Hitting a bit of a slump with your New Year's weight-loss resolutions? Angela Ginn, RD, spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, says there are six easy slim-down tricks that really and truly work. Read on, and you'll be bikini-ready by Memorial Day weekend!
See More: 6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism
1. Chew gum.
"It really works!" says Ginn. Grab a piece of sugar-free gum when you have a sweet tooth, like sugar-free key lime pie or good old mint. According to Ginn, studies confirm that repeatedly chewing gum over time can contribute to you eating fewer snacks and creating a negative energy balance -- i.e. you burn more calories than you take in! "For example," says Ginn, "An average woman may take in 1,500 calories per day, but by chewing gum, she only consumes 1,300 calories per day, creating a negative energy balance." Sweet! (Bonus: According to the American Dental Association, chewing sugarless gum after eating can
Blog Posts by Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine
6 Simple Weight-Loss Tricks that Really Work
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, Jan 31, 2012 12:20 PM ESTOffice Romance: Expert-Approved Dos and Don'ts
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Love + Sex – Mon, Jan 30, 2012 3:50 PM EST
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selfBy Catherine Birndorf M.D., SELF magazine
The office is the main offline source for romance, finds a new study. But mingling on the clock isn't easy. Follow our pro tips before you mix business with pleasure.
Related: Kristen Bell Answers Your Biggest Health Questions
Q: I made out with a coworker at an office bash (oops), but I don't want to date him. How can we move on? It's awkward!
A; Try this two-pronged strategy: First, be completely up-front with the guy to get past the awkwardness. If you think he regrets the makeout session, take a casual approach: "I want to chat about what happened. Can we put it behind us and go back to being normal coworkers?" But if you suspect he hopes you'll end up in a relationship (or at least have more hookups), you'll have to tread lightly to avoid hurt feelings, as in, "That was fun, and I think you're a great guy, but from now on, I want to keep my personal life separate from my professional life. Can we agree to keep this under wraps and get18 Delicious Oatmeal Add-Ins You Gotta Try
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Mon, Jan 30, 2012 10:58 AM EST
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selfBy Sarah-Jane Bedwell, SELF magazine
January is National Oatmeal Month! According to Yahoo!, searches for oatmeal are up 122% this month. Not only is it a whole grain and a good source of soluble fiber,it also contains important vitamins and minerals. But let's admit it, unless it's prepared with a little creativity, oatmeal can get boring really quickly. Here's...
Related: Kristen Bell Answers Your Biggest Health Questions
...a few of my favorite ways to jazz up oatmeal and have you choosing it more often as a flavorful and healthy breakfast option.
First, start by choosing your cooking liquid:
Water: Water is always a good bet if you want to keep the calories down.
1% Milk: When cooking oatmeal in milk, I like to use 1% rather than skim as it is still low-fat but will yield a creamier result.
Almond Milk: For an instant, flavored oatmeal that is still fairly low in calories, try cooking it in flavored almond milk. Vanilla almond milk is my favorite.
Juices: To add sweetnessHow to to Avoid Injuries in Yoga Class
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Wed, Jan 25, 2012 4:41 PM EST
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selfBy Bari Lieberman, SELF magazine
The yoga scene is buzzing with claims that the practice will wreck your body. (It seems like only yesterday journals were touting that yoga and stretching were key components to alleviating moderate low-back pain and boosting back function!)
Related: Kristen Bell Answers Your Biggest Health Questions
While it's easy to start pointing fingers, it's important to remember that ultimately you're responsible for preventing injury. It's up to the instructor to develop a safe class and teach proper form, but you have to listen to your body and know when to modify if necessary.
So I turned to anatomy genius Joe Miller for advice. Miller is a senior yoga teacher and teacher training instructor at OM Yoga Center in New York City. Plus, he has an MA in applied physiology and the yoga credential of being an E-RYT 500.
Here's what he had to say:
When you're in yoga class, how do you know if you're pushing yourself too far?
"The obvious clue is if you're6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, Jan 24, 2012 12:44 PM EST
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selfNot happy with the metabolism you've got? These strategies-for mealtime, gym time, downtime and bedtime-will help you burn more calories all day long.
Related: Kristen Bell Answers Your Biggest Health Questions
1. Pick Protein
"Protein is the building block of muscle," says Roberta Anding, R.D., a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). "The more lean muscle you have, the more calories you expend."
