Beyonce says she got back in shape following the birth of Blue Ivy Carter with the help of her newborn.
"I lost most of my weight from breastfeeding and I encourage women to do it; It's just so good for the baby and good for yourself," the star, who gained 50 pounds during her pregnancy, told People, noting she breastfed her newborn for 10 weeks.
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The People's 2012 Most Beautiful Woman also relied on exercise and a strict diet.
"I counted calories. I worked out maybe three to four times a week," she told the mag. "I did a lot of walking in the beginning and now I'm running. But I had to work my way up. I couldn't just go right from being pregnant to running."
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Beyonce also revealed that her diet included, "staying away from anything delicious."
"I'm proud that my waist came back so fast. I'm proud of that and happy, but that was mostly from the breastfeeding," she explained.
The 30-year-old says she's "three to four pounds" away from her pre-baby weight.
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"My hormones are still in my body. Your body produces the hormones that make your body soft," she said. "It's just magical. It makes me so proud to be a woman because it's just unexplainable what happens to your body - it's incredible."
Beyonce also revealed that before she headed to the hospital to give birth, she got ready with a little primping.
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"I did have a fresh eyebrow wax," she told the mag with a laugh. "I got my nails done, I got my feet done, had my hair done, and I had my little lip gloss... I didn't feel that I looked beautiful during birth, but who does? After being pumped with all those fluids and gaining so much weight... I barely recognized myself."
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