September 26, 2018 at 08:51AM Mental illness doesn’t have a type. You can have it all but still be dealing with anxiety and sadness no matter how successful you are, how loving of a family you have, or how good of a person you may be—and Gisele Bündchen wants the world to know just because you’re #blessed doesn’t mean you should feel guilty about experiencing those negative feelings. The supermodel has never really talked about her past struggles. Aside from sharing tidbits about her meditation practice and diet, she tends to keep her private life very private. That’s all changing, though, with her soon-to-be-released memoir Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life, and she recently opened up to People about some of the mental health issues she’s had throughout her career—something that started in 2003 after having a panic attack on a plane. As her anxiety got worse, it became crippling, eventually causing her to fear tunnels, elevators, and enclosed spaces, but she couldn’t figure out why she was having these negative thoughts and felt an immense amount of guilt because of it. “I had a wonderful position in my career, I was very close to my family, and I always considered myself a positive person, so I was really beating myself up. Like, ‘Why should I be feeling this?’ I felt like I wasn’t allowed to feel bad,” Bündchen says. “I felt powerless. Your world becomes smaller and smaller, and you can’t breathe, which is the worst feeling I’ve ever had. I actually had the
Category: 2019 Health
Dear dermatologists: Is retinol or glycolic acid the better skin saver?
September 26, 2018 at 08:46AM Pick up any magazine, click on any beauty article regarding “active ingredients,” or better yet ask a dermatologist what they’d recommend to hit the pause button on aging skin, and you’ll undoubtedly hear that in the morning, you should slather on sunscreen…and lots of it. As for the nighttime, things get more divided because the pros recommend the powerhouse ingredients retinol and glycolic acid in equal measure…so much so that I wondered which of the two is actually queen of the skin-care aisle. What I found out was that the reason that they’re named equally among dermatologists is that the answer is kind of a toss-up. Things like skin type, your skin age, and overall #skingoals hugely come into play here, so knowing the resumes for each could help you find your best skin on repeat. Here, dermatologist share how to use the two star players and how to determine which one is right for your regimen. Photo: Getty/ Peopleimages How do glycolic acid and retinol work? Okay, so to kick things off: It’s important to understand what each of these active ingredients is doing for your skin. Let’s start with glycolic acid. “It’s one type of alpha hydroxy acid and a chemical exfoliant that removes dead skin cells by loosening the ‘glue’ that holds the dead cells to the top layer of skin,” explains Dennis Gross, MD, a New York City dermatologist and founder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare. “Once these dead cells are removed, new
Survey says: Sex gets better after kids
September 26, 2018 at 08:11AM Along with the innumerable lifestyle changes that come with adding a newborn to your family, a sudden lack of sex is considered collateral damage. Don’t shelve your tantric techniques just yet, though—a recent survey on millennial moms suggests this commonly held assumption might be more lore than law. By asking 1,000 mothers between the ages of 22 and 37 to divulge the secrets of their sex lives, Peanut—an app that connects “like-minded mamas”—found that nearly 74 percent of those surveyed reported feeling like their sex lives were the same or better than they were pre-baby, and 55 percent said they were getting it on out of “personal desire” (AKA not obligation). Another blush-inducing statistic? Sixty-one percent disclosed that they were ready and waiting for more. When it came to the frequency of these between-the-sheets-sessions, almost three-quarters of the women surveyed said they were having sex at least once a week. When it came to the frequency of these between-the-sheets-sessions, almost three-quarters of those surveyed said they were having sex at least once a week—with nearly half getting busy twice or more. On the opposite end of the spectrum, women who only had sex once a month made up a mere 13 percent of the overall pie. And, shocker here, 42 percent of the group said a lack of sleep (read: midnight feedings) was the main reason they didn’t have sex as often as they’d like. The takeaway? Adding a child or two to your family unit might be more of
Hilary Swank’s 20/80 rule for clothing can save you money and closet space
