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 4 juillet 2017
The Best Sports Bras on the Market - Just For Runners
If "chafing" and "bouncing" are part of your day-to-day running vocabulary, it's time to upgrade your sports bra. Sports bras are generally designed to last less than one year, and since running is a high-impact sport, investing in the right sports bra designed specifically for running can leave you feeling supported, dry, and chafe-free at your next finish line.
The sports bra that gets you through strength training or yoga may not have the support you need to power through your long Saturday morning run. A great running bra is one that combines moisture-wicking fabric with maximum support to keep the sensitive skin covered by the sports bra dry and free of painful chafing. The next time you head out to shop for a running sports bra, look for the keywords, "moisture-wicking," "maximum support," and "chafe-free."
We've done the research and put together a list of the best sports bras for runners. Whether you're a fashion-forward runner who wants a variety of colors and styles or you prefer a hook and eye clasp to the traditional pullover style, there's a sports bra on the list to meet the needs of the most demanding runners.
The Best New Healthy Trader Joe's Products From 2017 - So Far
Trader Joe's has made sweeping efforts in 2017 to appeal to health-conscious customers. The chain has introduced new cauliflower-based products, amped up its selection of Whole30-approved snacks, and extended its line of vegan goods. Lucky for you, we've tried every new product that Trader Joe's has released this year to showcase the very best, tastiest, and healthiest.
Please note: most of these products are low sugar, low carb, and/or high in fiber and protein. While TJ's came out with several new products with "healthy" ingredients (like its superfood granolas), some did not make the list because of excessive sugar and/or carb content.
- Additional reporting by Jamie Mieuli and Erin Cullum
The Day I Found U-Jam Fitness Was the Day I Changed My Life
Just a few short years ago, I was struggling quite a bit with body-positivity and trying to be healthy. I had just come off of losing a bunch of weight and slowly regaining most of it and was trying to figure out a balance. After figuring out what I should eat and what I should steer clear of, I knew the next step was being active. That's when I stumbled across U-Jam.
When I was in high school, I was really active. I was a cheerleader year round, and when I wasn't on the football field or the basketball court, I was in the weight room or on a gymnastics floor. I loved to do any form of dance cardio because I was able to work up a sweat without feeling like I was torturing myself with working out. Fast-forward to life after college and settling into my full-time job and I knew to be active I needed to find something I enjoyed.
I spent a lot of time looking around in the Bay Area for a dance class that was fun, affordable, and inclusive. While I know I'm pretty good at picking up choreography, I still can be shy while I'm learning. I found several hip-hop classes at small studios, but the prices kept me away. The day I discovered that U-Jam was offered at my 24 Hour Fitness (where I was already a member) was the day that changed everything.
U-Jam is a dance fitness class using urban music where every class feels like a party. I liken it to Zumba but with hip-hop music rather than salsa or samba styles. Each hour-long class is comprised of a warmup song with stretches, several songs of intense choreography, and a cooldown with more stretches. When I went to my first class, I didn't know what to expect or whether or not I would like it, but I left feeling rejuvenated and exhausted in the best way.
I added U-Jam to my weekly workout routine, usually going to two to three classes per week at various 24 Hour Fitness locations. I found myself shedding the few pounds I wanted to lose and looking forward to class each time. But U-Jam was more for me than just a workout class. Yes, it did help me get my cardio in, but it built my inner strength by taking me back to the type of workout that I loved and felt confident in. Once I got a handle on the choreography, I didn't hesitate to take the front row in the group exercise room to help the instructor lead the class. I felt strong and I felt confident, all while working up a crazy-intense sweat in a room full of people who just wanted to have fun and dance.
U-Jam hasn't quite made it all over the country yet, but it's getting there. If you live in California, you probably have the largest number of options for classes to check out, and I can't recommend them enough. If you're elsewhere in the country, you can check out U-Jam's website to see where you can find them. The classes will help you burn hundreds of calories and give you the most fun-loving exercise community you can imagine.
10 Spotify Playlists to Consider For Your Next Workout
A strong beat and a heavy baseline are the perfect fuel for dominating a workout. There's just one problem: if you're someone who works out quite a bit, you're going to get burnt out on your playlists pretty fast. Hell, that's why we've already made a Summer playlist so you can move on from all those Spring jams. Luckily, we have a solution for all those of you that are hungry for new workout playlists. Spotify is a veritable gold mine of fitness music inspiration, and we've compiled a solid list of lists for all kinds of workouts. The best part is that some of these update every week, meaning you can come back to them over and over again.
The 14 Best Ballet Movies of All Time
To love dance is to eat, sleep, and breathe it. The obsession is by no means limited to your time at the barre - ballet is everywhere, and those who have a passion for it will soak it up wherever and whenever they can. Ballet movies can range from extremely realistic documentaries to fantastical portrayals of the perceived dramatics of the dance world and everything in between. If you're a true ballet-lover, you watch it all - the good, the silly, and the all-too-real films that really sum up what being dancer is like. Whether you're a dancer in practice or just in your heart, these 14 ballet movies will satisfy your cravings for the art we love above all others.
Jennifer Lopez's Monokini Is So Sexy, We Don't Even Know Where to Begin
Jennifer Lopez has been vacationing with her new beau, Alex Rodriguez, in France, and the pair made time for a yachting adventure in Antibes. Suffice it to say, J Lo couldn't have packed a sexier swimsuit. The star opted for a crochet monokini by Mer Culture, which features plenty of cutouts and tasseled ties on each side.
Gold hoop earrings and aviator sunglasses were all she needed to make a statement. But really, with Jennifer's finesse and ability to pull off striking silhouettes, we can't say we're entirely blown away by her look. J Lo looks comfortable enough in her one-piece that it seems just right for a gal with daring style. If you're on board, you can shop the exact suit and similar designs ahead.
16 Water Bottles That Are as Cool as They Are Functional
A good rule of thumb for staying hydrated is to drink half your body weight in water. For someone like me who hates drinking water (it's so boring!), I have to find ways to make it as fun as possible. Aside from infusing lemon, I've realized that the best way to keep myself hydrated is to buy cute water bottles. It's like purchasing workout clothes for motivation. But hey, it works for me! Whether you have the same problem or you're just in need of a new bottle, check out 16 options ahead that are both cool and functional.
Just make sure to keep them clean!
30 Whole30 Recipes to Help You Survive Your Summer Diet
If you're attempting Whole30 this Summer, allow these seasonal recipes to help keep you on track. There's not a single no-no ingredient listed in any of these approved recipes (don't worry, I checked!). Though you might be saying bye to dairy, grains, legumes, and sugar, you know what you can't ever get enough of? Fresh Summer produce! These recipes star tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, and more veggies and fruits that put you one day closer to achieving tiger blood.
9 Health Documentaries That Are Scary, Uplifting, and Streaming on Netflix
For the fitness-minded among us, health-related documentaries are far more fascinating than any work of fiction. We want to watch people expose the truths about sugar or toxins in our household products. Give us real stories of people who grapple with their health or bodies, only to triumph in the end. Bring on the docs about sustainable farming, the future of food, and nutrition-related legislative battles!
The following nine documentaries are by turn enlightening, scary, moving, and informative, and each of them is available to stream on Netflix. Prepare to be outraged, educated, inspired, or all three at the click of a button.
Is It Stomach Flu or Appendicitis? Pay Attention to These Signs
My mom winced in pain this Saturday while we were driving to yoga. "You OK, Mom?" I asked her. Even though she kept assuring me she was fine, the pain magnified over the day. And yet, she carried on with her busy Saturday plans, smiling and acting normal, until dinnertime when she couldn't bring herself to eat or drink anything. We had all consumed the same foods that weekend, so we ruled out food poisoning. "Maybe I have a little bug," she reassured the family. Over the next few hours, she developed a fever that spiked, and she grew sicker as time passed. My dad rushed her to the hospital, and a CT scan confirmed what none of us could have guessed: she was suffering from appendicitis.
The next 12 hours were painful and life-threatening for my mom and stressful and emotional for the family. She worsened while the hospital scrambled to gather a surgical staff on a Sunday. By the time she was treated, her appendix had ruptured. Luckily, her surgery and recovery have had zero complications. She's still recovering and is showing positive signs, but it made me think: if our family had known the differences between a stomach virus and appendicitis, maybe we would have taken her to the hospital sooner.
There are a few key telltale signs of appendicitis that differ greatly from stomach flu, and it's worth committing them to memory.
| Stomach Virus | Appendicitis | |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Passed by a virus that attacks the intestines; you catch it by coming in contact with someone who is infected or by touching something he or she has touched. This virus can also be passed on through contaminated food or water. | Caused when the appendix, a finger-shaped pouch at the end of your colon, becomes infected and inflamed. Anyone with an appendix can develop appendicitis at any time in his or her lifetime. |
| Symptoms |
|
Symptoms can show up quickly and worsen dramatically within hours. Surgery is often required and recovery takes up to two weeks. |
| Complications |
|
|
| Method of diagnosis | A doctor will ask about your symptoms or take a stool sample. If they see bacteria, they know it's not a bug. | A doctor will ask you questions about the pain before conducting a physical exam, blood test (to check for high white blood cell count, indicating an infection), urine test (for possible UTI or kidney stone), and CT scan to confirm diagnosis. |
| Treatment |
|
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| Prevention | Avoid coming in contact with an infected person or anything he or she has touched. Wash your hands thoroughly and often, especially before you eat and after you use machines at the gym. Don't share personal items like cups, utensils, or towels. | While there is no known way to prevent appendicitis, it is said to be less common among people who eat a high-fiber diet. |
16 Very Real Struggles of Taking Your First Circuit-Training Class
We've all been there: you want to get in shape and you want to start being healthy. So your friend suggests signing up for a circuit-training class and it sounds like a good idea - at the time. But first you have to mentally prepare yourself, and then actually show up. Once you make it there, that's a whole different story. Keep reading and see what we're talking about.
10 Healthy Breakfast Ideas You Can Whip Up on Busy Mornings
"Healthy," "breakfast," and "busy" don't always belong in the same sentence, but it is possible to make it happen. Thanks to miracle workers like make-ahead egg muffins, overnight oats, freezer bags, and quick and easy recipes, you'll be on your way to becoming a breakfast person in no time. Ahead, get 10 ideas for healthy breakfasts that we promise you'll look forward to eating, plus plenty of recipe ideas to go along with them. Step away from the store-bought muffin and thank yourself for making one of these filling breakfasts instead.
How I Stay Healthy Without Working Out
Having a 13-month-old son has helped legitimize my "I don't have time to work out" excuse, but in all honestly, I'm just choosing not to. It's a choice that used to make me feel guilty. "I should go to the gym" is what I'd tell myself during the rare mornings I woke before my alarm or during those early evening hours while my son slept. My stomach isn't nearly as toned as it was pre-baby, when my motivation for attending barre class was a bikini-ready body, but I'm OK with that. I'm proud that I can lift him in his car seat with ease and multitask with him on my hip. My arms are pretty damn buff. These days when I wake up before my alarm, I'm too busy feeling grateful for the uninterrupted REM cycle than guilty for blowing off exercise. And when my son falls asleep, I practically swan dive onto the sofa to assume my off-duty position: feet up and remote (or glass of wine) in hand.
It's not that I've abandoned my health. It's just that my framework for being healthy has shifted and so have my priorities. I'm not swearing off exercise forever. The package of classes I purchased from the fitness studio near my home doesn't expire until the end of the year and I've been eyeing this awesome bucket bike for families. But for now, taking the expectation to work out off the table feels liberating as my definition of wellness is expanding. Here are the small but impactful ways I take care of myself these days.
I Set an Alarm For Bed
It sounds freakishly regimented, I know. But think of it this way: most adults with full-time jobs are accustomed to setting an alarm to wake up, but our self-discipline goes out the window when it comes to getting a good night's sleep. After having a baby and surviving long bouts of torturous sleep deprivation, I realized that the kindest thing I can do for myself is get sleep while I can. For me, this means developing an early bedtime routine. Setting a 9 p.m. alarm is an easy reminder to step away from late-night traps of Netflix binging and online shopping. When the alarm goes off, I know I have an hour or so to shower, brush my teeth, slip into PJs, and settle into bed with a book, something that always puts me to sleep. Now I enjoy eight hours of sleep during weeknights and it's made me feel more vibrant, more productive, and happier during my workday.
I Embrace Meditation Hacks
I could pay $3 a day to park in the lot right next to my morning commuter train, dashing from my car to the train in a matter of seconds, but I don't. Instead, I pocket the money and park for free in the surrounding residential neighborhood and walk to the train station. Sure, it tacks on an extra 10 minutes to my morning commute, but I relish those minutes. I take in the beauty of the morning sky, listen to the birds, breathe in the brisk air, and just slow the f*ck down. No headphones, no email. I save that for the train ride. It's the closest thing I have to a meditation practice. When I'm at work, I use the Breathe app on my Apple Watch as a reminder to take one minute between emails and meetings to just breathe deeply. I know this sounds ridiculous, but have you ever stopped to just breathe when you feel stress creeping up on you? If you have, you know it's shockingly effective.
I Drink More Water - With Reusable Straws
There was a time when the sound of a colleague opening a can of Diet Coke sent me running to the kitchen to follow suit. I'd try to drink water but couldn't get through a glass of it as easily as I could a soda. While cans of LaCroix have satiated my Diet Coke cravings, nothing quenches my thirst like still water. I've discovered that by adding a straw to my glass of water, I can suck the entire glass down without thinking. A miracle! These reusable metal straws are dishwasher-safe and keep water cool with each sip.
I Make Cooking Easy
I'm more mindful about what I eat, but I don't diet. I discovered that a flavorful, protein-packed salad can be delicious and satisfying, not to mention lightning fast to prep and crazy cheap. I eat healthy fats that give me energy, like whole-milk yogurts, avocados, nuts, and cheese, and don't skimp on the cream in my coffee. My husband and I cook almost every day, even if we're relying on simple Trader Joe's meal hacks or dumping things into an Instant Pot. On Sundays, I like to chop up a variety of veggies, drizzle them with olive oil, sprinkle salt and pepper, and roast them for ready-made vegetables that can be thrown into salads and pasta all week. Cooking larger portions and freezing half is another time-saving hack that saves us from picking up a pizza on nights neither of us have time to cook.
I Walk as Much as Possible
Aside from parking farther away from my train station and taking the stairs whenever I can, I realized that I enjoy walking more than I do driving - to an extent, of course. Pushing my son in his stroller as we head to the park or to a nearby grocery store is an instant mood-booster. Spending more time walking, whether it's on a scenic park trail or my neighborhood streets, is a fun way to slow my mind while increasing my heart rate. It forces me to pay attention to my surroundings in a way that I can't while I'm driving. Hitting my mileage goal for the day is icing on the cake, but the real reward comes from everything else.
29 Ways to Cook Your Favorite Lean Protein: Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
Anyone that's ever tried to diet - or at least eat healthier - knows that the struggle to find foods that are both healthy and flavorful is real. Very real.
But there is one reliable protein that should be every healthy eater's go-to: boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Whether you're highlighting the simplicity of the food or transforming it with sauces and spices, chicken can be one of the most versatile - not to mention easiest - ingredients for diet-friendly cooking.
So stock up on boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and put the following recipes in your meal plan.
25 Healthy Recipes That Make Chicken Breast Taste Exciting
Chicken has been known to be an excellent source of lean protein when abiding by a healthy meal plan. The protein in chicken plays an important role in weight loss, along with maintaining a healthy weight. It helps keeps you satisfied longer, along with aiding the production of muscle tissue, an important factor when following a regular workout routine. But all of us can admit the idea of chicken again for dinner can be a bit boring. These 25 healthy recipes will pull you out of that poultry rut, leaving you inspired to cook exciting new meals for your next dinner.
Princess Iman of Jordan Is a Mini Royal Style Star You Just Can't Miss
Princess Iman Abdullah is only just starting to embrace the spotlight. The 19-year-old Jordanian princess and daughter of the always-stylish Queen Rania has been attending events with her family from a young age, but now that she's developed a taste for fashion - bold prints, caged heels, and embellished evening gowns not to be missed - we expect she'll start giving her mama a run for her money.
Queen Rania has made a flash with her standout designer pieces, including a fringed Balmain skirt and cherry-red Louis Vuitton bag, but Princess Iman has staples in her closet that'll make you look twice. Read on to see them all, and keep your eyes peeled for Iman's next outing. From her impressive athletic achievements to her schooling at Georgetown University, this mini royal's got a bright future and looks that fit the bill.
21 Simple Meal Prep Combinations Anyone Can Do
Although Instagram's #mealprep gives us plenty of inspiration, some of the meals on there are pretty complex to throw together. When you don't have the time or energy, meal prepping can seem like a pain. But it doesn't have to be. We found some quick and simple combinations that beginners and experts alike can master in minutes. The trick is to toss together a protein and carb or carb and veggies, mixing it up so you'll never get bored of your lunch or dinner. Read on for some healthy recipes we swear anyone can master tonight.
This Celebrity Ink Might Inspire Your Next Tattoo
We'll admit it: we're kind of obsessed with body art. You, too? The good news: we're not alone. Our favorite celebrities aren't afraid to walk on the wild side, getting ink that ranges from of-the-moment to spiritual and origina to straight-up weird, giving you endless inspiration for your next tattoo - no matter what you're into. Keep scrolling to see how these stars have made their mark and maybe find the ink design of your dreams.
- Additional reporting by Alessandra Foresto
6 Tips For Potty Training Boys
Although many potty-training tips apply to boys and girls alike, potty training boys does pose some unique challenges. Whether you're wondering when to start potty training boys, whether to teach sitting or standing first, and how to encourage good aim, readers have offered great toilet-training tips to help you potty train boys with confidence.
1. Be Patient
As eager as you may be to ditch the diapers, many moms stress the importance of delaying toilet training until your son is ready. Amanda G. shares, "There really is no right age. Just keep your eyes open for signs of readiness." Jessica D. agrees: "My little boy is a little over 3-and-a-half, and he just now decided he wanted to potty train. . . . He will do it when he is ready; just be patient and give lots of encouragement." Common signs of potty-training readiness (which generally appear between age 2 and 3) include asking questions about the bathroom and toilet, staying dry for longer periods of time (indicating stronger bladder control), wanting to wear "big kid" underwear, or telling you when he's soiled a diaper.
2. Try Sitting First
"Start out by sitting, and then move to standing," advises Michelle L., one of many moms who recommend first teaching boys to urinate while sitting before graduating to standing lessons. In addition to simplifying the learning process, Melissa V. shares that starting with sitting can minimize messes: "There are little toilet seats that fit onto the regular toilet seat. It makes it smaller so he won't fall in, and there's a little cup on the front so he can't miss the toilet." Tarsha D. adds that sitting may also be the most practical option based on the height of your little one. "I'm a mom of four boys, and I taught all of mine to sit first (especially my second son; he was so short he coudn't even reach the toilet bowl)."
3. Let Him Watch Dad
The standing element is an obvious challenge for potty training boys. When your son is ready to learn to pee standing up, several readers, including Alicia O., recommend having an older male relative set an example. "Let him follow daddy around or older siblings; seeing other boys like him use the toilet might motivate his interest."
4. Give Him a Target
In addition to having another male demonstrate, one trick many moms share is to toss circle-shaped cereal into the toilet and have your son take aim. "We put Cheerios and Froot Loops in and let them target-practice. This was fun for them, not to mention a great way to teach a boy how not to pee on the seat or rim," says Jennifer A. Other moms, like Katie S., a mother of two children in England, suggested using a ping-pong ball for the target (don't worry, it won't flush away).
5. Take It Outside
With five sons, Lisa B. definitely speaks from experience when she suggests incorporating outdoor time into potty training boys. "I think potty training boys is easiest when done in the warmer months of Spring and Summer. Pick a tree in the backyard and have fun! They learn quite quickly."
6. Motivate Your Child
Continual motivation and reminders are very important for potty training boys, as active toddler boys may not want to stop what they're doing in order to use the toilet or stay on the toilet long enough to relax and go. Tips from readers for motivating boys include buying "big-kid" underwear that he'll want to keep clean, having special toys and books for potty time, and offering plenty of praise and prizes. "[We] made a chart with stickers so whenever he would use the potty we would let him put the sticker on the chart, and at the end of the week, if he had 10 stars we would take him to the store and buy him a little toy. It didn't take long to have him completely potty trained," says Cassie J. "Try using temporary tattoos! That's how I got mine to like going to bathroom. Then when [he] saw the tattoo, it reminded him and he was proud to show them off!" offers Carol G.
Looking for more tips? From communities about raising boys to articles on bed-wetting in older children, Circle of Moms is a helpful source for parenting information, whether you're a parent to infants, toddlers or school-age children. Try joining the community based on your child's month and year of birth to connect with other moms currently going through the same challenges and exciting developments.
Daisy Duke Has Nothing on How These 15 It Girls Style Their Denim Shorts
Denim cutoffs have been a wardrobe staple for as long we as can remember. Just like the classic jeans and white t-shirt pairing, celebrities turn to their baby blues when the temperature starts rising. But after years of wearing trusty denim shorts, it can be tough to find fresh and innovative ways to style them. That's why turned to our favorite A-listers for a new dose of outfit inspiration. From Kendall Jenner's off-duty look to Selena Gomez's Western take, you'll have a crop of exciting ideas in no time.
