September 26, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC The perfect push-up is like the holy grail of exercise moves. It works everything from your arms to your shoulders to your core (if you’re doing them right, that is), and just the thought of having to drop and give someone 10 (let alone enough to pass the U.S. Army Fitness Test) is enough to get even the fittest among us quaking. But building up to flawless form is no easy feat, which is why if you’re just starting to flex your push-up muscles, you may want to start at the wall. Think of wall push-ups as push-ups with training wheels—a way to get your body prepped and ready for the real thing. They’re performed perpendicular to the floor, with your hands against the wall, and give your body a chance to get used to the movement of a push-up without having to exert quite as much strength as the regular floor version would. “It allows individuals to introduce proper pushing-pressing mechanics without overloading the core, making it ideal for someone lacking sufficient core stability and proprioception, an awareness of how one’s body is moving through space,” says Marcel Dinkins, a Founding Coach at Rowgatta. The move is accessible to people at any fitness level, and just because they’re easier than the real thing, you’ll be happy to learn that they come with comparable benefits. Like regular push-ups, the move works your pectoral muscles, anterior shoulders, and triceps, but are easier because you’re
Category: You and your body
‘I’m a nutritionist, and here’s how I save money buying all the healthy food on Amazon’
September 26, 2019 at 04:01PM by CWC Getting Amazon Prime was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Instead of hunting down hard-to-find products or carrying multiple bags of groceries home, I can get everything I need with nothing but a couple taps on my phone—and it’ll all be at my door in 48 hours or less. Well, not surprisingly, I’m not the only one who’s obsessed with the service—nutritionists are, too. You can essentially find anything you could ever want and need on Amazon. I recently snagged an organic sea kelp blend to season my pasta with—because, yes, that’s a thing. The only downside is because of how effortless it is, the service can quickly go from something that can save you time and money to something that eats up all your paychecks. Luckily, there are some simple ways to save big when stocking up on wholesome goodies. From knowing exactly what to buy online (and what to get at the grocery store) to the hacks that will keep your bank account happy, here’s how four nutritionists shop on Amazon. 4 nutritionists share their favorite Amazon hacks 1. Go for large quantity orders When you have foodie friends, you can turn Amazon into a quick-shipping Costco-like experience that allows you to get everything your heart desires. “I often go in with someone else for large quantity orders,” says Sonya Angelone, MS, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Because when you buy in bulk, you’ll always
The good-for-your-face reason to buy compostable face wipes
September 26, 2019 at 03:01PM by CWC It’s becoming more and more clear how important it is to live sustainably, and that means taking time to replace single-use items with eco-friendly options. While rethinking the amount of plastic you bring home is a great place to start, another easy thing you can do to make a difference? Give your face wipes an upgrade. Not just for the planet, but also for your skin. Simple recently released a new version of its beloved cleansing wipes—ones that are completely compostable. Because you can compost them, they’re not adding to the millions of tons of garbage going into landfills every year, but you’re still getting the same quality and effectiveness. They’re just as thick, soft, and stretchy—only this time, they’re made from natural fibers. Particularly wood pulp. Rubbing wood pulp around on your face might sound a little scary at first, but hear me out. Because the wipes are made from the natural fiber, they use more of “the juice”—which, in theory, distributes more hydrating, skin-loving ingredients to your face, keeping your skin silky-smooth and moisturized. Aside from the potential skin benefits, wood pulp is also super renewable and sustainable, and the wipes can biodegrade in just 42 days. Pretty wild. So sure, it’s always cool to do the planet good. But when you reap some extra benefits for your efforts in the process, even better. To give your life even more of a planet-friendly overhaul, shop these sustainable clothing brands and check
True or false: Milk is completely okay to drink on the keto diet
