Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
mardi 28 mars 2017
Hate Your Skin Tags? Here's What You Can Do About It
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography
There are a few beauty woes that are just unavoidable, no matter how sincere your efforts are to bypass them. Rain will ruin your hair at least once. You'll smudge your lipstick. And, at some point, your epidermis will sprout a skin tag. We consulted Manhattan dermatologist Dr. Neal Schultz, host of DermTV.com and creator of BeautyRx by Dr. Schultz. He gave us the scoop on what these bothersome bumps are, what causes them, and (if you must!) how to get rid of them yourself.
When dealing with a complexion issue, it's important to know what you're up against. First, make sure what you're looking at is actually a skin tag. Unlike moles, which are usually pink to brown in color and feature symmetrical borders, skin tags are more oddly shaped and tend to match your complexion's shade.
"They grow out from your body, but vertically," Dr. Schultz stated. The benign tumors are comprised of epidermis and a little bit of dermis - the two upper layers of skin. "Their height is usually much greater than their width. Sometimes they have a very narrow stalk so they are virtually hanging off by a thread," he explained.
When I asked Dr. Schultz what causes these pesky spots, he told me that this remains unknown. "To a certain extent, they are hereditary and tend to occur in certain characteristic places, where skin folds on skin," he said. Skin tags frequently crop up under the arms and where the legs meet the body. "They seem to occur more often in people that are overweight," the doctor added.
However, if your skin tags are darker than your complexion, you may be dealing with dermatosis papulosa nigra, or DPN, a raised skin lesion that is commonly seen on complexions of those of Hispanic, Asian, or African descent. Dr. Schultz said that these tend to occur around eyes and on the cheekbones. "They look similar [to skin tags] but are not the same." These benign tumors come from keratinocytes, the cells that are responsible for producing skin pigment.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Benjamin Stone
If you were concerned that these skin conditions were a sign of cancer or another ailment, relax. Neither DPN nor skin tags are an indication of any health risks. "They're not dangerous," declared Dr. Schultz. "Just annoying and inconvenient."
Despite being innocuous, you might find your skin tags to be unsightly. If that's the case, a dermatologist can remove them fairly easily. Dr. Schultz prefers to use the tip of a very fine pair of scissors to snip a skin tag off at the base. Other options include using an electric needle to cauterize the skin or freezing off the tumor, which he particularly doesn't recommend.
"Freezing is so imprecise that it tends to affect the skin around the skin tag," he explained. And it's this imprecision that disturbs him when patients try to remove these bumps themselves.
"While it doesn't take eight years of medical education to remove a skin tag, there are certain basic principles that have to be observed," Dr. Schultz cautioned, citing using sterile tools and completely disinfecting your skin as essential.
While we don't recommend taking off your own skin tags, if you feel that you must, Dr. Schultz declared that the most sensible method is to use a tight piece of string. We advise consulting with your doctor beforehand, then proceeding with caution!
Use a sterile piece of gauze and isopropyl alcohol to thoroughly cleanse the area and a length of thread. After looping the string around the very base of the skin tag, double knot it so it is very tight, cutting off the blood supply to the skin tag. Finish your DIY dermatological procedure by trimming the ends of the threads with a disinfected pair of scissors, so the string doesn't catch on anything.
Patience is key! Once you've tied the string, do not touch the skin tag except to dab it with a bit of alcohol. After a few days to a week, the tiny tumor should fall off on its own. When this happens, be sure to nourish the small wound with a bit of antibacterial ointment, keeping it covered with a bandage until the area has healed - that way you won't leave a scar.
The doctor is particularly against most of the over-the-counter medications available for removing skin tags. When people apply these caustic formulas at home, many get more of the product on the surrounding area than the actual tumor itself, which can lead to blistering and scarring.
A skin tag is harmless and practically invisible to others, so if you don't think you can remove it safely, don't risk it. In the end, you could make a blemish more noticeable (and painful!) than that tiny little bump.
Alicia Keys on Wearing Makeup: "I Do What the F*ck I Want"
Alicia Keys famously took a strong stand against makeup in June 2016, but for some reason, her personal choice to go bare is still a topic of conversation. The 15-time Grammy winner has been embracing her imperfections and natural beauty for a while, but has made no secret of the fact that there are still some products she incorporates into her skin-care routine.
Apparently, Alicia's co-host on The Voice, Adam Levine, thought ditching the makeup meant she used zero products whatsoever. It wasn't until Adam caught her applying a little makeup while on set that he had some questions. Adam recently sat down with Howard Stern to talk about what goes on behind the scenes of their NBC show, where Howard asked him about Alicia's stance on going makeup-free.
Adam jokingly brought up the time he walked in on Alicia doing the unthinkable and her applause-worthy response is going to make you smile. "She was putting on a little bit of makeup, I was like, 'Oh, yeah, I thought Alicia doesn't wear makeup.'" he recalled with sass. "And she's like, 'I do what the f*ck I want.'"
BOOM! Adam said that he replied to his cohost saying, "I love you so much" and we couldn't think of a better comeback. Alicia has been defending her natural glow since she decided to ditch the heavy makeup, but it's her personal decision to go bare and she's right, she can do whatever she wants!
Check out Adam's hilarious clip from The Howard Stern Show below.
Everything We Know So Far About Anastasia Beverly Hills's New Otherworldly Glow Kit
The team behind Anastasia Beverly Hills was one of the first to capitalize on the "fairidescent" beauty trend with its magical Moonchild Glow Kit. Now, they're expanding their range of ethereal highlighter palettes with the upcoming Aurora Glow Kit, and we couldn't be more excited.
The dreamy compact seems to be inspired by stars and outer space, because each of the six otherworldly shades reference interplanetary movement or constellations. There's Eclipse (soft peach), Luna (oyster pink), Spectra (deep lavender), Helia (minty white), Orion (turquoise), and Lyra (warm orange). Each seem to boast a serious amount of sparkle, but knowing the formulas of the Anastasia highlighters, we'd guess that they also feature iridescence or flashes of other shades when swatched. Keep reading to see more shots of the contents of the Aurora Glow Kit, then get excited for its launch on April 4.
15 Holographic Products to Complete Your Transformation Into a Unicorn
If you've been watching the beauty space over the past six months, it should come as no surprise to you that "mermaid" or "unicorn" products are having a major moment. And it isn't only the packaging that makes these items magical! The formulas themselves boast a mesmerizing sheen, which many brands and fans are calling holographic.
However, this is something of a misnomer. Nail polish junkies in particular know that the term holographic specifically refers to a kind of glitter particle that flashes with a rainbow or diamond-like sparkle. Some "unicorn" products fit into this category, but more often, they're iridescent. The colors in this family present as one shade at first glance but flash a few different colors depending on lighting. (For reference, think of the silver, green, gold, and blue casts you can see on a black pearl.)
We say, the more color, sparkle, and glitter, the merrier! We're absolutely fans of this trend and will continue rocking unicorn products long after they're out of style. To help feed your own addiction, keep reading; we've rounded up 15 of our favorite eye-catching prismatic products.
Endless Gorgeous Celebrity Wedding Hair Ideas
It's peak wedding season, so we've looked back at the red carpet for some style inspiration. Whether you are a bride-to-be or bridesmaid, have a wedding to attend in the near future, or are just looking for a hairstyle with a little something special, you've come to the right place. Here are a plethora of gorgeous wedding coifs to spark your creativity.
This Sultry Brown-Eye Makeup Tutorial Is All You Need to Turn Heads
If you've ever thought that blue- or green-eyed girls get first dibs on the most flattering eye shadow trends, you are mistaken. Women with brown gazers can easily pull off a spectrum of shades (including purples and greens) - however, neutral shadows complement them like no other. Beauty blogger Simply Sona breaks down the basics for enhancing brown irises with flesh-toned shadows in her tutorial. From every bronzed hue you need in your kit to create sultry lids to seamless blending and application tricks for a flawless finish, you won't have to be a pro to master this head-turning look. Grab your makeup bag and watch along to learn how to blend your way to the sexiest brown eyes ever.
