Blog Posts by FITNESS Magazine

Jack Miskell/Fitness MagazineBy Tram Kim Nguyen

Can you really catch a nasty bug from sitting on a public toilet seat or walking barefoot in a gym locker room? Unfortunately, yes, but there is a lot you can do to protect yourself. "Eighty percent of infectious illnesses like colds and flu are transmitted by contact. Good habits like washing your hands frequently can dramatically reduce the number of pathogenic, or illness-causing, germs you're exposed to," says Philip M. Tierno Jr., Ph.D., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Medical Center in New York City and author of The Secret Life of Germs (Pocket Books, 2001). We asked the experts for their tips on ways to stay healthy in the five most germ-ridden places.

Related: QUIZ: Can You Spot the Germs?

Gym
Wear flip-flops in the locker room and shower. This warm, damp environment is a breeding ground for fungi and viruses that cause conditions like athlete's foot and plantar warts.

Put a towel on the locker-room bench before you

Read More »from The Truth About Where Germs Lurk

Plank PressRoutine by trainer Becky Tinney, the creator of the Balance Method

Lose the sleeves and the jiggle with this superfast sculpting workout.

Plank Press
What you'll need: a pair of 3- to 5-pound dumbbells, a yoga mat
Targets shoulders, back, triceps, and abs
• Place dumbbells at top of mat, then get into full push-up position with arms shoulder-width apart and hands directly under shoulders; step feet out slightly wider than shoulder-width.
• Keeping hips level, lift right hand and pick up one dumbbell; drive right elbow backward at shoulder level, keeping arm close to side and palm facing down.
• Extend right arm forward.
• Return right elbow to bent position and repeat.
• Do 10 reps, switch sides and repeat. Do 2 sets.

Related: Deft Gravity: 9 Exercises for a Better Butt

Monkey ArmsMonkey Arms
Targets shoulders, triceps, and biceps
• Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand, arms by sides.
• Raise dumbbells up along sides of rib cage to armpits, elbows pointingRead More »from 5 Moves to Get Stronger Arms Fast

Jeffrey Westbrook/Fitness MagazineBy Lindsey Emery

Be ready for any kind of action with these superstar sneakers, which got a standing -- and striding, cycling, shuffling, stomping -- ovation from our 132 sweat testers.

Related: Runner-Up Sneaks for Every Sport

The Best Walking Shoe
For casual strollers to serious power walkers
Winner: New Balance 895
Bye-bye, staid walking shoes. This bold "superlight" pair is "incredibly flexible, while being supportive and cushiony," testers say. The unique egg-crate-inspired design of the outsole "puts an extra spring in your step." That, combined with a stable-but-not-stiff foam midsole, makes them "well built for both casual and speed walking." ($85, shopnewbalance.com)

Jeffrey Westbrook/Fitness MagazineThe Best Hiking Shoe
For off-road walkers or day hikers
Winner: Vasque Talus WP
These "great" lightweight hiking boots had one tester raving that the waterproof Nubuck leather "keeps your feet dry and warm, even when they're fully submerged in water." The Vibram outsole offers "excellent grip" and "a

Read More »from The FITNESS 2012 Sneaker Guide for Every Sport

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.comBy Lauren Tumas

You said yes! (To being a bridesmaid, that is). It might be the happiest day of someone else's life, but that doesn't mean you can't have a good time in the process. Here, your guide to fulfilling your duties while keeping your sanity -- and friendship -- intact.

Related: Are Your Friends Making You Fat?

Ask the Important Questions

Money and time can be the biggest stress factors surrounding weddings. "A bridesmaid should be up front and clear from the beginning about what she can contribute and shouldn't assume anything," says Anna Post, the great-great-granddaughter of etiquette expert Emily Post and author of Emily Post's Etiquette, 18th edition. Post suggests asking the bride how much you are expected to spend (including dress, shoes, and jewelry) and know if you are expected to travel for the wedding or bachelorette party. Make sure you mention how excited you are to be a part of this step for her so she doesn't think you'll be counting pennies the entire

Read More »from 5 Sanity Savers to Be a Better Bridesmaid

Alexa Miller/Fitness MagazineBy Marianne Magno

You carry your own water bottle, use a reusable shopping bag, and sort your recyclables from the trash. Here, easy ways to green your fitness routine without thinking about it.

