A little motivation goes a long way. When it comes to running, training for a fun race can be all the motivation a woman needs to go the distance. When you’re finding it difficult to lace up those running shoes, it might be time to sign up for one of these 10 Races that Will Get You Hooked on Running.

10 Races that Will Get You Hooked on Running:

1. The Color Run

Known as the “Happiest Race on the Planet”, The Color Run is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing races in the world, and for a reason. Participants in this untimed race celebrate health, happiness, and individuality while getting doused from head to toe with a rainbow non-toxic paints. This memory-making experience ends with a brightly-colored finish line that you’d have to see to believe. Learn more about The Color Run and find a race location near you here.

2. Run for Your Lives

If you’ve picked up a book, turned on the tv, or visited a movie theater in recent years, you know that zombies are everywhere! The Run for Your Lives Run has taken society’s love affair with the undead and turned it into a zombie-infested 5K obstacle course race that is sure to get the living running for their lives! Will you survive? Find a Run for Your Lives race near you here.

3. Ragnar Relay

Ragnar Relays make running a team sport, so grab a group of your 11 craziest friends, pile into a couple of vans, and get ready to tackle 200 miles, relay style! With only one runner on the road at a time, your team will race through both day and night until each team member has covered three legs of 3-8 miles and your journey is complete. Sound like your idea of a good time? Click here to find a Ragnar Relay near you.

4. Rev3Glow Night Run

The Rev3 Glow Night Series is for all those night owls who would rather party neon-style than rise and shine. The course of this nocturnal race winds through the dark, with only glow-in-the-dark bracelets, necklaces, t-shirts, and other accessories to light the way. Once you’ve crossed the finish line, you’ll get to enjoy an outdoor movie under the stars. Click here to learn more.

5. The Turkey Trot

No matter where you call home, chances are, you can find a Turkey Trot nearby. As one of the most popular themed races in the country, this fun run knows how to celebrate Thanksgiving in style. Runners often dress up as turkey and run, hobble, or gobble their way through a 5K long course, with winners receiving turkey treats, which are often donated to charities. Find a Turkey Trot near you.

6.  Warrior Dash

The Warrior Dash prides itself on being “The World’s Most Intense Obstacle Race”, and that just might be true. Runners in this long distance adventure will race over walls, through nets, across water, and contend with an array of obstacles, including one called, “Alcatraz”.  Find a Warrior Dash near you here.

7. Bay to Breakers

Boston has its Marathon…Pamplona has its bulls…  and San Francisco has Bay to Breakers! This historic race has been held annually for over 100 years and offers runners the opportunity to tour the city by foot, from the Embarcadero to the ‘breakers’ of Ocean Beach. From world-class athletes to costumed runners, athletes are able to celebrate all that makes up the beautiful city of San Francisco. Register for Bay to Breakers here.

8. Rock-n-Roll Series

Run like you’re a rock star in one of these jammin’ exhibitions of running and live music. Racers of this concert, uh-er, race, are treated to the musical talents of a multitude of live bands along the course and quite a party at the finish line. Find a Rock-n-Roll race near you here.

9. 5K Foam Fest

You can be honest with us. You’ve always wanted to walk through a drive-thru carwash, right? Well, now you can! The 5K Foam Fest will get you down and dirty, and then clean you up with more suds than you’ve seen at one time. Race organizers hope that you’ll be having so much fun, you’ll forget you’re even exercising. Wanna give it a try? Find a 5K Foam Fest near you here.

10. Tough Mudder

How tough do you think you are? The Tough Mudder race series will leave you questioning both your toughness level and your sanity in a 10-12 mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces. Tough Mudder courses are so intense, that you won’t be able to complete one alone, so you’ll need teamwork and camaraderie to get you through. Think you have what it takes? Find a Tough Mudder race near you here.

Like most brides, you want your special day to be perfect. And, you want to look perfect, too! Part of looking great on your wedding day is having confidence when you walk down the aisle. If some extra cushioning around your middle has left you feeling anything, but confident, then we can help. The following 16 tips will help you to live a healthy lifestyle between now and your wedding day, allowing your body to burn fat and leave you feeling good about yourself, inside and out.

