Happy birthday, Ginnifer Goodwin ! The Once Upon a Time star turns 32 today, and to celebrate we’re taking a look at how Ginnifer stays active and fit in her daily life. Always on the go : Ginnifer often credits living in health-conscious LA for her active lifestyle. Whether she’s going to Ballet Body or The Bar Method, her workouts gravitate toward leotards, the barre, and pliés. She also turns everyday excursions into an excuse to power walk, “I’ll speed-walk a couple of miles, get a cup of coffee, speed-walk back. It’s so easy. Just break a sweat for 30 minutes and you’re fine.” It’s a lifestyle not a diet : An outspoken fan of Weight Watchers , she credits the diet program for helping her maintain a healthy weight in realistic ways. She told People , “It takes time because you lose the weight slowly . . . You don’t have to go through that horrible yo-yo cycle of binging.” Even when counting points, Ginnifer can indulge in treats like her favorite dark chocolate or a pasta dinner. Ginnifer maintains a sense of balance when it comes to eating, so she never has to feel deprived. Health is more than just weight loss : For Ginnifer, being healthy means being confident, feeling less stressed, and maintaining a well-rounded perspective in her life. She told Health , “Healthy is beautiful. Because what comes with health is a clear mind and a high spirit. When I’m not healthy, I can’t think straight, and I’m unhappy. I’ll realize that I’m an emotional mess, and it’s because I’m dehydrated. Or I’m cold and cranky, and it’s because I’m not exercising and my circulation is poor.”

Whether it’s to improve energy, clear acne, Spring clean the digestive system, or shed a few pounds, juice cleansing is all the rage now. Even celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Richie are buzzing about the benefits of liquid detoxing. Before you splurge on a juicer or lay down the dough for a liquid detox program, learn how a juice cleanse may lead to weight gain. Hard-to-measure liquid calories: Since all the calories you’re consuming are liquid, if you’re not watching your intake, it’s easy to consume well over the daily limit. (A pressed juice averages between 100-350 calories per 16-ounce bottle.) Make sure you have a plan to follow and an accurate way to determine how many calories are in each glass or bottle you’re drinking. Most retail juicing programs provide calorie counts, but are also pricey to join. Messes with metabolism: A typical juice cleanse lasts anywhere from three to seven days (or sometimes longer), where you drink 32 to 64 ounces of freshly pressed fruit and vegetable juice each day. When your body doesn’t get the all the nutrients (or the amount of calories) it’s used to, it stresses out because it thinks it’s starving. Often the body reacts to this by slowing down its metabolism, which can make losing weight harder in the future. And while juicing is an easy way to deliver phytonutrients to the body, the fruit-based juices tend to be high in sugar, which can negatively affect insulin levels in the body. Continue reading for more ways a juice cleanse can cause weight gain.

