Elisabeth Hasselbeck's Post-Baby Makeover

"I Feel Renewed, Strong, and Determined"

The first thing Elisabeth Hasselbeck wants you to know is that she could never have done this on her own. "This" being an eye-popping transformation from postpartum mom to chiseled-abs cover model. "The night before my photo shoot," she says, "I wrote thank-you notes to everyone at La Palestra who helped me reach this point. I feel amazing." La Palestra is the New York City center where Elisabeth worked out for her FITNESS body-after-baby debut. It's more than a gym -- the company practices "total integration," says CEO Pat Manocchia of his team of nutritionists, psychologists, and trainers. "We treat the whole person. It's as much about your childhood and eating habits as it is about your biceps."

For Elisabeth, it was also about redefining her relationship to exercise. Though her initial goal was getting in shape for her first-ever bikini cover shoot (just 14 weeks after giving birth!), she now says she's got bigger things in mind. "I'm in it for the long haul," Elisabeth says. "The program has a clear mind/body approach. It's completely changed how I work out."

This coming from a woman who's no newbie to the perks of exercise: As a supporter of the Women's Sports Foundation's GoGirlGo! program, which encourages young women's involvement in athletics, she's seen firsthand the difference an active lifestyle can make in girls' self-esteem. She sat down to talk with FITNESS about her healthy body -- but more important, her healthy attitude.