Photo: Ben Napier/Instagram; Paula Lobo/ABC via Getty
The Home Town star revamped his diet and lifestyle, all while shooting the show, and has lost 55 lbs. over the last year. Napier, 35, said he did it for his family.
“Bringing Helen home and getting to experience those first few weeks with her and seeing how fast things change with children, it got my attention. She was different every day, and I want to experience as much of her life as possible. I want a long life so I can be there for Erin and Helen,”he toldToday.
Napier also knew that he had a familyhistory of health problems.
He decided to make a changesoon after Helen was bornin Jan. 2018. At that point, the 6’6”Napier weighed around 335 lbs., a product, he said, of the holidays, wrapping season two of the show and life as a new parent.
“I started getting back on the wagon last January — I think most of us do during that time of year,” he toldToday. “… I had really overindulged and had put on more weight than I normally would during the holidays. So I had to really work on it.”
Napier cut down his carbohydrate intake and started doing cardio and weightlifting four to five times a week.
“I don’t get bored playing basketball, and could play for hours if I had the time. I’ve also done some intermittent fasting a couple of days a week,” he said.
Napier was able to stick to his new lifestyle, though the snack table on set, known as craft services, was always a threat.
“The most challenging part has been the craft services at work and catered lunches. Fifteen years ago, you give me snacks all day and a catered lunch, I’d be in heaven, but while filming Season 3, it was torture,” he said.
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Erin said that she loves Ben at any size, but she’s thrilled he improved his health, especially with his family history.
So Erin will happily endure the early morning wake-ups when Ben is playing basketball outside.
“Every time I hear that ball bounce, I think of his heart beating so fast and staying strong, and I imagine us old and gray together,” she said. “That makes me really happy.”
source: people.com
