Paula Hible

These simple tips and smart finds make shopping a joy, not a chore. View the slideshow.

Lynda Churilla

It’s that time of year to make your list, check it twice—and hit the stores. Happily, some retailers today are realizing that shoppers want a healthy experience as well as bargains.

But which stores are doing a great job? We asked retail experts to help us review the top U.S. discount and department stores on “healthy” criteria, including comfort, cleanliness, customer service, and eco-friendliness.

There were some disappointments (health isn’t a subject some stores wish to discuss or care much about), but we were pleased to find 10 that are doing some smart things.

In fact, our winners are making shopping better for you in ways you can see (recyclable bags, healthful products, hand sanitizer) and ways you may not even notice (greener lighting and building materials, solar heating).

Before you visit our winners, check out our shopping kit to make sure you’re well-armed (comfy shoes! germ-fighting lotion!). Here’s to the stores that make your blood pressure go down.

Next: Discount stores

My favorite holiday ritual: On Christmas morning, we always make breakfast and everyone eats before we open any presents. I makemuffins and homemade applesauce, which I don’t think anyone likes
as much as I do … I just love the way it makes the house smell!

When I need an energy boost, nothing beats … an apple with peanut butter. Has to be natural peanut butter, though … I just can’t do that peanut butter with all the extra sugar.

When I hit an exercise rut, I … call a friend to meet me for a walk. It always helps to make exercising a social opportunity!

The thing that surprises me about myself: I’m not as good at multitasking as I think I used to be, and I’m starting to sound like such an oldlady (“Turn that music down,” “Ow, my back”)!

My favorite natural beauty trick: Drink lots of water!
And sleep ….wish I had time to get more of that, but at least drink water. Oh, and sunscreen—is that natural?

The secret to a happy marriage is … separate bathrooms—and closets.

My best advice for juggling work and family is … separate bathrooms—andclosets!

My happy-life mantra: Make time for friends and family. Giggle, eat good food.

Doug and I would never … use Cool Whip instead of real whipped cream.

Next page: I refuse to feel guilty about…

Ericka McConnell

The doc-patient relationship can be weird. Your doctor sees you at your most vulnerable (two words: paper gown) and is privy to your most intimate info (the number of sexual partners you’ve had, the precise location of that suspicious mole).

But while you’re an open book, your doc isn’t—and that’s a big mistake. You’re left wondering what he’s thinking when he raises an eyebrow or murmurs a cryptic “hmmm.” Well, wonder no more. We asked top docs to spill the beans on how you can get the best possible care.

Don’t think you’ve got every ailment out there
“A patient will say to me, ‘I saw that pill for toenail fungus—I want that pill.’ And I’ll say, ‘But you don’t have toenail fungus.’ Then they say, ‘My toenails look just like the toenails in the picture!’ Medicine is not like buying a new shirt because the new color is Concord purple and you want to have a purple shirt, too. I tell people, ‘Be glad you don’t have toenail fungus!’” —Zoe Diana Draelos, MD, president of Dermatology Consulting Services in High Point, North Carolina

Just spill it
“Every doctor has those ‘By the way, doc’ patients. They’re the ones who, when I’m getting ready to leave the room, say something like, ‘By the way, doc, I’ve been having burning when I’m urinating.’ It’s an important issue, but they wait until I’m on my way out to mention it. Tell me something like that right away.” —Raul J. Seballos, MD, vice chairman of preventive medicine at the Cleveland Clinic

Forget what you saw on TV
“I hear a lot of, ‘I want this test. I saw it on TV. ’ You should get the test you need, but it may not be what you saw on television. Just because a TV personality and her best friend had CT scans of the heart doesn’t mean you need one.” —Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director of the Women’s Heart Center at the New York University Langone Medical Center and author of Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Complete Guide to Women’s Health

Don’t worry about your hairy legs
“I don’t care if you haven’t shaved, OK? Please do not apologize for the state of your toenails, your legs, or anything else. I am so not looking.” —Katharine O’Connell White, MD, MPH, OB-GYN at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts

Next: Be honest about exercise

Support group: Five of the six original “Run Like a Girl” members: Luanne
Tubbs, 35; Dede Herberholz, 40; Patricia Combs, 42; Marien Serrano, 47; Lusk.

“Our Run Like a Girl group formed after the death of Carlos Serrano, a local triathlete, in a cycling accident this past summer,” says Marisa Lusk, 30, of Scottsboro, Alabama.

“It began as a way for us—his wife and friends—to cope, and we never stopped. We now have more than 60 members, and his memory inspires each of us.”

