Ricki Lake’s Transformation: Inside Her Dramatic Weight Loss without Ozempic in Photos
- Ricki Lake, who struggled with her weight for years, has shocked fans with her significant weight loss.
- Fans have praised her for using unusual methods, avoided by many celebrities, to shed pounds.
- Lake also spoke of the trauma she endured as a child, contributing to her weight gain. Overcoming these challenges, she now feels healthier and happier than ever.
Ricki Lake visits at SiriusXM Studios in New York City, on December 1, 2015. | Source: Getty Images
Ricki Lake has recently made headlines with her weight loss journey. The actress has shed an impressive amount of weight after years of struggle, showcasing a dramatic transformation that has inspired many.
Ricki Lake attends the premiere of “Breastmilk” in Santa Monica, California, on May 16, 2014. | Source: Getty Images
Unlike some recent trends, Lake achieved this milestone without the aid of weight loss medications, such as Ozempic. Here is a look at her transformation and how she managed to achieve such a phenomenal change.
Ricki Lake attends The Queerties in Hollywood, California, on March 12, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
Lakes’ Early Childhood and Life
Lake was born in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Her early years were filled with family and the beginnings of a passion for performance. She grew up with her younger sister, Jennifer, in a supportive household.
Her father, Barry, worked as a pharmacist, while her mother, Jill, was a homemaker. Lake’s education began at Hastings Elementary School.
She continued at Farragut Middle School and then attended Hastings High School for two years. Her early talent and dedication to acting led her to transfer to the Professional Children’s School in New York.
This move allowed her to focus more intensively on her craft. At just nine years old, Lake began singing professionally in cabarets and clubs.
Lake in 1988: Career Rise
After high school, Ricki Lake attended Ithaca College for one year. During her freshman year, she received a life-changing call from her agent about auditioning for a lead role in a John Waters film.
This audition led to her debut in the 1988 movie “Hairspray.” She starred as the character Tracy Turnblad, alongside Zac Efron, marking the start of her successful acting career.
At the time, Lake was notably fuller-figured. Her body perfectly suited the character of Tracy, a bubbly teenager who dreams of dancing on a popular TV show. The actress’s portrayal celebrated body positivity, as it was unlike the slim image often seen in Hollywood.
Colleen Fitzpatrick, Debbie Harry, Divine, and Ricki Lake in a scene from ‘Hairspray,’ in 1988. | Source: Getty Images
Despite her success on “Hairspray,” Lake faced challenges, including hair loss. She attributed part of her hair loss at 18 to the heavy styling and large hairstyles required for her role in the movie. These requirements caused significant damage to her hair.
Lake’s Breakthrough in Television in 1993
In 1993, the actress was selected from a pool of a hundred candidates to host her own daytime talk show. Within just three years, her show, “Ricki Lake” became the second-highest-rated program in its time slot.
Ricki Lake during the National Association of Television Program Executives Convention in San Francisco, California in 1993. | Source: Getty Images
Lake in 1996: Weight and Hair Loss
Lake first became aware of her hair loss when she was around 26 years old. In 1996, as she went through dramatic weight loss for her role in the film “Mrs. Winterbourne,” she noticed her hair beginning to shed significantly.
Ricki Lake in 1996. | Source: Getty Images
“It was traumatizing to see the clumps of hair come out in the shower, on the pillow, or on my shoulder,” Lane shared. At the time, she was also busy with her talk show, which prevented her from shaving her head completely. Instead, she opted to cut her hair very short to manage the shedding.
Ricki Lake for a portrait in Los Angeles, California, on March 31, 1996 | Source: Getty Images
Lake in 2006: Return to Television
After an impressive 11-year run as a talk show host, Lake took a well-deserved break from Hollywood. In 2006, she made her comeback to television as the host of “Gameshow Marathon” on CBS.
Ricki Lake during the World Poker Tour Invitational in Commerce, California, on February 22, 2006 | Source: Getty Images
This role allowed her to take on a new challenge. She learned and taped seven different shows in just two weeks, which she found both demanding and exhilarating.
Ricki Lake during the Hollywood Poker Diamonds Celebrity Dinner in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 8, 2006. | Source: Getty Images
“Gameshow Marathon” hosted celebrity guests such as Brandy Roderick, Tim Meadows, and N’Sync’s Lance Bass. The stars played classic games before a live studio audience.
