Guillermo Rodriguez expected Dancing With the Stars to help him get fitter, but his early experience has been quite different. The Jimmy Kimmel Live! personality says he has gained 10 pounds while preparing for the show’s upcoming 35th season.
Rodriguez has been rehearsing with professional dancer Witney Carson for about three hours a day, five days a week. Despite the demanding schedule, he told Jimmy Kimmel that his increased appetite after practice has affected the number on the scale.
Guillermo Rodriguez gains weight while training for DWTS.
Rodriguez discussed his unexpected weight gain during the September 8 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
When asked whether he had lost weight during his Dancing With the Stars training, Rodriguez gave a surprising answer.
He said he had gained 10 pounds.
Rodriguez explained that he feels extremely hungry after rehearsals and usually eats immediately after finishing practice. That extra food intake appears to have offset some of the physical activity involved in his dance training.
The 55-year-old entertainer also acknowledged that the rehearsals have been physically demanding. However, he said he is enjoying the experience despite the soreness.
Rodriguez originally hoped DWTS would help him lose weight.
Weight loss was reportedly one of Rodriguez’s motivations for joining the competition.
Earlier in September, he told Entertainment Tonight that he had heard contestants often lose weight while participating in Dancing With the Stars. He hoped the demanding rehearsal schedule would produce a similar result for him.
Instead, his first days of training have brought an unexpected outcome.
His experience also highlights how physical activity does not automatically lead to weight loss. Appetite, food intake, individual metabolism and other factors can all influence changes in body weight.
Witney Carson is helping Rodriguez through the competition.
Rodriguez is competing alongside professional dancer Witney Carson during Season 35.
Carson is a two-time Mirrorball Trophy winner and is returning to the ballroom after winning Season 34 with Robert Irwin. She is also expecting her third child with her husband, Carson McAllister.
Carson previously explained that Rodriguez was relieved when he learned about her pregnancy because it meant she would need to take regular breaks during rehearsals.
The unusual partnership has already created plenty of humour behind the scenes. At the same time, both dancers are preparing for the demanding competition ahead.
When does Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premiere?
Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars begins with a special two-night premiere.
The first episode airs Tuesday, September 15, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. A second episode follows Wednesday, September 16, at the same time. Episodes will also stream on Hulu the following day.
Rodriguez is part of a 16-celebrity cast that includes Julia Stiles, Jenna Dewan, Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Giada De Laurentiis, Taylor Hanson, Maura Higgins and Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn, among others.
Other DWTS stars have reported weight loss.
Rodriguez’s experience is not necessarily representative of every celebrity who competes on the show.
Over the years, several Dancing With the Stars contestants have publicly discussed changes in their weight or fitness.
For example, Lauren Alaina said in 2019 that she had lost about 25 pounds during her time on the show. Us Weekly also reported that Mike “The Miz” Mizanin lost around 15 pounds while training for his season.
These examples show why the physical results of an intense dance competition can vary from person to person. While rehearsals can involve substantial physical activity, individual results depend on many factors.
Guillermo Rodriguez is focused on the DWTS experience.
For now, Rodriguez appears more interested in enjoying the competition than worrying about the number on the scale.
He has described the rehearsals as hard work and acknowledged that his body hurts after training. Still, he said he is having fun.
That attitude could be important as the competition gets underway.
Rather than following the typical expectation that Dancing With the Stars automatically leads to weight loss, Rodriguez is entering Season 35 with a different story. His challenge will be to master the choreography, work with Carson and compete for the Mirrorball Trophy.
Viewers will soon see whether the intense training changes his fitness — and whether the number on the scale changes again once the live competition begins.