Sherri Shepherd’s transformation almost didn’t happen: After losing a whopping 30 pounds since her 2007 debut on The View, she began to see the weight creep back on. Rather than surrender, she made a public vow in May to get herself swimsuit-ready.
“This is my marathon,” Sherri, 42, says — and it looks as if she’s winning the race. The talk show co-host and star of Lifetime’s upcoming sitcom, Sherri, has lost 41 pounds in total, dropped 10 dress sizes and cut 10 inches off her 5′1″ frame. And in a new, exclusive interview and photo shoot with OK!, Sherri reveals what inspired her to go public with her pledge — and exactly how she did it.
“I lost weight last year and started gaining it back because I wasn’t exercising,” Sherri explains in the new issue of OK!. “I said to my producer, ‘Why don’t we do something where I tell people ‘Let’s do it together!’ and maybe [up the ante with] a bathing suit.’ The minute I said that, I was like, ‘Gosh, I should take it back because I really want M&M’s!’ But I had to do it. Then all of sudden I had all these people doing it with me. I’d Tweet about going to the gym and how hard it was, and followers would write and say, ‘Sherri, I’ve lost two pounds!’ I thought, ‘Okay, people are getting into this.’”
To help get her into swimsuit shape, Sherri enlisted the help of trainer Don Scott — who she refers to in her Tweets as the “Evil One” — and he spared certainly didn’t give her any slack because of her celebrity. “What I hate is when trainers say, ‘Okay, lets do 15,’ and then you get to 15, and they go ‘10 more,’ She recalls about her time in the gym. “It has taken every mental thing I have to get to 15, so don’t put another 10 on me!”
Now Sherri’s focus is on maintaining her weight, without the trainer. “It’s just mandatory that I find something I like that I can really keep up,” she explains. “I just started this trapeze class that strengthens the arms, and tennis I love. I’m taking salsa lessons.”
In addition to her time in the gym, Sherri — who openly admits that she’s “not a cooker” — slimmed down with the help of delivered meals from Fresh Diet, including Turkey & Green Salsa Quesadillas, Pan-Seared Sea Scallops with Ginger Jerk Sauce, Salad Niçoise and Cinnamon Pear Cheesecake. “It’s freshly cooked and they delivered it in the mornings so I would just eat that,” Sherri explains.
But even with all this great food, there were still times when desire’s seductive head would pop up. “Sometimes I just said, ‘I don’t want tilapia anymore; I can’t even deal with salad. I want M&M’s and Ruffles,’” she confesses. “But the difference was I was gonna get back up and go to the gym and keep my commitment. I never once felt like I deprived myself.”
For the entire interview, check out the new issue of OK! — on sale everywhere Thursday!
eating chips…watching The View..Typo!
Sherry, PLEASE have a Breast reducation, you would really look slim then!!!!!
Sherry, please don’t allow the criticism to change your optimism about your accomplishment. Honestly, a breast reduction would make you look great, but I don’t agree that you should get one. If you continue to exercise then your breast will decrease on their own. I have an old co-worker that lost weight from the south beach diet and after a year, she ended up going down several cup sizes. You did a great job and remember that some people are always pessimistic because they are jealous. Keep your head held high because most of us can’t commit to diets and stick to them.
I totally agree Sherry…you look awesome! Don’t let anyone tell you anything different!!!
First let me say that you look fabulous! I had a breast reduction almost 2 years ago and I’m so glad I did. Not just for the back pain, but for the added boost of confidence. AND not to mention that they don’t point towards the floor anymore!!
Shirts just fit so much better as well as bras! Think about it…
Sherri, you are great on the view. So thrilled that you are a part of the panel. There are almost always jealous people looking to criticize when someone tries to loose weight. When someone can’t control their weight, they are going to be as pickey about others success, especially in those difficult areas women never seem to loose. You have been a great influence for many of this summer. I lost weight as I followed you. I just didn’t loose as much. The 36 DDD just hides all of my good work. I am so appreciative of your positive influence!
