October 05, 2018 at 10:42AM Layering season has officially begun. But it’s not just your skin care and clothes that are better worn together this time of year. The same holds true for the dainty necklaces you never take off. With so many covetable pieces of tiny jewelry to choose from right now, it’s hard to pick favorites. This could be why so many women who wear it don’t—choosing instead to adorn their décolletage with several delicate chains at once. On their own, each is so subtle, it might go unnoticed. Together, though, they create a statement. The only catch is that most necklaces sold today come in the same lengths—typically a 16- or 18-inch chain. So, how do you create the right amount of distance between more than one worn at a time? The easiest (and cheapest) answer is to buy necklace extenders. (This hack is great for layering necklaces, but it’s also a quick fix when you find one you love that doesn’t hit you in the right place and getting a longer chain isn’t an option.) You can get extenders online at sites like Etsy, Amazon, Bloomingdale’s, and Shopbop. They come in different materials to match the metal of your necklace. My personal recommendation, especially for anyone with allergies, is to stick to either sterling silver or gold fill. Each costs about $8 and is hypoallergenic. And for those of you who put your dainty pieces back in your jewelry box in favor of channeling this season’s big
Day: October 5, 2018
Why popping bubble wrap is so. darn. satisfying, according to experts
October 05, 2018 at 10:34AM Yesterday, the Internet got hyped about a bubble wrap case that’s basically designed to make the back of your iPhone even more addicting than the actual screen. Akin to watching hours upon hours of beauty ASMR, feeling a plastic bubble pop beneath your fingertip is just so strangely satisfying—but why? To find out, I asked a few experts to burst the, er, bubble of mystery around this particular phenomena. “Popping bubble wrap is about pressure and release, very similar to a build-up of stress and then immediate relief from it,’ says Tampa therapist Stephanie Sarkis, PhD, EdS. “Whenever we have a release from pressure, real or simulated, our brain receives a boost of ‘feel-good’ chemicals—dopamine and norepinephrine.” She adds that since puncturing the plastic spheres requires focus and repetition, it also lulls your brain into a meditative state. “Popping bubble wrap is about pressure and release, very similar to a build-up of stress and then immediate relief from it,” — Stephanie Sarkis, PhD, EdS While the delightfulness of this post-package receiving pastime has yet to be widely studied (for reasons I, for one, cannot understand), Nick Hobson, PhD, a research psychologist at PsychologyCompass, says some research does exist. “A study from the 90s found that people who had the opportunity to pop bubble wrap were more calm and focused afterwards compared to those who didn’t. The explanation is that little finger and hand movements is a natural anxiolytic [anxiety reducer] that brings about a sense of personal orderliness,”
Not to stress you out or anything, but this is most-Googled symptom in a *lot* of states
October 05, 2018 at 10:11AM What would the world do without Google? With just a quick search, you can easily learn so many varied things, like how often to water your Monstera and how to get some much-needed relief from a painful sunburn. And of course, there’s the opportunity to do some recon on your health-related symptoms. As it turns out, a lot of people are Googling the exact same thing. After analyzing the most-searched symptoms of the past year on Google Trends and seeing which had the highest search volumes in each state, MedicareHealthPlans.com found the most common in a fifth of the states to be stress. It’s really no surprise, either: Whether due to politics, career, relationships, or something else entirely, stress is on the rise—it’s even causing hair loss in women. While other top searches include issues with digestion and sleep, nothing came close to being on the same level as stress. Whether due to politics, career, relationships, or something else entirely, stress is on the rise—it’s even causing hair loss in women. So, what can you do to stay less stressed and keep those Google searches to a minimum? Basically, take the time to focus on self-care, even if that means clearing your schedule of other responsibilities. “Focus on a healthy diet, exercise, good sleep, and relationships,” says stress specialist Amit Sood, MD. “Consider yoga, meditation, or other relaxation techniques, like music, massage, coloring, gardening, or reading.” Of course, if these strategies don’t work for you, see a doctor. Armed with expert advice and intervention, you’ll be fully
