November 26, 2018 at 04:04AM I don’t think it’s a coincidence that 1977 was the year that two pinnacles of fitness—the high five and the first sports bra—were invented. (Yeah, both of those things are only 41 years old, so let that settle in for a moment.) Something else they both have in common? Little has changed about either of them since they were invented. Fortunately, at least for your boobs, sports bras are finally being brought into the 21st century thanks to new technology and retooled designs. To get an idea of how far sports bras have come, it’s important to know where they started. Dubbed the “jock bra,” the first sports bra was the brainchild of Lisa Lindahl and her seamstress-friend Polly Smith, who wanted to find a solution for female runners. While gunning for a solve, Lindahl’s husband jokingly stretched a jockstrap across his chest, and in a stroke of genius, the modern-day sports bra was born. Though we certainly don’t use man slings as material-of-choice anymore, sports bras haven’t been totally reimagined until recently. In fact, every time I squeeze into my jog bra, that scene in Now and Then where Christina Ricci (as a young Roberta) tapes her boobs to compress them to her chest comes to mind. I’m not the only one who’s ever felt disatisfied by her sports bra options, either. “Women have been making compromises when it comes to their sports bra for years,” says Danielle Witek, Reebok senior innovation apparel designer. “I kept coming
Tag: Well+Good
Losing your job is no reason to lose yourself—so here’s how to deal
November 26, 2018 at 03:00AM You’re sitting at your desk, sipping your matcha latte or your cold brew. It’s just another Monday. Or so it seems, until you get the call. It’s your boss. She wants to speak to you. Now. This can’t be good, you think. And it’s not. The company is downsizing. Or pivoting. Or you simply haven’t been pulling your weight. Whatever the case, you’re out of a job, and that run-of-the-mill Monday instantly becomes one of the worst days of your life. “It’s traumatic to get fired,” says clinical psychologist Monica O’Neal, PsyD. “Even if you can anticipate it, it’s traumatic.” And as it goes with any trauma, a grieving process follows. While it’s easy to get bogged down with feelings of disappointment, sadness, and anxiety during this uncertain time, it’s vital not to lose yourself after you lose your job. And, armed with the right knowledge and tips, you’ll be able to ensure that doesn’t happen. Learn tactics to stay mentally afloat among a sea of unemployment emotions. Photo: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages Feel the feelings, but also seek support First things first: There is no “right way” to react to a job loss. Over the course of days and even weeks following, you may cycle through a range of emotions—and that’s totally okay. “It varies from anger to vengefulness to being totally livid with their boss to feeling disenchantment or disillusionment,” says David Wiacek, a certified professional career coach, of how his clients tend to feel
5 beauty brands tapping Traditional Chinese Medicine for happy skin on repeat
November 26, 2018 at 02:51AM If you’re a beauty junkie, you know that non-toxic skin care is all the rage these days. Everywhere you look, there’s a new product that promises quick results and organic ingredients—the best of both worlds. In tandem with cutting-edge, clean ingredients, many are also seeking out centuries-old modalities to keep the body-mind connection rooted in nature. Among the most effective? Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM. Based on over 2,500 years of medical practices, TCM involves a number of techniques including herbology, acupuncture, and dietary therapy, and is centered around the idea that all organs in the body are connected. “TCM may take longer to cure your symptoms, but it will cure them good because you’re getting to the root cause,” says skin-care specialist Cecilia Wong, founder of Cecilia Wong Skincare Spa in New York City. So, what exactly is Chinese medicine, and how do you incorporate it in your day-to-day life? One of the main bases for TCM is preserving your energy or qi, which is stimulated by opening up your meridiens and preventing any blockages. According to the modality, blockages can be responsible for everything from inflammation to skin problems, all symptoms leading to a larger root cause. “I use Chinese medicine in my life every single day with myself and my clients,” says Wong. “I incorporate a lot of acupressure, especially facial massages, which works really well for firming and toning of the skin, and releasing energy there. I drink goji berry and red
10 things nobody tells you about CrossFit
