It was like a perfect storm of shenanigans keeping me from the gym over the past month – I had that awful respiratory virus which took a week and a half to really get over. The holidays were happening and the gym schedule always takes a hit. Plus, it was cold and rainy! I just wanted to stay inside, eating chocolate and doing some phlegmy coughing. Obviously, I don’t have Pippa Middleton’s willpower. Pippa’s postpartum bounce-back is remarkable, even for someone who was already pretty athletic to begin with. But did you know that she stayed super-active up until her labor, and that she even works out on vacation. *stares at the discounted Christmas chocolate I bought yesterday*
Pippa Middleton has proven herself a master of fast weight loss! Now, a source is giving Us Weekly her fitness plan and other slimming secrets.
“She worked out throughout her entire pregnancy,” the source tells Us. “When you’re that fit to begin with, your body snaps back even quicker. Pippa is an avid exerciser and athlete.”
To lose the baby weight in less than three months, Duchess Kate’s younger sister dedicated herself to a strict workout schedule. “Pippa hits the gym at least four times a week and worked out right until she gave birth,” reveals the source. Indeed, last summer she talked about her determination to stay fit while expecting, which led her to adopt low-impact barre-based classes. But the true secret of the star is maintaining an active lifestyle outside of the gym. Frequently walking around London to run errands on foot, Middleton is also an avid bike rider. She cycled around the city throughout her pregnancy, and was photographed peddling to the gym on December 15, two months postpartum.
She and her 43-year-old financier husband kept moving on their Caribbean holiday as well. “Even when they are on vacation, they are always active,” the source says of the pair, who got married in May 2017. “They are not a couple to just sit on the beach and relax. They always have to be doing something.”
Her efforts have clearly paid off. Says the source, “Pippa looks and feels great.”
Credit to Pippa, of course. As I said, her willpower is amazing. But… on the other side, this is her whole deal now – this is her brand (Fitness Pippa is like her third attempt at branding herself), and what else is she going to do? She’s marginally employed (and marginally employable), she married someone terribly moderately wealthy, got pregnant quickly and kept in shape throughout the pregnancy, and lost the pregnancy weight quickly. Rich women with tons of time and access to the best trainers, dietitians, exercise classes and surgeons always find a way to lose the weight. What I’m saying, dear reader, is it’s fine to be like “good for you, Pippa!” AND understand that what works for Pippa probably doesn’t work for most women.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
I know lots of “regular women” with similar stories. Shoot I just went on a cruise and worked out every morning before breakfast! It has to do with priorities as much as anything else! That said, fitness/a fit body doesn’t HAVE to be a priority for everyone, but it certainly can be done with much less resources than Pippa has. I lost 60 lbs while making 30k in NYC (nearly a decade ago), sharing a 1-bedroom apartment with a craigslist stranger and working out at Planet fitness at like 8 pm because I worked late every day. And now, making almost 4x that, working fewer hours, and sharing a home with my fiancée, I weigh almost 20lb more than then!
You don’t have to be rich to be fit, you just have to want it.
100% correct. It’s just I’d rather be at home cuddling with my babies and enjoying my health even if I don’t come in a size 2. It all seems very strange to me and of course superficial. Where’s the baby on holiday? With the nannies?
You cuddle your babies 24 hours a day? A person doesn’t even need to leave the house to get an effective workout.
I did presses on the floor with my baby, and she giggled like crazy when I’d put her on my back and do squats. Silly baby just thought we were playing, when really we were playing and working out! Even now, on boring days, we walk 35 min to the store for a snack, and 35 minutes home. Heck, even dancing while we cleanup the living room and jumping on the bed is A RIOT!
One doesn’t have to choose “relax with baby” or “constant frantic regimented exercise”. Bonus- teaching the kids it feels better to move around a little every day. Relaxing together feels better then too. You just have to want it, and prioritize it.
Well, I don’t know how old you are, but I lose weight a LOT easier at 25 than now. It’s nkt a matter of “wanting it.” Bodies change as we get older.
And having money absolutely makes it easier. Sure, she is still the one doing the work, but she has the time to do it. Not every new mother has that luxury.
If a person has time to surf the internet and be on social media, then there is time to work out. IF they want to, that is.
ok. Sure.
And I mean, I work out 6 days a week. I eat relatively healthy. I don’t look like Pippa. Maybe I could if I had time to work out for 3 hours a day instead of 1, if I had more time to meal plan and cook (we do pretty well but not perfect), etc.
