Cheryl Burke is embracing a new rhythm to life, and the transformation goes far beyond the scale. The “Dancing with the Stars” alum has captivated fans with a significant weight loss journey, but she’s quick to point out that the real victory isn’t the number she sees when she steps on the scale. It’s a profound shift in her energy, her mindset, and her overall well-being after leaving the intense glare of the ballroom behind. This is the story of how Cheryl traded restrictive diets for balance, found joy in movement without mirrors, and ultimately discovered that feeling great trumped being thin.
The former professional dancer recently shared that at her heaviest, she was around 150 pounds. Her weight typically hovered around 145 pounds before she began her journey toward a healthier lifestyle. In a refreshingly honest update, she revealed that the last time she checked, she weighed 109 pounds, marking a loss of over 40 pounds. However, she passionately insists, “That 109 doesn’t matter; what matters is how I feel.” She focuses on the incredible surge in her energy levels, a sentiment she has repeatedly emphasized, stating, “I feel f—ing great; my energy is on another level,” and that she has “so much more energy than I ever have.”
A New Approach to Food and Fitness
Cheryl Burke’s journey wasn’t about a crash diet but a complete overhaul of her relationship with food and exercise. She openly admits to once being an “emotional eater” who would eat late at night and frequent fast-food drive-thrus, a habit she says she no longer even remembers.
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Now, her strategy is built on balance and portion control. A key tool in her routine is a food delivery service called Z.E.N., which provides her with prepared meals that are “delicious” and based on “real food,” not “diet food.” This service helps her maintain a structured eating plan, which typically includes oatmeal with fruit, snacks like pita chips and hummus, a salad for lunch, and a balanced dinner, totaling around 1,200 to 1,400 calories a day.
She has also embraced intermittent fasting, focusing on her eating schedule rather than just what she eats. What makes her approach so relatable is her refusal to give up the foods she loves. She still enjoys her daily matcha from Peet’s Coffee, indulges in their warm pretzel bread, and admits, “I eat licorice.” Her physical routine is equally grounded. She walks her dog a couple of miles daily and has a treadmill where she edits content for her new career as a full-time beauty influencer. This consistent, moderate activity is a far cry from the grueling dance rehearsals of her past.
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From Dancer to Influencer: A Life in Comparison
The “before and after” of Cheryl Burke isn’t just physical; it’s professional and personal. For 26 seasons on “Dancing with the Stars,” she was under constant pressure to maintain a specific look. She recalls being “stuck in front of mirrors constantly,” with strict dance coaches making weight a persistent issue. She even used to travel with a scale, allowing the number on it to dictate her mood. Her decision to leave the show in 2022 was fueled by a desire to explore new projects and escape the physically intense schedule, a move that gave her the space to heal.
This dramatic change in her appearance did not go unnoticed, leading to rampant online speculation about Ozempic use or cosmetic surgery. Cheryl directly addressed these rumors in a TikTok video, firmly stating, “I’m not on Ozempic, I’m not sick, I didn’t get a face transplant, and no, I did not get a brow lift.” She attributed her changing looks to two decades in the public eye, life experiences including trauma, divorce, and sobriety, and natural aging. In a powerful clapback to critics, she declared, “I hate to break it to you, but that Cheryl doesn’t exist anymore.”
Fans can look forward to seeing the new Cheryl Burke back in the ballroom, as she is set to return as a guest judge for the Halloween night episode of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2025. Her story is a powerful reminder that the most impressive transformations are the ones that happen from the inside out, focusing on health and happiness over aesthetics.
