Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
mardi 10 mars 2020
Did You See This Major Bachelor Twist Coming? Let's Break Down the Details
After Madison Prewitt became the center of controversy on The Bachelor during Fantasy Suites week, rumors swirled that she was going to leave the competition on her own. While that didn't happen during the final three, like some theorized, it did happen after all - only days before the final rose ceremony. In the first half of the two-part finale on Monday night, Madison broke things off with Peter officially. Here's how the big twist went down, start to finish.
Discussing Fantasy Suites
As we all expected, this week featured the ongoing saga of Madison's hurt over Peter's choice to sleep with Hannah Ann and Victoria F. during the Fantasy Suites, after she'd confided to him that it would make her uncomfortable.
"This is your journey and you are a big boy and you can make decisions for yourself, but I did want you to understand the weight and the gravity of the importance of that week for me and what I was OK with and what I wasn't OK with. I felt like you really just put your feelings and your needs and your wants like way above mine, and that was really hurtful," she said. Peter responded with his own concerns about Madison keeping her feelings more private.
"I know that I've hurt you in a lot of ways and I'm so sorry, and I totally get where you're coming from and why this is so difficult for you and why it means so much . . . Maybe you don't want to hear this, but you're the only person that I truly don't really know how you feel. And maybe you're not on a level that I'm at with you, and that's okay, but I feel like up to this point and me being so close to this type of decision, that that is something I should know. And I felt, going into that situation, I had someone that means the absolute world to me still hasn't even told me how she feels about me, and is now, as much as I don't want it to sound this way, is kind of an ultimatum."
Meeting Peter's Family
Somehow, the episode cut from their conflict to Madison telling Peter that she loves him and them going to meet his parents and his brother. The visit was a little bit awkward, especially when Peter alluded to their relationship hitting a "roadblock" and his father asked what that roadblock was. Throughout the visit, Peter's parents seemed very uncertain about whether or not Madison and Peter were really a good match.
After that visit, we finally found out the context of Peter's mom's much-teased "don't let her go . . . bring her home to us" line - and it's about Hannah Ann! She called Madison a "sweet girl" but called Hannah Ann "an angel," and referred to Madison's Fantasy Suite conflict as "forbidding" Peter to sleep with the other women. Peter, however, was still torn, and although he clearly was affected by his family's opinions, he also still seemed more uncertain than ever.
Madison Takes Charge
Madison got the first of the two final dates, but the difficult visit with Peter's family was clearly hanging over their date. That's when she finally took things into her own hands and made a decision that pretty much never happens at this stage on the show: she told him she was walking away.
"I want this so badly, but I think when you want something so badly, I think a lot of times you can't see clearly. And as much as we want this, I don't know that we can give each other what we need," she told Peter. "And sometimes I think . . . Being a good fighter is knowing when to surrender. And I do think that love still wins and I do still think love still conquers all because I'm willing to walk away so that you can get what you came here to find."
Despite Peter's protests, Madison explained, "I don't know that we're the best for each other," citing issues of compatibility and lifestyle. They cried and hugged for a while, then she drove off and he walked away. After his final date with Hannah Ann, Peter admitted to her that he was still torn, and she acknowledged how hurt she was that she was certain about him but he couldn't return the feelings.
It's clearly not the end of the story, though. On the live portion of the show, Chris Harrison told the audience that there's still more to come - and that we haven't seen the last of Madison. The season has been teased all along as one of the most "shocking" finales ever, which suggests that Peter isn't headed towards an easy-choice happily-ever-after with remaining contestant Hannah Ann. Are we headed towards a "run after her" situation like Colton? A dramatic post-show bait-and-switch like Arie? We'll find out tomorrow night, when the season finale airs at 8 p.m. ET on ABC!
The Woman in the Window: If You're Dying to Know, Here's What She Sees
Image Source: Amazon
A.J. Finn's 2018 hit murder mystery The Woman in the Window is getting the big-screen treatment with an Oscar-pedigreed cast - Amy Adams is set to star as the protagonist, Anna Fox, with Gary Oldman as a neighbor who arouses Anna's suspicions. The addictive 2018 page-turner pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window and a host of other noirish films - and fittingly so, since Anna is a fan of the old movies and also finds herself tangled in a dark tale worthy of Hitchcock himself.
