Sherri Shepherd’s Weight Loss: How She Shed Pounds and Got Her Diabetes Under Control
The TV host says her son is her constant source of motivation
Daytime TV host, podcaster, comedian and mom Sherri Shepherd isn’t letting diabetes slow her down. In fact, her diagnosis kick-started her impressive weight loss, which she has attributed to a healthier relationship with food and squeezing in extra physical activity. Here, we look into Sherri Shepherd’s weight loss success and how her journey can inspire healthier habits of your own.
A diabetes diagnosis spurred Sherri Shepherd’s weight loss
Shepherd knew she was pre-diabetic, but it wasn’t until her type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2007 that she started taking her health seriously. “Diabetes runs in my family, but we didn’t call it diabetes—we called it ‘the sugar,'” Shepherd told E! News. “So that tells you right there, my community not being aware and taking it seriously.”
Her response to being pre-diabetic was asking her doctor, “Look, am I gonna die?” The Sherri host also admitted to disregarding her early symptoms. “I was ignoring the symptoms, like tingling in my fingers and my toes, numbness, blurry vision, going to the bathroom nonstop,” she continued. “I didn’t know that my body was trying to rid itself of this sugar and my body’s not producing enough insulin to do it.”
Her subsequent diabetes diagnosis was the wake-up that she says helped save her life. “I don’t see it as a death sentence; I view it as a second chance at life,” she told People in 2021. “It compelled me to become more knowledgeable about my dietary choices and exercise. I began to understand the profound link between exercise and its impact on my mental wellbeing, particularly the release of endorphins. It illuminated the powerful mind-body connection that stems from regular exercise.”
Shepherd wanted to be healthy for her son
At the time of her diagnosis, Shepherd had just joined The View, and her son Jeffrey was just two years old. “If I don’t take care of myself, what’s going to happen to my legacy?” she recalled to E! News.
Shepherd made a vow to be there for her son and started focusing on improving her overall health. That included adopting healthier lifestyle habits such as changing her diet and exercising more to boost her energy.
“He’s my constant encouragement,” she told People in 2021, “and I’m inspired by the fact that I can now engage in more activities with him and enjoy higher energy levels.”
Motivation is the key to lasting results
Shepherd has repeatedly mentioned how important it was for her to get healthy for Jeffrey. In 2021, she told People that her son “motivates me every day.”
“As with anything in life, you have to find your ‘why,’” says Cristina Del Toro Badessa, MD, a board-certified physician specializing in personalized and integrative medicine at Artisan Beaute, emphasizing the importance of the right motivation. “Exercising because you see it or read about it somewhere may motivate you for a day or two, but long term, you have to ask yourself—what is important to me, and why do I want to live well and healthfully?”
Sherri Shepherd’s 46-lb. weight loss journey
At 57, Shepherd is embracing her health and wellness by celebrating the small wins. In 2023, she posted a video to Instagram sharing that she could fit into a pair of jeans she’s owned since 2007. “I have been working out. I have been making the right food choices. I’ve been drinking my bone broth. And now I’m able to put on jeans that I haven’t been able to wear since 2007,” she said.
Though Shepherd’s weight loss journey has had its ups and downs—she reportedly lost 46 lbs. in 2020 but later regained weight—today, she’s healthier than ever. The secret to her weight loss success? Nutritious meals and consistent workouts.
She focuses on nutrient-dense foods
Shepherd doesn’t take her diabetes lightly. Instead of eating foods that spike her glucose, she focuses on healthier, nutrient-dense foods, especially her snacks.
“Diabetes isn’t something you can leave to chance, and I have found that if I’m not intentional about finding some healthy snacks, like a handful of almonds instead of some chocolate, it affects my mood for the whole day,” she shared with Woman’s World in 2024. “I know when I’m not eating right and then I don’t feel good and don’t smile.”
Her go-to snacks? Cottage cheese with blueberries and cinnamon and other fruits in moderation. “Even though I love watermelon and mangoes, grapes, I just can’t eat too many of them because it raises my glucose level. I get dizzy and not present, lightheaded and irritable. And I’m not smiling,” she said of the importance of paying attention to her body and avoiding impulsive food choices.
She maintains a consistent exercise routine
When it comes to squeezing exercise into her busy schedule, Shepherd is adamant about sticking to her fitness regimen because it’s good for her body and mind. “If I feel better, I’m in a better place mentally, I can think better,” Shepherd told E! News. “I just got a lot of clarity. I have a lot more energy. That gives you a lot more confidence.”
Shepherd isn’t scared to switch up her routine, either, as long as she’s moving her body. She credits walking as a big part of her success, as well as strength training. “Walking is the thing I can do on my own…but I go to a gym four times a week and lift weights,” she told Woman’s World.
“The real truth is that as we age, we lose muscle mass and the muscle mass helps if you fall,” she said on the importance of improving her overall fitness. “I lift heavy weights at the gym, and it strengthens the core, so if you fall, you know how to fall and can get up. And I’m boxing.”
Whether you’re walking, doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT), practicing yoga or anything in between, moving your body regularly is crucial, Dr. Del Toro Badessa says. She explains that exercise improves memory, releases endorphins and reduces the risk of chronic disease, so it’s important to find a routine that you love and can stick with.
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