'Now I only have cake on my birthday!' Sonny and Cher's transgender son Chaz Bono opens up about his 85lb weight loss

PUBLISHED: 10:43 EST, 28 November 2013 | UPDATED: 12:36 EST, 28 November 2013

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Sonny and Cher's transgender son Chaz Bono has opened up about his dramatic 85lb weight loss, claiming he feels 'more confident', 'healthier' and 'happier' than ever.

The 44-year-old LGBT advocate, author and musician, told Extra TV that he has cut out 99per cent of grains and dairy from his diet, adding: 'I pretty much eat vegetables, meat, fruit, nuts . . . My birthday is the one day of the year I'll do cake.'

In a bid to get rid of the excess skin hanging off his body he went under the knife this month - an experience he described as 'not fun, but worth it.'

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What a difference a year makes: Sonny and Cher's transgender son Chaz Bono has opened up about his dramatic 85lb weight loss, claiming he feels 'more confident', 'healthier' and 'happier' than ever

His 5ft 5in frame previously tipped the scales at 250lbs, putting him in the obese category. But now, thanks to adopting a healthier diet, he weighs a lighter 165lbs.

Asked what his famous mother thinks about his transformation, he replied: 'She's pretty darn proud of me.'

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Chaz admitted before he starred on the popular reality show Dancing with the Stars in 2011 he was in denial about being overweight.

'I was kind of in denial about how heavy I was, but was ready to do something about it.

Turning point: Chaz admitted before he starred on the popular reality show Dancing with the Stars in 2011 he was in denial about being overweight

A family affair: Chaz , pictured with his mother Cher in April 2012, says she's 'pretty darn proud' of his transformation

A family affair: Chaz , pictured with his mother Cher in April 2012, says she's 'darn proud' of his new look

'I was thinking my weight was holding me back from opportunities in my life, and I was worried about my health.'

They hooked him up with a nutritionist, doctor and exercise plan. In four months he managed to shed 40lbs.

'I was thinking my weight was holding me back from opportunities in my life, and I was worried about my health'

Since then he has gradually watched the weight slip away, with his mother reportedly giving him cash incentives to keep things on track.

Summing up the process so far, he said: 'I feel really good. I feel healthier. I feel lighter. I feel more confident, and I feel really happy.'

Chaz underwent a female-to-male gender transition between 2008 and 2010.

In May 2010, he legally changed his gender and birth name, dropping Chastity.

A documentary on his experience, Becoming Chaz, was screened at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and later made its television debut on Oprah Winfrey's network OWN.

Chaz Bono: How I lost 85lbs

Flashback: Chaz, pictured left with his father Sonny, underwent a female-to-male gender transition between 2008 and 2010 - he legally changed his birth name, dropping Chastity

His mother Cher recently confessed she ‘had a hard time’ coming to terms with Chaz’s sex change.

She told the UK's Sunday Times Magazine: 'I didn’t have a hard time in the beginning when Chaz came to see me and told me, "This is what I want to do." ’I said, "Well, if you’re miserable, then you’ve got to do it."'

The 67-year-old added: 'But then as it was starting to happen, you know, it’s a strange change for a mother to go through.

'It was difficult, but now I don’t think about it so much.'

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La Chica, Philadelphia, PA, moments ago

He is happy

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Tina, Chicago, United States, 28 minutes ago

I think he looks great!

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Virginia606, Huntington, United States, 43 minutes ago

Wow, he looks like a hunk!! Good for him!

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Beryl, Stockon-on-Tees, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago

just shows when your comfortable in the body your in you treat it better

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Yoda9090, Richmond, United States, 1 hour ago

What happen to her hair? which was blonde when she was a little girl? looks cute both ways,but needs to stop the roids because it's not good for the heart. it's obvious in the eyes.