Sara Rue pays-it-forward on weight wedding show

Losing weight is stressful enough. But add to that getting married -- and then some TV cameras and competition. Sound like too much to handle?

Some couples apparently don't think so. They've signed up for the CW Network's new reality show called "Shedding for the Wedding," in which nine couples try to slim down to win the wedding of their dreams.

The show is hosted by actress Sara Rue, spokesperson for Jenny Craig, who lost 50 pounds while planning her own wedding.

But Rue said she never thought she's end up in this role.

"I am totally a sucker for any reality television ever," she said. "But when they called and asked me to host it, I was sort of like, 'Oh, I don't know. It sounds really great.' But there were so many similarities between the show and what was going on with me in real life that I felt like it was kind of a pay-it-forward opportunity for me. Just being the spokesperson for Jenny Craig for the last year-and-a-half has been such a gift. And has totally changed my life. And so, the thought of being involved in someone else's journey and being able to maybe be a little part of like their growth, I don't know, it just seemed too good to pass up."

Rue commented on her new weight loss role model status, saying, "It's so cool. And weird. Because it's such a -- it's a struggle, you know. And I think that maybe one of the reasons people do sort of trust me, or ask me for advice, is because I've always been really up-front about the fact that it's really hard. You know, there's no magic pill. I think it's funny that people always think, you're on television. There's some secret that everyone on TV knows about, and the real people don't know about. And it's so not true. It's like, calories in, calories out, and it's basic science when you break it down."

"Early Show" co-anchor Erica Hill said, "It's basic science. And it's every day for the rest of your life."

Rue said, "Oh, God."

"Isn't that the worst part?" Hill said.

Rue said, "It's the worst."

"One day off would be nice," Hill remarked.

"But you know, you can have, not a full day off," Rue said. "But it's really about not to sound like, 'Oh, but it's a lifestyle change.' If you look at it as changing your life and changing the way your mind works. Because, for me, and I think for so many people, it's an emotional battle. More than a physical one."

But what about the show's contestants -- are they up for this challenge?

Rue remarked they all really want to be on the show.

She said, "It's compelling to watch. Because they're all truly fighting for these elements of their wedding that they care so much about. Like in our first episode, which aired a couple weeks ago, they were competing for their wedding dress and their tuxedo. And these women, the men, too, but the women, they wanted those dresses. You know, and it was -- it was intense. And so every week, they're competing for a different part of their wedding. So tonight's episode, they're competing to win their flowers. And there are some people who want those flowers. And they were not kidding around."

Hill asked, "Did you find, for both yourself personally, and then for these couples on the show, having some sort of a goal, does that make it easier for you, beyond the goal of, I just want to fit into those pants?"

"Yeah," Rue said. "I mean, I think ultimately, look, these people, the couples all want to look a certain way on their wedding day. And all of us, I mean, I'm getting married. We all have these ideals of what we want to look like on that special day. But I always tried to remind them that it's not just about that day, but it's about that day signifying the start of the rest of your life. And so you can go into a relationship at your happiest, healthiest point, then you're truly giving your partner a gift. And I would try to sort of make them remember that. So even if, you know, they didn't win their flowers, they were there for a great reason."