The 5 Most Common Running Injuries and How to Fix Them

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Running may not be a contact sport, but runners can certainly rack up a slew of injuries. Here, the most common running injuries and how to feel better fast.

running 2#1: Runner’s Knee and ITBFS

Runner’s knee is often called ITB friction syndrome (ITBFS), but the two are actually different things. “Runner’s knee happens when cartilage in the kneecap is irritated, while ITB friction syndrome occurs when the tendon from your hip to the outer knee gets tight and inflamed, irritating the outer bone of the knee,” says Leon Popovitz, MD, founder of the New York Bone & Joint Specialists in New York. Combined, these two make up a majority of the knee problems runners experience.

So how do you tell the difference? With ITBFS the pain is usually isolated outside of the knee, says Dr. Popovitz. The tendon will feel very tight (almost like a cord) and pain will often radiate up into the hip. Both runner’s knee and ITBFS will flare up when you’re going up or down stairs. Or if you sit for a while you might have some stiffness and difficulty getting up.

Fix It Fast: Dr. Popovitz says the number of patients he sees with ITBFS and runner’s knee increases right before the New York City Marathon, as runners are increasing their mileage. With runner’s knee, Dr. Popovitz recommends hamstring stretches and leg lifts at home, in addition to physical therapy — though he’s aware many of his patients suffer through it until after their race. For ITBFS, the only way to cure it is to completely stop running, rest, and alleviate the tendon inflammation with physical therapy. (We know. Not something you want to hear a week before your big race!)

Meniscus Tear

The meniscus is a C-shaped disc that cushions your knees on both sides to absorb the shock in your joint and to hold your knee in place. Through sharp pivoting and turns, you can tear the meniscus — and in extreme circumstances your ACL, the ligament in the center of your knee that limits rotation and forward motion. “If you find yourself feeling suddenly stiff, or have an occasional sharp pain inside the knee with swelling, as well as your knee locking or buckling, these could all be signs of a meniscus tear,” says Dr. Popovitz.

Fix It Fast: Dr. Popovitz says that not all tears have to be repaired with surgery. But because it’s such a minimally invasive procedure, many runners choose to get it done so they don’t have to constantly worry about their limbs. Depending on where the tear is and how serious it is, smaller ones can be treated with resting the knee, frequent icing, and physical therapy.

Shin Splints

You could run 5Ks or marathons, but eventually almost every runner suffers from shin splints, often caused by overuse. You’ll know you have them if you feel a dull throbbing in your shins every time you go to lace up. However, Dr. Popovitz warns that shin splints can often be sign of an underlying issue. If you experience pain when you’re not running, especially when walking on concrete or at night, you’ll need to see a doctor for an X-ray or MRI to make sure it’s not a stress fracture.

Fix It Fast: For immediate relief, Dr. Popovitz says you can use an anti-inflammatory  like aspirin to ease any discomfort. Regular stretching, physical therapy, and running with neoprene sleeves to warm up the leg muscles also may help.

running 3Exertional Compartment Syndrome

If you’re jogging along as usual and suddenly about a mile in you feel a shooting pain up your leg, you may suffer from exertional compartment syndrome. This is when the pressure in the compartments of your leg increases to the point of extreme pain — and because your legs are encapsulated, that pressure has nowhere to go, explains Dr. Popovitz. It may not bother you in your everyday life when you’re not running, but this condition needs immediate attention.

Fix It Fast: The fastest way to alleviate symptoms of exertional compartment syndrome is to rest. In severe cases, surgery may be needed to release pressure of the muscles. Either way, make an appointment with your doctor if you notice symptoms. “Pain can be a good thing — it tells us something is not right with our bodies,” reminds Dr. Popovitz.

Achilles Tendinitis

Another common condition is Achilles tendinitis. This is when the tendon that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone becomes overused or suffers from tendinopathy — micro partial tears of the tendon, Dr. Popovitz explains. Symptoms include heel pain or stiffness after exercising, or swelling that is present all day, and gets worse during exercise.

Fix It Fast: To prevent tendinitis from occurring in the first place, it’s important to take the time to stretch before and after running. Dr. Popovitz also recommends making sure you have the right running shoes and replacing them often — every six months or 300-400 miles.

Get Fit for Summer: The Bikini Body Boot Camp

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Get ready for the beach with this calorie-scorching workout with butt-boosting, core-strengthening, and shoulder-sculpting exercises.

bikiniTrim-and-Tone Circuit Workout

Your secret to a hot body this summer? A twofer tone-up routine that intersperses high-octane cardio bursts with muscle-burning strength moves. The result: You wearing nothing but a bikini and total confidence. It all comes from the Bombshell Bootcamp cocreator Cari Shoemate, a Houston-based trainer who’s whipped hundreds of women into swimsuit-ready shape with her calorie-scorching circuit workouts. Her moves are especially effective when it’s time to don barely-there swimwear, because they focus on toning up the parts that need the most attention. “Sculpted shoulders balance out your lower body, creating an illusion of a slimmer waist and hips,” Shoemate explains. Butt-boosting exercises get you ready for bikini bottoms or boy shorts, and core-strengtheners focus on working your deep abdominals, obliques, and six-pack muscles to help you stand taller and look slimmer. Grab a set of three- to five-pound dumbbells and do our Trim-and-Tone Circuit, which includes cardio bursts and strength moves, on three nonconsecutive days a week. Then do your favorite form of cardio for 30 minutes twice a week. (You get bonus points if you make one of these sweat sessions a booty-shaping hill workout.) Proof positive that it works: Our group of testers, who followed Shoemate’s plan for a month, dropped up to seven and a half pounds and lost an average of more than two inches from their waistlines. You’ll see results just as fast, which will keep you motivated and have you rocking a two-piece in no time. See you on the beach!

Fat-Blasting Cardio Drills

Pump up this workout by adding these high-energy intervals, each designed to boost your heart rate and amp up the calorie burn. Pick one from the list below and do it for 20 seconds (go all out if you can), then recover for 10 seconds. Repeat with the same drill or pick another; keep going until you’ve done it eight times. Then move on to the strength circuit on the following pages, doing one set of each move (12 to 15 reps, unless otherwise noted) before returning to another cardio burst. Follow the chart below for the full workout.

Warm-up: 4 minutes Cardio burst 1: 4 minutes Strength circuit: 10 minutes Cardio burst 2: 4 minutes Strength circuit: 10 minutes Cardio burst 3: 4 minutes Strength circuit: 10 minutes Cardio burst 4: 4 minutes Cool-down: 3 to 5 minutes

Total time: 55 minutes

High knees Stand with feet hip-width apart, elbows bent 90 degrees at sides. Bring alternate knees up high toward chest as quickly as possible as you pump arms.

Burpees Begin in a standing position, then squat, placing hands on floor. Jump (or walk) feet back in one quick motion until you’re in a full plank position. Jump feet forward in one quick motion, going back into a squat. Return to standing. Repeat each step of the sequence as quickly as possible.

Plyo lunges Begin in a basic lunge position, both knees bent 90 degrees, front knee over ankle. In an explosive movement, jump, switch legs in the air, and land with bent knees in lunge.

Mountain climbers Begin in a full plank position. Keeping left foot stationary, bring right knee toward chest. Return right foot to start while bringing left knee toward chest. Continue, alternating legs.

Squat jumps Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms at sides. Squat down, knees over ankles, then jump up explosively, reaching hands toward ceiling. Land in squat position, knees bent; repeat.

Toe Dips

Targets abs, butt, and quads

  • Stand tall on top of a bench or stair with feet shoulder-width apart, abs engaged. Shift weight to left leg, lifting right foot behind you.
  • Slowly bend left knee, lowering right foot behind you (as if dipping toes into a pool of water). Keep left knee centered over toes. Slowly stand up and repeat for 1 minute; switch sides.

Plank Macarena

Targets shoulders and abs

  • Begin in full plank position, arms straight and wrists on floor under shoulders. Lift left hand and tap right shoulder; return left hand to floor and repeat with right hand. Next, tap each hand to opposite hip.
  • Bend arms and lower into a forearm plank; repeat same sequence of shoulder taps and hip taps. Straighten arms and repeat from the start. Continue for 1 minute.

Single-Leg Squat Kick

Targets butt and outer thighs

  • Holding a dumbbell horizontally with both hands at chest height, stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, left foot on top of bench or step and right foot on floor, feet parallel.
  • Lower into a squat; hold 2 to 3 seconds, keeping weight in front of chest.
  • Staying in a low squat, lift right leg about 45 degrees from floor, keeping weight centered over left leg. Lower right foot back to floor and squat a little deeper. Repeat for 12 to 15 reps; switch sides and repeat.

Triple Toner

Targets upper back, triceps, abs, and inner thighs

  • Sit on a bench with hands next to hips, fingers pointing forward and heels about 3 feet in front of you. Keeping chest up, back straight and knees bent, lift body off bench and slowly bend elbows 90 degrees. Straighten arms and repeat. Do 5 dips.
  • After last rep, sit on bench, contract abs and lean back slightly. Lift left leg to hip height, turning toes out. Do 5 leg raises. Switch legs and repeat for another 5 leg raises to complete 1 rep. Do 3 to 4 reps total.

Running V-Sit

Targets arms, abs, and hips

  • Sit on floor with knees bent, arms at sides. Slowly lift feet while leaning back slightly, engaging abs. Extend legs, forming a V, and reach arms toward feet; hold calves for a moment to get your balance, then release.
  • Bend elbows 90 degrees. Keeping legs extended and about 45 degrees from floor, move arms back and forth (as if running). Continue for 1 minute.

Standing Oblique Mash-Up

Targets shoulders, back, chest, triceps, and abs

  • Stand facing a wall 2 to 3 feet in front of you with feet shoulder-width apart. Place hands on wall just below shoulder height and near sides of your body.
  • Lower chest toward wall, bringing elbows close to sides; at the same time, lift left knee toward left elbow. Straighten arms and lower leg back to start. Do 12 to 15 reps, alternating sides.
  • MAKE IT EASIER: Stand closer to wall.

Scissors Lunge

Targets shoulders, triceps, butt, quads, and calves

  • Hold a dumbbell in each hand with arms at sides, palms in, feet hip-width apart.
  • Lunge back with right foot, bending both knees 90 degrees; at the same time, lift left arm forward to shoulder height and right arm behind you with thumbs facing the sky. Stand up, lowering arms back to sides. (Try not to swing arms.) Repeat with opposite legs and arms. Do 10 to 12 reps on each leg.

Tilted Shoulder Raise

Targets shoulders

  • Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand, arms at sides with palms facing in. Engage abs and lift arms out to sides to shoulder height, forming a T shape.
  • Slowly rotate arms until thumbs face floor (as if pouring a cup of coffee). Rotate arms back and then lower to sides. Do 12 to 15 reps.

Tri-Umphant! 10 Weeks to Your First Sprint Tri

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Conquer the open water. Master the bike and the run. We’ve got everything you need to finish your first triathlon feeling strong and confident.

1triathlon0 Weeks to Your First Sprint Tri

You’ve signed up for a race — now it’s time to get down to business. Laura Cozik, a triathlon coach and the founder of the all-woman Team Lipstick in New York City, makes it simple with this beginner-friendly plan, which gets you in shape to complete a sprint tri (typically a 750-meter [half-mile] swim, a 20-kilometer [12.4-mile] bike ride, and a 5K [3.1-mile] run). Her program includes five days a week of training; use your two days off to do a low-intensity activity like stretching or to just take a break.

Training notes Before beginning this plan, you should be able to swim at least 200 yards without stopping; you’ll gradually build your endurance with a series of intervals (repeats of 100 yards or more) that will help you complete a strong half-mile swim. You can do at least some of the biking workouts with a group cycling class or on an indoor bike. Long outdoor workouts may include a “brick,” or bike-run, to help your legs make the transition to the run phase of the race (they’ll probably feel heavy for at least the first few minutes). Most important is to have fun. “Even on your hardest training days, you should never be completely out of breath or unable to keep up the pace,” Cozik says. “It’s not about shocking your body, just giving it a gentle push.”

Mastering the Transition and Gear You Need

It’s home base for your race, the spot where you’ll stash your gear and switch activities. “You don’t need to bring everything in your closet; simplify as much as possible,” tri coach Alison Kreideweis says. Here’s how to organize your stuff at the start.

1. K-Swiss Blade-light Run II shoes ($95, kswiss.com) 2. FuelBelt Super-Stretch Race waist pack ($20, fuelbelt.com) 3. Brooks visor ($18, brooksrunning.com) 4. Shimano SH-WT60 triathlon shoe ($250, bike.shimano.com for info) 5. Pearl Izumi socks ($12, pearlizumi.com) 6. Oakley Radarlock Edge sunglasses ($220, oakley.com) 7. Giant Orion helmet ($55, giant-bicycles.com for info)

Anatomy of a Wet Suit

Everything you need to know about looking like a human seal.

Why wear it? A wet suit not only keeps you from shivering (it’s ideal if the water temp falls below 75), but it can also make your swim feel easier. “Wet suits are designed to keep you more buoyant and streamlined, so you move faster,” Cozik explains.

Full or sleeveless? A full-sleeve model will generally keep you warmer and make you even more hydrodynamic. Sleeveless versions are better for hotter temperatures.

What should it feel like? Wet suits are typically formfitting, but don’t get one so tight that you feel as if it’s choking you. Some specialty shops will let you try before you buy.

How do I get out of it? The suit can require some dexterity to put on, but it’s even trickier to take off, especially when you’re in a hurry to hop on your bike. “As soon as you get out of the water, tug on the zipper and pull your arms out,” Cozik advises. “That way you’re halfway out before you reach transition.” Tug on the lower half when you get to your bike and slip off each leg, turning the suit inside out. Hint: Put a little lubricant like Bodyglide on your ankles and wrists to speed your exit.

What’s the cost? A basic wet suit runs $150 to $500, depending on the size, style, and design.

Surviving the Swim

Most of us feel comfortable riding a bike or heading out for a run. But swimming in open water can make even pool regulars panic. That goes double if the course is crowded, the water is cold, or the waves are choppy. Swim easily with these confidence-building tips.

Do at least two open-water practice swims.

For many first-timers, the idea of getting into a body of water that doesn’t have a lane line to follow and a wall to rest at can be intimidating. But practicing can help. “The first time is scary, but the second, a lot less so,” Cozik says. If possible, try to get into water that’s similar to what you’ll be racing in, whether it’s a lake or the ocean. “Even if just the color or the taste of the water is familiar, it can help on race day,” she adds. This is also a good time to try out your wet suit if you’ll be wearing one. And always swim with a partner so you’ll feel a little safer.

Stay to one side.

When it’s your turn to hit the water in the race (which is typically in a wave-type format, where several swimmers go at once), avoid the crowd by moving toward the side that’s farthest from the buoys. “Try not to get caught in the middle of the crowd, where the water can get very choppy,” Cozik says.

Do whatever stroke you need to.

Freestyle is the most popular because it’s generally the most efficient, but if you start to get nervous, do the breaststroke for a bit or float on your back, then return to freestyle.

Wear-test your outfit.

A good rule of thumb: Try nothing new on race day. Whether you’re swimming in a tri suit, a sports bra and shorts, or a bathing suit, make sure you get in the water in your outfit at least once before the race, even if it’s just to do a few laps in the pool. “My first race I wore a sports bra that ballooned with water, making it very uncomfortable to swim, and then it totally chafed me afterward,” Kreideweis recalls. If you’re large chested, try wearing two tops for extra support.

Remember you’ve got safety nets.

If you feel overwhelmed or can’t catch your breath while in the water, swim over to one of the many volunteers who are likely to be stationed along the course in boats. “Most races won’t penalize you if you stop, so take a few moments to calm down,” Kreideweis says. When you start again, distract yourself from negative thoughts by counting your strokes from buoy to buoy, singing a song in your head, or picturing yourself crossing the finish line.

Smart Nutrition Rules

Rule: Drink up.

“Fluids are your first priority,” notes Marni Sumbal, RD, a triathlete coach and sports dietitian in Jacksonville, Florida. Aim for five to six ounces every 15 minutes; stick with water on your shorter training days (one hour or less) and sports drinks with carbs and electrolytes on longer and more intense ones. The easiest place to sip is on your bike, so equip it with a water bottle cage before you start pedaling, for both training and race day.

Rule 2: Practice.

“Most people can digest anything when they go slowly; it’s when you ramp up intensity that you run into tummy trouble,” Sumbal says. Sample various sports drinks or effervescent electrolyte tablets during your training to make sure they agree with you when you race. “You’ll be pushing a little harder than normal, and this extra nutrition will help your body handle that added stress,” Sumbal explains. Look for a drink that contains about 30 to 60 grams of carbs in about 20 to 28 ounces of fluid.

Rule 3: Fuel up for the start.

About two to three hours before the race, eat a 200- to 300-calorie breakfast of mostly carbs and a little protein, such as toast with peanut butter; oatmeal, nuts, and fruit; or a hard-boiled egg, yogurt, and an orange. “That should be enough to keep you going for the next few hours,” Sumbal says.

Rule 4: Don’t overdo it.

You’ll probably burn 600 to 700 calories in a sprint race, but you can’t replace everything you’re burning. Shoot for 120 to 200 calories an hour, which you can get from a sports drink. For longer train?ing sessions or races, you may need to take along sports gels for a boost.

Spin Tricks: The 45-Minute Spinning Interval Workout

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Spinning blasts more than 500 calories in less than an hour. How to make it even better? “Turn your workout into a cardio party,” says Rique Uresti, a master instructor for New York’s acclaimed Soul Cycle studio. Get more out of your next ride with Uresti’s smart tips.

Spinning workoutHit the Right Height “The biggest mistake people make is to set the bike seat too low,” Uresti says. When pedal?ing, the leg should be bent about 25 degrees at the bottom of the rotation. “This relieves your quads from doing all the work.”

Get Up, Stand Up When doing fast-paced runs, stay seated. To add intensity, lift your butt off the saddle for a few seconds. For hill climbs and slow jogs with heavy resistance, stand up and hold the front of the handlebars, keeping hips over the saddle to work your core, legs, and butt.

Move to the Music Good music can make any ride better, as long as you match your pedal stroke to the beat. “Keep pace first, then add resistance,” Uresti advises. Try riding to your favorite song: Pedal fast enough to stay with the beat, then add a quarter turn of resistance every 30 seconds, five times in all.

Reverse Biceps Curl Hold a weight in each hand, elbows bent at shoulder level, weights in front of face, palms out. Bend elbows to straighten arms parallel to floor. Repeat.

Triceps Pull Down Hold a weight in each hand and extend arms overhead, palms facing in. Bend elbows, lowering weights behind head, then extend arms overhead and lower elbows to chest height (weights in front of face). Return to start and repeat.

The 45-Minute Interval Spinning Workout

Rique Uresti’s favorite Spinning motto? “Tight wheel, tight body.” His 45-minute session cranks up resistance while adding speed intervals for a high-intensity workout.

 

Minutes What to Do Speed (rpm) Tension
0 to 5 Warm up; stay seated 100 Light, slowly increased to moderate
5 to 10 Increase resistance; rise out of saddle 70 Moderate
10 to 12 Decrease resistance; stay out of saddle 110 Light to moderate
12 to 15 Keep resistance; sit in saddle 120 Light to moderate
15 to 17 Increase resistance; stay out of saddle 80 Moderate
17 to 19 Keep resistance, double pace; stay out of saddle 120 Moderate
19 to 21 Keep resistance, decrease pace; sit in saddle 80 Moderate
21 to 22 Keep resistance, double pace; rise out of saddle 120 Moderate
22 to 25 Decrease resistance; sit in saddle 100 Light
25 to 30 Increase resistance for heavy climb; rise out of  saddle 70 Heavy
30 to 35 Decrease resistance; do seated arms workout 80 Light to moderate
35 to 40 Increase resistance; rise out of saddle 100 Light to     moderate, slowly adding resistance
40 to 45 Cool down; sit in saddle 80 to 100 Light

 

Fight the Flab: The Animal Flow Workout

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A no-equipment workout with cardio and toning exercises from the creator of the Animal Flow workout class at Equinox Fitness Clubs.

animal workoutAbout This Workout

Firm up with this fresh no-equipment workout that blasts even hard-to-reach bulges in record time. “You can really tone all those forgotten muscles by mimicking certain primal movements,” says Mike Fitch, the creator of the hot new Animal Flow class at Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York City. The super-low, thigh-sculpting squats and ab-chiseling crawls may look straight out of a safari, but try them twice a week this month and you’ll go wild for the results.

Vertical Frog  Jump

Targets back, butt, and quads

Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, arms by sides
Lower into a deep squat and place palms on floor between feet.
Jump as high as you can and extend arms overhead.
Land softly in a squat, placing hands on floor. Return to standing.
Do 2 sets of 12 reps.

Beast Reach

Targets shoulders, triceps, abs, hips, butt, and legs

  • Stand with feet hip-width apart and crouch down, stretching arms forward to plant palms on floor in front of you, head between arms.
  • Extend legs to bring torso forward until shoulders are aligned over hands in full plank position; simultaneously lift bent right knee to outside of right elbow.
  • Keeping palms planted, reverse motion back to crouch position and repeat with left leg.
  • Do 2 sets of 12 reps, alternating legs.

Sideways-Traveling Primate

Targets shoulders, abs, hips, and quads

  • Stand with feet hip-width apart and toes out; crouch down, placing palms on floor to right of body (left hand by right foot).
  • Keeping palms planted throughout, jump feet to right; land with left foot between hands, left knee bent, and right leg straight. Shift hips to right to reset position (left leg straightens and right knee bends), and place palms on floor outside of right foot to complete 1 rep.
  • Do 6 reps; switch directions and repeat. Do 2 sets.

Stork Seesaw

Targets back, abs, hips, butt, quads, and hamstrings

  • Stand with feet together and clasp arms behind back. Lift right knee forward to hip level, foot flexed.
  • Balancing on left leg, squat slightly and hinge forward from hips until back is nearly parallel to floor and right heel is in line with your back.
  • Return to upright stork stance; repeat. Do 12 reps; switch legs and repeat. Do 2 sets.
  • Make it easier: Place hands on hips.

Crab Flip

Targets back, triceps, butt, and hamstrings

  • Sit on floor with knees bent, feet flat, and place palms on floor behind you, fingers pointing away from body. Lift butt 1 or 2 inches off floor.
  • Raise right arm overhead as you lift hips off floor as high as possible, arching your back.
  • Lower hips toward floor and place right hand down, keeping butt lifted. Repeat with left arm.
  • Do 2 sets of 12 reps, alternating sides.

Ape Squat

Targets shoulders, back, triceps, abs, butt, quads, and calves

  • Stand with feet hip-width apart, toes pointed out, and lower into a deep squat, bending knees out to sides; reach arms between knees toward floor with palms facing out.
  • Maintaining crouch throughout, lift heels off floor and straighten torso as you raise arms out to sides (rotate wrists so that palms face up) and squeeze shoulder blades together.
  • Lower arms and heels to start position.
  • Do 2 sets of 12 reps

Yoga 101: Poses for Beginners

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New to yoga? Try these basic yoga poses to get stronger and more flexible.

Mountain Posemountain pose

  • Stand tall with feet together, shoulders relaxed, weight evenly distributed through your soles, arms at sides.
  • Take a deep breath and raise your hands overhead, palms facing each other with arms straight. Reach up toward the sky with your fingertips.

Downward Dog

  • Start on all fours with hands directly under shoulders, knees under hips.
  • Walk hands a few inches forward and spread fingers wide, pressing palms into mat.
  • Curl toes under and slowly press hips toward ceiling, bringing your body into an inverted V, pressing shoulders away from ears. Feet should be hip-width apart, knees slightly bent.
  • Hold for 3 full breaths.

Warrior

  • Stand with legs 3 to 4 feet apart, turning right foot out 90 degrees and left foot in slightly.
  • Bring your hands to your hips and relax your shoulders, then extend arms out to the sides, palms down.
  • Bend right knee 90 degrees, keeping knee over ankle; gaze out over right hand. Stay for 1 minute.
  •  Switch sides and repeat.

Tree Pose

  • Stand with arms at sides.
  • Shift weight onto left leg and place sole of right foot inside left thigh, keeping hips facing forward.
  • Once balanced, bring hands in front of you in prayer position, palms together.
  • On an inhalation, extend arms over shoulders, palms separated and facing each another. Stay for 30 seconds.
  • Lower and repeat on opposite side.
  • Make it easier: Bring your right foot to the inside of your left ankle, keeping your toes on the floor for balance. As you get stronger and develop better balance, move your foot to the inside of your left calf.

Bridge Pose

  • Stretches chest and thighs; extends spine
  • Lie on floor with knees bent and directly over heels.
  • Place arms at sides, palms down. Exhale, then press feet into floor as you lift hips.
  • Clasp hands under lower back and press arms down, lifting hips until thighs are parallel to floor, bringing chest toward chin. Hold for 1 minute.
  • Make it easier: Place a stack of pillows underneath your tailbone.

Triangle Posetriangle

  • Extend arms out to sides, then bend over your right leg.
  • Stand with feet about 3 feet apart, toes on your right foot turned out to 90 degrees, left foot to 45 degrees.
  • Allow your right hand to touch the floor or rest on your right leg below or above the knee, and extend the fingertips of your left hand toward the ceiling.
  • Turn your gaze toward the ceiling, and hold for 5 breaths.
  • Stand and repeat on opposite side.

Seated Twist

  • Stretches shoulders, hips, and back; increases circulation; tones abdomen; strengthens obliques
  • Sit on the floor with your legs extended.
  • Cross right foot over outside of left thigh; bend left knee. Keep right knee pointed toward ceiling.
  • Place left elbow to the outside of right knee and right hand on the floor behind you.
  • Twist right as far as you can, moving from your abdomen; keep both sides of your butt on the floor. Stay for 1 minute.
  • Switch sides and repeat.
  • Make it easier: Keep bottom leg straight and place both hands on raised knee. If your lower back rounds forward, sit on a folded blanket.

Cobra

  • Lie facedown on the floor with thumbs directly under shoulders, legs extended with the tops of your feet on the floor.
  • Tighten your pelvic floor, and tuck hips downward as you squeeze your glutes.
  • Press shoulders down and away from ears.
  • Push through your thumbs and index fingers as you raise your chest toward the wall in front of you.
  • Relax and repeat.

Pigeon Pose

  • Targets the piriformis (a deep gluteal muscle)
  • Begin in a full push-up position, palms aligned under shoulders.
  • Place left knee on the floor near shoulder with left heel by right hip.
  • Lower down to forearms and bring right leg down with the top of the foot on the floor (not shown).
  • Keep chest lifted to the wall in front of you, gazing down.
  • If you’re more flexible, bring chest down to floor and extend arms in front of you.
  • Pull navel in toward spine and tighten your pelvic-floor muscles; contract right side of glutes.
  • Curl right toes under while pressing ball of foot into the floor, pushing through your heel.
  • Bend knee to floor and release; do 5 reps total, then switch sides and repeat.

Crow Pose

  • Get into downward dog position (palms pressed into mat, feet hip-width apart) and walk feet forward until knees touch your arms.
  • Bend your elbows, lift heels off floor, and rest knees against the outside of your upper arms. Keep toes on floor, abs engaged and legs pressed against arms.
  • Hold for 5 to 10 breaths.

Child’s Posechilds pose

  • Sit up comfortably on your heels.
  • Roll your torso forward, bringing your forehead to rest on the bed in front of you.
  • Lower your chest as close to your knees as you comfortably can, extending your arms in front of you.
  • Hold the pose and breathe.

Improve Your Sweatitude: 9 Motivation Rut Busters

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No more wimping out on your workouts. Here’s how to lose the excuses, make over your motivation, and finally score the body you want.

girls running“I’m too far from my goal, so why start?”

