It's no secret that pets make you feel good. Here, 12 ways they make a real impact on your mental and physical wellbeing.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
What the Yuck?!
Got a truly embarrassing health question? A weird out-of-the-blue symptom? In this sneak peek at our new Health book, Dr. Roshini Raj fields your most personal and provocative questions—about your body, sex, even celeb health fads.
Bridal Bootcamp: 22 Exercises for Toned Arms and Shoulders
Getting married? Get ready to put your back, shoulders, and arms on display on your wedding day by mixing and matching these upper-body moves.
The Top Fat-Burning Foods
Certain foods have a very high thermogenic effect, so you literally burn calories as you chew.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
11 Things You Should Never Do When You're Angry
When you're mad, everyday tasks like driving and using Facebook may later prove regrettable.
11 Reasons Why You're Not Losing Belly Fat
Belly fat won't budge? Genetics, hormones, or easy-to-fix mistakes could be to blame.
How to Do the Perfect Push-Up
By DailyBurn
The basic push-up isn't quite as easy as dropping down and giving us 20. The complex bodyweight exercise takes proper form, concentration and a base level of strength. But not to worry—practice can make perfect. Follow along with DailyBurn trainer Anja Garcia for this quick and easy-to-follow tutorial.
The basic push-up isn't quite as easy as dropping down and giving us 20. The complex bodyweight exercise takes proper form, concentration and a base level of strength. But not to worry—practice can make perfect. Follow along with DailyBurn trainer Anja Garcia for this quick and easy-to-follow tutorial.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
15 Wedding-Dress-Worthy Upper-Body Exercises
Get ready to put your back, shoulders, and arms on display by mixing and matching these upper-body moves
10 Bogus Health Trends That Waste Your Time
The truth about oil pulling, ear candling, and other health fads.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
4 Ways to Cure an Unhealthy Relationship With Food
My teenage daughter's summer job was at an ice cream shop. She asked me to swing by one day so she could make me a sundae. I should have run over there and slurped down my treat with unfettered joy. But I begged off. The thought of eating a sauce-covered mountain of sugar and fat gave me a jolt of guilt and shame. I hadn't even entered the store, and I was already full of regret.
It's awful being in a dysfunctional relationship with food. I would compare it to regrettable hookups with losers in my past, but those flings didn't last very long. Food and I have been breaking up and making up since childhood. The worst part? Our affair is completely one-sided. A cheeseburger doesn't know I exist. My feelings for a cheeseburger, however, are complicated. But although I'm a chronic dieter, my eating habits are considered normal. I don't have a clinical disorder like bulimia or anorexia. I simply want to be thin and healthy.
And I'm not the only one, judging from my friends, the best-seller lists and the cult of Whole Foods. We live in a world in which we know self-starvation is bad, but somehow believe drinking only juice is good. "Our obsession with appearance, our fixation on diet and our food- and information-abundant culture have given rise to an epidemic of unhealthy relationships with food," says Michelle May, MD, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat. "Food has become our focus instead of being the fuel for a full life."
To ease the strangle-hold your diet has over you, consider what about it leaves you so powerless. Check out the following culprits. Chances are, you can relate to at least one—if not all—of them.
More: 16 Ways to Lose Weight Fast
Problem No. 1: You're ruled by rules
A healthy romantic partnership revolves around compromise. Some women, though, treat food like they would an unpredictable puppy—something to be disciplined. Ann, a photographer in New York City, keeps a list of food rules on her fridge. "Just a few," she says. "No sugar, no white or fried food, no dairy, no gluten and no carbonation. I do eat beef." A friend from Orlando packs a separate suitcase for her protein bars when she travels to make sure she won't be tempted by dubious hotel offerings. On a recent trip, there was an issue about bringing food into a country. She freaked out at immigration, ranted hysterically and cried. The officials were so shocked, they let her keep her bars.
