Chaz Bono had been yo-yo dieting for years and even went on a celebrity weight loss show to try and shed some extra pounds.
But nothing worked until he accepted his true identity as transgender, and then he finally felt connected enough with his body to treat it well.
Cher is a renowned American singer and actress, while Chaz Bono is an American actor, writer, and LGBTQ+ advocate who happens to be Cher’s child with Sonny Bono (Credit: INFevents)
Chaz was able to lose weight through good old-fashioned methods of eating right and exercising. Let’s look at how Chaz changed his perspective and kept the weight off through 2023.
Get to Know Chaz Bono
Chaz Bono is Cher and Sonny Bono’s son. He was born Chastity Sun Bono on March 4th, 1969. In the 70s, you could see young Chaz with curly hair performing on stage with Sonny and Cher.
Chaz Bono has undergone a significant weight loss journey, having lost an estimated 65 pounds (Credit: WENN)
Chaz’s journey to transition from female to male started when he was 13. He remembers being in New York and mistaking his gender identity for sexuality. He was attracted to women and had relationships with women.
The tabloids outed him as a lesbian around 1987, although he didn’t say anything publicly until 1995. Even though he had several long-term relationships with women, he didn’t feel like he was being a good lesbian.
Looking back, Chaz attributes those feelings to realizing he always felt he was a man. Once he came out as trans, he said he felt a sense of peace.
Chaz Bono legally changed his name from Chastity to Chaz in 2010 as part of his transition from female to male. He also underwent hormone therapy and chest reconstruction surgery as part of his transition process.
Chaz Salvatore Bono is the only child of the singing duo Sonny and Cher (Credit: WENN)
Initially, his mother, Cher, had difficulty accepting Chaz’s new identity. Chaz states that growing up, Cher wanted him to love being a girl and all the things girls love. But he never really felt connected with what his mom wanted him to be.
“No, that’s not exactly true,” Cher responded when CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in December 2020 asked if she struggled at all with her son’s transition.
“I did. It was very unlike me to — in the beginning — have a problem with Chaz being gay, and it disappeared like that. And then we talked about transgender for many years, and she would say, ‘No I don’t want to do it,’ and then he went and said, ‘OK I want to do this.’
“It wasn’t easy” Like I remember calling, and the old message — the old Chaz message was on the phone — and that was very difficult. But then you have one child, but you don’t really lose them — they just are in a different shape.”
Chaz revealed that his mother wasn’t altogether comfortable with the transitioning process. He isn’t sure if she’s read the “Transition: Becoming Who I Was Always Meant to Be” book he wrote (available on Amazon), but he always tried to be as kind as possible.
Chaz Bono with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Elia and Outfest Executive Director Kirsten Schaffer attend the 27th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival’s opening night held at the Orpheum Theatre on July 9, 2009, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
The struggle of feeling like he was born in the wrong body took its toll on Chaz Bono’s physical form. Before and during transitioning, he played too many video games, drank, had a drug addiction, and smoked. He also struggled with fluctuating weight.
To bring his weight down, he went on Celebrity Fit Club in 2005. He got results, but unfortunately, they didn’t stick. He attributes this mostly to cravings, perfection standards set by his mother in childhood, and fluctuating hormones after he started transitioning in 2008.
Chaz Bono’s Weight Loss Journey
Chaz says that because he had been transgender his whole life, he spent that whole time disconnected from his own body. It wasn’t until he properly transitioned from female to male that he started to take his health and weight loss journey into his own hands.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average height for adult males in the United States is approximately 5’9″ (69.2 inches or 175.7 cm). Based on this, Chaz Bono’s height of 5’6″ (66 inches or 167.6 cm) is slightly below average for an adult male in the United States.
Chaz Bono and Jennifer Elia dated from 2005 until breaking up in 2011 (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
He started at 250 pounds at 5 ft 1.5 inches. Dr. Travis Stork recommended he lose between 50 and 80 pounds to bring him down to a healthier weight.
Speaking with Dr. Travis, Chaz said, “Because I’m transgender, I was always completely disconnected from my body. I really lived in my head and just kind of tried to ignore everything from the neck down. I didn’t have the incentive that a lot of people have of wanting to look better because I hated the way I looked. I could’ve been thin as a rail; I was going to still hate the way I looked.”
Chaz Bono portrays the character Herbert in the satirical American comedy film “Reboot Camp,” which follows a group of individuals attending an unconventional self-help retreat in the desert (Credit: Abby Grant / Cover Images)
Upon receiving the results of his physical exam that assessed his health, Chaz pledged to shed some pounds and improve his overall health.
He said, “This isn’t a TV stunt. This has definitely brought up stuff for me that is surprising and difficult, and I am addressing it.”
And with the Dr. Travis Stork’s help, he has been able to keep off his weight and stay comfortable and healthy. He ended up losing a total of 60 pounds and and “still slowly losing.”
So, what did he do? Dr. Stork says he combined enjoyable exercise with a healthy diet to keep the weight off.
