Style: What I’m Loving…Lately

My lil sister, Faye, has super cute style— it certainly doesn’t hurt that she’s always ahead of the trends. Soooo when I asked her what her latest favorites are & she showed me this lil dime of a tank dress…

I nearly died.

Seriously.

I mean…hi hottest dress ever.

Like, ever.

ESP with a flannel around the waist. Right?

This outfit is totally for a ride or die chick…& it’s uh, $68 dollars.

I’m into it.

Ok, so what are your favorite trends lately? Spillllll.

Check out Faye’s blog, Evillarts for more fashion/accessory finds!

Happy Saturday!

X L

3 CommentsPosted in: UncategorizedPost navigation← Blogger & Suja Co-Founder, Annie Lawless on Candida ( WTF Is That? Click to Find Out! )3 thoughts on “”

The Real Reason He Forgot Your Anniversary

Good news: It’s probably not because he doesn't love you

Before you chew out your guy for dropping the ball on an important date—again—listen to this: Men report more memory complaints than women do, according to a new study published in the journal BMC Psychology.

OK, so he’s not totally off the hook for forgetting your friend Cindy’s name (he’s met her like seven times!), but apparently gender plays a role when it comes to memory. Researchers surveyed more than 37,000 people over the age of the 30 about their self-reported memory problems. In general, more men reported issues in eight out of nine areas—like remembering something that happened a year ago, recalling details of a conversation, and remembering names and dates.

Unfortunately, the study didn’t identify why men might be more prone to forgetfulness. Clearly this isn’t an excuse for the men in your life to flake on important details, but hey, it may help explain why he has no idea where you guys went on your second date. 

More from Women's Health:
6 Fascinating Facts About “Normal Men"
The Rudest Thing You Can Do on a First Date
The Weird Thing That Happens to Guys After They’re Married

 

How to Trick Yourself Into Being More Confident At Work

And how to use it to score that big raise you deserve

If your heart doesn’t beat a little faster right before a big meeting with your boss, you might want to check your pulse. That’s because it’s totally normal to get anxious when you have to talk about your own performance and achievements. So a recent study in the journal Psychology of Women Quarterly aimed to find out if women really get more nervous when talking about their own performance and if there was a way to relieve this anxiety. You’ll never guess what actually worked.

The researchers asked half the women to write a personal essay about their own successes and achievements, while other women were told to write about someone else’s accomplishments. As expected, the women who had to write about themselves were less interested in the task and actually performed worse than the rest. But here’s where things get interesting: The researchers also split the women up so some participants were in a room with a big black box that they were told was a subliminal noise generator too high-pitched for them to hear but that would probably make them uncomfortable. In reality, it was just a box.

Shockingly, when women were told about this box, any differences in performance and interest were eliminated between the groups. The implication is that when they were able to attribute their anxiety to some external thing, they didn’t let it get to them and screw them up. “Now, it’s not personal, and the reason they’re anxious isn’t about them,” says Nicole Williams, LinkedIn’s career expert. “As soon as that happens, they’re relieved of the anxiety.”

How To Con Yourself Into Being More Confident
Obviously, you can’t lug a big black box into your boss’ office the next time you want to ask for a raise. But there are other ways you can trick yourself into feeling less stressed about self-promotion. One way is to recognize and dismiss the anxiety, like the women did in this task. “Going into a stressful situation like this, just know that it’s normal to feel anxiety,” says Williams. “You’re not the only one who feels this way, it’s just human nature.”

Another tactic is to attribute your sweaty palms and racing heartbeat to something else. Instead of pinning it on a black box, blame it on a quick pre-meeting workout, says Williams. A quick 10-minute session to get your heart rate up will work. “It doesn’t have to be a sweaty exercise, but just enough to get moving and feel excited,” says Williams. “Then you can tell yourself that energy is attributed to your exercise and not your anxiety.”

Finally, separate yourself a little from the anxiety-provoking task—in this case, asking for a promotion or raise. Instead of focusing on the personal (you want this job, you need this pay bump, etc.), give your boss the objective facts that show you deserve this raise—like that you increased sales, exceeded your goals, or gained a ton of new clients. That way, you won’t feel as anxious about the result, says Williams. 

