Do you want to know more about the inspiring Melissa Peterman weight loss journey? The American actress began her career with a small role in the 1996 crime movie, Fargo. Since then, she has appeared in many television series and risen to a household name in American TV. Most people recognize her for her roles in sitcoms like Reba and Baby Daddy.
One thing is certain, Melissa is an amazing actress and comedian. But she also makes news with her weight loss experience.
Why did she lose weight? How she did do it? Let’s find out.
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Get To Know Melissa
As we said before, Melissa Margaret Peterman is an American actress and comedian. Born in July 1971 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota. The American actress graduated from Minnesota State University with a degree in theater.
The now-famous actress began with small roles. Her career in entertainment began as a stand-up comedian. This might surprise you, but many celebrities have begun this way. It wasn’t until 2001 that she landed a breakthrough role.
Cast as Barbra Jean in the popular television series Reba, she portrayed the character for six seasons. During that period, she earned critical acclaim for her talent.
But that is not the only show she appeared in. Some of her other credits include movies like Surviving Christmas, Retired at 35, and television shows like Baby Daddy. Fun fact: Melissa has hosted TV shows like The Singing Bee and Dancing Fools.
Acting is not her only career option. Peterman has worked as a writer and producer. This might surprise you, but she worked as a writer for The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Living with Fran.
The American actress is married and has a son. Her son is actually the reason for her dramatic weight loss.
How She Gained Weight?
Before we get to Melissa Peterman’s weight loss experience, let’s talk about how she gained weight. And how much? When she joined the TV show Reba, Melissa was about an average weight for a woman of her age. But she began gaining weight gradually over time. To be honest, her weight has fluctuated.
But in 2005, she gained weight dramatically as she became pregnant with her son. In 2006, she and her husband John Brady became parents to Riley David Brady.
Despite her efforts to lose weight initially, she remained curvier. To be honest, in the beginning, her focus was on her child.
And it was not the first time she struggled with obesity. As she has mentioned over and over again, she has struggled with weight since her childhood. Melissa says she fluctuates in weight frequently, putting it on or taking it off.
How Much Weight Did She Lose?
When you look at the before and after photos of Melissa, they are phenomenal. You simply cannot recognize the American actress. It shows what a difference of 60 pounds looks like.
It is a huge weight loss. And to get there, you have to put in a lot of hard work and dedication. Do you want to know how Melissa did it?
Let’s find out.
Melissa’s Weight Loss Journey
American actress Melissa Peterman has gone from a good figure to building up and back to her perfect self. But since her dramatic weight loss in 2006, everyone is trying to get her secret.
The famous actress says that she has managed to maintain her weight. How she keeps it in check? Well, after her son was born, she completely changed her lifestyle.
While there are no official reports or even quotes from Melissa, we can say she lost around 60 lbs from 2006 to 2007. And people were shocked when she appeared on the red carpet with her new weight. She was slim and better than before birth.
Changing Her Diet
The first thing she did was change her diet. You know the saying, “an apple a day”? Well, that was exactly what she did.
Her son was a toddler and occupied her time, but she still managed to get a healthy breakfast and exercise regularly.
Acting and hosting gigs still continued, but Melissa was strict about staying true to her healthy breakfast. In one interview in 2011, she said she begins the day “with organic egg white omelet with fresh spinach picked from my garden, a side of turkey bacon and a fresh fruit smoothie”.
She also eats cottage cheese straight from the container while preparing her son for preschool. It is a way to get some healthy calories on the go. And then she’d eat an apple on the way to school and sometimes have her son’s watermelon jolly rancher as fruit fluid.
What Was Her Exercise Routine?
Diet is only half of the equation when you want to lose weight. Staying active can help you completely change your body.
So, in addition to her healthy diet, Melissa also hired a personal trainer. The famous actress always underlines that exercise is essential to weight loss. In her words, “If you are not exercising regularly, your diet can only carry you so far and you won’t reach your true weight-loss potential”.
But there is also more to it. If you are going to do any exercise, you need to build in a recovery period. The more intense your workout routine is, the more important is to allow your body to recover and rebuild.
Melissa, for example, would always take Sundays off from exercise entirely.
How Does She Remain Motivated?
With all the diet and exercise, people might ask how she found motivation at all times. Well, the famous actress admits that she is a very emotional eater. Yet, she tries to be mindful of that when she is in a stressful situation.
Melissa says you should never rely on food to make you feel better. It simply doesn’t work. We know stress eating is not a good habit. So, here is a change you can make. Instead of eating when you get upset, try to do something physical like going for a walk.
How Can You Lose Weight Like Melissa Peterman?
Melissa lost around 60 pounds by reducing her caloric intake. She set a limit of between 1,200 and 1,400 calories per day. That should be your goal as well. Try to consume fewer calories if you want to shed some pounds. You can do that by eating everything in moderation. Here are some concrete steps you can take.
Cut Out Junk Food
Junk food is loaded with sugar and fat. At the same time, this type of food is incredibly unhealthy for your body. If your goal is to lose weight, try to reduce it, and if possible, cut off junk food completely.
For example, instead of snacking on unhealthy foods, Melissa is taking an apple and peanut butter. The natural sugars in apples will keep your energy levels up.
Shrink Your Portions
When your goal is to lose weight and restrict calories, portion control is of utmost importance. Instead of serving large portions, serve smaller ones. Use a smaller plate or bowl and make an effort to cut back on your portions.
Cook Your Own Food
We all want pizza, ice cream, or cookies now and then. But instead of buying pizza, you can cook one at home. And that applies to all meals. Build them from scratch, and focus on meals that are healthy and low in calories.
Do Not Forget To Sleep
If you want to lose weight, sleep is essential. Any weight loss journey is impossible without sleeping between 7 and 9 hours. With enough sleep, your body will release hormones that will keep your appetite in check.
What Does A Day Look Like?
Now let’s finish off the article about Melissa Peterman’s weight loss with a sample day. Here is how her menu looks throughout the day.
- Organic egg white omelet with fresh spinach, a side of turkey bacon, and a fresh fruit smoothie for breakfast
- Cottage cheese as a snack
- For lunch, a homemade lentil soup with tomatoes and cottage cheese
- Apples or peanut butter as a snack
- For dinner, she opts for vegan dishes that are high in protein and fiber
And at the same time, she tries to include as many fruits and vegetables in her diet as she can.
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