Blog Posts by The Editors of WOMEN'S HEALTH

Yes, we've all been told to "sit up straight"--or suffer the consequences of poor posture. But that's just not a particularly scary warning. So let us explain it in a way that's a little more specific: A bent spine might mean saggy breasts.

Did that get your attention?

Here's how it works: When you slouch forward all the time--like you probably do while working on your computer or driving your car--your chest muscles actually stiffen, which pulls your shoulders forward into a permanent slump. The result: A look that's unbecoming to your bosom. Worse, hunching forward also puts more stress on your upper spine, which leads to neck, back, and shoulder pain. Did your neck start hurting one day and never stop? It's probably the result of poor posture.

But bad posture doesn't just mean slumped shoulders. When you sit constantly--as most of us do--the muscles on the fronts of your hips become short and tight. What's more, your glutes--or butt muscles--actually forget how to contract.

Stop procrastinating and actually make some moves with these five strategies to conquer your to-do listOnce a procrastinator, always a procrastinator? We think not. Here, Art Markman, Ph.D., author of Smart Thinking: Three Essential Keys to Solve Problems, Innovate, and Get Things Done, shares his tips on how to motivate yourself and keep your resolutions.

1. Engage the people around you. Whether it's your guy, your mom, or a few friends, tell 'em what you're up to. Ask them to join you, help you, or simply keep you on track! Or, if you're redecorating your kitchen or cleaning out the garage, post pictures of your progress on Facebook or Pinterest.

2. Set deadlines. You'll need more or fewer depending on the task and your timeline, but aim to accomplish something significant at least once a week. Keep them realistic and ensure they're doable by checking the rest of your schedule and making sure you don't have any big projects at work or social events that could prevent you from meeting the deadlines.

Your Start-Smart Strategy for Success

3. Treat yourself. Rewarding yourself midway

For being the key to weight loss, your metabolism is incredibly simple. It's just all of the chemical processes in your body added up. So the higher your metabolism, the more calories you burn. And while your metabolic rate is influenced by genetics, your workout can really rev it up big time.

Exercise can increase metabolism in three ways:

1. It burns calories during the workout session.
2. It burns additional calories directly following the workout session, which is known as the afterburn affect. This post-exercise metabolic boost can last 24-48 hours.
3. It increases calorie-burning lean muscle mass. One pound of muscle burns an extra 6-50 calories a day.

Fitness Rules You Should Never Follow

But when it comes to boosting your metabolism, not all exercise is created equal. Here, how you should prioritize your workouts to get your metabolism humming:

#1 Choice: Strength Training
Lifting weights will boost your metabolism in all three ways and should be your first priority if

How and when you eat can impact your health--and your weight. Upgrade your eating habits to maximize fat burning …Certainly what we eat has an enormous impact on our health and weight status. But did you know that when and how we eat also make a huge difference? Eating at the appropriate times throughout the day will help to maximize fat burning and keep hunger at bay.

Aim to eat every 3 to 4 hours. Most people eat three meals and one snack, while others may prefer four smaller meals; you're free to find the combination that works best for you. Timing your meals in this way will improve your fat loss by preventing excess insulin, allowing leptin to work its magic on appetite control and metabolism, and by balancing the stress hormone cortisol. You should also enjoy your meals at the same time every day.

Eat within 1 hour of rising. Your mom was also right when she told you breakfast was the most important meal of the day. When you skip breakfast, you lose its stimulating benefits on your metabolic rate. You also become more likely to eat unbalanced meals, more calories, and larger amounts of

Simplified (and slimmed down!) recipes for your fave Mexican foods

By Hollis Templeton, Women's Health

Tortilla and Avocado Soup

Belly-flattening Mexican recipes? Yes, they do exist. Here, creamy avocado chunks deliver a dose of monounsaturated fat for a filling meal that's ready in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

5 cups low-sodium chicken broth

5 white corn tortillas (6"), sliced into 1/4" strips

12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced crosswise

1/2 canned chipotle chile pepper, sliced, or 2 tablespoons hot salsa

3/4 cup halved grape tomatoes

1 cup chopped avocado

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

1. In a large, heavy saucepan, bring the broth to a boil, covered over high heat.

2. Meanwhile, scatter the tortilla strips on a toaster oven tray. Toast, turning the strips occasionally, until golden-brown in spots, about 5 minutes. Remove the tray from toaster oven

Acne and eczema aren't just beauty dilemmas—they may actually be your skin's way of sending out an SOSBeauty is more than skin deep, and we're not just talking about having a congenial personality. "Our skin can reflect what's going on inside our body," says dermatologist Anne Chapas, M.D., of Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York City. "As part of the immune system, the skin defends against environmental factors. But when your body is fighting an ailment, it can get overwhelmed and things like acne and redness can show up." Here, how to read the signs in the mirror.

Chin Acne
The cause: Hormonal imbalance
There's a reason many women have breakouts on their chin right before their period: That part of the face is particularly sensitive to rises in progesterone and testosterone. Many women simply experience mild acne, but if your breakouts tend to be more severe or painful and are no match for OTC treatments, it's time to see your ob-gyn.

"Deep, cystic acne on the chin or along the jaw line can be a sign of underlying polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] and other types of hormonal

There's a popular saying among fitness experts: "The best exercise is the one you're not doing." The take-home message? To achieve the best results, you need to regularly challenge your body in new ways. So while classic movements like the pushup, lunge, and squat are the staples of any good workout plan, varying the way you perform these exercises every 4 weeks can help you avoid plateaus, beat boredom, and speed fat loss. You can start today, with this list of the best new exercises for every part of a woman's body.

Fitness Rules You Can Break
.ABS
Mountain Climber with Hands on Swiss Ball

The benefit: It's one of the simplest yet most effective ways to tighten your tummy. In fact, you'll barely have to move a muscle.

How to do it: Assume a pushup position with your arms completely straight, but place your hands on a Swiss ball instead of the floor. Your body should form a straight line from your head to your ankles. Tighten your core and hold it that way for the duration of the

Check out these money saving tips to cut costs at the grocery storeThe average American spends just under 10 percent of his or her income on food every year. When money's tight, it's tempting to sacrifice quality to save a few bucks, especially since junk food prices are on the decline. The good news: you don't have to. Smart shopping can actually save you money:

1. Splurge on nutrition
Consider it an investment in your future: obesity-related medical bills aside, someone 40 pounds overweight is paid 9 percent less than his thinner colleagues. Our suggestion: pack as much nutrition as possible into the foods you buy.

2. Eat before you shop
A 2008 study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that even if you're on a tight budget, you'll spend more if you shop with a stimulated appetite.

Try These 10 Snacks That Fight Fat

3. Check yourself out
Checkout lines are stocked with high-calorie sweets. Using the self-checkout line lowers impulse buys by 16.7 percent among men, and 32.1 percent among woman, according to a study by the IHL Group research