6 Reasons Kirstie Alley Isn't Going to Gain Back the Weight This Time

By Rachel Morris

The feel-good success of losing weight can quickly be overshadowed if you gain some-or all-of it back, and Kirstie Alley is no stranger to this yo-yo dieting downer. She lost 75 pounds on Jenny Craig in 2007, but regained over the last few years. Now, she's once again working with Jenny Craig to lose 30 pounds and get to her goal weight once and for all. Woman's Day sat down with the award-winning actress to find out what she's learned from her weight-loss ups and downs. Here are her tips for losing the weight for good.

Related: See how to get trim and toned in 10 minutes.

1. Put yourself first. If you put yourself on the backburner, it will be easy to regain your lost weight. "When I get too busy with everything else in my life and forget to take care of myself, my weight suffers," says Kirstie. Make your weight-loss efforts as important as the rest of the to-dos in your calendar. Pencil in a 30-minute walking workout, or take 15 minutes in the morning to prep healthy snacks, like sliced veggies and hummus, so you don't end up reaching for a bag of chips at 3 P.M.

2. Stick to your weight-loss "rules." Once you've lost weight, it's normal to slip up every now and then and overindulge in ice cream or spend a day vegging out on the couch instead of working out. But if you have a few easy rules set in place that you follow religiously, like tracking everything you eat in a journal or wearing a pedometer daily to track your steps, you may find it's easier to get back on track before you get out of control.

Related: Discover the 75 best weight-loss tips EVER.

3. Don't assume maintenance is a free pass. "I started gaining again when I thought, 'Well, now that I'm skinny I can eat whatever I want,'" says Kirstie. Remember, weight-loss maintenance takes work, too. Kirstie's learned that weighing herself regularly is key. "If I slip up, the scale helps me confront what I did wrong so I can learn from my mistake-and move on."

4. Stay energized. If you're feeling sluggish, you'll be less likely to exercise and more likely to reach for junk food. To keep her energy levels up, Kirstie swears by Organic Liaison's Rescue Me energy boost, which will be available at Jenny Craig centers in the near future. Figure out what keeps you alert and motivated to stay on track, whether it's an extra hour of sleep or an energy-boosting breakfast like oatmeal topped with fresh berries and sliced almonds.

Related: Check out 50 surprising foods under 100 calories.

5. Be prepared for tricky situations. Even the best intentions can be derailed by an all-you-can eat buffet or other situation where it's hard to stick to your maintenance rules. Kirstie knows from the past that a bit of pre-planning can make all the difference in avoiding weight gains. "My goal this time around is to really stay in planning mode, and make it a part of my daily regime," says Kirstie. For example, if you're going out to dinner, she suggests looking at the menu in advance and picking out a couple healthy options so you're not tempted to order a deep-fried or cream sauce-drenched dish once you're at the restaurant.

6. Look beyond the scale. This is important for staying motivated. "Weight loss is only one tenth of my life, but it enhances the rest. That's what I focus on," says Kirstie. Write down what makes you feel happy about being at your newer size-whether it's that you have more energy to keep up with your children, or that you feel better about how you look in a pair of jeans. Then, when you're tempted to slip up, reflect back on these non-weight benefits. Chances are, they'll be more motivating than the number on the scale.

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