Cheryl Burke Fires Back At Weight Loss Critics: I’m ‘Not Starving Myself’

Cheryl Burke showed off her fabulous bikini body in People magazine last week and discussed how she recently dropped 15 pounds.

After facing backlash regarding her weight loss, the “Dancing with the Stars” pro took to Facebook to speak out about why she shed the pounds.

“I’ve had a very public struggle with the press and their comments about my weight for a number of years now, but I want to make it clear that this isn’t about them,” she wrote in a post on Friday. “Yes, I have been hurt by their criticism, but I’m only human. This wasn’t some drastic change I made overnight. I’m not caving in to the pressures of Hollywood, as some of you have expressed your concern that I might be, and I’m certainly not starving myself.”

The 30-year-old said she lost the weight because she’s eating healthier now, not because she’s depriving herself of food.

“I’m thriving. I’m putting healthy foods into my body and experiencing the benefits,” she wrote. “I have tried so many fad diets, I’ve wasted so much time looking for a solution when it was right in front of me all along – take care of yourself, nourish your body, surround yourself with good people – you will feel good and will shine in all that you do.

“It’s not about chasing a number on the scale, and it’s not about Hollywood,” the post continued. “We will all face criticism throughout our lives, no matter where we live and what we weigh. So if you’re struggling with that, you’re not alone. Not at all.”

Cheryl said she knows there will always be people who say negative things about her body no matter what weight she’s at, and that she’ll continue to do what’s best for herself.

“My weight fluctuates, just like any other person’s does, and there will always be critics. You’ve got to tune out the other people and tune in to what’s going on inside,” she concluded her post. “Love yourself. Nourish your body. Be kind to one another.”

— Erin O’Sullivan