December 24, 2018 at 08:30AM Whether you took a plane, train, or automobile—or, like me, some combination of all three—to get home for the holidays, all of that travel (and the long periods of sitting it requires) leave your hips feeling wound up tight and give you nothing short of dead-butt syndrome. As I type this, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of a heating pad to use on my sore, aching body that came courtesy of 4 hours on an Amtrak (thanks, mom!). But thanks to the know-how of Le Stretch and Le Sweat founder and master Soul Cycle trainer Charlee Atkins (who led our first-ever Well+Good Retreat) there are ways to deal with the travel-related stress on your body that require only a resistance band. While we can’t make up for the crying baby seated next to you in row 32-D or gift you with a magic massage to make up for the seat that didn’t recline, we can share this easy, DIY way to loosen up those hips and glutes that I’ll be doing as long as I’m en route. View this post on Instagram If you’ve seen my stories, you’ve seen my mini-exercise bands and their multi-uses! My newest Le Stretch sesh is now available 20-min HIPS + GLUTES Mobility. If you don’t have a mini band you can easily fast forward through the first three minutes and catch us on the stretch portion Happy Le Stretch-ing, peep my stories for a direct link A post shared by
Day: December 24, 2018
There’s one way to tell whether you’re spending too much time with your new hot fling
December 24, 2018 at 08:00AM Have you ever fallen head over heels for a new partner who seems equally smitten with you? There aren’t many things more euphoric than realizing that your dinner date essentially turned into an entire weekend staycation together. (Anyone else ever had an impromptu 48-hour date?). Daytime rendezvous turn into sleepovers; sleepovers turn into breakfast; and suddenly, things with the new apple of your eye feel serious. Is it too much too soon? Can you spend way too much time with someone when you’re first dating? The answer, of course, is a little more complicated than just a mere “yes” or “no.” “I wish there were a magical rubric that told you how much time is ‘good’ in a relationship, especially a new one,” says sexologist and relationship expert Megan Stubbs, EdD. “But alas, there is not.” So as many times as friends might tell you to remain a little mysterious, or to keep some distance to make the heart grow fonder, as they say, the only person you should really be listening to is yourself. According to Dr. Stubbs, you’re your own best barometer for the right amount of time to spend with someone. And basically, if you’re having fun and sense the other person is also having fun, you’re probably solid. And if that ends up being a lot of time, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything bad for your burgeoning relationship. One study that examined couples in the early-on throes of a new fling found that
Look Kate Hudson, Joanna Gaines has a genius decluttering hack for all those cutting boards
December 24, 2018 at 07:49AM Today in “sentences I never thought I’d type,” cutting boards are having a major moment. My mind was blown earlier this week when an eagle-eyed Twitter detective pointed out that Kate Hudson had a surplus of the things in her kitchen, and then it full-on exploded when Gwyneth Paltrow stepped in to suggest that maybe she’s not using them in the kitchen, but the uhhh bedroom. Yes, this really happened, and I would like to quickly take this opportunity to say that the Internet is an amazing place sometimes. But anyways…. As someone who is constantly trying to navigate the perils of living with a teeny, tiny kitchen (thanks, New York City apartments), I’m here to say that they take up a disproportionate amount of cabinet space in relation to their number of uses, and storing them always winds up being a massive pain. But thanks to the savior of all things home, Joanna Gaines, I have recently discovered a new way to deal with my cutting boards that doesn’t make me want to throw them out the window: By using them as a part of my decor. In her new design book, Homebody, the lifestyle guru dishes out all sorts of advice on how to keep your kitchen as clean and functional as possible. One of her top tips, per PureWow? “Clear your counter of everything but the essentials.” Which, I’ll admit, is pretty straightforward. One of her more groundbreaking hacks, though, is to actually leave
Everything I’ve learned on dressing with confidence has come from this beloved children’s book character
