Kelly Clarkson Loses Weight, Finds Love, Goes Blond

Kelly Clarkson seems to be feeling "stronger" these days thanks to a healthier lifestyle and a slimmed-down figure. In a new interview with Redbook magazine, the singer talks all about how she lost the weight but said never wants to lose too many pounds.

"I do cardio. I run. I strength-train using my own body weight. I don't like free weights, because I build muscle easily," she told the magazine. "Really, what I try to instill in my fans is to be healthy and happy. I have no desire to be super-skinny."

In addition to sporting a new dress size in the July issue, Clarkson has recently started rocking a new hair color. After being brunette for a while, she was photographed in London on Wednesday with a deep, honey-blond style. She's in the U.K. promoting her new single, "Dark Size," as well as her new gig as a mentor on the U.S. singing competition show "Duets."

As one of the show's coaches, Kelly definitely has wisdom to share, considering her experience as the first-ever "American Idol" winner. She will probably offer the guidance she wished she had during her time on the Fox show.

"I'm going to be completely honest: I had no one looking out for me," she said. "They were looking out for the show, and it was horrible. I was 19 years old. I was smart enough to know that it wasn't about me, but that didn't make it any easier. I'm all cried out about it, but my first four years, I hated my life; I almost quit a dozen times."

These days the singer does have someone looking out for her. She met boyfriend Brandon Blackstock through her pal Reba McEntire; Blackstock is the country star's stepson. Now, the queen of breakup anthems joked that she's waiting for the other shoe to drop. "I know — where's the kick in the ass? I told my assistant that today. I said, 'I'm just waiting for something to blow up.' She said, 'No, that's what happiness is.' I'm like, 'Maybe I've never been happy!' Because Brandon does, he makes me happy."

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