Billy Gardell has shared an update about his weight loss journey. The 53-year-old actor said in a recent interview that he no longer has diabetes after undergoing a massive weight loss following his 2021 gastric bypass surgery.
He shared his happiness about being able to now shop for clothes from normal-sized stores, although he does miss his “fat boy pants.”
The father of one also revealed that he received a lot of support from the showrunners and crew of “Bob Hearts Abishola,” where he stars as one of the main characters.
Keep on reading to learn more.
Billy Gardell Is Free Of Type 2 Diabetes
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Gardell shared that he no longer afflicted with Type 2 diabetes after undergoing a massive weight loss following his 2021 gastric bypass surgery.
The actor weighed over 370 pounds nearly a decade ago but now “floats between 205 and 210,” losing over 150 pounds.
Reflecting on his new look, Gardell noted that he owed it all to his decision to begin a “self-care” journey and feels he has achieved what he set out to do at the start.
“I think you got to find peace with yourself and at some point, look in the mirror and go you know, it’s probably time to take care of you,” the “Mike & Molly” star told the publication.
Other perks that came with the weight loss include having his resting heart rate drop from 113 to 68 and finally being able to shop for clothing at stores outside of those that catered only to his previous weight.
Billy Gardell Wants To Be A ‘Good Example of Health’ For His Son
While his new look makes him happy, Gardell claims that some individuals have overlooked the advantage of his lifestyle changes and would ask probing, needless questions instead.
“There’s always people online that, you know, when I was heavy, they were like ‘You’re too heavy!’ And now it’s like, ‘Are you sick?’ Can I just walk the earth, please,” the actor said.
The “Mike & Molly” alum added that his desire to live long enough to play a significant role in his son’s life motivates him to put in the effort every day.
“When you hit 50, you start doing that dad math, like, ‘If I can live 25 more years, and he’ll be 40,’ … You know what I mean? So I want to be here for him,” he said, referencing his son William III whom he shares with Patty Knight
“I’ve been an example in a lot of good ways for my child, but I feel like I wasn’t a good example of health for him. And so I want him to see that.”
‘I’m Still Smoking Cigarettes’
Despite being keen on living a healthy life for his son, Gardell is still holding on to a habit but hopes to get rid of it soon.
“I’m still smoking cigarettes,” the “Young Sheldon” star said. “But I’m working on that one. A buddy of mine told me, ‘Knock them down in the order they’re killing you.'”
Elsewhere in the interview, he joked that he had a few regrets about dropping weight, particularly the ease with which he could put on and take off his “fat boy pants,” as opposed to the new ones.
“The ankles are too tight,” he joked about the new pants in his wardrobe. “I don’t want to do yoga to get out of my pants. That’s where I miss my fat boy pants because you could drop them and step out like a fireman.”
Billy Gardell On The Support He Received
Through his journey of “self-care,” Gardell has received support from all corners, including the showrunners of the hit series “Bob Hearts Abishola.”
He stars in the show as Bob, one half of the iconic duo, alongside Folake Olowofoyeku, who plays Abishola. The series, which made its debut in 2019, ran for four seasons before recently receiving approval for a fifth season due to its growing popularity with viewers.
“They were incredibly supportive, and they just gave little nods to it as it was happening,” Gardell said of the showrunners as he discussed how easy it was to share with them his wishes about embarking on a physical transformation.
Gardell also gave props to the wardrobe and makeup people, who made sure he looked good despite the unnerving changes his body was going through.
He said, “They got me through it. They made me look good all the way through. And it was a nice progression to have the audience watch in real-time.”
