Celebrities who've bounced back after pregnancy
Kate HudsonWhen actress Kate Hudson had her first son Ryder in January 2004 she struggled to lose the excess baby weight she had gained. But with her second child she didn't gain as much weight so it was easier to shift. She did this by taking daily exercise and following a strict eating regimen. She followed a low carb, high protein diet plan of about 1,500 calories a day and her exercise routine included cardio, yoga and pilates.
Health and fitness consultant James King says of her choice to use pilates to get back into shape: "Pilates is unique in that it changes your body shape without necessarily affecting your weight significantly but rather improving your posture. Weight loss is not one of the 'most efficient' benefits of Pilates."
Jessica AlbaActress Jessica Alba gave birth to her second child Haven in August and has been spotted on the red carpet looking back in shape. Jessica puts it down to good old-fashioned working out using an exercise bike and elliptical machine. She said 'I didn't gain too much this time so that made a difference and I started working out as my doctor said it was fine. I try to be healthy and balanced. I have definitely not lost the baby weight but it's coming off slowly but surely. I don't weigh myself. I just see what clothes fit.'
Victoria BeckhamVictoria runs up to five miles each morning which is a sure-fire way to blast away excess baby fat. But health and fitness consultant James King says: 'If five miles sounds unrealistic to you then utilise the time versus intensity trade off, perhaps run two to four miles but at a higher intensity. In addition resistance training will act as a catalyst to getting your body back in top shape.'
Mariah CareyPop diva Mariah Carey piled on the pounds when she was pregnant with her twins Moroccan and Monroe, but six months after giving birth she has already lost an amazing 70lb! The singer credits her weight loss to the Jenny Craig diet, which she is now an ambassador for, which meant sticking to a 1,500-calories-a-day menu and working out three times a week. Talking about her weight loss, Mariah said: 'I'm proud of how hard I worked to get my body back...I had to do this for me.'
Mel BMel B is another celebrity who enlisted the help of weight loss company Jenny Craig to help her lose the weight she gained while pregnant with her third child. The singer was keen to get her fab figure back after 'pigging out' during her pregnancy.
A month after giving birth Mel tweeted that she was running to get back into shape: 'Just ran 5miles that's 8.8kms on my 7 day training in 10 months after having my baby 4 weeks ago, now come on my peeps let's get the fat off.' But while she may have been getting fit she also wanted to start eating much more sensibly. Talking of why she joined the Jenny Craig programme Mel said 'I have already been exercising but what I need is a little push to help me start eating sensibly.'
Miranda KerrShe may be a model but Miranda Kerr has been looking in fantastic shape since giving birth to her son Flynn earlier this year. And she puts it down to healthy eating and practising yoga.
Health and fitness consultant James King says: 'Yoga is not as effective as cardiovascular or resistance training for weight loss. However, it is a great way to detox and combat stress, which will certainly aid your weight loss programme - your body will resist burning fat when your mind is stressed; get your head right and your body will follow.'
Miranda follows a 'metabolic typing' diet, which proposes we each have a unique metabolic type and that the nutrients appropriate for one may be inappropriate for another. A number of different metabolic typing diet plans are currently marketed despite the lack of scientific rigour behind the claims. Jame King suggests following principles to get your diet on track: eat within thirty minutes of waking, include protein with each meal, eat at least three meals a day, avoid eating carbohydrate with your evening meal and avoid any liquid calories.
Kelly Preston
Don't hate on them because they're famous. And rich. Hate on them because they look so darn good so soon after having kids ... Kelly Preston may have gotten pregnant at age 48, but she didn't let that stop her from dropping the baby weight - and more! 'I lost 39 lbs., have more energy than I had 20 years ago - and I feel amazing!' the actress, who gave birth to son Benjamin Travolta in fall 2010, tells People. Check out these other star mamas who made losing their post-baby weight look like no sweat ...
Jennifer ConnellyJennifer Connelly's shed the baby weight for the third time and she's wearing the sheer to prove it. Connelly stepped out on Sept. 20 looking fabulous just 3 months after giving birth to Agnes Lark. The 40-year-old mother of three welcomed her baby girl into the world on May 31.
Tina FeyTina Fey's post-baby body is no laughing matter! Back in April, Fey was stopping by the 'Late Show' sporting a baby bump. On August 10, Fey gave birth to baby girl, Penelope Athena. In true star-studded form, Fey stepped out at the Emmy's just 5 weeks later looking fit and fabulous.
Danica McKellar The Wonder Years' star, Danica McKellar may have gained 40 pounds while pregnant, but she's since lost nearly all of it, thanks to her healthy diet, breastfeeding, and doing yoga as well as other exercises.
