Here’s proof that you can get big results from simple changes in your diet
We all know and love him for his wisecracks as Darryl from The Office, but now Craig Robinson’s serving up some serious health inspiration after shedding 50 pounds in less than a year.
So how did he do it? By cutting back on alcohol since January, Robinson’s body transformed dramatically.
“I haven’t been drinking, since January I just put down the alcohol, I was going to detox,” he told Harry Connick Jr. on his talk show.
“I had heard—I don’t know how true it is—but I heard you can regenerate your liver in six months,” he said. “I was like let me see if I can go six months, and I just haven’t gone back.”
Cutting out drinking can, in fact, have a quick and dramatic effect on your liver—and your overall health. A small-scale study in 2015 found that when regular drinkers stopped consuming alcohol for just one month, indications of damage and scarring in their livers went down by 12.5 percent. They also saw improvements in their blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes risk.
Studies have shown that all the empty calories you consume from alcohol can cause you to gain weight over time, so it’s only natural that Robinson started to drop pounds. He was also able to slim down by adopting a vegan diet, as well as incorporating more movement into his daily routine.
“Then working out and I’ve been trying this vegan lifestyle, too…it’s amazing,” Robinson said. “There are so many great vegan restaurant and dishes.”
Becoming vegan is much easier than Robinson thought it would be, but he said misses his favorite dish of mac and cheese the most.
While going vegan may be difficult if you’re a meat lover, people have attested to a vegan diet eliminating severe acne as an adult and even maintaining athleticism in a professional sport. Stocking up on fruits and veggies has various positive health effects, just make sure to get all the necessary vitamins per day (and don’t skimp out on protein).
However, if you’re not ready to give up meat, you can make these small changes without having to dramatically alter your diet. And as for exercising, try our 21-Day Metashred program to cut calories and define muscles.
