Tim McGraw is fitter than ever after his 40 pound weight loss with the low-carb Paleo diet and CrossFit workouts, Celebrity Health reported.
“I drank a lot from my point of view and I needed to stop,” said McGraw, 48. “I felt quitting was something I needed to do. I didn’t feel I had any moral high ground with my kids in the long run.”
Tim stopped drinking in 2008 and began an intense workout program that includes running, CrossFit, weight-lifting and basketball, and has never looked or felt better.
“To stay fit, I try to keep it consistent as best as I can,” says McGraw, who’s married to singer Faith Hill. “Part of my routine is getting up in the morning, taking the kids to school and then going to the gym, spending a couple of hours in there.”
McGraw credits his rippling physique to a low-carb Paleo diet, which emphasizes high-quality animal proteins, healthy fats, vegetables and fruits, and excludes gluten, sugar, dairy, legumes, starches, alcohol and processed foods.
It’s the most popular diet around today, and has a large celebrity following, including NBA superstars Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin and Ray Allen, supermodel Adriana Lima, and actor Joe Manganiello.
A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates the Paleo diet is twice as effective as other diets for promoting weight loss and reducing belly fat.
“Clinical trials have shown the Paleo diet is the optimum diet that can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, markers of inflammation, help with weight loss, reduce acne, promote optimum health and athletic performance,” said professor Loren Cordain, author of The Paleo Diet for Athletes and The Paleo Diet Cookbook.
Holistic health expert Chris Kresser, author of Your Personal Paleo Code, said Paleo isn’t a fad diet because the emphasis is not on calorie restriction, and it provides a healthy balance of protein, vegetables and high-quality fats.
Tim says exercise pumps him up before he hits the stage. “Working out is a great way to go out on stage,” says McGraw, who recently released his new album, Two Lanes of Freedom. “When I hit the stage, my adrenaline is going and I’m ready.”
While Tim is pleased with his buff body, his primary motivation for embracing a healthier lifestyle is to be around for his three daughters: Gracie Katherine, Maggie Elizabeth, and Audrey Caroline.
“I’m in a good place right now,” says McGraw. “I really feel like this new album is not a culmination of the things I’ve done; it’s a new beginning of the things I am going to do. I want to enjoy my career and having my family. I have a busy life, but it is a fulfilling life.”