14 of Coco Austin and Baby Chanel's Best Mother-Daughter Matching Moments
Coco Austin and Ice T welcomed their daughter Chanel in November 2015, and the little girl is clearly the apple of their eye. Over the years, we've gotten tons of glimpses into Chanel's life, including afternoon naps with the family dogs, days spent by the pool with her dad, and most recently, cute mother-daughter yoga dates. It seems like whenever Coco and Chanel are together, they're sporting matching outfits - and they just keep getting more adorable and flashy by the day. Read on for all the times their swimsuit and athleisure game was superstrong.
You Won't Believe These Bestselling Makeup Brushes Are All From Target
I'm always on the hunt for new lush makeup brushes, and it just occurred to me that it's time to stock up at Target. Target's ever-evolving cosmetic section has become an addiction. It has unbelievable choices that will give my makeup life. Check out some of these bestselling products and see what reviewers had to say.
A Subtle Form of Slut Shaming You May Not Realize You're Perpetuating
On May 23, the Trump administration put another dollar in its "Swear (that we are trying to f*ck over women) Jar" when it rolled out a new rule. The proposed legislation would amend the Affordable Care Act to allow employers to opt out of providing contraception coverage for employees if they have a "conscience-based" objection. This means that if a company has a religious or moral (or really any) opposition to birth control, it can remove free preventive coverage from the medical insurance plans it offers its employees. Because honestly, who hasn't wanted their boss and their government in their panties?
Under the 2010 ACA, contraceptives are free for women because birth control is considered a necessary component of healthcare coverage. But the Obama administration made an exception to the ACA's coverage, allowing religious nonprofits and closely held for-profit companies with religious objections to deny coverage for some - or all - contraceptive purposes. Trump's new draft rule takes this a step (or rather, a giant leap) further and is much broader in its exemption allowances, which will inevitably affect millions of women around the country. In 2013 alone, the ACA contraception mandate helped 55 million women obtain birth control and saved them $1.4 billion in out-of-pocket healthcare spending. That's $1.4 billion with a capital "B" - money that could then be spent on feeding families, higher education, securing a roof over one's head . . . ya know, the little things.
Anyone can understand that if women are forced to spend, on average, $1,200/year on contraception, making birth control free will aid women in taking control of their physical and financial health. In terms of securing economic freedom and bringing families out of poverty, this is paramount. As women of the 21st century, we should all be on the same page there. But we too often tend to lose our spot in the Why Birth Control Is Necessary book we were all given as fourth-wave feminists.
Whenever the discussion of birth control arises, so does one of justification. We hear our friends and coworkers exclaim that, "This is BS! I'm on the pill, but it's for acne," or, "WTF, don't these Republicans know that a lot of women take the pill for endometriosis?! Like Lena Dunham . . . ," and, "Before birth control I had the worst cramps - I need this covered!" Which are all completely valid and reasonable arguments, but they kind of miss the point.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, a whopping 86 percent of women who use birth control use it for pregnancy prevention, aka its intended purpose. And that's awesome. But for some reason, when the topic of the pill comes up, we feel we need to offer up some other explanation besides, "I would like to have sex without having a child before I'm ready or can afford one." But why? Are we trying to appease reproductive-rights foes by offering up medical ailments that can be treated with the pill? Or do we still feel that, in 2017, we cannot be open and honest about the fact that we are sexually active?
As someone who has been guilty of the "acne" disclaimer on more than one occasion, I'm going to proffer that the majority of us, whether subconsciously or not, are still not completely comfortable with announcing that we have sex. We still fear that if we reveal that we use birth control to have sex, and not babies, that we'll be considered sluts - even though we know, as millennial women, that this is an antiquated and erroneous mindset. And yet, we perpetuate the cycle of slut shaming when we continue to use "acne" as an explanation for our BC prescription. Even if the aforementioned, alternative reasons explain your prescription, we still do not need to offer them up as some sort of mechanism to remove the pill's scarlet letter.
Clear skin and cramp-less periods are awesome, but so is having sex without an unplanned pregnancy. Wanting to have sex without an unplanned pregnancy should be enough of an explanation for our birth control. Wanting to have sex without an unplanned pregnancy should not require statistics and numbers to justify. Wanting to have sex without an unplanned pregnancy should be enough of a reason to demand access to birth control.
Our feminist foremothers didn't fight for our sexual liberation so that we could say we have "acne." We must direct the conversation around birth control by demanding that protected sex is our right and that no other explanation is necessary.
7 Times Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid Were the Ultimate Swimsuit Twins
Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid have many things in common. The two best friends are highly successful supermodels, have a huge following on social media, and, most importantly, they both know how to choose an Instagram-worthy swimsuit. The fashionable ladies - who have been on countless vacations together - have even been known to rock some of the same swimsuit styles.
From itsy-bitsy bikinis to cheeky styles that leave little to the imagination, scroll on to have a look at seven times Kendall and Bella were swimsuit twins. Then, shop similar versions of their bikinis if you're inspired to try one out with your BFF.
65 Snaps That Prove Ashley Graham Is Ridiculously Sexy
Model Ashley Graham made headlines thanks to prime placement in 2016's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The size-14 stunner's ad campaign for swimsuit retailer SwimsuitsForAll was also the first-ever plus-size swimsuit ad to run in the annual issue in 2015. Ashley has been a working model since the early 2000s and has become something of an advocate for introducing more plus-size models in the fashion industry and promoting body-positivity in general. Back in May 2016, she steamed up the video for DNCE's "Toothbrush," starring as Joe Jonas's love interest.
In a previous interview with POPSUGAR Fashion, the beauty said of her recent success, "Finally the industry is recognizing what many of us have always known: curves are sexy. I hope this sparks more momentum for women to flaunt their curves, whether it's at the pool or while on vacation or as part of a major ad campaign. The world is ready to see more curves in bikinis!" We'll say. In honor of Ashley's success (and her all-around badassness in general), we've rounded up some of her sexiest swimsuit snaps, all courtesy of her personal Instagram. Keep reading to see them all now.
26 Movies That Will Remind You of the Magical Summers of Your Childhood
Summer is all about being outside, whether it's cooling off in the neighborhood pool or getting dirty while playing an intense game of Capture the Flag. But while everyone soaks up as much sun as they can during those precious three months, it's also nice to stay in and watch movies that transport you back in time. And since Summer is the perfect excuse for adults to still act like kids, why shouldn't your movie selection reflect that? We've rounded up some of our favorite films that we watched on a couch cushion while sitting way too close to the TV when we were young. From four friends on a mission to buy a tree house to a group of boys playing baseball on a sandlot, these movies are guaranteed to put a smile on your sun-kissed face. So, grab a Capri Sun, put on those matching pajamas, and press play to go back to a time when Summer was all about freedom and adventure.
10 of 2017's Hottest New Running Shoes
Ready to begin a running program or add miles to your training? The only thing you need to start running or logging longer runs is a pair of running shoes designed to meet your needs. Choosing the right shoe for your training goals and your foot type is crucial to building a consistent running program. Investing in the right pair of running shoes not only protects your feet while you pound the pavement, but can ensure that your knees and hips stay healthy, too, while you reach your goals and cross finish lines this year!
