March 11, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC I have been to roughly a bajillion workout classes and can confidently say that I’m adept at doing everything that’s required of me: squats, sprints, and even burpees. Still, I’m surprised every time that I get pre-workout anxiety. Before I go into a class—particularly a more intense one—I feel butterflies in my stomach as if I’m a middle schooler gathering up the courage to speak to my crush. My heart rate shoots up, I start pre-sweating, and a wave of nervousness washes over me. What the heck gives? “Pre-workout anxiety and jitters are very common, even for people who work out on a regular basis,” says Janine Delaney, PhD, psychologist and fitness expert. “Sometimes the thought of knowing you have to work out on certain days can cause stress and anxiety that feels counterintuitive.” Ain’t that the truth. Essentially, your emotions are signaling a “threat”—in the form of a spin class or hot yoga sesh—which makes you question your confidence and ability to tackle the task at hand. Whether it’s a class you’ve been to before or not, it all comes down to how your body’s processing what’s about to happen. “When you look at the nervousness and anxiety symptoms, it’s a fight or flight response in the body, which is a chemical reaction,” explains Hillary Cauthen, PsyD, CMPC, a certified mental health performance consultant with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Essentially, your emotions are signaling a “threat”—in the form of a spin
Category: 2019 Health
3 steps for channeling your inner assertive HBIC and getting exactly what you want
March 11, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Think back to the last time you were seated by the restrooms at a restaurant or when your partner forgot to take out the trash for the third consecutive day. Did you say anything? No judgment if you took the “Oh, no worries!” route. Assertiveness might not be your forte right now, but it certainly can be tomorrow. But, to be clear, while being chronic people pleaser isn’t the goal, neither is constantly wearing metaphorical boxing gloves. If either of these archetypes seems to describe you, it’s worth working to reframe your thinking in order to approach your communication-style more openly. Being assertive doesn’t mean being a bully; rather, it’s about having the skills to express your needs and wants in a direct, honest way while staying respectful of the other person. If you don’t want to be a doormat, you can’t treat others like one, either. Communication #goals is being able to both resolve conflicts and also stand up for yourself—i.e. being assertive. Productive assertiveness helps to quell resentment, and it also has a domino effect in strengthening relationships and harnessing inner confidence. “You’re trying to say, ‘I need to voice my complaint in a way that this person can actually receive it and make a change from it,’” says therapist Kerrie Thompson Mohr, LCSW. Basically, remove your verbal crutch of “they just doesn’t understand” from your vocabulary. And if this doesn’t come easily to you, it’s not game over. Mohr says assertiveness isn’t
20 ways to have fruit for dessert that are so good, you’ll actually crave ’em
March 11, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC I have never been someone who’s content with a piece of fruit for dessert. Even as a wellness journalist and certified holistic health coach, I stock up on ripe strawberries and oversized oranges with the intention of savoring them after dinner. But then I think about the dairy-free pint of Ben & Jerry’s I have in the freezer or my dark chocolate Hu Kitchen bar (hey, it has antioxidants!), and, well, more often than not, that fruit ends up forgotten until breakfast. If, like me, your best intentions of having fruit for dessert remain just that, intentions, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve scoured the Internet for the very best healthy fruit desserts that are so enticing you’ll actually crave them. Fruit for dessert? It’s happening. Keep reading for 20 healthy fruit desserts. Photo: McKel Hill 1. Stewed apples with warming spices One way to turn fruit into an instant comfort food: Warm them up—which is exactly what Well+Good Council member McKel Hill, RDN does with her recipe for spiced-up stewed apples. Instead of adding sugar, she blends flavorful spices like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. They’re delicious as is, or you can drizzle some nut butter on top for added protein. Photo: Hummusapien 2. Stuffed pear crisp It turns out that pears pair (ha!) well with more than just goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. They serve as the centerpiece in this delish dessert from blogger Hummusapien, with oat flour, coconut sugar,
Cilantro vs. parsley: Everything you need to know about the curiously divisive debate