Rut Buster: How about this for an incentive: Just by walking a little more every day, you can shrink your waist in 12 weeks. When formerly sedentary women consistently tallied a weekly average of 470 steps more a day — that’s about a five-minute walk — than they had the week before, they lost a quarter inch from their waistlines without dieting. Whether you have a lot of weight to shed or a certain distance to run, break up your goal into smaller units, suggests trainer Tracey Mallett, creator of the Lose the Belly Flab DVD. Little victories, like dropping a pound a week or running an extra minute without stopping, will fuel your momentum.

“I hate cardio.”

Rut Buster: Swap endless treadmill time for circuits, suggests trainer Jim Karas, author of The 7-Day Energy Surge. According to a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, circuit training beats aerobic exercise for building upper-body strength while giving an equal boost in cardio capacity. Try Karas’s technique: Alternate one-minute sets of upper- and lower-body moves, resting for 30 seconds in between and doing each set with enough weight so that your muscles cry uncle at 10 reps.

“I’m bored with my same old routine.”

Rut Buster: Spicing up your steady sweat sessions with speed will wake up your mojo, a study in the Journal of Sports Science found. Exercisers who did 50-minute runs rated their enjoyment as much higher when they mixed in six 3-minute intervals. Is it time to expand your routine repertoire? Check active.com for sporty events near you, or get free workout podcasts at motiontraxx.com/gseriesfit.

“I don’t have the energy.”

Rut Buster: Exercising at even a very easy pace will give you more energy than if you sit it out. A University of Georgia study of people who reported persistent fatigue found that those who rode a stationary bike three times a week at low intensity got a bigger energy boost than those who didn’t exercise. In a follow-up study, the same cyclers maintained the extra oomph over the six weeks they kept exercising.

“No matter how hard I try, something always foils my workout schedule.”

Rut Buster: Get a plan and then grab a pen. People who have a process goal, such as a target number of weekly workouts, stick to their routines with significantly more success than those who focus on a big-picture outcome — such as losing 20 pounds — or go along without any specific goal, a study in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology found; they also feel less stressed about squeezing in exercise. Next, schedule your gym time just as you would a business meeting. “That way, when someone asks if you can meet at 5, you can honestly say, ‘Sorry, I have an appointment; how about 4 instead?’” says Sherri McMillan, owner of Northwest Personal Training in Vancouver, Washington.

“I just don’t have the time.”

Rut Buster: “Most people think they need to exercise for 30 to 60 minutes, which can seem daunting, but you can actually get a better workout in just 20 minutes,” says Wayne Westcott, PhD, exercise science instructor at Quincy College in Massachusetts. The time-trimming trick: intervals. Try alternating two minutes of moderate-intensity cardio with two minutes of high-intensity intervals, Westcott suggests, for a simple-to-remember session. Still can’t squeeze in 20 in one sitting? Do one 10- to 15-minute session in the morning and one after work. A study at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh found that overweight women dropped equal amounts of weight doing one 30-minute workout, two 15-minute sessions, or three 10-minute bouts.

“I bulk up too fast.”

Rut Buster: If you want a foolproof formula for sculpting sleek limbs, “select a weight that you can lift 15 to 18 times,” says Michele Olson, PhD, a FITNESS advisory board member and professor of exercise science at the University of Alabama at Montgomery. “That amount is not heavy enough to build any bulk, but your muscles will gain greater tone and increased staying power.”

“I don’t have any indoor options.”

Rut Buster: Filter tons of DVD routines at collagevideo.com or online exercises at fitnessmagazine.com/buildavideo by searching for those that don’t require equipment.

“I’m getting nowhere, so why bother?”

Rut Buster: First of all, swap the carrot for the stick. “You didn’t gain 10 pounds in 10 days, so it might take a while to lose it,” Karas says. “Be patient and visualize yourself in leaner days for positive reinforcement.” Then look beyond the scale. “Remind yourself that the benefits of exercise — being healthier, happier, and living longer — are so much greater than the weight loss,” says Kelly McGonigal, PhD, a psychologist at Stanford University. But if downsizing is your main motive, raise your game: Pick up your walking pace or add reps or sets. “You can’t expect bigger results by doing the same thing,” McGonigal says.

Jillian Michaels’ Bodyshred Circuit Workout

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jillian michael circuit workoutBurn megacalories, blast fat, and sculpt all over in less than 30 minutes with Jillian’s new kick-butt workout. Based on Jillian Michaels Bodyshred, a high-energy circuit class offered at Crunch gyms nationwide, this results-driven combo of strength, cardio, and core circuits will leave you tight, toned, and totally ready to show off your hard work. What are you waiting for?

How This Workout Works

What You’ll Need: 3- to 8-pound dumbbells, a mat (optional)

How It Works: Do Jillian’s 3-2-1 interval method four days a week. Warm up for five minutes by jumping rope or running in place. Next, move on to the three circuits: Do three minutes of strength (30 seconds per move; repeat entire circuit once); then do two minutes of cardio (30 seconds per move; repeat entire circuit once); and finish with one minute of core (30 seconds per move). Do three sets total.

Circuit 1: Strength: Dumbbell Row in Crescent

Targets back, butt, and legs

  • Stand with feet hip-width apart holding a dumbbell in each hand, arms by sides, palms facing in.
  • Step back with left leg, bending right knee 90 degrees and keeping left leg straight and heel lifted, body hinging forward slightly from hips, arms extended by sides.
  • Maintaining lunge position, drive elbows behind you to bring dumbbells by ribs, palms in, squeezing shoulder blades together.
  • Lower dumbbells toward floor, straightening arms. Switch legs for second set.

Alternating Side Lunge with Reverse Flye

Targets shoulders, back, butt, and legs

  • Stand with feet together holding a dumbbell in each hand, arms in front of thighs, palms facing each other.
  • Step right leg out to right side, bending left knee.
  • Keep right leg straight as you simultaneously hinge forward from hips until back is parallel to floor; extend arms directly below chest.
  • Keeping head in line with spine, extend arms out to sides at shoulder height.
  • Slowly lower arms toward floor. Push off right leg to return to start position. Switch sides.

Dive Bomber

Targets shoulders, chest, triceps, back, abs, and thighs

  • Start in full plank position with hands directly under shoulders and body forming a straight line.
  • Lift hips so body forms an inverted V and feet are flat on floor, then slowly bend elbows, lowering chest toward floor while bringing head forward.
  • In one fluid movement, push into palms as you thrust chest forward; then lift chest upward as you lower hips to the floor, straightening arms (you should be looking up and balancing on balls of your feet).
  • Reverse motion back to start position to complete 1 rep.

Circuit 2: Cardio: Jump Jack Squat and Touch the Ground

Targets abs, butt, and legs

  • Stand with feet together, arms above head.
  • Jump up, landing in a deep squat with feet about hip-distance apart. Tap floor in front of feet with right hand, keeping left arm above head.
  • Jump up, bringing feet together and both arms above head.
  • Repeat, touching floor with opposite hand to complete 1 rep.

Single-Leg Mountain Climbers

Targets shoulders, chest, upper back, triceps, abs, and legs

  • Start in full plank position, balancing on palms and toes, body forming a straight line.
  • Pull left knee in toward chest, keeping right leg extended.
  • Keeping palms planted firmly on ground and left knee tucked into chest, jump right leg forward.
  • Jump right leg back to full plank position. Continue hopping forward and back with right leg for 30 seconds. Switch legs for second set.

Circuit 3: Core: Windshield Wiper

Targets abs, obliques, and legs

  • Lie faceup on the floor, feet together, legs extended; bring arms out to shoulder level with palms resting on floor.
  • Keeping feet together and legs straight, extend legs toward ceiling.
  • Maintaining position, lower legs to the right, bringing them as close to floor as you can while keeping your upper back and shoulders planted.
  • Raise legs back to start position, then lower legs to the left to complete 1 rep.

Hollow Man Chest Flye Combo

Targets shoulders, chest, triceps, back, abs, and legs

  • Lie faceup on floor, legs extended with feet together, holding a dumbbell in each hand, arms by sides.
  • Lift your head and shoulders off floor and raise both legs 45 degrees; bring arms together over chest.
  • Maintaining position, lower arms out to sides until hands almost touch the floor, palms facing up; keep elbows slightly bent.hollow man chest fly
  • Bring arms back together over chest, keeping legs raised; repeat.

Burn and Firm: CrossFit Circuit Workout

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Burn calories and fat in just 20 minutes with this CrossFit sample circuit workout.

How This Workout Works

crossfitWhether you’re curious about CrossFit or have already been bitten by this drenched-in-sweat sculptfest, its body-transforming allure couldn’t be more off the hook. “In 20 minutes you incinerate major calories and fat, plus you boost every facet of fitness, such as strength, balance, endurance, and speed,” says Megan May, the head trainer for Reebok CrossFit 5th Ave in New York City. “You’ll really notice the change you’re working so hard for — and fast.” Start here with this six-move sampler from May, using a set of five- to eight-pound dumbbells and a sturdy chair. Do as many rounds as possible — that’s AMRAP to you newbies — of the full circuit in 20 minutes.

Dumbbell Swing

Targets shoulders, back, abs, butt, and hamstrings

Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, holding a single dumbbell with both hands in front of thighs.
Slightly bend knees as you hinge forward from hips until back is nearly parallel to floor and swing dumbbell behind you between legs.
Quickly drive through heels and push hips forward to straighten legs, swinging dumbbell overhead in an upward arc, arms straight. Repeat immediately.
Do 20 reps.

Elevator

Targets shoulders, hips, butt, and legs

  • Stand facing chair, a dumbbell in each hand.
  • Place right foot on seat and bring dumbbells by shoulders, palms facing each other.
  • Stand up on seat on right leg, lifting bent left knee as you press dumbbells overhead.
  • Lower left foot to floor, then lunge back with right leg. Jump up, switching legs in midair to land in lunge with right leg forward. Repeat, placing left foot on seat. Do 10 reps, alternating sides.
  • MAKE IT EASIER: Leave arms by sides throughout.

Turkish Get-Up

Targets triceps, abs, obliques, butt, and hamstrings

  • Holding a dumbbell in right hand, lie faceup on floor with right knee bent, foot flat, left leg extended; raise right arm toward ceiling and extend left arm directly out to side on floor.
  • Keeping right arm pointed up throughout, press onto left forearm to lift torso off floor and then press into left palm and right heel to lift hips.
  • Bringing left leg behind body, kneel on left knee and then stand up. Reverse motion back to start.
  • Do 3 reps; switch sides and repeat.

Power Deck Squat

Targets abs, butt, and legs

  • Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding ends of a single dumbbell with both hands directly in front of chest, elbows bent by sides.
  • Keeping dumbbell close to chest throughout, lower into a deep squat. Then sit on floor and, maintaining a tuck position with chin toward chest, roll onto middle of back and then upper back (don’t roll onto neck).
  • Using momentum, roll forward to return to squat, and then jump up.
  • Do 6 reps.
  • MAKE IT EASIER: Instead of jumping up, return to standing.
  • MAKE IT HARDER: Press dumbbell overhead before you jump up from squat position.

Inchworm to Grasshopper

Targets shoulders, back, chest, arms, and abs

  • Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, then hinge forward at hips, back flat, and place palms on floor.
  • Walk hands forward into full plank position.
  • Bring left leg diagonally beneath body toward right hip. Return to plank; switch legs, repeat.
  • Alternate sides once more, then walk hands back to meet feet to return to start. Do 10 reps.
  • MAKE IT EASIER: Bend knees slightly on the walk-out.

Handstand Push-Up

Targets shoulders, triceps, and abs

  • Kneel on all fours on floor with your back to a chair. Place balls of feet atop seat and, keeping arms extended, straighten legs so that hips rise in an inverted-V pike position.
  • Slowly bend elbows to lower head near floor.
  • Push through palms to extend arms fully.
  • Do 5 reps.
  • MAKE IT EASIER: Rest knees and shins on chair or do the move with feet on floor.
  • MAKE IT EASIER: Bend knees slightly on the walk-out.

The 8-Minute Better-Back Workout

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Prevent back pain with these exercises that will strengthen and condition your back.

Cat-Cow Variation

Get your doctor’s okay before starting these strengthening and conditioning exercises.

Reduces stiffness in back and hips; relieves tension in spine

a. Cow Pose: On hands and knees, inhale and lift head while making back concave.
b. Cat Pose: On exhale, tuck tailbone, contract abs, and round back, head down.
c. Child’s Pose: Draw hips back to heels, drop chest, rounding spine, and rest forehead on floor, arms in front of you. Do 6 reps of whole cycle. Rest in Child’s Pose for several breaths.

Bridge Pose

Stretches abs, hips, quads, lower back; strengthens abs

Lie faceup with feet on floor about 6 inches from butt, arms by sides, palms down.
Inhaling, press into feet and lift lower body until knees form a diagonal with head.
As you exhale, contract your abs and slowly lower spine.
Do 6 reps.

Extended Leg Pose

Stretches hamstrings; strengthens abs

  • Lie faceup with knees bent, feet on floor; take 3 deep breaths.
  • a. Exhale and hug left knee to chest.
  • b. Inhaling, extend left leg over hip. Exhaling, hug it in. Do 3 reps.
  • On fourth rep, keep leg up and circle ankle four times in each direction.
  • Hug knee in; lower foot. Switch sides; repeat.
  • Exhale and hug both knees to chest for 3 breaths.

Butterfly Pose

Tones abs, pelvic floor, inner thighs
a. Lie faceup with soles of feet together, knees open to sides. Inhale.
b. Exhale and slowly squeeze thighs together. Do 6 reps.
Do 6 more times, taking twice as long to bring thighs together.

Cobra Leg Lift

Strengthens back and pelvic muscles
Lie facedown with elbows by sides, hands by shoulders.
Rest forehead on floor, chin tucked slightly.
Inhale and lift chest using back muscles.
At the same time, lift right leg as high as you can while keeping pelvis level.
Hold, then exhale to lower.
Switch sides; repeat.
Do 6 reps, alternating sides, lifting leg a little higher each time.

How Lucy Liu Discovered the Right Workout for Her

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After years of doing tough-girl routines like kickboxing and martial arts, Lucy Liu finally discovered the secret to shedding the last five pounds. All it took was the right workout and a little help from her friends.

Lucy Liu’s Stay Motivated Secrets

Lucy Liu is known for kicking butt in such flicks as Charlie’s Angels and Kill Bill. But offscreen she’s more likely to be getting her butt kicked — by her Pilates instructor.

“Pilates introduced me to muscles I never even knew I had,” says Lucy, who stars as Dr. Watson on the hit CBS show Elementary. “Soon I started to feel longer and leaner. Ten years of Pilates has really changed my body for the better.”

In fact, at 44 the actress says she is fitter and healthier than ever. “I’m smarter, stronger, and more confident than I was in my twenties,” Lucy says over lentil soup at ABC Kitchen in New York City. “I know who I am now, and I’m more accepting of myself.” Read on to find out how she got to her happy place — and how you can too.

You always play fierce female characters. What’s the toughest training you’ve done?

Charlie’s Angels, because it was eight hours a day, five days a week. I thought I was fairly fit when I started, but I wasn’t. The kind of moves we were doing with all the kicking — oh my god! I couldn’t even lift my legs afterward.

You work 16-hour days shooting Elementary. How do you fit in exercise?

I don’t always, but I can do Pilates at home with a ball and I have a treadmill. I run while watching Downton Abbey, and I increase the speed a little at a time, decrease it, and then raise it again. Each time, I say, “Just another 0.2 mile.” I’ve found that running is the fastest way to lose weight.

         What does working out do for you?

Pilates and running help to clear my mind, and they really strengthen me. Pilates has engaged my core and made me feel more confident in that area. I don’t have long legs, but through the combination of Pilates and running, they look longer and feel better than they ever have. And if I have time — which I don’t these days — I’ll take a yoga class, hike with [my chocolate Lab] Apple, or go for a swim.

How do you stay motivated?A group of five of us — friends and friends of friends — got an e-mail chain going, and we all set goals: an ideal weight, inches we wanted to lose, eating habits we wanted to adopt. We would e-mail, saying “I ran today” or “I ate this,” and we’d share recipes. Then we would celebrate by going to a show or taking a Pilates class when each of us reached our goal. We also celebrated mini milestones along the way to keep our motivation up.

What was your goal?To lose the five extra pounds I’ve had for years, which I did. It may not sound like a lot, but for my height, it makes a big difference. And doing it with a support group of my girlfriends made it easier.

Do you feel pressure to be a certain size?Part of being an actress is that people are going to judge you whether you gain or lose weight — it’s just sort of a given. But I’ve never had issues with food. When I was growing up, my family didn’t have a lot. So if there was food, I was going to eat it!

How do you stick to a healthy diet when you’re working crazy hours?When I’m exercising, I’m not as likely to eat sweets and junk food, because I tend to feel really good about myself and my body, so I don’t want to ruin it. I have only juice before noon, usually made with bananas and berries. If I’m really hungry I might have a breakfast burrito with spinach, a fried egg, and tomatoes. For dinner I have fish with steamed vegetables or a salad. But I also eat veggie pizza or pasta, because when you’re standing all day, it’s a workout, and sometimes you need to carbo-load.

You seem so zen despite your hectic life. What’s the secret?I’ve been meditating twice a day for about two years now. It’s helped me so much! It gives me a feeling of comfort and safety, and makes me feel as if I’m part of a bigger plan.

The Eye-Opening Truth About Protein

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We all know her: that trim, toned woman who seems to live on grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, and nonfat yogurt. Convinced that her high-protein plan is your ticket to a better body, you’ve been trying to work more of the macronutrient into your diet. But is it really the secret to slimming down? And how much protein do you actually need, anyway? Read on for the surprising facts, then use your newfound knowledge to get all the muscle-building, fat-fighting benefits.

Protein Facts You Need to Know

    You’re already getting enough protein.

“There’s way too much hype about protein — or rather, a perceived lack of it in people’s diets,” says Marion Nestle, PhD, a professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University. “The reality is, if you consume enough calories, you’re probably eating plenty of protein.” Most nutritionists agree that active women need about half a gram per pound a day, or approximately 65 grams for a 130-pound woman. And according to the USDA, most of us — even vegetarians — are eating 69 grams of protein daily, so we’re in the clear. (If you exercise for more than an hour five or more days a week, bump up your intake to 0.75 grams per pound.) Just don’t skimp at breakfast and then load up at lunch and dinner, because eating protein in the a.m. can help curb your calorie intake for the rest of the day.

    Protein helps you burn more calories…

Every time you eat, your body uses up energy (aka calories) to break down your food and absorb its nutrients, which boosts your metabolism. When you tuck into fat or carbs, about 5 to 15 percent of those calories go toward the digestion process. With protein, it’s more like 20 to 30 percent. That’s because protein is made up of amino acids held together by peptide bonds, which are strong little suckers. In order for your body to use the amino acids to repair tissue, transport oxygen throughout your bloodstream, and form immunity-boosting antibodies, the peptide bonds have to be broken; this means your stomach has to work harder, which takes extra energy.

    …but it can still make you fat.

That metabolism spike doesn’t mean protein is a freebie. If you overeat, you’ll gain weight no matter where your calories come from. According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, volunteers who consumed an extra 1,000 calories a day gained weight, whether 5, 15, or 25 percent of those calories came from protein. While dieters have slimmed down with low-carb plans like Atkins, South Beach, and Paleo, their success is likely because they’ve cut calories and nixed refined carbs, not because they’ve upped their intake of protein.

Meat doesn’t beat plant-based protein.

Of the 20 amino acids that make up protein, 11 are produced by the body and nine come from food. Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy contain all nine, which is why you may have heard them called complete proteins. But plant-based foods, like nuts, seeds and grains, are lacking or extremely low in one or more of those amino acids, says Margaret McDowell, PhD, RD, a nutritionist at the National Institutes of Health. As long as you eat a variety of these foods, though — think brown rice and beans or whole-grain cereal and soy milk — you’ll get the nine you need. Bars, powders, and shakes made with casein or whey, two milk proteins, are complete on-the-go options.

    You’ll get more out of your workouts if you pound protein afterward.

You don’t have to be a marathoner to benefit from a protein chaser. “Your muscles are like sponges for 30 to 45 minutes right after exercise, whether you’ve done cardio or strength training,” says John Ivy, PhD, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Texas. If you give them some protein in that magic window, they’re primed to put it to use rebuilding and repairing the microtears in muscle tissue that occur every time you work up a sweat. This makes you less sore the next day and increases your lean muscle mass, which helps your body burn calories more efficiently 24-7.

Pick a post-workout snack with 12 to 14 grams of protein and about 40 percent of the calories you’ve burned (45 minutes on the elliptical torches about 300 calories, earning you a 120-calorie pick-me-up, for example). Best bets: a cup of nonfat Greek yogurt with berries, a handful of crackers and string cheese, or half a bagel with peanut butter. Besides protein, each of these combos contains carbs, which speed up muscle mending and replenish your reserves of glycogen, a form of energy that fuels you during intense bouts of activity.

    There is such a thing as too much protein.

It would take some serious effort, but OD’ing on protein — say, eating hundreds of grams a day — can lead to trouble, according to research. Here’s why: As your body digests protein, it produces nitrogen as a by-product, which your kidneys have to work to process and eliminate as urine. Therefore, huge amounts of protein put a big-time strain on your kidneys. And they’re not the only organs affected by too much of a good thing; certain sources of protein can hurt your heart too. A recent Harvard School of Public Health study found that having one small serving of red meat a day increases your chances of dying from cardiovascular disease and other causes by 13 percent, while consuming processed meat, like bacon and hot dogs, ups your chances by 20 percent.

The Stability Ball Flab-Fighting Workout

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Do more than crunches on your stability ball. These flab-fighting exercises will work muscles from head to toe.

Exercises for the Stability Ball

There’s one cool tool you could be using to fight flab all over, but chances are you’re not. “The stability ball is an underrated piece of equipment because people think it’s good only for doing crunches,” says Nedra Lopez, a coowner of Studio by Remorca Fitness in New York City. Try her game-changing toners on the next page and you’ll be so pumped at the results that you may never hit the mat again.

Wall Curl-Up

Targets abs, obliques

  • Place ball about 2 feet in front of a wall. Lie faceup on ball with lower back on its center, knees bent 90 degrees, feet flat on wall, calves parallel to floor. Lie back on ball so arms hang behind head toward floor. MAKE IT EASIER: Touch hands lightly behind head, elbows bent out to sides.
  • Curl shoulders off ball and reach hands toward feet.
  • Reverse motion back to start.
  • Do 3 sets of 20 reps.

Butt Burner

Targets butt, hamstrings

  • Stand facing a wall with feet hipwidth apart. Bend left knee behind you with foot flexed and place ball between calf and butt; place hands on wall. MAKE IT EASIER: If ball feels too big to stay put, squeeze a rolled-up towel behind your knee.
  • Press left foot up 1 to 2 inches toward ceiling while squeezing ball with leg.
  • Do 20 to 25 reps, switch sides and repeat. Do 3 sets.

Grasshopper Plank

Targets shoulders, abs, hips, butt

  • Start in full plank position with shins atop center of ball.
  • Keeping back flat and hips facing floor, bring bent right knee out to side toward right elbow.
  • Return right leg to ball and repeat with left leg.
  • Do 3 sets of 15 reps, alternating sides.

Dolphin

Targets chest, triceps, abs

  • Get in full plank position with hands on center of stability ball under shoulders, thumbs and forefingers touching and feet slightly wider than shoulder-width on floor.
  • Slowly bend elbows 90 degrees as ball rolls forward and rest forearms on top of ball.
  • Roll ball in toward chest as you straighten arms to return to start.
  • Do 3 sets of 15 reps.

Superman Plus

Targets back

  • With your back to a wall, lie facedown on ball with hips on its center; place soles of feet against wall, legs extended and toes on floor for support, then drape upper body over ball so arms reach toward floor.
  • Lift torso off ball, extending arms overhead until body forms a straight line from hands to feet. Lower.
  • Do 3 sets of 20 reps.

Seesaw

Targets shoulders, back, hamstrings

  • Stand on left leg with right knee bent 90 degrees behind you, holding ball in front of chest with both hands.
  • Hinge forward from hips, extending arms overhead as you straighten right leg until body is parallel to floor.
  • Reverse motion back to start. MAKE IT EASIER: Place right foot on floor between reps.
  • Do 20 reps, switch sides and repeat. Do 3 sets.

The New Fitness Rules

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Think you know the drill on shaping up and slimming down? Think again. Find out how the latest science is rewriting the rule book on everything, including maximizing your fat burning and acing your running form, so you can finally reach your goal.

Should You Eat Before a Workout?

Old school: Exercising on an empty stomach will burn more fat.

New rule: Have a 150-calorie jump-start meal an hour or two before your workout.

Ever force yourself through a workout, even though you were starving, simply because you thought you would tap into those fat stores faster? Next time, eat up. The latest research in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that exercisers who ate breakfast before treadmilling for 36 minutes had a significantly higher fat-burning rate for as long as 24 hours compared with those who ate post-workout, even though both groups consumed the same number of calories during the day. Plus, a recent report in the Strength and Conditioning Journal concluded that when you start off with a grumbly tummy, there’s no fat-burn advantage: You won’t be able to go as intensely or burn as many calories, and you’ll also lose more muscle. Pre-workout, nosh on these easy eats from Nancy Clark, RD, the author of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook: a banana and a half cup of plain low-fat yogurt, or a whole wheat English muffin with a half tablespoon of peanut butter.

The Best Running Sneakers

Old school: Get a sneaker that offers the most stability.

New rule: Less is more.

The shift toward minimalist footwear in the past few years has biomechanical experts rethinking what makes a good athletic shoe. “Like everyone else, I used to believe that the more motion control and cushioning a shoe had, the better,” says Irene Davis, PhD, the director of the Spaulding National Running Center at the Harvard Medical School. But such training wheels, she says, can encourage runners to strike with their heel first before pushing off the forefoot — a motion that creates a lot more impact on the joints, according to research conducted by Davis. In contrast, less built-up, minimalist sneakers and their “barefoot” counterparts, like Vibram FiveFingers, encourage a natural mid-to-forefoot strike, which creates a softer landing. A recent Penn State study suggested that minimalist footwear can help reduce injury rates among runners. Today you’ll see minimalist styles by just about every sneaker brand. That said, you shouldn’t become a convert to them overnight. A study from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse found that among runners who switched to a barefootlike shoe design, those who continued to strike with their heels (as if they were in a traditionally cushioned running shoe) significantly increased the loading forces on their lower legs. So work on your forefoot strike before swapping in minimalist shoes.

When Should You Do Ab Exercises?

Old school: Save toning your abs for last.

New rule: Engage your core throughout your workout.

Cranking out crunches after a workout is so last millennium. “The core’s biggest job is to provide a solid foundation for your extremities to work off of, so about 70 percent of your core training should be geared to strengthening the abdominals and lower back as stabilizers,” says trainer Joe Dowdell, owner of Peak Performance gym in New York City. That means doing more exercises that require you to stiffen your core as you work against resistance — such as doing planks or trying to keep your body from rotating as you pull a resistance band. “Exercises that strengthen the abdominal walls not only improve performance but also help reduce injuries,” notes Stuart McGill, PhD, a professor of spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo. To fill that remaining 30 percent of ab time, Dowdell recommends alternating in a few moves, like cable wood chops or medicine ball rotational throws, that work your core in a more integrated manner rather than just isolating its muscles with various crunches.

Do You Need a Workout Buddy?

Old school: Buddy up for the best results.

New rule: Sometimes it’s better to go solo.

There’s a long-held understanding that having an exercise partner will improve your fitness level because you’re more likely to show up when there’s someone waiting for you. But research from Santa Clara University found that, depending on your partner, you may actually exercise harder when you sweat it out alone. The key may be finding the right partner. While having a more fit pal can help push you, sticking with someone whose focus doesn’t mesh with yours can ultimately compromise your workout, warns trainer Jonathan Ross, the author of Abs Revealed. “Your workout partner has to be similar enough in style for the situation to be a win-win,” Ross says. “Chatty friends can be a distraction.” Consider partnering with your BFF on easy workout days instead.

