Jessica Alba's Essential Weight Loss Secrets
Ever since Jessica Alba first hit the silver screen in 1994, she's been lauded as one of the most beautiful celebrities in Hollywood. But she's not just a gorgeous actress; she's also a mother of two, and the face—and co-founder—of billion-dollar nontoxic consumer goods company The Honest Company.
Although her svelte figure speaks for itself, Alba has some valuable tools in her healthy living arsenal totally worth stealing. We compiled her best weight-loss tips you should try yourself. If you're curious how other celebrities keep their figure, check out 30 Skinny Secrets from the World's Sexiest Women.
She Starts Her Day With a Smoothie
Alba told Shape that her go-to protein shakes are made with "vegan protein powder, matcha green tea powder, a banana, coconut water, and ice. I drink it before a workout and it doesn't make me feel too full. Or I can have it afterward and feel satisfied until lunch." Vegan protein powders are the core ingredient of Zero Belly Smoothies, and author David Zinczenko found that test panelists lost up to 14 pounds in 16 days drinking them. "The plant-based protein will flatten your gut, boost your metabolism and heal your digestive system," he says, so it's no surprise Alba blends smoothies for her zero belly.
She Eats Spicy Food
In an interview with Delish, Alba revealed her love of hot sauce. "It's like I'm trying to burn a hole through my stomach," she said. "It's so good. It's such a problem." It turns out, hot sauce is one of the 55 Best-Ever Ways to Boost Your Metabolism. You can thank the capsaicin in chili peppers for these beneficial qualities. Not all brands of hot sauce are healthy, though. Some are loaded with additives and preservatives, so be cautious of the ingredients in this spicy condiment. To see where your go-to choice ranks, don't miss the 18 Best and Worst Hot Sauces—Ranked!
She Does CrossFit
The CrossFit craze has struck many celebrities, Alba being one. Her trainer Yumi Lee, co-owner of Reebok CrossFit LAB, keeps her in shape with a combination of medicine ball tosses, burpees and other CrossFit essentials. Her trim, in-shape physique and muscle definition speaks for itself. If you're a CrossFitter, checkout the Eat This, Not That! Diet for CrossFit and get familiar with which foods can promote even more progress.
And SoulCycle
CrossFit is great for resistance training, which builds muscle and keeps fat gain at bay, while SoulCycle is great for cardio. The popular cycling studio has a cult following, and Alba is one of them, posting sweaty pics after class to her instagram. If the ripped bods of SoulCycle fans (Kelly Ripa and Lea Michele are also regulars) weren't proof enough, the average class burns an average of 200-600 calories. With some light weight intervals also part of the routine, SoulCycle has certainly helped Alba stay in tip-top shape.
Her Cheat Treats Are Clean
"I like a naughty treat as much as the next person, but I've tried to change my taste buds. So if I'm craving something salty, I'll have dried seaweed or almonds. Rice crackers and Popchips are also good. If I need a sweet fix, I'll stick to natural sugar. Who can say no to fresh cherries or strawberries?" Alba told Women's Health.
We all get a hankering for sweets sometimes. While dessert or salty snacks aren't the best options for weight-loss, keeping it natural means you're saving your body from chemicals that can do more damage than weight-gain alone. For more reasons to eat all-natural, check out 20 Benefits of Ditching Processed Foods.
Lead image courtesy of @honest_beauty; images #1 and #3 courtesy of @jessicaalba.
