I was at a wedding over Memorial Day weekend, and instead of the typical pricey, five-tiered cake, they served -- and fed each other -- amazing, affordable cupcakes.
The bride and groom topped theirs with classic wooden blocks branded with their first initials -- so cute! This isn't the first wedding reception I've been to that ditched the cake for the cup -- cupcakes have been booming since ever since Carrie and Miranda were seen loving them on an episode of "Sex and the City."
Related: Dine like a star
They're everywhere: On the New York Times Bestseller list, on TV ("Cupcake Wars" premieres tonight on the Food Network), and on magazine covers. They're even being used to bolster important causes, such as breast cancer -- check out the Susan G. Komen Dozen!
At the wedding, Dave and I split a red velvet (even through they're small, I'm fully aware that they can pack 500 calories and more than 20 grams of fat). Got me thinking: Is it possible to get in on this frenzy without taking
Blog Posts by Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine
3 Ways to Make Cupcakes Healthier
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Thu, Jun 17, 2010 3:47 PM EDT5 Things You May Not Know About Breast Implants
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Work + Money – Tue, Jun 15, 2010 8:27 PM EDT
Read More »from 5 Things You May Not Know About Breast Implants
Celebrity boobs jobs -- actual (Heidi Montag) and rumored (Sarah Palin shot down speculation that she was "enhanced") -- are so frequently in the news that it makes women think breast augmentation is a simple, complication-free procedure.
Related: 20 superfoods for weight loss
But this is not the case. It's a surgery. And, like any surgery, you should think long and hard before you go under the knife. Here are some things that you might not know about breast implants:
1. They don't last forever. According to the FDA, if you get implants (silicone or saline), you will likely need additional surgery within 10 to 15 years due to rupture, other complications, or cosmetic funkiness (asymmetry, wrinkling, rippling, etc.). Cha-ching.
Bonus: Butt and thigh exercises: Look hot in jeans
2. They don't solve self-esteem issues. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that, compared with the general population, women with breast implants are 73 percent more likely to commitFitness Trend: Cool Hybrid Workouts Worth Trying
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Work + Money – Fri, Jun 11, 2010 6:43 PM EDT
Read More »from Fitness Trend: Cool Hybrid Workouts Worth Trying
I've always had a hard time choosing between cardio-focused sweat sessions (such as indoor cycling and long runs) and more chill workouts (like yoga or Pilates). One gives me a calorie-burning high that lasts for hours, while the other helps me let go of my work day and calm my mind. So, I was psyched to learn about two "hybrid" fitness classes that are gaining popularity. Loving the idea of getting that surge of energy and my Zen fix simultaneously -- multitasking, baby.
Here are the deets:
Piloxing: This hour-long class alternates between the core and lengthening work of Pilates and the speed and agility training of boxing (weighted gloves are optional!). Seemed like a really crazy mix to me, until I read that Joseph Pilates was actually a boxer. Who knew? And, actually, it's pretty genius because boxing takes lots of balance and core strength, which you can get from Pilates. The class is only offered at V Pilates in North Holllywood, California, but you can buy the DVD here.
Related:7 Steps to a Healthier Heart
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Mon, Jun 7, 2010 8:43 PM EDT
Read More »from 7 Steps to a Healthier Heart
We're kicking off Monday with what may be the most important thing you do all week.
In honor of CPR Awareness Week (which ends today) and the American Heart Association's goal of teaching 1 million people how to perform CPR by the end of June, we're asking every Healthy SELF reader -- that's you! -- to visit cprweek.org to watch a quickie how-to video and play an interactive video game (a very welcome Monday a.m. distraction).
Related: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss
Even if you think you know how to perform CPR, you likely don't (check out SELF staffers in action)! I'm embarrassed to say I haven't been re-certified in 5-plus years, and a lot has changed: Effective CPR no longer requires mouth-to-mouth breathing or worrying about counting cadence.
Go here for a hands-only CPR lesson. It's a super simple, but essential skill. As Clyde Yancy, president of the American Heart Association and medical director at the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute says, "Let's be clear; CPR can save a5 Ways to a DIY Perfect Smile
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Fashion – Thu, Jun 3, 2010 10:45 PM EDT
Read More »from 5 Ways to a DIY Perfect Smile
OK, this is crazy. The latest trend in cosmetic surgery: For $2,000 to $5,000, you can have cute Jennifer Garner-esque dimples sewn into your face. While I had all sorts of crazy orthodontic contraptions as a kid, I can't imagine surgically shifting my smile. It's such a key part of a person's identity -- displaying emotion, engaging a stranger from across the bar, etc.
Related: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss
That said, I am all for making the most of what you've got. On that note, here are a few ways to enhance your already gorgeous smile:
1. Plump your lips. For a sexier smile, sans the stinging, try L'Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Plumping Gloss ($10). It gently volumizes your lips, adding a long-lasting layer of shine.
2. Erase even the tiniest hint of a double chin. Age-old modeling trick: Press your tongue to the roof of your mouth as you smile for a photo. Magically makes your smile pop and minimizes any double chin action.
