Abby Lee Miller has decided to make a huge change in her appearance during a tumultuous time in her life.

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The 50-year-old former Dance Moms star underwent weight-loss surgery on Friday, April 21 and talked to Entertainment Tonight about the decision shortly before going under the knife.

"Oh, this is crazy," Miller said moments before walking into the operating room in a Los Angeles hospital.

Miller reportedly underwent a sleeve gastrectomy to remove nearly 80 percent of her stomach.

"There's nobody freaking out if something happens to me," Miller sadly told ET as she wiped tears from her eyes. "I'm scared, I'm nervous."

Miller -- who recently quit Lifetime's Dance Moms and was replaced by longtime Dancing with the Stars pro Cheryl Burke -- explained why she opted to have the procedure done just weeks before her prison sentencing.

Miller pleaded guilty to bankruptcy fraud and could face up to 30 months in prison. The dance instructor said she therefore needs to "live every day."

"I think this is the right time," Miller explained of her surgery. "People are saying, 'But your sentencing is coming up in a couple weeks!' And that is true, and I'm really nervous about that -- more than the surgery -- but there's no right time."

"Maybe this is some miraculous way somebody's telling me, 'Hey go for it, do it now so that whatever happens, maybe you'll be a little bit healthier, maybe you'll be a little bit more in shape.' Who knows?" she continued.

Miller claimed she had attempted to diet and eat clean on the set of Dance Moms but received no support from production.

"I try to be vegan... I really, really try. I don't eat any red meat and the whole animal thing really upsets me so I've tried," she told ET.

"But even on the TV show, they would laugh in my face. They wouldn't care if I was trying to be vegan, they wouldn't get a special vegan meal or anything. They just laughed and would hand me a hoagie sandwich or Italian sub from somewhere."

Such alleged treatment is an example of why Miller left Dance Moms nearly a month ago after six years and seven seasons. 

"I have asked, begged and even demanded creative credit for all the ideas, award winning routines, themes and costuming -- To no Avail!" Miller wrote on social media in an irate March 6 statement, adding that she felt "manipulated, disrespected, and used -- day in and day out by men who never took a dance lesson in their lives and treat women like dirt!"

Miller suggested, however, she has "been to some meetings" recently that could open doors to new opportunities.

"I found myself in a room full of people and actually, these big time execs are trying to sell themselves to me! It's usually the other way around. It's been quite exciting," Miller revealed to ET, admitting she would "love to go back" to Dance Moms contingent on major changes being implemented behind the scenes.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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