Celebrity Biggest Loser

Kirstie Alley: Lost 50 Pounds. Notorious yo-yo dieter Kirstie Alley is on the downswing again. On October 4th, she Tweeted that shed lost 50 of the 83 pounds she says she has to lose. She claims she owes her success to Organic Liaison, the program she founded herself this March.Organic Liaison, Alley claims, provides a weight loss elixir, as well as supplements that fill in missing vitamins and minerals, and emphasizes healthy organic recipes designed to decrease carbohydrate cravings. Alley has been taking these supplements herself, as well as cooking organic foods, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and getting regular exercise. While weight loss elixirs may not be for everyone, its always a good idea to make sure youre stocked up on vitamins before trying to lose weight; itll keep your energy up and reduce cravings.

President Bill Clinton: Lost 24 Pounds.

Clinton recently lost 24 pounds, returning to his high school weight, after he started eating a mostly vegetarian diet. He wanted to lose weight for his daughters weddingactually, she asked it of him--and he was concerned about his health after bypass surgery. Research, he says, showed him that eating very little meat could help heal his hardened arteries.

So Clinton has, for the most part, cut out meat and dairy. He eats a lot of vegetables, fruit, beans, legumes, and a little fish. For breakfast he likes to drink protein shakes made with almond milk, fruit, and protein powder. And he works out for between half an hour and an hour a day.

Drew Carey: Lost 80 Pounds. The comedy star known for poking fun at himself for his weight will have to find a new target. Hes dropped 80 pounds in the past few months. He now wears 33-34 pants, and, as he told People magazine, he was sick of being fat on the camera. The weight loss also cursed his Type 2 diabetes.He reached his goal by cutting way down on carbs, permitting himself no bread or even starchy vegetables, like corn. He emphasizes lean protein and does permit himself fruit. In addition, says Carey, he gets at least 45 minutes of cardio exercise a day.

Sir Anthony Hopkins: Lost 75 Pounds.

The jokes write themselves: Hopkins, famous for his role as cannibalistic Hannibal Lecter, has lost 75 pounds in the past two years (he says he actually lost the weight a little too quickly). Unlike his character, his weakness of the flesh wasnt a weakness for flesh. Instead, he had trouble resisting sweets, breads, and pasta. His wife, who lost considerable weight, too, helped motivate him. Together, they made the switch to a lower-carb, lower-calorie diet and increased exercise.

Hopkins is in the gym six days a week and has become a devotee of the power walk. He eats mostly vegetables and protein, treats himself to the occasional sandwich, and sticks to about 1800 calories per day.

Oh, and hes cut down on the fava beans and chianti, of course.

Marie Osmond: Lost 45 Pounds. The Dancing With the Stars star, now 50 years old and the mother of eight, made it to 120 lbs at 55 by using NutriSystem. For the unfamiliar, thats a portion-controlled meal-delivery diet. She kept it off with the same diet, and says she likes to emphasize fresh fruits and vegetables. She also preferred the method because the diet let her keep her weight loss private; because shes had a fraught relationship with her weight from a young age, public weigh-ins werent for her.She was motivated to lose weight by her eldest sons concern for her health, and says with the extra weight gone, her knees feel a lot better. Best of all, her new approach has kept her feeling psychologically well, as well as physically.She eats more frequent meals, she says, and no longer skips breakfast. Instead, she intercuts her long days of dance practice with salad, fruit, and the occasional ice-cream treat.

Kathy Ireland: Lost 25 Pounds The former supermodel decided to lose weight when a close friend of hers died suddenly from a heart attack. She herself had gained 25 pounds gradually, over the course of about as many years. The mogul and author was too busy with business and family to notice, but once she took a look at a family photograph, she saw that shed let herself get out of shape, snacking in idle moments and indulging her sweet tooth too often.To take off the weight, she hired a nutritionist and a personal trainer. She emphasized vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and salads. She hasnt stopped eating things she lovesshe still enjoys bread and the occasional dessert, but now cooks with olive oil and eats healthy fats, like avocado, and more vegetables.While she doesnt like structured exercise, she does three cardio-and-weights workouts a week and makes sure to take part in a number of activities like stretching, walking, biking, hiking, swimming, and surfing.

John Goodman: Lost More Than 100 Pounds.

Roseanne actor John Goodman weighed 400 pounds three years ago, left there by years of yo-yo dieting. He says he was overeating, drinking too much home-brewed beer, and, on the whole, wasting what health he had. His doctors told him hed die if he didnt lose the weight.

So he did. He stopped drinking, cut out sugar, and started to exercise six days a week. He also hired Mackie Shilstone, a health coach whos trained many well-known athletes. Goodman hasnt talked about exactly how much weight hes lost, but its well over 100 pounds, and hes continuing toward his goal: he hopes to attain a healthy body-fat percentage.

Governor Mike Huckabee: Lost 105 Pounds. Huckabee lost 105 pounds while campaigning for the presidency in 2008. It took him less than a year, a feat most people probably shouldnt replicate; he started out with three months spent on an 800-calorie diet. He only ate meal replacement shakes and vegetables during that time. The second phase of his diet is more reasonable. He ate a steady 1600 calories a day and added in increasing amounts of daily exercise. Soon he managed to run a 5k in under half an hour, and eventually worked his way up to a marathon.Nowadays, Huckabee keeps on track by eating small, frequent meals, which emphasize protein and vegetables; sticking to whole grains; and not drinking your calories. He recommends a protein-packed breakfast, in particular, and, himself, prefers to eat carbs (whole grains) only later in the day. In his book, Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork: A 12-Stop Program to End Bad Habits and Begin a Healthy Lifestyle, hes candid about the personal, emotional, and spiritual struggle of losing weight.

Valerie Bertinelli: Lost 40 Pounds. For Bertinelli, weight loss came partly in a package: she chose Jenny Craig, a program of delivered, prepackaged meals that she says taught her portion control. While she lost the weight, 40 pounds in nine months, she ate about 1200 calories a day. She also took up a regular exercise program, running five days a week.Going on the diet, says Bertinelli, showed her she can be more aware while shes eating, and stop herself before she chooses to feed emotion instead of hunger. She still lets herself have treats, but in moderation.

Jennifer Hudson: Lost 60 Pounds. Sure, shes a little younger than the typical Third Ager, but shes put in the mileage and achieved some serious weight loss: well worth featuring. Her trick was Weight Watchers, a plan that stresses counting the points in food and offers group meetings for support. Hudson also worked out with trainer Harley Pasternak five times a week. Now, just over a year after the birth of her son, shes lost 60 pounds and gone from a size 16 to a size 6. Best of all, she says, Weight Watchers taught her that no foods off-limits if you plan properly and dont overindulge. For the first time, she says, she feels free to eat ice cream, and occasionally does. Its all about balance and awareness.