June 20, 2019 at 07:49AM by CWC While on vacation at Disney World around my birthday in April, I couldn’t stop thinking about of one of my mother’s go-to compli-sults: That, as a stubborn Taurus (one of the four fixed signs in astrology), I haven’t really changed my ways since I was 3 years old. I still wear floral-print dresses, I still throw mini-tantrums when I’m hangry, and I am still too shy to say hello to Princess Belle. For fixed signs in astrology (Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, along with Taurus), all of this adds up. Fixed signs are the the most constant quadruplicity in the zodiac. But in the event you’re lost because WTF even is a quadruplicity, allow me to align your stars on the background and then illuminate what it means if you’re one of those dependable fixed signs. The zodiac includes 3 quadruplicities that each include 4 signs The three quadruplicites—cardinal, mutable, and fixed—are a way of grouping the signs of the zodiac. Just as the elements—fire, water, Earth, and, air—group signs by temperament, quadruplicities, or modes, group signs by how they direct their energy behaviorally. For example, cardinal signs—Aries and Libra, Cancer and Capricorn, which are direct at the beginning of each season of the year—tend to be self-starters looking to get stuff done, which can be great they don’t steamroll the ideas of those around them. This is to say, all modes have positive qualities and shadows. ad_intervals[‘399188_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) {
Category: 2019 Health
The under-$15 drugstore eyelash serums that are better than falsies
June 20, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC The pursuit of your dream lashes has traditionally felt like a pricey endeavor. You can spend a few hundred dollars to get them lifted or tinted, or invest in a luxury serum that promises some sort of miracle result. And then there’s always the option of slapping on some falsies or mascara, but those aren’t exactly perfect, either, considering they need to come off before bed. But recently, a crop of lash serums have been popping up at—wait for it—the drugstore, making longer lashes an accessible option for anyone. Yes, drugstore eyelash serums are a thing, and yes, they really do work on par with some of the pricier options on the market. Even if you aren’t looking to up the oomph factor on your lashes, adding a serum into your routine may still be a good idea. Considering you condition the hair on your head on a regular basis, shouldn’t your lashes get the same treatment? Serums can help nourish the hair and prevent fallout, and though making wishes on lost lashes is admittedly a fun activity, most of us are looking to hold onto as many of them as possible for the long haul. Here, five options to help you do it—all for under $15. ad_intervals[‘392597_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘392597_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); L’Oréal Paris Eyelash Serum with Lash Caring Complex ($15) Women who tested L’Oréal’s (brand new!) eyelash serum reported seeing longer, thicker lashes in
Want to start intuitive eating—but finding it not-so-intuitive? Try this simple formula
June 20, 2019 at 03:32AM by CWC Intuitive eating is all about trusting your body to tell you when you’re hungry, when you’re full, and what foods you most need right now. Sounds simple, right? But for a lot of us, the bombardment of diet culture, food advice, and the latest nutrition methods basically make that sound like… rocket science. If you want to begin an intuitive-eating journey but don’t know where to start, Food Heaven’s Wendy Lopez, RD had some key advice at our latest Wellness Collective event with Athleta. “Intuitive eating is about treating your body with respect, trusting yourself with your feelings, and knowing your body,” explained Lopez. To start getting back to that, she recommends you use a simple formula when loading your plate: ¼ protein, ¼ carbs, and ¼ veggies. Protein (and healthy fats) will help to keep you full, carbs will keep you energized, and veggies will provide essential nutrients. ad_intervals[‘401717_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘401717_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); “At first you have to think about it, but then it really becomes second nature,” Lopez noted, suggesting you add nut butter for fat and protein to your toast with jam or quinoa for carbs to your salmon and veg. With a yogurt parfait, which guests got to make in real time, they hit protein (yogurt), produce (fresh, seasonal berries), and carbs (granola), with fiber-rich chia seeds thrown in for good measure. It’s this formula, said Lopez, that will help keep
Hear me out: Granny panties are secretly the best (and sexiest) kind of underwear
