Boomer Biggest Losers

Valerie Bertinelli joined Jenny Craig as a spokesperson in 2007. She had been out of the spotlight for years, but at 52 and 172 pounds, she was ready for a change. By December of 2007, Bertinelli had lost over 40 pounds, which led to two book deals and even a sitcom on TV Land, Hot in Cleveland, which co-stars Betty White, Wendi Malick and Jane Leeves. The show pulls in a respectable 3.1 million viewers per episode. As for Bertinelli, shes managed to stay slim as her career takes off again, and even ran a marathon in 2010. Go, Valerie!

Kirstie Alley spent years as a Hollywood sex symbol before taking some time out of the spotlight. When we saw her again in 2004, Kirstie had piled on the pounds. I didnt know how fat I was, Alley told Oprah Winfrey in November 2006. Alley said some unflattering tabloid photos forced her to wake up, and she vowed to lose weight then and there. Alley signed on as a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, and in 2006, Alley appeared on Oprahs show less 75 pounds in a bikini to boot.

Alas, that look didnt last. Two years after her bikini moment, Alley was gaining weight again, and by 2010, shed gained almost 100 pounds back. She launched a new weight loss program called Kirstie Alleys Organic Liaison, along with a reality show on A&E called Kirstie Alleys Big Life. Alley claims that shes lost 60 pounds since then, and is hoping to lose 30 more while she competes on Dancing With the Stars. Shes already a top DWTS competitor, and says rehearsals have helped her lose an additional 10 pounds so far. Well see what the next few weeks bring for Kirstie!

As one of five co-hosts of ABCs daytime talk show The View, Star Jones was under a lot of public scrutiny. By 2003, the attorney weighed more than 300 pounds, and decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery not that she told anyone. We watched Jones shrink before our eyes, and most people suspected something was going on, but Jones credited Pilates and a diet alone for her big changes. But in 2007, Jones finally admitted that surgery was responsible for her dramatic weight loss. In a frank and moving essay in Glamour magazine, Jones described the issues that brought about her dramatic weight gain, and explained why she felt she could not be honest about her surgery. In the eight years since her surgery, Jones has kept the weight off and moved on to other projects, including writing three books and appearing on the current season of NBCs Celebrity Apprentice.

Oprah Winfrey has always been larger than life, and her weight struggles are no exception Winfreys weight has yo-yoed dramatically throughout her nearly three decades in the public eye. Her first major weight loss peaked in 1988 after losing 67 pounds, Oprah wheeled a wagon full of fat onto her shows stage as she showed off her new size-10 figure. But her weight ballooned to 237 pounds by 1992, when she met trainer Bob Greene and decided to get fit again. Oprah has been working with Greene since then, and for the most part, things were going well Oprah even appeared in her magazine in a belly-baring top in 2005. But Oprah just couldnt keep it that way. She confronted her weight issues in 2009, when she admitted that a combination of a thyroid problem and a lack of balance had steered her off the fitness track, and that shed gone back up to 200 pounds. Oprah vowed to get fit again, but not much has changed since then Oprah still hasnt gone back to her slim self. Maybe shell slim down again once her show ends later this year?

Carrie Fisher decided to jump on the weight loss bandwagon earlier this year. Fisher has joined Jenny Craig as a spokeswoman, explaining that a blog post comparing her appearance to that of Elton John was a wake-up call. Actually, I think Elton does look a little better, Fisher joked at a Jenny Craig press conference. Fisher started working with Jenny Craig in January, and has already lost 25 pounds. But will she get back into her gold bikini from Star Wars? If I [put on the metal bikini] my daughter would never speak to me again, Fisher told Access Hollywood. I want the option of being able to get into the metal bikini.

Comedian Drew Carey spent eight years playing a version of himself on the successful Drew Carey Show, and he was known for his chubby, average-guy appearance. He was diagnosed with heart disease in 2001 and vowed to get healthy, but his mothers terminal illness left him in a deep depression and derailed his plans. Then, in November of 2009, Carey found himself weighing 262 pounds. He had developed type-2 diabetes, and Carey told Parade magazine that he was having trouble keeping up with his fiances 5-year-old son. He decided to change his life once and for all. One year later, the former Marine had lost almost 100 pounds, stopped taking medication for his diabetes and run a 10K. Carey still looks better than ever as the host of The Price Is Right.

John Goodman has spent a lifetime commanding attention onscreen by playing big men, but he doesnt have a sizable frame to rely on anymore. Last year, Goodman revealed that hed lost over 100 pounds. The Treme actor told People he stopped drinking in 2007 and committed to getting fit. In June of 2010, Goodman told David Letterman that at one point, he was pushing 400 pounds. Now, the actor sticks to a no-sugar diet and exercises six days a week.