Kirsten Vangsness is an actress best known for her role as FBI Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds (Wikipedia). She portrayed Garcia for the entire 15 season run of Criminal Minds from 2005 to 2020 as well as on the spin-off series Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. Vangsness became a fan favorite on the show, known for her quirky personality, distinctive style, and close relationship with the other characters (IMDB). Her weight loss transformation in 2014 gained significant attention from fans and the media.
Weight Struggles Pre-2014
Kirsten Vangsness struggled with her weight from a very young age. She was often bullied and made fun of for being overweight, which led to very low self-esteem. Vangsness has been open about the difficulties she faced, admitting that she often used food as an emotional crutch during her youth and young adult years.
By 2014, at age 42, Vangsness weighed nearly 200 pounds and was ready for a major change. Her weight struggles motivated her to finally make her health a priority.
Motivations for Change
Kirsten Vangsness had struggled with her weight for years before deciding to make a major lifestyle change in 2014. According to one source, health concerns were a big motivator, as excess weight can increase the risk for conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Her acting career was another factor – she needed to lose weight to convincingly play her character on Criminal Minds. But above all, Vangsness wanted to feel better about herself and reclaim her confidence. After years of failed diets, she was determined to commit to lasting change.
New Diet & Exercise Routine
Kirsten Vangsness decided to make major changes to her diet and exercise routine in order to lose weight. She switched to healthier eating focused on nutritious whole foods like lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Portion control was an important part of her new diet. Vangsness limited her calorie intake to around 1,500 calories per day.
She also began exercising regularly, working out at least 30 minutes per day. Her exercise routine included a mix of cardio like walking or jogging as well as strength training. Vangsness credits her regular workouts as being crucial to her weight loss success. The combination of a healthier diet and consistent exercise resulted in major changes for the actress.
Weight Loss Results
By 2016, Vangsness had lost around 50 pounds as a result of her new diet and exercise routine. Her weight loss transformation was dramatic, with the actress dropping multiple dress sizes. Fans and co-stars took notice of Vangsness’ slimmer physique, praising her commitment to improving her health.
Though she still had more weight she hoped to lose, reaching the 50 pound milestone marked significant progress for the actress. Her hard work implementing a vegan diet and consistent exercise had paid off with tangible results.
Response to Transformation
Kirsten Vangsness’ weight loss transformation was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from fans and costars alike. Her costar Matthew Gray Gubler said he was “so proud” of Vangsness for her dedication and hard work. Fans praised her new look on social media, commenting that she looked “absolutely amazing” and that she was glowing.
Many people found her weight loss inspiring, applauding her for being an example that major health changes are possible when you commit to lifestyle adjustments. Vangsness became a role model for body positivity, showing that you can feel good at any size but make healthy adjustments for yourself when you feel ready. Overall, the outpouring of encouragement from her inner circle and admirers demonstrated how much of an impact Vangsness’ journey had on others.
Maintaining the Loss
After reaching her weight loss goal, Kirsten Vangsness has continued to practice the healthy habits that enabled her transformation while allowing for some fluctuations in her weight. She has maintained a largely plant-based diet and stuck to a regular exercise routine that includes activities like hiking and tennis. However, Vangsness doesn’t place unrealistic expectations on herself to stay at an exact weight, understanding that some natural variations will occur.
As she stated in an interview, “I’ve gone up a little bit, I’ve gone down a little bit, I’ve gone back up a little bit, but I haven’t gained back anywhere near what I lost”. For Vangsness, the focus remains on feeling good through maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle, not fixating on the numbers on a scale. Her approach provides inspiration for others aiming to make lasting changes.
Advice for Others
Vangsness’ biggest piece of advice for others embarking on their own weight loss journey is to take things gradually and focus on sustainable change rather than a quick fix. She stresses the importance of self-acceptance and not beating yourself up over setbacks.
The key is consistency over perfection – keeping at it even if you don’t see results right away or have an off day. Taking things one step at a time allowed her to steadily lose weight and keep it off long-term. Vangsness also recommends finding forms of exercise you actually enjoy rather than forcing yourself into activities you dislike just for the calorie burn. Building healthy habits comes from intrinsic motivation, not guilt.
Finally, she emphasizes tuning out the voices that feed your insecurities and instead focusing on how your body feels and functions. Weight loss should ultimately be about getting healthier and stronger, not fitting an unrealistic ideal. Don’t let the number on the scale dictate your self-worth.
Impact on Career
Kirsten’s significant weight loss has had a positive impact on her acting career. According to an interview with People magazine, she has renewed energy on the set of Criminal Minds since losing weight. She used to take breaks between scenes to rest, but now she has the stamina to keep going all day without feeling drained.
In addition to renewed energy, Kirsten’s weight loss has opened her up to new acting opportunities. She revealed that she receives more audition offers for roles not specifically written for plus-size actresses. While she doesn’t feel pressure to be a certain size for Hollywood, the weight loss has allowed her to expand the types of characters she can portray. Kirsten remains proud of her curves but is excited by the chance to show her range as an actress.
Conclusion
Kirsten Vangsness has been an inspiration to many through her dramatic weight loss journey over the past several years. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that significant change is possible with motivation, hard work, and determination.
Despite struggling with her weight for decades, Vangsness was able to lose over 70 pounds by overhauling her diet and committing to daily exercise. Though the process was challenging both physically and mentally, she persevered through plateaus and setbacks until she achieved her goal weight.
Her transformation sparked a wave of media coverage and acclaim from inspired fans. While maintaining the weight loss has been an ongoing effort, Vangsness has proven it can be done through continued healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle. She hopes her experience can motivate others who are seeking to improve their health and wellbeing.
Though she became famous for her acting, Vangsness’ weight loss journey has impacted and expanded her reach tremendously. Her story serves as an inspiration to never give up hope. With dedication and effort, lasting change is within anyone’s grasp.
