April 23, 2019 at 09:01AM by CWC “Any specific detail in a dream is not random,” certified dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg tells me on a phone call. To be clear, that means that anytime you’ve woken up certain that your dreams involved sexy times, chasing a giant slice of avocado toast up the stairs of the Eiffel Tower, or reliving a scarring memory from middle school, it wasn’t a a random coincidence. Loewenberg says that each dream contains one or more key takeaways for waking life. There are millions of permutations for somnolent occurrences. Of the 75,000 dreams Loewenberg has studied in her career, she says that seven arise most commonly among clients. “Your dreams are like your second brain. They’re always on alert, they’re always paying attention,” explains Loewenberg. “The things we ignore during the day rise to the surface at night when we’re dreaming and try to talk to us. To give us information about what’s happening in our lives.” Ready to listen? Here’s the deal with common dream meanings: the good, the bad, and the just plain wacky. Ready to hear the 7 most common dream meanings? Photo: Getty Images/Hero Images 1. If you’re falling in dream, you feel let down IRL. You can take these types of dreams literally. “This sort of dream is connected to having some kind of let down in real life,” says the dream psychologist. “Someone [or something] let you down.” If you’re merrily walking across a sun-soaked beach and a black
Month: April 2019
Why you should count reps like you’re working out on New Year’s Eve
April 23, 2019 at 08:12AM by CWC Whether you’re doing ab exercises on the mat or lifting weights at the gym, there’s no getting around counting reps. It’s just part of the process. But that doesn’t mean those high numbers aren’t daunting. If you’re ever left wondering how the heck you’re going to finish 50 bicycle crunches when you’re already drained at 18, maybe all it takes is thinking differently about counting reps to give you a jolt. The next time you’re counting reps, do yourself a favor—instead of counting up, count down. Think about it. Basically any exciting thing that ever happens in life comes with a countdown—countdown to shuttles launching into space, countdown on New Year’s Eve, countdown to your birthday, and so on and so forth. Apply that same energy to your workouts provides you with some mental relief and the feeling of accomplishment. You can always count higher, but once you reach zero, you know you’re finished. (Unless you’re into doing a negative number of burpees, of course.) It might feel a little silly counting down celebration-style with each exercise, but it definitely gets the job done. If you’re working out in a public setting, you might want to consider counting reps in your head unless you want some extra attention when you hit “ZERO!” Here’s how getting new workout clothes can help motivate you to hit the gym. And blastings this playlist of upbeat songs that’s bound to give you a boost. Continue Reading… Author
Yes, you can be keto AND eat chocolate cookies with this extremely easy recipe
April 23, 2019 at 08:06AM by CWC Photo: Fair Winds Two words that traditionally don’t go together: “keto” and “dessert.” Given the fact that just one serving of some fruits (although not all; TY, apricots!) can put a person over their daily carb count, it seems natural to assume that the strict eating plan isn’t exactly dessert-friendly. Wrong. The Keto For One Cookbook author Dana Carpender is here to tell you that being keto doesn’t mean saying bye to your sweet tooth. It just means doing a little experimentation. “Once you’re clear on the ingredients that work, it’s a matter of balancing something a little too high in carbs and low in fat, like cocoa powder, with something very low in carbs and high in fat, like coconut,” she says. As for adding sugary sweetness (you know, without actual sugar), Carpender says she turns to natural low-sugar sweeteners. “I keep stevia extract on hand, plain, of course, but also in a wide array of flavors: chocolate, vanilla, English toffee, lemon, orange, and hazelnut,” she says. For baking, she also likes erythritol-monk fruit blends, which she says add a bit of a sugar-like texture along with sweetness (but with no actual sugar or carbs). One recipe to try right now: Carpender’s chocolate peanut-butter no-bake cookies. They only have six ingredients, take just a few minutes to whip up, and are full of healthy fats. Get the recipe below. Chocolate peanut-butter no-bake cookies Ingredients: 2 Tbsp natural peanut butter, chunky or smooth 2
Docs say there’s one surefire sign it’s definitely time to go to therapy
April 23, 2019 at 08:01AM by CWC While making an appointment with your primary-care physician is a no-brainer when you’re not feeling well, deciding to go to therapy, especially for the first time, can feel like a big step, especially if you typically work through personal and emotional issues on your own or by talking them through with friends and family. But sometimes, going at it alone or even calling in opinions of loved ones isn’t enough to resolve the issues completely. Sometimes, a specially trained, neutral third-party source may just be, well, what the doctor ordered. But even if you wonder whether you might benefit (or even really need) therapy, psychologist Simon Rego, PsyD, says many waffle about actually scheduling an appointment. Here’s the thing: Mental-health experts say that if you think you might need therapy, you probably do. “If you have an inclination to see a therapist, it’s a good idea to give it a try,” says psychologist Paul Coleman, PsyD. “If you have an inclination to see a therapist, it’s a good idea to give it a try.” —psychologist Paul Coleman, PsyD And psychiatrist Cecilia Livesey, MD, agrees, adding that it’s been shown to be an effective method that poses few downsides: “Therapy is also a chance to have a healthy, non-judgmental, trusting relationship with someone who is completely focused on helping you understand yourself and realize your goals. In today’s busy world, it can feel like an oasis.” Instead of wondering whether you’d benefit from therapy,
