Being in the limelight may seem like fun to us, but for the stars who are constantly under the highly observant gaze of their fans and the press, the pressure can be pretty intense! While some do it for their own good (who doesn’t like a toned body?), others realize the need to shed pounds for the sake of their health.

These celebrities have undertaken incredible efforts to transform themselves – from crazy diets to extreme exercise regimen – and have successfully dropped thousands of pounds between them. Browse through the inspirational stories we’ve gathered, and see what they look like today. Perhaps you’ll be more than surprised!

Susan Boyle – 50 Pounds, Type-2 Diabetes

Scottish singer Susan Boyle shot to fame after she featured on the 2009 series of Britain’s Got Talent, where she wowed the judges who had underestimated her because of her looks. Having struggled with her weight since childhood, it was only in 2012 when she was diagnosed with type two diabetes which alarmed her to make a change.

Speaking of her new diet, she said: “I need to stop eating sweeties and cakes. It’s the bane of my life.” Removing the sugar from her diet significantly helped the songstress to drop the pounds quickly, and she has been showing off her new svelte figure ever since!

Kelly Clarkson – 37 Pounds, Thyroid Issue

Vocal powerhouse and judge of ‘The Voice’ Kelly Clarkson has always promoted body positivism in the face of body-shaming comments about her weight. However, since the singer was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and an issue with her thyroid, she decided it was time to kick the weight for good.

There were many rumors abound that the star had used fad diets or taken diet pills to drop the weight, but she revealed on Twitter that she had simply changed her diet with the help of a book – ‘The Plant Paradox’ by Steven R. Gundry, M.D. Since losing 37 pounds, Kelly is off her medicine and feeling much healthier.

Jorge Garcia – 30 Pounds, To Adapt a Healthy Lifestyle

Jorge Garcia’s weight was like a selling point for him, after all, who doesn’t like to see a chubby, funny guy on screen? Unfortunately, the 46-year-old TV personality was battling food addiction and had to cut back on some of that weight to “lead a more fulfilling life.”

It was not a smooth ride, and Jorge admits he almost gave up after showing insignificant progress weeks into his journey. Were it not for his family and friends – the actor would not have cut back on the pounds. The actor also stopped consumption of other recreational substances, which he admittedly struggled with. Now, we can all admire his remarkable transformation and noticeable glow up!

Shonda Rhimes – 150 Pounds, Mostly For Health Benefits

Shonda won over many hearts as the producer of Grey’s Anatomy as well as its spin-off, Private Practice. She has spent a substantial amount of time in Hollywood going by her immense success, and it turns out, Shonda is not just winning in this field alone.

The 50-year-old was recently the subject of tabloid fodder when she lost a significant amount of weight – 150 pounds to be exact. She also wrote in a newsletter that losing weight even got people treating her differently, and the indifferent stares were replaced with admiration. Well, it’s always beneficial to keep yourself fit!