‘Home Improvement’ Actor Richard Karn Lost 30 Pounds on a ‘Strict’ Diet

Richard Karn attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation's 13th Annual L.A. Golf Classic Benefiting Emergency Assistance Programs in Westlake Village, Calif., on June 12, 2023. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA

Actor Richard Karn recently revealed that he followed what he described as a “strict” diet with his wife of nearly 40 years, Tudi Roche.

The regimen led the 68-year-old to lose 30 pounds.

“My wife wanted to lose weight…we did this weight loss thing where we [ate] four ounces of meat, four ounces of vegetables, no carbs or not as much carbs,” Karn told Fox News.

Karn is famous for playing Al Borland in the hit ‘90s sitcom “Home Improvement” starring Tim Allen.

“We did that for six weeks and it really helped,“ Karn said about the diet. ”It kind of realigned what you need. You don’t pile your plate as high anymore because you don’t need it. After six weeks, I think your body and your mind realizes and that helped.”

Carbs are found in many food items, such as starchy vegetables, grains, and sugar.

Skipping them is viewed by nutrition experts as defying conventional eating habits but the practice can lead to weight loss.

“When you drastically reduce portions and eliminate or reduce carbs, your body burns stored fat for energy,” psychologist and eating disorder recovery coach Lara Zibarras told The Epoch Times.

Karn was with the ABC TV show from when it began in 1991 and ended in 1999. Since then, he has starred in a slew of movies, including “The Back-up Bride” in 2011, “No Such Luck” in 2014, “A Dog for Christmas” in 2015, and more recently “The Christmas Dance” and “Holy Cash.”

He also hosted and executive produced a do-it-yourself TV show in 2021 called “Assembly Required” in which he reunited with his “Home Improvement” co-star Allen.

“Measuring portions in general helps you to learn what a healthy serving size looks like,” registered nutritionist and dietitian Catherine Gervacio told The Epoch Times. “Many underestimate how much we eat, so this practice can retrain your eye and recalibrate your hunger cues.”

Prior to being cast in “Home Improvement,” Karn lived in New York. He is originally from Seattle, Washington, where he earned a drama degree at the University of Washington in 1979.

“I didn’t have a lot of money,” he said. “I was doing theatre a lot for a buck-fifty a week and couldn’t eat a lot, but then Home Improvement hit, and all of a sudden, you had food on the set. You could just eat whatever you wanted.”

Food Insight found that 36 percent of Americans are dieting at any given time. Karn also exercises by doing pilates and embraces eating in moderation.

Fitness professional Maria Vazquez thinks moderation is key because it allows for enjoying treats without going overboard.

“Indulging occasionally can prevent feelings of deprivation that often lead to binge eating,” Vazquez told The Epoch Times. “As for holidays like Thanksgiving, planning ahead always helps. If you know you’ll be surrounded by delicious dishes, eat something healthy before you go so you’re not starving when you arrive.”

Vazquez is head of training for MyWowFit.com, an online virtual personal training platform.

The caloric intake of the average American Thanksgiving dinner is 2,092 calories with 14 percent planning to eat more than 3,000 calories and 4 percent planning to eat more than 5,000 calories, according to Levity data.

“Success during special events and holidays often comes from thinking through your preparation, being aware of portions, and making strategic food choices,” BuildMyHealth founder and CEO Jonathan Kaplan told The Epoch Times.

Karn did not respond to requests for comment on how much he weighs but Fox News reported that Karn almost feels like he looks too thin.

“I’ve kind of evened out where I want to be,” Karn added. “I went down to where my doctor was very, very happy.”