How to do Yoga for good health

Peforming Yoga exercises are good for physical and mental health conditions. There are various types of Yoga from beginning level to advance level taught at various Yoga centers throughout the country & internationally.

When you do Yoga for the first time, you should learn from a certified Yoga Instructor (or) from a licensed Yoga center. If you cannot afford to join a Yoga class, look for free lessons (or) discourses. You can also find some Yoga poses on the Internet and possible DVD's, youtube videos. "event management"

Kids should not try any yoga poses on their own as it has to be learnt the right way. Children can join yoga classes at an early age so they get the habit of practicing yoga for health in the long run. Practicing yoga gives a complete stress free, inner peace of mind.

Cereal for Dinner: A Health Do or Don't?

In college, I'd often come home to my apartment after a long day of work and class and find that the fridge was just about empty. Three choices: go hungry, go to the store, or fix myself a bowl of cereal. Nine times out of ten I chose option three. And, if I can be completely honest, there are times right now when nothing sounds better--and easier--than a bowl of raisin bran. But, is cereal for supper every a healthy choice?

According to a report last year, more people are eating cereal outside of the morning hours. But is it healthy? That depends, says New York-based dietician Keri Gans, RD, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. The problem: A lot of cereals are high in sugar, so you're likely to load up on calories, then feel hungry again in a few hours when your blood sugar drops. Then again, if you choose a high fiber, low-sugar cereal, it's not such a bad dinner choice--especially if you don't eat cereal every night and if you use low-fat milk and finish the ensemble with blueberries, sliced strawberries, or bananas. Here are some other tips about how to make cereal work for dinner. (Note, Gans recommends looking for a cereal with 5 grams of fiber or more and always making sure there is more grams of fiber than sugar per serving.)

How to Enjoy a Cup of Coffee

Anyone who knows me well knows that I take coffee extremely seriously. Over the span of my life, I have consumed no more than 15 cups in total. No more than 15...hard to believe I know. I am not 100% sure why I do not indulge myself daily or weekly, but I can tell you this, coffee drinking has simply not found a way into my routine.

I am writing this to bring enjoyment back to a moment that it all too often rushed. Since I make coffee drinking a rare occurrence, I can say that I have truly enjoyed most of my coffee moments over the years. Coming from someone who enjoys about one cup of coffee per year, I have some thoughts on how you can enjoy this experience as much as I enjoy it.

Could You Save Someone's Life?

Last week, I was watching my three-year-old's group swimming lesson. They were going in the big pool for the first time, and everyone was all lined up on a step. The teacher turned her back to the group so that she could swim with one of the kids down the length of the pool, when something happened that nearly stopped my heart:

My daughter slipped off the step and fell into the too-deep water, which rose quickly above her head. The teacher was at the other end of the pool, so, without thinking, I jumped in-clothes and all-to pull my daughter out. She was under for just a few seconds (which seemed like an eternity) and, despite being a bit freaked out (of course!), can't wait to get back in the pool. Later that night, after a much-needed glass of wine, I started thinking about the very serious business of knowing CPR. Accidents can happen likethat.

This Crazy Experiment May Break Your Fast Food Addiction

You like to think your food is fresh, right? Of course you do! Would you eat something that was so pumped with preservatives (or other unidentifiable chemicals) that you could set it on your kitchen counter and in 6 months it would still be as fresh looking as the day you bought it? Of course not. But if you're eating fast food often, you may be doing just that. Check this out...

Gross, gross, gross.

A New York City-based artist, Sally Davies, recently took on an interesting experiment. She bought a McDonald's burger and fries and put it on a shelf in her apartment, photographing the duo daily for six months. Suspicious of reports that fast food chains pump their food with chemicals, preservatives and spray their meat with bleach, Davies was curious to know how the food would hold up over time.

Atypical Depression

Atypical depression -- a type of depression that can be difficult to treat - has symptoms that include weight gain, sleeping too much, and feeling anxious. Here is information about the causes of atypical depression and its diagnosis that you can use to help you talk with your doctor about it.

What is atypical depression?

Atypical depression is a subtype of depression with certain specific characteristics. A person with classic clinical depression has at least five, and possibly more, of the following symptoms or signs:

* sadness

* loss of energy

* feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness

Chronic Depression (Dysthymia)

Dysthymia, sometimes referred to as chronic depression, is a less severe form of depression. With dysthymia, the depression symptoms can linger for a long period of time, perhaps two years or longer. Those who suffer from dysthymia are usually able to function adequately but might seem consistently unhappy.

What Causes Dysthymia?

Experts are not sure what causes dysthymia. This form of chronic depression is thought to be related to brain changes that involve serotonin, a chemical or neurotransmitter that aids your brain in coping with emotions. Major life stressors, chronic illness, medications, and relationship or work problems may also increase the chances of dysthymia.

Major Depression (Clinical Depression)

Feeling sad and helpless? It's possible you have major depression, also known as clinical depression. People with major depression feel a profound and constant sense of hopelessness and despair.

With major depression, you may have symptoms that make it difficult to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy friends and activities. Some people have clinical depression only once in their life. Others may have it several times in a lifetime.

What is major or clinical depression?

Most people feel sad or low at some point in life. But clinical depression is marked by a depressed mood most of the day, particularly in the morning. In addition, according to the DSM-IV -- a manual used to diagnose mental health conditions -- you may have other symptoms with major depression. Those symptoms might include:

Losing Weight Isn’t a Sprint; It’s a Marathon

I ran my first marathon about two weeks ago! It was a life-changing and unforgettable experience.

Less than a year ago, I didn’t even think I would ever run a marathon. Even five months ago, when I first started training, I wasn’t sure if I could handle 26 miles. The more I thought about how I trained and completed that marathon, the more I realized how similar the experience was to achieving and maintaining my Feel Great Weight. Who knew they were so alike?

