Greek-Canadian-American actress Nia Vardalos, of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" fame, has a new film coming out today called "My Life in Ruins." And while her fictional film character's life may be in ruins, Vardalos, 46, seems to be thriving. She's launching her new film with a new svelte figure -- Vardalos recently shed 40 pounds at the urging of her doctor. Vardalos is quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying " 'I had to. I had a blood sugar issue,' as well as thyroid disease, and diabetes in her family tree, and so her doctor insisted." (I happen to think Nia is a terrific actress, and glad to see she's feeling well! Coming from a similar family culture myself -- I loved "My Big Fat Greek Wedding!" And who knows -- maybe Windex is a cure not just for pimples, but thyroid problems?!)
Nia Vardalos is one of a number of celebrity thyroid patients featured in my Gallery of Famous Thyroid Patients.
UPDATE!
After I posted this blog post, I put out a "tweet" on Twitter about it. And a while later, I had a response back from Nia Vardalos herself!
You never know who you're going to meet or what you'll learn out there on Twitter these days!
Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images Entertainment
I am also a fan of Nia’s. But she is actually Greek Canadian, and I believe she hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She has always looked great, as far as I’m concerned. I can’t wait to see her new movie.
How did Nia lose the weight? What is the secret? No matter what I do, I can’t lose the weight.
Yes, I would also like to know how Nia lost her weight. Since having hyperthyroid (Graves Disease) to radio iodine treatment, to now hypothyroid, I’ve gained 50lbs.
I’d like to know her diet plan as well.
I’ve struggled with weight since age 12. Thyroid issues determined at age 28. I believe that I do a decent job of eating healthy, I do exercise – but to no avail. Feels very self defeating.
Hey Mary G! I’m with you…let’s hear how Nia dropped those 40lbs. and how long it took her to do so.
Since it was at her physician’s insistence I don’t doubt he was overseeing her diet.
I’d rather read the true facts about her accomplishment here than in some questionable supermarket tabloid!
Keep the faith Ms.Mary G.! You can do it! Don’t give up on on your goal.
Many blessings,
anna e.
Ms.Cheryl…see my comment to Mary G. and believe in yourself! Americans are constantly bombarded with ads prompting us to EAT,EAT,EAT!
Keep exercising and you will see the pounds drop off. Ok, so maybe they don’t fall off as easily as they did when we were young! But fall they will!
Just as the poundage didn’t arrive overnight they won’t leave quickly either…
YOU CAN DO IT! YOU WILL DO IT! YOU ARE DOING IT!
and Hey! I’ve been using Dr. Levine’s weight loss formula for a few years now and can honestly tell you that it is a terrific aid.
Makes you so FULL you just can’t fit anything else in the ol’tummy!
AND it is packed with vitamins and nutrients and everything good for you!
Keep on posting comments, ok?
Blessings are yours,
anna e
For those of you saying “how do I lose the weight? nothing I do gets it off”……you aren’t on a high enough dose. I keep myself on a dose that keeps my TSH at about .1, which many doctors are scared of. But even Mary Shoman’s own doctor wrote on a recent article that Hashimoto’s patients need to be on a lower TSH level than others. Whether you have Hashimotos or not, ask your doctor to try upping your dose a little. You won’t even have to work out, the weight will just disappear…although some who have gained tons of weight will need to work out to get the bulk of the weight off.
Cindy, I actually disagree with you. I know many thyroid patients who are on an optimal dose, TSH is low, and the weight does NOT just disappear. There are many other factors — blood sugar, leptin, reverse T3, insulin resistance — that come into play for thyroid patients. Just taking more medicine doesn’t solve the problem for many patients — and in fact, suppression of the TSH can actually make it HARDER to lose weight for some people. As with all things thyroid — one size does not fit all. Simply getting the thyroid treated optimally is not the answer for thyroid-related weight gain.
(Theresa, re: Nia, she’s Canadian of Greek origin, but she’s also become an American citizen, so she’s now a Greek-Canadian-American! What a mouthful!!
)
For those who’ve asked about her diet, she’s said it was nothing unusual./ She said she ignored her physician’s suggestion of a trainer or nutritionist, and instead, according to People magazine, she created “her own diet program, consisting of three low-glycemic meals a day, four snacks (”I always try to eat a protein with a carbohydrate”), but cut her food intake in half, and walked her dog a great deal. She discusses it here
at People magazine.
For those who are stymied by diet, I would suggest you check out the resources here at the site.
Also my book The Thyroid Diet can be a help.
You might also want to listen to a free audioconference I did on the topic of thyroid and weight loss. It’s online as an MP3.
Mary
Before medication I was exercising, being very diligent about what I ate, but couldn’t lose weight no matter what. Have been on Armour Thyroid for six weeks, have lost six kilos, without changing diet or exercise.
Mary S,
How does reverse T3 impact our ablility or inability to lose weight?