This kind of rigidity is all about fear of losing control, says Susan Albers, PsyD, author of 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food. "Our minds love to think in black-and-white terms," Albers points out. "Right versus wrong. Fat versus thin. Perfect versus ruined." Or that's how it might seem when in the throes of an obsession. "Some people feel lost without structure," adds Mary Pritchard, PhD, professor in the department of psychology at Boise State University. "Walking into a restaurant or opening a fridge kicks off an algorithm of counting."
These thoughts aren't limited to type As, though. They're on a mental loop in many of our heads, thanks to an overload of (often conflicting) information about what we should and shouldn't be eating. And unless you clue into this desire for dietary perfection, you can do serious damage to your self-esteem. "When you break a rule, that can spiral into 'I'm a bad person,'" Albers notes. "But food isn't good or bad. There are 50 shades in between. Rule-based eating doesn't take hunger and cravings into account."
And that sets you up for a fall when your stomach starts grumbling and you're forced to deviate from your well-laid eating plans. Instead of sticking with a regimen, try to be a bit less strict. "I encourage women to eat a wide variety of foods," Albers says. "It's healthier from a nutritional and emotional standpoint." Of course, that's much easier said than done. A half-step: Every day, break your rules, just a bit. "Start small," she urges. "A piece of bread. Pasta once a week. When you see that nothing bad happens, flexibility won't be as intimidating. You might even enjoy it."
More: 14 Ways to Cut Portions Without Feeling Hungry
Problem No. 2: You don't trust yourself
Another given in a healthy relationship is trust—believing you and your partner will do the right thing when faced with temptation. In a dysfunctional "foodship"—as I like to call it—distrust can be rampant. I know I am weak around cake, for instance. To keep from eating too much, I have doused baked goods in water. A friend told me, "I use hot sauce." Another: "Liquid soap."
My friend Rachel from New Jersey has a full bag of tricks. "I use a timer between bites," she explains. "When I'm done, I freeze the leftovers so I won't eat them. My boyfriend is in charge of doling out snacks under the instruction that he can't give me more than my allotment, even if I beg."
It's not our fault that it's so hard to resist chips and candy. It's plain biology: Eating carbohydrates (plentiful in pizza and cupcakes, but not so much in kale) boosts our levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin. And we may have happy childhood associations with certain treats. No wonder that some of us crave comfort food when we're upset, bored, lonely, etcetera. Stress triggers a jones for sugar; cookies are readily available. If you try not to think about the treat, your mind just becomes fixated. So when you finally buy the cookies, you're too obsessed to stop at just one (or three).
If we were more mindful of hunger cues, though, we'd make better choices. "Before eating, pause to ask yourself, Does my body need fuel? Why am I thinking about food if my body doesn't need it?" Dr. May says. If you do need to eat, listen to your cravings: Indulging a little now can keep you from overdoing it later, Dr. May notes. As for how much to eat, your body can help with that, too. "The right amount is about feeling good," Dr. May says, and not uncomfortably stuffed afterward.
More: 31 Superfood Secrets for a Long and Healthy Life
Problem No. 3: You Beat Yourself Up
Imagine having a boyfriend who, after you made a small mistake, called you a worthless failure. You'd dump his butt. But many of us do the same thing to ourselves if we dare to enjoy a piece of cake. "The food-as-enemy voice shames you for overindulging," Albers says. "The food-as-friend voice is a cheerleader. If you mess up, it encourages you to get back on track."
To silence your inner bitch, steer dark food thoughts to the light. When you're being hypercritical—I'm a failure. Everyone thinks I'm fat—stop and listen to what you're saying to yourself. Then replace the harmful message with a kind one, like No one's perfect. My friends and family love me. Over time, this will become natural.
Speaking of family and friends, do yours include dieters who are even more critical than you are? They're not helping. Your ideal dining companions: "People who eat slowly and take pleasure in their food," Albers says.
Problem No. 4: You really, really want to be skinny
A healthy relationship is honest. An unhealthy one is full of deception. I know I lied to myself during a recent juice fast. I said I was doing it for the antioxidants. Bull! I wanted to lose weight. "The number one cause of food restriction is body dissatisfaction," Pritchard says. "Ninety percent of women don't like what they see in the mirror."
