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Valerie Bertinelli Dishes about Weight Loss, Cravings and Fitness Goals
Posted on Dec 7th 2009 12:00PM by Nicole Dorsey-Straff
Admittedly teary over bequeathing her hard-fought and highly publicized Jenny Craig crown to successor Sara Rue, 49-year-old actress Valerie Bertinelli dished to That's Fit about her ongoing health and fitness goals, and how she plans on keeping those 40 pounds at bay.That's Fit: You look great! What is your fitness routine now that you want to maintain this weight loss?
Valerie Bertinelli: I run most days of the week, about 5 to 8 miles a pop, sometimes with my trainer Christopher Ross Lane. I also meet with him to lift weights and stretch and all that stuff.
TF: Do you still depend on Jenny Craig for meals or can you go off the strict diet once in awhile?
VB: First of all, the Jenny Craig program is not very strict because I can have unlimited fruits and vegetables whenever I want them. You're never supposed to be starving and I never am on Jenny Craig. But, yes, I often still will have a Jenny Craig breakfast or lunch, sure. Food is not the enemy.
TF: I've tasted some surprisingly yummy Jenny Craig prepared foods. What's your favorite go-to dish?
VB: I love the wok chicken, and I've gotta say that the turkey burger is totally delicious, too.
TF: If you were going to go off your diet, what would you eat and where would you eat it?
VB: Oh boy! I'd sit down at Osteria Mozza [in Los Angeles] and order their Tortellini Soup. I might order it twice!
TF: If you could eat or drink anything and, magically, it wouldn't add to your caloric intake, what would it be? What do you love?
VB: Champagne! I try to keep it to one glass each night but it's hard. Before I started becoming more aware [of my food and drinks] I'd say a martini, but now I stick to champagne because it has fewer calories than a martini. But I do love my cocktails.
TF: What do you want for Christmas this year?
VB: Honestly, I want everyone to give as much time and money to a charity of their choice this year. That would be the biggest gift you could give me! But I also put in a request for that big Kindle thing.
TF: What is your New Year's resolution?
VB: I'm going to run the Boston Marathon four days before my fiftieth birthday ... can you believe that? I've been training with my trainer Christopher and I'm slowly adding miles and increasing my endurance. Right now I run just over 20 miles a week but come April I have to run 20 miles per session. I don't know if I'm looking forward to that! But I am raising money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and that's a great cause. I'll do it!
Click through the gallery below to learn more about Valerie's path to fitness.
For more scoop on the fabulously fit Valerie Bertinelli, check out our library on That's Fit!
Fitness expert Nicole Dorsey Straff is a Los Angeles-based exercise physiologist and author, and frequently writes about diet, health and wellness.
