October 05, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC After a full day of sitting through meetings that could have been emails and trying not to lose your cool at Karen for forgetting to re-fill the office coffee pot again, the last thing most people want to do is haul to the gym. In fact, in a recent Instagram survey, 62 percent of our readers revealed that they would rather work out in the morning than at night. And personally, I’m right there with them. I’m one of those people who is constantly singing a refrain of: “If I don’t workout in the morning, it isn’t gonna happen.” That’s mostly because I would rather go home and drink wine on my couch than go sit on a spin bike after the clock strikes 7 p.m. “After work workouts can be tough because there are more chances that a variety of things can happen during the day to deter you,” says Colette Dong, co-founder of New York City’s the ness. “In the mornings there is usually only one variable —can you wake up?—because your day hasn’t been long enough to let in as many distractions.” At night, though it can be a combination of work, exhaustion, or the desire to just mindlessly watch television, she adds. But every once in a while, even if you’re a die-hard member of the morning workout tribe, every once in a while, you find yourself in a position when you’ve gotta motivate to get to the gym after a
Tag: Well+Good
10 Pinterest-perfect braided hairstyles that make you feel like a girl on fire
October 05, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC When it comes to doing my hair, I have two main styles: down and wavy or straight, or up in a ponytail. As you can probably tell, there’s not much experimentation going on here. Now don’t get me wrong: I used to rock my fair share of butterfly clips and pigtails back in the day. There’s one area I don’t have as much experience in, though: braids. While I can handle the basics, you won’t catch me doing a French fishtail braid anytime soon. But now’s your chance to freshen up your style. If Katniss Everdeen can nail the look, so can you. Switch things up with these braided hairstyle tutorials [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3PEEPI_UXU] 1. French fishtail braid I always thought fishtail braids looked hard, but this step-by-step tutorial makes them seem easy. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyGIiw4XoTw] 2. Bubble braid Grown-ish star Yara Shahidi made a big impression with her braided bubble ponytail, and here’s how you can master the look at home. Instead of using a traditional braiding technique, you’re getting a braided appearance using small elastic hair ties. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FydhU_gnBQ] 3. Braided top knot You’ve probably seen this braided bun style all over Pinterest. Because you’re only braiding a small section of your hair, it’s quick and easy. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm0omGre9D0] 4. Hair scarf milkmaid braid The most effortless way to give your milkmaid braid a pretty upgrade is to add in a scarf. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2ouuFyXEYI?start=47] 5. Side braid There’s a secret to creating a
The McKenzie Method for stretching will have your back and neck thanking you forever
October 05, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC There are so many different ways to stretch. There’s dynamic stretching, stretches you can do in doorways that feel like full-body massages, movements specifically for your feet… it’s kind of amazing. But the McKenzie Method is the one I’d never heard of that could be the solution to relieving chronic back and neck pain for good. Despite being around since the 1960s—and basically all of Reddit swearing by it!—the McKenzie Method isn’t something you hear about every day. Created by a physical therapist in New Zealand, the evidence-based technique focuses on extending the spine through a series of movements, helping those with back and neck pain self-treat their current problems (and prevent further issues in the future), says SpineOne. So, how does the McKenzie Method work, exactly? Each exercise uses gravity to get displaced intervertebral discs back on track, helping improve your overall spine health. As you’re breathing and relaxing, they’re drawn back into the spine, and that’s good news on the pain front. When your spine is happy, so are you. You can start small, too. Every exercise comes as a series of progressive positions. If your back hurts really bad, for instance, you would just start with the initial position then slowly work your way through the rest over time. If you want to try out the method at home, there are a handful of different exercises you can start with demonstrated in the video below, including extension in lying and
New parents have enough things to worry about—making your own baby food doesn’t need to be one of them