Clearly, talking about our own success is super stressful if it requires trickery to deal with it. But here’s why you need to get over your fears and do it anyway: “If you don’t do it, you’ll go unnoticed, and if you go unnoticed, you’ll go unpromoted,” says Williams. Chances are, your boss is a little too busy to realize all the awesome stuff you’re doing, so it’s your responsibility to give them a reminder.

More From Women’s Health:
The Weird Way Exercise Can Help You at Work
Men and Women Face a Double Standard in the Workplace—and This Gutsy Commercial Calls Us Out on It
The WORST Way to Quit Your Job

 

The Ultimate Grammy Awards Workout Playlist

Warm up for your Grammy party with this award-worthy playlist

Music’s biggest night is Sunday, and LL Cool J (and his abs) will be hosting the 56th annual Grammy Awards. The awards will broadcast live from LA at 8 p.m. EST, but coverage begins at noon.

To start things early—and get in red carpet shape—check out this workout playlist of our favorite Grammy-nominated songs, albums, and artists.

1. Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
Nomination: Record of the Year

2. Can’t Hold Us, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Nomination: Album of the Year

3. Roar, Katy Perry
Nomination: Song of the Year

4. Now or Never, Kendrick Lamar Featuring Mary J. Blige
Nomination: Best New Artist

5. Mirrors, Justin Timberlake
Nomination: Best Pop Solo Performance

6. Natalie, Bruno Mars
Nomination: Best Pop Vocal Album

7. Sweet Nothing, Calvin Harris Featuring Florence Welch 
Nomination: Best Dance Recording

8. I'm Shakin', Jack White 
Nomination: Best Rock Performance

9. Panic Station, Muse
Nomination: Best Rock Song

10. Tom Ford, Jay Z
Nomination: Best Rap Performance

11. Jump, Rihanna
Nomination: Best Urban Contemporary Album

12. A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got), Fergie, Goonrock, and Q-Tip
Nomination: Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

More from Women’s Health:  
Why You Should DJ Your Workouts 
The Best Beyoncé Songs to Work Out To 
The Ultimate Workout Playlist, According to Science

Jennifer Aniston: "I'm Not That Crazy Workout Girl Anymore"

In an exclusive interview with Women's Health, Jennifer Aniston talks about the workouts she hates, how she stays motivated, her favorite skin-care products, her top healthy snack, and more

Everyone always focuses on Jennifer Aniston’s hair—but if you ask us, her toned physique is every bit as envy-worthy (have you seen any tabloid pics of her in a bikini—like, ever?!). Which is why we were so pumped to have the chance to sit down with her and ask her about her fitness routine, along with all of her other stay-healthy-and-gorgeous habits. Here’s the interview (edited for space and clarity):

What are your favorite workouts?
Oh my god, I have a lot of favorite workouts. I love cycling, I love yoga of course, and I recently started doing barre method—which is painful and hard. Variety is the key for me.

What happens when you find yourself doing the same workout over and over—why doesn’t that work for you?
Because you eventually stop doing it, and you just get lazy. Mixing it up is always fun because that way you know you're excited, and it’s muscle confusion. It keeps your body awake.

Have you ever tried any workouts that you just hate and you would never do again?
Umm, boot camp? (Laughs)

What was so tortuous about that for you?
I don’t know, it just seems like I’m not a soldier. I’m not into boot camp, I don’t need to do all of this—I just want to stay fit! (Laughs) I don’t want to get yelled at—at all. Please stop yelling at me.

How do you stay motivated to work out when you’re just not in the mood?
You know what, there are days I go “I can’t” and “I don’t want to,” and I think you just have to listen to your body. So sometimes you just don’t work out. And then there are times when you go, “Really? Do you really not want to?” And then if you just say, “OK, I’m going to get on some machine for 10 minutes,” you just start to get the endorphins going. Then you feel great, and you just keep going. So sometimes you can actually override the “I don’t want to work out.” 