Dance Classes
Chaz enjoyed being on Dancing With the Stars so much that he regularly attends some dance classes to sweat away the pounds.
At the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, he said, “I still enjoy dancing. I still take classes,” referring to ballroom as his exercise of choice.
Since dancing is enjoyable, people are more likely to stick to dancing as exercise. The number of calories you burn depends on each type of dance, as different dancing styles focus on different muscles and movements.
Chaz Bono outside the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ dance rehearsal studios in Los Angeles on September 2, 2011 (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
Fast dances such as hip hop and swing dancing can burn upwards of 550 calories per hour due to the intense cardio movement. Slower dancing, such as ballroom dancing, can burn closer to 300 calories an hour.
Martial Arts and Kickboxing
Chaz Bono keeps his routine mixed with both martial arts and kickboxing. They’re fun physical activities that he enjoys, which makes it easier to commit time weekly to them.
Cardio kickboxing burns many calories: you can burn 350 and 450 calories an hour. It doesn’t just have physical benefits, and it has mental benefits too. Strenuous exercises are an excellent way for the body to release stress and mental frustration.
The calories burned during a martial arts class largely depend on if you’re practicing slower-paced or more moderately-paced martial arts. Slower-paced martial arts can burn between 475-575 calories an hour, and moderate-paced martial arts can burn up to 900 calories.
Freshology
Everyone knows that the most significant part of weight loss is eating right. In his weight loss journey, Chaz Bono turned to Freshology to curate his meals.
Powered by Diet-to-Go, Freshology is a weekly meal program that sends fresh or frozen food to its clients. Each client can customize their meal plans so they eat what they like.
Chaz Bono buys healthy fruits and vegetables from a local farmers market in Los Angeles on December 29, 2013 (Credit: VALPO NNEWs / WENN)
Freshology works because it’s convenient and calorie-controlled. Chaz took what he learned from Freshology and applied it to how he eats.
No Diets
After struggles with losing weight, Chaz concluded that “diets don’t work.” Rather than continue with strict diets, he’s changed how he eats.
Chaz told People in April 2013, “I’ve just changed the way I eat. Diets don’t work. You just have to change what you eat, and I have,” adding, “I cook a lot of different stuff.”
Rather than eating grains and starches, he’s switched to mostly vegetables, fruits, and meats, which he prepares in various ways to maintain variety.
Most nutritionists agree that diets can show results in the short term but aren’t reliable for long-term healthy lifestyles. Your metabolism slows down as your body loses weight, making it more challenging to continue to lose weight.
Chaz Bono with his then-girlfriend Sarah Schreiber at the premiere Of Focus Features’ “The Danish Girl” on November 21, 2015, in Westwood, California (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
Eating right and exercising is the best way to keep weight off and maintain a healthy metabolism.
This is precisely why Chaz’s weight loss journey has been successful thus far, and he’s found a way to exercise in an enjoyable way while eating healthier.
Cher wears black pants and a purple sequined top underneath a black blazer in the Italian resort of Portofino on 18, 2021 (Credit: MEGA / WENN)
Cher is currently 76 years old but looks incredible and has maintained a youthful appearance, which is a testament to her dedication to health and fitness.
Cher with her boyfriend Alexander “A.E.” Edwards, a music producer and Def Jam A&R executive who is 40 years her junior, at the Versace FW23 Show at Pacific Design Center on March 9, 2023, in West Hollywood, California (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
I’m betting she’s had her face stretched and botoxed to death, but I don’t care. I love the woman; she’s epic, an icon in her own right.
Actresses Kristen Bell, Cher, director Steven Antin, Christina Aguilera, and actor Cam Gigandet attend a photocall for the new movie ‘Burlesque’ at Villamagna Hotel in Madrid on December 9, 2010 (Credit: Sean Thorton / WENN)
In December 2010, the legendary singer and actress promoted the American backstage musical film Burlesque in Madrid.
She was joined by her co-stars Christina Aguilera, Kristen Bell, Cam Gigandet, and director Steven Antin. Guess what? I think she was the best dressed of them all!
Christina looked great in her red lace strapless number, and Cher was in sleek black suede over-the-knee boots (Credit: Sean Thorton / WENN)
Sure, Christina was the star of the show, and she looked great in her red lace strapless number, but Cher was simply sexy cool in her sleek black suede over-the-knee boots!
She used her boots to cap off an all-black outfit that she topped with a rock star-worthy metallic jacket.
Cher in a rock star-worthy metallic jacket (Credit: Sean Thorton / WENN)
The lady can rock a pair of over-the-knee boots like any other youngling a third her age. I love her choice of footwear, too; it’s classy. Black suede over-the-knee boots look better than patent ones.
If you like suede boots, you probably already have a couple of over-the-knee babies in your closet. If you don’t have any, don’t hesitate to shop for a pair. Suede over-the-knee boots are quite abundant, so you won’t have a hard time finding one you will like.