Oatmeal season is back: Here are 8 reasons to revive your love for the OG healthy breakfast
October 05, 2018 at 09:05AM Summer may have you happily sipping on smoothies in the A.M., but cooler months call for something a bit cozier. Sure, oatmeal fits the bill (or, er, bowl), but let’s face it: it does have a reputation for being a bit…dull. For the record, the rep is undeserved as there are plenty of ways to spice up your oatmeal bowl—including with yes, actual spices. “There are so many flavor combinations you can enjoy,” says RSP Nutrition consultant Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RD. You can make it savory, sweet, or both—depending on what you mix in. (There’s some killer ideas coming up, so keep reading.) And, of course, yes, it’s loaded with benefits. Rounded up here are eight big ones, so keep reading to see what exactly makes oatmeal a healthy breakfast win, plus tips on making a yum-inducing bowl. Scroll down to see the health benefits of oatmeal. Photo: Twenty20/ @dasha_veselovskaya 8 health benefits of oatmeal 1. Keeps things moving, digestively speaking: You probably already know that fiber is essential for keeping your gut health in check. But the benefits don’t stop at keeping things, er, moving. The nutrient can also help lower inflammation, rev your metabolism, and contribute to overall good health. “Oatmeal has a decent amount of fiber, about four grams per one cup cooked.” Moreno says, adding that four grams is solid, considering that according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 20 to 25 grams per fiber a day is what your body wants. “It also has
5 times Lady Gaga proved her healthy star was born a *long* ago
October 05, 2018 at 09:05AM Tonight is the night pop icon Lady Gaga adds “big-deal actress” to her list of credits. In fact, she’s already the subject of Oscar buzz for her debut lead film role in A Star Is Born, alongside Bradley Cooper. So, yeah, it’s a pretty big deal. Especially since, for this particular film’s fourth adaptation, she’s filling in the shoes of some iconic former leading ladies, including Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. While she’s just now starting to make waves in the film industry, Lady Gaga’s healthy star rose a long time ago: Over the years, she’s mastered the art of keeping her well-being in check while traveling, getting real about her personal struggles with chronic pain, and even ordering the perfect Starbucks drink. So, in honor of her star rising higher, here are five award-winning habits on Lady Gaga’s wellness résumé. Check out 5 times Lady Gaga’s healthy star rose long before the premiere of A Star Is Born. View this post on Instagram Shallow is out now! Watch the music video featuring scenes from the film, link in bio! Both the film and the soundtrack are out on 10/5. #AStarIsBorn A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) on Sep 27, 2018 at 11:17am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js 1. She has SoulCycle bikes in her tour bus When it comes to working out on the road, the boutique studio sweat seshes come to the Grammy winner rather than the other way around. Lady Gaga has two custom SoulCycle bikes on her tour bus so she can get
Minimize post-workout soreness with these trainer-approved tips
October 05, 2018 at 08:47AM If I took a quick poll about everyone’s least favorite part about working out, I’m pretty confident that stretching would end up somewhere on the list. Seriously, when the instructor tells the class it’s time to cool down it feels like a mass exodus. #Wheresthelife “I think for many, it comes down to boredom,” explains Ife Obi, certified pilates instructor and owner of The Fit In Bedstuy. “The stretch is never as fun as the workout. It’s slow, it’s sometimes painful, and the importance of flexibility is not understood by the masses, which all this leaves little motivation to fit it in.” However, the importance of post-workout recovery shouldn’t be overlooked. According to Jeff Brannigan, program director of Stretch*d, stretching “is the behind-the-scenes powerhouse that will help you perform better, recover faster and age gracefully.” He says that the a bulk of his clients often complain about tightness in the hips, low back, neck, and shoulders. So, to combat that, here’s how to minimize soreness post workout. Photo: Stocksy/Jayme Burrows Here’s how to beat post-workout soreness 1. Stretching because…duh: “Stretching is usually an afterthought for most people. And, if you look at our lifestyles, this is understandable—lots of sitting at desks, hunching over laptops and staring down at phones will contribute to these areas of pain,” he explains. “We see lots of clients who are sore from their regular workouts but almost as many who are simply tight or stiff from a sedentary lifestyle. Text neck is real!”
