Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel Drops The Baby Weight in Just Three Weeks

Posted on Jun 4th 2010 3:00PM by Emily Shetler

Filed Under: Celebs & Entertainment, Interviews

IGNAT/ bauergriffinonline.com

Bethenny Frankel recently revealed her incredible size-4 bikini-ready body in Us Weeky, just three weeks after giving birth to daughter Bryn. The New York Times best-selling author of "Naturally Thin" and "Skinnygirl Dish" managed to take off 29 of the 35 pounds in record time at almost 10 pounds per week (Editor's note: This is more than what most experts generally recommend, which is one to two pounds per week).

But Frankel's not alone: Other new mom celebs have been slimming down fast recently, like Kourtney Kardashian and Kendra Wilkinson. This Real Housewife's daily menu includes a muffin and fruit for breakfast, veggie sandwich and soup at lunch and barbecue chicken and a half of a sweet potato for dinner. To get the real story behind the weight loss, That's Fit talked to Frankel just before "The Real Housewives of New York City" season finale.

That's Fit: How did you modify your diet for pregnancy, before and after giving birth?

Bethenny Frankel: I believe that your diet is a bank account. The same held true for pregnancy, except that I had a bigger bank account! I always indulge and never deprive myself, but I rarely overeat. Bingeing is a no-no, and I believe that most pregnant people use it as a license to pig out. I was healthy before, during and after my pregnancy.

TF: What about exercise while you were pregnant?

BF: I did my "Body by Bethenny" yoga DVD two or three times a week, and walked to different neighborhoods of Manhattan for exercise. Walking is always accessible, affordable and attainable.

TF: How has your husband Jason Hoppy been supportive of you post-baby?
BF: We haven't been focused on weight loss. We like to explore different areas of Manhattan and restaurants by taking walks in the nice weather. I haven't been doing anything except occasional short stints on my elliptical since Bryn arrived.

TF: Are you having any complications from the C-section that affected your walking or holding the baby?
BF: I thought the C-section wasn't a big deal. I'm not much of a complainer, or one who is affected greatly by pain. I didn't even take the pain meds, except Advil. I feel good. I did nothing whatsoever except run around the house and breastfeed for the first three weeks. Now I'm out and about, no big deal. My stomach still feels numb, however, and I keep the scar covered -- though it is healing well. I am very sleep deprived, though!

TF: How are you dealing with urges and hormonal snacking?
BF: I never resist anything that I want, nor did I while I was pregnant. For instance, last night for dessert, I had a few bites of blueberry crisp and red velvet cake. No two days are the same. People always want me to hand them a plan, but the key is that there is no set plan. The reason people have lost hundreds of pounds from my books is they have worked out what works for them by ridding themselves of food noise.

TF: Do you have any tips for other new moms struggling with losing the baby weight?
BF: Don't get crazy and vow to "be good." Start the process of taking care of yourself while pregnant. I'm not trying to plug anything, but the advice in "Naturally Thin" changes lives. It teaches to not binge, to turn food noise into a voice and to not beat yourself up or be obsessive. Your diet is a bank account, so manage yours according to your life.

TF: And what about your new show?

BF: My new show is a departure from "Housewives." It's really funny, charming, completely honest and emotional. It gives you a glimpse at the every day details of my life and relationship. I'm so proud of it.

Tune into Frankel's new show, "Bethenny Getting Married?" Thursday June 10 at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo.

Read our review of Bethenny's "Body by Bethenny" DVD.

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Tags: baby weight, bethenny frankel, bethenny getting married, real housewives of new york city, weight loss

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Suzie Q 6-04-2010 @ 2:18PM

I am always so surprised when people seem to think it is such an accomplishment when they drop weight after having had a baby. First of all, if they didn't gain so much weight in the first place, they wouldn't have so much to lose. I gained 20 pounds with my healthy 8.9 pound baby and lost 30 pounds immediately afterward. And....why is this news worthy when it is done by mother's every day?

Mary 6-04-2010 @ 3:28PM

I agree with Suzie. Where were the accolades for me when I lost 40 lbs. 6 weeks after giving birth and looked better than before pregnancy at 115 lbs. I owed it all to breastfeeding, being more active and avoiding junk food. So stop your bragging, celebrity moms!

Jen 6-04-2010 @ 7:06PM

Erica, I can understand your self esteem is down, when all you do all day is post advertising in these posts. do you think any of us care about your self esteem or what you are selling. Get a real life and leave ours alone with your foolishness.

