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The single-leg squat is one of the most challenging glute exercises. Image Credit: SrdjanPav/iStock/GettyImages No one wants to hit a booty-building plateau, but if you think your progress is stalling — especially since it’s probably been a while since you set foot in a gym — it may be time for a little kick in the butt (pun intended). Advertisement That's where these five exercises come in. If a strength plateau is your concern, incorporate these moves into your lower-body workout routine — you'll definitely feel your butt in the morning, promises Carolina Araujo, certified personal trainer....

Jump rope is a great cardio exercise. Image Credit: SolisImages/iStock/GettyImages One, two, three, four, five — that’s not just the start of Lou Bega’s 1999 hit “Mambo Number 5,” but it’s also the sound of many a frustrated beginning jump roper counting how many times they can hop over the rope. Advertisement Jump Rope for Beginners Depending on where you start, even that first “One!” hop over the rope might be a success....

B vitamins and fish oil supplements might help diminish racing thoughts. Image Credit: Blackzheep/iStock/Getty Images Racing thoughts are associated with several psychological conditions, particularly generalized anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. Although these conditions often are treated with prescription medications, vitamin deficiencies can either cause or exacerbate anxiety and bipolar disorders. In particular, a lack of B vitamins, especially B-12, can cause racing thoughts and other symptoms of anxiety and bipolar disorders....

Store your food at the proper humidity for longest shelf life. Many people have changed their shopping habits to take advantage of savings reaped by purchasing large pack sizes. If you have recently purchased food in bulk, you have discovered that although it stretches your budget further, you have a new problem to solve. You need to know how to store that food so you don't lose the money you've saved through spoilage....

Butt clenches are convenient but probably not the best exercise. Image Credit: Morsa Images/DigitalVision/GettyImages Maybe you’ve been typing away for hours, having the most productive day of your life. Or perhaps you’re on the couch, several hours deep into your favorite reality show. Whether pampered or productive, your butt is likely to take a snooze after a long period of sitting. Advertisement Intentional or not, butt clenches may be your go-to exercise to either wake your booty up or strengthen the glutes....

A stair-treadmill in a gym. Image Credit: robertcicchetti/iStock/Getty Images Although a stair-treadmill ergometer sounds like a high-tech piece of exercise equipment, it is actually another name for a stair climber or stepmill. An ergometer is an exercise machine that can measure your work output. A stair-treadmill is the combination of a standard stepper and a treadmill. The result is a stepmill. Advertisement Identification A regular stepper consists of two hydraulic pedals that you push up and down as if you are climbing stairs....

Yoga is a great way to stretch out the lower back. Image Credit: stockfour/iStock/GettyImages Standing with an increased curve, or lordosis, in your low back may seem like a great way to accentuate your derriere; however, it can actually have significant consequences. Advertisement While a some curvature in your lumbar spine is normal, an imbalance in the muscles of your core and hips can lead to excessive amounts of lordosis and can result in the development of low back pain....

Lymphedema patients can lose weight through exercise and dieting. Lymphedema is the swelling of a limb or other body tissue that occurs when vessels that form the lymphatic system are blocked or there is an increase in lymph fluid. The lymph system vessels carry excess protein and fluid to the blood stream. Tiny round organs called nodes line the lymphatic system and trap toxins and foreign bodies, such as bacteria. If you have lymphedema, you can lose weight through exercise and healthy eating....

Man checking his heart rate while running Image Credit: Maridav/iStock/Getty Images When you run or perform any other aerobic activity, staying in your target heart rate range can help ensure that you are working hard enough to see results, but not working so hard that you are at risk for injury or illness. Your optimal target heart rate depends on your age and how fit you are. A heart rate of 170 while running may be too high, depending on a number of factors....

Make absolutely certain the canned fruit you buy is packed in water, juices or light syrup only. Image Credit: ajafoto/iStock/Getty Images Many people with diabetes assume they should avoid fruit due to its high sugar content, but the American Diabetes Association recommends eating fruits because they’re loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber. Canned fruit is on the American Diabetes Association’s list of healthy foods for people with diabetes, but some types of canned fruit are better than others....

