Paula Deen is one of the most recognizable names in food world. The southern cooking star has written numerous cookbooks, owns several restaurants, and once had her own show on the Food Network.
She has also received a lot of scrutiny for the unhealthy, albeit delicious, cooking recipes that skyrocketed her to southern cooking fame. See: The 10 Most Unhealthy Things Paula Deen Has Ever Put In Her Mouth
This criticism coupled with the fact that Paula Deen announced in 2012 that she has type 2 diabetes has made the cooking star somewhat of a controversial figure in the cooking world.
But to her credit, Paula Deen can now put another accomplishment on her [smaller] belt, (pun intended) that even the most health-crazed critics should be praising. Paula Deen has lost as much as 35lbs.
According to the Examiner.com:
Paula, 68, started a low-carb, low-sugar diet after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2008. “I went home to my kitchen and I threw out everything that was white: White bread, white rice, white potatoes, white pasta,” said Deen. “I did that for four months, y’all! Just four months.”
The previously sedentary Deen also started walking on her treadmill every day and slimmed down from a size 18 to a 12. Now that she's in maintenance mode, Paula is less strict with her diet, but still limit carbs, sugar and tries not to overeat.
“I lost 35 or 40 pounds and now I’ve brought everything back into my kitchen, just like anybody’s kitchen,” Deen told Dr. Oz. “The thing that I’m really trying to focus on is moderation, moderation, moderation. Eat a cookie, just don’t eat six of 'em!”
