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For 30 years, SHAPE has been providing weight-loss inspiration by featuring the stories of real women who have slimmed down without pills or surgery. And over and over we've seen [...]

You're eating light, fresh foods, which is good. But they can do a number on your stomach. Here's how to flatten it fast. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] All those salads, crudites, and [...]

You can easily skip the high priced specialty items and fancy stores and still make good for you meals. It just takes some shopping and propping smarts, which we've armed [...]

We know: The rock 'n' roll lifestyle isn't exactly synonymous with healthy living. But in Portland, Oregon, the two co-exist in pitch-perfect harmony. Arguably the indie rock capital of the […]

RED LIGHTS Crispy chicken (360 calories for 4.5 oz) 'Crispy' is code for 'fried.' Also beware the term 'panko-crusted'; it's just a fancy way of saying the chicken has been [...]

3 MINI YORK PEPPERMINT PATTIES 150 calories, 3g fat 6 DUM-DUMS POPS 150 calories. 0g fat 3 MINI TWIX 150 calories, 8gfat 5 SNACK-SIZE TWIZZLERS STRAWBERRY TWISTS 150 calories, 19 [...]

1/FLIPPIN' GREAT Keep your fish from falling to pieces: These CUISIPRO FISH TONGS ($20; cuisipro.com) feature a nonstick silicone spatula for sliding under delicate fillets and a I stainless steel [...]

BUYI'S CHALLENGE After touring the world as the baboon shaman Rafiki in The Lion King for six years, Buyi Zama went home to South Africa for an eight-month-long break. 'There [...]

CAROLINE'S CHALLENGE 'I was never huge, but I had been wanting to lose a couple of pounds for years,' says Caroline. 'Then, I rented an apartment with my boyfriend and [...]

Brittany's challenge When Brittany was 13, her mom died of a prescription drug overdose. 'I turned to Gilmore Girls reruns, barbecue potato chips, and microwaveable chicken fingers for comfort,' she [...]

VERONICA'S CHALLENGE A trim 20-something, Veronica packed on 60 pounds in her early 30s after having two kids a year and a half apart. 'I lost a little bit of [...]

CASSIE'S CHALLENGE Cassie had been overweight for as long as she could remember. 'I used to dread PE as a kid,' she says. 'I was always bringing doctors' notes to [...]

Ripple effect Roseann tried to slim down by crash dieting. 'I must have lost--and regained--the same 70 pounds at least five times in my 20s,' she says. 'I'd try to [...]

Rude awakening A few years later, her grandfather died. 'I was really anxious about going to the funeral,' she says. 'I hadn't seen most of the people who would he [...]

* hot chocolate 380 calories, 17g fat, 41g sugar for 11 oz Most cafes use milk chocolate, which contains more sugar than the dark stuff. Add whipped cream and whole [...]

A CUT ABOVE The Kuhn Rikon Flexi spatula knife ($18; factorydirect2you.com) has a blade on one side for dicing and another for scraping food directly into a pan or pot. [...]

Hitting a low point She crash-dieted her way to 160 pounds for her wedding 16 years later. But shortly after getting married, she was diagnosed with premature menopause. 'I Was [...]

Cedarlane Pesto and Four Cheese Baked Stacked Eggplant You'll get layers of breaded eggplant, pesto, and slow-roasted tomato sauce--plus half the vitamin C you need in a day. ($4) 280 [...]

If you've ever stammered when a wine salesman asked whether you prefer 'bold' or 'jammy,' we have the site for you: vinquiz.com. Just answer a handful of questions (example: 'What [...]

Heidi's challenge Heidi had always been 'heavy but not huge'--until she got pregnant. 'After my son was born, I went on a high-protein diet,' she says. 'But because I was [...]

Laura's challenge At 5'10', Laura towered over all her friends in high school. She was unhappy with her body and turned to fast food for comfort, ordering thousands of calories' [...]

Amanda Fulfer Washington Age 39 Height 5'5' Pounds lost 180 At this weight 4 years Amanda's challenge As a kid, Amanda often snacked on ice cream and cookies while watching [...]

Cindy Lentino Maryland Age 28 Height 5'4' Pounds lost 50 At this weight 4 years Cindy's challenge Cindy was always the 'heavy' one. 'In middle school, my Tae Kwon Do [...]

Amanda Wicker Colorado Age 33 Height 5'7' Pounds lost 120 At this weight 3 years Amanda's challenge Already heavy when she graduated high school, Amanda put on 15-plus pounds in [...]