November 25, 2018 at 11:00PM Acronyms abound; grunts, moans, and clangs echo off the walls; and a cloud of chalk greats you like a hype-AF welcoming committee. These (endearing) peculiarities make CrossFit feel like it operates in a world all its own. Which, let’s face it, can be intimidating even for slay-all-day-ers. So in the name of demystifying CrossFit for the uninitiated, eight CrossFit coaches reveal what nobody tells you about CrossFit before you join (i.e., what you probably can’t find with a Google search). Below, they share nuggets of knowledge you probably won’t learn by watching The Sport Of Fitness on TV. Photo: Stocksy/ Victor Torres You don’t have to be fit to get started Spoiler alert: what you’ve heard is true. CrossFit really is for anyone, not just people can know what a “power snatch” is. There’s a misconception that you have to have previous fitness experience to try CrossFit. “You don’t have to be in shape, lose a few pounds, or put on some muscle before starting CrossFit—just like you don’t have to have a college degree to go to college,” explains former Regionals athlete Allison Warner, a coach at ICE NYC. The only thing you need to start is the confidence to walk through the door. Each box is unique “No two boxes are alike,” says CrossFit Games athlete Kelsey Kiel, a coach at CrossFit Invictus Back Bay previously told Well+Good. “The culture, coaching, and space of every box is different.” That’s why before you commit yourself and your credit card
I tried a mini computer to count my CrossFit reps while I worked out
November 25, 2018 at 10:00AM CrossFitters have embraced many fashion trends that the non-initiated may balk at, because fashion has to meet function during a WOD. First there were compression knee socks, then there were booty shorts covered in pastry prints, and now we’re living in a world where the Nexus, a high-tech arm sleeve, counts reps for you. Nexus is geared to adding a little #science to CrossFit. Inside this sleeve sits a what I’ll call a “mini computer”, which is the shape of a snack-sized Kit Kat, and it provides information about your reps. “Other trackers do not tell the story of the exertion you are putting your body through externally. Nexus can measure your physical movement patterns, counting reps, and providing meaningful information about your performance and fitness,” explains Mike Dawson, the brand’s CEO. Before the workout, you let the Nexus app—which you sync up to the device using Bluetooth—know which workout you’re planning to do for the day. You can execute pre-programmed workouts, go for “AMRAP” (as many reps as possible), or power through for time. It sounds complicated, but it takes me roughly two minutes to execute, and I usually do so during my pre-WOD nervous pee. During your workout, the device literally counts and tracks your reps for you. Then after, you can check your round-by-round splits, cadence, work-to-rest ratio, and the Nexus-invented power metric that calculates your overall intensity into a raw metric on the app. “This gives you info that can help you
Jessica Biel has a trick for fighting off sore muscles—but you’re not going to like it
November 25, 2018 at 05:04AM There’s nothing like waking up the day following a hard workout. After taking a couple deep breaths, you get up and waddle around your apartment with a mega sore body, trying to go about your morning routine and wishing there was a solution to make all that pain and tightness go away. Well, good news: Jessica Biel has a method she swears by. Unfortunately, you’re not going to like it one bit. When you’re dealing with a sore body, the last thing you want to do is move your it any more than you have to. Heck, even sitting down on the toilet is work. But when Biel is trying to deal, her fool-proof method always comes through: She throws on a piece from her capsule collection with Gaiam and goes back for seconds, no matter how bad it hurts. “Work out again. Get right back in it,” she tells Well+Good. “If you’re sore, work out your hips or your butt or whatever it is.” “Work out again. Get right back in it. If you’re sore, work out your hips or your butt or whatever it is.” —Jessica Biel Sure, it doesn’t sound like the most pleasurable way to fight off sore muscles by any means, but according to trainer Michael Ryan, CSCS, the Tier X Manager at Equinox, it works. Don’t worry, though: You don’t have to go all out again—you just have to do something. “While it’s recommended to allow the affected muscles time to
To the only bra my 36DD boobs have ever loved
November 25, 2018 at 04:05AM As a woman who spends a borderline unhealthy amount of time trolling underwear sample sales in search of the perfect bra, let me tell you—once you find the one, you don’t really want to take it off. The bra that truly changed my life is the Chantelle Champs Elysées Lace Demi Bra ($105)—which my mom brought me back in a brown paper bag from a sidewalk sale in Greenwich, Connecticut a few years ago. The first time I put it on I think I wore it for a week straight before washing it (gross I know, sorry) despite it being a not-so-easy-to-wear shade of neon coral. Before we get into the specifics of this miraculous undergarment, let me tell you that I do not take the accolade of the most impressive bra in the world lightly. After years of having my girls strapped in with what felt like industrial seatbelt material, I have become oh so picky about my bras—especially because big-name brands often seem perplexed by the idea that women have breasts bigger than a C cup. But what makes this bra such a marvel are three main features—the width of the bra straps, the shape of the cups, and its overall lightness. Photo: Champs Elysées Never have I felt so free and unrestricted in a bra! It’s the sensation I imagine people who prefer to free boob experience. The straps are thin and light enough that they don’t do that thing where they dig into your shoulders
