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.
vendredi 16 novembre 2018
The Bachelor's Tia Booth Is Off the Market! See the Cute Photos With Her New Man
It looks like most of the leading women from Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s season of The Bachelor have moved on from his famed "pillow lips." Becca Kufrin is happily engaged to Garrett Yrigoyen, Kendall Long is still going strong with Grocery Store Joe after a whirlwind stint on Bachelor in Paradise, Bekah Martinez is pregnant with her first child, and now Tia Booth has a new man in her life.
The girl-next-door from Arkansas appears to be dating Cory Cooper, a guy from Tennessee who somewhat surprisingly doesn't seem to have ties to the Bachelor franchise. He attended Carson-Newman University and is currently a co-owner and executive vice president of his family company, Cooper Steel. We can't tell much more about Cory from his Instagram, as he's not much of an avid photo-poster, but it does look like he enjoys hanging with friends, family, and, of course, Tia. He's shared a couple of photos with the former Bachelor contestant so far, with one caption referring to her as an "unforgettable person." Aww!
To refresh your memory on Tia's track record with the Bachelor franchise, it began when she made it to all the way to hometown dates during Arie's season, only to be sent home heartbroken. Then she was linked to Colton Underwood, a contestant on her pal Becca Kufrin's season of The Bachelorette. The two attempted to rekindle the flame during season five of Bachelor in Paradise, where Tia also had a brief fling with Chris Randone, but she left the beach in Mexico alone shortly after Colton did.
Though Tia hasn't officially confirmed her budding relationship with Cory or officially referred to him as her boyfriend on social media, we're more than happy to see that she's officially moved on from her past - conveniently just in time for the premiere of Colton's season of The Bachelor, might I add. Ahead, see the few glimpses we've gotten at Tia and Cory's relationship so far.
The New, Magnificent Trailer For Glass Will Absolutely Give You Chills
You might think you're ready for M. Night Shyamalan's Glass, but are you? Really? On Thursday, an extended teaser was unleashed unto the world, and it has everything: we've got all sorts of new personalities bursting out of Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), plus terrifying new glimpses of his "Beast" persona (who appears to clash with Bruce Willis's David Dunn). We even get a few glimpses of costars Sarah Paulson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Spencer Treat Clark, and Charlayne Woodard.
Previously, the first few teasers and trailers for the third film in the series - which includes 2000's Unbreakable and 2016's Split - were each only 15 seconds long. The film will follow David as he goes after Crumb, while also contending with Samuel L. Jackson's manipulative Elijah Price (code name: Mr. Glass), who wants to harness the Beast's power for his own nefarious cause. Watch the latest footage in all its glory above, then refresh your memory of the first trailer and teasers below.
Official Trailer 2:
Official Trailer:
Teaser 1: "The Beast"
Teaser 2: "David Dunn"
Teaser 3: "Mr. Glass"
Mariah Carey Celebrated NYC’s First Snow of the Season the Only Way She Knows How
The Queen of Christmas has spoken, so we can officially begin our holiday countdown! On Thursday, Mariah Carey shared a festive video on Instagram of herself riding around the Big Apple listening to - what else? - "All I Want For Christmas Is You." Even though Mariah usually waits until she's in Aspen, CO, to play that song every year, she decided to get a head start to celebrate the first snow of the season in NYC. If Mariah's snap has you feeling the holiday spirit, you'll definitely want to listen to these new Christmas albums.
These Set Photos From the Veronica Mars Revival Are So Good, They're Basically Spoilers
Production on the Veronica Mars revival on Hulu has officially begun, and unsurprisingly, we're hungry for any sneak peeks we can get. As the cast get together for table reads and begin working on set, they're slowly giving fans the behind-the-scenes shots we live for. From script covers to set photos, we're getting small teases of what's to come for the new eight-episode season. Even though we have a ways to go until the revival airs on Hulu in 2019, we love seeing our favorite Neptune residents back in action! Check out all the sneak peeks we've caught so far.
American Horror Story: Apocalypse Has Ended, but We're Already Thinking About Season 9
Well, we made it through another season of American Horror Story. The harrowing season finale is behind us. Some fans loved Apocalypse, some hated it. But now, it's time to look forward. As you probably know, the series has been renewed for two more seasons, so we better settle in with all this dread. With that in mind, we're wondering what we might get out of the next installment.
Of course, we don't have any concrete information about season nine. I mean, there's a really solid chance it will include Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson, at least, since they've been in every season. But as for the theme and the contents? That's really a mystery until creator Ryan Murphy clues us in. But that's not going to stop us from firing up our big ol' theory engines, now is it? Based on some hints we may have gotten in Apocalypse, and some theorizing based on what the show hasn't done, we've come up with five solid theories about where we might be headed.
1. Space
This one actually comes direct from season eight! Any hardcore AHS fan knows that creator Ryan Murphy loves to sprinkle in clues that point to what's to come. Often, one season will have hints pointing to the next (like Freak Show's "top hat" mystery, which ended up being a major reveal about Hotel). When it comes to Apocalypse, there are a lot of hints pointing to outer space.
- Very early on in the season, the radio in Outpost 3 plays a song called "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" by the Carpenters. Enough said.
- The "Grays" in Outpost 3 could, on a very vague level, be referring to alien lifeforms. Gray aliens (sometimes simplified as "grays," actually) are the most common alien form, both in science fiction pop culture and in actual alien conspiracy theories!
- In the finale, Ms. Mead sings "Daisy Bell" as her decapitated head slowly stops functioning. It's an homage to 2001: Space Odyssey; the smart computer HAL9000 sings the same song while shutting down for the final time.
For the record, Evan Peters has wanted a space season for quite some time. Of course, space is technically not American, but would it be close enough if it were American astronauts or even an American space station? I'm just saying, there's so much untapped horror potential here.
