- Valerie Bertinelli shared a throwback bikini photo from 2014 on Instagram.
- In the caption, she shared that she no longer weighs herself after being “considered overweight” 10 years ago.
- Fans supported the star with encouraging messages in the comments.
Valerie Bertinelli has long been open about her relationship with her body. From sharing her thoughts on her body changing with age to showing off her gray roots to getting vulnerable about body image, the Food Network star always keeps it real with her fans. Now, she’s getting candid about why she no longer weighs herself.
In a recent Instagram post, Bertinelli shared two throwback bikini photos from 2014 and recalled how being perceived as “overweight” at the time impacted her over the next 10 years.
“2014 #tbt This is a 150-lb. body on a 5’4” frame,” she captioned the post. “I don’t weigh myself anymore because this is considered overweight by whose standards I don’t know. It’s stupid and I believed them for far too long.”
She continued: “I now, finally, know that I am a kind, considerate, funny, thoughtful woman.” The star went on with a plea for fans: “So please remember, who you are and what your character is, should never be overshadowed by what size you are or how much you weigh. You are enough. Just the way you are.”
Bertinelli’s supportive fanbase flocked to the comments to share their thoughts. “👏👏👏👏👏 I look back on so many pictures and think ‘damn why did I think I was so fat, why didn’t I enjoy that time more instead of beating myself up,’” one fan wrote. Meanwhile, another follower shared similar feelings about stepping on the scale, writing, “I’m 53 and I don’t weigh myself anymore. I don’t need that negativity in my life lol. I’m done telling myself I’m fat. I’m beautiful and happy.” One fan chimed in with what we were all thinking: “You go girl! I’ve watched you my whole life and there is nothing wrong with you! You are forever beautiful!”
Bertinelli has come a long way in her journey to self-acceptance. Back in October, the 63-year-old shared a vulnerable video from her closet. In the emotional clip, she said: “I’ve done so much emotional and mental work to recover from years of pretending everything was okay when it wasn’t.”
She went on at the time to say: “Health is not a body size. Health is not that number you see on a scale. Your worth as a human being isn’t dictated by your body. It’s not defined by your body. I thought I was fat the last time I wore these clothes. I’ve never felt more beautiful, more at peace, more mentally and emotionally stable than I do today—and I’m wearing my ‘fat clothes.’”
Bertinelli continues to inspire fans and followers to embrace their bodies just the way they are, and we admire her for it. We can’t wait to see what wisdom she shares next!
Madeleine, Prevention’s assistant editor, has a history with health writing from her experience as an editorial assistant at WebMD, and from her personal research at university. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience—and she helps strategize for success across Prevention’s social media platforms.
