Celebrity chef Paula Deen is speaking out about how she lost 35 pounds in four months.
Appearing on "The Dr. Oz Show" on Monday, Deen explained that the weight loss happened after her diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes was confirmed and she accepted it.
"At that point I went home to my kitchen and I threw out everything that was white: white bread, white rice, white potatoes, white pasta. And I did that for four months, y’all. Just four months. And I lost 35 or 40 pounds," Deen said.
Deen has brought those things back into her kitchen now with a focus on moderation.
“Eat a cookie, just don’t eat six of them,” she said on the show. “Nobody wants to go their whole life thinking I can never have anything good again.”
Known for her liberal use of rich ingredients such as butter and cheese, Deen credited her son, Bobby, with introducing her to yogurt.
“It’s got that same richness and consistency that you get from mayonnaise, but a lot, lot better for you,” she said on The Dr. Oz Show.
Deen, 68, is rebuilding her career after a scandal in 2013 in which she was accused of using racial slurs that cost her a show on The Food Network, along with endorsements and TV and book deals. She recently announced a deal for a radio show and podcast with Compass Media Networks.
Deen also announced a low-fat cookbook, “Paula Deen Cuts the Fat,” which is due out in September.
“I created 200 amazing light recipes. Plus, I cut the calories from 50 of my favorite classic dishes. The best part is that the
same delicious southern taste remains,” Deen told People.
Deen also recently released a video game, “Recipe Quest,” available on iTunes and Google Play.
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