2. Roswell
If we're really determined to keep the season on the ground and in American boundaries, the whole conspiracy surrounding Roswell could be a really solid choice. All of the spacey hints in Apocalypse could certainly apply here, and this would be a great way to flesh out the shaky alien side-plot from Asylum. If we already know they exist in the AHS universe, why not show us more?! Plus, the eighth season really seemed to dip, more than ever, into the world of government conspiracies, and Roswell is one of the most notable unsolved conspiracy theories in American history.
3. Boarding School
We're still not quite ready to let go of the Thatcher School, which gets a very cursory mention in the show's fifth season, Hotel. Doesn't that sound like the perfect setting for a horror story? Picture Hogwarts with way less magic and way more horrors and terrors lurking around every corner. Plus, with so many orphaned children in the AHS universe, a boarding school season would be ripe with crossover possibilities. Then again, maybe we should just do an orphanage instead? Or a Summer camp? There are lots of opportunities to put kids in freaky situations. We'd be here for any of them.
4. Cruise Ship/Ship Wreck
This is another one that might get dicey, since it's technically not on American soil. But hey, as long as it's in American waters, it should be fine, right? I'm just saying, a ship or boat of some kind is a pretty wild place to stage a season of American Horror Story. Everyone is trapped aboard, subject to whatever may be nearby. Sea monsters? A mass murderer? Other mythological nightmares? We're here for it.
Things might get even dicier if this ship were to crash. What if they're marooned on an American island that hasn't been explored or discovered? What if they happen to land someplace completely wild and arcane? It could quickly become a gripping story of survival. Throw on that caftan and scream, folks.
5. Wilderness
If this one seems a bit nebulous, that's because it was my intention. One thing American Horror Story hasn't quite captured is the fear of solitude and isolation. Picture a season in the arctic tundra, like The Thing. (Alaska or the Midwest would be great!) Or what about some kind of monstrous encounters on the open plains during the time of the Oregon Trail? What about a creepy community deep in the woods? There are a lot of directions to go when you're far away from any semblance of civilization. It would drive anyone mad.
These Are the 30 Must-Read Books of 2019
With 2018 winding down, it's time to start looking ahead to the books that will be at the top of your "to read" pile in 2019. The new year is already shaping up to be a major one for book fans. Whether you live for romance, crave bone-chilling thrillers, or just want a new fantasy series to dive into, the upcoming year has something for everyone. It's also full of new releases from authors that you already love, including Angie Thomas, Helen Hoang, and Ruth Ware. In other words, it's time to start making room on your nightstand for some fresh reads now, because you're going to want to get your hands on these 2019 books the moment that they're released.
The 5 Prestigious Titles That Won National Book Awards This Year
If you're looking for a few extra books to add to your reading list to close out 2018, we have five very solid suggestions.
On Nov. 14, the National Book Award gala recognized outstanding writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people's literature. The winners included novelist Sigrid Nunez and poet Justin Phillip Reed, as well as Elizabeth Acevedo, Jeffrey C. Stewart, and Yoko Tawada. The latter author won for translated literature thanks to his book The Emissary, marking the first time in decades that the National Book Awards had included the category.
At the ceremony celebrating those taking home top honors, host Nick Offerman took a break from cracking a few jokes to explain how he's viewed books as secret portals into new worlds, full of new information, ever since he was an elementary school student reading a Madeleine L'Engle novel. "Which meant that if I kept reading the right books, I'd come to know special things," he said. "This is a superpower available to anyone with access to the library that allows the human race to trudge ever forward in our journey toward enlightenment, and orgasms, and fine woodworking."
See all the titles that won awards ahead!
Malia Obama Told Barack and Michelle to "Just Be Cool" When They Met Her Prom Date
Meeting your prom date's parents can be nerve-racking, but imagine if their parents were in charge of the United States. That's what one brave soul experienced when he decided to take Malia Obama to prom back when Barack and Michelle Obama were still in office. According to Michelle, who stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote her new memoir, Becoming, her daughter's prom night wasn't the typical prom send-off. Malia herself has even described it as "a bit excruciating."
As expected, the White House was heavily armed with security, which made Michelle feel bad for the "poor kid" who had to go through all sorts of procedures when he arrived to take Malia to the dance. And when Malia, Michelle, and Obama were coming down the elevator of the White House to meet him, Malia told her parents what any high schooler would. "We're in the elevator - me and Barack and Malia," Michelle explained. "And she's like, 'Just be cool,' you know? It's like, 'Please don't embarrass me.'" We find it hard to believe Barack and Michelle could ever be embarrassing, but, hey, we get it.
Watch Michelle detail the entire story above, then keep reading to see more photos of her appearance on the show, including her fun trip to Costco with Ellen.
16 Perfect Presents For People Who Will Always Love Princess Diana
Princess Diana was a mother, a style icon, and one of the most badass members of the British royal family. Her tragic death in 1997 brought the world to its knees, and the 20th anniversary of her passing last year further reminded people across the globe of just how inspiring and special she was. With the giving season upon us, we've picked 16 gifts that are perfect for the person in your life who will always love and miss Diana, from vintage finds to her famous Cartier watch - and if you're a fan of the princess, don't hesitate to add these to your wish list!
Your Comprehensive Guide to Alex's Romances on Grey's Anatomy
Alex Karev's surgical cohort once pegged him as quite the devilish flirt, but now he's known for being one of the sweetest guys on Grey's Anatomy. It's not really hard to see why the ladies gravitate toward Alex - while he's rough around the edges, the peds surgeon is quite a feast on the eyes and has a huge heart. Sure, you'll probably remember his two great loves as Izzie and Jo. But Alex has actually been in the dating pool a few times on the medical drama, embarking on both flings and intense relationships long before we shipped Jolex. Need a little refresher on whose hearts he's stolen in the past? Here's a breakdown of all the souls who have been mesmerized by Grey Sloan's resident rugged romantic, Alex Karev.
