what's the deal with

Let's face it: It's not easy to lose weight, or quit smoking, or get your stress under control. But if you've ever struggled with any of these health concerns, you know that the best solution is simply the one that works for you! So, why not give hypnotherapy a try?

We've heard that Lily Allen used it for weight loss, and I know several other people who have lost weight through hypnosis. Though it may sound a little new age-y, the method really makes a lot of sense, since it gets to the root of your self-control.

When used for health-related matters like dieting and smoking cessation, hypnosis is usually referred to as suggestion therapy. The therapist uses guided relaxation to put the subject into a sort of trance wherein she is susceptible to suggestion. Far from mind control, the trancelike state simply makes you more responsive to ideas — like the fact that you can live without cigarettes or a second piece of pie— that you might normally reject. To hear more about it, read more

Watching Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor kick some sand-covered butt has been a highlight of the Summer Olympics so far, and I'd love to see this dynamic duo go home with the gold. Meanwhile, I've been puzzling over the multicolored tape that Walsh has been wearing on her shoulder; sometimes it's black, sometimes it's blue, but clearly it's there for a reason.

I did a little research and discovered that this stuff is called Kinesio Tex Tape, and it's being used by a number of Olympians this year.

The therapeutic tape can be used for many different purposes, compressing muscles while allowing athletes to move freely. It helps relieve pain and also supports muscle and joint stability and performance. There are a number of different ways to apply it and use it, so you should do some research and/or talk to a professional before using Kinesio tape.

If you want to follow in Walsh's footsteps, you can buy a 2” x 16.4' roll of Kinesio Tex Gold Tape for $15. Better yet, until Aug. 31, you can get a deal: When you buy three or more rolls, you get one free — though the website warns that orders may be delayed due to increased demand from the Olympics!

If you've ever tried this stuff, I'd love to hear what you thought, so tell me below.

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I love asparagus, and it's incredibly good for you — full of vitamin K, plus A and C and folate. But if you've ever eaten a lot of it, you might have noticed a rather odd side effect. There's really no delicate way to say this, so I'll just come right out with it: Eating asparagus can make your pee smell funny.

It doesn't happen to everyone, but if it happens to you, don't worry: The effect is totally harmless. The odor is merely a byproduct of digesting the veggie. According to WebMD, a compound called mercaptan, present in the green stalks, causes the ammonia- or sulfur-like smell to be released.

It is estimated that 40 to 50 percent of people experience this effect from asparagus; it's all a matter of genetics. If you've never noticed it, you may be immune, or you may simply be unable to smell it. The odor could appear the next day or in a matter of minutes. But aside from the obvious unpleasantness, the aroma of asparagus is nothing to be concerned about. Now aren't you glad we had this little chat?

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Many health food companies try to avoid adding refined sugar to their products, so they use natural sugar substitutes instead. Stevia, brown rice syrup, evaporated cane juice, and agave nectar are a few examples, but I have also seen barley malt in lists of ingredients. It's often used in cereals, granola bars, mixes, sauces, and baked goods.

Barley malt is made from sprouted barley. It's thick, dark, and has a mellow malt flavor. It's a favorite of health food companies because it's considered a slow-digesting sweetener. It also has half the sweetness of refined sugar, so it's great to use in your own kitchen and to make breads, sauces, veggie dishes, and, of course, home-brewed beer. To see how it compares to sugar read more

I've received many questions about Slim Shots lately so I thought I'd address the topic. Slim Shots are little vanilla-flavored oil filled (each dose contains oat and palm oil) shots to be taken at breakfast that claim to trigger the body’s natural appetite control mechanism, which is supposed to satisfy shot slingers for longer periods of time. Being satisfied longer ideally means that you would then eat less during the day and lose weight. The shots come in little dairy creamer-looking packages, and you take one or two shots a day, along with a healthy diet and regular exercise program — of course.

Slim Shots, while not my cup of tea, do not seem horrible to me (it's no Pink Patch, that's for sure). The site does not promise outrageous results and there are even some clinical studies to back the product up. It's not approved by the FDA and the other downside is that the shots are not cheap. A one month's supply is $40. While I'm still not 100 percent on how the product works (the explanation is a little vague), I do know that you could basically get the same benefits from foods with other good fats likes avocados and nuts. Me, I'd rather top my salad with avocado than slurp down a shot of oil on the side.

Have you ever tried Slim Shots? Share your experience below.

"Pronation" may sound like a country inhabited entirely by paid athletes, but it's actually a concept that all amateur runners need to understand. The word refers to the way your foot rolls as it hits the ground, and understanding your pronation type is crucial when choosing a pair of running shoes.

Are you an overpronator or an underpronator? And why does it matter? To find out, read more

You may have noticed it at the beach, your cousin's barbecue, or the graduation party you went to last weekend. It may just look like adults playing bean bag toss, but it's more than that: It's cornhole.

Cornhole has been, dare I say, sweeping the nation, and it makes a great Memorial Day activity because it's generally pretty portable and basically anyone can play. A cornhole set consists of two boards with a hole in them, placed about 30 feet apart, and eight bags filled with corn kernels. The basic object of the game is to get a bag into the hole, though points are awarded for just getting a bag on top of the board. You can buy cornhole sets at most major sporting goods stores or online (the one pictured is pricey at $200, but you can get them for less). It's not the most active of all backyard games, but it does get you up and moving.

Yes, I agree, it sounds a lot like bean bag toss for adults, but I know from personal experience that calling it bean bag toss does not sit well with serious cornhole players. For simple steps on how to play, just read more

What does Heart Rate Recovery mean and should I be testing myself?

The time it takes for the heart rate to return to normal after exercise is called Heart Rate Recovery and studies have found that this number can help determine your risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease. Simply put: the healthier a person's heart is, the quicker it returns to its normal beat — the less healthy the heart is, the longer it takes it to return to its normal beat. People with an abnormal heart rate recovery, which consists of a score – or decrease – of 12 or less beats per minute, were at a greater risk for death from heart disease than those with normal heart rate recovery, which is a decrease of 15 to 25 beats per minute. A really fit person would experience a decrease of 25 or more.

To get an idea of your own heart rate recovery you simply subtract your heart rate at two minutes after stopping exercise from your heart rate at the very end of exercise. It's always a good idea to have a doctor check you out when exercising, but especially if you think your heart rate recovery is in a dangerous zone.

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