16 Fat Loss Tips for Brides:

1. Set a Goal
There’s no sense in getting on the road if you don’t know where you’re going. Set a realistic and specific goal for yourself. For instance, you might say, “I would like to lose 10 pounds before the wedding, to do that, I need to lose 1 week per week.” Check out these Tips for Setting Healthy Goals.

2. Create a Plan
You’ll never reach your goals if you don’t have a plan to do so. Create a realistic plan for yourself that is centered on a healthy diet and exercise. Include when you will exercise and what you will do when temptations arise in your plans.

Be sure to check out our 6 Week Emergency Makeover Program.

3. Find a Partner
For most people, it’s much easier to stay on track if they have a partner to motivate and inspire them along the way. If your future groom isn’t ready and willing, enlist the help of a friend or family member, or visit our Skinny Ms. Facebook Page.

4. Keep a Journal
By logging your food and exercise on paper, you will be able to easily monitor your progress. Plus, you’ll be far less likely to overindulge or skip the gym if you have to admit it to yourself in writing. Be sure to check out our helpful information on keeping a Food Journal or a Fitness Journal.

5. Eat Clean
We, at Skinny Ms., are huge proponents of clean-eating. By filling up on foods created with body-nourishing ingredients, you’ll ensure that your body is able to function the way it was intended. Give our Skinny Clean Eating Plan for Two a try.

6. Find a Workout You Love
The easiest way to get more exercise into your day is to find a physical activity you love to do. Join a sports team, go for a hike with a friend, or spend an afternoon kayaking around the lake. You’ll burn calories, and you’ll have fun! Have you given our Skinny Ms. Workouts a try?

7. Watch Portion Sizes
Foods today are often served as a portion large enough for a family of four. Try serving foods on smaller plates to trick your brain into thinking it is eating more. When you’re eating out, share an entrée with a friend, or try some of these Helpful Tips for Eating Out. Learn more about portion sizes here.

8. Avoid High Calorie Foods
You know the drill. In order to lose fat, you need to burn more calories than you take in. Staying away from high-calorie foods is pretty obvious. Low-calorie doesn’t have to mean bland. Our Skinny Ms. Recipes are nutritious AND delicious.

9. Find a Way to Stay Motivated
Everyone struggles with motivation from time to time. Be prepared to come up with new ways to stay motivated. Join a support group, pin a photo of your wedding dress to the fridge, or download one of these Motivational Playlists.

10. Snack Regularly
The best way to keep your body energized and burning calories all day long is to keep it fueled with healthy nutrients throughout the day. Try one of these Healthy Snacks with Fewer than 75 Calories.

11. Ditch Diet Foods
Diet foods might sound good, but they’re often anything but. Foods that are marketed as being “diet” are often loaded with sugars, artificial sweeteners, and other ingredients that are harmful to your waistline. Having trouble battling your diet soda addiction? Try one of these Healthy Alternatives to Diet Soda and be sure to take our No Soda Challenge.

12. Avoid Alcohol
Most alcohol is loaded with calories, but lacking in a whole lot of nutritional value. It’s best to skip this body bulging indulgence, especially when you’re trying to slim down.

13. Detoxify Your Body
Like it, or not, many of the foods we eat today are full of ingredients that are pretty toxic to the body. It’s a good idea to cleanse the body from harmful bacteria and other unwanted ingredients so that it can continue to function to its fullest. Try one of these Fabulous Detox and Cleanse Drinks.

14. Fill Up on Fiber
When you’re backed up, your belly appears full and bloated. Keep everything flowing the way it should be including a healthy dose of fiber in your diet. Our Lentil and Veggie Stew is full of fiber and tasty, too!

