Exercise Your Mind

Q: It's been a long time since I exercised, and there is no way I can do some of these exercises. I don't want to hurt myself, but I do want what I can do to be effective. What do you suggest?

Know someone who's getting amazing results from an insanely low-calorie diet? It may be tempting to severely restrict your calories in hopes of a drastic weight loss, but don't even think about it! ...read more

I'm all for keeping things simple — especially in the kitchen. Some days are just not made for making long, complicated recipes. When you just can't look at another 30-ingredient list in the eye, it's time to try one of my quick and easy alternatives. ...read more

Q: I know that yoga is good for balance, flexibility, and strength, to a degree. Would it be beneficial to include a yoga practice in my workout schedule? I used to practice yoga at least three times a week, and I miss all of the positive feelings I got from it.

Hey, you. Yeah, YOU! Did you really just spend the last three nights in a row mindlessly munching in front of the television? Well, unfortunately, you're not alone.

When you prepare your own food, you know exactly what is going into the dishes you eat. It's easy to gauge calorie and fat content, as well as control portion size. But all bets are off when you're dining out.

When it comes to losing weight, "calories in/calories out" is the name of the game. Burn more than you consume — it's that simple. But how do you know how many calories you consume in the first place?

Q: Is it better to eat a meal before or after a workout? Why?

A: Both. Here's what I like to do: have my breakfast at 9 a.m., work out from 10:30 to 12, and eat by 1 p.m. Here's why:

Q: What is your opinion on "cheat days"? My friend's trainer says it's okay to have one cheat day during the week (as long as you remain on track the rest of the time). ...read more

To understand why your hormones can be thrown out of whack and derail your ability to maintain a healthy weight, you first need to know one key fact about your endocrine system: It reacts to what you put into your body and how you treat it. ...read more