Valerie Bertinelli's Journey: Weight, Love, And Self-Acceptance

Valerie Bertinelli, the beloved actress who stepped into the spotlight in the 1970s with her role in One Day at a Time, has always been open about her weight fluctuations over the years. In 2007, she became the face of the Jenny Craig weight loss program, and her journey has been one of ups and downs, marked by moments of triumph and self-discovery.

Her first book, Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time, published in 2008, was a candid look into her struggles with weight and self-image. A year later, she followed up with Finding It: And Satisfying My Hunger for Life Without Opening the Fridge. These books not only chronicled her weight loss journey but also her emotional journey toward self-acceptance and happiness.

Valerie Bertinelli’s Perspective on Weight

The actress, who first gained fame starring alongside Mackenzie Phillips in One Day at a Time, has often spoken about the insecurities she felt during that time. In her book Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time, Valerie admitted that even though she wasn't technically overweight, she still felt "obese" next to her co-star Mackenzie Phillips, according to Life & Style.

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After One Day at a Time concluded after nine seasons, Valerie found herself in the habit of overeating. She shared in a 2010 Good Housekeeping interview, "It wasn’t about one particular food; I just had no 'stop' button." This habit became a pattern she struggled with for years.

In her 2022 book, Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today, Valerie revealed that she also compared herself to her Hot in Cleveland co-stars Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves. "Both women were tall, skinny, beautiful, and gorgeous, and I thought, 'Here I am again, the one with the hourglass figure, short and round,'" she wrote. "All my insecurities came out." But over time, Valerie learned to embrace her unique body shape and to stop comparing herself to others.

In an Instagram post from October 2023, Valerie shared a powerful message with her fans about her renewed sense of self. In the video, she wore her "before" clothes from her 2009 weight loss photos. "I thought I was fat the last time I wore these clothes," she said. "But today, I’ve never felt more beautiful, more at peace, more mentally and emotionally stable than I do right now." It was a powerful reminder that beauty and self-worth aren't tied to a number on the scale.

Impact of Divorce on Valerie Bertinelli’s Weight

Valerie's marriage to the late musician Eddie Van Halen spanned over two decades, and their split in 2005 was a significant life event. Their divorce was finalized in 2007, and while some might assume that this was the catalyst for her weight gain, Valerie told a different story. In a 2008 interview with Today, she explained, "A lot of people think that because I was getting the divorce, that was really the catalyst for gaining so much weight. But the truth is, I had so many problems all through the years, ballooning and going down again." She went on to share that her sorrow stemmed from not giving her son, Wolfgang Van Halen, the life she thought he deserved and not keeping the family intact. "I think I had a lot of grief about that, and that was how I soothed myself," she revealed.

Valerie Bertinelli’s Weight Loss Journey

In 2007, Valerie became the spokesperson for Jenny Craig, a decision that marked a turning point in her life. "This has really, really been good for me," she shared in a 2010 interview with Good Housekeeping. "People come up to me and tell me how I changed their life and I’ve inspired them. And they tell me their stories, and that keeps me going. This really is the great leveler and equalizer—when people talk about their weight and how they let it consume their lives." After nine months on the Jenny Craig program, Valerie lost over 40 pounds and proudly posed in a green bikini for People magazine.

Reflecting on that moment in a 2020 interview with People, Valerie admitted, "There’s a lot of pride and a lot of shame associated with that cover. I worked really, really, really hard. Physically, definitely. I wish to God I had worked just as hard on my mental shape." Her journey wasn't just about losing weight; it was about finding inner peace and self-acceptance.

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While promoting her book Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today, Valerie opened up to Eating Well about her struggles. "I’ve struggled with my weight for my whole life. But even being at my lowest weight never made me happy," she confessed. It was a powerful reminder that true happiness and contentment come from within.

In June 2023, Valerie shared another weight loss success with her fans on Instagram. She credited her renewed focus on mental and emotional health for the change. "So it’s getting about time for me to probably go down another jean size. I can’t believe it. And this all started in November, the month I got free," she said, referencing her divorce from her second husband, Tom Vitale. "And I started really concentrating on my emotional and mental health. And when I started doing that, I started caring about the nutrition that I put in my body more."

Why Valerie Bertinelli No Longer Weighs Herself

In a deleted Instagram post from February 15, 2024, Valerie shared a throwback photo of herself and reflected on her relationship with her body. "This is a 150-lb body on a 5’4 frame