Josh Peck is an American actor and comedian who began his career as a child actor in the late 1990s and early 2000s (Wikipedia). He had an early role on the Nickelodeon sitcom The Amanda Show from 2000 to 2002 (IMDb).
Peck became known to young audiences through his comedic roles on shows like The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh. As a child actor, Peck starred in films such as Snow Day and Max Keeble’s Big Move. He gained popularity through his comedic talents and loveable personality.
Weight Struggles as a Teen
As a teenager, Josh Peck dealt with significant weight issues and bullying. His weight climbed to over 300 pounds when he was still a child actor working on Nickelodeon’s Drake & Josh.
Peck has been open about the bullying and body image issues he faced during his teenage years from both peers and adults in the entertainment industry. The constant stream of hurtful comments and fat shaming took a major toll on his self-esteem. However, Peck was determined to turn his life around.
Losing Weight for The Red Dawn Remake
Josh Peck lost a significant amount of weight before filming the Red Dawn remake in 2012. He lost over 100 pounds through diet and exercise in order to portray the role of Matt Eckert in the action film. Josh recognized that he needed to transform his body for the physically demanding role. He adopted a strict diet and workout routine, slimming down significantly over the course of several months.
The drastic weight loss enabled Josh to convincingly take on the action hero role in the remake of the classic 80s film. His dedication to transforming his body demonstrated his commitment to the part and resulted in a memorable performance.
Adopting a Fitness Routine
After losing the initial weight for Red Dawn, Josh knew he had to adopt a sustainable diet and exercise routine to maintain his results long-term. He committed to cooking healthy meals at home, focusing on lean proteins, vegetables, complex carbs, and healthy fats. According to an interview, Josh follows a consistent workout routine 4-5 days per week, mixing strength training and cardio.
His strength training includes compound lifts like squats and deadlifts as well as bodyweight exercises like pushups and pullups. For cardio, Josh enjoys swimming, hiking, or playing basketball. The key for Josh was finding physical activities he genuinely enjoys rather than following a routine he dreads. This lifestyle shift enabled Josh to keep the weight off for over 15 years and maintain his health.
Reception to His Transformation
Josh Peck’s dramatic weight loss transformation during the late 2000s gained a lot of attention and reaction from both the public and media. Many were impressed with his commitment to adopting a healthier lifestyle and shedding over 100 pounds.
Fans who grew up watching Peck on shows like Drake & Josh were surprised to see the physical changes in the once heavier actor. His new look became a frequent topic of discussion and commendation online as people complimented Peck for his achievement. Some media outlets spotlighted his weight loss success story as motivational and inspiring.
The drastic transformation also led to criticism and rumors that Peck had an eating disorder or was using drugs. However, he clarified that he lost the weight through exercise and diet, dismissing claims that it was due to unhealthy methods. Overall, Peck’s weight loss journey garnered much positive attention for showing that significant lifestyle changes are possible. His new fit physique demonstrated his commitment to health and wellness.
Maintaining His Weight Loss
Josh Peck has done an admirable job of keeping the weight off after his initial 100 pound weight loss transformation. While losing weight is difficult, maintaining weight loss over many years can often be even harder. After losing the weight for his role in The Red Dawn remake in 2008, Josh made permanent lifestyle changes to ensure the pounds stayed off.
He committed to a regular fitness routine, working out 5-6 times per week. This includes weight lifting sessions and cardio workouts. Josh has said the physical activity makes him feel better mentally as well. He also continues to focus on nutrition, avoiding junk food and emphasizing lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats. Portion control remains important in order for Josh to maintain his slimmer figure.
While Josh allows himself occasional treats, he doesn’t overindulge or binge like he did as a teen. His relationship with food has changed through developing healthier habits consistently over time. Josh has proven maintaining major weight loss is possible through continuing the habits that led to success in the first place. His transformation shows weight loss done the right way can become permanent.
Advice for Others
Josh has openly talked about his weight loss journey in the hopes of inspiring others who are looking to make healthy changes. He emphasizes that the process takes time and consistency, rather than extreme dieting or deprivation. In an interview, Josh advised starting small with lifestyle tweaks like cutting out late-night snacking or reducing portion sizes.
He recommends finding an exercise routine you enjoy, whether it’s walking, swimming, weight lifting, or a sport. Josh also stresses the importance of getting enough sleep and reducing stress, which can aid weight loss efforts.
Overall, he encourages having patience with yourself and focusing on incremental progress through sustainable, healthy habits. As Josh said, “It’s the accumulation of good decisions over time that inevitably leads to results.”
Recent Projects
After gaining attention for his dramatic weight loss, Josh Peck’s career continued to accelerate. He took on more mature, dramatic roles in acclaimed films and TV shows.
In 2008, Peck co-starred alongside Ben Kingsley in The Wackness, playing a drug dealer in 1990s New York City. His performance earned critical praise, proving his acting chops extended beyond comedy. Peck followed up with supporting roles in more mature comedies like What Goes Up with Hilary Duff.
Peck’s career reached new heights when he was cast as a lead voice actor in the hugely popular Ice Age franchise. He voiced Eddie the possum in Ice Age: The Meltdown, Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Continental Drift, and Collision Course. The Ice Age films grossed over $3 billion worldwide.
In 2011, Peck landed a starring role as Matt on FOX’s sitcom The Mindy Project, appearing from 2012 to 2017. He played Mindy’s boyfriend and eventual husband. Peck demonstrated his comedic skills while also engaging in more dramatic storylines.
Peck has continued acting in both comedies and dramas. He appeared in films like Danny Collins and Take The 10, while also doing voice acting in franchises like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He seems to purposefully pursue more mature, nuanced roles to showcase his versatility as an actor.
Personal Life
Josh Peck married his longtime girlfriend Paige O’Brien in June 2017. The couple originally met in 2008 on the set of The Wackness, where Paige was working as a production assistant. After several years of dating, Josh proposed to Paige in Paris in 2016. Their wedding took place in Malibu, California and was attended by fellow celebrities like John Stamos.
In August 2020, Josh and Paige announced they were expecting their first child together. Their son, Max Milo Peck, was born in December 2020. Becoming a father has been a life changing experience for Josh, who says Max brings him endless joy.
Outside of his family life, Josh maintains a close friendship with his former Drake & Josh co-star Drake Bell. The two have remained supportive of each other’s careers over the years. Josh has said that Drake is like a brother to him.
Overall, Josh seems very happy in both his personal and professional life. His marriage to Paige appears strong, and he relishes being a father. Even after finding fame at a young age, Josh has maintained his down-to-earth personality.
Conclusion
Josh Peck’s dramatic weight loss journey serves as an inspiration to many who struggle with their weight. While losing over 100 pounds for a movie role was a major accomplishment, Peck emphasizes that transformation is an ongoing process that requires maintaining healthy habits.
