Chrissy Teigen, a celebrated model, television personality, and cookbook author, has been in the public eye for years, and her journey with weight loss has been a topic of considerable interest. From her early modeling days to motherhood and beyond, Teigen has navigated the complexities of body image, health, and self-acceptance. This article delves into the various facets of her weight loss journey, exploring her diet, workout routines, surgical interventions, and her evolving relationship with food and her body.
Who is Chrissy Teigen?
Christine Diane Teigen, an American model and TV personality with Norwegian roots, first gained prominence in 2010 with her appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Her career expanded beyond modeling as she co-hosted Lip Sync Battle from 2015 to 2019 and judged the comedy competition Bring the Funny in 2019. Teigen's openness about her personal life, including her struggles with mental health and her experiences with motherhood, has made her a relatable figure for many.
Health Struggles and Postpartum Depression
Teigen has openly discussed her struggles with anxiety, which she has dealt with for much of her life. However, it was after the birth of her first child that she experienced postpartum depression and realized she needed support. In a 2017 essay for Glamour, she shared her experiences, aiming to raise awareness for other women facing similar challenges.
Postpartum depression manifests with symptoms similar to those of general depression, including feelings of inadequacy, isolation, flat emotions, unexplained sadness or tears, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, and changes in appetite. Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, fatigue, and overall body discomfort can also occur.
Initial Weight Loss Discussions
The discussions surrounding Chrissy Teigen's weight loss were ignited when she posted a picture of herself dancing in jean shorts before attending her husband John Legend's performance. Fans noticed a significant change in her appearance compared to a few months prior, particularly in her face. As a mother of two, Teigen has advocated for a healthy lifestyle without strict diets, achieving weight loss through physical activity and a stress-free approach to life. Her decision to quit drinking may also have contributed to her transformation.
Read also: Chrissy Metz's Transformation
Chrissy Teigen's Evolving Diet Plan
In the past, Chrissy followed a low-carb diet to maintain her swimsuit model physique. However, since becoming a mother, her eating habits have shifted. She now adopts a more flexible approach, focusing on mindful eating.
Avoiding Sugar in the Morning
For breakfast, Teigen prefers cooked meals like eggs instead of baked goods. She avoids continental breakfasts or pastries like hot chocolate or croissants, but occasionally indulges in boozy French toast. Limiting added sugars can help prevent obesity, while incorporating low-glycemic index foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and peas can aid in weight loss.
Spicy and Healthy Lunches
Teigen typically has lunch around 3 p.m., often including dishes like coconut-chicken curry, avocado toast with chili flakes, or recipes from her cookbooks. She enjoys spicy foods, as evidenced by her well-stocked cupboard filled with Tabasco sauce and chili peppers.
Avoiding Light Dinners
Teigen generally avoids snacking between meals, as snacking can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors like mindless eating and overeating, which can hinder weight loss. Instead, she waits until the end of the day for her heaviest meal. She avoids salads for dinner, finding that lighter meals make her crave candy during the night. Instead, she opts for dishes like Cajun salmon with spinach or fresh tomato basil soup with baked fish. She isn't a big fan of desserts and can go without them entirely.
Sobriety and Its Impact
Chrissy's decision to embrace sobriety may have influenced her weight loss. Alcohol consumption can contribute to weight gain and a bloated appearance. She openly shared her commitment to sobriety on Instagram in late 2020.
Read also: Metz on Self-Acceptance and Weight
Weight Management During Lockdown
During the lockdown, Teigen admitted to gaining weight due to snacking on nuts, cheese, and ham, and indulging in midnight snacks. She joked about her double-digit quarantine weight gain but expressed a desire to make healthier choices. Later, she made a dedicated effort to shed 50 pounds and achieve a healthier body weight.
Chrissy Teigen's Workout Routine
Teigen incorporates physical activities into her daily routine to stay in shape, although she admits she's not a fan of cardio.
Staying Active with Family
Teigen stays active by playing with her kids, going to the park, and visiting the aquarium.