March 10, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC If you’ve ever rushed through the grocery store and grabbed a bundle of cilantro when you were really after parsley (or vice versa), you’ve probably found out the hard way: Cilantro and parsley are definitely not the same. And if you’ve ever accidentally served cilantro to a parsley fan, you might have gotten an earful about it (including the s-word: soapy). People get heated about these leafy green herbs. But confusing the two is an honest mistake—and a common one, at that. After all, when you’re zooming through the produce section, the two look almost identical. And, hey, they do have a few similarities beyond their looks. But there are differences between parsley and cilantro when it comes to their health benefits, how they’re used, and most of all, their flavors. Cilantro vs. parsley—what’s the difference? 1. Parsley has a milder flavor, while cilantro is bolder. Between the two, parsley is the tamer of the herbs. “Parsley has a mild flavor complex with a slightly peppery, spicy, yet very fresh and bright flavor,” says Nashville-based dietitian Jenny Beth Kroplin, RD, LDN. Some people also get a lemon vibe from parsley. On the other hand, “cilantro imparts an earthy flavor, similar to a blend of lemon and sage,” says Patricia Bannan, MS, RDN, a Los Angeles-based nutritionist and healthy eating expert. But while it does have some similar tasting notes to parsley, cilantro’s flavor is much stronger. That’s partly why cilantro tends to be
The overlooked erogenous zones that could use (a lot) more love
March 10, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC For me, the term “erogenous zones” conjures a bygone era—one where “What do women want?!” could be a non-ironic headline uttered by a Ron Burgundy clone. It feels oh so ’80s somehow, right up there with IUDs and “What’s your sign?” Well, life is weird. Here we are decades later, and astrology is more popular than ever. IUDs are suddenly the queen of the contraceptive world. And erogenous zones are back. As a new generation expresses female desire like never before, everybody wants to have better sex. And why not? Studies show it’s great for your physical health, your mental health, and even your skin. If you are living in a female body (or you’re attracted to people who are), you probably are already familiar with the erogenous zones that get the most attention: the nipples, the clitoris, the vulva, and the neck. For others, a foot rub is heaven—or a (mutually agreed-upon) booty smack. “When we start to receive stimulation in areas that are not often touched, those sensations can feel heightened and can create a more exciting awareness.” —Sexologist Megan Stubbs, EdD But sexologist Megan Stubbs, EdD, says things are not quite that simple. If you’ve got the body parts listed above in your regular rotation, she urges you to go beyond Sex 101. “Basically, [it’s] all about touching areas that don’t frequently get as much love as the more popularized ones. When we start to receive stimulation in areas that are
The (astrological) new year is coming up—here’s why that’s a huge opportunity
March 10, 2019 at 05:01AM by CWC So, New Year’s Day was January 1. The Lunar New Year was February 4. But we’re not done with new beginnings yet! The astrological new year (when we start Aries season, the first sign in the zodiac) is coming up. And in honor of this fresh start, we’ve given Cosmic Health a bit of a makeover—to reflect the fact that astrology is not only crazy popular, it is creating increasingly sophisticated readers who can talk retrogrades and a rising suns with the best of them. Here, astrologer Jennifer Racioppi gives you an extra in-depth look at the whole week rather than day-by-day guidance, delving deeper into the cosmic conditions shaping the next few days (and giving you lots of fodder for celestial chats with your astro-obsessed pals). As we embrace the last full week of winter, we come to an ending—perhaps many. Astrologically we are wrapping up the sun’s transit through the last sign of the zodiac, before forging forward into a fresh new beginning. On March 20, the sun moves from Pisces into Aries, marking the vernal equinox. Zero degrees of Aries initiates the beginning of the zodiac, so many astrologers refer to the vernal equinox as the astrological new year. When the sun moves into the sign of the Ram, as it will on March 20 at 5:58 p.m. Eastern, it crosses the equator, creating relatively equal lengths of day and night. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, represents cardinal fire, meaning it
J.Lo and A-Rod are engaged! Proving that swolemates are soulmates
March 10, 2019 at 12:36AM by CWC Yeah, relationships are work. But Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez put in werk together—as in, they hit the gym side-by-side on the reg. And now these superstar gym rats are engaged, sharing the news and a pic of the ring Saturday night on Instagram. That’s right, the ultimate fitness couple (sorry, Gisele and Tom) are headed for Mr.-and-Mrs. status. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on Mar 9, 2019 at 5:34pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js Lopez and her MLB superstar boo go big with their fitness routines together, doing stair sprints, burpees, and barbell squats like it’s NBD—and pushing each other to go hard with some friendly competition. They even got up early on New Year’s Day to hit the gym together (and ‘Grammed it, of course). In addition to being all about the sweat, these two are also pretty darn sweet when it comes to declarations of love (yeah, we saw those matching Christmas jammies). “A soulmate isn’t someone who completes you. No, a soulmate is someone who inspires you to complete yourself. A soulmate is someone who loves you with so much conviction, and so much heart, that it is nearly impossible to doubt just how capable you are of becoming exactly who you have always wanted to be,” Rodriguez posted on his Instagram Story hours before the engagement was announced, Entertainment Tonight reported. And to celebrate the pair’s two-year anniversary last month, Lopez wrote on Instagram: “You make
