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The barrage of television appearances and photo shoots are part of everyday life for Chris Valdes who is living his lifelong passion of being a chef, one he’s had since he discovered Chef Emeril Lagasse on television.
While Chris has never been comfortable watching himself on television or seeing himself in photos, he reached a peak of uneasiness in late 2021. “It got to the point that I didn’t want to see or look at myself. It was a different type of feeling. It wasn’t right because I didn’t like the person I was seeing and, at that point, I realized I had to make a change,” he said.
From the time he was in grade school, weight issues were a challenge and none of it had to do with bullying. “From thin to heavy to thin again, that was something I had been carrying with me for years. Then, seeing a random post on Instagram spoke to me. It said that making a change required at least a 30-day commitment and, after 30 days, it becomes a habit.” Chris shares.
Shortly after, he began a committed regimen going to CrossFit six times a week and eating healthier. Of course, that didn’t mean depriving himself …. after all, he is a chef.
Chris notes, “I am very dedicated and knew I needed to hold myself accountable for my diet and my exercise routine. When it came to food, I cut down a bit but wasn’t totally strict with myself because there are days when I need my best friend, which is food.”
By consulting with a weight loss physician, he found the difficulty in losing weight was because he used comfort, like so many, and it included both happy and sad moments. His doctor then explained, “Well, you need to find a new best friend, and you need to do this for your health.”
Since making that commitment, Chris has lost 40 pounds on what he calls his health journey and something he recommends to everyone looking to make a lifestyle change.
“My advice would be to focus on the journey and not so much the result. I can say that because I failed many times but have finally committed to put in the work and stopped focusing on just losing weight. I wanted to be healthier for me,” he said.
With a healthier routine, Chris now wakes up energetic and, even better, those migraines he used to get three to four times a week have all but disappeared. He feels better, rarely gets sick and looks great. All this plays an important role as Chef Chris needs all that energy having recently taken on the role of Co-host and Judge of Roku Channel’s first-ever Spanish-language original series ¡Que Delicioso! The show is the ultimate celebration of culture and cuisine. In each episode, an internationally acclaimed chef from Latin America introduces one of their signature dishes to the contestants.
A talented chef and actor who has so much charisma, Chris began his journey hosting ”Cooking With Chris”, a show on his own YouTube Channel. That led to being a finalist on “Food Network Star” and “Star Salvation,” which introduced Chris to a national audience. Following his stint on Food Network, he was featured on the cover of several magazines and appeared on various national television shows as well as received the key to the City of Miami for his philanthropic work.
Chris is now a frequent guest on “LIVE with Kelly and Ryan,” has also been featured on Food Network’s “Chopped” and “The Sherri Shepherd Show” and is the author of “One With the Kitchen” which is filled with recipes that pay homage to his Cuban heritage.
With his new outlook on life and health, the opportunities and possibilities for Chris Valdes are endless.
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