September 13, 2019 at 05:03PM by CWC Poet, artist and influencer Cleo Wade is—congrats!—having a baby. Recently, she made the announcement on Instagram to a flood of well-wishers. But because the internet is what it is, one commenter went full snide: “I see all these young women really hitting their stride professionally [are] then getting pregnant right at a high point,” they wrote. “I don’t get that. I never will.” Oh, honey. A bad move. In a follow-up post, Wade responded cheerfully that the good news is… it’s none of their effing business (my words, not hers)! And while we’re here, Wade decided to lay down a few things she didn’t get about the intersections of womanhood and the working world: “I don’t get why women don’t get equal pay for equal work. I don’t get why women are almost always responsible for being the main caregivers in households across America but our country has yet to, at the federal level, legally standardize fair workplace policies like paid leave for new parents and caregivers of sick family members. “I don’t get why all women don’t have access to quality affordable healthcare so they can safely have their children without it putting them into bankruptcy. “And last but not least, I don’t get why women’s reproductive rights are constantly under attack—I am actually completely unclear as to why anyone believes the government should have any say in when or IF a woman should choose to start [a] family.” View this post
Category: You and your body
Yep, you can mimic Swedish or deep tissue massages with just a ball
September 13, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Some people come home to significant others who love and cherish them—and, like, that’s cool. Personally, I’m at the stage of my life where I’m most excited to walk through my front door and find my three sweethearts: my foam roller, lacrosse ball, and Theragun. We gather together on my yoga mat and work through my ultra-sore muscles until right before bed. They give me free massages without asking for anything in return. I’m smitten for each and every one of them, and once you know how to transform your own recovery tools into at-home masseuses, you’ll feel the same way. At the Wanderlust 108 festival in Brooklyn, Julie Wu—an instructor with RAD roller—taught me how to transform any recovery tool into a bodywork specialist equipped to give both a Swedish massage (which is usually lighter) or a deep-tissue massage (which is way more intense). According to Wu, the fastest way to switch up the pressure a tool applies to your muscles is to change the surface upon which you are rolling. If you sprawl out on hard wood, for instance, a lacrosse ball won’t have nearly as much of as a buffer as it would on say, turf or carpet. And thus, if you desire a massage that goes deep, deep, deep into your muscle tissues, you need only locate harder patch of ground. “When you use [a ball] on a hard surface, you get a little less compression out of the
Your preference for night, afternoon, or morning sex says a lot about who you are
September 13, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC “When do you like to bang?” is probably not a question you were expecting to get asked today (or maybe you were, IDK your life), but here we are. Just like people like different things in bed, they also like to get it on at different times of the day. Sorry for distracting you at work, but think about your favorite time to have sex. Maybe you’re especially horny in the morning right before work, or 10 p.m. is your go-time. It’s all normal! But the time you like to have sex can tell a lot about your personality. Morning sex people tend to be more introverted, and prefer long-term, monogamous relationships while night people are more chill about casual sex and tend to be more extraverted, writes David Ludden, PhD, for Psychology Today. But I think we can break it down even further. Here’s what the time of day you like to do it says about you: Early morning (like, really early) If it’s during the week, amazing. Bang it out before work. Respect. But if you love super early morning sex on the weekends, I have questions. Are you setting an alarm? Do you naturally get up at this time? But props for keeping a consistent sleep schedule because I never can. Clearly you have a nighttime ritual that helps you fall asleep—journaling is involved. Morning sex You think liking dogs is a personality, and 100 percent have the VSCO app
Running in the rain is an inevitable part of training—here’s how to keep it comfy
