July 18, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC Hamstrings don’t get nearly the credit they deserve. They’re responsible for extending your legs and bending your knees, which are part of practically every movement you do on a day-to-day basis—especially when you’re in the gym. While your hamstrings may be in action during like, 90 percent of the fitness moves you do, it’s rare that most of us actually take the time to focus on them. Sure, we take time to stretch them (especially after runs, because yowza those puppies get tight), but when was the last time you went to a hamstring-targeting workout class? Never? Yeah, same. To be perfectly honest, ignoring hamstring strength is a rookie mistake, because stronger hamstrings can help you up the power in everything else you do—from running to walking to squatting to deadlifting (you get the picture). And so, we asked Le Sweat and Le Stretch founder Charlee Atkins to give us a full-on hamstring workout. Your hammies—and the rest of your body, TBH—will eventually thank you for it. ad_intervals[‘408912_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408912_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Set 1: Four moves, 30 seconds each (with 10 seconds of rest in between), two times through 1. Knee pull: Stand up tall and hug one knee at a time into your chest as a nice way to warm up and lengthen your hamstring and come into hip flexion before a workout. For the second round, kick your legs straight out in front of
Category: 2019 Health
Sexperts answer the dirtiest dozen questions about sex they get asked most often
July 18, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC As a sex writer, asking professionals (sexologists, sex and relationship therapists, doctors, educators, you name it) questions that many would regard as totally TMI is part of my average day. What do I do when I have a burning question about sex (like whether analingus is safe and sanitary or how acceptable it is to share a sex toy with multiple partners) that may make others blush? Easy. I just tap my network of pros to get a well-rounded answer from several points of view. Even though most people’s job descriptions don’t include routinely (or even rarely) asking such questions, a lot of us are curious about the same exact conundrums. That’s why I asked sex educators to share the top questions they’re asked most frequently—plus how they respond. Keep scrolling to get down to business. Sex educators answer the dozen dirty questions they get asked most often. 1. “Can a sex toys hurt my relationship?” “Sex toys are all about enhancing your sexual experiences—not replacing anything or anyone. Whether it’s high-speed vibrations or a tingling change in temperature, sex toys can add sensations you’ve never felt. Sometimes we simply don’t have enough hands to touch all the parts at the same time, so sex toys can be a fantastic, not detrimental, asset in that regard.” ad_intervals[‘404510_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404510_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); —Dominnique Karetsos, sex expert at inclusive sex-toy company MysteryVibe 2. “Is it okay to
What a healthy plate looks like on the ketogenic diet
July 18, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Meal planning is hard enough—researching recipes, planning what to make, shopping for ingredients, and cooking the damn food are all time consuming on their own. But for people on the keto diet, the menu choices get even more limited. That’s because the low-carb, high-fat eating plan has very particular macros that can limit one’s food options (sorry, but pasta and rice are totally out the window). The typical keto diet macros are: 75 to 80 percent of calories from fat, 15 to 20 percent from protein, and only 5 to 10 percent from carbs, says Sam Presicci, MCN, RD, LD, CPT, lead registered dietitian at Snap Kitchen. People might play with those macros depending on their particular health goals and needs, or on their particular interpretation of keto; the “Ketotarian” diet, which advocates for a more plant-based approach, allows for up to 15 percent of calories from carbohydrates. ad_intervals[‘408931_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408931_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Why the intense focus on macros, you ask? Basically, this is the ratio of fats to carbs that allows a person to achieve ketosis—when the body switches from burning carbohydrates to fats as its primary source of energy. Ketosis “unlocks” keto’s main potential health benefits, from effective weight management to balanced blood sugar, reduced inflammation, and increased mental clarity. Thus, how you build your plate at mealtime is key to ensuring you stay in ketosis and maintain adequate nutrition. “Done correctly, a
Wide-leg active pants are apparently back—and giving me major 2003 flashbacks