October 05, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC When it comes to new babies, everyone seems to have strongly-held opinions on how parents decide to care for their child. Whether it’s panic about what to eat when breastfeeding, pointed comments from your MIL about the merits of letting kids “cry it out,” or even randos leaving comments on your IG criticizing how you’re holding your baby in your vacation pic… everyone has something to say. Including, of course, what you feed your child. We won’t get into the breastfeeding versus formula debate because that’s a whole other Thing, but generally, babies are ready to start eating solid foods between four and six months of age, says Dyan Hes, MD, a pediatrician and founder of Gramercy Pediatrics. “Babies can start with purees—meats, fruits, vegetables, yogurts, or cereals. It is really a personal choice of the family,” she says. Emphasis on personal choice—yet if start scrolling through Instagram or parenting forums, you’ll see a lot of people talking about how making your own baby food is the ONLY way to go. My own daughter just hit that six-month mark, which has had me wondering about the merits of this whole ethos. Taking care of a baby already involves a lot of worry (and not a lot of sleep). Do I really need to make all of her first foods from scratch? I tapped some experts to get the low-down. How necessary is it to make my own baby food? “Most of us love
There’s never been a better time to buy an inexpensive serum—and these under-$35 options are proof
October 04, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC With so many great serums on the market filled with it-ingredients that you’ve just gotta have for your routine, it’s hard to resist going gaga over them all… like a child pining for every doll in the toy store. Beauty shelves are minefields of options, and it makes it far too easy to empty your wallet in pursuit of a healthy complexion. So what’s a girl to do? With a seemingly infinite number of skin-care serums out there to choose from, there are more affordable—and effective—options than ever. Formulators have nailed how to pack actives like vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide into products that everyone can manage to snag for themselves without breaking the bank. The Ordinary has been dutifully offering potent skin-care serums since 2016, with not one bottle running past $29 (and for what it’s worth, that single $29 serum is double the cost of the rest of the line). Over the past year or so, even more wallet-friendly skin-care brands have infiltrated the shelves: There’s Versed, a solution-oriented collection you can get at Target; The Inkey List, a London-based beauty brand where nothing costs over $15; Sweet Chef, a spin-off line from buzzy K-beauty brand Glow Recipe that’s sold at Target and makes nutrient-dense serums for much less than its sister brand; and Ghost Democracy, a derm-backed skin-care line offering the most coveted ingredients at more cost-effective prices than most. Drugstore staple brands like Neutrogena and Olay have even caught
I tried the most over-the-top workout class in New York City and have some thoughts
October 04, 2019 at 10:30PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yNSf7aMBGc] It’s the classic Friday night conundrum: do you hit the gym after work, or blow off your workout to go get drinks with your friends? Well, thanks to Grit Boxing—the New York City fitness concept created by none other by Pitbull (the singer) and Tony Robbins (the motivational speaker)—you now don’t have to choose between the two, because they’ve got both under one roof. There’s nothing like chasing your treadmill sesh with an electrolyte-packed margarita, huh? In the latest episode of What the Wellness, senior video producer Ella Dove stops by the studio to see if it lives up to the hype. While the adorable studio pup (a boxer named “Gritty,” natch), a glitter punching bag, and a liquor selection might have you thinking you’re in for an easy workout, she quickly discovered that it’s anything but. The 50-minute class is truly unlike anything you’ve ever seen or experienced before. It cycles through different modalities including boxing, running, and weightlifting, and by the end of the first round (there are two and a half, ICYWW), you’ll be crushed. “You’re so busy trying to be focused on what you’re doing and making sure you’re following the cues that you don’t realize how hard you’re working,” Dove says of her experience in the gym. “And then when I was sprinting, I got to the point where I felt like I couldn’t go any faster, and couldn’t go any harder.” Now that’s my kind of
These genius tips from top dietitians make a bowl of oatmeal so much more delicious
October 04, 2019 at 09:00PM by CWC For many healthy eaters, part of the their seasonal transition involves trading iced green smoothies for warm bowls of oatmeal. The nutritional benefits of the original healthy breakfast are impossible to deny: oatmeal is full of fiber (with about four grams per one cup cooked) and antioxidants. Here’s the thing though: most easy oatmeal breakfast recipes aren’t all that exciting. (Hey, we were all thinking it.) We asked healthy eating experts to name the easiest ways to make a bowl of oatmeal more interesting while reaping even more health benefits. Their ideas are sure to make it into your breakfast rotation all year long. 5 easy oatmeal breakfast recipes that are as interesting as they are healthy 1. Add an egg on top Whole In One author and registered dietitian Ellie Krieger, RD, likes adding extra protein to her bowl by adding an egg on top. “I love to make savory oatmeal bowls in the morning—or for lunch,” she says. “Just cook oats in water or milk, top with a fried egg, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, some chopped parsley, freshly ground pepper, and sea salt. You could even add some prosciutto if you are feeling racy.” Follow her guidance and your oatmeal will be full of flavor. 2. use it as a cruncy topper Another oatmeal hack Krieger has it to convert it into granola by cooking it in the oven at 300°F, separating it out into little clumps on parchment-lined paper.
