Rewind to November 2018 – and less than two months after welcoming her third child, Kate Hudson vowed to get her A-list body back by shedding a whopping 11kg, while also keeping on top of her demanding professional and personal life. So how did she go? “Not quite as planned,” Kate, 41, admits.
As a busy mum to sons Ryder, 16, and Bingham, nine, and daughter Rani Rose, 18 months, Kate admits that, while she initially shed the baby weight, indulging at Christmas, combined with little time to sweat, led to a 6kg gain earlier this year.
“I got on a scale, and I wasn’t impressed,” the Fabletics activewear founder admits. “But that’s OK because I know how to do this.”
This time around, Hudson finessed her approach to her diet and fitness goals by focusing on keeping things simple and doable, with her busy lifestyle in mind.
“It took a different kind of discipline,” she says. So how did she manage to whittle away 12 kg in just a few short weeks, getting back to her goal weight of 56kg?
First up, the star admits that she knuckled down on her eating habits, relying on five portion-controlled meals a day and going meat-free when she can. Hudson also fuels up on tofu salad, protein shakes and plenty of fish, while also practising intermittent fasting for a little variety.
She also reconnected with the Weight Watchers program that initially helped her shed her baby weight after Rani Rose was born. “What works for me is understanding my food, my fitness activity and how to balance,” she admits, adding that the program’s Freestyle points app helped. “For me, it’s a really simple and helpful way to keep on track,” she explains.
However, while the saying “abs are made in the kitchen” certainly rings true, Hudson regularly treats herself to pizza, tacos and margaritas.
“I’ve done it [lost weight] without stressing on food or working out like crazy, although I have been disciplined,” the A-lister shares.
While the actress was always a huge fan of Pilates – “I love how flexible I get and what it does to the shape of my body,” she says – she also mixed things up this time and made sure she incorporated at-home activities into her routine, too.
Hudson enjoys regular bike rides around her neighbourhood and makes the most of full-body home workouts. “I change my routine,” she tells. “I really mix it up to keep it fresh.”
And the Almost Famous star, who says she prefers to work out in “short, intense, bursts” most days, has even been known to use bottles of rosé as dumbbells! And she also turns to the pole fitted in her house for a cheeky – and extremely demanding! – pole-dancing session.
With Hudson’s determination to look and feel her very best, the results certainly do speak for themselves! “She’s in phenomenal shape – emotionally and physically,” says a friend. “She’s a different woman to the one who was striving for the impossible just weeks after the birth of her third child.”
And while she admits she’s had hiccups along the way, that’s offset by the fact she’s now in the best shape of her life.
“I enjoy being disciplined. I enjoy being athletic and I enjoy being active,” Hudson says. “I finally feel like myself again.”