Editor's note:  In the Human Factor, we profile survivors who have overcome the odds. Confronting a life obstacle – injury, illness or other hardship – they tapped their inner strength and found resilience they didn't know they possessed. This week Krystal Greco, 16, shares her story about pursuing her passion despite a life-changing injury. Ever since the age of four, I've been a horseback rider.  It never occurred to me that a day might come when I wouldn’t be able to ride. But March 7, 2010, was that day. It was a normal Sunday afternoon. As usual, I had woken up late. I was showering and started feeling some cramping in my lower back, which wasn’t uncommon because I was being treated for a stress fracture in my lumbar spine. I was out of the shower and partially dressed when it happened – the explosion of pain. I screamed for help and my mother rushed in.  She managed to help me up off the bathroom floor and helped me finish getting dressed. We made it down the stairs, into the kitchen and through the garage door before my legs started giving out.  At this point, my parents had to half carry, half drag me out to our vehicle.  It was only a matter of minutes, but I had already lost the strength and feeling in my legs; my parents had to completely lift me into the truck. As we drove the 40 minutes to the hospital, I remember constantly trying to move my legs and repeatedly being frustrated that they wouldn’t cooperate.  At that point, I was still able to move and feel my toes, but nothing else below my waist.  When we arrived at the hospital at around 4 p.m., I was immediately taken for X-rays and an MRI. My diagnosis was a ruptured disk which bruised my spinal cord.  A doctor explained that this was a very rare condition for a child or teenager and that surgery was needed to decompress my spine.  By 5 a.m. on Monday, March 8, I was being wheeled into surgery.  The surgeon was able to successfully decompress my spine, but it did not cure my paralysis. I was tested numerous times to establish why my disk ruptured, but the cause was never determined. All they could tell me was that I was paralyzed from the waist down. It was only 10 days before they transferred me to the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, home of the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury. I spent nearly nine weeks as an inpatient, where – through intensive rehabilitation – I was taught how to be independent and through physical therapy, rebuild muscle strength and nervous system connections.  This is also where I learned that it might be possible to ride a horse again, even though I was paralyzed.  That place was called Freedom Hills Therapeutic Riding Program, in Port Deposit, Maryland.  Due to my surgery, I wasn't able to ride at the time, but I made sure to keep it in the back of my mind. Five months after my injury, I went back to school for the first time.  It was not without its challenges. Getting around the school on my own and talking with people was difficult.  It was almost impossible for me to look people in the eye, and I got many stares on my first day.  I managed, though, and each day it became a little easier. By October, I had recovered enough to consider riding again. Freedom Hills offers a unique program called hippotherapy. It is a form of physical therapy using the characteristic movements of a horse to help a patient increase trunk strength and control, balance and overall posture strength and endurance.  Two weeks later, I was on my way to Freedom Hills, feeling excited and nervous.  I was nervous that my body wouldn’t be capable of physically doing what I wanted it to do.  Before, I was an accomplished horseback rider, and I didn’t give a single thought as to how different my life would be without the use of my legs. Now, I had to expect the impossible. Almost immediately after arriving at the farm, I was thrown into the situation I feared the most – getting on the horse. It was tricky. I had to transfer straight from my chair onto the horse’s back, but once I was on, all of that nervousness went away. I was grinning from ear to ear. For my first ride, someone led the horse and two people walked on either side of me for support.  I was hooked on horses (again!) and began riding twice a week.  I never imagined how much you could miss by simply not being able to control the lower half of your body, never mind a horse.  I had never noticed how much I took for granted. I continued to ride for five months before something amazing happened. I was at Kennedy Krieger for an evaluation of my recovery, and I was able to move my legs for the first time. I believe this small portion of recovery was brought about by the unique combination of innovative activity-based restorative therapy and the therapeutic horseback riding. Now, a year and a half later, at the age of 16, I ride independently and compete year-round.  I am also a volunteer at Freedom Hills.  I love being able to share my passion and show people, that riding as a para-equestrian isn’t much different from riding as an able-bodied person. I also continue my rehabilitation at Kennedy Krieger. Looking ahead, two of my goals are walking across the stage at my high school graduation from North East High School in North East, Maryland, as well as competing in the U.S. Paralympics for para-dressage.  I would also like to help and encourage others to live an active life in their wheelchairs.  There are so many activities for people with disabilities including basketball, tennis, skiing, and archery.   Having a spinal cord injury doesn’t have to mean an end to the hobbies and sports that you love; it just means having a view from a different angle. Filed under: Human Factor Tagged: Krystal Greco – Special to CNN

Working a nine-to-fiver is mandatory for most people, and unfortunately, a long commute often comes with the territory. According to a study published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine , those who travel 16 or more miles each way weigh more and have higher blood pressures than those with less than 10-mile commutes. Of the almost 4,300 residents from Dallas and Austin involved in the study, researchers discovered that for every 10-mile increase in driving distance, the commuter’s BMI (body mass index) rose .17 units. People with lengthy commutes are nine percent more likely to be obese, either because they didn’t exercise as much, are eating fast food while driving, or they’re not getting enough sleep because their long commute forces them to wake up early. Weight isn’t the only thing affected by a long drive to work. Spending that much time in the car, especially stuck in traffic, also makes a person tired, moody, and stressed out, which is one reason 52 percent of those in the study with a longer commute suffered from high blood pressure. So what’s a commuter to do? Quitting your job is obviously not an option, and if working at home part-time isn’t feasible and neither is finding a job closer to where you live, keep reading to learn what commuters can do to avoid weight gain and other health issues.

Anybody who has a long daily commute knows the frustration of sitting in long lines of traffic with no ability to do anything but wait. Now, a study suggests that long commutes can take away more than just precious time. They negatively impact measures of fitness and health. Previous research has linked longer commutes with obesity. But this new research is believed to be "the first study to show that long commutes can take away from exercise time,” explained lead investigator Christine M. Hoehner of Washington University in St. Louis. Long commutes are associated with "higher weight, lower fitness levels and higher blood pressure, all of which are strong predictors of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers,” she said. One discovery that Hoehner found a little surprising was how “being exposed to the daily hassles of traffic can lead to higher chronic stress and higher blood pressure.” Here's how the research was conducted: Scientists studied 4,297 residents from the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin, Texas, metropolitan areas. They documented their commuting distances, body mass indices, and metabolic risk, including waist circumference, fasting glucose and lipid levels and blood pressure. Participants reported their physical activity for the previous three months. What did scientists learn?  Commuters who said they drove longer distances also reported they took part in less moderate or vigorous physical activity. They had lower cardiorespiratory fitness, greater body mass index, waist circumference, and higher blood pressure. For a little historical perspective – as obesity rates have increased – so have the number of American commuters and the length of commute times. Between 1960 and 2000, workers commuting in private vehicles jumped from 41.4 million to 112.7 million, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. And as suburbs have sprawled across the nation since the 1950s, commuter miles have increased too, along with the time drivers spend sitting behind the wheel. according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For many commuters, moving closer to work isn't an option but Hoehner said there are solutions that can lead to more exercise. Commuters should find ways to work physical activity into their work days said Hoehner, by doing things like walking during work breaks. Employers could also help, she said, by encouraging fitness break and by offering schedule flexibility to commuters, if possible. Filed under: Fitness , Obesity , Stress Tagged: Ann J. Curley – CNN Medical Assignment Manager