Sherri I am very proud of you. It takes alot of will power to do what you did. Let haters say what they want to, because they are jelous because they cant lose 41 lbs on their own. You look GREAT! Keep up the good work!!!!!!!
Sheri, you look great! Can you tell me, though, how did you drop TEN (10) dress sizes with ‘only’ (not that this isn’t a significant number) 41 lbs? Its usually 1 for every 10 lbs???
As a short person when I lose 5# it is a dress size.Sheri is only 5′1″ 41# can easily be 10 dress sizes. I need her diet…great job,I’m so inspired.
Sherri I think you look wonderful, but I agree with LaDonna Hunter…I think your next step should be to have a breast reduction. I know that large breast can cause back problems and now that the rest of your body is so small, it may cause you to have back aches. If you look like a million bucks now can you imagine what it would be like than. Good luck and keep that great smile!
Sherri You inspire me!!! I was so inspired by your weight lost, and how great you look. Let me give you a little background. I just turned 32 a few days ago (August 18th) and I decided that I need to start loving myself more, take care of myself more, and increase my self esteem. I am a mother of 2 beautiful children and my kids don’t have not even 1 (one) picture of me. I can’t help to think if I was to die my kids wouldn’t remember me because I feel too ugly and fat to take pictures. On my birthday (before I saw your picture) I decided to loss some weight. Starting out with a small goal of 40 lbs, and hopefully by this time next year I can loss 100lbs and wear a bathing suite for the first time since I was in the 4th grade. Seeing you in that bathing suite sealed the deal for me! I even went on craigslist looking for an inexpensive elliptical or treadmill. Thanking you for sharing your experience!!
Sherri you look great but I agree with everyone else. Loosing the boobs will not only bring in your silhouette and make you look more svelte but also provide relief from having oversize breasts and everyone that have them, you kow what I mean.
Congrads!
Hey Sherri, don’t do the breast reduction, I use to be thin With enormous boobs. I did the surgery they grew back(though not as big) an now for the 1st time in my life I have a gigantic stomach & huge thighs. Also the highlights going in opposite directions. Now I have the weight battle, as I don’t eat junk food, sweets, I eat all grain health foods, no sugar or flour. But I still can’t lose the weight. Now I wish I had the grotesque boobs again!!!
Hey Sherri, don’t do the breast reduction, I use to be thin With enormous boobs. I did the surgery they grew back(though not as big) an now for the 1st time in my life I have a gigantic stomach & huge thighs. Also the headlights going in opposite directions. Now I have the weight battle, as I don’t eat junk food, sweets, I eat all grain health foods, no sugar or flour. But I still can’t lose the weight. Now I wish I had the grotesque boobs again!!!
She didn’t drop 10 dress sizes — she dropped five. 16 to 6 is five sizes. And the bathing suit plush heels is just so realistic. Puleeze.
UH EXCUSE ME DEBORAH….FOR SOMEONE WITH SUCH SARCASIM, CAN YOU ADD??? LET ME HELP YOU 16-6=10 OR 6+10=16!!! SO PULEEZE STOP HATIN!!
Actually Deborah is correct… Dress sizes come in even numbers. So Sherri went from a size 16 dropping (14, 12, 10, 8 and 6), that’s where you get the 5 dress sizes. Se had sarcasm but sound down right angry, why?
Actually Deborah is correct when comparing misses’ sizes, but the junior sizes have the odd numbers. One way or the other, it was a drastic change and I commend her for her commitment to lose the weight.
