‘Shark Tank’: Kevin O’Leary Said the First 3 Weeks of His New Eating Regimen ‘Was Hell’

Shark Tank fans may notice a slimmer Kevin O’Leary on the investor’s panel. O’Leary – aka Mr. Wonderful – recently went on a new wellness path based on advice from his physician. While the Shark is quite disciplined when it comes to opening his wallet, O’Leary found his dietary plan a bit challenging when he first began.

Kevin O’Leary had high blood pressure

O’Leary, who is 5’10”, now weighs in at 164 pounds, a full 20 pounds lighter than he was last year. The Shark Tank star was prompted to slim down after seeing his doctor at his annual physical.

“My doctor said you’ve got to lose 20 pounds,” O’Leary told Yahoo! Finance. “Your blood pressure is way up. It’s been going up every year because you’ve been gaining weight.”

As a white-collar professional, Mr. Wonderful spends much of his time sitting at a desk, computer, or television set thanks to his reality star status. The lack of movement can make a difference on the scale.

“That happens to a lot of people, over time, you become more sedentary and put on pounds,” he explained, and shared what his physician suggested. “[My doctor] said, ‘Have you ever tried fasting?’ and I never have.”

‘Shark Tank’ star began intermittent fasting

O’Leary decided to try the highly-publicized method of intermittent fasting, where you skip several hours or a meal each day without eating. The new regimen proved to be difficult for Mr. Wonderful when he first started, but he soon adjusted.

“I fast for 16 hours a day,” he revealed. “It was hell for the first 3 weeks, and now I’m never hungry… It’s a remarkable thing what your body can do if you get used to it.”

The Shark Tank investor described his daily meal schedule, which includes a later dinner and then nothing until lunch the following day.

“Basically, I don’t eat breakfast,” O’Leary said. “I have my meal at 7 or 8 at night, maybe a little later, and then I don’t eat again until around 1 in the afternoon the next day.”

Mr. Wonderful loves his wine

Prior to his new fasting plan, O’Leary has tried to be conscious of his weight. In a 2019 interview, he spoke of the importance of monitoring your nutrition and exercise routine on a daily basis.

“I know all this sounds crazy, but you’re going to find routines really help, because if you overeat, you feel sluggish, and nobody wants to gain weight,” O’Leary told CNBC. “So you have to know your body, you have to understand how you work.”

Still, the millionaire does have his splurges. As the owner of the online wine store, Kevin O’Leary Fine Wines, he sees his penchant for spirited beverage as one of his very few indulgences.

“I don’t smoke, I don’t take drugs, but I drink wine,” O’Leary remarked. “I’m in the wine business, and I spend a lot of time with other winemakers. Wine is 120 calories a glass, I have to remember that.

Now with his slimmed-down physique, O’Leary is encouraging others to give intermittent fasting a chance.

“Try it, It really works,” the Shark Tank panelist said. “And you’re never hungry.”