Category Archives: Weight Loss

Weight Loss and what you need to know about Weight Loss.

Britney Spears’ Boyfriend Sam Asghari on How He Lost 100 Lbs. — and the Couple’s Fun Workouts

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Anyone who follows Britney Spears on Instagram knows her boyfriend Sam Asghari is completely ripped, with eight-pack abs and massive biceps. But not many people know that he was depressed and significantly overweight just a few years ago.

After getting cut from his college football team, Asghari stopped exercising — but continued to eat like a linebacker. Soon his weight hit 290 lbs.

“I was eating Doritos for breakfast, fast food, sugar, candy, no protein, a lot of carbs, and drinking sugary sodas,” Asghari, 24, told Men’s Health. “My nutrition was extremely horrible. The stress and the fear of not going anywhere [in life] combined gave me my depression.”

In 2013, six months after leaving the team, he decided his poor habits had to stop.

“I could either continue going through the same thing or I could give it another 100 percent,” Asghari said. “I didn’t want to have to deal with that depression and disappointment anymore. I had to restart.”

Asghari was working three jobs at the time — including one at Gold’s Gym — and quit the others to start a full-time career in fitness. He became a personal trainer and worked out for two hours a day while overhauling his diet to focus on lean proteins, vegetables and complex carbs.

At one point his new regime became too obsessive — Asghari was measuring his body fat percentage daily while limiting his calories to just 1,500 — but eventually he found a middle ground. In six months, he lost nearly 100 lbs. and was down to 9 percent body fat.

With his newly ripped body, Asghari started modeling and acting, which led to a role in Spears’ “Slumber Party” music video. Now the couple, who have been together for a year and a half, are known for their Instagram workout videos.

“The exercises, I come up with them, but the videos are because of my better half. She’s the video director,” he said. “It’s a very fun thing, and I look back at them and smile. Working out together is always nice and we try to do it a couple times. It’s super healthy, mentally and physically. It takes your mind off of everything else.”

And Asghari’s loves working out to Spears’ song “Stronger.”

“I put my headphones in and focus on the exercise itself — that’s therapy for me,” he said.

8 Keto Starbucks Hacks That Will Save Your (Low-Carb, Coffee-Addicted) Life

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How to Keep Keto at Starbucks

Let’s face it: Ordering out on the keto diet(even for something as simple as coffee) can be more than challenging. Is that really low-carb? How about sugar-free? Where exactly does the chocolate flavor come from? And, yes, this even includes popular fast-food places like Starbucks, where the overwhelming number of drink and food options on the menu can make ordering complicated.

Luckily, Instagram has become the go-to resource for keto dieters who just can’t quit their daily Starbucks habit. Users of the social platform are sharing their secret keto-approved orders under the #ketostarbuckshashtag. Here, experts share the keto-approved Starbucks orders you should keep in mind so you can get your caffeine fix without jeopardizing your ketosis. (Then peep these other keto-friendly drinks that’ll keep you in ketosis when you’re not at the ‘bucks.)

starbucks keto iced coffee idea
PHOTO: STARBUCKS

If You Just *Can’t* Do Black Coffee

Let’s get one thing straight: Black coffee (whether it’s espresso, cold brew, iced coffee, or traditional drip) is entirely keto-friendly. But if you can’t tolerate the bitter taste or are looking for something a little sweeter to jump-start your morning, ditch the venti frappuccino and opt for a refreshing tall Caffè Americano Coffee instead, recommends licensed integrative nutritionist Kelly Bower.