Don't let the abundance of running shoes on the market distract you from buying the best pair for your training. We've done the legwork for you with the 10 hottest running shoes released this year, including shoes for all running goals and all price ranges in mind.
10 Flavorful Meal-Prep Ideas That'll Help You Stick to Your Healthy-Eating Goals
We're pretty sure one of your resolutions every year involves eating healthier and another one has to do with cooking more at home. And we bet you give up quickly once you realize the amount of work in the kitchen both of those ideas involve. Don't worry, we're here to make it a little easier to stick to your plan.
We've gathered 10 meal-prep options, from hearty taco salads to comforting slow-cooker recipes, that might seem simple - and definitely are to make - but are also packed with delicious flavors that are easy to store and transport. On Sunday afternoons, just whip up one of these recipes, then enjoy a clean kitchen and a full tummy all week long.
This Dad's Texts After His Kid Puked in the Car Will Make Your Day
On an evening his wife had plans with her friends, Ben Patterson swapped cars with her so that he could drive the kids home and leave her to her night - no big deal, right? Wrong. What ensued as an indirect result of this swap is so hilarious and relatable that even though we feel bad for Ben, we're so glad he shared the experience online to make us laugh.
"On the way home, projectile vomit occurred . . . " Ben wrote in a Facebook post that features three hilarious screen grabs of the text conversation with his wife, Stephanie. And as if his son's throw up wasn't bad enough, Ben couldn't seem to keep it together long enough to clean it up and started puking as well . . . all over some woman's lawn.
To see what happens next and to read Stephanie's response to the situation (spoiler alert: she never ends up answering him), click through the photos above.
Pelvic implant class-action starts in Australia
More than 700 Australian women in a class-action case against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson state company's vaginal mesh caused them devastating pain.
21 Reasons My Kid Can't Eat the Food I Cooked For Them
Kids have the weirdest "rules" when it comes to food and how they like their meals prepared and presented to them. The picky eating - or general "I don't like this because [insert ridiculous reason]" - phase is just one of those stress-inducing things about kids that make it very hard for us to remember why we wanted little rugrats in the first place but also result in some of the funniest parenting moments of all time.
Ahead, a variety of reasons - some of which will look suspiciously familiar - as to why your kid can't eat the meal you prepared for them. (Which is nine times out of 10 the exact thing they asked for. Kids . . . )
Wanna Do the Splits? 9 Poses to Make It Happen
If you've always wanted to do a split, you need flexible hips and hamstrings. Practice these nine stretches, and you'll soon be on your way.
GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling Was Real, and It Was Spectacular
Netflix dropped a new dramedy Friday, called GLOW, which stands for the "gorgeous ladies of wrestling." It tells the story of struggling actress Ruth (Alison Brie) auditioning for a mid-1980s all-female answer to Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation shows - but was it a real TV program?
The answer is yes, it was. The original Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling ran in syndication from 1986 to 1990, notching 104 episodes in the original run. There was also an attempt to revive the show in 2001, but it ultimately failed to get off the ground.
With the Netflix series, all the characters being portrayed are fictional, though a few do bear some resemblance to the original cast. There's a wrestler named Emily Dole who went by the moniker "Mt. Fiji" who bears a passing resemblance to Machu Picchu (Britney Young); there was a wrestler/trainer named Cynthia Peretti, who wrestled under the names Princess Jasmine and Pepper, whose likely counterpart on the show is Cherry (Sydelle Noel); and there was a wrestler named Lori Palmer who competed as Colonel Ninotchka, which is similar to Ruth's (Brie) in-ring Russian persona.
In addition to the mostly unknown women who were cast as the wrestlers, there were a few famous faces involved in Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. Sylvester Stallone's mom, Jackie, played the owner of GLOW and manager of the Good Girls team. She brought her grandson, Sly's son Sage, to a few tapings, where he made a guest appearance on the show.
Mariska Hargitay's half-brother Tony Cimber also appeared on the show as Nature Boy, led around the ring by a female wrestler called Jungle Woman. Cimber is the son of actress Jayne Mansfield (who is also Hargitay's mother) and GLOW director Matt Cimber, who may be the inspiration for director Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron) in the Netflix series.
As part of the cast of Netflix's GLOW, Brie says she had never really watched wrestling before landing this part, but she is now familiarizing herself with it. "It's wild to go back and watch wrestling from the '80s and watch what an American sport it was, and how all the villains are foreign and all the heroes are American," she told A.V. Club. "And there are some really dark wrestling matches that happened even in the '70s and the early '80s that are almost kind of scary to watch."
She's definitely aware of Colonel Ninotchka, her original GLOW counterpart.
"I enjoyed watching Colonel Ninotchka's videos to get a handle on her accent, which is much more Boris and Natasha than it is Eastern Promises," said Brie. "As we were getting toward shooting our finale, I would go back and watch some of her matches just to look for inspiration in terms of moves. It was like, what moves can I steal?"
"Then when we first started shooting the show, I took a step away from it because all of our characters are fictional and I didn't want to read into who these women were. Because we're not playing them. Ruth has a storyline unto herself, and I wanted to create the character from within. Towards the end of the season I was like, 'Ooh, I've got to go back and watch.'"
Writers Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch add that they actually got hooked on old episodes of GLOW after seeing a documentary about the series and that's where the idea of the Netflix show started.
"We had never heard of GLOW, we had never watched it in the '80s, we had never watched wrestling," Flahive told Variety. "We were so moved by the way that these women were talking about how this crazy experience transformed them and changed their lives, how it took them down these paths they would have never have walked down if not for this totally weird opportunity that they all came together."
"There was something about seeing how they used their bodies in this way that was really exciting to us," added Mensch, "and I think we both have a history of writing for strong but flawed, weird women."
GLOW is definitely full of flawed, weird women - in the best way. The entire first season is available now on Netflix.
This Mom Got "Real" About What 4 Weeks Postpartum Is Actually Like
Kirsty McKenzie hates the way people use the word "real" across social media, especially when talking about body image.
"Almost every time it's used, it leaves the rest of us open to the feeling that our bodies, or our journeys are somehow less than others," she wrote on Facebook. "That because our bodies don't look like someone else's version of 'real,' that we're not doing it right, we either haven't struggled enough, or we should be doing it better (it goes both ways)."
To this mom, her postpartum body after giving birth to her third child is just as "real" as any other person's and shouldn't be hidden just because it doesn't like look someone's version of perfection. "It's just as real as the person rocking her pre-pregnancy jeans and super flat stomach at one week postpartum," she wrote. "We're ALL real. Just a different version of real."
In order to prove her point, Kristy shared raw photos of her postpartum body to hopefully change social media's perception of how new moms should look. "So here I am, third time around at four weeks postpartum. My recovery is slow, slower than it has been the last two times . . . and that's OK," she wrote. "Each of my own pregnancies and recoveries has been different, I can't compare them, because the way in which I found myself at this point has been entirely different . . . and if I can't even compare my own three experiences, then how can I compare mine with someone else's?"