I’m not saying women just don’t have time to exercise. I am just not sure why the notion that having more resources is going to help is controversial.
Becks- I feel you.
Advice to eat healthy and workout assumes if you don’t have Pippa’s body that you are not doing those things. Also that because you did this that it works the same for everyone.
I think it’s great to share experiences that work for you. It’s also okay to prioritize other things, especially as each child has specific needs and God forbid you don’t spend your little free time doing punishing workouts.
I excercised a lot throughout both my pregnancies so I could maintain my strength and for mental health benefits. Running and working out are my happy place. But it’s not that for everyone. I have friends who had shorter meternity leaves and wanted to spend every moment they could with their babies. I have other SAHM who needed breaks and that might be excercise or reconnecting with friends.
Let’s cut each other some slack and realize just because someone’s opinion is different than yours doesn’t make it wrong. Now hold hands and sing Kun-bye-yah!!
Agree with all of you, BUT I don’t know any non celebrity young or old, that has a body like that. Secret?
I think if you want it very badly you can achieve this kind of body. I know people with lot less resources and busy careers who are this fit. I personally do not have the discipline or the inclination to achieve this look. I try to eat healthy and keep active as much as I can. That’s it.
And what’s with this idea that we will all suddenly have the same body shape if we just work out more? No, not true. I was 117 pounds in my mid twenties (I’m 5’6”, so that was BMI of about 18). And you know what? I still had hips and short legs, because I have curves and a long torso. Exercise was never going to change my basic body shape – I was just a leaner version of my own body.
Arms are what gets me – I have meaty arms and always will. When people say, “oh, you can have Angela Basset’s arms with enough weight training,” uh no, no I will not. That is not how I am shaped and I will always have more “meat” there than other places. On the flip side, I’ve got a small waist and am less likely to put weight on there.
Captain Obvious here – we cannot all obtain the same body, with better diets and more exercise. A running coach once said, if you are shaped like an apple, running will not turn you into a banana – you will still be an apple, just a leaner one.
I’m very active. Runner. I lift. I’m at the gym right now on a stair climber!
When I was pregnant for 2 months I couldnt work out. No energy. Constantly sick and it was very painful. I was very fit before. Very fit now. And no way could I even walk a mile during that time. So… some can’t even if they prioritize and really WANT it.
RunCMC, I do understand what you’re getting at, but I think it’s important to remember that just because that was your experience and that worked for you, does not mean it will work for everybody else. I’ve been guilty of the same thing a time or two.
wow you worked out *every morning* ob a cruise, i just *visited* the gym and the running track and gained ten pounds in a week due to the easy access of food, you are a better person than me!!
She looks wonderful. Her genetics seem predisposed toward thinness and she’s a lifelong athlete as well, and she stayed active during pregnancy. She really did what she could and it shows. I had a similarly quick bounce back but about a year after the baby was when I struggled with weight (sleep deprivation and dipping back into wine certainly contributed). I think she’s a good example of how it “can” be but it’s certainly not going to pan out for every mother like this! And that’s fine!
Her sister-in-law Vogue is the same, really active, had a baby in September and snapped back right away! She was totally dedicated to staying fit through the pregnancy too.
Great DNA helps too. Look at Ma Middleton. The girls have her body shape.
Speaking of mama pimp Middleton can you imagine the horror if Doria Ragland showed up with short cut offer denim shirts over as 2 piece swimsuit?
What? There are pics of Doria in a bikini and she looks great! Carole also looks great for her age.
Vogue Williams (married to Pippa’s brother in law, Spencer) is also in amazing shape just mere months after giving birth because she exercised all the way through her pregnancy. Vogue has been open about her struggles with anxiety, and credits exercise in helping her to manage it. She still got trolled for exercising while pregnant though 🙄
Both she and Pippa are genetically designed to be slim but they clearly love keeping fit as well. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, while I also don’t think it’s a bad thing (obvs) if you’re a new mother and don’t have time or energy to work out.
You do you.
I am surprised she didn’t workout through her labor.
I don’t have a problem with “rebranding”. We all change. I went to school to be a teacher. I taught for 2 years and moved on. It took me a few years to figure out what I really wanted and who I wanted to be. As much as I love my career now, I know this might not be where I end up either. That’s ok. Life changes.
Agree 100%. To change is to live and to grow. Also, fitness is not really a new “brand” for her. She has participated in races etc very publicly for years (for instance the heavily photographed 50-mile swim/run she did in 2015).
