Celebrity Chefs Plump Down - And Encourage Fans to Follow

Celebrity Chefs Lose Weight

Alton Brown
Host of the Food Network's "Good Eats," Alton Brown told Time recently about what propelled him towards losing a significant amount of weight.

"Celebrity chefs are the high priests of the food craze that is partly responsible for the fattening of America. We helped people get into this mess. I don't see why we shouldn't help get them out."

Brown lost a reported 50 pounds snacking on avocados, sardines and almonds, Time said.

Celebrity Chefs Lose Weight

Michael Psilakis
The chef at Anthos in New York City and author of the book "How to Roast a Lamb," was motivated by decision to open restaurants in Manhattan.

"I was moving [in] this whole new larger, faster world, and I needed to get into shape both mentally and physically to prepare for what lay head," he tells AOL Food. "I wanted to make a go of everything, and I thought I couldn't do it with all this extra weight."

"The extra weight takes a huge toll on your body, and that weight has a huge impact on everything you do," he says. "Fatigue is one part, but everything starts to hurt, your feet swell, your knees hurt, simple movement like tying your shoes become difficult."

Celebrity Chefs Lose Weight

Joe Bastianich
The restaurateur, winemaker, husband and father of three was told by his doctor that the extra weight had to go.

After a life of "almost Romanesque eating and drinking," he shed 40 pounds by running (including the New York City Marathon) and eating more sensibly.

"The moral of the story is that being in this industry surrounded by food and wine all the time does not mean that you have to be fat," he says.

Celebrity Chefs Lose Weight

Rocco DiSpirito
This chef didn't actually feel heavy, but "I knew I could be in better shape, seriously great shape. And if not in my 30s, then when?"

A charity triathlon proved to be the moment. "I liked the training; it was different, and I liked the gear," he tells AOL Food. "And I loved the feeling of crossing the finish line, even though my time was beaten by some 70-year-old men and women."

Celebrity Chefs Lose Weight

Rocco's diet regime was pretty straightforward; he ate more lean protein and healthy carbs, and drank "ridiculous amounts of water -- like 10 to 12 small bottles a day," and he cut out refined carbs and sugar.

He also make substitutions in his recipes, like using yogurt for sauces instead of butter, and has worked his discoveries into his upcoming book "Now Eat This! Fried Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, Brownies and 147 Other Favorite Dishes You Thought You Could Never Eat--All Under 350 Calories."

Celebrity Chefs Lose Weight

Jamie Oliver
"The Naked Chef" is certainly walking this talk, with his upcoming show "Jamie's Food Revolution," which takes on a the town of Huntington, W.Va., which weighs in as America's fattest town.

He and his team jumped right into the schools' cafeterias and turned the lunch programs on their head, replacing the processed, fat and salt-riddled lunches with healthier ingredients and fresh preparation.
As he told The Hungry Beast: "I look at this as a crusade; I don't feel I have a choice."

Celebrity Chefs Lose Weight

Alex Guarnaschelli
On the "Rachael Ray Show," Alex Guarnaschelli, executive chef at Butter in New York, talked about how she lost 49 pounds.

She focused on counting calories. "I just simply modify what I eat," she says.

Alex found a way to replace junk food and still feel satisfied at snack time: "I go to the cracker aisle ... I feel like when food has different textures you don't feel deprived. You can close your eyes and turn a flatbread into a cheese doodle if you will it to be so. You can do it!"

Celebrity Chefs Lose Weight

Devin Alexander
Best-selling author Devin Alexander has appeared on "The Biggest Loser," and knows the battle of the bulge personally, having maintained a 55-pound weight loss for more than 15 years.

"When I heard that if you cut just 100 calories from your diet per day, on average you'll lose 10 pounds in a year, a light bulb went off and I realized that I didn't have to be miserable," she says. "I just had to cook my favorite foods in a healthy and decadent way and I'd never have to give up anything I love."

Try Devin Alexander's healthy meatball recipe

Celebrity Chefs Lose Weight

Nate Appleman
The executive chef of the soon-to-open Pulino's Bar and Pizzeria in New York City and a contestant on season two of "The Next Iron Chef," credits the birth of his son for kicking him in his 40-waist pants. "I wanted to be able to enjoy everyday with him," he says.

Appleman had hit 240 pounds and over the course of two years dropped 80 pounds and 10 inches off his waist. But he advises others to be patient, start slow with exercise and don't expect immediate results.

"It took nine months before I saw a significant change," he says. "It was the hardest nine months of my life. I was in constant pain 24/7. I felt like giving up everyday."

For an 18-month stretch he cut sugar out of his diet.

"My pastry chef hated me during that period, because I refused to try her desserts."

Now he's eating in moderation to maintain the weight loss and running upwards of 30 miles a week: "I probably eat more now than I did before I lost the weight. I love food; that is why I am a chef. Now I run to eat."

Celebrity Chefs Lose Weight