Melissa Joan Hart on Her 40-Lb Weight Loss: ‘I Make Exercise a Social Event'
Melissa Joan Hart has been in the spotlight for decades, getting her start in hit 90s TV shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Clarissa Explains It All. But beyond the screen, the actress, now 48, has been open about her struggles with weight gain, especially after having children. Through a combination of portion-controlled eating, fitness routines and lifestyle changes, she successfully lost 40 pounds.. Here's what Melissa Joan Hart has shared about maintaining her weight loss and how she found body confidence.
Like many moms, Hart struggled to fit back into her pre-pregnancy clothes after welcoming her third son, Tucker, in 2012. During pregnancy, she said she gained 60 pounds and was determined to shed the weight. Here's what helped her shed pounds and keep it off.
Initially, Hart lost 30 pounds on her own before turning to Nutrisystem for additional support. Her sister-in-law, Sally Wilkerson, recommended the meal-delivery program after using it in her own weight loss journey. After joining Nutrisystem, Hart dropped another 40 pounds over two years and became a spokesperson for the brand. '[I'm] slimmer now than before the baby!' she gushed to Us Weekly in 2014.
'Programs like Nutrisystem can be effective for short-term weight loss because they simplify meal planning and portion control while emphasizing high-protein/lower-calorie meals,' explains Jennifer Habashy, NMD, MS, assistant medical director at Claya. However, she emphasizes it isn't a requirement to lose weight. 'People don't necessarily need an overly-structured program to see results, but they do need a solid understanding of balanced nutrition and mindful eating.'
Hart's success with Nutrisystem came from its portion-controlled meals, which allowed her to eat her favorite foods without guilt. 'They do healthy versions of the foods you like,' she told Us Weekly. Some of her go-to meals included a 270-calorie ricotta cheese-stuffed pasta and tortilla soup with rice, beans and corn. She also indulged in sweet treats like an almond-coconut bar reminiscent of her favorite Mounds bar and an occasional red velvet whoopie pie.
Hart emphasizes that diet plays a much bigger role in maintaining weight loss than exercise. 'You can't out-train bad nutrition. I love that saying,' she said to People in 2020, adding that 80 percent of her success comes from what she eats. In the same interview, Hart shared that her daily meals typically included Nutrisystem shakes for breakfast, salads for lunch and lean proteins like chicken or beef with vegetables for dinner.
Hart credits her weight loss success in part to making exercise quality time with friends and family. 'I make it a social event. I chitchat with friends on walks or run with my husband,' Hart told Us Weekly. She and her husband, musician Mark Wilkerson, also work out together regularly.
'Since he's such an avid workout guy, I wanted to have him train me to see how my body could shift and change,' Hart explained to People. Together, the couple dedicate an hour, three times a week, to strength training. Hart also attends cardio classes like spinning twice a week to keep her energy levels up.
'This is a good way to join together and spend time—just the two of us—away from the kids,' Wilkerson has said about their shared fitness commitment. For Hart, she found her motivation through others. 'If I've signed up for a class or I promised someone I'd be there, it just helps motivate me,' she added to People.
'Working out with a partner enhances motivation, accountability and consistency,' explains Steven Dick, co-founder of The Fitness Group. 'Research has established that individuals working out in pairs push themselves harder, resulting in improved outcomes in the long run.'
Beyond the physical transformation, Hart has been vocal about how weight loss improved her confidence and overall well-being. In a 2015 interview with E! News, she described feeling more capable of keeping up with her active lifestyle.
'It just made me happier,' she said. 'It made me feel physically and emotionally lighter to be able to do the things I wanna do, to be able to wear the clothes I wanna wear, to be able to feel sexy around my husband again. I'm very proud of myself.'
As someone who grew up in the entertainment industry, Hart has faced the pressure to look a certain way. In past interviews, she's spoken about the unrealistic expectations placed on actors, especially as they age. Hart recalled numerous occasions where she was told by agents she had to lose weight if she wanted to succeed.
'That's the hard part about the business,' she told Us Weekly in 2019. 'As you get older, it gets harder—and then you have babies! Nobody wants to see you age or see your body change.'
Despite these pressures, Hart maintains a positive body image and encourages others to focus on how they feel rather than external opinions. 'I have a really good body image. But I definitely have things I wish I could change and things I get down on myself about,' she admitted. 'But I try to put that in perspective.'
After her success with Nutrisystem, Hart turned to SlimFast, another weight loss program, to help her stay on track. As a busy mom of three, she appreciates the convenience of having quick and nutritious meal replacements available.
'If my kids are eating something I don't want, like pizza or burgers, I can have a shake, and it's satisfying,' she explained to Us Weekly. 'It gets me through the night without any cravings, and I feel so much better the next day.'
For Hart, maintaining a healthy lifestyle isn't about perfection; it's about feeling healthy from the inside out. 'Staying in shape and staying fit is so important in my life just because of all the things I want to do,' she said to E! News. Whether it's working out with her husband, indulging in a treat now and then or finding practical solutions that fit her hectic schedule, she's found a system that works for her and keeps her feeling her best.
More celebrity weight loss success stories:
Billy Gardell's 170-Lb. Weight Loss: How the 'Mike & Molly' Star Transformed His Health
John Goodman's Weight Loss Success: How the Mediterranean Diet Helped Him Shed 200 Lbs.
Melissa Peterman's Weight Loss: Why the 'Reba' Star Says the Number on the Scale Doesn't Matter
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
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