But for the last year and a half, I went from being a crazy workout girl to sort of saying, “My body wants a little bit a of break.” So I kind of stay with more simple stuff and taking walks and not being neurotic about working out and eating right. I started to enjoy life a little bit more. The only downside to that is there’s that couple extra pounds and about 4,000 pregnancy rumors, but you know, other than that, it feels great.

Why do you think it is that you had this shift in your mindset? What inspired you to take a more laid back approach to fitness?
Well, honestly, it started with a knee injury. So that was that. I had a knee injury, and my dog died, and I fell in love. [Editor’s note: In case you haven’t heard, Jennifer is engaged to fellow actor and former Parks and Recreation hottie Justin Theroux.] So I don’t know what that was, but it sort of all fell into place.

Changing gears a bit, what would you say are your top three beauty tips?
I would say do a scrub three times a week to really get your skin clean. Hydrate—obviously drink, drink, drink lots of water. And moisturize. And I’m going to throw a fourth one in and say sleep.

You signed on as an Aveeno spokesperson last year; what have you learned about skin care since you started working with the brand?
Well, first of all, everything that goes into Aveeno products—how conscious the choices are that they make. Just with the ingredients that they choose, how they’re grown, how they’re formulated—it’s all very interesting.

Do you have any new go-to products from the line since you started working with the brand?
Yes, the Protect + Hydrate 30 SPF. The Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer is really awesome. And then of course the Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub.

You mentioned staying hydrated is so important. Are there any other things you’ve noticed diet-wise that make a difference in how your skin and hair look?
Royal jelly—have you heard of that? It’s from beehives. I got it in France, but you can get it anywhere. I noticed if you take a spoon of that a day, it helps. But honestly, I think just eating really good fruits and vegetables, less fried food, of course—fried food is terrible, soda is terrible. Just fruits and vegetables and healthy lean proteins and water. Of course, alcohol tends to dry up your skin.

Speaking of eating, what is your favorite healthy snack?
Frozen grapes. I like the red ones—they’re really easy and delicious. They give you that frozen crunch. I was at a spa one time, and they gave me a little cup of frozen grapes after my mud bath soak or whatever. It was sort of like, “This is genius.”

Want to learn more about Jen's healthy habits? Learn how to train like Jennifer Aniston.

MORE: Kristen Bell: “Stop Using the Word Fat”

Avoid the Comfort Food Trap

The grub you think will give you an emotional lift often leaves you down in the dumps—how to overcome this bad-mood food slump

The term comfort food is a bit of a misnomer. We indulge in stuff like milkshakes and cheeseburgers to soothe ourselves, but they can actually have the opposite effect once they pass our lips—and it's not just because our clothes feel distressingly tighter.

According to researchers who have studied the link, fast food and packaged pastries can cause inflammation that interferes with mood-regulating chemicals in the brain and can even lead to symptoms of depression.

Fortunately, there are plenty of yummy and satisfying options that will buoy your mood and slim you down.

HABIT: Carbo-Loading
There's a reason so many so-called comfort foods like mashed potatoes and lasagna are carb-based. Carbs fuel the production of serotonin, your brain's main feel-good neurotransmitter, which activates receptors that help control mood and appetite. But when there is less daylight, your body produces less serotonin, says Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., coauthor of The Serotonin Power Diet—meaning you want to eat more than usual in winter to keep your spirits up. But careful: Not all carbs are created equal.

THE FIX: Eat complex carbs like whole-grain cereal, rice, and oatmeal, which are digested more slowly than refined grains, staving off hunger (and crankiness). For spuds, swap white ones for sweet potatoes, which are rich in B vitamins and lycopene, nutrients that have been shown to help depression.

HABIT: Reaching for Bad Fats
Some experts say the tendency to seek out fattening foods in the winter may be a leftover evolutionary urge, since bulking up gives your organs insulation from the cold and may also bolster your immune system. (But unless you're an Arctic explorer, that extra layer is probably not a personal goal.)

THE FIX: Friend the right fats. Healthy fats that contain omega-3's are known to support brain-cell function and positive moods, says nutritionist Elizabeth Somer, R.D., author of Eat Your Way to Happiness. Fish are among the best sources, especially salmon and sardines. Low-fat milk that's fortified with DHA is also a good choice and often contains vitamin D (see "Eat Sunshine," right).

