Kelly Ripa Discusses Weight Gain After Quitting Alcohol: Insights and Surprises
Kelly Ripa recalls her journey of giving up alcohol. This transition happened nearly eight years ago. On the episode of Live with Kelly and Mark on January 22, Ripa collaborated with Andy Cohen, who co-hosted while her husband, Mark Consuelos, was working on a new project.
Cohen mentioned his current participation in "Dry January," expressing a common expectation of weight loss following abstinence from alcohol. However, he shared that, unlike before, he has not seen the expected results this year.
Ripa, 54, responded to Cohen's experience by sharing her own with alcohol cessation. She stated, "When I quit drinking, I expected substantial weight loss because everyone told me, ‘you’ll get too skinny,’" but instead, she gained 12 pounds. "I don’t understand this magical weight loss people propose," she remarked.
When discussing her weight gain, Ripa observed, "I think I just took to eating the sugars." She highlighted that alcohol contains a significant amount of sugar, which often goes unnoticed because of its bitter taste.
In January 2020, Ripa confirmed that she had eliminated alcohol from her diet in 2017. She recalled that she and friends aimed for a month of sobriety. After experiencing it, she recognized that she "felt great" and "liked the way [she] felt."
Ripa described not having substantial thoughts about drinking once she stopped. She mentioned, "I didn’t really feel the need or desire to go back." The relief she felt was significant, as even minor drinking like two glasses of wine would leave her with a hangover.
She compared this experience to her decision to quit smoking in the early '90s. She stated that stopping smoking required more contemplation, whereas quitting drinking felt straightforward. "It was just like, I don’t do that anymore," Ripa said. This positive feeling reinforced her decision to remain alcohol-free.
Earlier, SSP reported that Jenna Dewan reflects on a newfound ‘strength’ after Channing Tatum divorce.