July 18, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Way before leggings became a force of fitness fashion, there were what my college friends and I called “yoga pants”—you know, those stretch cotton bottoms with a wide fold-over waist and bootcut legs. (Yes, I’m one of those old millennials.) We’d put them on for class with a hoodie, to run errands with flip-flops, and, naturally, to yoga classes in the student gym, usually with the spaghetti-strap tank tops we wore out the night before. Soon after I graduated in 2004, my beloved yoga pants went the way of low-rise jeans and bedazzled trucker hats, soon to be replaced by second-skin leggings in high-tech performance fabrics. But, to my surprise, wide leg yoga pants appear to be on the way back in—at least, if a handful of popular activewear labels have anything to say about it. While online shopping the other day, I came across several examples of the look with serious throwback vibes. On-the-rise brand Celestine is making the old-school style modern with wrinkle-proof fabric and a high, vertically-seamed waistband. Year of Ours‘ wide-leg sweatpants share the same silhouette, but in a soft cotton material that’s better suited for recovery days. And there are plenty of options that more closely resemble the yoga pants of my youth, perhaps because the brands never discontinued them in the first place. (Hard Tail, I’m looking at you.) ad_intervals[‘407269_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407269_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); If you ask Year of
On the Cusp: What it means when your birthday is on the cusp of Cancer and Leo
July 17, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Each month with On the Cusp, we point our astrological magnifying glass on all the people born between two zodiac signs. Because when your birthday falls at either the tail end or very beginning of your sun sign’s season, your personality may be influenced by your cosmic neighbor. Deep in the midst of summer, Cancer and Leo are getting their turn. Below, Stefanie Iris Weiss, astrologer and co-author of Surviving Saturn’s Return: Overcoming the Most Tumultuous Time of Your Life, explains how Group Mom Cancer and Proud Queen Leo may exist in one star-powered person. Cancer season is coming to a close, so wave good-bye to the crustaceans riding emotional waters, and prepare for the lions, because Leo—in a near-opposite move of its crabby astrological neighbor—is about to take center stage (typical). But when you’re born between these completely, on the Cancer Leo cusp, what does that mean for your personality? First, remember that when it comes to being on the cusp, you are always one sign and simply shaded with notes from the other one in question. In this case, it means you’re either a Cancer swayed by Leo traits or a Leo swayed by Cancer traits. Below, learn what you can expect when these claws and paws go hand in hand. ad_intervals[‘408362_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408362_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); But first, Cancer personality traits look a little like this: Cancers are known for being intuitive, nurturing, and
Celebrate National Hot Dog Day with avocado and 4 more unexpected wiener toppings
July 17, 2019 at 11:31AM by CWC Okay, so, I love hot dogs. They’re legit my favorite summer food. If you invite me to a backyard party in this ungodly heat and there are no hot dogs, I’m leaving. They’re irrefutably the best part of going to a baseball game, and they’re the only reason I know how to broil (yes, I know, not difficult, but still a meaningful lesson). Today is National Hot Dog Day, and the perfect opportunity to invite you into my hot dog dreamland, giving you topping ideas that’ll blow your mind faster than you can say Oscar Mayer. You’re welcome. 5 unexpected hot dog recipes for hot summer days (and every day) Hawaiian Dog Picture this: you’re on your deck, the grill is fired up, and as you roast your dogs, you also throw on some pineapple. Dice the pineapple, add some caramelized onions and you’ve got a savory-sweet weenie. ad_intervals[‘408799_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408799_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Avo-wow-do Dog In case you haven’t noticed, avocados are kind of a big deal here at Well+Good. Given that hot dogs are kind of the OG alt-meat (can you really call that meat?), pairing them with the Omega-3 it-girl is like, almost on brand. Mashed, sliced—doesn’t matter. Do your avo your way, and maybe take it to the next level by adding salsa and sautéed corn, onion and black beans. Cuban Dog This is all the goodness of the Cuban sandwich, but on
The weather might be causing your nightmares—here’s how to get some ZZZs when temps rise
July 17, 2019 at 11:06AM by CWC As an adolescent, I had a recurring nightmare that the green villain from Scooby Doo known as The Creeper was chasing me through a roller skating rink. I’ve since outgrown this terrifying (and, yes, comical) edition of “What is my mind?” But now that New York City—and much of the East Coast, apparently—is in the thick of a record-breaking heat wave, The Creeper’s lackeys have returned to haunt my dreams. Unsurprisingly, in fact, since balmy summer evenings have been linked with less-than-serene dreams. Neil Stanley, PhD, ex-chairman of the British Sleep Society, told Daily Mail that warmer rooms are basically a pressure cooker for nightmares. “In order for us to get a good night’s sleep, we need to lose around 1°C of our internal body temperature, which sits at around 37°C (99°F),” Dr. Stanley said. While that heat typically escapes via our head, which isn’t tucked under the duvet, that’s not the case when your bedroom feels more like a sauna. “If you’re sleeping in a room which is too warm, your body’s core temperature is unable to lose that heat and your sleep will be disturbed,” said the doc. As a result you’re more likely to experience rapid eye movement, and your dreams will be vivid, easier to recall in the a.m., and yes—way more frightening than usual. ad_intervals[‘408738_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408738_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); “If you’re sleeping in a room which is too warm, your body’s
