Lori Harvey, a model, socialite, and businesswoman, recently sparked a lot of conversation online about her weight loss journey. The buzz began after the 25-year-old model shared details about her fitness routine leading up to the 2022 Met Gala, attributing her toned physique to consistent Pilates workouts and a strict 1200-calorie diet. While many were impressed by her dedication, others raised concerns about the safety and sustainability of her methods.
The Met Gala Moment
Lori Harvey turned heads at the Met Gala, not just for her stunning Michael Kors dress, but also for her visibly toned abs. The model and entrepreneur openly discussed her weight loss journey, attributing her physique to Pilates and a calorie deficit. This reveal led to a flurry of media attention, with tabloids praising her "abs of steel."
Harvey reflected on the attention, acknowledging the unusual nature of people commenting on her body. She emphasized that fitness is a lifestyle and a lifetime commitment.
Harvey's Fitness Background
Harvey's journey to becoming a "fit crush" was unexpected. As a former equestrian, she still deals with joint pain. Beyond fitness, she has plenty on her plate, including her skincare line, SKN by LH, contracts with IMG and WME, and other projects. She also became the first celebrity ambassador for Gymshark, launching a collection of neutral activewear inspired by her love for reformer Pilates.
Finding the Right Workout
Harvey described a "long quest" to find the right workout for her body. She moved away from high-intensity workouts like Barry's Bootcamp due to old injuries. Strength training at Dogpound gym, initially accompanying Ashley Graham, didn't quite work either. Eventually, she found that Pilates' resistance-based methods were the key to preventing flare-ups.
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"I loved it there, but I have an old knee and an old back injury that messes with me sometimes," she said, regarding her previous gym routine. "So it was getting hard for me to do the gym thing every day. So, I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll try pilates, I think I can handle it.’ When I tell you I literally died, I have not had a harder workout in my life. I was shaking. I felt muscles I didn’t even know existed. I just got hooked and intentionally set a goal for myself. I was like, ‘I’m going to have [visible] abs.’"
The Importance of Balance
Harvey emphasized the importance of "balance." She admitted to previously trying restrictive diets and cardio-heavy routines, which led to cravings and binging. Now, she understands her body better and knows what a healthy caloric intake looks like for maintaining a high metabolic rate, balanced hormones, a boosted mood, and more energy.
"I think, when I was trying to lose fat, I definitely had to figure out what my BMI is, what my caloric intake is to maintain or [be in a deficit]… I had to figure out my rhythm and the pattern that works for my body. Now, I’ve found what works for me," she explained.
Consistency is Key
Harvey acknowledged that her physique is the result of discipline and consistency, not genetics or quick fixes. She emphasized that it's about adhering to a set of practices to achieve holistic wellness, day after day.
"I really, really did work hard for this, so for that to be a conversation is a cool moment," she said.
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Harvey's Non-Negotiables
Harvey shared her non-negotiables for feeling her best, focusing on balance, finding the right fitness routine, building boundaries, and staying inspired.
Portion Control
Harvey doesn't restrict herself too much but focuses on portion control. She found that restrictive dieting led to cravings and overeating. Portion control helps her balance enjoying food with maintaining her goals.
"The biggest thing for me is that I don’t really try to restrict myself too much on what I eat, but I will portion control, which I found helps me a lot more. When I dieted and was super restrictive, it got hard-I craved the stuff that I’m “not supposed” to be eating even more. And then, when I did start eating [normally] again, I’ll go a little bit too hard. So the portion control helps me balance," she explained.
She also prefers to "eat" her calories rather than "drink" them, opting for water over sugary drinks and always indulging in dessert after meals. "I love a great meal. I still like to eat great food; that’s where the portion control came in. I’ll go to dinner and all my friends are like, “Let’s get a drink,” and I’d rather have water, but I’m definitely going to have dessert after dinner. I’d rather eat my calories than drink my calories. I always have to have something sweet after my meals."
Personalized Fitness
Harvey emphasized the importance of finding a fitness routine that works for your body. Due to a horseback riding accident, she needed to protect her joints. She tried various workouts, including cardio and weightlifting, but found that heavyweight lifting took a toll on her knee and back. Pilates provided the definition she wanted without aggravating her injuries.
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"I was always just trying to figure out what workout works the best for my body. I got into a horseback riding accident, so [protecting my joints] was something that I struggled with. The older I get, I start feeling it more and more. I think I’ve tried almost every type of workout there is; lots of cardio, a lot of weights. So, it was really the heavyweight lifting that was starting to take a toll on my knee and my back. So then, once I pivoted to pilates, I was like, okay. I just felt I found my group and I was like, okay, I think this is what works best for me, and it gave me the definition I wanted," she said.
She also highlighted the importance of feeling confident in workout clothes, stating that it helps her feel good about herself regardless of others' opinions.
Boundaries and Support
Harvey credits her family and friends for keeping her grounded. Her father's experience in the spotlight helped her navigate the challenges of fame. She emphasizes the importance of blocking out negativity and staying focused on her goals.
"I think having my dad already be in the spotlight helped me navigate a lot because he had a lot of really great advice. He helps keep me level-headed, keep me grounded. I would say my family and friends are a great foundation and support system for me to stay level-headed and grounded. When it does get a little bit overwhelming, I’ll go home for a little bit and it recenters me. I remember who I am and block out the naysayers. I stay focused on my goals, journey, and what I want to do. It is tough, but something my dad always told me is not to let people’s opinions really get to me. Having a great support system comes into play, as it helps me block out any negativity and focus on the good," she explained.
