July 08, 2019 at 01:54PM by CWC I got engaged at 26, married at 27, and filed for divorce by 31. The relationship was wrong for a number of reasons—I’ll save that for a later article—but one of the biggest points of contention was that my husband wanted to start trying for a baby and I simply wasn’t ready. I’d recently birthed my business baby, Ladies Get Paid, and the thought of having an actual child was enough to give me hives. (Seriously, it happened.) Even though it was my choice to end the marriage—and it’s a choice I was sure was right—the decision was accompanied by a wave uncertainty. There’s security in saying “not now” to kids when you have the safety net of a stable relationship, and I mourned the idea of the family we could’ve created. At the same time, my Facebook feed filled with photos and status updates of friends having babies, many of them their second. While I have no regrets about choosing to be child-free (for now), it doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes feel envious—or nervous. At 32 years old, I’m three years away from being considered “geriatric” in fertility terms, and recently, I started to feel anxious that my not-yet-conceived child might resent my elderly womb. ad_intervals[‘405803_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘405803_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Then, I was introduced to Extend Fertility, which is advertised as “the first service in the country to focus exclusively on women who want
Day: July 8, 2019
The 3 ways you should *never* stand, according to a physical therapist
July 08, 2019 at 12:38PM by CWC Justin Timberlake is to *NSYNC as sitting is to posture advice—as in, it’s the star of the show. We at Well+Good are always chatting about how slouchy we are when sitting at our desks, while the way we stand seems to get the short end of the postural discussion stick. But despite sitting being the popular kid on the posture block, it’s pretty important to be mindful of the way you stand too. Because—fun fact—you can injure yourself from just standing still. Poor alignment can strain your joints, and any sort of imbalance can potentially mess with your movements. According to physical therapist and yoga pro Lara Heimann, as humans evolved to stand upright, we developed a lumbar curve in our low backs and thigh bones, which helped us learn to balance on our own two feet, and dictate how we should be standing. The key? Stand up straight with equal weight on both feet, and your heads, ribcage, and pelvis all in one line. Sounds easy enough, right? That said, below are the non-ideal standing positions that Heimann recommends you try to avoid. ad_intervals[‘406460_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406460_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); 1. Locking your knees: You can lock your knees when doing kickbacks in a workout, but it’s not so great to do it when you’re standing. “When we hang out in our joints, we can cause compression in the joint space and dial down that readiness
Sales of blackhead remover vacuums are up 40,000% on Amazon—but are they actually safe to use?
July 08, 2019 at 11:49AM by CWC There has truly never been a more satisfying beauty phrase than “vacuuming your pores.” Just typing the words makes me giddy, the way I imagine other people feel when they watch ASMR videos or listen to Maggie Rogers songs. And apparently, I’m not the only one, because pore vacuums are currently trending on Amazon. But let me back up a second and first describe what a “pore vacuum” actually is, aside from “exactly what it sounds like.” These K-Beauty devices work to suck up the gunk from your pores (giddy), getting rid of blackheads, and in theory leaving it smooth and clean and gorgeous and glowing, etc. etc. But considering that approximately 50 different dermatologists have told me to leave blackhead removal to the pros, I’ve recently been wondering: Are pore vacuums generally safe and okay to use on your own? According to board-certified dermatologists Joshua Zeichner, MD and Lily Talakoub, MD, the answer is generally yes. “Pore vacuums offer mild suction to help remove blackheads from the skin,” Dr. Zeichner explains. “They may be effective in clearing mild blockages, but may not be enough if you have large or deep rooted blackheads.” In other words, they can help clean up things on the surface, but you’ll still want to leave those really hardcore suckers to the professionals. ad_intervals[‘406435_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406435_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); And one more thing to note: Be careful if you’re using any sort
In defense of not being embarrassed—like, at all—about the public armpit smell check
