I think you should see the good in Valerie. Everyone else realizes what a wonderful person she is and what a long hard road she had to open her eyes and find herself and make things better for herself and her son. I see alot of jealousy in your response......

Valerie says she would like her son to see a healthy relationship. Is it healthy to expose very personal sexual information to your child in a tell all book? Oprah, you say people are just like everyone else, yes, this is true but just so far. if you have the money and are a celebrity, there will always be others falling over themselves to be a part of your life like trainers, chefs. Valerie was paid to be a Jennie Craig spokeperson and I wonder if she "told all" in her book how much that was. Ladies, truths are doled out in careful increments, because the whole truth may be too much/sad for you to handle. Valerie lost 40 lbs, why is this so earth shattering ?

I have to find that dress that Valerie had on. It looked so good on her and when I get to my goal weight in 25 lbs I am buying that dress!!!!! You go girl!!! Tara

You can only live your life to the fullest when you celebrate others small victories with them. No matter if they are celebrity or your neighbour. Valerie may have more money than me, but it doesn't mean that my life is less important or that your life is more important because of your struggles, what is important is that we are all women and we all have the same oppertunities if we go after them. the point is not that Jenny craig paid valerie, it is that she did it. And all women can do it if they put their mind to it. If you say I can't afford it or I can't this or that, then you never will. I am sure just because it was free didn't make it any eaiser to loose. Celebrate other's victories as your own and you will be a much happier person.
tie

replying to fairy5304.....Valerie had to have read the book, she did the audio book. I agree with the posters who were disappointed in the interview. She was promoting Jennie Craig and her book. She probably will help the majority of you who also live an unhappy life. I Just feel she made a fool of herself, acting like a teenager, instead of a 47 year old woman who has found herself after years of being so unhappy. I use to admire her trying to make the best of a miserable marriage. Van Halen was always in the papers regarding his alcoholism and drugs and I thought "poor Valarie" she is still trying. Little did I know she was just as bad as he was. That, I think she should have shared with a therapist. No, she is not a role model for young girls anymore.

Why! Why would we care! She couldn't remember what she wrote in her book, maybe she isn't doing as well as she may think she is .............................I turned the TV off.

Just wondering if she really wrote her book!! She kept saying " I did I write that..." I have always liked her and she looks great...hope she can keep it off. Rumor has it that Christy is heavy again. I have tried Jenny Craig too and lost 30 pounds...gained 10 back and ready to lose another 30.

Some friends and I we wondering where can we purchase the "weight vests"?

I totally admire Valerie for her public candidness. She displayed allot of bravery by sharing such a revealing peek into her life on TV. I really like Valerie, and always have thought of her as a not just a beautiful woman, but also a beautiful person. I hope she continues on her journey of finding her personal power as a woman. She has definitely taken some bold steps towards more confidence in the last few years.

Valerie did not seem ready for any deep soul searching statements of why she had remained in her marriage for so many years, Oprah did ask her sort of point blank why she made this choice for so long. I suspect she was not ready to reveal those things yet, maybe not even to herself. I saw in her a woman like myself who wanted more in her life for a quite awhile.

Yes, she had career success but not the emotional connection with her primary partner in marriage. It's possible Valerie didn't have the emotional tools to negotiate the steps to get more of what she wanted and needed until the past few years...once again this reminds me of myself. Keep it up Valerie, we are rooting for you, as you are a part of our family of women!

Wow, I feel sorry for you and all the others who trashed Valerie on the message board. I hope you are signing up for the New Earth class right away! Isn't this the very thing we're talking about? Trashing someone else to make ourselves feel better? Valerie didn't bad mouth anyone. She acknowledged her mistakes and her insecurities and how hard she is working to change her life. Who are you to call her a bad person??? I found her inspiring and real. It sounds like you thought she should have shown more remorse for being "immoral" as you put it. How do you know what tears she has shed over the mistakes in her life? Why would it be better to put that on display than her "dirty laundry"? Would that have lessened her immorality in your eyes? If she begged for your forgiveness? Why does she need your forgiveness anyway? Shame on you for feeding your own ego by calling Valerie names and diminishing everything she has lived through. Join the class!

