Exclusive: Bethenny Frankel: I Was "Obsessed With Dieting"
Credit: Perry Hagopian/Us Weekly
At 115 pounds, Bethenny Frankel has built a hugely successful line of healthy lifestyle products aptly titled SkinnyGirl. And yet the 5-foot-6 reality star maintains an everything-in-moderation, guilt-free approach to eating.
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But for the new mom -- she has ten-month-old daughter Bryn with sales exec hubby Jason Hoppy, 39 -- giving up the guilt was a lifelong battle.
In the new issue of Us Weekly, the Bethenny Ever After star, 40, opens up about the obsession with dieting, which first started at age eight -- when her mom sent her to a New York obesity clinic -- and continued well into her thirties.
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"I spent my entire life being obsessed with dieting," she tells this week's issue (on stands now). "Bingeing and then fasting or starving. Forbidding everything. That's how I used to be: up and down 5 pounds every single day, to the extremes. My metabolism was totally wrecked."
Among the "5,000 diets" Frankel tried: Atkins, the Scarsdale diet, the Beverly Hills diet, and the cabbage-soup diet.
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"I would go buy magazines just to see what the new diet was and rip it out," admits the star, who also battled an addiction to exercise.
For more on Frankel's lifelong struggle -- including which casting director told her to lose 15 pounds, and how she finally broke free from her diet demons -- pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, out now.
Tell Us What You Think
18this was so lame... and on the cover too. blah! it was like "oh I'm all fine now" - how? she drinks her calories. how's that healthy?
I'm a fan of Bethenny, but my goodness she does not look healthy. She looks very very thin. Her face looks frail and the bones are starting to show, like a really sick person losing lots of weight. I hope she overcomes this. She is a chef....and someone needs to make her eat!
Okay, first of all, we all knew Bethenny had an eating disorder, but the sad part is, she said no way when she was skinny 5 days after giving birth. Now that her "new' show is not doing so great, and maybe she wishes she was still doing the RHNY, she puts this out there for more publicity. Plese Bethenny, go away. You cant make it on your own without the housewives, so dont try and make us feel sorry for you because your a skinny girl. whateves.
Over the past several decades we have grown accustomed to seeing very overweight people, especially overweight kids and teens. At the same time, we emulate stars who are able to maintain themselves at "super-skinny". It's kind of crazy. I love BF's personality and don't think she looks "too thin". She obviously has self-described "issues" with her weight. I give her kudos for being up-front about those issues. Sounds like her Mom was toxic. If she dressed Brynne in a "skinny-girl" t-shirt, it sounds like Bethany's sense of humor...I mean, Brynne IS skinny. She was a preemie and long & thin at birth. Bethenny and Jason seem head over heels in love with their little girl. Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I think this child is going to grow up feeling secure and well loved. Now that I think of it, I guess I do worry a little for Brynne about the pre-pubescent years when a lot of girls who were always naturally skinny look a little chubby. A year or so later, they blossom into lovely young women. IMO, The less said about their weight at that time, the better. But one thing at a time. Brynne and her Mommy and Dad seem like a stable loving family. His parents are awesome too. They'll keep an eye on things (in a loving way..not like B's mother).
I hope Bethenny isn't putting her baby on a special diet,because that baby looks way too thin.
WOW Bethenny, would have NEVER guessed that by looking at you.
Actually, Stephanie, 115 is the lowest normal weight. I know. I'm the same size (5'6"). I had to gain weight to get to 115 from 105 because I was tired of people saying I looked anorexic even though I'm not.
having a child is a differnt thing and I know Bethenny was the cover of people magazine when Bryn was born. I was saying for weight advice or things like that people wouldn't use her
Am I the only one that realizes 115 pounds is exceptionally underweight for 5'6"? Shame on you US for glossing over this point. Do you think glorifing behaviours that cause celebrities to become unhealthy and underweight is a good thing? I think you have a responsibility to young your readership to point this out.
Uhm Courtney - Bethenny was the cover story for People when she had her baby..check your facts.
she is underweight for her height she's in the proper weight range for somebody 5'3" not 5'6". don't forget US is a tabloid not a celebrity glossy like say People or Vanity Fair who most of the time wouldn't give her the time of day
I love Bethany and think she has a great personality. It's a shame her parents made her feel so insecure, unloving and made weight such an issue. This is how it all begins and then parents wonder why kids are bulimic or anexity. Stay positive and for sure keep that attitude!!!
Who cares? My subscription is almost up and I am not renewing. I am so bored of US Weekly covering the same BORING people over and over.
Isn't this the same woman who has a business called "Skinny Girl" and put a shirt on her tiny baby that said "Skinny Girl"? Clearly, she's over her dieting issues and not screwing with her daughter's head. /sarcasm
A lot of people found the book helpful. And I think it's great that she was able to come to terms with a problem that obviously didn't begin from her. SHAME on her mother!
She needs to gain weight!
she CLEARLY still has issues with eating and dieting.. I read her book it's not advice to she should be giving out..
she does not look healthy to me at all. why on earth would you put someone on your cover who looks emaciated and hocking healthier lifestyle advice?