Blog Posts by The Editors of WOMEN'S HEALTH

Just because you're not vying for 20-inch biceps or thunderously strong thighs like the muscle heads in the gym doesn't mean you should shun the weight room. Lifting weights gives you an edge over belly fat, stress, heart disease, and cancer--and it's also the single most effective way to look hot in a bikini. Yet somehow women are still hesitant: Only about a fifth of females strength train two or more times a week.

Here are 6 reasons you shouldn't live another day without hitting the weights.

1. You'll lose 40 percent more fat. If you think cardio is the key to blasting belly fat, keep reading: When Penn State researchers put dieters into three groups--no exercise, aerobic exercise only, or aerobic exercise and weight training-- they all lost around 21 pounds, but the lifters shed six more pounds of fat than those who didn't pump iron. Why? The lifters' loss was almost pure fat; the others lost fat and muscle.

Other research on dieters who don't lift shows that, on

Most women spend time and money pampering their faces but blow off their body skin. And legs especially don't take kindly to the diss. Over time they fall victim to damage thanks to "genetics, hormones, childbirth, sun damage, standing too much, and sitting too much," says dermatologist Anne Chapas, M.D., of the Laser and Skin Surgery Center in New York City. Make your legs look instantly sexier this way:

SMOOTH OUT CELLULITE

Dimples on your cheeks are cute. But dimples on your butt cheeks? Maddening! "Fat is organized into chambers that are separated by strands of fibrous connective tissue. When fat pushes through the bands, you get puckering and bulging. Think of how a mattress looks--that's cellulite," says Heidi Waldorf, M.D., director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

De-puff. Fluid buildup exacerbates the cottage-cheese look (it increases the fat bulge between the fibrous bands), so "stay away from anything that

Sour-cream dip? Really? Enough with the empty calories, excess fat, and boring taste already. For this weekend's celebrity-watching extravaganza, whip up party fare that wins in both the taste and health categories. These 17 low-fat, high-style party foods taste gourmet and are about as easy to make as tearing open a packet of onion soup mix. Bonus: Almost all of low-fat appetizers can be made 24 hours or more in advance--so you can spend your pre-party afternoon making yourself look appetizing.

Stacked Crackers Paired with the right crispy base, a medley of carefully matched ingredients makes for a bite-size flavor bomb.

1. On top: Tipsy Mexican Beans
The base: Tostitos 100% White Corn Scoops
In a medium skillet, heat 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, 1 Tbsp jarred minced garlic in oil, 1 tsp ground cumin, and 1 tsp oregano over low heat until sizzling and fragrant. Stir in 1 can (15.5 oz) pink beans (drained); salt to taste. Increase heat to medium-low. Add 1/4 c

If weight loss came in a pill, the list of side effects might include "May cause shortness of cash" and "Some users experience a loss of friendships." After all, that's what happens when you spend half a paycheck on healthy food and pass up happy-hour invites so you can avoid the bar snacks. And those side effects aren't just misery inducing, they're self-defeating too: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that people who turned these pitfalls into excuses were up to 76 percent less likely to lose weight than those who figured out ways around them. This advice will help you battle the bulge without missing a beat of your life.

Lose Weight, Not Friends
Ever notice that the day you announce you're starting a new diet, your friends go AWOL? Here's why: Cutting calories causes your level of serotonin (a feel-good brain chemical) to nosedive, leaving you cranky and unpleasant to be around.

To keep your serotonin levels in check, figure out how many calories

With all the daily food choices we have to make, there isn't much time to spend weighing the options that directly affect our health, weight, energy level, and taste buds. But look at it this way: Each of these decisions is a new opportunity to do right by your body. And to help you out, we have some answers directly from a definitive new source by our brother magazine: The Men's Health Big Book of Food & Nutrition.

Q: If my options are a cheeseburger, a hot dog, or a slice of pizza, which should I eat?

Clearly there's some room for debate about these American staples, as hundreds--if not thousands--of varieties exist. It comes down to your choice of toppings: The more high-fiber veggies you can include, the better. For that reason, your best option is probably a slice of pizza loaded with a combination of vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and salad greens. It's not a perfect meal--the carbs in the crust will likely be the refined variety--but the pile of produce on

Today you can self-test for everything from high cholesterol to chlamydia. And as wait times for doctors' appointments grow longer, it's tempting to turn to the drugstore aisle instead. But should you really go for a DIY diagnosis?

HIGH CHOLESTEROL

The Test: CholesTrak Total Cholesterol Testing Kit, $20, at drugstores

How It Works
A thermometer-style device scans a drop of your blood and displays your total cholesterol number within 15 minutes.

The Second Opinion
Getting a respectable result may lull you into a false sense of security, says cardiologist Nieca Goldberg, M.D., director of the Women's Heart Center at New York University Langone Medical Center. Even if you have a high level of HDL ("good") cholesterol, elevated LDL (the "bad" kind) can still put you at risk for heart disease.

The Verdict
Skip it.

Quiz: Are You Straining Your Heart?

HIV

The Test: Home Access HIV-1 Test System: $44, homeaccess.com

How It Works
Order a

People take pride in their hometowns. They flaunt sports-team regalia, boast about the best burritos west of the Mississippi, and claim they throw the biggest party on earth (woo-hoo, Mardi Gras!).

But we think the ultimate bragging rights belong to the residents of these 5 places where it's pretty damn great to be a woman. In our third-annual survey, we teamed up with Men's Health to find out how 100 U.S. cities ranked in 35 categories, including cancer rates, the number of women hitting the gym, and more.

And even if your town got trounced (scroll down for the list), relax. Here are some tips on how to live well, from the cities that rated the highest.

FIND A GREAT GUY: Plano, Texas
With 139 single men for every 100 available women, this town is great for women's hearts, in every sense. Studies show social interaction cuts the risk of cardiac woes because "companionship reduces stress levels, which then lowers your chances of developing heart disease," says New

Transformers. The word may conjure up big-screen images of giant robots sent from outer space to save the world, but it can also be used to describe people--perhaps not ordinary ones, but certainly earthly people who have cultivated a talent for inspiring positive change in others. In this month's issue of Women's Health we feature six such transformers. They've shared their most effective, body-sculpting, pound-shedding secrets with the magazine-and we're giving you a sneak peek from one of those fitness phenoms, Bob Harper of NBC's "The Biggest Loser." So whether you want to make big physical changes this year, or just want to trim and tone what you've already got, prepare to be inspired.

BOB'S TOP TIPS:

1. Practice the sun salutation. This isn't just for yogis--it's a total-body move that strengthens every inch of you. Do them fast to raise your heart rate.

Learn a Yoga Sun Salutation: Watch Our Demo

2. Work in intervals. For the fastest and best results, add