Blog Posts by SHAPE magazine

It's been a hot summer. In fact, there's a heat wave heading toward the East coast this week. But no matter where you live, it's important to stay hydrated. It's especially important to stay hydrated if you're putting in an intense workout, such as running. So, we asked our readers to tell us how they stay hydrated when they run. Here's what they had to say about their favorite ways to stay hydrated during a long-distance run.

1. Carry a camelbak: Anita trains for races like Chicago's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon with her CamelBak (try the Charm 50 oz pack). "The water tube is so easy to grab off your shoulder and take a quick drink," she says. "Your run isn't interrupted at all." Try our running playlist for your own Rock 'n' Roll race.

2. Tap into free water: For Kathe, running is a great way to see her city, New York. She's tried lots of the water belts but prefers to carry a bottle and take advantage of the city's TapIt program. The website lists cafés throughout the city that

You've probably heard several of them numerous times-"be sure to stretch before you run" and "always finish your runs with a cool down"-but is there any real truth to them?

We asked exercise science expert Michele Olson, PhD, FACSM, CSCS, professor of exercise science at Auburn University Montgomery, and creator of the Perfect Legs, Glutes & Abs DVD to help us sort out the facts from fiction of these popular running misconceptions.

Myth: You should always stretch before you run
The Truth: "Static stretching is not the optimal way to warm-up before you run," Olson says. Believe it or not, you could actually strain your muscles with static stretching , and it might even slow you down. Instead, focus on getting oxygen to your muscles and warm them up-literally, Olson recommends. "Start out by walking and trotting: swing your arms; shrug your shoulders and slowly elevate your heart rate for about 10 minutes before you pick up your pace."

That doesn't mean you should

Want to get that golden, sunkissed look, but afraid of turning out orange? We've got the five best sunless tanners, and tips from the experts on how to apply them!

1. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Tanning Mist
Self-Tanning Pro Tip: Pick your potion
"Choose the formula that best suits your skin," says Anna Stankiewicz, of Suvara Airbrush Tanning at the Warren Tricomi Salon at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Creams and lotions like this work well on dry skin, while sprays and mousses have a lighter consistency-perfect for the acne prone. ($27; esteelauder.com)

2. Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Moisturizer
Self-Tanning Pro Tip: Reach for the right shade
"The orangey effect happens when you choose a self-tanner that's too dark for your skin tone," says Stankiewicz. "If you're fair, like Nicole Kidman, use the light-to-medium option; if your skin is closer in color to Eva Mendes' or J.Lo's, go for the medium-to-dark one." ($8; drugstore.com)


RELATED: Best Summer Perfumes

3. Aquasun

There's almost nothing better on a hot summer day than sitting down to a cold beer. Unfortunately, most cold beers consist of mostly empty calories and carbs - just what you don't want when you're watching calories or trying to lose weight. That's why we decided to search for the perfect summer beer. Luckily, we found five varieties that all clock in at under 150 calories. Best of all, they taste good, too!

1. Bud Select 55
Calories: 55
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 2.4%
Carbs: 1.9g

A 55-calorie beer looks appealing at first glance, but fewer calories means lower alcohol content and very little flavor. A regular Budweiser Select has a higher ABV at 4.3% and still comes in under 100 calories (99 calories per 12oz.). Although Budweiser Select is higher in carbs (3.1g), if you're drinking to unwind, it's worth the splurge.

2. Michelob Ultra
Calories: 95
ABV: 4.2%
Carbs: 2.6g

The original "low-carb beer," Michelob Ultra is your best bet if you typically prefer fruity

Separate diet fact from fiction and lose weight fast with advice from celeb trainer David Kirsch.

Myth: Men See Results Faster
"Not true!" Kirsch says. Both men and women get frustrated when they don't see the results they expect from their dieting. Instead of blaming genetics, consider reevaluating your approach. "You need to first examine your goals and second your methods for achieving the goal." Make sure to set reasonable goals for who you are and where you are in your life.

Myth: Dieting Means Not Eating
Wrong! People think of dieting as starving the body, and that is absolutely not the case. "When they want to lose weight, they stop eating and they shut down their body," says New York-based trainer David Kirsch. "Eat!

RELATED: 50 Tasty Foods Under 50 Calories

Myth: You Just Need to Burn More Calories than You Eat
Not exactly. "People think of the quantity rather than the quality. We really need to look at the quality of the types of food were eating," Kirsch says. He

By SHAPE.com Diet Doctor, Mike Roussell, PhD.

We know that when you're trying to lose weight, you're flooded with all kinds of tips and tricks on the best way to do it. Sometimes that can get overwhelming, and you're left with more questions than answers. So we went to Dr. Mike Roussell, to see if he could answer some of our readers' most pressing questions. Here's what the diet doctor had to say about the best time to consume calories for weight loss:

Q: "If trying to lose weight, when should you consume the majority of your calories? Morning, afternoon, or spread evenly throughout the day?" -Apryl Dervay, via SHAPE magazine's Facebook.

A: I prefer that you to keep your calorie intake spread evenly throughout the day, while changing the types of foods-namely carbohydrate-based foods-that you're eating as the day goes on and your activity level changes. Your body's ability to process carbohydrates (which scientists call insulin sensitivity) decreases as the day goes on. That means

By Jennipher Walters

A Marine is about to get the date of his lifetime. In a YouTube video, Sgt. Scott Moore invited Mila Kunis to attend the Marine Corps Ball in Greenville, North Carolina, on November 18 with him. After some prodding from Kunis' Friends With Benefits co-star Justin Timberlake, the Black Swan beauty agreed. While the event is still a few months away, we thought we'd share five tips to help make a blind date go a little more smoothly - whether you're in the public spotlight or not!

5 Blind-Date Tips

1. Go with conversation topics in mind. There's nothing worse than sitting in silence on a blind date. To avoid this, go with some questions and conversation topics in mind. Good places to start? Almost everyone likes discussing food, music, films, pets and sports, so start there!

2. Keep your expectations realistic. Every blind date won't land you Prince Charming, so don't go into a blind date with expectations that this will be "the perfect man." No one

These superfoods may look ugly on the outside, but really they're chock-full of nutrients, vitamins and goodness on the inside. Here are five ugly foods that you should start eating right now. And don't let their appearances fool you--these five foods taste great (we promise)!

Black garlic: Although black garlic might look like pieces of coal, it's absolutely divine and practically a delicacy. "It boasts double the antioxidants of raw garlic," Jackie Newgent, culinary nutritionist and author of Big Green Cookbook, says. "It also provides S-Allycysteine, a natural compound that may play a role in cancer prevention."

Durian: Native to Asian countries like Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia, durian is not easy to find. The fruit, which has been dubbed the "King of Fruits," tastes divine. Its smell, on the other hand, leaves little to be desired. "It has a very distinct odor-much like a skunk or sewage," says Beth Aldrich, certified nutritionist, healthy lifestyle counselor, and author of