Kerry Washington’s Post-Baby Body – ARTICLE

If you think congratulating Kerry Washington on "getting back" to her pre-baby body is a compliment, it's not.

The "Scandal" star, who gave birth to her first child 16 months ago, tells SELF magazine she wasn't excited when her manager recently told the actress she was "back."

"She meant it as a total compliment, but we had this great conversation where I was like, 'You know what? I try really hard not to use that language, because it’s not about going backward in life,'" the new mom told the mag in their September issue.

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The 38-year-old beauty is extremely proud of the incredible physical feat her body achieved in order to bring her daughter, Isabelle Amarichi, into the world.

"I’ve been really focused on not being 'back' to anything, but being the best version of myself right now," she said. "My body is the site of a miracle now. I don’t want to be pre-miracle."

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That said, Kerry does work out frequently, and tries to exercise ahead of her busy "Scandal" shooting days.

"I try to get it in so I can be back with my kid early. I have to take care of myself in order to live life the way I want to," she told the mag. 'It’s important to have rest days. But in the long run, if I don’t work out for, like, three days, I feel worse, not better."

"Scandal" will return with its Season 5 premiere on September 24 at 9 PM on ABC.

-- Erin O'Sullivan

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