Fans of the beloved sitcom Home Improvement may remember Richard Karn best as Al Borland, the trusty, flannel-wearing sidekick to Tim Allen’s Tim Taylor.

Now at 69 years old, Karn is making headlines again—not for a new television role, but for a major personal achievement: losing thirty pounds.

Speaking candidly about his journey, Karn has not only shared his successes but also issued a critical warning for anyone making drastic lifestyle changes.

Karn revealed last November that he and his wife of forty years, Tudi, had embarked on a health journey together, resulting in significant weight loss.

I’ve reached the age where I saw a picture of Richard Karn from the Home Improvement days and thought to myself, “wow… I had no idea he was hot!” pic.twitter.com/JHGEMr3lXE

— Carissa Explains Nothing (@realcarissas) April 28, 2024

In a recent interview with Fox News, he emphasized that while they continue to stick to their diet plan, it’s all about balance.

“When something’s that strict, it can’t, for me, become a whole lifestyle,” Karn explained.

“I mean, you have to go, ‘Well, you know what? I really would enjoy this piece of cake, or I would like a slice of pizza.’”

Karn highlighted the importance of moderation, cautioning against the dangers of extreme behavior when it comes to dieting.

“So it’s like everything within moderation, obviously. I mean Oscar Wilde said anything worth doing is worth doing to excess,” he continued.

“But I think that can get a lot of people in trouble. It becomes manic in a sense, but you do feel better. Your doctor is happier, and your clothes fit better when you do pay attention to certain things.”

The actor went on to explain that his weight loss was primarily achieved by paying close attention to portion control and dietary choices.

“Staying to smaller amounts of food that you realize you don’t really need more than four or five ounces of meat, and then vegetables, and drinking water,” Karn said, outlining the core principles of his diet.

However, Karn also took the opportunity to deliver an important warning about going too far with even seemingly healthy habits, such as drinking water.

“You can get in trouble with drinking too much water,” he warned.

“That flushes out some of the salts and things in your system, so when you take things too far, you just have to pay attention, kind of like with your yard.”

New episode w Richard Karn out now! pic.twitter.com/we7GR9aR8f

— Keith Reza (@Keithreza) November 14, 2024

In addition to mindful eating, Karn incorporated regular exercise into his lifestyle, crediting Pilates as a significant part of his success.

He particularly praised Pilates for helping his flexibility and enhancing his golf game, a favorite hobby of his.

“Pilates helps me a lot with golf, because you need to turn,” Karn said.

“You need to be able to have your hip flexors and your knees and everything working, and that helps me with golf. And that’s one of the things that keeps me going as far as keeping in a routine. Routines are important, but you have to find the nucleus of why you’re creating and keeping that routine.”

While fans today know Karn largely for his television work, his roots were firmly planted in theater before Home Improvement catapulted him into stardom.

Reflecting on his time playing Al Borland from 1991 until 1999, Karn spoke fondly of his years alongside Tim Allen.

“I remember laughing a lot,” he said. “It was just a joy to go to work.”

Karn shared how life-changing it was to move from the stage to the small screen. “Before ‘Home Improvement,’ all of my work had been in theater,” he recalled.

“I was in New York. I was in Manhattan for like 11 years, and I would do theater Broadway, off Broadway, off Broadway regional theater. And you go into these little, kind of, companies or groups of people for a few months, and then you move on. And with Home Improvement, we had eight years. I’m 25 weeks out of the year of being together and having fun. That was really a joy.”

🤣😆🙌🏻 just started thinking about this. Goodness… I loved Richard Karn 😁 pic.twitter.com/mAyLpowXI5

— Mrs. Hunts4Food70’s (@Mrshntress) April 2, 2025

Decades later, Home Improvement reruns remain popular, bringing laughter to both longtime fans and new generations discovering the show.

Karn and Allen’s comedic chemistry continues to resonate, proving the timelessness of their work.

As Karn embraces a healthier lifestyle in his later years, his message is one of balance, mindfulness, and sustainability.

His openness about the potential pitfalls, even when pursuing health goals, offers an important reminder that moderation and self-awareness are key.

We applaud Richard Karn for his impressive weight loss and, even more importantly, for sharing the wisdom he’s gained along the way.

In the end, his message isn’t just about losing weight—it’s about living wisely and joyfully, lessons that, much like Home Improvement itself, stand the test of time.