July 17, 2019 at 08:52AM by CWC As far as incognito exercises go, nothing flies under the radar quite like Kegels. At any given moment, someone in direct proximity of you might be flexing their pelvic floor muscles and you wouldn’t even know. it. If you ask any OB/GYN, they’ll tell you the benefits of the subtle muscle contraction known as Kegel exercises are the fitness equivalent of a fire emoji for your nether regions. First, the basics: What are Kegels, anyway? Developed in the 1940s as a non-surgical method to prevent urinary incontinence by—you guessed it—American gynecologist Arnold H. Kegel, MD, the exercise has long been embraced by the medical community for its effectiveness in strengthening the pelvic floor. “Many people are taught that the strength is gained through contracting these muscles only—or doing high repetitions of contractions—but in order to do them properly, the contraction must also be followed by a full release,” says OB/GYN Adeeti Gupta, MD, founder of Walk In GYN Care in New York City. Like performing a perfect abdominal crunch, contracting the muscles on the way up is just as important as slowly releasing them on the way down. Only, in this case, I’m talking about the muscles from your pubic bone to your tailbone—not your abs. ad_intervals[‘408607_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408607_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); The reasons to exercise your pelvic floor are plenty. “This network of muscles is responsible for holding all the organs of the pelvis bowl
Category: 2019 Health
How long does it take to get a passport renewed? Now just 24 hours, so don’t panic
July 17, 2019 at 08:39AM by CWC A surefire ways to enter panic-mode is realizing your dust-covered passport is expired—and you’re leaving for Paris, like, tomorrow. In the past, you had two choices: Taking your chances with a sketchy online expedited passport service, or praying to the passport gods that some miracle would save you from having to cancel your vacation. But now, thanks to FedEx, you can renew it safely within 24 hours. Typically, a passport renewal takes 6 to 8 weeks to process—not the best option for last-minute emergencies. According to Afar, FedEx is giving panicked travelers some peace of mind through a new partnership with the expedited passport service RushMyPassport. Whether you need to renew your passport—or get a completely new one—you can do so by popping by one of 2,000 FedEx Office locations across the country. You can even get your passport photos taken right then and there. But it’ll cost ya. ad_intervals[‘408722_div-gpt-ad-6934292-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408722_div-gpt-ad-6934292-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-6934292-3’);}); } }, 100); To get a passport within 11 to 14 days, the service runs $99. Prices escalate dramatically from there depending on the time frame, topping out at $449 for same-day, 24-hour service. Add to that the U.S. State Department’s separate service fee of $170 for rush orders, and your bank account balance might be hurting by the time you have your passport in your hand… but at least you’ll make that flight! Aside from getting your passport situation figured out, here are
How secret Facebook groups became an underground community for women’s health
July 17, 2019 at 08:13AM by CWC For as long as I can remember, seeking alternative outlets for health-care information has been a part of my sexual-wellness routine. As a queer, cisgender, white, able-bodied woman, the reason is two-fold: First, the in-school sex education I received is best explained with the face-palm emoji. And second, most doctor offices are no better. A physician once looked at me with equal parts incredulity and suspicion when I asked if very viscous discharge is normal (BTW, it is)—and don’t get me started on the awkward stammering I heard after asking another doc how to have safe queer sex. These examples may be specific to me, but unfortunately, instances of inadequate baseline education in school, compounded by lacking treatment, information, and advice given in the doctor’s office is a too-common experience. According to a 2016 study from consultancy Prophet and GE Healthcare Camden Group of 3,000 consumers, 81 percent report being unsatisfied with their health-care experience. ad_intervals[‘408586_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408586_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); If that sounds grim, it’s because it is, and perhaps it’s that very lack of patient satisfaction that’s giving way to alternative outlets for information currently gaining popularity. Below, learn more about several problems with current health-care offerings, and why the shortcomings have allowed room for Instagram and, more recently secret Facebook groups, to provide a forum and community for sharing knowledge, gaining power, and claiming personal agency. What’s going on with our country’s sex
To nail mountain climbers, repeat after me: planks but make ’em cardio