Doutzen KroesJust eight weeks after giving birth, Dutch beauty Doutzen Kroes hit the beach to show off her amazing bikini body. Kroes gave birth to Phyllon Gorre on January 21 and was back to work with her incredible post-baby bod on March 22.
Alicia KeysAll in a matter of 4 months, a very pregnant Alicia Keys hit the red carpet in September, gave birth to son Egypt Daoude in October, and was back to flaunting her bod by December 1, 2010.
Amy AdamsAmy Adams looked just about ready to pop at the 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar party in March 2010. On May 15, Adams and Darren Legallo welcomed their first child, Aviana Olea Legallo, to the world. The next time she walked the red carpet at the 2011 SAG Awards, Amy Adams was looking white-hot in a form-fitting gown.
Claudia SchifferClaudia Schiffer's nothing short of a model mother. At 39-years-old Schiffer gave birth to her third child in May 2010. By October, Schiffer was slimmed back down to model material.
Bethenny FrankelBack in March 2010, Bethenny Frankel was sporting her bump. She gave birth on May 8 to baby girl, Bryn Hoppy. While she opted for a modest one-piece, Frankel's bod was beach ready by the time June 8 rolled around.
Jenna ElfmanJenna Elfman gave birth on March 2, 2010 to baby boy Easton Quinn Monroe Elfman. We think it's less 'Accidentally' and more on 'Purpose' that Elfman dropped all the baby weight in less than half a year.
Amanda Peet Amanda Peet gave birth to her second daughter, Molly June Benioff on April 19, 2010. Within 8 days she was walking the red carpet to promote her upcoming film at the time.
Alyson HanniganAlyson Hannigan gave birth on March 24, 2009 to baby girl, Satyana Denisof - the same day as her 35th birthday. Not only does Hannigan look ageless, she also looks flawless dropping her baby weight in less than half a year.
Victoria's Secret AngelMost women couldn't pull off a Herve Leger bandage dress normally, let alone a mere 4 months after giving birth! Not only did she lose the weight after having son Benjamin in record time, but the Victoria's Secret Angel, 29, seen above, left, at 7-month-pregnant, didn't even pack on the pounds like regular folks. Gisele, it's okay to indulge in a hot fudge sundae when you're preggers -- it's the perfect excuse.
Kendra WilkinsonReality TV star Kendra Wilkinson seen above, left, at 7-months pregnant, may be stressing about losing the baby weight on her E! show, 'Kendra,' but the new mama was looking as fit as ever on March 16 -- just 3 months after welcoming son Hank Baskett IV on Dec. 11, 2009.
Jennifer Hudson'Dreamgirls' star Jennifer Hudson showed off her bump at Michael Jackson's memorial service in Los Angeles in June. The Grammy Award-winning singer, who was 8-months pregnant at the time, gave birth to son David Daniel Otunga less than 2 months later on Aug. 10. But Jennifer, who's engaged to pro-wrestler David Otunga, brought her trademark curves back at the Whitney Museum Gala on Oct. 19. In fact, these days the songstress is looking better than ever these days with her newly svelte frame.
Padma LakshmiTop Chef' host Padma Lakshmi may have had a bun in the oven, but you'd never be able to tell by looking at her! The beauty, seen above, left in November, 2009, gave birth 3 months after this photo was taken to daughter Krishna Thea Lakshmi. But in less than a month the TV personality was back to her slim self, leaving onlookers stunned.
Rebecca Gayheart Actress Rebecca Gayheart seen here at 8-months-pregnant on Feb. 8, gave birth to daughter Billie Beatrice on March 3, but was spotted looking super-svelte just a month later on April 6.
Kourtney KardashianKeeping Up with the Kardashian' star Kourtney Kardashian looked ready to pop at 7-months-pregnant on Oct. 9, 2009. But after giving birth to son Mason Dash Disick on Dec. 14, the eldest Kardashian sister got her bikini bod back in no time, gracing the cover of People magazine's April 2 issue.
Victoria's Secret model Karolina Kurkova Victoria's Secret model Karolina Kurkova gave birth at the end of October, but you'd never guess based on the stunning figure she flaunted at the amfAR NY Gala on Feb. 10. The model and 'G.I. Joe' star, seen above left on Sept. 21 at eight months pregnant, and her fiance Archie Drury, welcomed Tobin Jack Drury on Oct. 29
Camila AlvesCamila Alves didn't just lose her baby weight in record time, she started hosting her own reality show, Bravo's 'Shear Genius,' in what seems like seconds after giving birth. Matthew McConaughey's sexy girlfriend, pictured above left on Sept. 7, welcomed daughter Vida Alves McConaughey on Jan. 3.
