Year: 2019

June 03, 2019 at 07:33AM by CWC I like to track my workouts by how many songs it takes to finish them. A three-mile run suddenly seems a lot more manageable when I realize it will only take me six or seven Justin Bieber tracks to get through it, and 45 minutes on a spin bike is basically just nine Ariana Grande jams before I’m outta there and onto brunch. So when I found out that this week’s Trainer of the Month abs series would only take six minutes—AKA less than two songs—I was pumped. “That’s nothing!” I thought to myself. Boy, was I wrong. Trainer Meg Takacs‘ latest core workout may be quick, but man-oh-man is it intense. It focuses on every part of your core, from your midsection through to your inner and outer obliques, leaving no muscle un-worked. Thankfully, she shares some modifications to help get you through it, and even those will leave your burning. Pop on your favorite playlist and follow along with Takacs to burn out those abs, and don’t forget to check back next week for an entirely new workout. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsSBamlIhSc?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] Do each movement for 30 seconds, and cycle through the series twice. 1. Hollow rocks: Balancing on your glutes, straighten your arms and legs to create a hollow “V” shape in your body. Roll back through your spine, keeping your legs straight. Think about crunching your belly button into your spine, keeping the tension in the core. Let the momentum of your

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June 03, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC If you’re like me, you’ve grown pretty accustomed to breaking out in the exact same spot time-and-time again. And, I’m sorry, but what gives? I cleanse, tone, moisturize, and treat my face (and body) with top-quality skin-care products, so I’d really appreciate if that silly zit could just quit it. Sound familiar? I can’t say I’m surprised. After all, it’s pretty standard, albeit unfortunate, to experience recurring breakouts. While it’s great to know that we’re not alone in this pus-filled world, it’s much more helpful (for our skin at least) to understand what’s causing the frequent pimples in the first place. “Zits that return in the same spot are usually cysts, or inflamed pimples deep in the skin,” says New York City-based dermatologist Arielle Kauvar, MD. “Our pores are the surface of channels (or tubes) which start in the oil glands and interconnect with one main channel in a hair follicle. When the channels become blocked, excessive oil and bacteria cause inflammation and expansion of the channel into a balloon-like sac that we can feel as a bump under the skin.” When these blockages occur deep within the channel, cysts form. Over time, those channels can become narrower, and even scarred, which predisposes the corresponding pores to become clogged and infected over-and-over again. What may seem like recurring zits could actually be the same pimple taking its sweet time to fully go away. “There is redness and inflammation that needs to get cleared

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June 03, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Even if you don’t harbor people pleaser tendencies, learning how to say no can sometimes feel like a Herculean task—especially if you skew toward being an empath. Texting allows some people to find the easy way out in the form of thinly veiled lies like, “Maybe I’ll swing by.” But when someone in your IRL social sphere asks you for a favor (read: a demand) and you really don’t want to do it, you’re suddenly tongue-tied. It doesn’t matter if it’s a loathed boss, a trusted friend, or your own damn parent. It’s one word, two letters, and somehow tougher to say than slaying the Nemean lion. Luckily there are pros who can offer some guidance, thus relieving your endless sense of guilt: “You can’t give a real wholehearted ‘yes’ if you don’t feel like you can ever say ‘no,’” reasons Helene Brenner, PhD, licensed psychologist and creator of the My Inner Voice app. And wow, do I feel seen. Building up relationships and being true to your own needs can be a super-tricky balance to strike—especially when those two forces are working in opposition. “You can’t give a real wholehearted ‘yes’ if you don’t feel like you can ever say ‘no.’” —psychologist Helene Brenner, PhD Sometimes a “no” is really necessary for the sake of personal wellness. If you, too, need a guidebook on the art of saying no, here are some handy tips to follow: 3 things to consider if you’re on

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