Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Karen Asp

Walking is a great way to shed pounds and get healthy. But don't take our word for it. The four women below offer proof that walking can have a major payoff: Each lost at least 100 pounds thanks to the low-impact exercise. Read on to learn about how they got motivated and find out tips for getting active yourself.

Try one of these fat-blasting walking routines today.

"I needed a size 22, and I panicked"

Nancy Rushing, 40, grew up in a meat-and-potatoes family where eating large portions-and being a little pudgy-was the norm. But three years ago, at 259 pounds, she was shopping for jeans and realized she had gone up yet another size. "Getting to a size 22 was my breaking point," she says. Her plan: Join Jenny Craig to learn about healthy eating, and start walking.

How she did it: Nancy started walking at home (in Arlington, Texas) on an old treadmill she got from her aunt. To stay motivated, she watched musicals like Hairspray and High School Musical as she

Read More »from Weight-Loss Transformations: How I Walked Myself Slim

By Jennifer Tzeses

They keep us grounded, get us where we need to go and bear the brunt of exercise, but instead of treating our tootsies with the attention they deserve, we often sacrifice the health of our feet for fashion. Those super-high stilettos may look sexy, but the price of wearing them isn't pretty. Heels aren't the only foot faux pas; flats can be just as damaging. Here, advice from the pros on how to stay one step ahead of the most common foot problems.

Toenail Fungus
If you notice your toenail looks yellow, has white marks on it or contains debris underneath, chances are a fungus is hanging out under your nail. "It's a highly contagious infection that's transmitted from foot to foot, particularly in germy hotbeds like nail salons and gyms," says Carolyn McAloon, DPM, spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association. Usually it's not painful, although wearing a shoe that's pressing on the infected area can irritate it, she says. Fungi thrive in dark,

Read More »from 10 Common Foot Conditions Explained

By Joy Bauer, RD

Nutrition information is available in almost all fast-food restaurants these days. Some of the calorie and fat stats are alarming, but others are downright gratifying. Some highlights:

Applebee's

Best

• Grilled Dijon Chicken & Portobellos-450 calories, 16 grams fat
• Asiago Peppercorn Steak-390 calories, 14 grams fat
• Grilled Shrimp & Island Rice-380 calories, 4.5 grams fat

Worst

• Chili Cheese Nachos-1,680 calories, 107 grams fat

Chipotle (only lists saturated fat)

Best

• Soft corn tortilla, beans (taco size), cheese (taco size), small serving guacamole, lettuce (taco size), tomato salsa-210 calories, 1.5 grams saturated fat
• Burrito Bowl with lettuce, tomato salsa, beans, small serving guacamole, ½ serving vinaigrette-340 calories, 3 grams saturated fat
• Burrito Bowl with lettuce, tomato salsa, 4 oz chicken or steak, ½ serving vinaigrette-360 calories, 4 grams saturated fat

Worst

• Burrito with rice,

Read More »from The Best and Worst Fast-Food Meals

By Jacqueline M. Duda

The number of Americans with diabetes is skyrocketing: 24 million now have it, and 57 million are pre-diabetic. While tackling the obesity epidemic is one key to reversing this alarming trend, advances in screening and treatment are helping us get a handle on it.

Getting screened is easier than ever. Doctors used to rely on a fasting blood glucose test (which meant no eating for at least 8 hours) or a glucose tolerance test (which takes at least two hours and involves gulping down a terrible-tasting sugary drink). Blood sugar levels of 126 mg/dL or higher on either of these tests means you have diabetes. Photo: Anthony-Masterson/Getty Images

But now there's the A1C screening-a blood test that requires no fasting and gives a snapshot of your blood sugar levels over the previous 3 months. Doctors used to give the A1C only to people already diagnosed with diabetes to assess how they were managing the condition, says Richard M. Bergenstal, MD , president

Read More »from What You Need to Know About Diabetes

By Sara Bliss

Center of Attention

Showcase autumn splendor by bringing nature-inspired beauty into your home. Fall centerpieces made from traditional harvest elements like nuts, gourds and pinecones are a beautiful way to decorate your living room, foyer or Thanksgiving table. The following crafts are rustic yet chic, and best of all, have the staying power to last even after leftovers are gone.
Producer: Eddie Ross

Photo: © Lisa Hubbard/Woman's Day

Splatter Paint Pumpkins

Pumpkins become tastefully eye-catching when they're painted white and finished with a subtle splattering of rich fall colors. Line several next to each other on the mantel or windowsill to create a pretty display.

Click here for how-to instructions.

Photo: © Lisa Hubbard/Woman's Day

Indian Corn-Adorned Hurricane Vase

Set this candlelit display in the foyer to cast a warm, inviting glow. Indian corn cobs surround a pillar candle in an arrangement that looks simple yet

Read More »from 5 Elegant Holiday Centerpieces

By Kimberly Fusaro

Buying a membership to a wholesale shopping club certainly can pay off-but it doesn't always. Toss giant boxes of this or jumbo-size canisters of that in your cart without giving a second thought to price tags, and you probably won't save enough to cover the cost of your membership. If you want to save a bundle when you buy in bulk, you need to shop smart-and we have the experts who can tell you how. Read on to learn where the real savings are.

What to Buy in Bulk

Vitamins
Unlike over-the-counter meds (see below) vitamins are easy to use up by their expiration date, assuming you take them daily. Philip Trigiani, MD, a healthcare practitioner in New York City, suggests women buy bulk-size bottles of a multivitamin that includes calcium and iron.

Paper Goods
Assuming you have the storage space, it's worth it to stock up on toilet paper and paper towels, says Cathi Brese Doebler, author of Ditch the Joneses, Discover Your Family: How to Thrive

Read More »from What's Worth Buying in Bulk?

By Amanda Greene

Tell anyone that you're taking a trip to Beantown or The Big Apple and they'll likely know exactly where you're headed. Many cities across the country have adopted popular nicknames that are almost as well-known as the city itself. But where did these funny monikers come from? Read on to learn the origins of everything from "The Windy City" to "The City of Brotherly Love."

Discover 12 beloved foods that are only found in certain U.S. regions.

Chicago, Illinois: The Windy City

Anyone who's been to this Midwestern city can attest to its particularly breezy days because of the winds coming off Lake Michigan. But is blustery weather really at the root of Chicago's nickname? While it can't be confirmed, a popular theory is actually that the term was coined as early as 1876 in reference to the city's long-winded, bombastic politicians. Photo: Thinkstock

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The City of Brotherly Love

Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by the English Read More »from 10 U.S. City Nickname Origins

By Amanda Greene

When something goes wrong with a cable bill, hotel reservation or pretty much anything else, there's one person whom most of us take our frustration out on: the company's customer service representative. Maybe it's the maddening automated menus or the anonymity of a phone call, but there's something about dialing those 1-800 numbers that brings out the not-so-nice in many of us. We spoke to customer service experts to find out everything they wish customers knew-from the best way to score a fast resolution to how not to start a call.

1. We really do want to help.
If you're experiencing a problem, it's understandable you might be frustrated by the time you're connected with a customer service rep. But starting that call on the offensive won't help. "You can make the process much easier by going into the conversation knowing that any good rep really wants to assist the customer, rather than assuming that it's going to be a fight," says Bill Gessert,

Read More »from 10 Things Customer Service Reps Want to Tell You