HABIT: Cranking Up the Heat
It's natural to crave something warm on chilly days, but many mood-boosting nutrients, including folate (found in kale, lentils, asparagus, broccoli, and beets) are damaged by heat, says Drew Ramsey, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and coauthor of The Happiness Diet. What's more, Harvard researchers found that cooking food can actually decrease how many calories your body uses during digestion. (We burn off about 10 percent of what we consume through digestion, a not insignificant amount.)

THE FIX: The less you have to zap your food with heat, and the more you have to chew and crunch it as you polish it off, the better. If you can't imagine subsisting on a completely raw diet (don't blame you!), try steaming your veggies. A Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry study reports that this cooking technique best preserves the nutrients you need.

HABIT: Gorging on Sweets
Fewer hours of daylight also means your body may be producing more of the sleep-inducing chemical melatonin, which can leave you lethargic and craving sugar, a quick source of energy. But high-sugar diets are linked to an increased risk of depression, and the sweet stuff causes blood-sugar spikes that can make you grumpy, says Jeffrey Rossman, Ph.D., author of The Mind-Body Mood Solution.

THE FIX: Get your buzz from caffeine—a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that it may slash depression risk in women. Just don't overdo it or consume it too late in the day—Rossman recommends two to three 8-ounce cups of coffee a day—since studies link too little sleep to weight gain. Cutting back on caffeine? Load up on B vitamins instead: B12, B9 (a.k.a. folate), and B6 help convert amino acids into the mood-and energy-lifting neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, according to Ramsey. Sources include poultry, leafy greens, fish, lentils, and eggs.
 
Eat Sunshine
Vitamin D may be the most important nutrient for chasing away the winter blues--and research shows most people don't get enough this time of year. Much of the D in our bodies is made using UVB rays from the sun. In winter, especially in northern locations, not only are the days shorter, but also the angle of the sun is so indirect that fewer UVB rays break through the atmosphere. (A study published by the Mayo Clinic found that higher levels of vitamin D were directly related to decreased risk for depression.) If you live north of Atlanta, pack your diet with D-rich foods, including fortified low-fat dairy and cereal, pork, mushrooms, and tuna. With about a third of the vitamin D (and most of the DHA and EPA omega-3's) you need each day, canned tuna is pretty much happiness in a tin.

Ask the Guy Next Door: When Guys Don't Kiss You During Sex

Clint Carter shares a revealing peak inside the male brain

Does it mean something when a guy won't kiss you during sex? —Kate, Baltimore, MD

If this is a first-time hookup, he's trying to keep it casual by avoiding your lips--a sign that you shouldn't expect this fling to last long. But if you're already a couple, odds are that kissing just isn't on his mind once your clothes are off. Remember: Men's brains have evolved to identify and tackle one problem at a time, so it's very possible that when we're busy fondling you, rubbing you, or watching your body move, we just might forget to throw in some kisses, too. Your guy is probably lost in the moment, so just pull his face toward yours during sex if you're craving more lip action, and he'll get the hint. If he doesn't, bring it up afterward, after the post-coital glow fades.

What's the best way to introduce my boyfriend to one of my exes? —Jacqui, Richmond, VA

If you bump into your ex randomly, just say hello in passing and fill your guy in later. But if your ex is still involved in your social circle, give your man a casual heads-up so he won't feel blindsided. When the time comes, present the ex to your boyfriend--not the other way around--and if the guys have anything in common (aside from you), mention it. "[Ex-boyfriend] is a big Steelers fan too." Hopefully your boyfriend will pick up the conversation. If he doesn't, tell your ex, "Well, it was good to see you," and walk away with your man.

My husband just started working out, and I'm loving the results! How do I keep him motivated? —Jennifer, Augusta, GA

He just needs positive reinforcement. When he peels his shirt off after the gym, trace your fingers over his new definition, tell him how much you like to look at him or touch him, or let your hands drift below his belt. That's phase one. Phase two: Make working out part of your relationship. Plan your gym trips so they coincide with his, which will give him extra incentive to stay fit.

