Sherri Shepherd, like many Americans, gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic. But after “seeing so many people impacted, health-wise, during the pandemic,” she realized she had to make a change.

“During COVID, I put on weight and realized I needed to get back to the basics again, which was a lifestyle change,” Shepherd, 54, tells PEOPLE.

The talk show host says she “challenged myself to take risks and do things that scared me.” That meant joining Healthy Wage and putting money on the line to make sure she reached her weight loss goal of 15 lbs., while upping her workouts and switching up her diet.

“I walked 3 miles, four times a week, did Zumba in my backyard and I started boxing,” she says. “Now, I roller skate three times a week and I’m also taking pole dancing lessons, and call myself a pole-dancer-like-ish woman!”

Plus, Shepherd started a challenge with her friends where they did 50 pushups a day for 30 days. “Completing that challenge was a major breakthrough for me,” she says.

“I’ve been blessed to not only reach 54, but to also have years in this industry with a body of work and accomplishments that I’m proud of,” she says. “I’m strong, intelligent, sexy, talented and pretty funny.”

And Shepherd says she’s going to keep working on her health by focusing on her “why” — her son Jeffrey, 16.

“He is the reason why I need to food prep and fit in exercise,” she says. “At 54, this is best I have ever felt. My goal is to be living a long and active life with my son Jeffrey, who shares the same birthday as me.”