John Goodman's trainer opens up on bizarre strategy for actor's weight loss journey: 'Dig your grave now'
John Goodman's astonishing weight loss at the 62nd Monte Carlo TV Festival has left people in awe of his incredible transformation. However, this change didn't happen overnight. It required immense dedication, hard work, and a truly dramatic intervention.
According to Mackie Shilstone, Goodman's trainer, many people contribute to weight management but lack the commitment needed for lasting results. "People think this is overnight, but most people make a contribution to weight management, but they don’t make a commitment to it,” Shilstone told The New York Post. Shilstone, a 72-year-old fitness expert and neighbor of Goodman, had previously helped the actor shed 85 pounds before Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.
Unfortunately, after the hurricane, Goodman struggled and regained the weight he had lost. Recognizing the need for a renewed commitment, Shilstone said, "John decided that he was going to make a commitment...I’ve known John for a long time, and 85 pounds coming off and then regained, it didn’t work. So I said, ‘What am I gonna do?'"
‘Lord was playing the game with me’
Despite being a non-actor, Shilstone took on the role of an actor for a moment because of his friendship with Goodman. Instead of the conventional gym or recreational center, Shilstone took Goodman to a cemetery for a rather unconventional intervention - "So I said to myself, ‘Let me become an actor for a moment,'" he revealed.
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Shilstone led Goodman to an empty area of the cemetery for a walk and challenged him to dig his own grave. “I said, ‘John, here’s a shovel. You told me you’re going to recommit yourself and follow this plan,'” Shilstone revealed to The Post. “I said, ‘I want you to dig your grave. Until you dig your grave, you won’t understand what it means to live.'” He continued to tell Goodman, committing to being an actor, “John, do you really know who I am? Do you have any idea who you’re next to? You notice there’s no wind? And there are no birds, nothing, no sounds, you don’t even hear cars. Shilstone vividly recalled the moment, humorously mentioning that it seemed like a divine coincidence, "I guess the good Lord was playing the game with me."
‘You can dig your grave now’
In character as "Death," Shilstone confronted Goodman saying, "I’m death, and I’ve come to give you a second chance." "You can dig your grave now and I’ll cover you over and we’ll be done with this, or you can use this shovel and cover it over and move on with your life and take it back.
To drive home the gravity of the situation, Shilstone urged Goodman, saying, "John, you have a lovely daughter, you have a lovely wife, and you’ve been successful, but you’re not gonna make it. I want you to close your eyes and think you can never say another word to your daughter and wife. It’s all over. I’ve taken that from billions of people over time. I will give you one more chance." Shilstone emphasized the importance of friendship, as friends can deliver tough truths. He then set up Goodman with equipment in his California home, allowing him to maintain his new lifestyle.
'To me, he is a model'
Shilstone, author of the book 'Stop Renting Your Health—Own It: A Three-Step Approach', highlighted the significance of taking ownership of one's health before it takes control of you. This approach worked wonders for Goodman, who had previously weighed 392 pounds.
Finding a regimen that Goodman could commit to was crucial. Once they discovered the right path, Goodman began to feel comfortable in his own skin. Shilstone acknowledged that success doesn't guarantee long-term weight maintenance, as evident from Goodman's initial weight loss before Hurricane Katrina, which he described as a "failure."
However, by assuming the role of "Death" and helping Goodman take charge of his health and fitness through lab studies, preventive medication, doctor appointments, and workout routines, the actor was able to undergo a remarkable transformation. Shilstone concluded by stating that Goodman had made a commitment to live life fully and that 'To me, he is a model'.