Leelee SobieskiHow did she do it?! Actress Leelee Sobieski gave birth on Dec. 16, but is already as trim as ever at the screening of HBO's 'How to Make it in America' on Feb. 9. This is the first child for Sobieski, 26, and her fashion designer fiance, Adam Kimmel.
Ellen PompeoGrey's Anatomy' star Ellen Pompeo is known for her slight frame -- and, despite giving birth to daughter Stella Luna on Sept. 15, the actress is spotted back in her slim-fitting jeans on Feb.4.
Julie ChenJulie Chen spent all summer hosting 'Big Brother' while her baby bump grew and grew. But after giving birth to son Charlie Moonves on Sept. 24, the CBS morning show host didn't waste any time losing the baby weight. The TV personality, nicknamed 'The Chenbot' by fans because she never appears to age, showed off her slim figure at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Extraordinary Measures' on Jan. 19, 2010.
Heidi KlumHeidi Klum's done it again! Just five weeks after giving birth to daughter Lou Samuel, the supermodel is back to her bangin' bod just in time to host the Victoria's Secret Fashion show on Nov. 19. While Klum claims she still has 20 lbs. to lose, she looked as fit as ever in a body-hugging leather dress she donned for the after party.
Klum set the precedent for model post-baby weight loss when she hit the 2005 Victoria’s Secret runway show (above, center) less than two months after giving birth to son Henry in Sept. 2005. The 'Project Runway' host’s trainer, David Kirsch, told the Daily News in December 2008, that Klum lost the weight through intense cardio workouts, circuit training and a strict diet.
Nicole RichieReality show star Nicole Richie showed off her baby bump in August at the launch of her new maternity clothing line in Beverly Hills. But after giving birth to son Sparrow James, her second child with rocker beau Joel Madden, on Sept. 9, Richie was back to her usual pin-thin self in just two weeks. Above, right, the starlet looks slender on Oct. 18.
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire Slayer' is now one sexy mom! Sarah Michelle Gellar couldn't hide her pregnancy forever, and gave paps a peek at her burgeoning bump on Aug. 19. Gellar, 32, who's been married to actor Freddie Prinze Jr. since 2002, gave birth a month later on Sept. 19, and had her pre-baby body back in the blink of an eye. The actress dropped the lbs. in record time, debuting her post-baby bod while out in Los Angeles on Oct. 16.
Kelly RutherfordGossip Girl' actress Kelly Rutherford could hardly contain her belly on May 2, and gave birth less than a month later to daughter Helena Grace. Despite a nasty custody battle over son Hermes, 2, with her estranged husband Daniel Giersch, the actress still found time to get back into shape, showing off her svelte self at an event on Oct. 19.
Ana Ortiz 'Ugly Betty' actress Ana Ortiz showed off her burgeoning bump at her baby shower in NYC on June 16. She and her musician hubby, Noah Lebenzon, welcomed their first child, Paloma Louise Lebenzon, on June 28. The actress was back in her 'Betty' character's sexy little outfits just two months later, and showed off her stunning figure at an event on Aug. 25.
Gwen StefaniRocker Gwen Stefani said ‘Hey Baby!’ to son Zuma Nesta Rock, her second child with fellow musician hubby Gavin Rossdale. (The rock royalty couple also have a son, Kingston.) While there's no doubt Gwen embraced her pregnancy curves, above, she made an awe-inspiring transformation, taking the stage with her band No Doubt in July to flaunt a stomach of steel. Her tummy's so tight she could wash the kids' clothes on her washboard abs!
Model Alessandra AmbrosioModel Alessandra Ambrosio showed off her killer body at the 2008 Victoria Secret Fashion Show in Miami Beach, Fla. - only three months after giving birth to daughter Anja. According to her personal trainer, Leandro Carvalho, Ambrosio 'had to pay the price' for indulging in rich Brazilian food and ice cream during her pregnancy, working it off by sweating through Carvalho’s special Brazilian Buttlift workout – a combination of ballet, squats, lunges and capoeira – for two hours a day.
Nicole RichieNicole Richie went from late-night partying to early-morning diaper changing when she and rocker boyfriend Joel Madden welcomed their daughter Harlow in Jan. 2008. Her barely-there baby weight, which she flaunted (above, left) one month earlier, was gone within no time when she stepped out in Nov. 2008 with no flab in sight.
