Mariska Hargitay is an actress and philanthropist best known for her role on the NBC drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Olivia Benson.
Mariska Hargitay started the Joyful Heart Foundation as a philanthropist with the goal of healing, educating, and empowering survivors of physical assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.
In addition to being a married woman, the 57-year-old actress is also a mother. Since August 28, 2004, she has been married to Peter Hermann, an actor. August Miklos Friedrich Hermann, Amaya Josephine Hermann, and Andrew Nicolas Hargitay Hermann are the couple’s three children, and they have a happy marriage.
But did you know that when Hargitay was pregnant with her first child, August, she gained 54 pounds due to her “must eat more” theory?
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Gaining Weight During Pregnancy
The Jocks actress talked about her gestational diabetes and weight gain during her first pregnancy in the January 2007 issue of Self magazine. When you’re first pregnant, you think to yourself, “I need to consume more!” I have to make certain he gets plenty of each food group! “I did fall into the habit of overeating,” she said. “In the end, this pregnancy was quite difficult for me.”
August’s birth weight was very high, necessitating an emergency c-section. On June 28, 2006, her son was born. However, the Golden Globe Award-winning actress quickly understood that she needed to adjust her eating habits in order to lose weight and become a “fit, fun mom.”
Hargitay began focusing on a well-balanced diet, which included lean meats and plenty of vegetables and fruit. She also worked out three times a week with her trainer, Jay Wright, at Peak Performance, a facility in New York City.
Her consistent gym attendance and proper eating habits eventually helped her reclaim her pre-baby shape. She stated that after the transition,
I had a pouch on my tummy for a long time after my c-section, which has just started to fade, but all I can say is that it was a badge of honor. It made me so happy. I felt like I’d been accepted into the coolest club on the planet: the mom’s club.
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Her other two children were adopted by her.
Hargitay and her 53-year-old husband chose to adopt a daughter, Amaya, in April 2011 after facing numerous obstacles with her first pregnancy. They were even present for her birth. In October of the same year, the couple surprised everyone by adopting another child, son Andrew.
“August believes it was entirely his idea!” In April 2012, Hargitay jokingly told Good Housekeeping. “When he stated, ‘I want a baby sister,’ Amaya showed up. ‘I want a baby brother,’ he pleaded, and Andrew arrived. August is in a pleasant mood and has a lot of power!”
The actress then revealed that she and Peter had always wished for a large family because they were both nurtured in such a way. Currently, the blended family of five is enjoying a beautiful life together in Hampton, Virginia.
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