June 15, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC Upon first thought, phone sex may seem like a relic of the past thanks to the growing list of video-chat options: Skype, FaceTime, Snapchat, etc. But research shows auditory cues facilitate arousal, meaning it makes sense to keep the vintage-ish mode of communication in your rotation. So if you’re in an LDR or are simply looking to upgrade your sexting sessions, consider dusting off your phone’s primary function and dialing out for a sexy call. But…if you’re rusty or have never given phone sex a shot, you may not be so amped or ready to dial that first number. For tips on verbal finesse, Kristen Tribby, head of education at pleasure-product company Fun Factory, and indie erotic filmmaker Erika Lust are here to explain how to have have phone sex in nine simple steps. Below, get expert tips for how to have phone sex in a way that doesn’t make you want to fake a bad connection. 1. Make sure your partner is down Before you dive right into dirty talk, make sure your partner is into it—with “it” being both phone sex in general and doing it in that very moment. Why? Because consent is sexy, plain and simple. ad_intervals[‘392788_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘392788_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); To test the waters on this front, Tribby suggests saying, “I think your voice is so sexy, and I would love to have a hot phone date with you. Would
Category: 2019 Health
This is the magic number of days you can skip the gym before your body starts to suffer
June 15, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC Confession time: I haven’t been to the gym in five days. The first time I skipped my usual 7 a.m. call time was because I was in an Olive Garden-induced salt hangover. The second was because it was my birthday (a given), and the third was because I was too tired-slash-hungover from my birthday celebrations. And now, nearly a week of “good excuses” later, here we are. Experts have already told us that you start to lose the mental motivation to get moving after only two skipped workouts. So the longer you go without hitting the weights, the harder it is to get back to them, which about sums up how I personally feel right now. But as I laid in bed this morning, ignoring my alarm and letting a 38 dollar fitness class go completely to waste, I got to wondering: If my brain was already feeling the fallout from so many skipped gym days, how long would it take for my body to catch up? ad_intervals[‘399921_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399921_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); “Muscle strength will start to decrease after around three weeks, but it’s going to be affected by various factors. So it’s not the same for us all,” says FitHouse trainer Nina Marchione. Cue me breathing a big sigh of relief that my current gym hiatus won’t totally destroy the work I’ve put in for the last few months. “Your workouts may feel harder
This $3 tool is *way* better at getting rid of bad breath than a toothbrush
June 15, 2019 at 05:04AM by CWC Of all my insecurities (and I’ll admit there are a few), I’m most afraid that I have bad breath. If I do, no kind soul has mustered the tough love to tell me yet. And now—phew—they may never have to. A pal at work recently dished about the many tongue scraper benefits, including the Ayurvedic tool’s ability to banish bad breath with just a scrape of its blunt metal blade. Dentists, too, can’t stop raving about the gizmo. “Your tongue should be taken care of just like showering your body or shampooing your hair,” says New York City-based dentist Alex Rubinov, DDS. “Bacteria and debris accumulate on your tongue, gradually leading to bad breath and a negative impact on your body.” The C-curved metal edge rids the tongue of a fair amount of said bacteria and (full body shivers) “debris” that would otherwise end up in your digestive tract, and—potentially—make you sick, too. ad_intervals[‘400135_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400135_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); No longer: the tongue scraper will set you back a mere $3. Or, if you’re feeling especially thrifty and frugal, you can use the edge of a silver spoon instead. As for when to use it, Dr. Rubinov recommends whipping out the tool first thing before soldiering on with the rest of your oral hygiene routine. “I recommend scraping your tongue while you still have toothpaste on it to give you the antimicrobial effect, and to leave you
8 healthy gluten-free dinners you can make in your Instant Pot
