February 14, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC I have a confession to make: This is the first Valentine’s Day in a decade that I’m totally, completely, no-prospects-in-sight single. Last summer, I finally put the nail in the coffin of a decade-long on-and-off relationship and called it quits for good. While spending V-day single doesn’t quite feel natural to me (hey, I’m a creature of habit, and I was coupled up for the last 10 of ’em), I’ve resolved to make the day perfect for celebrating the most important person in my life: myself. I consulted dietitians, fitness experts, and health coaches, to identify the best way to spend a solo Valentine’s Day. To host your own self-love fest, party of one, check out all the intel below. 1. Start your day with some mindfulness A mindfulness practice can manifest the feelings of love and support you want to channel. “A meditation class can be a great way to foster gratitude, openness, and love on Valentine’s Day—not get bogged down by feelings of loneliness or scarcity,” says healthy-lifestyle expert Natasha Uspensky. If you prefer to preserve your homebody status, just try starting the day with a few deep breaths and positive intentions. Doing so can help you channel feelings of love and support for yourself. 2. Eat mood-boosting foods One way to reclaim Valentine’s Day is to cook for yourself at home. “As far as I’m concerned, who would even want to go out for an overpriced, gimmicky meal?” says registered dietitian Lauren
Category: 2019 Health
I tried a bunch of different brow gels—these are the top performers
February 14, 2019 at 03:30AM by CWC If there’s one product in my makeup bag that makes me giddy and excited, it’s brow gel. To me, slicking down my arches is like putting on a perfect structured blazer—only, you know, on my face. Brows have the ability to frame the entire complexion in a matter of swipes, which is why I wanted to hunt down the best brow gels out there. Brow gels, kind of like mascara, differ in color, wand size, brush type, texture, and consistency. “The main thing with brow gels is getting a good brush and finding the right tone to match your hair color,” says Jimena Garcia, bicoastal brow pro. “Depending on the consistency, it can goop up, and it can be messy, so finding a consistency for you is key.” Just as with hair types, your brows, too, can differ in texture. “If you have thick, coarse hair, it’s really nice to have a softer gel, and if you have thin hair, it’s good to go with a thicker consistency,” says Garcia. “You also want to look for a really small brush.” As far as color goes, it’s more about the look you’re going for. If you want a bolder brow, Garcia says to go with a shade darker than your actual hair color. In terms of your style, Garcia says everyone should brush all of the brow hairs up. “Brushing them up makes them look thicker, and it automatically creates a wider brow. When you
The four-letter word for February that’s not love
February 14, 2019 at 03:30AM by CWC Love is in the air, and whether you’re single or partnered, spiritual empowerment coach Kelsey Patel has sage advice: Instead of seeking romance, seek freedom. Here, the Well+Good Council member explains the four-step process to opening your heart in a healthy, fulfilling, self-affirming way. You’ve heard it every single year for likely as long as you can remember. February is the month of love, Valentine’s Day, candy and chocolate, cards to classmates, red roses, extra-expensive February 14 dinners—and now, in the time of the wellness boom, everyone talking about self-love. So while you’re in the midst of all the highs, the lows, and those delicious magnetic and heart-opening vibes, I’d like to offer a fresh perspective—looking beneath and behind the bliss and romanticism to find something deeper and perhaps more expansive than even the high-vibe feeling that love brings. Freedom. Pure, open, expansive, and joyful freedom. In freedom lies your deepest truth: awareness of who you really are and what you truly desire. From that place of connection, you are able to express an even deeper form of love. Love to yourself, love into your work, love to the ones who you choose because you are free. How can you open your heart wide and create a life you imagine—a life of love? How else can you allow yourself to be free? So take a moment this February to find out where in your life you feel free, where you may feel stuck,
OK, but really, let’s clear up these long-held lies about six-pack abs
