Whether you forgo animals only on Meatless Monday or you’re a vegan through and through, it seems like more and more of us have tried an animal product-free diet. While going vegan may take a bit more thought and effort than an unrestricted diet, with a little pre-planning – like checking ingredients in store-bought breads and stocking up on vegan pantry essentials – you can still enjoy delicious, exciting meals no matter what time of day. To start your work week, we’ve found 15 tasty vegan lunches that are perfect for brown-bagging to work. Click through for the recipes! View Slideshow ›

MIAMI (CBS4) – Several times a week more than a dozen baby boomers hit the dance floor at The Bijoux Dance Center in South West Miami-Dade to tango, rumba and cha-cha-chá the stress of the their lives away. “This is my life,” said Teresa Armand, a breast cancer survivor who has been dancing for six years. “I got diagnosed three years ago and when the doctor told me he said ‘You must have a million questions’ and I said ‘No, just one, when can I get back to dancing’.” Armand is just one of many dance lovers who swing and sway for better physical and mental health. “I don’t like to exercise at the gym, so coming here is my workout, it has saved me,” said Armand. Ballroom dancing can be a great cardiovascular exercise, according to June Rawls, the owner of the Bijoux Dance Studio. “You get on a treadmill for one hour and Latin dancing for one hour, the benefits are the same. You burn calories and feel the endorphins going through your body,” said Rawls who has owned studio for the last couple of years. Rawls told CBS4’s Marybel Rodriguez that not only is ballroom dancing beneficial to your body physically; it’s also great for the mind. “You leave the stress outside, you are in another world once you step inside,” said Rawls. Rawls also points to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2003 which found dancing might reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. “You have to memorize steps and that keeps your mind working,” said Rawls. Rawls said for those interested, it’s never too late start. Every Tuesday at 8 p.m., she runs the baby boomer ballroom dance class at her studio at 4150 SW 70th Court. For more information call (305) 667-5359.

DAVIE (CBS4)- Stomach cancer is one of the least federally funded and least familiar cancers in the country, but one South Florida woman is out to change that. Debbie Zelman said she has been living with stomach cancer for almost four years, and was diagnosed when she was only 40-years-old. The doctors gave her a five percent chance of survival and her biggest concern was her family, she said. Zelman said, “Not knowing if I’d be her for my kids” was the worse part, which includes 13-year-old twins Rachel and Zachary and 6-year-old Sarah. But the biggest burden she feared was falling on her husband Andy. “We went through a lot of discussions that most people don’t have to have, you know, about me being a single and what if I became a single parent” Andy Guttman, Zelman’s husband said. While fighting the cancer Zelman realized there was little in the way of support and federal dollars for research were slim. So she got together with her friends and made a worldwide difference. She started a non-profit foundation, specifically Can’t Stomach Cancer . In three years the organization spread across the globe. Debbie’s friend Robin Sobo Moselle helps run the nonprofit. “It’s amazing what this organization has been able to do in a short time of its existence,” Moselle said. The organization raised $450,000, held events all over the country, started a hotline, website and organizing a second symposium for doctors. They’re also getting ready to expand to Japan where stomach cancer is prevalent. Zelman said it inspires here everyday. Zelman said that by helping others she helps herself. Her kids even started a stomach cancer awareness club at school, a family and friends effort making a difference across the world while Zelman continues to beat the odds while still fighting the disease. “I’m still here,” she said. Twenty two thousand people a year in the U.S. is diagnosed with stomach cancer, one million worldwide. Zelman is slowly bringing those people together by spreading awareness and prevention. For more on Can’t Stomach Cancer, click here .

A doc fix is looking like an increasingly unlikely holiday present for the nation’s physicians — and the patients they treat. Last year at this time a one-year patch for scheduled cuts to Medicare reimbursement was all squared away with a bow on top. But it’s been a different story in 2011: as the Associated Press reports , Congress has not yet acted to push off a reimbursement cut of about 27%. That means unless something is done, those cuts will kick in next month. The cuts are officially scheduled to take place Jan. 1, but Medicare has told physicians that without a fix the program will hold claims for the first 10 business days of next year, the AP says. That takes us to Jan. 18, thanks to the New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Day holidays. The doc fix itself isn’t particularly controversial — no one thinks it’s a viable strategy to let the cuts go into effect. (Nor does anyone think the current reimbursement formula, which regularly gets us into this mess, is sustainable; the question is how to pay for a permanent fix .) But the current patch is being considered as part of the debate over whether to extend the payroll tax cut, as Bloomberg News explains . A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner tells BN House Republicans have no plans to move a stand-alone bill. The WSJ has more on the standoff over the payroll-tax break. We mentioned earlier that a failure to pass a fix might affect patients as well as their physicians. That would happen if doctors’ reimbursements were cut and they decided not to accept Medicare patients for the time being. Yesterday, the American Association of Family Physicians said it was “outraged” that Congress had failed to pass a fix. Image: iStockphoto

