Jennie Garth's Skinny Figure After Split: "She's Happier Than Ever"

USMagazine, Tuesday, August 28, 2012, 5:00pm (PDT)

Revenge makeover!

After Jennie Garth's 16-year relationship with Peter Facinelli came to an end in March, the former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress channeled her sadness into remaking her shape.

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Dr. Eric Braverman, author of The Younger (Thinner) You Diet, estimates to Us Weekly that the 40-year-old star lost an 20 pounds in the last three months. And a source tells Us the slimmed-down star's waist size is now 25!

"She's happier than ever," an insider told Us. "She looks like the old Jennie!"

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How did she do it?

"When you get sad, you either overeat or you become really healthy," a Garth pal explained. "Jennie's taking care of herself -- she's taken control of her situation."

And the newly single mother of daughters Luca, 15 Lola, 9, and Fiona, 5, is now feeling confident. "Before, she used to be like, 'OK, let's cover me up,' " the Garth pal said. "And now she's more open-minded about having fun with her clothes. She's feeling good in her skin."

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But the actress, who was spotted having a flirty dinner with HGTV star Antonio Ballatore at Las Vegas' First Food and Bar in May, isn't in a rush to find a new man. "She's been going on dates," says the insider. "She's not looking to get into anything too serious so fast."

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Jennie Garth's Skinny Figure After Split: "She's Happier Than Ever"