Christopher Schwarzenegger Reveals the Simple Habit That Helped Him Shed 30 Pounds

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Christopher Schwarzenegger has a total recall of his fitness transformation. 

As the youngest child of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, I’ve recently opened up about my personal six-year battle with weight loss, revealing the factors that sparked my transformation and led me to shed an impressive 30 pounds.

Christopher remarked during his May 10 speech at the Inaugural Beacher Vitality Happy & Healthy Summit: “It was quite an extensive journey,” he explained. “I embarked on it in 2019 while residing in Australia. I was taking a substantial trip, and I had grand plans, such as saying, ‘I’m going to explore all of Australia,’ but I soon realized that my weight was limiting me from engaging in everyday activities.

Interestingly, the individual in question, aged 27, was the brother of Katherine Schwarzenegger (35), Christina Schwarzenegger (33), Patrick Schwarzenegger (31), and half-brother Joseph Baena (27) – all offspring of Arnold Schwarzenegger. This person had expressed a desire to go skydiving with his friends, but he felt that, given his size at the time, the activity might have been too risky for him to engage in safely.

Since spending time in Australia, Christopher became more conscious about his health. In fact, he’s been experimenting with various weight loss strategies as far back as his teenage years.

In high school, I was responsible for meal deliveries, and I often felt awkward carrying unusual lunches to school, he reminisced. It wasn’t a quick process, but it required numerous attempts and adjustments. And even now, when I compare my past and present, I don’t feel like I’ve fully reached the ‘after’ stage yet.

Despite not yet reaching his ideal weight, Christopher discussed the one food he’s eliminated in an effort to get there: he’s given up bread. This particular food item was abandoned during Lent, a 40-day period of religious observation practiced by Christians.

In my own words, I found myself thinking, “If I’m eliminating bread from my diet, why not take this chance and stick to my religious beliefs at the same time? So, I decided to do it, and as a result, I managed to shed an impressive 30 pounds.

For the first time ever, Christopher, who usually shuns the limelight, has publicly chroniconed his remarkable fitness odyssey. However, over the past couple of months, his physical transformation has been evident to all. Interestingly enough, just before he attended the recent panel, he made a seldom-seen appearance on his elder sister’s Instagram account.

Last month on National Siblings Day, Katherine (mother to Lyla, 4, Eloise, 2, and Ford, 5 months), alongside husband Chris Pratt, posted a picture of herself beaming with her beloved siblings. She affectionately referred to them as her “favorites, forever and always.

Keep reading to learn more about the Schwarzenegger-Pratt family tree…

Despite not yet reaching his ideal weight, Christopher disclosed the food he’s eliminated to aid in his journey: he’s stopped eating bread. More precisely, he “abstained” from bread during Lent, a religious practice observed by Christians lasting 40 days.

He said, “When I decided to give up bread, I figured I might as well go all in since I’m determined. Being a good Catholic, I don’t want to break my commitment. As a result, I managed to shed 30 pounds.

For the first time, Christopher, who typically shies away from attention, has publicly shared his remarkable fitness story. However, over the past couple of months, he’s been subtly revealing his weight loss transformation. Notably, just a few weeks prior to the recent panel, he made an uncommon appearance on his elder sister’s Instagram account.

Last month on National Siblings Day, Katherine (mother to Lyla, 4, Eloise, 2, and Ford, 5 months, alongside husband Chris Pratt) posted a picture of herself beaming with her siblings. She affectionately referred to them as her “favorites, forever and always.

Keep reading to learn more about the Schwarzenegger-Pratt family tree…

With his children all grown and leading their own lives, Arnold Schwarzenegger is now embracing a new role – that of grandpa! His grandchildren include Katherine Schwarzenegger’s family, including husband Chris Pratt, as well as their kids Lyla, Eloise, and Ford. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel in 2022, Arnold shared his delight in being a grandfather, stating that he enjoys spending time with his granddaughter Lyla for a couple of hours, playing with her and her dog before they return home.

In 1986, Maria got married to Arnold, but they divorced in 2011 after she discovered he had fathered a child from an affair. However, Chris, her son-in-law, praises how well Maria and Arnold co-parented despite the public eye. As reported by Today in May 2024, the Guardians of the Galaxy actor said, “Maria and Arnold raised four fantastic children, and that’s not an easy feat. You often see celebrities or those with privilege end up raising spoiled kids. So I’m curious to know her secret.” Chris further explained, “I think she holds them accountable. When Maria enters the room, everyone stands up. She emphasizes manners, accountability, and faith. These are values I want to incorporate when raising our own children.

Patrick, born in 1993, is the eldest son of Arnold and Maria. While having parents in the business certainly has its perks, he acknowledges his brother-in-law Chris for helping him secure a notable role. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel in 2022, regarding his role in The Terminal List on Amazon Prime Video, Patrick recounted that Chris had tipped him off about a young character named Donny Mitchell, stating, “You’ll be the youngest in the platoon.” To get this part, Chris advised him to immerse himself in the character and undergo physical and tactical training. Gaining 20 pounds and learning the nuances of Navy SEALs was crucial for his preparation. This opportunity to train with real-life Navy SEALs was a dream come true for Patrick. Since then, he has played Saxon Ratliff in The White Lotus and Tim Tebow in FX’s American Sports Story. Despite his connections, Patrick emphasizes his dedication to the craft. He told The Sunday Times in February 2025 that people might assume he only got his role on The White Lotus due to his family ties, but they are overlooking his decade-long acting education, countless hours spent developing characters, and numerous rejected auditions. Patrick is also looking forward to taking on a new role: husband. He proposed to model Abby Champion in December 2023.

