OK, ladies, it’s time to get serious. If you’re planning on losing a few pounds before you hit the beach this Memorial Day, you’ve got two weeks to plan. Read on: we’ve got some no-fail tips for you to tone up and lose weight in two weeks. View Slideshow ›

The group that sparked an outcry of criticism with its advice on mammograms and prostate cancer screening, said Monday that doctors should counsel young people to avoid sun exposure, to reduce the risk of skin cancer. The advice applies to fair-haired people between the ages of 10 and 24, according to guidelines released Monday by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force .  For adults older than 24, there is not enough evidence to say whether counseling about sun exposure makes a difference, according to the Task Force. The guidelines are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. With children younger than 10, counseling on sun exposure should be directed towards parents, said Dr. David Grossman, a member of the Task Force, a pediatrician and senior investigator at the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle. Patients age 10 to 24 should be told to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or above, to cover exposed areas of skin, stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m and to shun indoor tanning booths , Grossman said. Some doctors say the advice doesn't go far enough.  "I would recommend counseling at younger ages," said Dr. Sophie Balk of Children's Hospital at Montefiore, in New York City. "We should start talking to parents as soon as babies are born, but as children get older and go out of the home, they should listen to the message, too." Balk, the lead author of guidelines released by the American Academy of Pediatrics last year, also said the message should be broader. "The Task Force is telling us to focus on people with the lightest skin and eyes. Fair-skinned people are at highest risk, but everyone's at risk for skin cancer." The Task Force is used to criticism . In 2009 its members took heat for saying that women in their 40s don’t need routine mammograms, and again last year for saying the PSA screening test for prostate cancer leads to more harm than good. The last time it tackled the sun exposure issue, the Task Force said there was insufficient evidence to recommend counseling. To update its guidance, members examined existing studies on the impact of a doctor giving patients advice about sun exposure.  Almost all of those studies focus on fair-skinned patients younger than 24, Grossman said. “Our statement does not discourage counseling for older people,” he said, “but on a doctor visit you have a limited amount of time. Basically, we’re trying to point out where the greatest value seems to be.” The American Cancer Society (ACS) praised the announcement as "important." "They make the point that there's convincing evidence these conversations change the behavior," said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the ACS. "This is the age group that's most vulnerable, to getting sunburns, using tanning booths and increasing the risk of getting melanomas later in life." Exposure during childhood to UV radiation from the sun is linked to a moderate increase in three types of skin cancer: Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer, and melanoma. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, diagnosed in more than 2 million people a year. Melanoma is the least common but most deadly form of skin cancer, striking about 70,000 people last year and killing 8,800. Filed under: Adolescent Health , Cancer , Children’s Health , Doctor-Patient Relationships , Parenting Tagged: Caleb Hellerman – CNN Medical Senior Producer

One way to shake up a humdrum fitness routine is by going outside the box - way outside. (And I’m not talking about hitting the treadmill after a stint on the elliptical.) Push yourself to the limit with a workout that tests both your fears and physicality. It’s amazing what you can do once you set your sights on something. View Slideshow ›

Tough Year Ahead For Drug Maker: Lilly said yesterday its profits could fall by as much as 20% this year amid lower projected sales for its antipsychotic drug Zyprexa and general and administrative costs that will be higher than what analysts had estimated, the WSJ reports . Shares in the drug maker closed lower yesterday after it said 2012 earnings would likely be between $3.10 and $3.20 per share, vs. the $3.61 anticipated by analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. Dendreon Releases Sales Figures: Shares in Dendreon rose yesterday after the company said its prostate-cancer therapy Provenge racked up $82 million in gross revenue in the fourth quarter, up 25% from the previous quarter, the WSJ reports . That was higher than analysts expected, the paper says. The company said it expects “modest quarter-over-quarter growth while we focus on bringing additional clinics on board.” Regulating Transplants: The government’s Health Resources Services Administration is proposing to regulate transplants of faces, hands and voice boxes — among other less-transplanted body parts — as it does other organs, the Associated Press reports . That would move those transplants into the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) system and would mark “a big step toward expanding access to these radical operations,” the AP says. Last week physicians reported the details of three full-face transplants performed in 2011 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Image: iStockphoto

