The Easy Diet Change That Helped Kelly Clarkson Drop 60 Pounds

If you're looking to lose weight, taking a look at your diet is usually the first step in the process. As for what to incorporate into your diet, you might want to prioritize protein, according to singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson. 

Clarkson has undergone a weight loss journey in recent years, prompting detractors to claim she was using Ozempic to achieve her results. But the "Stronger" crooner has largely credited a new diet and her move to New York City—resulting in more walking—as factors in her 60-pound weight loss. 

For her, protein is key. "I eat a healthy mix," Clarkson told People of her typical plate. "I dropped weight because I’ve been listening to my doctor; a couple years I didn’t. And 90 percent of the time I’m really good at it because a protein diet is good for me anyway. I’m a Texas girl, so I like meat—sorry, vegetarians in the world!" 

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Ensuring you use healthy ingredients in cooking is also a critical component in any well-rounded diet. For example, Clarkson didn't necessarily divest from so-called unhealthy foods, but found new ways to tweak the ingredients and prepare her meals in ways that are good for the body. 

"It’s the same stuff you eat—I just use different ingredients," she told Hoda Kotb on Today. "Even like fried chicken, I use cassava flour, tapioca, or almond flour, and you use non-hormone chicken." It might not be accessible for everyone, however, as she noted "it's really expensive to do." 

Before embarking on any weight loss venture, talk to your doctor to confirm your nutritional needs and the best way to proceed.