OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett took his weight-loss message to the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Thursday and said Oklahoma City residents have lost more than 8,000 pounds since he encouraged a citywide diet.

Cornett is getting national attention since challenging the city to lose a total of 1 million pounds as a New Year's resolution.

He said nearly 10,000 people have registered on a Web site to help track their weight loss.

Cornett said he's lost 38 pounds since starting a fitness program eight months ago.

"Everybody always wants to feed the mayor. Everywhere I'd go, people were offering me food, and I was gaining five pounds a year as mayor. And finally one day, I said, 'It's about what you eat. I've got to watch what I eat and eat less.' If I'm going to be speaking on obesity, I better be a better example," he said.

The mayor also gave DeGeneres a proclamation declaring Jan. 26 -- her 50th birthday -- as Ellen DeGeneres Day in Oklahoma City.

For the record, there was no dancing because DeGeneres was not feeling well.