4 Steps to Becoming a Better Listener

Yes, you can hear him talking—but are you really listening? Here's how to make sure

We can all use a little refresher on how to pay attention when someone's talking to us. The next time your guy starts blabbing—whether it's about his idiot coworker or a serious problem with a family member—follow these tips from David Posen, M.D., to stay tuned in:

Be in the Moment
Avoid cracking a joke or changing the subject. If he's been talking for awhile and you want clarity, just say, "What I'm hearing you say is. . ." This way, you can add to the convo, and he can clear up any gray areas.

Make Sure it's the Right Time
If you're making dinner and your guy wants to talk, you may miss parts of what he says. "Ask if he can wait so you can give him your attention," says Posen.

Don't Rush in with Your Opinion
Before you launch into what you think, make sure he wants to hear it. Ask, "Do you want my feedback?" If he says yes, offer your advice. If he says no, just tell him that you're happy he told you about it.

Keep Your Eyes on Him
Maintaining eye contact signals that you're focused on what he's saying. "Don't look out the window," says Posen, "and definitely not at your electronics."

How to Cut Out Late-Night Snacking

Learn to quiet the call of the fridge

You'd never eat two dinners at once, right? Except that maybe you (inadvertently) already do: Research shows that many women take in nearly half of their daily calories at or after dinner. What's more, one study found that a third of people downed 15 percent of their calories after 11 p.m.

In a way, evolution might be to blame: Humans were originally conditioned to chow down after sunset so they'd have the energy to get through the night. Some scientists believe that's why the body's hunger cycle still peaks at around 8 p.m. It's also why people might feel more cravings but less satisfaction when they eat in the evening, driving them to consume more.

Trouble is, some modern habits exacerbate this biology. Daytime dieting, for instance, magnifies that 8 p.m. urge, causing people to give in and binge. Even nondieters often undereat during the day only to overeat at night, thanks to skipped breakfasts, stress, and high-calorie snacks, says Yoni Freedhoff, M.D., of the Bariatric Medical Institute in Ottawa, Ontario.

But what's the big deal? It turns out that for everyone—whether or not they're overweight—it's not just what you eat that's important, but when you eat. Sure, nighttime eating can cause your weight to creep up—but it can also put your overall health at risk.

Eating on Autopilot
It's not so shocking that hoovering food after dark is consistently associated with weight gain and obesity, per both the International Journal of Obesity and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Your activity levels drop in the evening, leaving you less able to burn off surplus calories.

Some studies show that eating lots at night also tamps down your body's production of two key chemicals: melatonin and leptin. The first, a sleep hormone, is what makes you drowsy come bedtime; lower levels leave you more alert. At the same time, reduced levels of leptin, a satiety hormone, mean your brain isn't getting the message that you're full. In other words, the more you eat, the less you sleep. And the less you sleep, the more likely you are to reach for another snack (and another!). When extended, this cycle can lead to sleep deprivation or, eventually, anxiety, depression, or cognitive decline.

Perhaps more alarming is the way p.m. scarfing affects your levels of insulin, the hormone that helps cells pull sugar out of your bloodstream to use as energy. As the sun sets, your body starts to power down for the night, which makes cells more resistant to insulin's effects, according to a new study in Current Biology. So if you've just taken down a hefty after-hours meal, you likely now have high blood sugar (long-term, a diabetes risk factor). Even worse, your body tends to store excess sugar as fat—and larger fat stores only increase insulin resistance, putting you at higher risk for diabetes, not to mention heart disease.

Well-Timed Noshing
Surprisingly, the first step isn't cutting out all late-night fare, says Deborah Beck Busis, of the Beck Institute near Philadelphia. Rather, it's to amp up your daytime food intake. More-balanced meals will reprogram your body to crave less food at night (yes, even despite that innate urge).

"The key is to be actively in control of your choices," says Freedhoff. Start with a breakfast of at least 400 calories, including 25 grams of protein (e.g., scrambled eggs with feta cheese and spinach). Research shows that eating more in the a.m. decreases your overall intake for the day—the exact opposite of night-eating's effects.