7 Things Women With Really Healthy Hair Always Do
I love getting compliments on my hair. It's not because I think I have better strands than anyone else, but rather I take it as a reflection of the hard work I put into keeping it at optimal health. First, I've never colored my mane, leaving it in a state stylists refer to as "virgin." Second, I treat my scalp care like skin care - hydrating and moisturizing it in a routine way (co-washes during the week to preserve my curls, deep-conditioning masks on Sundays).
Celebrity hairstylist and Dove ambassador Mark Townsend agreed with this philosophy when we met up at a recent event. "Would you ever skip moisturizer and sunscreen on your skin? No," he said. "You should never skip either conditioner, or at least like a leave-in cream."
You've seen his work atop the heads of A-listers such as the Olsen sisters, Dakota Johnson, and (my personal idol) Lea Michele. Being the hair junkie I am, I decided to quiz Townsend on all of his Hollywood secrets to getting truly beautiful locks. I discovered I was doing several things right (sleeping on a satin pillow case, not shampooing every day), and I also picked up some new hacks (such as using dry shampoo in lieu of hairspray). Keep reading, and start taking notes - you may have some hair homework to do!
If You Want to Lose Weight, This Meal Should Be Your Biggest
How many calories you eat in a day has a direct impact on whether you'll lose, gain, or maintain your weight. If you're looking to lose, creating a calorie deficit is a must, but when you eat your calories also plays a role. Should you have an even supply of calories throughout the day, or should you try to eat most of your calories by a certain time?
According to certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition, "making lunch your biggest meal" could be the change you need in order to see results. A recent study of 80 women, ages 18 to 45, found that having lunch as the biggest meal of the day increased weight loss but also helped with blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. The study also showed that over 12 weeks, those having lunch as the biggest meal lost 12.8 pounds and those with dinner as the biggest meal lost 9.6 pounds.
Pretty interesting, huh? Just changing when to eat the most calories could be the edge you need to see results that you aren't seeing from a healthy diet alone. You have more time to burn off those calories, which means less stored calories overnight.
Leslie suggests trying to "eat 40 percent of your daily calories at lunch. So for a 1,500-calorie diet, which would be common for weight loss, it would be a 600-calorie lunch. That leaves a 450-calorie breakfast and a 450-calorie dinner. Or if you prefer snacking, a 400-calorie breakfast, a 100-calorie snack, and a 400-calorie dinner.
It seems easy enough to make this change, and not only could it help with weight loss, but eating less at night could also help prevent bloating or heartburn and help you sleep better. It's worth a try! Remember that just because you're making lunch your highest-calorie meal, it's not a green light to go for unhealthy calories! Keep the mantra in mind, "think of food as fuel," and make sure your meal contains protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
18 Whole30 Dinners You'll Make Well After Your Diet Ends
There are a lot of good reasons to try the Whole30 Diet; it's made up of fresh, whole foods, and free of things like sugar, junk food, and alcohol. It's a great plan for anyone looking to clean up their diet, but given the strict guidelines, meal prep is a must, especially when it comes to dinner. Gone is the ease of ordering takeout or delivery at night - trust us, that General's chicken is definitely not Whole30 approved.
If you're considering the diet for yourself, these 18 Whole30 dinner recipes are a good place to start, and the dishes easily lend themselves to leftovers for next-day lunches.
Meet the Megaformer, the Fitness Contraption Celebrities Are Obsessed With
The machine might appear a bit intimidating at first, but surely if Kim Kardashian, Sofia Vergara, Michelle Obama, Vanessa Hudgens, Calvin Harris, and Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio can master it, the Lagree Fitness Method must be worth it, right?!
Meet the Megaformer, the machine behind the innovative workout that is shaping bodies all over Hollywood.
The Backstory
Developed by Sebastien Lagree, a self-described former chubby kid who wanted to merge the nurturing approach of Pilates with the more rigorous approach of bodybuilding, the Megaformer was originally developed in 2005 after two years of working with an engineering team.
"I needed to devise a workout that's going to give you the same kind of result [as high-impact activities like weightlifting and running] - it's going to chisel you and sculpt you and tone you - but it's not going to destroy you," Lagree said of the high-intensity, low-impact workout that the Megaformer is designed for.
"Physical fitness is more than being able to run a long distance or lift heavy weights at the gym; or how long you worked out or at what intensity," according to Lagree's website. "While these are important measures of fitness, they only address single areas. Physical fitness is made up of five basic elements: cardio, strength, endurance, body composition, and flexibility." And Legree's workouts address all five elements in well under an hour.
How Does the Workout Work?
So how exactly does the Megaformer allow users to address all five basic elements of fitness without necessitating joint-damaging high-impact movements? The machine was carefully constructed to precisely enact effective resistance, range of motion, and angle, and the specific workouts that Lagree has designed adhere to strict tempo and duration standards to ensure that users reach the proper threshold of exercise intensity to stimulate the body's adaptive changes.
The machine uses adjustable spring-loaded resistance to allow for a customizable resistance load that is engaged via slow, deliberate movements that activate slow-twitch muscle fibers, increasing stamina and oxygen capacity of your muscles and allowing the body to burn energy for longer periods of time. That last part is the major key to how Lagree's 40-minute workouts produce rapid changes in his clients' physiques - while slow-twitch muscle fibers are not prone to hypertrophy (bulking up) like fast-twitch fibers, they are better suited for burning fat. Simply put, working out on the Megaformer will turn your body into a lean, fat-burning machine. No wonder it's so popular.
What to Expect in a Megaformer Class
A typical 40-minute routine will consist of a core warmup comprised of movements with wacky names like "catfish," "spoon," and "wheelbarrow" (picture an ab rollout performed against spring-loaded resistance), about 20 minutes of lower-body exercises like "skater," "spider lunge," and "mega donkey" (like a quadruped banded hip extension), and a series of upper-body moves that might include "swimmer," "mega preacher curl," and "sexy back" (think of a modified triceps kickback that works the back of the arms as well as the entire back). So yeah, in case the exercise names didn't give it away, it's unlike anything you've ever done before.
Lagree Fitness studios have infiltrated New York and Los Angeles and are now making their way to the rest of the country. We may not all have Sofia Vergara's genes or Kim K's, um, assets, but at least now we can have their fitness routine. Find a studio near you with Lagree's studio locator.
What Does Your Sports Bra Say About You?
Fitness gear has changed dramatically over the past few years. Where we were once limited to simple colorways like black and navy blue, brands have found a way to fuse vibrant colors with on-trend mesh details and do it in a way that doesn't sacrifice utility. Sports bras are not just made with beautiful prints now; they're also built to support the female body as a woman moves.
Inspired by one brand in particular - CALIA by Carrie Underwood - we rounded up the most intricate back straps, because they are a playful detail that shows some personality. Check out our favorites, and if you find one you like, see what it says about your workout style.
16 Recipes From Chrissy Teigen That Will Transform the Way You Cook
Chrissy Teigen has amazing recipes, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The title of her cookbook, Cravings, says it all: the model-turned-food-blogger-turned-cookbook-author likes to eat foods she actually craves, and she has an entire book dedicated to recipes you won't be able to resist. We're talking chicken pot pie soup, lemony spaghetti cacio e pepe, fried chicken wings with honey butter, mac and cheese with garlicky breadcrumbs, and much more. If you need any more convincing that Chrissy Teigen is the ultimate cooking muse, read on to discover 16 of her best recipes you'd be crazy not to try.
This Potty-Mouthed Grandma Baking a Gluten-Free Cake Will Make You Giggle For Days
Peggy Glenn, everyone's favorite cursing grandma, is making us double over laughing with her latest cooking adventure. Known on YouTube as Granny PottyMouth, Peggy recently shared a video in which she bakes a birthday cake for her grandson. Except it's not your average, run-of-the-mill birthday cake, as she starts the video by declaring, "Today I'm going to attempt a f*cking miracle: a damn cake with no eggs, no flour, and no butter."
