January 30, 2019 at 01:30PM Should we really eat breakfast? For weight loss, it’s best to skip the scramble. Continue Reading… Author Elizabeth Gerson | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Day: January 30, 2019
Learning to style sweatpants without looking sloppy is easier than it sounds
January 30, 2019 at 01:33PM by CWC Before the birth of athleisure, sweatpants were reserved for sick days, lazy Sundays, and evenings at home after a day in denim, trousers, or a dress. Your preferred pair was likely an oversized, hip-slung, fleece-y-on-the-inside pair that would never cross the threshold of your front door but felt gloriously cozy with thick socks and a tee. Now, thanks to the rise of streetwear and the popular hygge movement (the Danish term for peak cozy), sweats are no longer seen as sloppy. The comfy bottoms are now an acceptable article of clothing to wear in public—and not just to the gym. From slimmer cuts to high-rise waists and elasticized hems, sweatpants are designed with a heck of a lot more form than they used to be—i.e. working out or lounging on your couch. That said, precise styling is key for achieving a fashion-forward look. It starts with finding the right silhouette. “When it comes to sweatpants and making them stylish, it’s all about fit, which has to be just right, like a pair of jeans,” says stylist, Mecca James-Williams. “Structure and texture are key for finding a pair that looks great enough for you to step out of your ‘around the house leisurewear.’” Though designer sweats abound, James-Williams is as much for classic Hanes as she is a straight-off-the-runway style. “I greatly appreciate this Hanes Classic Men’s style with the elastic on the waist and ankles. I typically size down two sizes for a nice snug fit—they’re super affordable and
Two experts explain how sleep FOMO is keeping us awake
January 30, 2019 at 12:46PM by CWC As my anxiety peaks in the evening and any hope for a peaceful rendezvous with Mr. Sandman starts to slip away, I’m often able to pinpoint cause. It’s a mix of looming due dates at work, my reading load for grad school, and existential fear. But the worst culprit by far is what Janet Kennedy, PhD, a sleep psychologist in New York City, refers to as “performance anxiety.” In other words: I have so much FOMO when it comes to getting enough sleep that I just can’t drift off. “The more we focus on trying to sleep and trying to sleep right, the more elusive sleep can become,” Dr. Kennedy tells me. “We can control some aspects of sleep—like our lifestyle, health, schedule, and activities—but the falling asleep [itself] is outside of our control.” Sata-driven sleep apps, like calculators and REM-trackers, often feed into the problem. Our perfectionist tendencies kick in, and when we can’t “achieve” the night of blissful rest that we so desire, it’s frustrating and it keeps us wide awake. “The more we focus on trying to sleep and trying to sleep right, the more elusive sleep can become.” Chris Winter, MD, a sleep specialist in Virginia, says that the cultural narrative around what happens when you fall short on zzz’s can often be more harmful than helpful. Studies have shown that skimping on slumber can make you angrier and cause you to dream less—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. When
4 home remedies for toothaches, according to experts
January 30, 2019 at 12:34PM by CWC There are certain things in life we expect to be a little painful: the credit card bill, breakups, karaoke night when you have a cold. Teeth, however, aren’t supposed to hurt—which is why it’s so easy for a toothache to take a person by surprise. And unlike having something stuck in your eye (which has a clear cause), it’s not always clear what to do about tooth pain. It’s unpleasant, but not quite an emergency situation in most cases. And who wants to make an extra trip to the dentist? (It’s so hard to get an appointment anyways.) Well, here’s a news flash: “One should always see the dentist if they experience any type of pain,” says Irina Sinensky, DDS, a dentist at New York City’s Dental House. “Even if it’s mild or minor and subsides quickly, it can be a sign of a problem like grinding or clenching your teeth.” You may also have an infection or something else going on in your gums that needs to be looked at by a doctor. Generally, a toothache that lasts longer than a day or two requires a dentist visit (sorry!). Your dentist will also want to take a peek sooner if: the pain is severe teeth are sensitive to cold or hot stimuli (like cold water or warm soups) there is swelling, discharge, or abscesses near the tooth you have a fever the pain originates at the jaw the pain is at the
Farewell fiddle leaves, move over monstera—here are the plants taking over in 2019
January 30, 2019 at 11:15AM by CWC Social media didn’t bring on the advent of plant-filled homes but I suspect it’s the reason we’re at peak plant lady right now. Seeing photos of other people’s fiddle leaf fici and monstera plants looking cute amongst other woo-woo decor elements makes even a novice like myself green with envy. (I, admittedly, did not even know what a succulent was until everyone on Instagram made me aware.) More importantly, though, now that we live in a society where plants are so popular they’re covering entire walls and the inspiration for cupcakes, it means that there are such things as status houseplants. In the past year, we’ve seen the rise and rise of the sweet potato vine, the banana leaf, and air plants. So, what’s the plant most likely to be Instagrammed in 2019? In the interest of narrowing down the field, I spoke to Justin Mast, the founder of Bloomscape, an online nursery, and Erin Marino, brand director of The Sill, a director-to-consumer website that ships fully grown plants, to get their predictions. Generally speaking, on the come up are “colorful plants with hints of red and pink” as well as “brightly colored variegated foliage plants with white/cream colors,” Mast says. These plants are also decidedly more rugged and tree-looking than their more flowery and shrubby predecessors. Below are the four frontrunners for 2019’s most popular houseplant title, according to Marino and Mast. Photo: Yusuf Evli for Unsplash 1. The Janet Craig I love anything with two
5 easy habits to work into your morning routine for all-day healthy eating success
January 30, 2019 at 11:02AM by CWC Kimberly Synder, CN, is a celebrity nutritionist and New York Times best selling author, whose new book, Recipes For Your Perfectly Imperfect Life hits shelves (and Amazon) next month. One of the most sought-out experts for beauty nutrition, she’s a total pro when it comes to eating for radiant skin and optimal digestion. When I saw that part of Sophia Roe’s (Re)New Year game plan was mastering your morning, I wanted to reach through my computer and give her a giant hug. I could not agree more. I am in total agreement that if you start your morning off tuning into your body, you’re much more likely to make healthier decisions throughout the day. Look, I know mornings are crazy. You may wake up to work emails, a screaming kid, and a to-do list a mile long. I get it. That’s even more reason why in the precious time before your day is surrendered to everyone else, it’s so vital to do a few things for yourself. When you start taking care of yourself, you start feeling calmer, your anxiety starts to go down, your digestion functions better, your adrenals aren’t as stressed, your hormones are better regulated, and as a result your skin looks better. All of these things start to happen. That’s why it’s so important to reconnect with our bodies. (And no, you don’t have to wake up at an ungodly hour to make it happen.) Here are five simple
Yeah, yeah, burpees are the worst, and this celeb trainer agrees—here’s what to do instead
January 30, 2019 at 11:01AM by CWC If you’re looking to get your heart rate going, burpees will do the trick in seconds flat. The movement is part of any super-effective, super-sweaty workout, but let’s be real: no one likes them. I certainly don’t. You probably don’t either. We might pretend we do because of the #gains (or because we want to get on Kayla Itsines‘ level), but every single time my palms hit the floor, everything within my being begs for it all stop. Luckily, we’re not alone. Even one of the best celebrity trainers in the biz can’t stand ’em, which is why he’s more than glad to share a few burpee alternatives. Ben Bruno, who regularly works with Chelsea Handler and Kate Upton, recently shared an Instagram post entitled “Why I Don’t Like Burpees.” It’s not because they’re challenging, he says. Bruno doesn’t let his clients do burpees because, simply put, “the risk isn’t worth the reward.” (See? My sore muscles were trying to tell me something all along.) While they’re frequently recommend as an exercise for beginners, he says jumping straight into burpees—either as part of a group at a bootcamp class or at home—isn’t a good idea. View this post on Instagram I got 99 plans for 2019, but burpees ain’t one. A post shared by Ben Bruno (@benbrunotraining) on Dec 30, 2018 at 10:23am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js “Most people lack the requisite strength and mobility to do them properly at all, let alone for high reps, which is how
5 pieces of stellar career advice I learned from a cartoon Instagram account
