Valerie Bertinelli is opening up about the emotional toll of losing a high-profile spokesperson job after gaining weight. "I felt so horrified," the Hot in Cleveland star, 65, told host Drew Barrymore on a recent episode of her daytime talk series, The Drew Barrymore Show. Bertinelli's confession on the January 14 show has made headlines as she prepares to release her new book, Getting Naked, in March 2026. Bertinelli reflected on that painful experience during a game of "Memory Bank," in which stars look back on pivotal moments from their lives. The One Day at a Time alum recalled her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2012. "You look stunning," Barrymore said after seeing the image of her interviewee in a lace white dress with an above-the-knee hemline. Bertinelli completed her look with a voluminous blowout and peep-toe heels, opting for dainty jewelry including a chic bracelet. Valerie Bertinelli at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2012. Getty Bertinelli, who now promotes self-acceptance, said she felt the opposite. "I started a diet program and then became their spokesperson in 2007 and I had lost 50 pounds," she shared."Life started to get the better of me." She added, "I wasn't taking care of my mental and emotional health, so the weight started to come back on. And this was the last year, I believe, that I was with this diet company. And they fired me, eventually said, 'We can't keep going with you because you're gaining weight again.'" Bertinelli was disappointed to lose the job, considering her weight had fluctuated before and she still had a smaller figure then when she started her fitness journey. Valerie Bertinelli Recalls How She Was 'Considered Overweight' at 150 Lbs "I remember thinking, 'But size 12's not that big!'" she shared about her appearance at the time. "But I had gotten down to a size 4 - which was way too small for me and impossible for me to maintain." Bertinelli said that it's been an ongoing struggle for her as weight goes "up and down, but pretty much, basically, this weight my whole life that I am right now, and I'm a size 10 now." Since then, she's learned to feel more comfortable in her own skin and is grateful for making those strides. "My mental and emotional health - even though I'm getting teary-eyed - is so strong right now," the Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time author said. "I'm so strong and firm in who I am and, no matter what people throw at me, I know who I am and I know what kind of person I am and it doesn't matter how much I weigh." Valerie Bertinelli Shares She's 'A Bit Anxious' to Return to Acting As for that lace dress, it's still in her closet. "And it fits me just fine," Bertinelli said with pride. "It's a little less snug than it is there, but I just. If anything, it doesn't matter what size we are. What is our heart?" Barrymore agreed wholeheartedly, noting that it's important to focus on "what is healthy for you" versus what society deems as skinny and overweight. "You're right!" Bertinelli replied. "What is healthy for you? What is healthy mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physically?" Looking ahead, her new book will feature "intimate and vulnerable essays," in which she explores several topics including "aging, love, friendship, secrets, and acceptance." Getting Naked will be released on March 10, and is currently available for pre-order.