May 23, 2019 at 10:41AM by CWC Confession: One of my favorite evening rituals is settling in on the couch and eating dinner while watching Netflix. The combination of eating and watching is so enjoyable to me that I will literally let my food go cold while I’m scrolling for something to watch. This isn’t just me—the concept of watching-while-eating is ingrained in American culture. We are a people who love to snack on popcorn at the movies. We literally invented the TV dinner. Here’s the thing though: Eating with a fork in one hand and a remote in the other goes against all healthy eating true-isms. Focus on every bite, we’re told. How does the food feel in your mouth? What are the sensations in your body? Eating mindfully is supposed to help curb overeating and keep us more satisfied, but I have to say, I’m not a fan. A few years ago, I spent every meal doing this for a week and I was so intensely bored. What gives? “For my clients who look forward to eating while watching TV in the evenings, it’s because it’s their way to relax and turn their brain off,” says nutrition therapist Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD, and owner of Alissa Rumsey Nutrition and Wellness. “They get a lot of pleasure eating while watching something.” (Same!) That’s because both eating food and watching TV can offer a quick hit of dopamine, the pleasure chemical, says Sophie Mort, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist and guide
Category: 2019 Health
Why snacking in front of the TV just feels so good, according to experts
May 23, 2019 at 10:41AM by CWC Confession: One of my favorite evening rituals is settling in on the couch and eating dinner while watching Netflix. The combination of eating and watching is so enjoyable to me that I will literally let my food go cold while I’m scrolling for something to watch. This isn’t just me—the concept of watching-while-eating is ingrained in American culture. We are a people who love to snack on popcorn at the movies. We literally invented the TV dinner. Here’s the thing though: Eating with a fork in one hand and a remote in the other goes against all healthy eating true-isms. Focus on every bite, we’re told. How does the food feel in your mouth? What are the sensations in your body? Eating mindfully is supposed to help curb overeating and keep us more satisfied, but I have to say, I’m not a fan. A few years ago, I spent every meal doing this for a week and I was so intensely bored. What gives? “For my clients who look forward to eating while watching TV in the evenings, it’s because it’s their way to relax and turn their brain off,” says nutrition therapist Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD, and owner of Alissa Rumsey Nutrition and Wellness. “They get a lot of pleasure eating while watching something.” (Same!) That’s because both eating food and watching TV can offer a quick hit of dopamine, the pleasure chemical, says Sophie Mort, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist and guide
Battle rope exercises are the arm equivalent of running on a treadmill
May 23, 2019 at 10:26AM by CWC If you’re getting tired of running or spinning or what have you, you might want to give battle ropes a shot. You’ll look pretty fierce whipping them around. And the best part? They’re actually low-impact, but still high-intensity, so they won’t put strain on your joints as you break a sweat. “Battle ropes can provide an excellent workout because they allow you to do some challenging moves without having to put your joints through the stress of carrying weights,” says trainer Tyler Spraul, CSCS. Apart from using ropes to keep your body free from overuse, they’re actually great to work with when you have an injury, like a lower body injury, as they target the upper body and have minimal impact on the legs and glutes. That way, you’ll still get the cardio benefits without impairing your recovery. “The muscles targeted will depend on the exercise you choose, but battle ropes tend to challenge your upper body the most—especially your shoulders. You can also target your triceps with a few variations,” he explains, adding that it’s smart to skip them if you have arm issues. Battle ropes exercises are best for cardio-conditioning and endurance work, not necessarily strength, so you’ll want to include strength training into your overall fitness regimen elsewhere. What’s more, it’s a good piece of equipment for those new to working out, as well. “The technique required for more battle ropes exercises is relatively simple, so most people can get
Battle rope exercises are the arm equivalent of running on a treadmill
May 23, 2019 at 10:26AM by CWC If you’re getting tired of running or spinning or what have you, you might want to give battle ropes a shot. You’ll look pretty fierce whipping them around. And the best part? They’re actually low-impact, but still high-intensity, so they won’t put strain on your joints as you break a sweat. “Battle ropes can provide an excellent workout because they allow you to do some challenging moves without having to put your joints through the stress of carrying weights,” says trainer Tyler Spraul, CSCS. Apart from using ropes to keep your body free from overuse, they’re actually great to work with when you have an injury, like a lower body injury, as they target the upper body and have minimal impact on the legs and glutes. That way, you’ll still get the cardio benefits without impairing your recovery. “The muscles targeted will depend on the exercise you choose, but battle ropes tend to challenge your upper body the most—especially your shoulders. You can also target your triceps with a few variations,” he explains, adding that it’s smart to skip them if you have arm issues. Battle ropes exercises are best for cardio-conditioning and endurance work, not necessarily strength, so you’ll want to include strength training into your overall fitness regimen elsewhere. What’s more, it’s a good piece of equipment for those new to working out, as well. “The technique required for more battle ropes exercises is relatively simple, so most people can get
Weight management isn’t just a matter of willpower, and we need to talk about all the treatment tools available
May 23, 2019 at 09:21AM by CWC By the time she was 29 years old, Quinn, now 32, had grown accustomed to life on the weight-loss roller coaster. She says she’s been overweight since childhood, and points to two reasons her repeated weight-loss efforts never lasted—namely, genetics and a thyroid condition that developed in her twenties. She’d clean up her diet, lose a few dozen pounds, and then gain them all back whenever she inevitably paused her regimen to catch her breath. At 5’3″ and nearly 300 pounds, her primary-care doctor eventually presented her with a more permanent solution: bariatric surgery. Although Quinn didn’t have any obesity-related health issues at that point and felt comfortable with her size, she knew that wouldn’t always be the case. “What scared me was getting to the point of becoming a mother,” she says. “I’m still not a mom, but it was in my five-year plan, and I was worried about being the overweight, sideline mom who couldn’t keep up with my kids or run around the playground. I loved my body, but I wanted it to be the healthiest it could be.” So in April 2016, she underwent a sleeve gastrectomy, a surgery that reduced the size of her stomach by around 80 percent and helped her lose more than 100 pounds. “The sleeve works by restriction—you can only eat about a half-cup of food before you feel that sense of fullness—and hormonal changes,” says says Shauna Levy, MD, MS, a surgeon and
Weight management isn’t just a matter of willpower, and we need to talk about all the treatment tools available
May 23, 2019 at 09:21AM by CWC By the time she was 29 years old, Quinn, now 32, had grown accustomed to life on the weight-loss roller coaster. She says she’s been overweight since childhood, and points to two reasons her repeated weight-loss efforts never lasted—namely, genetics and a thyroid condition that developed in her twenties. She’d clean up her diet, lose a few dozen pounds, and then gain them all back whenever she inevitably paused her regimen to catch her breath. At 5’3″ and nearly 300 pounds, her primary-care doctor eventually presented her with a more permanent solution: bariatric surgery. Although Quinn didn’t have any obesity-related health issues at that point and felt comfortable with her size, she knew that wouldn’t always be the case. “What scared me was getting to the point of becoming a mother,” she says. “I’m still not a mom, but it was in my five-year plan, and I was worried about being the overweight, sideline mom who couldn’t keep up with my kids or run around the playground. I loved my body, but I wanted it to be the healthiest it could be.” So in April 2016, she underwent a sleeve gastrectomy, a surgery that reduced the size of her stomach by around 80 percent and helped her lose more than 100 pounds. “The sleeve works by restriction—you can only eat about a half-cup of food before you feel that sense of fullness—and hormonal changes,” says says Shauna Levy, MD, MS, a surgeon and
The one question you should ask yourself if you want to be more fulfilled in every area of your life
May 23, 2019 at 09:20AM by CWC Ever notice how the things you think will make you happier—a new job, a raise, a date for Friday night—don’t always change your life as much as you think they will? Sure, there’s a momentary high that comes with having extra cash in the bank or a good make-out session. But when that fades, you might find you feel pretty much the same as you did prior to your big achievement. A bummer, for sure—but it doesn’t have to be this way, says Oprah-approved author and spiritual leader Danielle LaPorte. As she sees it, we’re all conditioned to approach goal-setting in the wrong way, from our heads rather than from our hearts. “We’ve been taught that the winning game is with logic and strategy and thinking our way to success,” she says. “But when you set a goal, you’re not actually chasing that goal—you’re chasing a feeling. The power is in the heart, and we have to relearn how to create from that place.” The key to doing this, she says, is to ask yourself one question before you set any objective for yourself: How do I want to feel? By pinpointing your “core desired feelings”—a process outlined in LaPorte’s new course, The Desire Map, available on the wellness education platform Commune—you can get clear on which of your dreams will lead to lasting happiness. It’ll also make it really obvious which goals you’re pursuing for the wrong reasons, like out of obligation or fear