July 17, 2019 at 08:10AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnyTQDSE884] Fire up your core and shoulders with mountain climbers—watch how to do them correctly, here. Mountain climbers are one of those workout moves—much like burpees and jumping lunges—that I could actually write full-fledged hate mail to. Seriously. I can never seem to do them for 30 seconds straight without struggling or falling flat onto the floor in utter despair. But, that’s all about to be a thing of the past. Superstar trainer Charlee Atkins is here to show us how they’re done like a pro in our latest episode of Well+Good’s video series The Right Way. “Oftentimes, what we do is have our butt up in the air, which causes our shoulders to come away from our wrists,” she explains of the common mistake that she sees people make with the move. “Then, I have no room to bring my knees into my chest—so then I’m not even really working my core.” That makes going up that mountain that much more difficult, not to mention pointless if you’re not working your abs. ad_intervals[‘408629_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408629_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); To nail mountain climbers, Atkins says you’ve gotta keep three main things in mind: 1. Stay flat and straight: From your plank position, you should have a straight line from your head to your heels with your back completely flat. 2. Keep your shoulders in line with your wrists: To truly work your core and your arms, Atkins says
Scandinavian beauty believes your skin-care routine should be 3 steps max
July 17, 2019 at 08:01AM by CWC When I studied abroad in Copenhagen during my junior year of college, there was a lot to get used to: There were approximately four hours of daylight, sandwiches only had one piece of bread, and everyone looked like straight-up supermodels. Seriously: In the six months I spent living in Scandinavia—which encompasses Denmark, Sweden, and Norway—nearly every person I came across looked healthy, happy, (it is the happiest country in the world), and more than that, their skin was just so good. We’re talking the type of all-over, inside-out glow that’s enough to make you want to stop someone in their tracks and ask them what products they use. But as I learned, the answer for most Scandinavians is: “not that many.” While maximalism and the 10-step skin care routine has dominated the conversation over the past few years thanks to the rise of K-Beauty in the United States, Scandinavians do things differently. In fact, it’s rare to find anyone in Scandinavia using more than three (maybe four) products on their face in a given day. “S-beauty takes a holistic approach to beauty. It’s about finding balance in all the important aspects of health: what to eat, how to exercise, what to apply to the skin and hair,” explains Christinah Nicolaisen, co-founder of Swedish beauty brand Eleni & Chris. “Overall, it’s about how to live our best, happiest lives.” ad_intervals[‘408152_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408152_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Sounds pretty good,
How to eat healthy at the Whole Foods hot bar, according to a registered dietitian
July 17, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC The siren call of the Whole Foods hot bar can be strong. (Specifically, the smell of the jalapeno mac-and-cheese.) Maybe it lures you in on days when you want to treat yourself to a lunch you didn’t have to meal prep. Or maybe it calls to you on nights when you’re getting home late and don’t have the mental energy to figure out what to make for dinner. What’s certain about the hot bar—and the adjoining salad bar for that matter—is that it’s reliable, fast, and at least somewhat satisfying. However, hot food bars (even the healthy Whole Foods kind) can be tricky to navigate. There’s no menu, so it’s up to you to create your own meal that’s somewhat balanced, delicious, and not so physically heavy that you end up shelling out $25 dollars by accident for dinner. An impossible feat? Hardly. “My advice to anyone building a meal at a hot foods bar is to keep it simple,” says Isabel Smith, RD. “Choose one option that looks decadent and maybe a little more saucy. Otherwise, keep it simple and stick to plainer veggies—and also keep it mostly veggies.” ad_intervals[‘405597_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘405597_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); The Whole Foods hot bar and salad bar varies by location and day of the week, but representatives from the brand did me a list of their most popular items to share with Smith for the purpose of this article,
I tried Nike’s 6-pocket sports bra, and it’s the best thing since avocado toast
July 17, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC My athleticwear drawer can be broken down into three categories: the beloved items I wear the second they get out of the dryer, the second string sports bras and shorts I kinda like, and the “I really need to do my laundry“-sportswear that’s riddled with holes from too much mileage. After a few runs of testing one of Nike’s “Women’s Pocket Medium Support” bra, I’ve determined that the creation of a fourth category is in order, because—listen—I love this $40 buy so much, I can’t stand to let it out of my sight. The six pockets in this sports bra make it pure, sweat-proof magic. Gone are the days when you need to strap a running band to your arm or shove your keys, phone, and wallet into the sweaty crevice between your boobs. Now, like a mutant kangaroo (but, like, a cute one), you have a place to store all. the. things. ad_intervals[‘407301_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407301_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); In case I haven’t harped enough on the mystical quality of this bra, consider this: I’ve owned it for three whole weeks now and still haven’t discovered the very last pocket. The entire waste band of the bra is one, there are three mesh options—on the left, right, and back—and one more in the rear. Perhaps the sixth pocket is like the room of requirement of pockets, and it only shows up when you really, really need
Asking for a friend: Does being a no-person make you a bad person?
