November 30, 2018 at 12:44PM When a snowstorm’s raging outside your window, it can feel like a lot to cross the driveway and hop in the car to go to the gym—much less gear up for an outdoor run. But if you ask Becs Gentry, an all-star running coach at Peloton’s treadmill studio in New York City, she’ll tell you that you should ditch the tread and log your miles outside at least once a week—no matter how frightful the weather. “It’s so different running outside and inside,” Gentry explains. While neither one trumps the other, in her opinion, braving the elements on a regular basis will provide an extra challenge for your bod. “Subtract one of those [treadmill workouts] and take a 45-minute outdoor session. Just take it outside so you can run with the wind, and rain, and outdoor resistance,” she says. Jenny Hadfield, a coach and author of Marathoning for Mortals, told Runner’s World that pushing against a headwind will make you work way harder. Yes, that may mean your pace will go down, but the level of effort you’re exerting throughout the run will increase—kinda like when you put the incline up on the tread. The more extreme outdoor temperature also puts an added strain on your body, says David Siik, creator of Equinox’s Precision Running program. That said, he notes that cold-air quality is actually worse than warmer air, so try to plan your outdoor winter runs for the warmest day of the week. Yes, it will take some major willpower to battle it out with Jack Frost.
Month: November 2018
This high-fiving cat is here to congratulate you on getting through the week
November 30, 2018 at 12:08PM Wouldn’t it be nice to get some praise for all the unsung victories we achieve in a day? Remembering to take all our vitamins, going to bed on time, gracefully navigating Mercury-retrograde craziness—and, of course, doing especially tough workouts. I mean, I’m not requesting a gold medal for completing an intense series of burpees and squats without passing out. (Or sneaking out of class early.) Just a simple gesture of congratulations would do—especially if it happened to be coming from a very furry paw. Well, it turns out there’s a cat at a CrossFit gym in China who has this exact job: It gives people high-fives after they finish class. In a video posted on Instagram, the feline cheerleader can be seen lending a paw to every jogger who runs by, basically being the cutest hype man (hype beast?) in existence. It’s the ultimate form of motivation to keep you trucking along, even when you feel like giving up at any second. View this post on Instagram High Five！ CrossFit Pepper #crossfit #crossfit中国 #highfive #cat A post shared by CrossFit China (@crossfitchina) on Nov 28, 2018 at 1:06am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js Unfortunately, I’ve yet to see a cat (or any high-five-giving animal) in any of my fitness classes, so it doesn’t look like I’ll be getting the same treatment as these lucky CrossFitters any time soon. But hey, with this video going completely viral, someday there could be a friendly set of paws at every gym—or office, or first-date spot—ready
Thank God Youtube is finally giving us (okay, me) the Naomi Campbell series I’ve been praying for
November 30, 2018 at 11:58AM I have really never been the type to obsess over a celebrity. When I was younger, the object of my infatuation was not *Nsync or the Spice Girls, it was Eloise, the titular character from a children’s book published in 1955. The first non-fictional character I remember ever being taken aback by was Naomi Campbell. The OG supermodel has always been unapologetically vocal about her convictions. Sure, she’s been called a diva, but so have a ton of women who are just asking for what they deserve—or, arguably, what they think they deserve. *cough Mariah Carey* I don’t want to spend too long waxing poetic over why Campbell is essentially Mother Theresa to me. But, in essence: 1.) She overcame deep-seated racism in the fashion industry to become the defining supermodel. (This is a hill I will die on.) And she’s been a trailblazer for other women of color as they face similar battles. 2.) She has never feigned being chill, which is an attitude I’ve been channeling myself. 3.) Her philanthropic work is seriously inspirational. 4.) When life handed her a community service sentence, she did it in haute couture. Luckily, the universe must have heard my daily prayers for more Campbell, because yesterday she launched a YouTube channel. It’ll serve as home base for a new online series, Being Naomi, that gives an intimate look into her life. Before this, Campbell was in the first season of Empire and in the American, Australian, and British versions of her modeling
Have patchy brows? Here’s how to fill them in like a pro
