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Month: April 2019

2019 Health

Bethany C. Meyers wants you to embrace the whole journey to finding your identity

7 min read

April 05, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Bethany C. Meyers, LGBTQ+ activist and founder of inclusive fitness company b.cm, is learning how to embrace every step of their journey to finding their most authentic identity. In early March, Meyers posted an Instagram from when they were 19 years old, living in a small Missouri town, and not yet aware of being queer. In the caption, they shared a message with their former self: “Start exploring, educating, experiencing. Don’t be afraid to start living as your true self. Be less afraid of what people may think. Be honest about what you truly believe. Learn what truly makes you smile on the inside. And live. Because you have a really beautiful, free life ahead.” Below, in their own words, Meyers explains how to reach for the freedom that’s just on the other side of your preconceived notions of self. And how to value every aspect of the person you’ve been—and are still yet to become.  Below, Bethany C. Meyers reflects on the freedom gained from learning how to accept their whole journey. View this post on Instagram Yep that’s me. 19 years old. Summer before I moved to chicago. A cheerleader. Extra tan because I didn’t believe in sunscreen in those days, and yes, i can get dark. I would have never dreamed of short hair back then, even though only a few years later I chopped it all off for my first time. Not a clue I was queer, which is

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2019 Health Fashion

This woman is reframing the post-pregnancy body conversation—and we’re so here for it

6 min read

April 04, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Start Googling “post-pregnancy…” and the top suggestions for completing your search are belly, workout, and diet—i.e. all searches focusing on ways to change your body after having a baby. If you believe the internet, post-pregnancy body confidence is not a thing. But according to Lisa Ann Jersey—a Nevada-based stay-at-home mom who works part-time teaching life skills to newly released prison inmates (yeah, she’s a badass)—mothers should be feeling more self confident, not less, after pregnancy. She would know. She’s been fielding uncomfortable comments on her 48 DDD chest since she was a little girl, but having two little girls of her own is what finally helped her fully step into her confidence. “I tried really hard to wear my busty nature as a badge of honor.” “For quite some time—until I had children probably—I tried really hard to wear my busty nature as a badge of honor,” Jersey says. “I sort of linked it to my identity in a way.” Motherhood, though, has readjusted how she defines her identity and has helped her develop a deep sense of self love that isn’t dependent on what others have to say about her. To help you unearth that kind of self-esteem, we’re teaming up with Target to share the personal journeys of inspiring women and the better body-image lessons they’ve learned along the way. Keep reading for 4 powerful post-pregnancy body image truths that mothers and non-moms need to hear. 1. Tune out the haters

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2019 Health

This is what a week of workouts should look like if you want to optimize your gut health

5 min read

April 04, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Like your bestie who makes you laugh until you cry, you’d do anything for your gut. But even if you’re down to pop a probiotic in the morning, sip kombucha in the afternoon, and avoid certain inflammatory foods at dinner, you might be missing a major part of the all-day gut-health equation. Check out this stat: “A recent study, in which participants worked out for 30 minutes, three days a week, for six weeks straight, showed that many participants experienced an increase in certain microbes in the gut that help reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases as well as type II diabetes,” says Nora Minno, RD and Daily Burn trainer. The trick is, you need to do the right type of exercise to grab those endorphins with a side of gut-healthy benefits—otherwise you could actually end up hurting your microbiome situation more than helping it. Confused? To figure out where, exactly, the right exercise balance is, we teamed up with RenewLife®—makers of the cult-favorite women’s probiotic supplement—and asked two gut pros for simple strategies for optimizing your digestion with exercise. After all, keeping your gut happy and balanced (ahem, daily probiotics) helps you reap the feel-good benefits.  Keep reading for 3 tips for how to exercise for digestive health from gut health pros. Photo: Unsplash/Brooke Cagle 1. Opt for low intensity and low impact work If gut health is one of your top wellness goals or if you’re dealing with GI issues, mix easy-on-the-body modalities

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2019 Health Fashion Jewellery

The little-known Instagram tweak that’s basically a double-tap for your mental health

3 min read

April 04, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC In a definitive ranking of habits that most benefit my mental health, scrolling through Instagram would come in dead last. I can’t recall a time I actually felt joy post-appsturbation, and yet, the social media platform’s built-in activity monitor tells me I spend an average of 32 minutes each day idly liking handstand videos, quasi-inspirational quotes, and color-coordinated stacks of books. My digital relationship is far from perfect, but lately, I’ve found one small way to reclaim the habit for myself: interacting with the ads rather than swiping past them at warp speed. I know, I know—sounds bananas. But I have a thesis statement and everything, so please allow me to present my unofficial TED Talk about reclaiming targeted ads to bolster digital autonomy. By now, you’ve probably noticed that Instagram’s new M.O. involves placing an ad between every two or three posts on your feed. According to The New York Times, the platform first announced its plans to commercialize feeds back in 2015, but based on my personal non-scientific experience, the promos have hit an all time high in just the last few months. I mean, I can’t even read about my favorite foodstagramer’s buckwheat waffle recipe without also having earrings, a crystal-shaped water bottle, and hair-growth vitamins clogging up my scroll. So a few week’s ago, when Instagram’s algorithm dared to slide a $1200 gym bag (something I personally have never dreamed of affording) into my social check-in, I decided on

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2019 Health

Avocado’s health benefits make them well-worth the hype, says this top dietitian

3 min read

April 04, 2019 at 02:55PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5D6Xr1gg7c] There are only three things absolutely certain in life: death, taxes, and the fact that everyone will always love avocados. The beloved healthy fruit, for better or for worse, has even moved off our plates to make its mark on pop culture as wall art, athleisure, and pool floats. But nutrition-wise, are avocados really worthy of the over-the-top praise and devotion we give them? That’s the question registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, tackles in the inaugural episode of Well+Good’s new YouTube series, You Versus Food. The goal? To give a no-B.S. nutritional breakdown on the most popular food and drink trends. Because let’s face it: Between adaptogens, collagen, and whatever the latest trendy eating plan is, living your healthiest life can get pretty baffling. So, for those of us who are forgoing mortgages in favor of more avo toast, here’s what you need to know about the beloved fruit. What exactly are the benefits of avocados? A “fun” fact: the proper serving size of an avocado is actually 1/3 of the fruit. Which doesn’t sound like much, TBH. But that small portion actually contains a lot of nutrients, per the USDA: Calories: 80 Fat: 7 grams Protein: 1 gram Carbohydrates: 4 grams Sugar: 0.3 grams Fiber: 3 grams Beyond the nutritional breakdown, avocados have a ton of benefits for you health. The short list: 1. They’re high in healthy fats. Specifically, monounsaturated fats, Beckerman says. “Research has shown that eating an avocado can actually improve your cholesterol,”

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