February 13, 2020 at 10:30PM by CWC Leave it to Jennifer Lopez‘s trainer David Kirsch to come up with a hardest push-up variation I’ve ever seen—and then make it look super easy. Kirsch, who has worked with J.Lo for years, demonstrates how to take the exercise from level 6 to, like, level 13. To be honest, I think I’m already sore from just looking at it. Kirsch says he likes to take time in the morning to block out the noise and zone in on his mind-body connection—particularly with this push-up that’s so tough that literally no part of his body ever even touches the floor. In the video, he holds himself up a few feet above the ground with stacked blocks while his feet are resting on an elevated base, shifting more of his body weight onto his arms. Then, he does a mix of knee tucks and spiderman push-ups as he performs his hardest push-up variation. Obviously this exercise isn’t for push-up newbies. If you’ve yet to master the standard technique, consider that a prerequisite before attempting the hardest push-up variation. But when you’re ready to get arms like J.Lo, here’s exactly how to do the move. View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Kirsch (@davidkirsch) on Oct 27, 2019 at 6:46am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js How to do the hardest push-up variation we’ve ever seen Build two even stacks of blocks—one to go under each hand during your push-ups. Make sure they’re at the
Category: Beauty
I’ve tried $10,000 worth of serums, and this is the one that I’m sticking with for life
February 13, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC If your beauty routine were the Super Bowl, serums would be J.Lo’s halftime performance, which worked to make watching the nearly four-hour affair worth your time. They’re the workhorse with the active ingredients that truly transform your complexion for the better, more than any other product. Which is to say, I’m a big fan. Because of the holy power of serums—and, well, because I’m a beauty editor—I’ve tested hundreds of different ones over the years. We’re talking more than $10,000 worth of products. Some are great. Some, not so much. But when I say that the Marie Veronique Barrier Lipid Complex ($95) is the only one that I’m sticking with until I die, I mean it. Photo: Marie Veronique This product is chock-full of the three fundamental lipids (or fats) that make up your skin’s barrier: ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. Once slathered on, these go to work by replacing your skin’s natural fats, which are key for maintaining moisture. On top of these, the serum also contains hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, which are all hydrating superstars. Although it’s a product I’ve used before, it circulated back into my life again after a time when my skin barrier got damaged and needed serious TLC to repair. I turned to none other than chemist and skin-care guru Marie Veronique, who formulated a series of products made specifically for this common dilemma. I’m now a changed woman. Even in the middle of winter, with this baby
The fertility ‘information gap’ is keeping LGBTQ+ people from getting the care they need and deserve
February 13, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC Thirty-three percent of U.S. adults have either used fertility treatments or know someone who has, reports Pew Research Center. But if you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community, the process of seeking medical help for pregnancy—which is hard regardless—becomes exponentially more challenging. Mere Abrams, LCSW, a gender researcher and licensed mental health professional who identifies as transgender and non-binary, knows first-hand what it’s like to start a fertility journey in a medical system designed for heteronormative needs. (Abrams uses the pronouns they/them.) “I’ve known that I want to be a parent much longer than I knew what my gender and sexuality were,” Abrams says. “When I decided to take steps to medically affirm my gender at the age of 26, [fertility] really came to the forefront because, at that time, there really wasn’t as much research as there is now about fertility options for trans folks and for folks who are starting hormone therapy.” Abrams ultimately made the decision to go on a low dose of testosterone to preserve their fertility and keep their uterus, despite their doctor’s recommendations to eventually undergo a hysterectomy. (Twenty-one percent of those who identify as transgender report wanting to keep their uteruses). And three years later, Abrams and their partner started thinking about building the family they’d wanted since childhood. “I went through the fertility preservation process in the summer of 2018 in order to store my eggs and have that option available…. so I had to work
Is your astrological opposite your soul mate? Here’s an astrologer’s take on your matchup
