Women's Health

Bryce Dallas Howard’s Balancing Act

Be patient with your shape.

We've all heard the saying: Nine months up, nine months down. Howard gained 80 pounds during her pregnancy and then discovered she wasn't "one of those lucky women" who shed the extra girth within weeks of giving birth. "It took me so long to lose the baby weight," she tells WebMD. But with good eating habits and regular exercise she eventually did return to her pre-pregnancy 130 pounds. According the pregnancy experts at WebMD, as soon as your ob-gyn gives you the green light to get moving, "aerobic and strength training will help burn calories and keep you healthy along with a nutritional diet. Breastfeeding can also help burn calories after pregnancy."

Love your stomach -- it's worked hard for you!

“I will never wear a bikini again,” Howard says with a laugh. “I have the body of a 30-year-old, but the stomach of an 80-year-old. But I say that with a twinkle in the eye, because I feel really proud! My body expanded to that degree to carry a life. And you know, bikini or no bikini, I feel pretty good about it.”

Adapted from the cover story of WebMD the Magazine’s July/August 2011 issue. Read the entire story here.