Fitness

If your wedding day is around the corner, it's time to employ a few healthy tips so you meet your big celebration looking and feeling your absolute best. From ways to debloat to tricks to quash stress, read on for our favorite last-minute healthy tips to start two weeks before your wedding day. View Slideshow ›

Planning a healthy Summer getaway? Consider one of these yoga festivals that aim to bring like-minded yogis together through music and yoga flow. Each of these festivals offers an experience that will leave you rested, refreshed, and heading back to the "real" world with a positive attitude. Click through to learn about the festivals we'd love to attend before you book your next adventure. Source: Ali Kaukas View Slideshow ›

by Brierley Wright, M.S. R.D. at EatingWell.com Brierley’s in the EatingWell Test Kitchen to show us a few ways to clean up our diet and eat healthier. She explains how limiting just six foods can help us eat better and […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry...

DiZclosure: The Street Strider was sent to me for review. The fact I ADORE it and have harnessed its magical powers to make friends in my new ‘hood are both my own. When last we met Id JUST learned to Street Stride on my Summit 8r. For me it was a *shockingly* swift process. About a ten minute “wait do I get this?!” a sudden OOOH I GET THIS!!! and Ive been happily striding and gear shifting on my Summit 8r ever since. Like always ever since. I used to walk to school pick up—- now I Stride to the school to procure the child: I enjoy the creative cardio and she LOVES I come STRIDE to get her that way. (Shouts of OK YOU GOTTA SEE MY MOM DO THE HILLS. GO MAMA GO!!!! may or may not ensue. daily. to the the delight of her classmates and their big people) This has been my view the majority of the past few months—and I adore it. Strider Smitten. That said, since my response of IT. BE. AWESOME. when asked how I like the Street Strider has *always* been met with more questions (shocking. I know.) I decided to break it down into specifics. The bullet-pointed reasons I think the Strider ROCKS. It’s unique. I love the look and feel of the Street Strider. I love not everyone on the streets has one. I love the unique way it works my bod. which leads me to… I adore the body benefits. The Street Strider is no impact and works my whole body simultaneously. I needed the glute work. I NEEDED the core work. My quads had been kinda lacking. I LOVE how this elliptical on wheels is fun while concurrently increasing my fitness level. Im ANTI-WORKOUT and the Strider is the ultimate PLAYout. Ohhh which leads me next to… It’s cardio I *want* to do. So much so I never refer to it as cardio. Simply getting on the Strider brightens my mood. The sweet, sweet feeling of freedom striding brings does NOT feel like exercising. It’s fun—-with body benefits. And it’s OUTDOORS. Stride away from the screens, People! Stride away from the screens!!! But just in case you love your screens: Theres an option for indoor use. Im fortunate to live where there’s no real winter. If youre not it’s as easy as snagging an indoor trainer to Stride inside until warmer weather arrives. Monthly payment options. Im super cheap—UNTIL IT COMES TO HEALTHY LIVING. Food. Shoes. Cardio stuff. Im good to me. The only item I ever bought I couldnt afford at the time was my last cardio piece. I charged it and paid it off. The Street Strider monthly payment options are so so so worth it. It’s like a gym membership–but less limiting and you OWN SOMETHING at the end! What I’d change about the Strider if I could: Initially Id have said quick collapse—but usage changed my mind. I used the Strider. Up hills. Down hills. In traffic. Weaving around parked cars. I was grateful the Strider didnt compress as I couldnt imagine they’d be able to maintain the same solid structure. I feel *safe* on the Strider. Cycling friends repeatedly remark on its QUALITY of manufacturing. I cant help but think collapsible would equal less quality. You could ALL come to my house & try it. But now you can. Kind of. Street Strider offers everyone a testSTRIDE at stores which carry them (check here for details). The Tornado is begging to test out the kids version. Ive resisted for now as I know there’s no way we’d leave without owning one… this is how I look 90% of the time! Heres where I give my TREMENDOUS thank you thank you to Street Strider for helping me put the FUN back in carFUNdio. I love. I love.

