Women's Health September 2013

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS SIMPLE DRAWING, which has racked up shares and posts on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram? A version of it even made a cameo on the zeitgeist-driven HBO show Girls (season 2, episode 3). Why so popular? Well, because it’s true. But venturing beyond the cozy confines of familiar territory requires overcoming fear of the unknown. Recently, I had a chance to get outside of my comfort zone—over 7,000 miles outside of it—when I was invited on a trip to east Africa with the nonprofit organization Mama Hope and the natural skin-and hair-care company Yes To. They have formed a partnership called Yes to Hope, which you’ll hear more about in my letter next month. Though I’ve traveled extensively internationally, this trip was more daunting because it…

THE SMILE PRO Carolyn Taggart-Burns, D.D.S., is a dentist in Omaha, Nebraska, and a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry. In “Improve Your Sleep Posture,” page 72, she reveals the sleep position that helps prevent teeth grinding. 1 HOW I MULTITASK: GOLF I love golfing with my girlfriends. It’s part fitness, part social, and all fun. 2 HOW I MOTIVATE PATIENTS TO BRUSH FOR TWO MINUTES: BRUSH DJ APP This app picks a song from your collection and plays it for two minutes while instructing you where to brush, so you can’t skimp on time or miss any spots. WH ADVISORY BOARD ANTHROPOLOGY HELEN FISHER, PH.D. Research professor and member of the Center for Human Evolutionary Studies, Rutgers University; author, Why Him? Why Her? Finding Real Love by Understanding…

ELIZABETH BANKS ON… Advice she gives friends, how she stays active, and more. Watch her video at WomensHealthMag.com/ElizabethBanks. Our Fitness Editor Firms You Up, Stat! Music to our exercise earbuds: You don’t need to live at the gym or hire a personal chef (as if!) to transform your body. In the new book Shape-Up Shortcuts, Women’s Health fitness editor and certified strength and conditioning specialist Jen Ator provides cut-to-the-chase workouts, speedy recipes, and countless ways to work fitness in—whether you have 30 minutes or five. WomensHealthMag.com/ShapeUpShortcuts RUN HARD, DO GOOD There’s still time to register for our 10K Run 10 Feed 10 races happening this fall in major cities around the U.S.! The “do good” part? You’ll provide 10 meals to hungry people in your ’hood. Sign up at Run10Feed10.com.…

We have the answers! Q Is it better to work out in form-fitting or loose clothing? — Becca, Seattle, WA Show your shape, woman! Flowy running pants can, surprisingly, restrict your movements (try sprinting in flopping fabric!). They can also get caught in a machine or cause you to trip. Body hugging clothes make it easier to see your muscles working, so you can be sure your form is correct. You don’t have to wear spandex—just pick clothes that fit snugly and flatter your figure. Research shows that when you like what you’re wearing, you actually perform better in physical activities. The theory? “You’re not hung up on insecurities, so you’re more likely to crush it harder,” says Keaira LaShae, a personal trainer with DailyBurn.com, an online fitness program. Take…

Q / Is it weird to send a guy flowers to let him know I’m thinking about him? —Jennifer, Oxford, ME Yes, it’s weird. Unless the guy has expressed a genuine interest in them (hey, there are some tulip-loving gents out there, I’m sure!), you’ll just confuse him. My advice: Think of something unique and personal—if he likes to fish, say, pick up a new tackle box for him. If you’re set on sending him something, you’ll find no shortage of guy-friendly options, like the Loveless Cafe Bacon Sampler ($40, lovelesscafe.com) or a three-month membership to the Beer of the Month Club ($39 per month, beermonthclub.com). I feel self-conscious being naked in front of my boyfriend, but he says I’m sexy. Is he just being kind? —Kirsten, Sioux Falls, SD…

Sharp knives and a hot oven aren’t the only dangers your kitchen poses. In a small study, researchers found that using a gas stove can result in kitchen air quality three times worse than that of an outdoor urban environment, reports the journal Indoor and Built Environment. Compared with homes that have electric ranges, those with gas stoves had significantly higher levels of gaseous emissions, including nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Eek! Breathe easier: Another study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, found that using the back burners and turning your exhaust fan to the highest setting when cooking cuts down on air pollutants.…