Model and former Playboy star Holly Madison is embracing a balanced approach to health and fitness. Recently, she posted a playful selfie from the gym on Instagram, captioned, “Proof I worked out.” Madison’s journey to wellness has been shaped by self-compassion and a focus on long-term goals rather than quick fixes. After her second child, she prioritized her mental health over immediate weight loss, sharing on Instagram, “Losing weight just wasn’t my first priority after having a baby.” With the guidance of a nutritionist and a love for healthy foods like salmon, Madison has gradually built a sustainable routine. She hopes to inspire other moms by showing that achieving goals takes time—and that’s okay.
After having her second child, Madison opened up about her weight loss process in this Instagram post. Madison revealed that she took some time to just focus on herself, and not worry about her weight. “Yeah, I’m excited that I finally reached my goal weight, but I also wanted to point out that it took me four years to get here. Losing weight just wasn’t my first priority after having a baby, sorry ’bout it. I had an easy time losing the weight after my first pregnancy, but after the second one, the extra pounds were just hanging on. I was working on a novel and I was terrified that if I went on a diet I would be hungry, cranky, lightheaded and unable to concentrate.”
In the previous Instagram post’s caption, Madison revealed that she decided to work with a nutritionist to help her lose weight. “I tried to lose weight just by working out and moderately watching what I eat at first, but even though I was doing really challenging workouts almost every day, nothing was budging. It wasn’t until I finally went to a nutritionist a year ago that I started making any progress. I had to know what foods worked with my metabolism before a diet became effective. Only recently was I able to incorporate both a diet and exercise into my day. For a while, it was a struggle because it seemed I only had time for one: workout OR make sure I had all the foods I need to stick to my diet.”
Madison also revealed in the previous post’s caption that she decided to share her journey to inspire other moms who might be in the same situation. “I just wanted to share that as kind of a disclaimer to this picture because I know there are so many moms out there who feel bad because they don’t always lose the weight quickly. The same methods don’t necessarily work for everyone. Just remember, if you haven’t made it to your physical goal yet, it’s because you’re a boss with a million things going on and you are probably killing it more than you think you are. ❤️”
In this video on her YouTube channel, Madison shared what she typically eats in a day. For dinner, she ordered a salmon dish from a local restaurant. The Mayo Clinic says that salmon has a lot of benefits. “Salmon is probably best known for its omega-3 fatty acids. Called EPA and DHA, these fats may support heart health, brain function and healthy joints. Most Americans could add more seafood to their diets, and salmon is a good choice. Salmon can be used fresh or canned. If you buy canned salmon, get it packed in spring water instead of oil.”
Madison opened up about overcoming unhealthy eating habits and body image in her book, The Vegas Diaries. “I felt like I had let myself down. After finally regaining control of my own life and achieving all my goals, how was it that I couldn’t even control my own body? It wasn’t until I got pregnant with my first baby a little over three years ago that I really started to get into nutrition and eating healthier.”