May 08, 2019 at 02:35PM by CWC When I went into Pilates pro Erika Bloom‘s studio on New York City’s Upper East Side, she had me stand up so she could scan my body before we got started. Immediately, she pointed out that I lean into my right hip and also rely too much on my right quadriceps. AKA: My body’s uneven. It’s not uncommon for a body to be unbalanced or off centered. Actually, that’s why one side of your body feels stronger than other in certain classes like yoga or Pilates. “Most of us develop imbalances a we move through life,” Bloom tells me. “This can come from our environments, how we respond to stress, or from injury, imbalanced workouts, activities, or a plethora of other factors.” Now, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing: Bloom notes that the goal isn’t to be perfect—but balance is just a good thing to work on, so that you can “move with efficiency and ease,” she says. On another side of the coin though, one consequence of having one stronger side or being off-balance is that it can affect your posture, and as a result of that, potentially could lead to musculoskeletal issues. This all goes to say that paying attention to your midline in workouts is key to keep the strength on both sides of your body balanced. The importance of finding balance in your body “When our bodies are balanced there’s a healthy relationship between stability and mobility,” says Bloom. “Symmetrical
Day: May 8, 2019
We did the math, and Georgia’s 6-week abortion ban adds up to a dangerous situation for women
May 08, 2019 at 01:52PM by CWC On May 7, Georgia became the sixth state to sign a “six-week abortion” ban bill (scheduled to go into effect January 2020), barring women from getting abortions once the doctor can detect cardiac activity, something that usually happens at five to six weeks gestation. But we’ve crunched the numbers here, and things just don’t add up: Because at six weeks—or, to put it into perspective, two weeks after you realize you’ve missed your period—many women don’t yet know they’re pregnant. “It’s not only possible to miss a pregnancy at six weeks—it is very, very common,” says Gillian Dean, MD, senior director of medical services at Planned Parenthood, noting that “six weeks” refers to “six weeks LMP,” or after your last menstrual period. “If someone is six weeks after their last menstrual cycle and they have a 28-day menstrual cycle, that means they’re only two weeks late for their period. But what if you have a much longer cycle?” says Dr. Dean. In addition to that allegedly tell-tale late period (I’ll come back to that), early symptoms of pregnancy include nausea, exhaustion, mood swings, and breast tenderness, “all of which can be attributed to just about anything else,” says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an OB/GYN. Or, none of these things could happen at all. That’s the thing about pregnancies—they’re so radically different for everyone who experiences one. Starting with, as mentioned, your missed period. “Some women have erratic periods, and some women don’t keep
Pregnant? Eating This Food Can Help Your Child’s Brain Develop
May 08, 2019 at 12:02PM The results are actually nuts. Continue Reading… Author Ray Bass | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
The World’s First “Zero-Waste Flight” Just Landed In Australia
May 08, 2019 at 11:55AM Individually-wrapped Vegemite packs no longer welcome. Continue Reading… Author Emma Loewe | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
Everything you need to know about cholesterol in the year 2019
May 08, 2019 at 12:01PM by CWC In the nutrition world, few things get people more riled up (besides keto, that is) than the subject of dietary cholesterol. Is it good for you, is it bad, will it totally screw up your health if you eat it. And it doesn’t help that the science behind cholesterol itself is very complicated. At its most basic, “cholesterol in your blood is a fatty substance,” says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in the New York City area. While it’s long had a bad rep in the health community, cholesterol in moderate amounts is important for healthy cell growth, protecting your brain’s neurons, and producing hormones like estrogen. However, having high cholesterol levels puts you at risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular health issues—which is why it’s long been a health bugaboo. (Remember how we all hated eggs and butter for a while?) If you’ve ever been confused about the role that cholesterol plays in your diet (and your health), this one’s for you. Is cholesterol bad for you? Not necessarily. Again, your body needs some amount of cholesterol to function properly. There are two main types of cholesterol: HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein), Gorin says. LDLs carry cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body, while HDLs clean up cholesterol from the blood. “HDL is typically thought of as a ‘good’ cholesterol, and LDL as a ‘bad’ cholesterol, because HDL cholesterol prevents build-up
All of the best reef-safe sunscreens to keep you (and ocean life) protected all summer long
May 08, 2019 at 10:11AM by CWC Ah, summer: The season where you get to frolic on the beach and take carefree dips in the beloved saltwater (which is actually good for your skin, BTW). But with the UV indexes soaring and sunscreen application top of mind, there’s a major issue that’s casting a cloud over beach days: Some ingredients in sunscreens are harming the ocean. That’s exactly why you’ve been hearing everyone talk about reef-safe SPF right now, and why Hawaii recently became the first state to ban sunscreen filters that can harm coral reefs. Because what you wear when you’re taking a swim in the deep blue can actually have a huge impact on the ocean life. According to a study published in Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, the chemical sunscreen filter oxybenzone (which has also been linked to endocrine disruption) can harm or kill coral by damaging the DNA, and it only takes a tiny amount to wreak this environmental havoc. Another study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that both oxybenzone and octinoxate (another sunscreen ingredient that’s used as a UVB filter in chemical-blocking sunscreens) lead to coral bleaching when they wash off into the ocean. To keep ocean life happy, the key is to find an SPF that uses physical UVA and UVB filters (as opposed to the chemical ones that have been connected to coral reef deterioration). You’ll be able to find them by flipping the SPF tube over and looking for the active
