Blog Posts by FITNESS Magazine

Laura Doss/Fitness MagazineBy Brittany Vickers

What do you really know about your period? Turns out it may not be all that much. Here, Dr. Lauren Streicher, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University's medical school, debunks the most common myths and questions about that time of the month. Because who can really remember all the way back to that uncomfortable PE class?

Q. I have very heavy periods. Could the blood loss from my period actually cause fainting?
A. Fainting is rare, but those who have especially heavy flows should talk to their gynecologist to make sure they are not anemic, a blood disorder where you don't have enough hemoglobin to carry oxygen from your lungs through your body. During a normal period, you should be able to wear a tampon for three to four hours comfortably and not experience any blood clots. If you think your flow is too heavy and often feel fatigued, talk to you doc to rule out anemia.

Related: What to Eat for an Easier Period

Q. Can your tampon

By Jenna Autuori

Denise Crew/Fitness MagazineBy Eleanor Langston

Stay pretty and protected all summer long with these new head-to-toe defenders and dermatologists' secrets for preventing sun damage, burning, and skin cancer. Now go out and play!

Related: Find a Free Skin Cancer Check Near You

Skip-It Excuse: "Sunblock Is Too Greasy to Wear Under Makeup"
Sunny Solution: It's risky to rely solely on the SPF in your base: Derms say that to get the full SPF value listed on the packaging, it would require seven times the amount of foundation and 14 times the powder you normally wear. "Women don't put enough on, and the makeup's pigments may dilute the sunscreen," says Joshua Fox, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. Pair makeup with a broad-spectrum sunscreen that's tailored to your complexion concern. Have dry skin? Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion SPF 50 ($30, drugstores) contains moisturizing peptides. Want to prevent lines? Shiseido Urban Environment UV Protection Cream SPF 35 ($30, sephora.com) is packed with

Denise Crew/Fitness MagazineThe sad truth: You can crunch yourself into a coma and still have ab flab. If you really want a sleek, sexy midriff, you've got to tweak your diet. All of the best waist-whittling foods contain fiber to banish bloat, antioxidants to boost your abs routine's effectiveness, and protein to help maintain a healthy metabolism. Here, the top 10 choices for flatter abs.

1. Almonds
These delicious and versatile nuts contain filling protein and fiber, not to mention vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. They're also a good source of magnesium, a mineral your body must have in order to produce energy, build and maintain muscle tissue, and regulate blood sugar. "A stable blood-sugar level helps prevent cravings that can lead to overeating and weight gain," says David Katz, MD, a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. But what makes almonds most interesting is their ability to block calories. Research indicates that the composition of their cell walls may help reduce the absorption of

Laura Doss/Fitness MagazineBy Emily Dorn

If you're just kicking off a new running program, follow these five nutritional guidelines. They'll help you get the most out of your workout -- and your body.

Related: The FITNESS 2012 Sneaker Guide for All Running Types

1. Go for Lean and Green
Introducing a running regimen makes it more crucial to feed your body the heart-healthy foods routinely touted by nutritionists. Melinda Manore, the chair of the department of nutrition at Oregon State University, recommends centering your diet around whole grains, fish, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy. These foods will meet your basic nutritional needs and will help your body recover after exercise.

2. Timing Is Everything
When it comes to fueling up for a workout, the when is just as important as the what. If you hit the pavement in the morning, you might not have time to down a big breakfast and digest it, but Manore suggests that you still need something light before exercising -- such as a piece of toast

Denise Crew/Fitness MagazineBy Sharlene K. Johnson

You Are What You Eat
According to the experts, the familiar saying is true. "There's an incredibly strong correlation between the food you consume and how you feel," says FITNESS advisory board member Ashley Koff, RD, a nutritionist in Los Angeles. "When you balance healthy carbs, protein, and fats, you get exactly what your body needs for long-lasting energy and a good mood." At FITNESS, we call this The Happy Diet.

Here are a few get-happy rules to eat by:

Nothing is off-limits.
Eating plans that cut out entire food groups leave you feeling hungry, sluggish, and grumpy. "When your body isn't getting the nutrients or pleasure it needs from food, you're more likely to overeat," says Leslie Bonci, RD, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a FITNESS advisory board member. "Feeling satisfied isn't just about portion size -- it's also about taste and variety."

You can eat carbs and fat.
Really! You need a healthy mix of

By Mindy Berry

Mindy and her family.She's our mentor, our teacher -- and for many of us, our exercise role model, too! In these very special thank-you notes, writer Mindy Berry and four other daughters describe how their moms got them moving.

Make Time to Work Out
Mindy's mother, Jackie, has always exercised. "I tell Mindy never to feel guilty about taking time for it," says Jackie, who walks on the treadmill every morning and took up yoga last year at age 61. "When I was a young mom of three girls, I didn't have much spare time. I also worked part-time as a high-school French teacher. But most days I played tennis for an hour after school. It was my 'me time' -- I chose it over watching TV or reading -- and the sense of well-being it gave me made me a better mom." Mindy, a freelance writer, has taken that lesson to heart. "Now that I'm an adult, I realize the reason I love my morning jog and trying a new yoga or Pilates class is because I had my mom as a role model," Mindy says. "She gave me a passion

Fitness MagazineBy Marisa Cohen

The two figures standing in front of me one recent winter morning could not look more different. On the right is Carrie McCulloch, MD, a musculoskeletal anatomy expert and the medical director for Kinected Pilates studio in New York City, who is sizing up the shape of my waistline. Dr. McCulloch's own midsection happens to be perfectly rounded because she is only weeks away from giving birth to her first child. On the left is her assistant, Mr. Bones, one of those hanging skeletons that teach medical students how the thigh bone's connected to the hip bone. Mr. Bones doesn't actually have a waist, just a hollow space between his ribs and pelvis.

Dr. McCulloch is demonstrating how this inner bony foundation can set the stage for your torso's outer appearance, tapping the stacked bones that make up her assistant's spine.

I ask Dr. McCulloch how I ended up with a relatively slim 26-1/2-inch waist that has forced me to belt every pair of pants I've ever bought in order to