KIRSTIE'S BIG FAT DISASTER

Kirstie Alley's desperate new weight-loss attempt will be featured on TV - but it's already turned into a humiliating disaster that drove her to a breakdown, say sources.

The ex-Cheers star announced in early November that she's planning to shed her extra pounds while taping a new A&E reality show that will document her struggle to rein in her out-of-control appetite.

The 5-foot-8 actress bragged earlier this year that she'd already lost 20 pounds using her personally designed diet and exercise program.

But before starting work on her new show, she was horrified to discover she'd gained back the 20 pounds - and then some!

"Kirstie completely broke down when she weighed in for her new show," revealed an insider.

"She confessed, 'Oh, my God, I've been living a lie,'" after realizing she had packed on the extra weight in little over a month.

The 58-year-old star also planned to unveil a companion diet-and-exercise system - but her diet has been such a nightmare that she had to push back its release from November to the end of December.

"Kirstie is beginning to realize she's been living in denial for years," said the insider.

"If she can't start dropping the pounds, her weight-loss program may never see the light of day.

"Who would go to a doctor who's always sick? Nobody is going to buy a weight-loss program from someone who is fat."

Kirstie went on Oprah to tout her new show about her weight-loss journey. She announced she'd already shed 20 pounds, but was going to hold off losing more until her show started.

But when she weighed in for her show, she was stunned to learn she'd gained back a little more than the 20 she'd lost, disclosed the insider.

"Kirstie hoped to maintain her weight over the past month, but because she's slacked off big-time,  she gained. She decided she deserved some well-earned treats to celebrate her career revival.

"Kirstie started baking up a storm as the holidays approached - and sampling the goods along the way. Cocoa, cookies, pies, cakes and more!"

She also pigged out on in fat-laden Chinese takeout, fried chicken and buttered popcorn.

Kirstie told fans via Twitter she began her official weight-loss program in early November - promising she'd lose between 75 and 90 pounds.

But she Tweeted on Nov. 24 that she was making homemade chicken and noodles, and later that day wrote: "I CONFESS, I SHOULD BE WORKING, but I'm too damn lazy today.

"I will go take a nap and then eat a bowl of orzo with butter on it."