June 15, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Mac-and-cheese, ramen, that yummy looking orange chicken at the Chinese restaurant down the street…why do the most irresistible foods have gluten? (Straight-up torture if you’re allergic or sensitive.) Fortunately, there’s always a workaround to getting exactly what you’re craving the GF way—it just requires a little research. Well, I did all the digging for you (you’re welcome) and even did you one better and found recipes that all utilize the almighty Instant Pot, the much-worshipped, time-saving cooking tool healthy eaters love. Rounded up here are eight gluten-free Instant Pot recipes, all healthy and easy to make. Whether you’re whipping up a meal for you or a big fam, they’re all bound to satisfy everyone around the table. Keep reading to see eight gluten-free dinners you can make using your Instant Pot. Photo: My Heart Beets 1. Mac-and-cheese Because we now blessedly live in a world where virtually every grocery store is stocked with GF- and alternative pastas (brown rice penne, anyone?) living a life void of gluten is not synonymous with living a life void of mac-and-cheese. Using the Instant Pot, this easy recipe from My Heart Beets is ready in just minutes. ad_intervals[‘400319_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400319_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: The Natural Nurturer 2. Beef and broccoli Not only is this meal from The Natural Nurturer gluten-free, it’s also Paleo- and Whole30-approved. How’s that for checking some hard-to-hit boxes? This veggie-loaded meal goes great over a
Lunar eclipses are a big astrological deal—here’s how to make the most of them
June 14, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC As cosmic events go, lunar eclipses are on the level of Mercury retrograde—in other words, they can shake up your life in a major way. Yet, beyond that basic understanding, they’re a bit of a mystery to many people. Like, how often do lunar eclipses occur? What, exactly, are they? And what kind of rituals can you do to commemorate them? Not unlike the stars, questions here abound. First, the technical stuff: A total lunar eclipse happens during a full moon, when the moon, Earth, and sun perfectly align in the sky with Earth in the middle. “The Earth shades the moon and prevents the sun’s light from reflecting on the moon,” says astrologer and massage therapist Tiffany Potempa. “The sun’s light is instead deflected from the Earth, giving the moon Earthy tones of red, brown, and gray indirectly.” Partial lunar eclipses involve a similar alignment, but the sun isn’t fully obscured by the Earth. ad_intervals[‘399685_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399685_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); How often do lunar eclipses occur? On average, there are two lunar eclipses each year, although Potempa notes that this can vary. “Eclipses only occur during two eclipse seasons per year, which are about six months apart,” she explains. “For about two years, every time an eclipse occurs, they will occur in a pair of signs that are directly opposite each other in the zodiac. Then, the eclipses will start to overlap and move to
5 fun rainy day date ideas that will enhance your relationship
June 14, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Outdoor concerts, romantic picnics in the park, strawberry picking, day trips to the beach… Summer is peak season for romantic day dates. Which is exactly why when those summer thunderstorms roll in, it can be a major buzzkill. If your weather app is showing clouds and showers for the foreseeable future, you may be tempted to reschedule your date, but you absolutely shouldn’t. According to Dating.com vice president Maria Sullivan and Charly Lester, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Lumen, there are plenty of amazing dates you can enjoy despite the rain. Not only are they fun, but they can deepen your relationship—especially in those early still-getting-to-know-you days. Grab your umbrella, because these date ideas will help shake the June gloom. Check out these six rainy day date ideas from dating experts. 1. Sign up for an escape room. Sullivan and Lester both picked an escape room experience (like Escape The Room) as a relationship-building rainy day date pick. “Some are designed for just two players and it can be an amazing adventure and a real bonding experience,” Lester says. Sullivan points out that the activity requires lots of communication and helps you see if you make a good team. “You and your partner must work together to solve puzzles and riddles in order to escape a room,” she says. ad_intervals[‘399915_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399915_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); 2. Cook together. Cooking can be really sexy (you’ve seen
Derms are begging you not to use a dry brush on this part of your body
June 14, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Dry brushing is one of those wellness practices in which once you start, you can’t stop. I currently have one hanging in my bathroom (thanks, Joanna Vargas!), and over the last year it’s become a permanent staple in my wellness routine. But recently, a dermatologist filled me in on the one place that I should never, ever be using one of my favorite tools: On my back. Why? “You will set off an itch scratch cycle that can lead to thickened dark skin in the middle of your back,” says board-certified dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD. This, she explains, is called macular amyloidosis, and studies have confirmed that it can be caused by “prolonged friction from a rough nylon towel or brush.” So in addition to cooling it with your back scratching and scrubbing, it’s probably best not to aggressively rub your skin with your towel post-shower, either. My mind was completely blown upon making this discovery, so I checked in with board-certified dermatologist Caroline Robinson, MD, to see if there was anything else worth knowing a la safe practices. She confirmed that dry brushing can potentially cause hyperpigmentation because of the constant, chronic friction against the skin. “The skin’s natural response to this type of chronic friction is to release melanin from the skin cells into the tissue created visibly darkened areas of skin,” Dr. Robinson explains, cautioning that it can happen on any area of skin—not just the back. She adds that using a
