Valerie Bertinelli Just Got Really Vulnerable About Her First Jenny Craig Ad: "Health Is Not a Body Size"

She’s reminding all of us that health is so much more than a number on a scale.

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

If you were watching television or flipping through magazines back in 2009, there's a very good chance that you came across the ubiquitous Jenny Craig ads starring Valerie Bertinelli. Back in the day, Bertinelli was often pictured in those standard before-and-after photos, celebrating the weight she'd lost on Jenny Craig's dieting program.

Related: Valerie Bertinelli Is Done With Diets & Scales—Here's How She Found Balance

But weight loss isn't everything, and Bertinelli has figured out that the "before" version of her body might actually be the healthiest version. The actress and Food Network personality hopped on Instagram this week to share that the outfit she wore in her first-ever "before" photo still fits perfectly, and she doesn't mind at all.

Take a look back at those ads—or even Bertinelli's 2009 People magazine cover—and you'll see that Bertinelli is rocking the same pink button-up shirt and dark pants that she wore in her Instagram post. But the main difference now is Valerie's mindset.

Related: Daphne Oz Just Shared a Sweet Body-Positive Take on Swimsuit Season: "Have Fun and Wear the Bikini"

"I have done so much emotional and mental work to recover from years of pretending that everything was OK when it wasn't," Bertinelli says in her Instagram video. "Health is not a body size. Health is not that number you see on a scale. Your worth as a human being isn't dictated by your body."

Valerie definitely read our minds on this one. Obsessing over your body and weight might make you think you're being healthy, but it can also put a lot of strain on your mental wellness. Diets don't often lead to sustained weight loss, and fluctuating weight loss and gain could lead to consequences for your mental health. If your relationship to food becomes all about counting calories and logging macros, you might lose sight of actually nourishing yourself. (That's why practicing intuitive eating can be a good way to move away from any shame or guilt around food.)

Related: Here's What Jenna Bush Hager Wished Her Younger Self Knew About Appreciating Her Body

Luckily, Valerie has been able to move away from her unhealthier associations with food and weight. Last year, she told us that when she thinks about what to eat for a given meal, she starts by thinking about what will make her feel good mentally. If it does that, she says, she trusts it will be good for her body, too. She's also done trying to keep track of her health with constant trips to the scale, which tended to make her feel weighed down. It sounds like that system is working just fine for Bertinelli, and we love to hear it.

"I thought I was fat the last time I wore these clothes," she says in the video clip. "I've never felt more beautiful, more at peace, more mentally and emotionally stable than I do today, and I'm wearing my 'fat clothes.'"

Related: Ultra-Runner Mirna Valerio Shares What Being an Athlete Has Taught Her About Body Image

Reconsidering your relationship to your body and the food you eat can be tough. But you can start small by trying to be a little more body positive—these are some of our tips—and, if you have kids, making sure that they feel comfortable in their skin. If you're struggling, sometimes it can be wise to reach out to a professional for help. Psychology Today's search tool can help you locate a local therapist who has experience working with folks who are dealing with an eating disorder or body image issues.

Read the original article on Eating Well.