Blog Posts by Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

Bathing suit season inspires us to be as fit as possible -- but by the end of the summer, we've spent more time barbecuing and eating ice cream than we have working out!

Hoping to squeeze back into your skinny jeans by fall? We asked Jim White, registered dietitian, ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, for his top slim-down tips.

Related: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

Work out in the great outdoors. The weather is getting cooler, making late summer/early fall the perfect time to take your workout outside, says White. "Grab a friend and some weights and create a circuit in the backyard," he suggests. Plus, racing season begins in the fall -- consider signing up for one near you! For more outdoor workout inspiration, check out SELF's 8 Outdoor Bench Moves.

It's all about the schedule. "The key to fitting into those skinny jeans is schedule," says White. "Adopting a routine will help in

Amanda MacMillan, SELF magazine

If your plans for this Labor Day weekend involve more sleeping, eating and drinking than physical activity, that's okay -- it's a holiday! But even if you don't feel like working out, we've come up with some fun and festive exercises to offset your not-so-healthy habits.

"Studies show that quick bursts of activity, even as little as 30 or 60 seconds at a time, have real benefits in terms of calorie burning and cardiovascular conditioning," says Michele Stanten, a certified fitness instructor and author of "Walk Off Weight" (and SELF contributor!). "Even if you're not spending an hour at the gym, a few minutes of movement is certainly better than nothing." Still not sure how you'll squeeze it in? It's easier than you think.

Related: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

Holiday happening: The final summer Friday of the year
Fitness fix: Hit the gym before the bar.
Planning an afternoon Happy Hour with your crew? Invite them to join you for a

Dana Meltzer Zepeda, SELF magazine

Trendy peplum dresses and tops may not be the corsets of yore, but they definitely accentuate your waistline and hips. Throw the spotlight on your trim middle with a move that targets your whole core. (It works for skinny jeans, too!)

Related: Foods That Fight Belly Bloat

All you really need is one great lower body toner to trim your tummy, says Klara Bella, a yoga and Pilates instructor at Zooga Yoga in Culver City, California. Incorporate this multi-tasking move into your regular routine 3 to 4 times a week to "work your deep core muscles and engage the oblique muscles, which will help slim down your waist."

Sideline Leg Lift
Lay down on the left side of your body, staying in a long line from the crown of the head to the toes. Stretch your bottom arm out and lay your head down. Bending the top elbow, place your top arm's palm on the mat in front of you.

Related: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

Keeping your big toe joints touching,

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

Do you find yourself glued to the screen, whether it's your computer or TV? It could be packing on pounds.

Researchers at the Milken Institute (a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank) in California found a direct link between spikes in technology usage and increases in obesity rates in 27 countries between 1988 and 2009.

Related: Foods That Fight Belly Bloat

Specifically, the increase in "screen time" was cited as a major factor, meaning time devoted to using computers, watching TV and playing video games.

"Technological innovations, more processed foods, a greater amount of 'screen time,' less exercise, and higher consumption of snack foods have all played a role," report co-author and economist Anusuya Chatterjee said in a news release. "These are all the adverse effects of a knowledge-based society."

To conduct the study, Milken researchers looked at the connection between a country's level of investment in communication

Andrea Bartz, SELF magazine

Summer's moving to an end. Go all out and let loose--you'll get some major body benefits!

Chow down. A late-night bite could elevate your metabolism, says Heather K. Jones, R.D., of San Francisco. But keep it decent. At the bar, pick a shrimp cocktail, guac or hummus. The 24-hour diner calling you? Opt for a veggie omelet: Eggs contain protein, your body's building block of lean, calorie-torching muscle. Even better if you swap out those hash browns for a fruit cup.

Related: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

Flirt brazenly. Chatting up a cute guy triggers a flood of the happy hormone dopamine, which makes you more positive, says Jeremy Nicholson, Ph.D., a social psychologist in Boston--and optimism could heighten immunity. Skin-to-skin contact cues the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin, Nicholson adds. So get touchy. We're 99.9 percent certain he won't mind.

Laugh the loudest. Cracking up relieves stress and acts as a natural pain med,

Alexandra Samuel, SELF magazine

Have you ever walked part of the Appalachian Trail? The "AT," which extends more than 2,100 miles from Georgia all the way up to Maine, turned 75 this month. (It was officially dedicated on August 14, 1937.)

If you live -- or happen to be vacationing -- in one of the 14 states the AT passes through, summer is a great time to experience part of the trail yourself. You'll almost certainly break a sweat, that's for sure (and can burn almost 500 calories an hour!), but the forest's natural shade and the route's sometimes high elevation may even provide a break from August's intense sun and heat.

To commemorate the Trail's big milestone, go for a hike this weekend. (Not on the East Coast? Find another route near you at trails.com.) Take along plenty of water, a few snacks, and our following favorite hiking products. Have fun!

More from SELF:

5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin

3 CrossFit Total-Body Workouts

50 Healthiest Snacks

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CN Digital StudioSarah-Jane Bedwell, SELF magazine

Summertime is the best time to enjoy berries at their peak. From juicy strawberries to sweet blueberries to plump blackberries and raspberries, there is a berry for you no matter what your tastes are! While berries are delicious to eat on their own, sometimes they are even better when used as a part of a dish to add flavor, color and nutrients, all while adding very few calories . Try these "berry" good ideas to see what I mean.

Related: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

Berry sauce: Puree berries in your food processor (you can do all of one kind or a mix), strain to remove any seeds and add a dash of sugar or honey to increase the sweetness, if needed. Then you can use this sauce over meats and fish for a sweet twist on a savory dish, or to dress up vanilla ice cream or even oatmeal!

PB & B: Forget the jelly, which is high in sugar and low in fiber, and opt for berries on your peanut butter sandwich instead. They will still add that delicious fruity

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

It's hard to imagine, but less than 100 years ago, your opinion on who should be sitting in the Oval Office next January would, by law, be just that -- an opinion. This Sunday, August 26th, marks the 92nd anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote in the United States. That's cause to raise a glass of champagne this weekend to the ladies who came before us and changed our place in history! Here are five more ways to celebrate Women's Equality Day:

Related: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

1. Make sure you're registered to vote! If you've moved, need to update your info or just aren't sure if you're already registered, visit the non-partisan website CanIVote.org, which is hosted by the National Association of Secretaries of State. You can also find your polling place, learn how to vote by mail and even get election results.

2. Make a donation to Planned Parenthood. Women's economic and social