Inspire Entertainment Magazine

J COVER STORYENNIFFEHR UDSON

ennifer Hudson knows that it takes a lot of hard work to reach a bigJgoal; after all, she did rise through the ranks of “American Idol”, andeven though she wasn’t the winner thatseason, she turned her time on the compe-tition into a record deal and eventuallymade the move to the big screen in filmslike “The Secret Life Of Bees,\" Sex AndThe City,\" and the movie she won anAcademy-Award for \"Dreamgirls.\"We appreciate Hudson for taking time outof her busy schedule to share with us howshe lost 80-pounds. Here, in Hudson's ownwords are the diet, motivation, and fitnesstips that helped her take off the weight.“The key about losing weight: You have todo it for you,” said Hudson. “It’s not abouteven starting the journey, it’s about you.You have to want to do it. And you can’tlet what everyone has to say overshadowwhat you want for you. If you want tomeet your goals, you have to make itabout you. Anything less is a setup forfailure.\"INTERVIEWER: Some people respondnegatively to the daily fluctuations of thescale, whereas others find them motivatingand informational. How important isweighing yourself every day?HUDSON: Even though many expertswill tell you not to weigh yourself daily,it’s now the first thing I do every morning.I weigh completely naked so there is noth-ing that can mysteriously add an unex-pected pound here or there other than myfood intake. (continue to next page)

Pictures Courtesy of LUCKY

This routine helps me to control as jammed packed as one can get Watchers points and predictsmy fluctuations in weight. If I see and I still found the time to make she always will. “It’s flexible,”a small gain, I know I can do the program work. You have to she says, (which comes insomething about it that day. want weight loss success so badly handy when your family makesINTERVIEWER: Do you feel that no mountain, river or ocean you a giant lipstick cake).behavior change is a key compo-nent to weight loss? could keep you from reaching “That was something,” she your goals. If you have that drive, says. “Even David had a passion, and commitment, there is spoonful—that was a bigHUDSON: Yes. The only way you no way you won’t get there.can sustain a permanent change is deal!” David Otunga, her fian-to create a new way of thinking,acting, and being. Take time each INTERVIEWER: Usually our cé and the father of her three-week to analyze your behavior brains tend to focus on how year-old son, is a Harvard-around food. Do you have certain “hard” it is to lose weight in order educated WWE competitorhabits that stand in the way of to keep us buried on our old ways whose diet, she says, is evenyour weight loss? If so, aim to and stand in the way of change. stricter than her own.change them. For example, do you How did you make the mind “Cheating for him is like, onemindlessly eat in front of the tele- shift? chicken wing instead of skin-vision? Try brushing your teeth less chicken breast! He is like,before sitting down for your night- HUDSON: I refused to allow no carbs ever. So we work wellly T.V. fix. negativity and negative thoughts together.” Hudson has gotten to bring me down or throw me many family members intoINTERVIEWER: Consistency off. Allowing myself to be over- Weight Watchers—together,and perseverance seem very im- weight and unhealthy are habits they’ve lost over 2,000 pounds. I’ve gladly left in my past. “It’s great. Before we eat—portant when it comes to losing INTERVIEWER: What has been before a holiday or a big fami-weight. How should people react if some of the benefits physically as ly reunion—lots of us are say-they have a setback or make a mis- well as mentally that you've expe- ing, how many points is this,take and eat something that per- rience from losing 80-pounds? how many points is that, sohaps wasn't the best choice for HUDSON: I’ve got more energy, we’re together on it.”them? stamina, and drive than I’ve ever Growing up, Hudson wasn’tHUDSON: Those who lose had. I have more confidence and particularly aware that herweight and keep it off learn that a happiness. I'm grateful for all the weight was an issue at all.mistake or small weight gain does payoffs and benefits that accom- “The first time I was asked tonot signal the end of the road, it is pany my weight loss. I feel the lose weight [on Americansimply a bump in it and they push difference in the simple daily Idol]; I was like, ‘What??’through it. Simply refuse to quit. tasks such as climbing the stairs, Where I come from, I was nev-Permanent weight loss doesn’t how clothing is more comfortable, er considered particularlycome with an on and off switch. It how I have more energy for my heavy.” After a number ofis not something you do for a little loved ones. Maintaining her crash-diet attempts, Hudsonwhile and think it is going to weight loss is a major priority for found success with Weightchange your body. My schedule is Hudson. She still counts Weight (continue next page)