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.
mercredi 24 octobre 2018
Why I Want My Son to Interrupt You
"I. Sky. Look. Elephant. Elephant. Elephant," Charlie hits on his speaking device, the thing that looks just like an iPad.
Despite myself, I actually look at the sky. There is no elephant. Of course there isn't. Charlie snorts, and I hold his hands between mine before he can hit repeat. It's his favorite thing to do - fool me into thinking he's communicating, when really he's just playing. His best game? Hitting a million nonsensical buttons in a row to make his speaking device sound like it's hyperventilating.
"Charlie, I know you're being silly, but can you use your voice for me? Can you tell me about school?"
By the time Charlie grows up and leaves the nest, I want him so savvy on this speaking device that it's like watching a young Steve Jobs, maestro at the keys.
It's four o'clock in the afternoon and he's just had a full day of kindergarten, and I know the last thing he wants to do is more work. But I really do want to know how reading and PE went. Did he get out of his wheelchair at all? Did he interact with his friends? With my younger two kids, I take for granted their daily recitation of preschool - he ate a booger at lunch; she swung on the big kid swing all by herself; they both skipped naps. But with Charlie, each nugget of information is precious. His cerebral palsy limits his language to a handful of signs, gestures, and words. This speaking device is all about expanding that. I would rejoice if he told me he ate a booger.
We're working on the device now, so early in life, because I want him to be as independent as possible down the road - and having a voice is a giant part of that. He understands everything, can read, do math, and navigate an iPad like an old-school hacker, but no one is going to know these things if he can't find the words to tell them. The working world is not going to be swinging open its doors at his approach if he can't prove himself. I understand what he needs and wants without him having to say a word, but that's a mom thing, not a boss thing.
By the time Charlie grows up and leaves the nest, I want him so savvy on this speaking device that it's like watching a young Steve Jobs, maestro at the keys. I want the words to come so smoothly that you forget it's a voice on a screen. I want him to interrupt you. Yes, I do. I want his colleagues and supervisors to be unable to ignore his opinion when he offers it. Because this kid always has an opinion, and he deserves to be heard. The key is to find out how to best let it out.
And so, on this rainy, Fall afternoon, we sit together on the couch sharing a Costco package of Goldfish and talking about elephants in the sky. It turns out he had checked out a Disney Dumbo book from the library. Perhaps we are farther along than I thought.
Why I'll Never Force My Family to Do Holiday Portraits
I'm all for beloved holiday traditions, but one thing I've never been into? Holiday family portraits. While they've always been around, they seem to have gained even more popularity in recent years, especially with social media. Whenever I scroll through my Instagram or Facebook feeds once the weather gets cold, I begin to see the professional snapshots, one more elaborate than the last. Everyone is dressed alike (sometimes in matching pajamas), siblings wear ugly holiday sweaters, and every single person flashes a picturesque smile. If you're one of those moms who can rally the family to do this, I truly applaud you, but I can't and won't.
To me, staged and professional family photos - especially around the holidays - aren't very memorable. I prefer candid, messy, and even blurry photos from our time together during the festive months. In professional portraits, everyone looks their best, is perfectly posing against a nice backdrop, and is told to smile and say cheese. I know that if that was my family, I wouldn't stumble upon those a few years later and think, "That was such a magical day." But the few photos I manage to capture of my kids making snow angels before I almost drop my phone in the snow? I'll cherish those forever.
Snapping pictures throughout the holidays is an important pastime in my family. Not only can I look back at old ones from my own childhood, but I love creating new ones with my kids, too. Someone is always snapping away in our house, and after a hectic day of being with family, I love looking at all the captured memories. It's an amazing reminder that there are magical moments happening all around me, even if I can't see them at the time. It also reminds me what's really important: family and being together. All of the energy I put into planning, organizing, and hosting is so worth it, and these photographs are proof.
Not doing holiday family portraits also takes the pressure off me. It's one less thing I have to organize, and I don't have to worry about painting a perfect family image that isn't realistic. We're loud, disheveled, and it's extremely hard to get my kids to smile at the same time, but that's exactly how I like it. But if other families cherish the memories they make while taking family portraits, then that's exactly what they should do. There's no right holiday family traditions, and any photo is worth keeping in my opinion.
So, while I can appreciate the moms who take the time to match their families in those adorable holiday outfits, I'm definitely more of an outtakes kind of mom. I hope my children feel that way when they get older and dig out our holiday albums. I want them to flip through the photos and be instantly taken back to those feelings of home, family, and yes, burnt turkey.
Editor's Note: This piece was written by a POPSUGAR contributor and does not necessarily reflect the views of POPSUGAR Inc. Interested in joining our POPSUGAR Voices network of contributors from around the globe? Click here.
The Best Lego Sets of 2018 That'll Have Your Kids Building For Hours
Despite technology paving the way for some seriously advanced toys these days, Lego building blocks are still one of the most popular. While children can foster their creativity while building simple or elaborate Lego sets, parents are able to watch their kids problem-solve and become more strategic thinkers. Plus, Lego themes are pretty much endless, so you're bound to please just about any kid. As long as you're careful not to step on any in the middle of the night, bust out your wallet and check out the hottest new Lego sets for 2018!
Related: Pack Your Damn Bags ASAP Because There's a Life-Size Lego House You Can Stay In
I Don't Let My Kids Eat Their Halloween Candy, but I Swear I'm Not a Witch
Like most kids, Halloween was my favorite holiday growing up. Why? Candy, obviously. The costumes and haunted houses were fun and all, but my goal was to stockpile as much candy as humanly possible, ditch all the garbage nobody wanted (you know who you are, toothbrushes, dimes, and Bit-O-Honey), and see how much of that sweet treasure I could consume in one night.
Now that I'm a parent (who also happens to be a nutritionist), my views toward Halloween have changed just a smidge, and, yes, I am that mom who makes her kids trade in their trick-or-treat candy. Before you call me a bad mom and tell me how my plan is going to backfire in my face when my kids turn into candy-gorging monsters who hide empty wrappers under their bed, hear me out.
