August 06, 2019 at 12:37PM by CWC Summer includes all of the good weather perks, from dining al fresco to hitting up a beach/pool/lake/any body of water as often as possible. So the seemingly endless opportunities to be outside without freezing your bum off make your time through Labor Day ideal for playing around with your fitness regimen—you know, because you’re not solely relegated to the crowded corners of the gym or a boutique fitness studio. Turn the pool into your gym for the day? Sure. Hit up the beach for a workout? Why not. As opposed to the colder times of the year, summertime’s got a laissez faire attitude toward everything, including your sweat seshes. One way to make sure your summer workouts are fun and still effective? Switch things up as much as you can. Whether you want to take things indoors or out, the pros agree that changing things up will pay off big time—not just in terms of making sweating more exciting. Here, fitness trainers reveal their top tips for making sure your summer workouts are challenging and adventurous… up until it’s just too damn cold to run along the beach. ad_intervals[‘394097_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘394097_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); 1. Get creative outside If you live near a park, beach, or even just have a backyard, then you’ve got the perfect excuse to escape the gym and head outside. Will Torres, trainer and founder of Will Space studio in New York
Day: August 6, 2019
Plant-based eating is trendy for good reason—here’s what it takes to go vegan
August 06, 2019 at 11:51AM by CWC Ask someone five years ago about whether they’d consider going vegan, and you likely would have been answered with an eye-roll or a grimace. Now, people are gladly adding oat milk to their coffee and trying Beyond Meat when it hits their grocery store, and even traditional companies like Tyson are trying to meet the growing (non-meat) demand with their own innovations. It’s a major reason why we’re convinced there’s never been a better time to go plant-based, if that’s your thing. However, veganism can be a tough sell, which perhaps explains why a 2018 Gallup poll found that only 3 percent of Americans consider themselves fully vegan (only a slight gain from 2 percent of Americans in 2012). People on a vegan diet avoid all foods containing animal products, from meat and poultry to dairy, eggs, and gelatin. Complicating matters is the fact that animal-derived ingredients can pop up in surprising places, says Vandana Sheth, RD, a vegetarian nutritionist and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Gelatin is in some yogurts, fruit cups, and candies, for example, while lard shows up in some tortillas and beans—meaning a vegan often has to do careful reading of ingredient lists on packaged foods and at restaurants to ensure they’re not consuming any animal products accidentally. Instead, they load up on plant foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. ad_intervals[‘413349_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) {
A Yale career coach reveals the common mistake that could keep you from your dream job
August 06, 2019 at 11:24AM by CWC When you’re shopping the job market, Ariana Grande-level success (as in, “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it”) is pretty much the dream. Furthering a career is a complicated formula though. As much as we all may want to live out the lyrics of one ponytailed pop star, landing a shiny new gig requires resumes, references, cover letters—and, oh, the all-important post-interview thank you note. According to career experts at Yale University’s Office of Career Strategy, the timing, content, and duration of your letter of gratitude can help you earn—or lose—points when interviewers look to score you against other candidates, CNBC reports. The email (or hand-written letter) should be between 250 to 350 words, sent within 24 to 48 hours after you leave the interview, and grammatically flawless. Formalities are necessary, too: thank them for their time, remind them how interested you are in the position, and dazzle them what past qualifications make you a strong candidate. ad_intervals[‘413375_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘413375_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Beyond the nitty gritty details, the Yale experts explain that personalizing the content to reflect what you would add to the company, as well as what you hope to gain by scoring a desk will make you stand out. Susie Moore, life coach and author of career book What If It Does Work Out?, specifies that this looks like highlighting your takeaways from the interview: “I’d love the
This ‘around the world’ plank series works every muscle in your core in just 5 minutes
August 06, 2019 at 10:42AM by CWC Whenever it comes time to do a core workout on my own, I tend to crunch myself into oblivion for five minutes, then flip over and finish things off in a plank. Thrilling stuff, huh? Not only is this series super boring (true story: I’ve actually almost fallen asleep in the middle of doing it), it also completely ignores all of the other muscles in the midsection aside from your abs, like your back and obliques. But this morning, during a class at New York City’s 305 Fitness, trainer Samantha Barriento introduced me to an “around the world abs” sequence that left every square inch of my core positively quaking in the best (and least boring) possible way. Here’s how it works: You start off in a plank, then cycle through a series of moves on your sides and back in order to target all 360-degrees of your core. You’re essentially moving your body in a circle—or, “around the world”—to be sure you don’t miss a single muscle. “This sequence will get at the main muscle groups in your abdominal area and will help you feel supported,” says Barriento. Forearm plank: Start in a forearm plank, engaging your abs and glutes to lengthen the spine and making sure your head is in line with your bum. Hold for 30 seconds. Hip dips: Holding your plank, move your hips back and forth from side to side. This will activate the obliques and transverse abdominals.