Banana 6-04-2010 @ 2:20PM

I don't see how 29lbs in 3 weeks is any way healthy ...

Dorothy 6-04-2010 @ 2:29PM

I agree with Suzie Q. In my era of having children our Dr's only wanted us to gain 20lbs and once you had the baby, your weight was immediately gone. Losing that much weight after a birth is definitely not unhealthy in doing so, as Banana mentioned above.

Ruggero 6-07-2010 @ 10:51AM

even less then that!

Frank 6-04-2010 @ 2:33PM

Geezus..this woman is a DRAGON and so are most of those other insipid, vacuous bimbos.

Gayle 6-04-2010 @ 2:46PM

In my day women didn't pig out and gain 50 lbs and more. Then, when you gave birth you didn't have to work at losing the weight. It was very simple. Deliver the baby and go back to your previous weight. No surprises! What's the big deal?

angel 6-04-2010 @ 3:03PM

ummm, if Bethanny is breastfeeding--the food that she said she ate the one day is NOT enough food for her and THE BABY. Someone isnt getting enough nutrition.

lisa 6-04-2010 @ 7:34PM

I agree! As someone in the medical profession, I can tell you that what she is eating in a day is probably only about 1000 calories at most. WAY less than what would be recommended as a healthy weight loss plan, let alone someone who is breastfeeding!

NewMomat37 6-04-2010 @ 4:58PM

I gained 50 lbs with my first child (arrived just 2 months b4 my 38th birthday)& lost all of it by my 6 week check-up -- w/out being a weight "expert". Breastfeeding & walking the baby & dog on nice (fall-winter)days helped a lot. Dropped another 10 b4 getting pregnant w/my 2nd -- born 2 yrs later just b4 my 40th birthday. Both C-section deliveries. Don't let anybody kid you, having babies takes a toll on a woman's body. It's not easy recuperating. Body type with a heavy dose of genes -- unless you are blessed with the 2 co-operating, you must cultivate a healthy, active life-style. It is unfair to compare "celebrities" -- Having a privileged life helps tremendously because you can afford to pay for help you may otherwise not get to free up time to devote to taking care of yourself.

marc 6-04-2010 @ 3:17PM

Is it called the bulimic diet perhaps? Thats a lot of weight to drop so darn fast. Even my athletic jock friends couldn't drop it so fast and their exercise gurus. If she is also breast feeding which also by the way burns calories but is the baby getting her nutrition and what was the babies weight at birth?

Amanda 6-04-2010 @ 3:19PM

I think the simple fact is that if you're in shape BEFORE you get pregnant, your body will bounce back beautifully. Unfortunately, many women today are not healthy or in shape before they become pregnant. Of course breastfeeding helps women drop weight after a pregnancy, but it's all about health BEFORE pregnancy.

And as far as Bethenny's personal comments go, she's absolutely correct. If a person eats only when they are hungry and they stop eating immediately when they become full, they can basically eat whatever they want and stay slim. Eating out of boredom, emotional eating, or forcing yourself to eat everything on your plate are typically the factors that cause excess weight problems.

deargceol 6-04-2010 @ 3:31PM

It's called anorexia. Anyone who's seen an episode of the show knows that she has a very unhealthy, strained relationship with food and body image. Of course she's lost the baby weight, it's easy when you starve yourself.

kayelynne 6-04-2010 @ 3:44PM

To Deargceol that wrote: Of course she's lost the baby weight, it's easy when you starve yourself. //~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~// One doesn't have to starve themselves after the birth to lose a lot of weight. I lost all the weight I had gained, plus more and never did anything to try to lose, nor did I breast feed. It's basically being responsible for your body with staying healthy during the pregnancy and not over eating. Then, one doesn't have to worry about losing it afterward, it just falls off.

pnutscbrown 6-04-2010 @ 3:36PM

Now if she could just do something about her face!

cwkpam 6-04-2010 @ 4:20PM

Wish my face looked that bad!

pnutscbrown 6-04-2010 @ 4:23PM

You think she looks good?? your kidding right? she looks like a bloated bull dog with those jowls!

Jennifer 6-04-2010 @ 3:49PM

Breast feeding is the fastest way to lose. She didnt do anything miraculous.

kay 6-04-2010 @ 4:33PM

Sure breast feeding and Lipsuction. I don't believe that she ate what she wanted, including "bites of dessert" exercised a little and lost 10 pounds a week.

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