July 12, 2019 at 07:20AM by CWC Endometriosis is painful condition that affects 176 million people worldwide, according to the Journal of Endometriosis. It happens when tissue similar to that which forms the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterine cavity. In a very small pilot study, scientists at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) may have found a surprising way to offer relief for chronic pelvic discomfort: Botox injections. Pain associated with endometriosis often persists even after the growths have been treated with hormonal surgery and therapy. In the placebo-controlled clinical trial, researchers looked at women who’d undergone surgery and were taking hormones to suppress menses (the blood discharged from the uterus during menstruation). Those whose pain persisted after treatment were given either an injection of botulinum toxin (aka Botox) or saline. A month later, the 13 participants chose to receive the injection of botulinum toxin on a monthly basis for at least four months—and the results were pretty remarkable. For all subjects, fewer to no muscle spasms occurred during their follow up treatment, and 11 out of the 13 said their pain was mild or gone entirely. Plus, more than half of the participants reduced their use of pain medication. ad_intervals[‘407605_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407605_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Botox works by blocking the nerve signals so that the muscles in the injected area cannot contract. While past research on the toxin has indicated that it could help women experiencing chronic
Category: 2019 Health
The key to perfect planks and mountain climbers? These 2-second wrist stretches
July 12, 2019 at 06:43AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2wRdiCx1W8] Watch how wrists are affecting your workouts in Charlee Atkins’ latest video, here. Looking at any roster of fitness classes, you’ll likely see a number of buzzy target muscles listed out. “Abs and ass!” “Lower body burn!” “Arm attack!” are a few that come to mind. In all my years of working out, never have I ever seen a workout meant to specifically target wrists… which is interesting because they’re actually the basis of pretty much every other fitness move you’re ever going to do. Planks, push-ups, bicep curls, kettlebell swings… you get the picture. Having strong, mobile wrists is a critical factor in any fitness routine, and particularly in two of the most popular fitness moves, which come up in pretty much every workout ever: the plank and the mountain climber. If your wrists are weak, the angle between your arm and hand will be all wonky, which means you 1) won’t be getting the most out of your workout and 2) could potentially hurt yourself. You can always modify the moves, either by adding a dumbbell under your hands (so you’re holding onto the weight instead of placing your palms flat on the floor), or roll up your mat under your hands to add some cushioning and take a little pressure off of the wrists. ad_intervals[‘407593_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407593_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Your best bet, though, is to take some time to actually
Love change or hate it? The way you answer is a huge indicator of your personality type
July 12, 2019 at 06:07AM by CWC One thing that makes me an absolute delight to hang with is my paralyzing fear of change. I panic when a meeting gets pushed back. I mourn when one of my go-to local bars gets abducted by a Starbucks. The other day I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding for the millionth time and and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 for the first time. Still love the original, will never not hate the sequel. (Granted, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is a huge mess with an unclear protagonist; like, for the love of film, pick a plot line and stick to it.) Clearly, I’m set in my ways to an extent and take comfort in sameness, but why is it that some people harbor this resistance to change while others thrive in newness? “Tolerance for risk and change are personality traits that are partially genetic,” says therapist Aimee Daramus, PsyD. “The five-factor model of personality…tells us that openness to new experience is a genetic trait. Everybody inherits a tendency to be more open or to prefer more stability. Life experience shapes how extreme that trait becomes.” ad_intervals[‘404714_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404714_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Waitaminute, so genetics is a big reason some of us cling to our resistance to change like nobody’s business? Wild. Still, Dr. Daramus says it’s important to note that how, exactly, being open to new experiences guides us. The Openess trait is
5 of the most common mistakes trainers see people make on the elliptical
