Kirstie Alley Celebrates Big Weight Loss  9/20/05

Fat Actress star Kirstie Alley is celebrating after dropping 50 pounds in weight.

The former Cheers star, who became a tabloid target for her increased body mass, says she managed to achieve the colossal loss through dieting and exercise.

By limiting calories with the diet program, the 54-year-old actress - who had ballooned up to 200 pounds - has slimmed down noticeably and is 30 pounds away from her original goal.

She says, "When I got fat, I was being stupid. It was a little bit like when I used to do drugs.

"Before I stopped doing drugs, I had to spiritually get a grip and go, 'What do you want your life to be like?'"

Alley admits the full revelation of her weight gain didn't come until seeing early episodes of her TV show Fat Actress.

She notes, "I didn't realize I was that fat. Seriously."

Mother-of-two Alley, who recently became the spokeswoman for diet company Jenny Craig, now plans to begin dating again.