There's nothing wrong with wanting to be slim. But depriving yourself of crucial nutrients (or eating only a select few)—whether through cleanses, fasts or cutting out food groups—and pretending it's all for the good of your health is a dangerous game. Ironically, it can backfire and set off the "starve, binge, hate yourself" cycle that makes you gain weight instead.
And all that negative self-talk is no recipe for weight loss, either. I know that when I'm nicer to myself, I tend to eat better and maintain a weight that's healthier for my body—and my sanity. "In our culture, so much is driven by shallow perceptions of what's worthwhile," Dr. May says. "By obsessing about weight loss, we're not achieving what we're capable of. It's crowding out stuff that's more important"—like our happiness and well-being. I'll eat to that.
It's awful being in a dysfunctional relationship with food. I would compare it to regrettable hookups with losers in my past, but those flings didn't last very long. Food and I have been breaking up and making up since childhood. The worst part? Our affair is completely one-sided. A cheeseburger doesn't know I exist. My feelings for a cheeseburger, however, are complicated. But although I'm a chronic dieter, my eating habits are considered normal. I don't have a clinical disorder like bulimia or anorexia. I simply want to be thin and healthy.
And I'm not the only one, judging from my friends, the best-seller lists and the cult of Whole Foods. We live in a world in which we know self-starvation is bad, but somehow believe drinking only juice is good. "Our obsession with appearance, our fixation on diet and our food- and information-abundant culture have given rise to an epidemic of unhealthy relationships with food," says Michelle May, MD, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat. "Food has become our focus instead of being the fuel for a full life."
To ease the strangle-hold your diet has over you, consider what about it leaves you so powerless. Check out the following culprits. Chances are, you can relate to at least one—if not all—of them.
More: 16 Ways to Lose Weight Fast
Problem No. 1: You're ruled by rules
A healthy romantic partnership revolves around compromise. Some women, though, treat food like they would an unpredictable puppy—something to be disciplined. Ann, a photographer in New York City, keeps a list of food rules on her fridge. "Just a few," she says. "No sugar, no white or fried food, no dairy, no gluten and no carbonation. I do eat beef." A friend from Orlando packs a separate suitcase for her protein bars when she travels to make sure she won't be tempted by dubious hotel offerings. On a recent trip, there was an issue about bringing food into a country. She freaked out at immigration, ranted hysterically and cried. The officials were so shocked, they let her keep her bars.
This kind of rigidity is all about fear of losing control, says Susan Albers, PsyD, author of 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food. "Our minds love to think in black-and-white terms," Albers points out. "Right versus wrong. Fat versus thin. Perfect versus ruined." Or that's how it might seem when in the throes of an obsession. "Some people feel lost without structure," adds Mary Pritchard, PhD, professor in the department of psychology at Boise State University. "Walking into a restaurant or opening a fridge kicks off an algorithm of counting."
These thoughts aren't limited to type As, though. They're on a mental loop in many of our heads, thanks to an overload of (often conflicting) information about what we should and shouldn't be eating. And unless you clue into this desire for dietary perfection, you can do serious damage to your self-esteem. "When you break a rule, that can spiral into 'I'm a bad person,'" Albers notes. "But food isn't good or bad. There are 50 shades in between. Rule-based eating doesn't take hunger and cravings into account."
And that sets you up for a fall when your stomach starts grumbling and you're forced to deviate from your well-laid eating plans. Instead of sticking with a regimen, try to be a bit less strict. "I encourage women to eat a wide variety of foods," Albers says. "It's healthier from a nutritional and emotional standpoint." Of course, that's much easier said than done. A half-step: Every day, break your rules, just a bit. "Start small," she urges. "A piece of bread. Pasta once a week. When you see that nothing bad happens, flexibility won't be as intimidating. You might even enjoy it."