The “Big Three” exercises you need to kiss lower back pain goodbye
May 08, 2019 at 10:06AM by CWC Once I’ve been sitting at my desk without moving for, oh, about five hours, my back starts to feel like it’s made of lead rather than bones, nerves, ligaments, and muscles. As every 9-5er knows, standing up, cracking your back, and performing some ’80s-style aerobic exercises for lower back pain all offer some temporary relief. But what you do at the gym matters, too, according to Stuart McGill, PhD, professor emeritus of spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. Years of research have led Dr. McGill to recommend the “big three” set of exercises for lower back pain (a trifecta, if you will) designed to stabilize the spine both during and after a workout. “True spine stability is achieved with a ‘balanced’ stiffening from the entire musculature, including the rectus abdominis and the abdominal wall, quadratus lumborum, latissimus dorsi and the back extensors of longissimus, iliocostalis and multifidus,” he tells Ace Fitness. As complicated as the physiology behind the moves may be, these exercises for lower back pain are probably already familiar to you. It’s easy to learn the three moves that form the backbone of maintaining a healthy spine. Kiss back pain goodbye with the “Big Three” exercises for lower back pain View this post on Instagram For those of you who get back pain provoked by sitting here is a couple videos from Dr.McGill himself.. the modified McGill curl up and planks from the Big 3. #backfitpro
If you’re going to remove a blackhead, this is how to do it
May 08, 2019 at 10:04AM by CWC When a stubborn blackhead is staring you in the face, and that pore strip you used has exhausted its efforts, don’t panic and try your best to mute the voice in your head telling you to pick at it. Thankfully, there is another way to get it out. First things first, assess the situation. Are we dealing with an actual blackhead here, or is it a sebaceous filament? “Sebum is usually a white-ish color, and when it gets exposed to oxygen for a period of time, it oxidizes and turns dark,” says New York City dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. In other words, they’re very clearly black in comparison to the sebum you’ll notice occupying the rest of your pores. Once you’ve identified the source, clean the area with your favorite face wash, arm yourself with a comedone extractor—we like the double-ended version from Sephora ($17)—and use either a warm compress or steam to help the blackhead surface. “Heat softens up the contents and dilates the pore opening, so applying a warm compress makes it easier to extract the blackhead,” explains Dr. Engelman. “Use alcohol to cleanse the tip of the comedone extractor, then gently apply pressure to the area.” Don’t drag or scrape the tool over your face, and remember the less-is-more mantra in terms of applying overall pressure. You certainly never want to do is bruise or damage the skin, which is highly possible if you’re pressing too hard and manipulating one
This $30 denim jacket is an Amazon best-seller with more than 500 five-star reviews
May 08, 2019 at 09:18AM by CWC Denim jacket weather is the best weather. Winter, summer, spring, or fall—throwing on the wardrobe staple instantly pulls together any look. Sure, you can wear it with a dress or even pair denim with denim. But one of my favorite ways to rock a denim jacket for women is with leggings and sneakers for a post-gym outfit that doesn’t scream “sweaty mess.” Your look will be on-point, even if your bun is still dripping wet. (Just me?) Denim jackets can get a little pricey. Most options will set you back somewhere between $100 and $500, depending on brand. But you can score a classic denim jacket on Amazon for $30. Should we be surprised that Riders by Lee Indigo Stretch Denim Jacket is an Amazon best-seller? Offered in five different colors—black, white, drenched (dark), falling star (light), and weathered (medium)—this chic denim jacket for women is made from a mix of cotton, polyester, rayon, and spandex. It’s ultra-comfy, with the perfect amount of stretch and softness. Reviewers also rave about the style. It’s fitted and flattering on all body types, with plenty of pockets for your phone, ear buds, credit cards, and whatever else you need while you’re going to and from class. (Not to mention it’ll be at your door in two days with Amazon Prime.) If you want to score the affordable denim jacket, hit that “buy” button before your favorite style sells out. Amazon’s best-selling denim jacket for women Buy
Think you could you pass the FBI’s fitness test? Here’s how to find out
May 08, 2019 at 08:35AM by CWC If your job description involves taking down terrorists, bank robbers, and other criminals, a certain level of physical fitness is definitely required. Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have to be ready to spring into action without warning. And passing the FBI fitness test is no easy task. As it happens, the FBI is looking to hire 1,000 special agents, so if you’re looking for an exciting career change, now’s your chance. Besides a four-year degree and two years of work experience, applicants must prove their ability to meet certain physical standards. And that means passing a physical fitness test. Here’s exactly what the FBI fitness test involves, according to the bureau’s website: Sit-ups: Maximum number of continuous sit-ups in one minute. Sprint: Timed 300-meter sprint. Push-ups: Maximum number of continuous push-ups (untimed). Run: Timed 1.5-mile run. Pull-ups: Maximum number of continuous pull-ups. Oh, and you have less than five minutes of rest time between each event. It’s like that physical fitness test you had to do in elementary school gym class, but way more intense. “A passing score requires a cumulative 12 points, with at least one point in each event,” reads the list of requirements. The test blends cardio with upper-body strength and core workouts and you can train yourself like a special agent with the FBI fitness test app, even if the only life you have to protect belongs to your cat. See how the FBI fitness test compares