How Padma Loses the 'Top Chef' Weight

In case you thought Padma Lakshmi was some freak of nature who looked like a supermodel no matter how many decadent Top Chef dishes she tasted, the show's host is here to reassure you (and us) of her own humanity. Fitness Magazine's cover girl has revealed she actually goes up two dress sizes during every season of Top Chef. How she then loses the weight is no great magic trick.

"I follow a clean diet: no meats, no sweets, no alcohol, no cheese, no fried food, no wheat," she says. "And I work out five days a week, boxing three days, lifting weights the other two."

She also has great advice for something everyone can carry around with them to help shed those extra pounds. "I carry a jump rope with me everywhere, especially when I’m working," she says. "It’s a great way to squeeze in a quick workout and get your heart rate up when you don’t have time to go to the gym."

No surprise that the cookbook author and foodie will never deny herself the culinary joys of life. "I love food way too much to starve myself just to look good. I will put in the work at the gym so I can enjoy what I eat," she says. "I believe in everything in moderation."

And just to prove her point, she shared her post-Fitness photo shoot plans. "I’m going out for pizza, and I’m literally going to take down a whole large pie by myself.”

Watch Padma chow down every Wednesday on Top Chef.

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