{"id":2146,"date":"2011-09-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-09-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/celebrities-valerie-bertinellis-new-body-and-new-life\/"},"modified":"2011-09-01T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2011-09-01T00:00:00","slug":"celebrities-valerie-bertinellis-new-body-and-new-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/celebrities-valerie-bertinellis-new-body-and-new-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Valerie Bertinelli's New Body And New Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the 49-year-old actress first appeared on One Day at a Time<\/em> beside co-star “sister” Mackenzie Phillips, shes been through the gamut of Hollywood headlines: After a more-than-20-year marriage to rocker Eddie Van Halen (they had one son, Wolfgang), she went through a public divorce.<\/p>\n

In 2007 after reaching 172 pounds, Valerie became a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig and lost 50 pounds; she now stays around 128 pounds.<\/p>\n

Shes since written two books: 2008s Losing It<\/em> was a number-one New York Times<\/em> best-seller, and the follow-up, Finding It<\/em>, just debuted in October.<\/p>\n

Valerie—who looks as amazing in person as she does in pictures—lives with her boyfriend of five years, investment-fund manager Tom Vitale, her son “Wolfie,” 18, and Toms 19-year-old son, Tony. Sitting on her patio overlooking the Pacific, Valerie fields all your questions—about her weight, divorce, and happy, new life.<\/p>\n

Next Page: Deciding to losing weight<\/a> [ pagebreak ]<\/p>\n

Q: What was your big “aha!” moment that made you realize that you wanted or needed to lose weight?<\/strong>—Erin Buzzella, Austin, Texas<\/em>
Valerie:<\/strong> The “aha!” moment happened when I saw myself on the last film that I did about three years ago [a movie called Claire for Hallmark]. I had spent a lot of time avoiding mirrors. But when I was at home and I saw the rough cut on screen, I went, “Oh my goodness, who is that ugly, old, fat woman?” I couldnt watch the whole movie, because I just couldnt get past how I looked.<\/p>\n

And that just made me feel terrible. And ashamed. And I was tired of feeling ashamed. I started to visualize myself, what I knew I could look like—and I didnt want to look like that person on the screen. So I started to picture what I knew I could look like as a healthy, vibrant woman. A couple of months later, Jenny Craig called.<\/p>\n

Q: What diet trick really keeps you on track?<\/strong>—Jenny Brosius, Oklahoma City<\/em>
Valerie:<\/strong> Volumizing things. Im going to make the [Jenny Craig] Tuscan Soup today, because theres a bunch of stuff ahead of me and Ive been feeling emotional and Im afraid Im going to start using food as a crutch again. So Im making this soup. Its only 63 calories and satiates you.<\/p>\n

Q: Is it a lot of pressure to lose weight in the public eye, and do you ever get scared to eat in public because of it?<\/strong>—Annette Powers, Brooklyn, N.Y.<\/em>
Valerie:<\/strong> When I do go out and eat in public, its very funny. I was just on a flight home from Cape Cod and the flight attendant was giving us the [menu options] and she goes, “I want to hear what youre going to order.” And I was like, “Oh my god, seriously?” Even if they dont say it, I can kind of feel the eyes on me. Every time Im at the supermarket, you can see people looking in my cart. Im like, its cool, but hey, I have kids—theres other stuff in here. Sometimes it keeps me in line, and other times, Im like, “Hey, Im on a splurge day, leave me alone!”<\/p>\n

Q: What are your secrets to keeping off the weight?<\/strong>—Lisa Wyatt, San Francisco<\/em>
Valerie:<\/strong> That is the key. Because every single one of us is brilliant at losing weight. In fact, Ive been a master at it for 30 years. Its the maintenance part I havent quite mastered, and thats what Im trying to get my PhD in now! Its just about staying vigilant. Which sometimes I think, Why do I have to be vigilant every day of my life? I just want to relax! Well, you know what? We can take days to relax and we can have our splurge days, but if we want to treat our bodies well, we have to stay vigilant. It sucks [laughs]. But Id rather be vigilant now than go through what Ive been going through my entire life.<\/p>\n

Q: Is there anything you avoided before that you now do?<\/strong>—Jen Haviland, Long Beach Island, N.J.<\/em>
Valerie:<\/strong> I avoided getting dressed and going out for a night on the town, because I knew that if I walked in my closet, I would be miserable. So I didnt want to put myself through that. And I avoided foods all the time, but I still got fat—because I would avoid them so much and then gorge.<\/p>\n

Next Page: Mackenzie Phillips<\/a> [ pagebreak ]
Mackenzie Phillips<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: I found Mackenzie Phillipss story about her father so sad. How did it affect you when you found out. Did you feel sad, too?<\/strong>—Denise Mathieson, Larchmont, N.Y.<\/em>
Valerie:<\/strong> I was devastated for her, but incredibly proud of her. Shes taken a subject that most people will not talk about, and shes given it a face and a heart. I have trouble getting over anger at her father, but its not my job to do that. My job is just to support her and be her friend, and I do that willingly and gladly.<\/p>\n

Q: When you surprised Mackenzie on Oprah, youd said you didnt know what was happening. Did you sense that something was wrong?<\/strong>—Jill Martinez, Portland, Ore.<\/em>
Valerie:<\/strong> You can tell when someone is as self-destructive as Mac was that something much deeper is happening. This is why I believe her. Shes not a liar. Why is it so often that the victim is put through this again? Granted John [Phillips] is not here to defend himself, but its really indefensible. Like, this whole thing with Roman Polanski. Its like, Are you crazy?! He pled guilty! How can you be supporting him? I dont care how brilliant somebody is, its not OK!<\/p>\n

But even if I had known [about Mackenzie], I was so young and so self-involved, I dont know that I could have helped her. It all comes out when its supposed to. Shes going to help millions and millions of people. And when you can help other people, thats when you get the most healing.<\/p>\n

Q: You were always the all-American sweetheart one on the show. Did you ever feel guilty that fans didnt embrace Mackenzie in the same way?<\/strong>—Dana Simons, Locust Valley, N.Y.<\/em>
Valerie:<\/strong> Sure, I did feel guilty because I was doing drugs with her! Not to the extent she was, but it doesnt matter.<\/p>\n