LOS ANGELES, July 20: Pop superstar Adele has been open and candid about her dramatic weight loss, which she revealed publicly in 2020. The “Hello” singer lost approximately 100 pounds over two years, sharing her transformation with fans via Instagram. Since then, she has spoken about the lifestyle changes behind her journey and the motivation that drove her.

In an October 2021 interview with British Vogue, Adele explained that her focus was never simply on losing weight, but rather on building strength and dedicating time for herself without distractions. “It was never about losing weight, it was always about becoming strong and giving myself as much time every day without my phone,” she said.

The 16-time Grammy winner also addressed the intense public scrutiny surrounding her changing body. “My body’s been objectified my entire career. It’s not just now,” Adele told Vogue. “I understand why it’s a shock. I understand why some women, especially, were hurt. Visually, I represented a lot of women. But I’m still the same person.”

Adele first surprised fans in May 2020 when she posted a birthday photo on Instagram, showcasing her slimmer figure in a fitted black mini dress. The post quickly went viral, with fans and celebrity friends praising her transformation.

The singer’s weight loss coincided with a nearly six-year break from music, during which she was also going through a divorce from her ex-husband, Simon Konecki, with whom she shares a son, Angelo.

In her Vogue interviews, Adele revealed that she turned to fitness as a way to manage anxiety after her divorce. “The gym became my time. I realized that when I was working out, I didn’t have any anxiety. It was never about losing weight,” she said. She added that physical strength helped her work towards emotional and mental strength.

She described experiencing severe anxiety attacks following her separation, saying, “They paralyzed me completely, and made me so confused because I wouldn’t be able to have any control over my body.” Working out became a key part of her healing process.

Though her weight loss appeared sudden to many, Adele emphasized it was the result of consistent effort over two years. “I got quite addicted to working out,” she said, describing a rigorous routine of weight training, hiking or boxing, and cardio exercises, supported by professional trainers.

Notably, Adele stressed that she did not follow any specific diets, stating, “Ain’t done that. No intermittent fasting. Nothing. If anything, I eat more than I used to because I work out so hard.”

Adele also shared how difficult it was to hear criticism from other women about her body transformation. “The most brutal conversations were being had by other women about my body. I was very f------ disappointed with that,” she told Vogue. Despite this, she said she wasn’t surprised by the scrutiny, noting her body has always been subject to objectification in the public eye.

Her son Angelo was a significant motivator in her decision to improve her health. A source close to Adele told PEOPLE in 2019 that she wanted to stay healthy for her child and was committed to maintaining a new fitness routine, which she was beginning to enjoy.

Despite her transformation, Adele remains a vocal advocate for body positivity, making it clear that her views have not changed. “People have been talking about my body for 12 years. They used to talk about it before I lost weight. But yeah, whatever, I don’t care,” she said. “You don’t need to be overweight to be body positive, you can be any shape or size.”

She reiterated this message in her conversation with Oprah Winfrey, stating, “I was body positive then and I'm body positive now.” Adele also emphasized that she does not feel responsible for how others perceive their own bodies, saying, “It’s not my job to validate how people feel about their bodies. I feel bad if anyone feels horrible about themselves but that's not my job. I'm trying to sort my own life out. I can't add another worry.”