Michelle Spindler

Feeling guilty about knocking a few back? It might be time to stop the guilt! Moderate beer consumption has been shown to help protect against heart disease and lower risk of hyper tension. (Just remember, we’re talking moderate consumption, not all-night err-night affairs.) . As it turns out, all beers are not created equal, so grabbing whichever tallboy is on special this week doesn’t guarantee health benefits. Here, we’ve rounded up the beers most likely to bring a health punch to the party. To read more click here!

By now you’ve probably heard loads of exercise advice – some of it conflicting – from trainers, TV, and gym buddies. To clear things up, we sought out top fitness experts to get their take. We asked them for game-changing tips, proven difference makers shown to keep your body safe while burning fat and building muscle. Here are their top 20.

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The real danger is to new athletes, like those who flock to the thousands of CrossFit facilities looking for a great workout. Word of mouth is powerful in the CrossFit community, and maybe the most dangerous element. While the workouts can be performed by beginners, their immature muscles can’t tell the difference between training to failure and simply getting a good workout. In fact, most beginners don’t know when “too much is too much” and don’t understand the unique demand of an exercise session, says Eric Cressey, C.S.C.S.,  a shoulder and injury prevention expert and owner of Cressey Performance in Hudson, Mass.

Since many explosive movements require technical skill, he says, it is not advisable for Olympic lifts be completed in a fatigued state. CrossFit, and other popular workout schemes like bootcamps, rely on training to excessive exhaustion and failure, and thereby create an artificial perception of effectiveness. “These people might be doing a crazy workout and feel great because their endorphins are flowing, but then they wake up with their shoulder pounding with pain,” Cressey says.

His biggest concern is the technique that goes along with the workout. “When you see a 20-minute circuit of really ugly cleans and ring dips, those are exercises that don’t jive well,” he says.

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Being bad at yoga has it’s benefits. The yoga experience is always changing, your body will never react the same, to the same position. Trying the easiest poses in yoga still provides your body and mind with a state of peace and relaxation. Click the link below to see one readers experience. To read more click here!

Have you ever wondered how/why some athletes are so successful? Check out this article. I found it to be incredibly motivating and inspirational. What they all had in common was: they believed in themselves and they motivated themselves. No matter the circumstance, they kept going, they kept pushing themselves to maximize their true potential. To read more click here!

Are you thinking about trying a spin class? Are you a little timid? I have many girlfriends who will not try spin classes because they are afraid. But fear not. Here are some pointers that will ensure you get started on the right track! To read more click here!

Have you considered giving hot yoga a try? I know I have, but I am sad to admit, that I am still fairly petrified by the thought of it. Check out this awesome article that will provide you with some tools for success! To read more click here!

Are you yearning to plan your next vacation? Looking for something that incorporates fitness into your itinerary? Check out some of these hot spots around the world and make your fitness vacation dream a reality! To read more click here!

Looking for a low calory, healthy, not processed snack? Look no further! Try some of these delicious treats to quench your hunger! To read more click here!

Are you looking for a portable and protein packed snack? Here are 31 possibilities that may help mix up your menu! To read more click here!

Times have changed quite a bit in half a century. We make far more money than our ancestors did, but according to research, we aren’t any happier. It often seems that happiness is just around the corner if we work hard enough. But happiness does not come wrapped in a big red bow with car keys attached. The best path to happiness is perhaps found in several characteristics of happy people. Scientists suggests that half of our happiness is dependent on our genetic make-up, but that we can determine the other half. It’s empowering to know that our actions can have a direct effect on our level of happiness, regardless of our genetic predisposition. Here are 12 attributes found in genuinely happy people that may be just what you need to ensure you stay on the sunny side of the street.

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A demanding job, a busy social life and an active family can take up so much of your time. Your calendar may be packed, but that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to drive-through fast food and frozen pizzas. We’ll show you how to cook nutritious meals that are quick and easy. A home-cooked dinner is better for your family’s health ─ both physically and emotionally. A 2011 study published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” found that healthy, home-prepared meals evoke positive emotions and increase the likelihood that your next meal will be healthy. Read on to see 15 healthy recipes that will nourish the body and mind.  What’s more, they’ll take only about 10 minutes to prepare, start to finish.

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