 
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John Kernick

This multitasking spice fights cramps, soothes sore muscles, and calms cranky winter skin. View the slideshow.

Istockphoto

Learn more about our expert shopping panelists:

J. Nick Baird, MD, is the chief executive officer of the Alliance to Make US Healthiest, a nonpartisan organization of national and grassroots efforts focusing on healthy initiatives for individuals, communities, industries, and on the government level. He is also a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director’s Advisory Council.<

Elaine Buxton is the president of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), the largest professional trade association using anonymous resources to improve retail services. She is also president of Confero Inc., a national firm that measures customer experience.

Marianne Wilson is the editor in chief of Chain Store Age magazine, a monthly publication that analyzes trends, news, and strategies in the retail industry.

 
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Istockphoto

You know those women who always order the burger and never gain a pound? It’s not all DNA: They have a few smart secret weapons on their side. Time to steal them!

Cute, comfy shoes

We’re not talking workout shoes, but everyday shoes that are stylish enough to actually wear to work or out—and so darn cushiony you almost long to take the stairs. We like the Cole Haan Air Miranda Pump and Kenneth Cole New York Silver Trophy sling-backs.

A friend who is hard-core about fitness

If you hang out with a fitness buff—whether she’s a gym diehard, Pilates instructor, or league-joiner—the latest get-fit secrets are automatically on your radar. Plus, research shows that we mimic the exercise and nutrition choices of our close friends, so her active lifestyle is sure to rub off on you.

Great knife skills

It’s a fact: We eat healthier when we cook at home. And women who know how to slice, dice, and chop are more motivated to use those skills to whip up healthy, vegetable-filled meals like stir-fries and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink salads. You don’t need a designer set of cutlery, either. Many professional kitchens use sturdy, inexpensive Dexter-Russell or Forschner knives, and you can do most veggie prep work with just three blades: an 8-inch chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a bird’s-beak peeler. Need to bone up on your skills? Try a class at Sur La Table or Whole Foods.

A local “skinny” restaurant

Women who keep the pounds away know how to eat out without doing in their waistlines. They cultivate go-to joints that grill fresh ingredients and never give attitude when they ask them to hold the butter or put the sauce on the side. Don’t have a mom-and-pop spot that is as light as you’d like? Try Chipotle or Panera Bread, both in the top 10 of Health’s America’s Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants.

The perfect pair of jeans

Slim types don’t switch to fat-day clothes as soon as they gain a pound or two. They keep themselves honest by staying in their fitted denim. They know the power of a pair of jeans so flattering that you never want to grow out of them—and just tight enough to make you think twice about grabbing a last slice of pizza. Don’t have a pair like that yet? Then, try one of these: The Club by Adriano Goldschmied, Zoe by Lucky Brand, and Tab Watch Pocket by Riders by Lee.

 
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Istockphoto

If you ever feel sluggish, achy, or winded when you run, surprise: The culprit is likely your posture. The right body alignment is the key to an efficient, injury-free, and fun workout. Follow our head-to-toe tips for conquering the top three posture mistakes, and you’ll be striding with ease.

Slumped shoulders.
They slow you down and restrict breathing.

The fix: Think tall. If you start to slouch, take a deep breath (you’ll feel yourself straighten naturally) and roll your shoulders back. Stack your head, shoulders, hips, and feet so they’re aligned. And look ahead toward the horizon; your gaze will help you stay upright.

Stiff arms.
Keeping them motionless prevents them from doing their job—propelling you forward—and saps precious energy.

The fix: Bend your elbows to 90 degrees, and tense and release your shoulders, arms, and hands to relax. Swing your arms like pendulums forward and backward from your shoulders, not side to side across your body.

Overstriding.
Big steps can slow you down and cause injury.

The fix: Increase your stride rate and improve your efficiency by taking shorter steps more quickly, making sure your feet are directly under your hips (versus out in front of them) when they hit the pavement. Work on this a few times during each run.

 
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Marc Royce

If you’re wishing for more amazing abs, you’re not alone. Almost everyone I know—no matter how fit they are—longs for a flatter belly. Fortunately, yoga can help. My favorite core strengthener and ab-toner (it targets every major ab muscle) is called Boat Pose. For best results, do this move every day.

How to:
Sit with your feet on the floor, knees bent, hands beneath your knees for support. Keeping your chest lifted and shoulders back, engage your ab muscles and raise your lower legs until they are parallel to the floor (your knees should still be bent) and you are balancing on your sitting bones.

If this feels comfortable, begin to straighten your legs (stop if you feel any discomfort in your back) and stretch your arms forward. Hold for 5–15 breaths, then release. Repeat up to 5 times.

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