March 04, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC Intuitive eating—the idea that you eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full, and make food decisions based on what your body needs at the time—is old hat by now. But despite making total sense when it comes to our plates, the philosophy behind it is equally appealing when applied to our workout plans. Meaning that: It’s time to get on board with intuitive exercise. After all, why do we force ourselves to go to HIIT class on days when we’d much rather be doing yoga. And, at the opposite end of the spectrum, why do we often lay in bed for those 15 extra minutes despite knowing that we’ll miss our sweat sesh, which feels so good once it’s in the bag. Kick those fraught exercise decisions to the curb and open your mind to the idea of intuitive exercising. “Intuitive exercise is what I like to call joyful movement,” explains personal trainer Jen Elliott. “It means moving in a way that supports the body, and actually enjoying what you’re doing for your body.” Here, we reached out to the experts to figure out exactly what intuitive exercising is, how to incorporate it into your life, and the amazing benefits that await you when you finally master it. What is intuitive exercise? Intuitive exercising means listening to your body and understanding what it needs that day. “I think we get caught up in these ‘rules’ of this much cardio, this much strength
Month: March 2019
Halle Berry used Bulgarian bags to work out, so I used Bulgarian bags to work out
March 04, 2019 at 09:59AM by CWC If you spotted Halle Berry working out with a heavy black bag wrapped around her shoulders on Instagram, you may have wondered what in the world she’s doing. Unlike kettlebells and dumbbells, the crescent-shaped piece of equipment definitely isn’t something you see every day. But a Bulgarian bag workout has been a top training tool for wrestlers and Olympic athletes for years. And if Berry has anything to do with it, you might consider Bulgarian bags integrated into your next workout. “Peter [Thomas] recently introduced me to Bulgarian bags and I’m hooked,” Berry wrote on Instagram. “We’ve used these bags for strength training, cardio, plyometrics—you name it.” Originally created by a wrestling coach as a way for his team to build up their strength, each Bulgarian bag is filled with sand weighing up to 50 pounds. And because of the shape and different handle options, they’re incredibly versatile. Basically, even a quickie session with a Bulgarian bag is going to leave you pleasantly sore. It’s something that can work your entire body as you’re swinging and carrying it around. If you want to try it out for yourself, you can grab one on Amazon (you just need to fill it with sand yourself) or DIY one on the cheap with an inner tube, duct tape, and some aquarium rock or rubber mulch. When you’re ready to sweat, start with a few of the exercises Berry’s trainer, Peter Lee Thomas, did with her: squats, lateral lunges, and rotational swings.
A massage therapist explains why your stomach makes weird noises during treatments
March 04, 2019 at 09:14AM by CWC One of the best parts of getting a massage (aside from, you know, the actual massage) is unwinding and letting your worries dissolve into the ether. So the most recent time I treated myself to one, I slipped out of my clothes and onto the table, laying my head down with an exciting anticipation for my hour of relaxation. And then things got awkward. As in: My stomach would not shut up. Seriously—like clockwork, just when things got quiet and the massage therapist started on my back, my gut began to make embarrassing noises that almost even sounded like I was passing gas. Ugh. I found out it’s a thing, though, that no one tells you about getting massages: They can make your tummy chatty. Like, aggressively chatty and loud. Instead of spending the rest of your session contemplating if you should apologize, Ericka Clinton, BS, LMT, and dean of massage therapy at the Swedish Institute says you should just relax—because it happens to nearly everyone. “When I hear the belly rumbling, I smile because I think I’m doing my job,” says Clinton. “As well-trained massage therapists, we’re prepared for anything, and we know that once you get relaxed you may have digestive processes occurring—belly rumbling, gas—that will happen.” “As well-trained massage therapists, we’re prepared for anything, and we know that once you get relaxed you may have digestive processes—belly rumbling, gas—that will happen.” —Ericka Clinton Essentially, it’s because all of that pressure
Trader Joe’s Is In The Midst Of An Important Makeover
