STAYING ALIVE: Will Arnett, Part 1!

What It Covers

Will Arnett joins hosts John Gabrys and Adam Pally on Staying Alive to discuss his health transformation after 50, including cutting sugar, adopting a structured low-carb diet, light exercise routines, quitting alcohol, and navigating the serious press circuit for his seven-year collaborative film project with Bradley Cooper.

Key Questions Answered

• •Post-50 diet reset: After his agent flagged his weight, Arnett consulted a nutritionist who restructured his eating into oats and berries for breakfast, a chicken salad for lunch, and 18 ounces of protein with vegetables for dinner. After 45 days, all carbs were eliminated. He lost significant weight and has maintained this for roughly 18 months.
• •Strategic cheat meal structure: Rather than a weekly cheat day, Arnett follows a single cheat meal every seven days. His nutritionist specifically advised choosing quality food over fast food — a proper dessert without preservatives rather than Taco Bell. This framing redefines indulgence as a controlled, intentional reward rather than an unstructured binge.
• •Pre-sleep sugar timing for better rest: Arnett's nutritionist recommended eating a cup of berries or a clean sorbet 40 minutes before bed. The natural sugar spike followed by a crash accelerates sleep onset and improves sleep quality. Arnett confirmed the method works, noting both the physiological effect and the psychological benefit of having a nightly treat.
• •Low-intensity exercise consistency over intensity: Arnett's routine combines Fight Camp boxing sessions two days per week for cardio, long walks or hikes, and light kettlebell work — all done without a personal trainer. The emphasis is on sustainable consistency rather than heavy lifting, which he found caused unwanted mass gain when combined with unrestricted eating after 50.
• •Alcohol elimination as a health multiplier: Arnett stopped drinking entirely and credits it as one of his most significant health decisions. He notes that each new study reinforces alcohol's damage, and that the body's ability to metabolize alcohol degrades noticeably after 50. He replaced a nightly bourbon with chamomile tea, pairing it with an indica for sleep.