Ricki Lake during The 3rd Annual Lakers Casino Night in Santa Monica, California, on April 12, 2006. | Source: Getty Images
Lake, who stepped away from her talk show career from 1993 to 2004, took this hiatus to focus on her personal life. Returning to television felt like a warm welcome back to the industry, and she was proud of her new role. She confirmed this, saying, “I think I’m happy.”
Ricki Lake attends the Alzheimers Associations 14th annual “A Night at Sardis” in Beverly Hills, California, on March 8, 2006. | Source: Getty Images
Lake’s Body Transformation in 2007
In 2007, Lake’s body change was celebrated as she underwent weight loss without undergoing surgery. The actress relied on healthy eating and regular exercise to lose significant weight.
Ricki Lake arrives at New Line Cinema’s 40th Anniversary Gala in New York City, on October 5, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
Lake successfully went from a size 24 to a size 4. Her commitment to natural methods of weight loss was seen when she appeared on the cover of US Weekly wearing a striking red swimsuit.
The cover showed off her toned and healthy physique, symbolizing her commitment to fitness and well-being. Lake’s transformation inspired many and reflected on her journey towards a healthier lifestyle.
Ricki Lake attends the “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” film premiere in Hollywood, California, on December 12, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
Lake in 2010: A Period of Change
By 2010, Lake had experienced some changes in her weight, having added a few pounds since her dramatic transformation in 2007. Her figure was fuller compared to her previous size 4.
Ricki Lake attends Variety’s 2nd Annual Power Of Women Luncheon in Beverly Hills, California, on September 30, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
This change reflected the natural ebb and flow of weight that many people experience over time. The actress’s journey with weight has been one of ups and downs, but one that continues to resonate with her many fans.
Ricki Lake arrives at CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute in Hollywood, California, on November 22, 2008. | Source: Getty Images
Lake’s Weight Loss Journey in 2011
By 2011, Lake had once again achieved significant weight loss, moving from a size 24 to a size 6. She opened up about her struggles with weight, tracing the roots back to her childhood.
Ricki Lake attends the Big Brothers Big Sisters of greater Los Angeles Rising Stars gala in Beverly Hills, California, on October 28, 2011. | Source: Getty Images
At the age of six, she experienced sexual abuse, which she believed contributed to her weight gain. Lake noted that she added weight as a subconscious way to protect herself by not wanting to be attractive to men.
Ricki Lake attends the Concert For A Healthy Birth in New York City, on May 9, 2011. | Source: Getty Images
By the time she was nine or ten years old, her weight crept up and this trend continued into her teenage years, exacerbated by poor eating habits.
Ricki Lake attends the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in Nassau, Bahamas, on January 13, 2011. | Source: Getty Images
At 19, while playing the role of Tracy, Lake weighed 200 pounds. At the time, her weight seemed beneficial for her career, fitting the character she portrayed. However, by 2011, she had lost over 130 pounds, which she felt was life-changing.
Ricki Lake attends the Screening of “More Business of Being Born” in Los Angeles, California, on November 9, 2011. | Source: Getty Images
Lake in 2015: Her Changing Figure
Lake’s appearance had changed again in 2015 as she had added weight compared to her slimmer figure from a few years earlier.
Ricki Lake attends the launch of #TREATMENTFORALL in New York City, on November 30, 2015. | Source: Getty Images
This period reflected her ongoing struggle with maintaining weight loss. Her fuller figure was noticeable, affecting not only her body size but also her facial features.
Ricki Lake at SiriusXM channel’s ‘Radio Andy’ in New York City, on September 21, 2015. | Source: Getty Images
The difference was evident in her choice of clothing as well; she often opted for dresses that were looser and did not hug her figure as tightly as before.
Ricki Lake at SiriusXM channel’s ‘Radio Andy’ in New York City, on September 21, 2015. | Source: Getty Images
Lake’s Hair Transformation in 2019
On New Year’s Eve day 2019, Lake made a bold decision to shave her head after years of struggling with androgenic hair loss. She shared a heartfelt post on social media in 2023, accompanied by a raw video showing someone shaving her head.
