Last year, I was lucky enough to be invited to run the Boston Marathon as a guest of Adidas. It was my first marathon, and a storied one at that, so I was more than a little nervous. But just about everything about the race put me at ease - the camaraderie on my runner-filled flight into Boston, the advice from Boston Marathon veterans that flowed freely in every conversation, the thousands of spectators lining the course and cheering us on. The tragic bombings at last year's race, however, turned my Boston Marathon experience into an incomplete one; I was still running when they went off and had to exit the course before finishing.
There were approximately 5,600 runners in the same boat; like me, they are back this year to finish their race, making this year's field of runners one of the biggest ever. The number of runners isn't the only difference - as you would expect, this year's pre-race events and commemorations, while celebratory, are also solemn and respectful, and security is a lot tighter now. I spent some time walking around the city along with some fellow POPSUGAR editors to take in the atmosphere; here's a view from Boston, from what we and other marathoners have experienced this weekend.
If you love to eat, losing weight can seem so structured, you immediately get frustrated and grab the first decadent food you can find. Even though there are some very specific guidelines that can help you reach your goal faster, there's no one-size-fits-all weight-loss plan for everyone. Here are five rules you can bend and still drop pounds from the scale.
While dessert, alcohol, and fried foods tend to be high in calories, just because you want to lose weight doesn't mean you have to live without the foods you adore. Actually, denying yourself the bites you crave can backfire, causing you to feel deprived, resulting in bingeing. You can't eat these foods all the time, but it's perfectly healthy to enjoy a few spoonfuls of ice cream or a small glass of chardonnay every once in a while. Just tone down your portion sizes and only indulge about once a week.
Salads aren't for everyone, and the dissatisfied feeling you get afterward could cause you to head to the nearest pizza joint. Plus salad toppings can really add up. When a bowl of greens is covered in candied walnuts, cheese, dried cranberries, avocado, and creamy dressing, a seemingly healthy salad can run higher in calories than a burger. If you're not into a bowl of raw veggies, choose other low-calorie meals that incorporate veggies such as sandwiches, broth-based soups, grilled veggies, and whole-grain salads. You have to enjoy the foods you're eating in order to stick with a healthy meal plan.
A 30-minute jog burns about 250 calories, and while burning calories is a great way to lose weight, it's not the only way. If you're injured and can't exercise, or you're just not able to make the time for it, you can still lose weight. It just means you have to be willing to eat less and cut calories in your diet instead. If you do skip out on workouts, keep active in other ways - it's important for so many other reasons like heart health, stress relief, and better sleep.
While carbs tend to be high in calories, not all carbs are created equal. Refined carbs like white flour, rice, and sugar are the ones to limit. Complex carbs like quinoa, oats, whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain bread, and brown rice are full of protein that'll give you energy and fiber that will keep you full. And simple carbs like fruit also offer fiber to send your brain that "I'm full" signal. You still need to watch portions of these foods since they aren't calorie-free, but you definitely don't need to (and shouldn't) ditch all carbs in the name of weight loss.
While portion control is a huge weight-loss buzz phrase, and limiting your calories is the best way to lose weight, you don't have to be rigid about measuring everything. There are tons of foods you can eat as much as you want of and not measure a single bite. We're talking nonstarchy, low-cal veggies such as salad greens, peppers, celery, and cucumbers. If your daily diet seems too strict, try to include foods like these that you can munch on without worrying about how much you're eating.
From maxi skirts with thigh-high slits to high-cut shorts, leg-baring fashions are in! Whatever you're wearing, toned inner thighs will help you rock your look. We have a created a 10-minute workout that focuses on toning and tightening the inner thighs. But don't you worry, your entire body will be worked. Grab a mat, press play, and get ready to work your legs like never before.
“Those who think they have no time for exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” ~Edward Stanley
True yogis not only practice asanas (postures) on their mat, they all have a strong spiritual practice. Ahimsa, a Sanskrit word meaning "noninjury" or "nonviolence," is a deeply important focus for many yogis. Aside from living a peaceful life and eating a vegan diet (which many yogis choose to do), choosing products that protect the Earth is another way to carry out ahimsa. From wicking undies to leggings to yoga blocks, click through to find out which yoga gear is made with sustainable fabrics and materials so you can feel even better when hopping on your mat.
