September 06, 2019 at 09:31PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-_d5hkoIj8] Raise your hand if you felt personally victimized by the Presidential Fitness Test when you were in grade school. Sorry to bring back terrible memories for most of us, but please recall the shuttle (aka bean bag) run (side note: What? Why? So many unanswered questions.), the pull-ups, and the “sit-and-reach” flexibility test. I think the last one was the most scarring for me, as I was definitely not flexible, and I can still picture my classmates watching me as I struggled to touch my toes. Not that there’s anything wrong with any of these activities, it just seems a little, well, mean to have to do that in front of your fellow schoolmates. This may be part of the reason why, even though I have improved my flexibility since then, I’m still a little hesitant to go to yoga. “One of the biggest reactions I always get when I say I’m a yoga teacher is, ‘Ugh I can’t do yoga, I’m not flexible, I can’t touch my toes,’” says yoga instructor Tess Koenig in the latest installment of our Good Moves series. “Yoga is so not about touching your toes.” (Read: yoga is for everyone!) But if you want to improve your flexibility, these stretches can help. Koenig recommends investing in a few props: yoga straps, a blanket, and a block. If you don’t have those, she says you can sub in a book for the block, and use a
Tag: Well+Good
The nifty way to transform your old tanks and T-shirts into the ‘it’ workout top of the moment
September 06, 2019 at 07:21PM by CWC I like to think of my tank collection as a scrapbook of sweaty workouts past. In my closet, you’ll find a legit mountain of tops from 10Ks, high school volleyball tournaments, and—yes—mammoth athleticwear names like Lululemon, Athleta, and Adidas. Marie Kondo-ing my T-shirts isn’t an option (sorry not sorry), so to give some of the—let’s say, “shabbier”—garments a glow-up, I’ve designed a system known as the “slit and tie.” Please allow me to explain. If you, like me, enjoy window shopping some of the higher-ticket sportswear companies of today, then you know that tanks and shirts that tie off just above the waste are a thing right now (exhibits A and B). You also know that that, well, that ish ain’t cheap—and you just might end up dropping $60 on not that much fabric for the sake of #fashion. If you’re treating yourself to a fresh outfit that will re-inspire your workouts, then more power to you. (Go! Shop! Sweat!) If your athleticwear drawer is keeping you from staying within your monthly budget, however, consider the slit and tie your way to make everything that’s old in your closet new again. It goes like this: How to make your own tie front tank tops Select the tank you want to makeover and grab a pair of scissors. Cut a 5-8 inch slit in the right side, left side, front, or back of the tank top. (Note: Your slit will be longer or shorter depending
So, is there any real difference between being an introvert and just being rude?
September 06, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC I feel personally victimized by the conceit of this article, which is to point a spotlight on the fact that introversion shouldn’t be called upon as an excuse for being straight-up rude. As someone who’d prefer the guillotine to icebreaker games, “I’m an introvert” is my timeless, grimace-inducing refrain to safeguard me from just about any group gathering that preys on my energy reserves. But though I wouldn’t call myself a social butterfly, I’m also not delusional and do totally realize that many people (me) are guilty of one of the most common introvert problems: unintentionally being disrespectful of other people and their time. But is it possible to lean into your authentic yearnings to honor your JOMO goals without offending everyone you know? Or, in simpler terms, how can I tell the different between being an introvert and being an asshole? “When it comes to being an introvert without being rude, I agree that some people do tend to use being introverted as an excuse,” says clinical psychologist and self-identified introvert Carla Marie Manly, PhD. “In a humorous defense of introverts, extroverts tend to be rude in the same way—not showing up to a party without notice—they just use the ‘I have too much going on’ rather than the introvert card.” Score 1, Team Introvert! “Some people do tend to use being introverted as an excuse…. Extroverts tend to be rude in the same way—not showing up to a party without notice—they
‘I’m a cardiologist, and these are the 5 things I do to keep my heart healthy’
September 06, 2019 at 06:51PM by CWC Here’s a fun fact: the average doctor visit takes 17.5 minutes. That means you have less than 18 minutes to go over your vital signs (weight, blood pressure, temperature, all that jazz), talk through how you’re feeling, and ask your doctor questions before they have to see another patient waiting in the next exam room. Clearly, it’s not often that people have the chance to pick the brain of a doctor—which is why it’s ultra exciting that Jennifer Haythe, MD, director of cardio-obstetrics and internist at NYPH/Columbia, is sharing an inside look at the things she does to keep her heart in tip-top shape. “Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in this country,” says Dr. Haythe, who is also the co-director of the Women’s Center for Cardiovascular Health at Columbia. “The key to longevity is to take really great care of your heart.” Dr. Haythe explains that your heart is a muscle and, therefore, like your other muscles, it needs to stay in shape. “It’s also intimately connected with your neurological system,” she says. “So your mood and stress levels have a huge impact on how your heart feels.” So what are the heart health tips that a cardiologist actually lives by? See for yourself, straight from Dr. Haythe. 1. Set exercise goals Dr. Haythe loves to run, and says that setting goals for herself, like signing up for a half or full marathon, helps her
Hey Dentist: Is baking soda paste actually a good way to whiten my teeth?
