Shonda Rhimes, the powerhouse creator behind Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgerton, has opened up about her transformative weight loss journey, which saw her shed 150 pounds without restrictive dieting.
For the 54-year-old, the process was not about numbers on a scale but about achieving a healthier and happier self.
“It’s never truly been about a number,” Rhimes told People in 2015. “It’s just about feeling good. I feel good and really healthy.”
A Life-Changing Decision
Rhimes’ journey began in 2014 when she realized she couldn’t buckle her airplane seatbelt.
This pivotal moment led her to reexamine her lifestyle, as detailed in her 2015 memoir, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person.
Motivated by her three daughters—Harper, 22, Beckett, 11, and Emerson—Rhimes sought the help of her doctor to embark on a sustainable and balanced path toward weight loss.
“I didn’t want to be fat anymore,” she candidly wrote, adding that she underwent a physical to track her progress and followed her doctor’s guidance throughout.
No Food Off-Limits
One of Rhimes’ key approaches was rejecting restrictive diets.
“I could eat anything I wanted, as long as I ate a reasonable portion,” she explained.
She also started listening to her body’s natural hunger cues rather than sticking to traditional meal schedules.
From her Instagram posts, it’s clear Rhimes continues to enjoy a variety of foods, from hearty Sunday dinners to homemade pizza nights with her daughters.
Mindset Overhaul
Rhimes delved into the emotional factors behind her eating habits, recognizing food as a coping mechanism for emotional pain.
“The food created a nice topcoat… sealed off the parts of me that were broken,” she wrote.
By addressing these feelings, Rhimes was able to rebuild her relationship with food and herself.
A Balanced Routine
Rhimes emphasizes balance in her daily life. Her mornings start with coffee in bed, followed by a healthy breakfast and brief exercise sessions, like 15 minutes on a Peloton bike or treadmill. She also prioritizes sleep, aiming for at least eight hours a night.
Fitness played a crucial role in her journey, with the guidance of celebrity trainer Jeanette Jenkins. Rhimes discovered a love for Pilates, which she praised for being both effective and approachable.
A Complex Journey
While Rhimes gained a sense of empowerment through her weight loss, she also experienced mixed reactions from others.
“After I lost weight, I discovered that people found me valuable,” she wrote in a 2017 newsletter.
This newfound attention made her question how others perceived her before her transformation.
Despite these challenges, Rhimes embraces the strength and self-awareness she gained.
“I became more aware of my body… I started to feel truly strong, like Wonder Woman,” she shared in her memoir.
Living a Life of Yes
For Rhimes, her weight loss journey reflects the broader lessons she chronicled in Year of Yes: embracing change, living authentically, and pursuing joy.
Through her balanced approach to health, Rhimes has shown that transformation isn’t about perfection or societal standards—it’s about finding what works for you and feeling good in your own skin.