As the eldest among the Schwarzenegger children, I was born in 1989 to Arnold and Maria. Now, I’m a mother myself, having tied the knot with Chris in 2019 following a year of courtship. We were blessed with our first child, Lyla, in 2020. Eloise joined us two years later, and Ford arrived in 2024. When I held my baby for the first time, it felt like all the pieces of my life had come together perfectly, fulfilling a dream I’ve cherished for a long time – becoming a mother. I am also fortunate to be a stepmother to Jack, who Chris and his ex-wife Anna Faris welcomed in 2012.

In Chris’ perspective, his family is of utmost importance. Yet, he felt disheartened when criticized in 2021 for expressing gratitude towards Katherine on Instagram for their healthy daughter, as some social media users perceived it as insensitive to Anna and Jack, who was born premature.

He expressed his disappointment when articles labeled the gesture as distasteful, saying, “I can’t believe Chris Pratt would thank her for a healthy daughter when his first child was born premature. That’s such a dig at his ex-wife,” in an interview with Men’s Health in 2022. He found it distressing that these blessings in his life, which are cherished by his close ones, could become a burden to others. This criticism particularly upset him as his son, who is 9 years old, might read the comments one day and he feared the long-lasting impact on his child’s perception of such moments. He admitted that these hurtful words made him cry and left him feeling frustrated.

In August 2012, Jack, the child of Anna and Chris, was born prematurely approximately two months too soon and had to stay in a specialized neonatal care unit for some time.

At a 2021 gathering for the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth, the actress reminisced about the moment when she brought home Jack. The initial years were marked by numerous doctor visits, five surgeries, physical therapy sessions, and an abundance of laughter due to Jack’s irresistible charm and cuteness that exceeded any expectations I had imagined.

Over a year since Katherine and I became husband and wife, we were blessed with our little angel Lyla Maria Schwarzenegger Pratt in August 2020. Her middle name pays tribute to my beloved mother-in-law.

Though Chris often shields his family life from the spotlight, he did reveal that Jack is already excelling as an older sibling.

Back in 2021, I shared with Entertainment Tonight how fantastic Jack is with Lyla. “He’s simply wonderful,” I said. “She’s always trying to pull his glasses off, and he’s incredibly patient with her. He makes a great big brother.

Skip ahead to March 2022, where Chris and Katherine expanded their family by welcoming daughter Eloise Christina Schwarzenegger Pratt into their lives.

In an interview with TopMob in June 2022, the actor from Zero Dark Thirty referred to himself as a “second-time father to a girl.” He shared that his eldest daughter has adapted well to her new role as a big sister. Initially, she was curious about the baby, asking questions like “What’s that thing? What’s up with that?” But now, she seems to have fully embraced the idea. She often wants to hold her baby sister and is being exceptionally kind. These moments are what make life meaningful, he said, adding that he feels incredibly fortunate and filled with joy.

On November 8, 2024, Katherine and Chris were overjoyed to announce the birth of their son, Ford Fitzgerald Schwarzenegger Pratt. A few days later, they shared on Instagram that both mother and baby are in good health, and Ford’s siblings are ecstatic about his arrival. The couple expressed their immense feelings of gratitude and blessing during this joyous occasion.

Christopher Schwarzenegger, born in 1997, is the youngest son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. He has mostly avoided public attention but serves as Vice Chair for the Special Olympics Founder’s Council. He is also a Director of Development at Indus Valley Media, having previously worked at Malka, with Trevor Moawad in sports psychology, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in psychology.

On the other hand, Christina Schwarzenegger, born in 1991, is their youngest daughter and an executive producer. Her production credits include the 2018 documentary ‘Take Your Pills’ and the 2022 doc ‘Take Your Pills: Xanax’.

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Joseph is the offspring resulting from Arnold’s affair with Mildred Patricia Baena, who was their housekeeper at the time. Although Joseph was born in 1997, it wasn’t until much later that Arnold discovered he was his father. In his 2023 docuseries titled “Arnold,” The 6th Day alum admitted to having an affair in 1996 and expressed his struggle with keeping the secret. He noted that as Joseph grew older, it became increasingly clear that he was likely his son. Arnold characterized this affair as a significant mistake in his life but emphasized that he is proud of Joseph. He added that despite his past error, Joseph is welcome in their world and has turned out to be an exceptional young man. Similar to his father, Joseph pursues acting and fitness and also works in real estate; he even competed on season 31 of Dancing With the Stars.

Chris and Anna got married in 2009, but after eight years they revealed their separation. Anna, who was previously married to Ben Indra, hinted that her life with Chris wasn’t as perfect as it appeared. During a 2021 episode of her podcast “Unqualified,” she mentioned that both she and Chris had maintained a picture-perfect image even within their close circles. Furthermore, Anna, who is now married to cinematographer Michael Barrett, suggested that being in the same industry as her exes may not have helped. Later in another episode of her podcast, she admitted that her previous marriages, both with actors, might not have handled the competitiveness well. She stated that she didn’t deal with hints of competition and comparison very effectively at the time, but expressed hope that she had grown from the experience.

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2025-05-12 17:50