November 30, 2018 at 11:26AM Not everyone is #blessed with of-the-moment brows, and TBH it’s kind of a crapshoot as to why. The full, bushy brows of today would’ve been wildly over-plucked in the stencil-thin ’90s. Meanwhile, these days, many of those with over-plucked and patchy eyebrows are gunning for them to look bigger and bolder. It turns out it’s easy to make good on this with just a brow gel and a pencil, which should both be the same shade as your hair. As Well+Good’s beauty editor, Ali Finney knows a thing or two about achieving natural-looking brows, and her secret to mastering the technique? Starting with your weaker brow. First swipe on a brow gel to define your arch, then make tiny, pencil-like strokes in the patchiest areas, moving outward toward the tail and stopping short of where your natural hairline ends in order to prevent a hard edge. “I’m just doing tiny little dashes that mimic hair—you don’t want to do anything that’s harsh,” Finney says in the tutorial below. Next, she recommends using the spoolie at the other end of the pencil to blend in the product. Then, after checking to make sure your eyebrow starts at the inner corner of your eye—and filling it in with tiny, hairlike strokes if you need to—move onto your other brow, trying to mimic the same arch as your weaker brow. The next thing you know, you’ll be the proud new owner of a pair of much-thicker eyebrows. Easy peasy. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iEJuf3igBo?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
Your December energy forecast: Get ready for a massive love bomb
November 30, 2018 at 10:02AM According to “RockStar Shaman” Alyson Charles, we’ll be saying goodbye to the tumultuous year of 2018 in a decidedly drama-free way. In fact, the potential for healing and love is huge. How to make that happen? Check out her full cosmic divination for December, including the spirit animals to support you this month. We are officially entering into the last month in our calendar year! Was this not the fastest year you’ve ever experienced? We are really beginning to see and feel, on much truer and deeper levels, how powerful we are and who we are in our fullest expression. Even as you read this now, feel into who you are in your truth. When you let yourself see who you really are, what reveals itself? And let’s remember, until we allow ourselves to really receive in and see our greatness, others will not be able to fully see it, either. If greater respect and honor is what you have been yearning to experience in relationships, and you’ve really wanted to be seen in all your depths, ask yourself if you have let yourself really see how magnificent, potent, and powerful you are and remember that it all begins within. This month’s theme of forgiveness will bring massive energetic medicine to your life and the planet. November brought us opportunities to grow in compassion, non-judgment, and unconditional love. Perhaps this opportunity came through a challenging human experience, but if you allowed yourself to keep your heart open and feel
Oh, are your armpits itchy too? Here are 3 reasons that might be the case
November 30, 2018 at 09:42AM Walking around with itchy, painful bumps under your arms is the pits (…I know, I know). And the only thing more annoying than trying to distract yourself from scratching under there all day long is trying to figure out what the heck is going on in the first place. There are a few things that may be causing your itchy armpits, and the most common include razor burn, an allergic reaction, or ingrown hairs. The problem, though, is that these issues tend to look and feel fairly similar, so determining how to treat them on your own can feel next-to impossible. To solve this sitch once and for all, I chatted with Austin-based dermatologist Ted Lain, MD on how to tell the difference between the most common causes of itchy armpits and exactly what you can do to deal with ’em. Read on for everything you need to know about the bumps under your arms. Photo: Stocksy/Susana Ramirez Razor burn What it looks like: If you’ve ever panic-shaven your armpits on your way out the door, you likely know the deal with razor burn. It’s lots of small, pink bumps, which look the same and tend to stay concentrated in one area. And, yes—they itch like hell. Why it happens: Long story short? Your razor is doing you dirty. Your skin either isn’t moisturized enough when you shave, or you’re using something that’s a little too heavy duty for the job at hand. “We find that five-
If men get contraceptive arm gel (yep, being tested), let’s get women these 7 forms of birth control
November 30, 2018 at 08:49AM I’ve been on several different forms of birth control in my life. I’ve done the pill, the ring, and finally, fed up with both of these methods (slash worried about the future of women’s health in this country), I pulled the trigger and got an IUD. This involved me going into the doctor’s office and having a device literally implanted into my uterus so that I could enjoy sex without having to worry about getting pregnant. Was the fuss worth the five to seven years of protection against unplanned pregnancy? Yes, but it was also the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. So, it’s with a bitter breed of rejoice that I welcome news that clinical trials for a new male birth control gel are set to begin. Why bitter? Well, the specific development the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle’s testing is essentially contraceptive deodorant (not a pill, or an implant, or a shot). Meanwhile, my lady comrades and I are over here, taking sick days to heal from our surgical procedures to accomplish the same effect. So yeah, the playing field doesn’t feel like it’s quite equalizing. Furthermore, I’m not exactly holding my breath for this to product to reach market because last time I heard about a male birth control trial, it ended because men experienced symptoms like mood swings, acne, and changes in sex drive—AKA common side effects of…you guessed it: hormonal female birth control methods. “The gel…is designed to decrease a man’s