That's right - Peggy was on a mission to make a vegan and gluten-free cake to suit her grandson's "trendy diet." While concocting the cake, the comedic grandma shared some of the ingredients, such as vanilla, xanthan gum, and "just a little bit of brown sugar - not too much." But the key ingredient in the cake batter? "Organic pumpkin!" the comedic granny exclaims. "Can you f*cking believe? Pumpkin and chocolate instead of eggs and butter."
While mixing the batter, she compares it to "runny dog sh*t," although she admits that it sure doesn't taste like it once the cake comes out of the oven. Granny PottyMouth wraps up the entertaining cake tutorial by patting herself on the back for the surprisingly tasty dessert. "Nothing says love like your granny baking you a fine-ass birthday cake," she says. "Gluten-free, my ass. That's f*cking delicious."
Watch her video above, and prepare to get your daily (or weekly) dose of giggles.
ICYMI, Whole Foods Has the Most Amazing Self-Serve Mochi Bars
Plenty of Whole Foods stores have self-serve salad bars and hot bars, but does yours have a mochi ice cream bar? If you're lucky, it does. Some Whole Foods stores, including Fremont, CA, and Wheaton, IL, have a space in their bakery section devoted to a freezer full of the Japanese dessert of pounded sticky rice filled with ice cream. If you haven't bitten into a squishy, sweet, cold mochi, you're seriously missing out.
Whole Foods' eye-catching bins of mochi have a variety of brightly colored flavors, including chocolate, passion fruit, and a favorite of ours, lychee. While there's something so satisfying about seeing all the flavors laid out and hand picking your favorites to enjoy immediately, Whole Foods also sells packaged boxes of mochi in the freezer aisle if your location doesn't have the self-serve option. Trader Joe's Strawberry Mochi is a favorite of ours, too. If you want to visually satisfy your mochi craving, read ahead to get all the details on Whole Foods' coveted self-serve mochi bars, and then try mochi for yourself ASAP if you haven't already.
The Best Way to Scramble Eggs, According to Anthony Bourdain
When it comes to the best way to scramble eggs, chefs tend to disagree. And one chef who embraces an entirely back-to-basics, no-frills approach is Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain describes his perfect scrambled egg in a video and makes it clear there's one thing you should never add to to the equation: dairy. "I just don't feel that milk or cream adds anything. I believe that a scrambled egg is principally about the egg," the chef says in the video. "You're not making a quiche here," he says. In his Appetites cookbook, which is filled with recipes that Bourdain thinks everyone should know how to cook, he describes his go-to method of scrambling eggs. Ready for it?
Start with fresh eggs, and get a hot - but not too hot - pan going. Crack the eggs on a flat surface before dropping them into a bowl to prevent any shells from sneaking in. Beat them with a fork, but don't overbeat them; you want to have a ripple of white and yellow instead of an entirely yellow mixture. Drop plenty of whole butter into the hot pan until it's foaming, followed by the beaten eggs. Allow the eggs to form a little bit before beginning to gently move them around in a "figure-eight pattern," as Anthony describes. The final product should be fluffy, airy, and rippled.
So there you have it. Unlike Alton Brown, who scrambles his eggs with whole milk, or Chrissy Teigen, who makes "cheesy" cheeseless scrambled eggs with heavy cream, or Paula Deen, who claims adding water lightens them up, Anthony Bourdain omits any of these additions for a basic, buttery egg.
9 Things You Never Knew About Whole Foods, Straight From an Insider Employee
I spoke to Whole Foods food editor Molly Siegler, who's based at the company's headquarters in Austin, TX, and learned a variety of interesting facts that made me an even bigger fan of the store. What's the return policy? Who makes all the food in the hot bar? Can you really try something before you buy it? If you've always wanted to know this - plus more - about one of the highest-quality grocery stores, read on for all the insider secrets.
1. You can taste anything before you buy it.
Seriously - anything! "The company has a Try Before You Buy policy," Molly said, and you can use it for packaged foods (like snacks), fresh produce, and even cheese. "If there's a new apple that comes out, you can ask someone in the produce section to cut you a slice."
2. You can return anything.
The return policy "is very Nordstrom-like - bring it back; we want you to be happy." Depending on your location's policy, you'll either get your money back or get store credit - you don't even need your receipt. "It's nice if you have it, but not really [necessary]." You can even return Whole Foods beauty and body-care products, but make sure you have the receipt for those.
3. The best day to shop for sales is Wednesday.
"Wednesday is the day that our sale cycle turns over, so it actually ends up being a day where there are twice as many sales, so that's sort of a fun, magic day to come in. In addition to those in-store sales, we have mobile coupons that are part of our app. These coupons are updated regularly, and you just have the cashier scan the barcode that's exclusive to you."
4. Everything in the hot bar, salad bar, and bakery area is created by culinary experts.
"There's a new team that's been formed around culinary and hospitality: the company brought in a top chef, Tien Ho, who's been working in the restaurant world for years. He is leading the charge for elevating our prepared foods - he's going to focus a lot more on that hot bar experience and salad bar experience. There's a team of trained culinary pros behind every dish.
5. The butchers can debone, season, and/or steam any cut of fish for you.
At no extra charge. "A lot of people do that in our offices for lunch, or it's a really easy thing to do right before you head home for dinner. And it's not just salt and pepper - there's interesting rubs and spice mixes."
6. Employees get a really good discount.
Is your local Whole Foods hiring? Every employee gets a 20 percent discount to start out with, and there's a health-focused incentive that leads to a higher discount. The company does an optional annual screening that records factors like BMI and blood pressure that employees can use as a regular health check-in, in addition to getting an increased discount.
7. The best-selling seafood item is the responsibly farmed salmon.
Look for this in the seafood section - it's the number-one selling seafood item companywide. The salmon is free of antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides, and GMOs.
8. Each Whole Foods location donates leftover food to local organizations.
Ever wonder what happens to all that leftover hot food at the end of the night? The exact policy varies by location, but all food is donated. "All of our stores have partnerships with local food banks and other local organizations that they can help donate the food to at the end of the day."
9. The company really does take ingredients seriously.
"Whole Foods Market has really high quality standards, but it's not an arbitrary thing. We have a whole team that's dedicated to using science and really heavy research to figure out what can and can't be in our stores. At a minimum, we have no artificial colors, no artificial preservatives, no artificial sweeteners, and no hydrogenated fats. Every single thing in our stores meets those standards, and often poeple don't realize that."
The 1 Thing You Should Never Put on a Sandwich, According to the Sandwich King Himself
Food Network chef and sandwich king Jeff Mauro spilled his sandwich dos and don'ts. Keep reading to learn his best advice.
POPSUGAR: What's the ultimate breakfast sandwich?
Jeff Mauro: Perfectly griddled sausage patty, everything bagel, veggie cream cheese, and pickled jalapeños, of course.
PS: What's the worst thing anyone could put on a sandwich?
JM: Mealy tomatoes.
PS: What's the best sandwich bread ever?
JM: The answer is NONE. Each sandwich has at least one appropriate bread to act as the vehicle.
PS: Does your son eat what you cook? How do you get him to eat vegetables?
JM: Kind of. He always eats the protein we make, and starch (usually sweet potatoes) and veggies. He's still not eating salads or asparagus, but we've always fed him well-seasoned and well-balanced food. I guess the trick is, and mind you, I only have one kid, to really not give [kids] a choice. They have to at least taste everything you make.
PS: What's your ultimate Father's Day meal?
JM: My ideal Father's Day meal is a big grilled beef tenderloin. Pair that with tons of mushrooms, something cheesy, and lots of Mark West wine.
PS: What's the most fun thing about being a chef who is a dad?
JM: Taking pride in the fact that my boy knows and respects good food and where it comes from and what it takes to make it. Now with my restaurant Pork & Mindy's in Chicago, he can come hang out with me on the weekends and see food from that end of the business. Plus, I'm proud that my boy can crack an egg like a champ.
What Is HIIT?
It's time to HIIT it! Rising slowing in popularity for a while, HIIT workouts first made the American College of Sports Medicine's list of fitness trends back in 2014, and they are still going strong. If you haven't jumped on the HIIT bandwagon yet, here's what you need to know.
What Is HIIT?
