Howey asserts that a week of proper nutrition is more effective than a month of intense workouts.
Losing weight can be daunting, yet numerous success stories prove it’s achievable regardless of your starting point. Among these is Steve Howey’s remarkable and genuinely inspiring weight loss journey. His approach combines two time-tested strategies: diligent dieting and consistent exercise.
Steve Howey, a renowned actor and comedian known for his roles in popular shows and movies like Shameless, Reba, True Lies, Day Shift, and Bride Wars, has shared his transformation openly. His weight loss journey, particularly highlighted during his portrayal of Kev in Shameless, showcases not just a physical transformation but an overall enhancement in lifestyle, which is especially significant as he navigates the challenges of aging.
This piece delves into the specifics of Steve Howey’s weight loss journey, including his diet and workout plan, which led to the remarkable changes observed over the seasons of Shameless. Steve went from overweight to impressively fit, with enviable six-pack abs after forty. Discover his insights and strategies for dedication and perseverance in pursuing health and wellness below.
Steve Howey’s Weight Loss Motivation
Steve Howey shares that he gave up on caring for his body when he finished his show on Reba, which lasted six seasons. This resulted in packing extra weight, leading to some health complications, including body pains and vertebrae challenges. He had to improve his body during his next project for health, not just aesthetics.
However, Howey also expresses his desire to look good on screen. His character on Shameless had many intimate scenes, and Howey felt he needed to look as great as the actress he worked with. He decided to lose the extra weight, build muscle, and strengthen his bones and joints.
Steve Howey’s Diet Plan
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When you look at Steve Howey, you’d think he’s a professional athlete now. He just spent time changing his lifestyle, including cutting out alcohol and junk food. Steve Howey said:
“When I cut out the alcohol, I was much more attentive and had way more energy. If you want to be involved, you have to be healthy.”
Steve Howey also used a nutrition app to determine which foods to eat and which to avoid. A study from the National Library of Medicine reveals that diet apps can effectively promote healthy eating and weight loss, improve diet and nutrition, and address the challenges of obesity (1).
Howey also emphasizes eating the right foods for his blood type and tries to limit the amount of coffee and coconut oil he consumes. He doesn’t like cheat days or cheat meals and always follows a strict meal plan. Here’s a list of foods that make up Steve Howey’s diet plan.
- Vegetables
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Sweet Potatoes
- Broccoli
- Hot Sauce
- Lots of Water
“Eating properly for a week is more beneficial for me than hard workouts for a month… My waistline and abs just pop when I’m eating right.”
He acknowledges that though his food choices can be tedious and repetitive, the most important thing is that they work for him. “Sometimes it gets boring, but that’s what hot sauce is for,” Howey said.
Here’s a list of foods Steve Howey always avoids in his diet plan.
- Alcohol
- Processed Foods
- Junk Foods
- Fast Foods
- Chemicals
- Artificial Flavors
- Cheating on a Strict Diet Plan
- Refined Sugar
Steve Howey’s Workout Plan
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The Shameless star showed a strong commitment to his workouts and didn’t treat his sessions casually—for example, he warms up for forty minutes and exercises for two to three hours. A study shows that warm-ups help improve exercise performance (2). Even when he doesn’t feel like working out on a particular day, he at least likes to walk around or do some cardio for ten to fifteen minutes daily.
Steve Howey uses the Arizona State wrestling team’s workout routines, a full-body circuit program. He likes to carry a 45-lb weight plate when working out and doing squat-to-shoulder presses, which are about ten to fifteen reps. Steve Howey said, “The workouts that are really good for my body suck the most. I have to be careful. Sometimes, I feel my knee pop. It’s gnarly.”
He also does a lot of functional training and running to improve his fitness levels. Studies have shown that functional training can significantly impact athletes’ strength, speed, and overall physical fitness (3).
Here’s a breakdown of Steve Howey’s workout plan:
| Exercises | Reps |
| Overhead Front Raises | 10 – 15 |
| Biceps Curls | 10-15 |
| Wood Choppers (each shoulder) | 10-15 |
| Transverse Lunges | 10-15 |
| Front Lunges | 10-15 |
| Bent-Over Rows | 10-15 |
| Oblique Twists | 10-15 |
| Shoulder Presses | 10-15 |
| Squats | 10-15 |
| Overhead High Knees | 10-15 |
| Squat-to-Shoulder Presses | 10-15 |
| Halos (around the head, clockwise and anti-clockwise) | 10-15 |
Steve Howey adopts the 10 x 10 training for these exercises. There are ten exercises, and he does ten sets of each exercise, reducing the number of reps. Howey also runs 800m at top speed with or without plates.
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Wrapping Up
The weight loss journey of Steve Howey is both inspiring and relatable, demonstrating the remarkable outcomes that commitment and dedication can yield. The star embarked on a mission to improve his health through meticulous attention to diet and exercise. While it may not be feasible for everyone to dedicate as much time to the gym, achieving results is still possible through consistent training and mindful eating, particularly maintaining a calorie deficit.
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References
- Coughlin, S. S., Whitehead, M., Sheats, J. Q., Mastromonico, J., Hardy, D., & Smith, S. A. (2015). Smartphone Applications for Promoting Healthy Diet and Nutrition: A Literature Review. Jacobs journal of food and nutrition, 2(3), 021.
- Fradkin, A. J., Zazryn, T. R., & Smoliga, J. M. (2010). Effects of warming-up on physical performance: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 24(1), 140–148. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c643a0
- Xiao, W., Soh, K. G., Wazir, M. R. W. N., Talib, O., Bai, X., Bu, T., Sun, H., Popovic, S., Masanovic, B., & Gardasevic, J. (2021). Effect of Functional Training on Physical Fitness Among Athletes: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in physiology, 12, 738878. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.738878