5 chic shoe brands that are made in the USA, for more sustainable style
March 09, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC If “made in America” brings to mind one of those obnoxious beer commercials with fire and bulls and bald eagles—same. But as I began to be a more conscious consumer, I realized the impact domestic craftsmanship can have, from an ecological and sustainability standpoint. Brands are also taking note of this. Shoemakers like Astara Collective and Zuzii are creating high-quality shoes here in the US—offering up new, chic options for anyone who values earth-friendliness as much as style. “Shoes are hard because when you’re shipping overseas, they take up a lot of space because they’re being shipped in shoe boxes,” says Mariah K. Lyons, the founder of Astara Collective, who says environmental impact was a key concern as she designed her line. “So the cargo is that much heavier, which obviously makes the plane or ship that much heavier.” AKA it creates a bigger carbon footprint to ship boxes of shoes overseas. By offering her shoes direct to the consumer, and manufacturing in downtown Los Angeles, she’s able to bypass that wasted energy. “I also love having a personal relationship with my team, both on the production and the artisan side,” she says. For your (sustainable) shoe-shopping pleasure: Here are five brands that are made in America. That’s right, it’s a shoe party in the USA. Astara Collective, $422-$435 Each sandal is designed in Venice, CA, and handcrafted in downtown Los Angeles out of vegetable-tanned leather. The minimalist design of the slide is
Some bralettes are too cute not to be seen—here are 9 genius ways to style them
March 09, 2019 at 09:00AM by CWC IMHO, a bralette is a perfect article of clothing. Aside from holding your boobs in place without any pesky (and often painful) underwire, there’s something about the lacy unmentionables that make me want to mention them, loudly, from the rooftops. Or at least wear them very publicly and on full display outside of my clothes as part of an outfit. If you want to know how to wear a bralette as part of your springtime #lewk, it’s first important to understand what, exactly, this heaven-sent closet staple actually is. A bralette is basically a bra without all of the uncomfortable bells and whistles. There’s no underwire or clasp, which somehow puts it in a category smack in between “lingerie” and “clothing,” and means it can easily serve double duty as both. They’re pretty, sexy, and so cozy that I’d go so far as to call them the clothing equivalent of the Lovesac. The best part, though, is that you can enjoy the wonders associated with wearing a bralette whether you’re a 32A, a 40D, or anywhere in between. Thanks in large part to the fashion industry’s movement toward size inclusivity, there are a lot of supportive—and more importantly, sexy—options out there. One W+G staffer is a fan of Cosabella’s Never Say Never bralette ($66) and The Evolution bralette ($80) for her own DDs, and The Lively Busty Bralette ($45) is a fan-favorite that goes up to a size 38DDD. So if my true obsession has you feeling inspired to try
Who knew Gayle King was such a Zen badass? Let’s take a look at her wellness resume for clues
March 09, 2019 at 06:56AM by CWC This is the week that everyone stood up and took notice of Gayle King. Not for being Oprah’s best friend. Or even for being the co-host of CBS This Morning who survived years in the anchor chair next to Charlie Rose—a feat that became infinitely more impressive once we learned of his #MeToo mess. No, this time, King earned brand new social media stripes for something she did on her own: being absolutely unflappable and unfazed in the face of Performative Male Rage during her interview with R. Kelly. (Other examples of the genre: Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump, and cheating boyfriends everywhere, when they get caught.) View this post on Instagram @rkelly sits down for first intvu since @survivingrkelly doc & let’s just say he has lots to discuss tomorrow @cbsthismorning… A post shared by Gayle King (@gayleking) on Mar 5, 2019 at 4:39pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js For all of us who underestimated King as Oprah’s perennial plus-one—and are still reeling from the documentary Surviving R. Kelly and subsequent charges of criminal sexual abuse filed against the R&B star—it was a stunning cultural moment. But how did we sleep on King for so long? Being anointed by Oprah and rising to become CBS’ MVP in the news division should have been hints of the steeliness underneath her sunny TV persona. And the fact is, you don’t achieve that level of strength, composure, and rolling-your-eyes calm spontaneously—you have to put in a lot of