Story Swap

Story Swap

Say Hello to Your New Go-To Summer Bikini

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips.

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips. We're thrilled to share this fabulous story from our friends at Lucky!

Ready to build your Summer wardrobe? You don't have to look far. Just head to Tommy Hilfiger tomorrow. The beloved all-American brand is launching their limited-edition Surf Shack collection inspired by the beach, the sun, the waves — pretty much everything we love most about Summer.

Stock up on adorable swimsuits, flowy dresses, and the cutest wallets from the collection. And while you're at it, why not pickup a few things for the man in your life — or better yet, some early Father's Day gifts. Choose from handsome blazers, pullovers and even custom-made surfboards designed exclusively by contemporary artists like Richard Phillips and Raymond Pettibon.

Click over to Lucky to see the whole story.

For more fashion and style from Lucky, here are more Lucky stories.
Shopping Mad Men: Attention to Detail
Safety Guaranteed: 10 Pairs of Pretty-Gone-Punk Safety Pin Earrings

healthy eating tips

Your 5 Worst Gluten-Free Mistakes

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health here on POPSUGAR Fitness.

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health here on POPSUGAR Fitness.

By Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD

After experiencing some wacky symptoms, I was recently tested for celiac disease, and while the report came back negative, I've noticed that I do feel better when I avoid gluten. Many of my clients are in the same boat, but others seek me out after going gluten free and feeling worse, or even gaining weight, which seems to be increasingly common. The truth is, navigating the gluten-free landscape can be pretty darn tricky. Here are five common missteps I see, and how to resolve them.

Not 'getting' gluten
One client recently said to me, "I'm not really sure what gluten is, but I know it's bad, right?" I think a lot of people are a little in the dark about the issue at large, and it is complicated, but in a nutshell, here's what you need to know: gluten is a type of protein naturally found in wheat (including spelt, kamut, farro, and bulgur) and other grains, like barley and rye.

In people who have celiac disease, consuming even small amounts of gluten triggers unwelcome symptoms, including belly pain and bloating. This happens because gluten causes the immune system to damage or destroy villi, the tiny, fingerlike structures that line the small intestine like a microscopic plush carpet. Healthy villi absorb nutrients through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, so when they become damaged, chronic malnutrition occurs, which is typically accompanied by weight loss and exhaustion. Other symptoms may include bone or joint pain, depression, and skin problems.

In people with this diagnosis, the only way to reverse the damage, and the accompanying symptoms, is to completely avoid gluten. People like me, who test negative for celiac disease, may be experiencing a condition called gluten intolerance, or gluten sensitivity, which means that while not celiac, consuming gluten causes bothersome side effects, which can include flu-like feelings, bloating, and other gastrointestinal problems, mental fogginess, and fatigue. Unfortunately, there is no real test for gluten sensitivity at this time, and the symptoms may be related to other issues, including stress (who doesn't have that?!), which makes it a not-so-black-and-white issue.

Will a Gluten-Free Diet Improve Your Health?

Confusing 'gluten free' with 'wheat free' or refined grains
As I noted above, gluten isn't only found in wheat. I've heard numerous people say they eat gluten free, but all they've really done is replace foods like white bread with hearty whole grain versions, which may include spelt (in the wheat family), and rye (which, while not wheat, also contains gluten).

If you don't have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, these swaps may make you feel great, and lead to weight loss, because trading refined grains for whole grains ups your intake of fiber, boosts satiety, so you feel fuller longer, and better regulates blood sugar and insulin levels. These are all good things, but, in this case, totally unrelated to gluten.

15 Gluten-Free Recipes

Keep reading for more mistakes made when going gluten-free.

workouts

7 Stubborn Fitness Myths That Won't Die

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Shape here on POPSUGAR Fitness.

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Shape here on POPSUGAR Fitness.

After diet, there's nothing more rampant with myths, half-truths, and downright falsehoods than exercise‚ especially its effect on weight loss. Follow any of this inaccurate advice, and you may wind up wasting time, energy, and money, or even injuring yourself.

