Paula Deen's diet has been a smashing success. Shortly after going public with her controversial diabetes diagnosis, the television chef made moderation her now motto — and shed 36 pounds from her frame!
One year after losing the weight and successfully keeping all of it off, the 65-year-old says that it's not only what she eats that is important, but why she eats.
"Putting my fork down and having a conversation has been a huge help,"Paula Deen explained to Woman's Day.
Why does taking the time to talk help? She added, "Because it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you’re full.”
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It's important to note that Paula Deen's diet success has been more about small lifestyle changes than following any particular diet plan.
"It's amazing how little changes will give you big results," she said, sharing that she now has a small sliver of cake and fried chicken monthly instead of weekly.
Rather than count calories, Paula Deen has taken to portion control through eyeballing her plate. The goal dinner, lets say, is a fistful each of meat and starch on your plate, while the other half of the plate is devoted to vegetables.
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Another rule of thumb she's developed? Don't bother eating what you don't like.
"In my refrigerator, there's no light mayonnaise," Deen admitted. "I'd rather eat less of the real thing and have it taste really good than have diet stuff that tastes awful."
It's also important to note that the Food Network star has committed to regular exercise, though learning to love it was a bit of a struggle. She joked previously to People, "I heard that exercise is addictive. So far, it's not like cigarettes."
All in all, Paula Deen's diet sounds rather doable, don't you think?