This Year's Out100 List Is the Most Powerful, Diverse, and Heroic Yet
Keeping to its annual tradition, Out Magazine has released its Out100 list, shining a spotlight on the LBGTQ+ community's brightest voices in 2018. The group comes complete with an exciting crop of cover stars: outspoken activist Emma González, Pose star Billy Porter, music artist Sophie, and Queer Eye's Fab Five. What's more, additional awards are being bestowed upon Cynthia Nixon, Jeremy Scott, Renee Richards, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey. But perhaps even more exciting is the fact that this is the feature's most diverse offering yet; at least 20 honorees identify as trans or nonbinary, and there are more than 40 people of color and more than 40 women.
The list was curated by Out's executive editor, R. Kurt Osenlund. "Women saw more hard-won, long-delayed acknowledgment and respect in 2018 than perhaps in any other year in our nation's history, and that has included LGBTQ women," he said in a statement to POPSUGAR. "We weren't just adamant about including a wide range of women in our portfolio - we simply looked at the culture and saw what was happening." Check out the FULL list in all its glory ahead. We're sure you'll recognize more than a few names, and the ones that aren't in your own sphere of awareness are surely worth looking up.
Hold on to Your Santa Hat, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like a Christmas-Themed Wedding
Let's be honest, Winter is amazing. It's that time of year when you can bundle up near a fireplace and sip on hot cocoa all day and, best of all, you can spend your holidays with your loved ones. Well, photographer Jessica Palacios managed to capture the amazing essence of the holiday season in this gorgeous Christmas-themed wedding shoot. "By the time Halloween comes around, I'm ready for some holiday cheer. I know I'm not the only one!" said Jessica. "We wanted to embrace every essence of Christmas with the styled shoot. The textures of this shoot to the small details, I truly believe we captured Christmas in the form of a wedding."
This shoot absolutely embodies the Christmas spirit in every detail. Even the intricate embroidery on the bride's bodice is reminiscence of snowflake patterns. The groom looks festive in a sharp suit with a lapel pin above his breast pocket made from holly leaves. The food and drinks were laid out on a wooden table, which adds a rustic charm to the shoot, while mistletoe leaves, pine cones, and wreaths are elegantly used to decorate the room. In most of the photos, the most prominent colors are deep red, forest green, and gold, which perfectly reflect the magic of Christmas.
Keep reading to see these stunning photos and look out for more hidden details!
Meet the Best Stocking Stuffers of the Holiday Season
Shopping for stocking stuffers is anything but stressful; these fun, adorable presents are sure to make anyone smile! This season, we did the hard work for you and are here to share some of our favorite stocking stuffers of 2018. Think pretty beauty products, fun tech accessories, and games the whole family can enjoy. We might just need a bigger stocking!
We're Crying Over These Ugly Christmas Sweaters - They're All on Amazon and Under $40!
We'll be honest, we not-so-secretly love an ugly Christmas sweater. They're so much fun, and they make us smile. Now, there are sweaters that light up, sweaters with cats, and sweaters with funny sayings, so you can express yourself and your sense of humor at every holiday party. The best part? All of these picks are on Amazon and under $40, so why not pick up two? They make great gag gifts.
5 Weighted Travel Blankets That Will Calm Even the Most Anxious Flyer
If you haven't heard, weighted blankets are the newest and coziest way to fall asleep and stay asleep. The blankets are scientifically designed to ease anxiety by regulating levels of the stress hormone cortisol while releasing oxytocin and serotonin, which can make you feel happier and more relaxed. Once you try one, you can't help but wonder how you slept (or coped with your anxiety) without it.
For anxious travelers, doesn't that sound like the perfect thing to pack in your carry-on bag? If so, cuddle up to one of these five weighted travel blankets - they're small enough to tote around but still heavy on benefits.
The Harry Potter Game From the Creators of Pokémon Go Will Magically Arrive in 2019
Update: Additional details officially revealed by Warner Bros. have been added to the original story ahead.
Merlin's beard! Harry Potter is about to make a serious comeback - on our mobile phones.
Last year, it was reported that Niantic Labs - the company behind the phenomenon that was Pokémon Go - is working on a follow-up to their 2016 AR masterpiece and that the subject would be none other than Harry Potter. Niantic teamed up with WB Games to bring fans Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, which is expected to be released in 2019 on all devices (just like its predecessor). The official website for the game describes the gameplay as exploring "real-world neighbourhoods and cities to discover mysterious artifacts, learn to cast spells, and encounter legendary beasts and iconic characters along the way!" Here's what TechCrunch, who first broke the news, had to say about the development:
"The app is now official, but the details are still scarce, with the launch timeframe of just sometime next year, but it sounds like there will be significant influence from the Niantic game Ingress, which allows players to roam the real world collecting power-ups, defending locations and exploring their environment.
The mechanics of Ingress would actually translate pretty well to the fictional Harry Potter universe, and seems almost ready-made for a fantasy spell casting coat of paint to replace its science-fiction special forces veneer. Also, like Pokémon Go, it could benefit from the location database built up by Ingress originally (and expanded by the Pokémon title) to incorporate real-world locations into the in-game experience."
While we're still waiting for further details, at least we've now got the game's trailer to play on repeat. It looks like the Wizarding World is at risk of exposure . . . are you ready, witches?
All the Tech Gifts You Can Buy For Less Than $100 This Year
To make sure you give the tech guru in your life the best gift of the year, we've curated a list of great gadget accessories that will surely make them smile. The best part: they're all under $100, so you can maybe get more than one (and even for yourself). Keep scrolling to shop our favorites.
