Kirstie Alley and Her Public Battle of the Bulge: What's Up (or Down) in Her Future?

As a Jenny Craig celebrity spokesperson, Kirstie Alley dramatically went from overweight ex-Cheers TV show actress to slim and gorgeous star with a future. Kirstie lost 75 pounds, and told interviewers that she definitely planned to stay on the track to weight loss success.

Kirstie's after-Jenny diet, however, didn't go quite as she had planned. Rather than lose MORE weight, she gained more, climbing up the scale to more than 225 pounds. In interviews, Kirstie admitted that leaving Jenny Craig let her experience more freedom with what she ate.

Too much butter in her diet and an abundance of Chinese take-out meals partially were to blame for her weight gain, Kirstie told various reporters. She also contended that becoming a vegetarian caused weight problems. Whereas others might view vegetarian diets as heavy in fruits and vegetables, Kirstie apparently went for the breads and meat-free enchiladas.

Will a New TV Show Cause Her Weight to Change Again?

In Kirstie's future: a reality TV show, to be aired on A&E. The show is not billed as a celebrity type of solo "Biggest Loser," however. Instead, the episodes will focus on Kirstie's experiences producing a film and raising her daughters. It will also follow her success (or lack thereof) in following a new diet plan.

The question, then: will the publicity accompanying her TV show motivate Kristie to lose weight and keep it off? A few tips if you empathize with Kirstie's love of butter, bread, and take-out meals:

1. Amp up your protein! Repeated studies have shown that eating more lean protein, such as chicken breast with the skin removed, lean cuts of meat, and fish, keep you full longer and help you lose weight.

2. Cut down on the "white carbs." Bread, cereal, pasta, rice, tortilllas -- yes, they're mighty tasty. But they contain relatively empty calories and you'll eat more of them because, for some of us, such carbs are addictive.

3. Learn to love fresh fruits and non-starchy vegetables. Oranges, peach, grapefruit, pears, apples - experiment and discover what you truly love. With vegetables, choose from leafy greens, mushrooms, cauliflower, zucchini, and more. And top with flavored vinegar, such as garlic wine vinegar.

4. Lose the butter and take-out meals. Know your weakness and work around it! Try a butter spray rather than butter. And buy your own food to prepare rather than ordering take-out all the time. You'll save money, lose weight, and feel better. And we hope Kirstie is reading this (good luck, girlfriend!).