September 26, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC With eating plans that have a lot of rules—keto, we’re looking at you—come a lot of questions. One top one for beginners: Is milk keto? Because honestly, not everyone can get on board with the whole “butter coffee” thing. Let’s back up for a sec. On the high-fat, very low-carb plan, most people stick to getting 70 to 80 percent of their calories from fat and just 20 to 30 grams of net carbs per day, although those numbers can be a bit variable depending on the person and what version of keto they’re on. (Ketotarian, for example, is a bit more generous with the carb count.) Counting “net carbs” versus total carbs gives you more leeway with said carbs. You get this figure by taking total carbs and subtracting from it fiber grams and sugar alcohols. Got all that? Great. Now let’s talk to an expert to see if you can be all “Got Milk?” on the ketogenic diet. Can I have cow’s milk on keto? I hate to break it to you, but dairy milk is not going to be keto-compliant, says Amy Kubal, RDN, a registered dietitian in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It’s natural to think it might be, especially if you go for the full-fat stuff. However, milk contains lactose, a milk sugar, which contains…carbohydrates. It also has no fiber to offset the carbs. So, you’re looking at 12 grams of net carbs per cup for whole milk. Even
How this hip-hop influencer went from burnout to bliss
September 26, 2019 at 01:30PM by CWC After years of dues-paying in her career, Devi Brown reached milestone after milestone, eventually becoming an well-known radio personality—and yet, she felt like something was missing. As she went deeper into her own spiritual and wellness journey, she became inspired to share her findings through Karma Bliss, which offers inspiration, guidance, and resources for the modern seeker. Here, as part of our Wellness in Color series, she shares her story with W+G Council member Latham Thomas . Latham Thomas: Devi, tell me a little about your journey. What is the story behind Karma Bliss? Devi Brown: I worked in radio and TV for 13 years, mostly in the hip-hop format. I was interviewing every rapper that ever rapped, which was fun and exciting, but the biggest thing that attracted me to radio was the connection that you have with people. It felt sacred and intimate. What drew me to that world was a desire to help people tell their stories, and having that ability to connect on a deeper level with people that you don’t know. My career was great, but then I started feeling like, Well, what else is there? I started thinking about how society defines success—getting the promotion, the car, the house, the family, the retirement package. With this idea of always hustling, you’re being measured by your productivity, and I bought into that. I started to completely drain myself and feel deeply unfulfilled. So I started to go inward
Get yourself a vial of what one aromatherapy exec calls the ‘duct tape of essential oils’
September 26, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC When you’re looking for a little bit of self-soothing, it’s makes sense to turn to your toolbox of essential oils. But…which one is best? Do you use lavender oil for a sense of calm? Do you try on a citrus scent to perk you out of a bad mood? Will rolling on some grapefruit with a carrier oil bounce you into your day with an extra dose of energy? Well, yes, all around. So many essential oils offer worthy benefits that choosing just one to rely on for some restorative healing is no small task. But an aromatherapy exec might just have the answer to your essential-oil woes. She says peppermint essential oil benefits are numerous, and when blended with two other high-performing oils, it’s a gold-standard product for holistic healing. “I like to call Peppermint Halo the duct tape of essential oils because it supports pretty much everything,” says Kiara LeBlanc, chief innovation and brand officer at Saje Natural Wellness. “Originally formulated for headaches, it does so much more than that: It gives major love to tight shoulders, pulled muscles, hangovers, low energy—I could go on. It’s not just versatile, but convenient and quick to work.” Peppermint Halo is a blend, meaning it contains several essential oils. While the star of the vial is its eponymous peppermint—and peppermint essential oil benefits do abound—other worthy additions are mixed in, adding up to that duct-tape versatility status: rosemary and lavender. All three of these
Why keeping a positive attitude at work is more important than you think
September 26, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC Truth: We all complain about our jobs at some point throughout the day (whether you’re annoyed with your workload, your boss, or the less-than-stellar snack situation in the office kitchen). While letting out some steam is totally normal—and something everyone needs to do occasionally to rid their minds of negative thoughts—if those thoughts are constant (and affecting yourself and your teammates), then there might be an issue. At our recent Wellness Collective event in Los Angeles, Sarah Panis, founder of Gritty Movement, asked how positive everyone was about their job on a scale of one to 10. Out of the 40 people who joined for the wellness-filled morning, maybe (and that’s just maybe) 10 people held up all their fingers. What Panis suggests doing is recognizing and reframing your negative beliefs into a positive mindset. And that doesn’t mean radiating rainbows when you walk into the office. Panis defines positivity as “a feeling of optimism and confidence that’s constructive. What it’s not: Constant joy, fake happiness. What it is: Recognizing the power you have over your mindset.” The process of cultivating positivity takes three easy-to-implement steps. First, write down what’s bothering you. Do you feel like your boss is micromanaging you? Are you having a hard time trusting your team? Let it all out in a journal. After that, pay attention to how it makes you act after feeling this way—do you retaliate by snapping back to others? Do you fail to delegate