September 26, 2018 at 07:49AM When it comes to decluttering your life, Marie Kondo’s spark joy test is pretty much the gold standard as far as organization goes. The one downside to her method, though, is that it’s focused on helping you part with things you already own. If you’re looking to become more mindful with how you spend your money in the first place and guarantee you reap the most satisfaction from what makes it into your closet, you might want to try Hilary Swank’s 20/80 method instead. “The goal is to find items that take up only 20 percent of your wardrobe but control 80 percent of what you wear” explains the actress and founder of luxury womenswear label Mission Statement, which just made a huge mainstream expansion. (It’s now being carried at Nordstrom.) How does the Oscar winner do this? “I’m always looking for fabrics and designs that are of incredible quality and look that will hold up for many years,” Swank says. It’s the intention she sets for herself as a consumer as well as a creator of fashion. In fact, Swank started her own clothing line in 2016 because she was having a hard time finding pieces that followed her rule. Her, ahem, mission became making “evergreen wear for everywhere,” as the site refers to it: A skort disguised as a skirt that functions as well at the gym as it does for a museum date, a dress appropriate for your dance cardio class or the red carpet (as Swank
For the love of poop, stop holding it around your S.O.—your gut will thank you
September 26, 2018 at 07:30AM Picture this: You’re in the early stages of a new relationship, and after hours of wining and dining on a marathon date, digestion (obviously) happens, and you feel a pang in your stomach. But you opt to ignore the, uh, call from nature, because you’d just prefer to not go number two while in the blissful presence of your new boo. Sure, trying to “keep it cute” for a short duration is one thing, but I have a friend who never poops around anyone she’s seeing romantically. I’m talking holding in her bowels for up to a week if, say, she goes on vacation with her significant other. She’ll do whatever it takes in order to essentially make it seem like she’s a superhuman who doesn’t have to ever—gasp—defecate. She’s for sure not alone either. Certain bodily functions are better known for being gross than being totally normal, and society has essentially reinforced that’s it’s A-okay for women to repress and even deny themselves the luxury of letting nature take its course. “Excretions from the body including those produced for protection (sweat, skin oil, mucus), digestion (saliva), reproduction (semen, breast-feeding), or by-products such as menstrual blood, urine, and feces have been associated with negative connotations and uncleanliness,” explains psychologist Danielle Forshee, Psy.D. To avoid seeming “unclean,” then, some people go to great lengths—like, ahem, physical pain—to simply remove themselves from the whole bathroom narrative while in the company of those they’re trying to impress. But newsflash, this charade isn’t so healthy.
J.Lo’s trainer spills the secret behind her strong core: a 4-part plank move
September 26, 2018 at 06:56AM At this point, basically the entire world has come to an agreement that Jennifer Lopez’s body is nothing short of #goals—heck, even Victoria’s Secret models are striving for her booty. And she deserves all the praise: This lady works hard on her workout routine to stay strong and toned, sweating with her trainer on the regular to keep on building up her impressive physique—tough-as-nails abs workouts, included. While J.Lo definitely has her go-to exercises—like Spider-Man push-ups for those impressive biceps and plenty of squats and lunges for her glutes—she’s all about planks for her core. Not just any planks, though: Her longtime trainer, David Kirsch, recently shared the core-busting routine he swears by with PopSugar. It involves not one but four moves in a series that’ll work your entire body. (Hey, being Jenny from the Block doesn’t come easy, people!) Between all the kickbacks and knee dives, this routine will have you feeling like a super-sore superstar in no time. Try David Kirsch’s 4-move plank workout to get a J.Lo-worthy core. Part one Plank with lateral arm reach: 10 reps each arm Plank with triceps kickback: 10 reps each arm After a 60-second break, repeat the circuit. Part two Elbow plank with knee drive: 15 reps each side Elbow plank with side step: 10 reps After a 60-second break, repeat the circuit. Part three You finished the body-shaking moves, so treat yourself to a restorative stretch and a healthy recovery snack. This J.Lo-approved cardio workout is the best way to get
Is fashion’s latest obsession with cowboys just channeling the Wild West energy of today’s cultural climate?