Memorial Day is almost here, and that means camping, grilling, and backyard parties. While classic barbecue sides like potato salad and macaroni and cheese are big favorites, they don't always work for those following a vegan diet. If you're planning a barbecue this holiday, here are 20 side dishes that will have vegan friends coming back for seconds. View Slideshow ›

Which movies made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival? - Entertainment What to wear to your Memorial Day BBQ - Fashion Kate Middleton has a sunny afternoon with her in-laws - Celebrity Outdoor decorating inspired by Instagram - Home Get online dating at your fingertips - Sex & Culture Is there smartphone etiquette at weddings? - Tech Why we love Connie Britton's hair on Nashville - Beauty Spice up your weeknight with garlic kale and poached eggs - Food A list of foods to avoid before the beach - Fitness Video: Make your own clutch from scratch - Fashion Try these patriotic crafts for Memorial Day - Moms Tips to writing a perfect cover letter - Smart Living See artsy pics of animals at the Hagenbeck Zoo - Pets

Anyone who's ever known a mother has heard a story of a labor/delivery that seemed to go on forever.  8 hours...12 hours...24 hours, but some how I managed to be in labor for - FOUR DAYS.  Yep...it's true!!!    "How is that possible?" you might ask.  Well, the short answer is -- because I was an idiot. (so you can just stop here if you're a Reader's Digest-type)   The longer answer is because I had a ton of  misconceptions about what delivery was supposed to be.  I'm an overachiever by nature, so when I was pregnant, I was going to have an A+ delivery.   None of that hours of messy, painful, unattractive, unfeminine, screaming and carrying on stuff for me...I was going to have The Mother of All Deliveries.  Calm, serene, maybe some candlelight and a little Mozart (supposed to be good for the baby's brain). I read EVERYTHING I could about giving birth, books, websites, pamphlets...you name it.  I actually wrote (and this is hysterical to me in retrospect) a 3-page "birth plan".   For the record "birth plan" is an oxymoron.  There are things you can "plan" for -- and then there is birth.  Which does with you as it damn well pleases. After weighing all of my birthing options, I decided to go the "Hypno-birthing" route.  Hypno-birthing is basically a method of self-hypnosis that helps you manage your contractions, so hopefully you are not writhing in pain -- and carrying on like a complete lunatic. My husband and I went to about 8-weeks of this training with three other similarly clueless couples (ALL of whom had never given birth before...hmmm... ka-winky dink?  I think not.)  Anyway, as part of the technique I had to look at this big picture of a pink flower... a chrysanthemum or something.  We were told to think calming, relaxing thoughts and breath very deeply.  And true-to-form I went to my classes and I did all of my "homework".  I was very committed to the process and I got REALLY good and putting myself "under". The Hypno-birthing teacher took every opportunity to share with us with tales of the great evils of the medical profession.  Her loathing of doctors was palpable.  She portrayed a dark conspiracy of OB/GYNs who'd give you a C-section, just so they wouldn't miss their tee times.  She told us of all of the "dangers" to the baby and mother from C-sections.  She told us how epidurals were baaad...very baaaaaaad for mother and baby.  She told us how inductions were baaad...very baaaaaad for the mother and the baby.    She also took it for granted that ALL of us were breastfeeding, because only a really selfish (or ignorant) woman would rob her baby of the many benefits of breast milk. Her opinions and agendas went on and on.  And I bought into everyone pretty much hook, line and sinker.  Like I said, I was an idiot. Before I new it I was in my 9th month and 9 days past my due date.  Late one Saturday night I got this weird crampy feeling, not too painful but it definitely got my attention.  I was up all night and I started timing  the contractions (I wasn't even sure that's what they were, maybe they were Braxton-Hicks).  They were happening every 15 minutes or so.  The doctor had said that I should call her when they were about 7 minutes or so apart, so I wasn't there yet.  So I waited....and waited.. and waited...I used my Hypo-birthing breathing, I looked at my pink flower picture and I spent most of Saturday night and all day and night Sunday waiting to see if the contractions (if that's what they were) were going to get worse or closer together.  By Sunday the cramps were definitely worse, but still no closer together, but surely this couldn't go on indefinitely.  I figured it was just a matter

