Melissa Joan Hart’s Weight Loss Secret, Revealed

Just like many moms, Melissa Joan Hart struggled to squeeze into her favorite jeans after giving birth to her third son, Tucker, in September 2012. But just in time for the balmy summer months ahead, the 37-year-old actress is flaunting her new svelte figure in a curve-hugging swimsuit. READ: How Kim Kardashian Got Her Bikini Body Back Us Magazine is reporting that the former child star gained 60 pounds during her third pregnancy, prompting her to give meal-delivery program NutriSystem a try. And fortunately for the anxious wife and mother, she’s now “slimmer now than before the baby.” PHOTOS: Celebs Who Endorse Diet Plans “For me, it was important to bond with my child, as opposed to ‘lose the weight,’” Hart tells ET News. “So I waited until I was ready, and I knew I had the time, and then I made it a priority that I would eat well.” Sure, it’s easy to shed the pounds when low-calorie meals are delivered right to your door, but there’s more to Hart’s weight loss than just signing up for the program.  READ: 10 Foods That Will Keep You Fuller, Longer The menu allows dieters to eat favorite foods with lower-calorie redos. For starters, there’s the 180-calorie white bean chicken chili, replacing beef with leaner chicken and hearty white beans. There’s also the 200-calorie multigrain pilaf, highlighting brown rice, lentils, and quinoa. As for dessert? Hart’s favorite is the 120-calorie red velvet whoopie pie, made with egg whites and nonfat milk. READ: 5 Lower-Calorie Versions Of Your Favorite Comfort Foods “They do healthy versions of the foods you like,” says Hart to Us Magazine. “I love Mounds bars and they have this almond-coconut bar. I don’t have to feel guilty.” To  maximize weight loss efforts, you also have to break a sweat. Hart found a way to make those gym sessions fun, which means she’ll actually stick to it. READ: Christina Aguilera Dishes on Weight Loss Secret “I make it a social event,” she says. “I chitchat with friends on walks or run with my husband.”   Check out her body transformation for yourself below: