Blog Posts by Vitamin G, Glamour Magazine

Would you rather sign up for kitchen-cleaning duty at your office than go to another spinning class? Um, yeah--maybe you need to changes things up in the fitness department. Check out this list of interesting new fitness trends for 2010. Maybe there's something for you!

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) just compiled their top 10 fitness trends list for 2010. Here are a few trends that made the list:

*Gyms getting cheaper: "Gyms will alter programming and training to better serve the needs of the cost-conscious member," the report states.

See our tips: The amazing thing that swimming can do for your health ...

*Bye-bye personal trainer, hello group trainers: "Individuals will scale back on personal training sessions to take advantage of small-group training and group class participation as another way to save on expenses. Health clubs may alter some programs to better suit the needs of larger groups."

*More "time-efficient" workouts for us (yay!): "Shorter yet

Yesterday, one of my best friends emailed me to share some very sad news that I did not see coming (she couldn't bare to tell me in person, she explained, as it was just too hard for her to talk about). I was so shaken, I tried to go about my day as normal but I couldn't. I was so saddened by her news that I finally gave in to the tears welling up and just sat on the couch and cried--big fat tears (until my concerned 2 year old gave me a big hug!). Next time you're feeling weepy, just let the tears out, say health experts. Here's why you shouldn't hold them back (or feel bad about it)...

Biochemist William Frey, who is known for studying, of all things, tears (what a job!), has discovered some pretty interesting things about tears. This little tidbit from Divine Caroline caught my eye:

"Emotional tears--those formed in distress or grief--contained more toxic byproducts than tears of irritation (think onion peeling). Are tears toxic then? No! They actually remove toxins from our

It's a popular time of year for open enrollment--when companies allow you to pick your insurance plan and other benefits. Andrew Rubin, Vice President for Medical Center Clinical Affairs and Affiliates NYU Langone Medical Center, estimates that 25 percent of people don't even open their benefits book and just go with the default plan. But this year it's more important than ever to analyze your options. Here are a few things to know:

What's different this year?
Most employers have changed their plans this year due to the economy, say Rubin, and you'll have to foot a much larger portion of the bill. Health care costs have soared, and in flush times, employers have absorbed those increases. But when companies are choosing between layoffs or passing health care costs to employees, they often pick the latter (or both).

Related: You May Be Obese But Think You're Thin

What's the difference between an EPO and PPO and HMO?
It's worth nothing that all plans are different and

My experience with hot yoga wasn't entirely positive (let's just say, I thought I was going to die right there in the 100 degree studio). Still, I remain intrigued by this intense form of yoga, and hope to get my courage up to try again. Meanwhile, I'm curious what you think of the recent comments from Jenny McCarthy about hot yoga during pregnancy...

Related: 5 things you should never (ever!) say to a pregnant woman...

Jenny McCarthy revealed on Regis and Kelly this week how Bikram yoga (aka "hot yoga") kept her energy level up and her body fit throughout her pregnancy, which caused some to raise their eyebrows a bit. Hot yoga during pregnancy? Is this safe?

I spoke to Bikram yoga practitioner Jennifer Lobo, the co-owner of Bikram Yoga NYC (who happens to be 8 months pregnant herself and actively yoga-ing--doesn't she look amazing in the photo above?) about Jenny McCarthy's comments:

"First off, we never recommend a woman starts doing Bikram Yoga when she is

Imagery is a pretty motivating get-fit tool--whether we're talking about images of yourself at the peak of fitness (for me, that was exactly 2 years before I had kids ... oh the days!) or pics of a celeb who you think is pretty great (hi Reese!). Some people post these images on their bulletin boards or hang them on their fridges as reminders to stay focused. I don't think that's an entirely bad idea, but I do think this story about Brooke Shields is pretty eerie ...

In Andre Agassi's memoir, Open, which was recently published, he airs lots of dirty laundry--like the fact that he hates tennis (what?), had a drill sergeant for a father, and wore a frosted hairpiece to go with his classic early 90s mullet. (Shudder.) But, there's more revelations about his ex-wife Brooke Shields (remember--they were married!):

The Wall Street Journal pointed out this bizarro chain of events: "In preparation for her wedding to Agassi, [Brooke] Shields embarks on an exercise regimen and hangs an

When it comes to sex, do you ever feel a little anxious about one thing or another? You're not alone! One sex expert says that there are some common sex hang ups that most women deal with regularly. Do you worry about any of these things? The sex expert for Fox News says that women commonly deal with the following hang-ups:

1. Fear of looking "fat" in lingerie
2. Worries that he'll notice your stretch marks or cellulite
3. Concerns over the timing of orgasm
4. Fear of getting pregnant
5. Fear of getting an STD

While #4 and #5 are healthy fears--especially if you're not in a monogamous relationship--I can see how the others could be debilitating, and end up ruining your ability to enjoy sex in a healthy way.

I wrote an interesting article for WomansDay.com recently about the most common hang ups women have in bed--from concerns about the way they smell to anxiety about how they look naked--with some good tips on how to overcome each worry.

Do you tend

Pooh, take your honey and shove it! Ever feel like that? I'm normally pretty upbeat, but yesterday I was absolutely overcome with a wave of grumpiness--for no reason, really. I just felt blue. Good news for us grumps, though...

According to new research, being grumpy is, well, good for you!

Huh?

According to the BBC, Australian researchers say that being grumpy may help you think more clearly. That's right, if you're feeling miserable, they say, you may be better at decision making and less likely to be gullible.

Related: Here's how to look at disappointment in a different light...

From the article: "...[A] grumpy person can cope with more demanding situations than a happy one because of the way the brain promotes information processing strategies."

I really don't know if I buy this, at least on a personal level. When I'm feeling grumpy, it effects my thinking and judgment in a negative way. I've learned to never make an important decision when I'm feeling upset,

You've heard about the so-called "sperm allergy," right? It sounds like one of those really rare things, but health experts say that it actually might be more common than you think...

According to a report by The New York Daily News, between 20,000 and 40,000 women in the United States suffer allergic reactions to their spouse's seminal fluid.

Related: Could pumpkins cure yeast infections?

Dr. Andrew Goldstein of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center says that women with a sperm allergy may develop hives, swollen eyes, diarrhea and even breathing problems. The condition is called seminal plasma hypersensitivity.

"The body recognizes semen as a foreign protein just as it would recognize a peanut allergy or pollen," said Goldstein. "So you have swelling, you have itching, you have inflammation of the nerve endings."

There is hope, though. Of course, condoms make sex possible for women with such sensitivities to sperm, but there is also a preliminary treatment