December 24, 2018 at 07:30AM The only books I remember being obsessed with during my childhood (… and adolescence) were the ones in the Eloise universe. For those of you who don’t know the meaning of true happiness and freedom (I mean, aren’t familiar), Eloise, Eloise at Christmas Time, Eloise in Paris, and Eloise in Moscow are a series of beautifully illustrated children’s books that tell the story of a 6-year-old who lives with her nanny, pet turtle, and dog, on the top floor of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Obviously, her lifestyle is enviable but the part of the book I find myself endlessly referencing is her fashion. During my childhood, I spent a ton of time surrounded by senior citizens and looking for bizarre and mischevious ways to amuse myself, which is where Eloise comes into play. (There is an entire book dedicated to her flooding the hotel while taking a bath.) As an adult, I no longer spend the majority of my day trying to bamboozle people, but the spirit of Eloise lives on in the numerous sartorial lessons I’ve picked up from the beloved children’s book character. 1. a messy bedroom is, in fact, an aesthetic choice Eloise’s bedroom would probably make Marie Kondo cry. But for the wabi-sabi enthusiast, it’s a more youthful take on the concept. Her room was chaotic but it was organized and mindful chaos—and an important lesson on mixing prints. In all honesty, it’s got a Basquiat-like artistic quality to it
Hey, great news: It turns out yeast infections can be contagious
December 24, 2018 at 07:00AM Pop quiz: What do amoxicillin, rosé, and wet bathing suits have in common? If you’re thinking Duh, they’re all yeast infection triggers, you’ve clearly been reading Well+Good and you get a gold star. But if you’re avoiding all of these things and you’re still dealing with a yeast infection that just won’t quit, you may want to consider a lesser-known source—your partner. As you’re likely aware, a genital yeast infection occurs when there’s an overgrowth of a fungus called candida in one’s nether regions. What you may not know is this fungus can be transferred back and forth (and back again) between partners of both sexes while getting busy, says Natasha Bhuyan, MD, a physician at One Medical in Phoenix, AZ. “Technically, yeast infections can be sexually transmitted, but we don’t call them sexually transmitted infections because people can get them in other ways,” she says. Okay, don’t freak out if you’ve done the dirty while candida-afflicted: Only about 15 percent of men will catch a yeast infection if they’ve had unprotected sex with a woman who has one. (Researchers haven’t figured out an exact likelihood in female couples—or the chance of a woman catching a yeast infection from a man—even though it does happen. What up, medical research gender gap.) But there are certain risk factors that make some people more predisposed than others, says Dr. Bhuyan, including antibiotic use, diabetes, and poor hygiene. “It’s more common in men who are uncircumcised, as the yeast can get trapped
3 vegan cheese ball recipes that will be the star of the snack table
December 24, 2018 at 06:57AM Despite what the internet and your Great Aunt Mildred may have you believe, “holiday treats” and “healthy eating” don’t have to be mutually exclusive. There are plenty of delicious-and-nutritious holiday swaps for sugary cookies and cakes, but there’s one holiday staple that, until now, was hard to hack: The cheese ball. Admittedly, a self-proclaimed “ball of cheese” (that is often dipped in a hefty coating of bacon) doesn’t exactly scream “good for you!” especially when there’s a perfectly good veggie plate a few inches to the left. But, c’mon—they’re pretty dang delicious, and thanks to the protein-packed vegan alternative—cashew cheese—there are plenty of ways to enjoy the cheesy hunk of deliciousness you’ve always loved without the actual cheese part of it. Woohoo! Scroll through for some of our favorite vegan recipes from around the internet sure to make you the star of any holiday potluck, where people will have a hard time believing that what you’re serving up isn’t actually the real deal. Spicy Vegan Pimento Cheese Ball A new twist on the old classic…with a kick. This recipe requires only 10 ingredients, plus your handy-dandy food processor, and will leave you with a creamy-yet-spicy edible holiday centerpiece. In lieu of cheese, the vegan version uses nutritional yeast, and amps up the flavor with garlic, smoked paprika, pimento peppers, and cayenne pepper (which, FWIW, may have metabolism-boosting properties, among other benefits worth getting amped up about). Yum, yum, yum. Full recipe at Minimalist Baker. Cranberry Thyme Vegan Cheese
Knit leggings are the cozy pants that’ll upgrade your wardrobe this winter
December 24, 2018 at 06:30AM As soon as the temperature drops below 50, there’s nothing better than swaddling up in cozy knits on the couch. Unfortunately, life usually gets in the way of said uninterrupted lounging time. Luckily, activewear is—once again—here to save the day in the form of knit leggings. A hybrid between sweatpants and straight activewear, these cozy leggings are your solution to braving the cold while still feeling like you’re cozy in bed. Plus, there are even options that are made with performance knit to take your workout to new comfort heights. (Or, you know, your weekend errands.) Ready to cozy up? These 9 knit leggings will do the trick nicely. Photo: Old Navy Old Navy Sweater-Knit Lounge Leggings, $38 Photo: Free People Free People Fireside Legging, $48 Photo: Beyond Yoga Beyond Yoga Lounge Around Joggers, $88 Photo: Something Navy Something Navy Rib Lounge Leggings, $49 Photo: Carbon38 Repetto Warm Up Knitted Fold On Waist Tights, $95 Photo: Stella McCartney Adidas by Stella McCartney Training Seamless Tight, $100 Photo: American Eagle AEO Plush Fleece Sweater Legging, $24 Photo: Topshop Topshop Supersoft Jogger Pants, $30 Photo: Eberjey Eberjey The Cozy Time Leggings, $74 Complete your cozy look with a pair of knit socks and a long sweater. Continue Reading… Author Katie Maguire | Well and Good Selected by iversue
