Kandi Burruss is basically the definition of "booked and busy." Between Xscape tours, her Old Lady Gang restaurants, and a decade-plus run on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, she doesn't really do "slow." But recently, the conversation shifted from her business hustle to her body. People noticed she looked different. Slimmer. Tighter.
Naturally, everyone jumped to the same conclusion: Ozempic.
It’s the Hollywood standard now, right? If a celebrity drops ten pounds, we assume they’re on the "jab." But Kandi actually did something most celebs don’t. She told the truth. And the truth was kinda awkward: She tried it, and it didn't work. Like, at all.
The Ozempic Experiment That Flopped
Honestly, it’s refreshing to hear a superstar admit to a "fail." In mid-2024, Kandi opened up on the Virtual Reali-Tea podcast about her experience with semaglutide. She saw her friends—including former castmate Marlo Hampton—shedding weight like crazy. She figured, why not?
"I tried it, and I didn't lose any weight," she admitted.
Her doctor was baffled. Most people on Ozempic talk about "food noise" disappearing. They say they can’t even look at a steak without feeling full. Not Kandi. She was still out here eating appetizers, full entrees, and dessert. Her appetite didn't budge.
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It actually got a bit dark for her. Seeing everyone else get "magical" results while she stayed the same made her feel depressed. She started questioning if something was wrong with her body. It’s a side of the weight loss drug conversation we don't hear enough about—the mental toll of being the "exception" to the rule.
Getting Back to Basics After RHOA
After Kandi announced she was leaving The Real Housewives of Atlanta at the top of 2024, she let loose. She was "living good," which in Atlanta terms usually means some incredible soul food and plenty of travel.
Before she knew it, the scale hit 171 pounds.
For her, that was the "okay, wait a minute" moment. She’s only about 5'3", so 170+ felt heavy on her frame. She wanted to get back down to the 130s—a weight she hadn't seen since her 30s.
What Actually Worked for Her
Since the "easy" way (Ozempic) was a bust, she had to pivot. She ended up partnering with Hydroxycut, but it wasn't just about taking a pill and sitting on the couch. She had to overhaul her lifestyle while preparing for the Queens of R&B tour with Xscape and SWV.
- Cutting the Liquid Sugar: She stopped the sodas. That alone is a battle when you're on the road.
- The Dessert Strike: No more daily treats.
- The "Tour Routine": If you've ever seen Kandi perform, you know it's a workout. Dancing in rehearsals for hours burned more calories than any treadmill session.
- Hotel Gym Life: She committed to using hotel gyms while traveling, which is basically the hardest place to stay motivated.
By late 2024, she had dropped about 31 pounds. She went from 170 down to 139.
The "Body Work" Factor
We have to be real here: Kandi has always been transparent about plastic surgery. She’s the queen of the "Body Work" series on YouTube. She’s admitted to:
- Liposuction
- A tummy tuck (after her son Ace was born)
- Breast reduction (multiple times)
But she's very clear that surgery doesn't keep the weight off. You can get lipo, but if you keep eating fried chicken every night, the weight finds a new place to settle. Her recent 31-pound drop was about the "inner work"—changing the relationship with the plate.
Why This Matters for the Rest of Us
Kandi’s journey is a reminder that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Our bodies are weird. One person’s "miracle drug" is another person’s "waste of money."
She’s now leaning into supplements like Berberine (often called "Nature's Ozempic") and staying active. It’s less about being "skinny" and more about being "stage-ready." There’s a difference.
Actionable Takeaways from Kandi’s Journey
If you’re looking at Kandi and thinking, I want those results, here’s the blueprint she actually used:
- Track your "Food Noise": If you try a supplement or medication and it doesn't stop your cravings, don't force it. Move on to a different method like Kandi did.
- The "No-Liquid-Sugar" Rule: This is the fastest way to see a change. Switch the soda for flavored water or tea.
- Find Your "Tour": You might not be performing for thousands, but find an event (a wedding, a vacation, a birthday) to use as a hard deadline. Kandi used her summer tour to stay disciplined.
- Prioritize Protein: When she was on tour, she stuck to the protein and vegetable tables at catering. Avoid the "crafty" (the snack table).
Kandi's success came from realizing that even if the "magic shot" fails, the basics—sweat, discipline, and watching the sugar—still work. It’s just harder. But for a woman who built an empire from a songbook, "hard" was never going to stop her.
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To stay on track like Kandi, start by auditing your daily sugar intake and finding a high-intensity activity you actually enjoy, whether it's dance or heavy lifting.