Blog Posts by SHAPE magazine

These fat-burning yoga poses from yoga expert Kimberly Fowler help rev your metabolism so you can reach your weight-loss goals faster!

Twisted Chair Pose
Twisted Chair pose helps increase circulation by not only using every muscle in your body but also twisting, which wakes up your internal organs and aids in digestion. How to: Stand with your feet and legs together. Begin to bend your knees and sink your hips down and back as if you were sitting in a chair far behind you. Bring your palms together in front of your chest. Rotate your spine to bring your right elbow to your left knee. Try to keep your chest lifted the whole time. Hold for 30 to 45 seconds and then repeat on the other side.

Locust Pose
Locust pose strengthens the muscles in your legs and lower back while opening up your chest and elongating your spinal column. Like all back bends, Locust pose boosts energy and revs you up.
How to: Lie on your stomach with your arms alongside your body, palms facing up. Lift your head,

It's no secret that men and women communicate differently (a whole book was written on how we're not even from the same planet)--but is there really no way to translate Mars talk to Venus speak? Dr. B. Janet Hibbs, a psychologist, couples therapist and author of Try To See It My Way, says there's hope as long as you're willing to adjust your "filter"--a.k.a. the part of your brain that processes what he says, spins it around and reacts to it. Ready for a practice run? Here are five common communication problems in relationships, no matter what stage they're in.

WHAT HE SAYS: "I'm sorry you feel that way."

WHAT YOU HEAR: "You're being a psycho."

WHAT HE MEANS: "I just really want this argument to be over."

Women like to hash things out, talking issues through from start to finish in one DIY therapy session. Guys, on the other hand, have much more of a flight instinct when it comes to confrontation--especially if he doesn't fully understand why you're so upset.

WHAT HE SAYS: "If you

From kayaking to surfing to hiking-find out how many calories you burn during these and more popular outdoor sports.

Running vs Swimming
The winner: Running
Swimming has many benefits, including giving you a great full-body workout while keeping it easy on your joints. But, if a super-high calorie burn is what you're after, you're going to have to sweat it out. Running at a 7-mile per hour pace for one hour burns nearly 700 calories, while swimming at 50-yards-per-minute burns around 550 calories per hour.

Biking vs. Inline Skating
The winner: Biking
Turns out two wheels are better than eight. Ride to the office at about 12 to 14 miles per hour for one hour and you'll burn around 560 calories, approximately 60 more calories per hour than inline skating. Whatever way you roll, we suggest keeping a continuous speed and not coasting for maximum burn.

Frisbee vs. Beach Volleyball
The winner: Beach Volleyball
Get that game going! An hour-long game of beach volleyball will burn about 484

Warmer weather calls for lighter-but still alluring-summer scents. Try our favorite summer perfumes.
Ralph Lauren Summer Romance
You'll fall head over heels with this tropical twist on a beloved vanity staple. ($78 for 3.4 oz; ralphlauren.com)


Carolina Herrera 212 Pop for Her
The heady concoction of bergamot and musk is certain to spice things up this season. ($59 for 2 oz; carolinaherrera.com)


Issey Miyake L'eau d'Issey Summer
This crisp, clean scent is as easygoing as it is exotic. ($64 for 3.3 oz; macys.com)



Thierry Mugler Angel Sunessence Silver Ocean Summer Edition
A sweet, citrusy blend of vanilla and kumquat is the perfect accessory for a carefree evening. ($80 for 1.7 oz; saks.com)


Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb La Vie En Rose
This fragrance boasts a sophisticated bouquet of rose and lily of the valley. ($80 for 1.7 oz; saks.com)


More on SHAPE:
• 20 Awesome Yoga Pants (That Aren't Lululemon)
• The Best Swimsuit for Your Body Type
• Top Sunscreens for Ultimate Protection

Now that the wait is over and the new USDA food icon is out, it's time to put the MyPlate guidelines to use! We rounded up some healthy recipes so that you can create a dinner plate tonight that meets all of the new USDA dietary recommendations.

1. Stir-Fried Chili-Garlic Tofu with Vegetables. Who says that your protein has to be meat? Whip this vegetarian tofu and veggie recipe up for a good source of protein. Pair the tofu with half a cup of brown rice and a glass of low-fat milk to complete your MyPlate. And if you're craving dessert, go for a piece of fruit!

2. Tequila-Tomato Halibut with Spinach and Wild Rice. Get fishy with this lean dish that gives you the correct portions of protein, vegetables and grains. To round out your dinner plate, have a few fresh berries with a container of non-fat Greek yogurt!

3. Quinoa-Stuffed Red Bell Peppers. It doesn't get much healthier than this dish. With beans for protein (you could substitute some lean ground turkey though if you really can't go

Discover which junk foods have some surprising health benefits-and deserve the occasional splurge in your healthy diet plan.

Cheese Whiz
Trans fats are generally a dietary no-no. But one natural trans fat, known as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), is an exception; it actually has anti-cancer attributes. Cheese Whiz turns out to have more of this cancer-fighting compound than any regular cheese, according to research.

Blue M&Ms
Food dyes aren't the first thing you think of when you think about health. But bizarrely, the blue food dye found in M&Ms (and Gatorade) could be helpful in reducing damage caused by spine injuries, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that when they injected the compound Brilliant Blue G (BBG) into rats suffering spinal cord injuries, it sped up their recovery and ability to walk.

RELATED: What Kelly Ripa Eats (Almost) Every Day

The secret to getting that job promotion may be right under your nose. No, not those. Look further down... to your waistline. New research from Iceland found that not only do overweight women have a harder time getting jobs than their normal-weight peers but once employed earn less, by about $13,847. Even worse, the same is not true for overweight men. It's not fair but as Jonathon Ross, host of the Discovery series Everyday Fitness, says, "In our world, perception is reality." Here, three experts share their top tips on how to get the money you deserve.


1. "Make all your choices consistent with your professional appearance. It's okay to enjoy a doughnut, just don't do it at work," says Ross who adds that while clients don't necessarily come to him for help with their jobs, after making positive healthy changes they often find the job success they've been seeking.

2. Make short-term goals. Advises Ross, "Simply ask yourself: What can I do to make tomorrow healthier than today?"

If you love glossy, pin-straight locks, but were born with natural curls, you know it's a drag to juggle blow dryers and flat irons to get the style you're after. This makes in-salon Brazilian keratin treatments-which promise to liberate women from hair serums and hot tools-even more appealing. Stylists claim the process (that costs up to $500 with results up to four months) tames even the unruliest of manes. But the keratin treatment craze hasn't been completely controversy-free. This past fall, government reports and warnings put a serious crimp in the hottest hair trend in years: the treatment that vows to transform your tresses could be hazardous to your health.

How Brazilian Keratin Treatments Work

The Brazilian keratin treatment involves soaking the hair with a cocktail of keratin and oils to form a hard outer shell around the cuticle, which helps strands hold their new shape. The treatment works on all types of hair-even damaged or chemically treated tresses. Plus, there's