July 21, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC The worst time of day: when your alarm goes off and you really have to get up for work. The second worst time of day: when 3 p.m. hits and you’re freaking starving. Hello, hanger o’clock! Nice to see you again. (Not.) Surprisingly, hanger is a legit biological phenomenon. When blood sugar levels drop, it’s normal to feel a bit sad, mad, or just emotional. It can happen to any of us, even healthy eating experts. The difference between the wellness pros and, well, everyone else, is that they know what types of foods can help curb hanger (and prevent it from striking in the first place). Experts generally agree that meals and snacks containing protein and healthy fats are going to keep you full longer than carb-based ones, and affect blood sugar levels less—which means your mood will be more even, too. Of course a snack isn’t going to effectively ward off hanger if it isn’t satisfying. If it doesn’t hit the spot, chances are, you’ll be rummaging through the kitchen later 20 minutes later, looking for something that will. ad_intervals[‘408364_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408364_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); So what’s a healthy eater to do? Here, nine healthy eating experts share their favorite easy healthy snacks to ward off that dreaded afternoon sluggishness. Your stomach and mood will thank you. 1. Fiber-rich smoothies Celebrity nutritionist, best-selling author, and Well+Good Wellness Council member Kimberly Snyder, CN, starts every morning
Category: 2019 Health
The art of completing a phone call with an automated voice system—without having a meltdown
July 21, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC Recently, in the midst of step three of my health-insurance company’s automated customer service system to get my call directed to the correct department, I got sassed. “I’m sorry, you seem to have entered the ID number incorrectly,” the interactive voice response patronized. So I snapped back at what’s sure to be Siri’s demonic cousin: “You seem to be a dumb bitch.” Demonic Siri paused for a moment before continuing. “Okay, let me connect you with a representative.” But before that actually happened I had to hang up. It was time for therapy, because of course it was. I’ve been in steady battles with interactive voice response systems since I got on the birth control pill years and years ago—and my relationship with this techy monstrosity has been marked by nothing more significant than barrels of tears, skyrocketing cortisol levels, and expletives. Different brands use different systems with different voices, but in effect, they’re really all the same, and they manage to enrage me to equally high measures. Like, if could get what I need by simply getting online and navigating a website, do you think I would ever dare to make a phone call? And do you think it feels good to know that a robot alone can raise my symptoms of anxiety? No! That’s just embarrassing. And to all the “helpful” reasons that interactive voice response systems are kept in place, I say BS. The reality is that they’re designed to keep
Working your inner thighs can make your butt workouts even *more* effective
July 21, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC This morning, during a Solid[Core] Megaformer class (aka the hardest damn class I’ve ever taken), I straight-up got my ass kicked. I’ve been doing squats, lunges, and the like for practically a decade and a half, but this was the first time that a glute workout had me gritting my teeth and groaning out loud. The reason? Because it started with burning out my inner thighs. You see, your adductors—otherwise known as your inner thighs—work as stabilizers in a lot of compound movements, which is why we recently called them “the key to full body strength.” And so, burning them out before any sort of compound move will make that move a whole lot harder. “With less help from the stabilizers, your glutes will be forced to work harder,” says Solid[Core] studio manager Lisa Marlier. One way to bring your inner thighs to failure so your booty can get burning on max capacity (without having to head to a Megaformer class)? With gliders. Place them between your knees and the floor, and keep one knee stationary while moving the other out slowly to the side. Amplify the move by putting weights in your hands, and trust me—you will be feelin’ that fire. ad_intervals[‘408950_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408950_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Thankfully, putting your inner thighs through torture isn’t the only way to get the most out of your glute workout. “Putting more focus on what your hips are
10 pro-approved ways to make short eyelashes look twice their length