February 13, 2019 at 02:26PM by CWC The menu of benefits that comes with a workout is delectable: a boost in mental health, increase in energy and focus, improved sleep and sex…I could go on. But for many people, the #sixpack remains the pinnacle of fitness goals—and it has a hashtag with over 10 million posts to prove it. But what do visible abs actually say about someone’s health or fitness level? Not a whole lot, says Jessica Ash, a functional clinical nutritionist and certified personal trainer. She points out that the pursuit of a six pack can be a healthy one for some; but for other body types, it can signify that their diets are too restrictive, workouts that are too aggressive, or that their overall expectations are unrealistic. “I’m not demonizing having abs at all, but it’s important to know the facts and that everyone’s a little bit different,” says Ash. That’s because healthy recommendations for body fat in women tend to fall between 20 to 25 percent, while engineering a visible six pack requires dropping those body fat percentages down to somewhere between 16 to 19 percent (or lower), according to many trainers. Ash says that six-percent drop can bring on some unwanted side effects in women, including hormonal imbalances, which can cause amenorrhea (missed periods). “This is what you should think about before you work your butt off to try to attain that maybe unrealistic goal,” she advises. That’s not to say that there’s anything wrong with wanting to have a strong core. (A strong
Want to try keto but don’t eat meat? Introducing the Ketotarian diet
February 13, 2019 at 02:18PM by CWC When someone says the words “ketogenic diet,” the first things that come to mind are probably butter, bacon, and avocados. That’s because the trendy diet has a rep for being heavy on the animal-based fats. (Just look up “ketogenic recipes” and you’ll see what I mean.) This makes the eating plan appealing to carnivores…but what about those of us who might want to reap some of those much-touted keto benefits (less brain fog, balanced hormones, healthy weight management, etc etc) without loading up on meat? Enter the “Ketotarian” diet, outlined by Will Cole, D.C., functional medicine practitioner in his book Ketotarian: The (Mostly) Plant-Based Plan to Burn Fat, Boost Your Energy, Crush Your Cravings, and Calm Inflammation. He essentially argues that it is possible to go plant based (or mostly plant based) while still sticking to a ketogenic diet. Color me intrigued! Here’s what you need to know: What is the Ketotarian diet? Ketotarian takes the traditional ketogenic diet and adds a plant-based, pescatarian twist. “It allows those who prefer to be more plant-based or have sensitivities to these foods to still take advantage of the benefits of ketosis,” says Cole. A high-fat, moderate protein and very low-carb eating plan, the Ketotarian diet eliminates meat and dairy and focuses on plant-centric sources of fats. It also allows some animal sources of protein and fats, including eggs, ghee, and fish—although those foods aren’t required. If you’re vegan, you don’t eat them on this plan; if
Trainers agree that all of your workouts should start with this full-body move
February 13, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC I’ve noticed a trend in nearly every workout that I do these days: Before going ahead with the strength training session du jour, the instructor tends to always begin with a round of inchworms. No, the “inchworm” not a breakdancing move (despite sounding an awful lot like one)—It’s a hard full-body workout. You start by standing up with your feet at hips’ distance apart, then walk out with your hands into a plank while keeping your feet in place. Typically, at this point you’ll be instructed to do a push-up (ugh), then crawl your way back to standing, and then repeat. Inchworms sound deceptively easy, but once you get into them, they’re quite the challenge. “The inchworm is a great dynamic exercise used to warm up the entire muscular system. It focuses primarily on increasing flexibility throughout ones hamstrings as well as increases strength within ones shoulders chest and deltoids,” says Aaptiv Trainer Mike Septh. “It’s a great warm up because it increases stress throughout the entire muscular system through one movement.” And according to Michael Pugliese, a senior Barry’s Bootcamp instructor, in workouts where there’s a heavy load put on your muscles—particularly your upper body—it’s “imperative to warm-up and lubricate the shoulder joint.” And that’s where the inchworm comes in. It’s also great pre- or post-run, too, since the move helps stretch out your legs. “Whether it’s the first move of the day or after a run, the inchworm provides an all-important stretch for the entire posterior chain,” says
Your laundry detergent is probably causing breakouts, according to a dermatologist
February 13, 2019 at 12:58PM by CWC When my skin suddenly decided to become wildly sensitive a few years ago, my first thought was to change the products I used. Face wash, moisturizer, shampoo—these seemed like probable culprits. In spite of switching to natural options, the breakouts persisted. But while folding my floral-scented clothing fresh out of the dryer, I had a realization. It had to be my laundry. At first, I didn’t give much thought to the detergent I used to wash my pillowcases, towels, and clothing. But to stop my face breaking out, I had to make a change. Now, I’m not the only one who’s experienced problems from scented laundry detergent with irritating ingredients. In a recent thread on Reddit, hundreds of users had a discussion about having the same problem. When they used fragrance- and dye-free options, the pimples and cystic acne on their cheeks cleared up. Same with fabric softener. Plenty of people got itchy rashes and pimples until cutting it out of their routine. “It’s possible that you can be allergic to certain chemicals or fragrances in the detergent,” says New York City-based dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. “Even if your laundry machine is doing a good job during its rinse cycle, there’s often still residual product left on your clothes that can cause contact dermatitis.” To make sure your skin stays happy and clear, keep these tips in mind before your next load of laundry. Face breaking out? Here are 3 ways to change up your laundry habits
