Former 'The View' Host Sherri Shepherd Shows Off Dramatic Weight Loss

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Former 'The View' Host Sherri Shepherd Shows Off Dramatic Weight Loss

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Unless you've been living under a rock, you have probably heard of the extremely popular ketogenic "keto" diet.

Over the last couple of years, people all over have been crediting the low-carb, high-fat diet for boosting their weight loss and reducing their risk of serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

Some of the world's biggest celebrities, including Halle Berry, Tim McGraw, Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, and Melissa McCarthy, have endorsed the keto diet trend in recent years.

Earlier this year, McCarthy revealed her slimmer figure after dropping 75 pounds while on the diet.  

Now, former The View co-host Sherri Sheppard is the latest celebrity touting the benefits of the keto diet.

Like McCarthy, Sheppard has struggled with her weight for years. She was told early in her career that she wouldn't make it as a lead actress because she didn't conform to the beauty standards of Hollywood.

"I had a manager from New York who said to me, "˜You're going to have to lose weight because you will never play anything more than the girl next door.' That statement affected me for a very long time, but it also drove me to prove her wrong," Shepherd told Today in 2013.

As we all know, Shepherd didn't let the negative comments derail her. She went on to appear in a number of films and television shows, including 30 Rock and her own self-titled show.

"And the first day that I played Tracy Morgan's wife on "˜30 Rock,' I cried," she said. "When I created my own show on Lifetime, "˜Sherri,' I cried. My character had not only a husband, but a boyfriend, and I played a leading actress in my own show. So it's always that tape in my head that I'm still trying to erase."

Shepherd (middle) laughs along with her former 'The View' co-hosts Joy Behar (left) and Elizabeth Hasselback (right).Pete Souza/White House

While being overweight didn't take a toll on Shepherd's career, it did affect her health. In 2013, she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the same disease that killed her mother.

This was the wake up call the actress and TV host needed to transform her life.

She committed to eating healthier and exercising more, and three years later, she is feeling and looking better than ever.

Shepherd recently took to Instagram to show off just how much her body has changed since taking a new approach to a healthier lifestyle.

The Precious star explained that since March of this year she has lost over 25 pounds, and it's all thanks to a keto-based eating plan.

"This is not a fad - it's my life that is at stake," she said in the caption of a photo of herself. "It feels so good to feel good."

Shepherd has now gone 260 days without eating sugar. She admitted that she has so much more energy, focus, as well as "clarity of mind," and has been much more "patient" with her son.

Like she said all those years ago, it's all "about making a commitment." Regardless of which diet she chose, Shepherd's dramatic physical and lifestyle change happened because she committed to getting healthier.

No matter her size, Shepherd is still a talented and beloved entertainer, but we're happy to see her take control of her health and reach her goals.

Blair isn't a bestselling author, but she has a knack for beautiful prose. When she isn't writing for Shared, she enjoys listening to podcasts.