How Debra Messing Accidentally Lost 20 Pounds

When Debra Messing found she had zero energy to keep up with the demands of her busy schedule and motherhood, she decided to make an active effort to eat for energy and nutrition—instead of just for convenience. It was a simple shift in her dietary mindset, but it led to an unexpected bonus: "I lost like 20 pounds," she told ABC News in a recent interview. "It wasn't my intention, that wasn't why I made the change. I made the change because I was just tired all the time. For a long time, I just accepted that was the plight of a working single mother. You're juggling every day."

It wasn't just work and play that was killing Debra's energy levels, though. What she was putting into her body was also making her lethargic. "I grew up on fast food and candy every day," she said. "Pizza and French fries and burgers. I love food and I've always loved food. Vegetables were not a part of my life at all."

Now, it's a different story. The 45-year-old Mysteries of Laura actress now favors "really, really clean, healthy foods." For example, she makes a green juice every morning that contains high-energy superstars like kale, spinach, celery, ginger, lemon, and cucumber.

It makes sense that Debra lost weight since the foods she swapped into her diet are naturally much lower in calories than the ones she started to eat less frequently. That wasn't the only physical change she noticed, though. "Obviously, I knew there was an association between what I ate and whether I gained 10 pounds or lost 10 pounds, but it never really became a reality for me that it shows on the outside in your hair and skin and even the clarity of your eyes," she said.

If you're ready to change your eating habits, too, these articles will help you clean up your diet:

Healthy Eating 101

Mindful Eating: Clean (Up) Your Plate

7 Ways to Eat More Veggies

Size Matters: How Much Fat Is Healthy?

Stop Cravings: Healthy Ways to Satisfy Salt and Sugar Cravings

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