August 27, 2019 at 11:17PM by CWC Looking at the glass half full is like sipping the Elixer of Immortality, according to exhaustive research conducted by Boston University School of Medicine over 30 years. I mean you won’t get a full Tuck Everlasting thing going on, but according to the study, being an optimist contributes to “11 to 15 percent longer life span, on average, and to greater odds of achieving ‘exceptional longevity,’” or living to the age of 85 or beyond. This is great news if you’re an optimist. If you’re a pessimist, not so much. Like IMHO, everything is a terrible dumpster fire. (Anyone want to guess which side I’m on?) And is it even possible for me to learn how to be more positive? If you’re wired to be naturally pessimistic but not interested in dying prematurely, are there any strategies to achieve a positive mindset that doesn’t border on delusion? In fact, yes. Here’s how to look on the bright side. ad_intervals[‘418553_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘418553_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Consider if a negative thought serves you “Whenever a client is speaking in a negative way about a future event or having a negative prediction, I always encourage them to ask themselves: ‘How is this belief or assumption serving me?’” says psychotherapist Jennifer Silvershein, LCSW. Keeping realistic expectations can be a good protective barrier when it comes to navigating life. If you walk into a job interview thinking an offer is in the
Category: Fashion
The best morning routine to set up your day for success, according to your zodiac sign
August 27, 2019 at 06:03PM by CWC Unless you’re one of those genetically blessed short sleepers, mornings can be tough be tough to master. There are so many reasons you might not feel ready to take on the day, whether it’s morning anxiety, the still-sleepy effects of insomnia, or something else. If you suspect a health condition may be at play, certainly seek a professional opinion for strategies to improve your situation, but otherwise, some good, old-fashioned trial and error may be your best play for nailing a healthy morning routine that feels perfectly tailored to you. One factor you may also want to consider? How your zodiac sign may influence and inform the best way to set up all your days for success. According to astrologer Kyle Thomas, each zodiac sign has a specific strength and energy, and the right healthy morning routine can help to productively propel a person’s day forward. “By focusing on these specific ways to harness their strengths, each sign will be able to optimize both productivity and morning mindfulness,” he says. Below, check out Thomas’s recommendations for the best way to start your day, astrologically speaking. ad_intervals[‘418202_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘418202_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Below, find the best healthy morning routine for your zodiac sign, according to an astrologer. Graphics: Well+Good Creative/Abby Maker Aries: morning exercise “Ruled by Mars, Aries is an active and feisty zodiac sign,” says Thomas. “These excited rams need to get their bodies moving to
You’re neglecting the tightest muscle in your leg—here’s exactly how to stretch it out
August 26, 2019 at 07:59PM by CWC Your calves can be pretty hard to stretch, and that stinks… because just about everything makes them tight. Whether you’re a runner, don’t drink enough water, or wear heels on the regular, it’s not uncommon to feel that tightness creep in and want to do away with it pronto. Lucky for your legs, one of the best ways to get relief is stretching it out like a yogi. “The calf muscles are made up of two muscles: the gastrocnemius, which is the large part, and the soleus, which is smaller and underneath,” says Sarah Frick, yoga instructor and founder of The Works. “Not only does your fitness affect tight calves, but so does sitting for a long period of time, any sort of prolonged travel, a high heel, or dehydration.” One of Frick’s favorite ways to stretch out her calf muscles is through the “short dog”—a subtle variation on the downward-facing dog that involves only stepping back a little in order to get a deeper stretch in your calves. If you’d prefer to stay seated, grab a blanket, roll it up into tight wad, and come to a kneeling position. Slide the blanket in the crook of your knees and sit down. You’ll immediately feel the pressure of the blanket easing into your calf muscles in that “hurt so good” kind of way. Both options are yoga teacher-approved, so enjoy them for as long as you want before moving on with your practice.