No need to bust out a lie detector, though. Jason Greenspan, an ACE (American Council on Exercise)-certified personal trainer and founder of Practical Fitness & Wellness, identified the seven most common, persistent misunderstood notions about fitness‚ and offered the honest truth to help you build a strong, lean body.

1. Myth: Muscle weighs more than fat

Reality: A pound is a pound is a pound‚ unless you're defying the laws of physics. No substance weighs more than another one unless it actually weighs more. Simply put: One pound of fat weighs the same as one pound of muscle. The difference is that fat is bulkier than muscle tissue and takes up more space under the skin, Greenspan says. In fact, one pound of fat is roughly the size of a small grapefruit; one pound of muscle is about the size of a tangerine. But that tangerine is active tissue, meaning that it burns more calories at rest than fat does.

2. Myth: Weight training converts fat to muscle

Reality: This is physically impossible, Greenspan says. Fat and muscle tissue are two completely different substances. Exercise such as strength training will help to build muscle, which encourages fat loss by increasing your resting metabolism so you can burn more calories throughout the day. To get a lean look, you need to build muscle through weight training while simultaneously losing fat‚ but one doesn't magically become the other.

3. Myth: Heavy weights make women bulk up

Reality: We just don't produce enough testosterone, the male sex hormone that spurs muscle growth, to get big, meathead muscles. Lifting weights sometimes gets the blame for adding bulk because if you haven't yet shed extra body fat, it can give the illusion that you're getting larger, Greenspan says. But muscle boosts your metabolism, so don't be afraid of those 20-pound dumbbells (or at the very least, work your way up to them).

4. Myth: You can walk off extra pounds

Reality: Although walking is good exercise and most Americans don't do enough of it, if you want to lose a noticeable amount of weight, it's not the best method since it's low intensity and doesn't burn a lot of calories during or afterward. To substantially shrink your belly and keep it flat, Greenspan says you want an integrated approach of strength training, cardio (preferably intervals), and a calorie-controlled diet. Adding in a few extra miles on your feet daily as one part of an overall weight-loss plan is good and good for your health, but that alone probably won't lead to significant results on the scale.

See three more myths after the break!

fitness gear

5 Functional Bike Helmets Made Just For Women

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on POPSUGAR Fitness!

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on POPSUGAR Fitness!

Guys, not-so-newsy news flash: bike helmets save lives. (More specifically: bike helmet laws save lives.) This really should be obvious, but given the number of people I see on a daily basis who clearly haven't gotten the memo, it's something we need to talk about. According to brand-new research out of Boston Children's Hospital, states with bicycle helmet requirements have significantly lower rates of deaths and "incapacitating injuries" after bicycle-motor vehicle collisions. The study, presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, has led its authors to recommend that all cyclists —regardless of age — wear helmets; the authors also support more laws to make them mandatory for all. Currently only 21 states and the District of Columbia require bike helmets, and even then, only for children. So while the study could only examine the impact of these youth helmet laws, it's safe to assume that helmets protect adult cyclists, as well.

About 900 people die each year in bicycle crashes, three-quarters of them from head injuries. And yes, it's important to ride cautiously and to know the rules of the road; but there are some things — like, um, cars — that you simply can't control. So be safe and wear a helmet — every time you get on your bike. Need a new one? Here are five of our faves.

Source: Thinkstock
Story Swap

Whose Met Gala Dress Cost the Most?

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips.

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips. We're thrilled to share this fabulous story from our friends at Lucky!

Last night's Met Gala red carpet was an undeniable parade of punk pretty, from Sarah Jessica Parker's awesome and on-theme Philip Treacy mohawk headpiece to Sienna Miller's off-the-chain studded moto jacket. Such ensembles obviously don't come cheap — especially when they're custom-created for their wearers, as most Met Gala looks tend to be. But whose look last night cost the most?

To find out, we turned to Moda Operandi, where a selection of last night's dresses are already available to preorder — including a good handful of our favorites. Fancy getting your hands on Kate Bosworth's sparkly Balmain mini? Prepare to shell out $26,000. How about Elettra Wiedemann's bright and bold Prabal Gurung? That'll be $27,690—$12,495 for the gown, $15,195 for the cape.