5 easy-to-digest dinners to help you drift off to sleep without late-night bloat
April 23, 2019 at 07:52AM by CWC There are some celebrities—regardless of gender—that really make you think: Man, what do they eat?! Chances are, this is one (of many) thoughts that will run through your head when you take a look at Chris Hemsworth. Australian news site Nine got the low-down on what the Avengers: Endgame star uses for fuel straight from his chef, food expert Sergio Perera. While he says Hemsworth isn’t exactly a picky eater, there are a few rules he follows using easy-to-digest-foods. “Always aim for wholesome and nutrient-dense foods; always fresh and bright,” says Perera. “Limit the use of boxed and processed foods.” (The exceptions are high-quality protein powders and supplements.) Perera also has some specific recommendations for recipes on nights when you get home late (you know, after a long day of fighting bad guys). You want to satisfy your grumbling stomach, but you don’t want to be up all night digesting your meal. So what does he recommend on these nights? Seafood. “I feel that for night time, easier proteins such as seafood is much better to process and assimilate before going to bed,” he says, specifically calling out salmon, trout, sardines, mackerel, shrimp, scallops squid, and mussels. (Not-so-surprising fun fact: Perera is from Spain, in the Mediterranean region.) 5 seafood dinners using easy-to-digest foods Photo: The Iron You 1. Easy ginger, chili, and lemon salmon As Perera points out, when eating a late night meal, making something that’s easy on your digestive system
Can’t touch your toes? These 8 flexibility moves will get you there
April 23, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC Remember being a kid, and sitting in a straddle while watching TV, or just being able to bend over and tie your shoes without wincing a little? If those fleeting memories of flawless flexibility feel like a lifetime ago, it’s time to reclaim your flexibility. “Flexibility is imperative to the overall functioning of our bodies and our lives,” says Bethany Lyons, founder and CEO of Lyons Den Power Yoga. “If you want to be able to stand up straight and maintain good spinal function and posture, your quadriceps, hip flexors, and hamstrings must be able to move enough to be able to accommodate this. And if you want to be able to pick up your kids, your groceries, or anything that drops on the floor, you need to have the functional flexibility to be able to do so.” Most people associate flexibility with yogis, dancers, or gymnasts—and power to them all—but flexibility is about more than being bendy. By stretching just a little bit a day, even if you have super tight muscles and think you’re not good at stretching, you’ll improve your posture and range of motion, and will decrease your chances of injury. 8 moves to loosen up your hamstrings, quadriceps, and hip flexors. https://content.jwplatform.com/players/np12lrKz-dUl83MEz.js 1. Downward dog with across stretch Start in downward-facing dog, with the hands shoulder-width distance apart, the toes tucked, and the hips back and lifted. Hold for five full breaths, then take the right hand across
If you’re sore all the time, chances are you’re overtraining—here’s how to fix that
April 23, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC “You’re overtraining,” was the first thing celebrity fitness trainer Harley Pasternak (who’s worked with Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Rihanna) told me upon meeting him. It’s not because I’m super ripped or anything, but after explaining my current workout regimen to him, he shook his head, and told me to cool it. What was the grand clue? I wake up every single day and am sore. “Prolonged muscle soreness is a big warning of overtraining,” says Pasternak, who personally does strength training three days a week supplemented with walking everywhere. “Resistance exercise is like taking antibiotics. You need a specific dose, for a specific duration, at a specific intensity. So if the doctor says take one for the next ten days, and you try taking two a day for five days to work faster, it’s not going to.” “If you tear the muscles and then 48 hours later tear them again (and again), you create macro tears.” —Harley Pasternak So, yeah—I’m not looking to sabotage all this hard work I’m putting into in my fitness game. Not only that, but overtraining can even potentially lead to injury. “Strength training and plyometric are designed to challenge a muscle and muscle groups enough where you overload it,” says Pasternak. “When you overload, you’re tearing the fibers—which is a good thing. They’re mico-tears, and when they heal, they heal stronger than before. But if you tear the muscles and then 48 hours later tear them again,
Here’s Why Workplace Health & Wellness Programs Are Still Valuable
April 23, 2019 at 03:25AM Studies say company health initiatives are ineffective. Here’s why they might be wrong. Continue Reading… Author Kelly Gonsalves | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
This Creamy Alternative Milk Is Protein-Packed, Mineral-Rich & Nut-Free
April 23, 2019 at 03:05AM Everything you need to know about hemp milk, including its health benefits, healthy fat content, and how to make your own. Continue Reading… Author Gretchen Lidicker | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
The Hormone-Balancing Breakfast This Integrative Doctor Swears By
April 23, 2019 at 02:30AM Keep your energy, mood, and clarity on point. Continue Reading… Author Taz Bhatia, M.D. | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue