Blog Posts by FITNESS Magazine

By the editors of FITNESS; drills created by Dave Kuehls

Pushing the pace is not just for stopwatch nuts looking for faster times on race day. Speedier strides burn more calories per minute and boost your cardiovascular capacity, making everything you do -- from errands to exercise -- feel easier, says Dave Kuehls, author of How to Run a Personal Record. Follow his drills to stop huffing and start hauling.

Related: Run a Half-Marathon in 8 Weeks

Drill #1: Do speed work on a track -- the distances are measured out for you.

How to do it: Run ladders: Try a 200-meter sprint, 400-meter fast, 600-meter moderate, 800-meter slow. Reverse order back to start.

Why do it: Upping your tempo strengthens your legs and increases your lung capacity.



Related: The 7 Best Foods for Runners



Drill #2: Run at goal race pace for an entire workout.

How to do it: Check your watch every 1/4 mile to make sure you're being consistent.

Why do it: Practice helps your body memorize a desired speed.


Related:

By Jenna Bergen

Your afternoon pick-me-up doesn't come just from the corner coffee shop anymore. The latest energy boosters are concocted in high-tech labs and promise to give you a whole new kind of lift. But do they really work? Here, experts dish on which ingredients in your energy drink do what they actually claim.

Related: More Facts on Energy Shots, Sports Drinks, and Power Packs

Ingredient: Guarana

Claim: Improves alertness and physical performance; reduces fatigue

The science: "Caffeine is a component of guarana, which is why it can provide similar benefits," says Kevin Clauson of Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. But since the amount of caffeine varies from 2 to 8 percent, it's hard to determine exactly how big a boost you'll get.

Related: Ready, Set, Recharge! 24 Ways to Boost Your Energy and Your Mood

Ingredient: B vitamins

Claim: Boost energy and metabolism

The science: "B vitamins help convert food into

By Lisa Haney

Losing 242 pounds has made Ben and Olivia Ward's marriage stronger -- and spicier -- than ever. Here are secrets from The Biggest Loser's marriage makeover.

Related: Happily Ever Fatter? How to Avoid Post-Wedding Weight Gain

1. She Shed for Herself

While Olivia Ward, 35, the winner of last season's Biggest Loser, was busy sweating her butt off on the ranch, her husband, Ben, also 35, was at home in Astoria, New York, walking and eventually running on the treadmill every night, working to lose 113 pounds. Their marriage has always been like that: They gained weight together; they tried to lose it together. "Yet we always fell off the wagon together," says Olivia, who dropped 129 pounds on the show.

Now she knows why her previous attempts didn't work. "I never did it just for me," she explains. "It's important to have a partner, but at the end of the day it can't be about 'Ben and Olivia want to lose weight.' It has to be about 'Olivia wants to lose weight.' It sounds

By 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: 12 Things You Need to Know About Germs

The 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

By Sally Kuzemchak, RD

Superfoods are like superstars. Brad Pitt may steal the spotlight, but Gerard Butler works just as hard. What does that have to do with your grocery cart? Well, simply that it doesn't have to be full of A-listers to be award winning. "People get fixated on the idea that it's one particular type of fish, cooking oil, or nut that will change their health," says FITNESS advisory board member Mark Moyad, MD, MPH, author of Dr. Moyad's No BS Health Advice. "They don't realize that similar foods also have solid research and may cost less." Give these foods a chance to shine in your kitchen.

Related: More Superfoods to Start Munching On

Strawberries

The superstar: Blueberries

They rose to fame after researchers discovered that they have one of the highest antioxidant capacities of any fruit.

The understudy: Strawberries

These berries are another exceptional pick. They're bursting with antioxidants; one 53-calorie cup has more vitamin C than a navel orange.

By Colleen Moody

Ah, motherhood. You've gained a new little bundle of joy -- and to go with it, some extra pounds. Don't let food worries add to your stress and sleepless nights as you adjust to your new schedule. We sought out the best foods to keep you going and slim you down in the process.

Related: The Best Moves to Get Your After-Baby Body, Fast!

Rev Up Your Engine

The key to your energy isn't just how much (or little) you sleep each night, but instead, what's on your plate. "One of the main things a healthy diet can do is give new moms energy," says Kathy McManus, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and director of the department of nutrition at Brigham Women's Hospital in Boston. "It's important to spread food throughout the day so that you get an even amount of calories. This will give you lasting power to take care of your baby and yourself."

Need-to-Know Nutrients

When you eat foods rich with nutrients, you'll notice that your calories go a long way. You'll feel fuller

By the editors of FITNESS Magazine

Flying doesn't have to mean walking off the plane with that all-too-familiar puffy feeling: jet bloat. Three experts tell you how to beat it.

Related: A 2-Minute Travel Tension Tamer

The Doctor Says...

"Take bathroom breaks whenever the fasten-seat-belt sign goes off to keep blood and other body fluids circulating," says Sandra Fryhofer, MD, a clinical associate professor of medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. "Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and salt -- all of which cause water retention -- and drink at least 8 ounces of water for every hour in flight. Once on the ground, drink a cup of hot green tea and take 500 milligrams of vitamin B complex; both are natural diuretics."

Related: The Best Foods to Eat on the Road


The Trainer Says...

When you can't get up and stretch, shift position in your seat at least every half hour -- cross your legs, prop your feet on your carry-on, or lean forward and interlace your fingers in front

By Jessica Baumgardner

You work too hard at losing weight to let the weekend blow your diet. Stay on track -- and still have fun -- with these smart-eating tips for avoiding cravings and overeating in social situations.

Related: 6 Ways to Supersize Your Self Control

FRIDAY: Happy Hour After Work

You're in the mood to unwind, but the more you drink, the more you munch. "Alcohol makes you hungry because it lowers your blood sugar," Lichten says. "Plus, it lifts your inhibitions, so you'll eat just about anything."

Related: A Better Brew: FITNESS Light Beer Taste Test

Don't order your usual. You're more likely to have a second round when you're drinking your fave. "To keep it to one serving, get something you can nurse for the time you're there," says Marissa Lippert, RD, author of The Cheater's Diet. For example, if you guzzle white wine, order a light beer instead. Related: Drinks on Us: Low-Cal Cocktail Recipes

Go solo. Sharing a pitcher of margaritas with your friends may