July 18, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC Hamstrings don’t get nearly the credit they deserve. They’re responsible for extending your legs and bending your knees, which are part of practically every movement you do on a day-to-day basis—especially when you’re in the gym. While your hamstrings may be in action during like, 90 percent of the fitness moves you do, it’s rare that most of us actually take the time to focus on them. Sure, we take time to stretch them (especially after runs, because yowza those puppies get tight), but when was the last time you went to a hamstring-targeting workout class? Never? Yeah, same. To be perfectly honest, ignoring hamstring strength is a rookie mistake, because stronger hamstrings can help you up the power in everything else you do—from running to walking to squatting to deadlifting (you get the picture). And so, we asked Le Sweat and Le Stretch founder Charlee Atkins to give us a full-on hamstring workout. Your hammies—and the rest of your body, TBH—will eventually thank you for it. ad_intervals[‘408912_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408912_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Set 1: Four moves, 30 seconds each (with 10 seconds of rest in between), two times through 1. Knee pull: Stand up tall and hug one knee at a time into your chest as a nice way to warm up and lengthen your hamstring and come into hip flexion before a workout. For the second round, kick your legs straight out in front of
Category: Fashion
Wide-leg active pants are apparently back—and giving me major 2003 flashbacks
July 18, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Way before leggings became a force of fitness fashion, there were what my college friends and I called “yoga pants”—you know, those stretch cotton bottoms with a wide fold-over waist and bootcut legs. (Yes, I’m one of those old millennials.) We’d put them on for class with a hoodie, to run errands with flip-flops, and, naturally, to yoga classes in the student gym, usually with the spaghetti-strap tank tops we wore out the night before. Soon after I graduated in 2004, my beloved yoga pants went the way of low-rise jeans and bedazzled trucker hats, soon to be replaced by second-skin leggings in high-tech performance fabrics. But, to my surprise, wide leg yoga pants appear to be on the way back in—at least, if a handful of popular activewear labels have anything to say about it. While online shopping the other day, I came across several examples of the look with serious throwback vibes. On-the-rise brand Celestine is making the old-school style modern with wrinkle-proof fabric and a high, vertically-seamed waistband. Year of Ours‘ wide-leg sweatpants share the same silhouette, but in a soft cotton material that’s better suited for recovery days. And there are plenty of options that more closely resemble the yoga pants of my youth, perhaps because the brands never discontinued them in the first place. (Hard Tail, I’m looking at you.) ad_intervals[‘407269_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407269_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); If you ask Year of
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
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
3 easy ways to make healthy ‘Lunchables’ for grown-ups
July 16, 2019 at 08:27AM by CWC Ahh—remember Lunchables? There was nothing quite like digging into those cute boxes of crackers and cheese, pizza bites, and salty deli meats for some finger-food munching. Unfortunately, while we didn’t pay much attention to the nutrition label back in the day, we surely do now as adults… and most Lunchables and other pre-packaged snack boxes don’t quite make the cut. Why, exactly? Well, they often include ingredients like soybean oil, enriched flour, sugar, and artificial flavors to preserve them, says Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RD. “I totally get that it’s seems like an easy option because they are already packaged for you to take on the go, but you can grab a container and make one of these combos yourself with the same concept but better,” she says. Basically, it’s time to give your beloved Lunchables a healthy makeover. Need some inspiration? Michalczyk shares three healthy Lunchables ideas you can DIY at home. They riff on some of the most popular classics, but offer a more nutritious bent. Come snack time, you’ll feel just like a kid again. ad_intervals[‘408419_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408419_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: W+G Creative Option 1: Healthy cheese and crackers “Crackers in Lunchables are not very nutritious at all and often highly processed,” says Michalczyk. To upgrade your version, she recommends using a more nutrient-dense version like Simple Mills Original Sprouted Seed Crackers ($15 for three boxes). Then fix the cheese for a less
Newsflash: The Outdoor Voices exercise dress is 40% off right now
July 16, 2019 at 08:13AM by CWC Love at first sight is totally a real thing. And if you don’t believe me, just stare deep into the spandex soul of an exercise dress. It’s hard to find a clothing item that hits the mark with comfort, versatility, and style. But a creation from Outdoor Voices checks all the boxes, and it just so happens to be on sale. The brand’s Exercise Dress normally costs $90, but right now you can pick one up for just $54. I get it: It might feel weird spending money on a dress meant for fitness-related activities. But Well+Good editors have been rocking it all summer long for good reason: It’s basically everything you love about your favorite pair of leggings in a stylish little dress. Not only is it cute, but it was made with movement and sweat in mind—meaning whether you’re working out, getting groceries, or grabbing drinks with friends, you won’t be left feeling gross and sticky on hot and humid summer days. That’s because unlike other dresses, it has a breathable (and silky-smooth!) leotard liner that’s sweat-wicking, super lightweight, and stretchy, allowing you to move around comfortably all day long. Basically the only bad thing about it is that you’re not going to want to take it off. ad_intervals[‘408394_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408394_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Shop OV’s Exercise Dress Buy Now The Exercise Dress in Apricot $54 Buy Now The Exercise Dress in Dahlia $54
