A dissection of Queen Latifah weight loss journey. How did the popular and multi-talented singer overcome her demons to lose weight? Learn more here.
Depression has been an issue that has been overlooked by a lot of people. It can affect different people in different ways. It has also ruined many people’s lives in more ways than one. Some people become addicted to drugs and alcohol to deal with it. While others resort to stress eating and other similar vices to help them cope with it. This can be harmful to your health.
In a recent survey, it was noted that almost 70% of the youth in America today suffer from depression. This can cause them a variety of issues and can often lead to fatal consequences as well.
Very few people manage to overcome these issues and combat them. These people display incredible mental fortitude to come out better on the other side. Queen Latifah is one of those people.
At the peak of her career, Dana suffered from severe depression. This depression almost derailed her career and caused her to gain significant weight. But through her mental toughness and extreme dieting and exercising, Dana managed to come out on top. But before we get into the incredibly inspiring weight loss journey of Queen Latifah. Let us talk about who she is.
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Who Is Queen Latifah?
Dana Elaine Owens is a popular American singer, producer, songwriter, and actress. Over the years, Dana has appeared in a series of movies and television shows. These shows were well-received and became popular all over the world. In addition to being an actress, Dana was a hugely successful singer as well.
Over the years, she has received a series of albums that helped her receive worldwide praise. Additionally, she has done a lot for the female demographic and the entire feminist community. She has had a major impact on a lot of people’s lives and because of that, she is loved by people all over the world (Queen Latifah’s Afrocentric Feminist Music Video).
Early Life
Dana was born on the 10th of March in 1970 in the city of Newark, New Jersey. She was born to parents Lancelot Owens who was a police officer and Rita Lamae who was a teacher. She spent most of her early life near East Orange in New Jersey. During this time, she attended the Essex Catholics Girls’ High School. She picked out her stage name while reading a book when she was eight.
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Musical Career
Humble Beginnings
While in high school, Dana started beatboxing and joined the group Flavor Unit. During this time, DJ King who was the leader of the group recorded and gave her demo to Fab 5 Freddy.
Latifah signed her first contract in 1989 and her first single was Wrath of My Madness. This song was sampled by popular artists Ice Cube and Lil’ Kim which helped her become popular in the mainstream.
Making Her Mark As A Hip-Hop Artist
After gaining some notoriety as a singer, Latifah took the next step when she started to rap about the struggles of a black woman. In her songs, she covered very important topics like harassment, domestic violence, and workplace issues.
In 1989 she signed with Tommy Boy Records and released her first album titled All Hail the Queen. This album received worldwide praise and helped her win multiple awards.
She released her second album Black Reign in 1993 and it was certified Gold in the United States. During this time, she also made history by becoming the first woman to perform during the Super Bowl Halftime show.
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Transitioning Into Traditional Singing
After her fourth album Order in the Court, Latifah decided to make a change in her career. She shifted to singing soul and jazz music at the start of 2003. In 2004, she released her first soul standard called The Dana Owens Album. This album was loved by people all around.
For the next six years, Latifah shifted her focus solely to soul singing and made various other albums and musical appearances.
Returning To Rap
In 2009, after spending six years as a soul singer, Latifah made another change in her musical career. She released her album All Hail the Queen II which marked her return to the hip-hop world. She released her next album Persona the very next year which garnered positive scores across the board. Since then she has periodically released new hip-hop music.
Television And Movie Career
During the start of her career, Latifah did a large variety of supporting roles. Her most popular early roles came in movies like House Party 2 and Jungle Fever. She also made her television debut in 1991 by appearing in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She also made cameos in movies like Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, Set it Off, and Living Out Loud.
Getting Mainstream Success As An Actress
Latifah got her big break on the big screen by appearing in the movie Chicago. The movie received an Academy Award for Best Pictures and catapulted her to stardom. After that, she starred in a plethora of notable movies that made her even more popular in the eyes of the fans.
Throughout his career, Latifah has appeared in a wide variety of movies and shows. Some of her most popular movies include Bringing Down the House, Taxi, Scary Movie 3, Hairspray, and many more.
Personal Life
Queen Latifah is extremely private about her personal life. The actress/singer has been with her partner Eboni Nicholas for a long time. She also had a child with her partner in 2019 and named him Rebel.
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Queen Latifah Weight Loss Journey 2022
Initial Problems Dealing With Stardom
Latifah was initially comfortable with how she looked. She revealed in an interview that she has always had a certain figure and is not too conscious about it. And that was the case during her earlier career.
But after becoming a famous singer and actress, Latifah started suffering from depression and anxiety. These issues had a lot of impact on her life and they also played a role in her gaining some weight.
Being Asked To Lose Weight
Despite everything, Latifah was still comfortable with how she looked and how much she weighed. She had no problems with her appearance and was happy with her body. That’s why it was a cause for concern especially for her when she was asked to lose weight.
This made her angry and she felt like she was being targeted for some reason. It all came to a pass and she eventually got the part in the show Living Single. The show was on air for 5 seasons.
Starting Up Her Weight Loss Journey
Queen Latifah weight loss journey began in 2008 when the actress decided to make some changes in her life. She wanted to live a long and active life and so she opted to work on her weight.
Before doing anything, Latifah talked to multiple nutritionists to come up with a perfect diet for herself. She also got help from different fitness trainers. Together with them, she developed a new exercise routine that helped her along her journey.
Queen Latifah’s Rules For Losing Weight
When talking to these people, Latifah also developed a precise weight loss program for herself. She developed a set of rules which she strictly followed to ensure that she lost weight the right way. Some of these rules include;
Knowing Your Portions
Latifah stated that knowing the size of your portions is the first and arguably most important part of the process. If you have a clear idea of how much you are required to eat, you will be able to follow it easily.
Track what You Eat
Tracking the information about your meals is extremely important. You should have a clear idea of what you are putting in your body. If you know the number of calories that are in your meal, you will be more aware when consuming it. This will also help you make sure that you consume the required amount of protein every single day.
Don’t Skip Meals
You must follow a strict schedule when consuming meals. You don’t want your body to go into a fat-storing mode so eating regularly is a must.
Getting Enough Sleep
Sleep is an important part of the weight loss process. Sleeping helps your body relax. It also makes sure that you get enough energy to carry out your day-to-day activities. so getting enough sleep is important.
Stop Eating After 7
After 7 you are more likely to make unhealthy meal choices. So it is better to stop yourself from indulging your cravings and maintaining a tight meal schedule.
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Queen Latifah Diet Plan
Queen Latifah weight loss hinged a lot on her well-crafted diet. She created an extremely efficient and effective diet that helped her lose weight quickly. Her diet included vegetables, fruits, eggs, and other important components that helped her along her journey. She also drank plenty of water daily to help with the weight loss process.
During Queen Latifah weight loss journey, she regularly used a series of ingredients and components in her diet. For instance, she regularly drank green tea as it helps with blood sugar. It also helps in decreasing food cravings and prevents diseases.
The next component in her diet was probiotics. It is bacteria that helps your stomach in digesting and burning calories. She also ate citrus fruits as they help fight sugar cravings and help in burning more fat.
Finally, green vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, and kale were a big part of her diet. They have extremely high fiber and very few calories.
Queen Latifah Work Out Plan
During this time, she also crafted a unique workout routine with the help of Jeanette Jenkins. This workout included cardio and a series of exercises that helped her lose a lot of weight in a short period. This is a seven-day workout routine that includes a series of exercises and combinations. It also includes daily cardio that makes sure that your body stays active and in motion.
Her workout was spread out to different days and circuits and included different exercise combinations. The cardio workout also included exercises like running, stretching, and other activities that would help you sweat.
Some of the most popular exercises in her workout plan included Push-ups, Lunges, and Squats. This workout plan also included gym exercises and routines. These were included to make sure that you gain some muscle during your weight loss journey as well.
This is a comprehensive workout that she still follows to this day. It helped her lose more than 30 pounds in less than a year.
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Queen Latifah Before And After Weight Loss Photos
You can tell the extent of her weight loss and the impact that it had on her body in these pictures. The first picture was taken in the early 2000s. In it, you can see that she looks overweight and unhealthy.
However, she looks slimmer, healthier, and much happier in the second picture. The second picture was taken in 2019 and you can see the difference as clear as night and day. Her extremely efficient workout and diet plan helped her lose weight in a short period. They also helped her look and feel her best.
What Has Queen Latifah Said About Her Weight Loss?
When asked about her weight loss, Latifah said that she has never been happier. She decided to lose weight for her family and loved ones. And she also said she wants to live a long and healthy life with her son and partner. She finally thanked all her fans for their support during her weight loss journey. It helped motivate her to keep going no matter what.
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FAQ’s
What Is Queen Latifah’s Net Worth?
Queen Latifah has an estimated net worth of $70 million as of November 2021.
Has Queen Latifah Won An Oscar?
Latifah was nominated for her role of Matron Mama Morton in the movie Chicago. However, she did not end up winning it.
How Many Studio Albums Has Latifah Released?
Latifah has released 7 studio albums throughout her career.
Has Latifah Ever Been Arrested?
Latifah has been arrested twice during her lifetime. Once in 1996 for possession of marijuana and a loaded gun. The other time was in 2002 for driving under the influence.
What Was Latifah’s First-Ever Movie Appearance?
Latifah made her debut on the big screen as an extra in the movie Jungle Fever. She played the role of a waitress.