The one question you should ask yourself if you want to be more fulfilled in every area of your life
May 23, 2019 at 09:20AM by CWC Ever notice how the things you think will make you happier—a new job, a raise, a date for Friday night—don’t always change your life as much as you think they will? Sure, there’s a momentary high that comes with having extra cash in the bank or a good make-out session. But when that fades, you might find you feel pretty much the same as you did prior to your big achievement. A bummer, for sure—but it doesn’t have to be this way, says Oprah-approved author and spiritual leader Danielle LaPorte. As she sees it, we’re all conditioned to approach goal-setting in the wrong way, from our heads rather than from our hearts. “We’ve been taught that the winning game is with logic and strategy and thinking our way to success,” she says. “But when you set a goal, you’re not actually chasing that goal—you’re chasing a feeling. The power is in the heart, and we have to relearn how to create from that place.” The key to doing this, she says, is to ask yourself one question before you set any objective for yourself: How do I want to feel? By pinpointing your “core desired feelings”—a process outlined in LaPorte’s new course, The Desire Map, available on the wellness education platform Commune—you can get clear on which of your dreams will lead to lasting happiness. It’ll also make it really obvious which goals you’re pursuing for the wrong reasons, like out of obligation or fear
The best car exercises for staying fit and stretched-out on a long road trip
May 23, 2019 at 09:03AM by CWC Long car rides are uncomfortable—but they don’t have to be. This year, 43 million Americans will be traveling to destinations near and far to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. While that figure includes all modes of transportation, the vast majority—around 88 percent—will be taking a good old-fashioned American road trip. Anyone who’s ever spent a long period of time in a car knows too well the discomfort of car travel. (Like, the kind you feel after being trapped at your desk all day, times a billion.) But with a little effort, life on the road isn’t so bad. Aside from being stuck in a small space with only podcasts and playlists for entertainment, other aspects of traveling can mess with your body, like relying on fast food due to the minimal choices on the road and trying to fall asleep in a strange bed. To make sure you feel top-notch throughout your road trip, you need only to stretch it out. Car exercises and stretches combat aches and pains, and promote good digestion. The best car exercises and stretches for long road trips 1. While you’re driving [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bKRNVC62O0] If you’re getting antsy while driving, there are some exercises you can do that can help you loosen up safely without ever taking your hands off the steering wheel. And when you’re a passenger, there’s even a cardio sequence you can do right in your seat. (Apologies in advance to you road trip buddies.) 2.
The best car exercises for staying fit and stretched-out on a long road trip
May 23, 2019 at 09:03AM by CWC Long car rides are uncomfortable—but they don’t have to be. This year, 43 million Americans will be traveling to destinations near and far to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. While that figure includes all modes of transportation, the vast majority—around 88 percent—will be taking a good old-fashioned American road trip. Anyone who’s ever spent a long period of time in a car knows too well the discomfort of car travel. (Like, the kind you feel after being trapped at your desk all day, times a billion.) But with a little effort, life on the road isn’t so bad. Aside from being stuck in a small space with only podcasts and playlists for entertainment, other aspects of traveling can mess with your body, like relying on fast food due to the minimal choices on the road and trying to fall asleep in a strange bed. To make sure you feel top-notch throughout your road trip, you need only to stretch it out. Car exercises and stretches combat aches and pains, and promote good digestion. The best car exercises and stretches for long road trips 1. While you’re driving [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bKRNVC62O0] If you’re getting antsy while driving, there are some exercises you can do that can help you loosen up safely without ever taking your hands off the steering wheel. And when you’re a passenger, there’s even a cardio sequence you can do right in your seat. (Apologies in advance to you road trip buddies.) 2.