July 12, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC The elliptical is the Ariana Grande of the workout machine world. Hear me out: It bodes well for ponytail flips, it seems innocent but once you take a closer look you’ll quickly realize it’s more badass than it might appear, and it’s popular amongst the youths. At least, it was for me when I first started working out at my neighborhood gym as a teen. While it looks like any person can just hop on and start moving, it’s not as simple as just gliding like a gazelle for half an hour straight. Form comes into play (of course), and you can hurt yourself if you don’t follow along in the right way. Trainers actually see a lot of people make mistakes on it, which sabotages the whole full-body cardio benefits that the elliptical grants to everyone who climbs onto it at the gym. “Ellipticals can be a great low-impact cardiovascular option,” says Phil Timmons, program manager at Blink Fitness. That said, it’s only if you’re doing it with proper form. And so, avoid these five most common mistakes that trainers see people make on the machine. ad_intervals[‘407247_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407247_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); 1. Focusing on speed One way to never get stronger? Only looking at speed on the elliptical. “Faster is not necessarily better,” says Timmons. “Instead, focus on your strides per minute when increasing your resistance. Try not to drop to lower strides per
How to eat healthy at Wendy’s, according to a registered dietitian
July 12, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC As a kid, dinner at Wendy’s meant the chance to dip French fries into a big ‘ol chocolate Frosty. It’s truly the stuff fast food memories are made of. Both are still on the menu for whenever a craving hits, but the burger chain has plenty of other (read: healthier) options for adult you to enjoy, too. If you’re vegetarian, gluten-free, or follow the ketogenic diet, eating out can be a challenge—especially at a fast food joint. But Wendy’s actually comes though for all three eating plans. The key is walking in (or driving up) being prepared. That’s where registered dietitian Erica Ingraham, RD, comes in. Here, she gives tips on the healthiest foods to order for each of the aforementioned eating plans—which come in handy even if you have a more general goal of eating healthy. Keep reading for all the intel. Scroll down to see how to follow a vegetarian, gluten-free, or ketogenic diet at Wendy’s. Vegetarian Order picks: Sour cream and chive baked potato; Berry Burst chicken salad (with no chicken) ad_intervals[‘402420_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘402420_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); What an RD says: Wendy’s has chili on the menu—usually a solid pick for vegans and vegetarians—but, alas, it has beef in it. A better meat-free pick according to Ingraham: the sour cream and chive baked potato. “Wendy’s has a few different baked potatoes, but this is the only one without meat,” Ingraham says, adding that
This one-pot pasta recipe is perfect when you just can’t deal with a sink full of dirty dishes
July 12, 2019 at 03:01AM by CWC A trip to the farmers’ market to stock up on fresh produce is one of the best things about summer. But when mealtime rolls around, one constant remains no matter the season: Nobody wants to do the dishes—especially on a hot summer night. There’s an easy way to have your seasonal produce and eat it, too, all without the cleanup. This one-pot pasta recipe is proof. You might think one-pot cooking is best for fall and winter fare, dishes that keep you warm and cozy like hearty stews and potato curries. Well, I’m here to tell you that one-pot recipes have a place in summer cooking, too. And if there’s anyone who knows a thing or two about that, it’s Yumna Jawad, the blogger behind Feel Good Foodie, who just published a light and refreshing one-pot pasta recipe perfect for weeknights. This meal looks like it belongs in a fancy Italian restaurant, but it’s so easy you could practically do it with your eyes closed. “One-pan pasta with as little effort as humanly possible—that’s the kind of weeknight dinner that makes me feel good,” writes Jawad on Instagram. And minimal effort it is. ad_intervals[‘407345_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407345_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); The best part about this one-pot pasta recipe is the brevity of the ingredients list: linguine, cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, onion, garlic, basil, parmesan cheese, and a few seasonings from your pantry. After putting everything into one
The problem with letting destiny guide your love life, regardless of your stance on soul mates
July 11, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC “When you meet the right person, you’ll know.” “What’s meant to be will be.” “When it’s right, the relationship is easy.” Ever heard these phrases? You probably have if you’ve never asked the question “are soul mates real?” and always subscribed to the magical thinking often associated with the concept of The One. And since many people give credence to this sense of destiny or just knowing, when snags, roadblocks, or problems emerge in a budding relationship, the result can be negative, and often unnecessarily so. It seems that many use the idea of fate as a crutch that exempts us from putting in hard work when the relationship going gets tough. So are soul mates real, or are we just lazy? In the short-term, believing you’re destined for someone or something can cause you to cut out of a relationship quickly, ruthlessly, and often prematurely. According to a recent study, those who believe they’re ending a partnership to pursue their destiny are more likely to ghost—and feel positively about doing so. On the flip side, those who believe they’re looking for the right partner to grow with—i.e., not necessarily the most perfect situation—are less likely to ghost or even consider the option. ad_intervals[‘396898_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘396898_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); The idea of destiny extends into the bedroom, as well. For a study from the University of Toronto, researchers looked at two attitudes about sexual compatibility. “Sexual
