despite the dramatic weight loss, he revealed that he “blew back up” once he returned to his usual eating patterns down the line.
While short-term fasting can have health benefits, it is always something that should be approached carefully.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, intermittent fasting is not suitable for everyone, and can even be dangerous if you have underlying health conditions.
Fasting for longer periods should only be done with medical supervision as living on water can create a dangerous electrolyte imbalance, with shifts in the body’s sodium, potassium, and magnesium levels, potentially causing heart palpitations, dizziness, or fainting.
Care should also be taken when reintroducing food after a period of fasting, as breaking an extended fast too quickly or with the wrong foods can also lead to a dangerous metabolic condition where rapid electrolyte shifts cause heart or respiratory failure.
Kevin revealed that he has since taken a gentler approach to his health and fitness, explaining: “Just recently I’ve stopped comparing myself to other people and trying to just say: ‘get better than yourself yesterday.’ That concept works for me.”
