This post has been updated since its original publication date to include new info
Jennifer Hudson is another A-lister who has wowed fans with her incredible weight loss transformation over the years, losing an epic 80 lbs. in just over a year and dropping from a size 16 to a size 6!
The former American Idol contestant embarked on her weight loss journey back in 2009 after giving birth to her son David Otunga Jr., and has impressively kept the weight off for almost 15 years! Although she tried WeightWatchers in the past, the 43-year-old Dreamgirls star says that she now sticks to a healthy, balanced diet (without depriving herself!) because her busy schedule doesn’t allow for the greatest amount of exercise – and it’s clearly working for her! Keep reading to find out more details on how she has maintained her weight loss for all these years…
Jennifer Hudson Says She Watches What She Eats Because She Doesn't Have Much Time To Exercise
The EGOT recipient has been quite open about her weight loss transformation over the years, and went into quite a lot of detail in an interview on British talk show Lorraine in 2017.
Telling Lorraine that she doesn't actually have much time to exercise based on her busy schedule, the Oscar-winning actress explained that she mainly focuses on the things she eats – and when she eats and doesn't eat – to keep those pounds off!
"I don't really have time to do much [working out], so I really just watch what I eat," the Broadway star confessed, adding: "I'm very careful and cautious of what I'm eating, so I just try to pace those meals throughout the day. Like, okay, eat here, don't eat here." She added: "When it's early in the morning, I say, okay, I would've been asleep… so I'm not going to eat. I'm very conscious of what I put in my body."
Jennifer Hudson Shares The Interesting Way She Avoids Temptation
Although Hudson previously told Self that she *does* treat herself and has at least one piece of chocolate every day, she explained in another interview that she does try to stop herself from over-indulging with a very interesting (and effective, it seems) method…
"I throw the pancakes across the room! I don't let the food intimidate me," she previously told Yahoo Style. "If it's too much, I just get rid of it. And I make sure I know what it is. It's all about portions for the most part. I don't work out a lot, but I do like to be active."
Jennifer Hudson Credits Portion Control And Balance With 80-Lb Weight Loss
Hudson joined WeightWatchers after giving birth to her son David in 2009, and shared some of the tips she picked up during her time on the plan. She explained that cutting out the foods she loved wasn't actually the best way to go about losing weight, and discovered that portion control and "balance" were the two most important parts of not only losing weight, but keeping it off too.
"I had to break my diet mentality. I used to deprive myself, thinking that was healthy. I didn't eat pasta, fried food, red meat. I hadn't had pizza in 10 years," she told Self back in 2011.
"If you're on a strict diet that says you shouldn't have any carbs or this or that, your body won't function the way it should," she continued, adding: "I know now that I can eat anything I want and still lose or maintain my weight. It's about portions and balance."
What Does Jennifer Hudson Eat To Maintain Her 80-Lb Weight Loss?
So what does a typical day look like the for the former The Voice coach? According to a Self interview, breakfast could include fruit with yogurt, scrambled eggs with egg whites, or a breakfast burrito. She told Self that she likes to ensure she has time for a healthy lunch regardless of how busy her workdays are, and could have a turkey sandwich, grilled chicken salad, or shrimp and broccoli stir-fry. Yum!
For dinner, Hudson explained that she regularly has things like sushi, shrimp stir-fry, turkey and sautéed collard greens, or tacos. And she doesn't always say no to dessert, and explained that she will still allow herself something sweet as long as the portion control is there.
As far as snacks are concerned, she could have anything from celery sticks, an apple, one square of chocolate, light microwavable popcorn, a spoonful of peanut butter, Greek yogurt, granola, low-fat tortilla chips with light ranch dressing, or a chai tea latte.