Grammy Award-winner Christina AguileraGrammy Award-winner Christina Aguilera left her 'dirrty' days behind her in 2008, welcoming a baby boy named Max Liron. The Staten Island-born songstress and her husband Jordan Bratman tried to keep her pregnancy under wraps, but after being outed by Paris Hilton on MTV, Aguilera went really public and posed nude on the cover of Marie Claire. The singer (pictured, right) showed off her newly toned bod in August of 2008, seven months after giving birth.
Jenna JamesonAdult film star Jenna Jameson may have given birth in March 2009, but that sure didn't stop her from baring it all for Playboy just four months later! Jameson, 25, and boyfriend Tito Ortiz welcomed twin boys, Jesse Jameson and Journey Jett, on March 16, 2009. The new mom credited her post-baby bod to her vegetarian diet and paddle surfing. Above, Jenna shows off her burgeoning bump in Jan. 2009, but was back to her super-skinny self in June of that same year.
Jennifer LopezJennifer Lopez is renowned for her curves. But during her 2007 'El Cantante' tour, it was the round mound protruding from the front side of J.Lo's body that had people buzzing. Seen above just days before giving birth to twins Max and Emme in Feb. 2008, the sexy songstress debuted a perfect hour-glass figure ten months later at the premiere of 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.'
Britney SpearsAn 8-months pregnant Britney Spears strutted across the stage at the 2006 Teen Choice Awards, a mere month before the pop star gave birth to her and then-hubby Kevin Federline's second son, Jayden James. While the star flaunted her pregnancy curves in a nude cover of Harper's Bazaar, the real shocker came when she showed up looking fit and fabulous at the American Music Awards just eight weeks after delivering Sean Preston's baby brother.
Angelina JolieAngelina Jolie looked like she was ready to pop at the Cannes Film Festival in May, 2008. And pop she did, giving birth via C-section just two months later on July 12. Twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline joined the burgeoning Pitt-Jolie brood, consisting of Papa Brad, Angie, their biological daughter Shiloh, and the A-list couple's three adopted children, Maddox, Pax, and Zahara. But the angelic beauty slimmed down and showed off her skinny frame at the premiere of her beau's flick, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' in late 2008.
Halle BerryA seven-month-pregnant Halle Berry still managed to rock the red carpet, and in a pair of strappy heels to boot on Jan. 5, 2008. The Oscar-winning actress and longtime beau Gabriel Aubrey welcomed daughter Nahla on March 16. Berry wasted no time in getting back her Bond girl body to be named Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive for 2008, gracing the mag's cover in little more than a shirt and tie just six months after giving birth. Yowza!
Ashlee SimpsonAshlee Simpson-Wentz’s enormous baby bump turned heads at the 2008 MTV VMAs on Sept. 7, as the red-headed starlet eagerly anticipated the birth of her first child. The then-24-year-old actress/singer gave birth to son Bronx Mowgli on Nov. 20, 2008, but was back to her svelte self this past March to walk the red carpet at the MTV Australia Awards in Sydney, Aust. Now that's a quick turnaround!
Katie PriceBritish lingerie model Katie Price (aka Jordan) is actually a mother of three. Price and her now-estranged husband, pop singer Peter Andre, welcomed their first son, Junior Andre, on June 13, 2005. The buxom Brit also has a son Harvey, now 7, from a previous relationship. Price and Andre later had a daughter, Princess Tiaamii Crystal Esther Andre, in 2007. On April 20, 2005, the model's larger-than-life chest actually made her baby bump look comparatively small, despite the fact that she was seven months pregnant at the time. But in the blink of an eye, Price was back in her trademark skimpy attire - albeit with a new hair hue - in October 2005, despite having given birth a mere four months earlier.
Amy PoehlerFor 'Baby Mama' star Amy Poehler, life imitated art when the comedienne welcomed Archie Arnett, her first child with hubby Will Arnett, on Oct. 25, 2008. Poehler worked throughout her pregnancy, and even walked the red carpet at the Emmy Awards just a month before she was due. Ever the trooper, the former 'SNL' funnywoman managed to be back in top form just in time for the L.A. premiere of new NBC show, "Parks and Recreation" on April 9, 2009
Melissa Joan HartShe may be a former teenage witch, but it took more than magic for Melissa Joan Hart to drop the 42 pounds she gained during her pregnancy, as shown above at the Grammys in Feb. 2008. The former 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' star and mother of two got serious about dropping the extra weight, which she did with the help of a nutritionist and a personal trainer. 'I realized I didn't have to be heavy just because I have kids,' she told People. Hart's hard work certainly paid off, as she looked bewitching by May 2009.