Sick of planks? Sharpen your workout with ‘body saws’
October 04, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC I’m part of the very tiny percentage of people who actually enjoy planks. It’s not like I want to marry them or anything, but compared to something like burpees (which I avoid at all costs), they’re pretty great. But even I know holding that position forever can get a little old, and that’s exactly where body saws come in. Body saws turn your body into, well, a saw as you’re moving forward and backward during the exercise. “If you’re tired of building up your plank time, the body saw exercise is a great progression of the exercise,” says Julia Brown, founding Los Angeles trainer at Dogpound. “During the movement, you’re creating a massive contraction in your abs. It’s great for anyone looking to improve their core strength. Plus, as you increase your core strength, you’ll also improve your balance, posture, and overall stability, which will leave you at a lower risk of injury.” To get the core-blasting benefits of body saws at home, follow the instructions below. You might not go back to regular planks ever again. How to do a body saw plank Find a place where you can slide your feet. Start in plank position with your back flat and elbows under your shoulders. Squeeze your glutes, hamstrings, and quads Use your elbows to push your body back, making sure to maintain your proper plank position with a flat back the entire time. If your back starts to arch or sag,
A therapist’s 6 red flags that you’re over-committing yourself to others
October 04, 2019 at 07:30PM by CWC The looming presence of burnout culture has forced many folks to take a good, hard look at their priorities. Jettisoning things that no longer serve your life doesn’t happen overnight, though. It’s all-too-easy to fall into old patterns of booking happy hour five minutes after the end of Pilates class. For those moments, Beth Pilcher, MSW, LISW-CP, a therapist has a litmus test to determine whether you’re over-committing. “In a world where we are constantly being pressured to do more, it can be hard to give yourself permission to say no to new commitments when your plate is already full,” she writes in a recent Instagram caption. “This is especially true if you tend to be the people-pleasing type.” View this post on Instagram As someone who has been notorious for over-committing myself in the past, I’ve become pretty familiar with some of my own signs that I’m starting to take on too much. In a world where we are constantly being pressured to do more, it can be hard to give yourself permission to say no to new commitments when your plate is already full. This is especially true if you tend to be the people-pleasing type. But burn out is real, and when we overcommit ourselves, we truly can’t show up in our lives the way we’d like. Everything starts to suffer. Remember that you are allowed to say no. You are allowed to take something off of your
Real question: Is it possible to have unadulterated fun as an adult?
October 04, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC Think back to your elementary school playground. If it was anything like mine, it was a case study in how to have fun in a pure and free way, completely devoid of any self-conscious thoughts. On the blacktop of my alma mater, a group of gym-class heroes played kickball with World Cup-level intensity. In front of the school, the popular girls jumped rope and practiced their older sisters’ cheerleading routines until their voices were raspy. Yet another adventurous clique would flip and leap from the monkey bars, while across the street, the less athletically inclined kids (AKA me) would lose themselves in some elaborate game of make believe. The through line here is that we were all having joyful, thrilling fun. As I’ve grown up though, the very concept of fun has fallen victim to adulteration, a word whose very definition implies the act of corrupting something to make it impure. Basically, I’m confused about fun: how to do it, what it should feel like, and whether or not it’s even possible for adults. On the whole, it’s safe to say that when we talk about adult revelry, the mood is usually a bit more… well, serious than it is when watching kids at play. Society has conditioned us to believe that adulthood means “acting your age” and adopting a calmer, more contained demeanor in order to fit in—even when you’re enjoying yourself. It’s hard for many people to break free of that construct