Blog Posts by The Editors of WOMEN'S HEALTH

Remember when exercise meant taking your two-wheeler out for a glory ride, playing kickball in the cul-de-sac, and chasing fireflies? As a kid, you didn't head out to the jungle gym looking for a workout, but you sure were getting one. When did exercise stop being fun?

Growing up can take its toll on the fun quotient of exercise--and moving your physical activity from the playground to the gym probably didn't help. Forty percent of women recently surveyed by the American Cancer Society reported that they would be more active if exercises were more fun. While it's no secret that exercise is beneficial for your body and mind, you might not know the half of it.

Exercise can directly and indirectly reduce your risk of developing cancer, says Colleen Doyle, M.S., R.D., director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society and coauthor of ACS's Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines. Physical activity can directly reduce your cancer risk by decreasing the levels

Read More »from 6 Playground Moves that Make Exercise Fun Again

Want to lose more weight without eating less? Add these fat-burning nutrients to your diet and accelerate your weight loss by up to 70 percentFor years scientists have searched for a magical ingredient that would help people shed fat. In 2008, Dr. Shalamar Sibley of the University of Minnesota put 38 obese people on an 11-week diet where they consumed 750 calories less than their estimated daily need. Study participants whose blood levels of D were higher at the study's start lost more weight than participants whose blood levels of D were lower. They actually lost a lot more--70 percent more, to be exact.

Based on the results of this study, by fueling your body with the D-rich nutrients it needs to stay out of a fat-storage state and in a fat-burning state, you can speed weight loss by 70 percent! Thousands of studies on vitamin D have been completed over a span of 40 years, and it's become clear that vitamin D is pretty incredible and effective. Still, it's not the only player on this fat-melting team. Turn up your metabolism and melt body fat adding vitamin D and these five fat-melters from The Vitamin D Diet:

78 Ways to

Read More »from 5 Nutrients for Faster Weight Loss

It's still not too late to get strong, lean, and sexy for summer!Happens every year: You're all gung ho in the beginning of the summer, hitting the gym like it's your job and dutifully counting calories. After all, you have the big bikini reveal to prepare for! But once the season hits its stride, it's easy to fall off the wagon and onto a lawn chair--and before you know it, the heaviest thing you're hoisting is an icy cocktail.

Fortunately, tearing off that cover-up with confidence doesn't mean choosing between having fun and staying fit. The key to scoring a hot body? Committing to a plan that's easy to fit into your busy summer schedule (we're talking 30-minute workouts here) and lasts exactly 21 days. Why? Experts say you can start to form a habit in as little as three weeks, and as anyone who's ever been hooked on something knows, habits are hard to break. In other words, once you complete this program (which has built-in days for rest and recovery--yay!), you'll be motivated to keep going.

9 Fitness Rules You Should Break

How the Plan Works

Read More »from The Ultimate Bikini Body Shape-Up Plan

Get firmer, stronger, sexier arms and shoulders with this fast-acting circuit workoutWith summer heating up, it's time to break out the essentials: sundresses, tanks, and lots of skin. If your arms aren't ready to see the light just yet, don't freak. New York City personal trainer Hannah Davis has a plan that will get you toned and tight in no time at all.

The trick: Most women focus on single-joint exercises, like biceps curls, which work primarily one muscle, says Davis. "Doing complex moves recruits more muscle fibers and works your upper body to total fatigue." That means you'll burn more calories and shed arm fat faster, so your arms, shoulders, and upper back will be sleek in time for their big reveal.

Proven Ways to Burn Fat Faster

Follow this workout two to four times a week: Warm up with three sets of the inchworm, resting for no more than one minute between sets. Perform the remaining three exercises as a circuit: Complete 15 reps of each move, rest two to three minutes, then repeat for a total of three sets.

INCHWORM
Stand with your feet hip-width apart,

Read More »from The 15-Minute Armed for Summer Workout

Get to know the perfect serving size for fast weight loss!

By Lisa Drayer, R.D.