Goal Setting
Harvey defines success as achieving her daily and life goals. She is getting back into horse riding, something she has been missing.
"My definition of success is just knocking out goals of mine that I’ve set every single day. Because every day, it is a task-you’re met with different challenges. So, just being able to wake up and achieve different goals that I’ve set for each and every day, but just also life goals. I’m actually getting back into horse riding now, which is something I’ve been missing."
The 1200-Calorie Diet Controversy
Harvey's revelation about consuming only 1200 calories a day while trying to lose weight sparked controversy. While she emphasized that this was specific to her body and goals, experts cautioned against such restrictive diets.
"Everybody’s been asking like what it is I specifically did to get my body to this point. So when Mike and I got together, I gained like 15 pounds of relationship weight and it was horrible," she said. "I’ve been consistently doing pilates for the past year. I’ve done it for a few years but I’ve been really consistent the last year," she said, adding that when she was working to lose weight, her average time spent in the gym was between "five, six times a week," sometimes doing "two-a-day" workouts, often incorporating cardio after her pilates classes. The social media influencer wasn’t on a diet but focused on eating mostly meat and vegetables with minimal carbs during that time, staying in a "calorie deficit" and consuming as low as "1,200 calories a day max." That, combined with her activity, helped her get to where she is now.
Expert Opinions
Registered dietitian nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner stated that the 1200-calorie mark is generally recommended for a moderately active three-year-old girl. She noted that a woman of Harvey's height and build typically needs between 1600 and 2200 calories to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
"We all need different amounts of calories," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, author of The Superfood Swap. "And that changes based on your age, your gender, your height, your weight, your genetics, your physical activity." Based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, "the 1,200 calorie mark is listed for the recommendation for a moderately active three-year-old girl," Blatner says. But a 5'4" woman who weighs 126 pounds (someone similar to Lori's height and build) needs to eat anywhere between 1,600 and 2,200 calories. Meaning, "it is very difficult on a 1,200 calorie diet to get all the vitamins and minerals a human adult woman would need," she adds.
Blatner explained that overly restricting calories can lead to mental health issues, energy depletion, and mood swings. It can also trigger the body to fight back, increasing appetite and making it difficult to maintain the diet long-term.
Safe Calorie Deficit Strategies
Blatner recommends calculating a calorie deficit based on individual needs using the DRI calculator from the USDA. Alternatively, she suggests a lifestyle approach, making small, sustainable changes to eating habits. For example, opting for a smaller burger and salad instead of a larger burger with fries.
"Look at what you're doing now and just make small changes to it," she suggests. For example, if you would usually order a six-ounce burger with fries for dinner, consider switching things up by opting for a four-ounce burger and a side salad instead. Small changes like these are "lifestyle-based. They're not counting in numbers and dieting.""But," Blatner adds, "you do get a calorie deficit when you take whatever you're currently doing, and you make small changes to it. You will get this calorie deficit in a more natural, holistic lifestyle way."
Lori Harvey's Perspective
Lori clarified that she only follows the 1200-calorie diet when she is actively trying to lose weight. When not dieting, she eats what she wants in moderation, focusing on portion sizes and a balanced diet of meat, vegetables, green juices, and minimal carbs.
Exercise
Pilates
Harvey emphasized that she has been consistently doing Pilates for the past year and how it became a prominent part of her fitness routine. Regular Pilates sessions can significantly reduce stomach, waist, and hip measurements. Also, beyond weight loss, Pilates brings potential relief from lower back pain and enhances strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and overall fitness.
Cardio
Lori's second workout usually involves cardio. She hits the gym after her Pilates routine for an intense cardio session. Some days, it's a 30-minute treadmill session, and other times, it's sprint intervals, hiking, or stair climbing. Engaging in such cardio exercises is a fantastic method to decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as fortifying the body's defenses.
Two-a-Day Workouts: Proceed with Caution
Harvey mentioned doing "two-a-day" workouts during her weight loss phase, combining Pilates with cardio. Experts cautioned that such intense routines may require more calories to avoid overtaxing the muscles.
Kara Liotta, CPT, co-founder of KKSWEAT, says that doubling up your workouts is unnecessary if your goal is to lose weight. Plus, sticking to such a rigorous schedule means "you would actually need to be taking in more calories" instead of being in a strict calorie deficit like Lori did, she adds. That's not to say it isn't safe to hit the gym twice in one day-it just depends on the kind of exercise you're doing. Lori's Pilates and cardio combo is extreme: "At some point, you're going to overtax your muscles," Liotta says. But if you're sweating it out in a morning strength training class and cooling down at the end of your day with a quick yoga session, then you should be good. Just make sure you're targeting different muscle groups and leaving plenty of time for your body to recover in between workouts, Liotta explains.
Social Media & Lori's Weight Loss
Lori Harvey's weight loss journey was a result of significant changes she made in her lifestyle. She not only followed a strict diet but also worked out regularly to slim down. However, her 1200-calorie diet received a backlash, as fans expressed that such diets had too many risks, and rightly so. It is important to note that each body is different, and what's effective for one person might not be effective for another.