As many people know, staying healthy involves a lot of effort: one must eat good meals and exercise regularly. It is even more challenging to keep in shape when you live a hectic life with no regular habits.
Kirstie Alley, the 69-year-old award-winning actress, is well aware of this.
Alley, born in Kansas, is arguably best recognised for her role as waitress Rebecca Howe in the sitcom Cheers.
But, over the years, she’s also gotten notoriety for being frank and honest about her weight.
Kirstie’s long road to a healthier living has been a roller coaster ride—for decades, and she has dropped pounds only to gain them back.
This may be why so many people can relate to her: most people understand how tough it is to maintain a healthy weight.
And, like many others, Kirstie had no weight issues as a little girl growing up in Wichita, Kansas.
But then something strange happened.
“I spent my entire childhood slim, and then one summer I probably gained 40 or 50 pounds,” Kirstie revealed to OK! in 2018.
During an interview with Oprah in 2004, Kirstie revealed the moment she noticed she had gained weight.
“Honestly, I had no idea how big I was,” she admitted. “Damn, girl, you’re fat!” I said, thanks to the headlines.
Perhaps it was that event that inspired her new comedy series. Fat Actress premiered one year after that chat with Oprah.
Kirstie Alley was the lead, and the series was partially based on her own life; it follows an actress in Hollywood whose weight loss is the target of every tabloid imaginable.
“I think people all around the country will relate to her,” co-creator Brenda Hampton told TODAY in 2004.
“No matter where you reside, it’s impossible to reduce weight and find a relationship. It’s far more difficult when you’re in the spotlight.”
The show barely lasted one season, but Kirstie’s accurate weight issues persisted.
The most important thing for Kirstie was that she never thought about what she was eating; she just ate whatever she pleased.
Of course, it’s common to mess up now and then; we all desire sugary or salty foods.
But it went too far for Kirstie, who couldn’t stop herself.
“Planning is not in my nature,” Kirstie told People in 2016.
“I’m a pretty spontaneous person, which is how I became overweight.”
However, after receiving assistance from the Jenny Craig weight-loss programme, things began to move quickly. Kirstie found a balance and steadily reduced weight for three years. She lost 75 pounds due to the programme and worked as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig until 2007.
Kirstie gained weight again when she was cast in Dancing With The Stars in 2011. According to People, she weighed 230 pounds at the start of the season.
However, she lost weight again after the competition – almost 100 pounds had vanished as Kirstie fought exceptionally hard to attain victory on the dance floor. She and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy came in second place.
Unfortunately, among TV viewers, criticism was vociferous. Some suspected that Kirstie had undergone surgery or starved herself to look suitable for the show. On Twitter, Kirstie wrote, “NO surgery, NO flippin lasers, NO barfing, NO starvation… “Jeez… my products, organic food, dancing,” she tweeted a few months after the event concluded.
“It’s really essential for women to look and feel the way they want to feel for their own reasons, not because someone tells them to or it’s fashionable or trendy,” she told Women’s Health in 2014.
“Losing weight means losing weight, but being tiny does not imply happiness.”
Kirstie shed 50 pounds during her second Jenny Craig stay, and her focus shifted completely.
Rather than constantly attempting to reduce weight, she desired to discover a solution to maintain her current weight while avoiding fluctuations. She was able to stay away from sweets and junk food. It was the holidays, most all, that had previously developed into week-long feasts of food and pastries for Kirstie.
“I’m a lot more disciplined,” she told the publication.
“I love sugar cookies iced with Santa’s faces and trees, but I didn’t order any and didn’t have any. My pals were surprised because I typically give them away as gifts.”
Unfortunately, Kirstie was diagnosed with Lyme disease last year, making it much more difficult for her to maintain a healthy weight. But she’s willing to go to any length since she understands how much better she feels when she’s not overweight.
“I know I like how I feel when I’m thinner. “I have more energy,” she stated on The Dan Wootton Interview podcast.
Everyone is gorgeous in their way, and you shouldn’t care what others think of your appearance. Size should never be an issue; the issue is the size of the observer’s ego and eyeballs.
At the same time, it is beneficial to live a healthy lifestyle. Kirstie has been through a lot during her weight reduction journey, and I’m so inspired by her determination and transparency about the difficulties of losing weight.
Regardless of what the scales indicate, she looks stunning!
Best wishes for the future, Kristie!