September 06, 2019 at 04:57PM by CWC Baking soda is the ultimate multi-hyphenate. It’s a stain remover, toilet bowl/garbage disposal/sneaker deodorizer, drain un-clogger, fabric softener, inflammation fighter, skincare savior, perfect-hard-boiled-egg maker, and even an embarrassing-tan-line eliminator, among other things. So, it can definitely be used as a teeth whitener, because it’s good at everything, and because Julia Roberts (the smile) says so. Right? Sort of. “Baking soda acts to remove stains and whiten teeth by scrubbing the enamel surfaces with more abrasive particles,” says Inna Chern, DDS, a New York City-based dentist. “It is effective in removing superficial stains from teeth but not the ones that get embedded in deeper aspects of the tooth structure.” Okay, fine, but do we really care about the stains no one can see but our dentist? I mean, Julia Roberts has made an icon out of her surface-level shine. Unfortunately, the dentist caveats don’t stop at superficiality. Both Dr. Chern and Lawrence Fung, DDS, a cosmetic dentist based in Los Angeles, caution that unregulated amounts of baking soda can cause damage to the teeth. “Baking soda is actually not the best idea [for whitening], because on the abrasive chart it can be higher leading to more tooth/enamel wear with modest whitening results,” says Dr. Fung. Chern adds that it can also cause changes in oral mucosa, the delicate tissue of the cheek and gums. Both dentists say to be wary of using a pure baking soda paste or, like Roberts’ grandfather, just dumping a
How to set healthy boundaries with an ex who’s still in your social circle
September 06, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC It seems that nobody I know is good at setting boundaries in relationships, present or past. When it comes to dating, the effects of this can wreak havoc on social circles, because if you date within your social group, and then break up within your social group, and then remain in your social group, not much else but chaos—internal and external alike—can ensue. Just last week, a friend was lamenting to me about how her ex asked if it would be okay to visit her at a work event mutual friends were attending, and she felt pressured into saying yes “to be nice.” And that, one pro says, is exactly the problem. “You’ve just addressed the major problem most of us have in setting boundaries; we want to be nice,” says relationship expert Susan Winter. “And while that’s a beautiful sentiment, whenever we break our boundaries for the benefit of another, it’s done at our direct expense. Bottom line: This form of ‘being nice’ makes us miserable.” Still, setting boundaries in relationships with exes—and everyone else in your life—is tough because of things like social media, mutual friends, and, often, geography. So how do you deal? Winter shares a few ideas below. 1. Setting boundaries in relationships with exes Pro tip: You don’t have to be rude about it. The best way to approach this is by setting guidelines early and upfront. That’s easier said then done, of course. (Not all of us
You’ll never see my natural hair, but that doesn’t mean I’m hiding a part of who I am
September 06, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC When I come home after a long day, the first thing I do is take off my wig. Because it’s big and curly, (or straight and long, depending on the day), it gets hot AF under here. After a while, the combs that secure it to my head start to hurt. I’d like to say that the next thing I do is sit down with all my lotions and potions and condition my strands, paying close attention to the parts between my poorly self-done cornrows, but most of the time I don’t. Even though you’ll never see my natural hair, I am natural. I ditched relaxers when I was in college, and now exclusively sport protective styles like wigs and sew-ins. These offer me a look I can’t get with my natural hair alone. A look that, ironically, feels most “natural” to me. And while I’m not spending my nights twisting my lengths, or searching for the best product cocktail to achieve the elusive wash-and-go, I’m still a part of the natural hair community. It doesn’t always feel that way, though. Going natural feels as if you’ve seemingly leveled-up in your blackness by falling in love with your natural hair, taking ownership of what you think is beautiful, and breaking out of the Eurocentric beauty mold. This ideal is rooted in the natural hair movement of the ’60s and ’70s, which was intertwined with the Black Power movement. “Although it was seen as
Soup up your usual order at Hale & Hearty with these healthy, nutritionist-approved picks
