February 14, 2020 at 02:30PM by CWC Of all the factors to consider before making a life-altering decision—like starting a business or ending a marriage—your future ability to get affordable medical care shouldn’t be one of them. But that’s exactly the case for many Americans today. As Medicare for All advocate Sen. Bernie Sanders recently pointed out, it’s not uncommon for people to stick it out in jobs and relationships that don’t serve them because they can’t afford to lose the health insurance benefits they receive through their employer or partner. Psychotherapist Haley Neidich, LCSW, is among the 60 percent of Americans who rely on employer-sponsored insurance—either their own or their partner’s—for coverage. For years, she juggled a part-time, private therapy practice and a full-time tech industry job with benefits. But when she suffered a miscarriage in 2019, she realized that the stress of her corporate gig was having a detrimental impact on her wellbeing. “After a short but complicated pregnancy, I began to realize how much I needed to prioritize my mental health and my family. But I was afraid to lose my health insurance, especially given how complicated my pregnancy had become and the fact that we want to grow our family,” says Neidich. She didn’t think she had the option to enroll as a dependent on her partner’s insurance, as they aren’t married. So she was left to make a tough decision: Keep her corporate health insurance while pushing herself towards burnout, or cut back on her
Tag: Well+Good
This high-protein, dietitian-approved dinner is full of gut-healthy benefits
February 14, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC After-dinner hunger may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s definitely a Thing. Sometimes, no matter how delicious a meal tastes, it just isn’t all that filling. The major reason it happens: not enough protein. Healthy eating experts preach about the importance of a lot of different nutrients, but protein is definitely one of the biggies. Besides giving the body enough energy to literally keep it going, it also keeps you full. If your meal lacks protein, you can definitely count on being hungry later. “[I recommend] 50 grams of protein a day if you’re not very active, 75 grams if you’re moderately active, and 100 or more to put on muscle, nutritionist Lauren Slayton previously told Well+Good. It doesn’t require a steak dinner to get there, either. In fact, Kara Lydon, RD, aka The Foodie Dietitian’s go-to high-protein dinner is actually plant-based. Behold, her vegan chickpea burger recipe. “These burgers boast a variety of plant-based protein sources including legumes, grains, and seeds, making it a protein-packed veggie burger,” — Kara Lydon, RD One high-protein meal she loves is buffalo chickpea veggie burgers with vegan blue cheese dressing. “These burgers boast a variety of plant-based protein sources including legumes, grains, and seeds, making it a protein-packed veggie burger,” Lydon says. The ingredients list includes quinoa along with chickpeas, which means you’re getting a one-two punch of protein in these vegan chickpea burgers. “Although considered a grain, quinoa packs in eight grams of protein per
A nutritionist explains why diets don’t really work
February 14, 2020 at 01:30PM by CWC The word “diet” feels like a relic of the past, but some modern eating plans can be just as restrictive as the cabbage soup diets of yesteryear. As McKel Kooienga points out, these trendy, quick-fix plans don’t help people develop healthy habits with food. Here, the Well+Good Council member makes the compelling case for leaving diets in the dust—and developing a different, more positive relationship with what you eat. Have you tried a diet before? When we have new clients in our Wellness Coaching practice, our clients on average try three diets, plans, or trends prior to coming to see us for sustainable solutions. And they’re not alone! This is becoming increasingly more common with so much information online, new trends, and new quick-fix plans coming out weekly. But here’s the thing: the very idea of dieting is incompatible with developing healthy habits around food. Diets don’t work for most people—and here’s why. 1. Dieting encourages short-term thinking Dieting isn’t sustainable, or else it would “work” for everyone for life, and we wouldn’t see so many diets and trends pop up. We all have unique lifestyles and bodies to honor, and most diets don’t consider pillars of our health beyond size and weight. That also goes for diets and plans that have a start and end date: 21-day this, 30-day that, 5-day other. What are you supposed to do after that time period? Most people who find themselves in this start-and-stop cycle end
3 dating tips that’ll turn your anxious attachment style into a romantic superpower
