Billy Gardell Talks 150 Lb. Weight Loss, How Bob Hearts Abishola Wardrobe Team Had to Keep Playing Catch-Up
Billy Gardell‘s weight loss journey — he is now 150 lbs. lighter than during Mike & Molly‘s heyday — has kept the Bob Hearts Abishola wardrobe department on their toes.
“The true people that were tortured here was my wardrobe guy and my makeup people, because I kept getting smaller and they kept having to go buy shirts, tape them up…,” the sitcom vet shares in a new ET Online video. “At one point we were taping my neck because my skin hadn’t adjusted yet… so God bless them.”
Plus, as Abishola‘s Bob trimmed down as well, “it was a nice progression to have the audience watch in real time,” he says. “One of the gifts of the show was to be able to talk to our producers and say, ‘This is what I want to do’ and they were incredibly supportive and they gave little nods to it as it was happening.”
Gardell, who underwent gastric bypass surgery in July 2022 (and has had a healthier relationship with food since), says, “I float between 205 [lbs.] and 210,” whereas on Mike & Molly he weighed as much as 370. His heart rate has in turn dropped from 113 to 68, and he says he longer suffers from Type 2 diabetes.
One of the catalysts for pulling the trigger on gastric bypass surgery (after bailing on the idea twice before) was his son William.
Gardell, 53, explains, “When you hit 50, you start doing that dad math, like, ‘If I can live 25 more years, and he’ll be 40’…. So I want to be here for him. 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.”
The other he nudge he got was the COVID pandemic, which put overweight at greater risk.
“You’ve 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.’ And I didn’t get that note early on,” Gardell told ET. “But I’m a big believer that when you get it, you get it.”
Love Bob❤Abishola! Truly an underrated gem of a comedy. Fantastic ensemble cast.
It’s hard to picture him skinny, just like John Goodman.
Glad he did this, but he went a little too far, I feel. His face looks gaunt and unhealthy.
Agreed. But in due time I believe Billy will figure it out and found that balance. Like, for example, I had a similar opinion as yours some years back in regards to magician Penn Jillette, but then He found that correction so to speak and looks aces today.
I must agree with you. That type of surgery worked out so well for Billy’s ex co-star, Melissa McCarthy – she still is round and beautiful in all the best ways despite having also lost a great amount of weight. Melissa looks super healthy and happy whereas Billy looks to be miserable and he just doesn’t appear to be well. I certainly believe him when he says his health stats are in a better range but I can no longer bear to watch his show. And, yes, that is definitely a ‘me problem’ and not Billy’s concern. If he is happy, then I am happy for him!
Oh no, the star of the show dealt with a major and potentialy fatal health problem. Better stop watching the show because he no longer fits into my narrative.
Bless your heart (no pun intended.) Understanding comments in totality can be a foreign concept to some.
She didn’t have surgery
Those features will fill out over time, some progress already captured in the current season.
I’m really confused by these comments saying he looks unhealthy or gaunt. I think he looks great and so healthy. Really proud of him. This was a huge step and glad he was brave enough to do what needed doing.
He only looks guant to some because they’re used to seeing him with so much weight and it takes time to get used to, face shapes vary some people have more fat in their face naturally and some don’t. he looks like a normal slim person, he looked unhealthy when he was obese.
Congratulations to him. There’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, but you can get your numbers back to normal, but the disease is still there just dormant.
I think it’s great that he did this for his health. That’s just amazing. I dont get why people think he doesn’t look healthy or that he lost too much weight.
It takes 12 to 18 months to be on your stable weight after bariatric surgery.
Also don’t assume how or why people lost or gained weight. We don’t know about Melissa Mccarthy weightloss journey cause she doesn’t talk about .
One of the things I was taught in WW. you don’t gain weight overnight, and you don’t lose weight overnight. It happens in time and in time his body will find the right balance.
Kudos to him.
I am so proud and happy for you taking care of your health also looking so suave … CONGRATULATIONS !!👏👏🎈🎈 I love Mike And Molly and also BOB & ARBISHOLA ❤️