Using the scale has its place, especially if you are carefully tracking your weight-loss progress. But spending too much time focusing on a number can discourage you when you think you’ve dropped weight after a rigorous diet and exercise plan only to find that you haven’t lost as much as you thought you have (which can happen for several reasons, usually because you are gaining muscle instead ). If you dread stepping on the scale, here are three ways to gauge your weight instead. Your clothes: One of the best ways to figure out if your diet and exercise plan is working? Nix the scale for your favorite pair of jeans. The fit of your favorite clothes can be more accurate than knowing how many pounds you are. Your energy level: Chances are, if you’re eating healthy, drinking water, and exercising, you’ll be feeling the effects – you’ll have more energy, sleep better, and be less lethargic overall. Feeling healthy is the first step in looking your best, so don’t discount the inside-out effects of your new lifestyle, even if weight loss is your main goal. Your body fat percentage: Your body’s muscle-fat ratio can make the scale tip up even when you are feeling svelte. So be sure to keep your fat percentage in mind when it’s time to step on the scale. That means investing in a model that includes an accurate fat percentage measurement so you can track your progress accurately. Or get your body fat percentage measured professionally with one of these tests . And don’t always rely on your body mass index (BMI) to gauge whether or not you’re in a healthy weight range; it’s not always the most accurate measurement. Read more about the difference between BMI and body fat percentage here . How do you measure your weight-loss progress when you’re not on the scale?

Now that Thanksgiving’s over, it’s time to continue the holiday eating and drinking festivities in earnest. Before you become discouraged about any Thanksgiving Day indulgences and abandoned, well-meaning diet plans, there’s good news: first, one day of indulgent eating will not ruin an otherwise healthy diet , and second, sticking to your regular exercise routine during the holidays can ensure that you don’t pack on any pounds . Hopefully our recommendations for making a few simple, healthier choices during the holiday helped keep your Thanksgiving dinner from resembling the average 4,500-calorie plate, but if you’re still feeling a little bit guilty about your overloaded Thanksgiving plate, now’s the time to share, commiserate, and motivate. So tell us: whether you skipped any and all workouts in favor of pie or couldn’t stop reaching for the leftovers, what’s the least healthy thing you did this holiday weekend?

There are just not enough hours in the day sometimes, especially when the hectic holidays come around. And all the fun and obligations of the season can equal one thing – stress – which can lead to sickness. Stress has been shown to suppress your immune system by raising your levels of the hormone cortisol (which can also lead to other unwanted side effects like insomnia and weight gain). Help counteract the immunity-decreasing effects of the holidays by remembering to make time to exercise regularly and get enough sleep. A recent study found that people who exercised consistently five times a week were much less likely to get sick – the exercisers were about 40 percent less likely to catch a cold . That may be because aerobic activity helps keep the immunity cells active in your body. Consistent quality sleep, too, is key to boosting your immunity; studies have shown that well-rested people were less likely to catch a cold than those who slept fewer than seven hours a night. Not to worry if you think you can’t fit exercise or sleep into your schedule, however. You can get the immunity-boosting effects of exercise on just 20 minutes a day, so even if you can’t get through your normal exercise routine, every little bit helps. Here are some 20-minute cardio workout ideas to help you get started. And remember that the quality of your sleep matters as much as your quantity. Make those nighttime hours count with these tips for getting quality sleep .

What’s not to love about kale? This dark leafy green is in a league of its own in terms of its iron, fiber, and calcium content. Kale also contains the flavonoid called maempferol , which may help prevent ovarian cancer - win! Even better, when baked, kale makes a great chip stand-in for those times when you’re craving something savory, salty, and crisp! To help increase your kale intake, here are some some delicious store-bought and homemade kale chip recipes to enjoy. Sources: Flickr User joyosity , Flickr User aMichiganMom , Flickr User cireremarc View Slideshow ›

We’re giving away tickets to a fabulous girls’ night out event! PopSugar and PopSugar City are hosting an exclusive screening of Something Borrowed on Wednesday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. Want to join the fun? Select your city below for a chance to win tickets to the PopSugar screening of Something Borrowed ! Chicago , Los Angeles , New York , San Francisco , Seattle , Washington DC

“I never thought that I’d be considered to have a good body. I was bony up top and kind of dumpy on the bottom. But my trainer, Tracy Anderson, completely changed my legs, butt, arms and stomach. I feel better than ever, too.” – Gwyneth Paltrow on being in the best shape of her life. Gwyneth is featured on Self’s May cover , and inside shares some of her favorite recipes and a workout from trainer Tracy Anderson .