Garner struggled to lose baby weight

Jennifer Garner has admitted that she struggled to regain her figure after giving birth to her first child.

The Alias actress had baby Violet with husband Ben Affleck in December 2005, but found losing the excess pounds tougher than she had anticipated.

She told The Morning Show With Mike And Juliet: "At first I thought it would just happen", adding that she eventually "just hit the treadmill" when her weight stayed the same.

Garner revealed that her new role opposite Kevin Kline in Broadway show Cyrano de Bergerac helps her remain trim, saying: "I'm on a natural diet of being put in a corset every night!"