Lunch should also be at least 400 calories with 25 grams of protein. If you get hungry between meals, feel free to nibble, says Busis. Look for 100- to 150-calorie snacks with seven grams of protein. At dinner, stick to that 400-calories-per-meal ideal.

Aside from better food planning, hitting the hay is your best defense. Research shows that people who go to bed after midnight take in 500 extra evening calories. So switch off your TV or tablet early; staring at a screen can spur mindless munching.

You may not be able to break a night-eating habit right away, and that's OK. Just consuming fewer calories at or after dinner will give your body a break and put you on a healthier path.

Get Strong and Sexy in Six Weeks—the Workout Plan

Strong is the new sexy. Follow this workout plan for six weeks straight to get the body you want

Define your shoulders, flatten your abs, and perk up your posterior with this program created by Kellie Davis, strength coach and coauthor of Strong Curves: A Woman's Guide to Building a Better Butt and Body. Rather than working single muscle groups the way many body-building programs do, this approach focuses on compound exercises (like squats, deadlifts, and presses). This distributes the work evenly, which allows you to lift heavier loads without injury. It's also more metabolically taxing, meaning you torch a greater number of calories in a shorter period of time.

This plan features two routines (Workouts A and B), which you'll complete each week. The linchpin: You can't rely on a single pair of dumbbells to get you through a workout. Large muscle groups (think legs, glutes, chest, and back) can handle a larger amount of weight than smaller muscle groups (like your arms, shoulders, and calves). For each move, choose a weight you can lift for the prescribed number of reps, but no more. If you're well under or over the rep range, increase or decrease the weight by two to five pounds. Just don't get too comfortable: You're becoming stronger as your body adapts to the demands you place upon it, so you should try to add a little weight each workout or week.

Prepare for Liftoff
For each workout, do three sets of each move in order, performing all reps and sets before going to the next exercise. When you see two exercises next to the number, do them as a superset: Alternate between them (no rest!) to complete the sets. Lifting twice a week is sufficient, but you'll see better results doing four total workouts each week. On rest days, you can stay active with other physical activities like yoga, hiking, biking, conditioning circuits, dance classes—just don't push yourself to the point of exhaustion or pain. Here's how to space your workouts throughout the week:

If You're Lifting Twice A Week. . .
Day 1: Workout A
Day 2: Rest
Day 3: Rest
Day 4: Workout B
Day 5: Rest
Days 6 And 7: Rest

If You're Lifting Four Times A Week. . .
Day 1: Workout A
Day 2: Workout B
Day 3: Rest
Day 4: Workout A
Day 5: Workout B
Days 6 And 7: Rest

Ask Women's Health: Tampon Safety, Calories, and LinkedIn Etiquette

Answers to your most pressing questions, straight from the experts

Shutterstock

I'm hungrier on days I exercise—how do I make sure I burn more than I eat?—Lilli, DeWitt, IA.
You should feel hungrier on those days—and eat more, too, says Marni Sumbal, R.D., an exercise physiologist and owner of Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition in Jacksonville, Florida. The key to managing your food intake is to eat an additional snack before and after your workout, so you're fueling up when your body needs it most.

For example, before an hour-long run, Sumbal suggests a 100- to 200-calorie snack mixing five to 15 grams of protein and 30 to 40 grams of carbs (like a small banana with half a tablespoon of peanut butter); a post-workout snack should include about 10 to 15 grams of protein and 20 to 30 grams of carbs (try three ounces of yogurt and a piece of fruit). By timing your extra snacks around your workout, you can satisfy your hunger and get leaner, says Sumbal.

Is it dangerous to leave a tampon in overnight?—Jacquie, Evanston, WY
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a potentially fatal bacterial infection that has long been linked with leaving a tampon in for too long, used to scare the bejesus out of women. But the last major group of cases was in the early 1980s—and many physicians believe the outbreak was more likely due to a different type of bacterial strain common at the time, says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D.

These days, the chances of getting TSS from a tampon are very minimal, Minkin says, and you can safely wear one overnight—so sleeping with a tampon in place isn't a worry. If you do, though, Minkin recommends wearing a pad for at least four hours over the course of the next day to prevent dryness and promote overall vaginal health.

