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Plan your week off after a peak cycle of exercise or a minor injury like a strained muscle. Image Credit: Hero Images/Hero Images/GettyImages Taking a week off from the gym isn’t the end of the world, but there are a few things to consider during this week of rest. You can even take a nice vacation without losing much ground in your exercise program. Advertisement Tip Plan your week off after a peak cycle of exercise or a minor injury like a strained muscle....

Soda can cause upper right abdominal pain. Image Credit: MosayMay/iStock/Getty Images If you develop upper right abdominal pain after drinking soda, you need to talk with your doctor about your symptoms so he can diagnose the cause. This pain is most likely not a sign of a serious medical condition. Common effects of consuming carbonated beverages are gas pains and heartburn, each of which can cause upper right abdominal pain. If you develop upper right abdominal pain often, you may have irritable bowel syndrome, a more serious digestive condition....

Bowl of humus with olive oil, olives and spices Image Credit: Fudio/iStock/Getty Images The South Beach diet plan involves a three-phase process where you focus on replacing unhealthy fats with healthier fats, “bad” carbohydrates with “good” carbs and add in lean protein. The first phase is the most restrictive. During Phase 1, you limit certain carbohydrates and aim to consume vegetables, beans, nuts, low-fat dairy, and unsaturated oils like olive oil....

Working the pulling muscles of the back and biceps together helps prevent overtraining and eliminates the need to train arms on their own day. Image Credit: Pekic/E+/GettyImages If you spend any time at the gym, there’s a good chance you’ve heard fellow gym-goers talking about whether it’s better to train “back and bis” or “back and tris.” The truth is that, even though the “biceps or triceps” argument has merit on both sides and being flexible in your training choices is OK, having a back and bicep day does seem to win out in the end....

Stair steppers are a great workout. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages Athletes have trained by running up (and down) stairs ever since, well, the invention of stairs. And the admonishment to take the stairs whenever possible as a way of staying fit is pretty much everywhere. It’s hardly surprising that machines simulating the act of climbing stairs would become a standard piece of gym equipment. Advertisement While step machines in their various forms do a pretty good job of imitating real stairs, their main advantage is mainly just being in the same place with everything else....

If you’re lactose intolerant, lactase pills may allow you to enjoy an occasional ice cream cone. Image Credit: milan2099/E+/GettyImages If you’re lactose intolerant, lactase pills may help you enjoy an occasional ice cream cone or the cheese on a charcuterie board. The lactase enzyme in the pill makes this possible by aiding in the digestion of dairy products. Side effects aren’t likely, but can include allergic reactions. Advertisement What’s Lactose Intolerance?...

There's some debate about parboiled rice versus brown rice nutrition, but they can both be part of a healthy diet. Image Credit: fcafotodigital/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Brown Rice Nutrition Parboiled Rice Nutrition Effects on Blood Sugar With so many different types of rice, it can be tricky to figure out which one you should be eating. White rice, whole-grain rice, brown rice, parboiled rice — the list goes on and on....

Exercise mindful eating when snacking on potato chips. Image Credit: hamza ishqaidif/iStock/GettyImages Let’s face it, people like potato chips. No wonder grocery stores dedicate a whole aisle for all variations of chips. Advertisement A popular snack, a sandwich side dish and a main component of parties, potato chips nutrition should not be overlooked. Find out all about potato chip nutrition, including Pringles and Baked Lay's nutritional info. Video of the Day Related Reading Are Potato Chips Made With Avocado, Olive or Coconut Oil Any Healthier?...

Protein drinks are healthy replacements for meals. Image Credit: Eugeniusz Dudzinski/iStock/GettyImages Sugar is lurking in many so-called healthy foods and beverages, from protein bars to vitamin water and fruit juices. Luckily, it’s easy to find protein shakes without sugar, artificial sweeteners or allergens. Just make sure you check the label for hidden sugars like dextrose or fructose. Advertisement The Dangers of Sugar Do you ever wonder how much sugar is in your food?...

references Harvard Health Publishing: “Tips for Choosing the Right Exercise Equipment” International Sports Sciences Association: “Rowing for Fitness – Meet the Gym’s Latest Superstar” Mayo Clinic: “Counting Calories: Get Back to Weight-Loss Basics” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Losing Weight” Obesity: “Effect of Diet and Exercise, Alone or Combined, on Weight and Body Composition in Overweight-to-Obese Post-Menopausal Women” Harvard Health Publishing: “Calories Burned in 30 Minutes for People of Three Different Weights” Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering: “Comparative Analysis of Basal Physical Fitness and Muscle Function in Relation to Muscle Balance Pattern Using Rowing Machines” Harvard Medical School: “Calorie Counting Made Easy” American Council on Exercise: “Reap the Benefits of Rowing With Three Fast and Efficient Workouts” Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans You can lose weight with rowing machine workouts, as long as you're also watching what you eat....

