14 DAY TRIAL // Cheryl Burke is famous for her routines on the dancefloor of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars but she’s also got plenty of media attention throughout the years for her yo-yoing weight. She’s done with the latter, she says in an interview with Us Weekly.
Though she always keeps on the move because of the line of work she’s in, Cheryl was never what you might call stick-thin. On the contrary, she’s had curves and, occasionally, even packed a few extra pounds, for which reason Internet trolls would call her “fat.”
Because of this too, Cheryl has had her insecurities on which she spoke candidly a few times in the past. But all that’s bygones now, she tells the celebrity publication: as of last fall, she has overhauled her diet completely and is now seeing the results.
She is happier, has more energy, is more confident and she’s also 15 pounds (6.8 kg) thinner. Cheryl is also proud to have learned from her past mistakes, namely that restrictive diets that pay off in the short run are never successful for longer stretches of time.
“[I] tried every diet you could think of,” she says. Today, she’s on “clean” foods, portion control and calorie counting. She’s learned to make wiser choices when her eating habits are concerned, to not give in to cravings and to keep them in check by tricking her body.
Today, Cheryl keeps clear of dairy to avoid bloating, except for Greek yoghurt, which she usually enjoys in the morning to “rev her metabolism.” She trades the occasional, calorie-laden glass of sweet red wine for tequila, and snacks on berries all the time to cheat hunger. A once-a-week cheat meal is allowed and, in her case, that’s usually Mexican food.
Of course, an important part of Cheryl’s program is regular exercise, of which she gets plenty with Leah Remini in 90-minute circuit training classes. Having a partner to keep you motivated when you’re not in the mood to break a sweat is essential for the dancer.
Below is a meal plan for a regular day in Cheryl's life, courtesy of Us Weekly.
“Breakfast: The dancer starts her day with turkey bacon and egg whites. If she's craving a sandwich, she'll wrap 'em up – instead of using a roll – to save calories.
Lunch: To cut fat, Burke uses turkey bacon and no cheese in her Cobb salad. ‘I get the dressing on the side,’ she adds. ‘So I can put just a little on there.’
Dinner: Healthy food – fast! She gets her fiber-rich (read: superfilling) lentils, peppers and corn salad from Whole Foods. Another pick: lentil soup.”