5 Celebrity Diets That Really Work, According to an Expert

Kelly Clarkson is dishing on her recent weight loss. In a new interview with People, the American Idol winner and talk show host opens up about how she recently “dropped weight” after a big move with her children from Los Angeles to New York. And, you might be surprised by how making a few simple changes to her lifestyle resulted in a major body transformation. Here are the habits responsible for the 41-year-old’s weight loss.

1. Walking

After moving from Los Angeles to New York City, Kelly found that she spent a lot more time walking around the city with her children. “We go walk the dogs a few times at the park,” she told People. “Walking in the city is quite the workout.” Going for a daily walk can be a game changer in terms of exercise, especially at a brisk speed. One study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that walking at a brisk pace for about 30 minutes a day led to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia and death, compared with walking a similar number of steps but at a slower pace.

2. Infrared Saunas

Shutterstock

Kelly also revealed that she indulges in self-care. She is “really into infrared saunas right now,” she told People. According to the Mayo Clinic, an infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses light to make heat. “A regular sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turn warms your body. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without warming the air around you,” they write. According to research, they may help with high blood pressure, heart failure, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, headache, type 2 diabetes, and arthritis.

3. Protein-Centric Diet

“I eat a healthy mix,” Kelly told People. “I dropped weight because I’ve been listening to my doctor — a couple years I didn’t. And 90 percent of the time I’m really good at it because a protein diet is good for me anyway. I’m a Texas girl, so I like meat — sorry, vegetarians in the world!”

4. Cold Plunges

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Another self-care ritual that Kelly is into? “And I just got a cold plunge because everybody wore me down,” she told People. There is limited research supporting the benefits of cold plunges, which may include easing sore muscles, bringing body temperature down, increased focus, improved sleep, and decreased inflammation, per the Cleveland Clinic. However, a 2021 study found that cold water immersion therapy promotes basic post-sport recovery.

5. The Plant Paradox Diet

Shutterstock

When Kelly lost 40 pounds in 2018 she attributed it to Dr. Steven R. Gundry’s book, The Plant Paradox. “It’s basically about how we cook our food, non-GMO, no pesticides, eating really organic,” she told Extra, adding that she did it for medical reasons.“I literally read this book, and I did it for this autoimmune disease that I had, and I had a thyroid issue, and now all my levels are back up. I’m not on medicine anymore because of this book,” she explained to the outlet.

6. No Weight Loss Drugs

Kelly has also denied using weight loss over the years. “Other fake news that’s going around about me is that I’ve been taking weird pills 4 weight loss or doing weird fad diets. All of this is not true. I ain’t got time 4 all that. I eat the same stuff I always have. It’s all just made w/different flours/sugars/ingredients,” she tweeted in May 2019.

With a career spanning six decades, Marie Osmond became a household name at a young age. At 13 her debut single “Paper Roses” reached the #1 spot on two Billboard charts, and at 16 she starred in a hit variety show with her brother Donny. A few years later she won a CMA award when she was just 27 and she became a multiple gold and platinum-selling artist. Her career has soared from the time she was a toddler and the legendary TV entertainer went on to do everything from talk show host to author, actor, Broadway performer, entrepreneur, and public speaker. While the mother of eight achieved great professional success, she battled a not-so-private issue--her weight. "I was my heaviest in 2007," Osmond tells us.

That's when she turned to Nutrisystem, a life-changing program that helped her lose 50 pounds. "I’m 63 and I’m living my absolute best life right now," she says. "I know who I am. I’ve been through the crazy stuff. I have experienced heartache. Today, I’m at a place where I can say I feel great – both mentally and physically." Osmond is really happy with where she is regarding her weight loss journey and shares, "Honestly, I don’t have a 20-year-old body, but I certainly don’t have a 63-year-old body, either! And I believe the more you take care of yourself, the more your body takes care of you." In an exclusive interview, Osmond reveals how she lost the weight and kept it off, why she will never put on excess pounds again, and what's always in her fridge.

1. "Weight Can Age You"

Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

Not only can extra pounds lead to serious health issues like stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more, but Osmond explains how being overweight can affect all areas of your life, which is why she will always work hard at making healthy decisions. "Weight can age you and make you feel even older than you really are! It also takes away the joy of being active in your own life, as well as with your children and grandchildren," she says. "It not only destroys your health, but it also affects your mental health, too. And when you hear the world saying, ‘Love me however I am,’ I think you need to love yourself enough to be the best version of yourself, so that you can live your fullest, most beautiful life. That’s why I have continued living this healthy lifestyle."

2. She Couldn't Have the Life She Has Now 50 Pounds Heavier

Shutterstock

Osmond has a busy life professionally and personally. She has multiple grandkids she spends a lot of time with and loves traveling with her husband. She admits if she was heavier, she couldn't enjoy her active lifestyle. "I would never go back to where I was 50 pounds overweight," she states. "My last album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard. I never could have done that without the health and energy I have now. I never could have endured the demands of a grueling tour." She shares, "Recently, I went to Disney World with my eight grandchildren and my 23-year-old son said, ‘Mom, let’s shut down the park.’ I never could have done that with 50 pounds on me!"

