The HBO‘s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel host Bryant Gumbel had a remarkable weight loss journey during the early 2000s. He dropped an exceptional 55 lbs or 24.94 kg within half a year.
After he dropped his weight, a lot of his fans were curious as to how he lost all that weight. Not only that, but his fans also wanted to know if he was sick in any way. Well, a change in lifestyle changed his life around. But, his fans’ speculations of him being sick was also correct; he had lung cancer.
Here we’ve tried to include everything that we can about Bryant Gumbel’s weight loss journey and his lung cancer. So, keep on reading!
Bryant Gumbel’s Weight Loss Journey
The former host of NBC’s Today, Bryant Gumbel lost over 55 lbs of weight in 2003. He dropped his size from 38 or 40 to just 31 within seven months.
Source: Getty Images / J. Countess / WireImage
Bryant started his weight loss journey after he felt a dire need to shed some pounds. When he stepped on the scale, his weight was over 240 lbs or 108.8 kg. Considering his weight and height of 5 feet 9 inches, he was obese according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). So, it was now or never.
I didn’t walk down the street and have somebody yell, ‘Hey, tubby!’
Bryant Gumbel on his weight!
While talking about his weight, the father of two revealed that he had a fluctuating weight as he had a hectic lifestyle.
I’ve lost a thousand pounds in my life, but they’ve always been the wrong way.
Bryant Gumbel on his weight!
Though Gumbel had no problems of blood pressure and cholesterol levels whatsoever, his major problem was of him cultivating bad habits. His eating habits included munching on M&Ms, crunchy, spicy, and salty foods. He went on to reveal that if he sat in a Mexican restaurant, he’d snack on chips until finishing them – and when the baskets were refilled, he’d finish them again.
One of his close friends, Matt Lauer revealed that he would do the exact opposite during the Christmas times as he would go on a water diet and other weight loss diets of all sorts. Matt continuously asked Bryant to take care of his health 15% better the other eleven months so that he wouldn’t have to go through all those diets but his schedule didn’t let him change his lifestyle.
Source: Getty Images / Jim Spellman / WireImage
When the husband of Harley Quinlan left CBS’s Early Show in May 2002, it was a life-changer for him. He didn’t have to wake up at 4 a.m. and hence, had the time to devote to healthy living.
In January 2003, when he weighed 240 lbs, he decided to change his lifestyle for the good. He started working out at the gym with his personal trainer Jason Mittleman at least two hours a day at his apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
According to Matt, it was quite a turnaround for him as on one Christmas, he had given Gumbel a gift of five sessions with a personal trainer, which he doesn’t know if the former NBC host had ever used. But, now, he divulged that Bryant would make sure that there’s a gym at the hotel every time he traveled. He also changed his eating habits as he started consuming breakfast and lunch every day which he wasn’t used to.
I was the guy who ate one meal a day, and when I sat down to eat, I would really eat.
Bryant Gumbel on his eating habits.
Well, the Bates College graduate fought his instincts to eat 50 chicken wings on one go and now, he’s maintaining a better lifestyle. He still drinks beer and what he loves but, now he’s doing it all right.
The changes in Bryant’s physique were apparent. He revealed that he wore his wedding suit in July 2003 and it’s just huge. Gumbel never thought that he would wear 31′s again but now, he does.
Even now, Bryant looks like he’s maintaining his weight and a healthy lifestyle though he’s 71 years of age. A huge round of applause for him guys!
Bryant Gumbel and Cancer!
Now talking about Bryant Gumbel’s cancer details, it was revealed at the American talk show, Live with Regis and Kelly in December 2009. When Kelly Ripa asked him to dance to introduce a segment, he denied the proposal. He revealed that he couldn’t participate in dance because his doctor had recommended him to rest after his cancer surgery.
Source: Daytime Confidential
This was shocking news to all of his producers and even friends. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Since it was just in its early stages, the doctors performed a surgery on Gumbel. They opened his chest, removed the malignant tumor, and a small part of his lung. He had to take medication for a year and well, the prognosis on December 2, 2010, showed excellent results, he was cancer-free.
Well, Bryant’s cancer treatment might have helped him in his weight loss, but since, he didn’t have any weight goal, he kept on to his diet and his workout routines. Even now, after all these years, the 71 years old still looks his best.
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