“I always order a hot tall Caffè Americano Coffee at Starbucks, but ask to have it served in a venti iced-coffee cup with ice, and with about an inch of room at the top,” says Bower. Then add heavy cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg to your cup yourself, since it’ll save you money and steer you away from artificial sweeteners that are not keto-approved, she says. (She calls it a “Snickerdoodle Shake.”) Still not sweet enough? You can add stevia, which is allowed on the keto diet.

keto pink drink starbucks
PHOTO: STARBUCKS

If You Want Something Instagram-able

Even the Instagram-famous pink drink can get the keto treatment. Try ordering the drink with passion iced tea, sugar-free vanilla syrup, heavy whipping cream, and some ice, suggests Urvashi Pitre, author of The Keto Instant Pot Cookbook: Ketogenic Diet Pressure Cookers Made Easy and Fast. And to get that frozen texture you crave, just ask your barista to blend this beverage like a frappuccino.

starbucks keto bulletproof coffee alternative
PHOTO: CHINNAPONG / SHUTTERSTOCK

If You Need a Sub for Bulletproof Coffee

If your keto day always starts with buttery Bulletproof coffee, a plain black coffee just won’t do. Pitre loves to order this bulletproof stand-in when she’s fasting: Ask your barista for Grande Espresso Coffee over ice with some heavy whipping cream and two pumps of sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup.

sous vide egg bites starbucks keto snack
PHOTO: STARBUCKS

If You Need a Quick Breakfast

Need a little something to go with your coffee? “The best keto food item to ever come out of Starbucks is their Sous Vide Egg Bites,” says Bower.

The Egg White & Red Pepper bites function as a great grab-and-go keto meal since they have 13 grams of protein and 13 grams of carbs. (Considering a general rule of keto is to stay under 50 grams of carbs per day, that’s not too bad.) However, she advises staying away from the Chicken Chorizo Tortilla flavored bites, since they include tortilla chips (which are anything but keto-friendly).

If you’re desperate to eat, and the egg bites are nowhere to be found, try ordering a sandwich and simply remove the bun, suggests nutrition coach Malorie Thompson. To keep your protein levels up, she recommends ordering the Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon & Cage Free Egg White Breakfast Sandwich and ditching the bun before you actually eat it.

keto starbucks frappuccino
PHOTO: STARBUCKS

If You’re Craving a Frappuccino

Frappuccino lovers will be all about this hack because, yes, you can still enjoy the infamous frozen beverage even when you’re on the keto diet—if you focus on the right ingredients, of course. To create a keto-friendly frap, Pitre recommends ordering one made with almond milk, whipping cream, two pumps of sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup, and some ice. Ask the barista to blend it together, just like a frappuccino.

starbucks keto snacks eggs and cheese protein box
PHOTO: STARBUCKS

If You Need a Snack

Starbucks protein boxes also can be a keto-safe snack at Starbucks, but registered dietitian Haley Hughes recommends only eating the nuts, eggs, and cheese items inside. Fruits like apples and grapes are often included in the Eggs & Cheese and Cheese & Fruit variants of the boxes, but they are high in carbohydrates, she says. (You can definitely add it to the list of best healthy packaged keto snacks you can buy.)

keto starbucks tea order
PHOTO: STARBUCKS

If You’re a Tea Person

“For iced tea, the easiest option is to order a simple unsweetened iced tea, like black, green, or passion, or white,” suggests Thompson. However, if you don’t like drinking your tea straight, you could add a pump or two of vanilla sugar-free syrup and a splash of heavy whipping cream, she says. Hot tea (without any milk or sugar added) is totally keto too—just like black coffee.

Heads up: Steer clear of Starbucks’ tea infusions or their shaken iced teas, many of which have added sugar or are mixed with juices (and as a result, contain a ton of carbs).

starbucks keto food chicken and greens ceasar salad bowl
PHOTO: NATASHA BREEN / SHUTTERSTOCK

If You Need a Filling Lunch or Dinner

Salad choices at Starbucks can be a bit tricky since there’s an array of tempting bowls that offer hearty greens and protein. However, Thompson suggests that the Chicken & Greens Caesar Salad Bowl is the best keto-friendly option on the Starbucks menu, with only 10 grams of carbs in total.

This article originally appeared on Shape.com

Khloé Kardashian Reveals She’s Lost 33 Lbs. (in 3 Months!) Since Giving Birth to Baby True

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Since giving birth to her baby girl, True Thompson, three months ago, new mom Khloé Kardashian has said goodbye to more than 30 lbs.!