July 08, 2019 at 11:31AM by CWC Greetings from New York City, where as I write this, it’s 90 degrees, humid, and miserable. Every time I go outside it’s like there’s a hot, wet blanket of air that’s been wrapped around me, and it’s so unpleasant that when I get home I have to stick my entire body in the refrigerator for three straight minutes. My makeup is constantly melting off of my face, my hair is never not a matted, sweaty mess, and after approximately three hours out in the world, I start to stink. On an unrelated note, I am very single…in case you know anyone who might be interested. In this type of weather, there is quite literally a zero percent chance that my deodorant is going to hold up for an entire day. Zilch. Zip. Nada. (I think you get the point). In fact, I usually have to re-apply at least once (okay, twice) throughout the day to ensure that my coworkers will still want to sit near me in meetings. This isn’t to knock my DO of choice—which, in case you care, is an aluminum-packed antiperspirant—but more just kind of stating the reality. No deodorant, no matter how powerful it is, is going to stand up to 12 hours and 40-plus city blocks in this heat. ad_intervals[‘405655_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘405655_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); And so, I would like to formally state my position heavily in favor of the public armpit smell check. I
Is your beauty routine warm-weather ready? Here’s your summer glow-up guide
July 08, 2019 at 11:00AM by CWC You’ve got your winter beauty routine down to a science (thick night cream, hydrating mask, repeat), but your summer sitch? It’s a little more complicated than just adding SPF. (Pssst, did you know you need sunscreen for your hair, too?) Just like you swap out sweaters for shorts in your biannual closet changeover, your beauty routine should undergo a similar shift to meet the changing needs of your skin. To help with the transition, we rounded up nine products that’ll keep your summer glow on-point from head to pedicured toe. How do we know these glow-boosting gems are legit? Because they’re all part of Ulta Beauty’s collection of summer products, expertly curated to help you (and your beauty goals) beat the heat. Scroll down to see the summer beauty products to add to your warm-weather regimen—and click on the hotspots to learn why each one is a must-have. @import url(“https://www.wellandgood.com/wp-content/plugins/imagelinks/lib/imagelinks.theme.default.css?ver=imagelinks”); St. Tropez Self Tan Whipped Marshmallow Bronzing Mousse Sun-kissed skin is the trademark of summer, but if you want to get a head start on the bronzing process without actually spending hours in the sun, try this limited-edition bronzing mousse. It adjusts to your skin tone (so no orange streaks) and just one application lasts for 10 days. Get ready to hear a lot of, “You’re so tan! Were you just on vacation??” SHOP NOW $45 KIEHL’S Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado Summer calls for an eye cream that won’t run into your
Have Trouble Ignoring Cravings? Science Says This Could Be Why
July 08, 2019 at 10:38AM A new study published in Psychological Sciences explains why it’s so hard to ignore temptation when we’re distracted, stressed, and trying to do it all. Continue Reading… Author Gretchen Lidicker, M.S. | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
With 4-ingredient ‘fathead dough,’ you can make keto-friendly pizza and cinnamon rolls
July 08, 2019 at 10:45AM by CWC The scene opens on two sisters—Kells (that’s me!) and Rory—in the checkout line at Trader Joe’s near New York City’s Union Square. Rory has been eating keto for about two months, and wants to make low-carb, high-fat pizza for me while she’s visiting. “No, seriously,” says Rory. “It’s called ‘fathead’ dough and it’s better than normal pizza crust.” “You’re lying,” I reply. Several hours later, Rory and I stared down at our now empty plates. She had been absolutely right: the fathead pizza dough was divine, a gift from the ketogenic food gods. Somehow, the recipe (which is all over the fat-lovin’ internet) hit the sweet spot between easy to prep and mouthwateringly delicious. The only four ingredients you need are mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, eggs, and coconut or almond flour. And as I sat at my kitchen table with sister, I said in all seriousness: “Can we make this again tomorrow night?” ad_intervals[‘406388_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406388_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); A one-slice serving contains 117 calories, 2 net carbs (that’s total grams of carbs minus grams of fiber, for non-keto subscribers), 8 grams of fat, and a whopping 7 grams of protein. The cheese packed into the crust gives it all the creaminess of a rich dessert, but with the savoriness of pizza dough. While it’s easiest to enjoy it with a fork, the finger food-lover could totally get away with eating it in the traditional slice
