If you saw Lavell Crawford back in the Breaking Bad days, you remember Huell Babineaux. He was the literal definition of a "big presence." Sitting on that pile of money with Bill Burr? Iconic. But honestly, at his peak, Lavell was pushing 500 pounds. Some sources even hint he hit the 550-pound mark at his absolute heaviest.
That kind of weight isn't just a "look." It's a heavy burden to carry, both for your joints and your heart.
The Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
Lavell didn’t just wake up one day and decide he hated being big. He’s a comedian; his weight was part of his brand for years. But around 2016, things got real. He was 47 years old. He had a five-year-old son and a wife he adored. He started talking about it openly on Sway in the Morning, admitting that he was dealing with "the sugar"—that's Southern-speak for diabetes. His legs were swelling. His blood pressure was climbing into the danger zone.
He basically realized that if he didn't change, he was going to be the guy who "fell out dead eating a hot dog," and he didn't want to leave his family hanging.
How Lavell Crawford Weight Loss Actually Happened
A lot of people think he just started jogging and eating salads. While he did change his lifestyle, he was very "real" about the fact that he needed a jumpstart. In early 2016, Lavell underwent gastric sleeve surgery.
For those who aren't medical experts, a gastric sleeve involves removing a large portion of the stomach. It’s not a "cheat code," though. It’s a tool. It makes your stomach much smaller, so you feel full faster, but you still have to do the work. If you try to eat like a linebacker after getting the sleeve, you're going to have a very bad time.
The Physical Transformation by the Numbers
The results were pretty staggering.
- Starting Weight: Approximately 500 lbs (2016)
- Initial Loss: 120 lbs within the first year
- Total Loss: Reports suggest he eventually dropped over 180 lbs
- The Milestone: By August 2017, he was down to about 298 lbs
Seeing him at the Neighborhood Awards around that time was a shock. Steve Harvey almost didn't recognize him. He went from a size 5XL or 6XL down to something much more manageable.
Life After the Sleeve: Keeping the Weight Off
Losing the weight is one thing. Keeping it off for a decade is another beast entirely. Honestly, most people who get the surgery struggle with "regain" after a few years. Lavell has managed to stay relatively slim by Hollywood standards, though his weight has fluctuated a bit as he ages.
He didn't just stop at surgery. He started doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Can you imagine rolling on a mat with Huell? He also started using a trampoline for low-impact cardio. It sounds funny, but it works for the joints.
The Comedy of Being "Skinny"
One of the most human parts of this story is how it changed his stand-up. In his special New Look, Same Funny, he joked about how people didn't know how to react to him. They’d tell him "You look good!" and he’d be like, "I lost 120 pounds, what do I gotta do to please you? Wear a Gymboree suit?"
He also got very candid about the weird side effects. Like, when you lose that much weight, you realize your head is a certain shape. He joked that God made him look like a "brown Sharpie." But on a more serious (and hilarious) note, he mentioned the "discovery" of certain body parts he hadn't seen in years. That's the kind of honesty you only get from a comedian.
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What Really Happened with Huell?
When it came time for him to reprise his role in Better Call Saul, the prequel to Breaking Bad, there was a bit of a continuity problem. Since the show takes place before the events of Breaking Bad, Huell should have been bigger. Instead, he was significantly thinner.
The fans didn't care. The performance was still there. It actually added a layer of "lore"—fans joked that working for Jimmy McGill was so stressful it made Huell gain weight over the years.
Lessons from Lavell’s Journey
If you’re looking at Lavell Crawford weight loss as inspiration, there are a few real-world takeaways that aren't just fluff:
- Surgery is a Tool, Not a Cure: You still have to manage the "sugar" and the blood pressure through diet and movement.
- The "Why" Matters: He didn't do it for Hollywood; he did it so he could see his son grow up.
- The Mental Game: He talks about the therapy and the mental shift required to stop seeing yourself as the "big guy."
- Stay Active in Fun Ways: If you hate the gym, find a trampoline or a martial art.
He’s still the same guy with the same quick wit, just with a lot less strain on his heart. It’s a reminder that even if you’ve been "the big guy" your whole life, it’s never too late to decide you want more years on the clock.
Take Action for Your Health:
If you're inspired by Lavell's story, start by consulting with a bariatric specialist or a nutritionist to understand if surgical intervention or a supervised medical weight loss plan is right for your specific health profile. Focus on identifying your "why"—whether it's family, longevity, or mobility—to sustain your motivation through the inevitable plateaus.