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star revealed in a post on her app on Monday that she has dropped 33 lbs., which she credits to a “combination of breastfeeding and being very active.”

“After I had True, I didn’t put any pressure on myself to lose the baby weight. I just wanted to get back to my regular routine from before I got pregnant, which was working out five to six times a week,” said Kardashian, who welcomed her firstborn with boyfriend Tristan Thompson in April.

“Here is where I am at currently. True turned 3 months old on July 12. I honestly didn’t give myself a number that I wanted to lose by this time, especially since I wasn’t able to work out for the first six weeks. But, since then, I’ve lost 33 pounds! I’m shocked that I lost that much weight that quickly,” said Kardashian, who added, “I’m chalking this up to the combination of breastfeeding and being very active during and after my pregnancy.”

Kardashian also shared with her readers that she doesn’t compare herself to other women and instead focuses on her own health journey.

“I never compare myself to other women as every woman has their own journey. We also all have different priorities in our day-to-day lives. One of mine is having that one hour where I can be selfish and alone in my place of refuge,” she wrote.

“Staying healthy and active is something that’s very important to me. Exercise is something I’ve always used to maintain my sanity and relieve stress,” said Kardashian. “And, now that I have a baby, I still want to keep something that’s my time, my space, something I’m doing for myself.”

Following True’s birth, the mother of one has been documenting her post-baby workouts, and also revealed what she’s been up to in the kitchen.

In May, Kardashian showed off her five-week post-baby workout results.

“The beginning parts of working out kind of suck because you’re pushing your body so hard, you’re so tired, and you’re trying to get back into your rhythm,” the KUWTK reality star said in a Snapchat video.

“It’s much more difficult than I think you expect it to be. I’ve been working out for 11 days now, I feel really good, but tired. My body is sore because it’s re-waking itself back up,” she added.

In addition to sweating it out in the gym, Kardashian has focused on eating more protein and fruits and vegetables and less carbs.

“I’m currently on a low-carb diet that my nutritionist, Dr. Goglia, gave me,” she wrote on her app early last month. “It has lots of protein, so I’m able to go all out at the gym, but the best part is that I’m never hungry because I’m always eating!”

While a low-carb lifestyle might sound challenging at first, Kardashian assured, “I promise it’s easier to follow than it sounds.”

This Woman Gained 15 Pounds From Working Out and Eating More—Here’s Why She’s Happier Than Ever

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She gives big thanks to Kayla Itsines for inspiration.

Eating more and gaining weight can be perfectly healthy lifestyle changes. Giulia Viavattene, a 24-year-old from Italy, explained that in a before-and-after post about how she did both—and became a whole lot stronger and happier.

Viavattene’s healthy transformation started two years ago, after she discovered fitness influencer Kayla Itsines on Instagram. That inspired her to start what she named her BBG program. On Thursday she took to social media to reflect on the positive changes she made to her diet and exercise regimen.

RELATED: These 13 Women Prove Every Body Is a Bikini Body

“In the left picture I was at the lowest of my weight,” she said, referring to her before photo. “I wanted to be thinner and thinner, I was eating mostly salads and fruits for a daily caloric intake of 1200 calories if I was lucky.”

Viavattene tells Health she adopted Itsines’s program at a time when she was studying aerospace engineering in the Netherlands. Far from home, she struggled with insecurities about who she was, what she wanted, and how she looked.

“I understood that I had to make a change,” she says. So I did not give up. Today I’m so grateful to the Giulia of two years ago for having pushed on towards her happier self.”

That wasn’t always easy. As she explained in her post, Viavattene had to learn how to take care of her mind and body. This meant eating more, and she said she gained about 15 pounds. “My dress size has remained the same, but my mood and mindset have totally changed,” she wrote.