5 reasons you get the hiccups after eating and how to rid yourself of them ASAP
October 05, 2018 at 08:19AM If you’ve ever gotten a bad case of the hiccups after eating, you know how irritating they can be. But what are these annoying fits in the first place? “Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle,” explains, Vincent Pedre, MD, a functional medicine specialist. “They can happen at different rates. As the muscle contracts repeatedly, the vocal cords will contract to prevent the unexpected inflow of air.” This is what causes the hiccuping sound Dr. Pedre says. To put it simply, “a hiccup is basically a spasm of both your diaphragm and vocal cords,” he says. As you let that science sink in, scroll down to see what causes hiccups after eating. Plus, how to get rid of them, stat. Photo: Getty Images/Westend61 What causes hiccups after eating? 1. Eating too quickly You might be familiar with the way that swallowing air causes bloat, but it can also cause hiccups. Often it happens when you eat too quickly. Swallowing air while eating or drinking “distends the stomach rapidly, and can thus irritate the diaphragm muscle,” says Dr. Pedre. “The diaphragm reacts to this sudden distension by contracting.” 2. Eating too much Similarly, when you eat too much your stomach expands and jostles anything in its close proximity. This often includes the diaphragm, which when pushed against, can cause hiccups. 3. Sudden and extreme temperature changes Say you spend a hot summer day outside only to retreat into the AC (or the opposite temp flip in winter) and eat immediately, the
A 5-move, full-body workout you can do with your—wait for it—foam roller
October 05, 2018 at 08:18AM If you think foam rolling falls strictly under the recovery umbrella of fitness, prepare to feel shook. As it turns out, the cylindrical tool you use to massage the knots out of your hammies and calves can also act as a prop for a full-body workout. (Read: It’s twofer!) Yesterday, Aaptiv and CrossFit trainer Meg Takacs previewed a five-move sweat sesh that will soon appear on the audio-guided exercise app. She kindly shared exactly what’s involved so you can replicate the series the next time you’re ready to soak your activewear. To get started, snag a roller and a mat—either at the gym or at your home studio—and pump up the tunes. One round should leave you winded in 10 minutes or less, but as Takacs writes in the caption: “It never gets easier, you just get stronger.” Steal this CrossFit trainer’s full-body, foam-roller workout. View this post on Instagram New @aaptiv Foam roller workout coming soon! – Plyo taps – 5 reps up and down the length of your mat Push ups – 10 (5 each side) 3 hollow rocks and 3 crunches (repeat x2) Overhead squat to a back lunge (x12) – Keep tagging me in your sweaty selfies ! I love seeing hard work being put in. That’s all we do here. It never gets easier, you just get stronger : @squidd614 – #aaptiv #team #bodyweight #coach #mastertrainer #officelife #motivation #movement #creativity #dynamicworkout #strengthtraining #foamroller #workout #hiit #instavid #abs #coreworkout A post shared by Meg Takacs
Gassing is exact positive trend every friendship needs right now
October 05, 2018 at 07:17AM I sincerely wish Accepting a Compliment: 101 were a high school subject, because now I’m a grown human woman and I’m still working to master this seemingly simple aspect of interpersonal communication. But I’ve made progress over the years, most notably when I befriended a gaggle of gay men and started spending an unusually large amount of time at drag-queen-hosted bingo events. These occasions, you see, basically doubled as compliment competitions. It was here where I first experienced the joy of being gassed: applauded and cheered on for doing anything, sometimes simply just showing up. These exchanges tended to skew seriously hyperbolic in nature (being told I look like a young Elizabeth Taylor because I have mascara on, for example), but they helped me feel confident during a time when I was fraught with insecurity. Man Repeller brilliantly coined the term “gassing up” to explain the over-the-top friendly greetings, compliments, or just unsolicited statements of support and encouragement that have finally—thankfully—become a normal mode of interaction between friends. And despite the issues I have with accepting compliments, I couldn’t be happier that gassing is a part of my life. I now commonly find myself on both the sending and receiving end of texts, Instagram comments, and Instagram Story replies with messages the read something like “biiiiiiitch,” with 12 heart emojis and a barrage of exclamation points (!!!!!!!!!). Screeching “OoOoOo, who is SHE?!?” at my friend as we approach each other in the park to gas her up is supposed
A mess-free way to cut cauliflower into florets from Ina Garten that’s genius and easy
October 05, 2018 at 06:58AM If you cook with cauliflower on the reg, you know the struggle of finding little white pieces in every nook and cranny of your kitchen afterward. It turns out working with the veggie doesn’t have to always result in a big mess, though: You just have to switch up your technique for one trained chefs like Ina Garten swear by instead. After a fan wrote to the Barefoot Contessa asking how to cut cauliflower so it doesn’t get all over the kitchen, Garten realized it was time to share her pro tips. “If you cut straight through the top, it gets all over your kitchen,” she said in an Instagram video. So, what do you do instead? Simply flip it over and carefully cut around the core. View this post on Instagram If you’ve been cutting cauliflower through the top and getting little bits all over your kitchen, I have a better way to do it!! And once you’ve mastered the technique, you’ll be ready to make the Cook Like a Pro sneak peek recipe I’m posting next week! #BCprotips #CookLikeaPro A post shared by Ina Garten (@inagarten) on Sep 26, 2018 at 8:50am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Once you’ve made it all the way around the center of the cruciferous veggie, you can break off the florets, which will be in pretty big sections. Then to make them smaller, you cut through the stem and can pull them apart totally mess-free. Now whether you’re turning them into mouth-watering buffalo