Is This Type Of Bread Actually Good For Your Blood Sugar?
August 06, 2019 at 10:42AM Everybody loves bread. (That’s a scientifically proven fact, isn’t it?) Unfortunately, we also know simple carbs and grains aren’t always the best for our health; our croissant, baguette, cinnamon toast, and brioche dreams are crushed regularly. But not today! A new study, published in the journal Microbiome, is all about the health benefits of rye bread, which seems to be good for our health in more ways than one. Getting to know the bacteria in rye bread. The study, which was performed by researchers from the University of Eastern Finland, analyzed the bacteria found in rye sourdough, which is what’s used to make rye bread. First, they found that it contains high levels of lactic acid bacteria. These beneficial microbes have the important job of fermenting the dough, creating the sourdough taste we all love, but they also affect the contents of the bread itself by interacting with it and producing other substances, called metabolites. The researchers dug deeper and compared the metabolites produced by the bacteria in rye bread to the ones produced naturally by human gut bacteria. The results showed that the lactic acid bacteria in rye help produce branched-chain amino acids and peptides that can affect human health in positive ways, including having a beneficial effect on insulin levels. We’ve long known that eating rye bread leads to a less drastic insulin response compared to other types of bread, but until now, we didn’t know why. It’s not just about lower blood
The little ways that ‘micromastery’ can help you unlock your greatest gifts
August 06, 2019 at 10:15AM by CWC “Skills” are kind of like Pokémon cards for adults. You collect ’em and earn clout among your fellow players—or, in this case, colleagues—depending on which ones you have in your collection. Such savviness usually gets defined as big ticket accomplishments, like the ability to speak Japanese or practicing ambidexterity. That’s not always the case, however: “micromastery”—the practice of collecting small skills and abilities—builds your repertoire in a big way. “Micromastery wants you to get rid of the essential boring element that’s in learning,” says Robert Twigger, author of Micromastery: Learn Small, Learn Fast, and Unlock Your Potential to Achieve Anything, in a recent episode of The Art of Manliness podcast. “It doesn’t have to really be that way. So that’s the starting point. Once I’d working out you could really find these micromasteries everywhere, I looked for things which definitely have a fun element.” In other words, it’s all about reframing learning from being a major endeavor to being a series of small projects that you can master, tweak, show off, and—finally—translate into larger abilities. ad_intervals[‘413127_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘413127_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Cooking is one example. Instead of declaring that you will be the next Julia Child and finding yourself utterly baffled by the soufflés, escargots, and beef bourguignon required to become a true chef, start with mastering the humble omelette. “An omelette has…in making it, almost all the skills you need for far more complicated kinds
Polar’s chic new fitness tracker is like having a meditation and recovery expert on your wrist
August 06, 2019 at 10:01AM by CWC When you’re in the market to buy a fitness tracker, your prime incentive for splurging is probably for all the advanced tech that helps you get the most out of your workouts. And while built-in heart rate monitors and calorie burns can be useful in helping you stay in tip-top shape, one new release caught my eye not because of its focus on mental health. Polar’s latest release—the Polar Ignite fitness watch ($230)—is completely waterproof, comes equipped with GPS perfect for tracking runs, an impressively accurate built-in heart rate monitor, and a training guide with ready-made, on-demand workouts. While the fitness features check off plenty of boxes, that’s not what impressed me the most. What makes this watch stand out is its goal to help users find a more balanced, healthy life beyond working out, and that’s why features that focus on recovery and mental well-being are just as easy to access as your standard fitness tracker must-haves. ad_intervals[‘412930_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘412930_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Beyond the focus on what you do while you’re awake, Polar thinks about recovery with Nightly Recharge, which promises to measure two things: how well you sleep and how well your autonomic nervous system calms down as you sleep. Based on your measurements, you get tips the following day, such as whether your body is ready for a hard workout or you should take it easy. The Sleep Plus Stages give you