I went on a luxe getaway to St. Barts, and the 3 best things I did cost $0
September 26, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Even if you haven’t ever been to the Caribbean island of St. Barts, chances are you’ve seen photographic evidence of the French-owned vacation destination, whether from friends or celebrities. (Model Ashley Graham recently celebrated her babymoon there). It’s known to be equal parts luxe, glam, and expensive, but what I wasn’t expecting to feel during my time on the dreamy Saint-Barthélemy Island, as it’s officially known, was Zen. Sure, the island may play host to beach parties and extravagant dinners, yet when I left the island feeling decidedly more relaxed and centered than when I had arrived, I thought about what I had done during my time there and concluded that the best things to do in St. Barts are totally free. It’s the low-key happiness-boosting offerings—like secret natural springs, sunset meditation opportunities, and fresh local cuisine—that makes St. Barts an underrated wellness destination that should earn it a spot on bucket lists for next-level restorative getaways. When I checked into a room gifted to me by the luxe Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa, which is set on the quiet Grand-Cul-de-Sac beaches, I had a hunch I was in for a treat. And when I laid eyes on over-the-top amenities like the in-room Hermès products and the stunning seaside infinity pool, I was able to deem my hunch correct. Still, based on my experience, the best things to do in St. Barts proved to be the free ones. Rounded up below are three of
The next generation of climate activists won’t be underestimated
September 26, 2019 at 01:45AM by CWC On a sunny Friday morning in Santa Monica, California, dozens of people paraded down the street in front of a gleaming new mall. But this wasn’t the usual weekend shopping scene—instead of toting bags from West Elm and Nordstrom, the crowd carried signs emblazoned with slogans like “Fight for Our Future” and “Make Earth Great Again.” The usual hum of traffic noise was drowned out by a resounding chant: Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Fossil fuel has got to go! And, perhaps most poignantly, many of the protesters were cutting their elementary-school classes to be there. Without a doubt, these mini-revolutionaries were inspired by Greta Thunberg, Isra Hirsi, and Jamie Margolin, just a few of the teen activists associated with the massive Global Climate Strike of September 20. Organizers estimate that on that day, a record-breaking 4 million people attended 6,000 climate strike events in 185 countries around the world. The Global Climate Strike was a joint effort among several youth-led climate organizations—including Thunberg’s Fridays for Future, Margolin’s Zero Hour, and Hirsi’s Youth Climate Strike—as well as allies such as Greenpeace, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Sierra Club. Businesses including Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s closed their doors that day in support of the strike, while websites such as Tumblr and Kickstarter went dark. Each group of local climate strikers presented their own demands. In the US, for example, protesters weren’t just seeking an end to deforestation and fossil fuel use—they were also speaking up
Even healthy eaters overdo it with saturated fats—here are 4 easy ways to cut back your intake
September 25, 2019 at 10:30PM by CWC Whenever someone says the words “saturated fats,” my mind conjures burgers sizzling on the grill and the colorfully-wrapped candy bars at the checkout counter of Walgreens. While those two images are accurate, saturated fats are hiding in many parts of the American diet. And, a brand-new study published by The Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that all of us might be eating far more of them than we think. For context, let’s go ahead and redefine this type of fat. “Saturated fat is a dietary fat molecule that does not have any double bonds between the carbons,” explains Melissa Rifkin, RD, of Melissa Rifkin Nutrition, LLC. “Saturated fats mainly come from animal products, including dairy, but are also found in some plant oils such as coconut and palm oils.” The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that saturated fats take up less than 10 percent of your daily calorie intake. “Consuming high amounts of saturated fats can cause cholesterol to build up in your blood vessels, increasing the risk for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease,” says Rifkin. Those who already have heart disease or high blood pressure should consume even less saturated fat, adds the dietitian. The cross-sectional study, which reviewed the diets of a whopping 43,996 adults found that the populations intake of saturated fats remains above that golden, aforementioned 10 percent. But with a few tweaks, Rifkin says you can totally turn that dial