When wedding bells ring, chances are your pocketbook is trying to block out the sound. After all, the costs of a wedding can add up if you stubbornly stick to expensive traditions. Since we're living in the 21st century, it's time to cast aside the uneconomical wedding customs and only keep the ones that work with our budget. Read on to find out what age-old practices you should drop when you're planning for your big day.
If your workout needs a little boost, having caffeine before you exercise can be just what you need. Studies have shown that ingesting caffeine before a workout increases your endurance, can help ease postexercise muscle soreness, and can help sedentary people exercise more vigorously. While caffeinated gels, drinks, and chews help give a much-needed boost during endurance races, you should play it safe when it comes to your caffeinated workout. Stay away from energy drinks, and opt for naturally caffeinated options with these tips.
Have a shot: An espresso shot before a workout is convenient, since it won't weigh you down and can be drunk quickly if you're on your way to the gym. Take the shot, which on average contains about 75 milligrams of caffeine, about 30 minutes before your workout to reap the effects of the caffeine during your workout.
Take a coffee break: If you are going to drink a full cup of coffee or tea before you exercise, make sure that you drink it about an hour before so you won't be full of liquid when you work out. Note that a 16-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee contains 330 milligrams of caffeine, so don't drink a full cup before an evening workout if caffeine normally keeps you awake.
Look for caffeinated snacks: A recent study found that eating a small piece of dark chocolate before a workout can help with endurance because it contains a flavonoid that may help muscles resist fatigue. While a small piece of dark chocolate may not contain that much caffeine, the combination of carbs, caffeine, and flavonoids may help give you a small boost. For a bigger caffeinated effect, look for energy gels and chews that contain caffeine.
No matter what your caffeine strategy, if you are training for a race and use caffeine to help your workouts, endurance running and nutrition coach Matt Fitzgerald recommends in his book The New Rules of Marathon and Half Marathon Training to go on a caffeine fast a week or two before your big day. Since your body acclimates to the effects of caffeine, taking a weeklong break will ensure that you feel the greatest effects during your race. You should also take care to not go over the recommended daily intake of 300 milligrams.
Sometimes, all you need is 10 minutes to feel healthier, less stressed, and more fit, all while burning a surprising amount of calories. The following total-body workouts range from five to 10 minutes and will work up a sweat while still keeping your busy schedule in mind.
Five more intense, short workouts after the break!
Manners in the modern age aren't just an issue for the "ladies who lunch" set — issues of etiquette arise every day, in every way, especially if you're a parent! As moms, we're responsible not only for our own decorum, but also for setting an example for our kids.
We were lucky enough to chat about the topic recently with Lizzie Post, great-granddaughter of the famed Emily Post and one of the authors of the 18th edition of Emily Post's Etiquette: Manners For a New World. Totally in touch with the "What's the right thing to do when . . . " challenges that moms face on an ongoing basis, we found Lizzie's advice to be incredibly useful and realistic. Read on — we hope that you find it to be just as beneficial!
Slimming down for Summer takes time and dedication, but a few quick tricks can help you feel a little bit lighter in just one day. Read on to get our tips on how to feel less bloated and puffy — and have a flatter belly — by the end of today!
The pattern remains the same for a lot of us — we hibernate during the Winter months and get ready to shed our cold-weather selves as the weather heats up. By the time Memorial Day comes around, we're looking for a few smart ways to shed a few pounds before it's time to don that bikini.
For other's, it's not as frantic: your cold-weather workout routine differs little from your bikini-ready one, and you're careful to balance comfort foods with fresh, low-calorie options all the time.
We want to know: where do you stand on your Summer weight-loss goals? Are you looking to shape up for Summer, or does your diet and exercise plan remain the same throughout the year?
Anyone who runs a 10.5-minute mile needs to listen to this new 5K playlist on her next run. There's a little something for every runner's needs in this perfect blend of rock, pop, and soul. Subscribe to the Spotify playlist, then keep reading for the full list of songs.
The weekend is finally here, but don't get carried away and start spending like there's no tomorrow. No matter what you do this weekend, there are plenty of ways to save, so be sure to keep these budget-friendly tips in mind.
If you're grocery shopping . . .
Practice simple tips like buying store brands, not falling for supermarket tricks that get you to spend more, and avoid overbuying. If you bought too much, you can share them with a friend before it goes stale. Be sure to skip the nongrocery items because the prices are often marked up!
If you're looking for a good book to read . . .
Go to your local library and pick out a book to read. If you rather read from the comfort of your own laptop or Kindle, check out $1 ebooks by indie authors on Amazon.
If you're going to do some dry cleaning . . .
The weekend is the best time to get your chores out of the way, and if you're thinking of doing some dry cleaning, be sure to do research to scout out a dry cleaner's that will give you the best bang for your buck. You can even dry clean your clothes at home with certain products. Check out other tips to help you save on your dry cleaning!