These lymphatic drainage workouts are basically a detox on a mat…or trampoline
August 25, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC If I sat and wrote out out all of the benefits associated with exercising, we’d both be here all day. But one more thing that I recently learned can be added to the endless laundry list of “why working out is good for you,” after “building strength,” “boosting your mood,” and “helping with sleep”? It aids in lymphatic drainage. Think of the lymphatic system as a series of pipes that removes toxins and waste from your body. It does the job just fine on its own, but we can do certain things—like getting lymphatic drainage massages or taking certain supplements—to help it move more efficiently. While there’s been a whole lot of conversation around whether or not lymphatic drainage—AKA detoxing your lymphatic system—is totally necessary, that hasn’t stopped people from trying all sorts of things in its pursuits. You can get lymphatic drainage massages, pop certain supplements, and even jade rolling is purported to help with the process. If you’re committed to the cause, these workout moves are said to help, too. ad_intervals[‘416877_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘416877_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); On a trampoline Consider this the most fun way ever to help get your lymph system moving. “Bounce is more effective than other workouts for lymphatic drainage because of the effects of gravity and your body’s muscle contractions while on the trampoline,” says Aly Giampolo, co-founder of the ness, a studio in New York City that offers trampoline
The muscle group that you should be thinking about? Your pelvic floor
August 24, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC When I hit the gym, there are certain muscles I’m constantly thinking about working—like my arms, abs, and butt. One thing I have never, ever thought twice (or even once) about paying attention to during my workouts? My pelvic floor. Apparently, this is a pretty major mistake on my part. The “pelvic floor” is one of those terms that’s thrown around all the time, and if you’re anything like me, you just kind of smile, nod, and think “kegels!”—and then immediately start doing kegels—anytime anyone mentions it. There’s a reason why people are constantly talking about this group of mysterious muscles: Because it is really, really important to keep them strong. A quick anatomy lesson if you still aren’t totally sure what the heck a pelvic floor actually is: It’s a bowl-shaped group of skeletal muscles at the bottom of your pelvis, which supports the pelvic organs like your bladder, uterus, and rectum, and makes sure they can do what they’re supposed to. “Keeping it strong can help maintain sexual, bowel, and bladder functions, and prevent things like pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence,” explains Amy Hoover, DPT, a physical therapist with P.volve. ad_intervals[‘416620_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘416620_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); The most popular way to keep them strong—the Regina George of pelvic floor workouts, if you will—is with kegels. But to ensure that you’re building Schwarzenegger-level strength down there, you’re going to want to integrate you pelvic floor
12 pairs of cute running shorts to work out in now, because it’s *way* too hot for leggings
August 24, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Sure, leggings may seem like the perfect seasonless wardrobe staple, but try walking home in them after a sweaty bootcamp when the temperature is over 80 degrees. Not so comfy anymore, are they? In times like these—or as I like to call it, summer—it’s running shorts to the rescue. They may not be as buzzy as bike shorts are right now, but hear me out: They’re loose enough to let in a cooling breeze, they’re usually made from material that doesn’t retain sweat and heat, and this season, at least, they’re showing up in all kinds of elevated iterations. Metallic fabrics, neon colorblocking, floral and camo prints—as you can see from the options below, there are tons of ways to upgrade from the pair you stashed in your high-school gym locker. Running shorts don’t just work for workouts, either. I can picture myself styling a black (or leopard-print) pair with a silk camisole and strappy heels for a summer night out, or tossing them over bike shorts and adding some kind of t-shirt and Tevas. Or you could follow designer Virgil Abloh’s lead and stick highlighter-yellow running shorts under a sheer maxi-dress. (This is not for the sartorially shy, but definitely a fresher option than the sheer-dress-over-granny-panties look, IMO.) Oh, and most pairs cost well under $100—if not under $50—which is a pretty good deal on something you can wear absolutely everywhere. ad_intervals[‘404925_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404925_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100);
How many times can I wear the same PJs before it’s, well, gross?
