Blog Posts by The Editors of Prevention

If your answer is yes, well, join the club-it's the rare woman who doesn't have some body part that she would prefer to keep under wraps. But it's hot out, and chances are you look better than you think. So suit up with confidence-we have five self-empowerment tips from Pamela M. Peeke, MD, MPH, clinical professor of medicine, University of Maryland, and author of Body For Life for Women.

1) Change your perception of the season. Instead of apprehension ("I look sweaty and my inner thighs rub when I walk) see possibilities. Imagine living each day richly, breathing in the sweet air and basking in the warm glow of the sun. Close your eyes, and suddenly you're taking hikes, biking with friends, splashing in the water-not bemoaning the state of your thighs.

Secrets to a healthier, happier vacation

2) Do this self-assessment. Ask yourself, Am I doing all that I can to keep my mind and body fit and healthy every day? If the answer is no, then reorganize and patiently start to

Want smooth, pretty, age-defying skin? We thought so. Who better to learn from than the pros who think about dermal health all day long? From what you eat to when you wash your face, here are 7 small changes that can make a big difference in tone, texture, and overall glow.

5 skincare rules you should forget

"The most important time to wash your face is before you hit the sack," says Doris Day, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist. Dirt, bacteria, and makeup left on overnight can irritate skin, clog pores, and trigger breakouts. Remove this top layer of grime with a gentle face wash (skin should feel pleasantly tight for 10 to 15 minutes post-cleansing), which also allows anti-agers to penetrate deeper for better results. Because oil production dips with hormonal changes in your 40s, cleansing twice daily can dry out your complexion and make wrinkles look more pronounced. To refresh skin in the morning, splash with lukewarm water.

Best night

Even the most confident women have not-so-thin (okay, fat) days. Whatever the reason-PMS, a fight with a partner, workplace drama, thighs that rub together in hot weather-it doesn't take much to throw our self-perceptions out of whack. Fortunately, you can feel good about yourself again fast. Here's how:

Hit the gym. A simple workout can be enough to boost your confidence, according to a University of Florida study. Researchers found that even people who don't achieve common fitness goals, like dropping pounds or upping strength, feel good about themselves after exercising. The key is to focus on your body as a process instead of an object, says Stephen Franzoi, PhD, a professor of psychology at Marquette University. He suggests concentrating on how your body feels instead of how it looks by thinking about internal factors, like flexibility, strength, and movement, rather than external appearance. Swap out inner dialogue, like Everyone is looking at my thunder thighs, for

Belly fat gets a bad rap, but there are all sorts of problem spots that can take up residence on your torso. From bra bulge to just-above-your-bikini-line pooch and everything in between, these 4 poses target your tummy while firming up your chest, shoulder and back muscles, too. And with no equipment required, they're easy enough to do at home-or, hey, even at the beach or by the pool!

Get a metabolism that soars

Rocking Boat

This exercise starts with a yoga move called the Boat Pose. To get into it,
start by sitting with knees bent and feet flat on floor. Then, lean back slightly while holding under thighs, grabbing just above back of knees. Raise feet off floor and press them together; lift feet until shins are parallel to floor. Extend arms to shoulder height straight in front of you with palms down. This is Boat Pose. Turn it into the Rocking Boat by tipping knees from one side to the other, trying to keep the motion steady. Repeat right to left 10 times.

Too much sugar packs on pounds, as we all know, but did you know it can also cause wrinkles?

At blame is glycation, a natural process in which the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules called advanced glycation end products (or, appropriately, AGEs for short). The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop, according to Fredric Brandt, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Miami and New York City and author of 10 Minutes 10 Years. The good news about sugar-damaged skin: It's never too late to turn back the clock. Here, five steps to start following today:

1. Limit sneaky sweeteners. It's not easy to eliminate sugar completely. Even whole grains, fruits, and vegetables turn to glucose-the type of sugar that fuels glycation-when digested. But limiting added sugar can help. Some guidelines: Keep added sugar to no more than 10% of total calories. Many prepared foods contain hefty amounts of sugar hidden under ingredient-list aliases

Getty ImagesWhether you're years away from gray, have plucked a few strands, or diligently color every 6 weeks, here are five things that determine a silver hue (luckily, two are within your control).

Age. Hair goes through growth cycles every 3 to 6 years, says Paradi Mirmirani, MD, a dermatologist in Vallejo, CA. And as you make new hair with each cycle, it's more and more likely that something will go "wrong" with the pigment. Some people can go through seven or eight cycles before they notice any stray grays, and Mirmirani says most of her patients seem to develop them sometime in their 30s-but she's seen it happen in people as young as 8 or 9. The good news: Of all of the unpleasant side effects of aging (wrinkles, anyone?), this is one of the easiest to cover up.

Defy your age: Take the challenge!

Genetics. You probably got your natural hair color from Mom or Dad, and now you're likely to follow their pattern for graying as well-genetics plays an important role in when you start

When the weather outside is delightful, who wants to be stuck inside a gym? Instead, gather your peeps and head outdoors for a calorie-blasting, muscle-sculpting good time. Here, 13 ways to do it right:

1. Practice Your Serve Grab a pal for a game of tennis.

Calories Blasted Per Hour: 544

Bonus Benefit: Svelte, sexy arms, shoulders, and back muscles

*Calorie burn based on a 150-pound person

10 new ways to exercise with your pet

2. Spike Your Fat Burn Play beach volleyball with the family.

Calories Blasted Per Hour: 544
Bonus Benefit: Every serve and spike helps tone your arms, abs, legs, and chest.

*Calorie burn based on a 150-pound person

3. Sneak in Freestyle Fitness Swim laps while the kids splash each other.

Calories Blasted Per Hour: 476
Bonus Benefit: Talk about a total-body workout! Swimming strengthens your chest, back, arms, abs, legs, and shoulders.

*Calorie burn based on a 150-pound person

12 core exercises to trim your

There may be an oil slick in the ocean, but your face doesn't have to look like one. We gathered our favorite expert ideas for hassle-free makeup when it's hot and humid.

1. Brush-On SPF Makeup

A brush-on tinted mineral sunscreen powder such as BareMinerals SPF 30 NaturalSunscreen ($28; bareescentuals.com) is perfect for quick touch-ups before dashing out to lunch or running errands midday. Besides protecting your skin, it helps even out skin tone, and the minerals naturally diffuse light, so your complexion looks smoother and more luminous.

6 sunscreen excuse busters

2. Eye Shadow

Eye makeup tends to crease in the summer, so prime your lids pre-application with the same loose powder you use to set your foundation, says celebrity makeup artist Bobbi Brown. It will absorb natural oils and create a base for shadows to stick to. Skip cream-formula shadows (they're emollient based and not particularly long-lasting), and use powder ones instead.

Give droopy lids a