Blog Posts by SHAPE magazine

snowshoe the bearVacations are fun. Running races is fun. So what could be more fun than combining your vacay with your own amazing race? From running wine tours to running tours of New York City, using your feet can be the perfect way to enjoy your new surroundings and fit in your workout. There's no shortage of beautiful places to vacation that also have road races , but if you need a little inspiration, here are 10 destination races you need to try before you die!

1. The Avia Wildflower Triathlon: The Avia Wildflower Triathlon at Lake San Antonio in California is known as the "Woodstock of races." Not only do you have three distances to choose from, but you'll enjoy all the beauty of the Big Sur region with the added fun of camping, live bands, and gourmet food.

2. Snowshoe the Bear: Spring and summer may be prime racing season, but the Snowshoe the Bear race in Big Bear Lake, California shows that a little snow can be a lot of fun. Whether you're a novice or a pro at running in snowshoes, this race

Ditch those nude nails and try these bold shades!

With flavors like apple, pumpkin and more, these low-cal recipes don't sacrifice taste!

Pomosa
1. Pomosa
145 calories, 3 grams sugar

Drink to your health with this pomegranate-based potion. Using natural ingredients and premium grain alcohol, Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka harnesses the exotic, nourishing flavor of fresh pomegranate. Sparkling wine adds extra fizz!

Ingredients:
4 oz. sparkling wine
1 oz. Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka

Directions:
Pour chilled Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka into a flute. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a strawberry (pictured above).

Orange-Spiced Cider

2. Orange Spiced Cider

Take a cue from James Labe, the nation's first tea sommelier, who adapted a classic cocktail cider for a more health -conscious diet. Accented with a splash of rum, this potent brew of apple cider and organic orange spice tea is perfect for a chilly fall evening.

Ingredients:
1 Numi Orange Spice tea bag
8 oz. apple cider
2

Celeb chefs reveal their favorite fall recipesYou've seen them on television or heard about their celebrated restaurants, and now we're bringing their award-winning recipes to your kitchen. We asked some of our celebrity chefs to give us their favorite healthy recipes for fall. Read on to see what recipes they can't live without this fall!

1. Suzanne Goin: Brussels sprouts are brimming with essential vitamins and fiber. This recipe transforms the mini cabbage-like greens into a gobble-worthy side that's one of Suzanne Goin's favorite holiday dishes. The chef/owner of restaurants The Hungry Cat, Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern in Los Angeles, California, Goin adds pancetta and balsamic vinegar to enhance the flavor of the sprouts, then braises them for maximum tenderness (pictured above left).

Ingredients:
3/4 c. fresh breadcrumbs
1 tsp. thyme leaves
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 lb. cleaned baby Brussels sprouts (or larger ones cut into halves or quarters)
1/4 lb. pancetta,

Eat more fruits, veggies, and whole grains. By Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD

According to the most recent nutrition surveys, the majority of Americans fall short when it comes to hitting the recommended marks for the three most important food groups: fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Picture this: If you add up all the fruit and veggie servings the average American should have had over a lifetime that they did not eat, they would fill an entire football field. That's a lot of missing nutrients!

If you tend to fall short of the targets, which are two daily servings of fruit, and three each for veggies and whole grains, start by focusing on adding one extra serving in each category per day. If you're consistent, just these three changes can snowball into huge health benefits over time:

Fruit: Statistics show that roughly 70 percent of U.S. adults don't eat the recommended two servings daily, but squeezing in just one more can lower your risk of cancer by 6 percent.
Simple strategy: Make fruit the first thing you eat every morning.

Adriana Lima at the VS Fashion ShowAdriana Lima's taken some heat recently for revealing the extreme workout and diet plan she undergoes every year before the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. For nine days before the show, she consumes nothing but liquids, including protein shakes, and drinks a gallon of water per day. 12 hours before the show, she doesn't eat or drink anything, not even water. On top of all that, she recently told The Telegraph that she's been working out with a personal trainer, and then a month before the show, amped up her workouts (which include boxing, jumping rope, and weight lifting) to twice per day.

We talked to Dr. Mike Roussell, PhD, about her diet and got his feedback on whether or not it's healthy, but what about her workouts? We talked to Amy Hendel, a Registered Physician Assistant and author of The 4 Habits of Healthy Families, to get her perspective on working out twice per day. The verdict? It's healthy, if you do it right.

"I might not recommend that you work out

What are the best foods for firmer abs?By SHAPE Diet Doctor, Mike Roussell, PhD.

We've heard the saying "abs are made in the kitchen," but what does that mean? When it feels like you're working out and not seeing the result you want, could it have something to do with your diet? We went to SHAPE diet doctor Mike Roussell to figure if there are certain foods that can help you on your route to firm, toned abs. Here's what he had to say:

The problem is simple: It's very easy to eat a lot of calories, but it's very hard to burn a lot of calories. The popular slogan "abs are made in the kitchen" refers to the fact that what you eat has a far greater impact on weight loss than any form of exercise you do. But despite the popularity of this saying, many people still attempt to uncover their abs with endless crunches and laps around the track.

RELATED: Should I Count Calories or Carbs?

If you're eager to reveal your abs to the world but can't seem to shed that last bit of belly fat, your best strategy is to pay closer attention

Celebrate 11-11-11!Today is a bit of a numerical holiday. While some believe that the meaning of 11-11-11 is divine in nature, others believe it may signal the end of the world - and others say it's just another day. No matter what you think the meaning of 11-11-11 is (if anything at all), here are five fun ways to celebrate!

1. Do some yoga. Many spiritual types believe that repetition of the number 11 means balance of emotion, thought and spirit. So today would pretty much be the best time ever to try yoga or some other form of mind-body exercise . Get your zen on!

2. Blog or leave a comment. Many are declaring 11-11-11 as a day to celebrate binary code (all of those ones!). Whether or not you understand binary code, do something fun on the computer today that supports your health like blogging about your healthy lifestyle or leaving a comment below on how you're celebrating 11-11-11!

3. Work your core. The number one looks like a pillar. So we think today is the perfect day to work your