How Many Rest Days Do You Need?

Old school: Wait 48 hours to recover after a strength workout.

New rule: If you’ve gone hard, you may need an extra day.

You’ve heard it plenty of times: Take at least a full day off between strength workouts to allow your muscles to rebuild and get stronger. But if you’ve taken a sculpting class that’s left you shaking, press “Pause” a little longer. One study from Brazil determined that beginners who did four sets of 10 reps of biceps curls needed more than 72 hours of rest to recover. “If you start working those same muscles too soon, you could be compromising your results and even risking injury,” explains exercise scientist Wayne Westcott, PhD, at Quincy College. That’s because after your workout, your muscles have to work hard to rebuild those torn-down tissues, which is what will ultimately make you stronger and more sculpted. “Intensity is definitely more important than frequency,” Westcott says. On those off-days, let cardio — for instance, power walking, running, swimming, and cycling — serve as an active recovery, so you can burn fat while allowing your muscles to rebuild.

How Active Should You Be?

Old school: Working out is king when it comes to staying trim.

New rule: Your whole day comes into play.

We’re not going to argue against the benefits of regular exercise and watching what you eat, but more and more experts say that you need to consider what you’re doing for the rest of the 16 waking hours a day when you’re not at the gym. “We realize now that it’s your total daily energy expenditure, not just how many calories you burn during exercise, that will ultimately make a difference in your bottom line,” says Fabio Comana, an exercise physiologist for the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Research from the National Cancer Institute found that even among those who like to work up a sweat on a regular basis, the longer they sit around, the higher their risk for dying sooner. And remember: The more you move, the more you burn. Scientists at the Mayo Clinic found that among adults of a similar size, individuals’ daily energy expenditure can differ by as many as 2,000 calories — mostly because of bursts of activity, like going to the restroom on a different floor, talking a walk at lunchtime, or standing up while on the phone.

Classic Exercises Get a Modern Makeover

Squat

Old school: Don’t bend your knees past 90 degrees.

New rule: It’s OK to go over.

If you’ve sampled the barre workout craze, you know that your booty brushes the floor during endless squat variations. Why is it suddenly cool to get way down? There has been a debate among experts, but the consensus seems to be that it is a natural human movement. “Research found that if you do a squat and force yourself to keep your knees behind your toes, as in a 90-degree bend, you increase the stress on your hips by more than 1,000 percent,” explains Michele Olson, PhD, a FITNESS advisory board member. “But if you allow your knees to come forward, you have only a bit more stress on your knees — just 20 percent or so — and significantly less pressure on the hip joint.”

How to Do a Push-Up

Old school: Do a modified, on-your-knees push-up if you can’t manage the full one.

New rule: Modify the angle, not the pose.

Always stuck doing “girl” push-ups? You’ll get better results if you take them off the floor, says McGill. “Doing a full push-up, even one that’s on an angle that makes the movement easier, is a lot more effective than trying to power through a set on your knees.” That’s because the point of a push-up, McGill adds, is to work through a full range of motion with power and speed. “You just can’t do that on your knees.” As an alternative, place your hands on a low bench or countertop and focus on keeping your body straight. Gradually work your way toward an angle that’s lower to the floor.

How to Do a Sit-Up

Old school: Don’t bother with a full sit-up.

New rule: Full-range moves hit ab muscles that your crunches may be missing.

Trainers nixed full sit-ups for crunches long ago, thinking that once you get past a certain height, you’re working your hip flexors more than your abs. But lately pros say to aim higher. In a Pilates move like the roll-up (lying faceup on the floor, peel your torso off slowly until you’re sitting upright, then reach for your toes), “you’re moving with control while rolling up through the spine as if it’s a large wheel, so the axis point keeps changing,” Olson explains. The key difference is that because your knees are kept straight and your spine is curving, the hip flexors don’t help nearly as much, allowing a greater percentage of ab muscle fibers to be recruited.

How to Do a Lunge

Old school: Keep your front knee over your toes with each lunge.

New rule: Focus instead on staying tall.

You’ve probably also heard the same “Don’t let your knee move past your toes” warning for lunges, but some experts say there’s really no magic point at which your knee reaches perfect form. “The theory is that the more forward you go, the greater the sheer force on the knee, but there’s often a trade-off, because you might be putting more stress on the hip and spine if you stop the movement short, especially if you have long legs,” says trainer Brad Schoenfeld, the author of Sculpting Her Body Perfect. Instead, Schoenfeld says, focus on maintaining an upright position — ears, shoulders, and hips in alignment — and try to sit back into the lunge rather than worrying about where your knees go.

The Power Abs Workout

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Firm your deep ab muscles to shrink your waist, improve your posture, and gain more confidence. Do this circuit workout twice, three days a week, for a stronger core.

Absolute Power

Flat abs and killer confidence have one thing in common: a hard core. That’s because the muscles that make up your middle dictate not only how you rock a sports bra but also whether you stand tall and pack a punch in kickboxing class. “Firming the deep ab muscles is the fastest way to shrink your waist and improve your posture,” says Alexandra White, a co-owner of Jumping Frog Pilates in Tenafly, New Jersey, who supplied the six turbo toners on the next page. Grab a yoga mat and do the circuit twice, three days a week on alternating days. Then flash that superfly center!

Clamp

Targets back, abs, obliques, inner thighs, and outer thighs

  • Lie faceup on floor with arms and legs extended upward; lift head, neck, and shoulders off floor.
  • Simultaneously lower arms out to sides and open legs 45 degrees, keeping shoulders and chest lifted throughout.
  • Return to start, squeezing palms together and legs together.
  • Do 10 to 12 reps.

Sprinkler

Targets back, abs, and obliques

  • Sit on floor with legs extended, thighs together and feet flexed; tilt torso back 45 degrees and extend arms out to sides, palms facing forward.
  • Rotate torso to right, sweeping left arm across body to tap left palm to right palm.
  • Return to start, then repeat to left to complete 1 rep.
  • Do 10 to 12 reps

Twister

Targets shoulders, back, abs, obliques, and hamstrings

  • Stand with feet hip-width apart, elbows bent out to sides and hands touching behind head; keeping back flat, hinge forward from hips so that upper body is parallel to floor.
  • Rotate torso to face right. Pause, return to center, pause again, then rotate to left to complete 1 rep.
  • Do 10 to 12 reps.

Skinny Dip

Targets back, abs, obliques, and butt

  • Lie on floor on left side, propped up on left forearm, knees bent 90 degrees and toes pointed behind you; extend right arm overhead.
  • Lift hips off floor, then raise bent right leg a few feet. MAKE IT EASIER: Keep knees together.
  • Keeping right leg lifted, dip hip to floor.
  • Do 10 to 12 reps. Switch sides and repeat.

Jackknife

Targets shoulders, back, abs, obliques, and legs

  • Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms extended overhead; lift right leg about a foot off floor, toes pointed.
  • Hinge forward from hips and reach hands to toes.
  • Keeping right foot lifted and back flat throughout, straighten up to standing start position as you lift arms overhead, then place right foot on floor.
  • Switch sides and repeat. Do 10 to 12 reps, alternating sides.

Reach Any Goal: How to Strengthen Your Willpower

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Strengthen Your Willpower

Turns out that for years, we’ve been going about our resolutions all wrong. That’s because we didn’t really understand what willpower is. It’s not a magical force we summon up only when we’re trying to diet or kick our butts into workout mode. Instead, willpower is something we call on throughout the day, every day, to help us decide between the black pants and the blue ones, for instance, or to try to tune out our cubicle mate’s phone conversation so we can get our work done. “Any act that requires self-control requires willpower,” explains Roy F. Baumeister, PhD, a professor of psychology at Florida State University and a coauthor of Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength.

Unfortunately we have only a certain amount of willpower in any 24-hour period, and it tends to be strongest at the beginning of the day. “Willpower depends on your body’s energy supply, which generally peaks in the morning,” Baumeister says. The more we use it, the weaker it gets.

And, boy, do we put willpower through its paces: We spend three hours a day struggling to resist temptations like eating, surfing the Web, and spending money, according to a new study by Baumeister. That process leaves us physically and emotionally drained, says Kelly McGonigal, PhD, a health psychologist at Stanford University and the author of The Willpower Instinct. “The brain uses more energy to curb your impulses than it does to perform other mental tasks,” she explains.

The good news is that you can conserve your willpower and use it to reach your goals, not squander it on the small stuff. Here are six smart techniques for doing just that.

    Find your focus.

Blaring TVs. People talking. E-mail and text alerts. We live and work in really noisy environments, which makes it hard to concentrate. And the more we try to tune out the cacophony, the more willpower we use up. The simple solution: Eliminate distractions rather than trying to ignore them, McGonigal says. Help yourself focus at work by using earplugs (or closing your office door if you have one), turning off your cell phone ringer, and silencing e-mail notifications. And don’t listen to your iPod on the job. A 2011 study found that subjects who were asked to memorize information while listening to music scored worse on a test than those who had memorized in silence. “A better strategy is to use music to rev up your mood, energy, and productivity and then switch it off,” McGonigal says.

    Eat for energy.

The more often you consume good-for-you food, the more willpower you’ll have. Studies show that people whose blood sugar (aka glucose) is elevated to a healthy level, as it is after regular meals, have more self-control and can more easily resist junk food. “When your blood sugar is low, it’s harder to control your impulses,” McGonigal says. Need an immediate willpower boost? “Some baby carrots or a handful of raisins will do the trick,” she says. These foods are naturally high in sugar and will raise your glucose supply almost instantly, helping fuel your brain. Even better, to keep yourself willpowered all day, eat healthy meals or snacks every four hours. Choose foods that have a combo of protein, fiber, and complex carbs, like a salad with tofu, nuts, spinach, and tomatoes, or Greek yogurt with fruit.

Plan ahead.

Cut down on the number of decisions you have to make every day and your willpower muscle will automatically get stronger. “Studies show that after you reach a decision, your self-control is worse, and after you exert self-control, you get worse at making decisions,” Baumeister says. So get to work right now at reducing the number of choices you have to make in any 24-hour period. On Sunday, plan your workouts for the week and put them in the calendar on your phone. Every few months, pull together five to 10 outfits for work so you don’t start off each day agonizing over what to wear.

How to Stick to Your Goals

    Make exercise automatic.

“Debating whether or not to work out takes a lot of mental energy,” says Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. “But when it happens routinely, like taking a Spinning class every Tuesday and Thursday, and you don’t have to think about it, it’s not so taxing.”

To start a new exercise habit, pick a time when you’ll be able to work out consistently, like first thing in the morning. “Studies show that people who exercise regularly do it at the same hour every time,” Duhigg says.

Also, build get-moving prompts into your day. If you go for a run right after waking up, “put your workout clothes near your bed, where you’ll see them first thing,” Duhigg suggests. Finally, give yourself a little reward every time you finish a workout. “Make sure it’s something you genuinely enjoy,” Duhigg says. That will trick your brain into associating the rush of pleasure that comes from a treat, like a coffee after your morning run, with exercise.

    Stress less.

Nothing weakens your resolve or zaps your initiative like stress. “Researchers are just learning how stress is tied to self-control,” Baumeister says. “Our best guess is that both things require the same amount of mental energy.” So once you become stressed, your willpower goes right out the window.

To calm down and replenish your energy, go for a walk. “When stress hits, removing yourself from the situation even briefly helps,” says Suzanne Steinbaum, an attending cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and the author of Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s Heart Book. “By changing your environment, you help change your perception and recharge your batteries.” If possible, go outside, she advises. Fresh air will help you relax and get back on track for success.

    Follow your friends.

News flash: You’re still susceptible to peer pressure. “We have evolved to unconsciously imitate those around us,” says James Fowler, PhD, a professor of medical genetics and political science at the University of California, San Diego, and a coauthor of Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives.

Research found that if the person sitting next to us eats a lot, we’re more likely to overindulge as well. Even pals who live hundreds of miles away can affect our habits. “Friends share information about behavior on Facebook and Twitter,” Fowler notes. Similarly, our buds can get us excited about exercise. “If your friend takes up running and says, ‘Hey! I’ve got more energy,’ it may encourage you to start, too,” Fowler says.

Schedule workouts and healthy meals with your fit pals on a regular basis. Making the commitment to get and stay in shape together will help build your willpower and keep you motivated to reach the finish line.

Holiday Party Strategies, Fitness and Diet

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The holidays are a scary time for dieters, but you can stick to your diet though Christmas. Here’s how to regain control after common seasonal slip-ups — so you might even lose weight this year.

Holiday Party Strategies

You drank too much eggnog at the office party.

Undo the damage. You can blame your wicked hangover and pounding headache on dehydration and the toxins your body had to release to metabolize all that booze. “Alcohol also increases the secretion of acid in the stomach and irritates the stomach lining,” says Robert Swift, MD, PhD, associate director of the Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies in Providence. Relieve your misery by eating a piece of toast with honey. Greasy foods, like fried eggs and sausages, will only overtax your irritated digestive system and make it pump out more acid, Dr. Swift says. Honey is an excellent source of fructose, a sugar that research shows may help your body get rid of alcohol’s toxins more quickly. Rehydrate with plenty of water and pop an ibuprofen, which was found to relieve aches faster and better than acetaminophen in a study in the journal Headache.

Stay the course. To outsmart calories (eggnog packs more than 200 a cup) and hangovers at future fetes, order a mixed drink, such as vodka and club soda; it is low in calories (about 100), easy to dilute (just add soda), and less likely to cause a humongous hangover. “The darker the booze, the worse you’ll feel the next day,” Dr. Swift says. That’s because dark liquor contains more congeners, chemicals produced during the fermentation process that are to blame for many hangover symptoms. Also avoid screwdrivers, vodka and cranberry juice, and other drinks made with fruit, says Heather Bauer, RD, coauthor of The Wall Street Diet. The sugar in these cocktails will leave you craving more of the sweet stuff, making pecan pie, peppermint bark, Christmas cookies, you name it, irresistible.

You went overboard at last night’s holiday dinner.

Undo the damage. Even if you ate enough to feed Santa, Mrs. Claus, and all the reindeer, don’t starve yourself to make up for it. “Deprivation will set you up to overeat again,” says Patricia Bannan, RD, a nutritionist in Los Angeles and author of Eat Right When Time Is Tight. Eat a high-fiber breakfast (try a bowl of bran cereal with a handful of raisins), drink plenty of water, and work out to get things, um, moving. Munch on foods that are high in H2O (cucumbers, celery, and melon) and potassium (bananas, apricots, and pumpkin) to flush excess water out of your cells and reduce bloating, Bannan suggests. Steer clear of supersalty foods, such as pickles, olives, cured meats, and most frozen meals, as well as carbonated drinks.

Stay the course. When you’re dining at a friend’s or a relative’s, bring a healthy dish that you can dig into guilt-free. Then choose sweet potatoes over mashed with gravy, and broccoli over green bean casserole. Skip the rolls even if they’re whole wheat; chances are you already have plenty of carbs. Help yourself to a double serving of salad to fill up without filling out, and just say no when Aunt Edna insists that you have another spoonful of her stuffing (’tis the season for food pushers!). A little humor will take the edge off, so say, “Your stuffing is so good, but if I eat another bite I’ll be more stuffed than that bird!” When you play hostess, fix lighter fare (make your green bean casserole with fresh beans and sauteed onions rather than cream of mushroom soup and fried onions). And since Turkey Day leftovers are even more delectable and easier to overindulge in, send guests home with doggie bags.

Dr. Oz 3 Day Detox

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Leave it to Dr. Oz to find some way of losing belly fat.  On the 11/12/2012 Dr Oz show, he says we can reset our body to lose that stubborn fat and watch it melt away with the 3-day detox diet.

Dr. Natasha Turner appeared on the Dr. Oz show with her book called, “The Hormone Diet” which talks about how we can reset our bodies and lose the weight we don’t want. People say they have tried everything to lose weight and it’s not their fault that they still gain it even when they diet, exercise and take pills. Dr. Oz and Dr. Turner both say that’s true, it’s not their fault that they still gain weight; it’s a hormonal imbalance.

Having a hormonal imbalance will make it almost impossible to lose body fat. Dr. Oz has a quiz to find out if you have a hormonal imbalance: 1. Is your hair thinning, brittle or falling out? 2. Do you have heartburn, bloating, gas constipation or diarrhea? 3. Are you stressed, fatigued or anxious? 4. Have you been skipping meals? 5. Do you have belly fat? If you answered yes to at least 3 of those questions, you might have a hormonal imbalance and need to balance them back out in order to lose weight.

In order to balance out those hormones you need to get rid of toxins, Dr. Oz recommends a 3-day detox to do so. Some detox programs will shock your body and make it slow down, but not this 3-day cleanse; it’s just the opposite.  Dr. Oz’s 3-day cleanse will detox your body and leave you feeling great.

The 3 day detox by Dr. Oz has three elements: 1. Eliminate 2. Replenish 3. Reset.  In step one, eliminating those toxins. Our body has over 80,000 different toxins and eliminating them will help us lose weight. Step two is all about replenishing the body with nutrients. Lastly, step 3 in the 3-day cleanse is when your body resets itself, making you feel better and helping you lose weight by eating less.

In addition to the 3-day detox, Dr. Oz recommends you to take 1/2 a multivitamin in the morning and in the evening with your meals. Also he says to take a probiotic supplement with breakfast to help get rid of those toxins in your body. Finally, he says to take an Omega-3 supplement with dinner.

The 3-day cleanse is all about jump-starting your metabolism to help melt that fat away and to cleanse your body. Enjoying a green tea with stevia in the morning paired along the side of a shake consisting of water, flax seed, raspberries, bananas, spinach, almond butter, and a lemon will help you feel energized for the rest of the day.  Dr. Julieanna Hever says using a blender to mix up veggies and fruit helps us get the nutrients we miss lots of times because we don’t chew our food well enough.

Dr. Oz 3 Day Detox

How to change the game starting with your next meal. Plus, Dr Oz’s 3 Day Detox to jumpstart your metabolism.

Get More Energy, More Life

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Your Energy Makeover Begins Now

I’d just finished shaking the last drops of coffee from an upside-down mug into my mouth when I felt an overwhelming urge to cry. It was 7 a.m. on a busy Tuesday, and I’d already blown through my entire energy strategy for the day. How was I going to survive the next 15 hours of deadlines, meetings, and three go-go-go kids?

Turns out I’m not the only woman who feels exhausted before her day starts. Jennifer Boisture, MD, a psychiatrist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, has built a private practice catering to highly successful women, who, like most of us, are trying to juggle it all. “The primary complaint I hear is that they’re tired all the time,” Boisture says. “They’re fit, health-conscious women, but they still need more energy. What they’re doing isn’t working.”

Part of the problem, experts say, is that we have set the energy bar so high. “We have an increasing expectation that we can keep squeezing more and more out of our lives if we can just find the right formula,” says Mark Liponis, MD, medical director of Canyon Ranch Health Resorts. “That kind of pressure is unrealistic and overwhelming and can actually have the reverse effect, of draining your energy.” Another zapper: technology. According to a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology that compared single- and multitaskers, focusing on one chore at a time is more energy efficient. So reading your iPad on the treadmill or sending texts on your cell while banging out work e-mails on your laptop will drain your brain faster than doing each task by itself.

And yet…you have an 8 a.m. meeting and a 7 p.m. dinner reservation, and you have to pick your daughter up at soccer practice at five — which leaves 6 a.m. as the hour to squeeze in a sweat session. So what’s an energy-starved gal to do? Whether you’re training for a marathon or your day simply feels like one, these totally fresh lifestyle tweaks will do more for your mojo than a 7 a.m. cup of joe ever could.

Step 1: Boost Your Brain — Turn Off the Tube

If your typical fix for end-of-day exhaustion is to plop down on the couch for a dose of Seinfeld reruns, you’re not alone. Most people think that watching TV is a restful activity, but it may not be, says Marc Berman, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In fact, television itself can be tiring, and the older you get, the fewer and fewer stress-reducing benefits you get from a session with the boob tube, a University of California, San Diego study says.

Instead of numbing your mind as a way to rejuvenate, stimulate it. Take a walk along a scenic trail; spending time in nature helps restore people’s energy and focus, a 2008 study in Psychological Science found. What to skip when you’re low on energy? The mall. You’ll get more mental stimulation than you bargained for, which will leave you exhausted.

Step 2: Avoid the Quick Fix

It’s no surprise that the food on your plate can be the deciding factor between a sluggish and a supercharged day. But more often than not, you don’t need a total diet overhaul; small adjustments can go a long way toward optimizing your energy intake, says Ashley Koff, RD, a nutritionist in Los Angeles and FITNESS advisory board member. For starters, don’t ditch caffeine. “A small cappuccino, tea with honey, and dark chocolate, all of which contain caffeine and sugar, are perfectly legitimate ‘energy Band-Aids’ when you need a lift in a hurry,” Koff says. “The trouble comes when people rely on them daily. Spiking and plunging blood-glucose levels create an unhealthy cycle of energy highs and lows.” What’s more, the fluctuating glucose leads to murky decision making, according to a recent study from the University of South Dakota: When participants were asked whether they’d rather receive a small amount of money immediately or get a much larger amount later, those with lower glucose levels were more likely to seize the smaller sum. Clear thinking, scientists conclude, is helped by a constant glucose supply.

Another mistake: too much of a good thing. “Women think they’re making a smart choice by having a healthy turkey, lettuce, and tomato on whole wheat sandwich and a piece of fruit for lunch,” Koff says. “But three hours later they’re at their desks in an energy slump, and they can’t figure out why.” You have to spread the health wealth, Koff says, because your body can use only so many nutrients for energy at one time, meaning a portion of that healthy lunch was used to fuel your body; the rest of the protein and carbs went to energy wasteland. Instead, “have your fruit with some nuts midmorning, then eat half your sandwich at noon and the other half at 3 p.m., when you start to feel sluggish.” You’ll keep a steady stream of nutrients flowing into your blood, holding the snack attack at bay.

And finally, when it comes to boosting energy, a carb is not a carb is not a carb. When people with type 2 diabetes ate white bread for breakfast in a University of Toronto study, they fared worse on verbal-memory and other cognitive tests than those who consumed low-glycemic foods, like pasta. To give your morning a lift, try toasting a whole-grain muffin and spreading a tablespoon of filling peanut butter on it or eat it with a scrambled egg.

Step 3: Stick to Your Workout Routine

Get this: Expending energy on exercise actually creates more for you to use. “Research shows that physically active people feel more energetic overall than sedentary people,” says Patrick O’Connor, PhD, director of the University of Georgia exercise psychology laboratory in Athens. In one Australian study of 40,000 women, the more weekly physical activity they did, the more they reported feeling revved up. “It’s likely that exercise stimulates neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, and this creates feelings of greater energy,” O’Connor says. Aim for 20 to 40 minutes of cardio four or five times a week.

On the other hand, not all workouts need to be heavy-breathing sessions: Yoga is also restorative. A University of New Mexico study found that people who followed an eight-week yoga and meditation program had a significant increase in daily energy. And women who regularly practiced Hatha yoga had 41 percent less cytokine interleukin-6, a compound related to stress, in their blood than those who did not, researchers at Ohio State University found. “Because of the type of deep breathing that’s incorporated into yoga, when you do even a single pose you bring freshly oxygenated blood to your organs,” says Mary-Ann Mastreani, a yoga instructor in Irvington, New York.

For an instant pick-me-up, try performing this Easy Energy Twist at the office or in your living room:

Sit on the edge of a chair, back straight, feet flat on the ground. Inhale as you raise your arms over your head (a); exhale and bring your left hand to your right knee and your right hand slightly behind you on the chair (b). Twist to the right. Sitting tall, inhale and exhale while gently increasing the twist. Relax; switch sides. “Twisting increases blood flow and stimulates digestion, temporarily speeding up your metabolism and increasing energy,” Mastreani says.

Step 4: Listen Up

“Music makes you feel good mentally and physically,” says celebrity trainer Jim Karas, author of The 7 Day Energy Surge. “Research shows it can reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and decrease stress hormones, and that it may increase feel-good hormones and improve your fitness per­formance.” College students zipped through a series of cognitive tasks when listening to upbeat music in a recent study from the University of Dayton. And after people worked out to music, their mental performance improved, compared with exercising song-less, researchers at Ohio State University found.

“Music gives you that extra motivation,” Karas says. “If it’s dark outside when I have to get out of bed, I crank up the music to make myself more alert.” In the morning, choose something peppy — think Beyonce or the Black Eyed Peas — because your mind needs a positive nudge, not an angry blast of heavy metal. In the evening, give Mozart a try. People with sleep problems who listened to classical music for 45 minutes before bed snoozed more soundly than those who didn’t, according to researchers in Budapest. What’s sleep got to do with energy? Plenty. Scientists at the University of California, San Diego discovered that skipping a night of sleep significantly impaired cognitive abilities in people in their 20s and 30s. “When clients tell me they need only six hours, I tell them that they’ve trained themselves to live on that,” Karas says. “But if they got more, they’d see a huge improvement in their energy.”

Step 5: Quit Freaking Out

It’s ironic that one of the biggest energy consumers of our day has nothing to do with packed schedules or sweaty workouts. Little everyday stressors, like sitting in traffic, can cause a total energy meltdown. “Not at first,” explains Kimberly Kingsley, author of The Energy Cure, “because your initial reaction to stress is that your body starts pumping the hormone cortisol into your bloodstream, giving you an adrenaline rush.” Your heart rate rises, your muscles tense, and your mind goes on high alert. But the rush is unsustainable, and before long your energy starts to crash, leaving you feeling foggy and unfocused.

In fact, 76 percent of people in the United States feel the physical symptoms of stress, including fatigue, according to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association. “The minute anxiety causes your heart to start racing and your breathing to become shallow, begin taking deep, deliberate inhales and exhales,” Kingsley says. “Focus on breathing in and out until your heart rate goes back to normal.”

Step 6: Tap Happy Vibes

When you’re feeling down, your energy tanks along with your spirits, leaving you sluggish. On the flip side, “Happy people have higher energy,” says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, author of The How of Happiness. When researchers at the University of California, Riverside asked people to keep a journal of their feelings, those who reported the greatest number of positive emotions also reported having the most energy day to day. “When we’re happy, we take charge, initiate conversations with people, and carry out plans, instead of being passive responders to life events,” Lyubomirsky says. “Taking action energizes us.” Pump up your own positive thinking by jotting down five things you are grateful for, she suggests. Reread your list when you need a smile. For a double dose of happiness, practice random acts of kindness throughout your week. Open the door for the person behind you at the grocery store or compliment a colleague on his or her work. Generosity toward others makes you feel happier inside today and revved up to take on the world tomorrow.

5-Minute Workout: Brazilian Butt Lift

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Lift and tone your butt in five minutes with these exercises. Brazilian women are famous for their gorgeous bodies, but you don’t have to go to Rio to get a beautiful butt. Brazilian native Leandro Carvalho brings his sculpting secrets stateside with the Brazilian Butt Lift class at Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York City. Try his five-minute routine today to shift your rear into high gear.

Plie

Minutes 0:00-1:00

  • Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, arms at sides, toes turned out
  • Tuck tailbone under and contract glutes.
  • Lower body into a plié squat as low as you can go without allowing knees to creep past toes.
  • Simultaneously raise arms to shoulder height in front of body, palms down. Hold for 2 seconds, then return to starting position.
  • After 20 reps, pulse at the bottom for 20 seconds.

Touchdown

Minutes 1:00-2:00

  • Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointed forward.
  • Squat down until knees are bent 90 degrees

Explosive Lunge

Minutes 2:00-3:00

  • Lunge forward with left leg until knee is bent 90 degrees, directly over ankle, right knee pointing toward floor.