More: 14 Ways to Cut Portions Without Feeling Hungry
Problem No. 2: You don't trust yourself
Another given in a healthy relationship is trust—believing you and your partner will do the right thing when faced with temptation. In a dysfunctional "foodship"—as I like to call it—distrust can be rampant. I know I am weak around cake, for instance. To keep from eating too much, I have doused baked goods in water. A friend told me, "I use hot sauce." Another: "Liquid soap."
My friend Rachel from New Jersey has a full bag of tricks. "I use a timer between bites," she explains. "When I'm done, I freeze the leftovers so I won't eat them. My boyfriend is in charge of doling out snacks under the instruction that he can't give me more than my allotment, even if I beg."
It's not our fault that it's so hard to resist chips and candy. It's plain biology: Eating carbohydrates (plentiful in pizza and cupcakes, but not so much in kale) boosts our levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin. And we may have happy childhood associations with certain treats. No wonder that some of us crave comfort food when we're upset, bored, lonely, etcetera. Stress triggers a jones for sugar; cookies are readily available. If you try not to think about the treat, your mind just becomes fixated. So when you finally buy the cookies, you're too obsessed to stop at just one (or three).
If we were more mindful of hunger cues, though, we'd make better choices. "Before eating, pause to ask yourself, Does my body need fuel? Why am I thinking about food if my body doesn't need it?" Dr. May says. If you do need to eat, listen to your cravings: Indulging a little now can keep you from overdoing it later, Dr. May notes. As for how much to eat, your body can help with that, too. "The right amount is about feeling good," Dr. May says, and not uncomfortably stuffed afterward.
More: 31 Superfood Secrets for a Long and Healthy Life
Problem No. 3: You Beat Yourself Up
Imagine having a boyfriend who, after you made a small mistake, called you a worthless failure. You'd dump his butt. But many of us do the same thing to ourselves if we dare to enjoy a piece of cake. "The food-as-enemy voice shames you for overindulging," Albers says. "The food-as-friend voice is a cheerleader. If you mess up, it encourages you to get back on track."
To silence your inner bitch, steer dark food thoughts to the light. When you're being hypercritical—I'm a failure. Everyone thinks I'm fat—stop and listen to what you're saying to yourself. Then replace the harmful message with a kind one, like No one's perfect. My friends and family love me. Over time, this will become natural.
Speaking of family and friends, do yours include dieters who are even more critical than you are? They're not helping. Your ideal dining companions: "People who eat slowly and take pleasure in their food," Albers says.
Problem No. 4: You really, really want to be skinny
A healthy relationship is honest. An unhealthy one is full of deception. I know I lied to myself during a recent juice fast. I said I was doing it for the antioxidants. Bull! I wanted to lose weight. "The number one cause of food restriction is body dissatisfaction," Pritchard says. "Ninety percent of women don't like what they see in the mirror."
There's nothing wrong with wanting to be slim. But depriving yourself of crucial nutrients (or eating only a select few)—whether through cleanses, fasts or cutting out food groups—and pretending it's all for the good of your health is a dangerous game. Ironically, it can backfire and set off the "starve, binge, hate yourself" cycle that makes you gain weight instead.
And all that negative self-talk is no recipe for weight loss, either. I know that when I'm nicer to myself, I tend to eat better and maintain a weight that's healthier for my body—and my sanity. "In our culture, so much is driven by shallow perceptions of what's worthwhile," Dr. May says. "By obsessing about weight loss, we're not achieving what we're capable of. It's crowding out stuff that's more important"—like our happiness and well-being. I'll eat to that.
5 Ways to (Finally!) Commit to Your Goals
How is it possible to feel incredibly resolved to do something one minute, only to find that your can-do attitude has evaporated by the next day? It's a question social scientists have studied for years. They've pinpointed four key factors involved in fully committing to something: how rewarding and fulfilling you find an activity; how irksome or painful it may be; how much time, money, energy, effort, care and concern you invest in it; and how you manage choices. As an associate professor in Boise State University's department of communication, I've been studying and teaching commitment for 15 years. I know firsthand that most of us rarely consider the power of dedication, even though that is what drives our long-term decisions and goals. Here, a helpful (and revealing) mini workshop to get you in commitment mode.
Define your commitment
Be as specific as possible so you can vividly imagine it. Use a notebook for this and the other exercises, or dedicate a note to it in your smartphone. I'll use a fitness example here and throughout, but these steps apply to all areas of life.
The what: I'm determined to commit to working out regularly by going to the gym at least three times a week for a minimum of 45 minutes.
The why: I want to have more energy and less stress, feel stronger and be leaner.
Make a good thing great
Compile a list of things both big and small that you treasure about this commitment, which you can refer to if your resolve begins to wane. For exercising, you might list these benefits:
Feeling invigorated and in shape after a workout
Fitting into the clothes I used to wear before I gained weight
Listening to really great music while working out
Connecting with others who care about their health
Now think about what could make this commitment more worthwhile, fun or valuable and note that down. For example:
I could do a few sessions with a trainer to stay motivated.
I could find some new songs through iTunes and purchase three of them today.
I could try a new activity that's really fun, like a kickboxing class at the gym.
Sidestep pitfalls
Now it's time to list (and tackle!) the troubles that could hold you back, such as:
It costs $120 a month to belong to the gym, which is kind of expensive.
Everybody looks so fit that I feel uncomfortable.
The gym is huge and I feel lost.
The parking is horrible; I hate having to drive around.
Put a check mark next to issues you can live with. For the ones you'd like to change, brainstorm ways to deal. So to handle the challenge of feeling lost:
I could work out with a trainer.
I could consistently go to the same class so I get to know some of the regulars better.
I could join a smaller gym.
Identify one or two solutions that you are willing to try, and set a deadline. Even small adjustments can make you more satisfied—and satisfaction is a major predictor of commitment.
Invest more, more, more
Take inventory of what you've put into your commitment: time (days/years); talent (skills/creativity); tenderness (sharing yourself/emotional investment); and tangibles (money/material items). An exerciser's list might read:
I have been paying $30 a class in yoga fees for the past year.
I bought cross-training shoes.
I've put a lot of effort into learning those weight routines.
As you look at your list, you'll realize that in many ways this commitment is already a part of you. Give yourself props! Now consider what new contributions you can make to help increase your sense that you can't back out. Identify one or more you can do right away, and again give yourself a deadline. Like this:
I can sign up for the boot camp tomorrow and prepay.
I can post my goal on Facebook tonight and share follow-up posts about my progress.
Whenever I leave the club, I'll tell the woman at the front desk, see you tomorrow.
Control your choices
One reason people can't dedicate themselves as fully as they'd like is that they're overwhelmed by options competing for their attention. To keep the focus on your commitment, jot down distractions that tend to derail you. So someone who's trying to work out at the gym more regularly might note, Going out with friends instead. Now pinpoint solutions that will work for you, such as:
I can tell friends that I'm never available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings so they won't even ask me to join them.
I can see if anyone wants to exercise with me instead of going out.
I can change the screen saver on my computer so I'm not constantly looking at a photo of the gang at happy hour.
These bits of self-reflection add up to major payoffs—you've just increased the likelihood of success. Of course, you won't be able to control everything, and sometimes you'll have to make tough choices. But when you're aware of both the payoffs and the challenges, and you influence them as much as you can, your commitment will be clarified and strengthened. A win!
Define your commitment
Be as specific as possible so you can vividly imagine it. Use a notebook for this and the other exercises, or dedicate a note to it in your smartphone. I'll use a fitness example here and throughout, but these steps apply to all areas of life.
The what: I'm determined to commit to working out regularly by going to the gym at least three times a week for a minimum of 45 minutes.
The why: I want to have more energy and less stress, feel stronger and be leaner.
Make a good thing great
Compile a list of things both big and small that you treasure about this commitment, which you can refer to if your resolve begins to wane. For exercising, you might list these benefits:
Feeling invigorated and in shape after a workout
Fitting into the clothes I used to wear before I gained weight
Listening to really great music while working out
Connecting with others who care about their health
Now think about what could make this commitment more worthwhile, fun or valuable and note that down. For example:
I could do a few sessions with a trainer to stay motivated.
