January 04, 2019 at 12:59PM I’ll admit it: I’m a treadmill snob. If someone suggests that I give other gym equipment—like the rower or, worse, the stair climber—a chance, I pop my earbuds in and slowly back away. And that all happens in double time for anyone who suggests that I try an elliptical machine (scoff!). All that changed, though, after some big talk from a fellow Well+Good staffer, who challenged me to give her go-to elliptical workout a try. To quickly summarize the experience: My body got schooled. As I hopped on the cross-trainer (which is the fancy name for an elliptical that requires you to use your arms) this morning, my first task was to turn the thing on. “Where’s the ‘quick start’ option?!,” I thought as I furiously hit every button. Once that was under control, I grabbed the moving handles and attempted to replicate Arianna Grande as Elle Woods near the end of the “thank u, next” music video. As I glanced over at myself in the mirror, I noticed that—apart from the high pony—I look nothing like the mega-pop star. For one thing, I’m really, really sweaty. For another, I’m so breathless that I definitely could not drop a beat right now. The brunt of the workout (which you’ll find below) is a progression. Meaning, you start at one speed and work your way up on the minute. Resistances of 8 and 10 feel pretty comfortable for me, but when I reach the 12 and 13, I’m a goner. It’s a
Year: 2019
8 sneaky reasons why you’re so damn hungry all the time
January 04, 2019 at 12:33PM Raise your hand if you’ve ever downed an enormous salad for lunch with all the good stuff (avo included)…only to feel ravenous an hour later. The. Worst. And if it happens to you on the reg, the feeling is enough to make anyone ask themselves “why am I always hungry” while frantically Googling the symptoms of a tapeworm. There could be a few things behind your perpetual hunger pangs that have nothing to do with a parasitic infection (whew). From not sleeping enough to simple dissatisfaction with your food, we asked the experts to determine all the reasons you might feel hungry all the time. Check them out below, and see what you might need to change in your daily routine to beat your rumbly stomach once and for all. 1. You’re not hungry—you’re just craving something. “I think the first thing to do if you’re hungry right after a meal is determine if you’re actually hungry, or just hungry for a cookie,” says Lauren Slayton, MS, RD, and founder of Foodtrainers, a New York City-based nutrition practice. “I have my clients do the ‘chicken test’—aka if you’re not hungry for a piece of protein like chicken or eggs, chances are you’re not really hungry.” Instead, Slayton says you’re likely craving something like carbs or sugar. If you don’t pass the “chicken test,” and having a treat isn’t something you want to have, Slayton says you can distract yourself from those cravings with something non-food
A scientific exploration of which avocado shape offers the most bang for your buck
January 04, 2019 at 12:43PM If you’re a most judicious avocado connoisseur like I am, you may have heard the pro tip that choosing oblong fruit specimens over round ones yields more of that delicious green interior for your toast—the reasoning being that longer and narrower fruits have smaller pits and therefore more meat. (Exhibit A.) But is this true, or an optical illusion? In an (extremely non-scientific) experiment, I’ve just discovered precisely which avocado silhouette yields the most green goodness for your dollar. The bottom line: longer and skinnier avocados should definitely get first pick. How did I reach this conclusion? Earlier today I went on a mission. I bought a dozen avocados and a food scale. I divided the produce into four categories: Long and Skinny, Long and Fat, Short and Skinny, and Short and Fat. I weighed each avocado, removed the pits, and weighed them again. Finally, I performed the necessary calculations to determine pit weight as a percentage of total weight and compared the averages. (I know, this all seems pretty extra, but it’s for science!) Here’s how the avocado shapes shake out (in terms of more flesh, less pit) Photo: Abby Maker for Well+Good These are the results, noting pit weight as a percentage of overall weight: Long and Skinny: 13 percent Long and Fat: 16 percent Short and Skinny: 16 percent Short and Fat: 18 percent The pit doesn’t do anything except take up room inside the fruit (unless you need a new houseplant), so a smaller pit
Why Social Media May Hurt Girls More Than Boys
January 04, 2019 at 12:30PM Social media causes depression—and it may be worse on teen girls. Continue Reading… Author Georgina Berbari | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Fine jewelry buying tips that are worth their weight in gold
