Kettlebell fans love the heavy round-shaped weights for a reason – kettlebell exercises combine cardio and strength training together for a time-saving calorie burn. The amount of calories you can burn using kettlebells can be amazingly high: a study by the American Council on Exercise found that the average person burns 272 calories in 20 minutes when doing kettlebell exercises. More research has found that regularly exercising with kettlebells significantly reduces back, neck, and shoulder pain by strengthening core and upper body muscles. Does all that convince you to add more kettlebell to your life? Read on for tips on choosing the right kettlebell and four calorie-torching exercises to try. Source: Thinkstock View Slideshow ›

Like years before, 2011 was chock-full of trendy diets that got everyone talking, as well as trying. So what were the top diets of 2011? Read on to find out! HCG Diet The HCG diet isn’t new (it’s been around for more than 50 years), but it’s once again a phenomenon. This was the year that people flocked to doctor’s offices to get a pricey hormone injection all in the name of weight loss. The diet’s deal: eat a restricted calorie diet, usually 500 calories a day, and inject the HCG hormone (or use drops or lozenges) every day. The claim is that the HCG hormone, which occurs in pregnant women naturally and helps them burn fat to use to feed their babies, helps convert body fat to energy so you get all the adequate calories you need every day without feeling hungry, but experts warn that there aren’t any studies that prove the safety and effectiveness of the diet. Paleo Diet Eat like your ancestors did – as in, the ones from a very long time ago. The Paleo diet is a meal plan based on the hunting and gathering instincts of cavemen . That means lots of free-range, grass-fed meat, fresh seafood, and vegetables, but no grains, dairy, legumes, refined sugars, and processed foods. The Paleo Diet’s main focus is to improve your overall health, and many people who have been on it say it’s cured their digestive conditions, such as IBS. Experts are split on whether or not it’s an effective diet – especially since some very common foods, like dairy and grain, are forbidden. Read on for more top diet trends of 2011.

Lisa Shives, M.D., is the founder of Northshore Sleep Medicine in Evanston, Illinois. She blogs regularly on The Chart . Read more from her at Dr. Lisa Shives’ Sleep Better Blog . The autumn equinox has come and gone, but many of us here in the Midwest have continued to fool ourselves that it is really just late summer. But the game is over once we turn the clocks back and we start driving home from work in the dark. The clock change that is mandated by the end of daylight saving time is really the marker for many people that a change in seasons has happened. For people who live in the Northern Hemisphere, the change in autumn means more hours of darkness and colder weather, which keeps many people indoors. As a result, many feel more depressed and have more sleep disturbance as well as daytime sleepiness and fatigue. The actual change in the clock, which will occur at 2 a.m. Sunday, is a circadian shift – in the body's natural 24-hour rhythm – that is better tolerated than the clock change in the spring, especially if you follow a few simple recommendations. The change in the fall is easier to deal with than the one in the spring because, in the fall, on the Sunday night after the clock change, your body feels that it is one hour later than what the clock reads. So if you normally feel sleepy at 11 p.m., you will feel sleepy at 10 p.m. What to do? You can go ahead and go to bed. Let’s face it, most of us are sleep-deprived anyway because of scheduling too little time to sleep, so get that extra hour of sleep. Or you can force yourself to stay up until your usual bedtime. For most of us, it is relatively easy to stay up a bit later than we are used to, while it is almost impossible for most people to lie down and go to sleep if they are not sleepy. That is why the spring clock change is a bigger disruption to many people’s sleep rhythm. I actually recommend that you go to bed when you feel sleepy. It is wisdom gained from seeing thousands of patients with sleep troubles (although my grandmother would have told you the same thing). For many people, if they push themselves to stay up, they then get the proverbial second wind and end up awake for hours. Unfortunately, the alarm clock rings at the usual time, and off we are again, starting yet another week of work sleep-deprived. Of course, one reason people get a second wind is the things they do in order to stimulate themselves. For example, they work on the computer or watch TV. The light emitted from these screens signals the brain that it is time to get up and plow the field. How sleepy you feel on that Sunday night after the change depends on whether you turned your clock back before you went to bed or waited until morning. Changing the clock should be based on people’s normal sleep schedules and on whether they have sleep problems. If you feel that basically your sleep is normal, but you know that often you are not allowing yourself that good eight hours of sleep that most of us need, then set your clock back the night before and get up at your usual time. That way, you have gained an hour of sleep. If, on the other hand, you regularly get your eight hours of sleep and might not want an extra hour, don’t set the clock back the night before. If you get up at the same time you usually do, then you will have your normal amount of sleep and feel that you have gained an hour on Sunday morning when you turn the clock back. The same advice holds true if you have sleep disorders such as insomnia or delayed sleep phase syndrome. These disorders make your sleep/wake schedule rather fragile such that an extra hour might not be a good thing; rather, it could throw your schedule way out of whack. For most people, it is not the acute shift in the clock that is the problem in the fall. It is all the short, gray days ahead and the long periods of darkness. Winter conditions in the Northern Hemisphere can lead to sleep disturbance, daytime sleepiness, fatigue and depression. So as we shift into the cold, dark season, try to get as much light in the morning and throughout the day as possible, even using a light box if necessary. Also, try to keep to a regular daily exercise routine. These basic health habits can help ward off the winter blues and help you get regular sleep. The information contained on this page does not and is not intended to convey medical advice. CNN is not responsible for any actions or inaction on your part based on the information that is presented here. Please consult a physician or medical professional for personal medical advice or treatment. Follow CNNHealth on Twitter