February 14, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC The day after I started reading Attached—a deep-dive analysis into how people with different attachment styles approach relationships—my Co-Star app served me an on-the-nose horoscope that I’d start reading a book that would ultimately change my life. And while Co-Star’s predictions for me aren’t always true, this one certainly hit home. That’s because as soon as I finished the first few pages, I felt inspired to learn more about how my anxious attachment style might strengthen rather than compromise my dating life. Attachment styles come from adult attachment theory, which breaks down how we relate to others into three types of attachment: secure, anxious, and avoidant. (Avoidant includes two subcategories: fearful-avoidant and dismissive-avoidant.) I fall into the anxious category, which basically means I benefit from regular reassurance that my various relationships are in a healthy state. Unfortunately for my romantic pursuits, though, anxious people tend to gravitate toward avoidant attachers, who often to have trouble establishing intimacy. So, the resulting situation often has an oil-and-water effect of not blending into any state of cohesion. Because of this impasse, some schools of thought would suggest I work to change my attachment style to be more secure in the interest of leveling up my romantic prospects. But, that’s not the route that I most want to take because the sheer awareness that I’m anxiously attached has helped me to improve my relationships with other people and with myself. Because of this, I contend that—without needing
5 of the most common mistakes people make when doing a tricep push-up
February 14, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZi0j-7rDe8] No move is more OG or has more cred than the push-up. It’s the punishment of choice for boot camps, Pilates classes, yoga flows, HIIT classes, and the list goes on forever. That’s probably because there are endless variations—from the dive bomber to the pseudo planche—that specifically work all different muscles within your upper body. One such push-up tweak, the tricep push-up, is meant to target the back of your arms, and SolidCore instructor Triana Brown is going to give you the low-down on how to nail it perfectly every time. “[Tricep push-ups are] a great move for your upper body and your core,” says Brown. Your triceps, which run along the back of your biceps, are used all of the time. But Brown says that she sees a lot of things go wrong when people in her class do tricep push-ups, which means that the exercise isn’t going to do you any favors. Proper form is key to reaping all of the benefits of the move (and let’s be honest, if you’re going to put in the time to do push-ups, why not do them the right way?). To make sure you’re not making these common pitfalls, keep scrolling for the mistakes Brown sees in class (and take note). The most common tricep push-up mistakes 1. The head is lifted upward. 2. The elbows are too wide. 3. The chest drops down. 4. The butt is lifted too far up
This Well+Good designer turned her living room into a personal Zen den—here’s how you can do it, too
February 14, 2020 at 10:00AM by CWC The living room is the space in your home literally designed for kicking back. But since it’s also the room where the majority of your at-home life happens (hence the name), it can be tough to strike a balance between can-easily-entertain and this-is-my-wind-down-zone—especially if you have roommates or kids. But amping up the chill factor of your most-frequented space can go a long way toward creating a stress-free environment to support your mental wellness—and couldn’t we all use a little more Zen in our lives? To prove the point (and give you some inspiration on how to decorate your living room with the goal of sweet serenity), Well+Good design director Jenna Gibson decked out her space with calm-inducing decor to see how it benefitted her post-work me-time. “Since it’s winter and I have a toddler (shout-out to Penny!), I find myself hanging out a lot at home once she’s in bed—so I wanted a space where I could relax and decompress after a long day,” Gibson says. “Plus, it’d give me the chance to do some yoga or read in a quiet environment.” Aren’t you feeling the calming vibes already? Keep scrolling to see how to decorate your living room for a sense of calm—and take a few notes from Gibson’s relaxation sanctuary. The designated comfy corner Every Zen den requires a cozy corner—that’s just how the world works. So, Gibson added greenery, a trendy wooden side table (topped with a candle, naturally),
Transform your favorite powder foundation into a tint with this 1-step hack
February 14, 2020 at 03:00AM by CWC My skin is as sad and dry as unbuttered toast, and achieving a luminous glow that doesn’t disappear the second I step away from my vanity is no easy feat. There is nothing—and I mean nothing—that I like more than having dewy skin. The rise of face oils has been my saving grace, and I just learned a hack that makes it even better—mix it with a powdered foundation to make a DIY tinted face oil. Merrady Wickes, a makeup artist and beauty director for The Detox Market, says you can mix a loose powder foundation with your favorite oil or balm to customize a tint. This is the kind of intel that keeps me going when dry winter air just won’t let be be great. DIY tinted face oil has many benefits. If you already have a powder foundation you love, like the Bare Minerals Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 ($32), you can use that. It’s a great way to get more out of what you own instead buying a tinted face oil (please don’t be mad at me, Kosas Tinted Face Oil. I still love you). If you don’t own one, Ulta’s Mineral Powder Foundation ($14) is a great budget-friendly option. Wickes loves the Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation ($28) because it only contains four mineral ingredients, making it great for those with sensitive skin. If you don’t already have a face oil, you’ll want to make sure you get one
