Stop hating the scale and beating yourself up! Stave off potentially permanent weight gain with these expert tips from Shape Magazine!
Although you know a number is just a number, it's hard not to worry when you see the scale jump a pound or two overnight or‚ worse, during the same day. But take a deep breath: most weight fluctuations are normal.
Since most of us can't eat enough in a day or two to actually gain five or 10 pounds, if you notice a dramatic increase on the scale, chances are it's due to water, says Anita Petruzzelli, MD, doctor for BodyLogicMD.
"Eating, drinking, urinating, having a bowel movement, and exercise can all impact your body's water composition and therefore weight," she says. For example, high-carb and high-salt foods can cause water retention and a boost in poundage, while exercise can lead to temporary water and weight loss.
So don't get too excited‚ or freaked‚ if you weigh yourself after a meal or workout. "Weight gain due to water fluctuation should normalize in a day or two when you resume exercising and eating a healthy diet that's low in salt, refined carbs, and simple sugars," Petruzzelli says.
However, if those extra pounds keep showing up on the scale after you've returned to your regular routine for about a week, it may be time to make some adjustments to your lifestyle. Five is the magic number, according to Joseph Colella, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Magee Women's Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Most people can recover five pounds rather quickly with minor tweaks to their calorie intake and physical activity.
And if the scale shows a seven-pound jump for longer than a day or two, more aggressive measures may be called for, such as eliminating alcohol. "Alcohol stimulates your appetite and wrecks your self-control regarding the amount of food that you consume," Colella explains.
Learn the best way to weigh yourself after the break!
One great thing about Spring and Summer is that the veggies are so delicious, and they taste great in the simplest of salads. Dressed with nothing but a little vinegar, salt, and sugar, this cucumber salad is fresh and sweet.
Get this easy, healthy recipe after the break
We're talkin' about Miami, and whether you've already experienced its charms or can't wait to have your first taste, here's your chance to jump ship from your ordinary routine and dive into a glamorous Miami adventure!
Enter our Jump Ship to Miami Giveaway, sponsored by Malibu Island Spiced, today. One (1) grand-prize winner will receive a trip for them and a friend to the Magic City, where they'll soak up the sun by day and party all night!
Click here to submit your email address and enter for your chance to win now. For a taste of island sophistication this Summer and beyond, visit malibu-rum.com for colorful recipes featuring the world's bestselling Caribbean rum.
Snacking in between meals can help you stay on the right track, but choosing what to eat is key. A well-balanced, nutritious snack that's big on whole foods will do much more for you than a bag of empty calories. The following snacks strike the perfect balance between being filling and satisfying without pushing you over your caloric needs. Read on for some of our favorite sweet and savory snack ideas that are 150 calories or less!
— Additional reporting by Jenny Sugar
Beach season is here, and we're thinking that all those crunches and 6 a.m. jogs have done as much for your spirit as they have for your shape. So why not let that sun-kissed confidence and well-toned physique earn you more than a few second glances this Summer?
Visit the Hawaiian Tropic® Facebook page today through May 31, 2013, to enter the contest by submitting a photo and information about your personality and interests. Not only will you be entering for the chance to show off your hard-earned, healthy bod, but you could also become the new spokeswoman for the brand! In addition to the chance to be featured in a 2014 Hawaiian Tropic® advertisement as the brand spokeswoman, you will also receive inside perks and opportunities, including an all-expense-paid trip to a tropical location. And that's only the beginning!
This Summer remember to indulge, pamper, and protect your skin with Hawaiian Tropic® sun care before you make your latest Summer style statement. Hawaiian Tropic® products are infused with exotic island botanicals and a signature tropical fragrance, so you not only look your best, but also smell your best while hanging by the beach or poolside!
Visit the Hawaiian Tropic® Facebook page and enter the contest now!
If you want to torch calories and tone your tush, running is one of the most effective forms of exercise. The problem is, it leaves your upper body and core high and dry, and if you forget to stretch, you're left with tight, tense muscles that could suffer an injury that keeps you from lacing up your sneaks. Here's a 60-minute running workout that includes one-minute strength-training intervals as well as a short stretching session at the end.
0:00 - 5:00 — Warmup — brisk walking
5:01 - 15:00 — Run (fast pace)
15:01 - 16:00 — Push-Up Walks
16:01 - 21:00 — Run (fast pace)
22:01 - 23:00 — Plank With Arm and Leg Reach
23:01 - 28:00 — Run (fast pace)
28:01 - 29:00 — Mountain Climbers
29:01 - 34:00 — Run (fast pace)
34:01 - 35:00 — Burpees
35:01 - 40:00 — Run (fast pace)
40:01 - 41:00 — Three-Point Touches
41:01 - 46:00 — Run (fast pace)
46:01 - 51:00 — Cooldown — walking
51:01 - 60:00 — Stretch session
Keep reading to see the six essential postrunning stretches.
It's time for the 2013 POPSUGAR 100 bracket! Over the next few weeks we need your votes to make our sixth annual POPSUGAR 100 list. We're taking your picks with an interactive bracket. This year, we're mixing things up by narrowing down the list in four categories: The Fresh Faces, The Phenoms, The Game Changers, and The Classics. From there, take your top four and bring it down to one big winner.
Will Robert Pattinson regain his crown, or is it Gwyneth Paltrow or Ryan Gosling's year? Does Michelle Obama get your pick, or will royal baby excitement give Kate Middleton the win? It's up to you!
Start by clicking here to play, and go through the matchups by picking your favorite celebrity each time, narrowing down the group. Share your winner, and watch to see who walks away with the 2013 POPSUGAR 100 crown! Plus, when you finish choosing your winner, you have the opportunity to enter to win a fabulous Victoria Beckham handbag!
Beginner yoga poses may look easy at first glance, but after holding your body still and feeling your muscles burn, you'll realize these poses are the ticket to rocking your swimsuit. Here are seven beginner yoga poses to strengthen and tone your bikini body.
