Peter Tak/Fitness MagazineBy Alexa Joy Sherman

Food journal? Check. Regular workouts? Yes, indeed. Enough fiber to keep an entire army regular? You got it. I know how to lose weight. I've been writing about the topic for more than a decade. That's why it was so frustrating when the pounds clung to me like a codependent boyfriend, no matter how hard I tried. A lot of women have this problem, the experts tell me. "Body weight can fluctuate by up to five pounds on any given day, so the amount you shed can easily get lost," says Pamela Wartian Smith, MD, the author of Why You Can't Lose Weight. I combed through research and grilled diet gurus to pinpoint little-known reasons that your efforts -- and mine -- haven't been showing up on the scale. Who knew?

Related: 10 Strategies to Lose Fat and Keep It Off

You Don't Drink Enough Water
We've all heard how important H2O is when it comes to shedding pounds. It helps to suppress appetite, so you're less likely to overeat. But that's not all: When you're dehydrated, your

Read More »from 6 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight

Learn which tips to dismiss so you can really live longerBy Anne Roderique-Jones

Extend Your Life
"Stop drinking coffee and alcohol." "Take an aspirin daily." How many times have you heard that advice for adding years to your life? Turns out, lots of long-held wisdom just isn't true. Read on to see which suggestions you should ignore and what actually ups longevity. Photo by Getty Images.

1. Lay off the java.
You've probably read that multiple cups of coffee a day can be bad for you (jitter city), but research published in the New England Journal of Medicine may prove the opposite. Male and female participants who had two or three cups a day and didn't smoke were 10% and 13% less likely, respectively, to have died during the 14-year-long study than those who never or rarely drank coffee. Men and women who drank a single daily cup were 6% and 5% less likely, respectively, to pass away. According to the researchers, more cups mean a lower risk of stroke, diabetes and heart and respiratory disease. But watch the cream and sugar-extra fat and

Read More »from 9 Tips for a Longer Life that You Shouldn’t Be Following

Godrej Nature’s Basket launched a new health section, ‘Healthy Alternatives’ earlier this week at their flagship store in Bandra. Offering a range of health foods that are heart-healthy, diabetic-friendly and immunity-boosting, Nature’s Basket teamed up with renowned nutritionist, Dr. Anjali Mukerjee for the launch. Speaking on the theme of ‘You are what you eat,’ Dr. Mukherjee shared her insights into maintaining a healthy lifestyle in today’s zippy daily routines. We seized the opportunity to chat with her and share some of her earthy good sense and wisdom with our readers.

“We at Health Total, in partnership with GNB, are very proud of the people who make concerted efforts to be healthy in a degenerating urban environment. GNB is bringing them a range of health foods that help fight disease, foods to detox, plan weight management, and much more. This range of functional foods (that is, foods with healthy properties) will be available at the Healthy Alternatives section at Nature’s

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Remember that old nursery rhyme we grew up singing?

Molly, my sister, and I fell out,
And what do you think it was all about?

She loved coffee, and I loved tea,
And that was the reason we couldn't agree!

The battle between coffee lovers and tea drinkers has been around as long as we can remember. Coffee, with its dark sweetness entwined in each deliciously bitter sip is hard to resist. And tea in its many avatars is also an inextricable part of our heritage - nothing compares to a steaming cup of adhrak chai in the morning, or a calming blend of cardamom and cinnamon tea. Western flavours too, have found a loyal following here in India. Earl Grey’s distinctive flavour of bergamot orange, peppermint tea that can be light and refreshing, and a strong cup of lemon tea can perk up any mood. Now how do we pick sides?

To carry forward this argument, let’s take a look at the health benefits of coffee vs. tea. Which beverage prevents diabetes, which one fights cancer, which drink will triumph?

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Exhausted by the thought of heading to the gym? Bored with your routine workout? Turns out you’re not the only one.

Siddarth Abraham who has been teaching kickboxing in Bangalore for the last 6 years finds that most people quit the gym because its bores them. As a musician and fitness enthusiast, he decided to bring the two loves of his life together and create a remedy unlike any other  – Hyper Monkey Fitness.

Built firmly on the philosophy of fun, HMF looks nothing like a gym. Instead, it’s been designed to recreate a playground. An obstacle course combines a jungle-gym and monkey bars, designed to work your entire body as you squat, jump, crawl, and soar through it.  “It’s a great way to work your core and build your inner balance, and you’ll find yourself having so much fun, you won’t realize you’re pushing your limits,” says Abraham.

Yoga, kickboxing and zumba classes are conducted in brightly coloured rooms intended to generate an ambience of happy, vibrant energy.  HMF’s most

Read More »from Hyper Monkey Fitness: Fitness just got a whole lot more fun

This month's cover of Women's Health magazine sports the svelte and sexy Lisa Haydon. The magazine that proffers 'Fit is the new sexy' picked a cover girl who has been working out since the age of 14. Donning a pair of comfy shorts and a colourful bikini top, Haydon shows off a toned figure and flawless skin.

What’s on her plate? Haydon endorses a balanced diet; while she doesn't believe in depriving herself, she keeps an eye on her portions and never skips meals. “I am basically a vegan but manage a balanced diet at all times. I would not suggest that people skip meals. Instead, compensate with eating in lesser portions,” she said.

But her exercise regime is the real hero behind her fabulous body. Want to know what her secret is? Watch the interview to unearth a fitness regime that is ancient as it is effective.

So what are you waiting for, ladies? Get that yoga mat out today!

Read More »from Lisa Haydon and the elusive body beautiful

If you thought the baby food diet was crazy, you’re going to love the current food trends that have Hollywood’s A-list in a tizzy.

From spurning carbs, going gluten-free, and having food delivered in portion-controlled freezer bags, the regimen of a celebrity is far from easy. But if you want to know which Friends star lets her blood group dictate her diet, the secret behind Kim Kardashian’s voluptuous figure, or Jennifer Aniston’s slender beach body, take a peek at the diets they credit their fabulous bodies to.

But remember that celebrity diet fads rise and crash, and getting fit the healthy way is the only way to go. Begin with a light detox and then work your way into a healthy diet with regular exercise for a body that looks fantastic and feels great too!

Read More »from 2012 celebrity diet trends

Have you ever heard of the Bullet Ant? It possesses the most painful sting known to man. Or perhaps the Bot fly, whose larvae can burrow inside your skin where it will lie dormant for weeks before it begins to move under your skin.

No? Well then, you’ll definitely want to know about Kissing bug, and the Tsetse fly. But as you make your way through the list of these deadly insects, brace yourself; the insect that proudly occupies top position, killing of over one million people every year, is one you will be uncomfortably familiar with.