Fitness Korner

This is Exactly What Kim Kardashian Eats Every Day to Lose the Baby Weight She's dropped 42 pounds since giving birth to Saint. Not that we're counting...but she is. Though Kim Kardashians' diet and fitness routine might not be the easiest, most fun thing to follow ( ahem ), the fact that Kim's  lost 42 of the 60 pounds  she gained since giving birth to Saint West a mere three months ago means it's certainly  effective . So we asked Kim's nutritionist, Colette Heimowitz, VP of nutrition and education at Atkins Nutritionals, to break down  the key points of the reality star's weight-loss diet. Because...forty. two. pounds. 1. Kim's a hard-core Atkins devotee. Kimmy followed the same plan to lose weight after giving birth to North. She also isn't shy about professing her love for the program on social media—Kim's thrown shout-outs to the company on Twitter—or being the brand's ambassad...

If Your Trainer Can’t Answer These Three Questions, Run Away. The decision to shell out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars a year on a personal trainer is a big one. Here’s what you need to ask. Let’s face it: It’s really hard to take care of our bodies these days—at least, in the developed world. Few of us move like our ancestors did. No more chucking spears at mammoths, no more building our homes by hand, and very little good old-fashioned walking around to get places. But the problems and inconveniences we have solved with our combustion engines, escalators, and riding mowers have been replaced by new ones. Our sedentary lifestyle has led to widespread chronic joint and back pain, heart disease, type II diabetes and even some forms of cancer. By far, the biggest share of the  $3 trillion health costs  in this country is spent on  preventable  chronic disease. Much of that burden would disappear if the American population was more physically a...

6 MOVES FOR STRONGER KNEES Follow these techniques to strengthen your knees for optimal weightlifting performance. If you suffer from knees that feel like they have been bludgeoned with a scalding hot tire iron, you are not alone. One study from Gallup-Healthways found that 26% of the adult population in the US suffers from  knee pain .  Causation can be varied. Over use, under use, mobility restrictions and muscular imbalances are some of the big factors than can factor in to knee pain.  Whatever the reason, you don’t have to live with it. Try adding these exercises and  stretches  to your daily  warm-up routine .  1) ANKLE BAND DISTRACTIONS One of the main functions of the ankle is to hinge, enabling the knee and hip to synergistically work together in creating movement. Stiff, rigid ankles are common, which can lead to injury and discomfort. Band distractions serve to “floss” stubborn joints. They can enhance range of ...

3 WAYS TO BUILD A SEXY BACK Three pro athletes share their favorite back workouts. 1. IFBB Women’s Physique Pro Mindi O’Brien Sexy-back secret:  Wide-grip pullup Why it’s her fave:  "This compound exercise helps to both build width and create a nice V-taper." How to do it: Grab the pullup bar with an overhand grip, spacing your hands about shoulder-width apart. Hang from the bar with arms fully extended, shoulders relaxed to stretch your lats. Squeeze your shoulder blades together, arch your back, and pull yourself up, aiming to touch your chest to the bar. Hold the contraction at the top of the movement, then slowly lower back down and repeat. Mindi's Back Workout: Straight-arm Pulldown:  2 sets x 15-20  Wide-grip Pullup:  5 sets x 8-10 Reverse-grip Bentover Barbell Row:  4 sets x 8-10   Single-arm Dumbell Row:  4 sets x 8 (hold the contraction for two seconds) Close-grip Lat Pull Down:  4 sets x 12-15  (hold...

7 MOVES FOR AN HOURGLASS FIGURE Get those coveted hourglass curves with these exercises. This routine--in addition to a balanced diet--can help you sculpt an ideal balance of muscles and curves. BUILD A SEXY SHAPE WITH WEIGHTS When you envision exercises for the perfect hourglass shape, odds are, the focus is likely on abdominal moves. The look of a small waist may be the goal, but there are a variety of different muscle groups required to achieve this enviable silhouette. “Balancing muscles and curves in the upper body, core and lower body is paramount," explains trainer and registered dietitian Jenny Champion. Here, experts Champion and UK-based trainer Polina Liu weigh in on the exercises that can done throughout your weekly routine to get you toward an  hourglass figure . LATERAL ARM RAISEs Works:  Upper arms and shoulders Using 5-pound weights, raise arms at your sides to form a "T." Perform 8-12 repetitions and repeat for 5 sets. How it achieves ...