Mo’Nique Loses Weight to Stay Alive

Comedienne Mo’Nique based most of her image on the message that big was not only OK, it was also beautiful and something to be embraced. In recent months, though, the 41-year-old star has started losing weight and she’s doing it deliberately, because doctors recently told her she was looking at a very short, troubled life if she didn’t, as FitSugar can confirm.

Mo’Nique was once a size 20 but is now down to 14, and her work is not over just yet, since she still has to lose a few pounds more. The comedienne is not only doing what she knows best – namely make people smile –, but she’s also getting some serious Oscar buzz for her part as an abusive woman on “Precious.” It’s no wonder then that women all over the world want to know how she managed to lose about 40 pounds so far and what motivated her to even think of doing so.

“On a recent appearance on the Oprah show Mo’Nique shared that slimming down was a matter of life and death. In 2006, at 262 lbs, she was diagnosed with high blood pressure and doctors warned that she was on a fast track to a short life. In late 2007, Mo’Nique made the decision to lose the weight. A decision, she says, that has alienated some of her fans who looked to her as a symbol that being big is OK. She still thinks that being big is beautiful, but says that being healthy and alive is even better.” FitSugar writes.

To make sure she got back to health, Mo’Nique completely overhauled her diet and even included workouts in her routine. “Her plan is to lose a total of 65 lbs. and is about 20 lbs. away from reaching her goal. The main focus was to change her eating habits – she’s cut out junk food like cake, cookies, and chips, and instead of red meat and fried foods, she eats fresh fish and drinks a gallon of water each day. She also hired trainer Erica Sammy to whip her into shape. They hit the gym together on weekday mornings doing a combination workout of cardio, stretching, and weight training.” the same fitness-oriented publication says.

In most of her interviews, whenever the question of her weight is brought up, Mo’Nique makes it a point of saying that her losing a few pounds doesn’t mean she no longer stands by her past comments that big is beautiful. She does, with the only mention that “big and healthy” is beautiful.