RELATED: 5 Mental Tricks to Feeling Amazing, Even if You Miss a Few Workouts

She also had to motivate herself to get through tough workouts. “During the first weeks, it was so difficult to complete my workouts,” she says. “I remember I attached a slip of paper on my wall saying ‘You can do this!’ that I looked at when I felt I could not do any [more] push-ups.”

As she celebrates her transformation, we’re cheering Viavattene for focusing on her physical and mental health—and not worrying about her weight. She also makes it clear that she wasn’t trying to turn herself into a Kayla Itsines look-alike; she was just working toward becoming the best version of herself.

Lena Dunham Gained 24 Pounds—and Is Happier Than Ever

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This is our kind of before-and-after photo.

Before-and-after posts are nothing new in the age of Instagram. But the always-candid Lena Dunham just showed us a celebrity’s perspective of how images that spotlight weight loss and gain usually don’t convey the whole story.

On Tuesday, the Girls creator and actress made a side-by-side collage with two photos: one of herself at 138 pounds and another that was taken more recently, when she weighed in at 162 pounds.

RELATED: 5 Signs You’re Getting Fitter, Even if the Scale Hasn’t Budged

Then she described how her each different weight affected her on a day-to-day basis.

“On the left: 138 pounds, complimented all day and propositioned by men and on the cover of a tabloid about diets that work,” she said, admitting, “Also, sick in the tissue and in the head and subsisting only on small amounts of sugar, tons of caffeine and a purse pharmacy.”

Dunham’s weight has made headlines for years. In this new post, she’s taking the focus off what the scale says and putting it on something a lot more important: her happiness.

“On the right: 162 pounds, happy joyous & free, complimented only by people that matter for reasons that matter, subsisting on a steady flow of fun/healthy snacks and apps and entrees, strong from lifting dogs and spirits,” she wrote, detailing the newer photo.

RELATED: 9 Before-and-After Photos That Show Weight Is Just a Number

Though she’s known for embracing her body no matter what she weighs, Dunham said she’s also been susceptible to body image issues. 

“Even this OG body positivity warrior sometimes looks at the left picture longingly, until I remember the impossible pain that brought me there and onto my proverbial knees,” she said. “As I type I can feel my back fat rolling up under my shoulder blades. I lean in.”

From bearing it all on camera to detailing her harrowing ordeal undergoing a hysterectomy brought on by her painful battle with endometriosis, we can count on Dunham to share her vulnerabilities.

Before-and-after weight loss photos are often celebrated, but these explore the not-so-healthy side of achieving what some call their “goal weight.” The goal here should be a happy, full life—not one filled with restrictions.

This Woman Lost 100 Pounds—But Still Struggled to Accept Her Stretch Marks and Loose Skin

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Weight loss can sometimes come with a loss of confidence. That’s what happened to Sarah Nicole, a 33-year-old influencer based in Canada—who on Sunday shared a powerful message about finally learning to love and honor what she called her “imperfectly perfect” body.

After having three kids, Nicole lost 100 pounds. It was a major win for her health, yet she continued to struggle with her body image. Yet instead of bashing her shape, she took to Instagram and posted a photo of herself in a sports bra and underwear, her hand over her stomach. In the caption, she wrote about accepting the body she’s in and all that it’s done to make her the woman she is today.

RELATED: These Real Women Showed Their Excess Skin to Make an Important Point About Weight Loss

“Stop worrying so much about not looking like you’re a brand new and shiny human,” she wrote. “Because you’re not. You’ve lived. Loved. Experienced. Your body in its own way will show itself through those memories.”

Though many of her posts on @thebirdspapaya are flawless photos taken with her family and friends, she tells Health that it was important to share this particular message of self-love.

“I found myself faced with so much self-loathing and worked my way through that and realized I had worth,” she says. “Even amid the scars and stretch marks, I still had beauty. I knew that if I felt this way, others must too. So I decided to be vulnerable and put it out into the world to share.”

This wasn’t her first candid body positivity post. Last month, she shared a similar image of her stomach with another inspiring caption.

