Phylicia Rashad: Big Reveal is Smaller Package With Jenny Craig

When Phylicia Rashad said she was going to take it off, she meant it.

The Tony Award-winning actress, who decided to share her weight-loss plan with the world when she signed on as the new spokesperson for Jenny Craig, has reached her weight-loss goal of 35 pounds in just eight months.

"The most rewarding thing about reaching my goal weight is that I feel so much lighter," she said in a released statement. "There's just an overall sense of well-being. And there's the increased jenny craigenergy as well. It's nice to have people say you look nice. Who knew losing weight could be so much fun?"

The 61-year-old Houston native, best known for her role in the groundbreaking sitcom 'The Cosby Show,' will reveal her new figure in a commercial titled 'Uphill Battle,' set to debut on Aug. 29.

Jenny Craig, known as one of the world's leading weight-loss management programs,couldn't be happier with Rashad's accomplishment. "We are so proud of Phylicia's success," marketing executive Steve Bellach said. "As the public saw her journey unfold on television, Phylicia remarked that the one part of the Jenny Craig program she didn't think she needed, a personal consultant, turned out to be the key to her 35-pound weight-loss success. Phylicia exemplifies what is achievable, and for that reason she is truly inspirational."

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With such a hectic schedule, Rashad credits her success to enlisting a Jenny Craig consultant to personalize her program, which was based on eating 1,200 calories a day and 30 to 40 minutes of workout activity up to four times per week.

Rashad told Essence magazine that she did the program for "health reasons," after she had difficulty walking up three flights of stairs. She said that "was a sign that things were not good."

"It had nothing to do with appearance, especially with the roles I have been playing," she continued. "It had to do with the way I felt and the way I was feeling inside."

Now, Rashad is focused on paying attention to "the integrals of when I eat and my portions."

Earlier this year, the Howard University graduate appeared on Broadway as the star of 'August: Osage County.'

This fall, she has plans to reunite with her 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' cast members (including fellow Tony Award winner James Earl Jones) to reprise her role as Big Mama for a London run of the play.

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The Cosby Show

The Cosby Show: Where Are They Now?
Though it was a big deal when it first premiered on the NBC network on Sept. 20, 1984, no one could've expected that the groundbreaking sitcom 'The Cosby Show,' would resonate so well with national audiences and make history as one of the most successful TV shows in history. But it did. Revolving around the life and times of The Huxtables, an upper-middle class African-American family living in a brownstone building in Brooklyn, New York, the Bill Cosby-helmed series was TV's biggest hit in the 1980s, according to TV Guide. Blackvoices.com takes a look at the cast members then and now. (Photo: Everett Collection)

BlackVoices.com

Mel B Pictures

In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**

In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **

In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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