Star pawns Celebrity Austin Lee “Chumlee” Russell, commonly known as “Chumlee”, has lost an extreme amount of weight following gastric sleeve surgery. He’s dealt with other issues in the public eye, and so far his weight has never really been a hot topic. Even though he wasn’t thin, he still carried his weight quite well. At the height of his weight issues, Chumlee weighed 350 pounds and was concerned about his health. Although he was trying to prioritize his weight at the time, he decided to see a doctor about his issues, rather than continuing on his own.
Chumlee has been on Star pawns since its inception in 2009, and grew up in front of cameras, while working at the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a childhood friend of Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison, whose family owns the store, Chumlee was instrumental in his overall success. After gaining notoriety himself, Chumlee found himself dealing with legal issues that forced him to take his life seriously. Over the years he changed things up and eventually opened a candy store, but continued to work with the Harrison family. In 2019, he decided he needed to make a change and ended up having bariatric surgery.
3 Chumlee from Pawn Stars decided to lose weight
In the photo above from chumlee‘s Instagram, taken in 2021, he is noticeably heavier and may have wanted to lose weight. Chumlee shared with People that he has lived with weight issues all his life. Sometimes his weight fluctuated up to 100 pounds from year to year. Knowing that the dramatic changes in her weight were not good for her overall health. Chumlee decided to take control by prioritizing her health. He did this by getting medical attention at a bariatric clinic in Nevada. At 350 pounds, Chumlee underwent gastric sleeve surgery and then had to maintain her weight loss results.
2 Pawn Stars’ Chumlee looked great in Gucci pants in 2022
After her surgery, Chumlee was able to lose over 160 pounds in a year. At the thinnest, he weighed around 190 pounds. In the photo above from chumlee‘s Instagram, he seemed to be at his thinnest. It may seem confusing that he lost so much weight, especially if a person is unaware that he had gastric surgery. There were concerns about Star pawns mainstay, as he has dealt with drug charges in the past. Fortunately, he appears to be in good health.
Throughout Chumlee’s Instagram comments, fans took the opportunity to comment on her weight loss. It’s a big change for Chumlee, who has always been significantly heavier. People who frequent her comments noticed her new look. Many of the comments centered on its weight, but most supported the Star pawns star. For example, @iamdirtydee2022 said, “Never let this world change you, you were made to change this world.” Others were a little tougher on Chumlee’s fashion choices, though. @dawright1983 even things out by saying, “It’s not my style but hey whatever you want.”
1 Pawn Stars’ Chumlee looks stylish in 2023
Chumlee, who started getting into the card business and attending conventions, clearly did his best to stay healthy as he continued to recover from his bariatric surgery. Although it is possible that he has regained the weight, Chumlee still looks happier and healthier than before his surgery. In his most recent photos, Chumlee looks happier than he’s ever been. He smiles sincerely and it’s nice to see him with such a positive frame of mind. As someone who has endured hardships, ranging from legal issues to body image issues, he has made incredible progress.
Bariatric surgery can be difficult at every stage, even with a support system. The surgery requires recovery time and patients need to eat mindfully afterwards. Chumlee has some great people around him who are definitely helping the reality star. However, being in the public eye can make the journey more difficult, as any change in weight can be noted by fans. Although he may have gained a few pounds, Chumlee still prioritizes his health, while building his brand and business. THE Star pawns star did his best to hold himself accountable. If his beaming face is any indication, he’s doing a great job.
Sources: People, chumlee/Instagram, chumlee/Instagram, chumlee/Instagram