March 02, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC With Politically Charged, a new monthly column by QueerCosmos astrologer and Well+Good Changemaker Colin Bedell, you’ll get a look at what’s happening in the 2020 election cycle, not through the lens of any specific issue or party or scandal, but rather through the energy of the universe. First up is the astrology of Super Tuesday, which rather dramatically falls during a Mercury retrograde cycle. Find out how that transit may influence the March 3 results below. The first politically powerful Tuesday is upon us in the 2020 presidential election year. Known as “Super Tuesday” since 1976, Tuesday, March 3, will host 14 state primaries— Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia—and the American Samoa caucuses, together accounting for 33.8 percent of the country’s total. But what does the astrology of Super Tuesday have in store for how those votes may sway? Well, crucially, let’s not forget Mercury will be retrograde on Super Tuesday, and there have been several seminal moments of past election cycles that transpired during Mercury retrograde. To name just two, take Mitt Romney’s “binders full of women” comment in 2012 (talk about miscommunication!) and the Bush vs. Gore recount in 2001. With history in mind, expect that this Super Tuesday may bring any number of surprises, inaccuracies, and word blunders. From a voter perspective, it means we’ll want to carefully discern the intentions behind the discourse and stay focused on the
Month: March 2020
Ever wonder what to eat before barre? A Pure Barre instructor shares her food diary
March 02, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC There are some fitness classes that leave you drenched in sweat and feeling totally depleted—and ravenous. Spinning, bootcamp, or a long run all require careful attention to pre- and post- workout fuel. Barre, however, is a little different. Is it hard? Hell yeah. The 45 minutes classes force you to work muscles that are usually overlooked (and perhaps that you didn’t know you had) until they’re quaking. But because it doesn’t create the same type of intensity as some other workouts, figuring out what to eat before and after barre can be tricky. If anyone has it figured out, it’s Pure Barre instructor and franchise owner Griffin McKenzie Hill, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As interested in nutrition just as much as she is fitness (she studied nutrition in graduate school), Hill typically teaches about five or six classes a week. She recently had a baby and is taking some time off from teaching, which she says has also changed how she eats. “I’ve experimented with about every type of eating plan under the sun, but there isn’t one specific diet I follow religiously,” Hill says. “I had a baby a month ago and find that my body has different needs now. My caloric intake has stayed the same, but I’m eating more complex carbohydrates, which wasn’t something I ate a lot of before, outside of vegetables. But I feel like it’s something my body needs more of now because I’m breastfeeding a lot
How to stop gaslighting yourself, because you wouldn’t let anyone else talk to you this way
March 02, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC I’m of the conviction that a little bit of self-doubt is healthy, like a little bit of coffee or a little bit of wine. But there comes a point where self-doubt transforms from a check-in to keep your expectations realistic to just gaslighting yourself, wherein you baselessly let yourself believe you’re wrong or that you’ve missed something. As a reminder, gaslighting is a psychological term that refers to manipulating or undermining someone in a way that questions how they’re reacting. It can happen at work, in romantic relationships, or really anywhere. The idea is to make you feel like your reactions are invalid, your emotions are unimportant, your talents aren’t real, or that certain situations literally did or didn’t happen. With self-gaslighting, it’s kind of like your inner voice is your own tormentor. Derailing and destructing that tormentor can require a lot of work, and the first step in that process is to be especially discerning about where your thoughts are originating. From there, here’s what to consider: 5 steps to stop gaslighting yourself and start loving yourself 1. Ask yourself whose opinion this really is Very often, these contradictory thoughts don’t just manifest out of the ether. You’ve heard them before, and they’re ingrained in your psyche. Take it from someone who’s been told “You are not your mother” from two psychologists and three astrologers this year: We absorb the beliefs of others even if they counteract the truth we hear inside
This 10-minute treadmill HIIT workout will get your heart *literally* racing