Consistency is important

As with losing weight, consistent training was important to achieving my goal. Before finding my Feel Great Weight, my calorie intake and exercise regimen were all over the place. One day, I’d splurge on high-calorie junk foods, like nachos and brownies, and then try to make up for it with much more restrictive eating the next day. Similarly, I’d fall off the workout wagon only to obsessively commit to a new exercise routine for about a week, before losing motivation once again.

Depression Types

All depression types are not the same. Major depression, also known as clinical depression, and chronic depression, also known as dysthymia, are the most common types. But there are also other types of depression with unique signs, symptoms, and treatment.

What Is Major Depressive Disorder?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depressive disorder is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities.

There are times you may feel sad, lonely, or hopeless for a few days. But major depression -- clinical depression -- is disabling. It can prevent you from functioning normally. An episode of clinical depression may occur only once in a person's lifetime. More often, though, it recurs throughout a person's life.

How I Stopped Feeling Guilty About Food

A few months ago, I went out to lunch with a friend of mine. As I was perusing the menu, she said she planned to order something light because she had overdone it the night before on pizza and beer. She went on to explain that she had been “so bad” and wanted to be “good” today.

I don’t like using the words “good” or “bad” to describe food choices, but I knew exactly how she felt. There were plenty of times in my life that I felt guilty about the food choices I had made or how much of those foods I had consumed. But the more I thought about what my friend said, the more I realized eating certain foods shouldn’t make anyone feel good or bad about themselves.

5 Ways to Stick With Your Winter Workouts

The past couple of weeks have really tested my motivation to maintain my Feel Great Weight.

The Northeast, especially Boston, was hit hard with snow, sleet, and ice. The last thing I wanted to do in that horrible weather was exercise. Bundling up, cleaning the snow off of my car, scraping the windows, and dealing with the messy roads require a lot of effort just to get myself to the gym! Instead of throwing in the towel on my motivation, however, I refocused, reminded myself of my goals, and went back to the basics. Here’s what I did to get myself back on track.

Write down my goals…again

In January, I committed to running four half marathons in 2011. I created a half-marathon training program for myself, but with the snow, I’ve gotten a little off track. So, last weekend, I rewrote my goals and refined my training schedule to motivate myself. Putting it down on paper made me feel more in control of the situation and ready to tackle the plan.

Been There, Lost That: Weight-Loss Advice From a Successful Dieter

My weight loss didn’t happen overnight. It took me almost a year and a half to lose 20 pounds and reach my Feel Great Weight. I wasn’t “dieting.” I made lifestyle changes—figuring out what worked best for me through trial and error. These changes have stuck with me and helped me maintain my weight for nearly six years now. (Well, minus those post-marathon pounds, which I am actively trying to lose!)

I often receive questions about my weight loss. Here are my answers to some of the more common ones.

How many calories do you eat per day? And how many calories did you eat when you were losing weight?

Get Fit for (Real) Life

You work out. You’ve got some muscle—and you’ve earned it. So why does your back hurt after a marathon housecleaning? Even something as simple as lifting the recycling bin can leave you sorer than a trip to the gym. Well, the fact is, most traditional strength exercises don’t prepare you for all the bending, pushing, and twisting you do every day. But these will. Don’t just take our word for it: Try these moves from exercise physiologist Carla Sottovia, PhD, assistant fitness director for the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas. Add one or two to your usual workout two to three times per week, and you’ll build all the strength (well, at least the physical kind) you need to get through your day.

A Strength Move to Help You Walk Faster

You can burn 65 percent more calories simply by cutting your mile-walking time from 17 minutes to 13 minutes—and a strong core can make it easy to walk that distance in less time. Here’s a core-strengthening move from Dixie Stanforth, MS, an American Council on Exercise spokeswoman who teaches kinesiology at the University of Texas at Austin; do this exercise two to three times a week.

Side plank

(for core, upper back, shoulders)

Lie on your left side with your body in a straight line from head to toe, right foot on top of left foot, left forearm on floor for support, and right arm extended toward ceiling. Contract abs and lift hips upward; hold 10–30 seconds. Lower, rest a few seconds; then repeat on right side to complete 1 rep. Work up to 3 reps. (To make the move easier, bend your legs.)

Secrets to Fab Abs

Psst! Steal these secrets from author and trainer Karon Karter for making your ab workout even more effective.

Move from your waist. Whenever you twist, make sure the movement happens from your bottom rib up. Anything below that—including your hips—should not move.

Tighten up. Throughout each move, you should feel a tightening, similar to zipping up a pair of tight jeans, from one hip bone to the other and from your pubic bone to your navel.

Exhale deeply. To help strengthen your abs and protect your lower back, be sure to exhale thoroughly with every breath.

After-burn:

Want to really show off your gorgeous new ab muscles? You have to burn off any fat covering them. Here’s how:

Walk This Way

Whether you’re testing out a great urban trail or walking in your own neighborhood, you can boost your calorie burn, walk faster, and stay injury-free by having good form. Here’s what to do, courtesy of Contributing Editor Mark Fenton, co-author of Pedometer Walking: Stepping Your Way to Health, Weight Loss, and Fitness.

Tips for Increased Calorie Burning

You’ll burn 170 calories per hour walking at a leisurely pace (2 mph), 238 calories per hour at a moderate pace (3 mph), and 272 calories per hour at a brisk pace (4 mph). All counts are based on a 150-pound person.

If you like listening to music, choose fast-paced songs and step to the rhythm; it’ll help quicken your pace and burn more calories. For safety, wear earphones only when walking in a familiar area.

Improve Your Walking Technique

A physical therapist once told me that he could almost always predict which runner would win a race just from observing his or her hip motion. "The more control you have over your hips," he said, "the better you perform."