September 13, 2019 at 02:30PM by CWC I’ll use just about any excuse not to go for run: “The air quality isn’t great today.” “My allergies are acting up.” “My cats will miss me too much.” So, I am definitely not one to lace up my trainers when the skies open up and let it rain; however, I recognize that not all humans are as motivationally-challenged as I am (and that goes double for those who have 20-milers penned on their calendars for the very near future). As fall and winter begin to bring their delightfully damp days, marathon training halts for no one. Because, you know: runner’s gotta run. If you’re one of these said runners, I’d like to, at the very least, help keep you as comfortable as possible (in part because I need to engender favor with fit individuals who can help me survive the dystopian future; in part because running while feeling soppy can feel daunting). You’ll need some sort of a hat, a windbreaker, moisture-wicking lower-body clothing, and, of course, the right shoes. (P.S., running shoes are different than training shoes—did you know?) Below I’ve compiled some options, including the official New Balance windbreaker of the TCS Marathon, which is making its internet debut today, that can help to keep you dry and moving forward. While temps are certainly about to dip, none of this gear is meant to keep you particularly warm (aside perhaps from the vest), so you can add layers and take
This month’s super-emotional full moon is in Pisces—here’s what each sign can expect
September 13, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Pull up Lana Del Rey’s new album and prepare to play it on repeat, because today is the day of the September full moon, and it’s happening in Pisces. So basically, get ready to feel all of your feelings. “This is the sign of spiritual insights, intuition, and supernatural phenomenon,” Rachel Lang, intuitive astrologer and healer, says. She adds that Pisces is counterbalanced by Virgo, “the sign of details, discernment, and order,” which is currently direct. This combo may have you finding a balance between spiritual and practical. “You could have profound insights and realizations. Then, you will need to find ways to ground those spiritual revelations in the very practical here and now,” she says. This is also a time when your decision-making processes may feel unclear, due to configuration between Jupiter, Mars, and Neptune. “You may not see things clearly. Balance hope with reason, faith with practicality.” So if you feel the urge to stay in and listen to really dramatic ’80s power ballads tonight while sitting on your floor feeling your feelings and doing a face mask, honor that. Lang says this is a full moon for self care, whatever that looks like for you. “The moon in Pisces urges you to heal some aspect of your life, physically, spiritually, or emotionally. Emotions could surface, but they should be sensed and felt—and not suppressed,” she says. The moon in Pisces also encourages you to access your creativity. “Creative outlets help
What it’s *really* like to get a $2,000 facial treatment
September 13, 2019 at 01:01PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXa5V2KkJE] Close your eyes and imagine getting a $2,000 facial. Are you envisioning your skin being scrubbed with tiny crystals? The most extra LED light setup? Face masks and chemical peels and gadgets galore? Yep, that’s pretty accurate, at least in senior video producer Ella Dove’s experience in Well+Good’s latest episode of What the Wellness. As Dove waltzes into New York Dermatology Group’s (chic AF) clinic on Fifth Avenue in New York City, she prepares to try out the $2,000 “runway” facial (yeah, it even has a fancy name) right before our very eyes to see what the fuss is about and if it’s actually worth the hefty price tag. “This is the most outlandish episode I’ve been a part of,” she says, right before she gets her complexion scrubbed clean of gunk, zapped with high-tech lasers, exfoliated on multiple levels, and plumped and toned with radiofrequency and LED light therapy. During the 90-minute skin-enhancing extravaganza, you get to witness just what happens to your skin when it gets some of the techiest, ingredient-savvy love around. “This is the crème de la crème of what dermatology and technology have to offer,” says Dove by the end of the facial. It’s true—NYDG’s treatment is all about utilizing the latest advancements in skin technology so that your skin truly leaves looking out-of-this-world radiant. How does Dove’s complexion look once it’s over? Is this extra-level facial actually worth it? Watch the video to see what true
Make healthy eating easy thanks to this technique used by the U.S. Army
September 13, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC The word “cafeteria” transports me back to my high school days of shuffling through the lunch line with hundreds of equally-hungry teenagers. The chicken was dry, they (somehow?) managed to ruin pizza, and breakfast-for-lunch days were the only silver lining. So imagine my surprise when I learned that you could eat healthy in a cafeteria…if you go to one run by the U.S. Army. Army cafeterias operate under the “Go For Green” system (a version of the Stoplight Diet), which was started back in 2011 by General Mark C. Hartley, MD, of the Center for Initial Military Training as part of the Soldier Fueling Initiative. “What he saw was that recruits were really struggling in initial military training just based on their physical fitness status and their nutrition status,” says Maj. Brenda Bustillos, PhD, a nutritionist with the U.S. Army. The “Go For Green” program remedied the problem with a two-fold solution: labeling all prepared foods as red, yellow, or green, then redesigning the dining facilities (“D-facs”) to better direct troops toward performance-boosting foods. Once you know what foods belong in which color category and why (which we’ll touch on in a sec), the system becomes an intuitive, easy, and surprisingly fun way to game-ify your own healthy eating goals and habits. Even if you don’t have a gymnasium-sized “D-fac” in your own home, you can totally use the army’s system to stock your fridge and prepare meals that meet your specific nutritional
