Ree Drummond, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Ree Drummond is a producer, actress, television host, and writer, born on January 6, 1969. At 55 years old, she began making significant progress on her weight loss journey around 2021, leading her fans to celebrate her current appearance.
Ree Drummond at Hearst Magazines' Unbound Access MagFront on October 17, 2017, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
The Bartlesville, Oklahoma-born television host has been fortunate to have the support of her husband, Ladd Drummond, throughout her journey. The couple, married since September 21, 1996, shares four children.
Ladd has also appeared on Ree’s shows, “The Pioneer Woman” and “Paula’s Best Dishes.” In addition to their biological children—Alex, Todd, Bryce, and Paige—Ree revealed in 2020 on her blog, The Pioneer Woman, that they had adopted a foster child, Jamar Goff.
For years, the star has openly shared stories about motherhood on her television show and blog. In 2023, however, she humorously revealed one of her children’s habits that she finds unbearable.
She explained, “I’ve had it with my children calling me because they need to talk through something or they need something, having a conversation with me only for me to find out at the end of the conversation that we have been on speakerphone the whole time.” The celebrity added, “It is a violation.”
Despite her complaints, the television personality remains a supportive and present mother and her family is one of her primary motivations for her remarkable weight loss.
When and Why Did Ree Start Losing Weight?
In a 2021 interview, Ree admitted she had already lost 50 pounds. She began trying to lose weight in preparation for her daughter Alex’s wedding. During this time, her husband and their nephew, Caleb, were involved in a serious car crash on the family’s ranch, which became a turning point in her fitness journey.
Reflecting on her pre-wedding preparations, she said, “I was actually getting in shape, trying to get in shape,” when the accident occurred.
She continued, “And so [Ladd] was in his neck brace kind of immobilized, but he was training me in the living room telling me to get lower with my lunges and my squats. [sic]” Ree added, “He was like, ‘You’re not doing it right!’ So he was sort of my unexpected trainer during that whole ordeal. But he did get to walk Alex down the aisle, and that’s all that really mattered in the end.”
Although her health had been on her mind for some time, the accident pushed her to take action. She said, “I have a cooking show, I write cookbooks, I have a cooking website. I have a restaurant, a bakery. So you know, it just kept creeping up and in January of this year, we took my son, Bryce, to college. [sic]”
The star hit her breaking point one evening after overindulging in salsa and chips. That night, she resolved, “‘I am going to start tomorrow, I am doing something different.’ And I just started, and I almost lost 60 pounds now.”
For Ree, the focus is on feeling great. She said, “And it was never about I have to lose this amount, it’s really about how I feel.” The Food Network star used a scale to gauge if she was still going in the right direction.
The television host added, “I feel great. I have, I feel strong [sic]. Even when I was thinner, I don’t think I ever have been a squatter or a lunger before. Not since my ballet days. So it’s really nice to just kind of feel the muscles that I thought were gone forever.”
Her exercise routine has transformed her perspective, although she still enjoys the food she cooks for her family, including cake. However, she opts for smaller portions, such as a Rhode Island-sized slice instead of a Texas-sized piece. Her approach to weight loss is outlined below.
How Did Ree Lose Weight?
Ree addressed the curiosity of her fans by writing a blog post detailing her weight loss journey. She outlined what she didn’t do when she started her journey in January 2021, such as following Keto, intermittent fasting, joining a weight loss program, or using a trainer.
The Food Network star also avoided specialty diet foods, weight loss gummies, supplements, or medications like Ozempic or Wegovy.
Instead, she ate fewer calories, weighed her food, exercised, built muscle, increased her protein intake, reduced sugar, avoided alcohol, and used the Happy Scale app to track her progress. Ree also began using a standing desk and has stayed committed to her goals.
She emphasized her balanced approach, saying, “I tackled it from different directions.” Ladd’s wife elaborated, “The biggest takeaway, which I don’t always adhere to, is trying not to waste calories. I could eat a plate of delicious food with different elements and colors and flavor, or I could eat a donut.”
To guide her choices, Ree asked herself whether a balanced meal rich in nutrients and protein would benefit her body more than a less nourishing option. Still, she admitted that she sometimes chose the donut.
Referring to her method of helping her choose what’s best, she said, “But it’s just a good thing to have in mind.” When not focusing on weight loss, the star continues to advance her career.
Her First Acting Role
In the same year she began her weight loss journey, Ree landed her first acting role. She appeared in Discovery+’s original film, “Candy Coated Christmas,” as a bakery owner who befriends a young woman.
Although she had no acting experience, she immediately agreed to participate when the Food Network approached her. Without any acting experience she recalled thinking, “‘How could you say no to that?’ I mean, Christmas movies are just such a part of tradition and I have friends that are so obsessed with them, so I said yes and then I thought, ‘What in the world have I done?'”
Ree prepared for her role with guidance from the film’s director and writer, Ellie Kanner, and encouragement from her family. She and Ellie rehearsed lines via Zoom to help her feel ready as she received the script immediately so she could prepare.
Ellie also gave her things to consider and when she arrived in Utah to shoot, she momentarily realized that she couldn’t turn back and had to act. Luckily, her daughters cheered her on, saying, “‘Go Mom, you’ve got this, slay queen,'” but her son Bryce humorously warned, “‘Don’t say anything cheesy, please.’ So that was like the last message I received from my supportive family.”
Here are photos showing her transformation over the years.
What Ree Looked Like Before Her Weight Loss
2011
Ree Drummond at her book signing for "The Pioneer Woman" at Barnes & Noble Booksellers at The Grove on February 7, 2011, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
2017
Ree Drummond at "The Pioneer Woman" Magazine Celebration on June 6, 2017, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
2019
Ree Drummond on season 68 of the "Today" show on October 22, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
What Ree Looks Like After Her Weight Loss
2022
After Ree’s transformation in 2022, fans flooded the comment section of her Instagram post with praise. One fan wrote, “Stunning as always,” while another commented, “You look slimmer and just as beautiful. Good for you 🤩.”
A third person exclaimed, “Wow 🤩😍,” while others congratulated her, with one saying, “You look amazing! Congratulations!” Another remarked, “You look like young 😍. [sic]”
2023
One year after beginning her weight loss journey, Ree Drummond had lost 55 pounds. Alongside this milestone, in December 2024, she celebrated another exciting event—she became a grandmother.
Her daughter, Alex, welcomed her first child, bringing even more joy to the Drummond family. In the picture Ree shared, she and her husband sat smiling at the newborn baby girl.