Aside from looking less than graceful, a sloppy gait is a waste of energy and a sure way to injure yourself. By delegating some of the load to your abdominal and hip muscles, you can walk faster and more efficiently, reduce your risk of injury, and eliminate much of walking's joint-jarring impact. With fewer pains and strains, you might even walk farther. And that means you'll burn more calories.

A Cardio Plan That Takes Off the Weight

Four to five times per week, do any of the following 35-minute workouts. The levels below are based on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is kicking back on the couch and 10 is pushing so hard you’re gasping for breath. (No 10s here, no worries.) After each workout, cool down at a slow pace for 5 minutes.

Walk/Run (indoor or outdoor)

1. Walk at a moderate pace (level 4) for 5 minutes.

2. Pick up speed until you’re walking at a fast pace (levels 5–6) for 3 minutes.

3. Increase pace to a run (levels 7–8) for 2 minutes.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 five more times.

Elliptical trainer

1. Work at a moderate resistance and slight incline (level 4) for 5 minutes.

Problems of Panic Attacks

At the beginning of panic attacks or disorder, it’s advisable to consult your doctor as soon as possible and get it examined as that will not only give you a decent comprehension of what condition you’re experiencing but this might additionally prevent the aggravation of the issue. Here’s a few probably scenarios if you do not obtain attacks help immediately:
Agoraphobia.
In contrast to the public belief, agoraphobia is not the fear of tight areas, it’s really fear of public areas derived from the Greek root word “agora” that means market or marketplace. Agoraphobics fear interaction with individuals particularly in places where they expect to experience episodes of terror or even anxiety.

America’s Healthiest Restaurants

You work out. You watch what you eat. But you don’t want to have to prepare every meal at home for the sake of your health—nor should you have to. We surveyed chain restaurants and found 10 surprisingly healthy standouts. Hit our top 10 for whole foods, good-for-you fats, even green vegetables on—gasp!—the children’s menu. Read on for the winners, great fast-food options, plus, how to eat out without gaining a pound.

If you’re like us, you eat out more than ever—and, as nice as it is to not have to cook, those meals out can actually feel like work. How do you navigate the minefields of huge portions, hidden fats, and sky-high sodium levels?

Symptoms of Depression

Do you have symptoms of clinical depression? Sure, most of us feel sad, lonely, or depressed at times. And feeling depressed is a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or an injured self-esteem. But when these feelings become overwhelming and last for long periods of time, they can keep you from leading a normal, active life. That's when it's time to seek medical help.

If left untreated, symptoms of clinical or major depression may worsen and last for years. They can cause untold suffering and possibly lead to suicide. Recognizing the symptoms of depression is often the biggest hurdle to the diagnosis and treatment of clinical or major depression. Unfortunately, approximately half the people who experience symptoms never do get diagnosed or treated for their illness.

America's Healthiest Restaurants: How to Eat Out Without Gaining a Pound

Steer clear of menu pitfalls with these tips from our experts Hope S. Warshaw and Cheryl Forberg.

Order it your way

You’re the customer, and most restaurants will do everything they can to keep you happy. So don’t be afraid to nicely ask to have that shrimp special grilled instead of fried.

Think tapas

Don’t feel compelled to order an entree. You can put together a healthier meal out of two or three appetizers and side dishes.

Beware of the four Cs

Crunchy, cheesy, crispy, and creamy. Those words are code for fat-dense foods.

Say bye-bye to bread

There’s no need to test your willpower. Take just one slice, then ask the waiter to remove that breadbasket from the table.

America's Healthiest Restaurants: Shining Examples of Fast-Food Fare

Noodles & Company

noodles.com

Why does this Colorado-based chain top our quick-serve list? Noodles & Company combines 19 fresh vegetables with seven types of pastas in Asian, Mediterranean, or American entrees (think Indonesian Peanut Saute or Wisconsin Mac & Cheese).

We love: The Trio—soup, noodles, or salad paired with your favorite protein, plus a side salad or a cup of soup.

Chipotle Mexican Grill

chipotle.com

The idea is simple: Build your own gourmet burrito, fajita burrito, taco, or burrito bowl. The flavor and the healthiness are in the details—naturally raised, antibiotic-free meats, organic beans, and even hormone-free sour cream. Corn tortillas give you a whole-grain option, and the tortilla-less Burrito Bowl lets you ramp up the proteins and veggies.

America's Healthiest Restaurants: Our List of the Best Casual Dining Spots

Uno Chicago Grill

unos.com

If you haven’t been to your local Uno’s recently, you’re in for a great surprise. Sure, its famous deep-dish (read high-fat) pizzas still hold court, but nutrition has become the word of the day with a completely trans fat–free menu and plenty of grilled entrees (including antibiotic-free chicken). Adding to the healthy variety: whole-grain pasta and brown rice, organic coffee and tea, and flatbread pizzas that have half the calories of deep-dish ones. Plus, you can add a salad to your pizza for half-price because, according to the menu, “We want you to get some greens in your diet.” Now that’s a blue-ribbon commitment to health. Another reason Uno’s is at the top of our list: You know what you’re eating. In the lobbies of most of the restaurant’s locations, there are Nutrition Information Centers that detail ingredients, fat and sodium contents, and calories and fiber of every item, in addition to gluten-free options.

Restaurant Meals You Can Eat Without Guilt

Afraid you won’t be able to find anything diet-friendly on the menu when you head out for a meal at your favorite nosh nook? We can help.

Check out some of the mouth-watering—and healthy!—dishes you can order at these nationwide restaurants without wrecking your waistline.

(Not near any of these? Plug in your Zip code at HealthyDiningFinder.com or GoodFoodNearYou.com (also available on iPhone and BlackBerry) and find restaurants in your area, along with suggested healthy options at each.)