Running in cold weather can exacerbate asthma. Image Credit: tomazl/E+/GettyImages In the wintertime, runners in northern climates must decide whether to continue exercising outdoors or move inside to a treadmill. Running in chilly temperatures won’t cause permanent lung damage and is – for most people – a safe and effective workout. However, cold air can aggravate the airways, especially in certain circumstances, causing a run to become challenging in unanticipated ways....

If you're tired of basic omelets, try this new spin on eggs for breakfast. Image Credit: asab974/iStock/GettyImages Scrambled, boiled, fried, poached — the list of different cooking methods is long, but we still get bored of our morning eggs after a while. That’s where shakshuka — the Mediterranean version of Eggs in Purgatory — can save your rote brunch routine. Advertisement Shakshuka is a traditional one-pan Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dish of eggs poached in a rich, fragrant tomato sauce with delicious spices like cumin, paprika and garlic....

Yes, you can make a mean cheesesteak in your slow cooker that even manages to pack the veggies. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages Even though slow cookers are super convenient any time of year, there’s something about the fall and winter that makes us want to pull out this effort-saving gadget. Advertisement For the most part, there is little to no prep work involved and you can plop all the ingredients in the pot, set the timer and go about your day....

Eating the right foods will replenish your muscles and help build them up bigger and stronger. Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/GettyImages A proper strength training diet give your body the resources it needs to perform in the weight room and recover afterwards. Strength training can be very stressful on the body, so it’s important to give your body what it needs. Advertisement Strength Training Diet When strength training, your muscles are taxed more than usual....

Support and puncture-resistant materials are important for heavier riders to consider when buying new bike tires. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative In This Article How We Chose Best Foldable Best for Commuting Best for Long Rides Best for Mountain Biking Shopping Tips Most cyclists would probably agree that riding with zero distractions or issues is ideal. And the details are important. Advertisement Just like a bike helmet or bike bell, tires matter and it's crucial to find a set that's most compatible with your body size....

1 of 12 Overview You've probably heard of clean eating before but may not be exactly sure what it entails or how to get started. Eating clean means keeping food simple. It means focusing on choosing nutrient-dense foods in their natural state (or as close to it as you can), rather than eating highly processed foods with added chemicals and preservatives. Follow these simple steps to get started on cleaning up your diet....

A yoga block can make your body-weight exercises more challenging by adding incline and an element of instability. Image Credit: Antonio_Diaz/iStock/GettyImages Yoga blocks are excellent props for enhancing your yoga practice and deepening stretches, but they are also great for adding a challenge to body-weight exercises. Advertisement Because they are lightweight and provide some incline, they can be used to increase resistance or add an element of instability. For example, you can place a yoga block under one hand when doing push-ups to improve your range of motion....

Depending on how long you've been running, your 10K finish time will vary. Image Credit: Nyla Sammons/Cultura/GettyImages Challenging but not too daunting, a 10K or 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) race is a popular distance for both professional and everyday runners. In fact, 1.8 million people ran a 10K in 2018, according to a 2019 report from RunRepeat.com and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Advertisement If you're new to the distance, you may be wondering what an average 10K time looks like....

Weight lifting to lose weight is a healthy approach that will help you sustain your weight loss in the long run. Image Credit: Fabio Fernandez Priego /iStock/GettyImages There’s probably no better representation of the “weight lifting makes you bulky” myth than that classic Planet Fitness ad in which the bodybuilder repeatedly tells the uncomfortable gym attendant, “I lift things up and put them down.” Advertisement Weight lifting builds muscle, sure. But it can also help you lose weight and, yes, look leaner in the process....

Carbon filters can help remove the bad taste in water. Image Credit: Sasaton Krungsee/iStock/GettyImages If you’re concerned about the state of your drinking water, you may wish to explore water purifying options. Water filters, which can remove harmful contaminants and improve the taste and odor of your water, range from simple activated carbon filters to reverse osmosis systems, among others. Advertisement Tip Carbon filters remove organics that can affect the taste, odor and color of your water and reduce chlorine, trihalomethanes (THM), some pesticides, industrial solvents (halogenated hydrocarbons), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and radon gases....