February 12, 2019 at 01:42PM by CWC I’m a huge fan of resistance bands. They’re light as air, making it easy to take them anywhere, yet they make your muscles burn as if you were lifting heavy weights. Awesome, huh? While there are plenty of different exercises you can do with them, there’s one in particular that really sets my core on fire. World-class high jumper Bogdan Bondarenko is always sharing the tricks he uses to stay gold-medal fit. (His weighted jump squats are all sorts of difficult.) His amped-up bicycle crunches is a move best represented by a visual of all the fire emojis. Instead of turning your body side to side per usual, you stay flat on your back with your arms straight above you with a resistance band around your hands, and another resistance band around your feet. View this post on Instagram Upper back & Shoulders + Legs & Core exercise with resistance band. Упражнение для разминки верха спины и плечей + ноги и кор с резиной. A post shared by Bogdan Bondarenko (@bondarenkobv) on Feb 8, 2019 at 6:39am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js As you hold the resistance band tight between your hands, take turns bringing your knees in toward your chest, working against the resistance as you extend and lower your legs until they’re about an inch off the floor. You’ll quickly feel all your muscles fire up—especially your upper back, shoulders, legs, and core, notes Bondarenko. And after a few rounds of the exercise, it’ll be pretty clear why this guy
Day: February 12, 2019
“I bully my skin for not being perfect even when it does so much to keep me healthy”
February 12, 2019 at 01:27PM by CWC Before I sit down at my desk each morning, I’ve already checked off a lengthy wellness checklist. I wake up early to meditate, write, exercise, and journal. But the thing I do even before all that—my pre-morning ritual, if you will—might be the least mentally healthy part of my day. Before my eyes are even open, I reach my hands up to my face to run my fingertips over any new acne that’s bloomed overnight. I’m not even fully awake, and yet I’m already sizing up how “pretty” I’ll feel for the rest of the day. I’m creating expectations for what I’ll see when I peer into the mirror. For far too long, I’ve considered my acne a total failure on the part of my body’s largest organ. Like, “Hey, you had one job! To be clear.” But recently, a dermatologist reminded me that even though so much of the narrative around skin is that it should be blemish-free, the organ serves functions apart from replicating every airbrushed magazine ad ever. “It’s got metabolic function, it’s how you produce your Vitamin D, it’s got immune functions,” says London-based dermatologist Anjali Mahto on a recent episode of the Deliciously Ella podcast. “Our skin is such an important organ.” I know, all of this should come with a great big “duh” on the end of it. Of course my complexion has roles that go far beyond aesthetic. But when a huge crop of cystic acne is glaring at me in the mirror,
The 5-4-3-2-1 workout technique makes exercising a breeze—promise!
February 12, 2019 at 01:20PM by CWC When I first discovered treadmill interval training, I had a hallelujah moment. Breaking up my workout into bite-sized chunks felt so much more approachable than forcing myself to commit to one pace for 30 plus minutes. It made the whole business of going to the gym feel more like a game than a chore. And recently, I’ve found an even more effective way to make my sweat sessions whizz by: the 5-4-3-2-1 method. If you haven’t heard of “fartlek,” get ready to rethink the way you work out. Before I get into the nitty-gritty of how to structure a workout, more generally it involves applying the “eat the frog” mentality to your workout. You start out with longer intervals and work your way down time-wise (5 minutes, 5 minutes; 4 minutes, 4 minutes; 3 minutes, 3 minutes; 2 minutes, 2 minutes; 1 minute,1 minute), while increasing the speed of your threshold intervals. While you’re exerting more effort by the end, the time feels like it’s flying as fast as your feet. According to Corinne Fitzgerald, head coach at New York’s Mile High Run Club, applying this type of approach to a treadmill session is known as fartlek, the Swedish word for speed play. “The idea that you’re going fast, then recovering, then going fast for a certain amount of time,” she tells me. “When you have a block of recovery time that you’re working toward, it kind of helps you mentally. You know that there’s a
Ben & Jerry’s Just Released A Vegan Version Of Their Most Popular Flavor & We’ve Got The Whole Scoop
February 12, 2019 at 01:12PM The ice cream giant adds two new plant-based pints to their arsenal. Continue Reading… Author Elizabeth Gerson | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
California’s super bloom is too pretty for words—so here are 29 photos of it
February 12, 2019 at 12:37PM by CWC Raise your hand if you’re sick of winter. Recent months have brought about some of the coldest temperatures on record, not to mention devastating ice storms and ferocious blizzards. And unfortunately the snow doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. But there is a light at the end of this winter tunnel. As much of the country shovels the driveway, Southern California is gearing up for the super bloom. California is experiencing a winter of above-average precipitation with nearly 13 inches of rain since October—a whopping 167 percent more than the average. As a result, the Anza-Borrego Desert, located about 80 miles east of San Diego, is poised to burst with fields of poppies, lupines, and lilies as far as the eye can see. The last so-called “super bloom” splashed California with color in 2017. The California Department of Parks and Recreation reports the desert is already starting to bloom. More vibrant wildflowers are expected to show up in late February and early March, but you can get up-to-the-minute information via the Wildflower Hotline (760-767-4684). No matter where you are in the world, take in the beauty of California’s past super blooms with these 29 gorgeous photos. No captions needed. The Super Bloom in Southern California 1/29 Other ways to beat the winter blues? Book a flight to one of these winter vacation spots, or head to Canada for this cool winter travel destination. Continue Reading… Author Tehrene Firman | Well and Good Selected by iversue
This Snail’s Venom May Restore Unhealthy Blood Sugar Levels
