So the picture of Deborah Gibson on the left is BEFORE she lost the 17 pounds her boyfriend “helped’ her lose.

For a year and a half, Gibson has been dating Rutledge Taylor, a medical doctor specializing in preventative medicine. To help Gibson keep in shape for her busy schedule, he developed a strict diet and exercise program. “I won’t say it was easy,” Gibson tells PEOPLE, “but it was really effective. He really came up with something that worked for me.”

“I thought I had just 5 lbs. to lose,” she continues, “But as it went on, I realized that I needed to drop a few more.”

The final tally: 17 lbs. “It really gives me a lot more energy to be fit,” she says, “and it’s also empowering. I’ll be 39 soon, and I’m in the best shape of my life.”

Insert your own “asshole boyfriend” comment here. She was totally fine before that jerk-off started f-ing with her head.

debbie gibson weight loss