15. Keep Stress in Check
We know. Planning a wedding is rough work, but do your best to keep your stress level in check during this happy time. Not only can stress wreak havoc on your body, but when we’re stressed we tend to reach for less-than-nutritional snack foods and treats. Learn more about the effects of stress on the body here.

16. Reward Yourself
You’re bound to fall off the wagon from time to time, but when you do get right back on, and reward yourself when you reach a goal. Allowing yourself a treat each time your reach a goal can help you stay on track. Imagine a day at the spa, a night out with the girls, or a new outfit… now, that’s some pretty powerful motivation.

Watermelon Chiller with a Hint of Mint

Nothing says summer better than an afternoon spent lounging by the pool, icy-cool beverage in hand. The problem is that many of our favorite refreshing summer drinks are loaded with sugars, and that just isn’t what our summer bikini bod needs. This summer, you can be guilt-free as you tip back a cold one because we’ve come up with 8 refreshing drinks that are not only delicious, but low-calorie and nutritious, too!

Here are 8 Refreshing Summer Drinks:

1. Orange Pomegranate Green Tea

This Skinnylicious summer beverage takes only minutes to make and contains just 112 calories per 12 ounce serving!

2. Sparkling Lime Mint Quencher

Our Sparkling Lime Mint Quencher tastes just like a mojito, but without the body-bulging extra calories. Plus, limes are superfoods! Learn what limes can do for your health here.

3. Strawberry Lemonade

This ain’t your grandma’s high-sugar lemonade, but we bet you that you’ll love it just as much.

4. Orange Sports Drink

Forget Gatorade. This electrolyte-rich drink is 100% natural and perfect for staying hydrated during summer workouts.

Have summer barbecues left you feeling a little full around the middle? These healthy drinks can help you flush fat and get back on track!

5. Sparkling Pomegranate Juice

What’s better than a refreshing summer beverage that is great for your health, too?! This recipe only takes 2 minutes to make and features one of nature’s superfoods, the pomegranate.

6. Watermelon Chiller

Watermelon is a perfect summertime fruit, and this delicious watermelon-themed drink has no sugar added!

7. Hot Pink Cooler

This tasty summer concoction is the perfect choice for beet lovers.

8. Southern Style Sweet Tea

We, at Skinny Ms., love reinventing traditional recipes to make them healthier, so we’ve taken this southern favorite, “skinnied” it down, and made sure that it still hits the spot!

Kick soda to the curb this summer and take our No Soda Challenge. Here are 4 Healthy Alternatives to Soda to get you started.

Skinny Ms. challenges you to get rid of those love handles. As moms we have many things to “handle” throughout the day, but OUR “love” handles should NOT be one of them!  Love handles are essentially on the top layer of the back, or latissimus dorsi muscle, not the stomach. So, they are only eliminated by performing back exercises or through proper nutrition.

So, you are being challenged to eat healthier and exercise to specifically lose those pesky love handles! Skinny Ms. has put together some exercises, foods, as well as advice to get you started to succeed at this month’s challenge!  Below, check out Yoga and Pilates for love handles, on video.

Take our Love Handle Challenge:

Do more yoga.  The Gate Posture is a great move to get rid of love handles. Here’s how to do it: Begin on your knees with your stomach pulled up and in, tailbone dropping down, and hands on hips. Extend your left leg to the left with knee facing up, toes pointed down, and heel on the floor. Slide your left hand as far as you can down your leg, keeping your right hip over your right knee. Reach your right arm up and overhead to the left, rotating your chest up toward the ceiling. Pull your abs in to keep pressure off your lower back. Hold for 10–15 breaths, then return to starting position and repeat on the other side. Do full cycle 3–5 times.

While you’re at it, try Skinny Ms. Top 10 Fitness Workouts!

