MY FIT STEPS

Nessa used to eat as few as 1,600 calories daily—until she decided to make a big change. NESSA When my trainer told me to eat 2,000 to 2,200 calories per day to lose weight, I didn’t blink an eye. I did however, make a mental note of the fact that I must have been under-fueling before. I rarely ate breakfast. And because I was generally really stressed at work, I’d forget about food all day. Then, when I’d get home at 6 or 7 p.m., I’d realize I was so hungry that I’d eat something fast and unhealthy, like pasta, pizza, or a burger, followed by something sweet. I think most days I ate about 1,600 calories or a little more. Then on the weekends, I’d often skip lunch in the name of a decadent dinner of meat and potatoes, pasta with cream sauce, a homemade dessert, or a bar of chocolate. If I went out, I’d go the whole nine yards—appetizer, entree, and dessert. Maybe that’s why, after 15 months of losing weight and building muscle with  Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body...

Weight loss can be overwhelmingly daunting, but when you have the right motivation — and the right tools — things start to fall into place and pounds start to fall off. Take Sophie Jude, for instance. After a lifetime of struggling with unwanted weight, she finally found the right motivation (her newborn daughter) and the right tool, a program called Slimming World that introduced her to a healthy education and a supportive community that changed her life for the better. Read on for her full story. Sophie: Before POPSUGAR: What made you decide to start your weight-loss journey? Sophie Jude:  I've always suffered with my weight. When I was 14, I was awarded a scholarship to attend a performing arts school; that's when I realized I was a lot bigger than most girls my age. This led to me getting caught in a vicious cycle of comfort eating when I felt down, putting on weight as a result, then feeling even more down. I'd never eat healthy, filling meal...

When a lot of people think about weight loss, it involves giving up all the foods that you love and busting butt at the gym five days a week. If you're a lazy girl like me, you've probably tried that route and failed more times than you'd like to admit. Here's how to successfully lose weight, the lazy way. 1. Eat Things You Love (Just Less of Them) You don't have to break up with carbs — or any food group — to lose weight. There is absolutely no reason to ban the things you love in order to lose weight. In fact, doing so may only increase your cravings and lead you to failure. The one thing you need to do to lose weight is eat fewer calories than you burn. Instead of giving up on foods you truly enjoy, be mindful of portions and try to balance every meal out with whole, natural foods. 2. Skip the Gym (and Get a Step Counter) What if I told you a gym membership is in no way necessary to lose weight? As long as you are watching what you eat, exercise ...

If you're watching your waistline and enjoying an ice-cold brew, then you'll probably want to see how beers compare. The numbers may surprise you. Here's the nutritional info for one glass, can, or bottle of beer (about 12 ounces). Keep in mind that even though there may be  health benefits associated with drinking alcohol , they only come with drinking in moderation. For women, that means one drink a day. BEER BRAND CALORIES CARBS (G) ALCOHOL PERCENT Amstel Light 95 5 3.5 Anchor Steam 158 14.2 4.9 Anheuser-Busch Ice Pale Lager 171 12.5 5.9 Anheuser-Busch Light Pale Lager 95 3.2 4.1 Beck's Pilsner 138 9 5 Beck's Premier Light 63 3.8 2.3 Budweiser 145 10.6 5 Bud Light 110 6.6 4.2 Budweiser Select 99 3.1 4.3 Budweiser Select 55 55 1.8 2.4 Colt 45 157 10.8 5.6 Coors 149 12.2 5 Coors Light 102 5 4.2 Corona Extra 148 14 4.6 Corona Light 99 5 3.2 Foster's Premium Ale 160 12.5 5.5 Guinness Extra Stout 176 14 6 Guinness Draught 126 10 4 H...