Bertinelli’s real life, however, was a different story.
Bertinelli’s life has been filled with loss, except when it came to her weight.
But the “Hot in Cleveland” star seems to have finally made peace with her troubled past.
“Our bodies do not define who we are as human beings,” she posted.
“A number on the scale does not define how much love your heart can hold.”
Even after the birth of two more children, her parents never brought it up.
“The subject was too painful.
My parents kept the tragedy locked inside.”
Bertinelli said she didn’t fully grasp what her parents had suffered until she became a parent herself.
By that point, however, she had already internalized their example of keeping feelings bottled up.
She told People, “I felt like I had to make everyone happy.
It’s a big job for a little kid.”
Bertinelli would later turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms including drugs, booze, and food.
Cocaine was only part of the problem.
There were other issues, including infidelity, on both sides.
That’s not how I want to live my life anymore.'"
Still, it took another six years before Bertinelli pulled the plug on the marriage for good.
I became a hermit."
“I loved Ed more than I know how to explain,” Bertinelli toldPeopleupon its release.
“I loved his soul.”
“He wants me to know he messed up [during our marriage],” she wrote.
“I contributed to our troubles too and I am also sorry.”
However, it later came out that the couple had been apart since 2019.
Bertinelli claims she was just trying to protect his privacy.
I was just trying to tell the story between me and Ed without being hurtful."
However, according to the cookbook author, it was money well spent.
Bertinelli’s struggles with her weight date back to her childhood and years in showbiz.
As an adult, the former child star became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig and famously dropped 50 pounds.
I wish to God I had worked just as hard on my mental shape."
My God, how bright heaven must be right now."
The loss hit Bertinelli hard.
She was a kind, kind human being."
In an interview withPeople, Bertinelli said, “Betty just oozes gratitude and she glows.
I’ve never met another human being that glows.
She’s just she’s not of this world.
And we are all blessed to have her here.”
“I had split from Ed and I refused to take money from him.
As a single working mom I needed to make money.
Jenny Craig was a good job.”
Good job or not, Bertinelli admitted that she did contribute to the diet culture.
“I was starving myself and doing twice a day workouts,” she said.
“Some people can look like that without doing that but not me.
And there is shame for being part of the problem to make other people think they could do it.
She began seeing a therapist at the beginning of 2023 to deal with resulting feelings of unworthiness.
“I’m happy because I physically feel better,” she toldPeople.
“So that’s what we’re doing today.
We’re feeling the feelings and letting them go.
Giving them a voice,” she added.
