MY FIT STEPS

Experts finally set the record straight on the most common questions about weight loss. 1  / 14 PHOTO CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK There is a lot of misinformation about weight loss Losing weight can be an overwhelming task, especially considering all the misinformation shared online. So before signing up for the first diet fad or exercise class that comes your way, read on for the answers to the most common weight-loss questions. 2  / 14 PHOTO CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK Should I eat low-fat dairy or full-fat dairy? Nutrition experts used to almost always  recommend skim milk  (whole milk with all its fat skimmed off). But there is a growing number of people who think we should give whole milk a second look. Here’s why: When you pour skim milk on your cereal, you are getting a lot of carbohydrates and some protein. When you choose whole milk, you get the same amount of protein, but because whole milk has more fat, you might end up eating less because the fat f...

I sprang into Spring excited to start running more and ended up hurting my knee. I took a month-long break from running and CrossFit classes to heal and also did a bunch of traveling, so I was eating like crap. All that added up to some weight gain, and my usual 16:8 intermittent fasting (IF) schedule wasn't helping me drop those pounds. I decided to try alternate day fasting (ADF). What Is Alternate Day Fasting? Alternate day fasting (ADF), a form of intermittent fasting, involves fasting one day, eating the next, and repeating. If you need to, you are allowed to eat on fasting days, the recommended amount being 25 percent of your total calories. For example, if you've calculated that 1,800 calories a day is the amount you need to eat in order to lose weight, on a fasting day, you'd eat no more than 450 calories. On nonfasting days, you'd eat 1,800 calories. Why I Tried ADF First and foremost, I spoke with my doctor, the regis...

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...