After watching this video of breakout singer Billie Eilish, I’m replacing resolutions with these questions for 2019
November 30, 2018 at 08:47AM This was a monumental year for singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, whose atmospheric and haunting melodies are the quintessential soundtrack for when you just want to drive and feel your feelings. To document her speed-of-light success story, Vanity Fair asked the 16-year old (!!) the exact same set of interview questions on October 18, 2017 and October 18, 2019, and oh boy—talk about a 365-day transformation. To name just a few accolades that Eilish has added to her resumé this year: She gained almost nine millions followers on Instagram (where her handle is @wherearetheavocados, BTW), collaborated with Khaled, and even secured a spot on the Forbes’ 30 Under 30. And while many of these (or okay, maybe all of them) aren’t realistic expectations for those of us without the vocals of an avant-garde angel, the idea of setting aside time for an annual Q&A with yourself is kinda genius. For Eilish, 2018 changed her favorite color from bright green to black (because, “[The world] has been pretty dark lately, so I’ve just wanted to be dark with it,” she explains), taught her how to drive, and placed her under an (at times stifling) spotlight that won’t allow her to go anywhere (except Trader Joe’s) without being recognized. But simultaneously, some things—like her DGAF attitude—haven’t changed one bit. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm0MGnuRnH0?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] So my question is, why don’t we all copy Eilish and challenge ourselves to get real as we stare into a front-facing camera. Because, you guys—a lot can happen in a year. And won’t it be kind of
I took a DNA test to tell me how to work out—and apparently I’m a sprinter
November 30, 2018 at 08:12AM Earlier this year, I became one of the millions who’ve shipped a swab of saliva to a faraway lab in exchange for beyond-comprehensive DNA profile. Only, I wasn’t really interested in learning about my distant ancestors (sorry, great, great, great Irish grandma!) or which foods would optimize my genes. What I really wanted to know? How my deoxyribonucleic acid informs the time I spend at the gym. Because, yes—a test can totally tell you that now. To begin my journey of biological self-discovery, I tried both the Vitagene and DNAFit gene-testing options. By the time I’d taken my cheek swab sample, gathered up the courage to go to the post office to ship it off to the lab (because, ugh), and waited patiently for my results to come, two months had gone by. But once I logged into my online profile and discovered the bounty of info that literally encodes the foundation of who I am, I had to admit that the payoff was worth it. While I learned a ton about my individual strands of DNA—for example, I’m predisposed to injuries, yet tend to recover faster after workouts than others—my main takeaway was that it would be relatively easy to biohack my workout. Before testing my DNA, I resolutely subscribed to the slow-and-steady-wins-the-race cliché. I logged my three-to-four weekly runs with one goal in mind: I should maintain a steady pace throughout the duration of my 45-minute sessions. Interval training? Out of the question. Threshold pace? What even is that? On a genetic
More women than ever are using cannabis during pregnancy…but is it safe?
November 30, 2018 at 07:52AM Like dad sneakers on a Fashion Week runway, cannabis is suddenly popping up in places where it would have been shunned five years ago. Entrepreneurs are openly sharing how they microdose it at work, Whole30 devotees are including it in their meal plans, and it’s even become a staple in our period care routines. And certainly this was happening pre-2013, but thanks to a recent wave of legalization and a shifting of societal norms, more people are embracing weed in their daily lives. And that includes during pregnancy. The number of women who reported using cannabis while pregnant rose by nearly two-thirds between 2002 and 2014, according to two separate studies. This is in contrast to alcohol and cigarette use, which both declined slightly during that time period. (It should be said that the overall number of mothers using cannabis while pregnant is pretty small, and is much smaller than the number of those who use cigarettes or alcohol.) But given the fact that you’re not even supposed to do innocuous things like use retinol or eat sushi while pregnant…is using marijuana during pregnancy okay? Why pregnant women turn to weed Most doctors are not on board with this trend. “The current recommendations from government and medical societies are that there is no known safe amount of cannabis use during pregnancy,” says Kerri Masutto, MD, a functional medicine doctor at Parsley Health in San Francisco. “Current guidelines recommend treating marijuana use during pregnancy the same as alcohol and