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Chaz Bono has opened up about his recent dramatic  weight loss, telling Extra "I feel really good. I feel healthier. I feel lighter," since dropping 85lbs. "I feel more confident, and I feel really happy."

Bono, 44, hasn't hopped on the paleo-diet or signed up for P90X, but he did make some serious changes to his routine. "I pretty much eat vegetables, meat, fruit, nuts," he explains. "My birthday is the one day of the year I'll do cake."

You just lost us, Chaz.

Bono one time weighed 250lbs, but has slimmed down to 165lbs—he actually underwent surgery to have all that excess skin removed, a process he described as "not fun, but worth it."

It was appearing on Dancing with the Stars in 2011 that kickstarted Bono's transformation. "I was kind of in denial about how heavy I was [before doing DWTS]," he tells Extra. "But was ready to do something about it.

DWTS producers connected Bono with a nutritionist and doctor, and got him on a regular  exercise plan. In four months he managed to shed 40lbs.

Chaz has kept at his weight-loss plan, though The Daily Mail claims Cher sweetened the deal with cash incentives.  He didn't comment on those rumors but says his glamorous mom "is pretty darn proud of me."

So are we!