Keke Palmer’s weight loss journey has captured the attention of fans, not just for the visible physical changes but also for the profound emotional transformation that accompanied it. Like many celebrities, Keke has been open about the challenges she’s faced in the spotlight-balancing her career, motherhood, and personal struggles with body image. But her story isn’t about a quick fix or magic pills. Many people might assume that celebrities have an easier time with weight loss due to personal trainers, chefs, and a plethora of resources. But Keke Palmer, like many of us, has had her share of struggles.
Early Struggles and Postpartum Transformation
However, Keke’s path to weight loss wasn’t a straight line. During a candid conversation on her podcast, Keke shared some of the early struggles that shaped her journey. “After having my baby, I didn’t feel like myself. I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me,” she said. Keke’s postpartum journey was a major turning point in her weight loss story. After gaining over 40 pounds during her pregnancy, she was determined to get back to feeling like herself again. But she wasn’t interested in fad diets or extreme measures. “I’ve lost about 30 pounds,” she said in one of her posts, referencing her efforts after her pregnancy. “But honestly, it’s not just about the weight.
Postpartum brought new curves, and instead of hiding them, she leaned into her new body. “But my frame has always been quite small, so it's interesting after the baby to see all the extra stuff I have to work with and how much my fear of having extra weight actually became a strength as it pertained to weight training and working out,” she told Entertainment Tonight.
Exercise as a Cornerstone
So, how did Keke achieve such impressive results? It all started with a strong foundation of exercise. She didn’t rely on quick fixes or extreme workout routines. In an interview with her trainer, Keke revealed that her fitness routine included a mix of strength training and cardio. “We focus on building muscle and toning, which is what really helps me get that lean, strong look,” she said. For Keke, fitness is more than just a physical activity-it’s a mental one, too. “When I’m working out, I’m not just getting my body in shape, I’m clearing my mind.
The multi-talented artist shared the secret to her snatched post-baby body during a chat with PEOPLE at the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture. “You have to get back to yourself after the baby. It’s really, really hard. Anybody with kids knows sometimes it can take 3, 4, 5 years,” she told the outlet. Palmer did it in less time than that, considering her son Leodis turned two years old in February. The singer had her son with ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson, and they’re currently peacefully co-parenting.
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“I’m a Pilates girl down, I don’t care. It’s the Pilates,” she said. “And I need people to know it doesn’t matter what that scale says. It matters about the muscles. That’s what I love about Pilates.
“So if you could find a dance class, Pilates class, a yoga class, a cycling class, whatever class that you like that can happen at the top of your day before you go to work, it will do wonders.
Balanced Diet and Intuitive Eating
When it comes to diet, Keke Palmer believes in balance over perfection. “My diet isn’t perfect. I eat what makes me feel good. Sometimes I have cookies, sometimes I eat hummus, but it’s all about making choices that align with my goals,” Keke admitted. Instead of restrictive diets, Keke is a firm believer in intuitive eating-listening to her body’s signals and nourishing herself in a way that supports her active lifestyle.
Seeing as fitness is only one part of the equation when it comes to getting snatched, Palmer, 31, also recommends meal prep. “And then I’ll say, make your own food. I know, I know it’s a lot.
“Making your own meals, keeping it consistent with some type of activity. It really does transform your body,” Palmer added. “And then fun stuff. Sometimes we forget that everything don’t have to be a serious workout. What if I just go play tennis or pickleball with my girl? What if we just go swimming for a day? You know what I’m saying?
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Mental and Emotional Transformation
Of course, weight loss is never just about what happens on the outside. It’s about emotional and mental transformation, too. Keke has been open about the challenges of maintaining a positive self-image, especially after facing body shaming and societal pressures. She’s also been vocal about how she deals with setbacks. “There were times I would slip up, or I didn’t have the energy to work out, and I’d feel bad about it. But I’ve learned not to let those moments define me,” she said.
One of Keke’s most powerful messages is the importance of focusing on health rather than just the numbers on the scale. She encourages others to celebrate their wins, no matter how small.
Keke Palmer reminds everyone that they’re beautiful at any size.
Avoiding Unrealistic Standards and Emphasizing Personal Journeys
Keke was never about promoting unattainable goals. She’s vocal about the fact that she has resources most people don’t. “I always want to make it clear that when I am talking about fitness, health and wellness is that, ‘Your journey is your journey. You figure it out the way you can,’” Keke told People. “And when you look at these celebrities and people in the industry, know that it is their job.”
She has regularly celebrated how her body has changed since giving birth to her son, Leo, five months ago. The former child star has gained some curves, but has also snapped back to fit physique beautifully in a short period of time.
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However, she wants to ensure that she isn't part of the pressure for other moms to feel like they have to have perfect postpartum bodies.
On her podcast, Baby, This is Keke Palmer-she explained that postpartum expectations are different for celebrities. "A part of our jobs is to look good and to look the part," she explained to her trainer, Corey Caillet, per Popsugar. "So don't think it's this thing where it's like, we doing it because we got it like that. No, the job is on the line. If we want the checks to get signed, we got to be what we got to be."
"It's my job. Let's not get crazy - I don't want people thinking that I am setting unrealistic standards," she said. "I can afford a trainer, meal prep, and a lot of things. And, it's expensive, but I am investing in my career."
In an interview with The Cut last month, Palmer credited her trainer Corey Calliet with helping her set her expectations for fitness, explaining that he told her, “Well, we are never going to try and get your body back to how it was before a baby because you birthed a child.” She added. “It’s like, that’s not something to hide, that’s something to embrace. We’re going to lean into this new body. That is the whole aura of what’s happening with me in this big boss era as I come into my 30s.”
She pointed out that it's essential for new moms to feel good no matter where they are on a fitness journey."It's a personal choice, and so I never want to put that on anybody," she said. "And that's big for me because I know that a lot of people look at me and I represent a lot of people in different ways, so I always want to make it clear - especially when I'm talking about fitness, health, and wellness - that, 'Your journey is your journey.
In addition to working out consistently and eating clean, Palmer said having goals can help too. For some, those goals may look like wanting to look and feel better in their clothes. “It is a mentality and it’s really just about knowing what our goals are,” she said. “I think for me, I really wanted to be strong and active in whatever way that meant for me. “I think most people see the visual change of like, ‘Oh, she been in the gym.’ It’s happened this last year since my son turned 2,” she tells PEOPLE. “I felt like I was able to just start thinking about me a little bit more seriously because before then it was just really hard.
Rejecting Quick Fixes and Embracing Natural Methods
While there has been much buzz around the use of medications like Ozempic for weight loss, Keke Palmer has made it clear that her weight loss was achieved through natural and healthy methods, including exercise and mindful eating. “I don’t believe in shortcuts or magic pills. Keke’s journey stands as a powerful testament to the fact that health-based weight loss is achievable without relying on drastic measures.
Following her appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, fans began discussing her weight loss. “Can we get baby weight Keke back. Lol. She looks great I’m just saying I like slim thick Keke,” one person commented.
And while it’s unclear what prompted Keke’s transformation, she has previously responded to questions about whether she would try Ozempic. “Sounds like it's a slay honey, 'cause girls have been out here killin' it with it, but for me, I would say 'Nay' because I always feel like when something sounds too good to be true - it usually is,” Keke told People in 2023.
It’s about finding a sustainable lifestyle that works for your body and mind.