Bump Up Your Burn: Your muscles can use only 30 grams of protein at any time, a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association notes. Any more than that gets stored as fat. Aim for a minimum of 46 g of protein per day. A sample menu:
Breakfast: 6 ounces lowfat yogurt with 1/2 cup berries and a medium skim latte
Lunch: Spinach salad with 2 oz chicken and 1/3 cup black beans, served with pita with 2 tbsp hummus
Dinner: Asian stir-fry with 1/3 cup each tofu, snow peas, red bell peppers, bok choy, bean sprouts and 3/4 cupFive Foods that Reduce Inflammation
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | At Home – Tue, Jan 24, 2012 12:21 PM EST
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selfBy Sarah-Jane Bedwell, SELF magazine
Research is continuing to find that inflammation is at the root of many medical conditions and diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, joint pain, allergies, digestive issues, skin problems and more. So, it appears that a key to avoiding these conditions is to reduce inflammation in our bodies, and it's easier to do than you would think! No, you don't need any anti-inflammatory drugs or special supplements...
Related: Kristen Bell Answers Your Biggest Health Questions
..Simply by including these anti-inflammatory foods in your daily diet, you can reduce your risk of these conditions and improve your health.
1. Salmon
Research shows that the healthy omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon seem to decrease the production of inflammatory proteins. In fact, a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may decrease inflammation to the same extent that aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications do. However, most of us eat far too many omega-6Kristen Bell Answers Your Biggest Health Questions
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, Jan 24, 2012 12:04 PM EST
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selfWhen we found out that Kristen Bell, of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Gossip Girl fame, had nearly a half million Twitter followers, including oodles of SELF readers, we did what any true friend would do: introduced you all and got the conversation going.
You chimed in with tons of questions for the Detroit native, who is having a pretty busy year. She's starring in a new Showtime comedy about boardroom intrigue, House of Lies, this month's feel-good release Big Miracle, and later this year, Outrun, a film directed by her longtime partner, Dax Shepard. But she made time to respond to our queries with some of her truly stellar secret strategies. Try one or try them all, and you'll love Bell-and yourself-even more!
See more: The Healthiest Cities for Women
1. What's your favorite exercise move? -Liz Stark via Facebook
Here's the one that packs the most punch. I call it The Bowler: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and bend slightly at the waist, holding a 5-pound weight in yourSnacking 101: How to Get the Most from Your Workout
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, Jan 17, 2012 4:07 PM EST
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selfBy Sarah-Jane Bedwell, SELF magazine
Does your New Year's resolution involve exercise and getting fit? Doing both cardiovascular and strength exercises are important, but did you know that what you eat after a workout can be just as important as the workout itself in terms of getting results? If you don't eat or drink something that contains protein and carbohydrate within about 30 minutes of finishing an intense workout, your muscle may begin to break itself down for fuel rather than rebuild. Consuming something with both protein and carbohydrate is important because protein helps rebuild the muscles and carbohydrate helps replace your glycogen stores (energy stores). The ideal ratio of carbohydrate to protein for a post-workout snack is 4 to 1.
See more: The Healthiest Cities for Women
You probably also know that rehydrating after your workout is important, but remember if you are sweating during a workout that lasts over an hour, you will not only need to replace your fluids, butFoods to Beat the Winter Blues
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Thu, Jan 12, 2012 11:11 AM EST
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By Sarah-Jane Bedwell, SELF magazine
When it's cold and cloudy out, it's hard not to come down with a case of the winter blues. Before you go on a search for some happy pills, check out what's in your pantry and fridge...
See more: The Healthiest Cities for Women
..Studies show that people who eat a healthy diet, low in fat and simple sugars and high in fiber, generally have a positive outlook on life.
Specifically, you'll want to stock up on leafy greens such as spinach or arugula, lentils, lean beef, low-fat dairy products, and whole grain cereals, rich sources of B vitamins and folate, which help produce feel-good hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
To enhance the release of these feel-good hormones even more, combine a healthy complex carbohydrate food like whole grain breads and cereals, potatoes, or fruit with a lean protein such as fish, poultry, lean beef, eggs, or tofu.
See more: How to Dine Out and Still Lose Weight
Fish like salmon or tuna, whichYour Secret Weapon for New Year's Resolution Success
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Thu, Jan 12, 2012 10:56 AM EST
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Realized you need a little extra help to achieve your New Year, New You goals? The key to being the best you ever this year may lie in seeking help from a therapist. The most important thing to know about therapy is that it's actually most helpful to you when you are not in a state of crisis, but rather when you are looking to learn and explore new things about yourself.
See more: The Healthiest Cities for Women
If you're resolving to shed pounds, or meet Mr. Right year after year without much success, a therapist may help you weed through the underlying problems that you may not even realize are blocking your path to success. And, once you recognize those barriers, and begin to explore them, you'll find it easier to change them - and hopefully overcome them, too!
So how do you go about finding a therapist in the first place? Personal referrals work best, so if you have pals who have revealed that they see a therapist, ask if they would mind asking their doc for a referral for you.
