Blog Posts by FITNESS Magazine

Aaron Goodman/Fitness MagazineBy Hallie Levine

When you feel as though you might literally bust a gut, follow these simple, speedy strategies for beating the bulge.

Related: 7 Fat-Fighting Dinners

1. Switch your birth control.

Oral contraceptives contain estrogen, which causes your adrenal glands to produce fluid-retaining hormones, explains Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the Yale School of Medicine. The experience is highly individual: Some women don't notice an increase in bloating, while others feel themselves puffing up within days of starting a new pill. If you fall in the second camp, talk to your ob-gyn about trying another brand. Both Yasmin and Yaz contain the hormone drospirenone, which may ease bloat, since it's also a diuretic. Of the 70 percent of women in a recent study in the journal Contraception who reported abdominal bloating while taking birth control pills, about half said their symptoms were gone after six months of switching

Laura Doss/Fitness MagazineBy Kimberly Daly

Instead of pounding the pavement, opt for a workout on the less-beaten path. We'll show you how ridiculously simple it is to make your escape -- even steps from your city limits -- and get a whiff of nature's de-stressing effects. Ahh.

Related: What to Pack, Eat and Safety Tips to Know Before You Go

1. For the classic American experience...

South Rim Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Designed for hikers of all abilities, this route offers epic views of the canyon carved over the past 17 million years by the Colorado River. And with shuttle-bus stops along the way, you can walk as little or as long as you want.

Length: 2.8 miles

Difficulty level: Easy

2. If you love Dr. Seuss...

Cap Rock Nature Trail, Twentynine Palms, California
You'll see the odd trees that have inspired children's book illustrators and rock bands alike in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park. Plus you'll learn cool facts about the rock formations and ecology of the Mojave Desert

Sarah Kehoe/Fitness MagazineBy the editors of FITNESS Magazine

Short on cash? You're not limited to the high-fat stuff. Add these good-for-you foods to your grocery list -- they're all under $1 per serving.

Related: 11 Healthy Food Swaps to Make in Your Pantry

Oats
A serving of oatmeal for breakfast can lower cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Save your health while saving money.

Eggs
The protein and fat in eggs keep you feeling full, so you're less inclined to snack in between meals.

Potatoes
One red potato contains 66 micrograms of cell-building folate -- about the same amount found in one cup of spinach or broccoli.

Apples
One medium-size apple has 15 percent of your recommended daily serving of fiber, which can help lower cholesterol.

Related: Healthy Recipes for Summer's Freshest Ingredients

Chickpeas
Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are rich in fiber and protein. Cook them with spices for a flavorful, healthy meal.

Bananas
Bananas are great as a carb-packed energy booster and they contain

Blaine Moats/Fitness MagazineBy Dana Hudepohl

The average woman uses birth control for at least three decades. So you must really like yours, right? Probably not. Seventy percent of women use a BC that they would change in some way if they could, according to a survey sponsored by Merck. Take this quiz, developed with the help of Pamela D. Berens, MD., professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, to see which type will keep you not pregnant and happy.

Related: Your Birth Control Options-The Complete Guide

1. If you made a New Year's resolution to take daily vitamins, what would happen?

A. I'd spend an hour reading labels at a health food store before choosing a brand.

B. I'd buy chewables.

C. I'd start on January 1 and never miss a day.

D. I'd try my best but end up skipping more than I take.

A. It's a natural part of life. I deal.

B. It interferes with my workouts.

C. I'd

Michael David Adams/Fitness MagazineDon't get sucked in by sneaky labels that manufacturers slap on products to make you buy them. Learn which foods deserve the healthy glows they wear -- and which are downright devilish.

Related: Nutrition Labels to Look Out For

Gluten-Free
Sales of gluten-free products, which are designed for people with celiac disease, or an inability to digest gluten (the protein in wheat, barley, and rye), have doubled since 2005. The boom is thanks in part to celeb devotees like Gwyneth Paltrow, but the market-research firm Packaged Facts reports that people are going G-free in an attempt to ease ailments like irritable bowel syndrome and attention deficit disorder. Shoppers also think these foods will help them lose weight.

Reality check: These pricey products aren't necessary unless you have celiac disease (only about one in 133 people does, according to a study) or gluten sensitivity, which means you test negative for celiac but still suffer symptoms like diarrhea and migraines when you ingest

Cheyenne Ellis/Fitness MagazineWhat do the world's top fitness authorities know about getting a better body? Plenty, thanks to hundreds of studies, thousands of hours in the lab, and countless real-life success stories. We've asked nine cutting-edge exercise experts for their favorite tips on blasting fat, sculpting muscle, and improving each and every workout. Choose your top fitness goals, then read on for the research-proven strategies that get results.

Related: The Firm and Burn Workout

Goal: Blast fat and firm muscle
Winning Strategy: Full-body cardio
Researcher: John Porcari, PhD, professor of exercise and sports science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Adding upper-body movements to activities like walking or running is a surefire way to both blast extra calories and sculpt more muscle. The most effective device, according to Porcari's research, is the power belt, a strength-building apparatus worn around the waist, featuring spring-loaded handles for pumping your arms ($90 at walkerswarehouse.com).

Paige Greenfield/Fitness MagazineBy Kelly L. Phillips

When it's time to choose a liquid chug after a long, tough workout, there's a slew of options out there. Water? Gatorade, POWERade, or All Sport? Endurox R4? Physiologist Joel Stager, director of the Human Performance laboratory at Indiana University, has even one more potential workout recovery drink to add to the list: chocolate milk. His study, published in this month's International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, names this kids' favorite an optimal post-exercise recovery aid.

Before your stomach recoils, take a look at chocolate milk's ingredient list. For a high-endurance athlete, Stager's team sees it as a catch-all workout recovery drink. Compared to plain milk, water, or most sports drinks, it has double the carbohydrate and protein content, perfect for replenishing tired muscles. Its high water content replaces fluids lost as sweat, preventing dehydration. Plus it packs a nutritional bonus of calcium, and includes just a little

Laura Doss/Fitness MagazineBy Jocelyn Voo

Red wine has long been touted as the drink du jour of health-conscious imbibers, but cocktail and beer lovers take note: It turns out that all alcohol has its upsides.

Related: Drink and Still Shrink: Our Healthy Drinks Guide

Healthy Hard Alcohol?
Drinking moderate amounts of any kind of alcohol -- be it beer, wine, or hard liquor -- will raise your good HDL cholesterol levels, says Lisa Young, adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University and author of The Portion Teller Plan. "That's a really big benefit to the people who do have cholesterol problems because it is hard to elevate your good cholesterol," she says.

The downside? Drinking all types of alcohol will also increase your risk for certain cancers, such as breast and liver cancer. In fact, a September study showed that women who averaged one to two drinks per day raised their risk for breast cancer by 10 percent, and those who drank three drinks a night raised their risk by as much as 30 percent. Risk