It's not easy, but I do try to strike a balance between being overly strict and allowing Halloween to turn into a month-long candy fest. I do this by limiting the number of Halloween activities we participate in and by having my kids turn in most of the Halloween candy they collect.
Seriously, though, when did the entire month of October turn into one long Halloween party? Before I had kids, I naively believed that you celebrated Halloween by trick-or-treating on Oct. 31. Now there are trunk-or-treats, school parties, and something called "Boo at the Zoo." At first, we got wrapped up in the excitement of taking our little guys out to show off their costumes. We quickly realized, however, that they were getting candy pretty much every weekend in October, and Halloween lost some of its sparkle. Now, we limit the festivities to one function during the month of October and then trick-or-treating on Halloween night. It's definitely helped to get the candy situation under control, and bonus, I don't have to constantly say "no" every time my kids whine for "just one more piece."
With the candy they do bring home, we let them go through it and pick out a few of their favorites (who am I to deny someone the joy of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup?), and then they trade in the rest of their candy for a special prize. We don't go over the top with it (I'm pretty sure my oldest chose a lightsaber from Target last year). And this year, I plan to give them a dollar limit and let them choose a toy or a few art supplies they've been asking for.
Even though I don't want all that candy in our house, I still feel guilty just throwing it in the trash. Last year, we found out through Facebook that a local dentist office was accepting candy donations to be sent to our troops overseas. We even have a local grocery store that will trade your candy for fresh produce!
Depending on where you live, you should be able to search the name of your city and "Halloween candy donation" or "candy buy back" and come up with a few options for donating your unwanted candy. If your search comes up empty, you can reach out directly to Operation Gratitude, Operation Shoebox, or Ronald McDonald House to find ways to donate. If all else fails, make this Halloween Candy Graveyard and invite a few friends over so you can share your sugary riches.
I Should Probably Feel Bad About the Halloween Prank I Play on My Kids Every Year, but It's Just Too Good
I love everything about Halloween. From the creative and cute costumes, endless scary movie marathons, and creepy decorations to the haunted house outings and the trick-or-treating, I go all out every year. Since my kids are still pretty young (4 and 6), I have to keep my love for all things spooky in check, but that definitely doesn't mean I still don't have a little festive fun with them. And one of my very favorite Halloween traditions I started with my kids is playing a harmless prank on them every year.
I pick a day during the month of October (I don't do this on actual Halloween because they'll see it coming, so I pick a different day every year) and run to the dollar store to buy a ton of fake bugs, spider rings, and more. While my kids are still sound asleep, I tiptoe into their dark bedrooms and carefully place all of these pretend bugs on their beds. I tiptoe back out, get back into my own bed, and fall back asleep. And every year, my husband and I are woken up by their surprised screams and calls for help once they discover what's all over their beds.
"Ahhhhh! Get off of me!" I hear them yell. They run down the hallway and away from the bugs as fast as they can before quickly remembering the annual prank their dear old mom plays on them year after year. They then start belly laughing uncontrollably and run to check what was put in the other's bed. The hilarity is contagious and quickly fills out whole house with the Halloween spirit.
"Mom! You got us again!" they always say over breakfast that morning before carefully devising a plan to "get mom back." They never do, of course, but just listening to their imaginations think up funny Halloween pranks to play on me (like we're in our very own prank war) makes me feel like a kid again. It makes them even more excited for trick-or-treating, and I get to relive the innocent joys of the Halloween season all over again.
I'm going to keep this family tradition going as long as I can - even when my children are teenagers (I can't wait for those eye-rolls and to hear, "Mom, you're so embarrassing"). Because no matter how old they get, I always want to remember to be silly together, because the trick part can be just as good (if not better) than the treats.
The Funny, the Cute, and the Clever: 14 Ways to Announce Your Pregnancy Using Your Older Kids
It's fairly typical for a lot of thought to go into a pregnancy announcement seeing as it'll be all over Instagram and Facebook for friends and family to see, but coming up with a clever idea can be tough. If you're welcoming baby number two (or three, or four, or more!), there are so many adorable and funny announcement ideas out there just waiting to be re-created with your older kiddos.
Check out some of our favorite announcement ideas ahead.
Why 1 Woman's Post About the Lack of Postpartum Care For New Mothers Is Going Viral
With both my pregnancies, I noticed the stark contrast between how I was treated while gestating and how I decidedly wasn't treated once I had given birth. I'd gone from weekly appointments where several nurses and doctors measured and weighed and charted and, most importantly, asked questions about how I was doing to radio silence just two days after pushing out a baby.
Six weeks later, I went in for my only postpartum checkup with my distracting baby in tow and was back in my car just 15 minutes later.
"Our world forgets about mothers. We slip through the cracks. And in that, we learn our role . . . our place in our family unit . . . to always come last."
Anneliese Lawton, a mom of two boys, experienced the same disappointing juxtaposition after she gave birth nine months ago, and her recent post is getting the attention that most new moms rarely get.
"After my boys were born, there were appointments," she wrote on Facebook. "To check their latch. To check their weight. To check their hearing. There were regular pokes and prods . . . Their well-being was front and center. I'd say, when it comes to our healthcare system, they were well taken care of. Then there was me."
As a first-time mom, she recalled being sent home "with some painkillers and stool softeners" and "thrown into motherhood" with the expectation her instincts would kick in:
That I would know how to handle colic and late night feedings.
That breastfeeding would come as nature intended.
That my husband would sense my spiral into depression.
That I would know how to live in my new and very foreign body.
That this stomach wouldn't make me feel hideous.
No one poked or prodded her, no one checked her stitches, "or my sanity," until two months later. "And even then, it was a pat on the back and I was sent on my way," she said.
What she wrote next is what has likely resonated with so many mothers online:
"Our world forgets about mothers," she said. "We slip through the cracks. We become background noise. And in that, we learn our role . . . our place in our family unit . . . to always come last."
Her advice? For others to give mothers the attention they deserve.
"We need our world to fuss over us the way they fuss over ten fresh fingers and ten fresh toes," she wrote. "We need someone to not only ask if we're OK but to check time and time again, just to be sure. We're not just a uterus. We're mothers."