June 20, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC I bought my first thong when I was in my early teens. It was contraband; I purchased it at Victoria’s Secret at the prodding of a couple of girlfriends, and then snuck it home in a Bath and Body Works bag filled with an assortment of Cucumber Melon offerings (the best B&BW scent—don’t @ me). Oh, the 2000s. My friends swore that thongs were things like “actually really comfortable.” I found this to be pretty untrue, but I continued to purchase and wear thongs because that was what was “hot” and “cool.” And because my (far more preferable) high-waisted, butt-covering underwear got me teased by said friends. I wore thongs pretty much exclusively for years, under the very mistaken attitude that only the skimpiest underwear was sexy, and other types of underwear were not. The biggest offender, of course, were granny panties, which are basically the antithesis of sexy. But recently, I have rediscovered granny panties. And I was like, wait, I can feel sexy and be comfortable at the same time? ad_intervals[‘402029_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘402029_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); To borrow from Walt Whitman, the term “granny panties” contains multitudes. It brings to mind high-waisted, flesh-toned cotton underwear that’s probably a little bit saggy—the kind of underwear that you wear when you haven’t done laundry for a week, or when you’re just lounging around your apartment watching reruns of Parks and Rec and eating an entire bag
True or false: Eating carrots can improve your night vision
June 20, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC It’s a common stereotype that kids hate veggies—especially Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and carrots. But when I was a kid, I actually loved it when my mom piled carrots onto my plate. I’d heard somewhere that if you ate a lot of carrots that it helped you see better in the dark, and as someone who liked reading The Babysitters Club books past my bedtime, I was very interested in developing this potential superpower to read with the lights off. Now that I’m an adult (and can read as late as I want thank you very much), I’m still interested in the connection between carrots and eyesight—although now it’s because I worry about what staring at a screen all day is doing to my vision. Here, registered dietitian Jessica Jones, RD sheds a little light the subject, plus shares the lowdown on other health benefits of the vegetable. What are the health benefits of carrots? 1. They’re good for your eyes. “Vitamin A in carrots is the nutrient attributed to better eyesight,” Jones says. A mere cup of carrots has more than the recommended amount of vitamin A for the entire day. (It has 1,070 micrograms and you want to aim to get 700 micrograms per day.) ad_intervals[‘401804_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘401804_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); According to scientific studies, not getting enough vitamin A can, in fact, lead to poor vision—especially at night. However, while not getting vitamin A
How to actually get restaurant-level poached and scrambled eggs at home
June 19, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC https://content.jwplatform.com/players/9KWcNPO5-AjgxWzQ7.js If we’re being real here, what is brunch without an Insta-worthy poach? (Insert instantly-mouth-watering Instagram video of someone cutting into a perfect poached egg here.) But when it comes to actually making those eggs yourself, that’s an entirely different story with a long line of #fails. To help you finally ace your egg-cooking techniques, we turned to Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs—the brand known for its USDA Organic Certified and Certified Humane Free Range eggs from small family farms—to help you achieve restaurant-level poached (and scrambled) eggs at home. The first step? Making sure your eggs are truly the best quality. “Not only are our hens fed a diet free from chemical pesticides, antibiotics, and GMOs, but they graze in organic pasture,” Jesse Laflamme, owner and chief executive farmer at Pete and Gerry’s, says. “By upholding Certified Humane’s gold standard of humane agriculture, we’re proud to produce the highest quality eggs possible.” ad_intervals[‘395517_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘395517_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Look for the rich, dark yolk when you crack it open—that’s one way you can tell your eggs are legit. And with the techniques in the video above, you’ll be an egg master, like, so soon. Watch the video above for step-by-step instructions on how to cook the perfect poached and scrambled eggs, and scroll down for the full instructions. Scrambled Eggs Makes two servings Ingredients 1 Tbsp butter 4 Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs 2 Tbsp
Your coffee habit could backfire if you drink it too early in the morning
June 19, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC Most days, the promise of a cup of coffee (with a splash of oat milk) is literally what gets me out of bed in the morning. In order to resist the gravity pull of my pillow, I need to know there’s something on the other side that can help me power through the first few hours of the day. Can anyone else relate? Well, if I ever needed more motivation to switch to matcha, this is it: According to Time, drinking coffee before 9:30 a.m. can actually create more stress in the body. (Yeah, I definitely don’t need that.) Cortisol—aka the stress hormone—is naturally highest between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. When you drink coffee, the caffeine interferes with the cortisol levels, which can lead to feeling more stressed and anxious. This is why some people experience morning anxiety, BTW. “Although there hasn’t been much research done in humans on the interplay between coffee, cortisol, and the circadian rhythm, we know enough about each one separately to suggest that waiting a little bit before having that first cup of coffee in the morning is a good idea,” explains Lung Health Institute wellness dietitian, Amanda Maucere, RD. “When we first wake up, our cortisol is at peak levels which is part of what signals us through our circadian rhythm to wake up in the first place. Caffeine in coffee is also known to increase cortisol. Although helpful for ‘waking up,’ elevated levels of cortisol
