WATCH: Jerry Ferrara On His Dramatic Weight Loss

Ishita Singh
Updated

When Jerry Ferrara debuted his 55-pound weight loss in 2011, fans were shocked by the "Entourage" star's new look. Ferrara spoke to HuffPost Live about his stunning transformation and how he lost the weight.

Ferrara, who played Turtle on the hit HBO comedy, said he lost weight for his own health, not for Hollywood.

"I didn't get in shape because of anything having to do with the public," he explained to host Alyona Minkovski. "Maybe there was a little bit of strategy behind it for transitioning outside of 'Entourage,' but I can promise you, the main goal was to just get healthy."

In 2005

Actor Jerry Ferrara attends a premiere screening of the second season of HBO's "Entourage" at Lincoln Center Damrosch Park June 2, 2005 in New York City.
Actor Jerry Ferrara attends a premiere screening of the second season of HBO's "Entourage" at Lincoln Center Damrosch Park June 2, 2005 in New York City.

In 2007

Actor Jerry Ferrara poses during a photo call for the comedy "Entourage" at the 60th International film festival in Cannes, southern France, on Wednesday, May 23, 2007.
Actor Jerry Ferrara poses during a photo call for the comedy "Entourage" at the 60th International film festival in Cannes, southern France, on Wednesday, May 23, 2007.

In 2009

Ferrara arrives at the Season 6 premiere of HBO's "Entourage" on July 9, 2009 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Ferrara arrives at the Season 6 premiere of HBO's "Entourage" on July 9, 2009 in Los Angeles, Calif.

In 2010

Ferrara attends the grand opening party for Delphine restaurant at the W Hollywood Hotel & Residences on February 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California
Ferrara attends the grand opening party for Delphine restaurant at the W Hollywood Hotel & Residences on February 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California

In 2011

Ferrara showed off his 55-pound weight loss at the final season premiere of 'Entourage' at the Beacon Theatre on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 in New York.
Ferrara showed off his 55-pound weight loss at the final season premiere of 'Entourage' at the Beacon Theatre on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 in New York.

In 2012

Ferrara at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on September 17, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.
Ferrara at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on September 17, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

In 2013

Ferrara attends the premiere for "Lone Survivor" during AFI FEST 2013 presented by Audi at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 12, 2013 in Hollywood, California.
Ferrara attends the premiere for "Lone Survivor" during AFI FEST 2013 presented by Audi at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 12, 2013 in Hollywood, California.

In 2014

Ferrara attends the 2014 MTV Movie Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on April 13, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
Ferrara attends the 2014 MTV Movie Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on April 13, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.

It was also important to Ferrara that he was honest with himself about his goals.

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"it wasn't like, 'Oh, I want to look a certain way,' because there's only so good it's going to get for me," he joked. "It was more so just feeling better -- I didn't feel good. I mean, I smoked cigarettes, I was really overweight, I was always tired, I couldn't get through a full workout."

To shed the pounds, Ferrara quit smoking and cleaned up his diet. "The smoking part was a little difficult, but as far as like the diet, I actually got sick of eating whatever I wanted, if you could actually believe that. At the time, I did that for years and years."

He also began exercising.

"I played a lot of sports when I was a kid, and through high school. And to kind of get back to competing athletically, even in our old-man version of basketball and boxing, it wasn't that hard. But yeah, I started off -- I could walk like a mile and a half on a treadmill, and now I'll just run for days," he said.

Looking back on the process, Ferrara said slimming down has also helping him in his professional life.

"I don't think I could have handled some of the work I've done in the last three years if I didn't get into good shape. So it was more about just feeling good. It wasn't about like, 'Oh, look at me, I look good.'"

Watch the full conversation on HuffPost Live.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.