Lizzo Reveals How She Achieved Her Dramatic Weight Loss After Initially Trying Ozempic: 'It Wasn't Easy'

Lizzo recently got candid about her weight loss journey, revealing she tried Ozempic but ultimately relied on calorie counting and lifestyle changes to achieve her weight goals.

After years of being a vegan, she transitioned to a whole-foods diet, which included meat, following a trip to Japan. Though she once denied using GLP-1 drugs, she later admitted to trying one without naming the brand.

Lizzo emphasized the importance of a mindset shift, cutting unhealthy habits, and focusing on her health rather than distractions or quick fixes.

In a recent appearance on the "Just Trish" podcast hosted by Trisha Paytas, Lizzo, whose full name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, admitted she had experimented with popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic, something she had previously denied.

"It's not easy," the Grammy-winning artist admitted, reflecting on her attempts to manage her weight. She noted that she's "tried everything," and in the end, it really came down to counting calories.

The "About Damn Time" hitmaker explained that although Ozempic, a diabetes medication that's gained attention for its appetite-suppressing effects can help reduce food intake, she ultimately chose to rely on mental discipline rather than a weekly injection.

"Ozempic works because you eat less food," she said. "That's it. It makes you feel full, so if you can just do that on your own and get mind over matter, it's the same sh-t."

When asked by Paytas how she was able to curb her appetite without medical assistance, the "Truth Hurts" singer pointed to lifestyle adjustments, including a shift in her diet and fitness routine.

"When I was vegan, I was consuming a lot of fake meats, I was eating a lot of bread, I was eating a lot of rice, and I had to eat a lot of it to stay full, but really I was consuming like 3,000 – 5,000 calories a day," she shared.

Lizzo then noted that she has since transitioned away from processed vegan foods in favor of more natural, protein-rich meals. After nearly a decade of plant-based eating, she now includes whole foods like beef, chicken, and fish in her diet.

Lizzo's reintroduction to meat happened during a visit to Japan, an experience that sparked an unexpected shift.

"I heard the Japanese diet was the healthiest diet in the world," she said. "My body was so happy. My body was like, 'more, more please.' And I was like, 'ok, this is what my body likes."

Despite being open about the changes in her routine, Lizzo was careful not to present her path as a prescription for others, emphasizing that health is a personal matter.

"I don't like to tell people too much about releasing weight like what I did, because I don't want people to do what I did, and it doesn't work for them. Everybody's body is different," she said.

Although she confirmed trying a GLP-1 drug, commonly used for weight loss, Lizzo didn't disclose which specific brand or how long she used it.

Lizzo's recent admission about experimenting with GLP-1 medications like Ozempic comes months after publicly denying such claims.

Back in September 2024, the four-time Grammy winner addressed speculation about her weight loss in a pointed Instagram post.

"When you finally get Ozempic allegations after 5 months of weight training and calorie deficit," she wrote, pushing back on rumors that she had used medication to slim down.

Throughout her body transformation journey, Lizzo has been vocal on social media about her fitness routine, diet changes, and mindset. However, she consistently dismissed the idea that weight loss drugs played a role.

In April, during a TikTok livestream, the singer revealed that she had lost 16% of her body fat by making relatively simple lifestyle tweaks, such as cutting out just two or three of her usual Starbucks drinks per day and adhering to a calorie deficit.

Lizzo also opened up about some of the healthier habits that helped her significantly reduce her body fat, changes she attributes to intentional lifestyle adjustments rather than drastic measures.

One of her key changes was rethinking her approach to food, especially in the mornings.

Rather than starting the day with sugary options, Lizzo now leans into more satisfying, savory meals.

"I do something sweet. It's gotta be with some sort of like carb," Lizzo explained, per People Magazine. "I'll have like almond butter and toast. So, everybody's body is different."

Beyond food, the "Pink" singer shared that the biggest transformation wasn't just physical, it was mental. Shifting her focus inward allowed her to break long-standing habits that had been holding her back.

"I loved to distract myself with people. I loved to distract myself with food. I loved to distract myself with drinking. I loved to distract myself with problems that I would create. I would love to do that. And I stopped doing that," she admitted, adding, "And I just focused on me."