“Sister, Sister’s” Tia Mowry opened up about using diet pills as a teen
She’s been in numerous TV shows like Rosewood and Instant Mom, but let’s face it, we know Tia Mowry best from Sister, Sister, the long-running ’90s show (cough, masterpiece) about twins separated at birth. In her new book, Mowry reveals she took diet pills as a teen star, and we’re applauding how real and honest she’s being about something so personal.
Her lifestyle and nutrition book is called Whole New You: How Real Food Transforms Your Life, for a Healthier, More Gorgeous You, and it delves into her personal journey with food and nutrition. She discusses how she picked up certain harmful eating habits during her time on Sister, Sister, especially because the set was catered.
"To my teenage self, it was like living in a Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Everything I wanted was at my fingertips: Twizzlers, M&M’s, Starbursts, potato chips, you name it. And if something I craved wasn’t there, all I had to do was ask: ‘Chocolate chip cookies, please?’ And they simply appeared. It was heaven. If heaven leads to health problems, that is."
FYI, WE TOTALLY GET THAT.
Then came the diet pills
"I didn’t feel fat, but the pressure of being on television and wanting to look sexy and beautiful took over," she writes in the book.
“I’m not proud of it. I got skinny, true, but the pills caused my heart to race, and I knew in my gut that I was hurting myself.” During her studies at Pepperdine University, Mowry opened up about her pill usage in a psychology class. Her professor inspired her to write, “Give up diet pills” on a piece of paper, and throw it into a fireplace.
"As I watched the paper crackle and burn, something in me released," she wrote. "I haven’t touched diet pills since that day, and thankfully, I haven’t wanted to."
After being later diagnosed with endometriosis that threatened her fertility, Mowry gave up processed foods and reduced her sugar and dairy intake. She was able to get pregnant after transforming her diet, and is now living the mom life with hubby Cory Hardrict.
Thanks for sharing your story, Tia. Sending so much love your way.
