Blog Posts by Redbook

New York Times columnist and author of the new e-book, The First 20 Minutes Personal Trainer, Gretchen Reynolds gives us the final world on how to make your exercise count once and for all. By Ava Feuer, REDBOOK

Don't focus on strengthening your core
Well, it looks like that hundredth sit-up was probably a waste. When scientists tested athletes, such as football players, who would seemingly need super-strong cores to stay upright on the field, they found no correlation between core strength and performance. That's because the real hallmark of success is actually core stability. "An unstable core throws off all the muscles that circle your back," says Reynolds. "The primary purpose of the core muscles should be to hold your spine in place." To raise core stability, don't do sit-ups, which are usually performed incorrectly, and can lead to serious lower-back injuries. Instead, try three exercises: 10 proper crunches, which require laying flat on the ground with your knees up and Read More »from 7 Best Tips from Experts on How to Make Your Workout Count

Nightmare PMS, record-low energy levels, insanely dry skin - could a diet that's lacking the right fats be behind your peskiest little health problems? Find out here. By Kim Tranell, REDBOOK.

Remember when you doused every vegetable in fake butter spray and called low-fat cookies "health food?" Even if you've pretty much recovered from the fat-fearing diet craze of the '90s, there's still - admit it! - a little lingering confusion about what fats are "good" fats - and how you can work those typically calorie-dense foods into your diet without packing on the pounds.

"The bottom line is, the average American woman doesn't get enough omega-3 fatty acids," says Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD, author of The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet. She's speaking, of course, of the fat found in fish like salmon, as well as walnuts, flax seeds, and olive oil. "But just by putting those back in your diet, you'll see diverse and varied benefits."

It's true, say experts: Everything from your foggy memory, to your crappy

Read More »from What?! Eating More Fat Could Help You Slim Down

The nutrients your body craves change as you get older, meaning what fueled you at 20 won't necessarily do the trick at 40. Nosh on these life-stage-appropriate foods to boost your physical and mental health. By Jane Bianchi, REDBOOK.

In your 20's: Salmon
Your 20's aren't always about fun times, but luckily, chowing down on this cold-water fish may help prevent or treat depression, a condition that women are nearly twice as likely to experience as men. Sadly, quarter-life crises are all too common: Studies show that depression is most likely to first develop between the ages of 15 to 34. But salmon is jam-packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which may stabilize your mood by boosting levels of feel-good serotonin. "In your 20's, you are likely working hard and socializing and may not have time to cook, so eat one pre-cooked pouch (two servings) of salmon a week," says Ruth Frenchman, RD, author of The Food is My Friend Diet. "Toss it on a salad or mix it with low-fat mayo for a

Read More »from The Best Way to Eat for Your Age

The decline and fall of the married sex life is a myth, says Aaron Traister. The truth is so much hotter. By Aaron Traister, REDBOOK.

Twenty-something dudes today have no idea how easy they have it when it comes to sex, what with their "hook-up culture" and their fancy "smartphones" that "sext." I once walked five miles in a blizzard because a girl called me up (on my house phone) and asked if I wanted to listen to the new White Zombie CD. I don't even like White Zombie, but I thought that might be code for "have sex." It turns out I was right! Then we had to get married, because that's how it worked back then. Just kidding, but we did anyway (hi, Karel!). The young fellas today probably think our decade-long monogamous sex life is pretty :( but they're oh-so-wrong. It's only gotten better. Here are three reasons an older guy outperforms some hipster who thinks an emoticon counts as seduction.

Related: The 50 Best Dates in the 50 States

We've seen it all, and that's a good thing.
When

Read More »from 3 Reasons Men Get Better in Bed as They Age

With spring on its way - and with it bathing-suit-season not far behind - you might be thinking of trying one of the new three-day juice cleanses. But are long days of no solid food right for you? Check out one editor's experiment. By Meghann Foye, REDBOOK.

It seems like everyone is "juice intrigued" these days. In fact, search volume for "juice cleanse" is at an all-time high right now. I could tell you that my motivations for trying one out myself are purely scientific - a thought experiment to add my two cents to one of the fastest growing diet trends this year - but I'd be lying. I have a bridesmaid's dress to fit into in less than three weeks.

After researching all the options - and there are many - I opted for BluePrint's "Renovation" package, the original three-day, six-juice-per-day cleanse. The juices are "cold-pressed," which means valuable micro-oxidants are left intact. Each day includes two green juices, a spicy lemonade-style juice, a pineapple mint juice, one beet-based

Read More »from On the Cleanse Kick like Everyone Else? Read This

Read on for some medically proven moves that'll make it happen - and help you drop some pounds. By Hallie Levine, REDBOOK.

Stock up on green tea
Green tea isn't known only for its cancer-fighting benefits: It may help boost your metabolism, too. People who took green-tea extract three times a day saw their metabolic rate increase by about 4 percent, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (Translation: You could burn an extra 60 calories a day, which equals about six pounds a year!) It may be because green tea contains catechins, which increase levels of the metabolism-speeding brain chemical norepinephrine, says Joy Bauer, a New York City nutritionist and author of Cooking with Joy.

Pump iron
Weight training is the ultimate way to burn calories fast. "A pound of muscle burns up to nine times the calories of a pound of fat," explains Richard Cotton, M.A., chief exercise physiologist for myexerciseplan.com. Weight training increases your resting

Read More »from 10 Ways to Burn Fat Faster

How much money you make isn't nearly as important as how you use it, according to Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton, authors of the new book Happy Money. In fact, they say, once you get to $75,000 a year, a bigger paycheck has no impact on day-to-day bliss. So smile, and follow their proven rules for how to be happy with less money. REDBOOK.

Shell out on friendships
Research shows that our best moods often come when we're spending time with family and friends. "Yet when many people are saving up for something major-a car, a computer, a TV, whatever-one of the first things they'll cut back on is socializing," says Dunn. "They'll say, 'I'd like to go out with you guys Friday night, but I'm saving up.' Putting money away is a very positive goal that correlates to happiness, but when your route limits time with friends, you need to think about whether that's a worthwhile trade-off."

Related: 25 Little Life Hacks to Make Life Simpler, Saner and More Fun

Splurge on experiences, not things

Read More »from How to Live Happier on the Money You Have

By Lauren Le Vine, REDBOOK.

Portion sizes are out of control these days, and that's not just true for those super-size fries at fast food joints. Packaged food makers have been cleverly developing ways to ensure we eat even more of their smallest products, too. They figured out that even bite-sized candy bars provided a visual cue for people to stop eating - the wrappers would pile up, causing people to stop and assess what they'd eaten so far - so they introduced an even easier way to get what they call "hand-to-mouth" foods in, well, your mouth.

Related: 25 Lazy Ways to Stay Skinny

By putting smaller versions of our favorite candies such as Twizzlers and Rolos in resealable bags, Hershey Co. found that consumers were much more likely to keep nibbling throughout the day because of the convenient packaging. Unlike their individually wrapped, "bite-size" candy bar brethren, resealable packages encourage more frequent snacking since they're convenient, mess-free, and it's harder to

Read More »from Smaller Packages Are Making You Eat More