3. Six Foods She Always Has in the Fridge

Denise Truscello/Getty Images

It's easier to eat right when you stock your fridge with healthy options and Osmond shares her top six go-tos she always has on hand.

--"I am a big fan of grilled chicken because it’s packed with protein to keep me feeling full. I usually try to have a protein like chicken for lunch so it helps me get past that dreaded afternoon slump.

--Chopped veggies like cucumbers, peppers, and carrots are always in my fridge. These are so easy to throw in salads or eat as a side for any meal. I also make sure they are already cut and in clear containers so I can see them easily. It’s like they’re screaming, 'Eat me!'

--Blueberries are one of my favorite fruits. They’re low in calories, but full of nutrients like vitamin C and potassium.

--Spinach is another favorite. It’s low in calories, but big in flavor and nutrients. I love how you can use it as a base for a salad, sauté it as a side for dinner, or throw it in the blender as an addition to a smoothie. It’s a must-have for me.

–I always have lemons on hand. I love the flavor and will cut them up and add them to my water. It’s so refreshing.

--I love the convenience of my Nutrisystem shakes that I blend with ice to create a frosty chocolate treat."

4. She Learned Portion Control

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

One important takeaway Osmond has learned from her program that's helped her keep the weight off is portion control. "Thanks to Nutrisystem, I learned, for the first time in my life, that food was not the enemy," she shares. "I learned what a proper portion size looked like. I learned that you could enjoy food and live healthily." She adds, "Most importantly, I learned that I need to eat multiple times throughout the day. By doing that, I allow myself to have more energy."

5. Her Mindset About Dieting Has Changed

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Dieting can be harmful because the mindset doesn't teach healthy habits, so Osmond instead focuses on positive lifestyle choices. "The minute you think ‘dieting,’ you think, ‘Oh, I can’t have this,’ and it becomes restrictive," she explains. "That’s not what living a healthy life is about. I believe in moderation of all things. I believe in having a healthy relationship with food – you can eat what you love in moderation and still make healthy choices." Osmond adds.

6. Nutrisystem Was a Big Lesson

Denise Truscello/WireImage

Osmond learned to incorporate healthy choices into her daily life and credits the program for helping her do so. "Nutrisystem wasn’t just another diet, it was a lifestyle change," she says. "The lessons they taught me have stayed with me. As I get older, I may fluctuate from time to time, but when I see myself starting to gain weight, I will start eating healthier using the tools and tricks Nutrisystem taught me."

7. She Works Out

Nutrisystem

In addition to eating healthy, Osmond "loves to be active." She tells us, "My year-round favorite is walking and listening to audiobooks. I love to read so by making it a part of my exercise, it’s how I get my steps in." She continues, "My husband, Steve and I love to hike and explore. I’m also checking things off my bucket list. I just went ziplining over a waterfall and I went skydiving. I actually jumped! It was the most exhilarating experience of my life."

Jessie Decker James is no stranger to showing off her toned physique and we don’t blame her. The mother of three looks amazing! Scroll through her Instagram feed and you'll see countless stunning photos of the country singer, but you'll also see images of her working hard for her fit figure. "It takes a lot of hard work and discipline," she said in a YouTube video about her diet and workout routine and CelebWell talked to experts who break down her regime. Read on to see 5 ways Jessie Decker James stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. She Counts Calories

Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

"I stay within the 1200-1500 range," she told fans in a YouTube video about how she got back to her pre-pregnancy weight. Jana Beaudoin, NBC-HWC Certified Health & Nutrition Coach Anti-Aging & Longevity Center of Philadelphia says, counting calories is, "The act of accountability. Recording your food intake increases awareness and intention around what you are eating and how much. The added level of awareness guides your decision making around food. Recording food and counting calories also helps to address the issue of eating out of boredom and stress and adds a component of mindfulness to your daily nutritional choices. You need a calorie deficit to lose weight. Knowing your basal metabolic rate, activity level, your current weight and your desired weight will help you determine how many calories you need each day to achieve your weight loss goals. It is important not to become excessive with your calorie deficit as your body will then be forced to pull energy from protein stores which can cause the breakdown of muscle. Using an app to record food choices and calories provides the added benefit of reviewing your daily intake of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. A diet rich in protein and fiber increases satiety helping you to feel full with less calories. A quick nutritional analysis can give you valuable information that may be impeding weight loss efforts. Generally a balanced diet, portion control, exercise, in addition to stress management and sleep hygiene are essential when it comes to weight management."