“These are not marks of weakness, but of strength,” she wrote in that post, referring to her stretch marks. “You don’t have to love them, because that’s a pretty hard ask. But don’t for a second allow them to make you feel like less.”

Shailene Woodley Says She Was ‘Miserable’ Eating 350 Calories a Day for ‘Adrift’

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Shailene Woodley went the distance to portray a woman stranded at sea in her latest film Adrift.

Woodley, 26, opened up about her rigorous diet for the film in which she plays Tami Oldham, who found herself adrift on a stricken boat alongside her injured fiancé.

“For the last two weeks I had a can of salmon, some steamed broccoli and two egg yolks every day — 350 calories,” Woodley told The Times of her strict diet for the film. “It was f—— miserable.”

While Woodley gave the performance her all, the diet took a toll on her body and her sleep patterns.

“I can’t sleep when I’m hungry so I would have a glass of wine to basically pass the f— out,” she said.

Adrift is based on a true story of Oldham (played by Woodley) and her fiancé Robert (played by Sam Claflin) as they sail from Tahiti to San Diego. In the process, they encounter a hurricane that destroys their boat and sets them adrift in the ocean. With Robert injured, it’s up to Oldham to get them ashore.

Claflin, 32, opened up to PeopleNOW about the experience of shooting a film while at sea, saying he and Woodley were often seasick.

“We were holding each other’s hair back,” Claflin said. “It was the best way to kind of get to know someone. When you see someone with sick around their mouth, it’s bizarrely a great opportunity to break the ice.”

Adrift is now in theaters.

These Two Best Friends Got Fit Together—Here’s What They Learned About Weight Loss

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Proof that teamwork makes the dream work.

Two best friends took to Instagram to reflect on how much they’ve changed since 2013. On the outside, 28-year-old pals Aerin Gaines and Gwen Swanson have become more fit. And on the inside, they’re more confident and positive than ever. To celebrate their progress on both fronts, they shared these before-and-after photos.

RELATED: 3 Ways Your BFFs Can Improve Your Health

“There have definitely been plenty of ups and downs, but one thing is for sure – this journey is beyond worth every struggle,” they captioned their post. “Our health is worth it. Our happiness is worth it.”

These BFFs tell Health that they’ve been inseparable since meeting 16 years ago and have always had an honest, open friendship. When they first teamed up to improve their health, they admitted that they had a lot to learn about wellness.

“We honestly started because we wanted to ‘get skinny,’” they say. “But then we quickly discovered a deeper passion for health and fitness. We realized it feels good to feel good and looking good was just a bonus.”

From workout videos to meal prep ideas, Gaines and Swanson share uplifting words to motivate their followers—and each other. They keep each other accountable and serve as sounding boards offering advice and support. While they stay active together, they’ve each found the best diet and exercise regimen that works for them individually.

RELATED: What It’s Really Like When Your Best Friend Gets Cancer

“I have a deeper passion for nutrition and studied it a lot in school and my free time,” says Gaines. “But I honestly hate to cook, so making healthy meals that taste great, but are super simple, is my jam! I also discovered that I love to run, but Gwen does not.”

When Gaines is running, Swanson is spinning.

“I’ve always been the more active one, and after we started this journey I knew I wanted it to be my career,” says Swanson, who has since become a group fitness instructor. “I totally fell in love with cycling. Getting stronger is the best feeling, [and] pushing your body to do things you didn’t think you could do is empowering.”

Despite their positivity and encouragement on social media, they acknowledge that it’s not always easy to stay on track.

“Progress is never linear,” they say. “Embrace the journey, both the successes and the struggles because there will be both. Self love is key.”

How This Woman’s Attitude About Weight Loss Changed After She Started Running

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“I didn’t know any runners and the ones I chose to see were always thin and skinny.”

You’ve probably seen selfies of Kelly Roberts—the 28-year-old runner from Brooklyn, New York who gained social media fame after she posted photos of herself posing with unsuspecting hot guys during a half marathon in 2014.

