HOLY HOTNESS!
Simpson shed 100 pounds in record time. Harley Pasternak tells Us her painless plan
Jessica Simpson’s trainer tells Us how the singer dropped 100 pounds.
Slow and steady wins the race — at least, that’s how the saying goes. But for Jessica Simpson, her astounding weight loss after giving birth to Birdie in March was fast and furious.
Best of all, it was healthy! Simpson’s longtime trainer and founder of Sweetkick, the sugar-control mint, Harley Pasternak, tells Us the star didn’t aim to lose 100 pounds in six months — dropping from 240 to 140 — rather, she changed her habits and the results followed. He tells Us how she shed pounds wisely.
What were Jessica’s specific goals?
HP Our goal was to create
great, sustainable habits.
I’ve never weighed a client in my entire life — the number on the scale is a by-product of all the habits.
One of those habits is getting in 12,000 steps a day. Where did that number come from?
HP I traveled to the 10 healthiest countries in the world and the only things they have in common are low-sugar diets and walking. They all walk over 11,000 steps a day. That was the principle I brought back for my clients.
As a busy entrepreneur and mom [she and hubby Eric Johnson are also parents to Maxwell, 7, and Ace, 6], how does Simpson make sure to get her steps in every day?
HP In Italy, people do what’s called
a passeggiata, where after dinner, every family goes out for a walk in the neighborhood. Jessica has used that as quality time with her family or friends instead of social plans that involve sitting. If she wants to watch something or make a phone call, she can go on the treadmill in a pair of jeans. It’s just about hitting that step goal.
Are there any particular workouts that were key?
HP It’s not about the workouts. You don’t lose weight doing biceps curls and lunges. You lose weight by changing your diet, hitting your step goal, working on your sleep; those were the things she did so well.
Accountability can be hard. How did you deal with that?
HP We had a nightly email. My clients send me an email before they go to bed. I ask them: Did you hit your step goal? Did you hit your sleep goal? Did you hit your unplugged goal? Did you hit your food goal? The extent that you check “yes” gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Is there a particular food plan she followed?
HP It’s the principles of the
Body Reset Diet [Pasternak’s 2013 book]: three meals and two snacks a day with protein, fiber and healthy fat. And there’s no room for alcohol if you want to lose weight.
How can the rest of us match her success?
HP If you’re up at 6 a.m., walk for an hour. If you have a lunch break, walk for 40 minutes and eat for 20. And after dinner, take your family for a walk around the neighborhood. On weekends, just do the best you can.