Kathy Bates Lost 100 Pounds and Here's How She Eats To Stay Lean and Energized

There are many weight-loss success stories to draw on for motivation. Kathy Bates lost 100 pounds and has never looked or felt better. How did she do it? By significantly modifying her diet and lifestyle, along with a lot of discipline. Bates was taking Ozempic to treat her type-2 diabetes, and decided to kick up her activity to another level. Although her dramatic weight loss was a challenging journey spread over seven years, she now leads a healthy lifestyle she's learned to successfully maintain.

Her secrets? Bates really got in sync with her body's signals and implemented changes that would be sustainable. She eliminated processed foods from her diet and started to focus on mindful eating every day to help her stay lean and energized. She's never felt better. In fact, the 77-year-old Academy Award winner is still acting.

"Now that I've been able to get really healthy, I can move. I can breathe, I can have fun, I'm not sore." Bates told PEOPLE. "I get tired and realize I'm like an old lady, but even the kids get tired. But it's been a magnificent experience."

Losing a good deal of weight is quite an achievement that results from hard work and discipline. But as you know, the buck doesn't stop at the finish line. It's essential to maintain your new weight once you get there with exercise and a healthy eating plan, or rebound weight will return with a vengeance and negate your efforts. Here are the main dietary rules Bates follows.

Bates learned the difference between being hungry and full—and when to stop eating.

"You have this involuntary sigh and that's really your brain and your stomach communicating that you've had enough. The trick is to pay attention to that and push your plate away," Bates told Us Weekly.

She admitted to PEOPLE, "It's very hard to say you've had enough." But it's a necessary change in order to succeed.

To avoid the urge to snack and also keep a handle on her calorie intake each day, Bates keeps 8:00 p.m. as her eating cutoff.

There are no more cokes, pizza, or burgers on her rotation, according to PEOPLE. Instead, Bates makes nutrient-packed foods a priority, including lean protein options and fresh veggies.

When dieting, consistency is key. But a little treat once in a while is good for the soul—and it helps a healthy diet stay sustainable. In fact, Bates even enjoys an occasional hot dog while on set.

"We've been having trucks come to the lot over at Paramount to thank the crew, and yesterday we had Pink's Hot Dogs," the actress told PEOPLE. "Oh, my God, I hadn't had a hot dog in such a long time. Today I'm getting back on my track."

If you're looking for more weight-loss inspiration, check out Here's How Oprah Lost 50 Pounds on a GLP-1 and Finally Ended Her Lifelong Battle With Weight.