One month postpartum looks different than it did after her previous pregnancies and Kristy wants other moms who feel the same to know that they are not alone. "Four weeks postpartum this time for me means rounded and soft squishy tummy, lots of bruising still (both internal and external), an abdominal separation (which I haven't had properly checked because of the internal bruising), and a brand new scar marking Hannah's grand entrance into this world," she wrote. "Most days I feel like I'm just a milk machine, my body still really belongs to her, and the thought of getting back into it (exercise) is still well beyond me."
However, instead of hiding her "real" self, Kristy has learned something she didn't realize during her other pregnancies and wouldn't have learned based off of her social media feed: her recovering body is incredible. "At this point, almost every aspect of me has been changed again, changed permanently," she wrote. "And the best thing is, this time around, quite frankly, I could care less."
22 Holiday Cookies That Are Healthy Enough to Eat Year-Round
Everyone knows the holiday season isn't complete without a few (or more) Christmas cookies. Yes, it's early - but it's never too soon to start thinking about cookies, right? While you may want one last chance to go crazy (within reason) and indulge before New Year's Resolution season starts up, you likely still want to maintain some moderation as well. Lucky for you, we've rounded up 22 wholesome cookie recipes, many of which are vegan and don't require any cooking at all. Time to get to baking!
Stock Up For a Summer Sweat Sesh With Supercheap, Supercute Activewear
Things are heating up around here, and we're not just talking about the weather. Your workouts and your style are about to be on fire with these supercute, incredibly affordable activewear picks from Target, C9 Champion, Forever 21, Fabletics, and Old Navy. Pick from lightened-up hues and vacation-inspired tropical prints in these easy, breezy pieces that are made for your toughest workouts.
Over 50 Healthy Zucchini Recipes For Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Dessert
Look, zucchini is delicious on its own, but did you know you can make BROWNIES with it? Seriously. This versatile veggie can create endless recipes, whether you've got a sweet tooth or a hankering for some zoodles. Maybe you're craving pizza? Make zucchini pizza bites! Taco Tuesday? We've got a zuked-up variety for you. You can even make oatmeal (aka zoatmeal) with it! Lighten up your meals and add nutrition with this low-cal, nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory Summer squash - we promise you won't run out of ideas after trying these recipes.
Work Out to Katy and Taylor Together, Because Fitness Doesn't Pick Sides
Whether there's still bad blood between two of our favorite pop queens or they decided to shake it off, we decided to make a mix of their best tunes because this is how we do playlists (are they out of the woods yet?). Get ready to roar and rock your next workout in style with this killer playlist - you'll be chained to the rhythm (and the StairMaster) for 60 minutes.
Download the free Spotify app to listen. If this mix isn't your speed or your style, check out all of our workout playlists to find something that suits your taste.
After Years of Exercising, This Is the Workout That Changed My Body
When I started working out with a trainer a few months ago, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but if there's one thing I am certain of, a barbell was never part of the equation. Yet here I was, standing in front of one with my trainer off to the side asking me to do deadlifts. I was equal parts perplexed, scared, and thrilled. In all my years of working out, heavy lifting was something I had never done. Like everyone else in my life, I hopped from trendy studio to trendy studio for my workouts, and though there was a weight room at my gym, the idea of picking up a barbell on my own seemed terrifying.
I looked down at the 65-pound steel bar and then looked up at my trainer Austin (a few times in a lame attempt to stall). With no knowledge of or prior exposure to lifting, I was also dealing with the real fear that I would possibly drop this thing, along with myself, in the process. Sensing my fear, he talked me through the steps repeatedly with the right amount of encouragement, until I grabbed the damn thing and remarkably pulled it off - "with ease and perfect form," he would later tell me. I surprised myself; I was stronger than I gave myself credit for. Austin added weight to the bar at a quick pace, which I think even surprised him.
Looking back, I am not sure why I stayed away from a barbell for so many years. Sure, I wasn't exposed to it, but I also never allowed myself to even explore the idea. When I heard SoulCycle was coming to my city, I was in the very first class. When the new TRX studio moved in down the block, I couldn't wait to try it! But lifting? Nope. Despite my firm belief that women are strong AF, there was a part of me that thought of lifting as a man's world, or at least the kind of world where you go when you want biceps as big as your head. And if I am being totally honest, huge 'ceps weren't what I was looking for.
The kicker here is that it has has changed my body in a way that I never could have anticipated. I have lost more weight over these last three months than I have in the last few years. I am stronger and faster in just about every other workout in my life. And most recently, during a beach vacation, my partner commented on my butt. It was higher! Perkier! Lifted! Rounded! I went into heavy lifting with the very wrong idea that it would add bulk, yet here I am feeling my absolute best and more confident than I have in a long time. Even more importantly is the understanding that this confidence had less to do with how I look and everything to do with how I feel.
The thrill of doing something new mixed with a real sense of accomplishment has given me an exercise high that I have not felt in a very long time. Instead of being terrified of a barbell, I now give my trainer grief when we aren't lifting. Through this process, I have come face to face with my physicality in a way that has never happened. There's also a real sense of pride from seeing more weight being racked up on the bar and learning what my body is capable of handling. But more than anything, the inner confidence that I have built from this latest step in my fitness journey has helped me in all facets of my life and continues to surprise me on an almost daily basis.
35 Plank Variations That Will Strengthen and Tone Every Inch of Your Body
A plank is anything but basic. The move simultaneously works the upper body and core without needing a single piece of equipment to do so. Adding the move into your regular routine will help you become stronger and leaner and can help offset everyday aches and pains. But why stick to the same old, same old every day when there are dozens upon dozens of exercises that take the traditional plank up a notch? Some task you with an added element of cardio, while others use weights to add even more resistance to an already-challenging move. If that's not enough, be prepared to work your balance and, in turn, feel parts of your core you didn't even know were there.
3 Things You Need to Be Focusing on If You Want to Up Your Fitness Game
We've all been there: out of breath, over it, and ready to throw in our gym towels and never look back. Oftentimes this happens because we're not seeing progress with our workouts, at least not the kind we were expecting. What gives? To get to the bottom of what's stalling our progress, we turned to personal trainer Austin Lopez, CSCS.
More often than not, it's likely that the "overload principle" is being ignored, Austin told POPSUGAR. A basic tenet in training, the overload principle is easy to grasp and makes total sense. Put simply, we need to consistently be working harder to see change. "You have to push yourself more because the body is good at adapting to whatever you throw at it," Austin said. If you want to see changes, you need to change it up - and often. But you don't need to go into it blindly. In fact, there's a ton of evidence on exactly where you should devote your efforts.
1. Time and Frequency
You don't necessarily have to give up the classes you love or your sacred time on the treadmill; just do more of what you're already doing. This can happen in a lot of ways, said Austin. For starters, add an extra class or gym session onto your schedule. If that's not possible, try adding time to your existing workouts. Instead of a 45-minute TRX class, look for a 60-minute class; even challenging yourself to an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill can lead to results.
2. Speed
When it comes to cardio-based workouts like running, cycling, or time on the elliptical, challenge yourself to increase your overall pace. If you usually run an 11-minute mile, start to shave that down to a 10-minute mile by slowly increasing the speed of your runs. You can also work on speed by incorporating interval training into your cardio and strength workouts by alternating between a period of maxing out your efforts with a period of recovery. Think HIIT, Tabata, and tempo runs.
