Five Ways to Reduce and Prevent Bloating

Feeling like you gained five pounds in five minutes is an unpleasant experience, and not for reasons having to do with appearance. Complaints of bloating are common, and while this abdominal-area discomfort affects many, the word is heard extra-frequently because it describes multiple conditions.

Dr. Lisa Ganjhu, D.O., clinical assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, deals with many cases of bloating and, as a gastroentorologist, works to discern the causes and help patients understand their symptoms. According to Ganjhu, there are two main varieties of bloating. | via

5 tips from marathoners that make running easier

Marathon runners know what they’re doing. On a cold day, they’re still wearing a tank top and shorts because the sheer speed and power at which they are performing warms them up, just fine. But most of us do not, uhh, execute our runs with such vigor. 

We’re not purchasing a new pair of running shoes each month or pounding a spoonful of peanut butter on odd miles (OK, not a totally scientific description of a marathoner, but you get the idea).

But it doesn’t matter if you’re planning to undertake a 26.2 in the near future — or ever; the time and effort required to prep for a marathon means the people who do it have survival secrets up their sleeves that any type of runner can benefit from. So, if you want to step it up and start breaking your own records, take your cues from career runners. 

Let’s face it — listening to music like a true running enthusiast and stealing snack ideas will empower your body and mind to think of yourself as a real runner, not just some girl who jogs occasionally.  | via

BOOTCAMP VIDEO: This bootcamp workout focuses on your lower body and will have you BLASTING calories while sculpting your legs and booty!

Time to make that booty work! Real Mom Model Tina counts you through three rounds: 30 reps of each exercise followed by round two of 20 reps and round three of 10 reps. Between each set, you’ll perform high knees (30, 20, then 10). This workout will activate the glutes, abductors, obliques, quads and hamstrings. Give them a good stretch before and after. Click here for a basic warm up!

Moves You’ll See

• Alternating Lunges
• Sumo-Calf-Raise
• Alternating Side Lunges
• Alternating Side Bends
• Bow and Squat
• Donkey Kicks
• Right & Left Lying Leg Lift

6 hair drying mistakes you're making

Washing hair is not as simple a task as it might seem. It has to be taken into account how often hair should be washed, and with what. These days, the focus is on eliminating any techniques and products that might be doing unnecessary damage. So that means not washing hair every single day and skipping products that contain sulfates, phtalates, parabens, and all of those other beauty product no-no’s. But we also go to lengths to ensure our hair is properly conditioned. We use oils, masks, and even DIY treatments from our kitchens to help replenish moisture and protect hair from damage. But for what? Many of us reverse our in-shower treatments with the mistakes we make drying our hair. 

Activated Charcoal - DIY ALL natural teeth whitener

Activated charcoal is the next thing in the beauty industry that has wowed the beauty enthusiast worldwide. This simple ingredient is in actuality a bundle of treasure when it comes to beauty. I say this because activated charcoal can be used for everything starting from face masks to teeth-whitening to a cleanser.

Charcoal is said to absorb about 100 to 200 times its weight in impurities, which makes it an awesome ingredient that helps to purify and deep clean the skin. Activated charcoal is a heavy duty agent that will pull out the impurities settled in your pores making it super clean and pure. This when combined with other equally good ingredients can turn out to be superb as many skincare products. | via

12 tips for getting in shape (and keeping it up!)

It takes about 66 days to form a new healthy habit. That’s more than two months, which can seem a liiittle overwhelming — especially if your goal is something like “get in shape.” But, it doesn’t have to take that long to get your butt in gear. You just need the right motivation, and some easy tips to trick your mind into actually looking forward to your next sweat sesh. 

Yes, that is possible, even if the most working out you’ve done recently is lifting a drink from the table to your mouth at happy hour (we’ve all been there). We polled our favorite fitness pros for their best inspirational workout tips — they’ve built their careers on helping other people learn to love working out, so if they don’t get you pumped, well, we don’t know what will. 

So, whether this is the first time you’re really committing to getting in shape, or the ninth time you’ve tried to make a fitness resolution, we guarantee this advice will get you moving. No excuses this time — you’ve got this! via

6 moves for beautiful, toned shoulders

There’s nothing sexier than a little shoulder pop, which means we need get ours ready for sundresses, sleeveless tops and strapless swimsuits STAT. Quick anatomy lesson: Your shoulders are made up of three muscles, the anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (rear) deltoids. The key to reshaping your upper body, according to The People’s Bootcamp founder and trainer Adam Rosante, is working all three — this approach will help you shrug off that slope-shouldered desk jockey look. 

Here’s your new shoulder sculpting routine: First, grab a pair of five- to 10-pound dumbbells (if you’re a beginner, go lighter — you can always add more weight as you get stronger). Do each of the moves below back-to-back for 30 seconds each, resting for 10 to 15 seconds between moves. After that first round, rest for a minute, then repeat all the moves for a total of three rounds. Then, pop that shoulder — you look good! via

13 Gym Motivation Tips From the Pros

We all have the best intentions when it comes to working out, but, sometimes, life just gets in the way. Maybe you overslept, maybe there was wine involved, maybe there was a Criminal Minds marathon on and leaving your couch just seemed like too much effort. (No judgment!)

We get it — and it’s totally OK to skip a workout every once in awhile. But, sometimes, you need a kick in the ass, whether that’s to actually get you to the gym, motivate you in the middle of a tough workout, or snap you out of a rut. So, we turned to those who know best — the trainers and instructors who create and teach the workouts we love — for their secrets to motivation. Because, you know, even the most hardcore gym buffs want to slack off occasionally. With their tips, you’ll have no excuses! via

5 Kettlebell Exercises That Will Completely Transform Your Body

When I go to the gym, swinging a heavy metal weight around my head is not high on my list of to-dos. I tend to avoid equipment I don’t know how to use—even the kettlebell, a simple-looking weight (that handy grip!) that promises better results than simple dumbbells. 

Turns out the only thing you could do wrong when it comes to the ‘bell is not include it in your regular workouts, at least according to trainer and martial artist Dasha Libin, who totally schooled me in her kickass Kettlebell Kickboxing class. | via

5 ways to improve your running stamina

Whether you’ve just started running or you already have a few 5Ks under your belt, there’s one area runners can always improve on: stamina (that would be your ability to actually go the distance). We’re not talking speed here, but rather, endurance — the ability to run longer without feeling completely bushed at the end. | via