Keke Palmer is opening up about the hard work, discipline, and mindset shift it took to sculpt her stunning post-baby figure—and her honesty has fans cheering.
Speaking to PEOPLE at the Essence Festival on Sunday, July 6, the multi-talented star reflected on her wellness journey after giving birth to her 2-year-old son, Leo, and how she reclaimed her confidence.
“You have to get back to yourself after the baby. It’s really, really hard,” Palmer admitted. “Anybody with kids knows sometimes it can take 3, 4, 5 years. It really wears your ass out.”
The Emmy-winning actress is known for keeping it real, and her latest revelations about fitness and self-love are no different.
????♀️ “I’m a Pilates Girl Down. I Don’t Care.”
For Palmer, the key to her snatched physique has been finding activities that work for her lifestyle—and it starts early.
???? Morning movement is a non-negotiable.
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“I’m a Pilates girl down, I don’t care. It’s the Pilates,” she said with a laugh. “And I need people to know it doesn’t matter what that scale says. It matters about the muscles. That’s what I love about Pilates. It don’t matter what your size is, your body is going to be snatched with Pilates.”
Her passion for Pilates goes beyond vanity—it’s about feeling strong and capable in her own body again.
????♀️ The Power of Classes & Keeping It Fun
Palmer also credited group classes for helping her stay consistent:
“Finding a workout class was a game changer for me because I didn’t want to spend time figuring everything out at the gym. It’s too much to deal with.”
✅ Her advice?
- “If you can find a dance class, Pilates class, a yoga class, a cycling class—whatever class that you like—do it at the top of your day before work. It will do wonders. The consistency of that will transform your body.”
But don’t mistake Palmer’s routine for all work and no play.
???? “Sometimes we forget that everything doesn’t have to be a serious workout,” she added. “What if I just go play tennis or pickleball with my girls? Or go swimming for a day? Let’s walk around an amusement park with the kids.”
???? “Make Your Own Food. I Know, I Know…”
Keke also swears by cooking her own meals, even if meal prep isn’t her favorite chore.
“Making your own food and knowing what you put in it does wonders,” she emphasized. “Nobody wants to do the meal prep sht, but trust me, it helps.”*
It’s a balance of clean eating, active movement, and letting yourself have fun along the way.
???? “It’s a Mentality”
More than anything, Palmer says her transformation came from a mental shift.
“It is a mentality and it’s really just about knowing what our goals are,” she explained. “For me, I wanted to be strong and active in whatever way that meant for me. And it came from consistency and knowing that I had time for myself.”
By prioritizing her health and happiness, the Nope star is inspiring moms everywhere to reclaim their strength.
???? TPR Takeaway
Keke Palmer’s post-baby glow isn’t just about Pilates and meal prep—it’s about a mindset of self-love and consistency.
???? Would you try her “snatched Pilates” routine or stick with your own fitness flow? Drop your thoughts below!
???? Stay tuned to The Pop Radar for more exclusive celeb fitness secrets and wellness transformations.