Single-Leg Squat with Towel

Minutes 3:00-4:00

  • Stand with feet together, toes pointed forward, arms at sides with right foot on top of a small folded towel.
  • Shifting weight to left leg, bend left knee 45 to 90 degrees while sliding right leg and towel slowly out to the side as far as is comfortable for a count of 4.
  • Slowly draw right leg back to start for a count of 4 while straightening left leg.
  • Repeat for 30 seconds; switch sides.

Squat with Kick-Back

Minutes 4:00-5:00

  • Stand with legs shoulder-width apart, arms at sides.
  • Sit back into a squat keeping weight on heels, then lift right leg straight behind you, keeping hips pointing forward while extending arms.
  • Return to start and switch sides.

The New Fitness Rules

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Think you know the drill on shaping up and slimming down? Think again. Find out how the latest science is rewriting the rule book on everything, including maximizing your fat burning and acing your running form, so you can finally reach your goal.

Should You Eat Before a Workout?

Old school: Exercising on an empty stomach will burn more fat.

New rule: Have a 150-calorie jump-start meal an hour or two before your workout.

Ever force yourself through a workout, even though you were starving, simply because you thought you would tap into those fat stores faster? Next time, eat up. The latest research in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that exercisers who ate breakfast before treadmilling for 36 minutes had a significantly higher fat-burning rate for as long as 24 hours compared with those who ate post-workout, even though both groups consumed the same number of calories during the day. Plus, a recent report in the Strength and Conditioning Journal concluded that when you start off with a grumbly tummy, there’s no fat-burn advantage: You won’t be able to go as intensely or burn as many calories, and you’ll also lose more muscle. Pre-workout, nosh on these easy eats from Nancy Clark, RD, the author of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook: a banana and a half cup of plain low-fat yogurt, or a whole wheat English muffin with a half tablespoon of peanut butter.

The Best Running Sneakers

Old school: Get a sneaker that offers the most stability.

New rule: Less is more.

The shift toward minimalist footwear in the past few years has biomechanical experts rethinking what makes a good athletic shoe. “Like everyone else, I used to believe that the more motion control and cushioning a shoe had, the better,” says Irene Davis, PhD, the director of the Spaulding National Running Center at the Harvard Medical School. But such training wheels, she says, can encourage runners to strike with their heel first before pushing off the forefoot — a motion that creates a lot more impact on the joints, according to research conducted by Davis. In contrast, less built-up, minimalist sneakers and their “barefoot” counterparts, like Vibram FiveFingers, encourage a natural mid-to-forefoot strike, which creates a softer landing. A recent Penn State study suggested that minimalist footwear can help reduce injury rates among runners. Today you’ll see minimalist styles by just about every sneaker brand. That said, you shouldn’t become a convert to them overnight. A study from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse found that among runners who switched to a barefootlike shoe design, those who continued to strike with their heels (as if they were in a traditionally cushioned running shoe) significantly increased the loading forces on their lower legs. So work on your forefoot strike before swapping in minimalist shoes.

When Should You Do Ab Exercises?

Old school: Save toning your abs for last.

New rule: Engage your core throughout your workout.

Cranking out crunches after a workout is so last millennium. “The core’s biggest job is to provide a solid foundation for your extremities to work off of, so about 70 percent of your core training should be geared to strengthening the abdominals and lower back as stabilizers,” says trainer Joe Dowdell, owner of Peak Performance gym in New York City. That means doing more exercises that require you to stiffen your core as you work against resistance — such as doing planks or trying to keep your body from rotating as you pull a resistance band. “Exercises that strengthen the abdominal walls not only improve performance but also help reduce injuries,” notes Stuart McGill, PhD, a professor of spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo. To fill that remaining 30 percent of ab time, Dowdell recommends alternating in a few moves, like cable wood chops or medicine ball rotational throws, that work your core in a more integrated manner rather than just isolating its muscles with various crunches.

Do You Need a Workout Buddy?

Old school: Buddy up for the best results.

New rule: Sometimes it’s better to go solo.

There’s a long-held understanding that having an exercise partner will improve your fitness level because you’re more likely to show up when there’s someone waiting for you. But research from Santa Clara University found that, depending on your partner, you may actually exercise harder when you sweat it out alone. The key may be finding the right partner. While having a more fit pal can help push you, sticking with someone whose focus doesn’t mesh with yours can ultimately compromise your workout, warns trainer Jonathan Ross, the author of Abs Revealed. “Your workout partner has to be similar enough in style for the situation to be a win-win,” Ross says. “Chatty friends can be a distraction.” Consider partnering with your BFF on easy workout days instead.

How Many Rest Days Do You Need?

Old school: Wait 48 hours to recover after a strength workout.

New rule: If you’ve gone hard, you may need an extra day.

You’ve heard it plenty of times: Take at least a full day off between strength workouts to allow your muscles to rebuild and get stronger. But if you’ve taken a sculpting class that’s left you shaking, press “Pause” a little longer. One study from Brazil determined that beginners who did four sets of 10 reps of biceps curls needed more than 72 hours of rest to recover. “If you start working those same muscles too soon, you could be compromising your results and even risking injury,” explains exercise scientist Wayne Westcott, PhD, at Quincy College. That’s because after your workout, your muscles have to work hard to rebuild those torn-down tissues, which is what will ultimately make you stronger and more sculpted. “Intensity is definitely more important than frequency,” Westcott says. On those off-days, let cardio — for instance, power walking, running, swimming, and cycling — serve as an active recovery, so you can burn fat while allowing your muscles to rebuild.

How Active Should You Be?

Old school: Working out is king when it comes to staying trim.

New rule: Your whole day comes into play.

We’re not going to argue against the benefits of regular exercise and watching what you eat, but more and more experts say that you need to consider what you’re doing for the rest of the 16 waking hours a day when you’re not at the gym. “We realize now that it’s your total daily energy expenditure, not just how many calories you burn during exercise, that will ultimately make a difference in your bottom line,” says Fabio Comana, an exercise physiologist for the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Research from the National Cancer Institute found that even among those who like to work up a sweat on a regular basis, the longer they sit around, the higher their risk for dying sooner. And remember: The more you move, the more you burn. Scientists at the Mayo Clinic found that among adults of a similar size, individuals’ daily energy expenditure can differ by as many as 2,000 calories — mostly because of bursts of activity, like going to the restroom on a different floor, talking a walk at lunchtime, or standing up while on the phone.

Classic Exercises Get a Modern Makeover

Squat

Old school: Don’t bend your knees past 90 degrees.

New rule: It’s OK to go over.

If you’ve sampled the barre workout craze, you know that your booty brushes the floor during endless squat variations. Why is it suddenly cool to get way down? There has been a debate among experts, but the consensus seems to be that it is a natural human movement. “Research found that if you do a squat and force yourself to keep your knees behind your toes, as in a 90-degree bend, you increase the stress on your hips by more than 1,000 percent,” explains Michele Olson, PhD, a FITNESS advisory board member. “But if you allow your knees to come forward, you have only a bit more stress on your knees — just 20 percent or so — and significantly less pressure on the hip joint.”

How to Do a Push-Up

Old school: Do a modified, on-your-knees push-up if you can’t manage the full one.

New rule: Modify the angle, not the pose.

Always stuck doing “girl” push-ups? You’ll get better results if you take them off the floor, says McGill. “Doing a full push-up, even one that’s on an angle that makes the movement easier, is a lot more effective than trying to power through a set on your knees.” That’s because the point of a push-up, McGill adds, is to work through a full range of motion with power and speed. “You just can’t do that on your knees.” As an alternative, place your hands on a low bench or countertop and focus on keeping your body straight. Gradually work your way toward an angle that’s lower to the floor.

How to Do a Sit-Up

Old school: Don’t bother with a full sit-up.

New rule: Full-range moves hit ab muscles that your crunches may be missing.

Trainers nixed full sit-ups for crunches long ago, thinking that once you get past a certain height, you’re working your hip flexors more than your abs. But lately pros say to aim higher. In a Pilates move like the roll-up (lying faceup on the floor, peel your torso off slowly until you’re sitting upright, then reach for your toes), “you’re moving with control while rolling up through the spine as if it’s a large wheel, so the axis point keeps changing,” Olson explains. The key difference is that because your knees are kept straight and your spine is curving, the hip flexors don’t help nearly as much, allowing a greater percentage of ab muscle fibers to be recruited.

How to Do a Lunge

Old school: Keep your front knee over your toes with each lunge.

New rule: Focus instead on staying tall.

You’ve probably also heard the same “Don’t let your knee move past your toes” warning for lunges, but some experts say there’s really no magic point at which your knee reaches perfect form. “The theory is that the more forward you go, the greater the sheer force on the knee, but there’s often a trade-off, because you might be putting more stress on the hip and spine if you stop the movement short, especially if you have long legs,” says trainer Brad Schoenfeld, the author of Sculpting Her Body Perfect. Instead, Schoenfeld says, focus on maintaining an upright position — ears, shoulders, and hips in alignment — and try to sit back into the lunge rather than worrying about where your knees go.

31 Instant Health Boosters, Improve Your Life Easily

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Try one of these tips each day — you’ll feel better and get fitter and smarter in just one month.

 1. Give lip service.

Thirty minutes of making out can improve allergy symptoms. Research shows that kissing reduces the amount of chemicals your body releases in response to allergens.

2. Turn up the heat on your sheet.

Bedding contatins thousands of dust mites that can irritate sensitive skin and exacerbate eczema, according to a new study. Wash sheets in H2O that’s at least 140F to make sure you kill the critters.

3. D-stress.

Getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D can decrease your risk of developing a stress fracture by 20 percent. Active women should strive for 1,000 IU of vitamin D and 2,000 milligrams of calcium daily to keep their bones strong, experts say.

4. Get your head examined.

Melanomas found on your scalp or neck almost double your risk of dying compared with those detected elsewhere on the body, report researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Because they’re often hidden by hair, malignant moles and other skin abnormalities are typically detected too late for treatment to be effective. See your MD for an annual skin check.

5. Clean up your mouth.

Two ounces of yogurt a day (the typical container holds six ounces) may protect you from gum disease, a recent study in the Journal of Periodontology shows. The “good” bacteria in yogurt helps fight germs in your mouth.

6. Play red light, green light.

For increasing your endurance, four to six 30-second bursts of all-out cardio are just as effective as up to an hour of training at a lower intensity. Short on time? Use intervals to get stronger more quickly.

7. Reboot your brain.

Mundane tasks, such as entering data into a spreadsheet, can switch your mind into default mode, making you more likely to mess up within about 30 seconds, scientists say. Feel like you’re operating on autopilot? Snap out of it by going for a quick walk down the hall.

8. Debug your desk.

As many as 283 species of bacteria can thrive in ordinary office dust, including nasty streptococcus, the main cause of strep throat, and staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant staph infection, according to a recent report. Wipe down your workstation, keyboard, and phone regularly with a disinfectant such as Formula 409 Antibacterial All-Purpose Cleaner or Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner.

9. Shrug it off.

Strengthening your trapezius muscle, which runs from your shoulders to your neck and upper back, can reduce chronic neck pain by up to 80 percent.

10. Juice Your Looks

A diet rich in vitamin C and linoleic acid (a fatty acid found in many vegetable oils) can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dryness, and thinning skin, according to a study.

11. Get Sappy

Spending just 30 minutes a day consciously thinking of a loved one can promote mental and emotional well-being, say University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. Cultivating the feeling of love and compassion stimulates the brain to make new connections and neural pathways.

12. Chill Out

Just two to three minutes under cool water in the shower can boost your mood. The cold may cause the brain to release feel-good hormones.

13. Go Slow-Mo

Doing tai chi regularly not only improves your endurance and flexibility but may also help control blood sugar and improve your immune system. The exercise increases levels of certain bacteria-fighting T-cells in your body, research shows.

14. Be a Dairy Queen

Women on a low-calorie diet who took supplements to up their calcium from 600 milligrams a day or less to 1,200 milligrams a day lost an average of 10 pounds more than those who didn’t boost their intake, according to a new study. Your brain may be able to detect low calcium levels in the body and tries to compensate by increasing your appetite for foods rich in this mineral, experts say. Skim milk, low-fat cheese, and fortified OJ are all good sources.

15. Straighten Up

Tension in your neck may affect how your body regulates blood pressure, animal studies indicate. At work, sit with your back firmly against your chair, your feet on the floor, your knees slightly higher than your hips and your chair close to your desk.

16. Go Green

Drinking green tea with your antibiotics helps the medication destroy harmful bacteria up to three times more effectively, researchers found.

17. Grab Some Garbanzos

People who regularly consume beans typically weigh six pounds less than those who don’t, even though they take in more daily calories. Researchers believe this may be because the legume eaters get more fiber but consume less fat, especially saturated fat, than those who shy away from beans. Throw a handful into salads, soups, or pasta sauce for an extra boost of protein and fiber.

18. Chomp Cravings Away

Chewing gum after lunch can curb hunger, a recent study shows. But pick your stick carefully. Ingesting too much sorbitol, a common ingredient in sugar-free gum, can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain. We like sorbitol-free Ice Breakers Ice Cubes White sugar-free gum.

19. Reach New Heights

Wearing a pair of moderately high heels (2 to 2 1/2 inches) can strengthen your pelvic-floor muscles, which can improve your sex life.

20. Munch a Bunch

About one cup of red grapes a day can help suppress the abnormal cell formation that leads to most types of breast cancer, according to a recent study in Cancer Prevention Research. Resveratrol, a natural compound found in grapes, grape juice, and red wine, may prevent estrogen from reacting with DNA molecules, which can lead to cells becoming cancerous, scientists say.

21. Run For Your Life

Joggers have a 40 percent lower risk of dying than people who don’t lace up their sneakers, according to Stanford University researchers. Runners are less likely to have cardiovascular problems or develop disabilities as they age. Motivate yourself to become fit by training for a 5K.

22. Be a Cookoo For Coconut

An oil high in fatty acids made from coconut oil has been shown to burn fat and promote weight loss, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. People who consumed four to five teaspoons of this type of oil (in baked goods and through cooking) every day for 16 weeks lost almost four pounds more than those who used olive oil.

23. Get Crackin

Adding one egg a day, yolk and all, to your diet can increase good HDL levels without increasing bad LDL cholesterol levels. Low levels of HDL have previously been linked to memory loss.

24. Strike a Pose

Relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation help your body beat the symptoms of stress before they harm your health, according to researchers at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

25. Tap Into The Magic of Mushrooms

White button mushrooms can boost your immune system by improving how your T-cells work, according to recent preliminary studies. T-cells are the white blood cells that help protect your body from harmful intruders.

26. Try The Silent Treatment

Being exposed to just 35 decibels of noise (about the sound of people talking softly) while in bed could raise your blood pressure by six or seven points, according to a recent study. Snooze more peacefully by investing in a white-noise or sound machine like the Obus Forme Sound Therapy Relaxation System ($30, amazon.com).

27. Get Your Game On

Playing video games with a lot of action sequences can sharpen your visual skills by 20 percent, according to research from the University of Rochester in New York.

28. Hit The Sauce

People who munch on apples, eat applesauce, or drink apple juice are 27 percent less likely to develop metabolic syndrome — a combination of health problems, such as increased blood pressure and blood-sugar levels, that can lead to heart disease and diabetes, research shows. Other studies suggest that eating apples may reduce your risk of breast cancer.

29. Take a Nature Break

Heading outdoors for 30 minutes when the sun is shining can make you happier and improve your brain’s ability to process new information, according to a study at the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics.

30. Go! Go! Go!

If you feel the urge, race to the restroom. Having an overly full bladder can increase stress on the heart, upping the odds of a heart attack in those at risk, a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows.

31. Fly Away

Women who take at least two vacations a year are more happily married than those who rarely get out of town, because they are less likely to be depressed, tense, or tired. Book your summer trip now.

10 Tone-Up Tweaks to Get a Better Burn

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woman doing bicep curlsIt happens to the best of us. Your gym routine becomes just that — a routine. Bust out of your plateau and burn more fat with these strength training tweaks from the pros.

Make Every Day Your Best Burn Yet

Supercharge your gym routine by ditching the moves that have stopped delivering results and replacing them with ones that will challenge and build more muscle. Start with these total-body toning tips from some of our favorite trainers.

Arms: Change the Weight

Dumbbell curls are great for your arms, but unless you’re changing up the sets and reps, your biceps will get accustomed to the level of stress you’re placing on them, meaning you’ll stop seeing the sculpting results. “Few people use the proper weight and even fewer graduate the amount of weight being used during arm exercises,” says Richard Miller, owner and CEO of GymSource in New York City.

When you curl the same weight for a long period of time, your body send nutrients to the muscle you’re working to help recover. If you pick up an 8-pound dumbbell every time, your muscles aren’t experiencing varied stress and won’t add new nutrient masses to that area, making your arms fall flat. Use this cheat sheet to know when it’s time to step it up a notch:

  • You should feel fatigue at 15 reps or fewer. If you don’t, add more weight.
  • Aim to increase weight by less than 10 percent. If you normally lift 8-pound weights, up it to 10 pounds and so on.

Arms: Decrease (or Eliminate) Rest Time

Not only do you need to switch up your routine every few months, Miller also suggests powering through an entire arm series without resting. “The idea is to work with a variety of moves that touches multiple areas of the same muscles and deplete these muscles to near exhaustion.” There’s also a bonus: By eliminating rest time your chances of injury decrease because in order to complete so many sets, you’ll need to use a lighter weight.

Try doing one or two biceps movements, like a reverse curl (where the palms are face down holding dumbbells) or a hammer curl (palms face inward holding dumbbells). Without resting immediately go into two to three triceps exercises (such as bent-over triceps kickbacks or one-arm triceps dips). You’ll not only tone more, you’ll keep your heart rate up, torching more calories as you go.

Back: Kick It Up with a Kettlebell

Kettlebells are so effective because they rely on acceleration as well as deceleration to help tone muscle. “The off-centered weight of a kettlebell will force you to use more stabilizer muscles and work the targeted muscles through a longer range of motion,” says celebrity trainer Michelle Lovitt, whose clients include Courteney Cox and Julianne Moore. Since you need your arms to hoist the kettlebell in the air, you’re targeting two zones with one area.

Back: Build More Muscle with Drop Sets

This method feels like you’re cheating because you get to drop the weight as you go, but really you’re doing it to ensure proper form so that your body can reap the full benefits of the move you’re doing. To do your own drop set you’ll need three sets of weight. Once you max muscles out with a specific weight, drop it and pick up the next weight down. After another set, use the lightest weight and finish the reps. Try doing a drop set with this move to get started:

  • One-Arm Dumbbell Row: Stand behind a bench; lean forward with your left hand on the bench while raising right leg straight out behind you. Keep right arm along side, holding a dumbbell in right hand with palm facing in. Draw right elbow up toward ribs, keeping arm closer to side. Hold for 1 count and lower. Repeat 10-12 reps on each side, going directly into a set of 10 push-ups after.

Butt: Change Up Your Cardio

Sorry, elliptical fanatics — it’s time to shake things up. “Oftentimes people on the elliptical aren’t working as hard as they think,” says Jade Alexis, trainer at Reebok Sports Club in New York City and FITNESS advisory board member. “Your body adapts and gets very efficient at doing the same type of movement over and over again.”

Challenge your glutes with machines like the StepMill (a stepper where there are actual steps to climb rather than two pedals that you push up and down), which incorporates muscle building and cardio at the same time. While the StepMill looks similar to the StairMaster, the low-impact infinity steps require you to constantly climb and lift your foot at every rotation so you engage your core and work your legs and butt the entire time. Make sure you use the bars for balance only. Holding on too tightly will compromise how many calories you’re burning and prevent you from getting a great burn. Make it harder: Place feet at a 45-degree angle to the side for a minute climb, then switch and do the other side. Don’t belong to a gym? Use a step deck (pictured) instead.

Butt: Correct Your Form with Resistance Bands

Squats are the tried-and-true exercise when it comes to working your glutes, quads, and hamstrings, but if you’ve long stopped feeling slightly sore then you need to focus on your form. “A common issue with people with flat feet, overly tight adductor, or weak glutes is a collapse inward of the knees when you squat,” says Ashley Borden, FITNESS advisory board member and coauthor of Your Perfect Fit.

To keep your knees in line, tie a resistance band around your ankles and position it just above the knees. As you squat, start with knees a bit wider than hip width apart, weight in your heels first, toes second. As you squat down, press weight back through your heels and make sure your knees are pushing against the band. If the band slides down your legs, your form is off. Make it harder: Once you’ve mastered the squat, stand on the resistance band holding one end of band and a dumbbell in each hand (wrap ends of band around dumbbells and place palms over), arms by sides. Squat, keeping knees behind toes, and hinge forward slightly from hips.

Thighs: Sculpt Quads with Skater Squats

If you rely on single-leg squats to work on strength and balance, challenge yourself with the skater squat. It’s an explosive plyometrics exercise that improves the stability of your hips and torso, leaving you with trim thighs and more power.

1. Stand upright with your feet together, arms straight out to the sides.
2. With your right leg, take a wide step to the right. Bend your right knee as you cross your left foot behind you. Squat down on your right leg, keeping your body weight over your right heel and your chest up.
3. Lean forward slightly, swinging your left arm in front of your hips and your right hand behind you for balance. Immediately come out of the squat and step out to the left with your left leg.
4. Repeat the same movement to the left, crossing your right leg behind you. Always remember to keep your body weight over your front leg’s heel to protect your knees during the downward phase of the squat. Repeat alternating sides as many times as you can for 20 to 30 seconds.

Thighs: Improve Range of Motion with a Foam Roller

When quads and hip flexors are tight prior to a strength-training session, it can lead to pesky muscles strains and injuries. Borden recommends using a foam roller for tight hamstrings to perfect your stride and stop lower back pain. Here’s how to use one:

1. Place the roller underneath the area of the thigh or hamstring you want to focus on and gently lower your body down, keeping your hands on the ground for balance.
2. Using your own body weight, slowly roll one of your thighs or hamstrings along the roller. It should feel like a deep tissue massage, a little painful but in a good way. If it’s too painful, place both feet on the ground to relieve some pressure.
3. Roll out your body for 10 swipes on each leg before you start training.

Abs: Plank, Pike, Power

If conventional crunches aren’t leaving you with the tight tummy you want, it’s time for a completely different sit-up. “A traditional crunch uses predominantly the rectus abdominus, which is the largest and more external of the abdominal muscles,” Lovitt says. She recommends moves that factor in more of your body weight for an effective burn.

Get an envy-worthy stomach by getting off the floor and grabbing a stability ball with this move:

1. Lie on top of a stability ball with your shins on the ball, walking your palms out until your hands are underneath your shoulders in a push-up position.
2. Keeping your legs straight out, tighten your core and slowly use your abs to raise hips and pike up in a jackknife or upside down V position.
3. Slowly lower your tailbone back down into a push-up position and repeat move for 10-12 reps.

Abs: Fight Flab with The Hundred

Take a cue from Pilates and master this classic warm-up pose. It uses your body to generate natural resistance and offers killer results (it’s said to be more effective than crunches!). Try our modified version of the move below:

1. Sit on floor with knees bent, feet flat, holding a heavy weight in each hand, palms facing floor.
2. Lean torso back 45 degrees and lift arms forward, keeping them straight, about a foot off floor so weights are on either side of thighs.
3. Keeping abs tight and back straight throughout, pulse weights up and down 1 inch — that’s 1 rep.
4. Do 20 reps. (Build up to 40, depending on your fitness level.)

5 Minute Abs! Take The Time

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1. Moves for You

We’ve got three variations of three moves – one each for beginners, intermediate exercisers and the more advanced.

Follow the rep scheme for your fitness level. Rest 30 seconds between exercises, and if you have more time available, repeat all moves once or twice from the top.

BEGINNERS: Do eight to 10 reps of each move.

INTERMEDIATE: Do 10 to 12 reps of each move (with the exception of the birddog; see description for details).

ADVANCED: Do 12 to 15 reps of each move.

2. Birddog: Beginner

Start on all fours. Lift your left arm straight in front of your body while raising your right leg straight behind you. Return to the beginning, then switch sides to complete one rep.

3. Birddog: Intermediate

Start on all fours. Lift your left arm straight in front of you while raising your right leg behind you. Hold for eight seconds before completing with your opposite arm and leg lifted. Repeat three times.

4. Birddog: Advanced

Begin on all fours and lift your left arm in front while extending your right leg behind you. Move your arm and leg over to the side as far as you can go. Return to the start and repeat with your opposite arm and leg to complete one rep.

5. Crunch: Beginner

Lie on your back with your hands placed gently behind your head, knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Contract your abdominals to lift your head and upper back, then slowly lower back to the starting position.

6. Crunch: Intermediate

Lie on your back with your legs bent and calves raised parallel to the floor. Lift your hips from the floor and direct your knees towards your chest. Slowly lower back to the starting position.

7. Crunch: Advanced

Lie on your back with your knees bent to 90 degrees and calves raised parallel to the floor. Contract your abs to lift your upper back from the floor; at the same time, raise your hips from the floor to direct your knees towards your chest. Slowly lower and repeat.

8. Obliques crunch: Beginner

Lie on your back with your hands behind your head and legs bent as shown. Lift your upper back from the floor and bring your left elbow towards your left knee. Lower and repeat on the right to complete one rep.

9. Obliques crunch: Intermediate

Lie on your back with your legs bent, calves parallel to the floor and fingertips placed lightly behind your head. Lift your upper back and direct your left elbow towards your right knee. Lower and repeat on the other side to complete one rep.

10. Obliques crunch: Advanced

Lie on your back with your knees bent, calves raised parallel to the floor and hands placed lightly behind your head. Contract your abs to lift your upper back from the floor; at the same time, reach your left hand to the outside of your right knee. Lower, then repeat on the opposite side to complete one rep.

Your Circuit Training Routine: Twice as Toned in Half the Time

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Multitask with this firm-and-burn fast workout that combines your cardio with your strength training. You’ll tone up and work off mega calories, all in less than 20 minutes.

Get Results, Fast

The New Approach
Simply by upping the pace, you can shave off more inches in less time, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. In just one hour a week you’ll get all the cardio and toning benefits that used to take three-plus hours (two toning sessions and five 30-minute cardio workouts).

Do the following high-intensity circuit without pausing three times through, three days a week, and you’ll be showing off a sleeker body by the end of the month.

What you’ll need: A pair of 3- to 5-pound dumbbells.

Why It Works
“All these brisk moves target both the upper and lower body, which keeps your heart and muscles stoked at the right intensity,” says workout designer Michele Olson, PhD, an exercise physiologist at Auburn University Montgomery in Alabama.

The Payoff
“Not only will you burn close to double the calories — 171 versus 96 — in less time,” says Olson, “but you’ll also firm everything from shoulders to calves, so you can check off your sculpting session, too.”

Squat Hop and Press

Targets: Shoulders, abs, hips, butt, and legs

  • Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, a dumbbell in each hand, elbows bent so that weights are in front of shoulders, palms facing in.
  • Squat, keeping knees above ankles. Press into both feet to hop up, bringing right foot over to meet left and raising weights straight overhead; land standing with feet together, knees slightly bent, arms up, palms forward.
  • Quickly step right foot out to shoulder width and  lower hands back to starting position.
  • Do 8 reps. Switch legs; repeat.

Runner’s Lunge

Targets: Shoulders, arms, chest, abs, butt, and legs

  • Stand with feet hip-width apart, a dumbbell in each hand. Bend elbows 90 degrees so that forearms are parallel to floor, elbows by sides, palms in.
  • Lunge forward with right leg as you bring left hand up to shoulder level in front of you and drive right arm behind you (as you do when running).
  • Hop up and switch arms and legs to lunge forward with left leg.
  • Do 16 reps total, alternating sides.

Speed Skater

Targets: Shoulders, back, arms, abs, butt, and legs

  • Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms extended out to sides at shoulder level.
  • Hop straight up, landing in speed-skater position: right foot widely crossed behind left foot, knees bent, hinged slightly forward from hips, right arm crossed in front of body, left hand behind butt.
  • Hop back to starting position (feet shoulder-width apart, arms out to sides at shoulder level).
  • Switch sides; repeat. Do 16 reps total, alternating sides.