January 30, 2019 at 10:50AM by CWC When people say they’re “building a career,” they’re only kind of speaking figuratively. Whether it’s shimmying up the corporate ladder or paving an entrepreneurial path, the work that goes into chasing fulfillment can take a toll that’s both physical (need. more. zzz’s.) and emotional. And good career advice can be hard to come by. Next time you find yourself shaking a fist while staring at your email inbox with venomous hatred, turn to the Instagram account @lizandmollie to help you realize that your work-life strife is totally relatable. Liz and Mollie, the brilliant minds behind the account, express the rollercoaster 9-to-5ers ride with every day. The cartoons’ messages are concise, but oh man, are they funny. As I was scrolling through the feed this morning, post after post made me think: “Same!” or “It me!” or “I feel seen.” Below, I’ve selected five that taught me lessons I really needed to hear: Liz and Mollie‘s most re-grammable pieces of career advice View this post on Instagram What kind do you give? What kind do you hate to receive? . . . #cookies #feedback #work #workweek #criticism #development #personalgrowth #cookiesofinstagram #foodporn #baking #business #consulting #office #theoffice #emotions #feelings #art #illustration #artistsoninstagram #artoftheday #drawing #entrepreneur A post shared by Liz and Mollie (@lizandmollie) on Jan 2, 2019 at 10:57am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js Lesson 1: Feedback styles are kind of like personality types Just as unlikely that all of your co-workers share simpatico Myers-Briggs personality types, preferred feedback styles will also
Amazon reviewers can’t get enough of these vitamin C serums, and I can’t blame ’em
January 30, 2019 at 10:41AM by CWC When building out the perfect skin-care regimen, everyone can pretty much agree on the fact that it requires a few key products: a face wash, a trusty moisturizer, a retinol, and—my personal fave—a vitamin C serum. Dermatologists and facialists both recommend incorporating C into your routine for several reasons: It’s brightening, it neutralizes free radicals, and it’s a nourishing, powerful antioxidant. So if you’re in the market to pick one up (or restock your beauty shelf), you’re undoubtedly faced with tons of options—all of which differ in concentrations, textures, and are blended with different ingredients, making this kind of a hard shopping decision. Alas: I’m here to help. After scouring Amazon, I’ve rounded up the top-rated vitamin C serums that have seriously glowing reviews. They’ve touched people’s lives, guys. The most favored of all—TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C Serum ($20)—is blended with hydrating hyaluronic acid, is cruelty-free, and has garnered over 8,100 five-star reviews (no joke). Take it from Nanine, who notes: “I have been using this for about 10 days and my age spots are already fading. Very excited to see what happens in a few more weeks.” Then there’s InstaNatural’s Vitamin C Serum ($17), which is revered for fading acne scars. “I have had deep acne scars for about 10 years and have tried every product out there trying to at least minimize their appearance,” writes Karen. “I have been using this vitamin C serum on my face, and in two months
Train your brain to naturally see the bright side—because chronic disappointment is exhausting
January 30, 2019 at 10:28AM by CWC You know that old maxim about being sad that roses have thorns versus being happy that thorns have roses? Of course you do, and hopefully your takeaway is that perspective totally matters. Virtually all of us experience stress and anxiety—and who can blame us, what with toxic work cultures, constant connectivity via smartphones and social media, and a depressing 24-hour news cycle? That said, the way you approach your circumstances most certainly impacts how you experience them. Put more simply, the way you think directly impacts the way you feel. Fortunately, the brain can be subtly shifted or even transformed through mental practices that work to rewire old, unhelpful structures and thought processes. As Rick Hanson, PhD, a neuropsychologist and meditation teacher, writes in Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, & Wisdom, “neurons that fire together, wire together.” What he means, basically, is that repeated mental activity (for example, meditating daily, reflecting on the things you feel grateful for, or holding positive thoughts in your mind for several extra seconds each time they arise) can create lasting changes in the architecture of your brain. This phenomenon, known as neuroplasticity, suggests that your brain is the ideal canvas on which to craft a perspective shift, moving you away from negativity bias and toward a positive mental attitude. What does it mean to have a positive mental attitude? Again, no one is denying the common experience of hardship. After all, avocados won’t always be ripe,