The phone buzzes. Another text. “You look amazing!” Gayle King’s inbox has been flooded since that now-iconic Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover dropped. And why wouldn’t it? At 69 years old, Gayle King is 30 pounds lighter—and smiling like she just climbed Mount Everest in stilettos.

From 172 pounds to 142, she didn’t just drop weight. She dropped doubts. Shame. Excuses. The mirror didn’t lie anymore. The cameras certainly didn’t. And that number on the scale? It started to sing instead of scream.

So what changed?

“I Was Tired of the Yo-Yo”: Gayle King Gets Real About Her Weight

“I’ve done this dance before,” Gayle admitted in a candid chat with CBS Mornings. “You lose 15, gain 20. Lose 10, gain 25. I was tired. Not just physically. Tired in my soul.”

That tipping point came quietly. No grand epiphany. Just a bad knee, a tight dress, and a deep breath in front of the mirror. “I looked in the mirror one day and just said: Enough.”

At 172 pounds, her knees ached. She was post-surgery and healing, but sluggish. “I remember walking upstairs and feeling winded,” she said. “And I thought—this can’t be my future.”

From Size 14 to the SI Swimsuit Cover: The Visual Proof of Change

Weight before: 172 lbs.
Weight now: 142 lbs.
Dress size before: 14.
Dress size now: 8.

Let that settle in. Because those numbers aren’t just stats—they’re symbols. Symbols of a woman who didn’t give in, didn’t opt for shortcuts, and didn’t expect overnight miracles.

That Sports Illustrated shoot? “I couldn’t believe it,” Gayle said, laughing. “They sent the photos and I was like, wait—is that ME? At 69? In a swimsuit?”

It was. And America saw it too.

“It Wasn’t Magic, It Was Math”: Gayle’s 5 to 6-Day-a-Week Grind

Forget celebrity weight-loss gummies or secret spa retreats. Gayle King’s transformation? It came on the treadmill. It came with sweat. And, yes, it came with WeightWatchers.

Her regimen? As reliable as the morning news.

• Cardio: 30 minutes.

• Strength training: another 30.

• Frequency: 5 to 6 days a week.

“I’m not saying I loved it,” she said. “Some days I had to drag myself to that treadmill. But I knew what I wanted. And I wasn’t going to talk myself out of it.”

Her workouts started simple. Rehab for her knee surgery eventually evolved into a lifestyle. “Physical therapy became real therapy,” she joked.

What’s on Gayle’s Plate? Hint: It’s Not Deprivation

Let’s be clear—Gayle King didn’t starve herself thin. She nourished herself powerful.

“No, I’m not sipping lemon water and chewing ice cubes,” she quipped in a sit-down with E! News. “I love food. I just learned how to love food that loves me back.”

Her food rules?

• More protein. Less processed.

• Smaller portions. More frequency.

• Fiber-forward. Flavor-full.

And yes, she still eats bread. “I’m not giving up toast. I’m not a monster,” she laughs.

She leaned on WeightWatchers (WW), which she says “taught me how to eat again, without hating myself for it.”

The Oprah Question: Did Gayle Try Weight Loss Drugs?

In 2024, Oprah made headlines for turning to weight loss medications. So naturally, the question was tossed to Gayle.

“Nope,” she answered plainly. “This wasn’t about a quick fix. It was about finally fixing the way I see myself.”

She paused before adding, “I didn’t want to lose weight. I wanted to gain energy. Confidence. Comfort in my own skin.”

“I Like Her Now”: The Emotional Weight Was Heavier Than the Physical

Gayle spoke candidly about the internal struggle. “It wasn’t just the pounds. It was the self-talk. The ‘you’re too old’ lies. The fear of failing again.”

When she hit her goal weight—142 pounds—she cried. Not because she looked thinner, but because she felt free.

“I like her now,” she whispered. “That woman in the mirror. I really like her.”

The Role of Routine—and Why Gayle Keeps a Scale in Her Bathroom

This isn’t a fairy tale. Gayle doesn’t pretend it’s over. “Maintenance is the hard part,” she says. “But I treat it like brushing my teeth. I move my body. I check my weight. I forgive myself.”

She keeps a digital scale in her bathroom. Not as punishment, but as partnership. “It keeps me honest,” she shrugs.

And if the number goes up? “I don’t spiral. I adjust.”

Why Gayle’s Journey Feels So Personal—Even If She’s on TV

Maybe it’s the way she speaks like your favorite aunt. Maybe it’s because she’s never shied away from showing the messiness of real life.

Whatever it is, Gayle King’s weight loss feels deeply human.

Not aspirational. Attainable. She didn’t chase perfection. She chased peace. And somehow, that made her glow more than any diet ever could.

FAQ: Gayle King Weight Loss

Q1: How much weight has Gayle King lost?
A: Gayle King has lost 30 pounds, going from 172 lbs to 142 lbs as of 2025.

Q2: How old is Gayle King during this transformation?
A: Gayle is 69 years old, proving that age doesn’t define what’s possible for health or confidence.

Q3: What was Gayle King’s weight loss method?
A: A combination of WeightWatchers, consistent cardio and strength workouts (5-6 days/week), and mindful, nourishing meals.

Q4: Did Gayle use weight loss drugs like Ozempic?
A: No. Gayle confirmed she did not use any weight loss medications and focused on lifestyle changes instead.

Q5: Is Gayle King’s transformation permanent?
A: Gayle emphasizes maintenance and routine. “It’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing up,” she says.