Cardio
While she may not follow a strict workout routine, she recognizes the importance of incorporating cardio exercises into her regimen. She has found creative ways to make cardio more enjoyable, such as reenacting Cher's iconic 90s-era workout videos. When she wants to take her cardio more seriously, she turns to her trainer Simone De La Rue for guidance, who helps her with a full-body workout including cardio, leg exercises, and butt workouts.
Strength Training with Bands
In addition to cardio, Teigen focuses on strength training to build lean muscle and maintain her toned physique. Rather than relying on traditional weightlifting, she prefers using resistance bands and bodyweight exercises.
Read also: Self-Acceptance Journey
EMS Training
Teigen also incorporates electric muscle stimulation (EMS) training into her routine. EMS involves using a machine that sends electrical signals to the muscles, causing them to contract and engage more intensively. This allows her to burn hundreds of calories in just a 20-minute session. EMS training is effective in improving muscle mass, strength, and endurance.
Surgical Interventions
Chrissy Teigen has undergone various plastic surgeries, although she may not always openly acknowledge them.
Breast Implant Surgery
She had breast implant surgery during her early modeling days. In 2020, she announced that she was having her breast implants removed, acknowledging her prior surgery.
Buccal Fat Removal
She also underwent a buccal fat removal procedure to remove fat pads from her cheeks, which thins down her cheeks and defines face angles. Chrissy credited the surgery for the visible results, especially after she quit drinking.
Liposuction
Chrissy Teigen's liposuction has always been a topic of controversy. In a tweet that has since been deleted, she playfully mentioned that she had undergone armpit liposuction as her only procedure. However, she recently shut down an Instagram commenter who speculated that her slimmed-down appearance was the result of constant liposuction.
Other Changes in Appearance
During her early modeling days at 23, Chrissy Teigen's appearance was different. She had a lighter skin tone and regularly used bronzer to achieve a darker complexion, aiming for a popular model look with voluminous hair, caramel highlights, and subtle makeup. This style contrasts with her current aesthetics seen on Instagram. While her cheeks have always appeared round and plump, Chrissy has recently disclosed undergoing buccal fat removal. There is speculation among fans about other possible cosmetic procedures such as lip fillers, a nose job, eyebrow fillers, and porcelain veneers for her teeth. Chrissy has even confirmed getting an eyebrow transplant, stating that it allows her to go out without wearing makeup.
Addressing Ozempic Use
Recently, Chrissy Teigen admitted to using the weight loss drug Ozempic after struggling to lose weight following her miscarriage in 2020. She explained that her body felt "stuck" after the loss of her baby and that she had indulged during her pregnancy. Teigen mentioned that she tried Ozempic for about a year and noticed no results for the first few months. She also experienced challenges with the drug, such as feeling unhungry and having to force-feed herself at times.
Celebrities and Weight-Loss Drugs
Teigen is among several celebrities who have spoken about using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro. Rosie O'Donnell has been on Mounjaro since late 2022, while Jennifer Aydin admitted to using Mounjaro after initially denying Ozempic use. Other celebrities like Meghan Trainor and Caroline Stanbury have also discussed their experiences with these medications.
Concerns and Criticisms
While some celebrities have had positive experiences with weight-loss drugs, others have faced challenges. Bonnie Chapman reported feeling nauseous and unable to eat while on Ozempic, and Kendra Wilkinson tried weight loss shots but stopped due to potential health risks. Amy Schumer and Dr. Drew Pinsky have also expressed concerns about the use of Ozempic.
Medical Perspectives
Dr. Drew Pinsky noted that people have mixed feelings about interventions like Ozempic. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, stated that they trust healthcare providers to evaluate a patient's individual needs and determine which medicine is right for them.
Chrissy Teigen's Current Approach
These days, Teigen balances raising her four children with her career, making time for exercise and nourishing her body while striving for balance. Her go-to workout is Pilates, which she enjoys doing with friends. She also practices yoga and tries to work out two or three times a week. Teigen focuses on eating whole, fresh foods and indulges in her cravings in moderation. She encourages her children to have a healthy, balanced relationship with food and avoids negative talk about dieting.