Plie Squat Row

Targets: Back, arms, butt, and legs

  • Stand with feet more than shoulder-width apart, toes pointed out slightly, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
  • Bring weights up on either side of chest, palms facing each other, elbows tucked in and back.
  • Squat, keeping back straight and knees above ankles, and lower weights between legs.
  • Press through heels, contracting glutes to stand back up and pulling weights back to starting position at sides of chest (as if rowing).
  • Do 8 reps

Cheerleader Raise

Targets: Shoulders, arms, abs, and legs

  • Stand with feet slightly more than shoulder width apart, right hand on hip, a dumbbell in left hand.
  • Raise left arm diagonally to the left, palm forward.
  • Engage abs and bend left elbow and right knee so that they meet in front of you. Return to starting position.
  • Do 8 reps quickly. Switch sides; repeat.

Kick-and-Punch Combo

Targets: Shoulders, arms, abs, butt, and legs

  • Stand with feet together, knees slightly bent, a dumbbell in each hand, elbows bent near hips, weights in front of chest with palms facing each other.
  • Simultaneously kick left leg forward (really push through ball of left foot), foot flexed, and punch right arm straight forward at shoulder level, palm down.
  • Switch sides; repeat. Do 16 reps total, alternating sides.

Plank Twist and Push-Up

Targets: Shoulders, back, arms, chest, and abs

  • Get into full push-up position (hands below shoulders, back straight, abs engaged), holding a dumbbell in each hand, palms in.
  • Lift right leg, rotate right hip and pull knee in toward left shoulder. Use a small hop to switch legs.
  • Do 4 reps total, alternating sides, and return to starting position.
  • Do a push-up.
  • Complete series 8 times.

Step-Up and Row

Targets: Chest, abs, butt, and legs

  • Stand facing a step or low bench with a dumbbell in each hand, hands in front of thighs, palms facing you.
  • Step up with left foot as you pull weights straight up toward shoulders, with elbows higher than wrists. Lift right knee 90 degrees in front of you.
  • Step down, right foot first, and lower weights.
  • Switch sides; repeat. Do 16 reps total, alternating sides.

Walk Off 350 Calories in 45 Minutes

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Talk about an efficient lunch break—The Biggest Loser trainer, Bob Harper, designed a walk-it-off routine, blasting 350 calories in 45 minutes.

Pick up the pace

Do a warm-up walk for a couple of minutes; strike with your heel first, then roll into the forefoot, keeping shoulders relaxed and letting arms swing naturally. Then up the pace—you should feel winded but still be able to speak in short bursts—and begin your first four-minute walking segment. The quicker (not longer) your steps, the better the burn.

Add a power minute

After each walking segment, complete a power minute. You have three options: jumping jacks, sprinting, and walking lunges. You can pick just one to repeat—but for the best results, do all three. “When you vary your moves, you avoid that dreaded shape-up plateau,” explains Harper.

Sprinting

Pounding the pavement can help lower your level of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone that’s linked with weight gain. While running, you really want to get your heart rate up there—you should be breathless when you ease back into your walk. Remember to keep your chin up, allowing your gaze to fall naturally a few feet in front of you. Relax your shoulders, and keep your head in line with them so your center of gravity stays at your core. Continue sprinting for 1 minute.

Jumping jacks

Crank up your cardio with this school-yard staple. Stand with feet together and arms down by your sides. Quickly bring arms out to sides and up overhead, while jumping your feet wide apart. Return to starting position and repeat for 1 minute.

Walking lunge

This move targets your entire leg, from the butt to the calf. Step your right leg forward two feet and lower until both knees are at 90 degrees; don’t let the front knee go past your toes. Push into your right heel, lifting your left leg up while stepping it forward; repeat the lunge. Continue to alternate legs for 1 minute.

Keep ‘em coming

Power through at least five workouts a week: Walk briskly for four minutes, do a power minute, and repeat nine times. Make sure to keep your core engaged to limit stress on your knees and joints, says Harper.

What To Look For In A Yoga Mat?

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A yoga mat enhances your yoga practice by providing a comfortable surface that also supports your stability during poses. The options in yoga mats continue to expand, with differences in materials, size and surface. Convenience is also a consideration, especially if you practice yoga at a studio or bring your mat along on trips.

Size

The standard width of yoga mats is 24 inches, but you will find wider versions that are 36 inches wide. The length varies, with some brands offering short or long versions to accommodate people of varying heights. A 68-inch length is standard with longer mats available up to 84 inches long. When choosing the size of the mat, consider the type of yoga moves you do and where you practice. If you want more personal space in a yoga studio, choose a larger mat. A yoga mat that is at least as long as you are tall ensures your entire body is on the mat during lying poses.

Surface

The surface of the mat affects how well it works for you personally. Yoga mats feature a stickiness on the surface to give you traction during poses. Avoid mats with too much stick, as this makes it difficult to hone your own balance. The extra help from the mat’s stickiness takes away some of the physical and mental challenge of yoga. The texture of the mat also prevents slipping and gives you traction during your yoga poses. Certain mat materials have a natural texture to them while others have a raised pattern impressed in the mat. The texture and overall feel of the mat is largely a
matter of personal preference. Some people prefer a smooth surface while others enjoy texture.

Type of Material

Yoga mats come in a variety of materials, each with different qualities that affect the overall yoga experience. PVC or vinyl is the traditional material for mats. This material provides a natural stickiness and is durable. PVC also has more of a spongy feeling to it. Eco-friendly materials appeal to many people who practice yoga. The options include organic cotton, jute and recycled rubber. Try out mats made from different materials to determine which one feels most comfortable to you.

Convenience

The extras that make a yoga mat more convenient round out the list of features to consider. If you carry your mat with you, check out how well it rolls. A mat with sweat absorbency is beneficial for those who take hot yoga classes or tend to sweat during yoga practice. Antimicrobial yoga mats are available for those who are concerned with bacterial growth. An easily washable mat adds to the convenience.

A personal preference is the new BeBalanced Yoga Mat that that uses NEGATIVE ION technology that helps assist your body’s natural energy field and helps to achieve optimum performance www.bebalancedproducts.com

The 10 Healthiest Foods on the Planet

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These 10 superfoods are proven, expert-beloved disease fighters and energy boosters. Add them to your meals and get on the fast track to a super-healthy body.

Lemons

Why They’re Healthy:

– Just one lemon has more than 100 percent of your daily intake of vitamin C, which may help increase “good” HDL cholesterol levels and strengthen bones.
– Citrus flavonoids found in lemons may help inhibit the growth of cancer cells and act as an anti-inflammatory.

Quick Tip: Add a slice of lemon to your green tea. One study found that citrus increases your body’s ability to absorb the antioxidants in the tea by about 80 percent.

Broccoli

Why It’s Healthy:

– One medium stalk of broccoli contains more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin K requirement and almost 200 percent of your recommended daily dose of vitamin C — two essential bone-building nutrients.
– The same serving also helps stave off numerous cancers.

Quick Tip: Zap it! Preserve up to 90 percent of broccoli’s vitamin C by microwaving. (Steaming or boiling holds on to just 66 percent of the nutrient.)

Dark Chocolate

Why It’s Healthy:

– Just one-fourth of an ounce daily can reduce blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals.
– Cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids, antioxidants shown to reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol and increase “good” HDL levels.

Quick Tip: A dark chocolate bar contains about 53.5 milligrams of flavonoids; a milk chocolate bar has fewer than 14.

Potatoes

Why They’re Healthy:

– One red potato contains 66 micrograms of cell-building folate — about the same amount found in one cup of spinach or broccoli.
– One sweet potato has almost eight times the amount of cancer-fighting and immune-boosting vitamin A you need daily.

Quick Tip: Let your potato cool before eating. Research shows that doing so can help you burn close to 25 percent more fat after a meal, thanks to a fat-resistant starch.

Salmon

Why It’s Healthy:

– A great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to a reduced risk of depression, heart disease, and cancer.
– A 3-ounce serving contains almost 50 percent of your daily dose of niacin, which may protect against Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.

Quick Tip: Opt for wild over farm-raised, which contains 16 times as much toxic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) as wild salmon.

Walnuts

Why They’re Healthy:

– Contain the most omega-3 fatty acids, which may help reduce cholesterol, of all nuts.
– Omega-3s have been shown to improve mood and fight cancer; they may protect against sun damage, too (but don’t skip the SPF!).

Quick Tip: Eat a few for dessert: The antioxidant melatonin, found in walnuts, helps to regulate sleep.

Avocados

Why They’re Healthy:

– Rich in healthy, satisfying fats proven in one study to lower cholesterol by about 22 percent.
– One has more than half the fiber and 40 percent of the folate you need daily, which may reduce your risk of heart disease.

Quick Tip: Adding it to your salad can increase the absorption of key nutrients like beta-carotene by three to five times compared with salads without this superfood.

Garlic

Why It’s Healthy:

– Garlic is a powerful disease fighter that can inhibit the growth of bacteria, including E. coli.
– Allicin, a compound found in garlic, works as a potent anti-inflammatory and has been shown to help lower cholesterol and blood-pressure levels.

Quick Tip: Crushed fresh garlic releases the most allicin. Just don’t overcook; garlic exposed to high heat for more than 10 minutes loses important nutrients.

Spinach

Why It’s Healthy:

– Spinach contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two immune-boosting antioxidants important  for eye health.
– Recent research found that among cancer-fighting fruits and veggies, spinach is one of the most effective.

Quick Tip: Spinach is a healthy — and flavorless — addition to any smoothie. You won’t taste it, we promise! Try blending 1 cup spinach, 1 cup grated carrots, 1 banana, 1 cup apple juice, and ice.

Beans

Why They’re Healthy:

– Eating a serving of legumes (beans, peas, and lentils) four times a week can lower your risk of heart disease by 22 percent.
– That same habit may also reduce your risk of breast cancer.

Quick Tip: The darker the bean, the more antioxidants it contains. One study found that black bean hulls contain 40 times the amount of antioxidants found in white bean hulls.

Yoga Poses to Lose Those Flab Abs

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Transform your abs with this 10-minute yoga workout from our resident yoga guru, Kristin McGee.

I’ll admit it: During the summer holidays I often end up picking family time over gym time, so I usually start the Fall with a slightly softer tummy. My yoga mat is the first place I turn to get back on track. I love this sequence—Dog Split to Lizard Lunge to Twist to Downward Dog to Jump Lunge—because it works all the major muscles in the ab region plus packs in some cardio to burn off the extra fat on top.

Go through the sequence 3 to 5 times, 3 days a week, giving yourself a day’s break in between (for faster firming, you can add in 2 more days of doing the routine without the Jump Lunges). I do this series in the morning to boost my metabolism—and to remind myself that I’m on my way back to a super-toned middle.

How to do it:

kristin-dog-split

1. Begin on hands and knees. Exhale, lifting knees, pushing hips toward the ceiling, and straightening arms and legs to come into Downward Dog. Inhale, lifting your right leg as high as you can while keeping it straight.
lizzard-lunge-kristin

2. Exhale, stepping your right foot forward to the outside of your right hand, bending your right knee to come into Lizard Lunge.

kristin-mcgee-twist

3.  Inhale, lifting your right hand out and up toward the ceiling; look up to the right.

mcgee-downward-dog

4. Exhale as you lower your arm, returning your right hand to the floor; step back into Downward Dog. Repeat the first 4 steps on the left side.

kristin-jump-lunge

5. Inhale, jumping right foot forward and between your hands to come into Lunge. Immediately jump left foot forward into Lunge while moving the right foot back; that’s 1 rep. Continue for 10 reps, then return to Step 1 and repeat entire sequence.

Negative Ions Are So Vital To Your Daily Life. Energy Level Up

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Have you been getting your daily dose of negative ions?   You have to!!  They make you look and feel better.

We need exposure to negative ions to be more positive in our life. I know, it sounds a little backward at first, doesn’t it? Negative ions are invisible molecules that clean the air around us by attaching themselves to positive ions (from dust, smoke, electronics, car exhausts, our breathing, etc.), so they’re not just floating around for us to breathe into our system. Generally the more populated a city is, the fewer negative ions and the more positive ions.  This is why I love golf so much or any form of outdoor activity that gets me to grass, water or the mountains.  These are negative ion hotbeds.

Negative ions help relieve stress, increase vitality, strengthen the immune system and so much more.That’s why we all feel so incredibly good after being at a waterfall, in the mountains or at the beach. The human body is meant to be absorbing negative ions on a regular basis, so it’s no wonder why there are so many health problems related to fatigue, depression and immune disorders. It’s no wonder why so many people find it incredibly hard to let their true nature shine. Most people aren’t exposed to nearly enough negative ions. All the technology around us has virtually eliminated the positive ions in the air — unless you live at a beach with no cars or electronics or out in the wilderness or mountains, etc.).

Often people think they can escape pollution by staying indoors. It’s quite common for indoor environments to be just as, if not more than, polluted as outside. When you look around most bedrooms or offices, there are at least a couple of electronic devices. Think about it … laptops, mobile phones, televisions, lights, heaters, electric blankets and so many of the countless electronic gadgets available these days. They all release positive ions galore! Even man-made fibers in carpets, clothes and furniture all reduce the level of negative ions and increase the positive ones in the environment. The house you live in or the place you work at could very well be more polluted than outside! Combine this with other pollutants (if you live in a populated area) and you can almost guarantee that you’re getting exposed to way too many positive ions. This over-exposure to positive ions contributes to the body being in toxic overload, unless small steps are made to make your environment richer in negative ions.

Here are some tips to help bring more negative ions into your life:

-Use Himalayan rock salt lamps or an ion generator or purifier in your house and in your office, if possible. These lamps and purifiers mop up positive ions and help bring back natural harmony to your environment.
-Place potted plants (real ones) throughout your house and office. It’s very common for modern houses to be more polluted than outside, so enjoy bringing the beauty of nature into your home.
-Connect with nature. Get barefoot and walk on raw earth. The earth is charged with negative ions! Our feet are conductors to absorb negative ions, so go outside and experience a lovely barefoot walk. Simply walking on the earth is so healing.
-Spend time at the beach or a waterfall. There’s a reason why we feel so good after being at the beach or at a waterfall. Because of the crashing pure water, these precious parts of the planet are especially charged with negative ions.
-Use natural, preferably organic deodorants, body washes and creams. You can even use Himalayan rock salt soaps, which are quite mainstream now.
-Use organic sheets, towels, clothes and dishwasher and laundry detergents, if you really want to go the extra distance in your efforts to increase negative ions and decrease positive ones in your life.

-Use negative ion products such as bracelets, necklaces, yoga towels, yoga mats, basically any product that includes negative ions in their composition.  It will help energize you and allow you to perform exercise and daily activities in a more focused and energized way.  

Make the incorporation of including negative ions in your daily life as if you are taking vitamins or eating the right food.  You will exercise longer and harder, feel more rested and generally more in tune with life.  It’s your mini way of visiting the mountains or the beach.

So, if you’re not feeling as good as you know you could feel, it may be as simple as looking at the environment you’re in and making some small changes here and there. To me, it’s all about getting back to our true nature, which is full of joy and vitality. We’re meant to connect with nature, not pollutants, so in gratitude for the body we have been blessed with and in gratitude for the amazing planet we live on, do yourself a favor and bring some negative ions into your life.  You will look and feel better.

What to Drink When Your Working Out

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As much as 60% of your body is made up of water and when you work out, you can lose quite a bit. The American College of Sports Medicine notes that drinking water helps functioning of the joints and body tissues, the regulation of body temperature, and the transportation of nutrients. But some of us don’t drink enough, says Nancy Clark, R.D., a sports nutritionist and author of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guide Book. Here’s how to get it right.

Choose the right beverage

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best, and that’s true when it comes to choosing a workout beverage. “If you’re an average person, then water after a workout is just fine,” says Clark. But if your workout is more intense and you spend more than three hours at a time doing it, then Clark recommends chocolate milk. “It’s got sodium and calcium, which we lose when we sweat. It’s also got carbs to refuel and give energy, and the protein also helps to repair any damage.” If milk or water isn’t your thing, sports drinks,  coconut water, or other beverages are fine. Don’t worry too much about electrolytes; Clark says food can provide those lost in sweat.

Consume the right amount

Clark says there isn’t a set amount of water that you should consume during exercise, rather, she recommends you “drink to thirst.” But there are ways to calculate your sweat rate, which involve weighing yourself before and after you run, and doing a few calculations. Clark says that if you lose a quart of sweat in an hour then you should be drinking about eight ounces of water every 15 minutes. If you want to skip the math and you tend to sweat a lot, 4 to 6 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes during your workout is a good rule of thumb.

Don’t drink too much

It’s actually possible to drink too much fluid, although this is uncommon. More of a risk during marathons and triathlons, athletes who consume a lot of fluid (even sports drinks), but not enough sodium can develop a potentially life-threatening condition called hyponatremia. (A women died of it during the 2002 Boston Marathon.) Symptoms include bloating, nausea, confusion, disorientation, and seizures. But really, over hydration is “rare,” says Clark. “Most people don’t drink enough.”

Pack in some protein and carbs

While exercising is good for you, it’s common to incur some minor cell or tissue damage after a workout. Proteins can help repair any damage, so Clark recommends rehydrating with a protein-rich drink after an especially intense workout.  But it’s not just about protein, she says. Because you expend substantial amounts of energy when exercising, “you want about three times more carbohydrates than protein,” which is why she recommends flavored milk as fluid replacement.

Know the risks of dehydration

Any number of problems can result from not drinking enough water; perhaps one of the most common is fatigue. If you don’t drink enough water then “your blood gets thicker from lower water content and your heart has to work harder, which means you get tired,” says Clark. “A dehydrated person will get fatigued.”

Drink before and during exercise

Clark recommends drinking fluids before you even begin to exercise, especially if you’re doing something that requires a lot of stamina. “You need to start drinking about one and a one half to two hours before running a marathon,” she says. Also, drinking fluids during a workout isn’t a bad idea either. “We don’t drink enough during exercise and that puts you in a hole when you finish and then you have to rehydrate,” says Clark. “It’s better if you don’t put yourself in that hole in the first place.” While it might be cumbersome to carry water with you on a run, it’s worth it, she says.

Fashion and Fitness, They Now Go Together

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Fashion and fitness. Never used to be much of a subject.  You really didn’t worry about what to wear when working out.  Now most of us do.

There are so many great clothes now for working out plus they’ve been made to look great.  Companies like LuLuLemon changed the way we look when getting on a sweat.  Enjoy these super videos about fashion and fitness and then finish with a summer workout video.

 

The Best Fat-Burning Breakfasts

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You know that eating breakfast jump-starts your metabolism. But did you realize that certain a.m. choices can crank up your fat-burning even more? The key: eating a breakfast that’s high in Resistant Starch (RS). Found in foods like bananas and oats, RS actually signals your body to use fat for energy.

Blueberry Oat Pancakes with Maple Yogurt
Resistant Starch: 4.6g
Ingredients: Old-fashioned rolled oats, low-fat cottage cheese, eggs, vanilla extract, blueberries, cooking spray, Greek-style low-fat yogurt, maple syrup
Calories: 410

Banana and Almond Butter Toast
Resistant Starch: 5.6g
Ingredients: Almond butter, rye bread, banana
Calories: 280

Breakfast Barley with Banana and Sunflower Seeds
Resistant Starch: 7.6g
Ingredients: Water, pearl barley, banana, sunflower seeds, honey
Calories: 410

In a Rush?
Reach for a Resistant Starch-packed banana and one of these on-the-go options—you’ll still get the healthy carbs and calories you need to start your day in slim-down mode!
Order to go!
• Panera Bread Strawberry and Granola Parfait: 310 calories
• Dunkin’ Donuts Ham, Egg White, and Cheese Sandwich on a Wheat English Muffin: 300 calories
• Jamba Juice Coldbuster Smoothie (16 ounces): 250 calories
Keep a stash in your kitchen:
• Aunt Millie’s Whole-Grain Blueberry Muffins: 170 calories
• Kashi TLC Pumpkin Spice Flax Crunchy Granola Bar: 170 calories
• Amy’s Kitchen Breakfast Burrito: 270 calories

Insider secret
Choose a banana that’s tinged with a little green for even  more Resistant Starch. Once the fruit ripens, the starches in it turn to sugar, and the amount of Resistant Starch it contains drops.
An underripe banana has 12.5 grams of RS (enough to take care of the minimum 10 grams of RS daily that’s recommended in The CarbLovers Diet); a ripe one has 4.7 grams.

Bob Harper’s Skinny Rules

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The simple, non-negotiable principles for getting to THIN!

If there’s one thing Bob Harper doesn’t like, it’s anything complicated. But  what he also doesn’t like is trying to take the easy way out when commitment and  hard work are needed. So he’s pulled together 20 simple rules for weight loss that reflect all the  above. “They aren’t easy,” he told us about his rules in a recent phone  conversation. “My publisher really pushed back when I first came up with these.  But after years of working with Biggest Loser contestants, I know what  needs to be done when it comes to losing weight.” However, what doesn’t need to be done is working out for six hours a  day as the contestants do on the ranch. “That’s unrealistic,” says Bob. “This is  for people at home and nutrition is key, along with working out.” To help you  with that, Bob also supplies menu plans and recipes.

Just to whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt from the book that  includes some of Bob’s weight loss insights followed by a recipe:

SIMPLE HYDRATION TIPS

  • Make it your premeal policy: drink a large glass of water before every meal.  No excuses.
  • End the day with preparation for a good start to the next: put a large, full  glass of water on your bedstand every night and drink it when you wake up, every  morning.
  • Get a little extra bang for your effort: mix a pitcher of water with a  noncaloric vitamin and mineral supplement. I like ElectroMix (one little packet  makes a quart), and having the pitcher all mixed and right in front of you will  make it that much easier to pour yourself a glass when you open the fridge at  every meal; I usually drink mine when I work out.

JUST HOW MUCH PROTEIN IS ENOUGH PROTEIN?

The official answer is: no one really knows. The FDA says protein should be  10 percent of your total daily calories. The National Research Council says 8  percent. The National Academy of Sciences: 6 percent. I’m going to give you what  we might call the Skinny Recommendation: take your weight and divide it by two  — that’s how much protein you should be eating in grams every day. If you’re  200 pounds, try to get at least 100 grams. I’m not saying it’s 100 percent  scientific, but more and more research shows that consumption of a high-protein  diet with reduced high-carb foods results in better weight control metabolism.  I’m saying it works. For me. For my clients, my contestants, and for you.

THE POWER OF PREPARATION

The other night I got home late from work. I was hungry and tired–two danger  zones for binge eating, right? My secret saving grace? Preparation. I already  had a huge bag of chopped salad ingredients in the refrigerator, so I just  dropped the greens in a bowl, dressed with them with Galeo’s dressing, my  favorite, and topped them with cubed chicken I’d cooked the weekend before. Then  I added a lot of cut-up veggies–some cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes and red  onion. Total prep time: just a couple of minutes, which is about all the  bandwidth I have left at the end of a long day!

If you chop and bag veggies and a protein ahead of time, you’ll be setting  yourself up for success big-time. And don’t be shy about experimenting with what  might seem oddball vegetables in a meal like this. Treat finding new vegetable  combinations you like as an adventure!

5 Great New Classes to Get You Fit

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Does your usual workout seem like a scene from the movie Groundhog Day—just more of the same old, same old? Then try one (or all!) of these five fun, fresh classes that some of the fitest women in Hollywood are taking. Not only will they breathe new life into your gym time, helping you stay motivated, but they’ll also keep your body burning more calories all year long.

SoulCycle

Calories burned: 500–700 per 45-minute class
Celeb poster child: Kelly Ripa
Think high-octane spiritual journey on a stationary bike. Illuminated by candlelight, you’ll spend 45 minutes doing a mix of heart-pumping cardio and full-body toning peppered with empowering affirmations that’ll make you feel unstoppable. Ride on!
You’ll find biking bliss in California, Florida, and New York; more studios (Connecticut and New Jersey) are coming this year. To locate a studio, go to soul-cycle.com.

Barre classes

Calories burned: 400–500 per 1-hour class
Celeb poster child: Zooey Deschanel
This barre-based toning done in micro-movements (up an inch, down an inch) targets the butt, legs, and core so you can sculpt a dancer’s body. Most classes last about an hour, incorporate upper body work, and use props like exercise balls and hand weights. Trust us—you’ll feel the burn.
Plié in studios like Pure Barre (purebarre.com) and Cardio Barre (cardiobarre.com) or at gyms like Equinox (equinox.com) and Crunch (crunch.com).

TRX suspension training

Calories burned: About 500 per 1-hour class
Celeb poster child: Jennifer Lopez
Since each of the kick-butt moves you do with the adjustable TRX straps can be made easier or harder by simply changing your body angle (genius!), anyone from couch potato to star athlete can get an amazing head-to-toe workout. One hour-long class and you’ll be hooked.
Tons of clubs across the country offer strap sessions that range from circuit-style cardio to strenuous strength-building; check your local gyms to find one.

Barry’s Bootcamp

Calories burned: 800–1,000 per 1-hour class
Celeb poster child: Katie Holmes
Low lights and loud music set the mood in this hour-long class, which pairs treadmill intervals with strength-training (you switch every 15 minutes). Yep, it’s hard-core, but the atmosphere is actually supportive—no mean drill-sergeant instructors here.
Right now you can get your boot-camp on in California, New York, and Norway; a Nashville location opens this spring. Go to barrysbootcamp.com.

CrossFit

Calories burned: About 200 per 20-minute session*
Celeb poster child: Cameron Diaz
Super-short (usually 20 minutes or less) and intense, these workouts may have you climbing ropes and sprinting one day, then doing handstand push-ups and lifting weights the next. Many of the hardest routines are named after women (Angie, Diane). We love this woman power!
No matter where you are, you’ll likely find a CrossFit “box” (read: studio). Game? Check out crossfit.com.
*estimated, as CrossFit does not calculate calories burned

Degerm Your Gym Bag To Stay Healthy

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If you’re tossing warm, damp gear in your gym bag after working out, you could be giving millions of germs a free ride home with you. “It’s the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive,” says Kelly A. Reynolds, PhD, a microbiologist and associate professor of public health at the University of Arizona. The results could sideline you with everything from colds and flu to a nasty staph infection. Don’t throw in the towel, though. Here’s how to sanitize the worst gym-bag-germ offenders.

Workout clothes and swimsuits
Why they’re germy: You ball them up—still damp with sweat or pool water—toss them into your bag, and leave them in there for several hours or even days.
The cleanup: Put clothes in a plastic bag or stash them in a separate mesh pocket, then wash them as soon as you can. No time for laundry? At least hang them to dry so bacteria and mold don’t multiply.

Water bottle
Why it’s germy: Those with pull-up tops are the worst offenders; if you use your hands to open them, you transfer germs into the little crevices around the spout—and into your mouth.
The cleanup: Avoid touching the spout by pulling up the top with your teeth. And after each use, wash your bottle in the dishwasher on high heat. Or avoid the issue altogether and get a screw-cap bottle.

Gym bag
Why it’s germy: In addition to putting all that icky stuff inside it, you often put the bag down on the gym or bathroom floor, which is home to scores of creepy crawlies.
The cleanup: Regularly empty your entire bag, and air it out. Wash it weekly in the hottest water it will take or wipe it down with a disinfecting wipe. And don’t put it directly on the gym or bathroom floor—hang it up or put it on a towel on the floor.

Yoga mat
Why it’s germy: You sweat your way through sun salutations, then roll up your wet mat, carry it home, and forget about it until next week’s class.
The cleanup: After class, clean it with a disinfecting wipe. (Keep a few in a zip-top bag in your yoga bag.) Or dry it with a clean towel before rolling it up, then wipe it down when you get home.