4 tips for reining in your know-it-all tendencies (even if you really do think you know it all)
August 06, 2019 at 09:42AM by CWC Knowledge may well be power, and when you’re incredibly informed (or at least think you are), you want to share your know-how with everyone in your presence. And what’s wrong with that? Well, when you steamroll every conversation with your know-it-all opinions, it’s a bad look that can come across as equal parts rude, pretentious, and self-centered. Even if you contend that you do know what you’re talking about at all times, à la Bethenny Frankel on The Real Housewives of New York City, you can probably understand that in effect, this can be grating to everyone around you—in your personal and professional life. For instance, when my new roommate’s parents came recently visited our Brooklyn apartment, I felt compelled to lay out every positive attribute of Greenpoint, as if I were running for city council. And even though I’m factually correct in my contention that our proximity to Monsignor McGolrick Park offers psychological benefits, they were entitled to their IDGAF stance about my argument with no one, and I don’t think I likened myself to them anymore as a result of the interaction. ad_intervals[‘413143_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘413143_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); But, I was right! (And, I now know I need some help for reining in my know-it-all tendencies.) If you, too, feel you’re a know-it-all, and you suspect it’s driving everyone in your life crazy, all hope isn’t lost. Here’s an expert-informed four-pronged approach to curb
Please, let’s all take a moment to swoon over Keanu Reeves’ beauty routine
August 06, 2019 at 09:00AM by CWC Much like hair scrunchies and Birkenstocks, Keanu Reeves has—thanks to all that is good and pure in the universe—become “trendy” again. He’s currently considered the “Internet’s boyfriend” after playing a parodied version of himself in Always Be My Maybe (and the voice of Duke Caboom in Toy Story 4), and an increasing number of fan stories are coming out that solidify the fact that Reeves is truly a bona fide Nice Guy™. But I would like to take a second pivot everyone’s focus away from Reeves’ sparkling personality and wildly successful career to two equally impressive, yet oft overlooked, things: his skin and his hair. I initially began swooning over Reeves during my teenage years, when first I laid eyes on him in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. But I’ll admit he faded as a focal point of my romantic daydreams somewhere around The Matrix era, and then I sorta forgot about him altogether when I started to date dudes IRL and stopped pining over celebrities. Le sigh. His resurgence is exciting, though, and I’m thrilled to see that his perfect hair and dewy complexion have remained exactly the same over the past two decades. Like, he has not aged. At all. ad_intervals[‘411549_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘411549_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); But after some extensive research by way of online stalking (in the name of #journalism, of course) I can’t find a single article detailing anything that Reeves has ever revealed about his
How to shop for the most comfortable underwear ever, according to a lingerie pro
August 06, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC As Wesley from The Princess Bride put it, life is pain, and “anyone who says otherwise is selling something.” While the sentiment is definitely a dark one (… sorry), it seems to ring true—especially when we’re talking about underwear. Because in my personal experience, the cuter a pair of them are on the hanger, the less comfortable they feel when you put ’em on. I’ve asked myself time and time again just how much discomfort I’m willing to put up with for the sake of my undergarments, and the answer is “none.” At this point, my tolerance for being uncomfortable is lower than the success rate of my Hinge dates, which is why my underwear drawer is basically just bralettes and granny panties (though I will argue that granny panties can be both comfortable and sexy). The worst surprise (other than finding out your date is a conspiracy theorist) is putting on a pair of underwear that you thought were going to be comfortable, only to find yourself being pinched and wedgied all day long. No thank you. So I asked Maggie Mee, Trunk Club’s Head of Merchandising, to share her tips on how to shop for underwear that’s actually comfortable. ad_intervals[‘410147_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410147_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); “When you look at your underwear drawer, think about the context that you’ll be wearing them. We encourage people to have four different categories: everyday, seamless, workout, and sexy,”