Debra Messing: I Was Depressed After Seeing Myself in Magazines

Courtesy Shape

After a three-year weightloss journey — with defining moments of devastation balanced by determination — that began after the birth of her son, Debra Messing was thrilled to have accomplished her goal. "I’ve finally taken ownership of my body," reveals a proud Debra in the new issue of Shape magazine. However, the joy has not come without a price; the 40-year-old actress admits her heartache over being constantly scrutinized by the media shortly after welcoming Roman Walker, now 4 ½.

"It was written about in the tabloids a lot. On one page it showed all the actresses who got skinny in six weeks or less, and on the other page was me! I was so depressed and frustrated."

According to Debra, what the public was not privy to was the fact that she was working hard with a personal trainer all while trying to balance the demands of a career and a newborn baby. While the trainer "helped me drop the first few pounds," the actress soon plateaued as a result of pure exhaustion. Realizing she was unable to adhere to a three hour workout routine plus fulfill her other responsibilities, Debra "took the pressure off" and relaxed. "I cut back on seeing the trainer, but started eating healthier."

Incorporating her new healthy lifestyle into her daily routines with Roman has been easier than Debra thought. As the mother and son "ride bikes, play soccer, and swim" together, Debra admits that she has managed to "trick my body into working out while doing all the fun activities" the family loves. Excited with their on-the-go living in New York City — including long walks in the local parks — the actress is hopeful that along with a new healthy perspective will come a chance for her and her husband Daniel Zelman to have some quality alone time together. "We’ve been working for so long and so hard, it’s been impossible to plan. My ideal date with Daniel would be a spectacular meal, maybe Italian, followed by dancing. That’s a New Year’s resolution I’m looking forward to!" 

Source: Shape

Comments

As I man I feel uncomfortable with the fact the CBB decided to use mrs. Mesinger as a role model – she should NOT be an example of what ladies should look like. An actess starving herself to death just becausee the tabloids put her in a page opposite to a skinny girl does not serve the casue and shouldn;t be cited.

- jeff gerber on November 25th, 2008

I thought she looked amazing!!!
I tend to do a double take when I see new celeb moms stick thin or with little weight on them after giving birth (it’s like they only had a pillow for the bump effect and not the real thing).
Genes will be genes though, but all beauty is natural.

- kelpy on November 25th, 2008

It’s a shame that celeb moms have to worry about their insane quick weight loss while it should be all about the baby.

- Artemis on November 25th, 2008

It’s a shame that she felt so bad. She was so thin pre-pregnancy that she looked to be a “normal” weight for non-pregnant women, post-partum.

- Cheryl on November 25th, 2008

OMG..Shape magazine is awful. I’m sorry. I take every cover of theirs with a grain of salt, since they are so heavy-handed with the airbrushing and photoshopping. Despite their title, that magazine does more harm than good for womens’ psyches, particularly new moms (*WTE of their healthy recipes and workout tips). I canceled it a while ago. A magazine which purports to be about health and well-being yet continues to display artificial size-one coverwomen is not one I want whose circulation I want to boost.

- sinclair on November 25th, 2008

I actually think she looks better since she’s given birth, she has nice curves now. It’s sad how celebs feel pressure to lose the weight so fast after giving birth.

- NELLA on November 26th, 2008

Debra looks wonderful. I read here (www.projectweightloss.com) about how she decided not to go the traditional Hollywood way to lose weight after giving birth to her son and, wow, she sure lost a lot of pounds.

- Helen J. on December 10th, 2008