And we need someone to make sure we're OK, too.
Obsessed With Your Instant Pot? These Are the 4 Safety Tips Parents Should Keep on Hand
If you're one of those parents who value your evenings but still know the importance of serving up your squad a nutritious, home-cooked meal, then there's no doubt the Instant Pot is a frequent flier in your dinner rotation. And while we're utterly obsessed with the fact that we can cook a savory curry in a half hour, easily defrost chicken, and whip up pasta in no time, it's always better to be safe than sorry when you have kids running around. But rather than launching into a panic, we've rounded up some tips to help ensure accidents don't happen in your home. Here's what parents should keep in mind when dinner time rolls around.
5 Things I Wish People Knew About My Anxiety (A Kid’s Perspective)
The following story, written by Renee Jain, was originally published on GoZen.
If you're my family or friend, I know the way I worry all the time can be frustrating and exhausting. I want you to know, I feel the same. One of the worst things about my worry is how hard it is for me to talk about in the moment. Or after the moment. Or, really, just ever. I don't like to feel different or broken. Nobody does. More than anything, I wish I didn't feel so anxious, but I also wish that others had a better understanding of what I felt. If you love me and want to help me, there are a some things I need you to know.
1 Mom Put a "Halloween" Spin on Elf on the Shelf, and Kiss Sleep Goodbye
Natasha Hudarovich, a mom with a wicked sense of humor, decided to shake things up this Halloween. In a now-viral Facebook post, she explained how she swapped out her kids' traditional Elf on the Shelf experience with a much more sinister, Halloween-themed idea called "Doll in the Hall," and we're not sure whether we should laugh or cry.
"Instead of an Elf on the Shelf in December, I'm doing a Doll in the Hall in October," wrote Natasha. "Basically, you take a creepy Annabel porcelain doll that your kids already believe is haunted and keep secretly moving it around the house. For an extra festive touch I put the doll right in bed with one of the kids whenever they throw it in the trash. It's Day 3 and they want to move."
Although you definitely need to have certain types of kids to ensure they don't sleep in your bed until the ripe old age of 16 after going through this, Natasha's idea gets bonus points for creativity. As someone who was often pranked by her own parents as a kid, I certainly applaud her.
Costco Is Selling a Cheesecake That Weighs a Whopping 5 Pounds. "Alexa, How Many Pounds Can I Fit in My Mouth?"
I have a very good friend who makes specific trips to Costco just for the pumpkin pie. It's rich, decadent, and, since it's a seasonal item, that much more enjoyable to procure. And he's not alone; tons of families make the haul just for the pie. But we just got word that Costco has upped the ante in the baking department this Thanksgiving, and you're going to want to clear some room on the dessert table. How does a five-pound pumpkin spice cheesecake sound? Enormous? Delicious? Necessary? It's all that and more.
Holy Keto! These Are the 21 Best Gifts For Your Low-Carb Friend
Gifting pajamas and socks may seem like a safe bet, but this year, you can go above and beyond by treating your keto-loving friend to a few low-carb inspired presents they'll actually use. Whether you choose a delicious chocolate snack, a bacon-inspired cook book, or a funny mug, we found a handful of options that will inspire them. The best part: they're all available on Amazon, so you can skip stressful store shopping. Keep scrolling to shop our top picks, but beware . . . you might want a couple for yourself.
35+ Must-Have Gifts For the Women Who Love All Things Fitness in 2018
Leggings and gym memberships aren't the only kinds of gifts you can give to women who love to work out. We've rounded up some of the best ideas you can give this holiday season. Whether she's a runner, a weight lifter, a yogi, or an occasional cyclist, she could use - and thoroughly enjoy - just about every one of these products. Peruse the list, and see what she'll like best (and maybe set aside a couple to get for yourself).
This Is the CBD Oil I Use When I'm Feeling Super Anxious, and It's a Lifesaver
I've struggled with anxiety since I was a kid. I remember driving in the car when it was raining and being terrified our windshield wipers would stop working and we would get in a crash. I never learned how to do a cartwheel because I was convinced I would fall and break my neck. As an adult, my anxiety can sometimes be crippling; it feels like I'm a prisoner trapped inside my own brain.
And while I take a cocktail of medication for my bipolar II (bipolar disorder exists on a spectrum and anxiety can be a symptom), sometimes my anxiety is particularly rough. Since my psychiatrist's office doesn't prescribe benzodiazepines (think: Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan) - and I personally don't want to take them - I have needed another quick fix to curb my anxiety and calm me down ASAP.
Enter cannabidiol, or CBD oil. I had read about how effective CBD oil can be to treat anxiety. Even though I'm lucky enough that I don't get panic attacks, I was hoping CBD could treat the anxiety symptoms I do have: dizziness, racing, catastrophic thoughts. increased heart rate. nausea, etc. So when Charlotte's Web sent me a variety of hemp oils, I was eager to try them.
Since I was new to CBD oil, I started with the regular Hemp Extract Oil ($40-$100 at cwhemp.com), which has 10 milligrams of hemp extract per one milliliter serving (about two full droplets' worth). After using that dosage a few times, I didn't see much difference in my anxiety symptoms. It wasn't until I started using Charlotte's Web Hemp Extract Oil Plus ($75-$189 at cwhemp.com), which has 25 milligrams of hemp extract per one milliliter serving (about two droplets' worth), that I started noticing a difference.
When I'm starting to feel anxious, I take two droplets of the Hemp Extract Oil Plus under my tongue: I start with one droplet, let it set under my tongue, and wait about a minute for it to absorb. Then I repeat with the second droplet. After a few minutes, I can notice my anxiety symptoms slowly start to go away. It's not instantaneous, and it doesn't completely cure my anxiety, but I can certainly feel a difference.
Now, I keep a bottle of Charlotte's Web Hemp Extract Oil Plus with me at all times: in my going-out purse, in my gym bag, and in my work bag. I like the mint chocolate flavor the best, but also take the olive oil flavor, too. As neuroscientist and cannabis expert Josh Kaplan, PhD, told POPSUGAR, you don't necessarily feel CBD working for anxiety like you would feel the sensation of getting high with THC; it's more like a relief of symptoms.
