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Kristoffer \u201cKris\u201d Polaha took on a serious challenge when he agreed to add around 25 pounds of fat to his usually fit frame for his role in American Hostage<\/em>, only to drop it soon after in order to continue with other filming commitments. And while the chance to say \u201cyes\u201d to every indulgent meal gave the star a sense of freedom, he tells M&F<\/em> that the side effects had him ready to return to his normal state.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, Polaha\u2019s mission to pile on the pounds for American Hostage<\/em> wasn\u2019t a personal cry for help. The actor had permission to stack up his plates in order to play Dick Hall in the true story of the mortgage broker who was abducted for 63 hours by a disgruntled client in 1977. The crisis soon became a media event as his captor, Tony Kiritsis, courted the press and called into his local radio station, all while holding Hall at gun point.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDick Hall was a guy who\u2019d reached a point in his life where he\u2019d given up,\u201d explains Polaha. \u201cHe stopped caring about what he looked like, and he stopped caring about being in shape and fit.\u201d To prep, the actor had around 12 weeks to add the weight. \u201cI just kind of ate whatever I wanted, so it really consisted of a diet of burgers and all of the foods that you want to eat,\u201d he says. \u201cI ended up getting up to about, 211 pounds. That was the heaviest I\u2019ve ever been, so that was a big, big deal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Polaha explains that he generally likes to fast in the mornings but starting in October of 2025, breakfast was back in. \u201cI\u2019d have a big breakfast!\u201d he recalls, noting that even as the American Hostage<\/em> production got underway, the script made it easy to stay heavy. \u201cThe role of Dick Hall required me to be shackled to a chair,\u201d said the star of those long, sedentary filming days. \u201cAnd so, I would get to work, and I would just sit in that chair for hours on end. It was scarily easy to pack on the pounds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n At the height of his indulgences, Polaha says that he would end his long shooting days by frequenting an Earl\u2019s diner in Winnipeg, sinking a drop of the black stuff with his evening meal. \u201cI was drinking Guinness with my dinner,\u201d he shares. \u201cA hamburger and a Guinness at, like, 11.30 p.m. at night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ice cream would also become a regular supper. But while Polaha made the most of his calories, he tells M&F<\/em> that there were also some side effects to ponder. The star says that there was often a depressing reflection looking back in the mirror, as the combination of his makeup and excess weight provided an unwelcome glimpse<\/a> of what his future could look like, if he didn\u2019t get back on the fitness wagon. Then there was the general uncomfortableness of his fatter physique. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI was less flexible,\u201d he says. \u201cEvery time I bent down, my stomach got in my way, and I just wasn\u2019t used to it. And it happened quickly. So, suddenly, I was walking around in a different skin. I\u2019ve always been a really lean guy, and so it was a big shift for me. At home, my wife was complaining that I was snoring. So, think all this was mostly a wake-up call.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n With American Hostage<\/em> now available to binge watch, Polaha is well past his binge eating stage. While critics have praised Polaha\u2019s commitment and portrayal of Hall, the star then had to set about shedding those excess\u00a0 pounds, ready\u00a0 for his next projects.<\/span><\/p>\n In February, Polaha began to point the needle on the scales back in the opposite direction, working diligently on his diet. \u201cI think it really raises the question of, \u2018how do you want to move through the world,\u201d says the actor of his motivation. \u201cDo you want to be agile, flexible, strong, lean?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Polaha found that losing weight is more challenging than gaining it, however. \u201cI think it\u2019s a lot easier to put on than it is to come off, but you do have to give yourself patience,\u201d says the actor, who went back to his routine of fasting in the mornings and restarting his daily exercise regimen. Polaha is also a fan of hot yoga for both the mental aspect, and the physical process of flushing out toxins. And he likes to get his steps in by running or jogging.<\/span><\/p>\n The actor notes that nighttime snacking urges still come to him, but he makes smart swaps, replacing ice cream with something that he can chew for longer, while still cutting a few calories to satisfy his sweet fix, sharing that he likes to take his time with a handful of Good & Plenty\u2019s. But for those thinking that staying lean means abstaining from your favorite foods, Polaha dispels that myth. \u201cI don\u2019t have a crazy health regimen,\u201d he explains. \u201cI still eat what I want, it\u2019s just a question of how much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Now back at this goal weight, Kris Polaha will need to stay fit as he has several new projects coming out, including the Buried in Barstow<\/em> movies on Lifetime, and a new Hallmark Christmas movie called Mistletoe and Mimosas.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n American Hostage is now streaming on Prime Video.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n To follow Kristoffer Polaha on Instagram, click here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nHow Kris Polaha Packed On 25 Pounds for \u2018American Hostage\u2019<\/h2>\n
Kris Polaha\u2019s Fat-Loss Diet & Workout Strategy After \u2018American Hostage\u2019<\/h2>\n