Additional reporting by Nicole Nguyen.
15 Different and Fun Places to Spend the Holidays That Aren't Disney
Holiday traditions often leave families staying in (or visiting) the same place year after year. But what if you just want to get away? Use your kids' time off from school for a family vacation? Not deal with the stress of entertaining and keeping your house clean? Luckily, there are a ton of festive destinations you can escape to this holiday season that aren't the ever-popular Disney parks. From the city that never sleeps to the city that's known for chocolate, there are lots of great places across the US that you should add to your holiday vacation bucket list. If you're ready to unlock a different kind of magic this year, keep reading.
An Inflatable Shotski Exists, and Your Ski Trips Will Never Be the Same
Gone are the days of lounging around the pool on our trendy-slash-adorable-slash-Instagrammable floats, but have no fear, inflatable enthusiasts, because Funboy is back with a whole slew of Winter products and we're officially ready for some snow. The brand that brought us our beloved pool floats has dabbled in the cool-weather category, introducing us to a new obsession: the inflatable shotski. The product that's typically found in popular bars (or my off-campus college house) is now hitting the slopes in an inflatable version equipped with four plastic shot glasses perfectly sized for the float.
The best part is, while it might be 6 feet long, when deflated, it fits right inside your pocket, and the brand promises it inflates in just a few breaths. For just $19, you can pack up the Funboy ShotSki for the second you hop off the chairlift and want a mid-mountain drink - or just keep it on you for when you and your friends feel the urge. Read on to shop the genius shotski and see photos of it in action.
16 Gifts For People (Seriously) Obsessed With Pizza
Pizza is a way of life. That's not an opinion - it's a fact. If you know a girl whose heart is made of gold and stomach is filled with pizza, we've found the perfect gifts for her. Keep reading to see our 16 favorite pizza-themed gifts in all of their triangular splendor.
30+ Stocking Stuffers Perfect For Your Fitness-Loving Friend
As fun as it is to wrap up a big, pretty box full of leggings or sneakers, sometimes the old adage is true when it comes to holiday gifts: good things come in small packages. Behold the best stocking stuffers for the friend in your life who loves to work out, whether they're a runner, a yogi, or a CrossFit junkie. From socks to dry shampoo to wireless earbuds, these products will help them achieve all their fitness goals.
- Additional reporting by Gina Florio and Dominique Astorino
If You Want to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain, Follow This Beachbody Dietitian's 8 Tips
This time of year is filled with parties, work celebrations, and family get-togethers. And when people gather, there is always food, and lots of it! It's such a wonderful time, so you should definitely take pleasure in all the yumminess this time of year brings. But if you're worried about gaining weight during the holidays, registered dietitian and co-creator of Beachbody's 2B Mindset nutrition program, Ilana Muhlstein, MS, RDN, shares these eight strategies to help you indulge and still have a healthy holiday.
This Is Why "Calories In, Calories Out" Doesn't Guarantee Weight Loss, According to an Expert
For years, the mantra of "calories in, calories out" has been considered a golden rule for anyone trying to lose weight. The concept of calories in, calories out is pretty simple: the amount of energy, also known as calories, you consume shouldn't exceed the amount of energy, or calories, you expend while sleeping, during everyday activity, and exercise.
To find out if you have to cut calories in order to lose weight, POPSUGAR spoke to obesity medicine physician and scientist Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA. "The idea of calories in, calories out is completely incorrect," Dr. Stanford told POPSUGAR. One of the main reasons this method doesn't work is because everybody responds differently to calories, she explained. In fact, how the body responds to calories is a lot more complicated.
According to Dr. Stanford, the hypothalamus - a small region of the brain that controls important functions like releasing hormones and controlling appetite - "controls how our body processes food and whether it decides to retain caloric value or not."
She then explained that there are two primary pathways our brains can take. The first is called proopiomelanocortin (POMC for short and regulates the hypothalamus and adrenal development) and is the anorexigenic pathway of the brain. "People that signal down the anorexigenic pathway of the brain tend to have signals that often promote decreased hunger and increased sense of satiety or fullness," Dr. Stanford said. These individuals will have high levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF is found in regions of the brain that control eating, drinking, and weight) she explained. Because of this, "They might be able to eat more than other individuals, but when they do it they don't store much." Regardless of their nutrition, this demographic tends to be very lean.
"My patients, ones that have obesity, tend to travel down another pathway in the brain called agouti-related peptide pathway (AGRP stimulates feeding and weight gain and decreases metabolic rate)."
The idea of calories in, calories out is completely incorrect."
She explained that this pathway is orexogenic, "which means that these people - despite what they're eating - tend to store a lot more." Dr. Stanford said to think of this as the gas tank being full, but the brain doesn't realize it's full and "it wants to keep a lot of it on board."
For example, someone who weighs 300 pounds may have an extensive history of weight fluctuation around this metabolic set point. "There are some things that may drive them down temporarily, but the brain has a uncanny way of defending its set point once it's at a certain set point," she said.
According to Dr. Stanford, "This is the frustration that people often experience where they feel like no matter what they do, they always are kind of in whatever weight range they are." She explained that often times, "Simple modifications such as diet, diet quality, and/or physical activity are not enough to overcome how powerful the brain is."
If this is the case, Dr. Stanford will look at other factors such as sleep quality, work schedules (day shifts versus night shifts), and medications like antipsychotics and antidepressants.
"It's so much more complicated than this idea of just what someone takes in and what someones puts out." She concluded with, "If it were that simple, we wouldn't have 40 percent of the adult population with the disease of obesity."
