Valerie Bertinelli has struggled with her weight and body image for many years, but in a new interview with The Washington Post, she opens up about how she has shifted her mindset towards self-acceptance. At the age of 60, Bertinelli began to realize that she had been using food as a coping mechanism for her emotions, and that she needed to address the root of why she was turning to food for comfort. She stressed that it’s not the food itself that is bad for us, but rather how and why we are eating it, such as unconsciously or to soothe an emotion.
In a previous social media post, Bertinelli shared a throwback photo of herself in a bikini, reflecting on how she used to let unrealistic body standards dictate her self-worth. She urged her followers to understand that their self-worth is not connected to their weight, and that health is not determined by a number on the scale. She emphasized that she has done a lot of emotional and mental work to recover from years of pretending everything was okay when it wasn’t, and that she now feels more beautiful, at peace, and emotionally stable than ever before.
Despite being open about her weight loss and body image struggles, Bertinelli has also faced challenges, such as feeling pressured to give diet advice to others. Last year, she asked her Instagram followers to stop asking her for diet advice, as she believes that the journey to self-acceptance and self-love is about much more than just releasing weight. She described herself as a “perpetual people pleaser” and highlighted the importance of prioritizing her own well-being over meeting others’ expectations.
In addition to her personal growth journey, Bertinelli has also found love with a new boyfriend after the end of her second marriage. Though she initially wasn’t eager to fall for someone new, she now describes herself as being “in love” with an unidentified man. After starting off as friends, their relationship turned romantic earlier this year, and Bertinelli expressed feeling joy and a sense of rightness in their connection. This new relationship has been a source of happiness and fulfillment for Bertinelli as she continues to navigate her personal journey towards self-acceptance and self-love.