Make your salad dressing extra beneficial for your gut and immunity with this secret ingredient
July 17, 2019 at 11:00AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3up3ZMVPJ0] Sorry, mushroom coffee, but this salad dressing makes eating medicinal mushrooms way tastier. Watch the video. When we think mushrooms, we think of the delicious ones that we love on pizzas and in stir fries…and the psychedelic ones that just got decriminalized in Denver. But fun fact: There are over 270 varieties of medicinal mushrooms, and, as herbalist and holistic health practitioner Rachelle Robinett explains in the latest episode of Plant Based, they’re great for immunity and gut health. “Medicinal mushrooms are immunomodulators, so that means that they help our immune system to function at an appropriate level,” Robinett says—basically, they can help balance your immune system to potentially prevent it from over- or under-reacting. This is achieved thanks in part to compounds called beta-glucans, which are in the cell walls of many medicinal mushrooms. “When we eat [beta-glucan], it travels into our lower intestine and binds to a certain receptor,” she says. There, the beta-glucans tell our immune system to activiate itself with the “appropriate tools,” Robinett says, like T cells, to stay healthy. ad_intervals[‘408682_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408682_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); She adds that medicinal mushrooms are also fantastic prebiotics—meaning that they’re rich in the starches and fiber that gut bacteria feed on in order to thrive. The downside of medicinal mushrooms…they don’t taste very good, Robinett says. “It can be really tough to eat medicinal mushrooms in large quantities,” she admits. “So having it
Urban Outfitters is a secret skin-care paradise—here’s what you can buy for under $20
July 17, 2019 at 10:47AM by CWC I never really felt cool when I was growing up until I discovered Urban Outfitters. Once I waltzed through the store’s collection of boho-slash-vintage-looking clothes (like the vintage renewal baseball jersey that I still have) and cute AF jewelry, I finally felt like I could dress up the way I always wanted to but never could. So I’m happy to report that my OG favorite store still kills it with its beauty selection, which is actually really good. I don’t remember Urban Outfitters having skin-care products when I went there as a teen (which is quite some time ago, mind you), but they’ve been slowly curating their shelves with some actual top-notch finds. Like, they have everything. Prefer slathering on indie beauty serums? Check. Like to stock up on cult-favorites and buzzy ingredients? Check and check. Wanna discover new brands to get your skin glowy? Yup, got that too. ad_intervals[‘408770_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408770_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Urban’s skin-care section is so chock-full of beauty gems that it’s kind of overwhelming. But I challenged myself to pick out the best of the best… that you can get for under 20 bucks (ya know, so you have more money to spend on those clothes, too). So I’ve rounded up the true steals you can score at Urban Outfitters, from active serums to pimple patches, cult beauty favorites (they’ve got Mario Badescu!), and really unique products that I’ve never even seen
Sophia Roe loves this gluten-free condiment so much, she brings it with her to restaurants
July 17, 2019 at 10:37AM by CWC Once in a while, I bring my own salad dressing and vegan cheese slices to restaurants—a girl’s gotta go what a girl’s gotta do. And I’m not alone. Chef and wellness expert Sophia Roe doesn’t run the risk of not having the right condiment on hand either—especially when she hits up her favorite sushi spots. Because of that, her “what’s in my bag” would most definitely include a bottle of coconut aminos. Coconut aminos have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. Brands such as Coconut Secret and Bragg continue to fly off the shelves, but even Trader Joe’s sells its own version in stores and on Amazon. Touted as a healthy alternative to soy sauce, it’s made of fermented coconut blossom nectar from coconut palms. Even though it still has that beloved umami flavor, coconut aminos contain about 70 percent less sodium than traditional soy sauces, depending on the brand you buy. ad_intervals[‘408691_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408691_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); “I love coconut aminos for so many reasons. Firstly, it’s a great soy-free soy sauce option, but also wonderful for those who are avoiding gluten as well,” Roe says. “It’s also a less salty, perfectly balanced soy sauce in terms of flavor. I use it on everything. It’s probably my favorite on steamed veggies, salad, or any protein—and of course sushi. A little goes a long way.” Roe also says coconut aminos make for an excellent alternative to