That's exactly how I feel when I take it, and it's my new secret weapon. Not that taking hemp oil is a replacement for psychotropic drugs - this is a conversation you should have with your doctors before making any changes - but if you are looking for an all-natural anxiety relief remedy, try Charlotte's Web Hemp Extract Oil Plus. And if you're looking for an even more potent option, check out Charlotte's Web Hemp Extract Oil Advanced ($150-$275 at cwhemp.com), which has about 43 milligrams of hemp extract per one-half milliliter serving.
How Many Calories Do I Need to Eat to Lose Weight? This Formula Breaks It Down
If you feel like you've done everything to lose weight - keto, intermittent fasting, Whole30, fitness plans, counting macros - and still aren't seeing the scale budge, it's understandably frustrating. After all, putting so much time and effort into meal prep and reading up on the latest diet trends can be exhausting, especially if you don't see any results.
In reality, losing weight boils down to a simple science: burning more calories than you take in. This calories-in, calories-out calculation may seem simplistic, but it does get a little more complicated when you realize that not everyone's bodies burn calories the same.
Calculating Basal Metabolic Rate and Total Energy Expenditure
To find out how many calories you burn a day, you need to know your total energy expenditure, or TDEE. It starts with finding your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which you can get measured with a machine like the InBody Test, which sends electrodes through your body and calculates your BMI, body fat percentage, and basal metabolic rate, among other stats.
You can also do a math equation to find your BMR using the Harris-Benedict formula based on your total body weight, height, age, and sex. It's a little more complicated, but it's more accurate than quick-and-dirty formulas found online. For a woman, the calculation is:
BMR = 655 + (1.8 x height in centimeters) + (9.6 x weight in kilograms) - (4.7 x age in years)
For a woman who is 30, 5'6" (167.6 centimeters), and 150 pounds (68 kilograms), her BMR would be: 655 + 301.7 + 653 - 141 = approximately 1,470 calories a day.
From there, you multiply your BMR by your activity level: 1.2 if you're sedentary, 1.375 if you do light exercise one to three days a week, 1.55 if you do moderate exercise six to seven days a week, 1.75 if you're very active (hard exercise every day or exercising twice a day), and 1.9 if you're extra active (hard exercise two or more times per day).
So for that 150-pound person who is moderately active, it would be: 1,470 x 1.55 = approximately 2,280. That's about how many calories your body burns on any given day. To lose weight, you would have to create a calorie deficit.
How to Find Out How Many Calories You Need to Lose Weight
"One pound is equal to 3,500 calories. Therefore, if someone was looking to lose one pound per week, they would need to cut their daily calories down by 500 calories per day," registered dietitian and personal trainer Jim White, ACSM, owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios, told POPSUGAR.
If your TDEE is in fact 2,232, to lose one pound a week, you would have to eat 1,780 calories a day to eat in a healthy calorie deficit and see progress on the scale. Ultimately, this formula is just a guideline; you should consult with your doctor or dietitian to determine your exact calorie needs.
How to Avoid Gaining Weight Over the Holidays, According to These Dietitians
Even if you've been staying on track with your healthy eating goals all year, it's a slippery slope after Halloween: noshing on leftover Halloween candy, Thanksgiving dinner followed by pumpkin pie, not to mention all the holiday parties and cookie swaps that fill December. With chunky sweaters, leggings, and thick layers filling your wardrobe in the Winter, it's no wonder why people tend to gain weight over the holidays.
But you don't have to pack on the pounds over the holiday season. We tapped registered dietitians who reveal how to still enjoy the holidays without gaining weight and undoing all the progress you made the rest of the year. Here's how to enjoy your pumpkin pie and gingerbread cookies without going overboard.
The Fitness Marshall's New Dance Workout Is So Good, We've Already Done It 15 Times
The Fitness Marshall is heating things up with his latest dance workout to Ciara's "Got Me Good." If you've done any of TFM's routines, you know he's all about the energy; we're warning you now, you're going to have to bring your A game to keep up with this routine.
"I did this video with my new friend Chelsie Hill. She is such a beautiful human who took something so devastating that happened to her and used it to help other people improve their lives. I can't imagine a better person to dance with. She has such an incredible heart, and the ferocity, sass, and talent to match it," TFM told POPSUGAR.
Watch TFM crush it in the video above!
Counting Macros Worked For Me Until It Just Didn't Anymore — Here's Why I Quit
There was a time in my life that I counted macros seven days a week, every single week. If you're unfamiliar, counting macros helps you balance your intake of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and it's generally considered less restrictive than many other methods used to maintain a healthy weight. Still, I haven't counted macros for more than a year now, and I'll tell you why.
I was first introduced to macros as a bikini competitor. As someone who had previously prepped for a show on a typical bro diet (heavy on protein, low in carbs, lacking variety), counting macros seemed like a gift. I was able to simultaneously eat a variety of foods and work toward my fitness goals. I weighed, measured, and portioned my food like it was my job. It wasn't easy, but counting macros worked - I got stage lean by sticking to my plan and tracking everything I ate in the MyFitnessPal app for about four months. I loved the consistency and direction that macros gave me.
Eventually, I realized that I was eating more for my numbers than my appetite.
By the time I stopped competing, I was so confident and comfortable counting macros that I decided to continue. I hired a coach to help me find a balance that would allow me to simply maintain a healthy weight, which meant eating more food than I had during competition prep. While I strayed from my plan occasionally - when friends and family came to visit, for example, and tracking was simply too hard to manage - I otherwise stayed pretty consistent for an entire year. It was great to be in a routine again, and I was happy with how I looked and felt.
You might be wondering, So, what's the catch? Why'd you stop? Eventually, I realized that I was eating more for my numbers than my appetite.
