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Valerie Bertinelli: 'We need to take the shame out of' weight gain

Valerie Bertinelli's weight has gone up and down publicly — she lost more than 40 pounds with Jenny Craig in 2012. But the former "One Day at a Time" star, 53, who now stars on "Hot in Cleveland," says there shouldn't be humiliation connected with one's weight."I have gained a few pounds since I broke my foot," she said on "The Talk" on Wednesday. "And it's really starting to panic me ... And th
IMAGE: Valerie Bertinelli
Valerie BertinelliCindy Ord / Getty Images Contributor
IMAGE: Valerie Bertinelli
Valerie Bertinelli, seen here on March 18, told the women of \"The Talk\" that weight gain shouldn't be viewed as shameful.Cindy Ord / Today

Valerie Bertinelli's weight has gone up and down publicly — she lost more than 40 pounds with Jenny Craig in 2012. But the former "One Day at a Time" star, 53, who now stars on "Hot in Cleveland," says there shouldn't be humiliation connected with one's weight.

"I have gained a few pounds since I broke my foot," she said on "The Talk" on Wednesday. "And it's really starting to panic me ... And then I thought, well, wait a minute, this is my body, I'm almost 54." 

Her doctor warned her not to do anything to get her heart rate up while she recovered, but now she's back in the gym with a new attitude about the added weight.

"We have to take the shame out of (weight gain), because it's not fair," she said. "The thing is, I still like to eat, and I'm going to eat. I think we all need to give each other a break, especially women. Let's leave each other alone."

Bertinelli did say that she'd put one caloric treat on the shelf. She gave up martinis for Lent, saying with a laugh, "Jesus would be so proud!" But when the "Talk" hosts produced a photo of her with a raised martini glass, she admitted to one cheat day. "I had just finished doing a live show! That was my only martini (since Lent began)!"