Constipation isn't typically a symptom of lactose intolerance. Image Credit: YakobchukOlena/iStock/GettyImages Feeling constipated but not sure if it’s due to lactose intolerance or something else? It’s easy to assume that lactose intolerance could cause the same uncomfortable gastrointestinal tract ailments as other digestive conditions. But constipation is not a typical symptom of lactose intolerance. Advertisement "Lactose intolerance leads to diarrhea, bloating and pain — not constipation," says Matthew Ciorba, MD, a gastroenterologist and associate professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St....

Channel you inner child by hitting the playground for some hanging leg raises. Image Credit: Marina Khromova/iStock/GettyImages Rock hard abs don’t come from sit-ups alone. You need to incorporate more intense ab exercises — such as hanging leg raises — to challenge your entire core. This exercise works your entire midsection, with particular emphasis on your hip flexors and the lower portion of your abdominals. Advertisement Related Reading 5 Leg Lift Variations to Target Your Lower Abs How to Do a Hanging Leg Raise...

Ideal blood pressure levels are the same for all adults. Image Credit: Moyo Studio/E+/GettyImages People are all different — so does that mean that your blood pressure goals differ from someone else’s because of age or height or sex or gender? The quick answer: No matter your size or age or sex or gender, a “normal” blood pressure definition is the same for all adults. Of course, it’s not quite that simple....

A stack of pancakes with maple syrup on a plate. Image Credit: GeorgeDolgikh/iStock/Getty Images A warm, fluffy stack of pancakes dripping with butter and syrup is seen as a comfort food by many, but it can lead to painful consequences for some. As innocuous as pancakes may seem, they are actually a potent combination of several ingredients known to cause intestinal distress and diarrhea. Fortunately, you probably won’t have to give them up completely to avoid the ill effects; a few simple tweaks to your recipe can make all the difference in the world....

Low-fat dairy is a good source of protein, which is key for weight loss. Image Credit: SDI Productions/E+/GettyImages One of the most common weight-loss methods is to reduce your overall calorie intake. We’re all pretty familiar with this approach; if your daily caloric needs are 2,200, for example, you might reduce your overall intake to 1,700 calories per day across the board (500 calories is the magic number, after all)....

Like all legumes, red kidney beans are a nutritious high-protein food that has many health benefits associated with the vitamins, minerals and fiber it provides. Image Credit: Pakorn Kumruen / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Like all legumes, red kidney beans are a nutritious high-protein food that has many health benefits associated with the vitamins, minerals and fiber it provides. However, if not cooked, as few as four or five kidney beans can trigger symptoms of severe toxicity and cause digestive distress....

A single dumbbell can add a serious challenge to your regular ab workouts. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative The 30-Day Dumbbell Challenge builds strength from head to toe. Get all the details on the challenge here. A set of seriously sculpted abs is the unicorn of the fitness world: hard to track down, but once you do, you want to show it off. And if you’ve stopped seeing progress with your body-weight ab workouts, it’s time to add a dumbbell....

Image Credit: Unsplash/ Marion Michele You have big plans for when you turn 30, 40, 50, and so on (hello, solo hike across Spain). After accumulating wisdom points with each passing decade, you're more ready than ever to smash those big life goals—you just need a foundation of health in place. Advertisement We all know the importance of loading up on nutrient-dense foods, de-stressing, and maintaining our close relationships to help us stay happy and balanced each passing decade....

From automated “grab and go” stores to more smart mobile, home appliance, and even artificial intelligence solutions, food convenience will get an upgrade in 2019. Image Credit: demaerre/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: demaerre/iStock/GettyImages Companies are working to further reduce food waste by looking for different ways to utilize "ugly" produce. Image Credit: moisseyev/iStock/GettyImages Image Credit: moisseyev/iStock/GettyImages Embracing a plant-centric movement, grocery buyers are opening their shopping carts up for more mushrooms. Sales have increased every year over the past five years, up 4....

Capsules Image Credit: PushishDonhongsa/iStock/Getty Images Choose your vitamins wisely because purchasing a cheap vitamin only results in poor quality nutrients and contain fillers. Fillers are toxic, synthetic additives used to bind the composition of a vitamin. Toxic additives, such as cellulose and gelatin, are commonly used in tablets and rapid release capsules. Visible symptoms may not occur immediately, but long-term daily use can cause detrimental effects to major organs. Advertisement NSA Juice Plus+ Juice Plus+ is a whole food supplement containing 17 different fruits, vegetables, and grains in capsule form....