Ashley Neglia
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Test Your Calorie Knowledge: This Week on AOL Health
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They say ignorance is bliss, so it's often easier to indulge in an unhealthy snack or meal when you don't know exactly how much exercise you would need to do to burn it off. Sure, some of you might say, "I don't care. I deserve to indulge." But we know that some of you would be horrified to know that you'd need to walk for more than five hours to burn off a Ruby Tuesday's Turkey burger, which weighs in at 1,173 calories. Or how about the ultimate indulgence for some people -- McDonald's fries? If you knew you'd have to walk for almost two hours to burn off 350 calories from a medium serving, would you still belly up to the drive-thru?
We challenge you to take this quiz from AOL Health. Test your knowledge of calorie counts in some of our favorite foods and see if they're worth the workout.
Fallen off the workout wagon because of a time crunch? Get back on track and save time with circuit training.
Find the Right Music to Pump Up Your Workout
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There are two exercise camps. The first is made up of people who take a Zen-like approach to working out, preferring to be left alone with their thoughts while pumping iron or hauling it on the treadmill. The second is for those who rely on steady beats of their favorite song to pull them through that last rep or mile. If you're a thoughtful exerciser, more power to you, but new research shows that jamming out while you're working out can actually increase your endurance.
Researchers found that syncing music tempo with your exercise pace can actually increase your work out efficiency. Running on a treadmill to a song that matches your cadence can result in a 10 percent reduction in perceived effort, which allows you to work out longer, reports LiveScience.
Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology found that running in time with a song that had 125 beats per minute (bpm) helped increase endurance by 15 percent.
Fatigue-Fighting Foods: This Week on AOL Health
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It's 3 p.m. You're staring at the monitor, eyes partially glazed over, drifting dangerously between consciousness and dead sleep. Before your head hits the desk, you lurch out of the chair and careen toward the coffee machine. We've all been there. It's the dreaded energy crash.
When afternoon exhaustion kicks in, the first thought is to grab a cup of coffee or can of Diet Coke in an attempt to power through the rest of the day. But even in all of its energizing glory, caffeine can not only leave you feeling shaky and jittery, but it can also affect sleep patterns. So instead of just reacting to an energy crash, you can be proactive by preventing afternoon fatigue through the foods you eat. Whether it's staying away from the vending machine or learning how to balance protein and carbs, AOL Health gives you the advice you need to help you get through the day.
Are you an energy drink junkie? Find out what you're really putting in your body, here.
Halloween Candy Quiz: This Week on AOL Health
Photo: Nicole Goksel, AOL
While it's true that calorie and fat counts differ for each candy, nutrition labels are hard to find (or often don't even exist) on these Halloween-friendly miniatures. That's why AOL Health has created a handy Halloween Candy Quiz to help you take the guesswork out of picking through your plastic pumpkin and prevent a major diet disaster from happening.
That's Fit wants to know how much Halloween candy you'll allow yourself this year.
Exercise Reduces Breast Cancer Risk
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A recent review of 954 studies sponsored by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research found that exercise, healthy eating and keeping weight under control can help prevent nearly 40 percent of breast cancer cases in the United States.
The study notes that exercise, in particular, may help reduce breast cancer risk not only by strengthening the immune system but also positively affecting hormones in postmenopausal women and helping with weight loss. Being overweight puts you at an increased risk for developing breast cancer because fatty tissue produces hormones and growth factors, such as estrogen and insulin, which may promote cancer development. Recommendations for exercise, which are echoed by the American Cancer Society, include being physically active for 30 minutes a day.
Fiber-Filled Foods: This Week on AOL Health
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Here, AOL Health features eight more foods chock full of fiber, including edamame, that will give your meals variety and keep you satiated throughout the day.
Are you getting enough fiber in your diet? Find out here.
Yoga For Strength Training: This Week on AOL Health
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Trying to lose weight? Incorporate yoga into your routine to help accelerate weight loss.
Workout Frequency Improves Body Image
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We all want to look and feel better about ourselves, but sometimes getting off the couch and on the treadmill can seem too daunting at the beginning (or even end) of a work day. But as the leaves start to change many of us fight to stay active, especially in the face of dropping temperatures. Keep in mind, however, that even a little bit of exercise can do wonders for body image.
Results from 57 separate exercise and body image studies were combined and analyzed by researchers from the University of Florida. The final study, published in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of Health Psychology, found that the simple act of exercise alone -- not necessarily working out to get in shape -- can help boost body image.
One of the most surprising findings was that frequency of exercise had more of an impact on body image than workout duration or intensity. The more people exercised per week regardless of how hard or how long they worked out, the more their body image improved.
Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout: An Overview
The Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout is a Pilates-based body sculpting workout that gets the body toned without adding bulk. The workout also includes elements of ballet, Callanetics and calisthenics and can help target trouble spots. Anderson does not work large muscle groups and does not require heavy weights. Instead, she employs the fluidity principle and focuses on doing many reps and targeting small, underworked muscles. The workout includes the following: standing legs, arm work without weights, arm work with weights, standing ab work, floor work for the legs and crunches.
More About Tracy Anderson:
Tracy Anderson's Advice for New Moms Wanting to Lose Baby Weight
Tracy Anderson Promises to Help Her Celebrity Client Madonna Fight Aging
Plus, Find More Celebrity Diet and Fitness News and Diet and Fitness Updates from That's Fit.
More About Tracy Anderson:
Tracy Anderson's Advice for New Moms Wanting to Lose Baby Weight
Tracy Anderson Promises to Help Her Celebrity Client Madonna Fight Aging
Plus, Find More Celebrity Diet and Fitness News and Diet and Fitness Updates from That's Fit.
Can Nutrition Bars Give You Cavities?
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While they may be good for your body as a whole, nutrition and energy bars can wreak havoc on the teeth. The sticky consistency of many of these bars makes it difficult for the mouth to wash away particles that can adhere to the teeth. Leftover food bits that remain in the mouth become fodder for bacteria, which begin to produce the acid that leads to tooth decay within 15 to 20 minutes after food fragments are present, says Dr. Richard H. Price, spokesman for the American Dental Association.
The inherent problem with nutrition bars is that we mostly consume on the go, which means that we don't necessarily have access to toothpaste and a toothbrush. If you know you're going to be eating a nutrition bar after a workout, Price suggests brushing and flossing before you begin exercising so you can at least start off with a clean mouth. If that's not an option, drinking water can help saliva dissolve any food remnants left in the mouth, giving the bacteria less to feed on.