Welp, we’ve been interpreting this common body language sign all wrong
June 14, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Long before RBF became a thing and then, basically, a personality type, the body-language signal of folded arms worked as the universal sign that you’re closed off and maybe a mega shrew. I know this because I’ve spent many years perfecting the art of folded arms. I’m, like, basically the Michaelangelo of arm crossing, and the Picasso of appearing incredibly intimidating in a way that makes certain I won’t make friends in a new office for a full month. Thing is, I’m not a mega shrew (mostly)! I’m just mega anxious and mega shy, So I felt incredibly #seen when a Wired video debunked the notion that crossing your arms means something quasi negative. “There are a lot of myths out there,” former FBI agent and body-language expert Joe Navarro says in the video. “The one that stands out is that if you cross your arms, it is a blocking behavior. That’s just nonsense. Even when you don’t like the person in front of you, this isn’t to block them out, it’s actually to self-soothe. Because, in essence, it’s a self-hug.” Wait, a self-hug?! ad_intervals[‘395592_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘395592_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); First of all, I love it; such a positive rebrand. Second, that actually makes a lot of sense. Navarro points out that we do this behavior a lot more in public than we do by ourselves, like when we’re anxiously waiting for people or watching a movie. So where exactly
These are the most spritzable face mists for every single skin concern
June 14, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC How do we love a face mist? Let us count the ways. Minimalist and maximalist skin-care routines alike can benefit from a facial mist, and while many would consider the product to be the very definition of the word “extra,” their multi-tasking abilities are undeniable. A few pumps directly onto bare skin can help to tone, hydrate, and prime your complexion, but because the mist is uber-fine, you can use a mist over makeup as a setting spray with added ingredient benefits. Better yet, they travel well—stash a bottle in your desk drawer in case your skin needs a break from staring at your screen come 2:30, or in your gym bag as a post-workout pick-me-up. Here, we put together a list of the best facial mists to target your skin’s specific needs, so keep on scrolling for all the goodness they can bring to your complexion. ad_intervals[‘386158_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘386158_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: Knours For oily skin: Knours Double Duty Mist ($36) Double the impact, double the fun with this bi-phasic mist. When your skin is feeling oily, stressed, or angry with breakouts, apply an even veil to your skin without shaking the bottle—the bottom layer, which is rich in aloe and other skin-soothing botanicals, helps to balance oil production and calm irritation. To target dry areas, shake the bottle to mix in the jojoba oil-infused top layer. Photo: Tatcha For dry skin: Tatcha Luminous
Leg day, or no way? Here’s how to tell if you’re *actually* too sore to work out
June 14, 2019 at 12:10PM by CWC Waking up the day after a particularly grueling workout with a super-sore bod is bittersweet. You’re probably stoked that you #crushedit during your latest sweat sesh, but you’re seriously wondering whether you’re too achy for that tempo run scheduled to start in 30 minutes. Well, according to Victor Romano, MD, an Illinois-based orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine, discerning whether you should tough it out or opt for a much-needed rest day really comes down to understanding your actual symptoms and how to best treat them. “In general, I recommend having at least one rest day per week,” says Charlee Atkins, founder of Le Sweat. “If you can’t get yourself to fully ‘rest’ for a day, then at least make your recovery active. Meaning, if you feel the need to move, go swimming in the ocean, play tennis, take a walk in the park, [bike] ride around the city.” Occasionally, however, you’ll have to make a judgement call that goes beyond “today is my rest day.” Below, Atkins and Dr. Romano share exactly how to give yourself a quick checkup before ultimately lacing up your sneakers or declaring a self-care workout hiatus for recovery. ad_intervals[‘321046_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘321046_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Ask yourself these four questions if you think you’re just too sore to hit the gym. Photo: Unsplash/Becca Matimba 1. Is anything swelling up? While Dr. Romano says sore or stiff muscles are A-okay to get you through a workout,