February 13, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC While growing up, my mother, like many mothers, gave me quite a bit of unsolicited love advice. That’s how I first learned about astrological polarity, which says we are magnetically drawn to people of polar opposite zodiac signs. This yin-to-yang connection is essentially the universe’s version of opposites attracting, but can the secret to having a healthy long-term relationship really be so simple? Well, it’s complicated, because compatibility isn’t just a matter of matching sun signs. “Astrologers often say that the remedy for any sign’s neurosis is the enlightened qualities of the opposite sign,” astrologer Juliana McCarthy previously told Well+Good, caveating that opposite sun signs only work well together if other parts of your zodiac chart flow. So many personalized nuances of a natal chart factor into whether you’re a good romantic match for someone, astrologically speaking. That said, knowing your astrological magnet may explain certain surface-level dynamics—like, say, who’s worth a right swipe on Bumble and why you keep attracting people born in September. To that point, astrologer Rachel Lang breaks is here to break down these fruitful and, at times, complicated dynamics between opposite zodiac signs, and suggests how each pairing can get along harmoniously. 1. Aries (March 21 to April 19) and Libra (September 23 to October 22) As the most incendiary of the fire signs, Aries acts on impulse, is headstrong, and is known to jump into action with intensity. Meanwhile, Libra benefits from taking time to ponder, considering
A tube of this $5 drugstore mascara sells every 16 seconds
February 13, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC There are the products you buy exclusively at the drugstore, and then there are those you get from the department store. For example, I’m a huge fan of Pond’s moisturizer, which pairs very well with $200 worth of serums and oils. But you can always get away with buying mascara at the drugstore. In fact, a tube of Essence Lash Princess False Lash Mascara sells every 16 seconds, according to the brand. That’s 5,400 tubes every day. There are thousands of YouTube videos dedicated to this mascara, with its narrow cone-shaped brush. Makeup artist Molly R. Stern previously told Well+Good that narrow mascara spoolies are great for people with short lashes. “Precision helps when you’re dealing with something that feels short,” she says. This mascara is one of four in the Essence Lash Princess family. Her sisters include Lash Princess Volume Mascara ($5), Lash Princess Sculpted Volume Mascara ($5), and Lash Princess False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara ($5). But the original False Lash Mascara reigns supreme as one of the brands best sellers of all time. If you’re a clean beauty devotee, this mascara is paraben- and gluten-free (yes, some mascaras contain gluten). And like the rest of Essence’s products, it’s also cruelty-free. The brand boasts that it produces 95 percent of its products in Europe, and that every one meets both FDA and European Union Cosmetics Directive standards. The latter is known for having much stricter cosmetic laws—the European Union bans over
I’m a corrective exercise specialist and eccentric exercise is the fastest way to get stronger and more flexible
February 13, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC Once upon a time in a gym not-so-far-away, the weight room may have seemed like the fairly straightforward place. You picked up a kettlebell or dumbbell and executed a set of moves—maybe bicep curls, maybe sumo squats—from start to finish. Then, you moved on with your life, never knowing that eccentric exercise (also known as negative training) may just be the key to getting—and staying—stronger than you ever imagined possible. There are two stages to every movement—eccentric and concentric—according to Tatiana Lampa, corrective exercise specialist and trainer at FitHouse. “[Eccentric is] the motion of the active muscle while it’s lengthening during a load,” explains Lampa. Concentric movement, by contrast, is the motion of the active muscle when it’s shortening during the load. In a crunch, for example, you’re moving concentrically when you press your chest upward and contract your abs, and you move eccentrically as you lower down. When you’re training with eccentrics, the goal is to stress the lengthening part of every movement. Meaning, you might come up in the crunch for one second, then try to lower down for three. The results are some pretty serious gains, says Lampa. And a ton (and I mean, a ton) of research backs her up. Keep scrolling to find out more. 4 benefits of eccentric exercises to memorize now 1. Negatives yield more muscle growth per rep Research has shown that if you were to place two lifters side by side and have one do
Better shoulder mobility isn’t a pipe dream—here’s why trainers never start a workout without the PVC
February 12, 2020 at 06:25PM by CWC When you’re typing, cooking, or going about your usual business, most of your body’s joints won’t be moving in a full 360-degree range of motion. And that’s okay. Before you start any workout, though, trainers say that warming up your joints using a handful of PVC pipe mobility exercises gives you the greatest chance at performing every move—from kettlebell swings to alligator walks—safely. “The PVC pipe can be a modality that adds a grip for the hands and allows the shoulders to increase mobility before working out,” says trainer Katrina Pilkington, NASM-CPT, with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. The pipe—which is normally used in construction—also creates the muscle memory you need to hold a barbell safely overhead or get your deadlifting form down pat before adding the weight. Even when you’re not within the four walls of the gym, your body will thank you for taking the time to work on your mobility. “A lack of mobility can affect how we walk, how we sit, and if we can move through our day pain free,” Emily Kiberd, DC, a doctor of chiropractic at Urban Wellness Clinic, previously told Well+Good. So, yes, we’ve come full circle (360-degrees, you might say) back to you answering your emails, sautéing veggies, and just generally living your best life. PVC pipe mobility exercises for 360-degree mobility 365 days of the year (If you don’t have a PVC pipe on hand, a towel will do!) 1. Overhead partial
