How Melissa Joan Hart lost 18lbs of 'perimenopausal weight gain' as Sabrina The Teenage Witch star marks her 50th birthday

She revealed this year that she surprised herself by managing to lose 18lbs. 

And Melissa Joan Hart is looking and feeling better than ever, with the actress marking her 50th birthday on Saturday.

The Sabrina The Teenage Witch star shot to fame in the 1990s in the sitcom, and has been on a 'longevity journey' for the last two years.

'I actually feel stronger and better than I have in a really long time,' she told People magazine. 'I lost about 18 pounds last year.'

The weight loss proved to be an unexpected side effect, as Melissa explained 'I just wanted to feel better. ' 

Now, as she enters a new chapter of her life, Melissa has shared the secrets behind feeling and looking her best at 50.

Melissa believed that being in perimenopause would stop her from achieving her fitness goals, confessing: 'I really didn't think I could lose weight anymore, being in midlife and perimenopause and all those things, I was like, "Can I really lose weight? I don't think I can."'

According to the Mayo Clinic, 'hormonal changes make it more likely for women to gain weight around the abdomen.'

However, the actress managed to drop the weight after discovering 'fasting and cutting sugars and cutting alcohol.' 

In fact, Melissa hasn't had an alcoholic beverage in over a year.

'I just don't even enjoy drinking. So why bother?' she said. 'So, I cut these things out of my life, and I started to feel better. And in doing that, I lost a lot of weight and kind of feel great.' 

Melissa also shared that staying hydrated has been a challenge for her over the years.

Instead, the mum-of-three will opt for a club soda with lime or tea.

Her favourite tea is green tea, peppermint tea, or 'any kind of tea.'

When it comes to food, the actress focuses on a nutrient-dense diet, typically incorporating high protein, fibre, and green juices.

She often begins her morning with a vegetable-based protein shake, which is blended with spinach or kale and a mix of fruits.

As for lunch, she usually leans into a protein-packed dish with a large salad or soup; her go-to is her street corn salad.

For dinner, she continues to focus on lean meats like chicken or beef, with a heavy serving of vegetables.

She sometimes substitutes traditional pasta with veggie strings.

As for skincare, Melissa urges using anti-wrinkle creams.

She told Aberdeen News: 'Sunscreen and moisturiser always. And do not sleep on your side. 

'That's what I'm fighting now, the chest wrinkles… and the tech neck.'

The actress also uses a good vitamin C serum to help with any acne scars and discolourations, and dark eye circles. 

For her youthful glow, she uses the Power Polish exfoliator, which she claims makes her skin look 'healthy in weeks'.

Melissa is also an avid gym-goer and regularly posts her workouts online.

Last month, the star showed off her impressive strength training.

Taking to Instagram, she posted a clip of her working out in her dressing room while wearing heels and jeans.

In the clip, she performed push-ups using 15-pound weights.

'Fun new project I'm working on... and I asked for 15lb weights in my room to get my pump on.... in my pumps,' she wrote in the caption.