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Of course you want to live a little on the weekend, but if you’re trying for weight loss, or even just keep the scale steady, you have to maintain a certain level of vigilance. Here, how to rethink your weekend habits so you’ll lose weight all week. WEEKEND THINK This week was tough; I deserve to splurge HEALTHIER SPURGE Splurge with extra savvy. The need for a reward is human nature, says Stephen Gullo, PhD, author of The Thin Commandments Diet....

Check the contrasts between the typical diets in Rome, Italy, and the diets of Italian-Americans in Rome, NY, as described by local dietitians. Then use the secrets of real Italian diets to start getting healthier and slimmer—today. Italian Diets Secret #1: Three Meals, Period Rome, Italy: They eat at meals only. Snack food consumption is low in Italy. When Italians do snack, it’s fruit and nuts. Fast food? Not popular....

Ironically, the very food we so often rely on for quick energy—concentrated sources of sugar, like candy bars or soda—are the very foods that you should avoid if you want enduring energy, say experts. Here’s why: Your body uses food for energy by turning it into blood sugar, or glucose. Carbohydrates convert most easily into this ready-to-burn fuel, making them your macronutrient of choice for energy eating. The problem is that some simple carbohydrates, like sugar, tend to break down so fast that, after providing a short-lived burst of energy, they leave your blood sugar levels low, your energy inadequate, and your plans for the day unaccomplished....

The number of children hospitalized for high blood pressure has increased dramatically over the past decade—almost doubling from 12,661 in 1997 to 24,602 in 2006.After calculating discharge records from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids’ Inpatient Database, researchers also discovered the rise in hypertension-related hospitalizations has led to a 50 percent increase in costs for inpatient care—reaching approximately $3.1 billion. The study, published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension, stemmed from the equally dramatic increase in hypertension being seen in adults in the U....

“I think it’s so gut-wrenching not only because it prompts reflection into profound life questions like ‘Who am I?’ but also because there’s a larger, deeper context. It taps into a long, historically connected feeling that has probably existed for centuries. The sole role of women for so long was about survival of the species—attracting a mate and having children,” says Vivian Diller, PhD, a psychologist and the author of the book Face It, who specializes in helping women deal with the emotions brought on by a changing appearance....

Courtesy of Rodale News For those who’ve already bought their Thanksgiving turkeys, this weekend is the best time to pull them out of the freezer to start defrosting in the fridge. Those of you who have yet to buy the bird, however, will want to spend a few extra minutes at the store scanning the wrappers before picking your poultry. There are lots of labels for food products used by marketers these days, some of which could raise your blood pressure and some that mean nothing at all....

Did you know an average office visit with your doctor only lasts about 15 minutes? I don’t think you’ll find a doctor anywhere who would say he or she went to medical school to spend a measly 15 minutes per patient. Unfortunately that’s just the way our health care system works. Even knowing this, I was surprised when I read an article from the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association that said doctors typically interrupt their patients after just 23 seconds of conversation....

In a new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, researchers surveyed women in relationships and found that those who were more attracted to their partner were more likely to be satisfied with their sex lives and their relationships overall. What’s more, women who felt more attracted to their partner than they did in the past were the happiest with their sex lives, compared to those who maintained the same levels of attraction....

I remember that awful night so vividly because the day before had been such a sweet one, literally. My older daughter, Isabelle, had a softball game, and my younger girl, Anastasia, and I picked up snacks to enjoy from the sidelines. I had a small worry that I was eating too much sugar, but not enough to stop me from indulging. I’ll be fine; it’s just a few sweets, I thought....

“Every cell in the body is like a clock and they all set themselves according to signals they receive from the brain,” says Timothy Monk, PhD. Normally, your body clock cycles on the 24-hour rotation of your home time zone. But rapid time changes disrupt all that. The result is jet lag—fatigue, lethargy, inability to sleep, trouble concentrating and making decisions, irritability, and perhaps even diarrhea and a lack of appetite....

One of the great delusions we suffer from, especially in the US, is that more information helps us make better decisions. In reality, though, more information just makes us confused. What’s worse: Food companies intentionally try to produce more confusion. Why? Let’s take a look. To save you from having a breakdown in the middle of the grocery store, your brain relies on mental shortcuts to make the decision process easier....

As a vulvar dermatologist (yes, that’s a thing) Edwards specializes in caring for women with chronic vulvar symptoms like itching, pain, rawness, painful sex, and chronic discharge. (For more on the specialty or to find one in your area, visit the National Vulvodynia Association at nva.org.) Why see one? The vulva tends to be an area that a general dermatologist will bypass during routine skin checkups, says Cynthia Rasmussen, MD, FACOG, director of vulvovaginal services at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in the Boston area....

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[sidebar]1. Cardio Box JumpWorks: Butt, thighsTo do: Stand facing plyo box. Hinge at hips and jump on top of box. Jump or step down. (Modify by stepping up.) 2. Single-Leg LungeWorks: Butt, thighsTo do: Stand on left leg with top of right foot on plyo box. Bend left knee, lowering right knee toward floor. Complete reps; switch sides. 3. Incline Push-UpWorks: Arms, chestTo do: Start in pushup position, hands grasping sides of box....

But here’s the thing: I started a big health kick last year. I cut booze and carbs from my diet and started working out every day. I dropped 30 pounds (yay!), but then I plateaued. (Here are 12 foods that can help you bust through your weight-loss plateau.) The thing about working out and being healthy is that you can’t rely on the same old routine: Your body gets used to it....

But lately, I’ve been getting tired of the same old routine. Plus, my body has gotten so used to that 3-mile run through the Grand Canyon (thanks, virtual reality screen) that I knew I had to shake things up. With visions of beach days and sexy one-piece bathing suits (like these 10 cute swimsuits that aren’t skimpy), I headed off to find a group exercise class that would renew my enthusiasm for exercise and get me ready to feel fabulous poolside....

Masturbation was always an either/or proposition for me. Either I was in a relationship and didn’t really do it, or I was on my own and did it all the time. But that all changed when I started dating Jack*. We had been seeing each other (and sleeping together) for a few months when he first asked me how I liked to touch myself when I was alone. “I don’t really do that when I’m with someone,” was how I responded....