Sherri, you WILL re-gain the weight if you don’t LEARN how to cook for yourself believe me. You can’t exist on someone else’s food FOREVER. Those prepared meals are OK for a start, but at some point, you will have to “do it for yourself”. So, if you find yourself on the rollercoaster of weight ups and downs, desperation and frustration, remember I told you…
I agree with Ramona. Whatever you do, don’t get comfortable with your weight and go back to your old habits. Otherwise, you will gradually gain your weight back. I lost 35 pounds one time and went from a size 14 to a size 10. I went back to my old eating habits and stopped exercising. As I gained a couple of pounds here and there I ignored it. Now I have gained all of it back. Keep up the good work.
I would believe that Sherri is a size 6 pants but not shirt or dress. I am her height and I can wear some size 6 pants but mostly 10’s which are somewhat loose fitting. Now, I have a heavy chest and that’s another story all together it just depends on the cut of the clothing. Sherry looks great! I’m proud of her for getting in shape! KEEP up the good work Sherri!!!!
The reason many of us are critical of the fact that the sizes are wrong, is because it’s not really motivating when you are a size 10 and want to lose weight, and you see her at a “6″ and she is bigger than you are. That is what makes people think they need to starve themselves to be skinny. A 6 is very thin, and it gives us the impression that a 6 is not skinny enough. If they had said that she went from a 22 to a 13-16, it would be more motivating because people can actually look great and don’t have to be a “6″ to do so. She looks amazing at a size 13-16 or whatever she actually is.
I agree. I’m a size 10 and I don’t look that heavy (I’m not just being biased here, I’ve picked up the photos and compared). If she is a size 6 that’s news to me. I realize sizes in the women’s department may be different than those in the jr. or missy section but, still. And sizes at different companies are different but, I don’t think there is any ways she is a size 6 according to what most clothing companies would use as a fit model (I don’t mean a runway model here). Don’t get me wrong, her weight loss is great but, she’s no bikini model. Very brave of her to go on a national magazine in a swimsuit (I sure wouldn’t) and I don’t want to downplay her accomplishment but, people do need to get real about sizes. I agree that saying she is a size 6 gives the impression that you’re still heavy at a size 6 because although she has lost a lot of weight and looks much healther I still wouldn’t call her “skinny”. The first thing I thought when I saw the magazine is “if she is a size 6 I better get on the treadmill because that mean’s I’m really huge”.
I love the commitment that you made to losing weight but the only problem that I have with you inspiring overweight people like me is that you didn’t cook your own meals. The majority of people that are overweight are poverty level l, myself included and we are living check to check. We can not afford to go to those expensive places that make low calorie meals and deliver them. So although I am so proud of you and I do believe that you look fabulous I feel like you are not an inspiration for me at least because part of the battle is getting the food right. I hate the gym more than a root canal and the last thing I want to do when I come home from working out is stand on my feet and cook a meal. I do not mean to be rude or discouraging, I just feel like I would have been inspired if you cooked your own meals. If you could get a health expert to show obese and super obese people how to eat healthy on $125.00 a month in groceries for a family of two then that would be inspirational because that is as close to real life as you can get.
AD, Is there something stopping you from walking on a FREE walking trail. you can also buy yogurt and other lowfat food cheap-Excuses, Excuses!!!
OBVIOUSLY THIS WOMAN LOST ABOUT 140 LBS, INSTEAD OF 40. REALISTICLY. THERE IS NO WAY ON EARTH THAT HUGE WOMAN CAN SQUEEZE HER FAT FLAB INTO A SIZE 6. WHO ARE YOU KIDING! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!!! YOU ARE ALL VERY STUPID!!!
It must be nice to be able to afford to have your meals delivered.
I don’t understand why such venom from some people on here. people always say that it costs so much to eat right and that is just a bunch of bull. these people just don’t want to put in the work and planning it takes.
and it’s free to hit the nearest park and get out and walk
you must have small breast and are jelousy
you must be jelousy because you have small breast
you must have small brest Sherri keep up the good work
there is NO WAY in hell that is a size 6 body. noooo way.