Take up Pilates. Pilates training, which emphasizes your core, stamina and flexibility, has renewed this well-known move and encouraged trainers to teach it properly. Pilates teaches mind-body awareness and correct alignment of muscles and joints, all of which are imperative to get the most out of exercises — without injury. The abdominal cycle is a great way to improve posture and help get rid of love handles. Try this exercise at least 5-7 times a week to get rid of love handles:

Lie on your back, bend your knees and lift your feet off the floor. Start with your knees directly over hips and your hands behind your head. Keep your chin inward, neck relaxed and forearms relaxed on the floor. Start by pulling your belly button in toward your spine as you exhale. You should experience a “hollowing” of your abdominals inward. With your torso still, inhale, relax and repeat this step, until you feel your abdominals tighten. Exhale as you pull your abdominals further in. Curl up, lifting your shoulders off the floor and drawing your ribs toward your hips. As you curl up, lift your right shoulder diagonally across your body toward your left hip, now at the same time straightening your right leg. Pause. Inhale. Exhale while you pull your right knee back in and lower your right shoulder to the floor. Repeat on the other side. Repeat this exercise for 2-3 sets doing 10 repetitions each side.

Now that you’ve been given a couple of exercises to start your Skinny Ms. “love” handle challenge, let’s try looking at some great snacks you can have while trying to strengthen your sides and mid-section.

Eat darkly colored foods, instead of white, bleached foods will reduce your caloric intake and begin to reduce the fat storage around your mid-section. Try plums, red grapes, spinach, eggplant, tomatoes, beets, kale, and carrots in your daily diet. Also try Five  Essential Nutrients that Accelerate Weight Loss.

Drink plenty of water. Also, try lemon water to aid in digestion and flushes toxins quickly and effectively. Replacing sodas with lemon water will ensure inches to be lost from the waistline.

Don’t skip meals; you should be consuming 6 small meals a day otherwise your cortisol levels will spike and stress hormones are produced. Also, NEVER skip breakfast! You’ve been fasting for at least 6 hours or more; don’t add to it. Always try something high in protein to get you going – none of that sweet stuff.  Be sure to get enough sleep! Like we previously mentioned when cortisol levels spike, you crave sweets and this usually happens when you’re exhausted and need that extra boost. Speaking of cravings, take a look at Diet Saboteurs – Foods to Keep Out of Reach and Your Diet.

Pilates for Love Handles

Yoga for Love Handles

So, there you have it – exercises, foods, and great advice to get you started to succeed in our Skinny Ms. “love” handle challenge! Let us know how you’re doing!

Sources:

http://www.joedowdell.com

http://www.livestrong.com

http://www.canadianliving.com

http://www.health.com

With summer on its way, there’s no better time to step up your workouts. Get ready to bust out your cutest summer tanks, bathing suits, and sundresses because we’ve got a total body challenge that will boost metabolism, burn fat, build strength and endurance, and leave you feeling (and looking) fabulous! Are you ready to take on our Summer Total Body Tabata Challenge?

You’ll need a water bottle, a mat, and a good interval timer or stopwatch to get started. We like the Gymboss Interval Timer.

This high-intensity challenge is not for beginners, so you should be in excellent health before trying this challenge. Not quite up for it yet? Try our Total Body Workout for Beginners.

Let’s Get Started!

1. Perform the first exercise in the circuit at full-intensity for a total of 20 seconds.

2. Rest, or move slowly, for 10 seconds before moving on to the second exercise.

3. Continue through the circuit, using the 20 and 10-second intervals, until the 4-minute circuit is complete.

4. Complete the circuit 4 times for a 16-minute high-intensity workout.

5. Complete the circuit on 4 non-consecutive days during the week.

Summer Total Body Tabata Challenge:

To get the most from your workout and to avoid injuries, be sure to use the correct form for each exercise. Check out our helpful videos below.

1. High Knees

2. Burpees

3. Jumping Jacks

4. Push-Ups

5. Jump Squats

6. Mountain Climbers

7. Jumping Lunges

8. Plank Jacks

You might also like:

Summer Arms Challenge

Summer Abs Challenge

Summer Legs Challenge

Summer Butt Challenge

High Knees

Burpees

Jumping Jacks

Push-Ups

Jump Squats

Mountain Climbers

Jumping Lunges

Plank Jacks

Watch the three videos below to learn techniques for decreasing crows feet, tightening the neck, and other facial yoga exercises.