But the most expensive dress on offer? That'd be Constance Jablonski's stunning harnessed Wes Gordon creation, priced at $35,610 — more than some luxury automobiles, for those of you keeping score. But remember — Moda only requires that shoppers pay half their bill upfront, so really, you'd only be shelling out $17,805 for the time being. What a bargain!

Would you pay nearly $36,000 to dress like your favorite punked-out celeb? Let us know!

For more fashion and style from Lucky, here are more Lucky stories.

The Cartoon Met Ball Returns
Meet a Stunning British Singer Who Mixes McQueen With High Street Finds

healthy eating tips

6 Healthy Prepared Foods Worth Paying For

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health here on POPSUGAR Fitness.

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health here on POPSUGAR Fitness.

By Karen Cicero

Whoa — $750 a month for groceries? That's the cost for some couples, according to the USDA. Bumping up those bills are containers of sliced strawberries, pre-shredded cheese, and other time-savers. "Convenience ingredients typically cost 30 percent to 60 percent more," says consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch.

We all need shortcuts, but which should we choose? Consider how you eat. "You could probably do without ready-to-grill kebabs, but if you're not going to serve salad unless you buy bagged lettuce, then go for it," says Karen Ansel, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Read on for the smartest options — and what to make with them.

Bagged kale
Price: $1 to $2 more than a head
Kale is the queen of greens, packing vitamins A, C and K, as well as manganese and cancer-fighting flavonoids. But it's probably the most difficult green to deal with, says Ansel. Its curly leaves trap dirt, so it needs a thorough washing. Ansel buys kale preprepped, often opting for baby kale, which is less bitter than full-size leaves.

Keep in mind that while a head of kale looks like a lot more than what you get in a 10-ounce bag, once you've removed the stems and any bruised leaves, it ends up about the same.

Health.com: 11 Healthy Kale Recipes

Fancy-cut bagged veggies
Price: $1 to $3 more than whole produce
Packages of sliced mushrooms or broccoli florets are a waste because they don't save that much time — and, in the case of broccoli, aren't as healthy. (You're missing out on the mild, fiber-rich stems.) But some specialty-cut bagged produce, like sweet potato fries or julienned carrots, is worth the premium price, says Heidi McIndoo, RD, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to 200-300-400 Calorie Meals.

"Besides not having to peel the sweet potatoes, you also get the benefit that they are uniformly sliced so they cook evenly," she points out.

Cooked fresh beets
Price: $2 to $3 more than raw
Sure, these antioxidant powerhouses are pricey — about $4 for an eight-ounce shrink-wrapped package. "But it's worth every penny not to spend an hour cooking them and have your fingernails and countertops turn pink" from peeling them, McIndoo says.

Health.com: 17 Superfoods That Fight Disease

Frozen cooked whole grains
Price: $1 to $2 more than dry grains
Don't have the time to make fiber-loaded brown rice, quinoa, barley, or farro? "Keep a few bags of frozen whole grains in your freezer to use on nights when you're in a rush," says Woroch. Unlike many of the grain mixes in the dry-goods section of the supermarket, these frozen packages are usually virtually fat- and sodium-free (check the nutrition label).

Frozen ready-to-cook shrimp
Price: $2 to $4 more per pound than fresh shrimp that hasn't been deveined
Shrimp is a superquick, high-protein meal — if you don't have to peel and devein it. "When you add all that prep work, it wipes out the benefit of the fast cooking time," says McIndoo. "That's why I always pay a few more dollars for frozen shrimp that's ready to cook."

Health.com: Tasty Recipes You Can Make With Frozen Shrimp

Frozen fruit
Price: $1 to $3 less than fresh
Surprise: here's one convenience ingredient that is a bargain. Frozen tropical fruits, such as mango and pineapple, are a great value — and they actually work better for smoothies and baking than fresh. You're not sacrificing nutrition, either: frozen fruit has the same amount of nutrients — if not more — because freezing preserves them.

