While super fans of NBC’s This Is Us waits with anticipation for the second season premiere, rumors have swirled that star Chrissy Metz has to lose weight for the newer episodes based on her contract.

But don’t get it twisted, she has a voice when it comes to her health and she’s using it.

 Millions of viewers fell in love with Metz, 36, who portrays Kate Pearson in the emotional and heart-wrenching series when it debuted last fall. The brains behind the series, creator Dan Fogelman, revealed toThe Hollywood Reporter recently Metz has already started to work on her weight loss journey. Most fans might not know that Kate’s character is based on the struggles with weight that Fogelman’s sister experienced in real life.

While Kate will shed pounds in the sophomore season as she continues her struggle on her path to health, Metz isn’t necessarily obligated to lose weight. That’s because she’s been doing it on her own already. And Fogelman seems pretty confident they can continue to play it by ear.

“Thus far, the plan we had for the character and what Chrissy’s been doing have been working in tandem, with a talk once a year of, like, ‘Hey, here’s what we’re thinking,’” Fogelman told the publication. “So we have a general long-term plan that we’ve all talked about, and we will adjust the plan as needed. I mean, that’s life, right?”

Fans might remember Metz spoke out about her weight and said Kate’s future has been a key motivation in her real-life journey.

“That was a win-win for me,” she said last year in an interview with TV Line. “Because it’s one thing to try to do it on your own. But as human beings, it’s an ego thing: We’re more likely to do something for someone else. I just have to be clear. Whether or not I lose weight or stay the same, it’s purely a choice of mine for health. Not because I think that plus size curvy, voluptuous big bodies aren’t attractive—because I think they’re awesome and sexy.”

The star has already shed more than 100 pounds.

This Is Us returns to NBC Tuesday Sept. 26 at 9/8c.

Be sure to keep up with Enstars for the latest on the cast, and more of your favorite celebrities.

Tags: this is us nbc television