Elle King, the talented singer-songwriter behind hits like Ex’s & Oh’s, has always been candid about her struggles with body image. From childhood to adulthood, she has openly discussed how her weight and self-esteem have often been intertwined. However, after giving birth to her son in 2021, King decided it was time to focus on her health and wellness—not just to lose weight, but to reclaim a sense of well-being. While she hasn’t disclosed exactly how many pounds she lost, her transformation is much more than a physical shift. It’s a story of mental clarity, healing, and self-acceptance.
Here’s everything Elle King has shared about her weight loss journey, from how she’s balanced exercise and nutrition to managing depression and embracing her body with gratitude.
Elle King’s Early Health Struggles: A Candid Look at Body Image and Depression
King’s relationship with her body hasn’t always been easy. As a child, she was sent to “fat camp” by her father, comedian Rob Schneider, an experience that left her with a complicated understanding of body image. In a recent interview, King shared that her childhood weight struggles were exacerbated by emotional trauma and toxic expectations.
“I was, like, a really, really heavy child. My dad sent me to fat camp,” she shared on the Dumb Blonde podcast. “I got in trouble one year because I sprained my ankle and I didn’t lose any weight. Very toxic and very silly.”
As she grew older, King’s struggles persisted. In 2023, she revealed that she had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that causes weight gain due to hormonal imbalances. She also disclosed that she was prediabetic, a condition that heightened her urgency to make lasting lifestyle changes. “My diabetic grandfather died when I was 10 years old. I watched him prick his finger and give himself shots,” she wrote on Instagram, reflecting on her motivation to get healthy.
But it wasn’t just her physical health that needed attention—King also struggled with postpartum depression after her son’s birth. She described a difficult time where she felt trapped in her body, unable to even sing. This was a turning point in her life, where she realized that her journey toward wellness would have to encompass both mental and physical health.
A Slow and Steady Approach to Weight Loss: Gradual Changes for Lasting Results
After giving birth in 2021, Elle King made a conscious decision to improve her health, but she wanted to do so in a way that was sustainable and kind to herself. “It didn’t happen overnight,” she posted on Instagram, emphasizing that her transformation was gradual and ongoing. “Almost two years postpartum! I’m making this post to share my journey from 284 lbs at 5’3” from pregnancy 2021—now 2023. It didn’t happen overnight. It didn’t even happen in a year for me. In fact, it’s an ongoing, still working towards, ever-hanging goals kinda thing.”
Her approach was methodical and steady. King emphasized that she didn’t rely on quick fixes, opting instead for gradual, consistent changes. While she didn’t disclose how many pounds she had lost, the shift in her mindset was clear: she was focused on her long-term health, not just the scale.
Elle King’s Workout Routine: From Cardio Hates to Hardcore Ab Workouts
Exercise was a central component of Elle King’s weight loss journey, though she admits that cardio was never her favorite activity. “I hate cardio more than anything in the world,” she admitted. Despite her dislike, she used cardio to warm up her body and prepare for more intensive workouts. King began with aerobic exercises, committing to 15-30 minutes of activity every day.
However, what she truly enjoyed were core-strengthening workouts. “I love and genuinely enjoy hardcore ab workouts,” King confessed. “I started with wrist and ankle weights just to up my workouts. If I can do it, so can you. Bad ass tunes definitely help!”
King’s fitness routine also incorporated metabolic workouts, a type of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) designed to increase fat burn. According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), metabolic conditioning workouts are highly effective at boosting metabolism and improving cardiovascular health. King’s approach wasn’t about overloading her body with extreme routines. Instead, it was about consistency and gradually building strength.
“I started slow, and every few weeks, I feel my body getting stronger,” she said. “I just keep adding more to my routine and sticking with it.” She also credits personal trainers and motivating music as essential parts of her workout regimen, reinforcing that enjoying the process is key.
Addressing Mental Health: The Emotional Benefits of Movement
While Elle King’s physical transformation is impressive, what she found even more profound were the mental health benefits that came with exercise. King revealed that she suffered from postpartum depression and initially didn’t understand how serious it was. As she began moving her body and getting into a routine, she noticed significant improvements in her mood.
“I fell into a very deep depression during my pregnancy,” she said, recalling the early struggles. “I also didn’t even realize how intense postpartum depression is and was until I very slowly began to crawl out. I felt trapped in my body. I couldn’t even sing.”
But as she started to incorporate exercise into her daily routine, she experienced a shift in her mental health. “My brain functions better on the days I move my body.” she explained. Movement not only boosted her energy levels, but it also helped her fight off the mental fog that had clouded her mind for so long.
Her emotional transformation has been just as significant as her physical one. “Some days I count stretch marks. Some days I hug myself and say thank you to my body.” For King, self-compassion has been a critical component of her healing. Learning to be gentle with herself, especially when she felt frustrated with her progress, became an essential practice.
Gratitude and Acceptance: Embracing the Journey
As Elle King continued to make progress, she embraced a mindset of gratitude and self-acceptance. Her Instagram posts have reflected her journey not only through weight loss but also through personal growth. She regularly celebrates her progress, acknowledging that while there have been setbacks, she is proud of how far she’s come.
“Today is a kind day,” King shared in one post. “I’ve been tiny, I’ve been huge, but right now I’m healthy.” This sentiment reflects her larger message: health is not about reaching a specific number or fitting into a certain mold, but about taking care of your mind, body, and spirit.
King’s weight loss journey is not just about shedding pounds—it’s about reclaiming her confidence, mental clarity, and sense of self-worth. While the physical transformation has been visible, the internal changes have been even more profound.
Patience, Consistency, and Mental Health
Elle King’s weight loss journey provides several important lessons for those looking to improve their health:
-
Patience is key – King’s journey didn’t happen overnight. The slow and steady approach to weight loss allowed her to make lasting changes to her lifestyle.
-
Movement matters – While cardio wasn’t her favorite, King found that regular exercise helped boost her mental and physical health.
-
Mental health is just as important – For King, exercise wasn’t just about the body; it was about healing her mind, too. Movement improved her mood and allowed her to overcome the depression that had plagued her.
-
Self-compassion is crucial – Embracing self-love and gratitude, even on the tough days, has been essential in King’s journey.
Elle King’s story is an inspiration for anyone looking to make lasting changes to their health and well-being. It shows that through patience, consistency, and self-love, transformation is not only possible but incredibly rewarding.