LOL! Simon Cowell may be dedicated to his new life as a strict vegan, but there are just a few things the iconic TV personality isn’t willing to give up. While stopping by The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday, September 3, the former American Idol judge opened up about his new health kick and revealed it doesn’t stop him from smoking or drinking.

“I went to see this doctor in London. We did some tests. And then a month later he said, ‘You have the worst diet I’ve ever met from any patient,'” Simon, 59, recalled to Ellen DeGeneres after she pointed out his inspiring weight loss journey. “So I went, ‘OK, out of the smoking, the drinking, and diet, what do I have to drop?’ And he said, ‘The diet.’ So I said, ‘I’m in!'”

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Simon explained that even though he’s still still drinking and smoking, he’s been able to get his weight down by avoiding “pretty much all the things I loved” — which include dairy, sugar, bread, gluten and red meat. Since his journey began earlier this year, the America’s Got Talent star has already lost at least 20 lbs. Wow!

Although changing his diet might sound hard, Simon told the TV host that it was actually “easier than I thought.” He also revealed the super sweet reason why he even decided to jump on his new journey to a healthier life.

“Part of the reason I did it was because of Eric,” the X Factor judge admitted of his 5-year-old son, Eric, with whom he shares with longtime partner Laura Silverman. “I realized if I didn’t sort myself out physically, I wouldn’t be able to catch up with him. Because the minute he gets up to the minute he goes to sleep … their energy, you forget, at 5-years-old, is phenomenal.” Aww!

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This isn’t the first time Simon opened up about his brand new diet. While chatting about his weight loss journey in May, the beloved reality TV star revealed he’s trying to get a head start on his health so he can be around for Eric in the future.

As Simon previously gushed to Us Weekly, “[Time flies] like you wouldn’t believe. I said to someone the other day, ‘It’s much easier than I thought,’” he once said about fatherhood and his growing little boy. “And then you can’t imagine ever not having him … It’s the most amazing feeling.”

Keep it up, Simon, you look amazing!