Photo by Benjamin JamesThere's nothing like looking at a magazine cover of a celeb who just gave birth to make you feel like a big fat failure ... emphasis on fat.

Hey mom, you're not alone.

Nicole Sullivan, mom of two delicious little boys and hilarious star of Mad TV, King of Queens, and Rita Rocks (among dozens of roles), chatted with The Stir about her role as a Jenny Craig spokeswoman -- and her post-pregnancy feelings about those mag covers took the words right out of our mouths.

You're looking fabulous these days; can you tell us about how you got to your current weight?

Six weeks after my son was born, I signed up for what turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. I joined Jenny Craig. I lost 35 pounds in 16 weeks!

When I got pregnant, I weighed 133 pounds. I gained 42 pounds during pregnancy, so I got to 175. When I weighed in for Jenny, I weighed 159. I got down to 124 pounds doing two things ... I followed Jenny Craig's plan by eating portion-controlled meals and I walked. That's it.

As a mom, I think it's tough looking at Hollywood and seeing all these skinny-minnies post-pregnancy. How do you feel about being one of those Hollywood moms who's been open about her weight battles?

When I was pregnant with my first son, I had no idea how hard it'd be to lose the weight. Because I had seen the magazines! I had seen the Nicole Kidmans. I had seen the Jessica Albas.  

I thought I'd be like them! Well I'm here to say I'm not like them. I'm like the regular women. I don't know what those Hollywood gals do to lose the weight. It's none of my business. But I can say that it's hard to lose the weight. I suffered for a year and half after my first son's birth. I was miserable about my weight. I simply couldn't understand how I couldn't do it. I felt broken.

So after my second son, I decided to change the plan. I did. And Jenny Craig worked for me. And now I'm happy.

What role did having kids play in your weight gain?

What role did they play??? I hate to point fingers, but IT WAS ALL THEIR FAULT!!!

I'm kidding. I’ve always been 10 pounds overweight. And when I got pregnant ... well ...  how to put it ... I ate my way through those nine months. I ate what I wanted, when I wanted. I think Junior Mints sales must have gone up at least 15% that year.  

How were your kids an inspiration as you tackled the weight loss?

I'm so thrilled to know that my sons will never remember a day when I didn't walk and eat vegetables. That thrills me.  

When my son sees me put on my Reebok jacket, he says, "Mama going to exercise?" I love that my healthy lifestyle will be something he sees every day now.  

Plus, I didn't want to go on pool play dates before. Now I’m comfortable in a bathing suit! Who coulda guessed that would happen in my life?

Did your weight loss challenge affect the whole family?

My husband went on Jenny Craig with me. He lost 25 pounds. So we got to go through it together! It was great. He looooooves sugar. To like an extreme. And this weight loss has helped him break the sugar habit ... sorta. He now doesn't go to bed with Skittles tucked into his gums. And -- get this -- he's not nearly as moody. Yay!
 
What's different about life post-weight loss?

I can fit into cute jeans!