Actor John Goodman—beloved for his roles in the hit TV sitcom Roseanne and cult classic The Big Lebowski—has been turning heads recently after his 200-lb weight loss. From quitting alcohol and focusing on fun workouts, the actor has made sustainable changes that helped him shed pounds without the assistance of weight loss drugs. Here, we dive into what John Goodman has said about his weight loss journey and why experts think his approach is set up for long-term success.

Like many of us, Goodman struggled with his weight for years. In 2007, he reached his breaking point when he weighed his heaviest: 400 pounds. So, he set out to shed the excess weight. The first step in his journey? Cutting out alcohol for good and checking into rehab.

“It was getting to be too much,” he told The Guardian in 2012. “It was 30 years of a disease that was taking its toll on everyone around me, and it was becoming more and more debilitating. It was time to stop.”

Goodman realized that replacing drinking with healthier habits was important, revealing to ABC, “In the old days, I would take three months out, lose 60 or 70 pounds, and then reward myself with a six-pack of Bud or whatever and just go back to my old habits.” Quitting drinking helped break this cycle.