6 signs someone is in love with you, based on body language alone
September 13, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC The early stages of a romantic relationship holds tons of excitement and potential energy; you’re learning new things about your new partner, settling into new routines, and figuring out your feelings. At a certain point, though, you’ll probably be ready to say those three magic words, but you’re nervous about uttering them first for fear that you won’t hear them in return, or—worse—that your partner won’t share your sentiment. Because picking up on signs someone is in love with you isn’t a science or easy to do with any semblance of confidence, the act of saying it can feel like a game of chicken—but that doesn’t have to be the case. Relationship coach and founder of Spark Matchmaking Michelle Fraley says learning to read your partner’s body language can be key for deciphering whether they’ve fallen for you. “Nonverbals are a big part of healthy and loving communication,” she says. Below are six body-language signs someone is in love with you, even if they have yet to say it. Look out for these 6 body language signs someone is in love with you, regardless of whether they’ve said the words. 1. Proximity If someone is in love, they’ll close the gap between you as often as they can. According to Fraley, you’ll want to consider the following four questions: Do they make an effort to get closer to me? Do they inch closer to me while seated? Do they place objects, like their
I’m a dentist and these are the 5 things that I do every day for whiter teeth
September 13, 2019 at 01:16AM by CWC If you’re like me you, you absolutely despise the dentist. She could be the nicest, most cheerful person on Earth, and while in her chair, I’ll be grinning and bearing it as if it were actual torture. As a result, I always preface my appointments with the fact that I don’t mean to be frigid, but in the case of my teeth—and the prospect of sharp tools drilling into them—I simply can’t be held accountable. In an effort to boost my oral health and reduce the amount of time I spend white-knuckling it through routine cleanings (at best) and fillings (at worst), I chatted with a few dentists to learn the top five things they do every day for healthy, happy gums and teeth. Keep scrolling for the habits that they’re making happen every. single. day. Jeffrey Sulitzer, DMD, SmileDirectClub Chief Clinical Officer, 1. Brush three times daily (and floss after each meal): “I always use a soft toothbrush and make sure to spend at least two minutes every time I brush,” Dr. Sulitzer says. “While most people know that brushing and flossing can keep your teeth clean, some people don’t know that brushing at least three times a day and flossing once a day can reduce chronic inflammation of the gums and support tooth structures. This is important since chronic inflammation in the mouth in the form of gum disease is very similar to what happens in the rest of the body
Give it to me straight: Is wheat bad for you?
September 13, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC It used to be that reaching for two slices of whole wheat bread to make a sandwich was considered a healthy choice. But now, with popular eating plans such as Paleo and Whole30 taking wheat off the table entirely (no grains are part of either), wheat’s healthy reputation has come under fire. With grocery store aisles full of gluten-free substitutes, it’s relatively easy to get away with avoiding it all together anyways. On the other hand, wheat is “allowed” for followers of the Mediterranean diet, which is often heralded by doctors as the healthiest way to eat. Confusing, right? I called up Liz Weinandy, RD, a registered dietitian at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, to set the record straight on wheat. Speaking of gluten, here’s what a registered dietitian has to say about cutting it out completely: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn9XGWtvL1s] Is wheat bad for you? Not for most of us Despite its bad rap, Weinandy is quick to tell me that wheat has many positive traits beyond being cheap and readily available. “Wheat has beneficial vitamins such as B6, iron, zinc, and selenium, and is also a good source of fiber,” she says. Given the many benefits of a high-fiber benefit (it lowers inflammation, is linked to optimal gut health, and boosts metabolism), this last point is worth paying attention to. But according to Weinandy, not all foods with wheat are equally healthy. Shocker—a diet high in processed carbohydrates, like cookies, white bread,