Kelly Ripa Says This 3-Day Protein Diet Helped Her Zip Her Oscar Dress: ‘I Looked Super Fit’
Kelly Ripa reveals how eating like husband Mark helped her slim down fast and feel amazing
Kelly Ripa is known for everything from her gift of gab to her sharp fashion sense to her #couplesgoals marriage to husband Mark Consuelos. One thing the svelte talk show host is not synonymous with, however, is the need to lose weight. But diet and health goals are often just as much about feeling great as they are about shedding pounds. The TV star recently shared how powering up with protein for just three days helped her not only slim down in time to fit her Oscar dress, but also boosted her confidence. Here, a top dietitian weighs in on Kelly Ripa’s “lightning diet” for weight loss and shares how you can enjoy similar results.
Kelly Ripa’s weight loss motivation: ‘I kept getting zipped into the dress’
On a recent episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, Ripa revealed her all-too-relatable struggle with a certain wardrobe challenge.
“Right before the Academy Awards, I was having trouble getting my dress zipped up the side. It was a side-zip dress, and I kept getting zipped into the dress,” she said. “I don’t know if any women have experienced having your side skin zipped into your dress. It is a punishing thing.”
Woman's World Answers
Determined to fit into her gown, the mother of three went on to credit her husband and co-host for inspiring her to try a high-protein diet. “It’s the only time I’ve listened to Mark about my diet because I typically don’t like to do what you’re doing,” Ripa shared, adding that her ultra-disciplined partner’s routine is typically too drastic for her.
“But for like 72 hours, I can live like Mark Consuelos,” she continued. “I didn’t love it because I’m not big [into] animal protein… But I ate exactly how you told me to eat and that dress zipped right up, no side skin and I looked super fit, super, super fit.”
What Kelly Ripa ate to slim down in 3 days with protein
Ripa credited a trifecta of foods for helping her shed a few unwanted pounds: steak, yogurt and greens. That makes perfect sense because steak and yogurt are high in satiating protein, while fiber-rich greens—like spinach, broccoli and kale—also help fill you up, says Toby Amidor, MS, RD, award-winning nutrition expert and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Health Shots. To reap the benefits of protein, she adds, it’s best to eat some at every meal.
“The maximum amount of protein the body can absorb at one time is about 30 grams—any more than that and we don’t utilize it,” she explains. “That’s why I recommend spreading it throughout the day: about 20 to 30 grams at meals and 12 to 15 grams for snacks. This also allows for a better balance of carbs, protein and healthy fats. You can fill up on protein from animal sources including eggs, fish, chicken and lean beef, as well from plants like beans, tofu and lentils.”
Kelly Ripa’s longtime diet tips: coffee, yogurt and smart snacks
While her three-day protein power-up is a relatively new strategy in her diet arsenal, the star of daytime talk has long prioritized healthy eating… and drinking. Here’s what works for her.
She starts her day with coffee
Back in 2012 Ripa told Bon Appétit magazine that she wakes up every morning to quite the view: a “beautiful cappuccino.”
And as the morning wears? More coffee! “I never eat breakfast until after the show. I can’t seem to focus my mind if my stomach is digesting,” she told the publication. “At the host chat desk, I’ll have a triple-shot skim latte. I usually have my yogurt and granola after the show. I find that if I eat beforehand, I’m just making digesting sounds.”
Prioritizing java is something most of us can relate to. And it’s perfectly healthy. “Caffeine is a stimulant which helps increase energy and enhance cognitive function,” assures Amidor. “In terms of weight loss, it can slightly increase metabolism, but research has also found that if you’re loading up coffee with sugar, cream and other add-ins, it can lead to weight gain. So, a plain coffee or a cappuccino made with espresso and steamed milk is a nice way to satisfy your craving without loads of added sugar.”
She snacks on protein, fiber + healthy fats
Ripa logs famously long days, yet is known for her unflagging energy. That doesn’t happen by accident, and snacks are key to keeping her batteries charged throughout the day. In fact, she favors protein-packed Greek yogurt topped with blueberries or pistachios, she told Shape, per Prevention.
Happily (for our health and our taste buds) her choice meets with Amidor’s approval: “Emerging research indicates that yogurt may be linked with a reduced risk of chronic diseases, long-term weight maintenance, improved bone health and reduced markers of chronic inflammation,” she reveals. Plus its beneficial probiotics maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
Even better news: “In one clinical trial [in Nutrients], post-menopausal women ate either four to five servings of low-fat dairy foods per day or took calcium and vitamin D supplements,” she reveals. “Those who ate dairy foods—including yogurt—had better bone health outcomes.”
As for blueberries, one serving (1 cup) provides 4 grams of satiating fiber, 14 percent of the daily recommended amount, Amidor notes. “And when you sprinkle protein-rich yogurt with flaxseeds [another Ripa-approved snack], you’re adding healthy omega-3 fats. All these nutrients: fiber, protein and healthy fat, work together to help keep you feeling fuller longer.”
If you prefer another Ripa-recommendation food for weight loss, pistachios, you’ll get even more of “the trio of nutrients: protein, fiber and healthy fat,” she adds. “This contributes to satiety, which can indirectly help you lose weight because you’ll hopefully be snacking less since you feel more satisfied.”
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