The accurately poetic acronym HIIT stands for high-intensity interval training. A HIIT workout mixes shorts bursts of activity with even shorter rest periods. Ideally, you work to your maximum capacity during the short bursts of activity, hence the use of "high intensity" to describe those intervals. Because you are pushing your limits, these workouts tend be shorter, rarely passing the 30-minute mark.
HIIT workouts are scalable to any fitness level, making it a popular format for group fitness classes. Your goal is push yourself to 90 percent of your personal max in the intense intervals, and this varies among individuals. Using the rate of perceived exertion scale to measure your efforts helps keep the workout individualized.
You can do a HIIT workout with almost any type of activity, including running, swimming, and cycling, as well as strength training with exercises like burpees, squats, and push-ups. HIIT is flexible and you can create different formulas for the work-to-rest ratio, but the most popular is 2:1. For example, you work for 40 seconds at your max and rest for 20, repeating this pattern for five to 10 sets. The Tabata Protocol might be the most well-known HIIT workout. Its eight rounds of 20-second intervals followed by 10 seconds of rest make it one of the hardest four-minute workouts you've ever done.
The Benefits
- HIIT workouts are efficient; since you're working to your max, you burn more calories in less time.
- Adding intervals into your workouts helps you burn more fat during your sweat session.
- Interval workouts, compared to steady-paced ones, have a higher afterburn effect, meaning you continue to burn calories after your workout is over for a longer period of time.
- HIIT workouts also increase your endurance. So when you do go for a long, steady-paced run, you can go further.
- Health-wise, intervals improve your cardiovascular health, cholesterol profile, and insulin sensitivity (which helps fight type 2 diabetes).
HIIT Workouts to Try
Here are some of our favorite HIIT workouts:
- A 10-Minute HIIT Workout You Can Do at Home
- A 20-Minute HIIT Workout For All Levels
- This 7-Minute Workout Targets Belly Fat
- A Tabata Mash-Up Workout Video
- 30-Minute Interval Treadmill Run
Since HIIT workouts are so vigorous, it's best to do no more than two a week and avoid doing back-to-back HIIT workouts. You need to give your body time to recover to truly reap the benefits of these workouts so you can go hard at your next sweat sesh.
The Easy Eating Formula For Getting Rid of Body Fat
If you feel soft in the middle, you can either thank your mother for inheriting her blessed genetic predisposition for belly flab or your sweet kiddos who were created there. Whatever the reason, if you'd much rather have a sleeker midsection, as a mom of two, I can totally relate.
Although it's impossible to spot-reduce fat from specific areas, we've enlisted the help of Christmas Abbott, CrossFit competitor and author of The Badass Body Diet ($28), to help us ditch our pinch-more-than-an-inch tummies. As a formerly "skinny fat" woman who transformed her body through CrossFit and a dialed-in diet, Christmas understands how real women feel and also what they need to do to get the body they crave. "Food is your foundation, and fitness is the accessory," says Christmas. She believes that every meal and snack needs to embrace the macronutrient trifecta of proteins, carbs, and healthy fats to help reduce overall body fat, which will aid in reducing stubborn belly fat.
Christmas explains that all food can be categorized into a protein, a carbohydrate, or a fat. "You can't go wrong by dividing your plate into thirds and filling each section with a primo protein, primo carbohydrate, and primo fat." There are only two foods Christmas says to avoid - processed foods and alcohol - since these contribute to unwanted fat. If you want to know specifics about how many of each to eat, The Badass Body Diet outlines a diet plan based on your personal body type and goals.
What about exercise? Short, high-intensity training sessions are proven to help reduce belly fat faster than steady-state cardio. Below are some great examples of this type of workout.
- 45-minute walk-run-sprint interval workout for beginners
- 10-minute HIIT video from celeb trainer Astrid McGuire
- 60-minute walk-jog workout
- 7-minute workout that targets belly fat
- 20-minute full-body HIIT video workout
- 30-minute pyramid interval workout for the treadmill
- Tush-toning interval workout with hill repeats
And once the belly fat begins to dissolve, you'll want to reveal a carved, toned core with this 10-minute ab workout. Working out three times a week is great if you're starting out, then you can add additional days as your body becomes stronger. As a CrossFit competitor, Olympic lifter, and head trainer at CrossFit HQ, Christmas also makes a point that your workouts should be fun so you stick with them longer.
This post was originally published on Aug. 10, 2015.
3 Braids That Are Perfect For Your Next Workout
Looking to freshen up your 'do at the gym or studio? Instagram's queen of braids, Amber Fillerup Clark, shared her favorite gym-ready styles with POPSUGAR Fitness. These simple fitness braid styles look so complex and intricate, but they're actually pretty simple. Check out what Amber does to keep her hair looking fresh (and out of her face) during a workout.
These Were the Top 5 Plastic Surgery Procedures of 2016 - Are You Surprised?
With the influx of Instagram filters and face-smoothing applications, it should come as no surprise that with all that pressure across social media, there were a LOT of plastic surgery procedures performed in 2016. According to data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were almost 1.8 million cosmetic surgeries performed last year, with a heavy focus on fillers and facelifts. There's also a growing trend of fat transfers for patients.
The top five most popular cosmetic surgical procedures included:
- Breast augmentation (290,467 procedures, up 4 percent from 2015)
- Liposuction (235,237 procedures, up 6 percent from 2015)
- Nose reshaping (223,018 procedures, up 2 percent from 2015)
- Eyelid surgery (209,020 procedures, up 2 percent from 2015)
- Facelifts (131,106 procedures, up 4 percent from 2015)
The report shows there were also 15.5 million cosmetic minimally invasive procedures in 2016, with the top five including:
- Botulinum Toxin Type A (i.e. Botox and Dysport) (7 million procedures, up 4 percent from 2015)
- Soft tissue fillers (2.6 million procedures, up 2 percent from 2015)
- Chemical peel (1.36 million procedures, up 4 percent since 2015)
- Laser hair removal (1.1 million procedures, down 1 percent from 2015)
- Microdermabrasion (775,000 procedures, down 3 percent from 2015)
In addition to the increase in fat transfer procedures, labiaplasty surgery has increased by 39 percent since the year before. Yup - that's when the surgeon "rejuvenates the labia by lifting and/or injecting fat or filler into the area."
Dr. Debra Johnson, President of the ASPS, explained that the areas of surgery have changed a lot over the years, including down under.
"As cosmetic procedures become more common we are seeing more diversity in the areas of the body that patients are choosing to address," she said. "A decade ago plastic surgeons might have seen a patient every seven to 10 years when they needed a major procedure like a facelift or tummy tuck. Now patients have ongoing relationships with their plastic surgeons and feel more comfortable discussing all areas of their body that they may be interested in rejuvenating."
Check out the full report here.
What New Moms Need to Know About the Long-Term Benefits of Breastfeeding
There are many known benefits to breastfeeding your child, but a new study is challenging the actual longevity of those benefits. And the results are not what we were expecting.
Recently published in the journal Pediatrics, the study evaluated nearly 8,000 Irish children when they were 3 and 5 years old to learn more about the impact of breastfeeding on their cognitive and noncognitive development in the long run. For these assessments, the parents were asked to provide information about their children's vocabulary and problem-solving skills. At age 5, the children's teachers were also asked to provide input on these factors.
Although the researchers found that kids who were breastfed for six months or longer had better problem-solving skills at age 3, they discovered that these differences were trivial by the time they reached age 5. This interesting result suggests that the short-term benefits of breastfeeding don't necessarily transition along with the child as they grow older and enter school.
Whether you choose to breastfeed your child is of course entirely up to you, but this new research is definitely something to consider when making that decision.
68 Adorable Moments Between Zoe Saldana and Her 3 Kids
When it comes to motherhood, Zoe Saldana keeps it real, letting everyone know it's not always a walk in the park but a wonderful adventure. The actress has opened up about having difficulty sleep training her older kids, the struggles of being a mom in Hollywood, and the work that's required to lose weight postpregnancy, but she also openly shares her happiest moments as a mom on Instagram.