2. Hydration

Jason Davis/Getty Images

According to People, the mom of three drinks plenty of water. Robert Dodds, a Certified Personal Trainer, a fitness coach, and founder of nothingbarredfitness.com, a fitness coaching service for busy parents says, "Water intake and hydration levels do not directly influence weight loss. However, a good level of fluid intake can assist with weight loss, providing you have a calorie controlled diet, as it will help you to feel full - especially if water is drunk before and during meals. This is because water takes up space in your stomach and is an appetite suppressant. Sparkling water works especially well as the gas takes up space too. Being well hydrated is important for many factors relating to weight loss, such as muscle function and digestion, but it does not directly drive it. A calorie deficit must always be present. Switching from a drink with calories to drinking water instead may drive weight loss, if this switch leads to a calorie deficit (burning more calories than you take in). Weight loss and health are two separate things that sometimes overlap. Having good habits around hydration and keeping up a good water intake is good for your health, but it won't drive weight loss on its own. Being well hydrated means your blood is less viscous (thick). This means it's easier for your heart to pump, and it also can return to your heart more easily. This will help your blood pressure readings to remain healthy. If your blood is less viscous it is easier for it to reach all areas of your body and deliver nutrients. Daily fluid intake for men should be about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters). For women it is about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters). This doesn't have to be just from water. All fluids count, including tea and coffee."

3. South Beach Diet

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

E! News reports that Decker helps keeps the weight off by doing the South Beach Diet. Dana Ellis Hunnes PhD, MPH, RD is a senior dietitian at UCLA medical center, assistant professor at UCLA Fielding school of public health, and author with Cambridge university Press, of the new book, RECIPE FOR SURVIVAL (2022) says, "The South Beach Diet (like the Zone or Atkins diet) is a relatively low-carbohydrate (processed carb) diet that is high in protein. In the initial phase of the SBD you're often restricting yourself to 20 grams of carbohydrate per day or less. This lasts around 2 weeks, after that you begin to add back unprocessed carbs such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and then when you're in the maintenance phase, you're eating 28% of calories from carbohydrates. The problem with this is that you risk going into ketosis, and unless you're prescribed a specific ketogenic diet for a specific health condition (seizures), this level of carbohydrate intake, and the subsequent intake of fats and proteins is not particularly healthy. The weight you initially lose from SBD is primarily water weight. You are not only restricting processed carbs, but also carbs that are super healthy for you, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are filled with naturally occuring vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water. Our muscles and our brains prefer and honestly, require glucose as their main fuel source, so cutting them out of the diet is not a good idea (again, unless you have prescribed a medical condition and see a dietitian for that). Our bodies, our intestinal tracts, thrive on anti-inflammatory fruits, vegetables, fiber, and healthy nutrients. Proteins from animal foods are inflammatory and actually can harm our intestinal flora (the microbiome/bacteria that are healthy in the gut), and make us less healthy, increasing our risk for certain cancers and heart disease. Instead, I like to recommend people follow a whole foods, plant-based diet for sustained health and fitness goals. It is unprocessed foods with just the right balance of fiber, water, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols (antioxidants) and other plant-based compounds that are anti-inflammatory, and keep our gut health in check and help with weight maintenance and weight loss. It's the processed foods that we all ought to do away with, not carbs, and I really want to dispel those myths. I'm a mom, a dietitian, and an environmentalist. SBD is not environmentally friendly owing to its use of animal products which use a lot of land, water, and produce a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. A whole-food plant-based diet is not only healthy for you, but for the environment. I'm a fitness enthusiast and plant-based consumer and I keep my weight very much in check."

4. Portion Control

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The TV personality is very careful about how much she eats and so portion control is key to staying within her 1200-1500 calorie a day diet. Bess Berger, a women's health registered dietitian Nutrition by Bess explains, "When people think of portion control they often think of limiting portions. While this is true, it's so much more. It's really about eating more over time than less. It's providing your body doses of food throughout the day to help moderate the portion of food when you eat. For example, if someone doesn't eat all day and gets to dinner. They'll be starving. They won't be able to have recommended portions. If we have meals and snacks strategically through the day, one can then portion control their food throughout the day. Eating throughout the day instead of large portions lets our body digest and metabolize calories much more efficiently. If we take in too large a portion, and too many calories at one time, there's a high likelihood our body can't deal with all those calories and they get stored as fat. Eating portion controlled food can help avoid this and can help with weight loss."

5. She Runs

Thomas Concordia/Getty Images

One way the active mom stays in shape is by running, which she shows off her skills in this Insta pic she posted recently. Tyler Read, NASM certified personal trainer and CEO of Personal Trainer Pioneer says, "Running offers a multi-pronged approach to weight loss and fitness. The most apparent benefits are an active calorie burn during physical activity. You also get to enjoy the after burn, where you will continue to burn calories at a higher rate for hours after your run. Running builds muscle mass which means a high metabolic rate at rest. All of these will help someone lose weight and stay fit. Stress relief may be a less obvious benefit, but regular exercise like running will decrease the body's cortisol (the stress hormone) levels. High cortisol levels can lower your metabolism, leading to weight gain or difficulties losing weight, sleeping problems, and other quality of life issues. Improving cortisol levels is one of the best and less obvious benefits of running for maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle!"