'I weigh 143lbs... and can't wait to eat a burger': Matthew McConaughey on losing almost a quarter of his body weight

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 15:02 EST, 15 November 2012 | UPDATED: 04:05 EST, 16 November 2012

His drastically shrinking frame as caused alarm over recent month.

But Matthew McConaughey has revealed he is now down to his goal weight to play the real-life AIDS-afflicted character of Ron Woodroof in The Dallas Buyers Club - and doesn't plan on losing any more.

In a new interview the 6ft-tall actor reveals he now weighs in at 143lbs - having lost 38lbs over the past few months (more than the 30lbs previously reported).

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What a difference five months has made: Matthew McConaughey has revealed he has lost 38lbs over recent months, now weighing in at 143lbs, seen left on Friday, and, right, on the beach in Malibu on May 30
What a difference five months has made: Matthew McConaughey has revealed he has lost 38lbs over recent months, now weighing in at 143lbs, seen left on Friday, and, right, on the beach in Malibu on May 30

What a difference five months has made: Matthew McConaughey has revealed he has lost 38lbs over recent months, now weighing in at 143lbs, seen left on Friday, and, right, on the beach in Malibu on May 30

Ready to roll: Matthew was pictured in New Orleans on Thursday, heading to film scenes for The Dallas Buyers Club

Ready to roll: Matthew was pictured in New Orleans on Thursday, heading to film scenes for The Dallas Buyers Club

With a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 19.4, Matthew is still in the 'normal weight' range - but skirting very close to and just seven pounds away from the underweight range (below 18.5).

McConaughey, 43, opened up to HitFix.com about the struggle he endured to shrink his frame - admitting it has been '90 per cent diet', and exercise less so, which has seen him transform into the gaunt figure he is today.

He also admitted to looking forward to being able to eat a cheeseburger - but before then he has to maintain his weight for the next five weeks while filming after arriving on location in New Orleans over the weekend.

'I feel good, now,' McConaughey told HitFix's Gregory Ellwood. 'Overall, probably got 35 percent less energy. The tough part, there have been plateaus.'

Drastic: Matthew in character as Ron Woodroof on location in New Orleans on Thursday shooting the gritty drama, which will take five weeks to shoot

Drastic: Matthew in character as Ron Woodroof on location in New Orleans on Thursday shooting the gritty drama, which will take five weeks to shoot

Colourful co-stars: Also seen on set on Thursday was Jared Leto, who was dressed as a transvestite, and Jennifer Garner
Colourful co-stars: Also seen on set on Thursday was Jared Leto, who was dressed as a transvestite, and Jennifer Garner

Colourful co-stars: Also seen on set on Thursday was Jared Leto, who was dressed as a transvestite, and Jennifer Garner

He explained: 'Getting past 170 [lbs] was really hard, but then once you get into the 167, the next 7 come off easy. Getting past 160, really hard. But then you fly down to 150.

'Getting past 150 was really hard. And then, bam, got down to 143 and that's where I want to be. Once you get past the plateau, the body seems to understand, "OK this is where we're living now, this is where we are,' so the energy rises".'

Matthew also talked about how he realised it was his diet he needed to regulate most - rather than his exercise.

The star is sticking to a drastic regime of cardio, five ounces of protein a day and low carbohydrates to maintain his emaciated form.

Opening up: McConaughey spoke to HitFix.com about his regime, saying 90 per cent of his weight loss has been down to his diet

Opening up: McConaughey spoke to HitFix.com about his regime, saying 90 per cent of his weight loss has been down to his diet

He said: 'I'm doing cardio but I'll tell you what, the more I've learned is – and I think it comes with age too – is it's 90 percent diet. 

True story: McConaughey is playing Texan electrician Ron Woodroof, who succumbed to AIDS-related illnesses in the Eighties

True story: McConaughey is playing Texan electrician Ron Woodroof, who succumbed to AIDS-related illnesses in the Eighties

'It's 90 percent amount and then what you're eating because right now I'm not losing any more weight if I burn 1,500 calories, two hours of cardio in an afternoon, or if I don't.  It doesn't matter. It's a matter of how much I eat or how little I eat.'

McConaughey says he has had to be strict on himself and stay away from temptation - but concedes that while he is looking forward to eating normally again, his body will probably be in for a shock.

'The organs shrink, so my stomach has shrunk as well. So as much as I can't wait to have that cheeseburger, on the day, it'll be damn hard to eat the whole thing.'

But for now: 'I choose to pick my places where there's less good smells and temptations. I don't want to be doing this interview at a Pizza Hut buffet,' he added with a laugh.

The gritty film role, which initially attracted Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling, revolves around Woodroof, the heterosexual, homophobic electrician who died of the disease in 1992 after illegally smuggling HIV drugs not approved in the States.

This is perhaps Matthew's most dramatic turn, having last appeared as a sexy stripper in Magic Mike.

Jennifer Garner has joined the film as Dr. Eve Saks and Jared Leto has also come on board to portray Woodroof's friend Rayon, a flamboyant HIV-positive cross-dressing hospital patient.

Muscle man: Matthew, seen here enjoying a run on the beach in Malibu last year, has had to give up the muscle-boosting workouts for the time being

Muscle man: Matthew, seen here enjoying a run on the beach in Malibu last year, has had to give up the muscle-boosting workouts for the time being

 
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Nothing on Christian Bale's weight loss of 60lb for The Machinist.

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Oh for goodness sake, how many of you sitting there at your computers compaining that his weight loss is irresponsible are smokers? Overweight? Drink perhaps a little more than you should? Do you think about your children when you smoke that crafty ciggie after a few too many drinks? Or when you eat that second helping of dinner with your standard two glasses of wine in the evening? One or two episodes of carefully maintained and medically overseen weight loss in a lifetime are hardly comparable to long term, sustained abuse of your body. Hypocrites.

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This is taking a movie role too far.....he is a husband and father first and foremost....can you imagine how much he must scare his kids with the way he looks.

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I'd lose 38lbs for a couple of million - bet he wouldn't do it if I gave him a tenner!

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oh whatever

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I tihnk it's completely irresponsible to adjust your weight like this for a film when you have young kids. What sort of message does that send out to them? It says if you want to be successful and get the part you have to change how you look. Very irresponsible.

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I would have thought that mince would have been essential to this role?

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Why didn't they give the part to a skinny actor?

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Don't you mean Jared Leto dressed as an actor.

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He is an absolutely outstanding actor. Anyone who hasn't seen 'Killer Joe' should do so because McConaughey is brilliant.

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