On Sunday, Roberts posted a more personal and empowering image for her 60K Instagram followers. Wearing leggings and her trademark sports bra while at the finish line of a race, she opened up about rejecting the pressure to be thin and learning to appreciate her body.

RELATED: 10 Simple Ways to Actually Enjoy Running

“When I decided to run a marathon, I remember envisioning the weight I’d lose training for a marathon,” Roberts, who is the founder of She Can & She Did, recalled. “I didn’t know any runners and the ones I chose to see were always thin and skinny. I, like so many others, thought I needed to be thin and skinny in order to be beautiful, desirable, confident, strong, happy, and successful.”

She also encouraged people to identify the strength within themselves. “It wasn’t until I joined the #SportsBraSquad that I started looking in the mirror or seeing photos of myself and ACTUALLY seeing my strength,” she wrote.

Though she runs a popular blog about her relationship with running, Roberts only went for her first run four years ago, she tells Health.

“I was just desperate enough to start running,” she says. “I’d graduated from college, had just lost 75 pounds and was grieving the loss of my brother. I felt like I had nothing to be proud of and didn’t know what direction my life was going. Running gave me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.”

From there, she entered races in New York. It was during the New York City Half Marathon in March 2014 when her hot guy selfies went viral. Her hashtag? “#hotguysofthenychalf.” Needless to say, people couldn’t get enough of her man candy-per-mile coverage of the event.

RELATED: How My Husband and I Stay Insanely Fit While Raising a Toddler

“I started sharing my story on my blog after I went viral,” she says. “Four years later, it’s turned into a really empowering storytelling platform where women can join me in my mission to redefine what strength looks like.”

For her, strength isn’t filtered or Photoshopped. As she described in her Instagram post last week, strength is raw and real.

“It hurts,” she explained about her definition of strength. “It isn’t always fun. But I keep choosing to fight and push myself because I love it. But weight loss isn’t my goal. Strength is. It’s not tied to a time or a number on a scale. It’s the feeling I get knowing I’m giving everything I have towards my best self.”

This Couple Lost a Combined 135 Pounds Together—Here’s How They Stay Healthy on Vacation

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Vacationing means chilling out—and for a lot of us, pigging out. But not for one husband and wife, who lost a combined 135 pounds and decided to maintain their healthful lifestyle during their recent trip away.

 On Monday, Shandra Redwine posted before-and-after photos of herself and her husband Gerald. She compared their recent vacation, at the resort town of Onekama on Lake Michigan, to the getaways they went on in their pre–weight loss days.

RELATED: ‘Vacation Constipation’ Is Real; Here’s How to Keep It From Ruining Your Next Trip

“Vacation used to be an excuse to eat any and everything I wanted,” she wrote. “It was nothing to follow up a box of Mac N Cheese (to myself) with my mom’s famous zucchini cake and chocolate covered scotcheroos. It also meant wearing a swimsuit in front [of] people and spending a lot of time pondering a way to get from the water to my towel without anyone looking.”

This vacation, however, Redwine said she rocked her swimsuit the entire time and “felt great.” She tells Health she changed her exercise and diet regimen about four and a half years ago, when she weighed 260 pounds. Since then, she’s down 111 pounds, and the couple has collectively lost 135 pounds.

“He started running with me to support and encourage me, which led to him losing about 25 pounds and becoming a marathoner,” she says. “I am currently training for my first half marathon in September, [and Gerald] will be running alongside me.”

RELATED: 16 Amazing Healthy Vacation Ideas for Summer 2018

Her new routine and half marathon training meant bringing her workout gear on vacation with her and going for morning runs. Instead of loading up on junk food, Redwine says she planned out her meals and packed “healthy, low carb” options. One major swap? Eating Doritos on the beach is out, and taking the kids for a walk or swimming in the lake is in. But that doesn’t mean she’s depriving herself.

“Vacation is still a time for relaxing, indulging a bit, and having fun, but it’s no longer an unhealthy free for all,” she says. “We pick one or two meals or treats and stay on track the rest of the time.”