August 23, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC I’ve always lived my life by the Two Night Pajama Rule—the unofficial (and unscientific) belief that sporting the same PJs for consecutive sleeps is fine. Just fine. But now that curiosity has led me to consult the experts, I’ve discovered that every two-night stand I’ve had with my nightgowns, boxers, and T-shirts has been a filthy lie. Or, to state it in a less dramatic manner, in some situations it’s as gross as wearing the same socks for days on end. Leanne Stapf, COO of The Cleaning Authority, paints me a powerful visual of why my worn-to-threads “Strand Bookstore” T-shirt should ideally land in the hamper after one overnight wear. “Many people assume that pajamas don’t get dirty because they aren’t worn outside and only when sleeping. However, that’s not the case,” she says. “In addition to the buildup of overnight perspiration, our skin is constantly shedding. Those dead skin cells coupled with the germs accumulated from daily activities are now being transferred to your pajamas.” That’s extra true if you have a full, active day and don’t shower before slipping into your jammies. In this case, the evening following will call for a new set, no questions asked. ad_intervals[‘417754_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘417754_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); When you’re considering whether or not any garment (nightwear or otherwise) needs to be washed, Clean My Space blogger Melissa Maker has a hot tip: the closer something lies to your
Female bodybuilders share how strength makes them feel feminine
August 23, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC One of the final frontiers for body positivity in the fitness world: women having muscles. Society has a particular image of what it means to be feminine, and being shredded is often not included in that limited view—to the detriment of athletes across multiple fields. Serena Williams, the top tennis player in the world, says she’s encountered people who call her masculine “all because of my arms, or because I’m strong.” Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman says she used to be self-conscious about her athletic physique because she felt like her muscles “weren’t feminine.” In short, it’s BS. We’ve made some gains as a society: Women began to recognize the importance of protein and demanded men make room for them at the weight rack. CrossFit became A Thing, with women making up a full 50 percent of the membership. But there are still some stigmas against particularly muscular women—especially when it comes to more extreme sports known for being ripped, like bodybuilding and power lifting. So we talked to three women who are elite strength-training athletes—two bodybuilders and one power lifter—to hear from them about what the sport means to them and their self-image. ad_intervals[‘400435_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400435_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); It’s important to say off the bat that bodybuilding is a very strenuous sport not meant for everyone. “The people who actually make it to the competitions are successful, but many people will drop out because of injury
Twitter has spoken—and this is America’s preferred way to sweat
August 22, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC Social media has become a #fitspo free-for-all. You can tailor Instagram to become your very own digital personal trainer, join a sweat-focused Facebook group, or take to Twitter for the most relatable gym memes around. But when researchers combed tweets about physical activity from 481,146 users, one sweat modality stood out from the rest: good, old fashioned walking. The survey, as reported in the journal BMJ Open Sport & Medicine Exercise, examined over one million tweets about physical activities that were geotagged in the United States between April 2015 and March 2016. After sorting out irrelevant terms (like, “The Walking Dead,” lol), the study authors identified that the top exercise terms were “walk,” “dance,” “golf,” “workout,” “run,” “pool,” “hike,” “yoga,” “swim,” and “bowl.” The volume of each keyword varied based on gender (more women tweeted about yoga than men, for example) and geographical region (more people broadcasted their hiking adventures out West). But, as a good reminder that your workouts don’t have to be expensive or fancy, walking proved to be the buzziest term overall. ad_intervals[‘417571_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘417571_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); The results make sense. First, walking has a low barrier to entry—you just need shoes, a bit of time, and somewhere to go. According to the folks at Harvard Health (who recommend logging two to four miles per day—bonus points if you take the stairs instead of the elevator), “You don’t need any special equipment to walk
How to score a trendy knotted headband for under $25 on Amazon
August 22, 2019 at 03:20PM by CWC Every summer, like clockwork, my Instagram feed becomes a series of shots of influencers on vacation in Italy, engagement announcements from people I haven’t spoken to since high school, and photos that have me genuinely wondering: “Are those hotdogs, or are they legs?” This summer, though, there’s been a new addition to the rotation of photos I’m seeing when I log into the app: knotted headbands. It seems like everywhere I look, someone is stepping up their game with an Upper East Sider-approved accessory placed artfully on their crown. Something about the juxtaposition of a traditional headband with the rogue knot makes the accessories equal parts preppy and boho, which isn’t an easy feat. Weirdly enough, the style seems just as at home on the beach in Capri as it does in someone’s “why am I at work while everyone else is on the Amalfi Coast” desk selfie. In other words: They’re for everyone and they go with everything. Chances are, the hair jewelry you’re seeing displayed on the heads of your favorite fashion and beauty ‘grammers and splayed across magazine editorials were designed by Lele Sadoughi. She sells absolutely gorgeous knotted headbands in every color, print, and fabric you can imagine—there is even a tie-dye option that speaks to me—and many of them are bejeweled with fancy baubles like rhinestones and pearls. ad_intervals[‘413626_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘413626_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Lele Sadoughi’s headbands are amazing, no doubt, and she