Shonda Rhimes feared she would die within ten years before losing 117 pounds in a significant health transformation. The acclaimed producer and founder of Shondaland shared her fears and the role her children played in inspiring her weight loss journey in an event titled
“In Conversation with Robin Roberts: Year of Yes”
at 92NY.
Rhimes described how her inability to actively engage with her daughters left her feeling deeply distressed. During the conversation, Robin Roberts recalled Rhimes’ story about how she once struggled physically.
“When your daughter, you put her on your shoulders and you were able to run around with her and up the steps and there’s a time that you couldn’t do that,”
Roberts said.
“And how you literally cried after.”
This moment marked a powerful turning point for Rhimes.
The Emotional Impact of Physical Limitations
Rhimes admitted,
“I did. I really thought like I might be dead in 10 years.”
She explained feeling devastated because she couldn’t carry her 20-pound daughter on her shoulders and run around, an ability she felt she should have had. This limitation triggered a profound emotional response and was a catalyst for change.
Reflecting on these memories, Rhimes expressed the relief and happiness she discovered in reclaiming her physical health.
“That moment, her joy and I sort of having done it, [felt] like, ‘Oh my God, I feel [like] myself again,’”
she said, highlighting the newfound connection and energy she now enjoys with her children.
From Comfort Eating to Health Awareness
Before her transformation, Rhimes described her coping mechanism with food, saying her body was
“just a container for my brain”
and she often used sweets to soothe her sadness. She candidly told the audience,
“You can put fried chicken on your sadness, you can put cheesecake on your heartbreak.”
However, she recognized a turning point when her health began to deteriorate severely.
“At a certain point I started to truly feel terrible,”
she admitted. Rhimes recounted her experience with sleep apnea, waking repeatedly at night choking, which forced her to confront the seriousness of her condition.
“I developed sleep apnea and woke up all the time, choking in my sleep. Like I started to feel awful and I was like ‘I have to do something about this,’”
she explained.
Balanced Approach to Eating and Focus on Wellness
Despite increasing her health awareness, Rhimes rejects extreme dietary restrictions.
“I’m not one of those people who’s like, ‘I now only eat salads,’”
she said. Instead, she emphasized using food thoughtfully without depriving herself.
The primary motivation behind her weight loss, Rhimes shared, was her commitment to her daughters and the desire to remain healthy and present for them. Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres in 2015, she said,
“I kind of wanted to be around for them, to be healthy.”
She added,
“I’m super feminist, and I’m like, ‘Everybody should be whatever shape they want to be, how dare anybody tell anybody anything!’ – and then I thought, ‘I’m going to fall over, cause I don’t feel good.’ So it was really about that.”
This honest reflection highlights the urgency and anxiety that propelled her to take control of her health.
Significance of Rhimes’ Journey and Its Broader Message
Shonda Rhimes’ story underscores the emotional and physical challenges many face with weight and health, especially when family responsibilities demand active involvement. Her journey from fear of early mortality to rediscovering her strength serves as a message of motivation and self-care driven by love and responsibility.
By speaking openly about the mix of frustration, sadness, and urgency that shaped her transformation, Rhimes provides insight into how personal health can be a crucial foundation for fulfilling one’s roles as a parent and leader. Her approach to balanced eating and prioritizing wellness offers a relatable perspective for those navigating similar struggles.
