John Goodman, 74, reveals truth about dramatic 200 lb weight loss

Picture actor John Goodman, and you likely imagine his larger-than-life character in The Borrowers or The Flintstones – but at 74, the star looks entirely different, having lost 200 lb in recent years.

In a new interview with The Sunday Times, Goodman admitted it would have been a 'godsend' to have been prescribed weight loss drugs to drop the 14 stone he has lost in recent years.

Instead, to lose the tremendous amount of weight, which equates to around half of his body weight, the actor underwent stomach surgery as well as cutting out alcohol and working on his addiction to food and committing to exercise.

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Speaking of his troubles, John said of his lifelong addiction to food, which began in childhood: "I'd just get home and start eating. I’ve had troubles with my weight since I was little and the shame is just unbearable, so you eat more. It was always a source of my own weakness that I could flog myself with.

"I was eating alcoholically. It was just something to up the ante. It was dangerous. My joints were shot from the weight I was carrying."

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Since then, he has had two knee replacements and works hard in the gym, having begun exercising frequently a decade ago. "I mean, I have to force myself in there. If it was just me, I'd skip it," he says of working out.

In it for the long haul

His weight loss journey wasn't fast-paced in the way we see many stars lose weight now – he's been working at it since 2007 and still doesn't quite feel at home in his new, smaller body. "I still feel like a fat guy, but it's nice to be able to go into regular clothing stores and buy things."

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Injuries on set

Despite living a healthy lifestyle, Goodman is not immune to accidents and was injured on set while working alongside Tom Cruise in Digger.

"I was stupidly wearing stockinged feet, no shoes. I went past Tom, my feet slid out and I went down parallel on my left hip."

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Thankfully, Tom Cruise was able to help out, with John revealing: "Tom's physician was on set and one of his best friends is an osteopath, so I was operated on the next morning."

During his post-operation recovery, the actor said he went through two weeks of rehab in London. "Then I went home and hit it every day, physically pushed it and got it done."

He's now able to exercise again and is committed to staying fit and healthy.