MIAMI (CBS) — If you are tired of being tired and want more energy, a Hollywood, California doctor is revealing her secrets to fighting fatigue. Ariste Wright juggles kids and a career. At age 48, she says that she that is exhausted. “I’m very, very frustrated,” Wright said. Fatigue is the number one complaint that Dr. Eva Cwynar hears from her patients. That is what led her to write the book The Fatigue Solution . She has treated average housewives and even “desperate” ones, like actress Felicity Huffman, who was desperate for some energy. “They know that they are no longer the person that they used to be and the answers that they’re getting are, well what do you expect? You’re getting older,” Dr. Cwynar said. Stress, lack of sleep, low sex drive – they can all be caused by fatigue, something millions of women have. Many of them are told that there is simply nothing that can be done. “The easiest thing to diagnose when you have symptoms of fatigue is your thyroid. That should be the first thing that anyone looks at,” Dr. Cwynar said. Yet, she said that many doctors do not check and when they do it is too basic of a screening. She said that is why 50 percent of women with the problem are never diagnosed. Dr. Cwynar advises to ask for a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test and any other tests relating to thyroid, including genetic ones. “It is the God of your metabolism. Nothing else can function without your thyroid,” she said. But Dr. Cwynar added that for the most part the doctor can step out and you can take control of fatigue on your own. You can start with your diet. “Your hormones are highest in the morning. You need to eat to support those hormones,” Dr. Cwynar said. She recommends protein for breakfast, but said to avoid soy products and empty calories found in white foods, like breads, rice and pastas. She also said to stay away from anything containing aspartame, because she said it can cause inflammation in your gut and lead to weight gain. More weight equals more fatigue, according to Dr. Cwynar. “We have to eliminate that from our diet,” she said. To revive yourself – get sleep. She recommends seven to eight hours a night, keeping your room at 68 degrees or below for deep sleep. She said to be consistent, and try to go to bed at the same time every night. Speaking of the bedroom, supercharge your sexuality too. “Sex is important for energy,” she said. There is plenty of research that suggests sex stimulates endorphins and brings circulation and oxygen to the body – just to name a few benefits. “All of our hormones being at their peak in the morning, I recommend as much sex as you can have, but also in the morning,” Dr. Cwynar said. “My husband will be happy about this,” said Wright who likes what she sees with The Fatigue Solution . “Sign me up, I told you, now,” she said. FOR MORE INFORMATION: » More About The Fatigue Solution » Herbal Remedies » Read Excerpts From The Fatigue Solution