And even though Zoe and her husband, Marco Perego, have yet to share a portrait of their twins, Cy and Bowie, or their newborn, Zen - always keeping their full faces out of sight - we can already say they're three of the cutest munchkins on Instagram. Keep scrolling to see all the creative and sweet ways Zoe and Marco have shared their babies' photos with us, including Zen's debut.
Game of Thrones: What New Characters Are We About to Meet?
As we count the days leading up to Game of Thrones' seventh season, we find ourselves craving more and more information - blame this year's delayed premiere. There are a handful of cliffhangers that need resolution, but right now we're more concerned with the new storylines. There are a couple of new faces coming to the show, but only one of them will play a new character. (Tom Hopper is just taking over the role of Dickon Tarly, since Freddie Stroma left the show to star on Time After Time.) Of course, Ed Sheeran is making an appearance, but it will more than likely be a short cameo.
This leaves one new actor with potential for a meaty new part: Jim Broadbent. HBO is generally very tight-lipped about Game of Thrones spoilers, but Broadbent himself spilled a bit about the role in March. "I'm a maester, an archmaester," he told ScreenCrush. "I'm an old professor character." He also divulged that he shot five episodes (there are seven in the season), he appears in "one major scene each episode," and the majority of his scenes are with Samwell Tarly.
All of these hints point to a character in the books who is known as Marwyn the Mage. The archmaester lives at the Citadel (where Samwell has just arrived on the show), and upon hearing Samwell's story, Marwyn leaves to seek out Daenerys. Before departing, he orders Sam to finish his studies then immediately return to the Wall.
Of course, it's entirely possible that we could be meeting other new characters, as well. HBO is good at keeping secrets!
lundi 27 mars 2017
This CrossFit Workout May Sound Insane, but It's Totally Doable
Burpees aren't fun - we know this. But they work the entire body, and that's one of the reasons CrossFit coach and competitor Dani Horan of Champlain Valley CrossFit is suggesting this simple yet grueling workout.
The Workout: Complete 100 burpees as quickly as you can.
Here's how to do a basic burpee:
- From standing, lower into a crouching squat with your hands on the floor.
- Do a squat thrust by jumping your feet back, simultaneously bending the elbows behind you, touching your chest to the floor.
- As you jump the feet forward to the hands, straighten the arms and come back to into a squat.
- Do an explosive jump straight up, getting as much height as you can.
Yep, that's it. One hundred burpees all at once. You'll get a total-body workout in about 10 minutes, and it's an awesome way to get your heart rate up. But what makes this workout the definition of CrossFit is that it's mostly mental. Yeah, your arms and legs might get tired from burpee after burpee (after burpee!), but mostly it's your mind that will keep saying it wants to stop.
It's great for those training for a race or a fitness competition to practice pushing yourself no matter what and believing you can do it. And though it may not be that fun, you're going to feel so proud once you get to the last one!
If doing this total-body move is tough for you, here are four moves you can do to build up to a burpee. If this many burpees at one time seems completely crazy, here's a four-week workout plan to build up to 100 burpees. And if you love burpees and want more, try this burpee challenge that involves five different variations of burpees.
I Did Intermittent Fasting For 1 Month and This Is What Happened
After six months of CrossFit, five days a week, my transformation wasn't as dramatic or amazing as I had hoped. I didn't get insanely ripped as planned - I still had extra weight around my stomach that I was hoping to ditch. So I was on a quest to find a way to keep up with the workouts I loved without having to add in extra cardio or drastically changing the foods I liked to eat.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
I'd heard of intermittent fasting because my father had success doing the 5:2 plan: you eat normally five days a week, then eat 500 calories a day twice a week. But there's no way I would be able to eat so little and be able to exercise, work full-time, and take care of my family.
What I Did
I decided to try a version of the 16/8 plan, where you fast for 16 hours and eat for eight. This seemed to fit my lifestyle better. I'd stop eating around 7 or 8 at night, then wouldn't eat again until 11 a.m. or noon the next day. It basically meant that I'd skip breakfast, then eat three times the rest of the day, consuming roughly the same amount of calories I would if I'd been eating all day long.
"It [intermittent fasting] gets your body out of 'storage mode' and mobilizes fat stores for energy," said certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition. This means that without having a constant food source, your body will dip into the fat it already has stored.
How I Dealt With Hunger
I'm not gonna lie. The first two weeks were rough. Especially on days that I woke up at 4:45 a.m. to do CrossFit at 5:45 for an hour. The hardest part was coming home from class at 7:00 a.m. and having to prepare breakfast for my kids. The temptation of grabbing a banana or polishing off their crusts was almost unbearable. My husband was very supportive and took over breakfast duties so I wouldn't have to smell cinnamon toast. I'd just down a huge glass of water and keep myself busy getting them ready for school. Around 9 or 10 a.m., I'd make a cup of chai tea with a splash of cashew milk. Many intermittent fasters recommend caffeine to suppress hunger, usually black coffee. Also, any beverage under 50 calories still counts as fasting, and sipping on that totally helped, as well as plain water throughout the morning.
Those first two weeks, I found myself looking at the clock every 20 minutes, hoping it was noon already. I didn't really get any headaches as I thought I would, but I did find myself a little cranky - working alone from home was definitely a plus. But every day got a little easier. By the fourth week, I usually didn't start feeling hungry until 30 minutes before I was supposed to start eating.
One thing that's great about this 16/8 plan is that eating was more enjoyable. I was able to eat larger meals and ate anything I wanted to. Although my diet is already pretty healthy with no meat or dairy and hardly any refined sugars, I loved the freedom of being able to sit down to a huge lunch or dinner without having to make sure it was under a certain amount of calories. Knowing this made it easier to get through that fasting window, because I knew by noon I'd be sitting down to a plate full of yumminess.
What I Ate
Once I entered my feeding window, I made sure not to pig out. This wasn't too hard because I noticed that I'd feel fuller sooner than I did before I had starting intermittent fasting. Drinking water with each meal also helped.
12:00 p.m. (first meal): A big salad with beans and a slice of toast, or veggie lentil soup with toast, or avocado toast with tomatoes, salted sunflower seeds, and marinated tofu (#ilovetoast). I always finished with a small bowl of raspberries or strawberries just to satiate my sweet tooth.
2:30/3 p.m. (second meal/snack): I'd have a banana with crunchy almond butter, an apple with a big handful of raw almonds, a Cashew Cookie Larabar, or a plain dairy-free yogurt topped with some chopped fruit and nuts.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jenny Sugar
5:30/6 p.m. (third meal): A big kale salad with roasted butternut squash and beans, or a veggie burger patty with roasted sweet potato and steamed broccoli, or some kind of tofu veggie stir fry with rice. Oh, and pasta. I had pasta at least once a week, usually this avocado pasta recipe with Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs. I definitely did not give up carbs.
6:30/7:30 p.m.: After dinner, I usually went for some fruit, trail mix, or dates, but that third week I was craving sugar and indulged in some vegan cashew milk ice cream three nights in a row. Although so very delicious, I definitely didn't feel great after eating it, which reminded me why I had given up sugar. So that last week, I was back on track, focusing on eating food for fuel.
Did I Lose Weight?
Yes! I lost about two pounds, which for me was HUGE, since I wasn't seeing the scale budge otherwise. I was still doing CrossFit, so I know I was gaining muscle weight, but still the scale showed a decrease. I was amazed. The biggest thing, and I noticed this after the first week, was when I looked in the mirror, I could see more definition in my abs and upper back. That visual progress was what kept me going when I wanted to throw the towel in and drown myself in a bowl of oatmeal.
What Surprised Me
The thing that intrigued me the most about intermittent fasting, and the reason I wanted to try it, was that I knew I had a slight obsession with tracking my food. As someone who's been trying to lose weight on and off since I was in high school, I hated the fact that I was constantly thinking about food. What to eat, what not to eat, how many calories a food had, how many calories I'd eaten, and how many calories I wish I hadn't eaten. So much time was consumed by planning out what I was going to eat, shopping for food, making food, and then eating it. It was exhausting.
