My doctor is thinking my migrating joint pain is likely an auto-immune disease, possibly Lymes or RA. I still don't know for sure because when they tried to do blood testing, I got poked 5 times (and once in my hand ?) and nothing happened. Then I almost fainted… so I'll have another go […]

You’ve decided to finally start doing yoga — but after Googling classes in your area, your head is spinning. Should you try Ashtanga or Iyengar? And what’s the difference between hot yoga and Vinyasa? The array of options can be enough to scare newbies off the mat for good. But here’s why you shouldn’t be scared: Like […]

The bright lights, wall-to-wall mirrors and spandex-clad regulars might leave you too intimidated to even step foot inside a boutique fitness studio. Which is totally understandable. (And why we love our DailyBurn workouts that much more.) It’s natural to feel like an outsider looking in: “There are so many unspoken rules, unfamiliar machines a

If you’re a yoga newbie, it’s completely normal to feel intimidated by the die-hard yogis who warm up for class with handstands. Yes, handstands. But remember, everyone’s got to start somewhere. “And in theory, there are no poses you must know before a class — you’re going there to learn,” says Mandy Ingber, New York […]

Whether you want to admit it or not, it’s back-to-school season. That usually involves shopping for brand new supplies, but it can also include a slew of healthy new resolutions to get you on track after a summer’s worth of treats (post-grads, we’re looking at you, too!). And while you may already be kicking off your day with guilt-fr

If you’re like many Americans right now, you’ve probably got a package of ground beef (or two) sitting in your fridge, waiting to be tossed on the grill for one of your last barbecues of summer. But a new study from Consumer Reports is revealing some disturbing new information about what might be lurking in […]

We’re not going to lie: Losing weight isn’t easy, and it isn’t always fun (so long, office cupcakes). But that doesn’t mean you should just toss your scale and give up before you’ve even begun. “The most important thing is to set goals that are achievable,” says Heather Mangieri, RD, CSSD, spokesperson for the Academy […]

It’s 3 p.m., and the sugar cravings are relentless. I’ve tried satisfying them with a handful of fresh blueberries and some chocolate-covered espresso beans that I found in the back of my desk drawer. But I’m still struggling not to sabotage my withdrawal progress with a chocolate shake from In-N-Out Burger. I fantasize about the […]

Does your Monday-Friday grind mean an onslaught of meetings, appointments and responsibilities? Us too. Our “go-go-go” society has glorified being busy: working lean, swift and hard for maximum efficiency. However, there’s been recent backlash to this non-stop mentality, with the proliferation of meditation apps, coloring books and other tool

If you stifle yawns in 2 p.m. meetings and find yourself passed out cold during the previews on movie nights, you probably already know you’re run down. But there’s a big difference between being pooped out and being exhausted — and the signs aren’t as obvious as just feeling tired. It’s important to know the difference, […]

Grass-fed beef is increasingly popular, despite the hefty price tag it carries compared with conventional beef. So, is grass-fed beef really worth the money, and does it deserve the health halo it has been given? Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let’s talk beef basics. While research shows that choosing lean cuts of beef […]

  If you find yourself relying on restaurant takeout or processed convenience foods more than you like, we feel you. Making time to prepare healthy, home-cooked meals can seem like a chore, especially if it’s not yet part of your daily or weekly routine, but it’s really a key component of achieving good nutrition and […]

Did you know that food waste is a global problem? Here in the U.S., we toss 35 million tons of food each year. That’s the equivalent of about 7 million African bush elephants or (if you can’t visualize elephants) 18 million midsize SUV’s. Any way you envision it, it’s safe to say that we have […]

Pick up any health magazine, and you’ll likely see an article about sugar in one form or another. From glucose and evaporated cane juice to pure maple syrup and honey, good ol’ added sugar goes by lots of fancy names these days! One of the newer players in the sugar game is stevia, a zero-calorie […]

  You probably know that home-cooked meals are better for you than eating out, but do you know why? When it comes to weight loss, cooking is a winning strategy. After all, cooking at home ensures you know what is going into your food — salt, fat, sugar and all. A 2016 study by Seguin […]

  Now more than ever, cutting carbs is the first thing many people do when embarking on a weight-loss plan. But does this strategy work? And, does it matter what kind of carbs you take in? 3 Claims for Why Low-Carb Works (And, Are They True?) There is no common consensus as to why a […]

Earlier this month, the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were officially released. A team effort between the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to distill the latest scientific evidence on nutrition research, the recommendations are meant for Americans age 2 and older, and they’re intended to advise policymake

