Okay, bestie, let’s just say it out loud—Ariana Grande went from “cute ponytail girl” to “human Barbie in what feels like five minutes. One day she’s serving Thanksgiving-mac-and-cheese realness on the Victorious set, and the next she’s floating around in oversized hoodies looking like she could cosplay a Victorian child. We all screamed “Ariana Grande lose weight HOW?!” So I went full detective mode (because obviously), and I’m spilling everything I found. Grab your iced coffee—this is gonna be juicy.
First Off… Did Ariana Grande Actually Lose a Ton of Weight?
Yes. And no. And yes again. Ariana has always been petite, but between 2018 and 2024 her body literally transformed. We’re talking dropping from around 115–120 lbs (her own words in 2015) to looking closer to under 100 lbs at 5’0″. The Wicked press tour pics? Girl looked like a strong breeze could carry her to Oz. Fans got worried, trolls got nasty, and Ari finally clapped back on TikTok saying her body is nobody’s business… but we still wanna know the secrets, right?
Why the Sudden Change? (The Non-Conspiracy Version)
Look, I love a good Illuminati theory as much as the next girl, but the truth is way more boring—and way more relatable.
1. She Went Fully Plant-Based (Like, Hardcore Vegan)
Ariana ditched all animal products back in 2013, but around 2019–2020 she leveled-up to a super clean, macro-tracked vegan diet. Think Japanese-inspired meals because she’s obsessed with Japanese culture.
Her daily food used to look like this (she literally posted it once):
- Breakfast: Oatmeal with almond milk + blueberries
- Snack: Strawberry smoothie with vegan protein
- Lunch: Big tofu veggie stir-fry or giant sushi bowl (no fish, just avo + veg)
- Dinner: Lentil pasta or massive salad with chickpeas
- Dessert: She’s obsessed with vegan matcha ice cream (Halo Top or Nada Moo)
She told Vogue UK she eats “mostly plants and whole foods now.” Translation: bye-bye cheese, hello abs you could grate daikon on.
2. She Works Out Like a Tiny Energizer Bunny
People think she just “starves.” Wrong. Ari trains with celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak 5–6 days a week, even on tour. He told People magazine her workouts are actually pretty chill but super consistent.
Her routine (confirmed by Harley himself):
- 20–30 minutes on the VersaClimber or walking backwards on an incline treadmill (burns crazy calories)
- Light weights or resistance bands—nothing super heavy because she likes staying small
- Lots of glute work (those ponytail swings need a shelf, okay?)
- Daily 12k–14k steps (she wears an Apple Watch and obsesses over closing her rings)
Fun fact: During Wicked filming she hiked Table Mountain in South Africa just for cardio. Iconic.
The Wicked Transformation Was Next Level
Let’s be honest—the Wicked movie prep is when everyone lost their minds. Ariana literally turned into a real-life Glinda wand.
What she did for Wicked:
- Worked with nutritionist Dr. Daryl Gioffre (he also works with Kelly Ripa)
- Cut out all processed sugar and alcohol completely (she used to love red wine)
- Added daily celery juice and alkaline water (yes, really)
- Ate 90% raw until 4 p.m.—think giant smoothies and salads
- Trained twice a day sometimes because she wore a 30-pound corset dress 12 hours a day
She told Allure the corset was so tight she “couldn’t breathe,” so staying tiny was kinda required. Yikes.
The Not-So-Glam Side Nobody Talks About
Okay, time for real talk. In April 2023 Ari posted that viral TikTok basically saying “Stop commenting on my body.” She revealed:
- She’d been on antidepressants for years that caused weight gain as a side effect (2018–2019 era)
- When she came off them, her body naturally dropped the extra weight
- The “unhealthiest” version of her body was actually when she looked “fuller” to the public
Mind. Blown. So a lot of the “weight loss” we saw was her body returning to its natural set point after medication. Suddenly those 2022–2023 pics make way more sense.
How You Can Borrow Ari’s Tricks (Without Becoming a Pop Star)
Want that petite, toned vibe without disordered eating? Here’s what actually works from her routine:
Eat Like Ari (Simplified Version)
- Go heavy on plants—aim for 8–10 servings of fruits/veg a day
- Swap cow milk for oat or macadamia nut milk (her fave)
- Try tofu or tempeh instead of meat a few nights a week
- Keep portions Japanese-style: lots of little plates instead of one giant one
Move Like Ari
- Walk 10k+ steps daily (put on Thank U, Next and strut)
- Do 15 minutes of incline walking 4x a week
- Add glute bridges and side-lying leg lifts while watching Netflix
- Stretch every night—her flexibility is insane because she never skips this
Mindset Hacks She Swears By
- Drinks a gallon of water a day (uses a massive pink bottle)
- Takes vegan omega-3s and B12 (super important on plant-based)
- Meditates and journals—she credits this for keeping stress weight off
Red Flags & When to Chill
Let’s keep it 100. Ariana has openly talked about body dysmorphia and disordered eating in the past (especially Sam & Cat era). Some of the Wicked-era habits (raw till 4, extreme calorie deficit for the corset) are not sustainable or healthy for 99% of humans.
If you’re:
- Under 100 lbs at 5’3″+
- Losing your period
- Obsessed with the scale …that’s not “Ariana Grande weight loss goals,” that’s your body screaming for help.
Petite can be healthy. Skeletal isn’t the vibe.
So… What’s Ari Doing in 2025?
As of right now (December 2025), she’s gained back a little bit of weight in the best way. The Eternal Sunshine promo pics show softer arms, a rounder face, and she looks happy. She posted a mirror selfie last week wearing bike shorts and you can see actual muscle on her legs. Progress!
She told British Vogue this year: “I spent so long trying to be as small as possible. Now I just want to be strong and healthy and have energy to play with my dogs.”
Same, queen. Same.
Final Thoughts, Bestie
Ariana Grande didn’t “lose weight” because of Ozempic rumors, witchcraft, or alien technology (although I wouldn’t rule that last one out). She did it the old-fashioned way: clean vegan food, daily movement, and healing her relationship with her body after years of Hollywood pressure.
You don’t need to look like a Bratz doll to be beautiful. But if you wanna borrow some of her habits? Go for it—just do it the sustainable way. Eat your veggies, walk your cute little heart out, and maybe throw on some 7-inch pleasers for fun.
Now if you see Ari, tell her we’re proud of her. The ponytail still hits different. 🎀
