How Nancy O'Dell dropped her baby weight

When it came time for Nancy O’Dell to lose her pregnancy weight, the Access Hollywood anchor asked her close friend Lisa Rinna for her personal trainer, Jeff DePeron, who has helped Nancy almost get back to her pre-pregnancy weight in just two months. The 41-year-old and mom to Ashby, 3 months, tells OK! how she did it.

On the exercise routine: Jeff’s workout regimen combines Pilates, tai chi, ballet and Olympic-style disc throwing. He and Nancy meet five days a week for one hour.

I start on the elliptical and get five minutes of warm-ups, and then we do twists, which is kind of like disc throwing. It gets your bum, your abs and your arms because you’re holding the ball at the same time. We do arms after that, but they alternate every other day. In between, I’ll go down and do push-ups. I’ll do another muscle group so that we’re not wasting any time. And the hour, believe it or not, goes by so quickly. I’ve [also] been running at least 30 minutes.

On the new diet: In the morning, it’s egg whites and Canadian bacon or Irish oatmeal. Then I’ll have a mid-morning snack: either almonds, yogurt or a piece of fruit. Lunch is usually some kind of chicken or fish with lettuce. I have a mid-afternoon snack — which we’ve since cut out — a few pieces of turkey, or some king of protein like peanut butter, and then dinner is chicken and vegetables.

On cheat foods: Nancy couldn’t resist her mother-in-law’s rice pilaf and Coke.

I confessed to Jeff that it’s really hard for me to cut out Coca-Cola. He said try to limit it to half a can a day.

On the weight loss: Nancy admits to have been "a little worried" about losing weight because of Hollywood standards.

I put on 30 pounds, and I’ve taken off 28. I want to get back to where I was before I got pregnant, and I’d like to [lose] five more. I’m fine with being a size six. I’m tall, and I’ve got hips. My husband [Keith Zubchevich] likes to see the curves. He made me feel good because I was walking around naked, and he’s like, ‘You’re looking good.’

On motherhood: It’s been the most wonderful experience. When I wake up in the morning and I see her, it’s like a Christmas present.

Source: OK!, October 1 issue, pg 68-69

Comments

Her diet sounds like a good healthy one. You can’t even tell she has two pounds to lose, she looked thin when I saw her on emmy night. She gained a healthy amount of weight, 30lbs is not bad at all. Nancy is a beautiful lady.

- gabriella on September 20th, 2007

“I’m fine with being a size six” Give me a break!

- Lily on September 20th, 2007

wow i sure hope she isn’t nursing. no wonder she lost so much weight, being on such a low calorie diet, she was probably starving! dieting like that while breastfeeding is a big no-no, she is missing some essential nutrients for baby. if she is working with professionals, then there is no was she dieted like that while breastfeeding, so good for her for the weight loss!

Sarah’s note: She is nursing and plans to do so for at least 6 months and hopefully a year if she can. Hopefully she figures out the diet in relation to that!

- tamara on September 20th, 2007

oh goodness…the deception continues. if anyone watched the Emmys, one could see that Nancy is not back to her pre-baby weight yet. No offense, it’s just that the “Jeff DePeron, who has helped Nancy almost get her pre-pregnancy body back in just two months” part really irks me.

Hollywood needs to stop feeding this sick race for women to starve themselves after giving birth–not literally always, but too quickly, IMO. I know Nancy’s in the public eye, but…

there are women out there who beating themselves up enough as it is. i refuse to buy into this sham “I-lost-my-baby-weight-in-two-months” stuff.

- sinclair on September 20th, 2007

It’s always brave when a woman publicly announces how much she weighs or how much she gained during pregnancy. And Nancy looks terrific. But I sure hope her diet has some large portions, because it sounds ridiculously strict.

- emily on September 20th, 2007

If we could all afford personal trainers, personal chefs and nannies we should all be able to obtain our pre-baby weight. The truth of the matter is Hollywood has set unrealistic goals for women for years. The insult continues with these women that insisit on forcing their bodies to change in two months when it took nine months for their bodies to get that way. No matter how healthy the diet it is an un-healthy practice. There is a major health crisis both with people being overweight and underweight. Having the Mothers of Hollywood blaring in our faces definetly exacerbates the situation. I wish we had more “realistic” women in the entertainment industry.

- Karen on September 20th, 2007

Her diet is good, I work in a gym so I know. She is eating 3 healthy meals including chicken, turkey, vegetables, eggs, and 2 mid snacks of healthy things of like fruit and yogurt, so she is not starving herself, if your gonna lose weight this is the healthy way to do it by not eating junk. She is a lady that has always worked out and ate healthy, so I’m not surprised she is doing it now. As for her saying she is fine being a size 6, size 6 isn’t big especially for nancy who isn’t that short. Anyway nancy looked great while pregnant, and looks great now IMO.

- gabriella on September 20th, 2007

Did she really say shes happy being a size 6? These women are suppose to be role models for us….My son i 20 months and i’m a size 8…which is great i’m happy with that…but to make it seem that woman cant be happy unless they are a 0 or 2 is terrible.

- Heather on September 20th, 2007

You stole the words out of my mouth Lily = )

- Andrea on September 20th, 2007

Starving herself…RIGHT. Ladies, you cannot honestly believe eating veggies and produce is starving yourself. The problem with the American obesity epidemic is that people have lost all sense about what’s healthy and what’s not.

Eating veggies and produce to lose weight equals good. Consuming ice cream and tacos to feel better about gaining so much during your pregnancy equals not so good. I’m glad that she is losing weight the healthy way. Her exercise routine is no more than what is prescribed by the medical community for all people, not just those losing baby weight.

- Annie on September 20th, 2007

Wow, this little post and comments really has my head spinning. I gained 30 and 28 lbs. with my two pregnancies and came home from the hospital in my regular jeans. I pay attention to my body and try to treat it well. I do exercise about 150 minutes per week – not much time at all – and try to focus meals on healthy foods, especially when I’m pregnant because I feel so much better when I do. I eat sweets and drink soda but also exercise control. Good genes help, too. However, I do think everyone can stay healthy and fit during and especially after pregnancy if they truly desire it. And, size is just a number. Looking and feeling the way you want is what counts. I am disconcerted that Nancy O’Dell seems to be a bit disappointed in being a size six. Let me tell you sister, you are my height and six is a good number for you. Anything less than a four is too small. Trim and fit is wonderful and beautiful. Protruding bones are not!

- perfectsadie on September 20th, 2007

I totally agree with your entire post annie.

- gabriella on September 20th, 2007

Hollywood is as twisted as ever C’mon Nancy, you know you’ve sneaked a piece of buttered toast or two!

- Sasha on September 20th, 2007

Nancy looks better than ever, radiant, healthier and fit.
Her diet is a high protein, low fat and with the right kind of carbs, promoting a healthy function of her body while losing the pregnancy weight. Her exercise routine is excellent. She’s been working with a fitness expert who knows what he’s doing.
It’s time for women to eat right.
Food is not an emotional supplement — instead it’s fuel for the body
Nancy rocks.

- JH on September 20th, 2007

It is good for women to take care of themselves during pregnancy and after. I did with my first baby and am now doing my best with my second pregnancy. But I must agree with the posters who said that comments like this put waaaaay too much pressure on the average postpartum woman who barely has time to wash her hair, let alone hit the gym right away. New babies also financially tap out many people, so hiring a trainer, dietician, etc. is often not in the cards. I admire celebs like Debra Messing and Jennifer Garner who took their time with their baby weight and who instead focused on what is most important.

- BostonMom on September 21st, 2007