Editor's note: CNN contributor Amanda Enayati ponders the theme of seeking serenity: the quest for well-being and life balance in stressful times. Earlier this week we put out a call over social media for your questions about stress and anxiety. We received a slew of insightful queries, covering a wide spectrum of life’s stressors. Due to the number of submissions, we had to combine some questions and divide our lightning round into two parts. Make sure to check back next week for part two, along with a synthesis of our experts’ advice. Our panel of experts includes: UC Davis professor Jay Belsky, a developmental psychologist and an internationally recognized expert on the role of nature and nurture in shaping children and families Dr. Judith Orloff, professor of psychiatry at UCLA and bestselling author of “ Emotional Freedom ” Dr. Rajita Sinha, professor of psychiatry, neurobiology and child study at Yale University and director of the Yale Stress Center I love my kids but… I adore my four little (but lively) children, but they stress me out. How can I better handle the stress of raising children, along with everything else that I have to do? This is a very common concern among parents. You need to find ways to relax and reduce your anxiety, whether it’s having a glass of wine (but not 3 or 4!), going to the gym, talking to a friend or meditating. Take time to remind yourself of the purpose of what you are doing, says Belsky. There is nothing more important than taking care of your children. There are also ways to make life with children less stressful. For example, institute a quiet time during some part of the day, when each family member goes someplace and does an activity by him or herself, like reading or listening to music. Learn how to set good boundaries, suggests Orloff. Set aside time alone to replenish because you cannot keep going non-stop. Mini-breaks can do wonders. Sinha recommends seeking family and social support, when possible. This also benefits children, who love to interact with – and hear – stories from other family members, like grandparents. Sinha also emphasizes the importance of taking breaks. Financial catastrophe I lost everything. First my job, then my savings and finally my home. What now? People have to deal with major adverse life events. This is uncontrollable stress, and it has the worst kind of impact in terms of a person’s ability to function. First, accept what has happened and then attempt to move beyond it. The most important thing is to optimize your own regulatory capacity, because it can affect your ability to problem-solve and come up with solutions effectively. Unrelenting stress can break that down. And though your circumstances may be challenging, it’s crucial to keep yourself in a positive and optimistic place. Seek help, get support and remember that there are many examples of people going through incredible catastrophes and coming out stronger. Belsky emphasizes the importance making external, rather than internal attributions about the cause of the adversities. Never forget that in many cases you are the victim, not the culprit, he says. “Don’t take ownership and responsibility for something you did not do. That’s not going to put money in your pocket but it will prevent you from beating up on yourself.” Be super-present and do not catastrophize the future, recommends Orloff. Focus on what you have. You must come at this issue from a very calm and centered place. People tend to work themselves up with worry. They can’t eat or sleep and then the situation deteriorates even further. Consider what you can do in the present moment. Nature or nurture? How much of stress and anxiety is nature versus nurture? You can’t attribute a set percentage of stress to genetics versus nurture, says Sinha. Nature gives us a certain predisposition, a basic structure for stress response. Some people are more reactive and some are less so. Nurture overlays that genetic structure and can support either the suppression or expression of those genes. Belsky also observes that some people tend to have a lower threshold for stress. A bit of noise can discombobulate one person, whereas another can tolerate cacophonous sounds. For some, nature is more important and for others nurture is. But, he cautions, we can’t truly ever know whether someone’s high anxiety levels are due to nature or nurture; it could be low tolerance or it could be because the person never learned to cope. While some of us may have been born more stressed-out and anxious than others, according to Orloff we create a lot of our own stress with the stories we tell about it. Many of Orloff’s patients create inordinate amounts of anxiety because of their unrelentingly negative thought patterns. She suggests taking control of your mind to create a more positive reality. “Be grateful for your breath, your life and what you have. If you choose your thoughts, you won’t get sucked into the vortex of negativity.” You versus food Food is freaking me out. I have no idea what we’re supposed to be eating anymore. It’s as if everything is bad for you and will kill you. Don’t be obsessive, says Orloff. There are people out there who won’t allow themselves a treat, but then the deprivation leads to binge eating. The bottom line is that you have to have a balanced attitude about food. Sure, it can be complicated, observes Belsky. But it can also be simple. The less junk food, the better. The more fruits, vegetables, cereals and whole grains, the better. And you certainly don’t have to aspire to eat a perfect diet all the time. Sinha recommends seeking the help of a nutritionist or certified dietician; both are often covered through health insurance plan as a health and wellness visit. These experts can help you track your present diet and make suggestions for healthier alternatives. They can also help develop sensible and sustainable meal plans. Family and other black holes My mother is the black hole of joy, but she’s my mother. How do I deal with her negativity? You have made a good start by having an understanding of who your mother is and how she makes you feel, says Belsky. You have to give yourself credit for understanding the situation because that will help guide how you proceed. Orloff addresses “emotional vampires” in her book, “ Emotional Freedom .” These are people who will suck you dry and, unfortunately, some mothers can be emotional vampires. Orloff warns against engaging negative people. “Don’t give emotional vampires any energy because they will keep going.” When they get negative or begin criticizing, set limits (by leaving, for example) or change the subject. People go wrong when they start engaging or believing the vitriol. We cannot control others’ behavior and outlook, observes Sinha. People frustrate us because we want them to be different. There are two key points here. The first is that you must accept people for who they are – good and bad. Their lives, genes and stressors have helped to shape them. Perhaps understanding where someone came from may help explain who he or she is now. But there is no light switch to make a person change; only a process of accepting him or her. The second point is that you do not have to change who you are. You have the right to have positive interactions and good energy in your life. Sometimes to make that happen, you need to get away from someone – and that’s okay too! But either way, the first step is acceptance. Next week we'll look at caretaker blues, internalizing stress, single parenting, the evolution of stress and information overload. Follow @amandaenayati on Twitter or on Facebook . Filed under: Stress Tagged: Amanda Enayati — Special to CNN

Stress is a very real concern for children, even as young as four, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Overweight teens warned if they develop Type 2 diabetes, they’ll have a very tough time keeping it under control, say doctors stressing prevention.

A former physical education teacher is looking at bringing a successful project of teaching yoga to high school students across New Brunswick.