Valerie Bertinelli has spent decades in the public eye, from her early days on One Day at a Time to becoming a beloved Food Network chef. But after years of struggling with body image and facing public scrutiny over her appearance, she’s now embracing self-acceptance. The 64-year-old has opened up about her weight loss, not as a quest for a smaller body, but as a path to healing, self-love and breaking free from diet culture. In recent interviews and social media posts, Bertinelli has shared how she healed her relationship with food and formed healthy habits. Here’s what we know about Valerie Bertinelli’s weight loss and self-acceptance journey.
Why Valerie Bertinelli didn’t use Ozempic for weight loss
With the rise of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Bertinelli has been asked if she’s tried them. While she hasn’t, she supports those who do. “If it helps, use it,” she told People in 2024. “I’m not here to judge how anybody wants to release weight from their body.”
Bertinelli shifted her focus from weight loss to body positivity
Bertinelli has long been candid about the pressure she’s felt to look a certain way. In December 2024, she shared a powerful Instagram post: “For the first time in my life, I love my body as it is.” She reflected on how she used to dislike her younger body, despite it being strong and healthy, and emphasized how important it is to appreciate the body we have now.
That same month, she posted a mirror selfie in her underwear. Celebrating every part of herself, she wrote how she accepts “every lump, bump, wrinkle and saggy part.”
Bertinelli, former Jenny Craig spokesperson, no longer focuses on weight as a measure of health. “Health is not the number you see on the scale,” she said in a now-deleted 2023 video post on Instagram. “Your worth as a human being isn’t dictated by your body.”
She added that she’s never felt “more beautiful, more at peace, more mentally and emotionally stable,” even while wearing what she once considered her “fat clothes”—including an outfit she wore in her “before” photos for a 2007 Jenny Craig ad.
“Many people tie their self-worth to their weight, which can lead to a constant cycle of self-judgment,” explains Aalia Al-Barwani, MD, DABFM, DABOM a double board certified physician in Family and Obesity Medicine. “Shifting the focus from weight as the primary goal to how you want to feel in your body can foster long-term success and emotional freedom.”
How Valerie Bertinelli overcame emotional eating
Rather than following strict diets, Bertinelli focused on mindful eating and emotional awareness. “It’s not the food that’s bad for us. It’s how, or why, we’re eating it,” she told The Washington Post in 2024. She admitted that she once relied on food to cope with emotions, often turning to quick meals like frozen pizza and grocery store sushi.
She now believes that food itself isn’t the enemy, it’s our mindset around it. “What changes your jean size is how you use food to deny and numb your feelings, period,” she told Mashed in April 2024.
“Emotional eating is when we use food as our main way to cope with heavy feelings rather than to satisfy physical hunger,” says Dr. Al-Barwani. “Healing involves understanding our triggers and developing healthier ways to process emotions rather than relying on food.”
Labeling foods as ‘good’ vs. ‘bad’
Like many who have dieted for years, Bertinelli once feared certain foods. But she’s since let go of that mindset. “I used to be afraid of apples and peanut butter because I was told they were bad for me,” she told Mashed. “It’s an apple, for Christ’s sake. It’s peanut butter. Stop.”
The same went for bananas. “Stop it. Eat the f—— banana,” she said, emphasizing its health benefits. She also rejects the idea of “cheat days,” telling USA Today last year, “We need to allow ourselves the pleasure of our lives. Food is a big, important part of my life.”
“Eliminating moral labels like ‘good’ or ‘bad’ food can be incredibly transformative,” explains Jennifer Habashy, NMD, MD, Assistant Medical Director at Claya. “When we label food as ‘bad,’ it can create feelings of guilt or shame, which often leads to overeating or restrictive behaviors.”
Valerie Bertinelli’s sustainable habits for weight loss
Bertinelli has learned that lasting health isn’t about crash diets, but about building habits that feel good. “I’ve learned patience,” she told People. “Stop with the ‘lose 10 pounds in a week’ mindset. If you take care of your emotions, your head and your heart, the weight will take care of itself.”
“Setting realistic goals is important for long-term success because drastic changes are often short-lived and unsustainable,” says Dr. Habashy. “When we set attainable goals, we are more likely to experience lasting progress.”
Aside from her diet, Bertinelli also developed a realistic fitness routine. One of her go-to workouts? Pilates. In 2023, she posted a TikTok video from her session, saying, “Exercise is not just for your body. It can also soothe your soul.” She also posted a motivating treadmill video, sharing it has been 12 years since she ran the Boston Marathon. Bertinelli reminded her followers that “you have to start somewhere” and not feel embarrassed about starting over.
In early 2023, Bertinelli also decided to give up drinking, initially for a month. She quickly noticed a difference not just in how she felt, but in her body as well. In a February 2023 video, she showed off a looser pair of jeans, saying, “Here’s a nice little side effect of Dry January.”
Since then, she’s stopped drinking altogether. “The older you get, the less you really want to put that in your body,” she told People in September 2024. “I feel better.”
More celebrity weight loss stories:
Carnie Wilson Reveals How She Lost 40 Lbs. by Walking—Without Weight Loss Drugs or Extreme Dieting
Miranda Lambert on Her Weight Loss: ‘It’s Not About a Scale, It’s About How You Feel’
Drew Barrymore’s Weight Loss Journey: ‘I’ve Found That Elusive “B” Called Balance’
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