Choose Wisely

Look for eco-friendly companies when shopping for workout clothes and gear. Gaiam, Patagonia, and GoLite are just a few of the companies that use organic fibers in their clothing and accessories. Green your yoga session by investing in a mat made from sustainable ingredients, like Manduka's eKO Mat.

Related: Trendy Yoga Mats for Every Type of Yogi

Reuse Old Fitness Gear

If you've downward dogged your yoga mat into tatters or have equipment from your days of being in the neighborhood soccer league, blow off the dust bunnies for a cause. Bring new life to your old gear through these programs:

Recycle Your Mat: Send your old mat (or drop it off at a participating location) and this company will work with other organizations to find creative new uses for it. Visit

Read More »from 4 Ways to Green Your Fitness Routine

Steve Giralt/Fitness MagazineBy Eleanor Langston

At my wedding, in 2004, I said "I do" at my dream weight. I felt carefree, light, glowing, as if I could take on the world. Too bad that feeling didn't last a week. After a seven-day honeymoon in Los Cabos, Mexico, filled with nonstop eating and drinking (guacamole, margaritas, quesadillas -- olé!), I couldn't even zip up the yellow dress I'd worn on the night of my rehearsal dinner.

Then came seven years of continual restaurant dining and takeout and many nights out drinking, and I was 10 -- okay, 15 -- pounds past my wedding weight. No, I wasn't huge, but I felt self-conscious, bloated, and generally blah. Determined to stop piling on the pounds, I set out to change my mind-set and habits without changing my lifestyle. I would still go out and have fun; I'd just be smarter about it. "No excuses" became my mantra. I had some additional motivation: My 10-year high school reunion and the MORE/FITNESS Women's Half-Marathon were only months away. The good news is

Read More »from Diet Tips from a Party Chick: Lose Weight Without Losing Your Social Life

Ericka McConnell/Fitness MagazineBy Marianne Magno

You don't need to empty your wallet to have an active lifestyle. Follow these tips from fitness experts to save money while staying fit.

Tip #1: Mark Your Calendars
Gyms typically have specials in January (hello, resolutions) and September. You'll be most likely to score a cheap fee during these two months. If you're joining not during these two months, do your research. Check out a few gym rates in your area and then go to the one you're interested in joining. Tell them what the competitor rates are (if they're lower) and chances are you'll snag a discount to woo you to join.

Tip #2: You Don't Get What You Don't Ask For
Deals vary from gym to gym and aren't always advertised, so members should personally ask about offers and specials, says Mark Daly, national media director for Anytime Fitness. Daly recommends asking "If I pay in full for a year-long membership, can I get free personal training sessions included?"

Related: The Best Fitness Tools for Your Home Gym

Read More »from Get Slim on a Budget: 10 Ways to Save Money While Staying Fit

Full T Push-UpBy Hagar Scher; Photographs by Chris Fanning

Sculpt sexy arms and a firmer chest with these 9 push-up variations from Todd Durkin, owner of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego.

1. Full T Push-Up
Targets shoulders, chest, arms, abs, obliques, thighs
Begin in full push-up position -- wrists below shoulders, legs extended, toes tucked under, abs engaged. Lift your right arm toward the ceiling, rotating entire body to right; keep hips and legs stacked. Hold for 2 counts, then return to start. Do one push-up; repeat on left side. Do 10 reps per side.

Related: Fight Arm Flab in 10 Minutes

Dive-Bomber Push-Up2. Dive-Bomber Push-Up
Targets shoulders, chest, arms, abs, back, hamstrings
Start in downward-facing dog -- hands slightly more than shoulder-width apart, hips lifted, heels reaching down. Glide chest forward and through arms, bringing it down between your hands and arching back toward ceiling; hover hips 2 to 3 inches off floor. Reverse, pressing into hands and bringing hips back up. Do 10 reps.

Related:

Read More »from 3 Push-Ups that Will Change Your Body