March 16, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Brunch typically involves a sky-high stacks of pancakes, bagels slathered with cream cheese, breakfast burritos, and unlimited mimosas—satisfying in the moment, sure, but hard to stomach after a difficult workout. But what if I told you there’s a healthy post-workout meal that’s just as good and better for you? After Ellie Bullen of Elsa’s Wholesome Life finishes an exercise, she seeks a meal that’s going to nourish her body. And while she loves homemade vegan fried eggs and colorful smoothie bowls, nothing tops her Plant Power Bowl loaded with muscle-building plant protein. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ELLIE BULLEN ⋆ PLANT-BASED (@elsas_wholesomelife) on Mar 11, 2019 at 5:00am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js “It’s one of my favorite filling breakfasts—well kinda more like a breakfast and lunch or ‘brunch,’ as I like to have my first meal between 10am and 12pm after a coffee, workout, and some work,” she writes on Instagram. “It’s packed with plant protein, healthy fats, unrefined carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and lots of fiber.” Sounds like a winner, right? And the ingredients in this power bowl are simple. For the ultimate meal, she combines baked cinnamon pumpkin, kale, quinoa, a tofu scramble, avocado, hemp seeds, sprouts, almond feta, and a sweet and creamy maple and tahini sauce. Now she’s only missing one thing: a delicious mocktail to round out her healthy brunch. Find out why having pizza for breakfast might be healthier than cereal. Or, learn how to make Jennifer Garner’s favorite breakfast. Continue Reading…
Category: 2019 Health
Make room in your closet: These 7 activewear brands are cute, comfy, and come in sizes up to *at least* 3X
March 15, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC It’s hard enough to find workout wear that looks and feels good on your body. It’s even more difficult to find a single brand that’s doing it well for an inclusive size range. Today, though, more activewear brands are making it their mission to create clothing to fit everybody. And guess what? They’re doing it in a way that isn’t only accessible, but also super-fashionable. The below seven brands are offering sizes that range from XS to 3X (and then some). They are setting the bar for all others to follow suit, making the statement that you don’t have to sacrifice quality or style for size. Here are the best size-inclusive workout brands you need to know. Good American Buy Now Good American The True Strength Sports Bra $49 Buy Now Good American The Icon Bike Short $65 Buy Now Good American The Gloss Sculpt Jumpsuit $139 Good American has built its entire brand (jeans, bodysuits, activewear, and more) on the platform of size inclusivity. Whether that means offering identical styles in straight and plus sizes or proving that you can’t very well put any body shape or size in a simple category, Good American has your back, with a size range that goes from XS to 4XL. Nike Buy Now Nike Sportswear Heritage Fleece Crew $60 Buy Now Nike Sportswear Graphic Leggings $50 Buy Now Nike Swoosh Medium-Support Sports Bra $30 Buy Now https://www.nike.com/t/swoosh-womens-medium-support-sports-bra-plus-size-2vzVmb $30 Longtime fitness staple Nike now makes workout
Spring break travel horoscope: Where to go, according to your sign
March 15, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC It might not feel like the case, but spring is coming…eventually. And though the days of partying it up in during a designated spring break timeframe might be behind you, there’s something to be said for escaping during that calendar window. But with so many destinations available for your wanderlusting desires, how do you pick the best spot for you? Why not look to the stars for the answers? After all, your zodiac sign can be a helpful resource for determining the best vacation for your specific personality and also for figuring out exactly what to do when you get there. That’s precisely where Katie Huang and Paula Pavlova, the astrology experts behind Moonbox, a subscription service integrating your beauty routine with the lunar cycle, come in. Below, they outline the best travel destinations for each zodiac sign, so the only thing left for you to do is book your tickets. Check out where to travel this spring, according to your zodiac sign. Graphics: Well+Good Creative Aries: Vipassana Meditation Retreat Symbolized by the ram, Aries love to be number one—which is why they’re the first sign of the zodiac. Ruled by fire, they like to dive headfirst into everything and think later, which can lead to some sticky situations. Basically, they’d do best to slow down…way down. That’s why Vipassana, a 10-day silent retreat that takes place in worldwide locations, is just the ticket. Calming the physical body extends to calming the inner fire in the
Why working out without a mirror helps me love my body more