Flip-flops
Why they’re germy: You wear them in the shower, sauna, and locker room—all places teeming with fungi and bacteria.
The cleanup: Put them in a plastic bag before popping them in your gym bag. (That goes for your sneakers, too.) When you get home, spritz them with a disinfecting cleanser and let them dry completely before repacking. (Be sure to let your sneakers air out, as well.)

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Check out the new ION Slip proof Yoga towels from BeBalanced.

http://www.BeBalancedEnergy.com   They have great new fashion watches too with ion technology.

10 Benefits of Coconut Milk To Stay and Improve Your Health

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America’s toughest fitness trainer Jillian Michaels, recommends

coconut milk for your milk alternative and to add to your protein shake.
Coconut milk is extracted by grating mature coconuts and squeezing them by using cheesecloth or both bare hands. This milky white liquid is called santam in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, and gata in Philippines. It is used in several food recipes like sauces, delicious curries and desserts. Apart from making foods tastier and creamier, coconut milk is also a healthy addition to various food preparations.

Nutritional Values of Coconut Milk:
Following are the nutritional values present in 100 grams of fresh coconut milk:
Calories – 230
Proteins – 2.3g
Fat – 23.8g
Carbohydrates – 5.5g
Dietary fiber – 2.3g
Sugar – 3.35g
Vitamin C – 2.8 mg
Vitamin E – 0.15 mg
Vitamin B1 – 0.026 mg
Vitamin B6 – 0.033 mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) – 0.183 mg
Folate – 16 mcg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – 0.76 mg
Iron – 1.64 mg
Selenium – 6.2 mcg
Sodium – 15 mg
Calcium – 16 mg
Magnesium – 37 mg
Phosphorus – 100 mg
Potassium – 260 mg

Benefits of Coconut Milk:

Following are some of the health benefits of coconut milk:

  1. Helps to maintain blood sugar places:

    Glucose intolerance may cause manganese deficiency in your body. Coconut milk is a rich source of manganese. Whole grains, legumes and nuts are some other excellent sources of manganese.

  2. Keeps skin and blood vessels flexible and elastic:

    Copper is a very important mineral for most of the bodily functions. Copper and vitamin C help to maintain the flexibility and elasticity of the skin and blood vessels.

  3. Aids in building strong bones:

    Coconut milk is not rich in calcium, but it is rich in phosphorus. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient that the body needs for strengthening bones. It is must to take phosphorus with calcium particularly to prevent bone loss because it supplies phosphate to the body.

  4. Helps to prevent anemia:

    Lack of iron is the most common nutrient deficiency among the people throughout the world. Iron deficiency in body does not allow the body to develop enough hemoglobin for keeping sufficient oxygen levels in red blood cells, resulting in anemia. Each cup of coconut milk supplies the body with nearly a quarter of daily value of iron.

  5. Relaxes muscles and nerves:

    Whenever you feel muscle cramps or muscle soreness, have some food along with coconut milk. It is rich in magnesium and can help you in relieving the problem. One of the functions of magnesium is it acts as a gate block in many nerve cells. If magnesium is not present in body, nerve cells become very active because of calcium that activates nerves. Excess contraction of muscles is caused by over-active nerve cells.

  6. Helps in Controlling Weight:

    This can be good news for people who are trying to reduce weight. Coconut milk makes you feel full very quickly because of high concentrations of dietary fiber.

  7. Decreases the risk of joint inflammation:

    Selenium is an important antioxidant. It controls the free radicals and thereby helps in relieving the symptoms of arthritis. It is observed that people with low levels of selenium may suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

  8. Helps in lowering high blood pressure:

    People who are concerned about their blood pressure will not face any problem consuming foods containing potassium. Potassium helps in lowering blood pressure levels in the body.

  9. Helps in maintaining healthy immune system:

    Coconut milk helps in warding off colds and coughs by keeping the immune system healthy. It supplies vitamin C to the body which boosts the immune system.

  10. Promotes the health of prostate gland:

    Zinc plays a vital role in promoting the health of prostate gland. A preliminary study showed that it slows down the activities of cancer cells.

I hope the above mentioned information helps you in understanding the relation between health and coconut milk. It can also be consumed by people with cow’s milk allergy. It is free from gluten and soy. Hence people who are allergic to these substances can also use coconut milk.

Burn Fat With Ballet

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Everywhere you look, folks are bellying up to the barre. And no wonder: Ballet-inspired workouts blast fat, focusing on lower-half results such as ab-, bum-, and leg-shaping. Get slim and trim with this 30-minute routine. Here’s the secret: Most exercises involve “micro-movements,” in which you move just an inch or two. “They take out the momentum, forcing you to stay in the contraction, which tires muscles faster, giving you faster results,” says former dancer Carrie Rezabek Dorr, the woman behind the superhot Pure Barre class and this 30 minute workout.

Hundreds

Warm up first with 2 minutes of standing knee lifts. Next, lie on your back, draw knees up, lift head and shoulders, and bring chin to chest, coming into a tight ball. Keeping your upper body lifted, extend legs toward ceiling, or, for more of a challenge, at a diagonal; extend arms (as shown). Pump arms up and down 4 times, then hold arms still and curl torso a tiny bit up and down twice. Repeat series 10 times.

Push ups

Get on hands and knees, hands slightly wider than shoulder-width. Bring feet toward your seat and tuck tailbone under. Bend elbows out to sides, lowering chest toward floor, then push back up; repeat 15 times. Next, lower halfway down and hold; do 15 little pulses (pushing up and lowering down an inch) before coming all the way back up.

Tricep dips

Sit with knees bent and feet hip-width on floor, hands behind you on either side of hips, fingers forward. Lift hips off floor and shift weight back. Bend and straighten elbows 20 times, leaving feet flat, then come onto heels and repeat. Staying on heels, walk feet forward (keep weight shifted back) and do 20 more dips.

Extension parallel

Stand with back at fist’s distance away from barre, feet hip-distance apart, knees slightly bent; reach back with wide arms and grab barre. Extend left leg (knee toward ceiling) and flex foot (as shown). Do the following moves for 30 seconds each: Lift and lower leg a couple of inches; make small circles as if tracing a dime in the air with heel. Repeat circles in other direction, and point toes and do small leg lifts. Repeat series on opposite side.

Plie & releve

Stand with one hand on barre, the other on hip. Bring feet wider than hip-distance; turn toes out slightly and bend knees (keep knees behind toes), pushing hips back to sink seat to knee level. Do the following moves for 30 seconds each: Bend knees a bit more, lowering then raising an inch; lower again and hold, slightly pressing knees back then releasing (as if pulsing). Rise on toes, then lower and raise an inch; lower an inch and hold, pressing knees back, then releasing them.

Standing straight leg

Stand with right hand forward on barre, knees slightly bent, heels together, toes apart. Wrap left arm around waist and grab barre. Extend left leg diagonally back with toes pointed; tuck tailbone. Do the following moves for 30 seconds each: Lift and lower left leg a couple inches; hold left foot a few inches off floor and make dime-size circles with leg. Circle leg in opposite direction; flex foot, then lift and lower a couple inches. Make dime-size circles; reverse direction.

Semi-fold over

Face barre, feet hip-width, knees slightly bent; stack bent forearms on barre. Walk feet back until body is folded 90 degrees at waist; rest head on arms. Keeping hips level, extend right leg straight back with foot flexed (as shown).  Do the following moves for 30 seconds each: Raise and lower leg a couple inches; make dime-size circles with leg. Reverse circle direction; point toes, then lift and lower a couple of inches. Make tiny circles with leg; reverse circle direction.  Repeat series on opposite side.

Tap & curl

Sit with knees bent, feet hip-width on the floor. Grab beneath thighs with elbows wide, then round back, bringing lower back toward mat; tuck tailbone. Do the following moves for 30 seconds each: Extend arms straight by hips, tap fists twice against mat, then lift fists.  With arms still, lower and raise upper body an inch; with upper body still, tap fists twice against thighs, then open arms out. Lower and raise upper body an inch; extend arms up and tap fists toward each other twice, then open. Hold arms still and lower and lift body an inch.

Get Toned With Tennis

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Up your game

Ever watch a tennis match on TV and wish you could hit like that? Then steal these pro secrets from Tracy Austin—yes, that Tracy Austin, the two-time U.S. Open champion and host of Tennis Channel Academy. Play at least once a week, more often if you want to get better faster.
Bonus: Spending extra time on the court swatting that little yellow ball will give you toned legs, sculpted arms, and a killer core, too.
Another insider secret: Running a couple of times a week will boost your stamina on the court and help supercharge your tennis game.

Never outgrow lessons

Even the best players get coached, so don’t swear off lessons as soon as you can volley and serve. An instructor  can help nip bad form (like wrong grip) before it becomes ingrained, Austin says. Proper technique can help prevent common injuries, too—for example, making sure to swing from your shoulder instead of your forearm (or wrist) can help prevent tennis elbow. She can also give you strategy pointers. To find a certified pro, ask your local tennis club.

Serve strong

Get strong triceps and legs to be able to propel up and out into the court, throw the ball, extend your arm, and wield the racket.
The trick: Add triceps extensions and squats to your usual routine. Also, make sure your racket is the correct size. When gripping the handle, your fingers should point out in front of you. There should be a finger’s width between your thumb and the fingers wrapping around the other side.
Another key: an accurate toss. If you’re right-handed, picture a clock above you and hit the ball at one o’clock (lefties aim for eleven). And to gain speed, keep your arm loose instead of tensing up.

Don’t try to cream it

“People think it’s about how hard you hit the ball,” Austin says. “Really, it’s about getting more balls into play.” So forget smashing the ball whenever you swing. To improve accuracy, spend time rallying with your friends or opposite a ball machine.
Your aim: to hit the ball so it crosses just a couple of feet over the net on the return.

Meet your match

No doubt, the more you play, the better you’ll get. Just be sure to play the most with that friend who is roughly at your level—you’ll go toe-to-toe with her, fighting for every point. But you’ll also benefit from regular games with someone who’s better than you, Austin says. “She will constantly target your weaknesses, forcing you to practice under pressure until you improve.” You’ll be dealing with greater challenges—stronger serves and faster balls, Austin notes—which will make you a more amazing player.

4 Bad Habits Keeping You From Reaching Your Fitness Goals – Fitnessprospector.com

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You may think you’re right on track with your fitness regimen, but if you’re not seeing the results you expect, these surprising bad habits may be to blame. Sure, there’s something to be said for a steady schedule, but do you remember to switch it up every once in a while? From unreasonable goals to dull solo workout sessions, here are four bad patterns to avoid if you’re hoping to improve your fitness routine.

You make unrealistic gym plans: If you don’t have the time or physical energy to run for an hour, then don’t try to force it. Remember that every little bit counts and making yourself do too much can be the quickest way to get injured — or make you give up altogether.

You only exercise solo: Including friends in your fitness routine can be a great way to stay motivated. Not only will they keep you accountable, but they can also share tips and tricks of their own. Hesitant to reach out? Learn the benefits of a workout buddy and ask pals to join your plan.

You stick to what you know: Stepping outside your comfort zone and surprising your body with new, challenging exercises helps you to break through plateaus and stay in shape. It’s important to mix up your fitness routine: fresh workouts keep you from getting bored, and you’ll have the chance to work different muscle groups for a well-rounded routine.

You ignore hunger signals: If you don’t properly fuel your body, you won’t be able to push it during tough gym sessions. Learn what to eat (and when) before working out so you have plenty of energy to maximize your fitness potential.

The Beach Body Workout – FitnessProspector.com

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Wouldn’t it be terrific to peel off your beach cover-up this summer and feel slimmer, stronger, and more confident than ever? We’ve got just the person to whip you into that kind of amazing shape: personal trainer—and former top boxer!—Cara Castronuova, who’s just finishing up her first season shaping bodies and minds on NBC’s hit show The Biggest Loser. The key to getting a rocking body may come as a surprise, Castronuova says: “Above all, the secret is believing you have what it takes to be the best you can be.” Once you believe you’re capable of anything, she adds, you’re on your way.

The next step is finding the right workout—and here it is. “This high-tempo, no-equipment workout is designed to be done anywhere, anytime,” Castronuova says. “It focuses on large-muscle groups, because the bigger the muscle, the more calories required to exercise it.” Add some intense fat-blasting cardio, and together, she says, “the whole routine will help turn your body into a fat-burning furnace.” To not just tone but also lose up to 12 pounds this month, follow her diet guidelines. Carve out tiny chunks of time daily to visualize the new you. “Picture yourself as healthy, fit, and strong, and it will happen,” Castronuova says.

Here’s the plan

Do these strength circuits—designed exclusively for Health readers by Castronuova—three times a week, every other day. “Keep the tempo up, and allow yourself minimal rest,” she says. “Really challenge yourself!” In addition, do 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to intense cardio three times a week. As the weeks progress, your intensity should increase: “Embrace that it will be slightly uncomfortable, then let that push you to work harder and take yourself to new levels.”
To warm up, walk briskly, jog, or do a cardio machine for 5 minutes. Then, go through each circuit 3 times, resting for 30 seconds after each exercise.

Circuit 1

No. 1 Squat and jump:

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Squat down, keeping knees behind toes, and put your hands on the ground. Kick your feet back to come into push-up position with arms straight, then bend elbows to lower your chest toward the ground. Straighten your arms as you jump forward again into squat position, then push off your feet and leap as high as you can with arms reaching toward the sky. Land softly with knees slightly bent. Repeat sequence for 1 minute.

No. 2 Mountain climber

Get into push-up position with arms straight and hands directly under shoulders. Walk feet forward, staggering them so your right knee is bent under your chest while your left foot is behind you with knee slightly bent. Pushing powerfully into your legs, switch your foot positions, bringing the left knee in and extending the right leg. Continue alternating for 1 minute.

No. 3 Toe-touch kick

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and hands reaching overhead; intertwine your fingers. Do a high forward kick with your right leg, bringing your hands down to meet your toes. Repeat with the left leg. Continue alternating for 1 minute.

No. 4 Shadowbox

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Make fists and bend elbows to bring hands up into fighter position in front of your face, keeping elbows close to body. Alternating arms, punch straight out in front of you, then curve up, then hit low; next, try a hook punch, curving around to the side. Mix it up—and keep moving! Move your head and shoulders back and forth as if dodging punches. Keep your knees bent and shift your weight back and forth  as you bounce on the bottoms of your feet. Continue for 1 minute.

Circuit 2

No. 1 Basic push-up:

Get into push-up position on the ground with feet together and arms slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Support yourself on your toes and hands, pressing your palms down; don’t lock your elbows. Your body should form a straight line from heels to head. Bend your elbows to lower your chest toward the ground; stop when they reach 90 degrees. Push back up to starting position, then immediately begin your next rep. Do 12 reps.

No. 2 Squat

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, toes facing forward, and hands gently cupping the sides of your head or up near your shoulders. With weight on heels, slowly bend knees and push hips back to lower into a squat; push your chest out slightly to counterbalance the heavy load on your heels. When knees reach 90 degrees (keep them behind your toes), push back up through your heels to starting position. Do 12 reps.

No. 3 V-up

Lie on your back with arms extended overhead, feet flexed, and heels resting on a wall (or calves on a bench); your legs should be at a 45-degree angle to the ground. Tuck your chin toward your chest, engage your abs, and bring your arms forward as you begin to curl up; try to touch your toes. Slowly uncurl to return to starting position. Do 12 reps.

Circuit 3

No. 1 Triceps dip

Sit on the edge of a bench or chair with your legs extended. Grip the edge with each hand so your fingers face your body. Move your butt forward and off the bench, allowing your knees to bend slightly. Bend your elbows to lower your butt toward the ground, then straighten them to come back up. Do 12 reps.

No. 2 Cobra hold

Lie facedown on the ground with legs extended, arms by your sides, and palms facing up. Keeping your gaze forward and without using your hands or tightening any part of your lower body, slowly raise your chest and shoulders; rotate your thumbs up to bring your shoulder blades closer together. Hold for 60 seconds or as long as you can.

No. 3 Plank

Lie facedown with legs extended and elbows bent and directly under shoulders; clasp your hands. Feet should be hip-width apart, and elbows should be shoulder-width apart. Contract your abs, then tuck your toes to lift your body (forearms remain on the ground); you should be in a straight line from head to heels. Hold for 60 seconds or as long as you can.

Your Essential Guide to Yoga, All Types – FitnessProspector.com

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Finding a yoga class used to be simple. You’d walk into your local gym and there would be The Class. Your choices were few because, well, there weren’t that many people looking to get their om on: In 2001, 4.3 million Americans were hitting the yoga mat; just over a decade later, that number has almost quadrupled to about 16.5 million. Studios, gyms, and rec centers now offer an estimated 800-plus styles to choose from, says Leigh Crews, a spokesperson with the American Council on Exercise. Some of it has to do with yoga’s (well-deserved) reputation for being an excellent stress reliever. But a big part of yoga’s popularity surge is it’s just plain good exercise. Virtually any type of yoga improves strength, flexibility, and balance, explains John P. Porcari, PhD, director of the clinical exercise physiology program at the University of Wisconsin–LaCrosse. “The more intense styles can also help you shape up and trim down.”

Want to take full advantage of that powerful collection of benefits? Read on for everything you need to know, whether you are a  first timer or a regular looking to take your poses to a whole new level.

If you are just beginning or want the best mind/body combo, try Hatha
Poses are straightforward, and the pace unhurried. “You do a pose, come out of it, then do another,” explains Mark Stephens, author of Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques. “It’s an excellent style for beginners.” Props like blocks and bolsters are often used to help you get the right alignment. But it’s not just about the body, as your teacher will also encourage you to focus on breathing, relaxation, and meditation (which may involve chanting). And  all of this mindfulness  has a real-world benefit:  A study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine found that women who practice Hatha yoga once or twice a week recover from stress faster than those who don’t.

If you want to get slim, try Ashtanga Power Yoga
These two provide all the regular benefits of yoga with the fat-blasting bonus of a killer cardio session. Both styles focus on flowing  from one pose to the next without rest—making for a terrific calorie burn (about 500 per hour). “The practice is meant to generate heat in your body,” says Mandy Ingber, the yoga instructor behind Jennifer Aniston’s ageless body. So, yes, you will sweat. A lot. In Ashtanga, the more traditional of the two, you’ll begin with chanting, then follow a sequence of poses (“asanas”) that never changes. In a Power yoga class, the poses vary each time and there’s usually none of the spiritual aspect. A large study in the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine confirms that women get lean in these classes: Practicing yoga of any kind at least once a week for four years or more staves off middle-age spread.

If you want to chill out, try Yin Yoga
Named for the calm half of yin-and-yang, this style requires you to move slowly into poses (most of them seated or lying down), then stay there for up to five minutes to allow for a xdeeper stretch and time to just, well, be. Not surprisingly, Yin yoga is particularly good at activating the part of your nervous system that helps you bounce back from pain and stress, says Sara Gottfried, MD, an integrative physician in Berkeley, California, and author of the forthcoming book The Hormone Cure. Expect meditative music and lots of attention  to breathing, as well as those centers of spiritual energy known as chakras—all elements that add to the serene allure of the practice.

If you’re prone to aches, try Iyengar
As in many types of yoga, the poses you’ll do in an Iyengar class are traditional. The difference is in how those poses are done. Iyengar teachers are trained in biomechanics, so they understand which positions are most likely to cause injuries—and  how to modify them by tweaking your form and showing you how to use props to make them less intense, says Stephens. Plus, a pause between poses (as opposed to flowing from one to the other) allows you to perfect your position, so you’re less likely to strain something. Iyengar may even help you recover from injury. A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that a similar style of yoga, Viniyoga, worked wonders on chronic low back pain in just 12 weeks.

Find the right class: The truth is, you can find a great instructor and class in a church basement, and a questionable  one in a fancy yoga studio. Just keep in mind this rule-of-thumb: Your teacher should be properly trained!

Julianne Hough, “Dancing With The Stars” Star Shows Us How to Dance and Workout.

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Julianne Hough has become a dancing icon in such a short time. She was part of the Dancing With The Stars group. Obviously, she is fit and slim. Enjoy her dancing workouts. Dancing aerobics.

This is a beginners dance workout video that you will enjoy. Start slowly and Julianne is so easy to follow and understand. Guys and Gals will love this. Gals for the workout and guys just to watch Julianne dance.

I have included a second video. Enjoy both of these videos either at the gym with a group or in the privacy of your own home. Then, let me know what you think about these videos. It helps me know what to post.

How To Ged Rid of Belly Fat – FitnessProspector.com

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Your Ab Muscles Along with muscles in the lower back, these key abdominals make up your core.

External Obliques
The outer layer of the abs on your sides; these run diagonally downward.

Internal Obliques
Just underneath the external obliques, these run diagonally up your sides.

Rectus Abdominis
Two paired sheets of muscle from the ribs to the pelvis that flex you forward.

Transversus Abdominis
The deepest ab muscle, which wraps around the waist to support the spine.

Think of your ab muscles as the meat in the middle of a fat sandwich. On top of them is subcutaneous fat, the stuff you pinch as you look in the mirror. Below them is visceral fat, which is the type that takes up residence next to your internal organs — in excessive amounts if you continually overdo it on calories and experience too much pent-up stress. “When you fill up those subcutaneous areas, fat winds up getting stored where it shouldn’t, in your deep abdomen or your liver,” explains Arthur Weltman, PhD, exercise physiology professor at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Visceral fat has been linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, he notes.

But because you don’t have X-ray vision to see whether too much of the potentially dangerous visceral fat is parking itself in your own belly, scientists have figured out a couple of DIY guidelines. To avoid increased risk of obesity-related diseases, women should have a waist measurement no bigger than 35 inches (measure it at the smallest point of your midsection), and some experts recommend a waist-to-hip ratio of around 0.8, meaning that your waistline should be no greater than 80 percent of your hip circumference. According to a Mayo Clinic study released last May, the ratio of waist to hip is believed to be a measurement of visceral fat. Other fascinating research, published in the American Journal of Human Biology, found that women who give birth before age 40 have an average of two centimeters more fat around their bellies than women of the same ages who haven’t given birth. (I’ll have to thank my two daughters for those extra centimeters.)

Just don’t wait until you blow the tape-measure test to start defending your belly from this flab. Step one is to toss the trans fats, which are found in prepackaged treats under the alias partially hydrogenated oils and have been shown to pack on body fat, particularly in the abdomen. Replace them with monounsaturated fats — for example, olive oil and those in walnuts and avocados — which help your body metabolize belly fat. And swig some reduced-fat milk, like 1 percent or skim, while you’re at it: Calcium increases the activity of enzymes that break down fat cells and reduces the stress hormone cortisol, which triggers your body to hoard belly fat.

Step two is to get some calorie-burning cardio exercise. Of course you’ve already heard that pointer often, but Weltman takes this idea one step further, noting that high-intensity aerobic exercise is even more effective at burning off visceral fat than the same amount of low-intensity exercise. In one study, he had overweight women walk or jog five times a week; one group worked out for a longer amount of time at a low intensity, while the other did shorter stints of high-intensity work. Even though each group burned the exact same number of calories in each workout, the high-intensity group melted off more visceral fat. “We speculate that there’s a relation between the intensity of the workout and the amount of growth hormone released, which is a powerful mobilizer of visceral fat,” Weltman says.

The good news, according to Weltman, is that high intensity — the level at which you feel the effort and can no longer hold a conversation — is different for each person. “You may have to run to get to that level, while someone else may just have to jog or walk,” he explains. “It all depends on your level of fitness, but the great thing is, you can do it whether you’re a competitive athlete or just starting out.”

I make a mental note to bust the moves in Zumba class like never before.

Spring into Shape

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In a workout slump? These twoman on a spin bikeips from Motherboard Moms and fitness pros will rev up your exercise motivation.

Peel Back the Layers

“Springtime makes it easy to work out. When you know that you aren’t going to be wearing bulky and concealing clothes much longer, it gives you plenty of inspiration to get going!”
—Kelli W., West Virginia

Do it: Goodbye, sweatpants; hello, jogging shorts! You can run but you can’t hide from (or in) revealing warm weather workout gear — and that’s a good thing, says celebrity personal trainer and food coach Kathy Kaehler (she works with Julia Roberts and Kim Basinger). “As warmer weather approaches, breaking out your summer lineup can motivate you to commit to exercise on a daily basis.”

Boost it: If the tank top that fit you in the fall is feeling a little snug, Kaehler encourages you to squeeze in and bear it: It’s all too easy to revert to stretchy pants or a loose top. “Get used to that too-tight feeling and use it as motivation to hit the gym and watch what you eat,” Kaehler says. Once you’re back in spring shape, reward yourself with some new figure-flattering pieces, like tanks with supportive panels along the torso or molded bra cups, or pants with rear-shaping technology.

Just Show Up!

“I’ve lost 120 pounds in the last two years, but it’s still hard for me to get myself on the treadmill or to go to the park to run. I give myself permission to walk or run only a mile, but once I start, I always go longer — and I’m always so glad I did.”
—Debbie C., Tennessee

Do it: Woody Allen once said, “Half of life is showing up.” Motherboard Mom Debbie C. has figured out that getting herself on the treadmill or to the gym is half the battle. Once there, she’s more likely to work out than waste her time, energy, and money by doing nothing. And once she does start exercising, it kicks up her endorphins as well as her competitive edge, paving the way to fabulous results.

Boost it: Arm yourself with an amped-up playlist. Songs with between 120 and 140 beats per minute, or BPM, can get you working harder and longer, while distracting you from any discomfort. Try Push It by Salt-N-Pepa, Drop It Like It’s Hot by Snoop Dogg, the dance remix of Umbrella by Rihanna, or (flashback!) The Heat Is On by Glenn Frey. “Tell yourself, ‘I’m going to do two songs,’” trainer Kaehler suggests. “With your favorite songs, you’ll be doing two miles in no time.”

Take a Good, Hard Look

“When I start slacking on exercise I stand in my underwear and look at myself in a full-length mirror, front and back. That’s all it takes to get me motivated very quickly!”
—Christyal A., Texas

Do it: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, am I delusional, feeling thin and tall?” There’s nothing more honest than your own reflection to show you where you are on the path to fitness. “Many times, we keep thinking our bodies are who we used to be — more athletic, slimmer, our high-school bodies,” says NBC 5 fitness expert Andrea Metcalf, author of Naked Fitness. “But when we look in the mirror, we reconnect to the reality of the body staring back at us, begging us to do something.”

Boost it: Rather than dwell on the negative, jot down a happy thought about your body and soul, like, “You are woman, inside and out” or “You’re strong and capable,” and post it to your mirror. “Positive affirmations halt and remove the common need to feel ‘perfect,’” says Caitlin Boyle, founder of OperationBeautiful.com and author of Operation Beautiful: Transforming the Way You See Yourself One Post-it Note at a Time.  Overly negative thinking about your body will just crush your spirits and make you feel as if you’re not worth the time or effort required for healthy living.

Rise…and Shine

“Work out early in the day. The later the day gets, the less likely I am to go to the gym. Live an active life—get out and walk the dog every day, take the stairs instead of the elevator.”
—Diane P., New York

Do it: Early birds are more likely to stick to their workout routines than people who wait until the evenings, Metcalf says. More a.m. benefits: You’ll jump-start your metabolism and start the day with a sense of accomplishment, and you’ll sleep better. In fact, a study published in the journal Sleep showed that overweight or obese women who exercised in the morning slept better than those who worked out at night.

Boost it: Adopt a dog! You’ll be forced to wake up early and take a walk, and you can vary your tempo or tackle hills to challenge both of you. Dog owners who regularly walk their four-legged friends are less likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or depression than non-dog owners. High-energy dogs will do the best on long walks: Consider adopting a border collie, Labrador retriever, Jack Russell terrier, or Dalmatian.