I could find some new songs through iTunes and purchase three of them today.
I could try a new activity that's really fun, like a kickboxing class at the gym.
Sidestep pitfalls
Now it's time to list (and tackle!) the troubles that could hold you back, such as:
It costs $120 a month to belong to the gym, which is kind of expensive.
Everybody looks so fit that I feel uncomfortable.
The gym is huge and I feel lost.
The parking is horrible; I hate having to drive around.
Put a check mark next to issues you can live with. For the ones you'd like to change, brainstorm ways to deal. So to handle the challenge of feeling lost:
I could work out with a trainer.
I could consistently go to the same class so I get to know some of the regulars better.
I could join a smaller gym.
Identify one or two solutions that you are willing to try, and set a deadline. Even small adjustments can make you more satisfied—and satisfaction is a major predictor of commitment.
Invest more, more, more
Take inventory of what you've put into your commitment: time (days/years); talent (skills/creativity); tenderness (sharing yourself/emotional investment); and tangibles (money/material items). An exerciser's list might read:
I have been paying $30 a class in yoga fees for the past year.
I bought cross-training shoes.
I've put a lot of effort into learning those weight routines.
As you look at your list, you'll realize that in many ways this commitment is already a part of you. Give yourself props! Now consider what new contributions you can make to help increase your sense that you can't back out. Identify one or more you can do right away, and again give yourself a deadline. Like this:
I can sign up for the boot camp tomorrow and prepay.
I can post my goal on Facebook tonight and share follow-up posts about my progress.
Whenever I leave the club, I'll tell the woman at the front desk, see you tomorrow.
Control your choices
One reason people can't dedicate themselves as fully as they'd like is that they're overwhelmed by options competing for their attention. To keep the focus on your commitment, jot down distractions that tend to derail you. So someone who's trying to work out at the gym more regularly might note, Going out with friends instead. Now pinpoint solutions that will work for you, such as:
I can tell friends that I'm never available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings so they won't even ask me to join them.
I can see if anyone wants to exercise with me instead of going out.
I can change the screen saver on my computer so I'm not constantly looking at a photo of the gang at happy hour.
These bits of self-reflection add up to major payoffs—you've just increased the likelihood of success. Of course, you won't be able to control everything, and sometimes you'll have to make tough choices. But when you're aware of both the payoffs and the challenges, and you influence them as much as you can, your commitment will be clarified and strengthened. A win!
Monday, April 14, 2014
5 Ways to Get Healthy for Less Money
In the quest to stay healthy and happy, nothing is free: $350 to fill a cavity, $120 for a monthly gym membership, $30 for a yoga class. But you don't need to go broke just to be at your best. The key to paying less? Asking for it.
Unfortunately, that's something many of us don't do. "Haggling involves two things people hate: conflict and rejection," says Edward Wertheim, PhD, professor of negotiation at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business in Boston. And health is an area where people don't often think they can strike a bargain.
But "anything you spend money on—whether it's an antique or a skin check—is open to debate," says Mark Ellwood, author of Bargain Fever. "And health-care prices tend to be arbitrary—there is no rule saying a doctor or personal trainer has to charge a certain amount." Save big on services by learning the art of negotiation.
More: 20 Ways to Get Healthier for Free
Get a deal on...: Gym memberships
Gather info on local rates. This should always be your first step. That way, "you can ask the gym you like best to match the average or lowest price you find," says Sandy Todd Webster, editor-in-chief of trade publications for Idea Health & Fitness Association, the world's largest association of fitness professionals.
Create your own discounts. "I asked a nearby gym about a neighborhood discount. They said no, but when I explained how close I lived, they gave me 25 percent off for the first year," says Thorin Klosowski, a writer for the website Lifehacker. The same gambit worked for Amy Davis, a teacher in Columbia, Md. "I had stress fractures that sidelined me for a few months, so I went to a gym and asked if I could get a discount to ride only the stationary bike," she says. "They waived my joining fee, and I paid just $15 a month." Also ask about any discounts that aren't advertised. "Some gyms offer lower membership rates if you go later at night or only on weekdays," Klosowski says.