Jack Frost isn't the only thing nipping at your nose this holiday season. Although the allergy season has its peaks in spring and fall, the sights and smells of the holiday season can also be one big allergy Grinch. From Christmas trees to chestnuts, and all the dusty decorations that were kept in storage the other 11 months of the year, Yuletide cheer can leave many allergy-sensitive people looking like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. One such sufferer, Jessica Aguiar, says she's been allergic to pine trees since she was a child, so she's unable to purchase a "real" tree to display her holiday cheer. Her symptoms include watery eyes, sneezing and – if she actually touches a tree – a skin rash. "Not the Christmas decorations I'd like to wear," she jokes. Another, Orlando resident Kimberly Burton, is extremely sensitive to artificial-fragrances like those found in potpourri. Burton admits her shopping habits completely change from the time that mall holiday decorations go out in September until the stores are completely aired out in February. "Unfortunately, it makes me dread holiday decorations coming out – and also forces me to get much of my shopping done well before the holidays are even here," she says. For example, her local grocery store of choice just stocked a display of potpourri near the freezer aisle so she has to choose another for the next couple of months. Dr. Joseph Leija, a National Allergy Bureau-certified allergist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, has several suggestions for sufferers. Following these tips can help ensure a sneeze-free season. Avoid trigger ingredients. Leija warns many traditional holiday recipes – including peanut brittle or the signature chestnuts on an open fire – call for tree nuts, which is one of the most common (and severe) food allergies. He also says citrus – oranges, lemons, clementines and even grapefruits that are popular ingredients this time of year – can trigger oral allergic reactions. Watch for the symptoms The ultimate problem is winter allergy symptoms can often be confused with the common cold but are just as serious (and irksome) as their other season equivalents. Plus, their effects are often intensified since families spend more time indoors during the colder months. Plan ahead If you make a preparation list and check it twice, Dr. Leija says it's easy to keep your allergies on the "nice" list this year. If you're visiting friends or relatives make them aware of your needs ahead of time. "Just as you would not drop in unexpectedly on someone, call ahead well in advance and politely share that a member of the family has allergies. Explain what the allergies are, to avoid being served peanut butter fudge if a nut allergy is present, or having Fido and Fluffy jump up in greeting," says Dr. Leija. "No one wants to turn a pleasant holiday gathering into an ambulance visit to the home, or have to see someone cough and wheeze. Hosts will appreciate the heads up and the opportunity to plan in advance." Avoid the real thing As for the tree, opt for an artificial version: Dr. Leija urges allergy sufferers to use fake trees, plants, garland and the like to decorate the home without adding mold. And if you miss the smell of "O Tannenbaum," many popular candle companies make pine-scented options – so long as your or any of your guests aren't allergic to synthetic fragrances as well. Keep the humidifier on low There's one final allergy attacker to watch out for in your home this holiday. Dr. Leija says that many people in the winter months use humidifiers and ultimately add too much moisture, which creates mold. To combat this, keep the humidity set to less than 50%. Safely store for next year And when the time comes to stow away all the merry embellishments for next year, store them – as well as your artificial tree – in large resealable plastic tubs to protect them from dust. That way next year you'll look forward to pulling them out of the attic, instead of dreading the start of the season. Filed under: Allergies Tagged: Sarah LeTrent — CNN

Once you’ve mastered the basic moves of strength training – like squats, lunges, and planks – gym time can become a little dull. Workouts creep by slowly due to boredom, and if you don’t push yourself to the next level, you may find your fitness level stalling as you coast onto a plateau. When the going gets boring, it’s time to get unstable. Performing seemingly simple exercises on an unstable surface creates a whole new set of challenges for you to master. Fitness tools like the BOSU, balance pads (sponge-like pads, two to three inches thick), rocker boards, and exercise balls can help you work out harder by disrupting your sense of balance. If you’re ready to experiment with instability, here are a few exercises my Equinox trainer has recently taught me. Plank on the rocker board : There are a wide variety of rocker boards, but for this move the one we use looks like an over-sized skateboard with a cylindrical piece attached in the middle. I place my hands equidistant from the center and hold a plank, trying not to dip to either side. When that becomes somewhat easy, add alternating leg lifts. This move seemed impossible to me at first, but once you find the zone on the third set you feel a core master. Hold the plank for 30 seconds; do 10 lifts on each leg. Learn two more moves after the break.