September 26, 2018 at 05:12AM A couple of months ago I noticed that my artist friends residing deep in Brooklyn had switched out their French-inspired berets for something more unusual—flat-rimmed hats and bolo ties. At first, I merely took notice and stuck to my shoulder padded leisure suits—New York fashion can be especially eclectic. Slowly but surely, however, an aesthetic, which is best described as Marie Kondo’s minimalism meets Debbie Winger’s Sissy in Urban Cowboy, has seeped its way into one major fashion collection after another. Designers’ latest obsessions with western wear confused me at first. But I’ve since come to the conclusion that an unclear future has people collectively looking back at times that seemed equally untamed for guidance. (Hindsight is, after all, 20/20.) It could explain why the last major western resurgence happened during the 1980s when the winddown of the Cold War, coupled with the Iran Contra Affair, Aids epidemic, and the War on Drugs left the state of our union uncertain. The biggest difference between then and now—or the actual period of the Wild West from 1865 to 1895—is that today, is that women aren’t just adopting the fashions of the era, but the attitude as well. “We’re at a moment in our history in which there’s a strong focus on women and our experiences, and you see more women taking the lead in social movements and positions of political power” says Francis. “Fashion isn’t completely disconnected from what’s going on in the world and maybe
15 healthy hotspots to checkout next time you’re in Atlanta
September 26, 2018 at 04:30AM If you’re looking for the perfect mix of Southern hospitality and incredible food, Atlanta’s got you covered. As home to one of the busiest airports in the US, chances are good you’ll find yourself in the ATL at one point or another—and if you’re planning to see more than the airport while you’re there, you’re going to need to know where to get your wellness fix. A-town is in the midst of a boutique fitness boom, with some of the nation’s buzziest new studios opening their doors within its city limits. And while the notoriously car-centric town is still pretty dependent on its vehicles, there’s plenty of space to bike, run, and scooter underneath the country’s densest urban canopy, too. Coupled that with a culinary scene that’s adding more and more clean-eating establishments to its offerings, plus some pretty unique entertainment options (ping-pong emporium, anyone), and start to get a sense of what makes the place so charming. Planning a trip to the ATL? Keep reading for a city guide of Atlanta’s healthiest places to sleep, eat, and play. View this post on Instagram Thinking about the weekend like A post shared by Hotel Clermont (@hotelclermont) on Aug 9, 2018 at 10:49am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Good Sleep Hotel Clermont It’s been a rocky road for Hotel Clermont. Once a swanky motor lodge, the 95-year-old building had fallen into serious disrepair—so much so that it was shuttered by county inspectors in 2009. Now under new ownership, it
Low-carb diets are trending—do we even need the macronutrient at all?
September 25, 2018 at 02:12PM Americans certainly have a love-hate relationship when it comes to carbs. European and Asian cultures steadfastly make room for pasta, bread, and rice on their plates, but here in the States, carbs are like fanny-packs: in one day, out the next (and then, back in again?). With the low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet dominating as the eating plan of the moment, the current consensus seems to mimic that of the early ‘aughts when the popularity of the Atkins diet was at its peak: Carbs are no good. Keto devotees limit their carb intake to just 5 to 10 percent of their diet—vastly lower than the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation that 45 to 65 percent of overall calories come from the macronutrient. The discrepancy between the recs is so big, it feels like both can’t be healthy. So, what’s the deal? Are carbs a vital part of your diet or not? First, it’s important to know the difference between the various types of carbohydrates out there. “Simple carbs are found in foods like sugary soda and bread, which get absorbed in the body quickly,” explains Wahida Karmally, MD, the director of nutrition for the Irving Center for Clinical Research and associate research scientist at Columbia University Medical Center. “But foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains have complex carbs, which are full of more nutritional benefits and get absorbed slower.” So when experts talk about carbs being “bad,” it’s mainly the first category they’re discouraging—there is merit to consuming the second category
The weird way being tall increases your chances of getting varicose veins
September 25, 2018 at 12:46PM It’s not too often you hear anyone complaining about having model-level height and #legsfordays. What’s better than being able to reach that (literal) top-shelf matcha at the grocery store without having to get help? Unfortunately being tall does have some downsides though, one of them being that it might increase your chances of having varicose veins. Varicose veins aren’t just a vanity sore spot. They can also be painful and lead to ulcers and blood clots. The enlarged, bulging purple or blue veins that often appear on the legs and feet often come about due to a handful of reasons, including having added pressure on your veins from being overweight, your gender and family history, a lack of blood flow from sitting for long periods of time, your veins weakening as you age, or a decrease in blood flow to your legs while you’re pregnant, says the Mayo Clinic. And surprisingly, a recent study published in the journal Circulation that analyzed the data of more than 500,000 individuals ages 40 to 69 from the UK Biobank found simply being tall could play a role, too. While scientists know why being overweight or pregnant can lead to varicose veins, the whole height thing kind of threw them for a loop: “We not only found an association between height and varicose veins, but the genetic studies we did showed a causal link. That suggests that the genes and pathways that drive human height are also likely to be causing varicose veins,”