I began reading cook books when I was six, cause my father had hundreds of cook books in the kitchen. I was obsessed with cooking and tasting different recipes. I got lost in being a compulsive eater. It brought me much happiness. Sadness too, sure. But I have to say, and compulsive eaters will agree with me, for that few seconds that you're eating, food tastes just great.

When you gain weight, for every pound that you gain, it adds four pounds of stress on your knees. So if you gain five pounds, you've got 20 pounds of stress on your knees. So that's why I'm extremely careful with my portions and my workout, because I can't be overweight.

Singing is good for the soul. It's the first thing I do every morning, after my blessings and my grace. I put music on and I sing.

People treat me like family, 'cause I've always treated them like family.

My persona has always been what a man was never supposed to be. Outrageous, gregarious, crazy, silly, funny.

Every morning when I get up, I ask God what he wants me to do, ask him to lead me to the right people to help them.

For many years, my formula has been to love yourself, move your body and to watch portion size. But the No. 1 thing is to love and value yourself, no matter what you've been through.