If I was under on any macronutrient, I ate more to hit my "goals." Sometimes that meant eating past the point of being full, or feeling bloated or gassy from excessive amounts of protein. Other times, I just felt unsatisfied with my meals - at a restaurant, I'd look at the menu with my numbers in mind instead of simply ordering a dish that sounded good to me. I was convinced that consistency was crucial to maintaining my metabolism, even if it meant ignoring actual cues from my body.
It took a while, but in the end, I realized that following such a strict plan was pretty unsustainable, though it certainly had benefits. Counting macros is most often recommended for its flexibility; there are no "bad" foods, as long as they fit within your budget. Doing it taught me a lot about nutritional value and portion sizing - the same tools that have allowed me to maintain a balanced diet on my own.
I quit counting macros because I wanted to be more in tune with my body and less committed to the numbers game, and I'm really enjoying the freedom and my food. I would describe the way I eat as fluid: indulgent at times, but nourishing and balanced overall. I've been leaner before, but I'm living a really full life, and that's what matters most to me.
Easy UTI Prevention - Get Clean Before Getting Down
There's a reason bladder infections bear the nickname honeymoon cystitis; sex is one of the main culprits when it comes to developing a urinary tract infection. Everything is so close down there that harmful bacteria slide around and get into spots where they just shouldn't be. Aside from emptying your bladder immediately after sex to clear any of the infection-inducing E. coli from your urethra, you can help prevent a UTI by cleaning up before getting busy. Catherine Cheng, MD, recommended to Whole Living that women shower "between a bowel movement and sex since E. coli can spread easily to the bladder." A simple measure can save you from an icky infection, an expensive doctor's visit, and a week on antibiotics that kill good bacteria along with the bad.
Since sex isn't the only thing that can lead to a UTI, here are a few more tricks to prevent this painful infection.
Apple Cider Vinegar Is the Wonder Serum That Can Do Way More Than You Realized
Apple cider vinegar is commonly used as a home remedy for everything from weight loss to hiccups to sore throats. After hearing a brief synopsis of apple cider vinegar's benefits, it sounds like there are few things it can't cure. But before you start throwing back ACV in massive doses, remember that it's best used in moderation, and it's not the solution to every health issue in the book.
If you're considering integrating ACV into your diet, the first thing you should know is how to take it in a healthy manner. (Spoiler alert: don't throw it back like a shot.)
"Before swallowing ACV, it is important to dilute it in water. Straight vinegar, like other acids, can damage the lining of the esophagus and lead to ulcerations and a condition known as esophagitis," Dr. Robert Brown, author of Toxic Home/Conscious Home told POPSUGAR. "But don't worry, you will gain the health benefits from diluting one or two tablespoons of the vinegar into a glass of water."
But what exactly does ACV do to your body that makes it the ideal home remedy? We spoke to several experts to find out the key things ACV does for the body.
A Calorie Comparison of Your Favorite Fun-Size Candy
If you're watching your weight or sugar intake, fun-size treats are great way to satisfy candy cravings without going overboard. That is . . . if you can stop at just one. If you're not careful, you may end up eating the equivalent of two full-size bars in one sitting. While a little indulging is not a bad thing, it's always helpful to know exactly what's going into your body. See how all the classics like Snickers, Kit Kat, and Twix measure up!
Related: 40 No-Bake Treats You'll Want to Make All Summer Long
| 1 treat size (fun-size) | Calories | Fat (g) | Sugar (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Musketeers | 63 | 2 | 10 |
| 100 Grand | 95 | 4 | 11 |
| Almond Joy | 80 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Baby Ruth | 85 | 5 | 10 |
| Butterfinger | 85 | 4 | 10 |
| Charleston Chew | 30 | 0 | 10 |
| Dots | 70 | 0 | 11 |
| Heath Bar | 77 | 4.7 | 8.7 |
| Hershey's Bar | 67 | 4 | 7.7 |
| Jelly Belly Jellybeans | 35 | 0 | 7 |
| Kit Kat | 70 | 3 | 7 |
| M&M's (Plain) | 73 | 4 | 11.5 |
| M&M's (Peanut) | 90 | 4.7 | 9.1 |
| M&M's (Peanut Butter) | 95 | 4 | 11.5 |
| Milk Duds | 40 | 2 | 6.3 |
| Milky Way | 80 | 3 | 10 |
| Milky Way Dark | 81 | 3 | 11 |
| Mike & Ike | 50 | 0 | 9 |
| Mounds | 80 | 4.5 | 7 |
| Mr. Goodbar | 90 | 4 | 7 |
| Nerds | 50 | 0 | 12 |
| Nestle Crunch | 60 | 3 | 7 |
| PayDay | 90 | 5 | 8 |
| Raisinets | 67 | 2.7 | 9.7 |
| Reese's Peanut Butter Cup | 110 | 6.5 | 10.5 |
| Reese's NutRageous | 95 | 5.5 | 7.5 |
| Skittles | 80 | .8 | 14.5 |
| Snickers | 80 | 4 | 8.5 |
| Snickers (Peanut Butter) | 130 | 7 | 12 |
| SweeTarts | 10 | 0 | 2.4 |
| Take 5 | 100 | 5.5 | 9 |
| Twix | 80 | 7 | 8.5 |
| Whoppers | 100 | 4 | 13 |
| York Peppermint Pattie | 60 | 1 | 11 |
This Common Disease Could Be the Reason You're So Anxious, and Treating It Can Help
Anxiety can be debilitating. After all, it's difficult to manage your day-to-day when you spend so much of your time (and energy) getting sucked into negative thoughts, spinning in a constant hamster wheel of worry. While many factors contribute to anxiety, your fretful state could be traced back to a thyroid disorder, particularly hyperthyroidism.
The Thyroid-Brain Connection
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. Thyroxine works with other thyroid hormones to control a number of functions, including metabolism and digestion. When your thyroid is overactive, and releases too much thyroxine into the body, you might experience weight loss - even as your appetite increases - or feel hot and sweaty, among other physical symptoms.
But hyperthyroidism can also alter your brain and mood. "There are receptors for the thyroid hormone in the brain as well as the body," Monica Starkman, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School, told POPSUGAR. "The effects on the brain due to excess thyroid hormones can be unusual and persistent nervousness, restlessness, irritability, and anxiety."
