Last month you and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger kicked off a statewide health campaign with a summit on childhood obesity. What are your goals?

The challenge is to inform, educate and engage people—and make things affordable, so this isn't just about white, middle-class people who can afford healthy food. If we can make small changes—encourage breast-feeding, drinking water, talking to our children about portion control—it would be a huge leap forward.

How do you keep your kids [Christopher, 8, Patrick, 12, Christina, 14, and Katherine, 15] healthy in a fast-food world?

I have no clue! Really, I am trying. First of all I teach them how to be fit inside. If you feel good about yourself and you have a strong moral compass, everything else follows. If you don't think [your] body is worth anything, you won't take care of it. And I'm a big believer in building your kids up. I say, "You look terrific!"

How do you stay fit and healthy in a fast-food world?

I struggle like everyone else. I go to Krispy Kreme. I go to Wetzel's Pretzels. It's about moderation and keeping things in balance.

Is it true you were told to lose 25 lbs. when you were just starting out?

True. I couldn't get a job, so I went on the Beverly Hills Diet, where you ate watermelon one day and cheesecake the next. It worked. That was the last diet I ever went on.