P.F. Chang's China Bistro

* Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Gluten Free): 477 Calories, 12 g fat, 31 g protein 63 g carbs, 7 g fiber

The Best Multivitamin for You

You’ve been told for years that popping a multivitamin every day might help you live longer. But the daily-multi habit has been getting a bit of bad press lately.

First, ConsumerLab.com, a watchdog of the supplement industry, found that more than half of the 21 multis it tested had too much (or too little) of certain vitamins—or had been contaminated with dangerous substances like lead. Then a controversial paper from researchers in Denmark and other European countries, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, made the claim that taking vitamins may actually shorten your life.

A Superfood a Day: Two Weeks Worth of Disease-Fighting Foods

Fruits and vegetables are great for you health—and even better for your waistline. But some fresh foods are more powerful than others. Superfoods have more than their fair share of vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting nutrients. Pack your meals with a nutritional punch by adding these wholesome choices to your diet.

Alfalfa sprouts

Why they're super: One cup of alfalfa sprouts has less than 10 calories, is virtually fat-free, and contains phytochemicals called saponins, which may protect against cancer and help lower cholesterol.

How to enjoy them: Enjoy their fresh, earthy crunch in salads or sandwiches, or atop a lean turkey or veggie burger. Get fresh with alfalfa recipes.

The Top 5 Superfoods for Women of Any Age

Cranberries

They earn super status for their ability to help fight off nasty urinary tract infections. About 10 ounces of juice a day does the trick. Plus, recent research shows that cranberries might also help fend off colds and fight stomach bugs, gum disease, and certain types of cancer. Add a little unsweetened cranberry juice to smoothies, and sprinkle some dried berries into cereal and muffin mix.

Walnuts

These nuts are rich in omega-3s, which help reduce inflam-mation and increase good cholesterol. They may even help with depression and reduce your risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Top your salad with 1/4 cup or try them in pesto.

9 New Superfoods for Women

Chances are you’re already filling your plate with healthy foods like blueberries and broccoli (both full of disease-fighting antioxidants). Well done. But as good as those standbys are for you (and they are good), new research reveals some overlooked nutritional superheroes that deserve a starring role at your next meal.

If you love: Oranges

Now try: Kiwifruit

This petite fruit contains about 70 milligrams of vitamin C—more than an orange and just 5 milligrams short of the daily recommendation for women. Research links C to improved eyesight, lower cancer risks, and better heart health. All that and a younger-looking outside, too: A high intake of C makes wrinkles less noticeable, according to Melina Jampolis, MD, a San Francisco–based physician who specializes in nutrition and is the author of The Busy Person’s Guide to Permanent Weight Loss.

A Cookout Plan to Impress Your Friends Without Busting Your Diet

We're at the halfway point of summer, and you're just getting your grilling groove on. Now it's time to spice it up a little bit—just when your friends are starting to think they know what to expect at your barbecue.

Health and taste are not mutually exclusive, and I never settle for just one or the other: When I cook, I need both. And for a creative summer cookout, you really can have it all—food that's delicious but still waistline-friendly.

Create a signature drink

You don't have to be an experienced bartender to whip up a classy cocktail; just a few added touches will really refresh and impress your guests. It can be something as easy as crushing raspberries in your favorite lemonade, serving it over ice, and garnishing with mint. In alcoholic beverages, cut down on liquor by focusing on fresh ingredients like berries and pomegranates instead (see Low-Cal Cocktail recipes from Health magazine).

Healthy Eating: Getting Started

Who said healthy eating needs to be boring? Our focus at Health is eating delicious, fresh, whole foods to achieve your ideal weight. We also strive to bring you the best, most reliable and up to date information on new changes and studies in nutrition and health. Eating healthy is an important component to living a long and healthy life. But what we want you to understand is that any healthy diet also allows for some indulgence. Although changing your lifestyle can be challenging, we are here as your personal resource, only a click away from great answers about nutrition and cooking.

When you’re considering changing your eating habits there are a few things you should work to incorporate into your diet. First, whole fruits and vegetables are an important part of any healthy lifestyle. They are packed with vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients that help you lose weight, help slow aging and will give you lots of energy. Plus, there is a ton of variety. Start out slow with some fruits and veggies that you know and love, but gradually work to incorporate new ones. It will keep you from getting bored and will help you get different vitamins and nutrients. Next work on substituting fatty protein sources with lean meat, fish or beans. Protein is key because it keeps you full and satiated and can be a great way to get zinc and omega-3s in your diet. Avoiding overly processed foods will also help you shed pounds. White sugar and white flour have no nutritional value so working to limit their place in your diet will be an easy way to slash your overall calorie count.

What is Depression?

How Do I Get Help for Depression?

Most people have felt sad or depressed at times. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or an injured self-esteem.

But when feelings of intense sadness -- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless -- last for days to weeks and keep you from functioning normally, your depression may be something more than sadness. It may very well be clinical depression -- a treatable medical condition.

What is depression?

According to the DSM-IV, a manual used to diagnose mental disorders, depression occurs when you have at least five of the following nine symptoms at the same time:

POM-Boozled: Do Health Drinks Live Up to Their Labels?

The makers of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice say that the drink improves blood flow and heart health, prevents and treats prostate cancer, and works 40% as well as Viagra (whatever that means). All for about four bucks a bottle.

Those impressive claims helped the company rack up $91 million in sales in 2009. They also earned the disapproval of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Last month, the agency sued POM Wonderful for making “false and unsubstantiated” health claims, and is asking the company to remove the claims from its ads.

A 100% juice drink that contains antioxidants (and no added sugar), POM is just one of many beverages that bill themselves as promoting better health. VitaminWater, kombucha tea, coconut water, and various brands of juice drinks made from acai, goji berry, and mangosteen have all used health claims in their marketing—and some, like POM, have been the subject of scrutiny and legal action.