  While body recomposition is difficult, it can be done. In fact, with the right approach, it’s actually pretty simple. That said, as you delve more deeply into any process, you will need to following new steps in order to progress. Taking these next steps, of course, leads to better results. Part 1 of this series focused […]

  One of the most curious terms you’ll see pop in any sort of fitness writing is “lean muscle.” It’s a curious term because, as you may know, all muscle is lean muscle. There is no such thing as “fat muscle” or “bulky muscle.” Still, it’s a term that has worked its way into the fitness […]

  We hear so much about breast cancer (especially this time of the year) that it’s easy to think we’re on top of it. But science is changing all the time, which means our knowledge of this disease—what causes it, how to self prevent it, how to treat it—is constantly evolving. Here’s what you need […]

  Think about what triggered your weight-loss journey. It could have been anything from being able to squeeze into an old dress again to appeasing your unrelenting doctor to staying around for your grandchildren. Whatever your original intention, once you start losing weight a new motivation takes over. Watching the scale go down as you [&hell

  By Liz Sanders, MPH, RDN My first rule of any international trip: Try as many local dishes as possible. A few years ago, I visited Spain with some friends. We were searching for a lunch spot in Madrid when one of those friends — let’s call her Mary — said she didn’t want to […]

  When it comes to building a stronger chest, the bench press gets all the credit. Sure, you can move plenty of weight with a barbell, but it takes more than heavy weight to build the muscle you want. In fact, the bench press is notorious for giving people achy shoulders. What’s more, proper bench-press […]

  If you only have time for 1 exercise, a lot of fitness experts will tell you to pick the squat. It’s a real multitasker of a move that strengthens the butt, hips, thighs and core muscles in a way that translates into real-life results. To do a basic squat, stand with your feet hip-width […]

Need a routine to help ease the stress of daily life? Learning how to control your mind can help keep the body in its relaxation response, even in environments that are less than peaceful. If you’ve got a few minutes, here’s a routine that can help clear your mind and reduce stress. Find a quiet […]

The biggest problem I have with “eat less, move more” is that it sets people up for failure. It’s technically true; there’s no cheating thermodynamics. If you want to lose weight, you need to maintain a caloric deficit. And eating less and moving more are the behaviors that one needs to do consistently in order […]

Ever feel like you don’t get enough sleep? You’re not alone. The National Institutes of Health recommends dedicating 7–8 of the 24 hours we are given in a day to sleep. Yet, in a 2013 survey, the National Sleep Foundation  found that Americans are getting an average of six hours and 31 minutes of sleep […]

You’ve been dedicated and going strong with your new workout plan for weeks now. You’ve put in the time and effort, and you know you’re making changes to your body. So then you step on the scale and … nada. Your clothes aren’t looser, and that scale hasn’t budged. What gives? While there are many […]

Are you just not seeing results from the fitness program you’re doing? Whatever your particular situation is, it might be time to look at the way in which you are performing the important exercises in your plan. Very often, all it takes is one small tweak to that movement to get you seeing results again. […]

There are tons of opinions about the best way to get in shape. How do you know what recommendations you should follow? The advice that resonates with you is the best to heed. If you haven’t found the right path to improve your fitness, here are a few things you may need to read: 1. […]

I’m guessing (or at least hoping) that you learned to brush your teeth at a really young age and you’ve probably been brushing them pretty much that same way since then. You may have gotten a more grown up toothpaste that doesn’t taste like bubblegum and your toothbrush may not have a picture of Elmo […]

On a literal level, your metabolic rate describes how much energy you expend to conduct daily physiological functions. This has many practical ramifications, however, because your metabolic rate also influences how you feel, how many calories you burn, how many calories you can eat without gaining weight, your libido, your fertility, your cold tole

importance of nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, social support, play, and a sense of purpose to our health and well-being. Why are these factors so important? Because they are the primary drivers of chronic disease, which is by far the leading cause of death in the industrialized world. If you’re interested in prolonging you

We may not be able to avoid stress, but we can influence how it affects us. Learn the four factors that drive our response to stress and simple—but effective—tools for changing how you experience it. Most people living in the modern world experience continuous stress in the form of daily hassles, relationship troubles, problems at […]

When it comes to trying yoga, I’ve heard all the excuses. Among my favorites: “Yoga’s not for me,” “I tried yoga and didn’t like it,” and “I’m not flexible and/or strong enough for yoga.” I don’t even know where to start. (Another post for another day.) The truth is that yoga is for everyone, but […]