Same. She has always been active and fit, so good for her.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but did they photo shop her legs? The shadow of the goggles is weird, and then there is a strange line in the photo. I’m just sayin’.
I can’t tell you how many times I had to look at that to realize it was a shadow. I thought it was an oddly shaped beauty mark or something.
I was single and poor when I got pregnant. I worked out through my entire pregnancy too. If you are into exercise, why stop just because your pregnant? If you have no medical issues, it certainly doesn’t hurt to stay active. Exercise is being made to sound like a dirty word.
Anything any woman does during pregnancy (or before… or after) is ripe for criticism it seems. You can’t win on the internet when you are a woman.
I think the bigger thing than exercise is that she didn’t gain an ounce more than necessary during her pregnancy. Kate plumped up a bit; Pippa did not.
I have four boys – ages 7, 5, 3 and 4 months. I am back to pre pregnancy weight already (bmi 18.5)- with each pregnancy I lost the weight quicker. I also work as a clinical social worker. I ate healthy with all my pregnancy and exercised until each labour. I had easy labour’s, under three hours for each which I credit to keeping active. Now, I admit I was lucky that I didn’t have any pregnancy complications, except for my anxiety which worsened during my pregnancy and gave me frequent panic attacks (damn hormones) For me, my health is a priority. It’s not about only weight but keeping up with my kids and exercise keeps my anxiety in check. My spouse is gone 12 hours a day so I don’t have childcare. When older two are in school, I run with double stroller, even in Canadian winter. I walk to grocery store (over 5 km away), I do squats when holding my baby, my boys and I have dance parties and play outside most days not matand r the weather. I exercise in gym and put toys next to me so kids can play. I eat healthy for the most part. We all make choices. I am on elliptical while I type this. I just want to be healthy when I’m older – my parents never prioritized their health and now can barely keep up with my kids and are missing out
I think it also comes down to whether a woman chooses to nurse or not. Either choice is fine but when I nursed I ate like a horse to keep up the milk supply. Losing any sort of weight while nursing around the clock was just not a priority I had. Even if I had 24 hour help he was literally attached to my boob. To each his own. Sure she looks great. But I don’t applaud any of it. I got into shape when it was the right time for me to wean him and to find the time to do it. And the weight came off and I found what I love to do and found the time to do it without any help from nannies.
You don’t applaud your own presumption that she didn’t nurse? Well, I don’t applaud your presumption either because it lacks foundation but even if she has chosen to bottle feed, that is her right and none of our business. I also bottle fed by choice and my most favorite was to put all “well wishers” with their fake concerns for my baby’s health (completely unfounded and not backed up by any scientific proof) in their right place. Women are free to choose what to do with their bodies. Enough is enough. If we’ll be preaching feminism, it’s about time to practice it.
Also she’s genuinely very lucky. I couldn’t work out during pregnancy because I carried him so low it really hurt my groin. I couldn’t walk let alone run, or do any sort of yoga. Sitting, standing, carrying even a bottle of water was nearly impossible. IF she can do it more power to her.
Ok, jumping on this “it’s easy if you have time” perception. Age has a lot to do with it – your body responds faster when you are young – it’s just nature.
I work out at 4-6 times per week and I’m still carrying a bit of extra weight. I’m in my late 40s and the metabolism just slows down with age – it’s inevidible. I’m about to cut out all sweets, carbs and (heavy sigh) alcohol in order to lose those last 8 pounds by spring.
That being said – kudos to Pippa and to every woman who feels good and strong through exercise.
Cutting out the alcohol is the hardest part for me. Just a glass or two of wine is nice. I feel you
I don’t understand the narrative that I often see on this site.
The suggestion that someone has to be wealthy in order to lose weight is ridiculous to me. My sister lost the baby weight after both of her pregnancies by doing yoga on her living room floor on some days while the babies were napping.
Or after lunch she would run pushing the stroller outside for the babies to get some air.
Yes, she was fit before the pregnancies, but she is also an older mom.
She was 37 with her first baby and 40 with a second one.
There were no nannies or maids or housekeepers around and she never even asked for my help to watch the little ones while she was trying to get back into shape.
She was nursing each of the babies for more than a year.
I think her healthy eating certainly helped, my doctor said that 80 percent of weight loss success comes down to eating healthy and indulging ocassionally in treats.