A podiatrist’s top tips for wearing closed-toe shoes all summer long without suffocating your feet
July 14, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC Every summer, my mother criticizes my commitment to closed-toed shoes, saying I have a “complex about my feet.” Well, mom, just because I don’t think my grounding digits are particularly elegant and I won’t throw down cash for routine pedicures doesn’t mean I have a foot complex. I just really prefer closed-toe shoes. To her credit, though, having a no-sandals policy can get tricky in the summertime. Right now, I’m looking at the black ballerina flats on my feet, complete with criss-crossing elastic bands constricting my circulation, just imaging the wildly smelly feet I’m going to have to deal with later. It’ll be like I’m walking around on unrefrigerated wedges of Gouda, for sure. But the cheese doesn’t stand alone, right? I know I’m not the only person who’s also very anti-sandal, and if you keep your toes enclosed, you’ve probably encountered the same problem. Opting to stick to those shoes all season may be an honorable choice, but that doesn’t make it any less of a sweaty, stinky affair. And since no one wants to spend their time with anyone who requires a gas mask or oxygen tank when there’s a shoes-off policy, I enlisted some help for selecting non-suffocating closed-toe kicks to take you all the way back into sweater weather. The first step, it turns out, is choosing the right materials in which to walk. ad_intervals[‘405460_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘405460_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); “The best
Why you should watch out for the “butt wink” when squatting
July 13, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC I am trying to pay attention to a lot of things when I do squats: I’m pretending like I’m sitting back onto a chair, keeping my weight in my heels, and keeping my head up and shoulders back. Oh, and I try not to cry or complain (and I’m even successful sometimes). One thing that’s never crossed my mind? Butt winks. Never heard of it. That is, until fitness trainer Samantha Ciaccia told me that it’s really good to prevent a “butt wink” when doing squats. Before your mind wanders too far, a butt wink isn’t, like, something dirty or embarrassing. It just has to do with what happens when your lower spine is arched at the bottom of a squat. Here are the biomechanics of it. “As you’re lowering, as is most commonly seen in a squat, once you get past parallel—which means your hips are at the levels of your knees—your pelvis and lumbar spine, the lower part of your spine, goes into flexion,” Ciaccia explains. “Usually that flexion happens with lack of engagement.” ad_intervals[‘407609_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407609_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); In other words, when your lower spine arches at the bottom of a squat as you stick your butt out, it signifies that you’re not fully engaging your core, glutes, and hamstrings—and there’s more of a chance you’ll wind up with back pain down the road. At the same time, it’s not necessarily a
Amazon Prime Day is a treasure trove of wellness steals—add these 6 finds to your cart ASAP
July 12, 2019 at 12:42PM by CWC Remember when we had just one massive celebration of consumerism each year, and we had to wait a full 12 months for it? That seems quaint now thanks to Amazon Prime Day, an ingenious invention that’s eliminated the middleman in gifting so that you can just endow yourself whatever it is you want rather than field undesired presents from well-intentioned loved ones with questionable taste. This modern holiday kicks off on Monday and rolls through Tuesday, with deals pre-empting the big event as well as continuing to percolate in the days after, like little retail aftershocks. As with Christmas, part of the fun of Amazon Prime Day is not knowing exactly what’s going to be on offer; you’ll go to bed on Sunday night all abuzz with wonder as to what will be “under the tree” when you awake the next morning (and the morning after that). The megacorp has, however, offered a few sneak peeks, the best of which (for your health) can be found below. Keep in mind that if you can’t find what you want on the site next week, other retailers (e.g., Target, Nordstrom, Walmart, and eBay) are likewise offering sales in order to compete (bahaha) with the budget bonanza. Oh, and between now and July 16, you’ll get $10 to spend on Prime Day sales when you spend $10 at Whole Foods either in-store or via the Prime Now app. ad_intervals[‘407107_div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) {
From Alo to Zella, get these 9 cult-fave activewear buys for way less at the Nordstrom anniversary sale
July 12, 2019 at 09:18AM by CWC Having cute workout gear in your closet makes it that much more fun to hit the gym. (Yes, motivation can come in the form of chic, sweat-wicking leggings when it comes to making an early morning class.) But athleisure isn’t exactly cheap. Shelling out $99 for a pair of leggings can be rough. The key, of course, to saving money is to shop during sales—and boy is Nordstrom delivering today. Ever walk into a store, head straight to the sales rack in the back, and find…nothing? That’s not happening today. Nordstrom’s anniversary sale—which kicked off Friday—has cult-favorites from Alo and Outdoor Voices to Nike and Zella all majorly marked down. Rounded up here are nine stand-outs, which are sure to go quick. Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Buy Now Outdoor Voices Athena Crop Top $23 Buy Now Zella Live In Racerback Bra $25 to $49 Buy Now Sweaty Betty Stamina Sports Bra $30 Buy Now Alo Cover Tank $36 Buy Now Nike Sportswear Essential Crop Top $25 Buy Now New Balance Transform Two-Ways Performance Tank $21 Buy Now Outdoor Voices 7/8 Springs Leggings $43 Buy Now Nike Sportswear Air Fleece Jogger Pants $33 Buy Now Zella Live In High Waist Crop Leggings $33 Stay ahead of the fashion curve by getting to know these seven new activewear brands and these eight sustainable brands. ad_intervals[‘407627_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407627_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Continue Reading… Author Emily Laurence | Well