"How I lost 20 pounds": American Idol winner Carrie Underwood reveals her very doable strategies for slimming down and getting healthy

We all know Carrie Underwood's story by now: small-town Southern girl makes it big on American Idol, the most popular show on TV. What many of us don't know is that American Idol's fourth-season winner was gaining more than just fame while the show was airing: Carrie put on 20 pounds. "It was crazy," says the now-slimmer star, relaxing in the lounge of a bowling alley in New York City with her tiny terrier, Ace, snuggled up next to her.

10 questions your gynecologist wants you to ask: don't be shy; speaking up could save your life

The less time your annual gynecology checkup takes, the better - breast exam, pelvic, Pap smear and you're gone.
Wait - not so fast! Maybe you should take a few minutes longer with the gynecologist. You may think all doctors are in a rush to get to the next patient, but most want to give their patients the best care.

12 tips for healthy hair: get the shine, movement and softness you desire fast and easy with our expert advice from top pros

Hair is the ultimate accessory; it can add to (or detract from) your overall look instantly. Keeping it in healthy condition is the most important thing you can do to help it look and feel fabulous. And, while it seems easy, this isn't as simple as minimizing chemical treatments or slathering on a weekly deep conditioner. While these can make your strands softer and less split-end-prone, what really matters is the daily handling; this is what creates the most stress--and potential damage--to your tresses. To help your locks look their best, we asked top experts from around the country for their advice on how to baby your mane every single day. So whether your concern is dullness, damage, frizz or fragility, we have the answers to ease even the toughest hair-care woes. Read on for tips to achieve run-your-fingers-through-it hair.

12 tricks for radiant eyes: plagued by dark circles, puffiness or the wrong-color shadow? Top experts reveal their most eye-opening secrets

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then you want yours to be wide open and sparkling. That's why we've assembled the best techniques to erase sleepy-looking circles and early morning puffiness, and collected pro tips to make your eyes pop with the right liner, shadows and mascara magic. "Making your eyes look their best takes two things: the right cream to keep the skin around the eyes smooth and the right makeup to enhance your eye color and shape," says international makeup artist Bobbi Brown, author of Bobbi Brown Beauty Evolution (HarperCollins, 2002). Here are the best eye-enhancing tricks of the trade.