Jessica Simpson packed on the pounds during her pregnancy with daughter Maxwell Drew, by indulging in whatever she wanted -- a decision that many critics found unacceptable.
Now, four months after giving birth, the 31-year-old singer and Weight Watchers spokeswoman is working hard to shed the baby weight, but she's not having the easiest time.
Advertisement
"I let myself indulge in everything I wanted because it was the first time I was ever pregnant, and I wanted to enjoy it," Simpson told USA Today. "I wanted to be happy and eat what I wanted."
And that's not an understatement. "I had a buttered Pop Tart this morning," Simpson told "Extra" in January. "I'm eating a lot of stuff that I ate in my childhood. Kraft Mac n' Cheese, Pop Tarts, Cap'n Crunch. Everything's filled with sugar."
When Simpson gave birth on May 1, she instantly lost 9 pounds, 13 ounces, of the 40 pounds she said she gained while pregnant (though others have estimated she gained about 50 to 60 pounds), but that leaves about 30 pounds left to go.
"Just so everyone knows...Weight Watchers hasn't put ANY pressure on me! I'm trying to be as healthy as I can be for myself and I feel great!" she wrote on Twitter.
Next week, Simpson's first commercial for Weight Watchers hits the airwaves, and not surprisingly she has only glowing things to say about the company. The singer has said they haven't given her a goal or percentage she has to lose -- but it's worth noting that the company considers 117 – 146 pounds to be a healthy range for a 5-foot, 4 inch woman.
"They want me to be healthy. I've lost weight every single week" Simpson told the paper, though she wouldn't reveal exactly how much weight she's lost so far.
Simpson had nine months to indulge and now she's eating less and exercising more. The singer told the paper she's doing 60 minutes of cardio a day, but her breasts have posed a bit of a problem.
Advertisement
"My boobs are way too big to run at this point. I'm just walking," she explained.
Even if Simpson says she isn't feeling pressured to drop the weight, the pressure still exists for moms in Hollywood and the real world.
Simpson clearly does not want to be one of those women, and told the paper that losing the baby weight is challenging, but important.
"I feel like everybody can do what I am doing. I'm not a supermodel. My body is not bouncing back like a supermodel. I'm just your everyday woman who is trying to feel good and be healthy for her daughter, her fiancé and herself," she explained.
More magazine editor-in-chief Lesley Jane Seymour recently told "Good Morning America" that women need to remember celebrity moms might drop weight quickly, but they have resources that most people don't.
“[Celebrities] have $40,000 exercising gurus. You’re not being paid for that. That is not your job. They have to get in shape in two weeks because they’ve got to go on the set. That is not the normal human being," she explained.
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.