Blog Posts by FITNESS Magazine

By: Lynya Floyd

Stick out your tongue, refuse to answer work e-mail, carry a lot of cash. Sounds risky, but these "bad" behaviors may be the key to a less stressful life.

We asked experts in everything from finance to romance for their take on when you should shake off conventional wisdom. Here, their tips on when it's okay to color outside the lines.

The Rule: Don't go to bed angry

Break it because...endlessly rehashing a disagreement only amps up agitation. Sometimes, the smartest strategy is to set the fight aside and let tempers cool. Peter Post, author of Essential Manners for Couples, recommends that you learn to recognize when you're getting nowhere and then just "put the argument out of its misery." It can be as simple as saying "I'm sorry we're so mad at each other, but I still love you" or even "I don't want this to be a huge issue." Then pick up the subject again when you've calmed down. "One couple I know sticks their tongues out at each other at the end of a fight," says

By: Jeanette Moninger

If you don't eat red meat or snack after 8 p.m., it's time to loosen up. The secret to losing weight is finding your happy medium (or medium rare). Get ready to break a few rules and lose weight, too.

Rule #1: Swear Off Red Meat to Cut Calories

Smarter strategy: Enjoy an occasional hamburger for the protein -- and yumminess -- it provides. "Protein takes longer to digest, so it keeps you full," says Jonny Bowden, PhD, a weight-loss coach and author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. Red meat gets a bad rap because certain cuts (like those labeled "prime") are high in artery-clogging saturated fat. So keep it lean with "round" and "loin" options (as in top round, sirloin, and tenderloin) and ground beef that's 5 percent or less fat. Eat no more than two servings, or five ounces, of lean meat daily (a serving is about the size of a deck of cards) and no more than 18 ounces a week. Vary your options with other protein powerhouses, like fish, poultry, and beans.

Workout by Bob Harper, trainer on TV's The Biggest Loser and creator of the Bob Harper Inside Out Method: Body Rev/Cardio Conditioning DVD

So long, jiggly arms! These moves use your upper body to stoke your calorie burn so you can rock a little black dress all season long.

What you'll need: a pair of 3- to 5-pound dumbbells
This workout is a circuit; perform the first set of each move, then complete the remaining moves before doing the second set. VIDEO: Watch This Workout

Weighted Jump Rope
Targets: Arms, abs, butt, and legs

• Stand with feet hip-width apart, a dumbbell in each hand.

• Bend elbows by ribs about 90 degrees so that forearms point out to sides, palms facing forward.
• Jump up and down a few inches off floor, drawing small circles with dumbbells as if twirling a jump rope.
• Do 2 sets of 16 jumps

Dead-Lift Row

• Stand with feet wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, holding a single dumbbell with

By: Linda Sharp

You can have Destiny's Child "Independent Women" as your ring tone, know how to change a flat tire, and file your own taxes, but every now and then a girl needs a support system. Here, ten people you'll always need (and want!) in your life:

1. A boy friend. As in platonic male pal. While he'll never replace your girlfriends for late-night Ben & Jerry's gossip sessions, having a Ben or Jerry in your life can be just as beneficial. With him, you're free to sport your dowdiest duds, have a heated political discussion (without fear that it will carry into the bedroom) and even belch out loud. He'll be your plus-one at parties and the third wheel when you need a buffer. And his insight is especially helpful for all those "Why" questions, such as, "Why are men so...?" "Why did he...?" and "Why won't he...?" Related: The Single Girl's Survival Kit

2. A born-to-shop pal. This sartorial sidekick will not only help you find flattering outfits amid the chaos of your closet,

By: Dorothy Foltz-Gray

When the sun is shining and grill is hot, it's hard to resist a juicy burger and some yummy sides. Here, simple moves that will let you eat your BBQ without feeling guilty later.

You Want: A Hamburger (4 ounces, 484 calories)

Hey, it's only patriotic to have at least one!

Related: 7 Recipes for a Low-Cal Cookout


Burn It Off This Way: Play Ball!

Any pickup game of ball, as long as it's active, can burn off that burger. If there are kids handy, play kickball, suggests Cassandra Corum, a fitness and wellness expert in Los Angeles. Calories burned: 400 to 500 in an hour.

Related: Our Best 8 Stability Ball Exercises



You Want: Two Hotdogs (220 calories)

For one day, forget about the nitrates, the sodium, and think about baseball, and corner stands, and, well, your picnic.


Related: Healthy Sandwich Recipes




Burn It Off This Way: Pilates

Thirty minutes of Pilates will burn off the dogs, says master Pilates instructor Matt McCulloch, co-founder of Kinected, an

By: Virgina Sole-Smith

If you've ever cheated on a diet, you're probably guilty of the number-one crime in the weight-loss world: self-sabotage. More than 40 percent of dieters have trouble sticking to a plan for a year, and most people gain back any pounds they lost (and more) within four to five years, according to research.

But you've got a good alibi. "It's really not your fault," says Judith Beck, PhD, director of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research in Philadelphia. "Just as you wouldn't expect to be a good musician if you never took music lessons, you can't expect to succeed at dieting if you've never learned the skills you need to lose weight," she explains. We tracked down the most common weight-loss offenses to show you how to break free from the yo-yo-diet trap for good.


Related: Easy Ways to Be a Smarter Snacker


The Night Eater

THE CRIME: You consume more than half your daily calories after 6 p.m. -- mostly through mindless munching in front of the TV.

By: Sara Wells

Chocolate is healthier than you think. Here, for new reasons to indulge in the sweet stuff. (Like you need 'em!)

Related: The Best 250-Calorie Dessert Recipes

#1: To Kick a Cough

Theobromine, a chemical in chocolate, is as effective at soothing coughs as codeine, a key ingredient in many prescription meds.

Related: 5 Foods That Fight Colds and Flu


#2: To Fight Cavities

Theobromine may also strengthen teeth better than fluoride, according to Tulane University researchers.

Related: We Tried It: The Best Ways to Whiten Your Teeth at Home

#3: To Tame Tummy Trouble

Cocoa contains potent antioxidants that bind to and inhibit a protein in the intestines that causes diarrhea, say scientists at the Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland in California. No wonder it has been used as a remedy since the 16th century.

Related: 15 Ways to Banish Belly Bloat

#4: To Save Face

British scientists found that less than an ounce of flavanol-rich chocolate a day may help protect

By: Norine Dworkin-McDaniel

I was meeting my friend Linda at our favorite Brooklyn cafe to discuss a project. "Six, sharp. I'll see you then," I promised. And by 6:15 p.m., there sat Linda, with a cool margarita in front of her and steam coming out of her ears. I breezed in at 6:30, full of apologies and excuses. But it was no use: I was late -- again -- and she was furious. She tartly informed me that if I kept her waiting once more, I'd be kicked off the project.

Everyone's got bad habits such as lateness or procrastination. But if you consistently act in ways that cause you to lose face, lose friends, or fail when a goal is within reach, your harmless personality quirks may have morphed into serious self-sabotage. "A bad habit becomes destructive when your behavior causes more than momentary regret and leaves you feeling disappointed in yourself," says Pauline Wallin, PhD, author of Taming Your Inner Brat.

Why do we derail our own happiness? Experts attribute it to a variety