Maria Menounos is a journalist and correspondent for The Today Show and Access Hollywood. Her body is the envy of many women but she didn’t always look that way. In college she was much heaver – hitting a top size of 14. She blames over eating and too many food indulgences for her weight gain. So, she decided to take charge of her diet and exercise plan and has kept both in check all these years later. As for her diet plan, Menounos said she didn’t give it all up at once. She learned portion control over time. She started by limiting the amount of junk food she consumed and then she started supplementing a side salad instead of going back for seconds. The secret was she didn’t deprive herself of the tempting foods. Instead, she just limited the amount she consumed and over time she reduced it down to eating it sparingly.

As for her exercise plan, she practices the Israeli martial art, Krav Maga, which means ‘close combat’ in Hebrew. The student learns to neutralize an oncoming threat with crippling attacks to the most vulnerable of body parts. Maria said, “It’s the ultimate triple threat. It’s an amazing overall body workout, it’s fun, and empowering – and you’re learning how to protect yourself in any situation.” Besides turning her body into a weapon via martial arts training, she also likes to mix it up by doing fund and engaging exercise. Menounos said, “My goal is to feel like I’m not exercising. My trainer may come over, but we’ll go outside and run. Or I’ll have basketball games at my house with guys from Access. I’m tireless when playing sports. Have me do 20 reps of something in a gym, though, and I’m dying.”

Tags: basketball, close combat, diet plan, exercise plan, fitness trainer, food indulgences, Israili martial arts, krav maga, Maria Menounos, martial arts, portion control, reduce junk food, reduce tempting foods, running, supplementing healty food