Hyperthyroidism is most often caused by an autoimmune disease called Grave's disease, but thyroiditis - a condition in which the thyroid becomes inflamed for no apparent reason - is common in women who have recently given birth. These women will often have tons of energy after delivering the baby, and may even be quick to lose weight because they're in a transient hyperthyroid state, explained Carly Snyder, MD, who specializes in reproductive psychiatry. But eventually, the thyroid burns out, leading to an underactive condition known as hypothyroidism. "Mood plummets, and the mother may be irritable and sad," Dr. Snyder said. "She may gain some weight back, and feel tired or foggy." Naturally, this means that women with postpartum thyroiditis are at an increased risk for postpartum depression.
While it's less common, hypothyroidism can also cause anxiety, especially among women. A study published in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism found that, out of 100 patients who suffered from hypothyroidism, 70 percent of men reported experiencing depression, while more than 92 percent of women reported feeling anxious.
When to See the Doctor
If you suffer from anxiety or depression or both, it's important to pay attention to how your body is feeling separate from your mood. "If someone has the physical symptoms [of a thyroid disorder], as well as anxiety, that's a real clue the thyroid may be involved," Dr. Starkman said. "Even if not, some physicians and psychiatrists will want to do a blood test first with patients who have anxiety to see if the thyroid plays a part." If it does, it's important to treat the underlying problem.
20 Hearty, Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes Full of Protein, Fiber, and Everything in Between
The sweet potato may be starchy and heavier on the carbs than other veggies, but it's also full of good-for-you nutrients like vitamins A and C, fiber, manganese, and potassium. Because sweet potatoes are so substantial and full of goodness, they are a no-brainer ingredient for healthy, hearty meals. From breakfast until dinner and everything in between, see how to use this veggie in your next meal.
8 Cute Yet Functional Running Shoes From Amazon
We understand that hunting down a quality pair of running shoes that won't break the bank is tricky. Luckily for you, we scoured Amazon and found the very best options. These functional choices won't hold you back while you're on the move, plus they're pretty cute. Check them out for yourself, and buy a pair before they sell out.
Strengthen and Tighten Your Abdominal Muscles With This Trainer's 4-Week Program
If your goal is to strengthen and tighten your abdominal muscles, you've come to the right place. I'm a NASM certified personal trainer, and a request I often get is to help people lower their body fat percentage, especially the fat around their stomach. To be 100 percent transparent: I'm not a fan of spot reduction, and the thought of it makes me cringe a little bit, because in my opinion, it's a waste of time. Instead, I like to teach my clients (and anyone who reads my work) about training for performance, because it will improve how your body looks overall and, most importantly, how it functions.
That said, instead of just helping clients get a six-pack, my goal is to teach my clients and all of you about the true importance of their abdominal muscles. Our abs consist of four muscles: the external obliques, internal obliques, transversus abdominis, and rectus abdominis muscles.
These muscles form a wall that protects your internal organs, and this muscular wall also helps support the muscles of the spine, allowing you to maintain an erect posture. The obliques aid in rotation and flexion of the torso (twisting and bending), the transversus abdominis muscle stabilizes your lower back (aka lumbar spine) and pelvis, and the rectus abdominis (aka the six-pack) muscle helps with your posture and is often activated with exercises like toe touches. The group of ab muscles are essential for functions like breathing, sneezing, coughing, bowel movements, and giving birth - not just for looking good.
Now back to the six-pack. I'm not guaranteeing that you'll have a six-pack at the end of four weeks, but you can expect to have a stronger core once you've completed the program. As I mentioned before, it's important to train your entire body, not just a specific area, which is why I recommend doing this plan along with strength workouts. Do the core portion first to activate your abs, then complete the strength portion of your workout. You'll also want to ensure that you're fueling your body with clean foods - foods that will give you energy and help you recover. Doing these two things consistently (the keyword here is "consistently"!) will have you feeling and looking your best.
For the exercises that involve a weight or medicine ball, begin with a 7.5- to 10-pound weight/ball. If you find that this is too easy or too heavy, adjust the weight accordingly.
Get ready to put in work with the four-week program ahead.
Fun-Size Candy and Jumping Jacks Remind Us of Being a Kid, So We Put Them Together
We are almost in full-on Halloween mode - discussing costume ideas you can wear to the gym and searching for the appropriate decorations. And the candy - it's starting to appear everywhere in bowls and jars, so don't feel bad about going back to your coworker's desk for another fun-size Snickers, or stealing Peppermint Patties from your kiddo's trick-or-treating stash. Those little candies bring us joy and let us feel like a kid again, so enjoy them!
But, even though they're small, bite-sized pieces of candy, the calories can add up quickly. We're sorry, but we created this (possibly depressing) chart to show how many minutes of jumping jacks you need to do in order to work off Halloween candy - it'll help put all those empty wrappers in perspective. We're not saying not to eat them! But keeping this chart in mind might make you think twice about reaching for that 13th Mounds.
Did you know that one minute of vigorous jumping jacks (about 60) burns nine calories? It may seem like a lot of work, but if you have an uncontrollable Reese's obsession, what's a few (hundred) jumping jacks?!
