John Goodman Says 200-Pound Weight Loss Left His Body 'Messed Up' After Surgery

Q: What lingering medical complications from stomach surgery are forcing John Goodman to completely rebuild his life and body?

The lingering complications Goodman has described are anemia, loss of a layer of fat under his skin, and feeling cold “all the time,” along with reduced strength and balance that have made him focus intensely on fall prevention. In interviews tied to his 200-pound weight loss, Goodman said the stomach operation helped end years of losing and regaining large amounts of weight, but it also left lasting health effects. He said he “turned anemic,” which can cause fatigue, weakness and feeling unusually cold, and that he lost insulating fat under the skin, which also contributes to constant coldness. Those aftereffects appear to be a major reason he says he is rebuilding his body through core work, balance training, walking, boxing and strength exercises. Goodman has framed that effort in practical terms: staying functional and avoiding another fall. That concern became more urgent after he fractured his hip in a fall while returning to London after Christmas break. Since then, he has said he is working to regain strength and mobility. So while he has not described a single catastrophic post-surgery condition, the combination of anemia, chronic coldness, loss of body padding, and diminished physical resilience is what he says he is still learning to live with and train around.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Nov 3

74-year-old John Goodman said he is still adjusting to his body after losing 200 pounds, describing it as "too messed up" and saying he nearly passed on The Righteous Gemstones over concerns about appearing naked.
Stomach surgery helped drive the change, but Goodman said the aftermath has required core work, balance training and strength building as he gets used to his face and physique.
A fall in London after Christmas left him with a fractured hip, underscoring why he is focused on stability and avoiding another injury.
Goodman said years of alcohol addiction and repeated 60- to 80-pound swings pushed his weight to about 400 pounds; although he got sober in 2007, he said he kept "eating alcoholically."