This beanless coffee allegedly tastes better than Starbucks
February 13, 2019 at 12:54PM by CWC Coffee made from coffee beans may soon be a thing of the past. First, brews made from adaptogenic mushrooms hit the scene. Then came nutrient-loaded cup of joe made from broccoli. And the latest option hacks the coffee bean to make waves on a molecular level. Despite the fact that it’s made without coffee beans, Atomo Coffee‘s “molecular coffee” still has the aroma, flavor, and caffeine content of the real thing. Allegedly, it tastes better, too. In one study, 70 percent of students actually liked it better than coffee from Starbucks. According to Taste of Home, that might be because the food scientists that created it took special care to ensure that it isn’t bitter, which means there’s less need to balance it out with creamer and sugar. With the high demand of coffee—hey, we’re a very tired bunch!—the substitute can ensure people still get their fix without depending on coffee trees, making Atomo’s beanless coffee a sustainable choice. Past research has shown the rising temps from climate change could not only cause major drought, but also disease that affects coffee plants. By 2050, half the land currently being used to produce coffee is projected to be totally useless. According to Atomo’s Kickstarter page, it doesn’t look like the molecular coffee will be available until this December at the earliest. But something so good definitely seems worth the wait. Here’s how your coffee habit could be making your anxiety worse. Or, find out how it could
Your A-to-Z guide to the passive-aggressive world of digital communication
February 13, 2019 at 12:16PM by CWC Help! I need a manual designed explicitly to help me navigate the nuance that is the letter/word/core value/feeling “K” in the digital age. For real, texting etiquette is complicated. As HuffPost discussed in an article on Tuesday, there are many leagues of significance in the messaging lexicon between “k,” “kk,” “OK,” and “okay,” okay? Picking which one to messenger off to your boss and which to send to your friends is a task in and of itself, but TBH, it’s really just the first frontier nailing down modern day communication jargon. If you took an audit of your text messages or company Slack messages right now, my guess is you’d find a fodder for a linguistics graduate student’s thesis. There’d be no shortage of ellipses, “LOL” and “lol,” “yep” and “yeah” and “sure.” My brain already hurts just thinking about it. Below, I’ve attempted to bring some sort of order to, well, modern day communication. Behold, the secret meanings of common digital language, from A to Z. Ahhhh: “You make very little sense to me as a human being.” By: “I don’t know how to spell ‘bye’” or “I spell ‘bye’ like this to rebel softly.” Bye: “I know how to spell ‘bye’ correctly, and I’d like everyone to know.” Byyyeee: “So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, Adieu!” Gotcha: “I really hate the feedback you just gave me, but you’re my boss” or “You’re my friend and I get you.” [Note: This one is hard to read. You need context.]
’90s barrettes and novelty clips are most definitely back—here’s how to wear them in 2019
February 13, 2019 at 11:35AM by CWC Mark my words: 2019 is going to be the year of maximalism when it comes to personal expression. Fashion is embracing what I’ve been screaming for forever: “More is more!” By my count, credit for this shift should really go to Alessandro Michele’s eclectic and sensory overladen direction of Gucci. His over-the-top aesthetic is permeating popular culture and bleeding into all facets of fashion—the latest being hair accessories. The clips, claws, and barrettes making an appearance truly everywhere (high fashion, fast fashion, street style, you name it) are essentially the same ones that once dominated the aisles of Claire’s mall shops in the ’90s. While these hair accessories do have a utilitarian function—keeping your hair out of your face—it’s less about that and more about the way they look like jewelry for your strands. The only real question is not whether or not to wear them, but rather, how do I actually make these look chic and grownup and not like I got ready in my eighth-grade bedroom? In my mission to make this work, I spoke to two bonafide experts: Justine Marjan, celebrity hairstylist and the designer behind some of the Kitsch hair accessories you’ve seen all over Instagram, and Christine Thompson, the co-founder of cult favorite hair salon Spoke & Weal, which has locations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville, and more cities here in the states. Marjan describes the clips and barrettes that are making a comeback as having “lots of