Dave Bautista says he lost 75 lbs. after bulking for Knock at the Cabin

Dave Bautista says he lost 75 pounds by late 2024 after bulking up for the 2023 horror film Knock at the Cabin, and now weighs about 240 lbs. at 6'4", which he says feels more like himself. On the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast in September 2024, Bautista said he probably "overdid it" while trying to get big for the role and blamed extra eating — "pancakes and French fries" — for some of the gain.

To trim down he turned to jiu-jitsu, telling Live with Kelly and Mark in July 2024 that he had even brought trainer Jason Manly to Budapest while filming Dune to "grapple for hours," and that he planned to stick with the sport and work toward a brown belt. He also said he had gained "over 300 lbs." for Knock at the Cabin.

Bautista has emphasized a balanced approach to fitness and nutrition: he estimated eating about 2,500 calories a day using intermittent fasting on the Today show in September 2024, and has talked about a diet that includes eggs, fish, rice and beans with an eventual goal of going vegan.

He has also embraced cardio like cycling and boxing and prefers varied training with coaches rather than chasing max lifts. He acknowledged sacrificing muscle during the weight loss but said he feels more comfortable, and pushed back on online concerns about his health by noting his height and weight.

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