March 04, 2019 at 08:58AM And all eco-friendly shoppers will love it. Continue Reading… Author Emma Loewe | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Orangetheory just teased a major partnership “that rhymes with Snapple”
March 04, 2019 at 08:48AM by CWC It’s the few months since Orangetheory rolled out a slew of amazing tech upgrades, the fitness brand has shown no signs of slowing down. Chief brand officer Kevin Keith hinted at more big things to come at the Association of National Advertisers’ Brand Masters conference last week, according to Business Insider. “We are actually rolling out, later this year, some new partnerships that rhyme with ‘Snapple,’” Keith reportedly said. What does this mean exactly? Will Apple technology be integrated into the treadmills and rowers? Maybe playlists curated for maximum fat burning will soon be available on Apple Music? What could it be? Hint no. 2: It’s all in the wrist. “A third of our members have Apple watches,” Keith told the crowd. “Now, we’re going to go legit, and we’re also really elevate the experience.” Based on this, it sounds like the OT heart rate monitors will soon be integrated right into the smart watches. While Orangetheory has been vocal in the past about chest straps giving a more accurate read than wrist wearables, the integration could make the classes appeal to people who might not want to spend extra money on a OT compatible heart rate monitor. Currently, Apple Watches are not compatible with the technology in the OrangeTheory studios, so the partnership would, in fact, be a game-changer for many. One thing’s for sure, this is one fitness brand that is only continuing to grow and innovate. Orangetheory has also expanded into
How to actually express yourself—because “I’m fine” just doesn’t cut it
March 04, 2019 at 08:46AM by CWC How often do you say “I’m fine!” when a friend asks how your day is going, even though you actually feel more like that meme of a dog sitting in the burning room (i.e., not fine)? Certainly not never, right? At first blush, it can feel easier to hold back rather than learn how to express yourself and wade into the waters of speaking your truth. A large reason for this is because expressing yourself can require a lot of courage: The pursuit tasks you with harnessing your vulnerability to share your needs, feelings, and desires with others. Still, it’s a crucial skill to master since clearly communicating what we want is what gets us on the same wavelength as others and quells misunderstandings. “People who express themselves are open about their emotions in a way that people can hear them,” says psychotherapist and author Emily Roberts, who specializes in, well, speaking up and expressing yourself. But recognizing your emotions and learning to articulate them not only makes relationships more fulfilling, but it also contributes to a healthy, self-assured relationship with yourself, she says. “Holding back what you’re feeling actually has a huge impact on your physical and emotional health.” And to be clear, that impact is rarely positive. Suppressing emotions for any number of reasons (and there are plenty) can increase stress levels and intensify negative feelings. By letting your thoughts free into the world, whether by speaking, writing, drawing them out, or some
10 vegan shoe brands with the best cruelty-free kicks
March 04, 2019 at 08:34AM by CWC Whether you live a cruelty-free lifestyle or want to make a few small changes with the planet in mind, vegan shoe brands are a great place to start in the wardrobe department. Going beyond cool sneakers and slip-on sandals (brands like Birkenstock and Vans have been making vegan styles for years), myriad labels are popping up and delivering on non-granola styles. “It’s so wonderful that consumers are demanding stylish, ethical, and sustainable shoe options because there are so many great choices now,” says Rachael Wang, a stylist and brand consultant who recently transitioned to a cruelty-free wardrobe. “The vegan Birkenstock Arizona is one of the first shoes I leaned heavily on when I first transitioned to a cruelty-free wardrobe,” she shares. Over a year later, the fashion insider has discovered a few new favorites: “I love Rafa for their sassy-heeled sandals in fun colors, which are equally great with worn out Levi’s or a sweet sundress. Sydney Brown makes great ‘work’ shoes [that are] stylish but polished and comfortable—I especially love their mules. Matt & Nat makes my favorite vegan boots.” A life-long fan of Dr. Martens (the brand has a super solid vegan selection), Wang forecasts the label as an ethical front-runner for 2019. “I rotate between the six-eyelet matte black low top, the 16-eyelet combat boot and the pull tab Chelsea boot (which will be big for fall if Celine-alum Daniel Lee’s first runway collection at Bottega Veneta is any indication).”