March 02, 2020 at 12:01PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Nr89HESUY] Treadmill workouts are having a moment. In 2018, we saw a run-aissance that made it the hottest piece of equipment in the boutique fitness world, with running studios popping up all over, including Precision Run, Mile High Run Club, and most recently, Rumble Training. But you don’t need to book yourself a spot at Barry’s Bootcamp every time you want to treat yourself to a treadmill-based HIIT workout, because in this month’s Trainer of the Month series, Nike Run coach Jes Woods is leading us through four treadmill-based workouts that you can do in the gym or at home if you’ve got a machine of your own. First up? A 14-minute series that takes place both on the treadmill and the mat, so that you can your cardio and strength training in in the course of one quick session. The workout uses short bursts of high intensity followed by even shorter recoveries, and is sure to leave you breathless. “The whole point is to get your heart rate up and keep it up,” says Woods. “Right when that heart rate is about to come down, you’re going to bring it right back up.” Ready to try it for yourself? Hop on the treadmill and watch the video above. 10 minutes of HIIT on the treadmill 2-minute warmup: Take an easy warmup in either a walk or a light job (or some combination of the two). Ease into the run—be sure not to start off
With Mars in Capricorn all of March, planetary energy is blazing—here’s how to channel it for good
March 01, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC As we enter March, one of the most potent months of the year, we step into unprecedented astrological opportunity. Cosmically speaking, the next few weeks don’t mess around, so neither should you. Mars, who represents passion, vigor, aggression, and action, travels at 9 degrees of Capricorn on March 1 and moves into Aquarius on March 30. Throughout this month of Mars in Capricorn, he’ll ignite three of the most massive planets—Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn—who also travel in the practical sign of the sea goat. This astrological phrase for three or more planets acting as one is known as stellium, and as Mars conjoins each, he ignites fury, adding his force to an already dynamic combination. While yes, this means certain tense situations will reach a boiling point, when it comes to unleashing your ambition, consider now the best time to devise a plan for action. Even with Mercury being retrograde until March 9, use this first week of the month to consider your deepest hopes, dreams, and wishes. With focus and dedication to work at hand, you can evolve your life during the next few weeks. The planets offer the conditions that govern the atmosphere, but the outcome is in your hands: How will you use this high-octane planetary fuel? While Mars is in Capricorn, he’ll also ignite three of the most massive planets, igniting fury, and adding his force to an already dynamic combination. So consider now the best time to devise
Finding community—and resolving conflict—in the bleachers at Wrigley Field
March 01, 2020 at 09:20PM by CWC On a beautiful Thursday afternoon in August, I decided to do what any Chicago North Sider in their right mind might do—I closed my computer, donned a cap and some sunscreen, and headed to the Cubs game at Wrigley Field. When I purchased my ticket that morning, there was only one section I checked for availability—the bleachers. Bleachers seating at Wrigley Field, for me, was a no-brainer. They were where my friends and I had stationed ourselves for the better part of our adult lives, ever since we were old enough to navigate the “L” train to Addison Street and walk the single block to hometown revelry. We’d grab hot dogs, nachos, and peanuts, find seats, and, elbows on knees, spend the next three-plus hours mesmerized by Sosa’s swings, Farnsworth’s fastballs, and Alou’s sans glove batting style. It was all it took for several of us to later rent an apartment two blocks from the stadium, which served as home base for us for our first year out of college. If prime sun and an unhindered vantage point drew us to the bleachers, it was the fans that caused us to stay. In every Wrigley Field outing, it seemed as though my friends and I left with new game-day acquaintances, whom we had befriended somewhere between the home run high fives, 7th-inning stretch singalong, and requisite, post-win chanting of “Go Cubs Go.” The bleachers beckoned camaraderie. It didn’t matter the fronts we were
These easy, gut-healthy, plant-based meatballs come together in just 15 minutes
March 01, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJIyAiLh4IU] Confession: If it’s a weeknight and a recipe says it takes longer than 30 minutes, I swipe left on that faster than I would on a guy who says he’s sapiosexual on his Bumble profile. (Softboy alert!) This rule is generally a good idea, but it also means that some of my favorite foods are just off-limits if I’m cooking at home because of my self-imposed time constraints. Lasagna, dumplings, meatballs…I miss you all so much. Well, we have the fix for at least one of those foods. In the latest episode of Well+Good’s new video series Cook With Us, holistic nutritionist Kelly LeVeque created a plant-based Italian soup with vegan lentil meatballs (!). And reader, she made the entire meal in under 30 minutes. “My mom always used to make spaghetti and meatballs, and I was looking for a healthier alternative,” she says. But no alt-meat products here; as mentioned, LeVeque instead uses lentils as the protein base for her “meat”balls. It’s a pretty clever tweak, IMO. One cup of cooked lentils contains a whopping 18 grams of protein. These legumes are also full of fiber, which makes them great for digestive health, as well as disease-fighting polyphenols (aka plant compounds with antioxidant properties). Thanks to the combo of protein and fiber, they’re not going to leave you hungry an hour after you eat. “It’s gonna fill you up,” LeVeque says. She notes that you can buy dried lentils and
The germiest spot at your desk will have you wiping down every surface immediately
March 01, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC You spend a lot of time at your desk. Like it or not, it’s basically your home away from home. It’s where you eat your healthy meal-prepped lunches there, get in some soothing full-body stretches, and occasionally get a workout in. It’s probably no surprise that the space is covered in germs—and one spot in particular will have you whipping out your all-purpose cleaner as soon as possible. According to microbiologist Jason Tetro, author of The Germ Files, there have been multiple different studies on the cleanliness of offices—desks included. “Obviously keyboards, mice, and devices have been identified as being quite germy,” he says. But a past study in PLoS One revealed two spots were especially germ-ridden: your chair and phone. “They’re the germiest places of all,” he says. Not only because of all the touching both encounter, but also because of the air circulation in the office. “Essentially, it’s a double whammy for these items.” Sure, your phone makes sense—you touch it constantly with who knows what on your hands, and you put it right up to your face. Your chair, however, is more surprising. But think about it: Even if you clean everything else in your desk area, when’s the last time you spent a few seconds tackling all the bacteria on your chair? It’s a desk staple that always gets forgotten about, even though you sit on it every single day. I don’t even want to think about the amount of times I’ve
Rock-Star Energy: The 4-step equinox ritual to help you spring forward in life
March 01, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC There is nothing more important in spirituality and healing work than honestly facing yourself, embodying your unique gifts and high vibrations, and not spiritually bypassing anything. With monthly Rock-Star Energy forecasts, “Rock-Star Shaman” Alyson Charles represents those elements by communicating the wisdoms of both Earth (rock) and sky (star). Focusing on these Rock-Star elements for monthly energy forecasts assures that throughout our respective spiritual journey, we are grounding, rooting, and working on our lower chakras and our earthly, human tasks and behaviors. At the same time, we are also expanding, rising, working with the upper chakras, and connecting to the cosmos and stars to collaborate with the divine energy of the universe. Welcome to March, a month that can feel simultaneously thrilling, with the start of spring, and painful, as we navigate the time of change. What’s key for thriving this month is maintaining a strong sense of perspective and trust. Below, learn techniques for channeling the earthly energy of the “Rock” and also the ambitious growth energy of the “Star” that will help you make room in your life for what’s true to you. Rock We have spent the beginning of the decade working on ourselves, and for the last couple of months, we’ve been getting clearer than ever about what we want to come to fruition. March will be a pivotal time for moving us toward our goals in profound ways. But, one issue you may encounter is the need to cut
The ‘Fantastic Five’ to add some excitement to your leg day workout
March 01, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC Leg day isn’t exactly the most exciting part of your workout routine. The exercises are generally the same week after week, so your main focus is probably checking them off your list and getting them over with. Well, not today, because—believe it or not—your leg day workout can actually be fun with a few simple tweaks. While you can only do so many basic squats before you’re over it, moving across the room while dropping it low can up the excitement. And instead of doing lunges, you can do a glide variation that will leave you sweating bullets—not to mention burning all over. “Having strong legs allows you to perform your best in workouts. Plus, glutes fall into the leg day category, and everyone wants a good peach,” says Oliver Lee, Peloton Tread instructor. The next time leg day rolls around, switch things up with the “Fantastic Five”—a group of trainer-approved exercises that allow you to work your legs and have fun doing it. Try the ‘Fantastic Five’ to make your leg day workout more interesting [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC8qXgXeQrE?start=141] 1. Low lunge glide Stand in a wide stance with your toes pointed out. Keeping your chest up and a straight line from your head to your tailbone, move your body from side to side in a low lunge. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-kPo9o-PvQ?start=46] 2. Pliés Stand in a wide stance with your toes pointed out. Keeping a neutral spine, bend your knees and lower your body into a