Blog Posts by Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine

CN Digital StudioMelinda Carstensen, SELF magazine

With bikini season unofficially launching next week (Memorial Day weekend!) and skin cancer among young women on the rise, you're probably stocking up on swimsuits and sunscreen. One summer essential you might be forgetting? A sweet pair of sunglasses -- that actually protect your eyes.

For example, those tinted shades you snagged on sale might look fashionable, but if they don't have enough UV protection, wearing them could be worse than wearing nothing at all, according to a new report from the Vision Council, a group of optical manufacturers and suppliers. That's because dark lenses without adequate UV protection cause the pupil to dilate, increasing your exposure to the unfiltered UV.

Related: Lose 10 Pounds

So how can you find shades that are chic AND effective? Most designer sunglasses from reputable stores should protect your eyes from the two types of harmful UV rays: UVA and UVB rays, says Ed Greene, CEO of the Vision Council (a good pair

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

This summer in London, along with 250 men, there will be 36 women competing for the boxing gold -- for the first time ever at the Olympic games!

"This is a very exciting time for women's boxing," Teresa Scott, registered USA boxing coach and the founder of Women's World of Boxing in New York City, tells HealthySELF. "The world's most important sporting body including women in the games gives legitimacy to and validates women's boxing and the participating athletes."

And here where your bikini body comes into the picture. According to Scott, "There is no comparison to the total-body rewards of boxing."

Related: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

Boxing burns between 500 and 1,000 calories an hour, depending upon the intensity, Scott explains. "It promotes weight loss, improves balance, coordination, reflexes, strength and flexibility," she says -- but the benefits aren't just physical. "Along with being the ultimate stress reliever,

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

Happy National Women's Health Week, ladies! This week is all about YOU -- and we have all the advice you need to make the most of it and end the work week healthier than when you started.

National Women's Health Week, now in its 13th year, is a week-long health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health. Dedicated to empowering women to make health a top priority, this year's theme is, "It's Your Time."

Related: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

"Healthy, strong women are essential to having healthy strong children and communities, but too often women place the needs of others before their own needs," says U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Here are 5 ways to put YOURSELF first this week by improving your physical and mental health and lowering your risks of certain diseases:

1. Visit a health care professional to receive regular checkups and

Photo: Courtesy of giro.comBari Lieberman, SELF magazine

It's National Bike Month! To get our gears in motion, we talked to JJ Jameson, Senior Instructor for REI Outdoor School. Jameson shared his simple bike to work commuting tips that'll have you feeling like a pro. Bonus: It's basically a free morning workout every time you ride!

Jameson's Must-Know Bike Commuting Tips

GEAR
The minimal essentials for a bike commuter are a bike and a helmet.

Related: Lose Weight and Win Prizes

RIDE

- Road bike: All about performance. They have skinny tires, move really quickly and are slightly more difficult to control.
- Mountain bike: Better for rough surfaces. They have robust frames, wider tires, are very strong, are typically much heavier.
- Hybrid bike: Most commuting bikes fall under this category, which is a blend of the two above. It has a strong frame, handling of the bike is predictable and typically you're in a more upright riding position so it's comfortable. Tires are wider

Dana Meltzer Zepeda, SELF magazine

It's happened to the best of us. We spend months establishing a regular gym routine, choosing salad over fries and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Then, suddenly, all of our hard work goes up in flames thanks to a bout with the flu, a hectic work schedule or plain, old-fashioned laziness.

Related: Lose 2 Pounds a Week

Whatever the reason, it's never too late to get back in shape. I recently chatted with The American Council on Exercise (ACE) fitness expert, firefighter and weekend warrior Ryan Sutter about his top five tips to get back on the fitness bandwagon. Yes, the same Ryan Sutter who won The Bachelorette in 2003!

Jennifer D'Angelo Friedman, SELF magazine

Bad news, ladies: According to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42 percent of Americans will be obese by 2030, meaning you could look (and feel) very different 18 years from now.
About two-thirds of Americans are currently overweight and about 34 percent of adults are obese -- and fitting into their skinny jeans is the least of their problems. Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer, among other health issues. Plus, the report also predicts that in 2030, 11 percent of Americans will be severely obese, defined as more than 100 pounds overweight.

Related: Lose 2 Pounds a Week

So what can you do NOW to make sure this doesn't happen to you? We asked SELF contributing editors Stephanie Clarke and Willow Jarosh, registered dietitians and co-founders of C&J Nutrition, how you can stay healthy, slim and sexy well into 2030 and beyond. Here are

Dana Meltzer Zepeda, SELF magazine

Spinning is a great way to torch major calories regardless of your fitness level, but that doesn't mean you become invincible once you strap on your cycling shoes. So, rather than hop on a bike unprepared for such a rigorous workout, Fit Like Us turned to CycleHouse Chief Ride Officer Nichelle Hines to provide her top five tips to make any beginner look like a pro.

The Mistake: Not Eating or Drinking Before Class

The Fix: "Your preparation before class is what sets you up for success once you are there," says Hines. "It is important not to be too full or too hungry and well hydrated. You know you are properly hydrated if you are not feeling thirsty." Not sure what to eat? Check out our best picks for pre- (and post-) workout snacks!

Related: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

The Mistake: Not Engaging Your Core

The Fix: "I tell my riders to imagine a girdle around their middle to remind them that the abdominals need to remain involved,"

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

Do you have a love-hate relationship with the Sandman? If you're like a lot of people, you aren't always getting a full night of sweet beauty sleep -- a new National Sleep Foundation poll shows that about 41 percent of people report problems with tossing and turning at least a few nights a week.

So what's keeping you up with the moon and the stars? It just might be your bedroom! According to the poll results, bedroom environment is critical to the quality of your sleep. "Your bedroom is your sleep sanctuary," Joseph M. Ojile, MD, board member of the National Sleep Foundation and founder and CEO of Clayton Sleep Institute in St Louis, MO, tells HealthySELF.
Related: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

Based on the poll results, here are five ways to make sure your bedroom lulls you to sleep at night:

Invest in a comfy mattress and pillows (and good sheets). About nine out of 10 people polled rate having a comfortable mattress and pillows (91 percent) as