Star Jones is reflecting on how far she's come in her health journey.
The former co-host of The View, 62, has spent decades in the spotlight, with her weight often being the topic of conversation. After privately undergoing gastric bypass surgery in 2003 and keeping it hidden for years, Jones has become more transparent about why she's kept staying in shape at the top of her list of priorities.
"The most important thing is for men and women to take care of their health,” she explained in a recent interview. "And I chose living over dying."
"One of my very favorite lines is from [the film] Shawshank Redemption. ‘You either choose to live or you choose to die,’" the attorney said. "I chose to live, and I took care of myself, and literally 20 years later, I have taken care.”
Jones also overcame heart disease and even underwent “open heart surgery,” which highly influenced how she cares for herself. "Because of those choices, I was able to walk out of that hospital a whole, healthy survivor and thriver," the television personality added. "And I don't take anything away from my journey."
As for her key tips for maintaining her toned physique, Jones advised, "Eat less, move more. It works every time."
In 2020, the legal expert admitted she weighed 307 pounds at her heaviest. "I wasn't fluffy, I wasn't plus size, I wasn't overweight — I was dying," she noted during an appearance on the Tamron Hall Show.
After going under the knife to help her shed the pounds, Jones admitted her deep fear kept her from telling the world about how she got trim. "Because I was so public with all other aspects of my life, I think the audience felt betrayed in some way. And I completely understand that. The reason I say I don’t regret that," she said in a 2009 interview on Today. "It allowed me to get emotionally safe and secure."
"I’m not sure I thought I would be successful at it, to be honest with you,” Jones added of getting fit. "I thought I’d gain the weight back. I had never been successful at losing weight before. I needed to forgive myself for being such a smart girl and so stupid when it came to something like my health."
In 2007, the daytime diva came clean in an op-ed about the surgery. "Although I'd shared my decision with friends, family and my colleagues at The View, I wasn't ready to invite the world into my process for a number of reasons: First, I didn't know if the surgery would work. I had never stuck to a diet or committed to exercise for more than a month, and I had spent my entire adult life telling everyone that I was fine with the way I looked. I also never thought I'd have to explain it," she wrote.
People conducted the interview with Jones.
Glamour published the 2007 op-ed by Jones.