Nicole KidmanNicole Kidman booted her baby bump in record time! A mere 10 days after delivering her daughter, Sunday Rose, on July 7, 2008, Kidman was snapped getting out of her car in Nashville with not even a hint that she'd ever been preggers. During her pregnancy, Kidman reportedly kept herself in tip top shape, doing weight training, yoga, power-walking, aerobic cycling, and even worked with a trainer five times a week. Nicole was back to her slim self just in time to promote her movie, 'Australia' and looked phenomenal at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards on Nov. 10.(Above, l-r) A seven-months-pregnant Kidman poses for photographers at the CMAs on May 18, 2008.
Naomi WattsNaomi Watts looked like she was about to pop in October 2008, but it wasn’t until two months later that she and beau Liev Shreiber welcomed their second child, son Samuel Kai Shreiber. The British-Australian actress kept her weight loss regime simple, telling People mag that breast-feeding helped her shed her extra weight. 'He’s sucking it all out of me, it seems. And when the baby comes out, it’s a lot of weight right there.'
Keri RussellFormer 'Felicity' leading lady, Keri Russell, considered herself lucky that her pregnancy experience was 'life-changing,' but her real luck was her effortless post-baby weight loss. The actress, pictured above at five-months-pregnant at the April 2007 premiere of her flick, 'Waitress,' and husband Shane Deary welcomed their first child, a son, River Russell Deary, on June 9. The actress was spotted toting baby River around New York City looking enviably fit and fabulous just two weeks after giving birth and debuted her slim figure at the Oscars in Feb. 2008.. Russell told the Daily News in a November 2007 interview, 'Normally I would say it's because I work out. But it's not even that. I just don't have the time. Breast-feeding burns off a lot of calories. I'm still doing that.'
Cate Blanchett Cate Blanchett strutted down the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2008 (above, r.) showing no signs that she had a baby just a month earlier. The Australian actress looked lovely in a ruffled peach Armani Prive gown in her first red carpet appearance since the delivery. Blanchett’s toned tummy was quite an accomplishment considering she gave birth to son Ignatius Martin on April 13. Ignatius is the third child for the Oscar-winning actress and her husband Andrew Upton. Even at eight months pregnant, Cate made sure to attend the Oscars, looking absolutely glowing on the Feb. 24 red carpet
Jessica AlbaJessica Alba may look like she bounced back from baby in no time at all, but the sexy actress revealed the sneaky secret to her post-baby body success ... and it didn't include hours at the gym. 'I wore a girdle,' the 'Fantastic Four' star and wife of Cash Warren admitted in the March issue of Elle magazine. Above, left, Alba, who looked radiant at six-months-pregnant on March 4, 2008, gave birth to daughter Honor Marie on June 7, 2008. Girdle or no girdle, the actress looked stunning five months after baby on Nov. 13.
Jennifer GarnerJennifer Garner didn't let being seven months pregnant stop her from cheering on hubby Ben Affleck's beloved Red Sox on Oct. 1, 2005. Jen gave birth to the couple's first daughter, Violet, exactly two months later. But the au-natural stunner, who hit it big with a starring role in 'Alias,' showed she could clean up like a pro when she walked the red carpet just three months later at the 2006 Oscars
Marcia CrossAfter giving birth to fraternal twin girls, Eden and Savannah, on Feb. 20, 2007, 'Desperate Housewives' star Marcia Cross lost no time in dropping the pounds. Just three months after her delivery, the 45-year-old actress told People she had nearly reached her target weight, saying, 'I'm still working on it, but it's happening a lot faster than I expected.' Cross credits her stockbroker husband, Tom Maloney, as well as exercise DVDs and gym workouts for her post-pregnancy slim down. Above, left, a 6-month-pregnant Marcia on Nov. 30, 2006; right, Marcia's a proud mama on Oct. 16, 2007.
Melania TrumpPregnancy obviously suits Melania Trump, whose usual pout was replaced by a beaming smile at a Nov. 17 event in NYC. And it seems the Donald is quite a lucky man! Mrs. Trump gave birth to the couple's first child, Barron William Trump, on March 20, 2006, and was already looking like a million bucks at the Oct. 26 launch of Trump Super Premium Vodka in NYC. Now that's something to toast to!
ToriAbove, left, a 6-months-pregnant Tori posed at a signing for her book 'Stori Telling' on March 14, 2008 in West Hollywood. The actress shed the excess baby weight gained during her second pregnancy, but has frequently been scrutinized as to whether she's gone too far in her dieting. Above, right, the mother of two looked scary skinny on April 13, 2009 at a party for the release of her second book, 'Mommywood' in Beverly Hills, Calif.