This was the last exercise machine I used. It's going to be a long month of short workouts.

If I were raising myself, I'd be a terrible parent. The older I get, the bossier and less-disciplined my inner-child has become. She decides what we eat (cheese), when we eat (every 30 minutes) and what extra-curricular activities we engage in (Netflix). As you can see, we're very busy. So busy, in fact, we just can't find the time to workout. So many shoe-laces, so few matching socks, so much planning to not drink or eat for longer than is comfortable.

Then, last week, I spotted an exercise plan that even a 34-year-old childless woman with a Wikipedia addiction could fit into her crowded schedule. It's a 30-second workout. Actually it's 3 minutes of a 30-second high intensity exercise three times a week, but let's keep that between us.

This proposed exercise program isn't the kind of thing you can buy on Amazon. There's no beefy celebrity trainer holding an exercise ball waving three fingers at you from the cover of a book. There's no DVD hosted by a washboard stomach that once

Coca-cola dissolves stomach blockages, who knew?Your mother always told you that soda would rot your teeth, and she was right, sort of. But it turns out that the same aggressive acidity of the soft drink that rots your teeth also dissolves harmful stomach blockages.

Believe it or not, the chemicals in coke act similarly to gastric acid, which helps to digest food, and can work to dissolve a gastric phytobezoar, a blockage in the stomach that can lead to bowel obstruction, infection, and in some cases, death.

What soft drinks are doing to your body

A new study conducted by the University of Athens shows that Coca-cola was successful in treating 90 percent of patients with phytobezoars-helping them to avoid surgery. The carbonization of the drink only helps to speed along the process.

The formula for Coca-cola has long been a source of speculation, as the drink was developed in 1886 by a pharmacist, and at some point contained a small amount of coca leaves, hence the commonly-held belief that Coke once contained cocaine.

The

It is the resolution time of year and if you're like most people, at least one of your resolutions is about eating healthier. The key to making sure you'll actually stick with your resolution this year is to make sure it is both sustainable and easy. When you make resolutions like "give up all carbs" or "no snacks," you're setting yourself up for failure. Check out these 7 easy and effective food resolutions that you'll actually be able to keep this year here: - By Kelsey Banfield

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Julai Savacool, SELF magazine

Ask yourself these questions to see what's draining you.

Are you stressing hard-core?
A crazy day at the office can cause production of the hormone cortisol to skyrocket, says SELF contributing expert Catherine Birndorf, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. "Once whatever's stressing you out is over, cortisol levels go back to normal, but that drop leaves you feeling fried."

Taking mini time-outs during the day-texting a friend, updating your Spotify playlist or chatting with a coworker-can help keep stress freak-outs in check so you won't be completely zonked by 6 p.m.

See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

Is your pee the color of a tangerine?
Unappetizing, but true: Urine should be pale yellow; any darker means you're dehydrated. Even mild dehydration can make you feel wiped and less able to focus, finds research in The Journal of Nutrition.

As for what you sip, it doesn't have to be water. Any liquid, even

JD Rinne, SELF magazine

Overdid it on sweets this holiday? Put your diet back on track with these smart choices-no refrigeration (or guilt) required.

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Brian Bowen Smith/Fitness MagazineBy Kelly Mickle

Alison Sweeney loves a challenge. Take last fall's Nautica Malibu Triathlon, which involved a half-mile swim in the Pacific. "I'm afraid of sharks, but my fear flew out the window as soon as I jumped into the ocean," Alison says. "The current kept pushing me to shore, but I didn't let myself panic, I just kept swimming until I made it to the final buoy" -- without spotting a single shark.

Whether it's racing in open water or dropping from a size 12 to a 4, the 36-year-old host of The Biggest Loser and star of Days of Our Lives isn't one to wimp out. "Pushing yourself to do the hard stuff makes you feel accomplished and inspires you to want more," Alison says.

Luckily, she has plenty to keep her busy. Besides filming Loser, competing in her first triathlon, and training for the upcoming Walt Disney World Half Marathon, Alison has just finished writing a novel and is already working on a second -- and she's about to start directing episodes of Days. Not to

Multitask your way to a better bod with these two-in-one strength-training exercisesIn successful relationships, partners bring out the best in each other. The same can be said of fitness moves. Certain exercises are more effective when paired up than when done alone. "Doing two moves at the same time--each targeting an opposing or unrelated muscle group-allows you to train harder without exhausting a single group too quickly," says certified personal trainer Katrina Hodgson, CEO and cofounder of ToneItUp.com and Tone It Up fitness studio in Los Angeles, who created this workout. "This method of training also boosts total-body tone and helps sidestep muscular imbalances that can lead to injuries." And the best part: They get you out of the gym in half the time. What's not to love?

Complete this 20-minute circuit three times a week on nonconsecutive days. All you need is a pair of dumbbells (try five to eight pounds) and a stability ball. Go from one exercise to the next without resting in between. When you've completed all eight moves, rest for one to two minutes,