Jessica Simpson's Diet & Fitness Habits Behind Her 100-Pound Weight Loss
Jessica Simpson has been a pop icon for decades. The 44-year-old singer is known for hit songs like "With You" and "A Public Affair." She also starred in reality TV series, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, with her then-husband, Nick Lachey, along with The Dukes Of Hazzard and That '70s Show. Oh—and the celeb just crushed her first live performance in 15 years on March 12 at SXSW. There, Simpson unveiled four new tracks from her soon-to-be-released Nashville Canyon, Part I EP.
As if all that wasn't impressive enough, Simpson is a successful businesswoman with her own chic line of shoes, clothing, swimwear, and accessories. She's been incredibly open about her health, wellness, and weight-loss journey as well, notably losing 100 pounds after having her third child. Several fitness and diet habits helped Simpson achieve her weight loss, and we're diving in!
She Was Consistent With Exercise and Walked a Lot
Between her busy life as a mom-of-three and killin' it in her career and passion projects, it's safe to say that Jessica Simpson has a hectic schedule. That said, she seems to always carve out time for exercise. One simple-yet-effective workout the celeb swears by? Walking.
"I have been doing a lot of walking—getting my steps in not only burns calories but it also helps me clear my head and get focused," Simpson shared during an interview with PEOPLE in 2019.
The singer is consistent with her fitness efforts, as she wrote in a 2020 Instagram post, "Woke up before all 3 kiddos to get my steps in and spend time with me, myself, and I. Move move move for your own mental health."
In another Instagram post from 2020, Simpson posed for a treadmill mirror selfie. In the caption, she wrote, "I have been craving this, but procrastinating. One work out and I am determined to not let myself down."
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She Worked With Trainer Harley Pasternak
Simpson is one of nutrition expert and celeb trainer Harley Pasternak's clients. Pasternak raved about working with Simpson in the caption of a 2019 Instagram photo. He wrote, "Beyond proud of this incredible woman. Been working together for over 12 years and she's always the most warm, sweet, polite, and respectful person in the world. And on top of it all, after being nonstop pregnant for as long as I can remember, she's down 100 pounds and looks younger today than she was when we met. Shout out to the awesome."
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She Assumed a Healthier Diet
When it comes to successful weight loss and weight management, fitness and diet go hand in hand. Simpson told PEOPLE that, after having her third child, she assumed healthier eating habits.
"I am eating healthy too—I discovered I really like cauliflower," she said. "Who knew it could be a substitute for almost anything?!"
In addition to this game-changing veggie, Pasternak told PEOPLE that he made sure Simpson consumed plenty of fiber and protein, both of which have been linked to satiety and weight loss.
"It's three meals and two snacks a day, and each meal has protein, fiber and fat, and snacks are protein and fiber or protein and fat. She'll have foods that are very flavorable that are healthier versions of things like a tortilla soup or Tex-Mex," Pasternak said.
He also stressed that everything is about "balance," adding, "If she has a birthday party one night and a date night another night, she's going to indulge both of those nights, but that's it. It's about balancing in a way that doesn't make it painful or too much of a departure from your life before that."
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She Gradually Challenged Herself
Pasternak previously opened up to E! News about the fitness process he had Simpson follow. He said he made sure to challenge Simpson.
"We slowly ramped [up the full-body workouts]; we started really easy and slowly increased them. We started with doing a full-body workout, one set of each exercise, not really doing too much intensity per body part and gradually increasing the volume and intensity. Focusing on a few muscle groups per day. Different muscles each day of the week," Pasternak told the outlet.
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She Held Herself Accountable
Another staple in Pasternak's fitness plan for Simpson? Accountability. Pasternak told PEOPLE that the actress completed five tasks each day.
"Every night before she goes to bed she sends an email showing that she hit all five tasks, so she'll go to bed feeling successful," he said. "She's hit her step goal, she's eaten well, she's balanced her responsibilities—so she can go to bed with a sense of fulfillment, and that's everything. And as a byproduct of doing these habits, she lost 100 lbs."