Lily Aldridge loves food, but since her career involves modeling the latest designs from Victoria's Secret, she's made fitness a regular part of her life. Watch our video of our recent interview with her to learn Lily's favorite foodie indulgence, the workout she says changed her body, and how she stays bikini-ready.

Lounging all day at the beach might be your speed, but anyone who's fallen out of a bikini can tell you, they wish they'd thought their top choice through. If you're going to be active at the beach this Summer, click through the following trendy picks to inspire smart swimwear beyond the standard triangle top. Source: Thinkstock View Slideshow ›

This is hard for me to write, because I honestly don't feel like writing anything. But I am going to anyway. Last time I blogged I was starting up my new plan with lots of produce added. I will say that is going very well, I feel more 'normal' and happy eating this way and it is easier than the 5 & 1 plan. I will write more about that later. For a few days after my last post, I was just busy. Busy with kids, dogs, just life. Then I got a call that my mammogram results were abnormal. It wasn't just small calcifications like the last time I needed follow up, but a new "suspicious" mass. I admit that when I heard this and then went in and got a copy of the radiology report, I was highly upset. You know where my mind went. I did get very emotional about it for a couple of days and did not want to talk about it... not here, not to anyone. In fact I still have not spoken to anyone about it. I have an ultrasound and "probably" a needle biopsy scheduled in less than a week. I coped with this news by reading and researching everything I could about foods and supplements that help ward off cancer and continuing to focus on eating all that produce for good health, biking 15 minutes a day, and drinking more green tea. In the meantime, another family member had some health testing that I am quite concerned about, which will either come back as nothing or could be something very bad. I feel like I have been waiting for the other shoe to drop on that, as well. When I finally felt like I wanted to come back and blog and maybe share something about this, I came back to write but first went to publish the comments that had been left while I was gone. At that point, I had one or two comments with people wondering where I am and if I am okay. But you know what else I had? I had a slew of comments from people saying they hoped I had died, they hoped I'd killed myself, and cheering that maybe I had eaten myself to death. And what really topped it off were the comments left for my children, saying basically congratulations on your mother's death. What is wrong with people? Really. Is this what society has become? These people saying these things are not kids... teenagers who don't understand the consequences of their words. These people are adults. I am well aware of who they are, because not all comments are anonymous These bullies and their followers have left me hateful words over the past two years and I have deleted and ignored it without much thought. But this? Really? Saying they hoped I was dead, and leaving hateful comments for my *children* to read if something had happened to me? Seriously. I cannot fathom what would ever, EVER possess another human being to treat another person this way. And what have I ever done to anyone? What am I doing that is so awful that I deserve to be greeted by cheers and hopes of my death when I am facing those fears in my real life? When I have shed tears wondering what those tests will show? When I have been trying to stay positive? Yet coming back here and knowing that if I do have cancer, and if I die, some people will have a celebration and try to cause my children pain. Shame on you, just shame. How can you live with yourselves? I could never, would never treat any human being this way and you need to take a good hard look at yourself and figure out, between you and your god if you have one or your conscience if you have one, why you would rejoice in another's pain. That is all I am going to say about that. So I went away again without blogging, but when I came back there were many, many kind words, thoughts, and prayers left in the comments for me along with several emails of the same, and I guess I realized then that *most* of the world is good... most people are kind. Most people care and I do not want to cut myself off from the people who care, and who I care about, especially now. As the days have gone by, I feel better and more positive and more sure they will do their tests an