February 12, 2019 at 12:45PM Here’s what you need to know. Continue Reading… Author Caroline Muggia | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Everyone’s Googling the best moisturizers for acneic skin and we’re answering the call
February 12, 2019 at 12:18PM by CWC When you’ve got acne, it can be frustratingly tricky trying to figure out what moisturizer you’re supposed to use. You don’t want to make your skin oily, because, breakouts. But you also don’t want to let it get too dry, because… breakouts. So your relationship status with the product would best be filed under, “it’s complicated.” As any dermatologist will tell you, though, you do need to be using moisturizer when pimples start popping up—especially during the cold, winter months when dry weather can make flare-ups even worse. So your best bet, then, is to find a moisturizer that works double duty by implementing one of the best-in-the-business acne fighting ingredients: salicylic acid. The beta-hydroxy acid is a staple in most acne-related skin care and removes dead skin cells while penetrating pores, unclogging them of any gunk. “BHAs encourage exfoliation, helping to prevent and treat blocked pores, and also may help diminish some types of superficial hyperpigmentation,” explains David Lortscher, MD, dermatologist and founder of Curology. “Salicylic acid is best for oily skin types. It works by penetrating and dislodging the gunk (sebum) in your pores, so that it’s no longer trapped — resulting in a lower chance of triggering an acne breakout.” When you combine salicylic with a moisturizer, you’re essentially chemically exfoliating your skin while also giving it the hydration it needs to avoid—you guessed it—breakouts. “Salicyclic acid moisturizers are a great tool to have in your acne toolbox,” adds Austin-based dermatologist Ted
Meet the ultimate self-love-inspiring Valentine’s Day queen: Ariana Grande
February 12, 2019 at 11:52AM by CWC After a seriously tumultuous 2018, Ariana Grande is basically a phoenix emerging from flames. She lost her ex Mac Miller to overdose and called off her whirlwind engagement to Pete Davidson, but she never stopped pushing out empowering bops like it’s her job (which, uh, I guess it is). That’s why this Valentine’s Day, there’s nobody better to look up to than the “thank u, next” singer, who’s basically the walking embodiment of self love. Here are some great, Grande-approved ways to be your own Valentine in 2019. Be so grateful for your ex (or at least learn from the pain) In reality, moving on from someone isn’t as simple as “thank u, next.” I have trouble with it every day, and I’m not even at war with any of my past flings. I mean, okay, some can definitely go to hell, but I rationally understand there’s a good reason why I’m not with any of them. And since that truth is steadfast, I can find some gratitude for my exes’ roles in our relationships ending—none of them were meant to be my destiny. If gratitude is out of your grasp, maybe look more to the “one taught me love, one taught me patience, and one taught me pain” side of things. Even if more of your situations lean toward “pain,” every relationship is a learning experience and opportunity for growth. Try this Ari-inspired exercise when you examine a failed relationship: Pause and ask yourself,
Why Hannah Bronfman swears by dandelion root for an energizing kick in the a.m.
February 12, 2019 at 10:57AM by CWC When I finally got my hands on a copy of wellness maven Hannah Bronfman’s new book Do What Feels Good, one of the first things I noticed is that there are four whole pages dedicated to dandelion root. The DJ apparently mixes it with MCT oil in her morning coffee, guzzles it in tea form, and even supercharges it with a twist of lemon and ginger. So what gives? Why does the wildflower—which let’s be real here, normally only has value as an unreliable wish-granter—earn a spot in Bronfman’s morning routine? “It’s just one of these roots that gives you energy, has great fiber, and is overall just a great alternative for someone who wants to have some energy and some good flavor, but doesn’t necessarily drink coffee or who is looking to wean themselves off coffee,” says the HBFit founder. Sonya Angelone, RDN, agrees that dandelion root is pretty legit thanks to its digestive benefits (ahem, helps you poop). “Dandelion roots are rich in inulin, a carbohydrate which also acts as a prebiotic, a soluble fiber that feeds healthy gut bacteria. Because of the high fiber content, it can help relieve constipation—with adequate water, of course—by increasing the bulk of your stool and making it easier to pass.” And the fiber isn’t the only dandelion root benefit. The ingredient has been a staple of Eastern medicine for years, with proponents claiming it can help release toxins from the liver and reduce inflammation. The root
There are 51 million ASMR videos on YouTube, but these 9 will help you fall asleep fast
February 12, 2019 at 10:34AM by CWC There are so many different ways to get better sleep and to fall asleep faster—melatonin supplements, weighted blankets, the U.S. Army’s technique—but finding the one that works for you isn’t always easy. One trick you might not have considered is using ASMR to help you sleep. You’re probably thinking, “Wait, isn’t ASMR those YouTube videos that involve veggie-crunching and lip-smacking?” Why, yes—yes, it is. But it’s so much more than the sound of pickles being eaten way too close to a microphone. There are plenty of ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) videos to choose from online and the tingling sensations it causes might help you to finally get some quality shut-eye. According to the National Sleep Foundation, watching videos that feature quiet, calming sounds, like tapping of fingers or soft speaking, can help trigger a feeling of relaxation when you’re ready to sleep. We combed through millions of videos to select just nine of the very best that use ASMR to help you sleep. You’ll pass out like a baby tonight. The next time you’re feeling restless, use ASMR to help you sleep [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSiZe6-MCpg] 1. ASMR Darling It’s impossible not to fall asleep while listening to more than an hour of tingly triggers, including glass tapping, drawing, and even using a spray bottle. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CGu_D8d87I] 2. WhispersRed ASMR Where’s a better place to get some shut-eye than a sleep clinic? This nine-hour role play video makes you feel comforted and relaxed while you doze off. [youtube