Make the low-sugar lemon bars of your dreams with this easy recipe
July 11, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClSN85AW9jw] Low-sugar lemon bars without sketchy fake sugars? Here’s how to make them. When life hands you lemons, you could be basic and make lemonade. Or you could do one better and make lemon bars. And if you’re at a loss as to how to turn this sugary-sweet summer treat into a better-for-you dessert, chefs Mia Rigden and Jenny Dorsey reveal a healthy version that’s light, tangy, and not too sweet in the latest episode of our YouTube series Alt-Baking Bootcamp. So how to make a low-sugar treat that doesn’t taste, well, sad? Rigden and Dorsey opt for honey instead of refined sugar. Rigden says that honey is twice as sweet as white sugar, “so when you’re using it as a substitute you want to be aware and halve the amount that you usually use.” (That also means less sugar overall which, hooray!) ad_intervals[‘407495_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407495_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); From a baking science perspective, honey (which is an emulsifier), makes the crust nice and soft. Dorsey says the liquid sweetener “won’t set so firmly that it feels like you’re biting a biscuit, but will still kind of have that soft texture that we’re looking for.” To top it all off (literally), Rigden and Dorsey use unsweetened shredded coconut on their finished bars. “We’re not using powdered sugar like you would find in the classic recipe, but we still love the look of that,” Rigden says.
What it’s like to finally reckon with your sexual assault years after it happens
July 11, 2019 at 12:25PM by CWC Editor’s note: This piece may be triggering to survivors of sexual assault and abuse. I didn’t know that what had happened to me two years ago could be considered sexual assault until my therapist said the words out loud in a session. What I did know at the time: After he got off of me, I cried myself to sleep, and woke up the next morning thinking, “I don’t think what happened last night was okay.” Then I put that thought out of my head for a very, very long time. It all came back last fall watching Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testify about her own alleged assault during Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court hearings. That’s when the flashbacks started. For months afterward, seemingly every other thought that popped into my head was about that night, and every time I saw someone who looked even remotely like him, I stopped breathing. The panic attacks were debilitating, even though I had no idea why they were happening. Finally, when I told my story out loud for the first time in my therapist’s office, I fully understood that what had happened to me wasn’t okay. ad_intervals[‘391034_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘391034_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); As the conversation surrounding sexual assault has shifted into the public spotlight, many other people have had these sorts of “holy shit” moments. “With the #MeToo movement and so many stories and voices coming forward, people began to
Let’s bring back fit tests, because it’s the best way to get stronger
July 11, 2019 at 12:25PM by CWC In practically every other aspect of our lives, we have benchmarks to help us track our progress—at work, for example, we’ve got promotions and salary—so why should fitness be any different? Earlier this week, I put myself through a “mile test.” I clocked in at 6 minutes and 48 seconds, which is a time that I’m super proud of. But it also made me realize that I hadn’t tested my mile time since my high school track days… which were more than a decade ago. If you ever played a high school or college sport, you likely remember going through some sort of fitness test at the beginning of the season in order to see where your performance was. But as adults—and even for me, as a fitness trainer—this has become a sort of lost art. But having setting benchmarks in your routine can actually be the most effective way to track your progress (aka whether or not you’re getting faster and stronger), and ultimately help you get the most out of your workout. It allows you to know where you’re starting off so that you can set goals for where you want to go. And considering we all want to be our best athletes and get the most out of our time in the gym, this is an effective way to do it. ad_intervals[‘407455_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407455_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Trying to beat your mile time