Haggle at the right time. "Most gyms have a sales quota they need to meet each month, so if you talk to them toward the end of the month, you have more power," says trainer Andrea Metcalf, author of Naked Fitness. "You can also get more bang for your buck during slower months, like July, when everyone is away or exercising outside."
Barter with boutique gyms, too. Ask yoga and cycling studios to match any lower rates you've found at similar places. And "don't be afraid to ask for a free trial period or a friends-and-family referral discount," Webster adds.
More: 10 Fun Ways to Get Fit Without the Gym
Get a deal on...: Sessions with a personal trainer, nutritionist or massage therapist
Buy in bulk. "Ask if you can get bonus sessions by paying in advance," Ellwood says.
Propose a trade. Carrie Anton, a writer in Madison, Wis., tried this tactic and succeeded. "The trainers I went to had a clunky website," she says. "So I offered them my writing services in exchange for getting free sessions. They liked the work I did so much that they kept the freebies coming!"
More: 19 Natural Remedies for Anxiety
Get a deal on...: Therapy
Ask about sliding scales. "This means you're charged based on your income, so the less you make, the less you pay," says Joe Taravella, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist in New York City. Therapists do this more often than you might think.
Get a deal on...: Spa treatments
Hit up Groupon. "Massages and facials are some of the biggest categories for mass-coupon websites," says Allan Share, president of the Day Spa Association. "If the spa you go to isn't on one, call them up, mention that their competitor is running a certain special and ask if they can match it."
Get a deal on...: Dental work
Offer to pay in cash. This is particularly useful at the dentist's office, since most dental insurance leaves patients shelling out quite a bit on their own. "My dentist lowered the price of my visit when I said I would pay in full up front," Klosowski says. "He knew he'd get his money directly without worrying about insurance."
Shop around. "Many dentists will meet with you for a complimentary consultation to get a price quote—just confirm in advance that it will indeed be free," says Gayle Glenn, DDS, president of the American Association of Orthodontists. "You can save up to 10 percent in costs by doing this."
More: 15 Ways to Save Money on Prescription Drugs
4 Things You Shouldn't Scrip On
A super low price isn't always a great deal. In some areas, it's worth spending a little bit more.
Complex procedures. Buyer, beware: "Cheaper versions may not be the best treatment solutions," says Todd Barsky, DDS, a prosthodontist at the Miami Institute in Florida.
Contact lenses. Save by getting them online if you can. But know that too-good-to-be-true prices can mean the lenses are counterfeit—and possibly harmful to your eyes.
Prescription drugs. As with contacts, sweet online deals for meds could signal a counterfeit product. Stick to reputable vendors whose names you know and trust.
Supplements. Nutritional supplements aren't as rigidly regulated as drugs, so you're best off buying them at big chain stores to ensure their effectiveness.
Unfortunately, that's something many of us don't do. "Haggling involves two things people hate: conflict and rejection," says Edward Wertheim, PhD, professor of negotiation at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business in Boston. And health is an area where people don't often think they can strike a bargain.
But "anything you spend money on—whether it's an antique or a skin check—is open to debate," says Mark Ellwood, author of Bargain Fever. "And health-care prices tend to be arbitrary—there is no rule saying a doctor or personal trainer has to charge a certain amount." Save big on services by learning the art of negotiation.
More: 20 Ways to Get Healthier for Free
Get a deal on...: Gym memberships
Gather info on local rates. This should always be your first step. That way, "you can ask the gym you like best to match the average or lowest price you find," says Sandy Todd Webster, editor-in-chief of trade publications for Idea Health & Fitness Association, the world's largest association of fitness professionals.
