When we talk about successful transformations, we have to touch several nerves and approach those issues with care. Nowadays, the concept of self-image, the criticizing of someone’s weight and appearance isn’t as politically correct as it once was.
Still, this is not the case; today, we’re talking about the success story of Chastity Bono, Chaz Bono. That’s right, we’re doing a Chaz Bono before and after.
A weight loss journey can be a very uphill battle, but if you factor into the equation that the person going through that sort of process is a transgender person, not only do things become even more difficult for that person, but also stuff like stigma, stereotypes, and criticism come into play.
But in the case of Chaz Bono, he never stopped from his goal, not only is he a successful person working in the entertainment industry, but he managed across the years to shed the extra pounds, work in several productions, write a book, do a documentary and become happy with who he is. Let’s explore his life and trajectory today.
Who Is Chaz Bono?
Chaz Salvatore Bono is a transgender man who rose to notoriety for his participation in “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour”. Sonny Bono and Cher are her biological parents. Born in Los Angeles, California on 4 March 1969, he is currently 54 years old. He went to the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Performing Arts and got his degree there.
Since a very young age, Chaz knew he felt different, and at age 18, while still identifying as a woman, he came out to her mom and dad as a lesbian. After graduation, Chaz followed his parent’s footsteps and went into show business as an actor, songwriter, and singer, and he’s never stopped since, despite the many obstacles that life put along his way, from stigmatization for his personal preferences, weight gain, transitioning into another gender and the works.
Further down his life, he delved into writing and penned a book on what it’s like to come out of the closet for the LGBT community.
Transitioning And Its Discontents
Then, in 2008, Chaz Bono, not conforming with their gender, began a transition process both physical and social to become a male. While they tried to keep it under a tight lid, his Public Relations team confirmed the transition in June 2009.
His decision was welcomed by the LGBT lobby, who lauded him for his openness, and then came his legal status, in which he asked the judicial system to be recognized as a man. This was certified back in its day by a California jurisdiction.
Since then, he has worked in entertainment. He did a documentary about his journey —bought and distributed by Oprah Winfrey’s network—, went to participate in “Dancing With The Stars” and has appeared in several shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, American Horror Story: Roanoke and Cult, and cameos in Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Chaz Bono Before And After Weight Loss
The process of gender reassignment involves deep psychological, medical, and psychiatric aid to the person wishing to acquire that new identity. For Chaz, becoming a man with two X chromosomes involved taking a series of medicines that changed his hormonal chemistry, forcing his body to reduce the amount of female hormones and start producing male hormones.
That process involved making his voice more coarse, growing hair, and, of course, weight gain. Chaz Bono gained more than 70 pounds in the process. That weight gain, coupled with hormone therapy, makes it really difficult to shed weight because of complex biochemical and hormonal processes.
This was back in 2013, but after intense dieting coaching, an exercise routine, and motivation, Chaz managed to shave sixty pounds and showed off a rather svelte routine after being away from the cameras for quite some time.
Nowadays, in 2023, Chaz Bono continues to keep working on his weight. He trains, maintains a diet and a healthy lifestyle, and claims that he feels very healthy, very well, and is happy with the decisions he took along the years.
