The godfather of fitness Jack LaLanne himself once told me that his secret to avoiding plateaus was religiously changing his workout routine every three to four weeks. He was pushing 90 at the time, and though certainly past his physical prime, he was still remarkably fit and strong, thanks to heeding his own advice. LaLanne understood that the human body is incredibly adaptable. That’s why we train: When you push the limits of what your body is comfortable with and capable of,...

Frozen foods have gotten a pretty bad rap over the years thanks to the rise of T.V. dinners and microwaveable mac and cheese. Traditionally, freezer meals are loaded with sodium, preservatives, synthetic flavors, and other sketchy ingredients to help prolong shelf life as well as enhance flavor that's seriously lacking. So to say that most frozen meals are unhealthy is pretty accurate. But stepping into the freezer section isn't all that bad. Along with all the bad of prepared froze...

Most Americans consume between 19 and 25 teaspoons of added sugars daily. The added sugars mainly comes from these items: Sweetened drinks (including coffee and tea with sugary add-ins) Desserts and sweet snacks Candy Sugar you add to foods (like oatmeal and pancakes) Breakfast cereals Bars (like granola bars) The health impacts of this sugar surplus are considerable. A sugar-laden diet ...

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...

If your goal is to tone up, start by asking yourself what you're trying to achieve: weight loss or fat loss? You may be surprised to learn that these two terms aren't necessarily synonymous. Weight loss vs. fat loss While we often rely on the scale to validate whether or not we're doing a good job at sticking to our diet and exercise regimens, it's not always the best indicator. For example, if you notice your pants are becoming loose but the number on the scale hasn't changed after lifti...

Whether for health, ethical, environmental, or spiritual reasons, plant-based diets continue to grow in popularity, with nearly 10 million Americans adopting one. Here's what you need to know about plant-based diets and their potential risks and benefits. What is a plant-based diet? A plant-based diet consists of mostly plant-based food sources like fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and oils. However, some plant-based diets still include small a...

It can be hard to convince yourself to exercise, especially if it means dragging yourself to the gym. But not all exercise has to be a high-intensity sweat sesh.  In fact, just walking can help you meet the US Department of Health and Human Services exercise guidelines. Walking can also be a great, low-impact way to burn calories.  However, how much you burn depends on a few factors. Here's what you need to know about the calories you burn while walking and how to burn more. ...

Hate the idea of counting calories, but still feel like you need to track something to stay on the road toward your weight loss goals? The macro diet might be right for you. Serious athletes have long paid attention to their macros—short for macronutrients—as a way to optimize their performance. But more recently, macro-focused diets (also known as flexible dieting or the IIFYM diet) have become popular among fitness enthusiasts and other health-conscious eaters who are trying ...

For most of us, it’s been quite a while since we last boarded a plane, navigated a new city, or explored anywhere beyond our sanitized bubbles. But now, decision-makers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are saying fully vaccinated people have the go-ahead to book domestic travel. So, with a big post-pandemic trip on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about ways to fortify your immune system after more than a year of laying low. It’s not a secret that travelin...

No one wants to hear (or even think) this, but if you work out regularly and don't wash your athletic attire well enough or often enough, you very well may stink. Bacteria, sweat, and body oils collect inside synthetic fabrics like your leggings or sports bra and can cause a funky odor, says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. And the more bacteria in your sweat, the greater your chances of stinking. (Here are th...