Easy AffogatoEasy Affogato
1/2 Tbsp Kahlua coffee liqueur
2 Tbsp hot espresso
1/2 cup vanilla frozen yogurt

Scoop frozen yogurt into a serving dish. Stir liqueur into espresso, then pour over frozen yogurt. Serve immediately.

Makes 1 serving.

Per serving: 131 cal, 1 g fat (0.9 g sat), 64 mg sodium, 22 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 4 g protein

Blueberry-Almond TurtlesBlueberry-Almond Turtles
7 Tbsp (2.5 oz) 60% cocoa bittersweet chocolate chips (such as Ghirardelli)
1/4 cup dried wild blueberries (sold in produce section)
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Microwave chocolate in a glass bowl for 60 to 75 seconds or until melted. Stir in blueberries and nuts, then drop 5 rounded tablespoons onto parchment paper. Cool in refrigerator for 2 to 4 minutes or until firm.

Makes 5 turtles.

Per turtle: 104 cal, 8 g fat (3.5 g sat), 0 mg sodium, 9 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein

Moroccan Pomegranate Mint YogurtMoroccan Pomegranate Mint Yogurt
1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt (such as Fage)
1/3 cup

Read More »from Healthy Summer Dessert Recipes

Here's something you'll love to learn: Your shoulders and upper back tend to carry less fat than the rest of your body, so the right arm exercises can give this area a nearly instant makeover, says Ramona Braganza, a celebrity trainer who has worked with stars such as Anne Hathaway and Jessica Alba. Braganza's upper-body workout, below, hits every major muscle and will help stabilize your shoulder joints, improve your posture, and build that strong, toned look you're after.

For this arm workout, use five-to eight-pound weights, perform 15 to 20 reps of each exercise and go from one move to the next with little or no rest between. Do two or three sets three times a week. Learn to do the moves with correct form: Watch fitness editor Jen Ator in the video how-to below.

1. Reverse Fly Grab a pair of dumbbells and stand with your feet hip-width apart and your knees bent. Bend forward at the hips and let your arms hang straight down from your shoulders, palms facing. Raise both arms out Read More »from 4 Ways to Sculpt Sleek, Sexy Arms for Summer

By Brittany Risher, Women's Health

Looking for a perfect bottle of affordable wine? Here are five $20-or-under bottles of summery vino that guarantee satisfaction.

Elio Perrone Moscato d'Asti Sourgal 2010
Summer isn't the season to sip a heavy dessert wine. "This white wine is only slightly sparkling-not fully, like champagne-with notes of apricot, peach, honeysuckle, and clementine," says Laura Maniec, master sommelier and cofounder of Cork Buzz Wine Studio in Manhattan.

Pair with: Light desserts, like sorbet with fresh fruit. The wine's airiness and gently sweet notes will be overpowered by something denser and richer.


Bogle 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel
"This California classic is amped up with ripe plums, berries, and notes of sarsaparilla and brown sugar," says Evan Goldstein, master sommelier and president of Full Circle Wine Solutions in San Carlos, California. And don't be afraid to try it slightly chilled-the cold makes it extra refreshing.

Pair with: Kicked-up happy-hour staples

Read More »from The Best Low-Priced Summer Wines

Change can be a truly beautiful thing. Think about it: When you change the way you eat, you can change the way you feel, and change the way you look! With bikini season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to invest in positive changes that improve all of the above and result in a sexier you.

Begin by incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. They play an essential role in both physical and mental health, but since your body cannot produce them, you can only receive these essential fatty acids through a healthy diet. Here are my favorite omega-3-rich foods and how they change your body for the better while keeping your brain in tip-top shape:

The Best Vitamins for Women

Walnuts
Walnuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids and contain cancer fighting, anti-inflammatory properties that may help aid in weight loss and provide other superb benefits like the promotion of bone health. Serve them mixed into your morning muesli, alongside a cup of green tea, or paired with

Read More »from 5 Foods to a Healthier, Hotter You