14 DAY TRIAL // Melissa Joan Hart, once a favorite with teens and not only, has long slipped into a corner of shadow. This did not happen though because she became less of an actress, if such a thing is even possible, but rather because she chose to shun the spotlight after very unflattering photos of her were made public. Now that she’s slimmer and definitely healthier, she’s ready to tell that to the world – and what better way to do so than via a People cover and interview.
For those not in the know, to say that the actress was the victim of the most violent attacks on the Internet solely on account of her weight is an understatement, as Hart herself says. Still, she holds no grudge against those who engaged in this kind of behavior, since this was what literally pushed her to realize that she was not leading a healthy life and that she was using her own children as an excuse for being overweight.
“I still read blogs about me discussing how fat I’ve become. Everyone still thinks I’m huge. But I’m not anymore!” the mother of two gushes for the latest issue of the magazine, out on newsstands this Friday. She now weighs a perfect 113 pounds and since she looks so stunning in her swimsuit, she wants the entire world to know that she has finally taken life in her own two hands and made a change for the better.
“There are enormous pressures put on you in Hollywood. I realized I didn’t have to be heavy just because I have kids.” Hart reveals. It took her 14 long months to get where she is now, and plenty of work and support from friends and family, including actress Jaime Pressly to whom she turned to for help. “It didn’t happen by magic – it was as hard for me as it would be for anyone else. [However,] I didn’t want to take any time away from spending it with my sons.” the actress says when asked whether she feels any kind of regret because her journey was so long.
According to People, Melissa Joan Hart also worked with expert Derek Johnson of New Metabolism, who changed her diet, and with personal trainer Mark Harari, who helped her lose weight in a balanced way. All 14 months have truly paid off because she is now happier and feels better than ever, especially since she really wanted to know if she could do this, like a challenge of some sorts.