You remember that 2020 birthday post, right? The one where Adele was standing in a little black dress behind a giant floral wreath? Honestly, it felt like the internet collectively stopped breathing for a second. Suddenly, "Adele before and after her weight loss" wasn't just a search term; it was a full-blown cultural obsession. People were losing their minds.
But here’s the thing—Adele didn’t do it for the "gram." She didn’t even do it for the outfits, though she did joke with Vogue that she can finally buy off-the-rack clothes now.
Most people think this was some Hollywood "glow-up" meant to sell an album. It wasn’t. It was about anxiety. Real, paralyzing anxiety that hit her like a freight train after her divorce from Simon Konecki. When your world is spinning out of control, you look for an anchor. For Adele, that anchor ended up being a pair of dumbbells and a very intense schedule.
The 100-pound shift nobody saw coming
We’re so used to celebrities documenting every single green juice and sweat-drenched selfie. Adele didn't do that. She went dark for two years. No "link in bio" for diet pills. No sponsorship deals with weight-loss shakes. In fact, she’s been pretty vocal about how much she "couldn't give a flying [expletive]" about the industry's obsession with her body.
She just worked.
What her "before" really looked like
Before the world started dissecting her new silhouette, Adele was already a powerhouse. She was the woman who made us all cry in our cars to "Someone Like You." She was also a vocal advocate for body positivity.
Because she was so comfortable in her skin, many fans felt a weird sense of betrayal when she changed. They felt like they’d lost a representative in a world obsessed with thinness. But as she told British Vogue, "You don't need to be overweight to be body positive."
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The routine that actually worked (it's intense)
If you're looking for a "one weird trick," you’re going to be disappointed. Adele’s transformation was the result of a grueling, three-times-a-day workout regimen that she admits isn't "doable" for most people.
She had the time. She had the resources. And she had a massive amount of nervous energy to burn.
- Morning: Heavy weight lifting. We’re talking squats, deadlifts, and compound movements.
- Afternoon: Hiking or a bit of boxing to keep the heart rate up.
- Evening: A dedicated cardio session.
This wasn't about "shredding" for a movie role. It was about being "off her phone" and out of her own head. She became addicted to the feeling of being physically strong because it made her feel mentally stable. When you can lift something heavy with your arms, the heavy stuff in your brain starts to feel a little lighter. Simple as that.
What about the "Sirtfood" diet?
You’ve probably seen the headlines claiming she lived on kale and buckwheat.
The truth? She basically laughed it off. While there was plenty of speculation about her following the Sirtfood Diet, Adele has clarified that she didn't follow any restrictive or fad diets. In fact, she told reporters she actually eats more now than she used to because her body needs the fuel for those intense workouts. She didn't do intermittent fasting. She didn't cut out carbs. She just moved... a lot.
Comparing the visual markers: Before vs. After
When you look at photos of Adele before and after her weight loss, the most striking change isn't just the waistline. It's the face.
The "Adele face" has always been iconic, but the loss of fat pads in her cheeks and neck made her jawline sharp enough to cut glass. Some experts, like Dr. Ramtin Kassir (who hasn't treated her, for the record), speculated about fillers or surgery. But honestly? That’s what happens when you lose 100 pounds. Your facial structure "reveals" itself.
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There's also a different energy in her performances now. On her 2024 and 2025 tour dates, she isn't just a stationary vocal powerhouse. She has a stamina that seems new. She's agile.
The "After" isn't a destination
It’s easy to look at a celebrity transformation and think they’ve "arrived." But Adele has been open about the fact that her mental health is a daily job. The weight loss was a byproduct of her seeking peace, not the goal itself.
She’s faced plenty of heat for it, too. Other women have been some of her harshest critics, calling her a "sellout" for losing weight. It’s a weirdly personal thing, isn't it? That we feel we have a say in how a stranger manages their own health.
Adele’s response? She’s too busy being a mom to Angelo and living her life to care about the "brutal conversations" happening in comment sections.
Actionable insights for your own journey
If you’re looking at Adele and thinking you want to make a change, don’t try to copy her "three-a-day" gym habit. That’s a recipe for burnout unless you’re a global superstar with a home gym and a team.
Instead, take the real lessons from her journey:
- Find your "Why": Adele did it to manage anxiety. If your goal is just "to look like a celebrity," you’ll quit when the scale doesn't move. If your goal is "to feel strong," you'll keep going.
- Focus on Strength: Muscle is metabolically active. Lifting weights, even just twice a week, changes how your body burns energy while you're sitting on the couch.
- The "Silent Calories" Rule: You don't have to give up real food. Adele focused on drinking water and herbal teas instead of sugary lattes or soda. Small swaps, huge impact.
- Consistency Over Intensity: It took her two years. Not two weeks. Stop looking for the "30-day challenge" and start looking for the "rest of my life" habit.
The biggest takeaway from the story of Adele before and after her weight loss is that the "after" is still just Adele. She’s still the same woman who forgets her lyrics and tells dirty jokes on stage. She’s just a version of herself that can breathe a little easier.
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To start your own sustainable shift, try focusing on "non-scale victories" this week. Measure your progress by how much energy you have at 3:00 PM or how well you slept, rather than the number between your toes. If you want to dive deeper into the science of how strength training helps with mental health, looking into "functional fitness" is a great place to start.