For those of us who follow vegan or raw-food regimens, face food allergies, or adhere to restricted diets, the aisles of the neighborhood grocery store can present a not-so-appetizing challenge. Let Happy Belly Bags solve your dietary conundrums with its extensive selection of nutrition-specific foods, and with our exclusive offer, enjoy $25 for $50 or $50 for $100 worth of Happy Belly Bags’ feel-good food. Whether adhering to a raw food, dairy-free, vegan, nut-free, or gluten-free diet or simply seeking a healthier lifestyle, forage no further than Happy Belly Bags’ abundant catalog of delicious fare. Living with food intolerance herself, founder Sarah Rothrock grew weary of the barely ingestible fodder available at local stores. HBB features foods that are kind to your stomach and mouthwatering to the palate, from daily staples like organic almond butter and cherry-chocolate bliss bars to specialty items such as Japanese umeboshi plums and vegan marshmallows . Still unsure of where to start? The brand’s signature Belly Bags are a carefully edited first taste. The AKA Happy Belly Bag rounds up tasty, healthy foods endorsed by registered dietitian Ashley Koff, and the Gluten-Free Toddler Belly Bag will treat your little one while giving back (1 percent of profits go to Save the Elephants). Brides-to-be can snag bags containing organic cashew butter, coconut water, and apple-cinnamon cereal for a prenuptial slim down, while soon-to-be moms have kits complete with supplements, antinausea organic ginger candies, and healthy snacks. With Happy Belly Bags, consider your dietary problems solved.

I know that wearing high heels has some benefits , but Coco, Ice-T’s wife, takes things to the next level by wearing stripper heels while strength training (something I learned from watching her new reality TV show, Ice Loves Coco ). And that’s not all I learned. She also runs on the treadmill (replacing her stripper heels with running shoes) with her bulldog Spartacus -  as in, Coco and Spartacus share the treadmill together. It’s clearly working for her, too. Coco may be curvaceous, but she also boasts a flat stomach and tiny waist. While I’ve never seen a woman work out in heels at the gym, I have had my share of unusual sightings. Most recently I encountered a guy dressed head to toe in ’80s hair-metal attire, blaring his iPod while flexing and grunting at himself in the mirror. Think you can top that? What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen at the gym?

There are types of vaginal bleeding that are normal and others that are not – bleeding after sex is of the latter variety and is not normal. While some causes of bleeding after sex may be easily treatable, others may be fairly serious, and some of these reasons may even be life threatening. Firstly it has to be determined whether the bleeding is vaginal or from another source – bleeding from the rectum or bloody stools, or bleeding from the urinary tract should be ruled out since they could have different causes than vaginal bleeding after sex. The underlying reasons for the bleeding during and after intercourse can be more fully understood by examining any other symptoms that the woman may be experiencing. Sometimes the bleeding may be caused by dryness of the vagina and insufficient lubrication during sex. This could be due to menopause or Perimenopause and may be resolved without difficulty. However there are causes for bleeding after sex that could be more problematic such as – Malignant or benign tumors, polyps etc. Uterine polyps could cause bleeding after sex and at other times between periods as well and are rarely in danger of growing in any hazardous manner. A D&C will usually resolve the issue. Cervical polyps may also be a reason for vaginal bleeding during or after sex and can also be easily treated. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that could be asymptomatic or may cause bleeding during sex. In some cases it could be a cancerous or precancerous condition such as Cervical Dysplasia (malignant changes that take place in the epithelia lining of the cervix) that could also cause bleeding. Sexually transmitted and other Infections Sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and so on, could also be responsible for the bleeding. Treating the underlying disease that causes the bleeding will help to resolve the problem. Other infections such as vaginitis or cervicitis are not necessarily sexually transmitted and could have other causes, and their treatment may depend upon that cause. A vaginal yeast infection could also cause some bleeding during intercourse . This occurs when there is an overgrowth of the naturally occurring fungi that grows in the vaginal area. This condition is generally accompanied by a thick white discharge, and burning or itching in the area. Other conditions that could cause bleeding during sex Endometriosis, where the endometrial cells that line the uterus start to grow abnormally at other sites outside the uterus. So no bleeding caused by sexual intercourse should be ignored and the underlying cause should be identified and treated.

Jessica Biel’s simple secrets to a fit and healthy lifestyle – That’s Fit Jennifer Hudson to release memoir chronicling her weight loss journey – Fit Celeb The five gym mistakes you’re probably making, and how to fix them – Self Discover the flavors of the world in The Biggest Loser cookbook – Fit Bottomed Girls What it really means to breathe in yoga – lululemon The best (and worst) foods to grill up this season – Fitness