Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness reveals his own amazing transformation after losing 70 pounds
(Netflix)
As a member of the Fab 5 on Netflix’s Queer Eye, Jonathan Van Ness showed time and again that self-love goes hand-in-hand with self-care.
And in an Instagram post on Wednesday, the grooming expert proved that he practiced what he preached. Van Ness shared details of his own impressive transformation six years ago.
The Queer Eye star said he gained a lot of weight in the three months following his stepfather’s passing in 2012. Van Ness’ stepdad died of bladder cancer.
“After my step dad passed away I gained 70 pounds in 3 months,” he wrote alongside uploading the pictures. “I didn’t like how I felt or looked, it’s so important for me to look back and tell that man from 5 years ago he was lovely and gorge.”
Opening up to InStyle about his weight gain and loss, Van Ness explained he “just could not stop eating, and that took [him], like, two years to lose that weight.”
“My fitness journey now has really been from that really rapid weight gain,” he added, “I was a chubby kid who got made fun of a lot, and I got fit in high school and I stayed fit in my 20s, until my dad died. I went from being pretty fit to 230pounds, which isn’t, like, the biggest for being 6-feet-tall, but I had been 165 pounds.”
Van Ness’ most recent weight loss was first motivated by what other people thought of his physique, he said.
“There was a time when I was like, ‘Oh my god, I have to lose this weight because if I don’t, then who’s gonna date me?’” he said.
But now, the Queer Eye favourite says he works out for himself. “My working out is about me. It wasn’t always like that, but that’s where it’s landed,” he said.
Talking to VMan, Van Ness explained working out was now an important part of his self-love routine: “I always find little pockets of joy within the day to rest up and relax, like doing yoga. I’m really into it, and I’m really into the gym… it’s all about breathing and listening to my body, which is great.”
Queer Eye was recently picked up for a second season on Netflix and Jonathan should be back on-screen very soon for more self-care and grooming advice—and we can’t wait.