My boss lost the baby weight after she had her twin girls within a month while nursing for nearly 11 months, because she was in great shape beforehand, worked out during and after and she is also a healthy eater.
If the woman is healthy, it can be done without big money and help.
Millions of women lose weight after pregnancy by eating healthy and being active without plastic surgery or riches.
It’s totally possible! I went to spin classes 3-4 times a week during my second pregnancy up until 32 weeks, only gained 15 pounds, and looked almost pre-pregnancy a month after. Except for my gigantic boobs. Nothing was going to help that.
First pregnancy: barely gained weight, did Pilates till birth, snapped back to pre-pregnancy body within 1 month. Second pregnancy: even though I ate very clean and healthy started gaining loads of weight (inexplicably), worked out but entire body hurt, 5 months into the pregnancy started to feel terribly ill, started bloating everywhere and finally gave birth through emergency c-section at 34 weeks as I had severe pre-eclampsia. Second baby is turning three in two months and almost back to my pre-babies body. Have been working out up to 4 times a week and tried every diet possible but has been a struggle. Am 5.9 with a very slim build but pre-eclampsia really wrecked my body and makes it incredibly difficult to get back into shape. So doing everything “right” is not always the key to success.
+1 And personally I don’t think it’s that impressive with the first baby if the snap back is fast. I did at 40 which is supposedly so much harder – but I barely exercised til the second month post partum (and not too much during pregnancy at all due to sciatica and nausea) and my body was already almost back to normal after two months without even working out or eating particularly well.
Had my second at 42 and the snap back, well, it is going much slower though my second pregnancy was actually healthier and I exercised more! I didn’t go through anything as hard as you but I hurt my leg in a random/freak way while pregnant and it threw everything off balance. Being healthy is part of it yes BUT also – Sometimes women just get lucky, and/or, in my opinion, sometimes- it’s just their first kid.
So it is not true that you can achieve such a figure only when having the respective financial means. I work out 4 times at week for 30min at home doing some HIIT circle training with weights and do in addition some cardio on a stationary bike that I have at home. The only fitness related expenses that I have are the occasional yoga classes that I attend. And I am in great shape – so no fancy gym and trainers needed. Consistency and a balanced diet are key and I eat pizza weekly and also have my desserts daily.
Let’s be clear, a body like Pippa’s is 80-90% due to diet, which takes (IMO) much more self-discipline than regular exercise. This is also where being wealthy comes in. Pippa doesn’t feel like cooking? No problem, she can get pretty much any food, perfectly tailored to her diet, made for her. Pippa is stressed after a long day at a shit job she hates and wants to face plant in chocolate? Oh, no need to do that as she has no shit job!
I too lost my baby weight quickly but it was a real b*tch to keep off once I went back to work at 4 months PP. My “job” is not getting papped for the cameras, so….I gained about 5 lbs back and have been finding it hard to move them. I exercise and my diet is great about 75% of the time, but it really needs to be at about 80 or 90% of the time great to get back to my pre-baby weight/size.
I love to cook, but sometimes I’m too tired
or I don’t feel like it, so I through together a simple salad after rading the fridge.
I keep a big box of spinach in the fridge, I always have avocados on hand and canned chickpeas is a lifesaver for me.
I drain and rinse the chickpeas in cold water,
strain them and put them with a bit of oil in a small pot with some cumin, turmeric and salt.
I cook them on medium heat for 20 minutes and after I mix them with the spinach and I chop two avocados in.
Very easy and tasty.
Of course I never run out of my rich dark 80 % chocolate for dessert.
No need for expensive good deliveries whatsoever in my house.
Having lived in So Cal for 25 years, I know plenty of non rich and non celebrity people who look like Pippa and better of all different ages and body types. My point is, if a person is healthy, it’s doable to work out throughout pregnancy. You will look like the best version of you and feel good too. I have never belonged to a gym and only once had a trainer but that was through a Groupon and only lasted a month. The fittest I have ever been was just hitting the pavement running. Even food wise, just stay eat regular and stay away from junk. We won’t look like Pippa, which makes sense since we are not supposed to aspire to look like someone else but again, we will be our own personal best.
This one I buy because Pippa was always active (didn’t she do a triathlon last year or year before) so that was one habit she did not break. She has always had a healthy, athletic body and that has not changed for her.
