When Marissa Jaret Winokur hit the July 10 premiere of Hairspray, she had a lot to celebrate:

Besides the musical’s return to the big screen (she starred in the Broadway smash hit), she got to flaunt her new body. “I’ve lost 60 pounds!” she says. “No gimmicks, no quick tricks.”

Marissa lost her weight the old-fashioned way: with sweat and determination. “I hike, play tennis, swim laps and do Cardio Bar,” she says, referring to the fitness class.

She also TiVos her favorite shows so she’s forced to watch them in her home gym: “I loved The Biggest Loser, so I used to watch it while working out on the treadmill.

I was totally inspired.” As for Marissa Jaret Winokur’s diet: “I try to avoid carbs. I have protein at every meal and lots of vegetables. It’s all about moderation, portions no bigger than my hand. That’s hard at restaurants, so I cut things in half and make them take the rest away!”

Life-changing moment Marissa had her weight wake-up call in early 2006, when she was appearing on the Fox sitcom Stacked. “I remember watching it and thinking, Wow, I’m much heavier than I think I am,” she recalls.

“I didn’t realize it because I was in a happy relationship (with Stacked writer Judah Miller, whom she married in October 2006), and my career was going well.”

However, that all changed when Marissa and Judah decided to start a family. “I don’t want my kids to have my bad eating habits,” she says. “I’m so glad we’re on the baby path and that I’ll be healthy and strong and a good example for my family.” [via]