Welcome to the 2011 PopSugar 100 ! It was so much fun to watch how you all voted, and there were some huge surprises on this year’s list. Click through to see the amazing fifth annual PopSugar 100! Robert Pattinson scored the number one spot on the PopSugar 100 in both 2009 and 2010, but it was down to the wire and he ultimately slipped to the number two spot this year behind beloved A-lister Johnny Depp . Last year’s runnerup Sandra Bullock maintained her status near the top while Kristen Stewart made a huge leap into the top 10. Jennifer Aniston , Reese Witherspoon , and Beyoncé Knowles are once again some of your favorite ladies while Blake Lively made a big jump into the top 20. There are a ton of newcomers making their first PopSugar 100 appearances as well, and we’re breaking down all the individual categories you voted on. Thanks to everyone for all your votes, and once again putting together a list like no other - enjoy your PopSugar 100! View Slideshow ›

5 great ways to wear eyelet and lace for Spring Bradley Cooper gives away some Hangover 2 hints How to deep clean your freezer How to turn your wall into an in-home art gallery New mom Penelope Cruz hangs out with her little brother Eduardo in LA ! Why you should never make perfume an impulse buy Do you want more or less sex in your live-in relationship ? PopSugar City NYC: Spring things to do in Central Park 5 apps for busy moms Video: Jessica Simpson touches down in NYC in style What rising airfare costs could mean for your Spring vacation New low-cal alcohols to make cocktails a little more diet-friendly Put your puppy knowledge to the test ! How to keep your social network profiles private Quick and healthy vegan upside-down pineapple cakes

The survey, from Thomson Reuters and HCPlexus, was conducted by fax and covers responses from nearly 3,000 physicians.

Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah tonight or not, potato latkes (also called potato pancakes) make a delicious meal. I’ve cooked up the standard potato latkes made with russet potatoes, ones with shredded carrots added, sweet potato and carrot latkes , and also ones made with zucchini from my garden. This year I am spicing things up a bit, and if you’re ready to try a savory latke with a taste of India, give this recipe a try. They’re made strictly with sweet potatoes, so they’re naturally sweet and full of vitamin A . I whipped up some chunky homemade apple and pear sauce to enjoy with them, and I’ll definitely be making these again. If you’ve never made latkes before, check out these tips from YumSugar , on how to make perfect latkes. To see this recipe, continue reading

Also: Haiti cholera deaths total at least 292; drug makers bet on hepatitis C treatments; NYC debate over soda and weight.

Flapjacks, pancakes, short stacks, or griddle cakes – it’s all the same way of saying pancakes. But all pancakes are not the same, especially for people who want to maintain a gluten-free diet . Folks who suffer from celiac disease or those that choose to live sans gluten can still butter up some cakes and pour the syrup on for a home cooked breakfast that will even have gluten eaters licking their plates clean. Want to take a peek at the yummy recipe?

“Vacations are not meant for fitness.” This quote is from a dear friend of mine; the two of us are driving down the coast for Labor Day. While it’s true that I usually don’t plan my vacations around fitness , I like being active – even when away from home ! But I get it, it’s Labor Day, the last hurrah before Summer ends, and my friend wants nothing but fun in the sun. Since she’s doing all the driving, I’m definitely not going to suggest a yoga session on the beach . But that’s because I have something even better in mind. Instead of framing activities in terms of fitness and exercise, I’ve got a few fun suggestions that will keep her smiling, and me active. Let’s go ride a bike . Riding bikes in the Summer sun can’t be beat, especially when it’s along a beach boardwalk. Once we hit Los Angeles, I’m looking forward to renting a couple of bikes and cruising along the Santa Monica beach boardwalk . Book a spa date . A visit to the spa is not only an indulgent way to hang with a girlfriend, it’s also a great way to relax. Schedule a massage to de-stress, relieve sore muscles, and boost immunity levels. See how we’ll be spending our nights when you read more. Dance the night away . A night out at the club can be super fun, and dancing is a great way to burn calories . Just make sure to keep everything in moderation so you don’t spend the next day nursing a hangover . Make a healthy meal feel indulgent . Before we go, I am researching great spots to dine out that also have a reputation for being healthy or offering local, organic food. My friend will feel like we’re having a decadent meal out, and I’ll still be able to find something on the menu that suits my healthy diet.