September 06, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC Walking into a Hale & Hearty midday can feel like an extreme sport. There are an overwhelming amount of options (15 soups!), which is a lot to navigate when your lunch break isn’t exactly lengthy. If you’re not strategic, you might panic and walk out with something you don’t even want. (Chowder? Did I want chowder?) Special dietary requirements, such as sticking to a vegetarian, Mediterranean diet, or gluten-free meal plan, can add an extra layer of ordering stress. And soups are often known to be total sodium bombs, regardless of what eating plan you follow. To its credit, Hale & Hearty’s menu has handy little graphics indicating what items are dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan. (Very helpful.) But as you know, just because something has a cute graphic next to it doesn’t mean it’s actually healthy. That’s where registered dietitian Sharon Palmer, RD, comes in. Here, Palmer helps simplify the Hale & Hearty menu by giving her top recs for the three aforementioned eating plans. Even if you don’t stick to any specific diet and instead have an overall goal to eat generally healthy, her tips can help you figure out what to order. Vegetarian Menu picks: Three lentil chili; farmers’ market quinoa What an RD says: Hale & Hearty has a lot of soups, but according to Palmer, not all of them have the nutrient density to be a full meal. One that does—and is not only vegetarian, but all-out vegan—is
What is cupping therapy, anyway? One editor bared her back to find out
September 06, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icmK-3p1xuU] Before I come back to my question of what is cupping therapy, do trust that I understand that the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine has been vetted by celebs and athletes alike (hellooo, Michael Phelps). But the stegosaurus spine and resulting bruises still leave me wondering exactly what the purpose of it is. So, I was in for a treat when I learned the latest episode of Well+Good’s YouTube series What the Wellness, would follow video producer Ella Dove as she undergoes the practice herself. By baring her back to test the practice’s efficacy in aiding everything from sore muscles to menstrual and hormonal issues, Dove’s aim is to provide an answer to all of us still wondering what is cupping therapy, anyway, and how does it help us? Turns out, a lot of the value of the practice has to do with blood distribution. “Cupping utilizes a flame, which goes inside of a glass cup, which creates a vacuum on the inside, and that goes outside your body,” says Klara Brown, a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. “What happens is as the heat evaporates, it creates a really intense suction that pulls upward at the muscle and connective tissue.” Okay, let’s just pause for a second at “flame, which goes inside a glass cup,” because I am internally shrieking at the concept. So, I think, perhaps it helps to instead consider cupping as the benign reverse of a deep-tissue massage.
5 spices you can add to any dish to help with digestion, according to gut experts
September 06, 2019 at 02:30AM by CWC Anytime I find myself Googling anti-bloat remedies (you know, after that extra slice of pizza I definitely didn’t need or too much fried food), the answer inevitably seems to involve brewing a hot cup of tea. Tea—particularly ginger tea—is a great way to beat bloating. But as it turns out, it’s not the only solution. You can also work digestive-supporting spices right into your meal to help prevent feeling bloated in the first place. Here, three gut health experts—two MDs and one dietitian—give their top recommendationss for which spices to integrate into your meals to keep digestion running smoothly. 1. Ginger Not surprisingly, all three gut experts suggested this digestion-supporting all star. “Ginger can be used to reduce gas and bloating. It has phenolic compounds which are known to relieve irritation in the GI tract,” explains Katherine McNamara, CND, a clinical dietitian at Westchester Medical Center. She suggests using it in food is to peel the skin to add to stir fries or dressings. Jacqueline Wolf, MD, a gastroenterologist in Boston, adds that incorporating ginger into meals may help prevent pregnancy-related nausea. 2. Mint For gastroenterologist Lea Ann Chen, MD, mint landed on the top of the list of cooking spices that beat bloat and support digestion. She highlights a scientific study linking peppermint oil to reducing GI upset and nausea. Dr. Wolf seconded Dr. Chen’s pick, saying that mint decreases the spasms in the gut. But using this herb comes with one