October 13, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC With the sun in Libra and the moon in the audacious, cardinal-fire sign of Aries (the first sign of the zodiac), the full hunter moon on Sunday, October 13 asks you to balance the dichotomy of “we” versus “me.” Spoiler alert: me wins. Here’s why: The full moon is Aries at 20 degrees on the 13th, which brings our attention to Mars, the ruling planet of Aries. With both Mars and Aries having a me-first agenda, they ask us to listen to our instincts and prioritize our individual wants and needs. This means you’d be wise to try and not cling too tightly to others during this time. Give the people in your life and yourself room and space to breathe. It’s nothing personal—it’s primal, cosmic even, to need this. With Mars currently traveling at 6 degrees of Libra, the sign of balance, while making an inconjunct to Uranus in Taurus, this full moon asks you to break free from codependent ties. Even more so since Venus, the planet of love, also opposes Uranus. Instead of sourcing your sense of identity through the reflection of others (which is an oh-so Libra thing to do), put your hand on your heart and honor how hard you’ve worked to be exactly where you are right now. You are thriving. Stay compassionate and positive because everything is unfolding exactly as it should. Instead of sourcing your sense of identity through the reflection of others (which is
Tag: Well+Good
How to maximize your steps to turn all 10,000 of them into full-blown cardio moves
October 13, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC There are times in life when taking a break from exercise can be the best thing you can do for your mind, body, and soul. Then, there are times when you truly yearn to get your sweat on, but outer forces just… don’t let you (hello, busy schedule/impromptu social dates/sleeping through my alarm, etc.). I recently took a five-day hiatus from anything that would make me sweat. Considering I rely on working out regularly to quell my anxiety, this situation didn’t exactly bode well for my mental health. But as a friend (hi Erica!) reminded me while I was nervous about skipping a week’s worth of workouts, “sweating” and “exercising” aren’t necessarily synonyms, and you can reap some of the same benefits you’d get in your usual HIIT class by way of good, old fashioned walking. While walking may not spike your heart-rate the way, say, a Barry’s Bootcamp class would, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have plenty of benefits behind it. “Walking is a fantastic cardio workout that is low-impact, while at the same time, can be a heart-racing, high intensity exercise when done properly,” says Aaptiv master trainer John Thornhill. “Brisk walking, and more specifically, walking with incline, torches calories and builds and strengthens the muscles in your posterior chain, AKA the muscles from your calves up to your back.” Plus, says New York Road Runners coach Roberto Mandje, it allows you to get your heart rate up with less pounding
It’s just a fact: Whipped coconut cream is *way* better than the original
October 13, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC I’m no stranger to sneaking spoonfuls of whipped cream. I mean, can you blame me? The light and fluffy topping is basically like eating a cloud. I’m still just as in love with it as I was as a kid, but I don’t “do the Cool Whip” anymore. (Please tell me you remember that commercial.) Now I’m all about whipped coconut cream. Trader Joe’s recently re-released its beloved Coconut Whipped Topping—a dairy-free whipped cream that was previously just a seasonal item. Now under the brand name Sweet Rose, it’s staying for good… and it’s so much better than the real thing. I’m talking spray-in-your-mouth-because-it-tastes-like-coconut-pie good. While TJ’s $3.29 product—which comes in a can and only contains a handful of ingredients, starting with coconut cream, water, and sugar—has certainly fueled my need for whipped coconut cream, its not the only option. Yeah, you can eat it out of the can, but here’s how to bake with whipped coconut cream: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntAmnaSZDkA] My love of whipped coconut cream started with the brand So Delicious’ CocoWhip, which comes in a tub like OG whipped creams. Not to mention a side of nostalgia every time you dig in. The first time I tried it after ditching dairy, I couldn’t believe how creamy it was, and I’m continually impressed by other products that have hit the market, too. Now even Reddi-wip has a coconut milk version sold in nearly every grocery store around the country, and Whole Foods carries
11 hip stretches for runners that melt away tightness—and help you move like the wind