I have seen Valerie on other shows lately but she was so much more candid and honest on Oprah's show! I think it is even more comfortable for stars to be on Oprah as I feel it would be for those of us in the "real world" because Oprah is so understanding and doesn't seem to cause intimidation (even with the rich and famous)! I want to read Valerie's book to learn more about her and how she has made positive changes in her life. My parents divorced when I was 16 and I am still suffering the effects today at age 44. I have been in therapy and more therapy but it just seems that we scratch the surface and the current things in my life take up the session without ever getting to the real root of my problems. I had a "break down of sorts" and I have been off work for the past 16 months after going to work full time at age 16. I became a workaholic (or work plus high school or college classes) of sorts as that is the only way I have ever found any self-esteem. I am married with 2 children and my greatest fear is passing along the "low self esteem gene" so I work really hard to praise them and tell them that I believe in them and that they can do anything they want to do. Based on what I have seen thus far, Wolfie was the primary concern in their divorce, as I feel it should be, and I praise them both for their efforts! I can't wait to see how they did it as my marriage is also in trouble and with 2 children, we need all the help we can get! GREAT SHOW!

I agree with shinyhair. I am 44 and have always been small. Plus I'm short. Well, at 37 I started going through the change of life. Way to young if you ask me. But, that's life. Anyway, after that it seemed like I could just look at food and gain weight. And I would complain to myself but never really did anything about it. This past Jan. when I went for my yearly check up my blood work showed my cholesterol to be a little high. My wake up call. I went to Walmart and bought an excercise bike for $94.00. And just started riding it for about an hour a day. I eat cheerios for breakfast, low fat milk, I bought some low fat wraps, sliced turkey, baby spinach, banana peppers a little mustard wrap it up and it's pretty good. Not great, but good. For a little snack, Buy low fat yogurt, I like vanilla, some frozen fruit, throw in a banana and blend. Just read the serving size and stick to that. For supper just try to eat smaller portions. I want to lose 20 pounds, but I sat my goal at 10. I figured once I reached 10 pounds then I would work on the other 10 pounds. Well tatersweet, I'm proud to say I have met my first goal. And after two weeks of just riding the bike, I threw in some side crunches,5 pound weights, bought an inexpensive exercise ball for the ole stomach muscles. And I'm on my way back to a healthier me. I hope this will help you. Set your goal at something you know you can do. That way when you reach it you feel good about it. Then move on to the next 10 pounds. Good luck!!!!

I have always thought Valerie Bertinelli was a sweetheart. I give you lots of kuddos for being so honest about your personal life. You look wonderful and I am glad you met someone who is making you happy. Dee

I, too, absolutely loved 'One Day at a Time'. I grew up in Florida, but moved to LA the summer before my senior year. I managed to convince my dad to let me attend a private high school which originally was for the children in show business. ( Looking back, spending my senior year there may not have been such a good idea academically - but I have amazing memories from that strange, wacky year! ) I was honored to have Valerie in one of my classes for a very short time right before our graduation. It seemed so surreal. So Valerie, if you happen to read this, I wish I could have gotton the courage to tell you how much I admired you. I know how weird it must have been for you to just suddenly have to drop in on a classroom at the end of a year. Don't worry - it was weird for us, too - but in a good way!

I am now reading your new book, and I wish you the best! Congrats on losing the weight!

I posted my thoughts on Valeries appearance and because I judged her

just from her interview with Oprah, without having read her book.\, and
since I have read her book, I now owe her an apology.

I still believe she acted very imature. In her book she said when she is nervous
she says and does "dumb" things. I believe she was very nervous and came
across as laughing off her "drug days" her infidelity etc. In the book she said
she dated Spielberg, she did not say she slept with him. On the show she had
to be so silly and say she did, again her nervousness. I bet if she sees the show she will be very sorry for the way she acted.

I wish Valerie much happiness with her new partner. She deserves it after living 20 years of misery. I believe Van Halen is also a good person, unfortunately his alcoholism and drug addiction has ruined his life and
Valeries.