Should you accept requests on LinkedIn from people you don't know personally?—Evelyn, North Liberty, IN
Not immediately, says Nicole Williams, LinkedIn's career expert, who explains that there are no career benefits to accepting requests that aren't valuable to you in some way.

Instead, scan their profile to see if you have anything in common. "If they seem like they could potentially be a good professional contact, go ahead and accept. They may end up being able to help you in the future," says Williams. (And you can always dump them later.) But if the person has nonprofessional reasons (or you can't think of a reason for needing them in your circle), feel free to decline the request.

3 Strength-Training Tips for Beginners

How to stay injury-free in the weight room

Juan Algarin

Use these three tips from Neghar Fonooni, a fitness coach in Santa Monica, to stay injury-free in the weight room.

Start light. Begin with a weight you know you can move well. (Most of Fonooni's clients begin with 15- to 20-pound dumbbells and a 45-pound barbell.) You know it's time to move up when you can easily perform more reps than recommended in the program.

Do it right. Consult a pro early if you have questions about an exercise. Proper form should:

. . .look effortless, not uncomfortable. People shouldn't be wondering if they need to request backup for you.

. . .never hurt. Note: Soreness and pain are not the same.

. . .match how our bodies are meant to move. If you can't do something, you may have a mobility or movement issue (tight hip flexors, for example) standing in your way.

Be aware. Note what's around you at all times. Fonooni has seen people run into others, trip on equipment, and hit their heads when they lie down.

3 Fab Healthy Snack Subscription Services (Yes, Really)

Like Birchbox, for your rumbling belly

Travis Rathbone

Women, on average, grab three snacks per day, according to the NPD Group. Bypass the inevitable post-vending-machine sugar crash and have good-for-you nibbles delivered directly to your desk. A slew of companies offer monthly subscription services packed with healthy snacks. Here, a sampling:

Nature Box
Five all-natural products you won't find at the store, such as banana-bread granola and smoky Indian snack mix
$20 per month and up

Boxtera
About 20 servings of snacks per delivery, and all of 'em natural, organic, and GMO-free
$30 per month for 12-month subscription

Tasterie
Nut allergy? Celiac disease? A sign-up survey means you'll receive only foods you can safely eat.
$20 per month and up

You Can Accessorize Like Your Favorite <i>Mean Girls</i> Characters

These baubles are so fetch

Truth: Aaron Samuels looks sexy with his hair pushed back, but this Mean Girls-inspired bling will turn you into the hottest eye candy around. The jewelry is part of the forthcoming Burn Book accessory collection from Stella & Bow—and we’re in love.

MORE: 16 Sparkly Accessories We Covet

The L.A.-based designers plan to launch their collection in mid-February to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the super quotable movie’s release, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Can you believe it came out in April 2004, and we’re still trying to make “fetch” happen?

MORE: 6 Must-Have Cuffs

Look forward to gold, silver, and pink accessories—including bracelets and hair clips—engraved with the film’s loveable one-liners such as “You can’t sit with us.” A cuff inscribed with the word “Wednesday” is made in rose gold, the approved shade for hump day. Prices vary from $23 up to $110, but seriously, there’s no more stylish way to channel your inner Regina George.

MORE: Aaron Samuels: Indoor Cycling Instructor?

 

Snooki Talks Pregnancy and Getting Fit Post-Baby

The Jersey Shore star swapped out fist bumps for a baby bump. Here she shares her uncensored (and sometimes brutally, uncomfortably honest) insights into life as a new mom

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi has come a long way from brawls and bar crawls on the Jersey Shore. The 26-year-old new mom and Dancing With the Stars alum just released a new book, Baby Bumps: From Party Girl to Proud Mama, and All the Messy Milestones Along the Way. Inside the leopard-print book jacket is every explicit detail of her unexpected pregnancy—like taking six at-home pregnancy tests, dealing with treacherous gas, and making her fiancé Jionni check out the mucus plug.