July 21, 2019 at 04:01AM by CWC As a lover of all things makeup, I feel like my lashes sometimes hold me back. Whether I’m rocking a bold colorful eye, or a no-makeup makeup look, I tend to crave long, striking lashes that can carry a look, whether they’re meant to be the main event or not. The truth is: My lashes are super short, and don’t stand out as much as I’d like, but short of getting lash extensions I’ve never been sure what to do. So, for a little help, I tapped makeup artists Camara Aunique and Molly R. Stern for their best tips and tricks to make short lashes double in size. How to make your eyelashes look longer, according to celebrity makeup artists 1. Apply your mascara tip to root: Aunique, makeup artist to Ava DuVernay and Angela Bassett, does this trick in two steps. First, she applies her mascara to each eye, from root to tip. Then, she adds a second coat, beginning to add the mascara at the tip of the lashes, and then working her way down to the root, which she explains lengthens and draws out the lashes. ad_intervals[‘408244_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408244_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); 2. Line your upper water line with black: Both Stern and Aunique recommend applying a black liner to your upper water line (AKA, the pink part under your lashes) and then smudging it into you lash line. For this, Aunique turns to
Why Megan Rapinoe’s workout recovery takes place underwater
July 21, 2019 at 03:01AM by CWC I’ll admit it: After a hard workout, usually my mind is more focused on what I’m going to eat when I get home, not on my recovery method. Sure, foam rolling feels hurts-so-good whenever I do it, and I know my tight muscles would benefit from five minutes of basic stretching, but when I hit the gym, I’m typically so focused on the actual workout that recovery is often forgotten. If anyone can inspire me to take it seriously, it would have to be U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team co-captain Megan Rapinoe, who blends aquatic therapy into her recovery routine. How can you not be inspired by the way Team USA gets out there and crushes it game after game? If I could go into my workouts the same way they go into games, well, let’s just say it would look a lot different. And of course part of consistently going out there and killing it is recovery. “I do everything to help my body recover,” Rapinoe tells me. “After games, I have a protein shake right away, as soon as I get off the field.” She also uses compression garments, especially for her tight calves. ad_intervals[‘408768_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408768_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); One of her favorite ways to recover is by jumping into the pool. “It’s one of the best things you can do as far as recovery goes,” she says. Why? Rapinoe explains that water
‘Banana eggs’ are the protein-packed sweet breakfast perfect for lazy mornings
July 21, 2019 at 02:02AM by CWC Jack Johnson’s “Banana Pancakes” is my Sunday morning anthem. I dance around the kitchen in my PJs and whip up my own spin on the song’s namesake. To be specific, they’re banana and egg pancakes that require just that: (one) banana and (two) eggs. Years after finding the beyond-simple recipe on Pinterest, I’ve made some gourmet tweaks of my own that—I think?—even Julia Child would applaud. But when my mood swings the opposite way and I’m feeling super lazy, banana eggs are my go-to twist on the recipe. Let’s talk batter, first. Whether you’re making the 1.0 pancake or the 2.0 scrambled eggs version of this recipe, you’ll need your two eggs and banana at the ready. Once you’ve smashed the banana into the bowl, crack both eggs, and combine well. Now, here’s where thing’s get fun! Over the years, I’ve added some combination of the following to the mix (please, please @ me if you have new ideas): ad_intervals[‘409382_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409382_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); • coconut • walnuts, pecans, or thinly sliced almonds • chia seeds • strawberries, blueberries, extra banana • cocoa (for a chocolate flavor) • chocolate chips • matcha • cinnamon (always, always!) • vanilla • almond or coconut flour (if I’m hungry for something heartier) • chocolate chips • protein powder View this post on Instagram Banana pancakes, anyone? 🥞🍌 #banana #bananapancakes #pancakes #recipes #eggs #egg #instagood #delicious #yum
Take care of your little one in the Big Apple with the help of 10 great parenting classes
July 20, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Living in the city that never sleeps is fun when you’re hungry for chaos at all hours of the night. It’s less fun, however, when you and your baby are skipping zzz’s for reasons that have nothing to do with bright lights or crowded bars. If there’s any city in which to enter parenthood fully prepared to avoid not only this but all other less-than-savory scenarios involving your child, it’s New York City. But because your search for “best parenting classes near me New York City” likely yielded a barrage of results, knowing where to start is tricky. Options in NYC abound when it comes to parental education, so the challenge isn’t so much finding the help as it is finding the right help. No matter your values and beliefs, the following curated list should help you narrow your options to find resources that work for you. Found: 10 great answers to your “parenting classes near me New York City” search. 1. Birth Day Presence Brooklyn-based Birth Day Presence is a winner of the Red Tricycle Totally Awesome Awards in the category of “Best Parent Education Programs”—so it’s clearly no slouch. Its founder, Jada Shapiro, is often cited as a parenting expert, too. At Birth Day’s Park Slope, Greenpoint/Williamsburg, and Union Square locations, childbirth education is the focus, with course-length offerings designed to fit every schedule (e.g. four-day, two-day, one-day, and crash). The company also offers a class that combines basics to know