March 15, 2019 at 01:16PM by CWC As I adjusted the settings on my bike before a spin class got underway recently, one sports-bra wearing rider nearby was busy moving her bike so she could have a direct view into the mirror. Nope, the bikes aren’t screwed into the floor, but hoisting 140 pounds of steel into a new spot was still a bold move—all in the name of shirtless self-adoration. Me, on the other hand? Given the choice between working out in front of a mirror or, heck, exercising while blindfolded, I’d pick door number two every time. Years ago, I took my no-mirror policy to an extreme. I was so afraid of looking at my overweight body that I avoided them altogether, except for a two-inch compact case I used to apply my makeup. Even catching my reflection in a shop window or steel elevator door felt too painful. Maybe that’s why the only form of exercise I’d ever really enjoyed (or stuck to) in the past was swimming. In the water, I was able to shift the focus away from what I looked like and really tune inward, process my stress, escape harmful self-talk, and appreciate that there was more to me than cellulite. Eventually, I discovered that working out on dry land could offer me all of the mental benefits I experienced when exercising in a pool—the key was to avoid all the distraction that the mirror provides. Because let’s face it, when it comes to
The at-home ab workout that Jenna Dewan and Jessica Alba swear by
March 15, 2019 at 12:24PM by CWC If I could peek inside the fitness routines of any two celebrities, it would be Jenna Dewan and Jessica Alba. Not only are they both #girlcrush-worthy for approximately 3 billion reasons (I mean, have you seen Step Up? Have you used literally any product from The Honest Company?), but they are, simply, strong as hell. And, as I recently discovered, it’s for good reason: Both of these A-list actresses happen to share a trainer. FitOn resident celebrity trainer Jennifer “JJ Dancer” Johnson is the force behind their six-pack abs and killer dance moves of these two powerhouse women (if you have not watch the video of Jenna Dewan performing “Pony,” or seen Jessica Alba in my favorite movie of 2003, Honey, please stop what you’re doing right now to tune into both), and works with both of them strengthen and tone their screen-ready physiques. Here, Johnson shares three ab-busting moves that she uses with her star clients, and all you need to recreate them at home is two towels or a set of gliding disks. Walking planks (4 sets) What it works: The transverse layer of your abdominal muscles. “This will pull your abs in to give you a ‘snatched’ and tight look versus filling your abs out,” says Johnson. Step 1: Start in a high-plank pose, with the sliders under your feet Step 2: Holding the plank position and walk forward and backward eight times, making sure to stay parallel to the floor with a steady stance
Streetwear is stealing the 7/8 leggings look with ankle-cut denim
March 15, 2019 at 12:10PM by CWC Now, I don’t want to brag or anything, but I was rocking ankle-cut denim long before it was cool. It might have been due to being a middle school girl going through a major growth spurt in the 2000s, but still. Despite being plenty of options for different lengths in 2019 (#blessed), streetwear is bringing back the exposed ankle by stealing the 7/8 leggings look. Take that, childhood bullies. With the countdown to spring in full force, now’s the time to ditch your darks and try out the trendy light wash look that’s taking over the denim world. They don’t just pair perfectly with your wedges—that cut-off at the ankle also makes them a great option to wear with your favorite pair of sneakers, too. Plus, how can you say no to something that makes your current self super-confident and your younger, awkward self proud at the same time? Here are the best options to shop right now. The best ankle-cut light wash denim for spring Buy Now Express Mid Rise Light Wash Jean Leggings $47.94 Buy Now Madewell 9″ High-Rise Skinny Crop Jeans $69.99 Buy Now Everlane The Cheeky Straight Jean $68 Buy Now Old Navy High-Rise Distressed Straight Ankle Jeans $49.99 Buy Now Frame Le High Crop Skinny Jeans $205 Buy Now American Eagle Ne(x)t Level High-Waisted Jegging $37.46 Buy Now Reformation Stevie Ultra High Rise Jean $128 Buy Now Rag & Bone Ruth Super High-Rise Straight $295 Buy Now DL1961 Florence Ankle Mid Rise
The French girl secret to glowing is…water (yeah, I was surprised too)
March 15, 2019 at 11:49AM by CWC IMHO, French girls have got it right. From their minimalist outfits to the fact that wine, bread, and cheese are part of every meal, they seem to seriously know what they’re doing in all aspects of life—and that includes their skin-care routines. French women are known for having a certain je ne sais quoi surrounding their beauty regimens, and we recently discovered one of their secrets: water-based skincare. From micellar waters to mists, French pharmacies are stocked with all things H2O—for good reason. “Water makes up the majority of our bodies and organs, so it makes sense that the best thing for it is H2O itself,” says dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara. “It’s the best for skin health all around.” So, in the same way you drink water for the sake of your skin on a daily basis, using it topically can have effective hydrating effects too. And micellar waters, which are the ultimate French girl staple, come with their own set of benefits. They use tiny “micelles”—AKA specialized oil droplets suspended in water—to remove dirt and debris from your skin without drying out your dermis. “I love micellar waters,” says New York City-based dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD. “It’s such a smart concept for skin cleansers without the harsh detergents, scrubs, and cleansers that have sadly become the trend.” To find out how actual French women use water in their routines, I tapped Clémence von Mueffling, author of Ageless Beauty the French Way. “Your face is never as clean as