5 easy ways couples are incorporating sustainability into their weddings
February 14, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC Weddings are all about love—the love between you and your partner, and the love of two families coming together. Now, more and more couples are incorporating their love of the planet into their nuptials. The Knot just released findings from their 2019 Real Weddings Study, and found that soon-to-be-wed couples are making sustainability a priority. “Weddings tend to be really extravagant,” says Tara Manchanda, owner of wedding and event planning company Tara M. Events in New York City. “It’s not really the place where people save a lot, but there is definitely a growing trend for more mindfulness.” But throwing an eco-friendly wedding is possible. Just listen to the experts. How to have a sustainable wedding, according to wedding planners 1. Wear second hand or borrowed items Couples are taking the idea of “something borrowed” to the next level. The Knot found that 38 percent wore an item that was borrowed or passed down. Erica Jill Razze, owner of eco-conscious wedding and event planning service Capiche Custom Events, says that you can redesign or repurpose sentimental items. “For example, we took beads off of my mom’s veil and repurposed them onto something else, not necessarily the whole thing.” Buying your dress second hand is also a great option—hear us out. There are tons of bridal shops, like Our Story Bridal in New York City, that buy, clean, and restore them gently used wedding dresses to make them good as new. If you’re interested
The surprisingly common health issue that can affect your gut microbiome
February 14, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC When it comes to dealing with gut health issues, it can feel like a really confusing puzzle that comes with a million pieces (like examining your diet, stress levels, and exercise habits). One factor impacting the gut that may not have crossed your mind yet? Your thyroid. In case you haven’t heard, your thyroid is a pretty important gland that helps regulate your metabolism, heart and digestive function, and muscle control. It can also play a role with mood, making its functioning crucial for mental as well as physical health. Thyroid issues are also super common; per the American Thyroid Association, an estimated 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop some kind of thyroid disorder during their lives, and 20 million Americans have a type of thyroid disease. Yet roughly 60 percent of people with thyroid issues don’t even know they have a problem. Yasmin Akhunji, MD, an Arizona-based endocrinologist with Paloma Health, says that thyroid disorder symptoms can overlap with a lot of other health problems, making them easy to overlook. Oftentimes those overlapping symptoms include those that affect your gut. “Thyroid hormones have effects on virtually all bodily tissues,” said Will Bulsiewicz, MD, a gastroenterologist and author of Fiber Fueled. “Make no mistake, changes in thyroid function will certainly have an effect on our gut.” What you need to know about the thyroid-gut connection Dr. Akhunji says the thyroid affects the gut mainly because of the hormones that the thyroid
I found the best thing to happen to deodorant since aluminum
February 14, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC When it comes to my armpits, I’ll try anything to make sure they stay fresh—even in the midst of the sweatiest boot camp workout. And boy, do I mean anything: deodorant wipes, sage-spiked stuff, natural sticks galore, and even antiperspirant cycling. But in the most innovative (and out-there!) move yet, I’m here to tell you about what happened to my pits when I used glycolic acid deodorant wipes for two weeks. Surface Deep Anti-Odorant ($25) is a deodorizer that comes in the form of thin, round (biodegradable!) wipes that you swipe over your armpits like you would with a peel pad. The glycolic acid—aka the star ingredient—is a fruit-based alpha hydroxy acid that neutralizes odor-causing bacteria in the area. It also gets rid of dead skin cells (which can build up and lead to odor) and lowers your skin’s pH (so bad bacteria can’t thrive), according to intel that New York City-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD previously shared with us. The brand’s founder and dermatologist Alicia Zalka, MD, chose glycolic acid because it works on three levels: “It creates a more acidic skin environment to offset the alkaline pH often caused by soaps, which makes it inhospitable for bacteria related to odor-causing skin flora to take hold,” she says. “It also reduces sebum oil deposits on the armpit skin, which further reduces the odor process, and then it also works as a gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin cells and other clogging elements.”