One of the most important elements of my identity is my identity as a reader. I love to read-really, if I'm honest with myself, it's practically the only activity that I truly love to do.

As part of that identity, I'd developed the habit of finishing every book I read. Once I started, I felt committed. A "real" reader like me finishes books and also gives authors the benefit of the doubt ("maybe this book will get better after the first 50 pages"). Right?

But I realized that I was spending a fair amount of my precious reading time reading books that didn't really interest me. I'd finish these just because I felt as though I "should" and for the bragging rights of being able to say that I'd read them.

I decided to set myself a new habit: Stop reading a book if I don't enjoy it. (I consider getting valuable information from a book as a form of "enjoyment," even if I don't particularly enjoy the experience of reading it.)

I've put down several books over the last few

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Katherine Russell, widow of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev. (Photo William Farrington/Polaris)A few years ago, in a photo essay for Slate.com, boxer-turned-Boston-Marathon-Bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev said: “I don’t have a single American friend. I don’t understand them." But Tsarnaev, 26, who died Friday in a police shoot-out during a botched getaway, fell in love with and married one: Katherine Russell, a 24-year-old Rhode Island native and the mother of their 3-year-old daughter, Zahara. 

Also on Shine: The Boston Marathon Bombings: How to Avoid Charity Scams and Help for Real

The young family lived in a Cambridge apartment that had been leased more than 10 years ago by Tsarnaev's parents. Russell worked 70 to 80 hours, 7 days a week as a home health-care aide, her lawyer, Amato DeLuca, told reporters, and she thought her husband was caring for their toddler at home while she was at work. Instead, he allegedly was planning out the terrorist attack that killed 3 and maimed more than 170 others at the finish line of the Boston Marathon last week.

Also on Shine: Boston

Read More »from Who is Katherine Russell, Widow of Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev?

At some point in our lives we all experience some middle of the night insomnia. I swear it's gotten worse for me as I have gotten older, but even my kids have troubles from time to time, especially during the change of seasons like we are experiencing right now. No matter your age, loss of sleep can be devastating. But there are things that you can do to salvage your sleep if it is disrupted midstream. Here are seven tips from my personal bag of tricks to get you back on the road to slumber after a middle of the night detour. - By Miss Lori

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Read More »from Up All Night? 7 Surefire Ways to Get Back to Sleep

Karen Pearson/Fitness MagazineBy K. Aleisha Fetters

Triathlons used to be for elite athletes. Not anymore. More than 1 million everyday athletes -- more than 38 percent of them women -- took the starting line in 2011, according to USA Triathlon. That's up more than 40 percent from 2000.

"Women are getting ballsy," says Alison Kreideweis, cofounder of the Empire Triathlon Club in New York City. "They love its challenge, atmosphere, and enormous fitness gains."

Fitness gains, indeed. A triathlon's swim-bike-run power combo practically guarantees a better body. Plus, the sprint distance (half-mile swim, 12-mile bike, and 3.1-mile run) eliminates some of the intimidation and is popular with tri beginners. It's the best way to ease into your first race, ensure a great experience, and become a lifelong triathlete, Kreideweis says.

Here, 10 tips to get the most out of your first sprint triathlon.

Related: Tri-Umphant! 10 Weeks to Your First Sprint Tri

Shop Smart
You don't need to liquidate your savings account to

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By Tara Rasmus, Refinery29

.As members of the Got Milk? generation, we've been raised on the belief that low-fat dairy is one of the healthiest foods that women can eat. However, according to many nutritionists, dairy is actually one of the worst foods that we can consume, causing everything from digestive problems to weak bones to cancer. Milk-a what? We interviewed three nutrition professionals to learn the shocking truth about milk products - it may change everything you believe about your diet.

RELATED: Do You Drink Too Much? The Surprising Truth
Related: A Natural High: 10 Magical Foods That Make You Happy

According to Vivian Goldschmidt, nutritionist and founder of Save Our Bones, the conversation about dairy in human diets start with an understanding of what cow's milk products are actually designed to do, which is fatten up calves. "Cow's milk is an excellent food for calves, and each mammalian species has its own 'designer' milk. Drinking milk produced by another species is

Read More »from No Whey! Here's How Dairy is Harmful for Your Body

Their cause is still a mystery.

We Asked: Anthony Komaroff, M.D., is a professor at Harvard Medical School, senior physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and author of the syndicated newspaper column Ask Doctor K.

The Answer: Hiccups are almost as mysterious as they are annoying. (Almost!) They're impossible to study in the lab because you never know when you're going to get them and they're usually over pretty fast, but doctors have their theories as to what's going on. Basically, it seems that hiccups are a breathing reflex gone haywire.

QUIZ: Will You Age Well?

Normally, when you breathe in, the muscles in between your ribs contract, pulling your ribs outward and expanding your lungs. At the same time, your diaphragm-the flat muscle that divides your chest from your abdomen-moves downward, opening up more space in your lungs. This creates a vacuum that causes you to suck in air.

When you hiccup, both of these things happen, but uncontrollably and much faster than when you're taking a

Read More »from What's Happening Inside Your Body when You Hiccup?

Big-budget movie studios have celebrity trainer Ramona Braganza on speed dial. Why? Because she's the pro at getting A-listers in amazing shape for filming. But right now, she's focused on you. Here are her best celebrity weight loss tips. By Betsy Stephens, REDBOOK.

Tell people you're trying to lose weight
"Many people think that trying to slim down is something they should keep private, so they rely on their willpower alone to stick to a program-and willpower only gets them so far! Jessica Alba, a client of mine who has taken on several roles that required her to be in skimpy clothing, sticks to a daily training schedule with the help of family members and friends, often including them in her workouts or healthy eating plan. But you don't need to get cast in a movie: Declare your goal by posting in an online community, where you can connect with other women who are dealing with the same temptations-like couch time or cake-and staying on track."

Related: 25 Lazy Ways to Stay Skinny

Read More »from Weight-Loss Advice so Good People Pay Millions for It

Garden Party Cocktail
Good-for-you ingredient: Strawberries
These red gems help boost heart and brain health and have vitamin C and folate. Use them to sweeten this drink, from Daniel Shoemaker of Portland, OR's Teardrop Cocktail Lounge: Muddle 3 strawberries, 2 basil leaves, and ½ tsp balsamic vinegar, then add 2 oz silver rum and ½ oz agave nectar. Squeeze in ¼ oz lime juice, shake, and top with club soda.

Related: The 13 Most Exciting Chocolates in America

Quiet Storm Cocktail
Good-for-you ingredient: Ginger
This healthy root relieves muscle pain and menstrual cramps-and may be a cancer-fighter. Mix ½ oz ginger beer with ½ oz lemon juice, 1 oz store-bought carrot juice, 1½ oz vodka, and ¼ oz honey mix (2 parts honey diluted in 1 part hot water). Strain and serve over ice at your next brunch for a zingy alternative to a Bloody Mary, Shoemaker says.

Related: 25 Lazy Ways to Stay Skinny

Three-Party Harmony Cocktail
Good-for-you ingredient: Green tea
These leaves help fight a slew of

Read More »from 3 Cocktails that Are Almost Health Food