Boot thoughts of Botox. Say “no” to anti-aging facial surgery. Instead, you may want to give facial yoga a go. Yes, the same yoga principles we apply to keep the body feeling fit and youthful may do the same for the face. Facial yoga is a series of poses designed to tone muscles in places like the jaw, mouth, eyes, and forehead. Here are 5 reasons to try facial yoga:

1. It’s all natural. From creams and serums to injections and surgeries, there are plenty of anti-aging strategies to maintain a youthful look. The problem is that these methods often use chemicals or surgical procedures to get results. Facial yoga is as natural as it gets—no who-knows-what ingredients or hours under a laser or scalpel.
2. It releases tension. You might be surprised at how much tension you hold in your face and neck. Facial yoga teaches you to become more aware of those muscles so you can relax them anytime you feel tightness creeping up. Need whole-body relaxation? Try Evening Yoga for Relaxation.
3. It may help reduce wrinkles. Some wrinkles come with age. Some come because we’re constantly tensing muscles in the face, like those around the eyes or mouth. Facial yoga builds awareness so you can release the unhealthy tension that’s carving crows’ feet and other wrinkles. For more anti-aging action, read 4 Anti-Aging Foods That Taste Good.
4. It may promote collagen production. The muscle activity might boost collagen production, keeping the skin younger looking, according to one dermatologist who recommends the exercises [1]. To learn more about getting beautiful skin naturally, check out Want Radiant Skin? You Have to Read This.
5. It’s cheaper than medical intervention. Whether you follow facial yoga videos from YouTube or take a facial yoga class (yes, there are classes), it will be less expensive than repeated visits to a dermatologist’s office or the purchase of fancy anti-aging creams.

Ready to Try Facial Yoga?

It’s time to bring out your inner Zoolander! Here are 2 facial yoga poses you can practice right now:

Baby Bird- Keeps jowls from forming

Tilt your head toward the ceiling. Press the tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth and swallow at the same time. Then tilt your head slightly to the right, and repeat. Then tilt to the left, and repeat. Do at least one additional set.

Lion Face – Tones the muscle at the front of the throat

Inhale through the nose. As you exhale, open the mouth widely and extend the tongue outward. Stretch the tongue toward the chin. Relax and repeat at least 3 times.

Now that wasn’t so hard—was it? Plan to do facial yoga poses for at least 3-5 minutes a day; some experts say the best results come from doing these anti-aging exercises for up to 20 minutes a day, most days of the week.

You may not achieve the same results as with medical procedures, but you can feel great knowing that you’re loving your body with all-natural anti-aging strategies! Be sure to check out The Yoga Face: Eliminate Wrinkles with the Ultimate Natural Facelift

Yoga Facial Exercises

Minimizing Eye Wrinkles

Firm Your Neck

 

You might also like

Yoga Time – Workout for Beginners

The Secret to Staying Young

8 Foods to Boost Your Mood

6 Ways to Enjoy Fruits and Veggies on the Cheap

Whole-Grain Cinnamon Pita Chips

Resources

[1] ABC News

Dill Yogurt Spread goes great on burgers, as a veggie or fruit dip, or in potato salad. We love this spread on Turkey Veggie Burgers.

For more options, Dill Yogurt Spread goes great on Black Bean Mushroom Burgers, Curry Turkey Burgers, and Quinoa Lentil Burgers.

Get a hefty dose of protein and vegetable nutrients from this Turkey Veggie Burger recipe. Zucchini and carrots make this burger extra moist without all the added fat of traditional burgers.

Here are four sides that go great with this recipe: Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad, Twice Baked Potatoes, Coconut Curry Cauliflower, and Dijon Roasted Cabbage.

Are you thinking about jumping into Kangoo Jumps? These are definitely not your mother’s running shoes. Kangoo Jumps are a brand of rebound shoes, exercise footwear that features a space-age-looking spring mechanism underneath the sole. These increasingly popular workout shoes are not cheap—a pair can sell for up to $299—so why might you want to make the investment?