Walk This Way

“My trick is simple: I walk wherever and whenever possible. Walking doesn’t feel like exercise but it does the trick. I take pride in wearing fitted dresses to the spring weddings I get invited to. I have to say, turning a few heads at age 41 feels great!”
—Lisa F., New Jersey

Do it: Not many things in life are easy, free, and effective. But walking is! As the American Heart Association’s preferred method of exercise, walking a mile “not only challenges the cardiovascular system, but is as effective as running a mile but with less impact on the body,” says fitness pro Metcalf. Besides burning calories as you make your way from home to work to lunch, regular walking helps lower cholesterol, strengthen bones, and lessen the risk of type 2 diabetes. So that’s why 61 percent of Motherboard Moms say that walking is their favorite spring activity!

Boost it: Try adding an upper-body move, like waist rotations (raise your elbows to shoulder height to engage abs and strengthen delts), or alternate between walking forward, sideways, and backwards — just not in traffic! Or listen to your favorite podcast or a book on tape.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

“My daughter inspires me to exercise. I got her a kids’ yoga DVD and she begs me to put it on for her. She even pulls out the yoga mat. I let her do her yoga and then I am motivated to work out to my own yoga tape.”
—Diana B., Nebraska

Do it: Considering our nation’s dismal childhood obesity statistics — about one-third of American kids and teens are overweight or obese — any chance to do something active with a little one is beneficial. And when you work out, you’re modeling a smart lifelong habit for the next generation while ensuring you’ll be around to watch them grow up.

Boost it: Take the mother-daughter bonding out of the house: Mixing up the settings and trying something different will prevent boredom. You can have wheelbarrow races in the backyard or play hopscotch. Volunteer to coach her softball or soccer team. If you’re the daughter in this scenario, convince your mom to try something new: Theresa Hill, 27, of Chicago, kept gushing about how much she was enjoying her triathlon training and how “anyone can do it” until her mom — who is 55 — eventually said, “Hey, maybe I should try.” The two now swim, run, and bike together when possible in preparation for their sprint triathlon in the fall.

Book It

“I set a specific time to work out as if I have an appointment. I also attend classes at the gym so that each day is something different, whether it’s kickboxing or yoga. That keeps me from getting bored. I enjoy the classes so much that I don’t even realize that I’m working out. And the weight is just falling off!”
—Yvette C., Florida

Do it: You wouldn’t blow off dinner with your BFF to watch The Bachelor, would you? Of course not, because you two made a date weeks ago and wrote it down in your calendars. Doing the same for your workouts is effective because it holds you accountable, explains Nikki Kimbrough, a Gold’s Gym fitness expert and personal trainer based in New York City. And variety keeps you motivated to continue booking appointments. “Once you start to get bored, even subconsciously, you’ll start to make excuses to not exercise.”

Boost it: Keep mixing things up with cardio, weight lifting, stretching, and classes. Maybe try Zumba on Monday, a yogalates class Tuesday, circuit training Wednesday, running with a girlfriend Thursday, and lap swimming Friday. Not only will your motivation remain high, but your body will show faster results.

You’ve Got a Friend

“The best motivator for me is to sign up for a class or a gym membership. If I’ve paid for it, I will hit the gym at least three days a week. Having a workout buddy also helps. The two of you can keep each other accountable.”
—Heidi B., California

Do it: When it comes to working out, you’ll get by with a little help from your friends. According to Metcalf, people who have strong social support for their weight-loss goals have an 80 percent chance of success, versus just 10 percent for those on their own. “Buddy systems and putting your money where your mouth is will give you a better success opportunity than going it alone,” she says.

Boost it: Up the fun factor and plan an “exercise date” to the park. Play tag, monkey around the jungle gym, or race each other around the baseball diamond. You can even challenge more friends to join you for a group workout, then head out for a healthful brunch afterwards as your reward.

Dress for Success

“My best tip for those days when you just don’t have the motivation is to put on your workout clothes and shoes anyway. I do this and sooner or later I get the urge to go out and run. It’s amazing how it works.”
—Kristin D., Hawaii

Do it: “I completely agree!” says trainer Kaehler. “I live in my exercise clothes and, yes, it makes you more likely to take a class or head out the door and take a walk, or get on the floor and do some exercises during a commercial.” When you’ve completed one step of the process — getting dressed — it makes the second step — doing it! — that much easier.

Boost it: Stash a pair of running shoes or cross-trainers and a fresh workout outfit in your car and by your bed. They’ll serve as a constant reminder of your goals and will eliminate the ever-so-common “But I don’t have my stuff!” excuse.

Just Kidding Around

“Since my dear little boy hit 18 months old, my exercise routine includes the following: Deep-knee bends (picking up toys and tossed food off of the floor), weight lifting (into and out of the bouncer, the high chair, the tub), aerobics (attempting to get a diaper on, dancing to Sesame Street songs), and running (in the yard, through stores, across the park). If you pay attention to how you move, you can exercise all day long when you have a young one.”
—Alicia M., Michigan

Do it: As a mom of three, Metcalf loves this tip. “When you’re time-starved, you have to be creative,” she says. “Making your life work with your exercise is crucial.” But you don’t need a toddler to buff up (although Julie Bowen attributes her ripped arms to lugging around her 22-month-old twin sons, John and Gus). New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that women who cobble together 150 minutes of weekly activity—including basketball, running, brisk walking, or, yes, housework—tend to be six pounds lighter than their less-active counterparts over a 20-year span.

Boost it: Incinerate more calories by setting a timer and doing traditional chores like making the bed or picking up clothes at a timed pace. Metcalf says that at a quick clip, you can burn 100 calories by sweeping for 22 minutes, raking leaves for 20 minutes, playing vigorously with your kids (think tag or dancing) for 22 minutes, or doing general housecleaning for 30 minutes.

Get Competitive

“We had a contest at my work between about 20 women, kind of Biggest Loser style. It really got me motivated. I was getting on the elliptical every night, watching what I ate, etc. When it was all over, I didn’t win the contest…but [after] about six months, I’d lost about 30 pounds.”
—Heather L., Nebraska

Do it: Attention, mouse potatoes: A new study in Preventive Medicine suggests that sitting at your desk all day adds extra pounds around your waist—the worst place for them to accumulate, healthwise. Staging a contest taps into your innate competitive spirit, keeping you motivated and focused on the end goal. Because nobody wants to finish last, you’re more likely to hit the gym regularly and watch your nutrition, Kimbrough says. And like Motherboard reader Heather L., even if you don’t lose the most pounds, you’ll still win!

Boost it: Bring a healthful meal and snacks from home to avoid getting derailed by the coffee cake and donuts that seem to magically appear within 10 feet of your cubicle every day. Pack a lunch that combines lean protein, carbs, and a little fat, like a salad with 4 to 5 ounces of grilled chicken or tuna and as many green veggies (spinach, broccoli, cucumbers, peppers) as you like, or a whole wheat tortilla filled with a few tablespoons of hummus, spinach, sliced tomatoes, feta cheese, and black olives. For a snack, try low-fat Greek yogurt, a handful of almonds and dried cranberries, or two hard-boiled eggs.

Bootylicious Butt Workout

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Firm, lift, and de-dimple your behind in 15 minutes.
Single Sky Bridge

Single Sky BridgeWhat you’ll need: A sturdy chair
Targets: Lower back, butt, and hamstrings

Lie faceup on floor with legs extended and heels resting on the seat of a chair, arms by sides, palms down.
Lift right leg straight over hip, foot flexed. Slowly lift hips off floor until body forms a straight line from left heel to left shoulder; lower.Do 20 reps, keeping leg lifted, then lower butt to floor. Switch legs; repeat.

Tree Twist

Targets: Hips, butt, and calves

Stand on tiptoes, feet together, a couple of feet behind chair, hands on top of chair back.
Keeping back flat, hinge forward slightly from waist and lift bent left knee to hip level in front of you, left foot by right knee.

Step-Up, Kick-Back

Step-Up Kick Back ATargets: Hips, butt, quads, hamstrings, and calves

Stand facing chair, feet hip-width apart, hands on hips.
Step onto seat with right foot and lift bent left knee to hip level in front of you.
Hinge forward slightly from waist and kick left leg behind you. Bring knee back to hip level as you straighten up.

 

Sky Squat

Targets: Butt, quads, hamstrings, and calves

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides.
Squat slowly (count to 4 on the way down) until both knees are bent 90 degrees and raise straight arms to shoulder level in front of you.

Squat Dip

Squat DipTargets: Butt, quads, and hamstrings

Stand  two feet from front of chair, facing away, feet hip-width apart, hands on hips.
Lift left leg and place top of left foot on seat behind you.
Lower into a single-leg squat, keeping right knee behind right toes and dipping left knee toward the floor; straighten right leg to stand.
Do 15 reps; switch legs and repeat.

The Top 10 Best Workout DVD’s of 2012

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Jackie Warner and Bob Harper Workout DVDsWe asked more than 100 women to sweat-test the latest titles. Here, check out the top picks to fast-forward your best body.

1. Awesome Ab Blaster: Intermediate/Advanced

Bob Harper: Totally Ripped Core, $15, mytrainerbob.com

What you’ll need: a pair of 3- to 5-pound dumbbells

Calories burned: 380 during a 48-minute routine, 65 during an 11-minute bonus*

The skinny: Testers loved the “fun mix of fast-paced core exercises,” like weighted side crunches, and muffin-top-melting plyometric bursts from The Biggest Loser‘s master motivator. They also gave a thumbs-up to the on-screen countdown clock; it helped them push through the full routine, which made one reader “‘good’ sore every time I completed it.” Finish with the stretchy bonus session, which includes trunk rotations and windmills.

2. Supershaper: Intermediate

Personal Training with Jackie: 30 Day Fast Start, $15, amazon.com

What you’ll need: a pair of 3-pound dumbbells, a pair of 5-pound dumbbells, a yoga mat

Calories burned: 132 to 137 per 24-minute routine

The skinny: Nonstop supersets of sculpting moves “definitely make you feel the burn.” Start with one rep of a biceps curl and then do one push-up. Keep adding another rep, alternating sets, until you’ve reached 10 reps of each. The two routines are split into an upper-body session and a lower-body and core combo. Celebrity trainer Jackie Warner’s “encouraging” style will make you want to “do it over and over.”

3. Mega Calorie Melter: Advanced

Amy Dixon: Breathless Body, $20, amazon.com

What you’ll need: no equipment

Calories burned: 515 during a 55-minute routine

The skinny: “Breathless Body is definitely a fitting title” for Amy Dixon’s cardio interval workout based on the Tabata method; it will have you “sweating during the very first drill.” Crank out as many reps as possible of one move, like burpees or high knees, for 20 seconds, rest for 10 and repeat seven times before moving on to the next exercise. Three levels of intensity are modeled, so you can choose how turbo you go. The options inspired one reader to make “a goal of finishing the entire DVD on the highest level.”

4. Best Trouble-Zone Tamer: Intermediate

The Bar Method Super Sculpting Workout, $20, barmethod.com

What you’ll need: a pair of 2- to 4-pound dumbbells, a yoga strap, a 7-inch playground ball, a chair

Calories burned: 287 during 59-minute routine

The skinny: If you’re looking for a bar workout or to go beyond your usual Pilates, try this head-to-toe toning session that’s built on small, precise movements. The moves may “seem subtle” – you’ll do one-inch lifts or squeeze a playground ball between your knees as a leg exercise, for instance — but “they really target the upper arms, thighs, and hips.”

5. Perfect Circuit: Intermediate/Advanced

Jillian Michaels: Ripped in 30 $15, amazon.com

What you’ll need: a pair of 3- to 8-pound dumbbells

Calories burned: 222 to 250 calories per 24-minute workout

The skinny: Jillian Michaels’ winning formula? Strength-and-cardio sessions built on three minutes of toning (like alternating lunges with biceps curls), two minutes of cardio (speed skaters), and one minute of ab moves (elbow-to-knee planks). Follow one of four half-hour workouts each week from the “motivating,” no-excuses former Biggest Loser trainer for a “sweat-tastic” routine. One new-mom tester found that “the quick workout options are perfect for burning calories during naptime or before work.”

6. Kickboxing Champ: Intermediate

Billy Blanks: PT 24/7 $90, billyblankspt247.com

What you’ll need: fingerless boxing gloves, resistance tubing (both included in DVD set)

Calories burned: 269 to 309 per 30-minute disc

The skinny: “Charismatic” martial arts phenom Billy Blanks is back with Tae Bo 2.0. You’ll feel as if you “really accomplish something in 30 minutes.” Besides the “inventive” bands and gloves that add resistance to each workout, the kit comes with a nutrition guide and a calendar suggesting which of the seven workout discs to pop in so you “don’t have to think about which to do next.”

7. Total-Body Time-Saver: Beginner/Intermediate

10 Pounds Down: Better Body Blast $15, amazon.com

What you’ll need: a pair of 5-pound dumbbells, a yoga mat

Calories burned: 62 to 189 calories per 20-minute routine

The skinny: Choose from three 20-minute target-toning routines — arms, abs, legs — which are “easy to fit into a busy schedule,” or do them back-to-back for a “megaworkout.” Alternate between “killer” strength exercises, like side lunges with knee raises and kickboxing-inspired cardio blasts that “keep my heart rate up.” Trainer Jessica Smith offers “many variations I’ve never seen before,” such as an on-all-fours bicycle crunch.

8. Yoga Master: Beginner/Intermediate

Shiva Rea: More Daily Energy $20, acacialifestyle.com

What you’ll need: a yoga mat

Calories burned: 173 during 65-minute “lunar” routine, 227 during 85-minute “solar” routine

The skinny: Expect a gentle mat session from the longtime yogi and rock star of asanas, Shiva Rea. Broken down into mix-and match 7- to 20-minute segments, this “meditational” yoga workout is “perfect for days off from cardio” and “helped me feel less sore after my other workouts.” The sequences “get the kinks out of your neck and back” after a long day at the office.

9. Best Boredom Buster: Intermediate/Advanced

Cathe Friedrich: Slide & Glide $23, shop.cathe.com

What you’ll need: a pair of gliding disks or paper plates, a resistance band loop, a yoga mat

Calories burned: 346 during 52-minute routine

The skinny: Get a “superb workout without the impact” thanks to “unique” strength and cardio moves using gliding disks (or paper plates on a carpeted floor). The “quick pace” and upper- and lower-body combination moves, like squat thrusts, use gliders under your feet so you slide rather than jump. Workout DVD veteran Cathe Friedrich even incorporates gliders in an ingenious cool-down that allows you to “slide past your sticking point” during stretches.

10. Lower-Body Transformer: Intermediate/Advanced

Tonique Mat Workout $19, amazon.com

What you’ll need: a yoga mat

Calories burned: 63 to 101 calories per 17- to 27-minute routine

The skinny: These three butt- and leg-firming workouts are efficient — just 17, 22, and 27 minutes long — as they’ll max out your muscles with high-repetition on-the-mat moves, like bridges and donkey kicks. They had one tester swear, “I think I’m still burning!” well after the workout ended. Instructor Sylwia Wiesenberg makes the routine “seem effortless,” but one tester bets you “can’t finish without taking a break.” It’s worth the effort: “If you stick with it, you’ll look and feel great.”

Yoga Can Change Your Life, Lose Weight, Reduce Stress and Tone Your Mind and Body.

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I’m back again touting the benefits of yoga. For those of us who participate, it’s life changing. Check it out.

Yoga has become such a popular exercise program and lifestyle. I have included a great article from Web MD about all the benefits of yoga. There are so many. For someone in a weight loss program, it helps your focus and offers super exercise. I always recommend cardio exercise as well as yoga. This can be just getting out and walking.

Yoga is so much more than physical that the article discusses. The mental side of yoga is so important to a healthy life. It always you the chance to escape the stresses of our normal lives.

Finally, I included a few Yoga videos that will introduce you to the practice. Try them. Go at your own pace and make yoga part of your weekly ritual. You will love it.

The Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and currently, close to 11 million Americans are enjoying its health benefits. Yoga can hardly be called a trend.

Most Westernized yoga classes focus on learning physical poses, which are called asanas. They also usually include some form of breathing technique and possibly a meditation technique as well. Some yoga classes are designed purely for relaxation. But there are styles of yoga that teach you how to move your body in new ways. Choosing one of these styles offers the greatest health benefits by enabling you to develop your flexibility, strength, and balance.

Even though for most healthy people yoga is a safe non-aerobic form of exercise, it is not without its risks. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the yoga injuries most commonly treated in emergency rooms involve overstretching and strain from repetition to the neck, shoulders, spine, legs, knees.

Also, certain poses can increase your risk of injury if you have conditions such as:

severe osteoporosis
high or low blood pressure
ear problems
problems with your spine
pregnant (including risks to your unborn child)
Here are some tips to help you reduce your risk of injury from yoga:

If you are pregnant or have a pre-existing health condition: Consult your health care provider before starting a yoga program. Your health care provider can help you know how to judge what type and level of yoga exercise is safe for you.

Don’t try learning yoga on your own. Work with an experienced and credentialed instructor to learn the proper way to perform the exercises and avoid injury.

Yoga is not a substitute for medical care. Yoga offers many health benefits and may even be included as part of some treatment plans. But it’s still important to work closely with your regular health care providers and get proper treatment when you need it.

Know your limits and stay within them. Before beginning any new type of yoga, ask about its physical demands. Find out how strenuous it is. Talk with the instructor and others who do that type of yoga to be sure it’s suitable for you.

Go slow. You’re not in competition with anyone else in the class. Learn the basics, such as proper breathing and how to maintain balance, before you attempt the more ambitious stretches.

Warm up properly before every session. Cold muscles increase your chance of injury.

Wear proper clothing. Wear clothes that allow you to move freely.

Ask questions. If you don’t understand an exercise, ask to see it again before you attempt it yourself,

Stay hydrated. That’s especially important if you are practicing what’s called “hot” yoga, which is done in a very warm and humid room.

Pay attention to what your body is telling you. Yoga isn’t supposed to hurt. If you feel pain, stop. If the pain persists, see your health care provider. Stop immediately if you have chest pain, feel faint or overheated, or become dizzy. Get immediate medical help if the sensation continues after you stop.

Yoga and Flexibility

When some people think of yoga, they imagine having to stretch like a gymnast. That makes them worry that they’re too old, unfit, or “tight” to do yoga. The truth is you’re never too old to improve flexibility.

The series of yoga poses called asanas work by safely stretching your muscles. This releases the lactic acid that builds up with muscle use and causes stiffness, tension, pain, and fatigue. In addition, yoga increases the range of motion in joints. It may also increase lubrication in the joints. The outcome is a sense of ease and fluidity throughout your body.

Yoga stretches not only your muscles but all of the soft tissues of your body. That includes ligaments, tendons, and the fascia sheath that surrounds your muscles. And no matter your level of yoga, you most likely will see benefits in a very short period of time. In one study, participants had up to 35% improvement in flexibility after only eight weeks of yoga. The greatest gains were in shoulder and trunk flexibility.

Yoga and Strength

Some styles of yoga, such as ashtanga and power yoga, are more vigorous than others. Practicing one of these styles will help you improve muscle tone.

But even less vigorous styles of yoga, such as Iyengar or hatha, which focuses on less movement and more precise alignment in poses, can provide strength and endurance benefits.

Many of the poses, such as downward dog, upward dog, and the plank pose, build upper-body strength. This becomes crucial as people age. The standing poses, especially if you hold them for several long breaths, build strength in your hamstrings, quadriceps, and abdominal muscles. Poses that strengthen the lower back include upward dog and the chair pose. When practiced correctly, nearly all poses build core strength in the deep abdominal muscles.

Yoga Can Help Posture

With increased flexibility and strength comes better posture. Most standing and sitting poses develop core strength. That’s because you’re counting on your deep abdominals to support and maintain each pose. With a stronger core, you’re more likely to sit and stand “tall.” Another benefit of yoga is the increased body awareness. This heightened awareness tells you more quickly when you’re slouching or slumping so you can adjust your posture.

Yoga Benefits Breathing

Because of the deep, mindful breathing that yoga involves, lung capacity often improves. This in turn can improve sports performance and endurance. But yoga typically isn’t focused on aerobic fitness the way running or cycling are. Taking an intense power yoga class that gets you breathing hard in a heated room, however, can provide an aerobic benefit.

Most forms of yoga emphasize deepening and lengthening your breath. This stimulates the relaxation response — the opposite of the fight-or-flight adrenaline boost of the stress response.

Yoga Means Less Stress, More Calm

Even beginners tend to feel less stressed and more relaxed after their first class. Some yoga styles use specific meditation techniques to quiet the constant “mind chatter” that often underlies stress. Other yoga styles depend on deep breathing techniques to focus the mind on the breath. When this happens, the mind calms.

Among yoga’s anti-stress benefits are a host of biochemical responses. For example, there is a decrease in catecholamines, the hormones produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Lowering levels of hormone neurotransmitters — dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine — creates a feeling of calm. Some research points to a boost in the hormone oxytocin. This is the so-called “trust” and “bonding” hormone that’s associated with feeling relaxed and connected to others.

Yoga, Concentration, and Mood

Harder to pin down and research scientifically, concentration and the ability to focus mentally are common benefits you’ll hear yoga students talk about. The same is true with mood. Nearly every yoga student will tell you they feel happier and more contented after class. Recently, researchers have begun exploring the effects of yoga on depression, a benefit that may result from yoga’s boosting oxygen levels to the brain. Yoga is even being studied as an adjunct therapy to relieve symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Yoga’s Benefits the Heart

Perhaps one of the most studied areas of the health benefits of yoga is its effect on heart disease. Yoga has long been known to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. A slower heart rate can benefit people with high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Yoga was a key component to the heart disease program designed by Dean Ornish, MD. This was the first program to partly reverse heart disease through lifestyle and diet rather than surgery. On a biochemical level, studies point to a possible anti-oxidant effect of yoga. And yoga has been associated with decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as a boost in immune system function.

Yoga’s Effects on Other Medical Conditions

As yoga has become more popular in the West, medical researchers have begun studying the benefits of therapeutic yoga. This is also called integrative yoga therapy or IYT. It’s used as an adjunct treatment for specific medical conditions, from clinical depression to heart disease. Yoga benefits other chronic medical conditions, relieving symptoms of asthma, back pain, and arthritis. Most worldwide clinical studies are happening outside of the U.S. But even the NIH has funded clinical trials on yoga and its health benefits for insomnia and multiple sclerosis.

Other Benefits of Yoga

Some studies have suggested that yoga may have a positive effect on learning and memory. Other researchers have been studying whether yoga can slow the aging process, increase a person’s sense of self-acceptance, or improve energy levels.

Some potential benefits of yoga may be hard to study scientifically. For instance, yoga has been said to increase spiritual awareness. Nevertheless, there is an abundance of anecdotal claims for what yoga can do. Go to any yoga studio and listen to students after class. Some will even tell you that yoga can help improve marriages and relationships at work.

The only way to be certain of all that yoga can do for you is to try it for yourself and see.

http://www.BeBalancedEnergy.com Make a BeBalanced Energy bracelet or Energy watch part of your yoga attire. They help increase energy, flexibility and balance. Just like Yoga.

The Ultimate Flab-Fighting Workout, Tone Your Whole Body

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 Resistance bands turn up the calorie burn and sculpting power of Tae Bo.
Jab Cross

What you’ll need: two resistance bands

Targets back, arms, abs, obliques, and legs

  • Tie ends of a resistance band together to make a loop. Stand with feet hip-width apart and place band around ankles. Step back with right leg until you feel resistance in band, knees slightly bent.
  • Wrap second band around upper back and grip ends with fists (wrap band around fists to pick up slack). Bend elbows by ribs; bring fists to chin level.
  • Punch forward with left arm, palm down, and then bring arm back to start.
  • Pivot toward left on toes of right foot as you punch right arm forward, slightly toward left, palm down. Return to start.
  • Do 3 sets of 8 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Jab Cross exercise

Uppercut Twist

Targets back, shoulders, arms, abs, obliques, and legs

  • Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, looped band around ankles; wrap second band around upper back, elbows bent by ribs, fists holding ends of band in front of chin.
  • Pivot on right foot toward left and squat slightly as you uppercut with right arm, bringing fist back by ribs and then scooping it diagonally upward to left.
  • Return to start and repeat uppercut with left arm, pivoting on left foot toward right.
  • Do 3 sets of 8 reps, alternating sides.

Uppercut Twist exercise

Power Kick

Targets butt and legs

  • Standing, wrap looped band twice around right ankle, then step left foot into loop. Wrap second band around upper back, elbows bent by ribs, fists holding ends.
  • Lower into a squat.
  • Rising up on left leg, kick right leg forward a few inches off floor.

Power Kick Exercise

Double Butterfly

Targets shoulders, arms, chest, butt, and legs

  • Undo looped band and retie ends to form a smaller loop. Stand with feet together, knees slightly bent; place band around ankles. Wrap second band around upper back, elbows bent by ribs, fists holding ends in front of chest, palms up.

Double Butterfly Exercise

Crunch and Punch

  • Sit on floor with knees bent, heels on floor, and wrap band around upper back, elbows bent by ribs, fists holding ends of band in front of chest.
  • Recline torso 45 degrees and, maintaining position throughout, punch left arm toward outside of right knee, palm down.
  • Retract left arm and quickly punch right arm toward outside of left knee.
  • Do 3 sets of 8 reps, alternating sides.

Crunch and Punch exercise

 

5 Ways to Stop Stomach Bloat

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We’ve all been there: days when you feel as bloated as the blow-up Shrek in the Macy’s parade. Okay, sometimes you know that having that third helping of your sister’s peach cobbler wasn’t the best idea. But when you’re eating right and exercising regularly but still can’t zip up your skinny jeans, what gives? “One of the main causes of bloat isn’t how much you eat; it’s eating certain foods that are difficult for your stomach and intestines to digest,” explains Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a dietitian in Sarasota, Florida, and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “These substances then pass into your colon, where bacteria feed on them, producing the gas bubbles that make your stomach swell up.” About 20 percent of adults experience bloating, according to one study from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, but “anecdotally that number is much higher. Most women I see in my practice complain about bloat at one time or another,” Dr. Gerbstadt says. “The good news is that with some simple diet and lifestyle changes, you can reverse that bloated feeling, fast.” Start with these smart tips, which can help you flatten your belly for good.

1. Lace up

If your waistband feels snug after dinner, head outside for a brisk 10-minute walk. Physical activity helps air bubbles pass through your digestive tract quicker, explains Dr. Gerbstadt, so that bloated feeling will disappear faster than if you lounge on the couch. In fact, one of the worst things you can do on “fat” days is skip your workout: Moderate exercise, like biking for 30 minutes three times a week, significantly improved bloating and other symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome in a new Swedish study.

2. Pop a probiotic

Sometimes bloating can be caused by an imbalance of the bacteria in your intestines, especially if you have been taking antibiotics to treat, say, a urinary tract infection or sinus infection, explains Sita Chokhavatia, MD, a gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Probiotics can help restore the bacterial balance, but not all brands have proven that they work: Bifidobacterium infantis is the only probiotic strain that studies show relieves GI symptoms, such as bloating, a Northwestern University review found. Dr. Chokhavatia recommends trying a two-week course to see if it helps.

3. Divide your dairy

More than one in 10 adults are lactose intolerant, and bloat is a common side effect, according to a 2009 Baylor College of Medicine study. But if you suspect that milk, yogurt, and other dairy products are causing your belly bulge, you don’t have to worry that you’ll miss out on their benefits, namely lots of calcium and protein. Lactose-intolerant people can handle at least 12 grams of lactose (the amount in a cup of milk) with minor or no symptoms, researchers at the National Institutes of Health say. “For people with lactose concerns, I recommend they spread their dairy intake throughout the day — say, a half cup of milk with their breakfast cereal, and cheese with crackers in the afternoon,” says Tara Gidus, RD, a nutritionist in Orlando, Florida. “Choose dairy that comes from yogurt and hard cheeses, such as cheddar and provolone, which are digested more easily.” If even small amounts of dairy cause stomach upset, switch to lactose-reduced or lactose-free products.

