Blog Posts by FITNESS Magazine

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.comBy Rebecca Brown

Whether you're going by boat, plane, train, or automobile, travel bugs are bound to greet you. Here, some cringe-worthy stats on germs and traveling -- and tips on how you can take a trip unscathed.

Related: Look Good on the Go: Best Travel Beauty Products and Tips

1. Stay Hydrated
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the air inside planes has anywhere from 10 to 20 percent humidity, which can dry out mucous membranes and make people more susceptible to germs. Staying hydrated throughout the trip can prevent nasal passages from being irritated, so load up on water and skip the carbonated beverages and booze. "Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks should be followed with water or fruit juice to rehydrate because they are diuretics and can cause water loss," advise Ray Fillmore Garman, MD, MPH, and Susan Spengler, MD, both associate professors with the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Kentucky. Sipping on water assists with immune

Read More »from 8 Tips for Germ-Free Travel

Miki Duisterhof/Fitness MagazineBy Amy Ahlberg

When it comes to party hors d'oeuvres, it's hard to imagine that just a few bite-size morsels could really do some damage to your figure. Yet those oh-so-cute appetizers are packed with some not-so-nice calories and fat. Take a closer look at the top 10 small-yet-deceiving nibbles -- you'll be amazed how quickly they can add up.

Related: 25 Ways to Fat-Proof Your Holidays

Spinach Artichoke Dip with Chips
Spinach and artichokes? No problem. Now for the caloric culprits: After you mix in cream cheese, sour cream, and sometimes even mayo, you end up with 220 calories and 22 grams of fat for a mere dollop (1/4 cup), says Rachel Beller, RD, founder of the Beller Nutritional Institute. Scoop your dip with just five fried tortilla chips and you're coming in at around 307 calories.

Vegetable Egg Rolls
Don't be fooled by the innocent-sounding name. Those vegetables filling the roll are sauteed in oil, tossed in a fatty sauce, and then deep-fried. "You're looking at 150 to 200

Read More »from The 10 Worst Holiday Foods to Eat

Alexa Miller/Fitness MagazineBy Leslie Goldman

When the temperatures plummet and the sun makes only cameo appearances, the couch can seem infinitely more inviting than a jog around the block. But winter exercise does a body good: The hit of sunlight can boost your SAD mood and vitamin D levels, and it will make springtime bikini shopping more bearable. We bet you'll enjoy a few fun childhood flashbacks too. So swap your fleece-lined slippers for waterproof running shoes and head on out!

Related: The 10 New Rules of Losing Weight

Warm Up First
When Old Man Winter rears his ugly, icy head, warming up is even more crucial. Your body needs extra time to prepare for the frigid temps ahead, says Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise. "During the first six to 10 minutes of your workout, your respiratory and cardiovascular systems haven't caught up to your muscles yet," he explains. "A warm-up enables your lungs to start oxygenating your blood with the nutrients your muscles

Read More »from 12 Ways to Warm Up to Winter Workouts

Jeff Harris/Fitness MagazineBy Abbie Kozolchyk

Whether you're jetting off to a beach vacation or heading home for the holidays, you'll want to look your best without packing the entire bath­room cabinet. To help you stay gorgeous -- and spill- and crumble-free -- we asked experts and some glam globe-trotters for ingenious tips for maintaining your beauty regimen on the fly.

Related: Beat-the-Clock Beauty: 21 Shortcuts from the Pros

1. Choose your travel companions wisely.
Save space in your luggage by leaving body wash and moisturizers at home. Whatever you find in your hotel room -- or Mom's bathroom -- will probably do the trick. That is, unless you have a fave product that seriously multitasks: "My must-have is Neutrogena Body Oil [$10, drugstores]," says celebrity makeup artist Amy Oresman. "It serves as my daily hydrator, my skin soother after too much sun, my shaving cream stand-in, and my frizz-and-flyaway tamer." As for shampoo, BYO only if you have damaged and/or color-treated hair, says Rita Hazan,

Read More »from Look Good on the Go: 6 Travel Beauty Tips

Andrew McCaul/Fitness MagazineBy Sharon Liao

"It's possible to slash major calories and fat from almost any baked good without sacrificing flavor or texture," says Jessica Crandall, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. All it takes to make decadent treats that do minimal damage is one or two modifications -- and we're giving you 24 to choose from! How sweet is that?

Related: 13 Baked Goods Recipes You Don't Have to Feel Bad About

1. Better-for-You Brownies
Spend Wisely: Paying a little extra for high-quality products, like premium chocolate and pure vanilla extract, can pay off. "More-flavorful ingredients make you less likely to miss any calories you've cut," says Kim Macy, the pastry chef at Miraval Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona.

Blend In: Puree soft or silken tofu, then use it in a one-to-one ratio to replace half the fat in your favorite brownie recipe. Researchers from Idaho State University found that eight in 10 people enjoyed fudge made with tofu in place of butter. "It has a

Read More »from Just Desserts: Diet-Friendly Baking Swaps

Eddie Collins/Fitness MagazineBy Abbie Kozolchyk

As beauty products get more high-tech, the top complexion cures still come from the most natural quarters: the aisles of your super­market. "Increasingly, studies are finding links between certain nutrients and wrinkle reduction, radiance, and acne prevention," says David Bank, MD, a dermatologist in Mount Kisco, New York. Here are 10 cream-of-the-crop ways to nourish your skin from the inside and out.

Related: The Top 10 Superfoods for Gorgeous Skin and Hair

Get Glowing with Chocolate
Cocoa hydrates your skin, making it firmer and more supple, Dr. Bank says. "And dark chocolate contains high levels of flavonols, a potent type of antioxidant," adds Nicholas Perricone, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. For maximum flavonol content, eat chocolate that's at least 70 percent cacao. A couple of squares a day should be enough to improve luminosity. "When applied topically, the caffeine in chocolate may temporarily reduce skin puffiness," says Jessica Wu, MD, a

Read More »from The Good-Skin Diet: 10 Foods for Healthier Skin

Courtesy of MealsandMovesBlog.comBy Marianne Magno

Look forward to your morning meals with these fun but healthy twists to your usual bowl of oats from some of our favorite fit bloggers.

Related: More Healthy Oatmeal Recipes

PBJ Protein Oats
Ingredients

1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
2/3 cup water
1 serving vanilla protein powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
1 tablespoon natural jam or jelly

Directions
1. Combine oats and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and let oatmeal simmer until 90% of the water is absorbed.
3. Remove from heat and whisk in protein powder and vanilla.
4. Pour oatmeal into a bowl and top with peanut butter and jelly/jam.

-From Janetha, mealsandmovesblog.com

Courtesy of FANNEtasticFood.comPumpkin Pie Oatmeal
Ingredients

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup skim milk
1 ripe banana, sliced
2 dashes cinnamon
1/4 cup pureed canned pumpkin
1 dash ground cloves
1 dash ground nutmeg
Handful

Read More »from 5 Ways to Wake Up Your Oatmeal

Aaron Goodman/Fitness MagazineBy Hallie Levine

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.

Read More »from 15 Ways to Stop Stomach Bloat