Rickie Lake’s shaved head, from an Instagram video dated, January 1, 2023. | Instagram/rickilake/
“In this video, you can see me come to a place of peace, liberation, and most importantly, self-love and self-acceptance,” wrote Lake. She then expressed gratitude to her friends who supported her during this transformation.
Rickie Lake’s shaved head, from an Instagram video dated, January 1, 2023. | Instagram/rickilake/
Lake also reflected on her newfound appreciation for her natural gray and sometimes wild, unruly hair. Her message also encouraged those with similar challenges to find peace and acceptance in their own journeys.
Lake’s Hair Growth in 2021 and 2022
In 2022, Lake shared a powerful side-by-side picture of her shaved head from 2019 and her now-grown hair, which reaches just to her upper neck. Alongside the photo, she revealed that she had been using hair products from Hårklinikken.
This company specializes in combatting hair loss and thinning since 1992. She said her routine, includes using their shampoo and conditioner daily and applying their extract at night.
Lake expressed immense satisfaction with the results, noting how the regimen had helped her hair grow back. “I could not be happier with my results and to finally be at peace with my hair loss struggles,” shared Lake, whose hair color was now almost completely gray.
Lake’s Vibrant Health and Fitness in 2024
In February 2024, Lake revealed that she made a commitment to adopt a healthier lifestyle on October 26, 2023. This commitment began her weight loss journey, leading her and her husband, Ross Burningham to lose 30 pounds.
Ricki Lake showcases her weight loss journey on an Instagram post dated February 24, 2024. | Source: Instagram/rickilake/
The actress was proud of herself as she showed off her transformation body, noting that she did not rely on anything pharmaceutical. “Being 55 and in perimenopause, I was a bit worried, that my body would not drop the lbs like it had in the past,” she divulged.
Ricki Lake and Ross Burningham share their weight loss journey on an Instagram post dated February 24, 2024. | Source: Instagram/rickilake/
Lake moved past her doubts, as she set her mind to achieve her goal. “I have a lot of willpower. I’ve been big, I’ve been skinny. I’ve been 260 pounds; I’ve been 120 pounds,” she noted.
Ricki Lake shares her weight loss journey on an Instagram post dated February 24, 2024. | Source: Instagram/rickilake/
The mom of two embarked on losing weight using the healthiest means possible. She included intermittent fasting and avoiding processed foods. Alongside a Keto diet, she and her husband also tracked their sleep.
The actress was also motivated to prove a doctor wrong, who said she couldn’t lose weight at her age without the use of medication. She recalled the doctor telling her, “You aren’t gonna be successful without it.”
Lake, who likes proving people wrong, took the doctor’s words as a challenge. “I’ve done this in my mid-50s when we’re told that we can’t lose weight. I mean, I am, I guess, defying the odds, and I want to share my story,” she said.
The 55-year-old also proudly showed off her body in a dress that she hadn’t worn for over 15 years. She felt strong and amazing that she could now put on this dress that she couldn’t fit in for years.
Ricki Lake in a dress she had not worn for over 15 years, on an Instagram post dated May 8, 2024. | Source: Instagram/rickilake/
One fan compared how she looked in the dress years back with today, writing, “Looks better today ❤️.” However, another fan accused the actress of using pharmaceutical means to lose weight. “Ozempic is really working for you you’ve lost alot of weight 👏,” the fan commented.
Burningham revealed that Lake was dedicated; having put her mind on this journey, she made sure to see it through. The actress’s husband ensured he supported Lake as they went through this vital journey together.
The actress now feels the best she can ever remember feeling in her entire life. She encouraged anyone looking to start this journey to approach it with positivity. Lake added that people should be ready to commit their time and finances.
Fans also commended Lake for the path she took to lose weight, saying, “So refreshing to see people doing it in a healthy way.”
Another fan who felt motivated, commented, “🎉👏👏👏 ❤ So happy to hear it’ possible. Give me hope 🙏.” “Wow Ricky. You look great. You’re always beautiful no matter what ❤ ❤ ❤,” a fan praised Lake.
Now, Lake has defied the common notion that entering your 50s means a decline in health and vitality. She said she feels more vibrant and energetic than ever before. She also proudly shared that she is in the best shape of her life, both physically and mentally.
Adding to her joy, Lakes said she is blessed with Burningham, a loving and supportive partner with whom she shares her life. All these good things make her feel incredibly blessed each day.
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