Lauren Conrad

Style Guide: Dressing For Graduation Day

We are thrilled to share this story from Lauren Conrad!

We are thrilled to share this story from Lauren Conrad! The TV personality, writer, designer, and style maven has started LaurenConrad.com, a social networking site that features daily posts by Lauren on all our favorite topics — fashion, beauty, food, party planning — and Lauren will be sharing her latest fashion finds with POPSUGAR Fashion every month. This week, she's giving us her tips for stylish graduation dressing.

Graduation is of course a wonderful celebration. Not only does it mark an entirely new chapter of life, but also, it's a ceremony that recognizes your hard work and achievements throughout four years of college. It's a special occasion, so it's a good idea to put a little extra effort into your look. Since I've been to many graduations, I'm pretty well versed on the topic of dressing for the occasion. And recently, I've been thinking about a few tips to help all of you upcoming graduates put your best foot forward in front of your professors, classmates, family, and friends. Here are a few things to keep in mind on the day of the ceremony . . .

  1. Choose a cute but conservative dress.
    You will of course want to look cute in photos with friends on the big day, but also keep in mind that graduation is a ceremony for people's parents, grandparents, and professors. That said, don't reach for the trendiest, tightest dress in your closet. Instead, opt for a cute and conservative style that will look appropriate in front of friends and family alike. Since graduation is in the Spring, I would recommend choosing a sleeveless style — especially since those robes can get a little toasty. This little number from my Paper Crown Spring collection is an adorable option:
  2. Related: Store, Toss, or Wear: The April Edit

  3. Wear comfortable shoes.
    Being comfortable on graduation day is a must. You will be walking, standing, sitting, posing, and more! If you don't want to go the sandals route, I suggest finding a pair of wedges that is comfortable to walk in. They will give you support and make your look more dressed up than flats. It's also important to remember that when you're wearing your cap and gown, the only thing people will see are your shoes, making them equally as important (if not more!) as your graduation dress. Find a pair that is classy, cute, and comfortable, like this pair by Joie.
  4. Get more Lauren Conrad-approved style tips after the break.

Story Swap

Why You Absolutely Need a T-Shirt From the Sandro x Hugh Holland Collab

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips.

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips. We're thrilled to share this fabulous story from our friends at Lucky!

Last week, while sipping a tasty Svedka cocktail and browsing the collection of totally unisex T-shirts with California surfer-inspired graphics in Sandro's latest collaboration with photographer Hugh Holland, we had a thought. While a graphic tee is traditionally saved for those super casual days, these awesome shirts with really cool details could actually be dressed up, or down for a number of different occasions. Which is to say: we've found your perfect summer tee.

Click over to Lucky to see and shop the whole story.

For more fashion and style from Lucky, here are more Lucky stories.
How to Make Your Watch Your Best Accessory
Go Long! The Best Maxi Dress For Your Body Type, Revealed

workouts

10 Chores That Burn 100 Calories

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health here on POPSUGAR Fitness.

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health here on POPSUGAR Fitness.

By Jennifer Cohen

What if I told you that you're burning calories throughout the day just in your regular activities? If you can up the intensity of everyday chores, you can burn more calories throughout the day and have a clean house! Here are 10 chores that will burn 100 calories:

1. You could catch up on your DVR episodes of Mad Men, but spending that 60 minutes washing and drying a sink full of dishes like a Betty Draper-esque housewife will be much more beneficial to your calorie count. Try multitasking entertainment and chores to burn 100 calories.

2. Bored of your morning beauty routine? Pinterest a new hairstyle, because holding your arms up to blow dry, straighten, and style your hair for 35 minutes will burn off 100 calories of breakfast.

3. You really should call your mother more often. Talking on the phone while walking around the house for 35 minutes will get you brownie points and burn enough calories for a 100-calorie brownie.

Health.com: Fastest Fat Burners Ever!

4. Wouldn't that couch look better on the south wall? Moving furniture around your living room for 25 minutes is a great 100-calorie workout, especially if you have a heavy hide-a-bed in your living room.

Keep reading for five more chores that burn 100 calories.