How to use essential oils for energy and not be so damn tired all the time
July 08, 2019 at 10:13AM by CWC Life is exhausting. Family, pets, work, anxiety, having a bedmate who snores…It can all lead to relying on cup after cup of coffee to get through the day. There isn’t one magic fix that instantly leads to increased energy: good sleep, eating healthy food, thyroid function, and stress management all play a part. But there is one supporting player on the better energy all-star team that’s often overlooked: essential oils. While using essential oils for energy isn’t a replacement for prioritizing all the other factors that could be contributing to fatigue, it can help. Here, chiropractor Eric Zielinski, D.C., author of The Healing Powers of Essential Oils and the newly released The Essential Oils Diet, shares his tips on how to use essential oils for energy. ad_intervals[‘405453_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘405453_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Essential oils that encourage deep breathing: peppermint, eucalyptus, and cardamom “We often don’t think about it, but deep breathing is directly connected to better energy,” Zielinski explains. “One reason why many people have an energy deficit is because they’re taking such shallow breaths all the time and there isn’t enough oxygen flowing through the body and to the brain.” (It’s worth noting that the Sankrit word “prana” literally means both “breath” and “energy.”) When it comes to which specific essential oils are linked to deeper breathing, Zielinski calls out a very small 2013 study linking breathing peppermint to increased VO2 in athletes, but adds that
Master these stretches to finally get your heels to the ground in down dog
July 08, 2019 at 09:30AM by CWC There’s no denying that yoga is one of the most relaxing workouts around; however, there’s nothing quite as Zen-busting as looking around and wondering why some people’s bodies allow them to do things yours doesn’t. Case in point: Getting your heels to the ground in downward facing dog. Due to one’s muscle flexibility, particular movements are inherently more difficult for some people than others (regardless of how simple they may look). “It feels obvious that you need to stretch your hamstrings and calves more to achieve heel-to-mat contact but this can often be a misconception,” says Bar Method master trainer Kate Grove. “Many people with really tight calves, hamstrings, and even short Achilles tendons will never reach the floor.” And while that trifecta is enough to keep you from striking the pose, your ankles could also be to blame. According to CorePower Yoga Minnesota area leader and instructor Anastasia Albert, some people experience compression on the fronts of their ankles in down dog. “The pressure is due to the structure of the ankle joint, causing bone to run into bone,” she explains. “This is simply how some bodies are built.” ad_intervals[‘401238_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘401238_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Instead of dwelling on these areas, Grove suggests concentrating on lengthening the upper body, drawing your shoulders down, lifting your hips up and back, and pulling in the navel. “This way you will create more space in the front and
Use your zodiac sign to determine the very best houseplant for you
July 08, 2019 at 09:23AM by CWC Whether you’re a pedigreed plant lady or someone who struggles to keep the easiest-to-care-for greens alive, there is a houseplant for you. Finding it is what’s a little tricky. And no matter if you’ve indeed killed nearly every plant you’ve ever had or simply feel the need to shake up the vibe of your indoor garden with a new type of bloom, maybe it’s time to let the stars help you out by highlighting zodiac sign flowers and plants. Because a green that requires a ton of time and effort like, say, an azalea, may not fit with your astrological profile. Knowing this, why not set yourself up for greenery success by selecting a plant that best suits your disposition? Ahead, check out the best houseplant for each sign, courtesy of Paula Pavlova, astrology expert and co-founder of MoonBox, a beauty subscription service that provides products aligning your routine with the lunar cycle. Get ready to manifest your celestially aligned indoor garden, with the help of the following guide to zodiac sign flowers and plants. ad_intervals[‘399658_div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399658_div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’);}); } }, 100); Check out the best houseplant for you, according to your zodiac sign. Graphics: W+G Creative Aries (March 20 to April 19) Red Echeveria agavoides “lipstick plant” Fiery Aries is a ball of energy: Think bold, ambitious, and always running headfirst into every situation that comes their way. This sign doesn’t really have the patience to