5 Germiest Spots in Your Home

I've never really been a spring cleaner; I'm more of a winter cleaner. At the beginning of each year, I make sure to scour my apartment from top to bottom to get rid of "last year's" dirt. During this year's ritual cleaning, I noticed many places and items that I've neglected to clean. Here are five grimy things you may also overlook.

1: Vacuum Cleaner Brushes and Attachments You clean out the dust container or replace the bag routinely but when was the last time you cleaned the vacuum upholstery tool or brush roll? Check your manual for the how-to. Using scissors, cut off any carpet fibers or hair entangled around the brush.

5 Ways to De-Stress With Water

"I'm not a 'water' person," I tell my younger sister, who fantasizes about escapes to tropical beaches. "Then why are you always in the tub when I call?" she asks. "Why are you in the shower twice a day," I snap, continuing our habit of well-intentioned judgmental observation. "Because I like to be clean," she huffs, and then admits, "and worries roll off my back for a few minutes."

Exactly. I crave a bath when I'm anxious, depressed, or tired--and always emerge feeling better. It's my all-purpose remedy for stress. Why? Scientists have been studying water for centuries and are still trying to figure out its chemical properties. The fact is that water is a mystery. Maybe the most valid study of how water lifts your mood is finding out what works for you.

How to get back on the workout bandwagon

So you’re chugging along at a nice clip, running or skating or strength training or whatever you like to do, and then BAM! You catch the flu or pull a hamstring or just get totally enveloped in work craziness—and then you’re forced to hit the pause button on your workout routine. When you’re finally good to go once again, actually getting back into your routine seems as daunting as scaling Everest. Sound familiar?

It does to me. I recently had minor surgery on one toe; that put me out for a week. Then I pulled a muscle in my shoulder, upping my time on the sidelines to two weeks. Once I finally returned to fighting form, it was absurdly hard to get back into the groove—and I’m a fitness editor. I like working out!

5 Double-Duty Toning Moves for Your Body

When starting a new fitness regimen, half the battle is finding the time and energy to get to the gym. The other part is making your workout worth it, and that doesn't consist of just spending a half hour on the elliptical during Wheel of Fortune. Brett Hoebel, founder of Hoebel Fitness and creator of Rev Abs has a key philosophy that consists of "anaerobic exercises," which translates to "without air exercises," meaning you don't have to have a super cardio system to do these moves. The beauty of anaerobics is that they still get your heart pumping so you'll break a sweat. Here are five moves that will have you working at least two body parts at once so you can maximize your workout in half the time, plus burn more calories. Related: 7 Healthy Foods to Help You Lose Weight

Shopping for healthier juice: 3 things to zero in on

Juice labels are downright misleading, so we asked nutritionist Lauren Slayton of foodtrainers.net for tips on how to pick the good stuff.

Don’t be swayed by buzzwords. Claims like “heart-healthy” or “antioxidant-rich” are regulated by the FDA—but that doesn’t mean the juice isn’t packed with sugar or other additives. Scan the nutritional panel to see how a product stacks up (pay close attention to calories and sugar).

Make sure it’s pure. Steer clear of products with “natural flavors” (typically made with corn syrup), “concentrate” (highly processed juice that has more sugar than nutrients), artificial sweeteners and food coloring. If you want pure cranberry juice, the bottle should say “100 percent cranberry juice”—end of story.

Health Controversy: Is This Contraceptive Device Leaving Thousands of Women With Unwanted Pregnancies?

Imagine having your doctor put in a contraceptive device, like an IUD, that promises to keep you pregnancy-free for years, and then ... uh oh, you find out you're pregnant! This is what more than 500 women claim happened to them, and their surprise pregnancies are making other women wonder if these contraceptive devices are doing the job they promise to do.

Have you ever had a pregnancy scare? Imagine the shock (and horror, even) of thinking you're covered in the birth control department and then, bam, you're pregnant.

Scary, right? That's what nearly 600 women in the UK say happened to them after doctors implanted a device called Implanon, a toothpick-sized implant that delivers the synthetic progesterone etonogestrel. Product manufactures say the device is nearly foolproof, providing reliable contraception for as long as three years. (ABC News reports that nearly 500,000 of the devices have been implanted in women in the U.S. since 2006.)

Are You Ready for Bathing Suit Season? 6 Steps to Make It Happen!

Okay ladies. I know. I know it's cold outside and you ate more chocolate than you intended during the holidays. Your merriment probably included martinis, pumpkin pie and every other decadence that the holidays serve up. Damn that delicious Hickory Farms cheese and sausage box! It's the work of the devil. Now, I'm not getting on you. I just know what I go through with my clients around the beginning of April: the "Dreaded Bathing Suit Try-on."

Why am I bringing this up while you've just had visions of sugar plums dancing in your heads, laying on the sofa, wrapped up in your Christmas Snuggie (you know, the one that you thought was absolutely ridiculous until you used it one night while watching your latest Netflix selection and now don't want to take it off)? Don't worry. I'll keep your Snuggie-addiction a secret, but I'm bringing this topic up because with a little planning in January, those April bathing suit try-ons will be a little less traumatic.

8 psychological terms to help you strengthen your friendships

Ancient philosophers and modern scientists agree: the most essential key to happiness is strong relationships with other people.

We all have many kind of relationships that contribute to our happiness, and one of the most important is our friendships. My happiness-project resolutions aimed at friendship include “Cut people slack,” “Show up,” “Make three friends,” “Bring people together,” “Remember birthdays,” “No gossip,” and “Say hello.”

Here are eight psychological terms and principles that I’ve found helpful as I’ve been trying to build and strengthen my friendships.

1. Triadic closure. In a phenomenon called “triadic closure,” people tend to befriend the friends of their friends – and this is very satisfying. Friendships thrive on inter-connection, and it’s both energizing and comforting to feel that you’re building not just friendships, but a social network. I now make much more of an effort to help my friends become friends with each other, and to befriend friends’ friends. (Total non sequitur: “befriend friends’ friends” is quite a phrase! Bad writing, but I couldn’t resist.)

