Amanda MacMillan

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I told you about the app that sends you daily texts from doctors? And remember how I said, "If I could only time them for those crucial moments when I'm thinking about skipping the gym or pigging out on a double chocolate muffin ... isn't there an app for that?" Well, guess what: There is, I've found it, and you can even test it out for for free. Boom.

See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

This literal answer to my prayers is called Coach Alba, although technically it's not a mobile app -- it's a text-based program, so you can subscribe with any cell phone that has SMS capability. Coach Alba is designed to help you through those "crucial moments," or "CMs" as Coach Alba dubs 'em, during which you're regularly tempted to overeat or skip your workouts. (Yes, they even use the same language I used in my post a few weeks ago!)

Coach Alba gets to know you via an online questionnaire; here, you identify all of t

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Making healthy choices at home is hard enough, but dining at restaurants adds a whole other set of challenges. Attack them head on with this no-stress guide. By Ava Feuer, REDBOOK.

1. Focus on the people you're with
When you're following a new healthy eating plan, it can be easier to avoid situations that may trigger you to want to overindulge - namely restaurants. But just like life wouldn't be fun if you never went outside, it doesn't make much sense to avoid something as enjoyable as socializing with friends at restaurants forever. "Learning how to eat out and enjoy yourself while sticking to your new plan is all part of the process," explains nutritionist Stephanie Middleberg. It can be easier said than done - especially when you're friends have decided to group-order the signature queso fondito at your favorite Mexican place and now it's calling your name. But try to remember the reason your here - to catch up with said cheese-loving friends. "Shift your focus to the convers

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By Danielle Paquette

Apples, almonds, broccoli. If you eat the same things every week, you may be missing out on an easy way to boost your health. "Many of us pass up foods that are nutritional powerhouses, because we don't know how to prepare them," says Angela Ginn, RD, a nutritionist in Baltimore. Bust out of your culinary rut with these five disease fighters.

Related: 10 Superfoods for Gorgeous Skin and Hair

Bamboo Shoots
Why? A great low-calorie, high-fiber veggie packed with antioxidants that help ward off cancer-causing free radicals.

How to Enjoy: Find bamboo shoots in the canned-food section of your supermarket. Add to salads, stir-fries, and soups.


Pumpkin Seeds
Why? Rich in protein and phytosterols, these little treats have been shown to reduce levels of harmful LDL cholesterol.

How to Enjoy: Eat them plain for an afternoon snack or sprinkle some on top of your salad for added crunch.

Related: Live to 100: 10 Diet Tips to Live Longer

Swiss Chard
Why? This leafy green i

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By Doug Rice of Bridalicious by The Knot

Lunges work your hamstrings -- the backs of your thighs. Stronger, toned hamstrings will not only help make your legs look lean and lovely, they'll help increase your range of motion. Climbing stairs becomes easier, as does dancing that requires you to go low.

What You'll Need
A pair of medium-to-heavy dumbbells or a barbell with medium-to-heavy weights. If you're a beginner, you may want to use just your body weight.

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How to Do Them

1. Place one foot out in front, with your toes facing forward and your back heel off the ground. Hold the weight on top of your shoulders with your hands at about shoulder-width if you're using a barbell; hold the weights at your sides, palms facing in, if you're using dumbbells.

2. Without leaning forward or backward, lower your body straight down toward the floor. Lower yourself on a slow count of four until your knees are at about a 90-degree angle, making sure your front knee

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There are a lot of fitness myths out there that can trip you up on your way down the aisle. These bits of information are treated as "common knowledge," when in reality, they just aren't true.

By Doug Rice of Bridalicious by The Knot

Myth #1: Eating at Night Makes You Fat
I've heard people say that if you eat after 8 p.m., the food turns into fat. It's just not true. Your metabolism can't tell time. So if you haven't found the time to eat, it's a good idea to fuel up. Now, you won't want to eat a large meal if you're planning to fall asleep soon after, but you shouldn't starve.

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Myth #2: No Pain, No Gain
Some say that if you don't feel sore the next day, you didn't work out hard enough. The truth is that if you're sore after every workout, you aren't giving your body time to recover. If you are sore for days after a workout, you overdid it. A good warm-up and stretch before and after working out will help minimize soreness, and you'll get the sa

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