7 Reasons to Try Interval Training

Interval training is the ultimate fitness mash-up, blending the speeds of both the tortoise and the hare. The benefits of this training are enough to motivate you to pick up your pace. Learn why you should play with your speed. View Slideshow ›

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7 Reasons to Try Interval Training

7 Fitness Tips From Olympian Dara Torres

Swimmer Dara Torres is one woman who’s inspired me to stay active and healthy for years to come. At 41, she won three silver medals swimming in Beijing, so she’s living proof that you only get fitter with age. Here are some tips from a Self magazine exclusive interview with Dara Torres, to help you stay healthy as you age. Set a fun fitness goal. Dara says, “Even if you don’t quite believe in yourself yet, if you set a goal that’s not too tough to reach, then meet it, that will motivate you to set another one and continue that cycle.” Triple your warmup time. Instead of the recommended five minutes of warming up, Dara does at least 15. She says it “helps prevent aches” and make her feel “as spry as she did when she was 17.” Warming up gives your muscles a chance to ease into your workout, which will reduce your chance of sustaining an injury. The longer you warm up, the better. There are five more tips, so keep reading

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7 Fitness Tips From Olympian Dara Torres

Quiz: All About Eggs

Some mornings, I am all about eggs, and wake up craving them for breakfast. I’m egg-cited for you all to take this quiz to see if you know the nutritional facts about eggs! Take the quiz

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Quiz: All About Eggs

Quitting Smoking Emotionally Loaded For Women

We all know that quitting smoking is difficult , and unfortunately it looks like it may be harder for women to kick the habit. NPR recently reported that although federal household surveys indicate that the success rate for quitting is close to equal between the sexes, women might actually have more difficulty giving up their smokes. Carolyn Mazure, a psychologist who specializes in addictive behavior, believes that the relationship women have with cigarettes is emotionally loaded. She explains, “Women often report smoking is helpful in reducing negative mood, even enhancing positive mood, managing the stress of daily life and also managing appetite and weight gain. Women are looking to cigarettes to help them with those different situations, and as a consequence, it’s often more difficult for women [than for men] to give up their cigarettes.” Mazure adds that women are more prone to depression and negative moods, and that when stressed, they’re more likely to relapse and light a cigarette. This could be why timing your attempts to quit smoking with your menstrual cycle is considered a key strategy for women. Are you trying to quit smoking? Are you having a rough time? Here are seven tips for quitting smoking , and I hope they help.

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Quitting Smoking Emotionally Loaded For Women

Recession-Proof Your Workout: Do-It-Yourself Yoga Retreat

If you’ve always wanted to attend a seven-day yoga retreat, then you can imagine the benefits of immersing yourself in a new place, practicing yoga daily, and enjoying healthy meals loaded with fresh fruits and veggies. While these retreats are wonderfully relaxing, they often come with a hefty price tag, and in today’s economy, it’s not something many of us can even consider. You can, however, create your own do-it-yourself yoga retreat. To learn how, read more. Find a yoga studio near you that has daily classes and go to one class every day for a week. You’ll reap the benefits of the daily yoga practice you’d get on a retreat, but it’ll cost about $70 to $150. During that week, eat meals that are full of juicy fruits, tender veggies, and lean protein (or go meatless), and avoid sugar, processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine. Throw in relaxing hot baths, steaming cups of herbal tea, and a full-body massage. By the end of the week, you’ll have spent about $300, and though you may not feel as revitalized as if you were doing sun salutations on the beach in Maui, you’ll definitely feel like a new person.

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Recession-Proof Your Workout: Do-It-Yourself Yoga Retreat