Adults Aren't Getting the Vaccinations They Need

You keep up with your child’s vaccinations like clockwork. But did you know there are some vaccines adults need, too? Leading medical experts say many of us aren’t doing a good job keeping up with these critical shots and it’s dangerous. American adults are dying because they didn’t roll up their sleeves and many others are getting very sick because of it. Leanne Flaig-Hutchinson knows all about it after a serious health threat last year. “I was scared to death that yes, I was going to die. I had severe chills. My bones were aching from my head to my toes.”

She had to be treated for swine flu and her case was complicated by pneumonia, something that could have been avoided if she had received the pneumonia vaccine. You see, she has a chronic condition that impacts her autoimmune system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that people with chronic conditions get the pneumonia vaccine, but Leanne didn’t know. The CDC is warning a lack of awareness can be a real issue, especially during flu season. Dr. Carol Friedman, CDC Associate Director for Adult Immunizations, clarifies, “Definitely there is a relationship between H1N1 influenza infection and bacterial pneumonia and so it is highly recommended that individuals get the pneumococcal vaccine who are at risk.”

Starting Chemotherapy: 15 Nutrition Tips

If you are undergoing chemotherapy, you want to stay as healthy and comfortable as possible during treatment. What you eat during treatment can make a big difference in helping you achieve that goal.

“Chemotherapy and radiation treatments place their own burdens on the nutrition system in addition to the cancer itself,” explains Charlie Pieterick, RN, MS, ARNP, a nurse practitioner with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

Everyone’s experience during chemotherapy is different, so WebMD offers a variety of nutrition and food tips to help you deal with unpleasant side effects.

Feeling a Cold Coming on? The #1 Thing to Do, According to One Expert

Do you have a scratchy throat? A little more congestion than normal? Worry that a cold is coming on? Then try this oddball remedy that people are buzzing about...

What to do when you feel a cold or virus coming on? Head to the kitchen--fast--and chew a clove of raw garlic. "Any time I feel that feeling at the top of your throat that something is happening, I immediately go for the garlic," says Gene Stone, the author of the new book, The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick. "I don't like the taste; I think it leaves bad breath in my mouth, so I always have a small piece of chocolate nearby and then I munch on (odor-neutralizing) fresh parsley."

15 Powerful Life Lessons

If someone were to ask you to share your most important life lessons, messages or quotes what would top your list?

1. True living is more than just keeping your heart beating and a roof over your head. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that is “just how life goes.” There’s way more possibilities, and, yes, IT IS WORTH GOING AFTER. Be daring.

2. Stop blowing yourself off; we get so upset when others blow off our ideas and desires, but we have no problem doing it to ourselves. Take your ideas, feelings, wants, wishes, yearns & urges seriously–those are your only true guide. Other people have no idea what’s best for you, so stop seeking their validation. Do what you need to do for you. Be confident.

Big Lunch Blues: Getting Energy at the Table

Of all possible ways to eat, indulging in a big lunch is one of the worst. You’re probably aware that going without breakfast is bad for you, but you probably don’t know that a big midday meal doesn’t even the score. Lunch is not a pick-me-up; it actually pulls your energy down. A recent study found that a group of people who ate a large lunch lost as much efficiency when they returned to work as if they’d gone with a whole night’s sleep. On the other hand, a separate ten-year-study found that eating breakfast increases efficiency. Another study of adolescents, found that kids do better in school when they eat breakfast.

How to Avoid the Over-Eating Trap

Strategies for feeling full while shedding pounds from Michael T. Murray, N.D., and Michael R. Lyon, M.D., natural-medicine and weight-loss experts and co-authors of Hunger Free Forever: The New Science of Appetite Control

If you're like most of us, your mother probably always warned you not to eat before your meals lest you spoil your appetite. At our center, we teach people something quite contrary. In reality your worst enemy is excessive hunger and you need to avoid, at all costs, sitting down to a meal when you are more than just mildly hungry. Many of our overweight patients have great discipline over their eating habits for part of the day. Many skip breakfast and eat a very light lunch, but their real eating begins when they get home. The majority of overweight people really seem to enjoy diving into their evening meal when they are as hungry as a bear coming out of hibernation. They tend to gobble down their food, often having seconds or even thirds followed by desserts, and then nibbling throughout the evening.

Why grief can actually change your brain

The recent tragedy in Arizona isn’t just fodder for political debate, but an example of how, collectively, we react to loss. On a more personal level, a 2008 study illustrated just how widespread the effect of negative personal events can be, and how deeply the brain reacts to grief.

Three finance professors from major business schools tracked the performance of 75,000 Danish companies in the 2 years before and after the CEO had experienced a family death. Financial performance declined 20% after the loss of a child, 15% after the death of a spouse, and almost 10% after the demise of any other family member.

New Year, Same Old You?

The new year is just 11 days old, and yet it already has a distinct personality: strong, and bright, economically speaking, yet cranky as a newborn, resolution-wise. Some people I know have successfully given up sugar, gotten to the gym most mornings and even paid off the holiday bills. Others, and this would include me, have had small victories like running (consistent workouts were never my problem) and some relapses, like the big Chinese dinner last night, the inhalation of chocolate in the art department last Thursday, and of course, the fact that I rarely get the amount of sleep I truly need.

A Diet to Suit the Season

The seasonal shift affects our bodies more than we imagine. As those of us in the Northern Hemisphere deal with colder weather, it's important to adjust what we eat to suit our signs so we can remain at optimum physical well-being.

Aries is constantly on the go and doesn't always eat sensibly; in winter, it's even more vital that they remember to nurture their bodies. Eating good carbohydrates and upping their fat intake slightly should help keep them running at full speed.