January 04, 2019 at 12:32PM Embracing costume jewelry trends like statement earrings or big chains can be fun and an easy way to update your wardrobe without spending a lot of money. But there’s something to be said for investment pieces like diamond studs, bangle bracelets, and pendant necklaces that’ll last a lifetime. And as conscientious consumption begins to catch on—and people become more interested in acquiring accessible luxuries as a means of living a more sustainable lifestyle—fine jewelers say they’re starting to see an uptick in interest from millennials looking for forever pieces. “It’s amazing to see more young women invest in quality over quantity—opting for sustainable and enduring purchases, as opposed to multiple small, fast fashion items which quickly add up to the same dollar amount in the end,” says Vanessa Stofenmacher, founder and creative director of Vrai & Oro, a direct to consumer jewelry brand. For first-time fine jewelry buyers, Stofenmacher recommends buying with longevity in mind as a way to lessen your impact on the environment and suggests diamond hoops as a casual, minimal, everyday investment item. She also loves an infinity or signet ring as a symbol of modern energy which will outlast any trend cycle. Similarly, Elizabeth Doyle, a GIA-certified gemologist and the co-founder of Doyle & Doyle, a New York boutique and website that specializes in estate and antique jewelry, thinks earrings are a good initial fine jewelry purchase. Specifically, she believes that no collection should be without a classic pair of studs and a pair of hoop earrings. “These are
The ultimate guide to foods you can eat on the Mediterranean diet
January 04, 2019 at 11:33AM At we roll into a new year, the love fest for the Mediterranean diet continues—and the hype is well-deserved. The easy-to-follow eating plan has a seemingly endless variety of health benefits, including strengthening bones, improving gut health, and maybe even lengthening your lifespan! Why is anyone surprised that the Mediterranean diet has been named the best diet of 2019? “The Mediterranean diet is an incredibly balanced way of eating and is sustainable for the long-term—which is why it’s been so popular for so long,” says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, of Amy Gorin Nutrition. “What’s more, this diet can also help with weight loss, and it may also help lower your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.” Unlike some eating plans with a seemingly infinite number of rules, the Mediterranean diet is fairly straightforward and that makes it simple to stick with it. “Because the Mediterranean diet reflects the dietary habits of people who live in the Mediterranean, it typically includes vegetables, fruits, fatty fish, olive oil, nuts, pulses, and a moderate amount of foods like red wine and dairy,” Gorin says. If you’re switching to a diet that truly stands the test of time, consider this list your guide when it comes to stocking your refrigerator. Your Mediterranean diet food list THE CORE OF YOUR DIET fruits and vegetables of all kinds whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, couscous, oats, whole grain pasta and bread, etc.) nuts and seeds tubers (white and sweet potatoes, beets, etc.) healthy fats (avocados, olives, etc.) beans
Finally, a week of politics that makes me happy
January 04, 2019 at 11:31AM In late November 2016, my therapist told me that I—along with much of the country—might be dealing with something she called “Post Election Stress Disorder.” More than two years later, I am less acutely traumatized by my own realization that so many of my compatriots are racist, sexist xenophobes and I am instead more generally anxious about the nation’s political fragility. After years of being triggered by the the daily news—you know, like the unwaveringly bigoted nature of certain individuals in power and the creation of internment camps for children—politics has finally lifted my spirits this week. This week, I might even say I feel happier and more hopeful. On Thursday, a wonderful thing happened in the American government when more women—particularly women of color—took their seats in the House of Representatives than ever before. For one, a new beacon of sanity and good judgment arrived on Capitol Hill when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman to ever be sworn into Congress, took the oath of office. She wore suffragette white for the occasion. With her presence on Capitol Hill, Republican men—who have been continually trying to chip away at women’s rights and freedom—presumably shook with fear (and reportedly booed like children). Another glimmer of change in Washington also marked what I can only hope Mike Pence will remember as one of the worst days in his political career. As a man who has built that career while restricting the rights of the LGBT community and women, I thoroughly
