Carl Daikeler Loses 15 Pounds With a Flexible Meal Plan

Changing his daily eating routine helped Carl Daikeler, the 63-year-old co-founder and CEO of fitness and nutrition company BODi in Los Angeles, lose 15 pounds he had struggled to shed after turning 57. In an interview with Fox News Digital published October 9, 2026, Daikeler described how structured breakfasts and lunches allowed him to enjoy a wider range of foods at dinner without following a strict diet.

Daikeler, who has led the company formerly known as Beachbody for 28 years, said he focused on changing two meals rather than overhauling his entire lifestyle. His approach combined a nutrient-rich breakfast shake, a substantial lunch salad, portion control, and limits on alcohol consumption.

Despite running a fitness and nutrition business, Daikeler said he does not naturally gravitate toward healthy foods.

"I eat like a third-grader, okay? Pizza's a food group," Daikeler joked in an interview with Fox News Digital.

He described his approach as an effort to improve his habits without adopting an intensive fitness lifestyle.

"I'm just constantly trying to figure out how can I hack my way without having to overturn my life to become one of those diehard health and fitness people, because I'm never going to become that."

For breakfast, Daikeler replaced his usual meal with a shake containing protein, fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, and greens, totaling approximately 250 calories. He also added spinach and a banana to the drink.

"I got rid of breakfast, or I changed my breakfast to this shake that we've got called Shakeology. I put some spinach in there and I put a banana in there," Daikeler said.

His lunch routine centers on a large salad containing baby spinach, carrots, and chicken. Cheese, nuts, and sliced strawberries add flavor and variety to the meal.

"I hide it with some cheese, some nuts, some sliced strawberries, and it's delicious, and I put chicken in there ... I don't feel like I'm eating a bowl of vegetables, but I am."

With breakfast and lunch following a consistent pattern, Daikeler said he allows himself more flexibility in the evening rather than imposing the same restrictions on every meal.

"Now I've got a 'day pass' for everything else ... I eat whatever I want at dinner."

He also identified alcohol consumption as an area where he maintains restraint.

"I'm careful not to drink too much," he said.

Daikeler attributed the loss of 15 pounds and his ability to maintain that result to the combination of his revised breakfast, regular lunch salad, flexible dinners, and limited alcohol intake.

"Once I did that — Shakeology for breakfast, a big salad for lunch, total freedom for dinner, limited alcohol — the 15 pounds just got wiped out. And it stayed off."

He cautioned against overly restrictive eating plans, arguing that approaches that are difficult to sustain can undermine long-term efforts to improve health.

"If you're trying to be too restrictive, I don't think that's life," he said. "The whole point is living ... So if it's too restrictive, it's going to break."

Rather than eliminating favorite foods, Daikeler said he has learned to reduce portions while still enjoying them. He cited pizza and doughnuts as examples of foods he continues to eat in smaller quantities.

"I love pizza. But I've learned that I can enjoy pizza without eating the whole pizza," he said.

He also described how eating a smaller portion of a sweet treat can satisfy his desire without requiring him to finish the entire item.

"I like doughnuts. I've learned that I can have literally a quarter of a doughnut and be like, that was delicious. But I get no additional satisfaction by eating the whole doughnut."

Daikeler connects his eating habits with health span, a concept he uses to describe maintaining quality of life and physical activity as people age.

"Health span versus lifespan is all about quality of life," he said.

He further emphasized that living well matters alongside efforts to extend life.

"I'm all for longevity, but it's really about quality of life — a way to live and enjoy life that is balanced with maximizing your time on earth."

Daikeler's experience does not establish that the same routine will produce identical results for everyone. According to the National Institutes of Health, different eating plans can support weight loss, but the most suitable approach depends on individual health needs, personal preferences, and the ability to maintain habits over time. The agency advises people to seek individualized guidance from a doctor or registered dietitian.