Sheila Trapp California Age 44 Height 5'7' Pounds lost 25 At this weight 3 years Sheila's challenge Sheila was active throughout her teens and 20s. But once she started teaching [...]

* Claremont Hotel, Club & Spa BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA Situated in the shade of the Berkeley Hills, this retreat offers three swimming pools--plus herbal baths with views of the San Francisco [...]

This Tom Douglas by Pinzon grill wok ($43; amazon.com) keeps small veggies, like mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, from falling in the fire. The portable gas O-Grill 1000 ($140; amazon.com) sets [...]

* HOTEL PALOMAR Chicago The assistant general manager moonlights as a marathoner; follow her as she pounds the pavement along scenic Lake Michigan for a three- to fourmiler every Wednesday [...]

BY THE TIME I WAS 22, I'd rented my first apartment and landed my first magazine job--but I still didn't own a pot with a lid. My idea of a [...]

* FLY For $149 each way, Pet Airways (petairways.com) will transport your pup (cats are allowed too) in the climate-controlled main cabin of a passenger plane--not in cargo. The pets-only [...]

* JW MARRIOTT SAN ANTONIO HILL COUNTRY RESORT & SPA SAN ANTONIO This Sunbelt city gets 300 days of sunshine a year--make the most of them at this Texas hideaway. [...]

* CRATER LAKE, OREGON BACKROADS Guides divide many trip activities into age-appropriate versions, so you can tackle a challenging trek along the Pacific Crest Trail as your children (6 or [...]

Except for citrus, the fruit selection this time of year is pretty limited. Tempt your taste buds with persimmons, which are also in season. Whitney Aycock, the executive chef at [...]

Like you, we know to sub nonfat Greek yogurt for mayo in pasta salads and whole-wheat flour for white when making muffins. But we were eager to add a few [...]

* BEDFORD VILLAGE INN Bedford, New Hampshire This onetime farm has been converted into 14 luxury suites and an acclaimed restaurant. Head to the latter for a four-course Christmas Eve [...]

* CHILI POWDER A recent study published in the journal PLoS Biology suggests that capsaicin, a compound in hot chili peppers, can help reduce the inflammation that's associated with a [...]

Krystyna Hajer Wisconsin Age 39 Height 5'4' Pounds lost 100 At this weight 4 years Krystyraa's challenge Krystyna was thrilled when she got pregnant at 22. But she wasn't so [...]

* CABO AZUL RESORT & SPA Los Cabos, Mexico If you can pry yourself away from your private patio, you'll find a 600-foot-wide white sand beach and an infinity pool [...]

Q When will I be able to surf the Web in-flight? A On some flights, you already can boot up your BlackBerry as soon as the attendant gives the okay. [...]

Crystal Honeycutt Tennessee Age 28 Height 5'2" Pounds lost 86 At this weight l year Crystal's challenge Before getting pregnant, Crystal hovered around 115 pounds. But nine months--and countless plates […]

Purely Decadent Passionate Mango 150 calories * 7gfat Made with organic coconut milk, agave nectar, and mango puree, this dairy-free dessert only tastes sinful. ($5 per pint) Ben & Jerry's […]

Q I hate the rubbery texture of lowfat cheese. Are there any tasty versions out there? A You can start by choosing varieties that are naturally low in calories and […]

If you're one of the nearly 46 million Americans without health coverage--or your benefits package is bare-bones--it can be tempting to let routine care fall by the wayside. But before […]

EVEN THOUGH YOUR CHILDHOOD favorite is now being made with whole-grain oats, it doesn't give you a free pass to pour yourself a big bowl. "Many sweet cereals that contain […]

Most moms-to-be are careful to load up on folate and calcium. But now there's another nutrient to add to the list: vitamin D. According to a new study in the […]

Serena's challenge As a child, Serena wasn't allowed any junk food. "But in high school, I had more freedom and went wild on the stuff-so I packed on the pounds," […]

Q Several days before I start my period, I want to eat everything in sight. Is the hunger all in my head? A Probably not. Many women experience a bump […]

* Between feedings and diaper changes, your mood may be the last thing on your mind after having a baby. But taking stock of your emotional well-being is crucial. "Although […]

* Your shrinking 401(k) is giving you a headache--but not in the way you think. That stress may be causing you to clench your jaw and grind your teeth at […]

Though it leaves skin soft, slathering on cocoa butter every day doesn't protect pregnant women from developing stretch marks, according to research from the American University of Beirut Medical Center […]