Blog Posts by SHAPE magazine

by Karen Borsari

How Anne Hathaway got catsuit ready!What does it take to pull off a skin-tight black leather cat suit in front of millions of viewers on the big screen? A lot of hard work and a very clean diet. Even the always-svelte Anne Hathaway cleaned up her diet before donning the unforgiving outfit. While the vegetarian actress always follows an anti-inflammatory diet she turned to the pros to help her stay slim and sculpt muscles while preparing for her role as Catwoman in the latest installation of the Batman series: Dark Knight Rises. We had the chance to talk to her personal nutrition coach Jackie Keller to find out just what the A-lister ate to get cat suit-ready.

While preparing for her role as Catwoman, Hathaway followed an almost vegan, anti-inflammatory diet, which includes whole grains to control blood sugar, avocados, almonds (she doesn't like walnuts), sesame seeds, dark chocolate, which slows the production of certain chemicals in the body, bright red and orange vegetables that are high

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by SHAPE diet doctor Mike Roussell, phD.

Your foolproof guide to a healthy smoothieHomemade smoothies are a fast and easy way to fit high-quality nutrition into your day. "Homemade" is key, as most commercial/premade smoothies are packed with simple sugars and enough calories to fuel your entire workday, putting you on the fast track to developing diabetes.

Here's a foolproof plan (plus a few of my favorite smoothie recipes) for mixing the perfect meal or snack every time. Simply fill your blender with a little from each of the following categories, and you're guaranteed to get a nutritionist -approved final product.

1. Fats: Your optimized smoothie is a great opportunity to get in a variety of essential fatty acids. Walnuts are my personal favorite because they blend well and don't leave any grit at the bottom of your cup. They also deliver an impressive blend of mono and polyunsaturated fats , including omega-3 fats.

Other good choices: Pistachios, almonds, natural peanut butter, and canned coconut milk. If

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What's on your fitness bucket list?Creating a bucket list of things you want to do before you die won't do much good if you're not healthy enough to follow through on them. So before you make good on your plans to run with the bulls or swim with the dolphins, why not make a separate fitness bucket list?

Each of the following challenges targets a different aspect of fitness, from endurance to flexibility and strength. Once you've mastered one, strive to go to the next level by adding intensity, time, or reps. For example, once you finish a 10K, try training for a half-marathon . Read on for seven goals every fit woman should conquer and expert tips on the why and how.

Do 25 pushups1. Do 25 pushups: Mastering the ability to perform 25 pushups is a very reasonable, realistic, and reachable goal for most women, says Timothy L. Miller, MD, assistant professor at the Ohio State University Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, OSU Track and Field Team Physician, and co-director the OSU Endurance Medicine Team. Benefits

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by Charlotte Andersen

Hey, it's OK that sometimes you want to skip your workout for that 30 minutes of extra sleep. And it's OK to eat an entire cheeseburger instead of a salad if that's what you're craving. Moderation is the key, after all! Here are five instances in which we think it's OK to break the healthy living "rules" and not look back!

It's OK to sleep in sometimes!1. It's OK to sleep, not sweat: It's okay to turn off your alarm and skip your morning workout every once in a while! This is especially true if you're trying to lose weight . A study from the University of Chicago found that sleep deprivation increases levels of a hunger hormone and decreases levels of a hormone that makes you feel full, which can lead to overeating and weight gain.








RELATED: Be your best you ever with SHAPE's new FREE iPad app. Access exclusive workouts, meal makeovers, beauty tips, and more!

It's OK to eat a cheeseburger once in a while. 2. It's OK to give into your cravings: It's okay if you splurged and ate one of everything from the buffet at the company picnic!

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By Charlotte Andersen

Meet Valerie Calhoun, CrossFit's youngest female competitor. A 275-pound deadlift, 48 pull-ups, back squatting twice her weight. CrossFit competitor and WOD Gear Team Clothing Co. athlete Valerie Calhoun is known for putting up some pretty impressive numbers, but there's one that elicits the most gasps: her age. Calhoun started CrossFit at 13 and now at 17 is the youngest woman to compete in the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games. While her youth may surprise others, it doesn't faze her. "I may be young compared to my competitors, but I love the adrenaline rush when I'm competing. Crossfit brings out the best in me and makes me give 110 percent."

Always an athlete, Calhoun started competitive gymnastics at age 4 but had to quit after nine years due to an injury. Thankfully, Rocklin CrossFit owner and trainer Gary Baron discovered her and saw the preteen's incredible potential. By 2011 Calhoun's team took sixth place in the Reebok CrossFit games and people worldwide began to see the tiny California girl (she's only 5-feet

Read More »from True Life: "I'm the Youngest Female CrossFit Competitor"

by Jessica Smith

Jessica and her dog Peanut...isn't she cute?Does your furry friend like to distract you during home workouts ? Let him get in on the action! Grab your pup's favorite toy (or bone) for a little extra motivation, and try this total-body workout. You can do all the moves together so you both stay slim, strong, and happy!

Related: Sculpt your best body ever with more fat-blasting workouts! Download our FREE iPad app to get exclusive routines, training tips, and more.

Hide and seek squat1. Hide and seek squat: Stand in front of your dog with your feet wider than hip -width apart, toes slightly turned out, and hold his favorite treat up with your right hand (make sure he sees it!).

Push your hips back to squat down and pass the treat under your left leg from your right hand to your left (letting your dog try to find it). Quickly stand back up and hold the treat up with your left hand. That's one rep. Repeat 10 reps total.

Rear lunge reward2. Rear lunge reward: Stand in front your pup with

Read More »from Puppy Love: 7 Moves You Can Do with Your Dog

Is social media leading to an increase in plastic surgery?by Jené Luciani for SHAPE.com

That profile picture-these days, it's every new "friend's" first impression of you. With more than 400 million people utilizing social media, it's become the primary way to meet and connect with people. But when you put that picture up on Facebook for the entire world to see, are you prepared for their response?

"Social media sites center around photos," says New York-based plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Schulman. "Everyone wants to see how their high school girlfriend or boyfriend looks now and no one wants to be perceived as ugly or old."

Some say this insecurity is prompting some people to go under the knife, simply so they can project a better image in cyberspace. "I have seen a significant increase in plastic surgery requests specifically because of how people perceive how they appear online," Dr. Schulman says.

RELATED: 30 Beauty Secrets You Need to Know

Others, like the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), have

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Exercise modifications for similar resultsby Jessica Smith for SHAPE.com

Workout routines from DVDs and magazines can be super helpful when it comes to reaching your fitness goals . But what do you do when you can't do the suggested moves or don't have access to the right equipment? We asked the experts to suggest some alternative (but just as effective) exercises to use when equipment, strength, or injury limits you. Because "I don't have a Swiss ball" is no excuse to skip your workout !

Related: Get more expert tips and tricks with SHAPE's free iPad app. Access exclusive fat-blasting workouts, meal plans, and more!

Lat pull-over1. Instead of: Pull-ups
Do: Lat pull-overs

The lats are the primary muscles used in pull-ups, so pull-overs are a great household substitution, says Rick Richey, a master instructor for the National Academy of Sports Medicine and owner of R2Fitness in New York City.

How to do it: Lie on your back with a household weight in your hands (laundry detergent, the actual

Read More »from Fitness Swaps for Similar Results