The 1-minute trick to take post-workout hair from sweaty to ready
January 04, 2019 at 10:49AM Unlike post-beach hair, post-workout hair isn’t exactly the kind of style most of us want to show off. Instead of pretty, tousled waves courtesy of the ocean, post-sweat styles tend to be frizzy, matted with sweat, and, well, odorous. For those of us whose mornings (and afternoons and evenings) are frantically scheduled back-to-back-to-back, squeezing in a gym bathroom blowout between the workout and the actual work day isn’t the easiest (or most realistic) feat. So how do we go from sweaty to ready in like 20 minutes time? “The key is to work with your texture,” says Suave celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis. “If your hair is super curly, try not to make it super straight, just because that’s going to eat up the bulk of your time.” But the most major time save, according to him, is to pop on an accessory and call it a day, especially because up-dos tend to work better if hair has some grit to it. “Accessories are so great, because they make a hairstyle look more difficult,” says Francis. “I love the headbands. Even if it’s not an embellished headband, you play with the texture where there’s bits and flyaways so it doesn’t feel too perfect. Then, you just rake the headband backward, and it kind of gives it that, ‘oh it’s a special occasion’ look.” You can also glitz up your bun with a pretty clip, or take things to an entirely new (festive) level and decorate your ponytail with a clip-in
How to own your January in 31 steps, according to Gabby Bernstein
January 04, 2019 at 09:30AM How does a big, brilliant year of growth and fulfillment begin? One day at a time. Here, spiritual superstar and Well+Good Council member Gabrielle Bernstein shares 31 actionable steps to take to make this January everything you want it to be…and more. Create a desire list. Write down everything you want and why you want it. When you make a list of what you want, you start to feel that there’s enough to go around. Be unapologetic and trust in the abundance of the Universe. Feel how good it feels to claim your desires! Find peace in your pulse. Sit comfortably in a quiet space. Place the four fingers of your right hand on the inside of your left wrist. Find your pulse. On the beat of each pulse, silently repeat the mantra “Sat nam” (it means Truth identified or Truth is my name). Practice for 1 to 3 minutes to feel grounded and calm. Play the appreciation game with your spouse/partner, a good friend, or family member. Take turns saying what you appreciate about each other, whether it’s something small or something big. Take one little right action toward your dream today. When you feel judged by someone, instead of getting defensive or attacking back, go out of your way to make someone else feel loved. You can send flowers to a friend, email a coworker and thank them for doing a great job, or post an inspirational message on social media. Giving love
Here’s how to rehab your nose after a nasty cold
January 04, 2019 at 09:04AM Runny-nose struggles are real (and long-lasting). It’s annoying and expensive to go through multiple tissue boxes, but it’s also straight-up painful. Even after a nasty cold has subsided, you’re often left with a red, dry, and chapped sniffer. You nose needs proper care to heal quickly. And slathering layer upon layer of lotion, which is bound to wipe off, isn’t the way to go. According to New York City-based dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, several much more effective methods will help to banish that Rudolph-the-Red-Nose-Reindeer look in no time. 3 ways to treat your chapped nose after a cold 1. Use ointments or balms. Ointments and balms create a protective barrier with some serious staying power. “They’re the most hydrating products you can use to quickly rehab dry or chapped skin. Apply them on any red areas, and don’t forget to reapply throughout the day,” says Dr. Engelman. “When buying a product, look for calming ingredients like oatmeal, shea butter, and aloe. I also recommend Aquaphor.” 2. Get a humidifier. Sometimes the best way to heal skin doesn’t involve directly applying a product to the affected area at all, but rather improving the surrounding conditions. “When it’s cold outside, there’s less moisture in the air. This makes it easier for the nose to get dryer quicker,” Dr. Engelman says. “I like using humidifiers to add moisture back into the air. This will support the skin’s natural moisture barrier instead of stripping it.” 3. Rethink your tissues. When you’re