1. Prevent injury. Exercisers who wore normal shoes had a far higher risk of lower leg injuries than those who wore Kangoo Jumps, according to one study. In fact, more than 40% of participants who wore normal shoes reported injuries, like shin splints and ankle sprains, over the 12-week study—compared to no injuries reported by those wearing the rebound shoes [1]. The reason is the spring mechanism that’s designed to lower impact. Learn more about injury prevention with Start Running without Injury or Burnout.
2. Protect joints & bones. Running has loads of benefits—but it can jar the joints and bones. The spring mechanism in the shoe acts as a cushion, better protecting the body. A Swiss study of Kangoo Jumps found that wearing the shoes cut the impact on the tibia by 50% and the impact on the lumbar spine by about 20% [2]. You may also want to check out Fab Foods That Can Help Reduce Joint Pain.
3. Resume fitness sooner. Already struggling to bounce back after injury? The same impact reduction that protects the body may also allow you to ease back into exercise sooner during injury recovery. As always, consult a health professional before resuming any exercise after an injury.
4. Build cardiovascular fitness. If you want to go for the long burn, then Kangoo Jumps might be for you. A university study found that wearing this brand of rebound shoes increased cardiovascular fitness, measured by peak oxygen intake [3].
5. Burn calories. Kangoo Jumps were originally developed for runners and joggers, so rebound shoes may be a great way to boost calorie burn during those exercises. In addition, because the footwear is becoming more popular some gyms are adding rebound shoe sessions to their weight loss fitness classes. To boost weight loss further, read Increase Resting Metabolic Rate for Weight Loss.
6. Build posture. You want posture that makes mom proud? Exercising with Kangoo Jumps requires you to maintain balance—and that requires proper posture. What’s more, using balance forces you to build stronger muscles in the back, which may help reduce back aches and pains. Awesome bonus: good posture makes you naturally look thinner too!
7. They’re fun! Remember how you felt bouncing on a trampoline as a kid?! Rebound shoes allow you to tap that inner kid and burn fat and calories so you can lose weight and feel fabulous. Add extra spring to your workout with this Top Songs to Get You Revved Up playlist.

Whether you need a way to protect joints and bones from jarring exercise or you just want to add a new bounce to your weight loss routine, Kangoo Jumps might be worth a look!

You might also like

Top 10 Fitness Challenges from Skinny Ms.

5 Quick and Easy Workout Moves for Absolute Beginners

12 Steps to Ending Your Food Addiction, Once and For All

Oven Baked Zucchini Chips

Dijon Roasted Cabbage

Resources

[1] Kangoo Jumps

[2] Kangoo Jumps

[3] Kangoo Jumps

It seems like everyone is ready to offer a piece of advice nowadays. Unfortunately, a lot of the tidbits you hear about diet and exercise are just plain false. Don’t let the rumors get in the way of your healthy lifestyle goals. Below, we’ve debunked 15 of the most common diet and exercise myths so that you can stay on track and see results.

15 Diet and Exercise Myths (Debunked):

Myth #1: The only way to lose weight is to drastically cut back on calories.
Sure. If you drastically cut back on calories, you’ll lose weight, but results won’t be long term. Not only is this type of extreme dieting nearly impossible to sustain, it’s unhealthy and cause a number of health issues.

Myth #2: You need to lose a lot of weight to see any health benefits.
When you have a lot of weight to lose, it can feel as if you’ll never reach your goals. Luckily, dropping even a modest amount of weight can have significant health benefits. For every 2 lbs. you drop, you can lower your cholesterol by as much as 3 points, and recent studies show that both men and women can reduce blood pressure by losing as little as 9 pounds. Get started with our Skinny Beginner’s Workout.

Myth #3: Weight gain is inevitable as we age.
It’s true that it is more difficult to keep weight from accumulating around our midsections as we age, but it is not impossible. By monitoring daily calories, eating primarily clean foods, exercising regularly, and participating in strength training, you can keep your trim physique for years to come.

