Top 10 Exercises Without Weights

If you hate to go to the gym, you are not alone. The good news is - you can get results in the comfort of your own home with some simple home exercises.Bodyweight training CAN be effective. It CAN be a substitute for weights, if necessary. Training using your own body weight as a source of resistance is a time tested technique to get results fast.Here are the ten best bodyweight training exercises that give you great workouts and great results - without the gym.1. Supine Pull-Ups (works major muscles in back, shoulders, and biceps) Use two chairs and a pole - a heavy broom handle works well. WARNING: make sure the chairs are stable and that the broom handle is strong enough to take your weight. You could be SEVERELY injured if the pole were to break or the chairs to slip. Lie on your back...

Read more »

Posted in: Exercise,Fitness

Get Your Sexiest Body

Feeling great naked is only 6 exercises away.By Denise Brodey, PreventionWhile other fitness buffs are thinking about toned legs and arms, women doing this plan can revel in their own little secret: Not only will it give you a flat belly, but it'll boost your sex drive—in an hour. Studies show women's sexual satisfaction directly correlates to their exercise quotient."Working out boosts endorphins that get you in the mood," says Laura Berman, Ph.D., founder of the Berman Center, a sexual health clinic in Chicago. She teamed up with Prevention to devise this exclusive libido-boosting routine, based on her new book, The Passion Prescription (Hyperion, 2006).Her Rx: daily Kegels, plus, on alternating days, five more sex-enhancing moves designed...

Read more »

Posted in: Exercise,Fitness,Women's Issues

She's Young. She's Fit. She's Got Cancer.

By Melba Newsome, Women's HealthWomen's HealthJen SingerOccupation: Mother of twoNome: Kinnelon, N.J.Type of cancer: B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomaAge diagnosed: 40Jen Singer wasn't concerned. OK, she was having trouble dragging herself off the Serta every morning—but with two small children, it was normal to feel fatigued, right? And those nagging aches? Well, considering that she played tennis and took spinning classes, not all that shocking. Besides, the youthful 39-year-old was still surprised when grocery-store clerks called her "ma'am." What was there to worry about?So when the New Jersey resident started to feel sharp pain in her shoulder blade, she sucked it up. "Some people would have gone to the doctor," she says. "But I hadn't felt my best in so long—one problem or another was nagging...

Read more »

Posted in: breast cancer,Women's Issues

Easy Swaps for Weight Loss

With these simple tweaks, your taste buds and your scale will thank you.By Joy Bauer, PARADE MagazineJust because you're trying to lose weight doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite foods. Even red meat, nuts, and salad dressings are OK—if you choose right. After all, if you don’t feel deprived, you're much more likely to stick to any diet. With these easy tweaks, your taste buds and your scale will thank you.MuffinsEating a bran or carrot muffin in the morning may seem like a good idea, but don't be fooled. These healthy-sounding options often are loaded with sugar, fats, and oils. Most store-bought muffins also have been super-sized to epic proportions. Raisin bran muffins at some popular chains can clock in at more than 400 calories.Swap: A whole-wheat English muffin has 130 calories...

Read more »

Posted in: Diet,Weight loss

Breast Lumps: Do I Need a Biopsy?

How to tell when a surgical biopsy is necessary.By Dr. Rob for MSN Health & FitnessQ: I'm a woman in my late 30s and found a lump on my breast. I had a mammogram and ultrasound, both of which came back negative. On my doctor's suggestion, I then met with a surgeon, who said it's not a cyst and wants to have a surgical biopsy done to know for sure. I'm confused. Should I get a second opinion?A: Breast lumps are pretty common, especially in premenopausal women. Fortunately, most are benign (not cancerous) and tend to come and go during a menstrual cycle. However, finding one can be very scary, especially with the knowledge that it could be cancer. This fact makes it very important for every woman—or man, for that matter—to see a physician...

Read more »

Posted in: breast cancer,Women's Issues

Kiss Off Stress

Ten ways to beat stress in 10 minutes or less.By Alison Kotch, Best LifeDid you know that the holiday season is the time of the year when you're most likely to die from a heart attack? According to research at the University of California, the deadliest day is Christmas, when you're 5 percent more likely to have a cardiac event. Of course, all the key stressors (finance, family, travel) seem destined to be worse this year (they always do). Since a restful night's sleep or an hour at the gym isn't always possible, here are 10 quick ways to stress less.One second: SwearResearchers at England's University of East Anglia Norwich looked into leadership styles and found that using swear words can reduce stress and boost camaraderie among coworkers....

Read more »

Posted in: Stress Management

Powerful Winter Fruits

Many winter fruits are packed with fresh flavor and excellent nutrition—and boast as much or more health benefits as some of summer’s favorites. Add these fabulous fruits to your shopping basket this season and enjoy!ClementineThe smallest of the mandarin oranges, clementines are a tasty, nutritious snack: eat two and you get a day’s worth of vitamin C, for only 70 calories. GrapefruitSweet, tart and tangy, grapefruit are in their prime during the winter. Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of fiber, potassium and folate. The pink and red varieties provide lycopene, an antioxidant associated with prostate health. Studies have shown that the soluble fiber in grapefruit may be beneficial in lowering cholesterol. ...

Read more »

Posted in: Diet

Get Fit for Free

Try these recession-proof workout ideas.By Lara Rosenbaum for ExerciseTVThese days, financial fitness seems as coveted as the physical kind, but just because you're watching your wallet doesn't mean you have to stop watching your waistline. In fact, keeping up with your workouts can increase energy, lift a sour mood and reduce stress—all important perks when times are tough. And the best part? Like any of the best things in life, getting fit—and staying there—can be completely free.Of course, you can throw on a pair of sneakers and head outside for a run or brisk walk—these methods are tried and true. But for a more well-rounded approach to fitness, why not try a free workout download to start trimming down and toning up? Read on for some of...

Read more »

Posted in: Exercise,Fitness

Removing Unwanted Body Hair

Are laser-assisted hair removal procedures safe?By Dr. Rob for MSN Health & FitnessQ: I've heard horror stories about people who have obtained second-degree burns from laser hair removal procedures. Can this really happen? How safe is the procedure? Are there any alternatives to removing unwanted hair? A: The newer types of laser delivery systems utilize cooling techniques that help to protect the top layer of the skin (epidermis) during treatment, thus lowering the risk for burns. Even so, it is not unusual to experience redness, mild pain and swelling after laser-assisted hair removal. Second-degree burns (severe pain, blistering of the skin) have the potential to occur, but are not common. However, sensitivity to the treatment can vary...

Read more »

Posted in: Beauty

The Art of Now: Six Steps to Living in the Moment

By Jay Dixit, PsychologyToday.comPsychology TodayA friend was walking in the desert when he found the telephone to God. The setting was Burning Man, an electronic arts and music festival for which 50,000 people descend on Black Rock City, Nevada, for eight days of "radical self-expression"—dancing, socializing, meditating, and debauchery.A phone booth in the middle of the desert with a sign that said "Talk to God" was a surreal sight even at Burning Man. The idea was that you picked up the phone, and God—or someone claiming to be God—would be at the other end to ease your pain.So when God came on the line asking how he could help, my friend was ready. "How can I live more in the moment?" he asked. Too often, he felt, the beautiful moments of his life were drowned out by a cacophony of self-consciousness...

Read more »

Posted in: Stress Management