99 things to do after a breakup that are actually healthy and healing
February 12, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC The morning after my most recent breakup from a serious relationship, I woke up, wiped off my mascara-stained face and wrote out advice for myself in list form. Item one read: “Breakups are excruciating as a default, you can’t escape that.” While that bummer of a truism isn’t the most empowering, I charged on with my list and ended up with a huge document of ideas of things to do after a breakup. And I found it to be hugely helpful as I navigated the healing process. Since my personal list included items I wouldn’t recommend to others (though I do contend that whatever your version of “have too many gimlets,” “Facebook messages different exes” and “wake up in last night’s dress” is part of the process.), I asked experts what they thought. So below, find an expert-informed list of actually healthy and healing things to do after a breakup that allow you to feel your feelings and evolve into a better version of you. 99 things to do after a breakup to become a happier and healthier you 1. Remember that you are human. “Heartbreak causes major physiological and neurochemical changes, and knowing that these changes are normal and expected will help you feel less alone in how you feel.” —Elle Huerta, founder and CEO of the break-up app Mend 2. Be sure to unfollow your ex. “If you are tempted to internet-stalk your ex late, turn off your phone and hide
Your skin is the driest during *this* time of month. Here’s how to quench it, according to derms
February 12, 2020 at 04:33PM by CWC I’m sorry, but the expression “dry as the desert” needs to be rewritten to “dry as winter 2020.” Because, if the moans and groans of the Well+Good office, all of my friends, and you—dear reader—are too be believed, the start of the new year has been thirsty. But what if I told you that dryness may be an issue that goes beyond skin-deep (like, all the way to your hormones)? Derms say that specific phases of your menstrual cycle may be causing—sigh—facial hormonal dryness. “Your estrogen and progesterone levels are lowest when your period starts. It is during this time that your skin is most susceptible to dryness,” says Mamina Turegano, MD, a dermatologist with Apostrophe. And all the flaky fun doesn’t stop once your period is over. New York City-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, says that since low hormone levels linger into the week following your period, you may find yourself jonesing for extra moisturizer then, too. “Your skin is likely the driest in the week after your period, when your hormone levels are low,” he says. But, what goes down must, um… come up? Dr. Zeichner says that for hormones at least, that rings true. “Hormones start to rise in the second week of your menstrual cycle, culminating in ovulation mid-cycle,” explains the doctor. Meaning, your skin will retrieve some of its dewiness once you’ve reached the seven-day post-period mark. Until then, Dr. Zeichner says you can tweak your normal skin-care regimen
The case for *not* cutting your narcissistic best friend out of your life
February 12, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC I understand the reasoning for cutting toxic people out of your life, yet I often worry that ridding my contacts list of those who suffer from nuanced personality disorders like narcissism isn’t morally sound. After all, developing a personality disorder isn’t a choice, and while people who suffer from them can sometimes work to alter their behavior patterns, they can’t necessarily change who they are. That reality does not make them inherently bad or unworthy of human relationships so much as complex and complicated. And I’m staunch in my opinion about this, largely because of my experience of being friends with a narcissist whom I refuse to cut out of my life. For background knowledge, “a narcissist is a person who lacks empathy, is deeply entitled, grandiose, often quite superficial, chronically seeks external validation and admiration, has difficulty managing things like disappointment, and will often—when frustrated or disappointed or stressed—manifest those emotions with rage they can’t manage,” says clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula, PhD, author of Should I Stay or Should I Go: Surviving a Relationship with a Narcissist. “At the core, they’re deeply insecure.” Narcissists tend to have a lot of difficulty with situations wherein they feel unimportant, less than, or ordinary, adds clinical psychologist Aimee Daramus, PysD. “They have to feel like the most special person in the room, however they define that,” she says. In short, they can be energy vampires and difficult to be around—let alone depend on for any