October 13, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC The common refrain in any runner’s life is this: “My hips are SOOOO tight!” Unlike ultra-bendy yogis, pavement-pounders have ongoing issues with stiff muscles from head-to-toe. And the area just below the elastic of your leggings, your hip flexors, may be one of the creakiest spots in your bod. As David Siik, founder and creator of Precision Running, previously told Well+Good, tight hips can cause a domino effect throughout your overall physical health. If you don’t make a point of stretching out your hip flexors on the reg, muscle tightness can lead to lack of blood flow to that area, leaving you open to injuries. I get it, I get it: stretching, foam rolling, and other ways to relax stressed out muscles can be time consuming. But getting sidelined by hips that just won’t budge is way worse than spending some time in pigeon pose. Am I right? The best hip stretches for runners, according to experts [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKrdB-5R3C4] 1. 10-minute fast (but effective!) hip stretch Grab your yoga mat and a lacrosse ball for this quickie hip session that will ease your muscles after a long, tough run. For extra entertainment value, the runner behind this vid changes his hat with each stretch. So you’ll see you’ll get to LOL through a beanie, a baseball cap, and a fishing hat and come out on the other side stretched out. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXCIBkqxcYE?start=28] 2. Low-lunge love If you only have time for one stretch,
This is how you get stuck in an on-again, off-again relationship—and how to break the cycle
October 13, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC I am the product of a rare on-again, off-again relationship gone right. My parents, who fell in love in an age without dating apps, hook-up culture, and the paradox of choice, broke up three times over the course of six years before deciding that yep, what they had was the real deal. Cut to me, spending 12 years of dating thinking my endless on-again, off-again continuums are “healthy.” Whether the cycle is healthy or not, getting back together with an ex is… actually a pretty standard move. This continues even into relationships that involve real estate and wedding rings: a 2013 study by the University of Kansas suggests that “over one-third of cohabiters and one-fifth of spouses have experienced a breakup and renewal in their current relationship.” But on the flip side, rapid cycling in a relationship typically led to more cycling, greater uncertainty in their relationship’s future, and lower satisfaction. To wit: We cling to the dream of the Jim and Pam endgame when most of these arrangements are actually Ryan and Kelly toxic. But if you find yourself drawn, twin-flame-style, to a person over and over and over again, does that necessarily predict doom? Is it straight radioactive incompatibility, or just bad timing? According to relationship expert Susan Winter, attempted break-ups are sometimes our slow-burn way of letting go. “For some couples, breaking up requires a series of attempts before they’re able to leave each other,” she says. “It’s a process. You’re weaning
These are the best serums for dry skin, according to a dermatopathologist
October 13, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC You can always count on serums to give you your glowiest, healthiest skin. While the magic potion of sorts does wonders for any skin type, taking advantage of the product’s hydrating qualities can be especially beneficial when dealing with dryness, whether that’s a year-round or seasonal thing. Think of your serum as a tall drink of water for your skin. Because of its potent mix of skin-boosting active ingredients, they can take dry, flaky skin to glowy and moisturized overnight. And according to Gretchen Frieling, a Boston-based dermatopathologist, there are three key ingredients to look out for when buying a serum when you have dry skin—the first being hyaluronic acid, which is an all-star in replenishing moisture. “As age, we naturally lose the ability to retain moisture in our skin. Moisture is needed for a supple and youthful look and feel. Without an adequate amount, our skin begins to lose plumpness and firmness,” Dr. Frieling says. “Hyaluronic acid is super effective because it can absorb up to 1,000 times its own weight in water. Since it’s so absorbent, it’s able to draw in water and lock in vital moisture. By rehydrating the skin, it smooths and plumps the surface, while dramatically reducing fine lines and wrinkles.” Also important? Vitamin C, which is hands-down one of the best nutrients for skin health. Dr. Frieling says the powerful antioxidant not only protects the skin from damaging free radicals, aids in cellular repair, helps with wound
My #MentalHealthMonday morning routine is the most important part of my week
October 13, 2019 at 12:05PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MWHUCBuvmM] Too many memes on Instagram exist to remind you that Monday morning is the worst part of the week (just in case you couldn’t have figured that out for yourself). No matter how much you love your job, making the transition from the carefree weekend to the responsibilities of the workplace is mentally taxing. The term “Sunday Scaries” didn’t come out of nowhere, after all. As someone who has anxiety, that Sunday-to-Monday shift used to hit me hard every single week. Without fail it began around 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, keeping me up for hours into the night, and then jolting awake ahead of my alarm drenched in sweat. (There were plenty of occasions when I tried to remedy the situation with a few glasses of pinot noir, which only made things worse.) I’d spend the whole morning feeling anxious and overwhelmed—even before I even sat down at my computer—which meant I was already starting my week off in a bad place for my mental health. Last year, I decided I couldn’t keep going with this sort of toxic pattern, so I crafted a Monday morning routine for myself that helps me get through that weekend-to-weekday transition on solid footing—or as I like to call it, #MentalHealthMonday. The routine is far from elaborate (I’m not one of those people who mediates for 2 hours or practices witchcraft in my living room, though, #respect). Rather it’s a series of small, manageable
