Source: New to Strength Training? What You Need to Know

You know you want to bounce quarters off your butt, but you've never done a squat in your life. Here's a basic strength-training guide to help get you started.

How to prevent injury: To avoid pulls or strains, meet with a personal trainer or gym staff member to learn proper form. Be sure to warm up before strength training - it's good practice to get in your cardio session first and then move on to strengthening. Always listen to your body, don't let your competitive nature push you too hard, and stop as soon as you feel any pain or your muscles are too tired to do the moves correctly.

How much: Whether you're using dumbbells, a machine, kettlebells, medicine balls, or a resistance band, you don't have to choose the lowest weight when starting. Choose a weight that is hard enough to make you feel like you're working, but not heavy enough to disrupt proper form. You'll know it's the correct amount when your muscles fatigue after

How to schedule quality workouts precisely to achieve your best resultsMost of us know what types of workouts and how much effort it takes to see results. What's more challenging, perhaps, is scheduling these sessions so you get the most out of each effort. "It's important to time your workouts correctly, and a lot of people do it wrong," says Jason Fitzgerald, a Washington, D.C.-based coach, 2:39 marathoner, and founder of StrengthRunning.com. Getting the right amount of rest between quality workouts helps the body recover and adapt, while knowing the best time of day to do certain workouts can yield a more productive session. Clearly, whenever you can get up and workout, you should--but if you've got options, here's how to time everything just right. (PLUS: Are you eating right for your workout? Find out how you should fuel up, in 16 Healthy and Yummy Pre-Workout Snacks.)

Go long in the a.m.
"One of the primary reasons to do a long run is to improve fat-burning metabolism," says Scott Fliegelman, a coach in Boulder, Colorado, and founder of FastForward

I am the proud survivor of one potty trained child. My child definitely wasn't one who was potty trained in three days. In fact, it took about six months before my daughter abandoned her training pants. However, there are still times when she laughs too hard and has an accident. Indeed, potty training is part of being a mom. As the mom of an almost five-year-old and a one-year-old, I have heard some funny potty training stories from other mothers. It's great to know that I'm not the only one whose child was obsessed with potty talk or had some embarrassing accidents. Here are some other "teachable moments" from moms who have potty trained.

The Trashcan

Jessica, mom of Eric, was potty training her three-year-old. Her son didn't go in the toilet. Instead, he escaped from the bathroom, knocked over a baby gate and made his way into the kitchen. There he proceeded to pee "on the side of the trashcan." It was the start of many misses in her potty training escapade. After the

Source: 4 Reasons to Hit the Hay Earlier Tonight

Functioning on six or fewer hours of sleep might be the norm for you, but consistently not getting enough z's can affect your mood and your health. Here are four reasons to make an earlier bedtime a priority.

• To avoid weight gain: You wake up groggy from lack of sleep and reach for some kind of edible pick-me-up. Chances are it's sugary or high in fat, which means it's high in calories. Fatigue encourages mindless snacking and more calories consumed, which can lead to an expanding waistline. That coupled with skipped workouts from lack of energy means even more weight gain. A foggy head can also impair your judgment, making you more likely to give in to cravings. If you're trying to lose weight, getting enough sleep can make all the difference.
• To prevent heart issues: Lack of sleep raises your blood pressure, putting unnecessary strain on your ticker, which puts you at risk for a heart attack or stroke.
• To strengthen your