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By Mary Jane Irwin, Forbes.com Americans are obsessed with their weight. Newsstands ("10 Hot Celebrity Diets!") and grocery aisles ("Low fat! Only 100 calories! Heart Healthy!") feed our pound fixation. Not to mention we're constantly reminded that our increasingly sedentary lifestyles are contributing to record ranks of overweight and obese citizens. Time for video games to take charge and get people off the couch. At least that's the hope of a new slew of games catering to a player's aspirations by providing a physical side to the hours spent plunked in front of a TV. It sounds counterintuitive but it's quite possible to work up a sweat playing "Wii Tennis," a game that replicates racket swinging with motion-sensing controllers -- there are even cases of "Wii elbow." And while it wasn't intended as a fitness regimen, one fan lost 9 pounds over six weeks playing "Wii Sports" for 30 minutes a day. Now Nintendo is rel...

4 exercises using dumbbells to blast fat, build muscle, and sculpt entire body. By the Editors of Men's Health Select a pair of dumbbells you know you can press overhead 8 to 12 times. Then do all four of these exercises in succession with no rest between moves and without putting down the dumbbells. Rest for 30 to 60 seconds before repeating the sequence once or twice. 1. Traveling Lunge Stand holding the dumbbells at your sides. Take a step forward until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Bring your back leg forward and repeat with the opposite leg. Do 8 to 10 reps with each leg. Builds: Lower body 2. Pushup-Position Row Assume a pushup position, but keep your arms straight and rest your hands on the dumbbells. Pull one weight up toward your body until your elbow is above your back, and then lower it. Do 5 or 6 reps with each arm. Builds: Back, core, arms 3. Traveling Shoulder Press Stand holding the dumbbells level with your jaw. Press the weights overhead as you step fo...

Avoiding the embarrassing side of healthy eating By Jill Weisenberger, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., EatingWell.com It's true. Beans, beans, are good for the heart. The rest of that silly childhood poem is unfortunately true too. And not just with beans, but also cabbage, onions, apples, and many other fruits and vegetables loaded with the vitamins, minerals, fibers and phytochemicals we're all urged to get more of. So what can we do to bypass the gas, short of giving up some of nature's most nourishing foods? A few cooking and lifestyle changes can go a long way, say experts. According to Karen Collins, R.D., nutrition advisor for the American Institute for Cancer Research, many people suffer gas because their digestive tracts aren't used to a high-fiber diet—and avoiding fibrous foods like beans, broccoli and salads just worsens the problem. Rather than steering clear of the offending foods, advises Collins, gradually add them in, giving the body time to adapt. "It's i...

The ultimate shape-up plan to flatten your belly, firm your thighs, sculpt your butt, and get you swimsuit ready. See results in 4 weeks! By Selene Yeager, Prevention 3 Fat-Burning Cardio Routines High-intensity workouts burn more calories per minute than easy exercise; so to lose fat fast, you have to move fast. The good news is that even brief bursts are enough to get the job done. In a Canadian study, exercisers who did 30-minute workouts that included some short but hard efforts lost 3 times as much fat after 15 weeks as their peers who did similar 45-minute workouts without vigorous bouts. Here are three 30-minute cardio workouts you can do while walking, running, cycling, swimming, using any cardio machine, or even just dancing in your living room. Each workout is based on an effort level of 1 to 10: 1 to 2: No effort; barely moving. 3 to 4: Easy effort; can sing. 5 to 6: Moderate effort; can talk in sentences. 7 to 8: Hard effort; can only talk a few words at a time. 9 to 10: Ve...

Abs Shape-Up 8 exercises to strengthen and flatten your abs By Linda Rao , Linda Rao is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Prevention . If you experience back pain with any of these ab exercises, stop and check with your doctor before continuing. 1. Tilt your pelvis. Lie on the floor, arms at your sides and knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Next, press your lower back to the floor so that your pelvis tilts upward. Maintain this tilt as you straighten your legs by slowly sliding your heels along the floor. Stop when you can no longer hold a full tilt position. Hold and count aloud to six. Bring one leg, then the other, back to the starting position, maintaining the pelvic tilt throughout. Hold the starting position for six ...

