Spring is a time for shedding layers, sporting the latest bright fashions — and, of course, spring cleaning. That can apply not only to reorganizing your closet, but to tossing some unhealthy winter habits you may have fallen into, such as not exercising due to Arctic temperatures. Don’t be too hard on yourself — we've been living through a pandemic! The key to getting in shape for spring (and staying that way) that is to keep it simple. It may be difficult to set a clear goal at a...

High-fructose corn syrup has been a scapegoat for American obesity for the past decade and a half, so you might be surprised to learn that natural sweeteners like sugar and honey both have more fructose than high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Let’s break down the numbers here. Despite its misleading name, the most commonly used form of HFCS only has 42 percent fructose in comparison to table sugar’s 50 percent. Honey, the beloved natural sweetener, has 49 percent. Standar...

If you think marathon runners are incredible — but the idea of lacing up sneakers yourself makes you dread a workout like it's the Presidential Fitness Test in fourth grade — it's time to reframe that narrative. After all, with most gyms closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Zoom fatigue being completely real, getting out for some fresh air might be the perfect antidote for your housebound muscles (and mood). And since all you need for a great run are your sneakers and yourself...

To get fast results, take your sweat sesh al fresco. A study from California Pacific Orthopedic and Sports Medicine found that outdoor exercisers lost an average of 7.43 pounds and 6.17 percent of body fat in eight weeks. That's because outdoor workouts challenge your muscles with inclines, declines, and obstacles, explains Tina Vindum, founder of Outdoor Action Fitness in Marin County, California. You'll also improve your mood and boost self-esteem by performing outdoor exercises, ...

A strong lower body powers your stride and wards off injury. Incorporating resistance moves like squats into your strength-training routine is an essential—and easy—way to round out your training. Squats are a functional exercise that benefit your joint and muscle health, as well as your posture—all of which are important for improving your running form and speed, explains Noam Tamir, C.S.C.S., CEO and founder of TS Fitness in New York City. But the...

Deciding on the healthiest cooking oil to use in your dish isn't always quite as simple as it seems, because you've actually got a good number of options. Despite the ubiquity of ever-popular olive oil, there are plenty of other nutrient-rich cooking oils that deserve a spot in your pantry. While most cooking oils have pretty similar nutritional profiles in terms of calorie and total fat content, they do differ considerably when it comes to flavor, odor, and cooking properties. S...

After months of hibernating and eating lots of comfort food, we’re all ready to enjoy the lighter, brighter offerings of spring. And lucky for us, these seven vegetables are coming into season now. They’re all bursting with color and nutrition! Here’s how to add them to your weekly meals. Asparagus One of the most highly anticipated spring veggies, these slender stalks are loaded with flavor and nutrients. One cup of cooked asparagus boasts 4 mg of iron, 4 g of fiber, 391 mg of potassiu...

If you're a regular exerciser, it's important to understand what happens when you don't eat enough after you work out. Most dietitians recommend eating something within 30 minutes after a workout. Your body, after using up its available energy, needs to be refueled, specifically with carbs and protein, for energy and to repair the microdamage that exercise does to your muscles. We're all busy, though. And sometimes, fitting in a workout means squeezing it into a quick 30-minute window...

As a weight-loss coach for over a decade, I’ve worked with many people who become discouraged because the scale isn’t moving or isn’t moving fast enough. Weight loss doesn’t happen overnight, but you’ll gradually begin to notice more subtle signs that you’re making progress in the right direction. If you’re wondering whether or not your fitness routine is actually working, here are some of the clues you can look out for that don’t have to do with the number on the scale. You’re in a be...

You’ve definitely heard the term “carbs” before, but what are carbohydrates, really—and what’s the best way to incorporate them into your diet? Both of those questions seem relatively straightforward, but for many people they can become pretty loaded. That’s because like many things in the nutrition field, there has been a lot of controversy (and misconceptions) around carbs. Carbohydrates have gone through quite a journey in the public eye. In 1992 the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food ...