Create your own discounts. "I asked a nearby gym about a neighborhood discount. They said no, but when I explained how close I lived, they gave me 25 percent off for the first year," says Thorin Klosowski, a writer for the website Lifehacker. The same gambit worked for Amy Davis, a teacher in Columbia, Md. "I had stress fractures that sidelined me for a few months, so I went to a gym and asked if I could get a discount to ride only the stationary bike," she says. "They waived my joining fee, and I paid just $15 a month." Also ask about any discounts that aren't advertised. "Some gyms offer lower membership rates if you go later at night or only on weekdays," Klosowski says.
Haggle at the right time. "Most gyms have a sales quota they need to meet each month, so if you talk to them toward the end of the month, you have more power," says trainer Andrea Metcalf, author of Naked Fitness. "You can also get more bang for your buck during slower months, like July, when everyone is away or exercising outside."
Barter with boutique gyms, too. Ask yoga and cycling studios to match any lower rates you've found at similar places. And "don't be afraid to ask for a free trial period or a friends-and-family referral discount," Webster adds.
More: 10 Fun Ways to Get Fit Without the Gym
Get a deal on...: Sessions with a personal trainer, nutritionist or massage therapist
Buy in bulk. "Ask if you can get bonus sessions by paying in advance," Ellwood says.
Propose a trade. Carrie Anton, a writer in Madison, Wis., tried this tactic and succeeded. "The trainers I went to had a clunky website," she says. "So I offered them my writing services in exchange for getting free sessions. They liked the work I did so much that they kept the freebies coming!"
More: 19 Natural Remedies for Anxiety
Get a deal on...: Therapy
Ask about sliding scales. "This means you're charged based on your income, so the less you make, the less you pay," says Joe Taravella, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist in New York City. Therapists do this more often than you might think.
Get a deal on...: Spa treatments
Hit up Groupon. "Massages and facials are some of the biggest categories for mass-coupon websites," says Allan Share, president of the Day Spa Association. "If the spa you go to isn't on one, call them up, mention that their competitor is running a certain special and ask if they can match it."
Get a deal on...: Dental work
Offer to pay in cash. This is particularly useful at the dentist's office, since most dental insurance leaves patients shelling out quite a bit on their own. "My dentist lowered the price of my visit when I said I would pay in full up front," Klosowski says. "He knew he'd get his money directly without worrying about insurance."
Shop around. "Many dentists will meet with you for a complimentary consultation to get a price quote—just confirm in advance that it will indeed be free," says Gayle Glenn, DDS, president of the American Association of Orthodontists. "You can save up to 10 percent in costs by doing this."
More: 15 Ways to Save Money on Prescription Drugs
4 Things You Shouldn't Scrip On
A super low price isn't always a great deal. In some areas, it's worth spending a little bit more.
Complex procedures. Buyer, beware: "Cheaper versions may not be the best treatment solutions," says Todd Barsky, DDS, a prosthodontist at the Miami Institute in Florida.
Contact lenses. Save by getting them online if you can. But know that too-good-to-be-true prices can mean the lenses are counterfeit—and possibly harmful to your eyes.
Prescription drugs. As with contacts, sweet online deals for meds could signal a counterfeit product. Stick to reputable vendors whose names you know and trust.
Supplements. Nutritional supplements aren't as rigidly regulated as drugs, so you're best off buying them at big chain stores to ensure their effectiveness.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
14 Natural Back Pain Remedies
Scientifically proven ways to find back pain relief, no medication required.
Friday, April 4, 2014
The Top Fat-Burning Foods
Certain foods have a very high thermogenic effect, so you literally burn calories as you chew.
How to Get Strong Hips, Buttocks, and Thighs
Want a tighter butt? Of course you do. This lunging twist strengthens and tones your trouble spots, including the hips, thighs, and butt. And since you're working out your entire lower body, you'll burn mega calories at the same time.
Get Strong Triceps
If you want sexy arms, it pays to add some weight to your yoga routine. Watch this video to learn how to challenge your triceps by combining Warrior 3 pose with a set of dumbbells.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
How to Touch Your Toes
This is a great stretch for tight calf muscles, as well as your hamstrings and lower back. Watch this video for yoga expert Kristin McGee's tips on improving your flexibility so that you can safely touch your toes.
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