In a new interview with the Associated Press Aretha Franklin says that she is working hard to maintain a lower weight and eat healthier – following surgery last year for an unknown illness.
Since her surgery, Franklin has been working out and walking on a track three times a week for at least a mile. But she said her biggest health change has been in her diet: She’s given up her beloved chitterlings, pigs’ feet and ham hocks in favor of a Whole Foods-type diet, and she hopes to get down to a size 16.
“They’re off my diet. They just really don’t fit with Whole Foods,” she said. “I had it for enough years that I don’t miss it. You can’t continue to eat things that are not good for you.” She acknowledges that after she resumes performing, it’ll be hard to eat diet foods.
“When you come off (a high-energy concert), a carrot or some celery just isn’t going to work,” she said. “I’ve gotta do a fresh fruit thing … and come up with some tasty and satisfying recipes that are going to work for me after concerts.”
Franklin, who canceled several performances last year because of illness, has set her first concert since surgery on May 28 at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Buffalo, N.Y., and is set to release her long-awaited album, “Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love,” the first week of May. R. Kelly is one of the album’s songwriters.
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We suspect the queen of soul may have had stomach stapling surgery timed with her mysterious illness that landed her conveniently in the hospital. That being said, there’s no proof of this anywhere yet, but it is very suspicious. In any regard, we’re glad she gave up the “Chitterlings” – that word always sounded funny to us – the umm “pigs feet”, and Ham hocks (another funny word). Here’s to good livin’ Aretha!
-The Gingerales
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