I thought not being able to eat all morning long would make me think about food more, and I already had an issue with wanting to eat all day long, but the opposite happened! Fasting all morning freed up my time and my mind for other thoughts. By the last two weeks, I wasn't thinking about food or checking the clock much at all during my fasting window. I even accidentally fasted too long a few times, realizing it was 1:30 p.m. and I hadn't eaten yet.
Other Benefits
Aside from slimming my belly and gaining a better relationship with food, I also found that I had better digestion and less bloating (because I wasn't overeating), slept well, and got another bonus - a clearer, more focused mind. My mornings felt more productive without the usual brain fogginess and fatigue I'd experience after eating.
Now What?
I'm going to keep going. I feel like I've finally hit a point where my body has adapted to this style of eating, and it's gotten easier to not eat all morning long, so I can better dial in my diet and exercise harder. I'm already psyched with everything I've experienced and can only imagine that there are more benefits to come.
Editor's note: Before starting intermittent fasting - or any new eating plan - be sure to talk to your doctor to make sure it's the right diet for you.
Turn Your Living Room Into a Pilates Studio With This 4-Move Workout
You don't need to buy a Megaformer for your house to get a great Lagree-style workout at home. In fact, you can do many of these moves with slider discs (or wash cloths or paper plates!), a booty band for your ankles, and an exercise ball. These small, inexpensive, and practical at-home equipment pieces are ideal for creating the sliding motions and resistance of a Megaformer.
"We have several clients that have asked for on-the-go Lagree fitness moves that could be done off the Megaformer while traveling," said Melissa Hennessee, owner of Trim Fitness Studio Lagree Method in Orange County, CA. "While there are several exercises that can be done on discs, I think the most important tip is to move as slow as possible in each movement. Slowing down movements to at least a four-second count will activate the 'slow twitch' muscle fiber, make the movement more challenging, and increase the heart rate."
What's also great about these moves is that they're all low-impact. Trim trainer Natalie Franks told us that "after a career-ending soccer injury followed by five knee surgeries, I was left hopeless as most forms of exercise led to excruciating pain. The Lagree method was the only workout that helped me regain strength, endurance, and balance while protecting my knee." Natalie created this low-impact, at-home workout to target the legs and abs in a way that won't hurt your joints, but will still totally burn those muscles.
This CrossFit Workout May Sound Insane, but It's Totally Doable
Burpees aren't fun - we know this. But they work the entire body, and that's one of the reasons CrossFit coach and competitor Dani Horan of Champlain Valley CrossFit is suggesting this simple yet grueling workout.
The Workout: Complete 100 burpees as quickly as you can.
Here's how to do a basic burpee:
- From standing, lower into a crouching squat with your hands on the floor.
- Do a squat thrust by jumping your feet back, simultaneously bending the elbows behind you, touching your chest to the floor.
- As you jump the feet forward to the hands, straighten the arms and come back to into a squat.
- Do an explosive jump straight up, getting as much height as you can.
Yep, that's it. One hundred burpees all at once. You'll get a total-body workout in about 10 minutes, and it's an awesome way to get your heart rate up. But what makes this workout the definition of CrossFit is that it's mostly mental. Yeah, your arms and legs might get tired from burpee after burpee (after burpee!), but mostly it's your mind that will keep saying it wants to stop.
It's great for those training for a race or a fitness competition to practice pushing yourself no matter what and believing you can do it. And though it may not be that fun, you're going to feel so proud once you get to the last one!
If doing this total-body move is tough for you, here are four moves you can do to build up to a burpee. If this many burpees at one time seems completely crazy, here's a four-week workout plan to build up to 100 burpees. And if you love burpees and want more, try this burpee challenge that involves five different variations of burpees.
I Did Intermittent Fasting For 1 Month and This Is What Happened
After six months of CrossFit, five days a week, my transformation wasn't as dramatic or amazing as I had hoped. I didn't get insanely ripped as planned - I still had extra weight around my stomach that I was hoping to ditch. So I was on a quest to find a way to keep up with the workouts I loved without having to add in extra cardio or drastically changing the foods I liked to eat.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
I'd heard of intermittent fasting because my father had success doing the 5:2 plan: you eat normally five days a week, then eat 500 calories a day twice a week. But there's no way I would be able to eat so little and be able to exercise, work full-time, and take care of my family.
What I Did
I decided to try a version of the 16/8 plan, where you fast for 16 hours and eat for eight. This seemed to fit my lifestyle better. I'd stop eating around 7 or 8 at night, then wouldn't eat again until 11 a.m. or noon the next day. It basically meant that I'd skip breakfast, then eat three times the rest of the day, consuming roughly the same amount of calories I would if I'd been eating all day long.
"It [intermittent fasting] gets your body out of 'storage mode' and mobilizes fat stores for energy," said certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition. This means that without having a constant food source, your body will dip into the fat it already has stored.
How I Dealt With Hunger
I'm not gonna lie. The first two weeks were rough. Especially on days that I woke up at 4:45 a.m. to do CrossFit at 5:45 for an hour. The hardest part was coming home from class at 7:00 a.m. and having to prepare breakfast for my kids. The temptation of grabbing a banana or polishing off their crusts was almost unbearable. My husband was very supportive and took over breakfast duties so I wouldn't have to smell cinnamon toast. I'd just down a huge glass of water and keep myself busy getting them ready for school. Around 9 or 10 a.m., I'd make a cup of chai tea with a splash of cashew milk. Many intermittent fasters recommend caffeine to suppress hunger, usually black coffee. Also, any beverage under 50 calories still counts as fasting, and sipping on that totally helped, as well as plain water throughout the morning.
Those first two weeks, I found myself looking at the clock every 20 minutes, hoping it was noon already. I didn't really get any headaches as I thought I would, but I did find myself a little cranky - working alone from home was definitely a plus. But every day got a little easier. By the fourth week, I usually didn't start feeling hungry until 30 minutes before I was supposed to start eating.
One thing that's great about this 16/8 plan is that eating was more enjoyable. I was able to eat larger meals and ate anything I wanted to. Although my diet is already pretty healthy with no meat or dairy and hardly any refined sugars, I loved the freedom of being able to sit down to a huge lunch or dinner without having to make sure it was under a certain amount of calories. Knowing this made it easier to get through that fasting window, because I knew by noon I'd be sitting down to a plate full of yumminess.
What I Ate
Once I entered my feeding window, I made sure not to pig out. This wasn't too hard because I noticed that I'd feel fuller sooner than I did before I had starting intermittent fasting. Drinking water with each meal also helped.
12:00 p.m. (first meal): A big salad with beans and a slice of toast, or veggie lentil soup with toast, or avocado toast with tomatoes, salted sunflower seeds, and marinated tofu (#ilovetoast). I always finished with a small bowl of raspberries or strawberries just to satiate my sweet tooth.
2:30/3 p.m. (second meal/snack): I'd have a banana with crunchy almond butter, an apple with a big handful of raw almonds, a Cashew Cookie Larabar, or a plain dairy-free yogurt topped with some chopped fruit and nuts.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jenny Sugar
5:30/6 p.m. (third meal): A big kale salad with roasted butternut squash and beans, or a veggie burger patty with roasted sweet potato and steamed broccoli, or some kind of tofu veggie stir fry with rice. Oh, and pasta. I had pasta at least once a week, usually this avocado pasta recipe with Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs. I definitely did not give up carbs.
6:30/7:30 p.m.: After dinner, I usually went for some fruit, trail mix, or dates, but that third week I was craving sugar and indulged in some vegan cashew milk ice cream three nights in a row. Although so very delicious, I definitely didn't feel great after eating it, which reminded me why I had given up sugar. So that last week, I was back on track, focusing on eating food for fuel.
Did I Lose Weight?
Yes! I lost about two pounds, which for me was HUGE, since I wasn't seeing the scale budge otherwise. I was still doing CrossFit, so I know I was gaining muscle weight, but still the scale showed a decrease. I was amazed. The biggest thing, and I noticed this after the first week, was when I looked in the mirror, I could see more definition in my abs and upper back. That visual progress was what kept me going when I wanted to throw the towel in and drown myself in a bowl of oatmeal.
