Entertainment TV Anthony Anderson: I Lost 47 Lbs. and Became Vegan-'ish' "This is what I'm supposed to look like," the star of ABC's new comedy black-ish tells PEOPLE By Stephanie Emma Pfeffer Stephanie Emma Pfeffer Stephanie Emma Pfeffer is the Health Editor at PEOPLE, where she has been covering health and fitness since 2013. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Self, New York,Working Mother, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal. People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 29, 2014 12:45PM EDT Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty; Frederick M. Brown/Getty When Anthony Anderson looks in the mirror these days, he likes what he sees. “This is what I’m supposed to look like,” says the star of ABC’s new show black-ish, who has lost 47 lbs. and counting. Throughout his life, the self-described “husky” man never had a problem with his size. Even at his heaviest weight of 270 lbs., “I’ve always been confident,” the 5’10” actor, 44, tells PEOPLE in its latest issue, on newsstands now. “Being overweight was never an issue for me.” Still, Anderson started making small lifestyle changes 13 years ago after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. “I started eating healthier and in moderation, but I was still sort of eating the same stuff that I’d been eating all my life,” he admits. That all changed in 2008. “When I was cast in Law & Order, I decided to make a drastic change,” says Anderson. “I got more serious about my health and appearance – not from a vanity standpoint. I just started making healthier choices.” Recently, he has taken healthy eating to the next level. “Six weeks ago, I moved to a plant-based diet, he says. “I’m vegan-ish – I’m not going to send anything back to the kitchen if some butter or cream found its way onto the plate.” His family – wife Alvina and kids Kira, 18, and Nathan, 14 – has also been there to help him maintain his new 223 lb. figure, but not without some reservations. “My daughter hates going out to eat with me because I’ll find the most obscure places that cater to what I need,” he says, laughing. “And I’m always on the basketball court with my son.” While Anderson doesn’t plan on sticking to his new vegan-ish lifestyle forever, he is proud of what he has accomplished so far. “One morning when I woke up I was like, ‘Okay, today’s the day to start,’ ” he says. “And I never looked back.” black-ish airs on ABC Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. (8:30 CT), after Modern Family. Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter and other special offers: sign me up Thank you for signing up!