Christina Applegate Gets Candid About Her Post-Cancer Body

It's been six years since Christina Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy, but the 42-year-old is still getting used to her post-surgery body.

"I remember three weeks after I had my mastectomy — I think I was on Oprah or something — and I was really, really being a cheerleader to myself at that time," the actress recalls. "I said, 'Hey, I’m going to have the perkiest boobs in the nursing room!' or something to that effect."

But the blonde beauty soon learned it was extremely difficult to keep such a positive attitude. "You start to live with those boobs, and it’s your reminder every day that this thing happened to you, unfortunately, and it’s a part of your body that’s changed drastically, and embracing that is difficult sometimes," she admits.

"And my take on it now, years later, is to be more honest with people. It’s incredible what’s happened in the last six years since I’ve had it; what they’ve been able to do surgery-wise."

Though Christina jokes that a positive of undergoing a double mastectomy is "better boobs than you had before," she confesses it wasn't just her breasts that felt different.

Related: Cast of 'Married With Children' Reunites 17 Years After the Finale!

"About my own body in general, so many things have changed," the Golden Globe nominee shares. "I had a baby [in 2011] so everything changes after that. I’m over 40. Everything changes after that. I’m getting used to the new me, my new body."

But her best body advice isn't for cancer survivors, but fellow moms. "Beware of the Toddler 10. Beware," Christina tells Elle magazine. "Anyone who has a toddler understands, it’s called finishing off your kid’s plate and then having your own meal!"