| 1 treat size (fun size) | Calories | Minutes of jumping jacks | Number of jumping jacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Musketeers | 63 | 7 minutes | 420 |
| 100 Grand | 95 | 10 minutes, 36 seconds | 634 |
| Almond Joy | 80 | 8 minutes, 54 seconds | 534 |
| Baby Ruth | 85 | 9 minutes, 24 seconds | 567 |
| Butterfinger | 85 | 9 minutes, 24 seconds | 567 |
| Charleston Chew | 30 | 3 minutes, 18 seconds | 200 |
| Dots | 70 | 7 minutes, 48 seconds | 467 |
| Heath Bar | 77 | 8 minutes 36 seconds | 514 |
| Hershey's Bar | 67 | 7 minutes, 24 seconds | 447 |
| Jelly Belly Jellybeans | 35 | 4 minutes | 234 |
| Kit Kat | 70 | 7 minutes, 48 seconds | 467 |
| M&M's (Plain) | 73 | 8 minutes, 12 seconds | 487 |
| M&M's (Peanut) | 90 | 10 minutes | 600 |
| M&M's (Peanut Butter) | 95 | 10 minutes, 36 seconds | 634 |
| Milk Duds | 40 | 4 minutes, 24 seconds | 267 |
| Milky Way | 80 | 8 minutes, 24 seconds | 534 |
| Milky Way Dark | 81 | 9 minutes | 540 |
| Mike & Ike | 50 | 5 minutes, 36 seconds | 334 |
| Mounds | 80 | 4 minutes, 24 seconds | 534 |
| Mr. Goodbar | 90 | 10 minutes | 600 |
| Nerds | 50 | 5 minutes, 36 seconds | 334 |
| Nestle Crunch | 60 | 6 minutes, 42 seconds | 400 |
| PayDay | 90 | 10 minutes | 600 |
| Raisinets | 67 | 7 minutes, 24 seconds | 447 |
| Reese's Peanut Butter Cup | 110 | 12 minutes, 12 seconds | 734 |
| Reese's NutRageous | 95 | 10 minutes, 36 seconds | 634 |
| Skittles | 80 | 8 minutes, 54 seconds | 534 |
| Snickers | 80 | 8 minutes, 54 seconds | 534 |
| Snickers (Peanut Butter) | 130 | 14 minutes, 24 seconds | 867 |
| Swedish Fish | 50 | 5 minutes, 36 seconds | 334 |
| SweeTarts | 10 | 1 minute, 6 seconds | 67 |
| Take 5 | 100 | 11 minutes, 6 seconds | 667 |
| Twix | 80 | 8 minutes, 54 seconds | 534 |
| Whoppers | 100 | 11 minutes, 6 seconds | 667 |
| York Peppermint Pattie | 60 | 6 minutes, 42 seconds | 400 |
Calculations based on a 150-pound woman.
5 Gym Moves That'll Help You Fight Belly Fat, According to a Trainer
Ah, belly fat! It'd be great if we could magically zap it away forever, but, unfortunately, getting rid of it requires a little more work than that. "There are three non-negotiables when it comes to burning belly fat: diet, cardio, and core strengthening exercises. There's no way to spot reduce fat just on your belly to slim your waistline. You must eat clean and do cardio to burn off the fat to get the results you're looking for," says certified personal trainer Sarah Chadwell, NASM. But you can and should also focus on strengthening the muscles on your core to "bolster your results."
Utilizing core-specific training in the gym will tighten and develop your core muscles, giving you toned and lean muscles. Here are five advanced exercises that Chadwell suggests using for sculpting a stronger midsection.
A Strength Coach Says These Are the 6 Most Effective Workouts For People Short on Time
We get it: trying to get a quality workout in can seem nearly impossible when you've got work, school, kids, and extracurricular activities pulling you in every direction. If it's hard to fit training into your schedule, strength coach Chad Driscoll shared his top workouts for the days when you're short on time. "You really only need 30-45 minutes to get an effective workout in," he said in his Instagram caption.
Instead of stressing the next time you have a busy day or couple of weeks, Chad recommended trying one of the following workouts.
- Superset strength: A superset means you complete two exercises that work different muscle groups/movement patterns back-to-back without taking any rest. An example of this would be doing 15 reps of dumbbell squats followed by 15 reps of push-ups. If your goal is to build muscle without spending hours at the gym, try this quick, full-body superset workout.
- HIIT cardio: Instead of running on the treadmill to get your cardio in, kick it up a notch by adding exercises like mountain climbers, jumping jacks, and squat jumps into your routine. This 20-minute cardio HIIT workout will really target your abs and legs.
- Sprint intervals: Sprinting is one of the best styles of training to burn fat and build lean muscle. They can be done on the track, on a soccer field, or on the treadmill. Whatever method you choose, be sure to go all-out for maximum results. Here are three sprint workouts to get you started.
- Full-strength circuit: Circuit training means that you'll alternate between a variety of exercises that target different muscle groups. Similar to a superset, you'll have minimal rest in between exercises. Check out this 30-minute beginner circuit.
- 30-minute class: Another option is to take a quick, 30-minute workout class. Instead of stressing about creating your own program, let someone else instruct you. We love this 30-minute fat-burning, full-body workout.
- Single-equipment workout: Instead of trying to incorporate all of your favorite equipment into your workout, save time and use only use one piece of equipment. This can be one set of heavy dumbbells, a kettlebell, or a barbell. This intense full-body workout only requires a kettlebell.
There's a New Healthy Ice Cream in Town, and It's Packed With Good-For-Your-Gut Probiotics!
Clear some space in your freezers, folks, because there's a new healthy ice cream brand in town, and you're going to want every single flavor. World, meet Culture Republick. It's the first-ever light ice cream that's jam-packed with live probiotic cultures, aka the good-for-your-gut stuff that help regulate your digestive system. POPSUGAR got the inside scoop (corny pun fully intended) on the new brand and taste tested all seven flavors before it hits select store shelves, and we definitely think it ranks among the best in the now-saturated world of healthy ice creams.
First, let's discuss some fun stats about what makes Culture Republick so crave-worthy, shall we? For starters, each pint contains 3 billion (yes, billion) live and active cultures to help get your gut health back on track. On top of that, every pint boasts just 410 to 490 calories, a whopping 16 to 18 grams of protein, and 11 to 13 grams of fiber, depending on the flavor.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Victoria Messina
They all have a smooth, creamy texture and don't taste out of the ordinary in any way due to the added probiotics.
Speaking of the flavors, there are seven of 'em, and each mashup is just as mouthwatering as the next. There are Milk & Honey, Chocolate & Cherry, Lemon & Graham, Pistachio & Salted Caramel, Turmeric Chai & Cinnamon, Cold Brew & Chocolate Chip (my personal favorite), and Matcha & Fudge. They all have a smooth, creamy texture and don't taste out of the ordinary in any way due to the added probiotics. I mean, wouldn't you rather devour a nightly bowlful of Chocolate & Cherry ice cream rather than take a supplemental probiotic pill every day?