Myth #4: Don’t eat late at night.
Believe it or not, calories can’t tell time. Your body processes calories the same, no matter what time you eat them. The myth stems from the choices we usually make for late night snacking—processed foods, or foods high in sugars and extra fat. Avoid binging and opt for a nice piece of fruit, instead. Try one of these healthy snacks for fewer than 100 calories.

Myth #5: Carbs are bad.
Carbohydrates don’t make you fat. Extra calories do. As with everything, moderation is key. Carbohydrates are found in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains—important additions to a healthy diet. The key is to minimize consumption of simple carbs, while choosing mostly complex carbs. Learn more about simple vs. complex carbs here.

Myth #6: Fat makes you fat.
Yes, fat contains more calories than carbs or protein, but that doesn’t make it the enemy. Fat in moderation can not only make you feel fuller, it also helps with the absorption of certain vitamins and phytonutients, leading to better health. Learn how to select the best fats here.

Myth #7: The more you work out, the better.
While the CDC recommends that the average healthy adult work out 150 minutes per week, working out more than this, or performing the same activity each day can actually have a negative impact on one’s health. Muscles and joints need time to repair themselves, and overworking them will not only burn fewer calories because you’re more apt to use incorrect form when fatigued, but will also leave you prone to injuries.

Myth #8: Lifting weights will make women bulky.
Bulky muscles are caused by testosterone and women just don’t have enough of this mostly male hormone to get bulky from lifting weights. Because muscle takes up less space than fat, strength training will actually make muscles appear shapelier. Try one of these equipment-free strength workouts.

Myth #9: Crunches will give you a flat stomach.
No amount of crunches will leave you with a 6-pack if you’ve got a layer of fat covering up those abdominal muscles. The only way to get that flat belly you’ve always dreamed of is with a combination of a healthy diet and exercise. Check out these 25 Flat Belly Foods and our Flat Belly Workout.

Myth #10: Diet foods help you diet.
Words like “low fat” or “low carb” don’t necessarily mean “low calorie”. “Diet” foods are often loaded with hidden dangers, like artificial sweeteners and preservatives. When tempted to go for diet versions of your favorite treats, it’s much better to go with a smaller portion of the real thing. It’ll taste much better, too! Need help with your diet soda addiction? Take our No Soda Challenge.

Myth #11: Muscle weighs more than fat.
We’ve all heard this one. As tempting as it might be to tell yourself that those high numbers on the scale are due to your muscular physique, a pound is a pound, whether it is made up of muscle or fat. Muscle is more dense than fat, however, so it will make you appear leaner. Plus, muscle burns more calories, so the stronger you get, the higher your metabolic rate.

Myth #12: You have to sweat to have a good workout.
The truth is that you burn more calories the harder you work. While sweating may think make you think you’re working harder, this can be an illusion. Working hard is better determined by the amount of energy your muscles need to exert. Try one of these Skinny Ms. Workouts.

Myth #13: If you’re eating healthy, you can eat as much as you want.
A calorie, is a calorie, is a calorie, no matter where it comes from. While it is much healthier for your body when you take in only nutritious, clean foods, eating too much of anything will still pack on the pounds.

Myth #14: Stretching before exercise is imperative.
We know. This is one myth that has been hammered into us since we were kids. Unfortunately, recent research shows that stretching before exercise can actually increase the risk of injury. Instead, start with a light warm-up, and stretch after you’ve finished exercising when muscles are loose and warm. Check out these tips for relieving sore muscles after a workout.

Myth #15: Only eat fresh fruits and vegetables to stay healthy.
Recent studies show that canned and frozen fruits and vegetables can be just as healthful as fresh fruits and vegetables. Plus, they’re often more economically sensible. Just be sure to watch for varieties with added ingredients, like extra salt or sugar.

Be sure to check in to Skinny Ms. regularly for healthy recipes and the latest in health and fitness.