Blog Posts by Tips on Healthy Living

By Kristin Sidorov

We've all been there: Suddenly one of life's little hassles pops up out of nowhere and ruins your best laid plans of sticking to your workout routine. Maybe you had one too many drinks last night, had to work late, or you're still hurting from that ambitious bike ride you took this weekend. How can you overcome the urge to bail on the gym?

Whatever the reason, don't let it derail your goals -- instead modify your exercise routine to not only get in your workout, but to also help beat back those stressors that life has thrown your way.

When You're Sick
For die-hard fitness fanatics, it's hard to admit to being just too sick to work out. The truth is, sometimes it's OK as long as you know what you're doing, take it easy, and avoid the gym (because seriously, no one wants your germs). In fact, some believe that a workout can actually help you feel better. Generally speaking, if your symptoms are above the neck (stuffy nose, sore throat, headache) you should

While "shedding the baby weight" is a struggle as old as time, a recent development in the battle against unwanted pregnancy pounds has reached a new and frightening place. Coined "mommyrexia," women are doing everything they can to gain as little weight as possible during their pregnancy, despite dangerous health implications.

Defined as a growing problem that's relatively isolated to wealthy women with time on their hands (as one doctor sniffed to The Today Show, "It's an Upper East Side, white girl, obnoxious problem... I just find the whole thing vulgar"), mommyrexia is blamed on a reaction to A-list celebrities who manage to stay super-skinny during pregnancy and then shed their scant baby weight immediately after giving birth. But even in a world where thin will forever be in, many are in unanimous agreement that this is where the line must be drawn. Doctors, specialists, and healthy moms around the country agree: caring for your baby in the womb is a responsibility, and

By Deborah Goldstein

Can't a girl catch a break? For decades, we've been slathering on everything from Dead Sea salts to bird-poo facials (thanks, Japan) in order to reverse the effects of aging. Pregnant women smear cocoa butter on their burgeoning bellies and hope for the best--but unless you're Miranda Kerr, chances are, you're going to sport some post-pregnancy battle scars. Buh-bye, bikinis. But did you know you also have to worry about cleavage wrinkles? Sigh.

The New York Times explains: "Cleavage wrinkles are deep, vertical creases caused by hours spent sleeping on one's side, where gravity forces the top breast to bend farther past the body's midline than it should. The lines can also be caused by sports and push-up bras, which smush the breasts together and are often worn for hours. Once the collagen in skin breaks down from age and sun exposure, those wrinkles tend to linger. And thanks to gravity, the generously endowed -- whether naturally or surgically -- tend

Ah, #$@! it. We all know cursing is a social landmine, but sometimes-when you bang your elbow, are having a bad day, or maybe even had a teensy bit too much to drink-you unleash a blue streak that could cause the heavens to weep. But is it as good for your health as say, a long, mind-clearing run , meditating with the Dalai Lama or brain-calming exercises?

It's true, according to some very interesting research that shows swearing may actually be good for you. In a study, participants who swore while submerging their hand in ice water were able to endure the pain longer than those who didn't or simply uttered non-curse words.

Interesting indeed. And while it doesn't give you license to start talking like a salty sailor, the research does reveal a rather crucial element of the way our brains perceive pain , and at the very lease, helps make us feel less guilty when the occasional profanity slips out.

Scientists believe that there is a deep, psychological reason that

By Laura Griffin
Author of Snapped

Sweat-beaded chests. Bulging biceps. Grunting matches. Dudes in the wild. Why are we women all of a sudden so into the alpha male these days? From top TV shows to NAVY Seals in the news, Laura Griffin explains why we can't get enough of our big, strong, hairy men. (She should know: As a bestselling romance author of the Tracers trilogy and the upcoming Snapped, she has seen her share of hotties come and go.)

For years people have been talking about "The CSI Effect"-how fictional TV shows such as CSI have created a multitude of armchair experts in forensic science. But are we now seeing the opposite trend? More and more, reality shows such as Surviving the Cut, Top Shot, and One Man Army are having an effect on fiction--as evidenced by the bumper crop of tough alpha males populating today's romance novels, from Navy SEALs and Army Rangers to police snipers.

As an avid reader (and writer) of romance fiction, I'm gleefully embracing

Decorative contact lenses are quickly becoming a familiar beauty trend, worn regularly by fashion icons like Lady Gaga and Rihanna. At first glance, they seem harmless enough, because corrective contact lenses are medically safe and worn by millions. But look again and you'll see very real dangers lurking beneath their tinted surface.

Cheaply produced lenses are easily misused in the hands of inexperienced young fashionistas, and many are learning the hard way that they can cause severe damage, painful infections, and even permanent loss of vision.

Recently, novelty decorative lenses have been popping up in beauty shops across the country. Unfortunately, it seems that most consumers don't intuitively understand that these lenses could be potentially harmful, and retailers are more than happy to sell them over the counter, no questions asked. After all, we dye our hair, paint our nails, get Botox -- why should decorative lenses be any different in the path to perfection?

The

Unwind with one of these spirit-lifting ideas from Stephanie McClellan, M.D., and Beth Hamilton, M.D., authors of The Ultimate Stress-Relief Plan for Women: Heal the Destructive Effects of Stress on Your Body.

• Take a bath with scented oils
• Get lost in a good book
• Try a new recipe
• Take a nap
• Watch a chick flick
• Take your dog for a long walk
• Find water - a beach, lake, river, pond, or stream
• Pick fruit
• Talk to a stranger
• Plant a windowsill herb garden
• Dance
• Clean and organize
• Look at puppies and kittens in a pet store
• Go to a country fair or street fair
• Spend time in a bookstore or library
• Go window-shopping
• Go to a wine-tasting
• Plan a minivacation
• Go to bed early
• Explore classes you could take
• Do a crossword puzzle
• Volunteer
• Buy fresh flowers
• Go bird watching
• Flip through a magazine
• Organize your photos
• Catch up with an old friend
• Go antiquing

Blowing your beauty budget on hair products that don't really work? Stop that. Now! Consumer advocate and beauty expert Paula Begoun answers hair care questions from Amy E. Goodman, author of Wear This, Toss That! Hundreds of Fashion and Beauty Swaps That Save Your Looks, Save Your Budget & Save You Time.

How often should we be washing our hair?
For the majority of people, as infrequently as possible. The very acts of washing, brushing, and styling are damaging to hair. Nothing you do can prevent this.

Why does hair get heavy, oily, and limp?
If you are using a volumizing, moisturizing, or conditioning shampoo or a shampoo for dry or damaged hair, they almost always contain conditioning or hairspray-like ingredients that can build upon hair. You want to wash them out completely every three to four shampoos with a clarifying shampoo.

Once and for all, it is time to debunk the myth that hair adapts to shampoo.
If you find your hair starting to get limp after the