What causes those weird white spots on your nails? We asked the experts
March 04, 2019 at 07:58AM by CWC You know what’s annoying? White marks on your nails once you’ve finally given them a breather from all those pretty polishes. A quick dive down the Google rabbit hole can result in some pretty scary stuff. But those white marks on your nails are probably caused by leukonychia, also known as milk spots. Such discoloration requires a rather unremarkable explanation. Leukonychia is commonly caused by a simple trauma or injury to the nail base, something that you probably don’t even remember doing. “The white marks on nails can make people worry, but they’re most likely the cause of white marks is minor injury, such as being bumped or bitten or knocked on something accidentally,” says Amy Ling Lin, founder of Sundays, a New York City-based non-toxic nail salon. According to dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, MD, the marks can also be caused by a reaction to nail polish, acrylic nails, or a simple manicure if your cuticles are pushed back too hard at the nail salon. What most people don’t realize is that you might not even notice the marks until a month or so after the injury occurs. Luckily, they’ll eventually go away—even if it takes a little longer than you’d like. “It’s important to note that it may take 3 to 6 months for these spots to grow out,” he says. Although minor trauma is the most common cause of the white spots, there are some health problems that could be responsible as well. “Infections—such as fungal
I went to a sexting coach, and now I feel like an erotica author whenever inspiration strikes
March 04, 2019 at 07:12AM by CWC If there’s anything better than enjoying pristinely white sneakers, a perfectly ripe avocado, or pajamas that are just-got-out-of-the-dryer warm, it’s gotta be receiving an expertly crafted NSFW message from someone you’d like to, have been, or plan to take to bed. Sexts hold the power to take me from zero to hero in a split second (read: aroused hero). Yet even as someone who’s been in the sexting game since the days of Motorola RAZR phones, sometimes I still feel like my messages are less so akin to a bona fide erotica author than they are an immature kid giggling at dirty words. So naturally, when Brianna Rader, founder and CEO of sex and relationship coaching app Juicebox, introduced me to to her app—explaining that the platform’s sexperts offer coaching on nitty-gritty—I was intrigued. Could I learn to sext like true arteest? Rader suggested I try. So through the app, I connected with intimacy coach Stella Harris, author of Tongue Tied: Untangling Communication in Sex, Kink, and Relationships, who gave me some blush-worthy actionable tips in the art of sexting. Check out five things I learned below. (Spoiler: I now feel like I unlocked the power to turn on some nonexistent filthy filter whenever I pick up my phone and sexy inspiration strikes.) 5 tips to sext like an erotica author 1. Give the recipient a heads-up before sending a sext Let’s clear up any confusion: You need to ask for consent before sending a sext or
15 upcycled clothing ideas you’ll actually want to wear
March 04, 2019 at 07:10AM by CWC Viewed from the outside, the fast-paced fashion industry appears to be all glitz and glam. There’s a new trend to jump on every day, and that means store shelves are constantly being restocked with plenty of tantalizing new looks. Unfortunately, it’s not so shiny behind the scenes. By keeping an eye on what you wear and the environment, learning how to upcycle clothes allows you to showcase your style and keep up with the latest trends without hurting the planet. Upcycling creatively transforms the products you already own in order to cut down on waste. It’s nothing new, but with global warming threatening the future, there’s no better time to start doing it yourself. Creating a more sustainable closet requires little more than a few pieces of clothing you already own. A cozy old sweater can quickly be updated with a little imagination. Those jeans you haven’t worn in years are just begging to be transformed into a cute pair of shorts or a denim skirt. A smattering of creativity can revive your tired wardrobe. Plastic and material waste is a problem that plagues a variety of industries—and retail is no exception. More than 75 percent of the plastic produced in 2015 ended up in a landfills and more than 270 million tons pollute the world’s oceans. In the same year, the fashion industry was responsible for 92 million tons of waste sent to landfills. That’s just the beginning of the negative impact it has on the environment, though. Past studies