HIIT Is All the Rage, but Have You Heard of HVIT? Trainers Explain Why You Should Do It
If you had to pinpoint the biggest trend in fitness over the last few years, it would be high-intensity interval training, or HIIT. This super-efficient form of exercise is supposed to torch fat, help you build lean muscle, and spike your heart rate to achieve EPOC, or the afterburn effect. This all sounds great, except when you realize many classes and fitness studios that claim to be HIIT actually aren't.
NASM-certified trainer Corey Phelps said many fitness classes that claim they are HIIT are actually HVIT, or high-volume interval training. "A true HIIT workout means training at maximum capacity for 60 seconds and allows for a 180-second recovery," she told POPSUGAR. "This ratio is designed keeping in mind the way the human body's muscles perform at maximum effort and the duration it takes for them to adequately recover before placing a maximum demand upon them again." If you're working yourself at a true max capacity for these intervals, this also means you can get a more effective workout done in less time.
In reality, many classes that claim to be HIIT don't have that 1:3 ratio and don't have you work at your true full capacity for a full 60 seconds. A HVIT class, on the other hand, works at about 60-75 percent maximum effort, and you can sustain it for much longer than you can an all-out exertion like in HIIT, explained personal trainer Hector Bones, ACE, owner of The PrivatGym in Philadelphia. This means you can work for longer periods of time and have shorter rests, unlike the 1:3 ratio of HIIT.
Many popular boutique fitness classes train this way, such as Rumble boxing. Certified personal trainer Kendall Toole, founding trainer at Rumble in LA, said the floor section of class that incorporates weights and bodyweight movements is done HVIT-style. "The three minutes of free-weight and bodyweight movements combined with periods of active recovery between rounds ensures you receive the maximum benefit of strength training, while preventing injury and muscle exhaustion," she told POPSUGAR. "Training with these longer intervals and active recoveries yields some significant results with consistency."
Incorporating HVIT into your fitness plan is a great way to challenge your body and mix up your workouts. Personal trainer Christi Marraccini, NASM, Director of Talent at NEOU, told POPSUGAR that you can do HVIT one to three days a week, depending on your goals. She added that you want to make sure you're not overtraining; high-intensity workouts where you put out max effort should only be done for 20-30 minutes at most.
A Ridiculously Easy Way to Make Mashed Potatoes Healthier
Thanksgiving just doesn't feel like Thanksgiving if there isn't a huge plate of creamy mashed potatoes on the table. Filled with butter, cream, and more butter and cream, it's not exactly the most waist-friendly dish when you go in for seconds. A simple way to lighten up the dish without sacrificing flavor is to be picky about what variety of potato you use.
Instead of oft-used Russet potatoes, go for Yukon Golds or Yellow Finns. It might seem peculiar that switching out the type of potato makes a difference, but these smaller varieties are naturally creamy and sweet, and their skins taste like butter, which allows you to cut down on the amount of butter and cream you would normally add to the dish. When shopping for Yukon Golds or Yellow Finns, look for smaller ones that aren't much bigger than one inch in diameter. Also, the more yellow the potato, the better: it's the vitamin A contained in the skin that give these potatoes their golden hue. There's potassium in the skin too, so when making your mashed potatoes, don't peel! Since the skins are pretty thin in these potato varieties, they won't detract from the creaminess of your dish when you leave them on.
More healthy tips for your mashed-potato endeavors:
- For added nutrition, add sweet potatoes to mashed potatoes.
- Substitute reduced fat or lowfat milk for the cream, or try making them with evaporated skim milk instead.
- Cut back on salt by seasoning mashed potatoes with garlic, onion, and herbs.
- Omit dairy altogether and mash in chicken broth instead.
- To lower the carb counts in your potatoes, substitute some cauliflower for the potatoes in the recipe.
This Is the Worst Thing You Can Do If You're Trying to Lose Body Fat and Build Muscle
Regardless of your fitness goals - weight loss, building muscle, running faster, growing a bigger booty - there's no magic pill or express lane for achieving results quick. As a personal trainer, my main goals are to educate people on how the human body works, help their bodies become more functional, and help them achieve their fitness goals.
My experiences as a Division 1 All-American sprinter, group instructor, and personal trainer have revealed this: a common misconception people have about losing fat and building muscle is that they should focus on spot reduction.
What Is Spot Reduction?
Spot reduction is the false belief that you can do isolated exercises to target a specific muscle (i.e., triceps, inner thighs, lower belly) and, as a result, lose fat in that area. Small muscle fatigue may leave your muscles feeling shaky, but ultimately it isn't improving your overall fitness, which is needed to lose fat.
Does Spot Reduction Work?
The short answer is no, spot reduction doesn't work. If your primary goal is to lose body fat, spot reduction won't work because you're targeting small muscles. There's nothing wrong with wanting to lose fat in your arms and build muscle, but doing countless triceps dips won't work. If you're already relatively fit and don't have much fat to lose, spot-toning - developing a particular muscle or muscle group - can help you see more muscle definition.
What Should I Do Instead?
Instead of obsessing over a "problem area," focus on training your entire body. This will help improve your overall strength and health, and you'll achieve the results you're looking for a lot faster. To improve and enhance your physique, don't focus on tiny muscles like your triceps - think bigger. Doing big, compound exercises recruiting multiple muscle groups at once will allow you to elevate your heart rate, burn more calories, and improve your coordination. Exercises like squats, deadlifts, lunges, bench presses, bent-over rows, and pull-ups are all great exercises to do if you want to burn fat and build muscle.
This Is the Exercise You Should Be Doing If You Want to Learn How to Deadlift
Deadlifts are arguably one of the best exercises to strengthen your core, legs, back, and glutes - hello, booty. A common way to perform a deadlift is with a barbell, but if you're new to strength training, you'll want to start with something a little easier in order to get the form down.
To help you perfect your form, Michael B. Jordan's trainer Corey Calliet showed me a Romanian deadlift variation to teach you the basics.
How to Do a Cable Machine Romanian Deadlift
- Adjust the carriage so that it's at the bottom of the cable machine. Attach a triceps rope handle to the pulley on the carriage of a cable station. You should be facing the pulley.
- Next, select the amount of resistance you want - 20 to 30 pounds is a great starting point. As you begin to become more comfortable with the movement, feel free to increase the weight.
- Facing the pulley, grab the rope, and step approximately three feet away from the machine.
- With a slight bend in your knees, slowly bend at your hips (this is a hinge movement pattern) as you simultaneously extend your arms forward. Your core should be engaged, and your back should be flat.
- Then squeeze your glutes to stand back up as you simultaneously pull your elbows back (like you're performing a bent-over row). Pull with power, and continue to squeeze your glutes at the top to get full hip extension. Be sure to keep your core engaged.
- This counts as one rep. Complete four sets of 12 reps.
Doing Ab Workouts but Not Losing Belly Fat? A Trainer Explains Why - and How to Fix It
If you've been doing ab workouts to no avail with the hopes of losing subcutaneous fat around your middle, you may want to think again. Often, people mistakenly believe that doing planks, crunches, and other ab exercises are what they need in order to flatten their stomachs, and the truth is: ab workouts don't burn belly fat. Exercises like mountain climbers and leg lifts are great if you want to strengthen your core, but if your goal is to reduce the fat around your belly, lower your body fat percentage, and maybe even get a six-pack, ab workouts alone won't cut it.
How to Lose Belly Fat
Instead of focusing on spot reduction, I think the best way to approach losing stomach fat, and fat in general, is by consistently training in the zone that allows you to burn the most fat. Bear with me. I know an answer like this can seem vague and frustrating, but the style of training that works for you to get rid of stomach fat may not work for someone else. You've probably heard that doing high-intensity workouts is the best way to burn fat. If you take anything away from this post, let it be that the best way to lose fat isn't one size fits all.
I agree that high-intensity workouts like sprinting that use multiple muscle groups at once are great in general. But, in order to find out what workout is best for you and your goals, consider getting a specialized test like the FatMax Protocol test. This test measures fat oxidation at different exercise intensities - basically, the exercise intensity where your body optimally burns the most fat. From there, you can work with an exercise physiologist or a certified trainer to design a training program that is best for you.
Unfortunately, this test is more than likely not offered at your primary care physician's office or at local gyms and fitness studios. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find a wellness company that offers the FatMax test and other body composition assessments. You can also contact local hospitals to see if they offer these specialized assessments. The PhysioLab, at Mount Sinai in NYC, administers the test for $450. This price may vary depending on your location and who is administering the test. I haven't had the opportunity to get this test done, but I definitely think it's worth the investment to figure out the best workouts for fat loss, your body, and your goals.
Weightlifting Can Help You Lose Fat
If you're unable to do the FatMax Protocol test because it's not available in your area or feels too pricey, I recommend incorporating weightlifting into your workout routine. I think lifting weights is one of the best ways to decrease your body fat, while maintaining and building lean muscle. If you're new to strength training, you can get started with this beginner's program. If you're more experienced with lifting weights, I suggest implementing more compound exercises - exercises that work larger muscles groups, and as a result, cause you to burn more calories and fat - into your routine. A few of my go-to compound exercises are: deadlifts, pull-ups, lunges, and renegade rows.
You'll Want to Check Your Diet
Now that you have an idea on how you should be training, it's time to discuss your nutrition. You don't have to be extreme and do the low-carb high-fat keto diet, but I do recommend minimizing or even completely cutting out alcohol, sugars, and processed foods. Similar to there being no one perfect workout to lose fat, there's not one perfect diet. It may take a lot of trial and error to figure out what works best for you, and I highly recommend working with a registered dietitian to devise a nutritional program that makes sense for your lifestyle and goals.
Most Beans Are Off-Limits on the Keto Diet, So What About This Thanksgiving Classic?
The countdown to Thanksgiving is officially on, and if you're feeling a little discouraged by everything you can't eat on the keto diet (ahem, your aunt's signature biscuits), here's a bit of good news: green beans get the green light.
While green beans share a name with off-limits legumes like kidney and pinto beans, they are much lower in carbs. "In one cup of green beans, there are about 10 grams of carbohydrates, with four of those coming from fiber," Jaclyn Shusterman, RDN, CD, CNSC, a health coach at Arivale, told POPSUGAR. That's only six grams of net carbs, making green beans about as virtuous as a side of broccoli or brussels sprouts.
When preparing green beans, try sautéing them in oil and topping them with herbs for a flavor-packed bite. (On keto, you can even serve them with bacon or prosciutto.) If you just can't have Thanksgiving without the traditional green bean casserole, there are ways to make that keto-friendly, too - by making the sauce with almond flour, for example.
If You Want to Lose Weight and Keep It Off, a New Study Suggests Going Low-Carb
Carbs seem to be so controversial: some people swear by eating them to boost energy and help them lose weight, while others eschew them almost entirely to get their body into the fat-burning state of ketosis. So which one is best for weight loss?
A study published in the journal BMJ assessed 164 overweight or obese people. The researchers found that those who ate a high-fat, low-carb diet increased their metabolisms compared to the low-fat, high-carb group. In fact, the low-carb group burned about 250 more calories a day compared to the high-carb group after five months.
"This study confirms that, remarkably, diets higher in starch and sugar change the body's burn rate after weight loss, lowering metabolism," Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, the dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, told The New York Times. "The observed metabolic difference was large, more than enough to explain the yo-yo effect so often experienced by people trying to lose weight."
