Whatever Happened To SlimFast's Celebrity Spokespeople Of The '80s And '90s?

In a world of ever-changing dieting trends, the SlimFast diet has managed to remain a staple in the market since 1977. The SlimFast program encourages people to eat one "sensible" meal, two meal replacement shakes, smoothies, or bars created by the company, and three snacks that must be under 100 calories. Typically, a SlimFast shake clocks in at around 180 to 200 calories, 10 to 20 grams of protein, and 5 grams of fiber. For the one "sensible" meal of the day, a dieter could eat just about anything they wanted as long as it was around 500 to 600 calories. 

To stay in line with trends, SlimFast also introduced a keto and a low-carb version of its meal plan. The truth about the SlimFast program is that while it may have stood the test of time, many dietitians remained wary of it. Chatting with VeryWellFit, Kelly Plowe, MS, RD, said, "Diets that promote eating bars and shakes instead of real foods aren't sustainable and often aren't healthy. You might lose weight, but replacing your meals with highly processed meal replacements won't deliver long-lasting, satiating results." 

Indeed, meal replacement shakes don't work quite as well for weight loss as some might hope. Another drawback of the program is that it doesn't encourage habits that make weight loss more likely to last in the long run, such as portion control and volume eating. Still, the diet could help some achieve short-term weight loss in an affordable and convenient fashion. Throughout the '80s and '90s, numerous celebrities highlighted these very same benefits of the SlimFast program.

In a 1989 ad, Tommy Lasorda shared that he had managed to win a bet against his team by dropping 30 pounds over three months using the SlimFast diet. The former Los Angeles Dodgers manager gushed about how the program had helped him lose weight while keeping him satiated and allowing him to enjoy one of his favorite foods: pasta. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times in 1999, Lasorda shared that Dodgers players Orel Hershiser and Kirk Gibson had been very direct in telling him he needed to shed a few pounds after witnessing him eating his third plate of spaghetti for lunch.

To sweeten the pot, the two baseballers offered to give $10,000 each to a charity of Lasorda's choice if he managed to lose 20 pounds. When that didn't work as motivation, Hershiser offered to throw in another $10,000 for charity and also warned Lasorda that he would publicly embarrass him if he didn't keep his word. Ultimately, that did the trick. While reflecting on his weight loss journey, Lasorda said that he was previously prone to overeating because he had a habit of going through the day without eating much.

According to The Spokesman Review, the retired baseball player once again sought to embark on a weight loss journey in 1996. "I ate the right foods, but I just ate too much of them," Lasorda said. "And I think that's what everybody needs in this country. To be able to last a lot longer in life, eat properly, keep your weight down and exercise."

Kathie Lee Gifford became a spokesperson for SlimFast after welcoming her son Cody in 1990. In a 1991 commercial for the brand, the "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee" alum said that the weight gain from her pregnancy "made [her] feel a lot less beautiful" (via YouTube). Then, she gushed about how she had managed to shed the final 10 pounds in her weight journey using the diet. Meanwhile, in another ad from 1992, she claimed that a SlimFast shake was a lower-calorie and more nutrient-dense option for weight loss in comparison to a meal of low-fat cottage cheese and fruit. 

Kathie's weight-loss transformation once again became the subject of media chatter in 2018. During a 2018 episode of "Today," the Daytime Emmy winner clapped back at people who were criticizing her for looking "too skinny" and speculating about her health (via Page Six). Kathie insisted that she was thriving in reality after losing weight while she prepared to act as a runner in a film. 

The former "Today" co-host said that the prep she had done for the movie left her feeling more energized, happier, and ultimately more driven than ever. She also couldn't help but roll her eyes at how similar weight-loss transformations from male actors didn't spark similar concern. Ultimately, Katie made it abundantly clear that she would pay no mind to the critics, stressing, "I am thrilled to be so fit, so healthy and so happy and so hopeful. Sue me! Sue me if that bothers you."

In a 1994 advertisement, Willard Scott highlighted the ease of using a diet plan like SlimFast, in which the fats and calories of the shakes were pre-calculated. The famed weatherman then revealed that he had lost 55 pounds through the program over the past year. In 2013, Scott shared that he began facing numerous health problems in 1992, which had prompted him to start dieting. "I was getting a lot of pain in my feet, my knees, and my legs," he explained (via Daily Meal). "I went to five doctors and got five blood tests. They all said the same thing. I was a borderline diabetic." 

Scott started his journey by having one SlimFast shake with two low-calorie meals and managed to consistently lose 4 pounds every month for six months. Eventually, he reincorporated some of his favorite high-fat meals into his diet, but opted to consume them in smaller quantities. During that time, he also focused on eating more vegetables and fat-free foods. At the time of the chat, he regularly started his days with a plain bagel, a cup of joe, and juice. 

While his lunch still consisted of a SlimFast shake, his dinner was one of his old favorites: meat and potatoes. In addition to consuming the classic in smaller quantities, Scott had also begun pairing it with vegetables. By following this plan, the former "Today" anchor had lost 70 pounds over two years. He ultimately believed that he wouldn't have to undergo another weight-loss transformation because his ability to eat in moderation would help keep his weight in check.

While many of SlimFast's celebrity endorsements from the '80s and '90s were focused on the practical benefits, Shari Belafonte's 1992 and 1993 commercials were primarily meant to shine a light on the taste of their shakes. After "The Midnight Hour" star's endorsement period with the brand concluded, her diet went through some changes. 

During a 1998 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Harry Belafonte's daughter shared that she didn't overthink her meals and pretty much ate whatever she was craving at a particular time of the day. As a result, her diet consisted of everything from apples and avocados to turkey, peanut butter, and pasta. Throughout the day, Shari focused on keeping herself hydrated. As for exercise, she hit the gym three times a week for a grueling workout, which typically consisted of an hour on the treadmill followed by weight training, anywhere from 200 to 300 crunches, and finally ended with kickboxing. 

By the time of the interview, Shari had notably become a spokesperson for a diet pill company. In the years that followed, the model continued to speak openly about her health journey. In a 2024 People interview, Shari said she had been diligent with her doctor's checkup because she wanted to ensure her heart was in good shape since she had high cholesterol. The "Hotel" alum also rightly said that it was important to make time to destress through movement like yoga, walking, or Tai Chi, or through meditation. Suffice it to say that Shari knows all about the serious ways in which stress can do damage to your body.

In the early '90s, Cristina Ferrare appeared in SlimFast ads and credited the diet plan with helping her shed the 25 pounds that she gained during pregnancy. Meanwhile, the print ad campaign featured before-and-after photos of the former model that further highlighted her weight loss. As the years went by, Ferrare began to see her past dieting habits in a different light. 

In a 2010 post for Oprah.com, the best-selling author shared that she had eventually come to realize that her propensity for dieting made it difficult for her to sustainably maintain her weight loss. Ferrare then shared a pearl of wisdom she had acquired while reflecting on her years of dieting, saying, "If we know that we don't have to eliminate any foods from our daily diet and that we can eat all the foods we enjoy, it will set us free — but making this approach work is not an easy task." 

She explained how she previously thought she would be able to limit herself to one slice of pizza. With time, she realized that the notion was incorrect, and she would be able to meet her fitness goals better if she had a bowl of salad before the pizza, so she would be too satiated to overeat (as volume eating is something that can help you lose weight). Later that year, Ferrare wrote (via Oprah.com) that she had spent the past months trying her best to eat foods that made her feel good and also reflecting on how she felt after consuming foods she knew didn't help her feel her best.