Get ready…get set…go! Before you head out shopping, take the time to fuel your body in healthy ways. Breakfast shouldn't be boring or tasteless, but it doesn't have to be a big production, either. Make delicious, smart food choices early in the day that will keep you energized and ready for a day of shopping.

Hydrate! Don't knock back a cup of coffee and call it done. To really get the most from your body, you need to drink lots of water. It keeps you from overheating, helps your body keep up the pace, and moves those nutrients around to where they need to be while you're hitting the sales. For a double-win, squeeze a slice of lemon into your water. The smell of citrus is thought to be especially energizing, and the added Vitamin C promotes immunity to any seasonal germs you may encounter throughout the day.

Avoid foods like breads, potatoes and sugary treats (like donuts and pastries), because while they contain carbs, they're the kind that will lead you to a sugar-low and

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We've all been there. It's 2:15 in the afternoon and we start to yawn. Our eyes begin to get droopy and it's hard to focus on our job. If only we could just take a nap! The next best thing to sleep is a mid-afternoon snack. Here are some tips for choosing a snack that will get you back in the game.

The Biology of It All

The human body has a natural rhythm that causes us to experience a mid-afternoon lull. Sleep expert Michael J. Breus explains that for those of us on a typical schedule, our core body temperature will drop slightly in the mid-afternoon. This signals the brain to get sleepy, and is part of the reason some cultures take a nap after lunch.

In lieu of sleep, we can eat a high-energy snack to help us break through that lull and increase our energy and focus. Nutritionist Lona Sandon suggests choosing snacks packed with carbohydrates for energy and protein for concentration.

High-Energy, Low Fat Snacks

Oatmeal - Oatmeal is an excellent choice to tackle you

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Each holiday season, I feel as though I am bombarded with fatty foods and decadent treats. Along with shopping and family gatherings, the holiday season also coincides with the flu season. This means I need to have a healthy lifestyle to boost my immune system. Yet, while it is easy for me to fall into the unhealthy trap, it is just as simple to stay fit and healthy through the holidays.

Eat Breakfast

When the holidays roll around, my family and I travel more and, in general, have a busier schedule. Yet, we never skip breakfast. Breakfast gives me energy, boosts my metabolism and helps my daughter concentrate at school. Quaker Real Medleys are a wholesome, satisfying way to fuel my family's stomach. They come in a convenient, grab n' go container so there's no excuse for skipping out on the most important meal of the day. All I need is water and a microwave to make this healthy oatmeal breakfast.

Exercise

I try to walk every day. A half an hour a day of brisk activity

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by Elizabeth Goodman Artis

Put the word "personal" in front of any service-trainer, stylist, dog groomer-and it immediately takes on an elitist (read: expensive) ring. But a personal trainer is not just for those with big bank accounts. We talked to Jason Karp, Ph.D, an exercise physiologist and author of Running for Women, for a few perfectly legit reasons anyone can hire a personal trainer-and why it actually doesn't have to break the bank.

1. Because health equals wealth: When you're feeling healthy and physically fit, you're going to be more productive in any area of your life. Research backs this up: According to a study published in the Journal of Labor Research, people who work out regularly (three times a week) earn about 10 percent more than those who don't. Using that extra cash on a trainer (which costs, on average, about $50 to $80 per session) is definitely money well spent.

RELATED: The One-Hit-Wonder Workout

2. Because there probably is room in your budget: "One of the

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Think of your skin like an overachiever at school. It's constantly generating new cells to help protect your body from the outside world, which means the average adult can shed as many as 50,000 dead skin cells every minute. Some of those cells may have a little trouble letting go; however, which is why you should exfoliate one or two times a week. Ditching dead skin cells will help prevent clogged pores, which can lead to breakouts. In ultimate quest for softer, healthier, glowing visages, we teasted latest exfoliators on the market -- all of which retail for under $50. By Lauren Le Vine, REDBOOK.

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