We have a giveaway winner! But we’ll save that until the end of the post because I love the suspense :)

It’s mid-March (can you believe it?), and I’ve sifted through this month’s magazines to discover the most useful tips and bits of information. Now for four facts that especially piqued my interest:

Don’t sweat it. Weight Watchers Magazine examined the why and how we perspire, and how individuals vary in their sweating style. Those that are exercising in cooler weather, have less insulation (AKA body fat), are already in pretty good shape and have eaten the proper fueling foods tend to sweat less than their opposites. Genetics also play a role. But none of this really matters in terms of your results—the amount you sweat doing a workout today may even be different than how much you sweat doing the same workout next week. All of this means that you can’t gauge your intensity on the drip factor. (Weight Watchers Magazine, March/April 2011)

Paint strategically. Picking the right shades for various rooms in your house can set you up for a healthier and happier dwelling, according to a Sherwin-Williams expert interviewed in Shape. Apparently, an eggplant-like hue is perfect for the bedroom (romantic and peaceful), shades of blue work well in the bath (relaxing) and neutral colors are a perfect fit for your office space (making it easier to focus on your work). And the cherry on top, in my opinion? Painting several rooms can be a great workout! (Shape, March 2011)

Banish belly fat. A larger waistline has been linked with lower bone-mineral density in women, says new research mentioned in SELF. Fat cells release certain hormones that may impact the strength of your skeleton. Avoiding broken hips in a roundabout way: Just one more reason to rack up a reasonable amount of cardio and eat a nutritious diet! (SELF, March 2011)

Stretch smarter. As more and more exercise scientists delve into the world of stretching, the recommendations are changing quicker than many can keep up with! FITNESS summarized the latest findings this month, and here are the highlights:

1. It’s best not to perform static stretches before your workout. Doing so likely makes your muscles have to work harder to do the same amount of work.
2. Dynamic stretches let your body loosen up without altering performance, as static stretches can.
3. Stretching doesn’t directly prevent injuries, but over time, limbering up can make your muscles a bit stronger. Pushing muscles into a stretch (although not to a point of pain) creates mini-tears in a muscle like strength training does—and the tissues grows back stronger. (FITNESS, March 2011)

(Image from MSNBC)

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I won’t make you wait any longer to find out the victor! Random.org has selected entrant number eight, Lindsay, as the winner of the Healthful Bites 200th post giveaway. Lindsay, please shoot me your best mailing address at karlaswalsh@gmail.com and I’ll get your goodies to the post office.

Thank you to all who entered. Your book and blog idea suggestions are much appreciated and are going on my to-read and to-write lists! Stay tuned for more great giveaways in the near future.