I think she looks great. However, I think she is a size 6 waist, but not elsewhere. I have weird proportions too. If I am a size 10 hips, I am a size 8 waist, and then size 6 at top. It depends on your build. It is easier to lose weight when you have a personal trainer and meals delivered. Yes, you can walk for free outside but it helps to have a trainer motivating you. Believe me, I’ve had a trainer before. It makes it easier to go to the gym and write down what you eat when someone is riding you about it. I’ve also had meals delivered. When you are tired and driving home from work you don’t stop and get fast food when you have a meal waiting at home. Celebrities do have it easier when it comes to losing weight. Everyone can do it, but celebrities can afford things that make it easier and faster. Also, eating healthy is expensive. Go to the store and buy a cart of junk food and a cart of fresh veggies, fruits, and fish. It is way more expensive to eat healthy. Going to McDonalds is cheaper than going to Subway.
Sherry U look Fab at 42 …You did a great job i am so proud of you that i plan to lose some weight myself and i am in the same age bracket so i know it won’t be easy but i am ready to GET MY SEXY Back!!!! LOL Good Job!!!
I think that she is a size 6 waist, hips, thighs and butt, because even though she is big at the to,. Her lower area is small. I’m talking from experience, because I am shaped like her. I would love to get the breast reductions so that I could even myself out. And I think she would look more porportioned if she was to get reduced.
Instead of a breast reduction, try doing target chest and shoulder exercises, and also more overall body fat. That would be a better solution than surgery… especially if you end up losing more weight AFTER breast reduction surgery, because then your boobs will get even smaller.
I come from a family with four petite sisters. Sister #1 is a size 6 - 5′ and looks half the size of Sherri, Sister #3 is 4′11″ and is a busty size 6 and looks much smaller, I am Sister #2 5′2″ and wear a size 6 jeans and size 8 tops and I showed Sherri’s picture to my husband and son and asked how close to my size does she look to them (They are still laughing.), Sister #4 is 5′4″ and a size 14 she also looks smaller than Sherri on top although not on bottom.
I believe much of the anger is toward the media’s attempt at making women feel ugly by pushing the size 0 actress. A size 6 is small, and then they do something like this to make even small women feel insecure. What use to be healthy is now the new fat, and what use to be diagnosed as anorexia is glorified as the new thing to strive for.
I am sure Sherri desires to promote good health habits. But she needs to be aware of the bigger picture, and how this picture will impact young women obsessed with image.
I am happy that Sherri is finding what works for her on her road to healthy living. I do wish her all the best. Plus I hope she looks into this subject, and finds a way to report the abusive of the media that has been discriminating against women because of size for too many years.
I’m glad she lost weight.. but I don’t believes she a size 6. Not that it even matters . The size 6 is not the magic number. But she too top heavy to be a 6. Not every women was made to be a size 6. As you all recall Marilyn Monroe was reported to be between 12-14 dress size. (Which is the average American women dress size, don’t belive me google it).And we all know she turned heads & had her share of powerful men. I’m not a size 6 & don’t want to be if that’s what it looks like.
I can relate, but making them firm is a better reason but not smaller.
Then you will become like everyone else; stay yourself. For all the Boob girls out there you are IT!
ENHANCE, RE-ARRANGE, FIX BUT DON’T CHANGE!
:)LOVE YA!
Now sherri did you begin working out before or after the Tummy tuck and Lipo. If it was excersice you wouldnt be having man sholders and huge legs. Your body would look slim complete from top to bottom not like you tied your stomache with a string. Come on who are you kidding.
Everybody’s bodies are different… why would you apply a cookie cutter stereotypical body size & say that everybody who is thin would look that way? I think Sherri looks amazing. He’s slim AND curvy, which is hard to accomplish!
Breast reduction?! Are you people INSANE? Her breasts are beautiful! As a big-breasted woman myself, I say… keep your beautiful boobies big!
Not everybody is blessed with a big chest.
Hello Sherry Job well done. why in the devil other worry about your boobs. (girl ) do you , you look great. and all the hater, hate on much love.