This type of increased intensity will also aid in weight loss, said Austin. "From an exercise perspective, interval training is the most effective way to get lean," he said. "The more intense the workout, the more the body has to recover, which translates into more calories over time." This is due to the afterburn effect (excess postexercise oxygen consumption, or EPOC), which helps to increase your metabolism, resulting in hundreds of extra calories to be burned throughout the day.
3. Load
The easiest way to think about load is to equate it with weight. Essentially you're "loading" the body up with more weight and challenging it to work harder. The next time you're in a strength-training class or at the gym, choose a heavier weight than you're used to. You may be surprised that you can actually manage more than you thought possible. If more weight seems daunting, start by doing shorter sets with less reps. "By going heavier, you'll be breaking down muscle at a higher rate, making it stronger than it was before," said Austin.
The Right Way to Incorporate Frequency, Speed, and Load
If you've hit a wall, there's no better time than now to start upping your intensity in one of these areas. While Austin's advice is to go "as intense as you can," he added that this is all relative to the individual. "The more intense you make any workout, the more unsafe it can become," he said. "Ease into it, and find out what's possible for you." While you are tasking yourself with going harder, you still want to make sure your form is on and you aren't feeling lightheaded or dizzy while working out. "Push it little by little," said Austin.
A good way to keep yourself safe is by focusing on only one of these areas at a time (frequency, speed, load). Besides preventing injury, "it's also a great way to measure your success rate because it controls one variable."
The Low-Carb Breakfast I Always Eat Before My Workouts
Part of the new habits I had to develop to lose weight included revamping my breakfast routine. Though I thought the standard breakfasts I had eaten for years were pretty healthy - a bowl of Cheerios, avocado toast, greek yogurt with fruit - I learned that they contained lots of carbs and sugar that slowly translated to my pants not fitting. When I worked out with a trainer, the first question she always asked me before our early am weight training sessions was, "What did you eat for breakfast?" She and I worked together to come up with this breakfast that I could quickly assemble and consume at the crack of dawn before hitting the gym.
To this day, the combo we created is still my go-to. High in protein and healthy fats and low in sugar and carbs, this breakfast keeps me full for hours and best of all, fuels me for a strong workout with minimal DOMS. When eating this exact breakfast three days a week (on my weight-training days), I could lift more almost every session and yet never felt so sore that I needed to resort to Advil. Talk about a win-win!
- Tea: I kicked my coffee habit entirely. I transitioned from regular to decaf and then turned to loose-leaf jasmine green tea. I tend to be anxious-prone and coffee tends to leave jittery, but I find that drinking green tea (one bag, re-seeped several times for about two to three cups total) regularly in the morning helps give me calming energy. When I'm on my cycle, I kick caffeine entirely and drink roasted dandelion tea, a digestion and weight-loss aid.
- 4 ounces of smoked salmon: My absolute favorite source of protein in the morning is smoked salmon. The saltiness offers a much-needed boost in electrolytes pre workout and bonus, I load up on essential omega-3 fats.
- Four strawberries: My trainer told me I can't exceed 5 grams of sugar at any meal, and fruit is one of those secret, sugary foods. Believe it or not, each large strawberry contains about 1 gram of sugar. That said, she encouraged me to surround my carb intake around my workouts, but I personally felt stronger if I limited myself prior and instead saved the bowl of oatmeal for after my workout.
- Half an avocado: Rich in cholesterol-fighting monosaturated fats, avocados are said to help combat belly flat. A typical serving of avocado is half of the whole fruit, though some nutritionists say it's OK to have half an avocado per day if you're subbing it out for carbs. Since I'm doing just that, my trainer OKed that portion.
No Need to Stand! Work Your Butt With These Floor Exercises
You don't need to be standing in order to work your butt. Nope. You can tone, sculpt, and strengthen your backside on the floor. Here are 17 moves to try - pick three to five to add to your next workout, or try a few during your next TV binge. As for reps, start with 10 to 15 for each move and do two to three sets. If you don't feel up to creating your own workout, follow this 15-minute Pilates floor workout video that focuses on the derrière.
This Is Exactly What You Need to Do For a Strong, Lean Body and Fast Metabolism
I recently sat down with DIAKADI personal trainer Liz Letchford, MS, ATC (and PhD candidate!), and lamented about how sore I was after a recent Megaformer class. "It's because of the eccentric exercises," she told me. Those slow and controlled resistance movements? "They leave you the most sore . . . but the good thing is that they also make you stronger."
Are you familiar with eccentric exercises? Liz shared that they're the best kind of move you can do for gaining strength. "You are maintaining the contraction as the muscles are lengthening, which creates a lot of tension on the sarcomeres (tiny structural bits of the muscle) which creates damage, so you get stronger . . . but also feel way more sore due to the damage."
Here's an example she described: you're slowly lowering yourself from a pull-up position instead of letting your weight pull you down. Or think about doing a bicep curl - you'd curl in quickly, then release much slower; curl in for one count, out for four counts. Make sense?
Try this: do a "negative" push-up. Start in a plank position with your arms and legs straight, shoulders above the wrists, core engaged. Take a breath in, and as you exhale, slowly bend your elbows, lowering your entire body to the floor for a six- to eight-second count. This counts as one rep and as an eccentric exercise!
Liz said that "by increasing your muscular strength and the body's requirement for energy (aka your metabolism), your body uses its fuel more efficiently." What this means is you're using calories and energy to "fuel your muscles instead of storing it as fat." She noted that eccentric moves create "strong muscles," which in turn "will increase your metabolism."
She also said it's important to note that "there's no such thing as 'long, lean muscles,'" but you also shouldn't worry about the idea of "bulking," because that's a myth as well. "Women don't have the physiological ability to get bulky," she told POPSUGAR. "Not without seriously training, eating [a very specific diet], and taking supplements and hormones. . . . We lack the levels of testosterone that help men gain muscle and metabolize fat easily."
"Your muscles will grow according to how much demand is placed on them," she said. "If you want the 'long, lean' look, it's about not training for hypertrophy," (think moderate to light weight but tons of reps) "but instead training for strength" (i.e. eccentric exercises!) "and following a healthy diet."
Fentanyl-detecting dog training in central Alberta lures police from across North America
A workshop at the RCMP's dog training centre in Alberta has attracted officers and animals from police forces across the continent eager to see the centre's pioneering work tackling the scourge of fentanyl.
20 Staples You Need If You Want to Dress Like Gigi Hadid All Summer
We don't blame you for wanting to dress like Gigi Hadid. Her street style outfits appear effortless, and they're truly simple to throw together. In reality, Gigi never wears an ensemble that lacks some element of comfort. If she's sporting her Stuart Weitzman Nudist sandals, she's rocking a graphic tee; and if she's in a miniskirt, she's likely showing off a pair of sneakers.
With balance and ease, Gigi's fashion choices couldn't be more appropriate for the Summer season. And for every late-night dinner with Kendall Jenner and Hailey Baldwin and casual daytime outing, she's showing off her staples - and we've been taking notes. Keep reading to see her 20 go-to items.
