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Heather Bauer Talks

The nutrition guru who helped Tyra get fit the real life way, breaks down their winning strategy.

Before Tyra and I met, I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure if, like a lot of celebs, she was looking for a quick fix - shakes, cleanses or spoon-feeding her 1200 calories a day. So, I let immediately let her know that my mission was two-fold: one, to help her win the weight loss challenge with her friends (because I’m just as competitive as her!), and two (most important), to teach her how to eat better in the real world. Like most of us, Tyra likes to eat, and she likes her food to taste good. But that’s just it-eating right isn’t about deprivation, it’s simply about making smart choices. Tyra’s actually a fantastic example for people to follow, precisely because she doesn’t have a personal cook or someone spoon feeding her healthy foods, she goes to restaurants like the rest of us and orders from the menu, she picks up quick meals from fast food restaurants or Starbucks when running through the airport and even goes to the grocery store herself (well, sometimes!).

Why she did it

Throughout Tyra’s career she was always a model that ate (she’s a woman with real curves) and because of her awesome genes, she pretty much got away with eating whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted-until her body recently spoke back. She had gotten to the point where even though she was still maintaining her incredibly challenging work schedule and grueling long days, because of the extra weight she'd gained, she was feeling more exhausted than usual, she had sleepless nights (and consequently missed morning workouts), and she also had constant chronic stomach aches. So while her initial motivation to lose weight was the "challenge"-and that was a great motivator-we both knew that it was time for Tyra to learn how to eat well in the context of her hectic life.

Doing it

Tyra made the choice to get healthy the old-fashioned way-by living her life, not a diet. Following a rigid diet plan would’ve been virtually impossible anyway, because she’s out for 2-3 meals a day, on planes, in studios, out with friends, etc. So instead of getting overwhelmed by focusing on a total weight loss number, I taught her to just focus on one "decade" at a time (for example, if you start in the "70s," as in the 170 lb range, you try to get the "60’s"). And you take it slow, week by week.

Initially, Tyra couldn’t remember the last time she was hungry. That’s so common! But a little hunger is good. Like a lot of super busy people, she had become so disconnected from her body, she forgot what being hungry was, but she definitely remembered the "unbutton your pants full" feeling after every meal. The brain is a powerful tool and it’s easy to convince yourself that you need more food then you actually do. That’s why learning portion control was a key factor in Tyra’s "get fit" plan. Losing white refined starches was as well. (Once you cut back on the bread, pastas and rice-any non-whole grain starch, you’ve done a lot!) Besides learning how to eat, I also got her to pay attention to "social eating cues" and additional triggers. Let’s face it; many of us make poor choices not because we are hungry but because of the social pressure when we are out with buddies-I call them the enabler friends, the "pie pushers." But don’t worry, getting fit doesn’t mean there are no indulgences; in fact, Tyra definitely has her share-that’s what real life eating is! It’s all about retraining yourself and using little tricks to keep you from overindulging. For example, if you're dying for an ice cream treat, get a single scoop cone; don't grab a pint of Ben and Jerry's and plop in front of the tv with a spoon.  If a burger with the works is a treat for you, enjoy it on a date with your honey not as an everyday meal.

The Results

Tyra’s obviously looking better than ever. Sure, she’s lost a good deal of weight (Remember, weight loss should always be about what best for your individual frame.), and she won the challenge (yes!). But she’s even more thrilled-and I’m really proud-about how she’s feeling. She has much more energy, she’s sleeping better and feeling motivated to work out. And she got rid of the random stomachache attacks! No matter who you are, your relationship with food is personal. Losing weight and getting healthy is a challenge for anyone, no matter what you do. Despite her fame, Tyra is a real woman who simply let work and bad eating habits take over her health-yet she fought back. And listen, taking control of her health never was about losing curves. She’s still got them and a great ass to boot! This woman eats-trust me, she still eats-and she still totally has fun with food. One thing is sure, Tyra doesn’t beat up on herself if she has a little something decadent. Just the opposite, she balances it out with a healthy food choice. No magic, just determination! As Tyra’s nutritionist, I’m sharing this with you all because I really want you to know that if you choose to, YOU CAN DO THIS TOO!

Want to know exactly what TB ate to get fit, and the food staples she keeps in her fridge?! Give us a shout at tyra.com!