Dave Bautista admits he’s “killing” himself to maintain a dramatic 75-pound weight loss

Actor Dave Bautista has transformed himself dramatically during his weight loss journey.

The former WWE star opened up about his slimmed-down figure and admitted he’s “killing” himself to keep his weight down.

“I started losing weight because I just got fat,” he began to explain on Chris Van Vliet’s YouTube channel.

“I got really big for a role, and it was huge – I was about 315kg and I put on the weight very quickly. … I packed it with fries and pancakes.”

Bautista revealed that he gained weight for his role in the 2023 psychological horror film Knock on the Booth.

“Looking back, maybe I overdid it. Maybe I was a little too big,” added Bautista. “I put on an uncomfortable amount of weight and it took me forever to get it off.”

The Marvel actor admitted that the more he slimmed down, the better he felt.

“And I also noticed the more I cut, the better I looked on camera and the better I looked next to the other actors. … Even at this weight … at 6’4″ [and] 240 pounds, next to your typical actor I look like a gorilla and it’s distracting.”

He went on to say that his fans addressed online concerns about his dramatic weight loss.

Although Bautista said he is not “starving,” he struggles to maintain his weight.

“I’m probably going to lose a few more pounds. I’m basically killing myself to be this brave. I mean, I’m training hard,” he said. “My calories are pretty limited.”

After the actor revealed that he only eats 2,500 calories a day, Bautista shared his diet regimen that included intermittent fasting. He also does not allow himself to eat 3-4 hours before going to bed.

Bautista’s comments come after the actor admitted he was relieved to be leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy.

“I’m very grateful for Drax. I love it. But there is a relief [that it’s over],” Bautista previously told GQ Magazine after playing the role for nearly a decade. “It was not all pleasant. It was difficult to play that role. The makeup process was getting to me. And I just don’t know if I want Drax to be my legacy – it’s a silly performance and I want to do more dramatic things.

The former professional wrestler turned actor also shared his thoughts on his career in Hollywood.

“Honestly, I can give af- [about being a movie star],” Bautista told GQ.

“I don’t live a big glamorous life. I live here in Tampa. I don’t care about the limelight, I don’t care about fame. I just want to be a better actor. I want respect from my peers. I don’t need accolades – I really don’t, man. It’s about the experience, knowing that I’ve achieved something.”