October 16, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC When Paige More had a preventative double mastectomy at 24, the main thing on her mind was survival. She’d recently discovered that she had the BRCA1 gene mutation, which meant she faced an 87 percent risk of developing breast cancer—a disease that had taken several of her close family members. Put simply, she was terrified. So when the time came to meet with a plastic surgeon and talk breast reconstruction, her emotions were running so high that there were a lot of questions she didn’t even think to ask. “I went into my surgeon and they said, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’ They presented it to me like it was my only option,” says More, a women’s health activist and co-founder of breast cancer support community The Breasties. She ended up having breast implants placed below her chest muscles—a common procedure for post-mastectomy patients—but wasn’t aware of how much physical discomfort they would end up causing her, especially during workouts. “I went into it thinking I would have perfect foobs [Breastie shorthand for “fake boobs”], and that’s just not the case,” she says. “I still have a lot of moments where it’s painful to move a certain way, and I can’t do certain workouts because my implants are too far apart.” To be fair, research shows that disappointment over breast reconstruction is rare—most women under 60 who have undergone the process are just as satisfied with their breasts post-reconstruction as they
Category: Your Regeneration
There are 3 stages of a relationship—and 1 where most couples get stuck
October 16, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC It’s easy to forget that there are stages of a relationship until the moment you trip and fall face-first out of the honeymoon phase. You know the feeling, right? For some amount of time, no one and nothing can touch your love, because your romance is a beautiful, sparkling, Baz Luhrmann jukebox musical. Then you see your partner’s bedroom and learn they still have a twin-size bed, or something equally appalling. All of a sudden, you realize, “Oh, wait, everyone dies in those Luhrmann movies.” Out of the honeymoon phase you go immediately, and into something quite a bit trickier. To quote one of those doomed Lurhmann flicks, love is a many splendored thing. And one of the key elements to finding, experiencing, and—most importantly—keeping love is navigating the hard stuff with empathy, communication, and patience. Understanding the three major stages a relationship is also helpful so all parties involved can have a sense of what to expect and anticipate, good and bad. Below, get expert tips for surviving and thriving in all stages of a relationship. Stage 1: Infatuation and the honeymoon period Are cartoon hearts floating above your heads? Fireworks exploding outside your bedroom? You’ve made it three or four dates with the same person, so what else could this be other than true love? Or, at least, true lust? During this phase, hormones like norepinephrine and dopamine (yes, the intoxicating happiness-churning dopamine) surge through you. You’re ecstatic, excited, and aroused. During
Trader Joe’s Dukkah is the healthy spice that’s even better than Everything Bagel seasoning
October 16, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC To say people are passionate about Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel seasoning is an understatement. The blend—black and white sesame seeds, sea salt flakes, poppy seeds, and minced garlic—is a cult favorite for a reason. In the flick of a wrist, it transforms a bland dish into something flavorful. Eggs, fish, chicken, even waffles…the possibilities are endless. What could be better? Dukkah, according to Trader Joe’s VP of marketing Matt Sloan. On the latest episode of his podcast, Inside Trader Joe’s, Sloan goes so far as to say it’s even better than Everything But The Bagel seasoning. Bold words, my friend. Bold words. “I think dukkah is a better product,” he says. “I think dukkah is more versatile, less salty, and has far more interesting flavors.” If you’ve never heard of dukkah, it’s a blend—similar to the Everything seasoning—made of nuts and spices, typically sesame seeds, coriander, curcumin, salt, and pepper. The inclusion of the curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) mean that this spice blend contains anti-inflammatory properties. How to use Trader Joe’s dukkah 1. Cooked with Green beans “[With] just simple preparation, green beans tossed with the dukkah, is just a whole new version of kind of boring green beans that are delicious,” says Sloan. 2. Blended with olive oil If you’re looking for a Mediterranean diet-approved snack using dukkah, simply blend it with olive oil and use it for dipping with a crusty bread. Sometimes the best uses really
