Sherri Shepherd is feeling better than ever after losing a whoppping 20 pounds amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At 54, this is best I have ever felt,” she recently told People. “My goal is to be living a long and active life with my son Jeffrey, who shares the same birthday as me.”
The actress, who says her 16-year-old son has been a major inspiration in her weight loss journey, was also encouraged to lose weight after realizing how important her health was amid the pandemic.
“During COVID, I put on weight and realized I needed to get back to the basics again, which was a lifestyle change,” she said, adding that after “seeing so many people impacted, health-wise, during the pandemic,” she felt more encouraged than ever.
The former “View” host joined Healthy Wage, a weight loss program involving a cash prize, in order to keep her inspired and was able to lose 15 pounds with a new diet and active lifestyle.
“I walked 3 miles, four times a week, did Zumba in my backyard and I started boxing,” she said. “Now, I roller skate three times a week and I’m also taking pole dancing lessons, and call myself a pole-dancer-like-ish woman!”
She also had help from a friend, who joined her in a 30-day pushup challenge where they would do 50 pushups a day.
“Completing that challenge was a major breakthrough for me,” she said.
Shepherd also explained how combining intermittent fasting with the keto diet helped her reach her weight loss goal.
“I had already been off sugar for two years; so I then made the difficult decision to give up dairy, pork and beef,” she said. “I love eggs with avocados, onions and peppers and grilled chicken and salads. I love to make kale chips as a snack.”
She added, “I also started cooking my meals, which has made a huge difference because I know exactly what ingredients are in the food I prepare.”
The “30 Rock” actress shared that she has lost 20 pounds since the start of the lockdown and a total of 35 pounds since she began her health journey.
“I realized I was able to make changes and be physically active to get my health in a better position,” she told People.
Shepherd first revealed her major weight loss last week.
The 5-foot-2 comedian has long been open about her struggles with her weight. Back in 2012, she weighed in at 197 pounds, but she’s been down ever since, cutting out sugar in 2018.
She has been dedicated to keeping off the pounds after she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007.
Shepherd celebrated her birthday on Thursday.