4. Just breathe

If you’ve ever had an urgent need to find a bathroom before a big race or presentation, you’re no stranger to the internal effects of stress. “When you’re anxious, your body releases cortisol and adrenaline, hormones that stimulate your digestive system,” explains Yuri Saito, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The result: You experience more gas, bloating, and even the runs. Compounding matters, stress causes many people to overeat or eat the “wrong” things, Dr. Saito notes, adding extra fuel to their overstimulated digestive system. If you can’t eliminate the stressful circumstance, you may be able to manage it through cognitive behavior therapy or hypnotherapy; these two mind-body techniques are surprisingly effective in treating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, including bloating, a 2009 Canadian review found. Meditation or simple mindful breathing can also offer some relief. Practice it at home for a few minutes every day: Sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and inhale through your nose for a count of 10. Focus on breathing deep and sitting tall. Exhale through your mouth in a controlled, purposeful fashion for 10 counts. Repeat 10 times.

5. Fine-tune your fiber

A lot of cereals are advertised as being high in fiber, which should be good for your digestive system, right? Not always. Certain products add fiber in the form of chicory root, or inulin, which is harder to digest, says Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, a wellness manager for the Cleveland Clinic Lifestyle 180 program. In fact, people who eat large amounts of inulin (10 grams) at one time end up experiencing more gas and bloating than those who eat less, researchers at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul found. Your best bet: Get your fiber from fruits and vegetables and whole-grain rice, pasta, and bread rather than from packaged high-fiber products. And check the labels on your favorite cereals, cookies, and granola bars: If they contain chicory fiber, they most likely have inulin.

15 Great Ways to Lose Weight Fast!

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Want to lose weight fast? It’s easy to say goodbye to 10 pounds of unwanted fat with these easy diet tips. Just pay attention to what you eat and be sure to have good tasting, fresh and healthy food including snacks, fill up on vegetables and keep your taste buds happy with fruit.

No need to make sacrifices! Just follow these simple guidelines to lose your first 10 pounds, last 10 pounds or give your weight loss program a boost when it seems to have stuttered to a halt. This is a balanced and flexible plan that you can use for as long as you want.

1. Keep a note of everything that you eat and drink. You do not need to estimate calories. Just write down what it was that you had and the approximate quantity. You will find that being more aware of what you are eating helps you to plan healthy meals and snacks.

2. Halve your intake of all pure or added fats. This means using half as much butter or spread on your bread, toast, muffins and potatoes; half the usual amount of mayonnaise or sauce on your salad; and half the oil in the frypan every time.

3. Limit treats containing sugar to three times per week. This includes chocolate, ice cream, desserts, cake, pastries, cookies, etc.

4. Include a lower fat source of protein at most meals: chicken, fish, beans, cottage cheese, or low fat yogurt. Have eggs, nuts and red meat occasionally but not every day.

5. Plan at least one lunch and dinner every week without meat or cheese. Build those meals around whole grains, vegetables and beans to increase fiber and reduce fat.

6. Reduce the fat content in your milk products. If you are currently drinking whole milk, reduce to 2% fat. From 2% reduce to 1%. Choose lower fat cheese and yogurt. When you buy yogurt, also check that it does not contain sugar.

7. Have at least two servings of fruit every day. This can be for dessert or snacks. Choose fruit that is in season.

8. Drink water instead of sodas, juices, milky drinks or alcohol. Avoid diet soda – the sweet taste only encourages you to crave sugar. Hot water with a slice of lemon can be very refreshing in the morning.

9. Include at least two servings of vegetables at lunch and dinner. If you are getting hungry, have more.

10. Eat slowly. The body is slow to register when you are full and it is easy to eat too much if you are racing through your meals.

11. Grated carrot makes a great snack. You will find that a grated carrot is much more filling than a whole carrot. Strange but true.

12. Use whole grains wherever possible. The fiber will give you a fuller feeling and also help your digestion.

13. Choose food that you can chew. Again this will increase your fiber intake, and the act of chewing will make you feel more satisfied too. This means eating fruit instead of drinking juice. If you have soup, make sure it is chunky.

14. Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. Plan your shopping too – make a list of what you need and stick to it. If you just grab something when you are feeling hungry, you will probably choose high calorie food.

15. Always switch off the TV when you eat. That includes snacks as well as meals. Studies have proved that we eat larger portions in front of the TV, probably because we are much less aware of what we are eating. When you eat, only eat if you want to lose weight fast.

Cold Proof Your Winter…

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…So you can continue to stay active. Discover the sneaky culprits that can bust your immunity — and the proven strategies to instantly boost it.

Sneaky Cold Culprits

Colds are not sexy. But did you know that your sex plays a role in whether you catch one?

Young women fight off colds better than young men do, a new Australian study revealed. However, the gender advantage, which researchers suspect is related to hormones, disappears after menopause.

And decades before that, your immunity begins to wane in other ways. As you get older, some of your key defenses against colds and the flu, called naive immune system cells, dwindle, and this may contribute to an increased risk for getting infections and catching viruses. “The younger you are, the more naive immune system cells you have,” says Rohit Katial, MD, director of allergy and immunology clinical services at National Jewish Health Hospital in Denver. “Every time you encounter an illness, these cells build immunity against the infection. When you come into contact with the same virus in the future, your immune system reacts stronger and faster, so you may not get sick at all.” Unfortunately our bodies produce fewer new naive immune cells every year, making us less equipped to fight new germs, he says.

Your everyday habits can further chip away at your defenses. Check out the most surprising health saboteurs and learn how to boost your immunity and stay sniffle-free all season.

Cold culprit: Your sneakers are in hibernation.

Short days and frigid weather make it tempting to blow off workouts, but if you do, your immune system will suffer. People who exercised at least five days a week had 43 percent fewer days with a cold during the fall and winter than those who broke a sweat less often, according to a study from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. That’s because during exercise and for three hours afterward, your body steps up the production of important germ-fighting cells called neutrophils. “Every time you work out, you’re protecting yourself against getting sick,” says study author David Nieman. Aim for two and a half hours of moderate physical activity weekly, such as doing your favorite workout DVD or walking. But don’t overdo it. In a study, marathon runners who logged 60 miles a week or more were twice as likely to come down with colds as those who ran less. “Doing any kind of vigorous exercise for 90 minutes or more at a time can put your body at risk for illness,” Nieman says. “At that threshold, your body perceives exercise as a stressor, and your immune system doesn’t function well.”

Cold culprit: You’re feeling crazed at work.

“Chronic stress creates biochemical changes in the body that cause the immune system to function less efficiently,” says Sandra A. Fryhofer, MD, a FITNESS advisory board member. To tame work tension, ask a coworker out to lunch or to join you for a short walk whenever you feel frazzled. “During social interactions our bodies release hormones, like oxytocin, that reduce levels of the stress chemicals cortisol and adrenaline,” says Sharon Toker, PhD, a researcher at Tel Aviv University in Israel who found that employees with strong relationships at work live longer than those who don’t have them.

Cold culprit: Pumpkin-spice lattes are your only source of vitamin D.

Seventy-seven percent of American adults are deficient in D, and they’re 24 to 36 percent more likely to catch colds than people with higher concentrations of it, according to a recent study from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora. “Without adequate levels of vitamin D, immune cells produce fewer antibacterial proteins and are less efficient at killing viruses and bacteria,” says study author Adit Ginde, MD. Get 1,000 international units of the vitamin a day by filling up on D-rich foods, such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, and sardines) and fortified milk and cereals, or by taking a daily supplement, Dr. Fryhofer says. Be sure to also spoon up plenty of D-fortified yogurt, which is rich in good-for-you probiotic bacteria. Research has shown that people who consumed probiotics regularly were 42 percent less likely to suffer from an upper respiratory tract infection than those who took a placebo.

Cold culprit: You wear flannel pj’s to bed every night.

Get in the mood by regularly slipping into some silky, sexy sleepwear instead. People who have sex once or twice a week have a 30 percent higher concentration of disease-fighting immunoglobin A in their bodies, researchers at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, found. This antibody — the first line of defense against colds — forms a barrier to pathogens, like viruses. It also binds to any pathogens that slip through and signals the immune system to destroy them. “During sex the body releases a surge of endorphins that strengthen the immune system, which probably accounts for the increase in immunoglobin A,” say study author Carl Charnetski, PhD.

Cold culprit: You have the pizza delivery place on speed dial.

To stay fit this winter, reach for comfort foods that are loaded with fruits and veggies. “Without enough nutrients from produce, your immune system is ill equipped to prevent viruses from replicating and, in turn, making you sick,” says Joel Fuhrman, MD, author of Super Immunity. Incorporate green vegetables — especially spinach, kale, collard greens, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, and broccoli — into at least two meals every day. “Greens are packed with isothiocyanates, compounds that activate white blood cells, which fend off viruses and heighten the germ-fighting ability of natural killer cells,” Dr. Fuhrman says. Cold-proofing your diet is easier than you think: Eat more salads and add leafy greens to soups and pasta dishes or top your pizza with them.

Cold culprit: You cocoon all winter long.

Curling up on the couch seems like a good way to shield yourself from illness, but it’s not: Going out to hang with friends may actually keep you healthier. When researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh exposed study participants to a cold virus, social butterflies with a lot of friends, work pals, and exercise buddies were less likely to get sick than homebodies. Part of the reason may be that supersocial people tend to take better care of themselves; they are healthier eaters and exercise more, says study author Sheldon Cohen, PhD, professor of psychology. So make a point to reply yes to as many invitations as you can, and schedule weekly dates with your BFFs.

How Celebrities Got Red Carpet Ready for the Golden Globe Awards

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Last night the red carpet was rolled out and Hollywood’s top stars strut down the walk of fame for this year’s Golden Globe awards. As the cameras roll and pictures are captured, the stars wanted to be looking their best.

Funny man Ricky Gervais hosted this year’s Golden Globes again. While his zingers are what gain him the most attention, he has been noticed for his weight loss this year too. Gervais has dropped about 20 pounds recently. He credits his girlfriend for the success. While attempting to lose weight herself, she began cooking healthier for them both. In addition, Gervais began running. So the tried and true combo of exercising more and eating less has made Gervais ready to look trim in his tux as he notoriously slams celebrities on Sunday night.

The nominees for best performance by an actor in a motion picture include many “A-List” actors including George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt. These screen veterans are no strangers to the lime light and they tend to make sure they are camera fit at all times.

George Clooney stays fit by following a balanced diet. He eats high protein foods, lots of fruit and vegetables, and keeps his fat and carb intake low. Clooney’s exercise routine includes aerobics and yoga. Clooney does 90 minute Bikram, or “hot yoga” sessions, even while filming. The hot yoga can speed up metabolism and burn fat faster.

Leonardo DiCaprio received a lot of attention for his dramatic weight loss for his role in last year’s “Inception.” That is not the type of dieting he’s known to do on a daily basis, though. As an avid environmentalist, DiCaprio is a very clean eater and sticks to mainly organic foods. He’s notorious for not touching all the junk that lines the craft services tables during shoots. DiCaprio is another believer in eating less and exercising more when it comes to diets. He’s a weight lifter and relies on strength training for most of his exercise.

Brad Pitt’s fitness has been under the microscope since his roll in “Fight Club.” Fans have wanted to know how to get fight-ready ever since. Pitt engages in some very intense weight and resistance exercises to get the figure we see on the screen. For particular roles, he gets tuned up by spending two to three hours in the gym and has a specific high protein, low carb diet.

The women get less grace on the red carpet. The guys can hide their holiday indulgences under a tux if they choose, but those glamor gowns are not as forgiving. The Best Performance by an Actress category is loaded with this year’s best body predictions.

Charlize Theron wowed the crowds. Theron keeps her stunning figure by adhering to a diet loaded with raw fruits and vegetables. While she loves red meat, she pairs most meals with a hearty serving of vegetables to ward off any further hunger cravings. When she has to lose some weight she avoids alcohol and starchy foods. Theron chooses the outdoors for her exercise. She prefers cycling or even walking verses an indoor machine.

Sharing the top category with Theron is funny woman, Kristen Wiig. Wiig grabbed the camera’s attention with her healthy looks. Wiig may be able to attribute her lean figure to her vegetarian diet. Wiig sticks to a meat-free diet and eats lots of tofu and soy. Wiig also makes sure she drinks plenty of water and admits she has a cranberry juice addiction.

Praised for her work on screen and for her curves off screen, Kate Winslet was up for Best Actress as well. Before she took her seat, the media was all eyes on this healthy actress. Winslet has always gone against the grain of the twig-thin actress image. She admits that she refuses to be thin, and especially torture herself to get there. Winslet is comfortable in her curves and tries to lead the way for other women. She admits to liking her meat and has no interest in only eating salads. Winslet does believe in exercising and swims frequently to stay fit.

These healthy bods walked the red carpet during NBC’s live coverage on Sunday night.

5 Tips For Making Your Fitness Resolution Stick

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Made a resolution to get fit? While belonging to a gym isn’t necessary, it does make working out a lot more social. Finding your perfect gym match isn’t as simple as picking the one closest to you that fits your budget (although location is a major component). To find the gym that’s right for you, Fitness Director at The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers Josh Fly offers these tips:

  • Pick a gym with lots of options for working out so you don’t get bored.  While a barebones gym with weights and cardio machines may be cheaper, a gym that offers a variety of group fitness classes like boxing, Pilates, cycling and yoga will help beat boredom (and keep your muscles guessing).
  • Be sure that the gym values expertise. Pick a gym with personal trainers who have accredited, top certifications such as those from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), The American Council on Exercise (ACE), The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) an The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). If they have a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) accreditation, it’s even better!
  • When spring fever hits, it’s nice to have the option to go for a group run outside or do yoga on a sundeck. Look for gyms that offer an outdoor component.
  • Don’t let your new membership card collect dust. Find a gym that offers team and small group training to keep you accountable.
  • Each gym has its own personality (from the type of clientele it attracts to the music it plays to the amenities it offers), so pick a gym where you like the vibe.

Make sure your fitness resolutions stick by creating an actionable plan: work out four times a week vs. stay fit. In a  recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers found that committing to a specific plan makes you more likely to accomplish your goal.

Need a Jolt? 6 Instant Ways to Recharge Your Battery – FitnessProspector.com

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1. Take a cold shower (even just a quick one): Your skin contains up to 10 times more receptors for cold than hot, which is why diving into a swimming pool feels so refreshing!
2. Learn to LOVE Oatmeal: A balanced morning meal  – epsecially one that’s chock full of protein – essential for all-day energy. Instant oats are an excellent source, with as many as six grams of protein per packet. The protein found in oatmeal will help increase your energy level in the morning and sustain in throughout the day. Top with raisins, silvered almonds and sliced banana for a satiating bowl.
3. Stock up on lemons: For a quick pick-me-up, steer clear of coffee: A mug of hot water with a squirt of lemon juice will perk you up without the post caffeine slump.
4. Stay Hydrated: Mild dehydration is a common cause of fatigue. To ensure optimal hydration, load up on water dense fruits and veggies such as melons and celery, in addition to drinking lots of water.
5. Have a steak (or some hummus): Many women are deficient in iron, which can cause fatigue. You’ll need a blood test to find out if you’re truly deficient (if so, you may require a supplment), but eating more iron-rich foods is a good first step. Although our bodies don’t absorb plant sources of iron – such as hummus – as readily as animal ones, eating them alongside a source of vitamin C (like red pepper) significantly ups the absorption rate.
6. Take a deep breath: Just 10 minutes of controlled breathing can boost energy and reduce our stress hormone levels by 44 percent. It’s as simple as this: Take a deep breath through your nose as you count to six, pause for two beats and exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of six.

The Benefits of an Indoor Cycling Trainer – FitnessProspector.com

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Why you ask?  Why should you part with your hard earned money to buy a bicycling trainer?  Well the answers SHOULD be obvious to most but if you are the kind of rider that takes 2 hours to watch 60 Minutes then we thought we would help you understand what the benefits of parting with your hard earned money might be.

The right indoor cycling trainer can be the closest exercise machine to simulate actual outdoor cycling.  They are ideal for both apartments, condominiums and houses and some people take advantage of the benefits of cycling trainers in their own living rooms while others use them in their garages.  Once the weather starts to cool down, cyclists and exercise enthusiasts can turn to an indoor cycling trainer.

What is an Indoor Cycling Trainer?

A bike trainer is a device that allows you to ride a bicycle indoors without actually moving.  It is generally used by competitive cyclists for training or for regular cyclists who just don’t want to lose their fitness level over the winter months.  When it gets cold and dark out, the bike trainer is a great way to retain fitness until the hybernation is over.

The actual equipment for a bike trainer is actually a steel or aluminum frame with clamps that hold the bicycle in place.  A roller is attached to the frame in order to press against the rear wheel and provide the resistance needed to give you a workout.  There are different models and manners of providing that friction but they all work in the same basic manner as described here.

Why You Should Consider a Cycling Trainer

Training for Cycling: Professional cyclists and other competitive cyclists benefit from an indoor trainer for sport specific purposes.  With an indoor trainer, they can continue to develop and maintain their skills as well as work on very specific parts of their strategy such as sprinting or out of saddle hill climbing.    Cyclists have to stay in shape and ready for racing, especially when the weather turns cold.  Unlike bike trainers, indoor exercise bikes do not offer the lifelike experience of outdoor cycling.  You still retain the same riding position, handlebars, bicycle seat, and pedal clips as a road bike.

Staying Healthy: Cycling trainers are great devices for staying healthy.  Many people do not enjoy jogging, going to the gym and riding a bike on the road.  Having a simple machine indoors allows one to exercise to stay healthy and stay motivated.  You can even set up the trainer in front of a television for added entertainment and to help the miles click by.  Specialized DVDs are also available that will provide specific workouts that range from mild to grueling.

Losing Weight:  Aside from being healthy, bike trainers actually cause you to sweat.  This means that you are burning calories and potentially losing weight.  With the resistance mechanism on the trainer, you can adjust the amount of resistance for a harder workout.  When the weather is too cold or too hot for outdoor activities, you can use an indoor bike trainer to maintain your fitness program throughout the year.

Building Endurance: Because you hold the same body position and use the same bicycle parts with a bike trainer, you can actually build more endurance than most other indoor exercise machines.  While there are different types of trainers, Rollers offer the most effective endurance building options.  This is because Rollers do not support the bicycle and the rider must balance the bike on his own without coming off. This is a more challenging workout for anyone.

As I mentioned before, Indoor cycling trainers come in a variety of types that are categorized based on resistance.  These include Magnetic, Fluid, Air-Resistance and Computer trainers.  There are also Rollers and Turbo Trainers that function on a slightly different system.  Each type of trainer offers its own benefits in terms of resistance, noise level and overall functionality.

Regardless of the type of trainer, both professional cyclists and exercise enthusiasts can take advantage of the number of benefits.

Benefits of Meditation for Your Health

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Overview of Meditation:

Throughout the day, when we experience stress, our bodies automatically react in ways that prepare us to fight or run.  In some cases of extreme danger, this physical response is helpful.  However, a prolonged state of such agitation can cause physical damage to every part of the body. Meditation affects the body in exactly the opposite ways that stress does, restoring the body to a calm state, helping the body to repair itself, and preventing new damage due to the physical effects of stress.

The Benefits of Meditation:

The benefits of meditation are manifold because it can reverse your stress response, thereby shielding you from the effects of chronic stress.  When practicing meditation, your heart rate and breathing slow down, your blood pressure normalizes, you use oxygen more efficiently, and you sweat less. Your adrenal glands produce less cortisol, your mind ages at a slower rate, and your immune function improves.  Your mind also clears and your creativity increases.  People who meditate regularly find it easier to give up life-damaging habits like smoking, drinking and drugs. Meditation research is still new, but promising.

How Meditation Works:

Meditation involves sitting in a relaxed position and clearing your mind.  You may focus on a sound, like “ooommm,” or on your own breathing, or on nothing at all.  It’s necessary to have at least 5 to 20 distraction-free minutes to spend.  (Longer meditation sessions bring greater benefits, but sometimes starting slowly can help you maintain the practice long-term.) It’s helpful to have silence and privacy, but more practiced meditators can practice medtation anywhere.  Many practitioners of meditation attach a spiritual component to it, but it can also be a secular exercise.

Pros Of Meditation:

Meditation is wonderful in that it’s free, always available, and amazingly effective in short-term stress reduction and long-term health.  Benefits can be felt in just one session.  An experienced teacher can be helpful, but isn’t absolutely necessary.

The Cons of Meditation:

It does take some practice, however, and some people find it difficult to “get it” in the beginning.  It also requires a little patience, and may be difficult for people with little free time (like some stay-at-home mothers who get little privacy from small children).  However, the time and effort it takes to learn and practice is well worth it in terms of the benefits it provides.

How Does It Compare To Other Stress Reduction Methods?:

Unlike some medications and herbal therapies, meditation has no potential side effects.  People with physical limitations may find it easier to practice than strenuous physical exercise for stress relief, plus, no special equipment is required.  Unlike enlisting the help of a professional, meditation is free.  However, it does take discipline and commitment, so some people may find it more difficult to maintain as a habit than methods that enlist the help of someone or something outside themselves for added motivation.  Also, some people may find it more difficult to free their minds of the thoughts of the day, and thus find it more difficult than methods like journaling that involve focusing on these events, or methods that in themselves are distracting, like physical exercise or the use of humor.

Tips on Eating Healthy During the Holiday Season

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Being health-conscious doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t enjoy the holiday season and have a little bit of what you fancy. It simply means that you should continue to be vigilant and be prepared for the festivities. There are many ways in which you can help to strike a balance between maintaining a healthy diet and joining in with the fun and festivities.

 

 

 

1. Exercise:
Most people have a little extra time available over the holiday season when they are not at work. Take this opportunity to develop a regular exercise regime. This will help to burn off the excess calories and fat consumed over this period. It will also get you into the habit of exercising, and you can continue the regime after the holiday season is over.


2. Review your cooking methods:

These days there is no excuse for not utilizing the many healthy ways in which food can be prepared. Instead of frying, grill your food. If you’re roasting, use one of the many available low-calorie spray oils. Try steaming vegetables to retain nutrients and flavor.

3. Invest in lower fat ingredients for cooking:

If you’re preparing a big dinner, why not use half-fat ingredients whenever possible? It is often difficult to tell the difference where taste and flavor are concerned. You can even get low-calorie beers, wines and soft drinks. By simply swapping regular ingredients, foods and drinks for their half-fat alternatives you can make a big cut-back on fat and calorie consumption.

4. Eat regularly:

If you are going to a big party or dinner, don’t starve yourself all day in anticipation. You’re in danger of arriving there feeling ravenous and eating everything in sight. Instead, have some low-fat, healthy snacks throughout the day. By doing this, you’ll be less likely to over-indulge whilst you are out.

5. Prepare for outings:

If you have some big nights out and meals planned over the holiday season, try and compensate by having some healthy eating days leading up to the event. Many of us are only too keen to think that we may as well forget about healthy eating over the holidays. However, it should not be a case of forgetting about your diet, but simply managing it a little more carefully over the holidays.

6. Balance your meals out:

Don’t be tempted to fill up your plate with purely rich, calorie-laden food. Instead, have a little of everything including fruit and vegetables. This way, you’ll still get to indulge as well as receive valuable nutrients and vitamins.

7. Be wary of sugary foods:

Always remember that rich, sugary foods have a nasty habit of making us crave yet more rich and sugary foods. We’ve all been there…over-indulging in sweet or rich food…feeling bloated, sick, and making rash promises to never eat again…and, a couple of hours later, finding ourselves back in the kitchen, picking at leftovers. By ensuring that you practise healthy eating over the holidays, and throw in some form of regular exercise, you can expect to have more energy and fewer cravings.

8. Stock up on healthy snacks:

When you go shopping, be sure to throw some healthy snacking items in to your trolley. Fill up on raw vegetables, such as carrots or celery, which can make a simple snack in times of temptation.

9. Be aware of food allergies:

It is quite possible that you may have an allergy or intolerance to a food, which you may not even be aware of. Because there is a mountain of food waiting around every corner during the holiday season, we sometimes find ourselves gorging on food that we don’t even know the ingredients of. Then we wonder why we’re feeling so ill the next morning! By having a food allergy test, you can identify any foods that you need to avoid during the holiday season in order to maintain your health and enjoy the festivities without suffering.

10. Moderate alcohol intake:

Don’t forget that alcohol is fattening too. That innocent-looking glass of sparkly wine or that small bottle of beer may look as though it will do no harm. However, alcohol contains calories and lots of them. Try and control the amount of alcohol you consume over the holiday period and, in the same way as food, try not to over-indulge regularly. There are plenty of lower-calorie beers and wines available that can help, so opt for the healthier version whenever possible.

11. Be assertive:

Don’t feel as though you have to say yes to everyone that offers you food and drink. If you are not hungry, then simply say so. Do not let yourself be bullied into eating something that you really don’t want.

12. Leave what you don’t want:

Despite what your parents may have drummed into you as a child, don’t feel obliged to clear your plate. When you feel full, stop eating. Simple.

William Connor, M.D., who is Professor of Medicine at OHSU School of Medicine, states that: “The overall clinical impression is that people, after the holidays, weigh more than before because of feasting and lack of physical activity.” Professor Connor goes on to recommend the following: use low-fat recipes; eat smaller portion sizes; use a small plate to regulate food portions; and exercise
regularly and even more so when eating high-fat foods.

Workout Excuses Debunked

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Have a regular fitness routine? Do you always stick to it? If the answer is no, you’ve probably made one of these excuses before. Before you convince yourself to ditch your gym bag for another day, here are five common excuses and the reasons why they shouldn’t keep you from sweating it out.

    1. I’m too tired: No matter how many times people tell you that exercise will help give you an energy boost, it won’t matter if the thought of actually putting on your sports bra has you spent. But consistency is key to keeping energy levels up. The more regularly you exercise, the more energy you’ll have, meaning you won’t nod off on the couch while trying to catch your favorite primetime shows at night; so, use that as motivation to just do it.
    2. I’m too busy: Who hasn’t looked at their schedule and wondered how they are going to fit it all in? Juggling workouts with work, kids, and social engagements can be a feat in itself. But an effective workout can be had in just 20 minutes or less as long as you’re prepared. Find a few quick workouts to have on hand the next time you have a busy day. Squeeze in a few of these quick five-minute exercises the next time you have a few minutes to spare, or make like perpetually busy working mom Bethenny Frankel and pop in an exercise DVD when you get home. “A long time ago I used to go to a gym or a yoga class, but that involves getting there [and] getting back. I don’t really have that extra time, so I really believe in at-home workouts,” she recently told us.
    3. I don’t want to ruin my makeup/hair/outfit: Has a good hair day ever stopped you from sweating it out and ruining your locks? You’re not alone. Even the surgeon general recently spoke out against using your beauty routine as an excuse for not working out. Before you skip a workout just because you don’t have time for a hairdo or makeup redo, read our quick tips for making the most of your post-workout locker room beauty routine.
    4. I don’t know what to do: Don’t be intimidated by those determined-looking fitness fanatics at your gym. Everyone has been a fitness newbie at one point in their life, and chances are whether they’re whizzing by you on the trail or grunting on a gym machine, they’re not paying attention to what you look like. If you lack the knowledge to do an exercise correctly or don’t want to go it alone, ask a fit friend to show you the ropes, show up early to class to talk to the instructor, or seek out a trainer at your gym (set up a free consultation if you’re not a member of one). “Trainers are there to help and will passionately do so,” says Crunch personal trainer manager Tim Rich.
    5. I’m not in the mood: PMS, fights with the boyfriend, being sick, and other annoyances can make exercising the last thought on your mind. But before you ditch your workout, try these tips for working out when you’re not feeling it. You may find that you feel better, thanks to all those endorphins, after you finish exercising.

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