Everything you need to know about calisthenics and how to try it yourself
October 15, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC Sure, megaformer Pilates and boxing/treadmill/weights hybrid workouts are fun and all, but it’s just as effective to stick to the basics when you exercise. If you’re looking for a truly OG workout experience, hit up calisthenics. “Calisthenics exercises are one of the simplest ways to work out,” says Megan Bradley, coach and experience coordinator for Row House. “It includes a variety of muscle groups that activate your larger muscle groups by only incorporating your bodyweight.” So rather than using weights or something like a medicine ball, gravity helps you to get in a good work out. Think fundamental moves like squats, push-ups, lunges, and crunches. It’s not like incorporating weighted equipment isn’t great—it is—but there are particular perks to doing calisthenics. You may be wondering: If squats are a staple of strength training, how is calisthenics different than that? Besides the fact that calisthenics uses solely bodyweight, the difference lies in the muscle groups you’re recruiting. “You’re typically focusing on total body movements with calisthenics as compared to your ability to isolate certain muscle groups, which is easier with strength training,” says Steve Stonehouse, a trainer and director of education for Stride. So calisthenics are a form of strength training, but not all strength training is calisthenics. “Calisthenics exercises are generally compound exercises, which work two or more joints and multiple muscle groups at once,” adds Cori Lefkowith, trainer and founder of Redefining Strength. And they’re actually really ideal for fitness newbies or those
‘A year of solo travel taught me a new way to approach food as fuel’
October 15, 2019 at 08:05PM by CWC Welcome to Passport Nutrition! We’re mapping the flavors of the world one country at a time by speaking with people who wrap their careers around cuisine as well as those who simply savor an hour spent in the kitchen after work. You’ll find that a “healthy plate” isn’t one size—or country—fits all. By the time I graduated from college, with a few school track records and All-American honors to my name, I had my nutrition dialed in. With the help of our team’s dietitian, I maintained a healthy weight while running 80 miles per week.I knew exactly what and when to eat before a key workout or race. The meals I cooked in my apartment were fresh, colorful, and as predictable as my twice-a-day runs. My menu included bagels and oatmeal for breakfast, fruit and energy bars for snacks, turkey sandwiches for lunch, and a rotating lineup of chicken, beef, and fish for dinner. “Balance” was the giant buffalo burger I ordered at our team’s go-to spot most weekends followed by a bakery stop. Then I traveled the world for a year. As a three-sport athlete—cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track—at Rice University in Houston, studying abroad wasn’t an option. By graduation, my brief introduction to other cultures had come through mission trips to Mexico and a track trip to Bydgoszcz, Poland. I left those trips feeling equal parts satiated and hungry; moved by what I’d seen and done and eager to explore
8 moisturizing drugstore cleansers that our readers love—and not one is over $20
October 15, 2019 at 07:44PM by CWC Whenever one of my BFFs discovers something they love, I expect them to share it with me so I can also experience the greatness. That’s exactly how I’ve become a 90 Day Fiancé fan, a sushi convert, and a bona fide blush draping devotee. And now I’m extremely grateful for my fellow Beauty Geeks—AKA Well+Good’s beauty Facebook group—for sharing their go-to drugstore moisturizing cleansers, because I’m going to steal all their intel for my own routine. When someone asked for good hydrating cleanser recommendations that can be found at the local drugstore or Whole Foods, a slew of must-have skin-care finds were named. Really good ones. I’m not going to hold onto these for my own good, though—once you see these drugstore gems, you’re going to want them too. Keep scrolling for your skin-care jackpot. Photo: Derma E Derma E Hydrating Cleanser, $12 One Beauty Geek recommends Derma E, which makes a hyaluronic acid-packed cleanser that removes makeup and gunk from your skin without stripping it of its natural oils. Seaweed Bath Co The Seaweed Bath Co. Purifying Gel Cleanser, $13 You can find this brand at drugstores and Whole Foods. One of our readers loves their gentle cleanser, which is infused with detoxifying seaweed extracts, marine tri-peptides to protect your skin’s barrier, and aloe vera for a soft-as-a-cloud complexion. Photo: Cocokind Cocokind Oil to Milk Cleanser, $18 Cocokind’s known for its good-for-your-skin ingredients, hence why Whole Foods swooped them up for their shelves.