Spit Out Your Protein Bar: Protein Marshmallow Crispies Have Arrived
Name a food you love, and chances are you can find a high-protein variety. Chips? They've made 'em. Waffles? Absolutely. Ice cream? Are you kidding! So many protein-packed scoops.
Speaking of protein-packed ice cream, Enlightened - a major player in the healthy ice cream market - just released its Marshmallow Treats. And, as you may have guessed, they're loaded with protein: 15 grams, to be exact. Would you swap your desserts for one of these? Or maybe trade in protein bars for something that tastes a little more familiar? Our colleagues were eager to try - so we hosted a taste test featuring the four available flavors: original, double chocolate, birthday cake, and apple cinnamon.
These bars are made with whey protein and dairy (sorry, vegans) and are low in sugar and fat, with 9 and 3 grams each, respectively. Since it's made of, you know, rice, this bar is a little higher on the carb side, with 48 grams. They're currently available at GNC stores nationwide and online.
Everyone in the office was gunning for the birthday cake flavor - it was the first variety to get eaten up completely - but the sleeper hit was the apple cinnamon. See the full reviews below. Our testers ranged from self-proclaimed healthy eaters to nondieters who were comparing these to their favorite Kellogg's classic treat, so results range from "too sweet" to "not sweet enough," depending on who you ask. But on the whole, these were a massive hit in our office.
Original
- "Best one! Would eat these over a protein bar."
- "Great classic with a vanilla taste."
- "Great! Not as marshmallowy as I'd have hoped, but pretty darn close!"
- "A little too sweet, but otherwise good."
- "I feel like I want a sweeter treat."
- "Tastes like the real thing . . . almost. It's delicious and I would replace my dessert with this!"
Birthday Cake
- "Pretty to look at, and a supertasty treat."
- "Sounds kinda gross, but tastes really good!"
- "Would choose this to replace a protein bar."
- "Love the flavor!"
- "I like this one - the vanilla adds what's missing (flavor-profile-wise) from the original and chocolate."
- "Great taste, and I feel a little more healthy eating it."
- "This is fantastic! Very close to a regular marshmallow bar."
- "Would absolutely eat this instead of a bar; it's SO cakey and I love the Funfetti flavor."
- "Not quite marshmallowy enough."
Apple Cinnamon
- "WOW. So much flavor. Would stock up on these in the Fall."
- "Tastes like a rice cake but better. Would totally have this as a snack or in the AM for a quick breakfast."
- "Think warm cinnamon apple oatmeal meets a light rice cake - so flavorful and good."
- "Tasty!"
- "Best of the bunch. V good!"
- "So surprised by this one."
Double Chocolate
- "Not as much choco flavor as what I was hoping for; still good though."
- "Same as above comment. I like that it's not too sweet."
- "Pretty good, not supersweet. A bit of a weird aftertaste."
- "Cocoa crispie taste; love the choco chips!"
- "Tastes like less sweet Cocoa Pebbles. Pretty good!"
- "Chalky and flavorless."
- "Would enjoy a bolder chocolate/sugar flavor."
The Fastest Way to Lose Fat? This 4-Minute, Science-Backed Exercise
Boost your heart health, blast calories, and maximize your weight-loss potential in just four minutes. Seriously! How? With Tabata - the style of high-intensity interval training that is proven to get you fitter faster.
Tabata is not as much a "workout" as it is a method of how to work out. It's 20 seconds of high-intensity work (going as quickly and intensely as you can!), with 10 seconds of rest, repeated eight times for a total of four minutes.
Dr. Izumi Tabata is the man behind the namesake of this style of HIIT training, originally known as "Tabata Protocol," though he credits Olympic speed skating coach Irisawa Koichi for the technique. He's pioneered and spearheaded studies that have proven the efficacy of Tabata training for fat loss and cardiovascular improvement (in other words, getting slimmer and more fit).
The moves are up to you - you can make it as simple as two moves (like squats and push-ups, for instance), or you can mix it up with different moves targeting different muscle groups.
Getting your heart rate into that peak zone is ideal for shedding fat, and HIIT is proven to be the best way to lose weight quickly - in a healthy way. It incinerates calories and blasts belly fat by conditioning your body to use fat stores as fuel.
Try a 20-minute Tabata super-set video, a 30-minute session, or a 45-minute Tabata workout if you want to work on your endurance. The format of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off will continue - just with more repetitions - as you build up the time of your workout. Going phone-free at the gym? Print out a PDF to take with you and get to your Tabata super set!
Would You Add These Powdered 'Shrooms to Your Food?
The word "reishi" has been appearing on more and more labels in natural food markets and health bar menus. It sounds like something that you'll want, since so many brands are on board - but what is it? Let's break down this holistically healing adaptogen and its potentially very powerful benefits.
What Is It?
This can be a little confusing, because some marketers are referring to reishi as a "super herb." But it's actually a mushroom, and as you know, mushrooms are not herbs. As noted, it's an "adaptogen," which means it has healing potential that adapts to the body's needs (i.e. can give you energy if your body needs it or relieve stress if you're feeling tense).
What Are the Benefits?
We first started seeing reishi at Moon Juice; the holistic wellness brand purports that reishi is "legendary for energizing the spirit, [and] imparting centeredness and strength" and that it "mineralizes deeply," in addition to being a "brain activator, immunity food, inflammation tamer, and stress reliever."
But what does that mean? Is there any science backing it? As it turns out, reishi is being studied for its protective effects on the liver (specifically in relation to hepatitis B) and antitumor, cancer-fighting effects (particularly in breast cancer). One study even said its "results provide evidence that Reishi suppresses protein synthesis and tumor growth . . . suggesting that Reishi is a potential natural therapeutic for breast and other cancers." These studies are small, but it's pretty promising that these little 'shrooms are piquing the interest of the medical and scientific community.
Apart from fighting cancer, here are some things that reishi may help with (scientific backing still TBD):
- Reducing inflammation
- Boosting the immune system
- Aiding digestive health
- Fighting allergies
- Increasing energy levels
- Mitigating stress, anxiety, and depression
How Do You Eat It?
If you're shopping in a health market or online, reishi typically comes in powder form that you can pour it into drinks or shakes. It has a bit of an earthy taste, so we'd suggest using small amounts and blending it with other strong flavors (cacao powder is a good one to mask the earthy flavor!).
High-end health-focused brands are incorporating reishi into their product catalogs, so you can now find this supershroom in things like Moon Juice's Moon Dusts, protein powders, or straight up reishi powder; Rebbl's elixirs like Reishi Chocolate and Reishi Cold Brew; Four Sigmatic's Instant Reishi (for coffee and cocoa); and Pearl Butter Bliss Butter (to mix into drinks, spread onto toasts, and more).
Sip Smarter and Stay Full With These Protein-Packed Smoothies
Need a protein boost, but can't stand that chalky taste of protein powder and water? Maybe you love smoothies but need a little more nutrition that the typical carb-heavy blend that we're all too familiar with (talk about lopsided macros!). Get the best of both worlds with 23 protein-packed smoothies of every variety, from chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon to sweet and tangy fruity blends for Summer. These frosty treats make for a nutritionally packed breakfast or post-workout recovery drink, using protein from different sources like tofu, almonds, Greek yogurt, protein powder, and even cottage cheese. Now find your favorites and get to blending!
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