FOR HEALTH - WEIGHT LOSS AND FITNESS

The Skinny on Fasting for Weight Loss It won't work if your 'off' days include bottomless mimosas at brunch The Skinny on Fasting for Weight Loss Model Miranda Kerr is a fan of the 5:2 fasting method. (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) As juice bars and cleanses gained popularity over the past five years, so, too, has the concept (and the controversy) of fasting. Fasting has traditionally been used by various religions (including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, to name a few), as a form of self-discipline and purification, as well as a time for individuals to reflect on self or to engage with religious events or texts more closely. Ranging anywhere from a few hours to multiple days, fasts—whether supplemented by juice, bone broth, water, or nothing—have been a global concept for hundreds of years.

What You Need to Know to Lose Belly Fat  ? What You Need to Know to Lose Belly Fat  How to Lose Belly Fat The first time it happened I was in my early twenties, straphanging in a crowded New York City subway car on my way to work. I was wearing a slim-fitting T-shirt dress, one that for reasons that will soon become horrifyingly clear, I subsequently used to scrub out the litter box and then tossed. The seated woman I was standing in front of met my eyes and smiled. Then she stood up. I smiled back and stepped to the side so she could make her way to the door. She stood right next to me. "Would you like to sit?" she asked kindly. "I remember how tired I was during my pregnancy. You look like you're into your second trimester; it gets easier." If I had been pregnant, her act of generosity would probably have sent me into early labor right there on the F train. But I wasn't. (Even so, I t

    21 Ways to Make Your Diet 100% Easier 21 Ways to Make Your Diet 100% Easier We're with you: Dieting is no picnic. But here's a little secret — it's not nearly as hard as most of us think. "A lot of women believe they need to change everything, but in reality small tweaks to your diet can make a huge difference," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. We've got 21 absolutely painless little fixes, culled from the latest research and the country's leading weight-loss experts , to make dropping those pounds as easy as 1, 2, 3, and beyond. 1. Say So Long to Soda Every diet soft drink consumed each day could increase your risk of being overweight by 65 percent, according to a study presented at the American Dietetic Association. Other research suggests that artificial sweeteners may actually stimulate appetite, causing you to overeat. Instead, sip plain or sparkling wate

45 Easy Ways to Lose One Pound a Week  Here are a few quick facts about losing a pound: It will make your jeans feel a smidge looser, it's the equivalent of four sticks of butter (picture that for a second!), and it requires that you burn and/or cut a total of 3,500 calories. Sound like a lot? It adds up faster than you think. To lose one pound in seven days you need to reduce your net calories by 500 every day. The easiest way to do that is a 250 split: Cut half from your diet and burn the other half through exercise. To come up with easy ways to do this, we enlisted trainer Heather Rider, founder and director of Rider Fitness Consulting in Los Angeles, and nutritionist Lauren Slayton, RD, of Foodtrainers in New York City. Choose one strategy from the diet and exercise columns each day (feel free to mix and match) and after seven days you will have cut out 3,500 calories. Losing four sticks of butter has never been such a cinch! Diet Strategies

4 Ways to #MakeFitHappen—Every Day 4 Ways to Make Fit Happen Every Day Shutterstock A funny thing happens when you fill a room with endorphins, ambition, and fitness buffs: you become majorly motivated. That's how we felt after , an annual event where we unite the best in the fitness biz to talk exercise, food, and more. Here are some fitspiring highlights from the day. Make Time for Fitness (It's Easier Than You Think) Short on time? #BeenThere. Consider what's going to give you the most bang for your exercise buck. "Work out smarter, not longer," says celebrity trainer Holly Rilinger, who recommends resistance training with minimal rest in between sets, even if you only have 20 minutes. We suggest these strength-building workouts. Forget the Haters Oh, you love marathons, but your husband thinks distance running is a waste of time? Then, he doesn't need to run one. Whether it's CrossFit, yoga, or weig