Over the past few years, Ree Drummond, better known as the Pioneer Woman, has shed more than 50 pounds—and, perhaps more importantly, significantly improved her health. Now, she’s opening up about her weight-loss journey and sharing some of her strategies with her fans.
In a recent blog post, the Food Network star reflected on her progress since 2021, explaining that she’s decided to “jump back into” the lifestyle that helped her when she first started her weight-loss journey. While her weight has fluctuated a bit since then, this time around, she’s taking a more relaxed approach, not pushing herself as hard as before.
In the past, Ree focused on weighing her food and counting calories, but now she’s shifting to eyeballing her portions. Her new focus is on eating more protein, making sure it accounts for a higher percentage of her daily calories.
In addition to prioritizing protein, Ree Drummond emphasizes how crucial it is to build muscle. Her fitness routine includes lunges, squats, deadlifts, and floor exercises using ankle weights—moves she says are key to seeing results. For her, these two components, muscle-building and proper nutrition, have been a “game changer.”
Another notable change in her approach this time is how she handles alcohol. While she previously gave it up entirely for several months, she’s now adopted a more balanced approach. She’ll have a small glass of white wine, but often turns it into a spritzer by topping it off with cold Topo Chico sparkling water.
Lastly, Ree recommends using the app Happy Scale for tracking weight. She shared that during the year she gained weight, she didn’t use the app much, but now that she’s back on track, she’s reminded how helpful it is. “I forget how useful it is!” she admitted.
