Maria Menounos Diet 2014: Host Reveals How She Stays Healthy And Fit

Maria Menounos has an impressive figure, but she reportedly doesn't like the word "diet."

On the heels of the release of Menounos' The Everygirl’s Guide to Diet and Fitness, the Extra host and reality star has spoke out, revealing how she keeps of the 40 pounds she lost in 2000 -- without using the word "diet."

“I now don’t even say the word ‘diet.’ It sets you up for failure,” Menounos explained to Life & Style on June 6.

After a successful career in pageants, Menounos, who was named Miss Massachusets Teen in 1996 and was the first runner up in the Miss Massachusets USA pageant in 2000, went on to study at Emerson College, where she gained a whopping 40 pounds in her first two years.

According to Menounos, her weight gain was the result of an indulgence in sweets following a strict childhood eating regimen.

Once she was back on track, Menounos vowed to maintain a healthy weight and does so by eating clean "75 percent of the time" and limiting her carb intake to one bad carb per day. She also walks at least 10,000 steps daily.

In her book, Menounos suggests those who are struggling to lose weight create a food log of everything they eat for a week, and at the week's end, pinpoint trouble spots, such as sugar and carbs.

“Slowly cut back on that area,” Menounos said. “It was carbs for me, but I didn’t totally give up pizza! I just ate less of it.”