5 Reasons Why Kirstie Alley Can't Keep Off the Weight

Jené Luciani

She's a brilliant actress with more than 20 years of successful TV shows under her belt—Cheers, Veronica's Closet, Fat Actress, and most recently, Dancing With the Stars. But in real life, Kirstie Alley is probably most synonymous with the character she played in Fat Actress, a Hollywood star playing out her diet battles in the public eye. In fact, this Hollywood heavyweight is just as well known for her weight battles as she is for her roles.

After losing a reported 100 pounds while competing on DWTS earlier this year, the actress went from a size 14 to a 4. The 60-year-old celeb even walked the runway in a New York fashion show this past September. But, if history is any indication, Alley’s battle of the bulge isn’t over. In 2008, the former Jenny Craig spokesperson parted ways with the company after she reportedly gained back the 75 pounds she'd lost on the plan. Now that she's in the best shape of her life, we're rooting for her to stay that way, but also reflecting on perhaps why it's been such a struggle for her in the past. Here are five reasons why Kirstie Alley can't seem to keep off the weight.

1. Motivation

Over the years Alley's fluctuating weight can be tied to key aspects of her career, and some of our experts speculate her motivation to lose the weight each time could be coming from the wrong place—her pocketbook. "First, a contract with Jenny Craig, followed by the opportunity to do the Oprah show in a bikini, then her own line of weight-loss products and a stint on Dancing With the Stars. There was a big prize and deadline attached to the discipline each time,” says Fitness expert Lisa Avellino.

According to Hollywood Nutrition Expert Lisa DeFazio, “In my opinion, [Kirstie] lost weight in an unrealistic and extreme way by dancing for 5 hours a day and reportedly eating just 1200 calories per day. Now that she's no longer motivated by the money or the millions of viewers, it's likely she could put the weight back on."

All of our experts agree, if Alley is able to make health her primary motivation, she'll have a better chance of keeping the weight off. Avellino adds, "Love yourself more and keep your eye on the real prize—a new and improved you is all the motivation anyone really needs!"