“I feel amazing. I feel strong. I feel proud of myself.” That’s Ricki Lake, beaming from her phone screen, wearing a beaming smile that’s about 40 pounds lighter than it was just months ago. And yes — in case you’re wondering — she did it without Ozempic.

We sat down (well, virtually) with the beloved Hairspray star to talk sweat, setbacks, and the secret power of strapping a weighted vest on for a good ol’ fashioned walk. And spoiler alert: this isn’t your average “celebrity dropped a few pounds” headline. This is about choice, commitment, and a little bit of keto courage.

"Ricki Lake Weight Loss": What Really Happened Behind the Headlines

Let’s back up to October 2023.

Ricki, now 56, had had enough. “I looked in the mirror and just thought, ‘This isn’t me. I don’t feel like myself,’” she tells us, her voice soft but firm. “But I wasn’t going to go the easy route. My doctor wanted me on medication. I said no.”

That medication? Ozempic. The buzzy, celebrity-favorite weight-loss injection. But Ricki wanted her victory to be her own. No shortcuts. No scripts. “I wanted to do it naturally,” she says, “or not at all.”

So, she did.

A Shared Journey: “Do You Want To Do This With Me?”

Turns out, the journey wasn’t just Ricki’s. Her husband, Ross Burningham, joined her too — and together, they turned a shared commitment into daily reality.

“We just made a decision,” she says, laughing. “I turned to Ross and was like, ‘You in?’ And he was like, ‘Let’s go.’ And we did.”

From there, the couple started intermittent fasting — skipping breakfast, tightening their eating window, and letting their bodies breathe between meals. “At first, it was hard. I’m not gonna lie. But it became freeing. Like, I wasn’t controlled by food anymore.”

They paired that with a keto lifestyle — high-fat, low-carb, moderate protein. And let’s just say, bread wasn’t missed for long.

Wait, What Is “Rucking”? And Why Did It Melt Off 40 Pounds?

Let’s talk workouts. Ricki didn’t hit some secret A-list gym with velvet ropes and private trainers. Nope. She started rucking.

“Rucking is just hiking… with a weighted vest,” she explains. “I started doing it every day. It became kind of addictive, in a good way.”

Add in Pilates four times a week, and the results came fast — but sustainably. Ricki didn’t crash diet. She didn’t lock herself in a gym. She just moved with purpose, with resistance, and with consistency.

By January 2025, she was down 40 pounds — and glowing.

The Numbers: From 200+ to Stronger Than Ever

While Ricki hasn’t publicized her starting weight, what she has said is loud and clear: “I’ve lost over 40 pounds since October.”

Let’s break that down:

• Start: October 2023

• By May 2024: Down 35 pounds

• By January 2025: Down 40 pounds — and holding steady

• Age: 56

• Medications used: ZERO

“I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been,” Ricki says. “I didn’t need to be skinny. I just wanted to feel good.”

Mission. Accomplished.

Real Talk: “It’s Not About Vanity. It’s About Feeling Alive Again.”

If you think this was about fitting into old jeans or red-carpet photos, think again.

Ricki is quick to point out: “This wasn’t a vanity thing. I’ve lived a lot of life — I’ve grieved, I’ve battled depression, I’ve gained and lost before. This time felt different. It was about healing, inside out.”

She opens up about the pressures of being a woman in the public eye, especially one who’s been in that spotlight since her teens. “I’ve always been body positive. But positivity doesn’t mean complacency. I wanted energy. I wanted to feel alive.”

And guess what? She’s wearing a dress from 2007 now. And she looks GOOD.

FAQs: What Everyone’s Asking About Ricki Lake Weight Loss

Through natural, sustainable methods: intermittent fasting, a keto-based diet, daily “rucking” (hiking with a weighted vest), and regular Pilates sessions. No medications.

Nope! Ricki specifically refused Ozempic, despite her doctor recommending it. She wanted to do it on her own terms — and she did.

Rucking is walking or hiking with a weighted vest. It increases calorie burn and builds muscle without needing a fancy gym. Ricki did it daily — and loved it.

40 pounds between October 2023 and January 2025.

Yes! Ricki and Ross both committed to the lifestyle changes, and they each lost over 30 pounds.

From “Talk Show Queen” to Wellness Warrior

Ricki Lake has reinvented herself more than once — TV host, actress, producer, advocate. But this chapter? It might be her boldest yet.

“It’s funny,” she muses. “At 56, I feel more in control, more vibrant than I did at 26. I didn’t expect that. But here we are.”

And if you're thinking this whole thing sounds too good to be true, Ricki gets that. “People ask, ‘What’s your secret?’” she says, grinning. “The secret is: there is no secret. I just showed up for myself. Every day.”

No Ozempic. No miracle pill. Just commitment, a keto pantry, a weighted vest — and a whole lot of heart.

So next time you see Ricki on your screen, know this: every pound shed came with sweat, tears, and triumph. And every step she took on that hike — she earned.

Now that’s a transformation worth clicking on.