So what made the reality star want to talk bellies and bottles? Here’s what she had to say in her new book:  

“I want to tell the not-so-glamorized truth about the dirty job of becoming a mom. Maybe other women really do have the smiling, rocking chair pregnancy that you see on the cover of other books about it. I know each pregnancy story is unique. But we all deal with a lot of the same issues and weirdness. I hope sharing my crazy thoughts and gross moments will give readers some relief when they have theirs. Basically, I feel your gas pain.”

Obviously, we were intrigued, so we checked in with Polizzi to find out more about her pregnancy and how she got into such amazing shape after her son Lorenzo was born (her gym selfies are beyond impressive). Check out our interview below, edited for space:

WH: Your book is all about the ups and downs of your pregnancy, but what was the most unexpected part of it for you?
NP: Probably the mood swings. I already knew I was going to get fat and pee myself. I knew all of that stuff from my friends telling me, but I didn’t know I was going to be such a bitch. I was always in a bad mood. Sometimes I would wake up and be so happy, and Jionni could say a word and automatically it would turn me into the worst person ever. I just wasn’t prepared for those mood swings.

WH: Is there any advice you would give women for staying sane?
NP: I wouldn’t tell the women—I would tell their husbands or their men, just deal with it. It only lasts nine months, and she’s going to be psycho until she has the baby.

MORE: How Jenna Dewan Tatum Lost the Baby Weight

WH: What did you do to stay healthy both during and after your pregnancy?
NP: When I was pregnant, up until the seventh month I made sure I was eating healthy with salads, veggies, and chicken, and then one day a week I would splurge and have brownies and ice cream. But then once I hit the eighth month mark I was like, I feel like a whale anyway, just screw it, so I started eating everything. And that’s when I probably gained the most weight.

After I had Lorenzo I knew I wanted to be healthy and be a fit mom and be able to carry him up the stairs without dying. So I started going to the gym after six weeks post-birth, and it probably took me five to six months to see any results. I was going with a trainer and I’m like, ‘Dude, I’m not losing any weight, nothing’s happening. I’m working my butt off and I don’t see any results.’ And then when I said that, all of the sudden I just started losing the weight and it just shed off overnight.

So it’s going to take a while to see results. You’re losing weight but also gaining muscle. So you’re kind of staying in the same weight, but once you have the muscle, then the fat drops off and that’s when you see the big results. That’s going to take a while, so I can see how people get discouraged after having a baby when they go to the gym and say I’m not seeing any results and then they stop. You have to keep going.

WH: You’re in amazing shape now—what’s your fitness routine like these days?
NP: I do a lot of weight training, a lot of fast running—not a lot of miles, but a fast speed for a mile or two so I don’t lose all my muscle. I enjoy weight training with my trainer. He makes me do a lot of heavy stuff now because I told him I want a lot of muscle, so he’s killing me right now.

MORE: Before You Judge the Post-Baby Instagram Woman

WH: Any particular exercises that you dread?
NP: I definitely hate leg day. It’s a love-hate relationship, because my legs are burning—it feels like there’s a knife going through my muscle, that’s how bad it hurts—but the end results are great, because my legs look awesome.

WH: How have you and Jionni adjusted to life as parents?
NP: We definitely hit a rough patch when Lorenzo was born because you’re both the parents, and you want to do it your way but he wants to do it his way. And it’s like, ‘Can you just go away so I can have my time with my son?’ But then he wants his own time with his son, and you get jealous because you want him. So we had sort of a brawl over who would get to have Lorenzo and change his diaper, and now we have to beg each other to do it because it’s been a year.

There’s going to be bickering in the beginning because you want to do it your way and he wants to do it his way, but I feel like as a relationship we definitely grew up and we don’t fight about the stupid things anymore. We’re definitely a lot happier.

WH: Is there anything else you think women need to know about pregnancy?
NP: I just want women to know that even though it’s a great experience—you’re pregnant, you’re having a baby—it’s the most uncomfortable experience you’ll ever have and the scariest experience you’ll ever have. But going through all of that and then holding your baby after nine months and seeing him grow up like I am, it’s totally worth it. I can’t wait to have another baby. I can’t wait to pee myself and be uncomfortable for another nine months. I’m excited to have more kids.

MORE: How Long Does it Really Take to Lose the Baby Weight?