Melissa Joan Hart lost nearly 20 pounds by eliminating sugar and alcohol from her diet, focusing on her overall well-being during her midlife wellness journey.
Melissa Joan Hart has revealed that she shed approximately 18 pounds by making two significant changes to her diet as part of her midlife wellness journey. The actress, widely recognized for her roles in “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and “Clarissa Explains It All,” shared her experience in a recent interview with People.
During an event hosted by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler on February 1 in Los Angeles, Hart explained that her motivation was not primarily about weight loss. “I just wanted to feel better. It had nothing to do with losing weight,” the 49-year-old actress stated.
Hart acknowledged the challenges of weight management during perimenopause, a stage that often leads to weight gain due to hormonal changes, aging, and lifestyle factors that can slow metabolism and shift fat distribution. According to the Mayo Clinic, these changes are common, but maintaining an active lifestyle, eating a healthy diet, limiting added sugars and alcohol, and prioritizing sleep can help mitigate weight gain during this phase of life.
“I really didn’t think I could lose weight anymore, being in midlife and perimenopause,” Hart admitted. However, her focus on improving her overall well-being has yielded positive results.
“I actually feel stronger and better than I have in a really long time,” she said.
Hart’s journey began with a commitment to more intense workouts and a closer examination of her lifestyle choices. In her quest for better health, she discovered intermittent fasting and decided to eliminate sugar and alcohol from her diet.
For Hart, cutting out alcohol was a straightforward decision. “I just don’t even enjoy drinking. So why bother?” she explained. “So, I cut these things out of my life, and I started to feel better. And in doing that, I lost a lot of weight and kind of feel great.”
Reducing added sugar and alcohol can significantly decrease excess calorie intake and lower the risk of weight gain, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, liver damage, and certain cancers, while also promoting better overall metabolic health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hart also touched on her struggles with hydration, humorously noting that her husband, musician Mark Wilkerson, often comments on her aversion to drinking water. “My husband says when I drink a glass of water, I make a face like it’s the most disgusting thing on earth,” she joked. “I’m sipping on it, like, ‘Eww.'” Instead of plain water, Hart prefers club soda with lime or various types of tea. “I’ll do hot tea, cold tea, green tea, peppermint tea — any kind of tea,” she added.
As she approaches her 50th birthday in April, Hart joins a growing list of celebrities who have attributed their health improvements and weight loss to cutting alcohol and making other lifestyle changes. Last year, actor Russell Crowe credited his 57-pound transformation to reducing alcohol consumption. Additionally, “Queer Eye” star Jonathan Van Ness has spoken about the benefits of cutting down on alcohol and focusing on overall health.
Country singer Jelly Roll has also highlighted the importance of long-term wellness and mental health support in his weight loss journey, while actor Matt Damon mentioned that eliminating certain foods, including gluten, helped him slim down for various film roles.
As Hart continues her journey towards better health, her story serves as a reminder of the positive impact that small dietary changes can have on overall well-being.
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