Yes, we’re still in Mercury retrograde—but this week has major make-things-happen mojo as well
November 25, 2018 at 04:00AM Tuck a crystal into your bra and bring your A-game, because it’s on. That’s right, even with Mercury in retrograde, this week offers potential to get things done—if you’re in the right mindset, says astrologer Jennifer Racioppi. Here’s her best advice on riding the high-vibe energy this week, no matter what your sun sign is. Monday, November 26 The week kicks off on a promising note. With the sun aligned with good luck Jupiter we can expect the first day back from the holiday weekend to have a high vibe (which also brings the tenacity to stick with wellness goals). With retrograde Mercury forming a sharp angle to Mars, the cosmos compliment the abundance of Jupiter and the sun’s alignment with enough friction to keep us on our toes. So with that in mind, grab your running shoes and get to the gym. Feel short on time? No problem, do a 20-minute HIIT workout on a treadmill and then take 10 minutes to stretch out before leaving. Tuesday, November 27 Yesterday’s high-performance energy carries over into today. With Jupiter still traveling close to the sun and meeting up directly today with Mercury too, the positive influence continues. This opulent potential might feel subtle, maybe even subdued. If so, it will likely require you to meet it halfway. (Especially since Mercury is retrograde!) So, bring your A-game to the day. Show up with a smile on your face. If affirmations are your thing, spend time in the morning reciting
The complete guide to skin care for all phases of pregnancy
November 25, 2018 at 03:00AM Of the many physical changes that happen during pregnancy, skin isn’t really something that people tend to talk much about. But the truth is, a woman’s complexion can shift pretty drastically during the many phases of baby-making—from the moment she ditches birth control to the postpartum period and everything in between. And just like a mom-to-be often reinvents her diet, her wardrobe, and her sleep habits to accommodate the tiny guest in her uterus, there’s also something to be said for shaking up the ol’ skin care routine. Why? Well, not only can this help ward off pregnancy-related skin issues before they get out of hand, it can also help ensure that baby’s not exposed to potentially sketchy chemicals that might be lurking in your medicine cabinet. (You can never be too careful, right?) The first thing to note, says dermatologist Nancy Samolitis, MD, is that there’s no one-size-fits-all regimen for pregnancy. “There are a lot of changes that can occur, but they’re not always predictable,” says Dr. Samolitis, cofounder and medical director of Facile Dermatology + Boutique in Los Angeles. “One person may have a completely different experience than another based on your genetics and other environmental factors.” Therapeutic Skin Coach Hayley Wood agrees, and she points out that instead of getting frustrated about the shifting state of your skin, you can actually look at your complexion as a source of valuable intel about what’s going on internally. “I don’t look as skin issues as negative,
Is Saturday night happy hour making your Sunday scaries worse?
November 25, 2018 at 02:00AM I was talking to a friend over coffee the other day who told me that she hadn’t experienced any “Sunday scaries”(you know, the existential dread about the work week ahead that keeps you from fully enjoying half of your weekend?) after she stopped drinking alcohol for two months. Consider my mind blown. And okay, while there are some health benefits to drinking wine, on some level we all know that downing a few $5 happy hour margs every weekend isn’t necessarily the best thing for our bods. But could alcohol be affecting our anxiety in more than a oh god did I really text that hot guy from the gym 10 times last night way? (Definitely not speaking from personal experience.) Short answer: Yes. “Alcohol is a central nervous depressant that interferes with sleep cycle, which means you might not get the restful sleep that you need,” says Rachel O’Neill, Ph.D., professional clinical counselor and Talkspace provider. “Any impairments in quality of sleep can certainly impact mood and functioning.” Studies have also shown that disrupted sleep seriously increases anxiety. Alcohol, especially too much of it, can have a big physiological effect on your bod, says Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, stress management, diet and nutrition expert and author of “365 Ways to Boost Your Brain Power: Tips, Exercise, Advice. Once digested, alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde, a “particularly potent toxin that can damage all tissues in the body, including the brain,” she says. This guy messes with