What Surprised Me
The thing that intrigued me the most about intermittent fasting, and the reason I wanted to try it, was that I knew I had a slight obsession with tracking my food. As someone who's been trying to lose weight on and off since I was in high school, I hated the fact that I was constantly thinking about food. What to eat, what not to eat, how many calories a food had, how many calories I'd eaten, and how many calories I wish I hadn't eaten. So much time was consumed by planning out what I was going to eat, shopping for food, making food, and then eating it. It was exhausting.
I thought not being able to eat all morning long would make me think about food more, and I already had an issue with wanting to eat all day long, but the opposite happened! Fasting all morning freed up my time and my mind for other thoughts. By the last two weeks, I wasn't thinking about food or checking the clock much at all during my fasting window. I even accidentally fasted too long a few times, realizing it was 1:30 p.m. and I hadn't eaten yet.
Other Benefits
Aside from slimming my belly and gaining a better relationship with food, I also found that I had better digestion and less bloating (because I wasn't overeating), slept well, and got another bonus - a clearer, more focused mind. My mornings felt more productive without the usual brain fogginess and fatigue I'd experience after eating.
Now What?
I'm going to keep going. I feel like I've finally hit a point where my body has adapted to this style of eating, and it's gotten easier to not eat all morning long, so I can better dial in my diet and exercise harder. I'm already psyched with everything I've experienced and can only imagine that there are more benefits to come.
Editor's note: Before starting intermittent fasting - or any new eating plan - be sure to talk to your doctor to make sure it's the right diet for you.
Turn Your Living Room Into a Pilates Studio With This 4-Move Workout
You don't need to buy a Megaformer for your house to get a great Lagree-style workout at home. In fact, you can do many of these moves with slider discs (or wash cloths or paper plates!), a booty band for your ankles, and an exercise ball. These small, inexpensive, and practical at-home equipment pieces are ideal for creating the sliding motions and resistance of a Megaformer.
"We have several clients that have asked for on-the-go Lagree fitness moves that could be done off the Megaformer while traveling," said Melissa Hennessee, owner of Trim Fitness Studio Lagree Method in Orange County, CA. "While there are several exercises that can be done on discs, I think the most important tip is to move as slow as possible in each movement. Slowing down movements to at least a four-second count will activate the 'slow twitch' muscle fiber, make the movement more challenging, and increase the heart rate."
What's also great about these moves is that they're all low-impact. Trim trainer Natalie Franks told us that "after a career-ending soccer injury followed by five knee surgeries, I was left hopeless as most forms of exercise led to excruciating pain. The Lagree method was the only workout that helped me regain strength, endurance, and balance while protecting my knee." Natalie created this low-impact, at-home workout to target the legs and abs in a way that won't hurt your joints, but will still totally burn those muscles.
Our Obsession With Rocks Is Officially Crystallized With the Geode Hair Trend
It's no secret that geodes have taken over our lives recently. First came geode lip art, which was adorable but unfortunately far from kissable. Then came geode nails, which crystallized every sentiment we had for the rock-inspired trend. And now we present you with geode hair, the adorable new trend that takes our love for rainbow hair to a new level. Geode hair combines our obsession with all things iridescent with bright shades to have us ready for the Summer.
In order to replicate the interior of a crystal geode, stylists are lightening clients' hair from the bottom up. Los Angeles-based stylist Cherin Choi told Refinery 29 that in order to achieve the geode hair look above, she starts by simply lightening the hair. "The hair is completely dried, then the amethyst purple is applied on the mid sections, then the moonstone blue onto the very tips," she shared. "I use a brush and emulsify with my hands to blend the colors."
The main difference between rainbow hair and geode hair is that geode hair does not require you to completely bleach your hair to get the glowing look; it only requires the hair to be lightened and colored with one or two shades that are blended by hand. The look gives off the appearance of the inside of a crystal with the fading of one color to more iridescent colors or back to the natural hair color. It's stunning!
Keep reading to see photos of the magical geode hair trend.
A Day-by-Day Timeline of Selena Gomez and The Weeknd's Whirlwind Romance
Selena Gomez and The Weeknd threw everyone for a loop when they were photographed kissing outside of Giorgio Baldi restaurant in LA on Jan. 10, just two months after the "Starboy" singer split from model Bella Hadid. Their relationship is fairly new, but the stars haven't tried to keep it under wraps. Not only are they now officially following each other on Instagram, but they recently enjoyed a romantic vacation in Italy, where they were not shy about showing PDA. It's only been two months since Selena and The Weeknd first got together, but so much has happened since then.
A Day-by-Day Timeline of Selena Gomez and The Weeknd's Whirlwind Romance
Selena Gomez and The Weeknd threw everyone for a loop when they were photographed kissing outside of Giorgio Baldi restaurant in LA on Jan. 10, just two months after the "Starboy" singer split from model Bella Hadid. Their relationship is fairly new, but the stars haven't tried to keep it under wraps. Not only are they now officially following each other on Instagram, but they recently enjoyed a romantic vacation in Italy, where they were not shy about showing PDA. It's only been two months since Selena and The Weeknd first got together, but so much has happened since then.
If You Experience Hormonal Breakouts, You'll Thank God For This Mask
I've yet to find a woman who hasn't encountered this issue: you're about to embark on that time of the month, and your skin appears to be mirroring just how annoyed, inflamed, and pissed off you feel on the inside. (If you haven't, please DM me immediately so I can paint a full picture.) But I've found something that has helped my skin during this monthly visit - premenstrual, if you will - and it doesn't require removing my uterus. Yay! In fact, it's a face mask, and it's going to be something you will wish they sold at Costco. Someone just get me a giant vat of this stuff.
The mask comes from Renée Rouleau, Demi Lovato's go-to esthetician and Texas native. She has helped me with two major skin care woes in my life, issues that have plagued me. First, she is the one who identified that I had melasma when I was 25. Mid-20s me thought the dark spots on my forehead and cheeks, which could appear to be shadows to the naked eye, were remnants of my self-tanner that I wasn't able to wash off. (To be young and naive.) It was during a facial at her Dallas location that she gently brought up that I had melasma and informed me of what triggered it: my birth control.
This changed my life. Seriously. I got off birth control, something I was able to do without worry at the time. I stopped upsetting my melanocytes - the cells that produce melanin, or pigment, in the skin - with heated, aggressive treatments. (For the most part.) I wore a hat to the beach and aspired to stay out of the heat in general, knowing the temperature could set my melasma off. And although there's a little bit on my forehead, it's less noticeable than it once was.
Then, a few years later, I had a breakout after leaving the Coachella Valley. God help me. My cheeks were ridden with red bumps and pustules, something I knew wasn't normal, and I realized they recurred each time I left Palm Springs. My (since dropped) dermatologist was quick to prescribe me pills to kill whatever it was, but wanting actual answers, I wrote Renée, who is now based in Austin. She asked me a variety of questions about my weekend that helped her pinpoint what I was experiencing: acne cosmetica. Spending long days in the dry climate with heavy winds and an oil-based foundation meant my pores were being blocked by my foundation and increased my oil production, resulting in what looks like a breakout. She made an easy suggestion: wear powder foundation on your next trip. And you know what? I haven't had a breakout in the desert since!
Now you know that I trust this woman. She dug deeper than my dermatologist bothered to in order to find the right solution. This is incredibly helpful when you're trying to fix any skin issue you have; it is invaluable.
Visiting Renée over Golden Globes weekend, I got a chance to receive a facial and learn about her new products. First, she told me I needed to "put the fire out of my skin." It was inflamed as hell, and I had several cysts that I hadn't battled with in some time. And truth be told, it kind of comes with the territory when you're testing skin care products regularly, but she reminded me that I must be gentle. She took a minute to give my skin a chill pill in the form of a rubber mask, then introduced me to her newest baby, an anti-breakout solution for hormonal acne that won't dry out your skin: the Rapid Response Detox Masque ($61).
