In Kelly Ripa comes clean, the Live With Regis and Kelly cohost told Self a few things you probably don’t know.
Snack of choice: sweet or salty?
Salty! But sodium can blow you up if you’re not careful! My favorite indulgence is a really good soft cheese. I don’t even know what it’s called.
I’m going to look right now in an artisanal cheese catalog-that’s when you know you’re a cheese junkie! It’s my passion, but my father had quadruple bypass surgery, so I let myself indulge only on weekends.
Which would you rather have: sleep or sex?
Can it be a two-part answer?! I think sex and then sleep. Isn’t that nice? My husband is more like sleep and then sex. But I’m the opposite. I’m so embarrassed! I’m sweating right now.
Dinner tonight: cook in or take out?
Take out. I’m a horrible cook. I burn everything. On weekends, when I do “treat” my family to my cooking, we open the windows because I usually set off the smoke alarm. I don’t know how long is too long to leave the oil in the pan.
And I don’t know how hot is too hot. But I haven’t been so tainted by my own cooking that I don’t appreciate good food. We’ll order in anything, and my kids love all food, even sushi. They eat things that I would never dream of eating, like sea urchin.
Best way to spend calories: drink or dessert?
I’m going to say a drink. You know what’s so funny? I love margaritas, but then I read-I think in SELF-that a frozen margarita has almost 700 calories!
That has to be a vicious and awful rumor, but since I’ve heard that, I’ve taken to having a white wine instead. [She’s right. A 16-ounce frozen margarita has 624 calories; an 8-ounce glass of white wine has only 180 calories.]
Best stress reliever: an hour-long massage or an hour-long run?
A run, because I can’t sit still. I’ve just taken up exercising. When my show [Hope and Faith] got canceled, I discovered I had all this free time, so I hired a trainer and I work out five days a week.
I do 20 minutes of cardio, and then we mix it up: abs on Monday, arms on Tuesday. I feel really good and strong. Madonna was on our show. Did you get that name that I just dropped?
She said to me, “Well, you and I have similar bodies.” I almost fell out of my chair. I was like, “I’m sorry? Could you say that again and again and again and again?”
Best way to take off 10 years: Botox or personal trainer?
I’m going to have to say personal trainer, and a good makeup artist and good lighting, and if a magazine decides to airbrush you-hint, hint-that doesn’t hurt. I haven’t had Botox, but I’m dying to.
I’m afraid of putting a needle in my face-but that’s the only thing that has prevented me. I plan to do it one day soon on the air. I’m not a secretive person when it comes to stuff like that. Especially if it means I don’t have to pay for it!
Which is the better body-confidence booster: a great bra or great jeans?
You’re asking someone who is completely flat-chested! Great jeans make you look like you have a nice rear end that’s not hanging down to your midthigh.
A bra is something I wear only on TV. I’m not being self-deprecating, there is really just no need. But I’m happy with the way I am. I can run and I don’t hit myself in the eyes!
Your attitude toward health: Ignorance is bliss, or knowledge is power?
Boy, if you had asked me that question two years ago, I would have said ignorance is bliss, but now I’m changing my opinion. I want to see my kids get married. I want to see my grandchildren.
I’ve always been pretty good about visiting doctors annually, but now I take their advice seriously. When my dermatologist tells me, “You shouldn’t go in the sun without sunscreen,” now I listen. I used to say, “Yeah, but I really don’t burn that much.” Now I’m in full sunblock.