Jenna Bush Hager's Weight Loss Journey to Inspire You

Witness Jenna Bush Hager's weight loss journey as she shares her transformational story, empowering others to embark on their own paths to wellness.

Sanchari Bhattacharya
Written by Sanchari Bhattacharya , Health & Fitness Expert
Updated on Aug 23, 2023 | 02:05 PM IST | 622.5K
jenna bush hager weight loss
jenna bush hager weight loss

The host of the Today show, Jenna Bush Hager’s weight loss journey has been an inspiration to many people out there looking for ways to live a healthier and fitter life. The 40-year-old, Jenna Bush Hager is a renowned television personality, author, and journalist who has captivated audiences with her inspiring weight loss journey. In various interviews, she has shared her transformative story, detailing her motivations and the steps she took to embark on a path to better health.

As a mother, Jenna recognized the significance of being an active and engaged parent who could keep up with her children's energy levels and participate in their activities. She wanted to be a strong-set example for her kids, not only physically but also emotionally and mentally. 

Now that she is prioritizing her own health and wellness, Jenna believes she will be better equipped to provide the love, support, and energy her children deserve. She expressed a strong desire to lead by example for her kids and impart the value of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to them.

Jenna's journey serves as a positive shrine to the potential of personal growth and as a source of inspiration to mothers looking to make positive shifts in their own lives. 

Advertisement

Who Is Jenna Bush Hager?

jenna bush hager weight loss

Jenna Bush Hager is a prominent American television personality, author, and journalist, widely recognized for her contributions to various media platforms. She gained initial public attention during her father's presidency, but she has since carved out a successful career of her own.

Advertisement

Jenna has a YouTube channel where she shares personal anecdotes, interviews with notable figures, book recommendations, and discussions on various topics. Through her channel, she offers viewers an intimate glimpse into her life and provides a platform for meaningful conversations.

Jenna's authenticity and relatability have resonated with audiences as she openly shares her personal journey and challenges. Jenna's interviews provide glimpses into her multifaceted life and the values she holds dear. She has showcased her determination and dedication to her weight -loss journey. She has discussed the challenges she faced, the strategies she implemented, and the mindset shifts that propelled her forward. Her authenticity and relatability have resonated with viewers as she candidly shares her personal experiences and insights.

Additionally, Jenna has authored several books, including "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope," which sheds light on her experiences working with UNICEF. Through her writing, she has demonstrated a commitment to making a positive impact and raising awareness about important social issues.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Jenna is known for her philanthropic work and involvement in charitable organizations. She uses her platform to promote causes she believes in, striving to make a difference in the lives of others.

Overall, Jenna Bush Hager's engaging presence in the media landscape, her thoughtful interviews, and her commitment to making a positive impact highlight her as a multifaceted and inspiring personality.

Quick Facts About Jenna Bush Hager

  • Real Name: Jenna Welch Bush Hager. 
  • Birthday: November 25, 1981.
  • Age: 41 years, 6 months old 
  • Occupation: American television personality, author, and journalist
  • Weight Before: 171.6 lbs
  • Weight Loss After: 157.6 lbs 
  • Reduced Weight Loss: 13 lbs 

How Did Jenna Bush Hager Gain Weight?

jenna bush hager weight loss

Advertisement

Jenna Bush Hager is a body-positive mom of three young kids who had some unsaid issues regarding her weight gain. What’s not even less known is how she dealt with her weight gain when it was an open discussion for hosts on their talk shows. From never blabbering out words like “looking terrible and having a bad hair day” in front of her kids to avoiding acknowledging postpartum weight gain, Jenna Bush Hager is all about building mentally strong, independent men and women. 

Many people have a similar story of weight gain from lurking on fast food, binge eating sugar, and the list goes on. However, Jenna's story is different. In one of her interviews, she talked about having three children, oldest daughter in 2013, followed by another in 2015, and then the youngest son in 2019. While all of them had a time difference of two to three years, it gave Jenna very little time for herself. Three children and three c-sections were all it took for her to gain some extra pounds. After counting on her care as the second priority (apparently, kids came first), the cellulite started accumulating and took a toll on her body. 

Weight gain post-pregnancy is a common concern for many women. Mary Sabat, our contributor and a certified trainer says, “Weight gain post-pregnancy is relatively common due to hormonal changes, increased appetite during pregnancy, and reduced physical activity after childbirth.” There are many factors contributing to weight gain following pregnancy, and not everyone’s experience is similar. After childbirth, the hormone levels gradually return to normal, but this process takes time, and hormonal imbalances can contribute to weight gain (1).

Another factor is increased caloric intake. As per our contributor Mary Sabat, increased caloric intake leads to weight gain because the body stores excess calories as fat. Pregnancy often brings an increased appetite and cravings, which may lead to consuming more calories than necessary. The habit of eating larger portions may continue after childbirth, contributing to weight gain if not balanced with a healthy diet (2). On the one hand, breastfeeding can aid in weight loss as it requires extra calories to produce breast milk. It can burn around 500 extra calories per day. But hormonal changes during breastfeeding can also affect metabolism and fat storage, potentially contributing to weight retention in some women (3). It's important to note that the extent of weight loss and the impact of breastfeeding on weight can vary among individuals.

Advertisement

How Did Jenna Bush Hager Lose Weight?