Considering she’s had abs for years now, I’m not surprised her stomach looks like that. One of my closest friends has been fit for years and her stomach looked amazing postpartum. All those muscles were keeping it tight and she returned to her pre-baby body in less than 6 months (while fully employed, no nannies in sight and an active social/family life).
I mean, good for Pips, but can we just accept that all women have different bodies and lifestyles and body goals? And also, can we stop with this idea that if people just worked out enough we would all be thin, super athletes? I work out regularly, eat a whole food vegetarian diet and I’m still a soft hourglass-y type
A-freaking-men!
Exactly! I had a personal trainer for about 8 months before my wedding. Got super in shape and strong but looked nothing like Pippa!
I agree however I have to say it really is also about at what time you actually started such an active lifestyle – if you have been active and skinny since a kid and kept it up throughout your whole life – chances are very good that you can maintain a slim and athletic body without too much effort. However if you always have been overweight as a kid and did not do any sports it will be always a struggle to achieve a certain kind of body no matter how much you work out in your adult life and how good you eat.
I don’t know what the fuss is about, if the woman is healthy.
I went for a walk with both of my babies on daily basis, if the weather permitted, if not, I did some yoga at home. Living in Canada presents a problem sometimes with going out in a snow storm.
Later when I recoverd from giving birth, I run pushing the stroller and did push ups in the house.
I ate simple, but healthy meals, nothing fancy, just lots of soups and salads.
Many times I would have an easy baked potato or an avocado sandwich.
I’ve never spent extra money on food to slim down.
I had no help of any kind, I took care of the household, the kids and myself.
It wasn’t easy, but not impossible.
My luck is that I was healthy.
I wish I could be more like this. I’m so tired that by the time I get home I don’t even feel like eating. I will feel better in the 2nd trimester, but by the 3rd it hurts to walk.
So she worked out before and during her pregnancy? You don’t say!!! Tell us more Captain Obvious at Us Magazine, because I NEVER would have guessed this in a million years!
Also, definitely Ya for Pippa. She looks amazing and healthy and happy.
But I always feel that these sort of articles are back handed fat shaming — like , 11 weeks after baby and she’s in tip top shape!! Feel bad about yourself because you aren’t like this too! You could be this amazing if you really wanted it!!!
I’m always amazed at the amount of comparative defensiveness whenever a celebrity weight loss story is published. So what if women who work out and manage to balance work/family/meal prep/etc. are in amazing shape? That doesn’t mean you’re failing as a person because you don’t look like a fitness model. I think we need to stop using each other as a success barometer and instead just focus on what we CAN do.
I am a week away from due date, have done very high intensity bootcamp workouts throughout the entire pregnancy, at 5 am, most days. It sucks. It’s really hard. It’s not fun. But I feel better about myself so I slog through. Does that mean I’m trying to prove something or make others feel bad about themselves? No, of course not! I’ve had so many women say I am their inspiration, and I want to say back… do you know how many women might be saying that about YOU? And yes I’ve had women make snide comments about how it’s “easy”… nope. It’s not.
Point is… I think we’re all doing our best! Let’s not let some random stranger be our guide to self-confidence, maybe?
Many women are scared of weights. Cardio is helpful but if you want to sculpt your body and burn 3x the calories, pick up some weights!!
I’m currently holding a baby and relaxing. Zero guilt here. Babies are little for a very short time and I’m soaking up every single second I can get….and showering when I can. Ha! This is just what I want to do. Not currently worried about getting back into my size 0/2 jeans! That being said, I didn’t gain much weight while pregnant both times. I’m not a hard body currently and I’m OKAY with that! 🙂
i don’t think anyone is saying that only rich people can be healthy or lose weight or that having money guarantees that you’ll be thin, but money does make it a easier.
Definitely!
Pippa looks great, but she also has a lot of luxuries most people don’t – the main one being time. I don’t believe she’s worked a regular job in quite some time, and she’s not cleaning and doing laundry and all the stuff most people do, so she has the ability to go to the gym for hours if she wants to.
Money makes many things easier, but at the end of the day Pippa is the one that has to work out, regardless, if she has a 4 personal trainers or none at all.
She has to do the work and she is the one doing the sweating.
Weight loss can be done with very little money or help.
At the beginning I just walked pushing the stroller around, later I run pushing the stroller, I did some push ups and some yoga when my baby was napping.
It cost me nothing, but I also was in great shape before both pregnancies, because I was running every day Monday to Friday.
And I’ve been eating vegan since age 14, so healthy eating is a no issue for me.