The $20 device that has me cancelling my waxing appointments
June 19, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC When I was just past puberty, I started tending to my newfound body hair. I took care of bikini hair removal (bye, brand-new pubes!), plucked that random chin hair, and let my mom nix the facial hair that had just started to sprout above my lip. Ever since then, I’ve had to deal with the upkeep of all of this hair, but I don’t live with my mom anymore (who was really great at waxing in a gentle manner—hi mom!), so I had to find another solution. The easiest one, going to get a professional wax, is time consuming and not something I want to spend my money on every single week. Lasering the area can result in hyperpigmentation for some, so I’ve always skipped that option on my face, and hair-removing lotions or creams haven’t yielded great results for me. I didn’t find the answer to my ever-so-permanent dilemma until a little handheld device called the Flawless by Finishing Touch ($20) came across my desk. It looks like something out of Star Trek—it’s a sleek stick that’s the size of a makeup brush with an actual 18 karat gold plated head (for hypoallergenic purposes, of course). When I flicked it on, a chic white light indicated it was ready to get nix the hair above my lip. I went for it. ad_intervals[‘397438_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘397438_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); The product instructs you to go over your fuzz
A psychologist’s guide to recovering from life’s most embarrassing moments like a champ
June 19, 2019 at 02:02PM by CWC Even though most of us make it our business to never be publicly mortified, let’s face it, embarrassing moments and life are a package deal. I first discovered this harsh truth during a ballet recital when I was 5 years old. As I stood beneath the spotlight and assumed first position, the back of my pink tutu ripped to reveal my Curious George underwear to my adoring fans (thanks, mom and dad). The incident prompted me to retire my plié. But I’ve wondered since if there are graceful ways to recover from life’s most blush-worthy accidents than, say, bursting into tears and running off the stage. As with many of life’s hard to swallow realities, step one is realizing you’re so not alone, says Chicago-based clinical psychologist Aimee Daramus, PsyD. “Most of all, as embarrassing as it is, everyone there has had some kind of embarrassing experience,” she tells me. “It’s really easy to feel like the biggest fool in the room, but it was probably just your turn that day.” Public humiliation is a right of passage (¯\_(ツ)_/¯). If you realize you’ve been rocking red panties (or, ahem, Curious George undies) under a see-through pair of white skinny jeans all day at work, take solace in the fact that your colleagues know that particular wardrobe snafu all too well. ad_intervals[‘402297_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘402297_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); “It’s really easy to feel like the biggest fool in
This 12-move dynamic stretching routine will open you up from head to toes
June 19, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC When you’re about to push your body to its limits during a workout, the very first thing you want to do is perform a warmup that will adequately prep your body for what’s to come. Enter dynamic stretching, or the idea that moving through stretches will help to make your workout more impactful in the long run. “Warmups gradually rev up your cardiovascular system, increasing your heart rate, systolic blood pressure, cardiac output, and body temperature to improve blood flow to your muscles, effectively preparing them for the positive stress of exercise,” says manager of training development and barre kinesiologist at Pure Barre Rachelle Reed, PhD. “Some studies also show that warmups may reduce the risk of injuries.” While that’s all legit, you might be wondering what actually constitutes a well-rounded dynamic warmup. According to Reed, the trick is to perform multi-muscle group, multi-joint movements to gauge your range of motion and help your body warm-up efficiently for 5 to 10 minutes before diving into full sets. ad_intervals[‘388787_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘388787_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); As for the exact exercises, ahead, with the help of some of the industry’s top trainers, we’ve listed 12 dynamic body movements that will leave your limbs feeling ready for whatever you have in store for your workout du jour. 1. Inchworm Push-ups Mindbody wellness manager Kate Ligler, NASM-certified Flywheel instructor Jared Poulin, and personal trainer, New York Sports Club Lab master instructor