LAILA ALI FINDS A BALANCE: ‘IT’S ABOUT STRIVING TO BE BETTER’
Laila Ali may be a health guru, but eating right doesn’t come easy to the boxing champion and mom of two. Ali recently told BET that she has to work extra hard to keep in shape because she comes from a family of soulful eaters.
“I’m naturally a big girl so I had to work hard to lose weight because my family is big boned. A lot of times women will say, ‘You look good,’ but they don’t know how much more work it takes.”
The former boxer adds that it was especially hard to lose weight after her second child was born. Instead of attempting to lose the weight alone, Laila challenged her Facebook followers to diet and exercise with her in an effort to shed pounds. “I did a Facebook challenge to women. I was like, ” ‘Hey, I’m always talking about losing weight and what you need to do and now I need to do it too. So who wants to do it with me?’ I wanted to take that challenge to the people, let them see the weight come off and encourage them. I gave the information, tools and encouragement that they needed. I’m still not where I want to be. I’d love to be my fighting weight. But, for me, that’s just not realistic. I was working out three times a day to be that size, but working out was my job. I don’t have that type of time or commitment anymore. That’s 15 to 20 pounds lighter than I am now and I’m a 165 pounds. It’s just about accepting a realistic version of yourself and striving to be better. I like to eat, so…”
Laila also gave insight into her decision to star on NBC’s new reality competition series Stars Earn Stripes, which airs Mondays at 9pm/8c on NBC. “I don’t have any regrets. It’s just that I’m a mom, I have young kids, so it was kind of scary doing the things I was doing.”
Laila and husband Curtis Conway parent five children in all, though the couple only have two children together.
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15 Comments to “LAILA ALI FINDS A BALANCE: ‘IT’S ABOUT STRIVING TO BE BETTER’”
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Her kids are cute.
What a gorgeous bunch!
Great pic, all look well.
Love Laila. OMG, her son’s name is escaping at the moment but anyway, he is soooo adorable and looking like his grandpa. Sydney is a cutie, but unsure who she looks like.
gorgeous kids
Two cutie pies!
BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN JUST LIKE THEIR MOMMY.
She cut CJ’s hair! He looks so handsome! And Sydney is just adorable. Love Laila as a mom. BCK, I’m still waiting on pics of Kenzo Honsou and Louis Bullock!!!
Me Two!!!
Sidney is doll baby…. Too cute!
OMG these babies r so freakin cute! I’ve always been a big girl but I remain very active! I guess it’s all in ur genes!
Beautiful kids….
BEAUTIFUL KIDS!!!
Love, love Laila Ali. Her children can come visit any time! This woman I can relate to. I was a thin girl but when I developed curves, it seems everything I ate showed on me. Never yo-yo dieted but did have to lose weight after my divorce. Since then, it’s hard work to remain a decent, good, healthy size that make people say ‘girl you look gooood!’. I like how I look yes, but it’s a lot of working out, passing on the delicious mac-n-cheese I just made my son for dinner & eating right just to maintain the weight. This woman is real & I admire her for that.
And my babies are so freaking cute!
Curtis and Sydney are absolutely gorgeous!