These new findings suggest that the calories in, calories out (CICO) mentality of weight loss may be outdated. Although it seems like there's a new study every day that proclaims a revolutionary discovery about weight loss, this particular study was one of the largest and most expensive feeding trials, The New York Times reported.
However, not every body is the same; it's best to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian to find the best dietary plan for you. That may mean eating more carbs to have more energy or dialing them way back like on the keto diet. Ultimately, a diet only works if you treat it like a lifestyle change and stay on it long-term.
Got 1 Can of Pumpkin? Make These 3 Healthy Recipes
Your recipe called for half a cup of pumpkin, so you put the rest in the fridge, vowing to use it for another recipe. A week later, you find your sad little pumpkin puree and regretfully throw it out, feeling bad that yet another leftover can of pumpkin went to waste. Consider your pumpkin puree problems solved! Crack open a can and make these three recipes - they add up to 15 ounces of canned pumpkin.
21 Vegetarian Holiday Dishes That Aren't Plain Veggies
With turkey as the main event and animal products lurking in staple sides like stuffing and gravy, the holidays can be a tough time for vegetarians. But veggie-based should never mean fun-free, so here's a roundup of 21 creative, magnificently meatless holiday foods. Whether you're a loyal vegetarian or committed carnivore, you'll find many things to love about these dishes - because no one should have to eat plain ol' green beans at the happiest time of the year.
Build Strength and Burn Calories With These 25 At-Home Cardio Exercises
We're here to tell you that when it comes to calorie-burning cardio, you don't even need to leave your home. And you don't need any equipment! We've rounded up 25 of our favorite bodyweight exercises that are guaranteed to raise your heart rate. The cardio moves will not only help you burn fat, but they will help you build muscle, too. Pick a handful to use for your next at-home HIIT workout or to create your own cardio warmup before a strength-training session in your living room.
28 Fitness Gifts For Your Friend Who Only Wears Black
So, you need a gift for your friend who refuses to wear any color whatsoever? No problem! There are some great all-black fitness finds out there, especially because the dark shade covers up sweat so effortlessly. You might love some of these pieces so much that you'll end up with a cart full of jet-black gym clothes for yourself, too! Take a look.- Additional reporting by Maggie Panos
Walking Can Help Burn Belly Fat, but Only If You Follow This Trainer's Advice
If you think there's no point in exercising if you can't crush it in the gym for an hour, think again. Doing 30 minutes of aerobic activity like walking can help burn belly fat, slimming your waist and preventing conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Numerous studies have supported this, such as a 2007 study published in the International Journal of Obesity, which concluded that aerobic exercise like brisk walking is essential for visceral fat reduction, and a past study published in Environmental Health and Preventative Medicine found that women who walked less than 7,500 steps a day had more belly fat than those who met or exceeded that goal.
But while walking can definitely help burn belly fat, it's not quite that simple, Steven Goelzer, a certified personal trainer and metabolic specialist at Life Time Athletic in Laguna Nigel, CA, told POPSUGAR. "Burning fat depends way more on hormones than the type of workout you're doing," Goelzer said. "Low-intensity exercise (like walking) should burn a high percentage of fat, but the volume of training needed does not necessarily fit well in most people's schedules," he added, noting that a person's metabolism also helps determine how much walking they'd need to do to start to burn fat.
Lifestyle plays an even bigger role in belly fat - it's essential that you eat right and work to keep stress at bay, he explained. Of course, walking can help with both of these things, but together they're a factor in how much belly fat you're able to burn. "Too many things contribute to say just one thing will make losing belly fat easier," Goelzer said.
To stay healthy and maximize your fat-burning potential, Goelzer recommends walking six times a week for 30 minutes or more. Regular exercise and a steady adherence to a long-term program - along with a healthy diet and stress management - is your best bet for overall health, he added.
The Golden Rules of Fat Loss, According to an Expert
Never run again - lift more instead! Can getting fit really be that simple?
We asked Sarah Chadwell, NASM certified personal trainer and natural bodybuilder, just how you could skip running and still look like a gym goddess. She told POPSUGAR that there are more effective training practices to burn fat and build strength. "You can cardio yourself to death and still have the same flat figure," said Chadwell. "Or you can follow the golden rules of weight loss, never run again, and have a lean, sexy, curvaceous physique."
Here are the golden rules of fat loss that Chadwell lives by:
Why Wait Until Jan. 1? Start This Supersimple 6-Step Fat-Loss Plan Today
If you're feeling overwhelmed or confused about how to move forward on your weight-loss journey, here's a simple plan from fat-loss coach Carter Good (@cartergood on Instagram) to help you get started. With colder weather and the holiday season, Carter said it may be hard to muster up the discipline to stay consistent with a weight-loss plan. You may be thinking, "Forget it. I'll just start Jan. 1."
Only you know if now isn't the right time. But what if it was? What if you started today? Imagine waking up on New Year's Day, feeling lighter and stronger, with an arsenal of healthy habits built up? You'll feel "energized and excited to make 2019 the year you build the body and health you've always wanted," Carter wrote. End 2018 on the highest note possible, feeling proud and psyched to keep going.
If you're ready now, Carter's plan is a great place to begin. To follow it, he recommends starting each week with one of these habits; if you already do one, move on to another. He also said you can follow the order he has or pick and choose which ones you want to start with. "There's no right way to do it," he wrote. "All six habits are going to help you stay mindful and consume fewer calories." Let's do this!
A 34-Minute Interval Walking Treadmill Workout That'll Actually Help You Lose Weight
Getting fit can sometimes feel impossible, especially if you have never worked out or used to and are struggling to build back endurance and get back into a routine. We get that! But what if we told you that you could walk your way into a healthier, toner body and weight loss? A short interval walking routine can do that for you, while also improving your health.