Strengthen your core and massage your hip flexors with hanging leg raises
October 15, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC Sometimes, the title of things can be misleading. Some examples: the entire Real Housewives series (uh, many are divorced, working ladies), Gossip Girl (spoiler alert: it’s a guy, actually), and hanging leg raises. If I asked you to imagine what a hanging leg raise exercise is all about, obviously you’d think it’s about your gams. But—even though, yes, it does involve both hanging and raising your legs, the star of the move is your core. “Hanging leg raises primarily work the abdominals and hip flexors, and are a great addition to any fitness routine for overall core strength, spine health, and mobility,” says Mitchell Fischer, NASM, trainer and weightlifting coach with Gold’s Gym. “You get additional benefits of working your grip and shoulder strength by hanging from the bar and stabilizing your body throughout the movement.” Not that your leg muscles aren’t getting any love in the exercise—Fischer says that besides strengthening your hip flexors and lower abs, your quadriceps are getting worked as well since you’re using them to raise your legs up. Also, the bonus perks of working your core and arms with hanging leg raises are that you are better able to protect your back, which helps you hold your body up in general, says Tatiana Lampa, trainer with Training with T. Though it may sound as easy as grabbing a bar and literally pulling your legs up, they’re sneakily really difficult, and there are a slew of common mistakes trainers
This forgiveness flowchart pinpoints exactly why your apologies sometimes fall flat
October 15, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Do you suck at saying sorry? Admitting where you messed up isn’t always easy, especially when you get hung up on, well, “buts.” Like, “I’m sorry I drank too many gimlets at your cousin’s wedding, but who puts a three tier cake in the middle of a dance floor?” Point is, how to apologize to someone the right way is something learned, not ingrained in you. And if you’re having trouble, we have an easy flowchart that can set you up on the right path toward an accepted apology. Created by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy, authors of No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work, the flowchart hits the three major points that’ll make your apology effective or insincere. You and I can handle three simple points, right? When we skip down the graph, we’re asked to analyze the following: Did you admit that you made a mistake by acknowledging what went down, and have you expressed empathy about the exact reason someone was snubbed or hurt? When you said you were sorry, did you like, literally say “I’m sorry”? And if those words came out of your mouth, did they follow with a period or a qualifier (“I’m sorry you felt that way)? Did you suggest a way you’re going to Be Better in the future? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Liz and Mollie (@lizandmollie) on Oct 14, 2019 at 8:36am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js So bad
Matcha has been around for hundreds of years—here’s why it’s (still) so popular today
October 15, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC Avocados may be the unofficial food mascot of the wellness world, but matcha is without a doubt the beverage served on the side. I’m willing to bet that you sip—and Instagram—the vibrant green drink more than inflammation-fighting golden milk lattes, a keto-approved Bulletproof coffee, or calming chamomile teas. Matcha has become so omnipresent that it’s natural to wonder how it even got to be so popular. Like someone you’ve met a dozen times yet still don’t know their name, the health benefits of matcha may seem like something you “should know” by now, but don’t. We’ve got you covered. Consider this your official matcha 101 handbook. Its origin story, health benefits, buying tips, and expert whisking tips are all included here, courtesy of Matcha: A Lifestyle Guide co-author, Jessica Flint. (Arguably the world’s prettiest matcha book.) What is matcha—and how it got to be everywhere Matcha may be a “trendy” drink here in the States, but it’s actually been around since the twelfth century, when the Chinese brought it to Japan and it started being used in elaborate tea ceremonies. Flint says that matcha is a type of green tea, but they aren’t exactly the same. “What makes matcha different than regular green tea is that the green leaf leaves are ground into a powder,” she says. The powder is then dissolved directly into water and consumed as opposed to regular green tea, which steeps the leaves in water then removes them. Matcha’s
3 wellness (and life) lessons from an Instagram foodie
October 15, 2019 at 05:06PM by CWC To celebrate women embracing their power at every age, our “Better With Age” series with MitoQ—a mitochondria-supporting super supplement that powers your cells to fuel your ambitions as you age—is telling stories of inspiring women who have loads of game-changing advice for generations behind them. Living a healthy life should be simple (eat well, exercise, repeat, right?), but wellness has become a whole lot more than salads and workouts—which is where confusion enters the scene. That’s why when you find someone who’s a little farther along in their wellness journey and killing it, it’s like hitting the jackpot of wellness advice. Since they’ve done a lot of the legwork for you (praise), you can avoid the frustrating trial and error that often comes with navigating the world of health. Sharing the wisdom she’s gained from her journey is exactly what Nicole Modic, recipe developer and founder of KaleJunkie, set out to do after her experience with overcoming disordered eating. “Once I got the healing I needed from my eating disorder, I wanted to share my story with others in hopes of inspiring them,” she says. Her blog turned into her platform for inspiration, where she shares healthy recipes, parenting tips, and general wellbeing wisdom. Here, she’s sharing some of her top pieces of wellness advice, from her take on actually finding balance to a quick hack for avoiding hanger. Scroll down for 3 pieces of wellness advice you can apply to your life today.