Jenna Bush Hager leads a busy life, juggling multiple roles such as co-hosting shows, hosting a popular book club, and raising her three children named Mila, Poppy, and Hal. With a schedule packed from morning to night, the challenges of being a working mom have not affected her since she decided to opt for a healthy life. 

Acknowledging the impact of her hectic lifestyle, Jenna admits that she hasn't always prioritized her diet and nutrition as she should have. She has also emphasized the importance of being mindful of what she consumes. Jenna realized that while her children were eating healthily, she often found herself making quick and less nutritious food choices for herself.

Jenna Bush’s Diet She Swears by 

After finishing up the morning business, Jenna prefers to commit to her morning meditation before eating or drinking anything. She prefers to engage in an active breathing exercise every morning  from a special recording she has stored on her phone as a guide instead of relying on an app.

Next comes the much-anticipated breakfast. Jenna adheres to a simple yet vital approach, starting her day with the essentials: water, coffee, and green juice. Notably, water takes precedence in her routine, as she keeps a water bottle near her coffee machine, ensuring she takes a moment to consume a chug of it while brewing her coffee. 

Green juice, when consumed on an empty stomach, could be one of the best breakfast options. It is low in calories and can satisfy your hunger without adding extra calories that may contribute to weight gain. The fiber in green juice promotes proper digestion, regulates sugar levels, provides nutrients, and supports weight loss (4). 

Advertisement

Given her 16/8 intermittent fasting practices, Jenna forgoes a conventional breakfast and instead embraces a scoop of nutritional powder mixed with water. This grants her the benefit of two servings of fruits and vegetables in each scoop. Undeniably, Jenna acknowledges that her morning rituals serve as a catalyst, setting the tone for the remainder of her day. And that’s how the rest of the day just goes by. 

Along with all the other benefits of intermittent fasting, such as hormonal imbalances, it also helps promote weight loss. How? During fasting periods, when your body is in a state of low insulin, it switches from using glucose (carbohydrates) as the primary source of energy to using stored fat. This metabolic shift promotes fat burning, leading to weight loss (5). 

While she avoids snacking during the day, one thing she does not avoid is a ton of hydration. 

Proper hydration is good for your skin, your metabolism, and also for weight loss. Water facilitates the movement of waste through the digestive system. Drinking water has been shown to slightly increase resting energy expenditure, which refers to the number of calories your body burns while at rest. Also, now that she has a solid workout routine, proper hydration is necessary for her muscles to relax (6). 

When it comes to lunchtime, Jenna typically chooses to have a salad.  She doesn't have strict preferences for the ingredients and enjoys incorporating various components into her salads.  Her salads usually include a protein source, beans, broccoli, and an assortment of vegetables. Salads are mostly rich in fiber. Raw vegetables do not get digested properly by our system, and hence they pass away in intact form. This reduces the speed of digestion, giving us a feeling of fullness for a longer time (7). 

Regarding snacking, Jenna occasionally treats herself to sweet yogurt paired with peanut butter and almonds. However, that’s not something she does frequently, and she doesn't consider herself a big snacker.

For dinner, she likes having fish, broccoli, or tacos made with lean turkey. The best part is that she loves having dinner with her kids and spending quality time with them.

Jenna Bush Hager’s Workout Routine

Jenna seems to be a morning person, and hence she prefers to start her day with a morning workout. 

Advertisement

To accomplish this, Jenna heads over to the gym, where she engages in various exercises that differ from day to day. Her fitness routine encompasses a range of options, including utilizing a Peloton bike, weightlifting sessions, and embracing different activities. Jenna confesses her fondness for jumping on mini trampolines or partaking in dance cardio workouts. Her new love for dance cardio has got her going for cardio workouts. And she acknowledges the difficulty of incorporating these particular activities into her morning schedule prior to heading to work.

Check out Jenna Bush Hager’s Before And After Weight Loss Photos

jenna bush hager weight loss

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jenna Bush Hager's weight loss journey exemplifies the transformative power of dedication, acceptance, and self-care. Throughout her experience, Jenna has demonstrated an inspiring commitment to improving her health with a proper diet and workout. 

From the start, Jenna approached her weight not as a concern or self-doubt but as an approach to body positivity. Being the mother of three kids in the span of three years has been a blessing in disguise for her. 

Jenna's journey serves as a testament to the importance of self-acceptance and self-love. Rather than succumbing to societal pressures or striving for an unrealistic ideal, she embraced her unique body and worked towards a version of herself that felt authentic and comfortable. She has become the epitome of a near-perfect mother, a working woman, and a healthier being. 

Advertisement

Jenna's openness about her struggles and successes has resonated with many individuals on similar paths. By sharing her personal challenges and triumphs, she has inspired countless others to embark on their own transformative journeys toward a healthier and happier life. Her story serves as an inspiration to embrace self-care, make sustainable changes, and strive for a version of ourselves that radiates confidence and well-being.
 

Contributor: Mary Sabat, Nutritionist and Ace Certified Trainer, Body Designs by Mary

ALSO READ: After Hoda Kotb's absence, Jenna Bush Hager takes questions about her whereabouts

Pinkvilla Pulse
Subscribe to our newsletter for entertainment exclusives, star interviews, and the latest lifestyle trends. Look No Further!
Subscribe
About The Author
Sanchari Bhattacharya
Sanchari Bhattacharya
Health & Fitness Expert

Sanchari, a certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach

...

Advertisement

Latest Articles