Get slim, strong, and powerful with fat-blasting cardio, firm- all-over moves, and an energy-boosting eating plan By Caroline Bollinger , Caroline Bollinger is Prevention's fitness editor. Yes, you have great intentions. But juggling work, family, and home leaves you little time for that last item on your to-do list--you, and getting into a shape you're happy about. No worries: It's not too late. With our new plan, you can still shed up to 10 pounds, firm and tone, and lose inches--all in just a month! Keep going, and you'll lose even more--at the rate of about 1 to 2 pounds a week. Studies have confirmed that when it comes to weight loss , programs that combine diet and exercise are superior to dieting alone because they preserve muscle--the key to keeping your metabolism in high gear. And that's the...

The ultimate shape-up plan to flatten your belly, firm your thighs, sculpt your butt, and get you swimsuit ready. See results in 4 weeks! By Selene Yeager, Prevention Forget sharks! When it comes to summertime stress, Jaws has nothing on swimwear. A resounding 90% of women worry about stepping out in public in a swimsuit, reports a recent survey of 1,670 women by BizRate Research. Seventy percent said hiding trouble spots such as midriff bulges and bikini-bottom jiggle was a top priority when shopping for a suit. Well, drop the sarong — we've got you covered. Our workout will flatten your belly, tone your arms, firm your butt and thighs, and burn off fat so you can hit the beach with confidence . The core of the plan is a 30-minute sculpting routine combining trouble-spot toners and cardio-based moves, like side hops and push-up jumps, that rev your metabolism and keep it elevated even after the workout, so you slim down and firm up fast. In a study from Anderson University, exerci...

Here's a "beyond simple" 10 day diet that achieves massive weight loss results. There's nothing extreme to this diet, you won't starve, and you'll have plenty of energy. This is a great "10 day fix" to get some quick weight loss when necessary. 10 Day Diet For Massive Weight Loss 1. Eat eggs On this diet, I want you to eat as many eggs as you want, whenever you want. It's as simple as that. Since eggs are high in protein and fill you up, they're perfect to eat all day long. 2. Backeye Peas Blackeye peas are perfect for this diet because of their high protein and high fiber content. Lot of protein and lots of fiber help to keep your hunger under control. Just eat 1 can of blackeye peas... cost about 50 cents. 3. Chicken breasts Chicken breasts are great because they're high in protein and have no fat or carbs. They work good with both eggs and blackeye peas to create a very high protein meal with some good fiber. Eat 1-2 chicken breasts ea...

Here's a way to get massive weight loss starting today. This is an exciting new trick to lose weight quickly. It's cheating, but it works! Doesn't involve dieting, diet pills, or even going to the gym. Massive Weight Loss Starting Today 1. Spin Here's the deal on spinning. Spinning around in a circle like a child tweaks the Endocrine System to better balance your hormones and the release of them. Since most people in the Western World have unbalanced hormones due to the chemicals in our water, food, air, and everyday products... we gain weight easily and have a hard time losing weight. Spinning "teaches" the Endocrine System to bring balance to your hormones, thus unlocking your ability to lose weight fast. As an added bonus, you should get a tremendous surge in your energy levels as well. What you do is spin clockwise, with your arms out like airplane wings. Spin between 5-20 times to see how many times it takes you to get slightly dizzy. This may take a few ...

Over 80% of adults suffer from back pain at some stage. Back pain is often a sign of injury or some underlying problem related to your spine - its bones, muscles, and other soft tissues. It could disrupt your work, routine, and your daily activities. It may even affect your normal lifestyle as you are unable to participate in recreational activities due to pain. There are a number of back pain relief remedies that are for the most part under your control. And sometimes, it's nice to know some options that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine to help manage your pain. Ice is a very effective pain reliever. Even with all the high tech medical options available, a simple ice application can still be one of the more effective, proven methods to treat a sore back or neck. Heat therapy is good too While the overall qualities of warmth and heat have long been associated with comfort and relaxation, heat therapy goes a step further and can provide both pain relief and healing...

