Mindy Kaling doesn’t view weight loss the same way she did when she was younger. During a May 2026 interview with hustleThe “Office” alumna admitted that her primary motivation for losing weight in her earlier years was her “ego.” However, as she grew older, she felt driven to work on herself so that she could add more years to her life and be there for her young children. “Now I want to lose weight or I lost weight because I want to avoid things like diabetes,” Kaling explained. “I’ve had this disease on both sides of my family, and I think trying to avoid these types of things will help prolong my life, and that’s my goal.” With this change in mindset, the comedian no longer wakes up thinking about how good she looks, and instead focuses solely on how healthy she feels.
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It’s no surprise that having a strong motivation to achieve a fitness goal can make the journey a lot better. Chat with AARPAlmost everyone knows that weight loss is all about calories in and calories out at this point, said Sophia Redden Gray, director of behavioral health at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center. According to her, people fail to achieve their fitness goals not due to lack of knowledge but due to psychological factors that can be overcome with a healthy dose of motivation. Furthermore, clinical psychologist Gary D. Foster says people are more likely to achieve their weight-loss goals if they base their journey on one of their core values and/or well-defined motivations. And it looks like Kaling did just that.
Mindy Kaling’s perspective on weight loss has changed in more ways than one
talking to today In May 2022, Mindy Kaling admitted that she realized she wasn’t someone who could permanently put her love of food on hold. Instead of fighting against her desires and making herself miserable in the process, Kaling worked with them and practiced moderation. In a May 2024 interview with protectionthe comedian shared that she keeps her diet simple, noting, “For me, at this point in my life, I feel like I know what I’m supposed to eat — you know, more green leafy vegetables and keeping red meat to a minimum — and for me personally, I also try to keep dairy to a minimum.” Although the “Inside Out” voice actress didn’t always achieve her nutritional goals, her desire to stay healthy for the sake of her children motivated her to keep trying.
In addition, Kaling has also been able to find joy in working out. During her chat with Today, she said she initially thought exercising should be a grueling 45 minutes. However, I eventually realized that movement doesn’t have to be a punishment. So, Kaling chooses to stay active every day of the week by walking. Instead of overcomplicating things and tracking her daily steps, she would try to go for short walks throughout the day whenever she had the opportunity. And with that, Kaling seems to know all about… Easy ways to turn everyday tasks into exercise. By looking What happens to your body when you walk every day?It’s safe to say that Kaling made a great decision.
