Kerry Washington may be the only celebrity mom who doesn't want her pre-baby body back -- and there's an amazing reason why!
The "Scandal" star, who gorgeously graces the cover of the September issue of Self, explains that the birth of her daughter, Isabelle, changed her outlook on life.
"A few weeks ago, my manager asked: 'Do you feel like you're back? I feel like you're back,'" she tells the mag. "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.'"
"I've been really focused on not being 'back' to anything, but being the best version of myself right now," she adds. "My body is the site of a miracle now. I don't want to be pre-miracle."
Speaking of that little miracle, the 38-year-old actress says her 17-month-old baby girl offers some great motivation for early-morning workouts.
"I try to get it in so I can be back with my kid early," the proud mama reveals. "I have to take care of myself in order to live life the way I want to. 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."
In fact, Kerry admits that she took a cue from her on-screen alter ego, Olivia Pope, to learn how to juggle work and family.
"It makes my heart smile to think that maybe part of the reason I'm taking all this on is because of Olivia," she explains. "She truly believes that she can handle every situation, and I do feel that has bled into my life. I have more of a sense of my capacity to do anything."
Check out Washington's full interview with Self magazine when it hits newsstands on August 25.
