Blog Posts by Vitamin G, Glamour Magazine

by Sarah Jio, Glamour

Do you have a go-to fruit that you eat on a daily basis? For most people, it's apples. After all, they're cheap and filled with antioxidants and nutrients. But, some experts say that this other fruit might be a healthier daily choice...
Nothing against apples-we still heart them. But, experts at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) say that pears may actually be a girl's best friend. Of course, we already know that they're loaded with satiety-boosting fiber (great for weight loss), but pears also happen to be a very low-pesticide-residue crop, meaning that you don't always have to buy them organic to know that you're not pumping your body full of pesticides and chemicals. (Organic apples can get pretty pricey, and conventional varieties tend to be laden with pesticides.)


See more: 10 Things Girls Always Do in Movies and Never Do in Real Life

Good news, because it's pear season right now, and you can find them everywhere-so eat up and enjoy!

See more: 35 Truths

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

Recent research has shown an alarming rise in addiction among women-here's why that's a major problem.

According to Sarah Gentry, the clinical director of men's and women's Treatment Services at Hanley Center and Caron Treatment Centers, there are lots of reasons for the rise. "It has become more acceptable for women to drink socially or use prescription medications in our society. Where once it was off limits to show a woman smoking a cigarette in a campaign, now women and their sexuality are used regularly in ads for social drinking. Prescription medications target women's anxiety and depression issues and offer that they are the solution for them to feel good enough to take care of the kids and participate in social settings," she says. "It's become an accepted social norm for women to commiserate over cocktails and calm their fears with anti-anxiety medication. The result is that many women are unable to recognize the difference between moderation and

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour
Gabrielle Union is a breast cancer activist. Her friend, Kristen, had pain in her breast but ignored it. By the time she was finally diagnosed, she had stage four breast cancer. A few months before she died, she turned to Gabrielle, saying:

"You have to combat this and you have to let people know that fear of the unknown will literally kill you, because it killed me.... Don't let there be anymore Kristens if you can help it," Gabrielle quoted her friend as saying.

See more: 10 Things Girls Always Do in Movies and Never Do in Real Life

Now, Gabrielle has teamed up with Planned Parenthood (with the Lance Armstrong Foundation as a partner) to launch a new initiative--one they hope will catch breast cancer before it's too late. The expanded initiative comes from a slew of public donations after Susan G. Komen for the Cure stopped providing grants to Planned Parenthood (and then reinstated them) earlier this year. More than 77,000 people donated $3 million in

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

As someone who struggled mightily to get up at 6:30 A.M. (of course, I was up working until 2 A.M., which does not bode well for the day ahead), I am beyond impressed by the First Lady's early-morning wakeup call... to exercise!
Yep, Michelle Obama gets up every morning at 4:30 A.M. to head to the gym, where she meets up with the President. Together, they work out while watching Sports Center (this is a detail I love).

See more: 10 Things Girls Always Do in Movies and Never Do in Real Life

Mrs. O told iVillage that she's on the road--and she often is, as part of her "Let's Move" health initiative--the First Lady squeezes in workouts wherever she can, often traveling with a jump rope for cardio. But if she's without a rope, she does a "30-minute routine that includes a minute of jumping jacks, alternating with a minute of pushups and then some sit-ups. You take a 30-second break and do it again."
As for eating, says she sticks to a healthy eating plan--of

by Shaun Dreisbach, Glamour

There are lots of fitness trends out there, especially in the fashion world. So, should you try 'em? Pete McCall, exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise, gives you guidance.

Party Workouts Imagine Studio 54 (disco balls, techno lights, DJs) with squats and lunges instead of boozy antics and you've got the idea. Barry's Bootcamp in New York City, a favorite of celebs like Kim Kardashian, has a Saturday-night dance-party class where you socialize while you sweat-then down wheatgrass shots.
Should you do it? Yes! "If you make working out a social event," says McCall, "you'll look forward to it-and actually do it." Or try a DIY version: Invite friends over to tackle that sweaty workout DVD. We won't tell if you spike the smoothies afterward.

See more: 10 Things Girls Always Do in Movies and Never Do in Real Life

Hot Everything You've heard of hot yoga. But now all sorts of workouts-from cycling to Pilates-are being done in 105-degree (or

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

There's been a bit of a war waged on "thinspo" and "pro-ana" sites and images; Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr have all banned controversial photos that display extreme weight-loss or self-harm. But now a new study is turning everything upside-down with this claim:

Pro-anorexia websites may actually benefit people suffering from eating disorders. Researchers from Indiana University interviewed 33 bloggers from various pro-ana sites. Most of them reported that they write online about weight loss in order to "escape judgment"; the authors say that this feeling of belonging is critical in the treatment of their conditions.

See more: 10 Things Girls Always Do in Movies and Never Do in Real Life

Says Nicole Martins, one of the study's authors: "These communities are providing support, albeit supporting an illness that may result in someone's death. But until they're ready to go and seek recovery on their own terms, this might actually be a way of prolonging

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

If you wannabe as fit as a Spice Girl, you'll be interested to find out exactly what the fantastic five eat and do to stay in shape...

The poshest of the Spices (and this month's guest Glamour editor!), Victoria Beckham keeps her energy levels up with healthy snacks, like fresh fruit, and stays hydrated with coconut water.

See more: 10 Things Girls Always Do in Movies and Never Do in Real Life

Geri Halliwell has reportedly snipped the string on her history of yo-yo dieting and reportedly "feels better than ever," staying in shape with plenty of yoga and "healthy eating." Meanwhile, Emma Bunton works out three times a week, usually running on a treadmill.

US Weekly's diet and exercise report on the ever-sporty Melanie Chisholm: she feels "more feminine than ever before." So I'm not sure what that means. But as of last year, she was training hard to compete in a triathlon, doing total-body circuits that included step jumps and declined bench press-ups-and,

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

How often do you look in the mirror a day-and how does seeing your reflection make you feel?

According to The New York Times, there's a new name for taking a vacation from your reflection: it's a "mirror fast." While some bloggers are avoiding their and chronicling the results, other women are simply taking a break from seeing their reflection in any surface because of the way it makes them feel:

Marisa Gizzio, 45, a stay-at-home mom in Garnet Valley, Pa., went without mirrors for two days last October to help her overcome her tendency to ruthlessly criticize her figure. "Any reflection, even in the sliding glass doors at the grocery store, I would automatically check if my butt was sticking out or my legs were too big," she said. "It was such a waste of time."

See more: 10 Things Girls Always Do in Movies and Never Do in Real Life

Gizzio decided to axe the mirror because she'd regained a little bit of the 60 pounds she'd lost a year earlier, and she