2024 is a wild ride. It’s no different for comedian and actor Adam Devine. Gem of Righteousness In 2024, the star embarked on a pretty healthy journey, including gaining 25 pounds of “compassion weight” during his wife’s pregnancy and then becoming a first-time dad.
These life experiences served as a wake-up call for him to refocus on his health. With his new role as a parent, Devine’s health journey has become less about getting ready for the cameras and more about his family. He lost 25 pounds using common-sense strategies, not any of the fad diets taking over social media.
In a conversation with MyFitnessPal, Devine reveals his biggest health lessons from 2024 and how he’s applying them into 2025 to create the happiest, healthiest (and most fun) New Year yet.
Lesson 1: Rotisserie Chicken is MVP
Devine has a special relationship with the humble roast chicken. “My wife thinks I’m crazy because I’ll buy three chickens at the beginning of the week,” he said. “I love this dirty bird!”
But he absolutely loves this convenient, high-protein staple. It helps him achieve his nutritional goals without spending hours in the kitchen.
One of the reasons this works for him is that he changes the way he serves it so it doesn’t get boring. “The first day I’ll eat it with buffalo sauce or light ranch, but the second day I’ll chop it up and put it in a low-carb burrito. Sometimes my wife will add broccoli to it on the third day and sweet potatoes in the oven as a side dish,” he explains.
Rotisserie chicken proves convenience and health can coexist. And it doesn’t have to be roasted chicken—a pile of lentils or some baked tofu can also form the protein base for many meals throughout the week. Plan ahead like Devine does, and you’ll have delicious, nutritious meals ready to go.
Lesson 2: Just because it’s high in protein doesn’t mean you should eat it
If social media trends are to be believed, 2024 will be a big year for eating more (and more) protein. Research shows that this macronutrient can support your weight loss journey in a variety of ways, including promoting feelings of satiety. But Devine learned the hard way that not all “high-protein” snacks are created equal.
while shooting gem of justicea co-star introduced him to homemade high-protein balls.
“They’re delicious and small, so I eat three or four a day,” he said. “I had no idea how calorie dense they were.” That is, until he checked the ingredients and found out the nutritional information for each little protein ball. The result is about 300 calories per person.
“Tracking my food helps me really know what I’m eating so I don’t accidentally eat 1,000 calories of homemade protein balls.”
lesson? Even healthy-sounding high-protein snacks can cause you to exceed your goals if you don’t pay close attention.
Lesson Three: Drinking an Old Fashioned is Like Eating a Candy
It’s not uncommon to go out with friends in the evening and have two or three drinks. But most people don’t eat three pieces of candy in a row.
Devine’s drink of choice was a classic Old Fashioned. It wasn’t until he became familiar with the calorie content of bourbon and rye that he began to understand how luxurious the cocktail was.
“My side hustle is making a delicious cocktail like an Old Fashioned—although now I realize it’s like drinking a candy bar,” he admits.
Indulgence like this is crucial to achieving balance and establishing eating patterns that are actually sustainable long-term. But it’s important to understand them and recognize their impact.
“I learned it’s all about balance,” Devine said. What is the moral of this story? Enjoy a cocktail, but know what you’re drinking and don’t make it a daily or a few times a day habit.
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Lesson 4: Nutrition is the key to fatherhood
Everything changes when you become a parent. As Devine discovered, this includes the way you think about food and fitness.
“The hardest trade-off for me since becoming a father has been spending time with my son versus going to the gym,” Devine explained. “That’s what makes eating healthy even more important, because I always choose to hang out with Beau.”
Prioritizing nutrition allows him to stay energetic and spend time with his family. For Devine, eating well is no longer about looking good on screen, but about feeling good about herself and being the best version of herself for her son.
Lesson 5: Even a loose wedding ring can inspire motivation
Devine understands the importance of non-scale wins and uses them to gain momentum. Over the past year, he’d noticed that his wedding ring had become looser and his face looked thinner on screen.
“I have a whole new wardrobe, even though it’s dated because I haven’t been this thin in years,” he joked. It’s these daily wins that keep him motivated. “My biggest victory is not the number on the scale.”
Lesson 6: How you eat affects how you feel
Devine knows firsthand how diet affects physical and mental health. “I felt and looked bloated due to the extra weight, so it was very uncomfortable,” he recalled. “I just didn’t feel like myself.” Now, eating healthy makes him feel more energetic and confident.
When you prioritize nutritious foods, you’re not only fueling your body, but you’re also supporting your overall well-being. Raising children requires a lot of energy, and Devine is now eating way more energy than he’s had in years. (More on that later…)
Lesson 7: Don’t miss the biscuits or steak
For Devine, living healthy doesn’t mean giving up the things he loves. It’s all about balance. “Life is interesting,” he noted. “You should eat that birthday cake. Enjoy it and get back to your goals.
For example, at an annual family gathering, he would indulge in all of his favorite foods, including cookies, steak, and beer. This was a moment he looked forward to and wanted to fully enjoy.
“I usually ‘let it fly’ at this particular event,” he said. “Last year, when I got home, I weighed myself and realized I had gained 8 pounds over the weekend! But it didn’t matter if I took a day off or a weekend off.
This is his approach in 2025: Reset and move on. Feeling guilty won’t do you any good, but getting back into your daily routine will. “You must live!” he said.
Lesson 8: It’s important to know your protein goals
When Devine isn’t celebrating special occasions, his daily diet revolves around hitting his protein goals (without exceeding his calorie goals). Breakfast might include a “better for you” protein bagel, lunch is usually grilled or roasted chicken with a vinaigrette salad, and dinner is usually salmon and broccoli, he said.
“I’m always trying to find ways to get more protein.” His love of grilled chicken aside, he doesn’t always eat just chicken. Devine also shared some of his favorite go-to recipes, including turkey chili and breakfast tacos, now available in the MyFitnessPal app.
Lesson 9: Essential Snacks
Everyone needs snacks to satisfy those hungry moments. Having the right foods for him on hand can help Devine avoid poor nutrition choices and stay on track with his health goals.
His current favorite foods include cherry tomatoes, apples and protein bars, which are about 200 calories or less. “Having ready-to-go snacks can make it easier to stay on track,” he says.
Devine’s tip? Find snacks you really enjoy and keep them within easy reach when you’re hungry.
Lesson 10: Tracking makes health goals achievable
For Devine, food tracking has been a game-changer. “Tracking my food helps me really know what I’m eating,” he says. “Just know where you stand and there may be missteps, setbacks, holidays or celebrations.”
By making people aware of what they eat, tracking can help you stay accountable and make progress over time. It’s not about perfection, it’s about balance and consistency.
Based on everything he learned last year, he set simple and sustainable health goals for 2025. Because you don’t have to be perfect to get results, you just need to know where you stand so you can make an informed decision.
So take a page from Devine’s lead and make 2025 your healthiest year yet.
The post Adam Devine Reveals His Biggest Fitness Lessons Learned in 2024 and His Goals for 2025 appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.