Related: 30 Healthy Snacks under 200 Calories
3.5 Lessons We Learned From Al and Tipper Gore's Separation
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Love + Sex – Thu, Jun 3, 2010 7:59 PM EDT
Read More »from 5 Lessons We Learned From Al and Tipper Gore's Separation
So much for the kiss seen 'round the world.
Former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, are separating after 40 years of marriage, the Associated Press reported.
While "celeb" splits are more the rule than the exception these days, this one makes us particularly sad. After that long, lovey smooch at the 2000 Democratic presidential convention, the duo practically became the poster children for marital passion.
The Gores told friends they "grew apart" after 40 years of marriage, carving out separate lives while the former vice president was frequently on the road, two longtime close associates and family friends told the Associated Press. "Their lives had gotten more and more separated," one of the associates said.
Related: 20 superfoods for weight loss
There were hiccups along the way, but they were very, very minor. In a 2000 interview, Tipper said Al once gave her a Weedeater for her birthday, but had learned to be more sensitive over the years. "He's very much a5 Ways Your Job Is Hurting Your Health
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Wed, Jun 2, 2010 8:08 PM EDT
Read More »from 5 Ways Your Job Is Hurting Your Health
Getting back to work post-Memorial Day isn't just a drag because you'd rather be sunning and BBQ-ing -- it's also a bummer for your health. According to this piece in U.S. News & World Report, there are several ways your job can literally make you sick by provoking colds, jeopardizing heart health, and pushing the limits of your emotional state. Here's how to tweak your on-the-job routine to minimize the damage (without getting canned).
Job Hazard # 1: A dirty desk.
The average office toilet seat has 49 germs per square inch. The average desktop: 21,000 germs per square inch. To avoid transferring the bad bugs (such as E. coli) onto your fingertips, wipe down your work surface (including phones and keyboards) at the end of each day. We love Clorox's Green Works Eco-Friendly Cleaning Wipes.
Related: Are you a Germaphobe? Find out!
Job Hazard # 2: A drab cube.
If you can't talk your way into a window office, at least get a potted fern or two for your windowsill. Office workers with a10 Reasons Samantha's Sex Life Is Good for Her
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, Jun 1, 2010 4:30 PM EDT
Read More »from 10 Reasons Samantha's Sex Life Is Good for Her
Like the rest of America's female population, we'll be standing in line for "Sex and the City 2" this weekend.
And while we can't wait to see what Carrie and the rest of the gang are up to, we're especially looking forward to checking out Samantha's latest sexcapades. While we obviously don't endorse having one-night stands all around town (even if you're using protection), all the action she gets does provide some serious health benefits.
Related: For everything you need to know, check out the Better Sex Handbook.
Here are 10 reasons why Samantha's active sex life is a boon for her overall health (assuming you haven't already been bombarded to death by all the "SATC2" coverage):
1. It could stave off Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Scientists from the University of Calgary in Alberta found that sex increases levels of prolactin, a chemical that fuels brain-cell growth.
2. It gives her a jolt of joy. Regular romps are linked to higher levels of overall bliss, according to theThe 9 Worst Things You Can Eat in a Restaurant
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Shine Food – Thu, May 27, 2010 10:10 PM EDT
Read More »from The 9 Worst Things You Can Eat in a Restaurant
Suddenly, a healthy home-cooked meal sounds very appetizing. The Center for Science in the Public Interest handed out its dubious 2010 Xtreme Eating honors this week to nine fast-food chain restaurants. The list probably includes some of your favorite local joints, including California Pizza Kitchen, Five Guys and Outback. Before you head out for that quick on-the-go meal, read this list. You might even want to print it out and keep it in your wallet.
1. California Pizza Kitchen Tostada Pizza
The individual-size Tostada Pizza has 1,440 calories and more than a day's saturated fat (27 grams) and sodium (2,630 milligrams). Unless you're munching on nothing but carrots and celery sticks for the rest of the day, this one isn't for you.
2. Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger
Dig into 920 calories and 30 g saturated fat (one and a half days' worth) without toppings.
3. P.F. Chang's Double Pan-Fried Noodles Combo
Noodles seem innocent enough, right? Wrong. This dish has 1,820 calories and 7,690
Read More »from Does Lady Gaga Have Lupus?
While fessing up to all her bad health habits to the U.K.'s Times Online, Lady Gaga also revealed that she might have lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the body instead of protecting it. The singer's aunt died of the disease in 1976, and LG has been tested for the disease. Although she remains tight-lipped about whether the results came back positive, getting tested was a healthy move.
Why? Because if a close relative has an autoimmune disease, you're more likely to develop one yourself. The fact that Lady Gaga's aunt had lupus puts her at greater risk of developing it as well as a host of other autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, celiac and multiple sclerosis. Autoimmune diseases affect 30 million women-three times more than men-and diagnoses are on the rise. Luckily, new research is finding better treatments and early detection can help head off some of the worst symptoms before they appear.
Are you at risk? Check out the warning signs