Millions of butterflies are dancing among the wildflowers in California—and you need to see it to believe it
March 15, 2019 at 11:11AM by CWC Okay, California, cool it with the spectacular natural phenomena! An overabundance of wildflowers has attracted millions of stunning painted lady butterflies en route to the Pacific Northwest. Sightings of painted lady butterflies have been scarce in recent years, but California’s rainy winter sparked a full-on Super Bloom in the desert this spring, providing the little caterpillars exactly what they needed to grow big and strong before metamorphosis. “Heavy rain in the deserts along the U.S.-Mexico border triggers ‘super blooms,’ and many of the annual plants involved are larval hosts of the painted Lady,” Arthur M. Shapiro, PhD, professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at U.C. Davis, tells me. “With abundant hosts, they can build up huge numbers very rapidly. Females lay hundreds of eggs, and their parasites and predators can’t predict where and when and can’t possibly catch up.” Front row seats to the painted lady #butterflymigration! #butterflies #paintedladies #Irvine #OrangeCounty pic.twitter.com/4w55GfF8VT — South Coast Research (@UCSouthCoast) March 12, 2019 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js California hasn’t experienced such a remarkable migration of cosmopolitan butterflies since 2005, when nearly a billion painted ladies attempted the trek. Most don’t complete the journey; the offspring of the first generation usually picks up where the others left off. But thanks to the super bloom, it’s a lot easier this time around as their favorite plant is readily available. Butterfly in the skkkyyy… #paintedladies @WindwardSchool pic.twitter.com/4YYV107br0 — Dr. Melanie Arias (@20thC_Melanie) March 12, 2019 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js “Painted lady butterfly caterpillars feed on thistles.
Poop tracking is your body’s form of bullet journaling—and this app makes it a cinch
March 15, 2019 at 10:55AM by CWC Part of the rise of gamification in modern American culture is that we’re all really (and I mean, really) into tracking the data of our daily lives. “Let’s strap smart devices on our wrists to keep in-real-time stats about our 10,000 step-regimen,” we say. “Let’s keep up with every egg movement in our menstrual cycle.” And I’m sorry—yet strangely satisfied—to report that the state of your stools is no exception. Using the free app pithily called Poop Tracker (Toilet Log), anyone can kick off their journey toward bowel movement mindfulness. That is, knowing exactly how your stool is fairing, 24/7. The app earns 3.3 stars in the app store and allows you to log each number two, so you can keep up with the quality and quantity. By recording the color and texture of each movement using the bristol stool scale, the idea is you become intimately familiar with how your meals are making their way through your bod. “These metrics can be important to determine if you have any bowel problems such as diarrhea, constipation, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), colitis, Crohn’s or other bowel problems,” the description reads. “This can also help you figure out whether your diet is causing problems with your poop schedule, poop consistency, or poop urgency.” Much to my personal delight, PTTL also wants to know the urgency of each trip to the bathroom. Was it a run don’t walk kind of situation? Did you just casually meander to the
Grab a bigger spoon, because we found a Nutella dupe with way less sugar
March 15, 2019 at 09:50AM by CWC Here’s an alternative theory that’ll rock your TRL-loving world: Back in 1997, when N’Sync first suggested that God must have spent a little more time on you, the group was not talking about you (or your middle-school crush, for that matter). Over twenty years later, I know now that they could only be talking about Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut & Almond Butter. This epiphany came to me yesterday—back when I thought my life was complete, I thought it was whole—when I tried said almond butter for the first time. Immediately I wondered, “Can this be true? Tell me, can this be real?” because the stuff tastes like a dead ringer for what I thought was my one true love: Nutella. Yet this new-to-me magic spread packs just over half of the sugar and way more protein than the stuff I’ve grown up loving. The Justin’s spread has been around for a few years, but certainly not as long as Nutella (which hit the shelves in 1964). So it stands to reason that Justin Timberlake was just prophesizing about the 21st-century miracle creation of a different brilliant Justin when he wondered, “How can it be that right here with me, there’s an angel? It’s a miracle.” Because, really, is there anything more worthy of a dedicated power ballad than a taste-worthy Nutella dupe that’s healthy to boot? Not in my book. (Sorry, Jessica Biel—it is what it is.) Even after adjusting for discrepancy in serving size,