Love leg day? Here’s the 4-move lower body routine a top trainer swears by
October 13, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC Well+Good readers love leg day. When we put out the call on Instagram for you to share your happy-making (and dreaded) fitness routines, workouts targeting the lower body won out by a whopping 67 percent. Leg day calls for squats, lunges, high knees… all of those tricky moves that harness the power of your lower body and make your butt, quads, and calves burn—but in that hurt-so-good type of way. “Leg day is more desirable than any other day because who doesn’t want strong legs?” says Oliver Lee, Peloton Tread instructor. “Having strong legs allows you to perform your best in workouts. Plus, glutes fall into the leg day category, and everyone wants a good peach.” He’s not wrong. Lee’s leg day preference? Covering the basics. “The main part of any good leg workout should include some kind of squat, lunge, and deadlift combination,” he says. This ensures you work every muscle from core to toe (and, most likely, will be very sore the next day). Keep scrolling for Lee’s perfect lower body routine. Lee’s 4-move leg day workout 1. Glute bridges: For these, start by lying on your back with your feet planted on the ground at hips-distance. Lift your hips up while engaging the glutes at the top. 2. Dumbbell goblet squat: Lee recommends grabbing one heavy dumbbell with both hands and holding it at your chest. Set your feet shoulder-width apart while keeping a neutral spine, and bend your knees to 90
The 4 times you should always go to the dermatologist for the sake of your skin
October 12, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC When it comes to skin-care advice—which, as a beauty editor, I tend to dish out a lot—“go to the dermatologist” is the tip you’ll hear most often. And while dermatologists can undoubtedly help with pretty much any and every skin, hair, and nail concern you could ever possibly have, it may not always be necessary to book an appointment with a doctor at the first sign of a blemish. Though everyone (I repeat, everyone) should be seeing a derm at least once a year for a skin check, it’s not exactly realistic to expect everyone to seek medical help for every issue that pops up with their skin. While teledermatology has made derm visits slightly more accessible, it’s still a luxury in many ways, given the cost that’s often associated with the appointments and the fact that many places in the U.S. are still “derm deserts,” which makes finding a doctor in the first place incredibly difficult. While we’re certainly not advising that anyone doesn’t go to a doctor for any reason (if that’s something that’s accessible to you, go right ahead!), we chatted with board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD to find out the skin scenarios that always require a trip to their offices. See below for the four things that are worth making an appointment for: 1. If your skin is inflamed in any way: If you have any kind of inflammation that isn’t going away after a day or two, go see a
The healthy sweet treat a longevity expert eats for dessert
October 12, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC At this point, virtually everyone knows that sugar is public enemy number one when it comes to living a long, healthy life. (Really sorry if this is breaking news to you. Please don’t ask about Santa.) Ask any doctor, Blue Zones expert, or dietitian for their advice on eating for longevity and they’re bound to say the same thing: Cut back on sugar. Fortunately, making a healthy sweet treat isn’t an impossibility. Sugary treats are, well, delicious. What’s a healthy eater to do when a craving for sweet treats hits? Is there a way to give in without veering off the eating-for-longevity dietary plan? I posed the question to family and functional medicine doctor Jill Baron, MD, who has worked directly with Chef David Bouley, arguably the world’s healthiest chef. Dr. Baron treats patients with not only longevity in mind, but healthspan, and unlike many doctors, preventing disease is just as much a part of her practice as treatment. “Craving sweets happens for a few reasons, both physical and [mental],” Dr. Baron says. “Mentally, it could mean something sweet is missing from your life.” This is why before reaching into the pantry, she suggests taking a minute to think about if your craving could be linked to something bigger. If so, eating a cookie probably isn’t going to make you feel all that better. Before rolling your eyes, you should know that her advice is in direct accordance to the Blue Zone way