Blog Posts by Self Magazine

For someone with such famous parents (and step-parents), it was such a treat to discover that Rumer Willis is as down to earth as any aspiring actress. She stopped by this afternoon--in between appearing on the Today Show this morning and Letterman tonight--to tell us about her new horror movie, Sorority Row (It's funny, too! She said another reporter dubbed it "Mean Girls with knives"). Rumer showed off her new tattoo (co-star Briana Evigan got a matching one), told us what she's dying to try tomorrow in Chicago and revealed what she's up to next.

It's only fitting that the daughter of two celebrities should appear in the celebrity zip code. That's right, Rumer will be guest-starring on the second season of 90210. The actress has already filmed two episodes as a high school journalist who "may have a lesbian storyline." Rumer promised this season will be even better than the first, and admitted that she's never seen a single episode of the original (oops!).

She's been doing a

Read More »from Rumer Willis talks about her new movie and show off her new tattoo

To find more willpower when reserves run low, we consulted the guru we'd all love to have on speed dial: Jillian Michaels. (OK, we do have her on speed dial; she's now a contributing editor.) Channel her voice when you're flagging.

Excuse "I have zero time to exercise!"

Jillian says I feel your pain-my life is crazy, too. But good-for-you habits are the last thing that should go. If you don't take care of yourself, you'll have less energy to be that supportive person in your loved ones' lives. I tell working moms to ask for help. It used to take a village to raise kids; you can't do it on your own.

Get a motivation makeover!

Excuse "Who can afford a gym and fresh produce? Not me."

Jillian says Commit to a $100 investment in 10 fitness DVDs and you'll have enough variety for six months at least. You can do a whole workout-sit-ups, jumping jacks, squats-without any equipment. And imagine the cost of taking diabetes meds for the rest of your life-much more than the

Read More »from Help me, Jillian! Motivation tips from The Biggest Loser Trainer

Hungry? SELF's got you covered. We taste-tested every healthy food we could find to compile this list of the most slimming, delectable breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners and-yippee!-even desserts. Prepare to say "Yum!"

By Erin Hobday and Merritt Watts
From the September 2009 Issue

Your ideal body starts in your kitchen. Having nutritious, tasty food on hand is key to conquering cravings, feeling energized, defeating disease and dropping pounds permanently. But with roughly 47,000 products crammed on grocery store shelves, it's tough to know what to toss into your cart.

To make eating right easy, SELF recruited experts Willow Jarosh, R.D., and Stephanie Clarke, R.D., of New York City to design nutritional criteria for dozens of foods, accounting for calories, fat, sugar, fiber and more. Then we invited an army of hungry readers to sample every good-for-you option out there (so you don't have to) to vote on the ultimate yogurt, bagel, chips, pretzel, candy, chocolate, frozen

Read More »from SELF'S 2009 Healthy Food Awards!

Say what you will about Heidi Montag, The Hills' actress rocks a killer body (and no, it's not all the result of a doctor visit!). Heidi, who just posed for this month's issue of Playboy, hit the gym with trainer Chad Waterbury to get in shape before her photo shoot--and her first live performance at Sunday's Miss Universe Competition. We talked to Heidi about why she really needed to get in shape for Miss Universe, her go-to toning move and what we can expect from MTV's most controversial couple this season.

Heidi will take the stage at the 58th Annual Miss Universe pageant with artists including Flo Rida, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland. For her first performance ever, (live, no less!), she's pretty confident--even if she'll be singing at "the biggest televised event in the history of TV, bigger than the Super Bowl, it's bigger than the World Cup." "I like to go the bigger, the better," Heidi tells SELF. "So this is actually a miracle, a dream come true, I feel so blessed, so honored

Read More »from How Heidi Montag got fit for Playboy and the Miss Universe Competition

Fifty-two percent of Americans say they have sensitive skin, a problem that often gets worse with each birthday. But not everyone has exactly the same complaint. Check out the most typical types, then calm the culprits with these stay-forever-young tips from Leslie Baumann, M.D., a dermatologist in Miami Beach.

By Eleanor Langston

Acne

Cause
Genetics plays a role in deciding your complexion, but you can't blame Mom for all your pesky pimple problems: Breakouts result from a combination of high levels of bacteria, increased oil production and dead skin cells clogging your pores.

Treatment
Scan the skin-care aisles for products that contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients to alleviate any irritation. Three zit erasers that Dr. Baumann swears by: benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and sulfur.

What to avoid
Coconut oil and avocado oil, two pore cloggers, are often found in hair conditioners. If yours contains either, wash your face after you

Read More »from Get the red out: How to take care of sensitive skin

Channel your inner barista and percolate a perfect pot with these tips.

By Beth Janes

Seek out better beans

Delicious coffee starts with beans that suit your taste buds. Keep these guidelines in mind when you shop: African beans yield a cup with fruity and floral flavors and less bitterness, says Kenneth Davids, editor of the Coffee Review in Berkeley, California. On the other hand, beans grown in South and Central American countries brew richer, fuller-bodied coffee.

How healthy is your caffeine habit? Take the quiz!

Do the daily grind

For a more flavorful mug, buy whole beans and grind right before you brew: Grinding releases the beans' oils, but they degrade quickly. Choose a conical burr grinder (such as the Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder, $100), which doesn't heat up grounds, preserving the delicate oils.

Find out why coffee is the ultimate superdrink!

Strike the right balance

Two level tablespoons per cup of cold water is the standard ratio for drip Read More »from How to make a tastier cup of coffee

The food pyramid? Yawn. The latest news is the sex pyramid. Learn why including different types of lovemaking in your romantic repertoire can help you have more fun in bed.

By Jenna McCarthy

Subsisting on a diet drawn from one food group isn't healthy or gratifying. Even eating cupcakes 24/7 eventually would get old! And yet when it comes to feeding our sexual appetite, many of us rely on one mode to sate all of our romantic cravings. Turns out, women who order the same meal at the same restaurant every time, so to speak, are missing out. Engaging in different shagging styles not only prevents boredom in the bedroom, but "it also fulfills your many physical and emotional needs, allows you to express different aspects of your personality and enables you to grow sexually as a couple," explains Ian Kerner, Ph.D., a sex and relationship therapist in New York City. No one is saying you have to install a trapeze in your bedroom or invite the neighbors to join in. But just as following

Read More »from The Sex Pyramid: Ways to have more fun in bed

Java and caffeine are chock-full of health benefits. Here are the top reasons to order up a cup.

Benefit your bean

It's a no-brainer! Lifelong caffeinated-coffee fans may be less prone to develop Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Coffee's antioxidants may tamp down cell damage linked to Parkinson's. And caffeine blocks inflammation in the brain, which is associated with Alzheimer's.

Make a tastier cup of coffee: Channel your inner barista and percolate a perfect pot with these tips.

Sip for your smile

Caffeinated java has antibacterial and antiadhesive powers, so it may keep cavity-causing bacteria from eating your enamel. And drinking a cup daily has been shown to slash oral cancer risk by half. Also, compounds found in coffee may limit cancer cell growth and DNA damage.

Brew for your breasts

Coffee's a bosom buddy! Premenopausal women who downed four cups of regular coffee per day experienced a 38 percent reduction in their breast cancer risk, a study in The Journal Read More »from Coffee: The ultimate superdrink!