Thousands of individuals suffer from various spinal injuries every single year. More people than you might be aware of endure suffering on a daily basis from this type of traumatic injury. There are numerous types of accidents that occur which can ultimately end up being the culprit for many very serious and painful spinal injuries. Some of these of which can even be life threatening. There are many individuals who live with debilitating back pain every single day that is caused by some type of serious spinal injury they have received. Sadly, they are often too easily dismissed by many of their friends and co-workers. It might be hard to believe, but in many cases, this is simply because more often than not, an injury of this type is not something that can easily be seen by others. Not only is there a great amount of pain they will endure from the physical standpoint of their injury, but many of these individuals will also suffer a tremendous amount of psychological pain because of the...

When it comes to preventing back pain as you age or even relieving back pain right now, preventative back care is vitally important. Whether you're 30 years old with bad genes, have a previous injury, or are getting up in your years, back pain isn't fun for anyone. In fact, for some people the pain is so bad it's downright unbearable. Considering you're involved in home improvement and gardening, you can't afford to have a bad back - so read this article carefully and do the exercises. So let's get into the reasons why people experience back pain. Most people don't understand that many back problems are caused by 1 of 2 things. These 2 causes are either being overweight or having weak back muscles. Of course you may have gotten hurt, but even still, there's a good chance you could feel much better if you were the correct weight with a strong back. Let me explain this a bit more clearly. Preventative Back Care For Overweight Individuals If you're over...

It's tough not to rush through your meals; some days, I barely have time to sit down for lunch till 3 p.m.! But slowing down can help you slim down: Researchers from the University of Rhode Island at Kingston found that people who ate more slowly consumed 70 fewer calories per meal than speed eaters. Instead of plowing through your meals, pace yourself using this soothing breathing technique before you start to eat: Inhale deeply through your nose, then exhale slowly. Repeat several times, says Yvonne Nienstadt, nutrition director at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. As for me, I find that pouring myself a glass of red wine and sipping it slowly throughout dinner helps me savor my meal even more. (Plus it has health benefits!) And of course, part of what makes mealtimes stressful is figuring out what to eat! For easy, quick ideas, search Self.com's database of fast, healthy recipes , then roll up your sleeves and hit the kitchen. "When you've had a b...

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Women who are stressed about money, relationships and other problems during pregnancy may give birth to babies who are predisposed to allergies and asthma, U.S. researchers said on Sunday. The findings, presented at a meeting of the American Thoracic Society in Toronto , suggest a mother's stress during pregnancy may have lasting consequences for her child. "This research adds to a growing body of evidence that links maternal stress such as that precipitated by financial problems or relationship issues to changes in children's developing immune systems, even during pregnancy," Dr. Rosalind Wright of Harvard Medical School in Boston said in a statement. Wright and colleagues found mothers who were the most distressed during pregnancy were most likely to give birth to infants with higher levels of immunoglobulin E or IgE -- an immune system compound -- even though their mothers had only mild exposure to allergens during pregnancy. Studies i...

Spinach Sexual enhancement, Muscle growth, Heart healthy, Bone builder, Enhances eyesight It may be green and leafy, but spinach is also the ultimate man food. This noted biceps builder is a rich source of plant-based omega-3s and folate, which help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. Bonus: Folate also increases blood flow to the penis. And spinach is packed with lutein, a compound that fights age-related macular degeneration. Aim for 1 cup fresh spinach or 1/2 cup cooked per day. SUBSTITUTES: Kale, bok choy, romaine lettuce FIT IT IN: Make your salads with spinach; add spinach to scrambled eggs; drape it over pizza; mix it with marinara sauce and then microwave for an instant dip. PINCH HITTER: Sesame Stir-Braised Kale Heat 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger, and 1 tsp. sesame oil in a skillet. Add 2 Tbsp. water and 1 bunch kale (stemmed and chopped). Cover and cook for 3 minutes. Drain. Add 1 tsp. soy sauce and 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds. * Inform...