Before you say, "No way; I can't run," we're not referring to a walk-run interval plan. Our interval walking plan features steady state walking on a flat incline and interval walking on an incline to get your heart rate up. "Using a heart rate monitor, I found that my heart rate would get just as high walking on an incline as it did when I was steady state jogging without incline," said certified personal trainer Sarah Chadwell, NASM, who has used the technique in her own training.
Here's everything you need to know about interval walking and its benefits, and a 34-minute plan that'll get you started.
22 Cute and Useful Gifts Your Babysitter Will Love
This holiday season, we know there's an endless list of people you need to buy gifts for, but one person you shouldn't let slip through the cracks is your nanny. Show your appreciation by finding them the perfect gift. This is no easy task; it has to be personal, original, and reflective of just how much they mean to you. We've come up with thoughtful gift ideas that do just that - and they all come in at under $100! Whether they're an artsy type, a makeup-lover, or a serious student, there's something for every kind of special sitter. Take a look at these choices.
More Than 50 of the Best Gifts For 8-Year-Olds in 2018
From cool science kits and remote-controlled planes to an updated version of the classic game of Simon, the 8-year-old on your list is ready for some fun. We've rounded up our favorite finds for the 8-year-olds in your life, whether they teeter on the edge of little-kid play or are already into big-kid games. Check it out!
To find exactly the gift you're looking for, check out the categories below.
- Educational and STEM Toys
- Riding Toys
- Outdoor Toys
- Dolls and Plush Toys
- Games and Puzzles
- Pretend Play and Dress-Up
- Books
- Crafts and Projects
- Just for Fun
100 Baby Names You've Never Heard of but Are Going to Want to Use
Every baby is special and unique, but the list of the country's most popular names Sophia, Emma, Jackson, and Aiden, to name a few — reveal that many babies are crawling around sporting the same name. We looked further into the United States Social Security Administration's (long) list of popular baby names and picked out the most unique of the bunch for you to consider for your one-of-a-kind baby.
Read through for 100 unusual baby names you've never heard of, but are definitely going to want to put to use!
The Best 90+ Gifts For 5-Year-Olds in 2018
The kindergartener on your list is no longer a tot. Somehow, moving into kindergarten helps kids express themselves more than ever before, so finding toys and games that help them build on the skills they are learning at school can also help them express themselves even more. From concentration games and early reading skills to Lego sets and Barbies, there's something on this list for every 5-year-old you know.
Read through for our favorite finds for the 5-year-old on your list, or consider getting them a stocking stuffer instead.
To find exactly the gift you're looking for, check out the categories below.
- Educational and Stem Toys
- Riding Toys
- Outdoor Toys
- Dolls and Plush Toys
- Games and Puzzles
- Pretend Play and Dress-Up
- Crafts and Projects
- Home and Clothing
- Books
This Couple Had a "Kitten Hour" at Their Wedding, and Yes, It's a Cat Lady's HEAVEN
Colleen and Iz, a couple from Washington, knew they wanted something out-of-the-box for their wedding day. And while they were most definitely looking forward to the reception, the pair wanted to do something special for their guests once the ceremony was over. They put their heads together and came up with the greatest idea ever: a "kitten hour," where guests held and played with tiny kitties while the couple took photos. Colleen and Iz enlisted photographer Kendall Shea of F*ck Yeah Weddings to capture the adorable moments, and frankly, I really should've been invited.
"We wanted our guests to have something to do as they arrived [while] we took pictures with our families, so we planned a kitten hour," Colleen told POPSUGAR. "We did a cocktail hour with cocktails named after our cats for the reception, but the Quaker meeting house we used for the ceremony doesn't allow alcohol on premises. I wanted a wedding falcon, but Iz vetoed that, and so we compromised on kittens."
Related: This Woman Takes the Most Breathtaking Photos of Her Cats Wearing Floral Crowns Like True Queens
Incorporating kittens into their special day was particularly important to the cat-loving couple. Although Colleen and Iz have two cats in their home, the cats' special needs prevented them from attending their owners' ceremony.
"We're HUGE cat people," stressed Colleen, who's also highly allergic to felines. "We adopted our two cats - Ladybird and Pangur Ban - as adults, and they have some special needs: Lady is blind, Pangur has IBS. But they're so special to us, and we wanted to do something to honor the love they've brought into our lives."
"It was hilarious to see our big, tough dads melting as they cuddled these tiny kittens . . . More than a few folks wanted to adopt right there on the spot, but the kittens were a little too young to be adopted out that day."
The next best thing? Coordinate with the Seattle Animal Shelter to arrange for rescue kitties to make an appearance instead.
"All we did was make a donation to the shelter, and we showed up the day of our wedding to a group of volunteers wrangling a litter of fuzzy little dudes," said Colleen. "They smelled AMAZING, like fresh little babies. We felt strongly about making sure we were supporting the Seattle Animal Shelter and not a breeder because we love our own rescue cats so much. They're funky, needy, and perfect for us."
Obviously, the kittens were a huge hit. How could they not be?
"The guests loved them," said Colleen. "So many people said it was their favorite part of the wedding, and they were a great conversation starter. It was hilarious to see our big, tough dads melting as the cuddled these tiny kittens. The atmosphere was definitely pretty mellow. More than a few folks wanted to adopt right there on the spot, but the kittens were a little too young to be adopted out that day."
Iz agreed, saying that she'd definitely consider doing it again some day. "I remember walking into the [venue] and being a little wound up with excitement. One of our friends saw me and handed me a kitten. I could feel my body immediately relax. I would totally do it again, maybe for the 10-year anniversary."
Keep reading to get a look at the photos and try not to double over with jealousy.
Related: A Photographer Takes Pictures of Cats "High" on Catnip, and It'll Be Your New Favorite Thing
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