Blog Posts by Self Magazine

Q: My rent will be going up $200 a month. I could stop my $80 monthly gym membership, but working out keeps my stress down. Where else can I cut back?

It's not important if others would make different choices ("A gym membership isn't worth it!"); you have to align your fiscal decisions with what's important to you. So try to think of this recession as a chance to redefine your priorities; knowing that the gym is a must is a step toward figuring out your life values. To see where else you want to spend (or not), do this exercise:

1. Write down as many categories of your discretionary spending as you can (gym, clothes, etc.). Don't include fixed expenses like rent.
2. Compare each item on the list with every other item. Choose the one in each pair that feels crucial to you. Follow the example below; after "gym," go on to another category.

• Gym/ Clothes
• Gym/ Out with friends
• Gym/ Restaurants, etc.

3. Reorder the items, from most checked to least, then fund each based onRead More »from My rent will be going up $200 a month. Do I need to drop my gym membership to save money?

As stocks drop, our scales are rising. Avoid recession pounds with our sanity-saving plan.

By Hallie Levine Sklar

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have a co-conspirator in the war on your well-being: Duncan Hines. During stressful times, overeating is practically our national therapy. In fact, nearly 50 percent of people say they soothe frayed nerves with unhealthy meals, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C. Ultimately, calorie overload-and the weight that results-only adds to our feelings of helplessness. The solution: Take control of your diet. "You don't have power over the financial markets, but you have complete autonomy when it comes to your eating," says Heather Bauer, R.D., of New York City. Curbing your binges will also give you a sense of confidence-which may carry over to how you handle your finances. We found four women in dire need of diet makeovers and helped them learn to manage financial stress without Mallomar meltdowns. Read

Read More »from Is the economy making you fat?

To me exercise is like brushing my teeth: a non-negotiable. I don't want stinky breath or a flabby, weak body so I just do it, Nike-style! That said, there are days (lots of 'em!) when I'd so rather plant my butt on the couch and squirt whipped cream in my mouth, while watching bad TV (Cycle 12 of America's Next Top Model, baby!) Thankfully, after many years as the Fitness Director of SELF magazine I've learned a few magic motivators that always make me walk away from the Reddi-Wip and move it. Here they are:

SET A GOAL: Have an aim that is specific, actionable, short-term and measurable. Big-picture concepts, like "I want to be slim in six months," don't carry as much oomph as "I want to fit into a size 8 in six weeks." Fit into those smaller sizes with these 30 simple, effective tricks to slim and trim your tummy.

FOLLOW A PROGRAM: If you have a plan before you exercise, then you're accountable to it, and you'll feel more satisfied once you fulfill it. And the better you feel

Read More »from 5 tips that make you WANT to exercise

Q: Despite how well I'm doing at work (good reviews, praise from my boss), I still worry that I'll be fired. How can I feel more confident?

A: I doubt you deserve to get fired-you seem very conscientious! These days, it's natural to be concerned about job security, but I sense the real issue here is a conviction that nothing you do is good enough. Challenge this misguided belief by evaluating your work rationally: Every time your faith in yourself falters, recall a recent success (the stellar presentation you pulled off, for example). The key to building confidence is to be able to reassure yourself rather than rely on outside praise. Also, reflecting on the things besides your job that bring you joy will make it easier to keep work in perspective.

Feel happier at work (and get paid more, too!) How honing your strengths will get you the paycheck you deserve.

By Catherine Birndorf, M.D.

MORE FROM SELF:

• One Small Change
  How a single tiny diet tweak can yield big

Read More »from Despite how well I'm doing at work, I still worry that I'll be fired. How can I feel more confident?

Q: My coworker earns more than me, even though we practically have the same job. How can I use this info to get a raise?

No two jobs, or people, are clones. Does your officemate manage more employees, a bigger budget or more profitable clients? Does she have more experience or education? If so, her pay could be justified. If not, you might deserve a raise. Go to Salary.com to see what your peers earn. If your compensation is below par, write a memo documenting how you've helped your company by, say, cutting costs or training employees. Approach your boss when she's likely to be cheery (Friday afternoon, not Monday morning), and don't refer to your colleague's pay. Instead, be positive-"I'd love to discuss my work, my ideas for our department and my compensation." If she can't offer a raise, suggest a bonus tied to a project, or ask for tasks that will increase your visibility. There is one instance in which you should bring up your coworker's salary: if you can make a case for

Read More »from My coworker earns more than me, but we have the same job. How can I use this info to get a raise?

If you constantly burn the midnight oil and keeping struggle to keep up with an inbox that rivals Mount Kilimanjaro, you're bound to lose your A-game when it comes to your appearance. Don't reach for a paper bag to cover your head-we polled top pros for tricks to look fabulously refreshed when your usual get-up-and-go has gotten up and gone (letting you nix the naps and the Red Bull). Find quick pick-me-ups for skin, hair and makeup, plus 13 products to help you glow outside and in. "Liking what you see in the mirror raises endorphin levels, so you feel happier," says Amy Wechsler, M.D., a dermatologist and psychiatrist in New York City. Getting a more gorgeous look and a sunnier disposition? Now that's a reason to jump for joy!

Power your shower

Break out the bubbly. A stimulating scalp-massaging shampoo preps strands for styling and washes away oil that makes hair limp, says Frédéric Fekkai, a hairstylist in NYC. "Be sure to fully saturate hair so suds flow from root to tip," he

Read More »from Look naturally bright and beautiful—even if you're lacking beauty sleep.

A: The USDA estimates that you should take in 20 to 35 percent of your total calories from fat. If you eat 1,800 calories a day, that works out to between 360 and 630 calories from fat (or 40 to 70 fat grams). More important than the amount of fat you eat is the type. Saturated and trans fats are the worst for your heart and overall health, while consuming close to but not more than 35 percent of your calories from healthier fats such as those found in olive oil, nuts and fish may actually improve your odds against disease. People who follow a Mediterranean diet, which is chock-full of healthy fat, have low rates of heart disease and long life expectancies. Plus, fat is satiating, so it can stave off hunger and help you eat less overall.

Try these treats when you get a craving. They're better for you but still tasty enough to satisfy.

By Joy Bauer, R.D.

MORE FROM SELF:

• One Small Change
  How a single tiny diet tweak can yield big results!
• Stress less!
  

Read More »from Q: How much fat (even the good kind) is too much?

Here's some serious slimspiration for you: Doing only one thing differently can be all it takes to lose weight and improve your life in surprising, healthy ways. We found six women who each flipped a simple dietary switch that set off a chain reaction of positive effects, from getting glowing skin to losing 130 pounds. See which idea will ignite your personal success story.

By Liz Plosser


The planner: Shoshana Davis, 24, New York City

One small change: Mapping out meals

The big payoff: Dropped 130 pounds in a year and found the spotlight

How she did it: Davis attempted dozens of diets before finding the one simple technique that worked for her: plotting out her bites. "It wasn't easy at first-it took time to get used to thinking ahead about every meal and snack-but I'm much less likely to make poor food choices when I've put a plan in motion," Davis says. "If I know I'm meeting my friends for Chinese, I'll look at the menu and decide which healthy dish I want in advance."

Read More »from One small dietary change can have drastic results!