Another cool tidbit about Culture Republick: the brand partnered with up-and-coming artists to design the colorful pint packaging, and it plans to donate 10 percent of its profits to support the arts in local communities. How rad is that?
Culture Republick's probiotic ice creams are starting to roll out this month at select retailers, including Meijer, Shoprite, certain Target stores, and Albertsons, Safeways, and Rite Aids located in California, just to name a few. The pints will cost $4 to $5, which is definitely a lot more affordable than some of the overpriced competitors out there. Read on for a full breakdown of the nutritional facts for each flavor of this gut-friendly dessert, along with some candid thoughts that my fellow POPSUGAR employees and I had during our in-office taste test.
9 Changes You Can Make Today to Improve Your Eating Habits and Lose Weight
The basics of losing weight make sense: eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, drink a lot of water, and manage your stress. But when it boils down to the logistics, many people get confused. What does "eating healthy" actually look like? After all, there's no one-size-fits-all diet.
Online health coach Sarah Duff (@sarahdufflifestyleandfitness on Instagram) shared some tips to improve your eating habits, which can help you make gradual changes and see results. Whether you want to eat better to lose weight or just feel healthier, these are the nine things Sarah recommends:
- Don't be extreme.
- Plan your meals ahead of time.
- Have a fridge that reflects your goals.
- Remember portions aren't universal, so find what works for you.
- Have a basic meal format (such as protein plus vegetables).
- Eat without distractions (no TV or phone).
- Have a support network.
- Focus on progress, not perfection.
- Keep your eye on your "why."
"When you're trying to learn new habits, you need to actually do some thinking and learning to plan things ahead of time," she wrote in her Instagram caption. "If you continue to freewheel in a state of chaos, you will end up back at square one. Remember change needs change."
So start making these changes today, and you'll see progress in no time. Remember: a lifestyle transformation doesn't happen overnight. But with these baby steps, you can work toward a healthier you.
These Are All the Beverages You Can Drink When You're Intermittent Fasting
Starting a new diet is always a challenge, and intermittent fasting (IF) is no different, although some (including myself) would consider IF a lifestyle rather than a diet or trend. The most common form of IF is the 16:8 formula, where you fast for 16 hours a day and eat all your meals within an eight-hour window. It may sound difficult to someone who has never tried it before, but it's totally doable!
If you speak to your doctor or a dietitian and decide that IF is right for you, you'll probably have a lot of questions about how to embark on your fasting journey. One very common question is what you can and cannot drink during your fasting window.
I've been doing IF for about seven months now, and I struggled with this in the beginning. When you first start fasting, your body looks for just about any way to cheat because being hungry is initially uncomfortable (don't worry, though, your hunger will eventually decrease over time). That means you'll probably try to drink anything and everything in sight, from soda to juice to smoothies.
But there are pretty much only three things you can drink when you're fasting:
- Coffee: Unfortunately, you can't add anything into your coffee when you're in your fasting window, like cream, milk, or sugar, because this will throw off your fasting window.
- Tea: Same thing here - tea is only appropriate if it's free of sweeteners or additives.
- Water: Whatever you do, don't skip out on drinking plenty of water throughout the day. This will prevent dehydration and help curb your hunger.
That's your magical trio of IF beverages! If you find other zero-calorie beverages you like, like sparkling water or Hint water, feel free to add those to the list as well. I recommend stocking up on tasty teas that bring a little excitement into your fasting window, like rooibos, green tea, etc. Stay away from things like juice, sweetened tea and other beverages, and alcohol. If it feels impossible in the beginning to only drink the above, give it time. Your body will adjust before you know it.
7 Foods I Ate as Often as Possible to Get Rid of My Belly Fat
When it comes to losing weight and changing your body, what you eat has the biggest impact. When I was trying to lose weight last year, I was exercising regularly (mostly strength training and running), but I spent more time cleaning up my diet. After a few months of hard work, I dropped a dress size and shrunk my midsection. These are the seven foods I ate regularly in order to get rid of my belly fat. Spoiler alert: I didn't have to give up carbs.
Kate Middleton Paid Tribute to Princess Diana by Wearing Her Favorite Tiara
Kate Middleton certainly has her pick of royal tiaras, but it looks like she keeps coming back to one in particular: the Cambridge Lover's Knot. While attending a state banquet alongside Prince William and Queen Elizabeth II on Oct. 23, Kate looked like a real-life Cinderella. She opted for a blue Alexander McQueen gown, and her choice in jewelry suggests she favors the same regal accessories as her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
This isn't the first time Kate has made a sweet nod to Diana with this special tiara. She wore rhe Lover's Knot (from Queen Mary's collection) to diplomatic receptions in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The queen gave Diana this jeweled headpiece as a wedding present, and it became a favorite for the late princess, along with the complementary Collingwood pearl drop earrings. Ahead, see a photo of Diana wearing both the tiara and earrings, then keep reading for more snaps of Kate in the same accessories.
Meghan Markle's Fashion Picks Are Always a Party, But This Pom-Pom Dress Takes the Cake
Meghan Markle is making an unforgettable statement with her maternity style. The Duchess of Sussex stepped out in Fiji with husband Prince Harry on Oct. 24 to visit the University of the South Pacific as part of their 16-day royal tour.
While Meghan kept things formal the day before, she opted for a more casual Figue printed dress ($1,495) during her Wednesday walkthrough. The bold and beautiful outfit, with its multicolored pom-poms and asymmetrical ruffles, perfectly complemented the garlands gifted to the duchess throughout the trip. She paired the ensemble with Karen Walker earrings, a Shaun Leane bracelet, and black Castañer espadrilles - the same pair Pippa Middleton owns! Meghan tied the whole look together with a patterned clutch (that's actually a folder!) made by local women at the Suva Market in Fiji. Check out more snaps of Meghan's outfit below, and make sure to keep up with all her outfits from the tour so far.
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