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Time for Change

Paula Deen: Half My Size!

She shed 40 pounds with the help of a diet that doctors and celebs swear by!

EVINE Live Celebration

Credit: attends the EVINE Live celebration at Villa Blanca on September 29, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.

Dieting is hard enough, but when your whole job and public persona is built around high-calorie comfort food, it can feel almost impossible! Yet when Paula Deen was confronted with the stark reality that she had type 2 diabetes — often the result of an unhealthy diet — she knew deep down she had to make a change.

And yet…”Honey, I was in denial — for a couple of years,” confesses the foodie, explaining that her half-hearted effort to revamp her eating didn’t make any real progress — and her doctor was not happy. It was her physician’s no-nonsense colding that finally snapped her into reality.

“I went into my kitchen and I threw every white food out…except for cauliflower,” she says, “Cauliflower became my very good friend.”

2009 South Beach Wine and Food Festival Grand Tasting Village Day 2

Eat Well, Feel Good

Determined to get her health back on track, Paula, 71, spent just four months focusing on sticking to a keto-type diet, which focuses on high-protein, low-carb meals. Think: bacon cheeseburgers without the bun and fiber-rich veggie like kale, spinach and — yep, her favorite — cauliflower. And not only did she cut out the obvious culprits, like her beloved butter-laden desserts, she also took a hard look at other sneak sugar traps.

“I was drinking smoothies for breakfast; but one that’s all fruit will immediately turn to sugar, so I’ve backed off those.” The result? A whopping 40 pounds weight loss in only four months!

“Putting my fork down and having a conversation has been a huge help,” she says, “because it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you’re full.”

But oftentimes, Paula’s sweet tooth just can’t be ignored! So rather than slicing up a piece of cake, she reaches a See’s Lollypop.

“They’re incredible,” she says. “Having that sweet for 10 minutes in your mouth will take care of your craving. Butterscotch is the best.”

Friends of James Beard Benefit

Just Desserts

Now the TV star and famed restaurateur is filled with energy and wants to lose another 15 pounds, though she isn’t going to extremes.

“It’s about moderation. I just needed to learn to eat a normal portion sizes and not overindulge,” says Paula.

“I want to be here for my grandchildren. I think about them every day. My daddy was dead at 40. My mother was dead at 44. And look — I’m still here! Waking up every morning is very exciting for me to see what the day is going to bring.”

SPONSORED CONTENT

What Is a Keto Diet? – Wow-worthy results prove that keto is more than just a fad.

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Want to kick-start some serious fat loss? Then a low-carbohydrate diet — like the Keto diet — is the way to go.

While it may seem counterintuitive, the diet’s secret to success is eating more fat to lose it! About 70 percent of calories should come from healthy fats, like olive oil and avocados. Protein should comprise 20 percent of your diet, and carbs about 10 percent.

The aim? To make your body use fat, not glucose — a.k.a. sugar from carbohydrates — for fuel.

Everybody is different and it can take days or several weeks to kick into a state of ketosis, but once you’re there, the health benefits go way beyond the waistline! “Not only can a ketogenic diet help you slim down — and therefore control blood sugar — it can also aid in fighting cancer, reducing inflammation and even improving sleep, ” says Registered Dietitian and SlimFast Plan Consultant Maryann Walsh.

On the Keto menu? Pork rinds, almosts, celery sticks, string cheese, chicken, wild-caught fish and romaine lettuce — just to name a few!

But don’t skimp on the water! “We often mistake thirst for hunger,” says Maryann. “This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to stay adequately hydrated throughout the day! If you struggle to drink enough water, try adding lemons or lime, or go for unsweetened iced tea.”

Want to give Keto a try? It’s never been easier to start, thanks to the new line of SlimFast Keto products! http://slimfast.com//keto

Text KETOGENIC to 44222 for SlimFast Keto exclusive offers*

*Message and data rates may apply for the SlimFast privacy policy, go to slimfast.com/privacy-policy. For terms and conditions, go to slimfast.com/legal.