Karl Stefanovic has opened up about his weight loss journey, during a chat with men’s health expert Dr Alex Tatem, in the latest episode of his podcast The Karl Stefanovic Show.
Stefanovic admitted that two years ago, when he was at his heaviest, he felt like he was on the verge of a heart attack.
“About two years ago, I’m 51 now, I was really, really overweight, like you know, 15 kilos heavier than I am now,” he said.
“I went to the doctor, and the doctor said, you know, essentially you’re unhealthy. I was always physically active, but I just couldn’t budge the weight.”
He added that the weight gain was beginning to affect his self-confidence.
“I couldn’t budge it, my man, and I was racking my brain, and my self-confidence suffered. And I think a lot of guys go through that,” he said.
“The doctor said, ‘Why don’t you go on a (medication) for a short amount of time that can kickstart your system, lose some weight, and get off it, and hopefully get on the right path. So I did that, and I have not looked back.”
Stefanovic explained that he thinks for men there’s a “stigma” attached to getting medical help with weight loss.
“I think there were a lot of, you know, social pressures out there,” he said, adding that a lot of people criticised the way he had lost weight.
The podcast host admitted he found the response unfair because he was just trying to take care of his health.
“I was like, come on, I’m just wanting, I want to do something about my health because I feel like I’m ageing disgracefully!”
“And it’s just not healthy for my system.”
He shared that the medication had helped him get back on track with his health, and live a better lifestyle.
“So I did that, and literally, I was only on it for like three months, but it made a huge difference to me,” he said.
“I was able to be more physical. I controlled what I was eating, and I was able to kickstart a healthier lifestyle as a result.”
Stefanovic also said his youngest daughter, Harper, is also part of the reason why he wants to stay fit.
“She turned six in a couple of days. I was on a one-way ticket to a heart attack. I’m telling you right now, and now that I’ve started the ball rolling, I don’t want to stop,” he said.
“I don’t want to stop on this train, on this health train, cutting back on alcohol, watching what I eat,” he said.
“I’m hitting the gym two or three times a week. I’m going for walks. It’s changed my life!”
Image: YouTube/TheKarlStefanovicShow