Trainers agree: The term “muscle confusion” is actually a complete myth
July 20, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC Whenever I’ve overheard trainers saying that you’ve gotta “confuse your muscles,” I thought it was odd. My brain is confused enough throughout the day—when I workout, I just want to sweat it all out (which is hard enough as it is). I’d rather not give my body the physical equivalent of an algebra problem. Confusing your muscles, though, is a long-held idea that in order to get stronger, you’ve got to do completely different things to your muscles… which means switching up your workouts and the exercises that you do. “Muscle confusion is a phrase that has become popular as a solution to hitting a plateau in an exercise routine,” explains Judine Saint-Gerard, a head coach at Tone House, adding that it basically means that continuously changing your workout routine will prevent this plateau. “Although the general concept—the idea that your body will eventually adapt to repeating the same workout over a period of time—is correct, the specific terminology isn’t,” she says. ad_intervals[‘408603_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408603_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Other trainers I spoke with agreed: Muscle confusion is actually a myth. “Muscles really serve to stabilize our skeleton, move our body, or aid in life processes like breathing,” says Chris Hudson, an instructor at Barry’s Bootcamp. “To say that one is trying to confuse the muscles doesn’t really make sense—a better description of the concept would be varying your workouts in order to avoid hitting results plateaus.”
Germany is a clean-beauty hot spot—these are some of our fave products
July 20, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC I spent many of my formative years in Moscow, so I’ve been drawn to European skin care from an early age. Fortunately for me, that’s also made it easy to find clean beauty products. In Europe, 1,328 harmful ingredients are banned from beauty and cosmetics products, and brands abide by a strict law that prohibits animal testing. In America, only 11 ingredients are prohibited. With this statistic in mind, I’ve always preferred to buy products made in Europe. I also want my skin care to be rooted in some sort of science. I’m not one to slather a fruit or vegetable on my face just because someone, somewhere said it was good for perioral dermatitis. Throughout my studies and life as a beauty editor, I’ve found that my favorite results-driven product lines have all been founded by doctors and specialists of various fields. Upon inventory, most of them are made in Germany. For your convenience, we put together the best clean products that are made in Germany. Photo: Dr. Barbara Sturm Dr. Barbara Sturm This German queen of skin care was after blood. Dr. Barbara Sturm started her medical career as an orthopedic surgeon. After pioneering research on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and its effects on fast cell-turnover, injury recovery, and chronic pain, the mother of two decided to transition her research over to skin care. The well-known “Vampire Facial,” or micro-needling with PRP, was Dr. Sturm’s own creation. After building a cult celebrity
Is sustainable shopping doing more harm than good?
July 20, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC It seems that for the conscious consumer, it’s never been a better time to shop. H&M touts its “Conscious” collection (made with pineapple leaves!). Ikea plans to shave 80 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Everlane is turning plastic bottles into jackets. Dasani bottled water is now made with plastic “partially sourced from plants.” On the surface, it’s easier to make a better social and environmental impact—from carbon footprint to materials sourcing to packaging—as you shop for everything from clothing to kitchenware. And yet, even sustainable shopping and conscious consumerism won’t pull us out of the climate crisis. “I tend to be somewhat pessimistic about sustainable consumerism as a real solution to our environmental problems,” says professor and sociologist Brayden King, the Max McGraw Chair of Management and the Environment at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. “The only way that we can actually aggregate consumer choices to make a real dent on our carbon footprint is if nearly everybody makes sustainable consumer choices.” ad_intervals[‘385321_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘385321_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Part of the challenge, King says, is that consumers are creatures of habit. We might intend to buy the carbon-neutral $70 organic cotton tee, for instance—but it’s hard to resist the $9 tee with free shipping. Most people don’t know where to find sustainable products, or they might not be able to afford them. Even among people who want to buy sustainably produced products,