Activity Must Haves

Must-Haves for Your Gym Bag
Article By: Diana Kelly


If you've ever worked out at a gym on a weekday, you know how hard it is to pack a bag for the excursion. You're either packing work clothes or gym clothes, as well as undergarments, shoes, socks, hair accessories, makeup, music gadgets, a lock and shower products.To make life easier, and lighter, we tested products that'll shave minutes from your post-workout beauty routine or save space in your gym bag.

2-in-1 Shampoos and Conditioners Herbal Essences Color Me Happy 2-in-1 hydrates and protects color-treated hair. It’s available at drugstores nationwide for $2.99 in a 12 oz bottle. “This product smelled bright, floral, fruity and sweet. I was surprised by the results; as I rinsed my hair clean, it felt fresh and soft. The true test came a few hours later. My hair honestly looked as good as if I’d used my other, fancier salon shampoo and conditioner.” – Lisa Chernick, senior food editor Our other favorite was the Pantene Pro-V Classic Clean 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.99 for 12.6 oz).
3-in-1 Shampoo, Body Wash and Bubble Bath Philosophy’s 3-in-1 Amazing Grace-scented product nourishes dry hair and leaves skin feeling soft. Its gentle formula takes multi-tasking to a whole new level—you only need to remember one bottle for the essential shampoo and body wash you’ll need after a workout. Available in 30 scents at philosophy.com for $17 (8 oz) and $22 (16 oz). “It exceeded my expectations. The smell is delicate and feminine, and it produced great gobs of soft suds.” – Anne Simpkinson, managing editor
Body Wash To save space and weight in your gym bag, opt for a moisturizing body wash that will leave skin smooth and nourished without having to apply (or carry) lotion. Olay Body Wash plus Lotion Ribbons with Aloe Extract retails for $3.99 (10 oz) at drugstores nationwide. “I used this body wash after taking a lunchtime Spinning class. It smelled clean and produced a rich lather. I didn’t need to spend time applying lotion because my skin felt soft and smooth. The packaging says it could also be used as a shaving lotion; that’s what I call a multiuse product!” – Diana Kelly, assistant editor
Face Wipes Dove Sensitive Skin Foaming Cleansing Cloths are part of the Dove Sensitive Skin collection designed to visibly reduce redness or dryness. They come in a 30-pack for $4.99, available in drugstores nationwide. “With a little warm water, the cloths got very foamy and did a good job cleaning my face. They’re gentle for sensitive skin and don’t have an overpowering scent.” – Jason Carpenter, men’s editor Also try Olay Daily Facials Lathering Cleansing Cloths ($6.99 for 30 cloths), textured, hydrating, soap-free dry cloths that remove dirt, oil and make-up.
Travel Shower Kit Burt’s Bees Travel Shower Kit includes scented body wash, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and lip balm all in a compact clear plastic bag. Available at burtsbees.com for $13. “This is a great product for people who always seem to be missing something from their gym bag; you can pull all of the products out at once and take them to the shower together—no juggling, dropping or losing a bunch of little bottles. You can refill the bottles once the original products are gone.” – Amy Leibrock, copy editor

Flatten Your Belly
Article By: Paula Gardner

Are you cursing your midsection, looking for a way to whittle it down? Look no further. Nothing is as fast and effective—unfortunately—as those abdominal exercises we all know and hate.While an abdominal workout will not selectively remove fat from this area (spot reduction doesn't work), firming and toning these muscles and improving your posture, in addition to cardio, can reduce waist size.

The BasicsEverything from over-eating to bad posture damages our abdominal muscles, giving them that un-toned appearance. Maintaining good posture will work wonders on its own.
Stand against a wall with your feet slightly apart. If you can feel a large gap between the small of your back and the wall, tip your pelvis up to make that gap smaller and you should automatically feel your abdominal muscles contract, holding your tummy in.
This is how you should stand all the time, it'll help your muscles re-learn how to work effectively.
How to StrengthenLet's be honest: Sit-ups and crunches can be boring, not to mention difficult. But there's no real way around them. Rather than moan and think up creative excuses to get out of them, schedule ab work into your day just as you would prioritize brushing your teeth.
You could do them all first thing in the morning or use events in the day as triggers to remind you (a session every time you enter the front door for instance).
Sit-upsLie on your back and with legs bent, feet flat on the floor, lift your head and roll your shoulders up and down in small but effective movements as many times as comfortably possible. Keep your chin tucked into your chest and use your stomach muscles, not your arms, to create the movement.
CrunchesDo a sit-up and stay there, head off the floor, chin tucked to chest. With very slight movements, move backward and forward.
Stomach and BackIt's important to think about the lower back too because stomach and back muscles work together.
Lie on your stomach, hands at either side of your chest (as if you are going to do a push-up). With your back flat, push your upper body off the floor, with your hands and knees acting as support. Pull your bellybutton as close to the spine as possible and hold for 10-60 seconds. Repeat.
And now the fun starts… If you're serious about getting that stomach flat for good but also want an all-round workout, try these exercises:
Yoga and Pilates contain movements designed for the midsection and are a great way to de-stress.
Running and martial arts are high impact but very effective in burning calories and toning the torso.
Kick-boxing works your core when you focus on holding your stomach in while kicking and punching.
Next Steps
Check out our Workouts section for great ab exercises to strengthen and tone.
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