From War-Torn Kosovo to American Idol: How Lindita Halimi Lost 130 Lbs. During Her Inspiring Journey
Lindita Halimi grew up during the war in Kosovo, so eating was an act of survival.
“We never knew when the next time was we were going to eat,” Halimi, 27, tells People in this week’s Half Their Size feature. “It was the worst feeling in the world, not being able to eat when you wanted to. So, when the war ended, I ate uncontrollably to make up for all the times that I couldn’t. And it took a wrong turn.”
The singer began eating entire pizzas, family-size bags of candy and almost entire jars of Nutella by herself.
“We never knew when the next time was we were going to eat,” Halimi, 27, tells People in this week’s Half Their Size feature. “It was the worst feeling in the world, not being able to eat when you wanted to. So, when the war ended, I ate uncontrollably to make up for all the times that I couldn’t. And it took a wrong turn.”
The singer began eating entire pizzas, family-size bags of candy and almost entire jars of Nutella by herself.
- 1/12/2017
- by Catherine Kast
- PEOPLE.com
![Lionel Richie, Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry in American Idol (2002)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTlmNWFlYjAtMDg4OS00MmY5LWE1MDItMzAxNDlhZmE5NzI2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQ2MDI5NjU@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
![Lionel Richie, Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry in American Idol (2002)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTlmNWFlYjAtMDg4OS00MmY5LWE1MDItMzAxNDlhZmE5NzI2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQ2MDI5NjU@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
It’s good to know that 15 seasons in, American Idol hasn’t lost its ability to send me into a teeth-gnashing, plate-smashing, imaginary mascara-running rage.
VideosReality Check: Who’s Getting a Winner’s Edit on Idol — and Do They Deserve It?
Ok, no fine china was harmed in the writing of my Top 24 Announcement Episode recap — decade-old Crate and Barrel still beats a Dixie paper plate — but still, that’s not to say the “Final Judgment”/”Green Mile” announcement didn’t make me fantasize about the satisfying shatter of ceramic against the living-room wall.
Watching Season 15 standout Jessica Cabral get...
VideosReality Check: Who’s Getting a Winner’s Edit on Idol — and Do They Deserve It?
Ok, no fine china was harmed in the writing of my Top 24 Announcement Episode recap — decade-old Crate and Barrel still beats a Dixie paper plate — but still, that’s not to say the “Final Judgment”/”Green Mile” announcement didn’t make me fantasize about the satisfying shatter of ceramic against the living-room wall.
Watching Season 15 standout Jessica Cabral get...
- 2/5/2016
- TVLine.com
![Lionel Richie, Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry in American Idol (2002)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTlmNWFlYjAtMDg4OS00MmY5LWE1MDItMzAxNDlhZmE5NzI2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQ2MDI5NjU@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
![Lionel Richie, Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry in American Idol (2002)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTlmNWFlYjAtMDg4OS00MmY5LWE1MDItMzAxNDlhZmE5NzI2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQ2MDI5NjU@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
We may have gotten past the side-eye-inducing drama of American Idol‘s Group Rounds, but rest assured, executive producer Trish Kinane and her mischievous band of editors aren’t going to let this Farewell Season run on the fuel of vocal performances alone.
Preposterous teenage “love stories,” tales of next-level bronchitis (#AintNobodyGotTimeForThat) and the weeping of the lambs all came into play during Wednesday’s final solos (aka The Holding Rooms of the Damned). Show of hands: Did you cringe after Sara Sturm said Lee Jean was like a little brother to her, but Ryan’s voiceover kept pushing them as future lovers anyhow?...
Preposterous teenage “love stories,” tales of next-level bronchitis (#AintNobodyGotTimeForThat) and the weeping of the lambs all came into play during Wednesday’s final solos (aka The Holding Rooms of the Damned). Show of hands: Did you cringe after Sara Sturm said Lee Jean was like a little brother to her, but Ryan’s voiceover kept pushing them as future lovers anyhow?...
- 2/4/2016
- TVLine.com
![Lionel Richie, Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry in American Idol (2002)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTlmNWFlYjAtMDg4OS00MmY5LWE1MDItMzAxNDlhZmE5NzI2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQ2MDI5NjU@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
![Lionel Richie, Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry in American Idol (2002)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTlmNWFlYjAtMDg4OS00MmY5LWE1MDItMzAxNDlhZmE5NzI2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQ2MDI5NjU@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
Much like Chumbawamba’s earworm chorus, Jennifer Lopez may get knocked down, but she gets up again.
“If I fall flat on my ass,” the American Idol judge told the wide-eyed hopefuls of Season 15’s Hollywood Week Group Rounds, “I bounce right back up, and I kill the rest of that performance.”
VideosReality Check: Did American Idol Flub Its Final Audition Ever? Plus: Heated Debate Over Week 3 Standouts!
Look, while no one’s going to confuse Jenny From the Block’s raw vocals for Jessie J or Nicole Scherzinger or (blasphemy alert) even Patti Labelle, let’s not pretend the...
“If I fall flat on my ass,” the American Idol judge told the wide-eyed hopefuls of Season 15’s Hollywood Week Group Rounds, “I bounce right back up, and I kill the rest of that performance.”
VideosReality Check: Did American Idol Flub Its Final Audition Ever? Plus: Heated Debate Over Week 3 Standouts!
Look, while no one’s going to confuse Jenny From the Block’s raw vocals for Jessie J or Nicole Scherzinger or (blasphemy alert) even Patti Labelle, let’s not pretend the...
- 1/29/2016
- TVLine.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.