How Much Weight Does Padma Gain During #TopChef?

Padma Lakshmi has a pretty sweet gig — literally. As host of Top Chef, the beauty gets to constantly sample an array of impressive cuisine. But, she admits the job has a downside when it comes time to step on the scale. "Right now, I’m filming on Top Chef and I usually gain about 10 to 15 pounds every season,” she reveals to New York magazine's The Cut. “It’s the only bad part about my job.”

Padma has previously admitted that her size definitely fluctuates, which means the show's wardrobe department has to get creative. “We actually buy clothes in three different sizes so that you don’t notice my clothes getting tight,” she says. “Everybody tries to squeeze into the size-six jeans or the size-eight dress, but who’s looking at the tag to see what number is on it?”

As for the off-season, Padma tries to lose 15 pounds (which can take up to 12 weeks). How does she sweat it off? The answer might surprise you. "The reason I stay on the treadmill is because I listen to ‘The Moth’ storytelling podcast,” she explains. “You need to find ways to entertain yourself and make it fun.”

Another piece of Padma advice? Remember what’s most important to you. “It’s okay if I’m a size bigger, because my intellectual growth is more important to me than the size of my jeans,” she says.

Watch what happens when Padma hits a supermarket. 

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