'Mike and Molly' star shares health update after dramatic weight loss

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Billy Gardell has opened up about his 150-pound weight loss, revealing he's feeling much happier and healthier these days.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight recently, the Mike & Molly alum said he now "floats between 205 and 210."

"I think you got to find peace with yourself and at some point, look in the mirror and go you know, it's probably time to take care of you. Then I didn't get that note early on," the 53-year-old actor shared. "So I'm a big believer that when you get it, you get it. It doesn't matter when. As long as you get it."

The actor went on to joke about the "little things" he's not so keen on dealing with as a result of his new figure, but he said that "for the most part, [it's all good.]"

Elsewhere in the interview - which was published on Monday (April 17) - Gardell said he's thrilled that he now gets to shop at more stores. He told the outlet: "It's been a real gift, on top of all the health stuff. That was the big thing."

Gardell shared another fantastic piece of news with ET: his type 2 diabetes is now "gone". He explained: "No diabetes, resting heartbeat went from 113 to 68. Walking around pretty healthy these days."

The Bob Hearts Abishola star also had his producers assist him in his bid to maintain a healthy weight, revealing that he asked them to put a weight bench and some adjustable weights in his trailer so he could work out whenever he had a free moment on set.

In terms of his diet, he said: "I go small, but I eat very healthy. I eat like all the people I used to make fun of, to be honest."

He also shared that he no longer misses any of the unhealthy food he used to eat. "I've got my fill and now I'm at the place where I can have a couple bites of something decadent if I want," he said.

Despite feeling much healthier, Gardell said he still gets criticism about his weight.

He shared with ET: "Of course, there's always people online that when I was heavy, they're like, 'You're too heavy.' And now it's like, 'Are you sick?' Can I just walk through the Earth please?"

He went on to say: "Self care is important, and I think I finally got there. My last vice I got left is I'm still smoking cigarettes, but I'm working on that one. I have a child, and as you hit 50, you start doing that dad math, like, 'If I can live 25 more years, then he'll be 40. So I want to be here for him."

Gardell said he thinks he has become a better role model for his 20-year-old son William due to his dramatic change in lifestyle.

"I've been an example in a lot of good ways for my child, but I feel like it wasn't a good example of health for him," the actor shared. "And so I want him to see that it doesn't matter what age you are. If you are willing to do something a day at a time, you can change anything. That's the message I wanted him to get."

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