2024 has been a wild ride. And it was no different for comedian and actor Adam Devine. Honest gems The star embarked on his big health journey in 2024, putting on 25 pounds of “sympathy weight” during his wife’s pregnancy and then becoming a father for the first time.
Life experiences gave him the wake-up call he needed to refocus on health. With her new role as a parent, Devine’s health journey was less about being camera-ready and more about coming out to her family. She lost those 25 pounds with common sense strategies, not fad diets that took over social media.
During an interview MyFitnessPalDevin reveals the biggest health lessons of 2024, and how he’ll take those learnings into 2025 to create the happiest, healthiest (and funnest) New Year yet.
Lesson #1: Rotisserie Chicken is the MVP
Devin has a special relationship with the humble rotisserie chicken. “My wife thinks I’m crazy because I’m going to buy three chickens at the beginning of the week,” he says. “I love you dirty bird!”
But he’s definitely on to something with this convenient high-protein product. It helps her achieve her nutritional goals without spending hours in the kitchen.
One reason this works is that it changes the way you serve it so it doesn’t get boring. “The first day I’ll eat it with buffalo sauce or a light ranch, but the next day I’ll chop it up and put it in a burrito with a low-carb wrap. Sometimes my wife will bake broccoli and sweet potatoes on the third day as a side,” he explains.
Roast chicken is proof that comfort and health can coexist. And it doesn’t have to be roast chicken: a big batch of lentils or even some baked tofu can be a protein-packed base for many meals throughout the week. Plan ahead like Devine, and you’ll always have a delicious and nutritious meal ready.
Lesson 2: Just because you’re high in protein doesn’t mean you have to eat it
If social media trends are to be believed, 2024 has been a big year for eating more (and more) protein. Research shows that this macronutrient support your weight loss journey in various ways, including promoting satiety. But Devin learned the hard way that not all “high protein” snacks are created equal.
While filming Honest gemsA co-star introduced her to homemade high-protein balls.
“They were delicious and small, so I was eating three or four a day,” she says. “I had no idea how calorie dense they were.” That is, until he looked up the ingredients and figured out the nutritional information for each protein ball. They were about 300 calories each.
“Tracking my food helps me to actually eat what I’m eating so I don’t accidentally eat 1,000 calories in a homemade protein ball.”
The lesson? Even healthy high-protein snacks can cause you to overshoot your goals if you’re not careful.
Lesson 3: Drinking stale is like eating a candy bar
It’s not uncommon to have two or three drinks a night with friends. But most people won’t eat three candy bars in a row.
Devine’s drink of choice is a classic old-fashioned. After learning the calorie count of bourbon and rye, he began to understand what a bargain this cocktail could be.
“My vice is a nice cocktail, like an old fashioned, although I now realize it’s like drinking a candy bar,” he admits.
Treats like these are essential to achieving balance and building a long-term sustainable diet pattern. But it is important to be aware of them and recognize their impact.
“I’ve learned it’s all about balance,” Devin said. The moral of the story? Enjoy a cocktail, but be aware of what you’re consuming and don’t let it become a daily—or a couple of times a day—habit.
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Lesson 4: Nutrition is key to being a father
When you become a parent, everything changes. As Devin found out, that includes the way you look at food and fitness.
“Since becoming a father, the hardest trade-off for me is spending time with my son instead of going to the gym,” Devin explains. “That’s what makes a healthier diet even more important, because I’ll always choose to hang out with Beau.”
Prioritizing food allows her to sustain energy and be present for her family. For Devine, eating well isn’t just about looking good on screen, it’s about feeling good and being the best version of himself for his son.
Lesson 5: Even a loose wedding ring can boost motivation
Devin understands the importance of non-scale wins and taps into them for motivation. In the past year, she’s seen her wedding ring loosen and her face look slimmer on screen.
“I have a new wardrobe, although it’s outdated because I haven’t been this skinny in years,” she jokes. It’s these daily victories that keep me motivated. “My greatest victories are not the numbers on the scale.”
Lesson 6: How you eat affects how you feel
Devin learned firsthand how diet affects physical and mental well-being. “With the extra weight, I felt and looked bloated, so it was uncomfortable,” she recalls. “I wasn’t feeling myself.” Now, eating healthier has helped her feel stronger and more confident.
When you prioritize nutritious foods, you’re not just nourishing your body, you’re supporting your overall sense of well-being. Parenting demands a lot of energy, and now Devin has more than he’s had in years thanks to the way he eats. (More on that in a second…)
Lesson 7: Don’t miss the cookies—or the steak
For Devine, living healthy doesn’t mean giving up the things she loves. It’s all about balance. “Life is funny,” he said. “You should have that birthday cake. Enjoy it and then get back to your goals.”
For example, at his annual family gatherings, he brings all his favorites, including cookies, steaks, and beer. It is an occasion that he looks forward to and that he wants to enjoy to the fullest.
“I usually ‘let it fly’ for this particular event,” he says. “Last year, when I got home, I weighed myself and saw that I had gained 8 kilos in one weekend! But it’s good to have a day or a weekend outside the routine.’
Here is the approach being taken in 2025: Reset and move forward. Guilt doesn’t work for you, but restarting your routine does. “You must live!” he says
Lesson 8: Knowing your protein goal is important
When she’s not celebrating a special occasion, Devine’s daily meals focus on hitting her protein goals (without going over her calorie goals). Breakfast might be a “better-for-you” protein-packed bagel, lunch is often grilled or roasted chicken in a vinaigrette-dressed salad, and dinner is usually salmon with broccoli, she says.
“I’m always trying to find ways to get more protein.” And love of roast chicken aside, it’s not all chicken all the time. Devin also shared some of her favorite recipes (including turkey chili and breakfast quesadillas), which are available now. The MyFitnessPal app.
Lesson 9: Snacks to go are a must
Everyone needs snacks around for those hungry moments. Getting it right for him helps Devin avoid less nutritious options and stay on top of his health goals.
Current favorites include cherry tomatoes, apples, and protein bars that pack 200 calories or less. “Having convenient snacks ready makes it a lot easier to stay on track,” she says.
Devine’s advice? Find snacks that you really like and have them on hand for when you start to get hungry.
Lesson 10: Follow-up can help achieve health goals
For Devine, food tracking has been a game changer. “Tracking my food helps me know what I’m actually eating,” she says. “Knowing where you are allows for gaps, setbacks, holidays or celebrations.”
By making you aware of what you eat, tracking helps you stay accountable and make progress over time. It’s not about perfection, it’s about balance and consistency.
Based on everything he learned over the past year, he set simple and sustainable health goals for 2025. This year, she wants to focus on eating healthy and drinking less alcohol without beating herself up over a cocktail or cookie. Because you don’t need to be perfect to get results, you just need to know where you stand so you can make informed decisions.
So take a page from Devine’s playbook and make 2025 your healthiest year yet.
The post Adam Devine Reveals the Biggest Health Lessons He Learned in 2024 and His Goals for 2025 appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.