July 17, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Saying yes to everything is connected to a lot of widely held and generally very positive traits: bubbly, vivacious, adventurous, and present, to name a few. These “take every opportunity that life presents you” people are known as go-getters who are likely to nod at every invitation and accept every little task presented to them. I respect these people to a degree, but I’m certainly not one of them. I’ve always felt myself to be a hard-and-fast no-person; someone defined by the opposite traits of a yes-person…i.e., a salty, disagreeable curmudgeon. And, sure, that description does kind of track for me at times—but it’s not exhaustive of everything I am. Since I’m not alone as a discerning, realistic, rationalist no-person who doesn’t like to bite off more than she can chew, I’m calling for a total rebrand for the no-people of the world. I contend that we’re good people who have great stuff to offer as the yin to the yes-people yang, after all. So, let’s get to the bottom of what makes yes-people and no-people who they are. ad_intervals[‘407910_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407910_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Being a no-person = being an authentic person From a business perspective, the classic yes-man archetype is someone who ceaselessly agrees with their superior. Whether your boss is awesome or toxic, being chronically agreeable can lead to bad business. Research shows that groupthink routinely leads to bad decisions, so deferring to
How to use your air fryer to get a healthy dinner on the table tonight
July 17, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC If you’re committed to eating healthy but can’t imagine a life without chips and fries (seriously, that sounds terrible), then you’ve likely already discovered the miracle that is the air fryer. It’s a clutch kitchen tool for creating snacks that satisfy your hankering for a crunchy snack—without using a ton of oil. But while the recipes for kale chips and onion rings are definitely appreciated, you’re not using your air fryer to its full potential if you stop there. You can use the kitchen tool to prep a healthy dinner, too. One Reddit user shares that he uses the air fryer to make hard boiled eggs for egg-based dishes (oh hi, keto eaters), such as egg salad sandwiches or Cobb salads. 5 healthy air fryer dinners that are easy to make Photo: Natasha’s Kitchen 1. Air fryer chicken wings Baked chicken is good and all, but sometimes you just want to bite into something crispy, am I right? Use your air fryer to make these “fried” chicken wings and round it out with a bed of veggies for a complete meal. This recipe uses garlic and pepper for seasoning proving you really don’t need much to punch up a chicken dish. ad_intervals[‘408459_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408459_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: Noble Pig 2. Air fryer salmon If you’re looking for a Mediterranean diet-approved dinner, this one’s for you. Guess what: you don’t always have to have your salmon
Meet Wave, the new techy, music-focused innovation that’s making meditation cooler than ever
July 16, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC I’ve never been big into meditating; in fact, for years I’ve tried and failed to become a regular meditator. It’s just never stuck…until now, that is. The very first meditation form that I’m actually into and would actually use just launched, and I’d venture to say that it’s going to change the way many view the wellness practice. Meet Wave, the experience that blends standard meditation with an immersive, modern-day twist of music, the sense of touch, and technology. The product comes from Mason Levey and Brad Warsh, aka the masterminds behind hip-hop yoga studio Y7 (which, funny enough, got me really into yoga when I wasn’t—at all—before). Not totally dissimilar to their innovative take on yoga, the duo’s intention with Wave is to provide an experience that you can feel and contribute to you being able to use your mind to its maximum potential. “We wanted to make yoga really fun and accessible, and we got people there with music, and then they realized the other benefits like mindfulness,” Levey tells me of how Y7 came to be. “So we thought, ‘How do we get this idea of mindfulness and its benefits to as many people as fast as possible?’ Nothing ever resonated with me in meditation, and a lot of people view it as a chore. So we wanted to make it something enjoyable, something you look forward to doing, and shift the whole perspective.” ad_intervals[‘408265_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready)