Blog Posts by SHAPE magazine

What's a wedding without drinks? If you're planning your wedding and are looking to put a special touch on all the details, why not try these three healthy cocktails? Designed by celebrity wedding planner Andrea Correale, each of these delicious cocktails is guaranteed to keep people talking for years to come!

1. Fruit salad cosmo:
Ingredients:
1 oz Vodka
1 ½ oz banana liqueur
2 oz cranberry juice
1 oz apple juice

Directions: Shake well with ice and pour into a martini glass; garnish with an apple slice.

2. Pomegranate cocktail: Pomegranates aren't just a superfood; they taste delicious, too! Put them in a cocktail and you can get your drink on (responsibly, of course!) while you soak up some cancer-fighting antioxidants.
Ingredients:
1 ½ ounces vodka
1 oz honey
½ oz. fresh lime juice
½ oz pomegranate juice

Directions: Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain and pour into a chilled martini glass.

3. Vodka ginger lemonade: This lemonade is for

By SHAPE Diet Doctor, Mike Roussell, PhD.

Getting enough minerals and vitamins is important, but but we wondered: Is it more important to take vitamins and supplements, or is it better to focus on eating nutrient-dense foods? Which vitamins and supplements are most important for women? SHAPE's diet doctor, Mike Roussell gives us the low-down on vitamins and minerals:

You should always focus on eating nutrient-dense foods; however there is a place for smart supplementation of vitamins and minerals in your diet. Whole foods should be the cornerstone of your healthy diet, as this is the most effective way to get the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Nature has perfectly packaged many foods to contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are complimentary to one another. Some vitamins come in several different forms, and it is usually only through eating whole foods that you'll take in every version. For example, there are eight different forms of vitamin E, but synthetic

Whether it's working out, homework, eating healthy, or housework, everyone has something they have a hard time motivating themselves to do, especially when the latest episode of Hoarders is sitting in your Hulu queue. (Although that right there might be motivation enough to clean out that closet you've been meaning to get to since last winter.) There are many different ways to get inspired, but what if someone offered you cold, hard cash to knock things off your to-do list? A new website, DailyFeats.com, is doing just that.

Here's how it works: You check-in every time you accomplish a daily feat-usually something that people don't naturally want to do like "!running," "!eatyourgreens," or "!talkingtoakid" -and then you get points for each feat you accomplish. You can set up your list on the site and then go there or use your smartphone to mark it as completed. Feats are worth anywhere from one point (!hugsomeone) to 50 points (!climbamountain). To earn more points, you can sign

We always enjoy receiving feedback from our readers, and we especially love hearing about the healthy ways they've lost weight or gotten in shape. If you're looking for some weight-loss inspiration right now, check out SHAPE reader Caroline Hannigan's story and see if some of her weight-loss tips (she lost 44 pounds!) work for you!

1. Make a split decision: "Workouts go by faster when I break them into six 5-minute intervals: 2 minutes at 4 mph on the treadmill, 1 minute at 8, and 2 minutes at 4.5."

2. Take tapas to work: "Lunch doesn't have to be soup or a salad. One of my favorite midday meals is lowfat cottage cheese, baby carrots, and an apple with almond butter."


RELATED: Our Most Inspiring Before and After Stories

3. Put it in writing: "I make a to-do list- including sets, reps, and weights-before going to the gym, and I stay there until I've checked everything off. It keeps me focused and helps me track my progress."

4. Find your happy medium: "When I tried to cut out sweets and

By Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD

A new study finds that women who consume one alcoholic drink a day at mid-life may be healthier when older when compared to those who don't drink at all. The researchers looked at alcohol intake during middle age in more than 120,000 women. After controlling for other factors like smoking, weight and family history of heart disease, they found that regular, moderate drinking during middle age is tied to "successful aging," which they define as having no major diseases, like heart disease or diabetes , and no major brain or physical impairments at age 70 and beyond. In this study, women who drank one-third to one drink a day had about a 20 percent greater chance of successful aging compared to non-drinkers. In fact, those who drank five to seven days a week had an almost 50 percent greater chance of successful aging in comparison to teetotalers.

So does this mean you should start enjoying a cocktail with dinner each night? Not necessarily, since even

These exercises aren't just for the boys anymore! We consulted some of our favorite guys to find out what weight-lifting moves they love. Try these five moves to tighten and tone your entire body!

1. Romanian Deadlift: This along with the chest press is often considered the ultimate "guy move" but not only do deadlifts work your hamstrings and low back like nothing else can, they have an added benefit for girls in that they help strengthen your pelvic floor. Take it from a girl who's had 5 kids: you want to do this. Stand with feet hip width apart in front of a loaded bar (don't be afraid to put heavy weights on that thing!). Grip the bar and keeping it close to your body, stand up. Good form is super important with this move so you don't get injured. Check out this video to see the whole range of motion or ask a personal trainer for help. Dude tip: Keep your chest and head up!

2. Bar Abs: Lying on your back, lift an Olympic bar (45 lbs) straight over your shoulders. Raise both legs up

Do you have hectic mornings? We understand! If you're looking for healthy, filling breakfast ideas that are easy and fast to make, look no further! Here are five delicious egg recipes that fit the bill:
Eggs Florentine
: Brush whole-grain bread with honey mustard; top with fresh spinach. Bring two cups water and one teaspoon white vinegar to a boil. Crack egg into a small cup and then pour into boiling water; cook three to five minutes; serve poached egg atop spinach.
Smoked-Salmon Omelet
: Whisk together two eggs, one tablespoon water, salt and pepper. Pour into hot skillet; turn pan to coat. When bottom is done, top one half with 1/3 cup diced smoked salmon and one tablespoon each drained capers and nonfat sour cream. Fold over; heat through. Sprinkle with dill.
RELATED: The Best and Worst Foods for the Girl on the Go
French Toast
: Dunk two slices whole-grain bread into mixture of one egg, one-fourth of a cup of nonfat milk and half of a teaspoon ground cinnamon; brown both sides in

Cereal is one of the easiest meals to throw together, but it can be loaded in sugar, fat, and carbs, defeating the purpose of striving to eat healthy altogether.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (we can all agree on this), but finding quick and healthy breakfast dishes is the real challenge.

Cereal is one of the easiest meals to throw together in the morning, but it can be loaded in sugar, fat, and carbs, defeating the purpose of striving to eat healthy altogether.

Here's what to look for to separate the good, the bad, and the bogus claims on "healthy" cereals:

1. Read Between the Lines
Don't fall for boxes with misleading catch phrases like "low in sugar." Just because a product is touted as having reduced sugar or fat, that doesn't mean it's one of the healthy cereals. Be sure to read thenutritional facts carefully.

2. Look for Whole Grains
Grains should be the first item on the ingredient list--if it isn't, you probably don't want it.