Why age is *much* more than the year you were born, according to Jillian Michaels
December 24, 2018 at 06:00AM When anybody asks me how old I am, I don’t skip a beat: I’m 24. Just kidding—I’m older than that, but, essentially, I’m prewired to answer that question by stating the number of years that I’ve been on earth. What else would I say, anyways? Well, according to Jillian Michaels, creator of the My Fitness app and author of the new book The 6 Keys, there’s so much more to age than that number. “You could look at somebody who’s 30 and has the liver of a 55-year-old, or conversely a 55-year-old with the liver of a 30-year-old,” says Michaels. “There are so many variables to age.” The least of which is how old we all actually feel and what society expects of us given that proverbial clock over our heads. “Psychologically, age is how you feel and how you behave, which affects the things you do and, in turn, dramatically impacts the outcome of your life.” Sociologically, on the other hand, age has implicit expectations for what those around you expect you to be doing. “Like, if you’re 30, people can say, ‘Your clock is ticking, you should be married and have X number of kids,’” says Michaels. Ignore this factor at all costs, she adds. So, essentially, your age is actually a measure of chronology, physiology, sociology, and psychology, she says. In order to increase your longevity while being the best you can for your age, keep scrolling for Michaels’ advice. How to tap into your
5 natural skin-care ingredients that we were all ferociously Googling in 2018
December 24, 2018 at 05:55AM There was a whole lot of stuff worth buzzing about in 2018: Oat milk! Digital fitness! And of course, my personal favorite, new innovations in beauty. From the rise of plant-based retinol to vitamin C everything, there was a whole lot worth talking about this year surrounding advances in beauty technology, and new ways that we are all using some old-school ingredients. So what were the trendiest natural ingredients in skin care and hair care in 2018? According to Google Trends, the top five trending natural ingredients by volume and growth were: Witch hazel, aloe, neem, rosehip, and rice water. None of these ingredients are exactly “new”—you’ve likely been using aloe on your sunburns since you were little, and rice water has been a staple in Japanese skin care for centuries—but they’ve recently become a part of a broader conversation thanks to new applications and new products touting them as heroes. Let’s quickly break down the benefits of each, shall we? Witch hazel: With hazel can act as an oily and acne-prone skin savior. “Witch hazel is both astringent and anti-inflammatory, so it has a drying, toning, and tightening action on the skin,” says Jeni Sykes, esthetician at CAP Beauty’s New York City location. “As it does this, it soothes redness and swelling.” You’ll often see it as an ingredient in toners, but be careful using it if your skin is already feeling super dry. Aloe: In addition to soothing those sunburns (let me take this opportunity to issue a gentle
No, sleeping in separate beds does not mean your relationship is doomed
December 24, 2018 at 05:30AM In some sort of alternate universe, you and your partner would always fall asleep in each other’s arms, spend every night spooning, and, of course, you’d both get a full eight hours of sleep. But the odds of that actually happening, on a scale of Hallmark movie to real life? Just take a wild guess. Between snoring, tossing and turning, and having entirely different sleep schedules, there’s a whole slew of ways your partner is liable to keep you up all night—and no, not in that way. It’s a major reason why one in four married couples sleep in separate bedrooms, at least according to a 2005 survey. If the issue plagues your life and relationship, sleeping in separate beds may seem like the only way to consistently get a good night’s sleep. But does not catching your nightly zzz’s directly next to your partner damage the emotional bond you share? Does the choice unknowingly hurt your relationship? The good news: It certainly doesn’t have to. In fact, separate bedrooms is a solution relationship therapist and Sex Without Stress author Jessa Zimmerman fully endorses—so long as sleep problems are the true culprit, not a deeper relationship issue you’re avoiding. “I don’t know of any scientific studies with a concrete answer on how not being bedmates with your partner impacts the relationship, Zimmerman says. “I don’t think it’s so much the sleeping next to someone that matters as much as the cuddling, touching, and human contact