Taurus never needs any prompting to switch to heavier food; quite the reverse, actually! They just need to be careful they don't overdo it on bread, potatoes and sweet desserts. They're best off focusing on proteins to give them vitality.

5 weight-loss truths hidden in trendy diets

It’s January and many of us have weight loss on the brain. Perhaps you’re psyched about using the latest, greatest plan to slim down this “diet season.” Honestly, I’ve never been a fan of trendy, fad diets. They make ridiculous promises. Sure, you may drop 10 pounds in a week eating cabbage soup and little else, but once you go back to eating like a normal person you’ll gain it right back.

That’s the biggest problem with most fad diets: they generally don’t give you eating patterns that you can stick to long-term. Essentially, they set you up to fail. (Get a healthy 28-day weight-loss meal plan of delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes to help you shed pounds here.)

Foods That Fight Aging

Who doesn’t want to look younger? Most of us are looking for the next new way to maintain our youthful looks and energy. Unfortunately, there is no “magic pill” to turn back the clocks — yet! And turning to Botox, liposuction or other quick fixes are not the answers in the long run. The best ways to slow the aging process is simple:

Eating smart.

The Age Accelerators

The Whites: White bread, white potatoes, white rice, and all things sugary taste great but go straight to the hips. They are also not good for your skin. The simple carbohydrates turns to sugar or glucose in the body, and they can be the skin’s enemy. Too much of it can cause acne and also strip the skin of elasticity. Your best alternative is to always go whole grain.

4 Steps to Being Worry Free

Even though she said her life was pretty good, Carol,* 48, came to see me because she couldn’t stop worrying about what would happen if her husband lost his job or if her son’s struggles in school would mean that he’d never get into college. “A lot of the time, I have this feeling that something terrible is about to happen, and really, I don’t even know what it is,” she told me. I call this a case of the “what-ifs.” “What if I’m late to work and I miss my meeting?” Or worse: “What if this stomachache is actually an ulcer?” “What if my child is late coming home from school because she’s been kidnapped?” The truth is, everyone worries. And some worrying actually helps you cope and function. Being stressed out about a big meeting, for example, can help motivate you to prepare for it. But too much worrying creates tension and anxiety, which zaps concentration, making you unable to cope.

Cirrhosis of the Liver

The liver weighs about 3 pounds and is the largest solid organ in the body. It performs many important functions, such as:

* Manufacturing blood proteins that aid in clotting, oxygen transport, and immune system function.

* Storing excess nutrients and returning some of the nutrients to the bloodstream.

* Manufacturing bile, a substance needed to help digest food.

* Helping the body store sugar (glucose) in the form of glycogen.

* Ridding the body of harmful substances in the bloodstream, including drugs and alcohol.

* Breaking down saturated fat and producing cholesterol.

Arizona Shooting Aftermath: When a Nation Mourns Together

Saturday's tragic massacre in Arizona -- which left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords critically wounded and six people dead, including a 9-year-old girl -- has sent ripples of grief and anger across the country.

When this type of national tragedy occurs, there's a sense of collective sadness. It's the kind of emotion we felt on 9/11, the day of the Oklahoma City bombing and in the aftermath of the Columbine and Virginia Tech shootings.

These unspeakable tragedies -- though they don't directly impact most of us -- have an effect on our emotional state. Here's how to process the grief and confusion:

"Events like this stand out and affect us because they are such an injustice, and so unnecessary and so unfair," says George A. Bonanno, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology at Columbia University and Author of The Other Side of Sadness.

Why you shouldn't beg your doctor for an antibiotic

Feeling sick? Your doctor may weigh the evidence and say you don't need an antibiotic. If you insist, chances are, she'll sigh, pull out her script pad, and give you one just to get your annoying self out of her office. Physicians are busy people who don't necessarily feel like giving you a lesson in Antibiotics 101 during your three-minute visit.

"Patients will, in many cases, insist that they be given an antibiotic," says Frank Myers, the director of clinical epidemiology at Scripps Mercy Hospital, in San Diego. Some even threaten to see another doctor if they don’t get the drugs.

However, there are a lot of really good reasons why you should meekly leave the doctor's office empty handed, save for the standard advice to get enough fluids and bed rest.

What Is Your Body Capable Of?

Is your body out of shape? Do you want to become fit? No matter how unfit you are right now, it’s not too late to get your body back into shape. All you need to do is to establish and maintain an exercise routine.

In this post, I’ll share with you what has worked for me.

At the beginning of last year, I resolved to get back into regular exercise after a six-year break due to problems with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Now, twelve months later, I’m training in the martial arts again. I’ve turned into a runner, and I’m more fit than I was seven years ago. But I couldn’t have done it all on my own.

In order to find support, I started an 8-week Fitness Challenge on my blog Goodlife ZEN in October of last year. Over one hundred people joined (including Leo Babauta). It was so successful that I’ve now kicked off the Great Fitness Challenge 2011 with over 300 participants. Anyone is welcome - no matter how fit or unfit. What unites us all is the aspiration to improve fitness and lift overall well-being.

7 Timeless Tips That Will Supercharge Your Body, Mind, And Soul

Meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and happiness are essential ingredients in our lives.

Sometimes getting more of them can seem impossible. We’re plagued by the uncertainty of the future, and we have no idea what our purpose is.

Those are big questions that cannot be answered in the blink of an eye, and today instead of focusing on them, we’ll look at seven simple ways that will improve your body, mind, and soul.

And we both know that the better you feel, the better you can follow your intuition and eventually find your true purpose.

It all adds up.

1. Drink Water

A no-brainer, right? Still most people don’t drink enough water, and it can’t be just any kind of water. Did you know that the tap water in many of the western countries is filled with chemicals and even drugs in some cases? Here’s just one example.

