The Best Post-Pregnancy Bounce Backs

The Best Post-Pregnancy Bounce Backs

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The average pregnancy weight gain is 25-35 pounds. What is not average is bouncing back to your pre-baby weight body (or even better) within a year, though many-a-star do it. Sure, they have large camps of trainers, nutritionists and aren't strapped down by 9-to-5 jobs, but it's still an impressive transformation to witness. Jennifer Lopez competed in a triathlon after having twins, Karolina Kurkova kept her figure trim by staying active while pregnant, and Gisele Bundchen leaned on kung fu and yoga (not to mention her miraculous metabolism.)

Karolina+Kurkova in Karolina Kurkova Leaves the Gym

Karolina Kurkova: Her "Annoyingly Healthy" Diet

Diet: Kurkova admitted to W that she didn't have much baby weight to lose because she stayed fit during her pregnancy. "I did Pilates, a lot of weight training, I walked a lot and I traveled. I lived my life, you know?" she said. Her diet consisted of lots of vitamins, supplements, green juices and simply the "best stuff" you can put in your body. She didn't "eat much junk," but felt lucky that she didn't crave it since she of course has super powers like that. After she had her son, Tobin Jack, Kurkova has continued to eat "light, delicious and gluten-free" foods and doesn't consume anything that's white or processed.

Exercise: The supermodel worked with celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson (also a mom) who understood the working woman's urge to not step in a gym. So Anderson created a "mishmash of everything" workout routine including ballet, dancing and funk cardio. Kurkova especially loved the dancing. "Especially after you have a baby, it's not like you have a lot of time to go dance! So it's a great place to just go and be, and feel good, feel sexy and sweat," she told W.

Kendra Wilkinson: Hit The Gym Hard After Developing "Shocking" Curves

Wilkinson, once one of Hugh Hefner's petite little playmates, gained a significant 55 pounds when she was pregnant in 2009. After giving birth to Hank Baskett IV, she went from a size 2 to a curvacious (esque) lady. "My curves shocked me big-time," she told People. "It was a whole other woman I was looking at in the mirror."

The wifey to NFL star Hank Baskett kept the weight on for a few months, but eventually decided to high-tail it into the gym. She committed herself to hour-long workouts and noshed mostly on salads, grilled chicken and even chewing gum to curb cravings. "I was so used to being fit and skinny," she said at the time. "I never had to lose weight until now. I want my muscle back–I don't want anything jiggling." She achieved her goal, judging by the svelte figure she's sporting these days.

Jennifer+Lopez in Celebrities At The Nautica Malibu Triathlon

Jennifer Lopez: Trained For a Triathlon

J.Lo took post-pregnancy fitness to a new level when she trained for – and completed – a triathlon within the same year she gave birth to twins! Even though it sounds hardcore (it is), she didn't speed to the gym first thing after she had Max and Emme in early 2008. "I'm supposed to be relaxing for the first six weeks," she told People at the time.

After a quiet few weeks of R & R, though, she progressively got back to tough workouts with her celeb trainer, Gunnar Peterson. Lopez, who had gained 50 pounds, paired 30-minute walks with push-ups and lunges. That was just baby steps. Within a few months, Jennifer was in full-gear prepping for a fall triathlon (the competition entails a 1/2-mile swim, 18-mile bike ride, and 4-mile run) with a mix of long runs, swimming, and bike rides six times a week. "If you're in terrific shape to start with, it's easier to get back into shape post-pregnancy," her trainer said about her quick transformation.

J.Lo ended up finishing the L.A. triathlon in 2 hours, 23 minutes, and immediately jetted off to New York City to celebrate her 40th birthday with a $800,000 Havana-themed party at the Bowery Hotel later that night. This is totally run-of-the-mill stuff, people.

Penelope Cruz: Relied on a Mediterranean Diet

Cruz has always been tall, lean and breathtaking -- but she's also a woman of few words, so it's hard to know exactly what her approach is to looking so flawless. She bounced back to her regularly statuesque body within months of giving birth, though, and told the Daily Mirror it was mostly thanks to dancing and a clean Mediterranean diet.

"I love ballet and it's a little boring for me to go to the gym because I'm used to the dancing discipline — it's really hard but much more fun," she said.

When it comes to grub, the Spanish beauty loves Mediterranean foods, which typically includes simple components like fish, vegetables, olive oil and rice. She says "I eat well, but I try to eat healthy." And she's also an In-N-Out lover, which suggests that she knows what it's like to get way too excited over one of the best $3 meals that exists. She indulges in a Double-Double burger with fries every week or two, and undoubtedly looks super hot eating the messy treat.

Gisele Bundchen: Kept Active Before Giving Birth

Gisele's indirectly competing with Elle Macpherson for the title of "The Body" whether she's pregnant or on a diet, sweaty or walking the red carpet, she's too hot for humanity. She apparently recovered from the slight alterations thanks to the 30 pounds added to her body "little by little" and hit the runway in June 2010, just six months after becoming a mom for the first time.

She explained to Brazilian paper Folha de Sao Paulo: "I kept myself in good shape during the entire pregnancy, with a healthy diet, doing yoga and meditation, doing kung fu. I gained some weight, but I kept using almost the same clothes with some little adjustments to fit the belly."

She later told Vogue that she regained her perfect figure pretty much instantly by doing yoga on a mat in her living room: "I think it's muscle memory," she said. Up until two weeks before having Benjamin, Bundchen was doing kung fu and yoga and stayed "mindful" about what she ate. She opined about most women who pack on the weight: "I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals." Based on all these ladies' comments, it sounds like the trick to keeping baby weight down is not much different than normal life's best formula – a balanced diet and some exercise!

The Best Post-Pregnancy Bounce Backs

The Best Post-Pregnancy Bounce Backs

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