Hey there! Let me tell you about Valerie Bertinelli, who’s been nothing short of an inspiration. Back in 2007, she became the face of Jenny Craig, and ever since, she's been open about her ups and downs with her body weight. She’s not just a star; she's a real person who’s faced her struggles head-on and shared her story with the world.
Valerie penned her autobiography, Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time, in 2008. This wasn't the end of her journey, though. In 2009, she released a follow-up book, Finding It: And Satisfying My Hunger for Life Without Opening the Fridge. These books weren't just about losing weight—they were about finding herself, and that’s something we can all relate to.
Valerie Bertinelli on Body Image and Weight
Valerie Bertinelli, the actress who charmed audiences in the '70s with her role on One Day at a Time, has been candid about comparing herself to her costar, Mackenzie Phillips. In her book, Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time, she admitted, “Even though I wasn’t technically overweight, I felt enormous next to Mackenzie.” It’s a reminder that body image issues can affect anyone, even someone as talented and beautiful as Valerie.
Read also:Kelly Ripas Journey On Live Changes Challenges And The Future
After One Day at a Time wrapped up its nine-season run, Valerie found herself struggling with overeating. She opened up about this during a 2010 Good Housekeeping interview, saying, “It wasn’t about any one food; I just didn’t know how to stop. It was like I had no ‘off’ switch.” This raw honesty is what makes Valerie so relatable to so many people.
In her 2022 book, Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today, Valerie delves deeper into her feelings of inadequacy. She compared herself to her Hot in Cleveland costars, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves, who she described as "tall, skinny, and gorgeous." She wrote, “Here I was again, the one with the hourglass figure, short and round.” These insecurities resurfaced, but Valerie didn’t let them define her. Instead, she chose to grow from them.
Fast forward to October 2023, and Valerie shared a powerful message with her fans through an Instagram post. In a video, she wore clothes from her past, reminding herself of how far she’s come. “The last time I wore these, I thought I was fat,” she said. But now? “I’ve never felt more beautiful, more at peace, and more mentally and emotionally stable than I do today.” That’s a victory worth celebrating.
How Did Valerie Bertinelli’s Divorce Impact Her Weight?
Valerie’s marriage to the late Eddie Van Halen, with whom she shares son Wolfgang Van Halen, came to an end in 2005 after more than two decades together. Their divorce was finalized in 2007. But here’s the thing—Valerie didn’t let this breakup solely define her weight fluctuations. In a 2008 interview with Today, she explained, “People think the divorce was the main reason I gained weight, but it was much more than that.”
She went on to say, “I had a lot of problems throughout the years—ups and downs, gaining and losing weight. But what really hurt me was feeling like I wasn’t giving my son the life he deserved, and I wasn’t keeping our family together. That grief was real, and that’s how I comforted myself—with food.” It’s a powerful reminder that emotional eating is a real struggle for many, and Valerie’s willingness to share her truth has resonated with countless fans.

Valerie Bertinelli's Weight Loss Journey
In 2007, Valerie became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig, and it truly changed her life. “This program has been incredible for me,” she said during a 2010 Good Housekeeping interview. “People come up to me and tell me how I’ve inspired them, how I’ve changed their lives. Hearing their stories keeps me motivated. It’s amazing how weight can consume our lives, and this program has been a real equalizer for me.”
Read also:Savannah Guthrie Warns Craig Melvin About Late Nights On Today
After nine months on Jenny Craig, Valerie lost over 40 pounds and posed confidently in a green bikini for People magazine. “That cover was a mix of pride and shame,” she reflected in 2020. “I worked so hard physically, but I wish I had put just as much effort into my mental well-being.”
While promoting her book Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today, Valerie admitted that even at her lowest weight, she wasn’t happy. “I’ve battled my weight my entire life, but even when I was at my lightest, it didn’t bring me joy,” she said. This honesty is what makes Valerie so relatable.
In June 2023, Valerie lost weight again and shared her journey with fans on Instagram. “It’s time for me to probably go down another jean size. I can’t believe it. This all started in November, the month I got free,” she said in a video, referencing her divorce from Tom Vitale. “I began focusing on my emotional and mental health, and when I did that, I started caring more about what I put into my body.”
Why Valerie Bertinelli Stopped Weighing Herself
In a now-deleted Instagram post from February 15, 2024, Valerie shared a throwback photo of herself. “This is a 150-pound body on a 5’4 frame,” she wrote. “I stopped weighing myself because these so-called standards are ridiculous. I don’t know who decided this, but it’s nonsense. I finally realize that