50 Ideas for a Healthy Lifestyle that take 10 Minutes or Less

What is a Healthy Lifestyle?

According to a study by Michigan State University, a healthy lifestyle is defined by four basic criteria:

* Not smoking

* Holding weight down

* Eating right

* Exercising

Of the 153,000 respondents, only 3% participated in all four of what are termed healthy lifestyle characteristics.

“We have millions of people now going through adult life leading unhealthy lifestyles and a medical system that can treat illnesses and keep you alive longer than ever before,” said Mathew Reeves, a Michigan State University epidemiologist. “If we don’t turn this around, the costs to society are going to be crippling.”

What Is Serotonin Syndrome?

Serotonin is a chemical produced by the body that enables brain cells and other nervous system cells to communicate with one another. Too little serotonin in the brain is thought to play a role in depression. Too much, however, can lead to excessive nerve cell activity, causing a potentially deadly collection of symptoms known as serotonin syndrome or serotonin reuptake syndrome.

Serotonin Syndrome Symptoms

Serotonin syndrome symptoms often begin within hours of taking a new medication or increasing the dose of one you are already taking. Symptoms may include:

* Confusion

* Agitation or restlessness

Psychotic Depression

Psychotic depression occurs when a severe depressive illness has a co-existing form of psychosis. The psychosis could be hallucinations, delusions, or some other break with reality. Psychotic depression affects roughly one out of every four people who is admitted to the hospital for depression.

How Is Psychotic Depression Different From Major or Clinical Depression?

In addition to the symptoms of clinical depression, such as feeling hopeless, worthless, and helpless, psychotic depression also has features of psychosis. For instance, a person with psychotic depression may have hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't really there) or delusions (irrational thoughts and fears).

Seasonal Depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

Do the bleak winter months get you down -- more than you think they should? Maybe you have seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD. Seasonal depression is a mood disorder that happens every year at the same time. A rare form of seasonal depression, known as "summer depression," begins in late spring or early summer and ends in fall. But in general, seasonal affective disorder starts in fall or winter and ends in spring or early summer.

What Causes Seasonal Affective Disorder?

There are two seasonal patterns with SAD. One starts in the fall and continues through the winter, and the other starts in late spring or early summer. The fall-onset type of SAD, often referred to as "winter depression," is better known and easier to recognize -- and we know more about it than we know about its counterpart.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder was formerly called manic depression. It is a major affective disorder, or mood disorder, characterized by dramatic mood swings. Bipolar disorder is a serious condition, when mania causes sleeplessness, sometimes for days, along with hallucinations, psychosis, grandiose delusions, and/or paranoid rage.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a complex genetic disorder. The mood swings associated with it alternate from major, or clinical, depression to mania or extreme elation. The mood swings can range from very mild to extreme, and they can happen gradually or suddenly within a timeframe of minutes to hours. When mood swings happen frequently, the process is called rapid cycling.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that happen in a woman after giving birth. According to the DSM IV, a manual used to diagnose mental disorders, PPD is a form of major depression that has its onset within four weeks after delivery. The diagnosis of postpartum depression is based not only on the length of time between delivery and onset, but also on the severity of the depression

What Is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression is linked to chemical, social, and psychological changes associated with having a baby. The term describes a range of physical and emotional changes that many new mothers experience. The good news is postpartum depression can be treated with medication and counseling.

Alcohol and Drug Problems

The overuse or abuse of alcohol (alcoholism) or other drugs is called substance abuse. It can cause or worsen many medical problems and can destroy families and lives.

If you think you may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, take a short quiz to evaluate your symptoms:

Alcohol

Alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths in the United States and Canada each year. It is the drug most commonly abused by children ages 12 to 17. Alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers. People who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behavior, have poor grades or job performance, use tobacco products, and experiment with illegal drugs. Alcohol and drug use may be an unconscious attempt at self-treatment for another problem, such as depression.

Gamma Knife Snips OCD in Bud

High-Tech Procedure ‘Cuts’ Abnormal Brain Wiring Linked to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

May 8, 2008 (Washington) -- A high-tech procedure that delivers radiation deep within the brain relieved symptoms in half of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder who got no help from medication or talk therapy, a small study shows.

The procedure uses a gamma knife to target brain circuits that work overtime in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), says Antonio Lopes, MD, PhD, of the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil.

"In people with OCD, the network of areas that communicate is always working, working, working. Medication and behavioral therapy can lower the activity of this brain circuitry. But some people don't respond, and we use the gamma knife to try to cut the connection," Lopes tells WebMD.

Not really a knife at all, the gamma knife is a machine that emits powerful, highly focused gamma radiation beams. This helps the doctors target a specific area of the brain while sparing healthy surrounding tissue. It's used to treat people with brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological disorders.
Gamma Knife Relieves OCD Symptoms

At the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Lopes presented early results of a study that pits the gamma knife against a sham procedure in 48 patients.

Two years after undergoing the procedure, two of four patients continue to have significant relief from symptoms, he says. Their memory has improved. And they are better able to pay attention to tasks at hand.

In contrast, there has been no improvement among patients who got the sham procedure.

The procedure was relatively safe, with transient headaches and dizziness among the most common side effects.

However, one patient suffered a manic episode about three months after the procedure, which was followed by a bout of hallucinations and delusions a few months after that.

"There are some complications, so this is not for everyone," Lopes says. "This is for people who fail to respond to other treatments."

But for such patients, the procedure can mean the difference between being homebound and functioning "moderately well," says David Baron, DO, professor and chairman of psychiatry at Temple University in Philadelphia.

"These are patients who have failed every single drug and are essentially nonfunctioning, so even a little improvement is a big deal," he says.

Baron tells WebMD that in the U.S., "surgery [for OCD] is an old idea that is coming back because of the gamma knife. It allows you to be much more selective and precise with less adverse effects."