Is it too good to be true? No. It works. I've tested it for a month, and I'm currently wearing the sheerest foundation I own - a compact from Laneige - if that gives you any indication. It works to help with clogged pores that result from travel, hormones, and even sleeping with makeup on. Renée suggests it for premenstrual acne to help "disrupt the acne cycle." This is mask is lightweight and dreamy; when it dries, it doesn't feel hard, sticky, or taut. Renée suggests exfoliating before applying the mask, so lightly scrub or use a peel to help get rid of dead skin. The mask itself is a golden, shimmery gel. Slather it on and let the following eliminate your future breakouts: tea tree leaf oil is antimicrobial and an anti-inflammatory that helps with acne bacteria. Helping to stop inflammation is key when it comes to getting rid of your breakouts, which is why she also included lichocalchone, or Chinese licorice, which helps soothe the skin. Manuka branch/leaf oil helps with the microbial - or bacteria - count on your skin's surface, and she included a salicylic acid complex to help exfoliate and reduce oil.
This mask doesn't include parabens, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, SD alcohol, or gluten, which my skin was thrilled about. I use it once a week, and it's recommended you leave on for about 15 minutes. (I tend to go over since I get distracted and forget I have it on.) Many masks take a few minutes to get off because they leave patches of product behind. This slides off the skin easily and leaves your with a glow afterward.
Investing in your skin, period, is always a good idea, but especially during that time of the month. My skin will take any help it can get!
The 6 Biggest Differences Between the Big Little Lies Novel and TV Show
When news broke that HBO was taking the reins in adapting Liane Moriarty's beloved mystery novel Big Little Lies, many wondered how the resulting miniseries might turn out - would the casting be on point? Would it still take place in Australia? Would the story still end with a shocking, twisted death? After watching nearly the entire season (save for Sunday's finale!), we can confirm that the show is not only exceptionally entertaining, but mostly faithful to the book. There are some key differences, though, which range from fairly minor to pretty major.
1. It's no longer set in Australia.
Perhaps the biggest difference is that Big Little Lies has been uprooted from the small, coastal Australian town of Pirriwee to posh Monterey, CA, though the core story is still the same: Jane Chapman (Shailene Woodley) moves there with her son, Ziggy, from Santa Cruz to start a new life. Monterey is also a seaside town, and each episode is full of gorgeous ocean shots and lush, green and blue tones. Celeste Wright (Nicole Kidman) might have been the only one with real wealth in the book, but in the TV show, everyone who lives in Monterey (with the exception of Jane) also seems to have boatloads of money, which you can't miss thanks to the reels and reels of house-porn footage we're treated to in each episode (seriously - everyone who lives there has an oceanfront mansion?!).
2. Pirriwee Public gets an update.
Pirriwee Public is the school at the root of all of the events that go down in the novel, but in the show, it's Otter Bay Public. Don't worry, though, because there's still just as much (if not more) drama between the kindergarten parents and teachers at the ritzy public school to keep you entertained. The only big thing to note is that the vicious "Blond Bobs" (a group of rude, gossipy kindergarten mothers with matching haircuts) didn't make it into the show (Harper is still there to cause trouble, only she does it with long, brown hair).
3. Madeline doesn't have a son.
Incredibly girlie and dramatic, Madeline Martha Mackenzie (Reese Witherspoon) makes for one of the book's most interesting main characters. She's married to Ed (played by Adam Scott in the miniseries), and on top of her daughters, Chloe and Abigail, she also has a mischievous son named Fred. Unfortunately for him, his character doesn't exist in the miniseries.
4. Fringe characters in the book are more fleshed out.
Renata Klein is a high-powered career woman and mother of a little girl in Ziggy's kindergarten class at Pirriwee Public and also Madeline's main nemesis throughout the book. We only ever view her through the eyes of the book's main three characters - Jane, Madeline, and Celeste - but she gets a big makeover in the show. Laura Dern plays her, and she's a major character with her own backstory and scenes that make her a much more sympathetic figure, cluing us into her motivations and family life. Ed, Nathan (Madeline's ex-husband, played by Revenge's James Tupper), and Bonnie (Nathan's chill, yogi wife, played by Zoë Kravitz) also get more time in the spotlight. This works to varying effect, since you might find yourself itching to get back to the main drama surrounding Jane, Madeline, and Celeste in the scenes focusing on the others. Overall, it gives us a much more well-rounded set of characters.
5. Madeline's job with the community theater is a big part of the show.
In the novel, Madeline references her part-time job helping out in the marketing department of the local theater a few times in passing, but we don't really get to see her in action. The show turns that small part of her life into its own full-blown storyline, with her fighting against fellow kindergarten mom Renata for the right to put on a controversial production of Avenue Q.
6. Ed and Madeline's relationship is much more strained.
Although Ed and Madeline seemed to be comfortable in their suburban family rut in the book, their marriage faces quite a few more ups and downs in the miniseries. Scott and Witherspoon work well together on screen and really sell the rougher, realistic bumps their relationship stumbles over, but any fans of their loving romance in the book might come away from the show disappointed.
Disney's Live-Action Dumbo Is Coming Whether You Like It or Not
Disney is in the middle of remaking all your favorite animated films with real people, and we recently got some big news about the live-action Dumbo film. After Will Smith, Chris Pine, and Casey Affleck all passed on the role, Colin Farrell is in talks to play the father of a group of children who fall for the adorable floppy-eared elephant. If his deal goes through, Farrell would be starring alongside Eva Green (as a French trapeze artist) and Danny DeVito (as the ringmaster).
The remake of the 1941 film is in good hands; Tim Burton has signed on to direct, and Ehren Kruger (responsible for three Transformers movies) is adapting the screenplay. On second thought . . . we're nervous about this.
Get Drunk Without Taking 1 Sip of Alcohol Thanks to This Cool Trend
Maybe it's teenagers and their infatuation with blowing smoke clouds in crazy styles for Instagram videos or the strongly scented flavors that make me gag as I pass them on the street, but there's something about "vaping" that just makes me cringe. Well, that was until I heard it was possible to vape your alcohol. I recently stumbled upon the Vaportini on Instagram, and instantly, my snobby, millennial judgments blew up in smoke. I was totally intrigued.
OK, you're probably wondering WTF is a "Vaportini" and how on earth alcohol can be vaporized, but don't worry, you're not alone. Vaportini, as described by the website, is "a revolutionary way to consume alcohol, it is inhaled rather than swallowed." My lung-doctor father is probably rolling his eyes and preparing a lecture on the dangers of vaping, but the Vaportini team swears by its legitimacy.
The concept is a replication of the Finnish tradition "of pouring vodka over hot coals in a sauna and inhaling the fragrant fumes," except with the Vaportini, you're in a social setting and your clothes are hopefully on, unlike in a sauna. Using the company's official set, you will light the candle and place it under the Vaportini cup. Then, you can pour a shot of liquor with the funnel into the sphere and place it on top of the cup. In five short minutes, the alcohol will be vaporized and ready to be, for lack of a better word, vaped. The alcohol in the sphere remains "active" for 30 minutes.
Well, if consuming one ounce or one shot at a time isn't really your style, it's necessary to point out the impressive benefits of the Vaportini. In addition to taking out the impurities of alcohol, the vaporization process removes the majority of the calories and carbohydrates from the liquor. Need we say more? The effects of the single shot are felt almost immediately. It's recommended that Vaportini users choose a liquor with a minimum of 35 percent alcohol content, and beer and wine should not be used.
It's important to talk about the safety issues of this concept, because any time alcohol and fire are combined, there are guaranteed to be some questions. Although the company website does provide information from a research study done on the Vaportini, there is the potential risk that the alcohol can damage brain cells when it is smoked instead of swallowed. When you drink alcohol, it is filtered through the liver, but smoking it sends the alcohol straight to your lungs and into your body without being metabolized properly. There's also the obvious risk of consuming more alcohol than your body would typically take in by drinking because it is not being watered down with a mixer or ice. However, when used in the proper social setting and with caution, the Vaportini could be a unique way to spice up how you consume alcohol with friends.
The Complete Vaportini can be purchased for $45 or the Deluxe Kit for $80. There are even artist-designed Vaportini kits available for purchase. Keep reading to see how the awesome Vaportini concept works.
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