If you're wondering what exactly it is the woman in the window sees before you see the movie, then keep on reading. Otherwise, turn back, because a whole lot of spoilers are coming at you.
Anna Fox is a child psychologist in her late 30s, living alone in her Harlem brownstone. She is separated from her husband, Ed, who lives away from her with their daughter, Olivia, though she talks to each of them daily. Meanwhile, Anna hasn't worked in quite a while, having been consumed by a case of agoraphobia (and a hefty amount of wine and pills) that prevents her from ever leaving her house.
Related: Don't Look Now, but The Woman in the Window's Trailer Is Here to Give You Chills
Her housebound state leads her to obsess over all of her neighbors, who include the recently transplanted Russell family, consisting of father Alistair, mother Jane, and teenage son Ethan. Jane and Ethan both take an interest in Anna, and she befriends each. One day as Anna is looking into their house, she witnesses what looks like Jane being stabbed to death in the living room. When Anna goes to the police, they don't believe her, because she comes off as an agoraphobic drunk who imagined the murder, and - twist! - Jane Russell, the wife and mother, is still alive, but she's not the woman Anna had met and seen killed.
Convinced this other Jane is an impostor, Anna remains obsessed with the Russell family, sure that Alistair is the one who killed the original Jane, and that he's abusive to his son, Ethan. As Anna investigates Alistair further, she gets closer to Ethan. Meanwhile, the detectives following up with Anna reveal the stunning truth about Anna's family: Ed and Olivia, her husband and daughter whom she talks to daily, are dead.
Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison
It's revealed that the previous year, Anna and her family had gone on a weekend trip to Vermont ahead of a huge snowstorm. The vacation vibes were short-lived, though, as it was soon revealed that Ed and Anna separated due to Anna's affair with her business partner. Ed confronted Anna, forcing her to tell their daughter about their separation. Olivia was so upset that she insisted the family drive back home to New York, despite the fact that the snowstorm was about to rage. On the drive home, Anna crashed the car; though she survived the wreck, her husband and daughter did not. This loss is what drives Anna to confine herself indoors in the present in the novel, self-medicating with booze and pills. Pretending they're alive is just a symptom of her PTSD.
In present day, Alistair continues to terrify Anna and deny the existence of the original Jane Russell, but when Anna discovers a picture of the original Jane on her phone - proving she was real - Anna presses Ethan for the truth. He confesses that the original Jane Anna had met was his birth mother, Katherine, and Alistair and Jane had adopted him as a child. Katherine had been addicted to drugs when she had Ethan, and her lowlife boyfriends frequently beat him up as a kid. Now clean, she'd been lurking around the family, trying to get close to Ethan, and he reveals that Jane had murdered Katherine to protect him. He tells Anna that his parents took the body upstate and buried her, and they now fear Anna because she's the one person who'd actually seen Katherine.
Related: You: A Breakdown of Every Twisted Thing That Happens in the Book
While Anna tries to figure out her next move, she has an epiphany that makes her question Ethan. He appears in her bedroom then, admitting he visits her at night, and has been doing so for a while. In fact, he'd also stolen her house key, catfished her online as an elderly woman to learn the details of what happened with her family, injured her cat, and lied about his mother killing Katherine. That was all him, he confesses, letting on that he'd been diagnosed with a personality disorder. He'd been having fun manipulating Anna after he'd become obsessed with her, and chosen her as his next victim. Anna realizes the whole time Alistair had been trying to protect her from Ethan, not the other way around.
In a game of cat and mouse at Anna's home, the two have a showdown on the roof garden during a rainstorm, and Anna gets the better of the teen killer, pushing him through the skylight to his death. The story ends with Anna finally getting closure over her family's deaths and Alistair going to jail for acting as an accessory to Katherine's murder.
We can't wait to see how these twists play out on the big screen, and if the movie will be as spellbinding as one of Anna's old-movie faves, when the adaptation comes out on May 15.
Kate Middleton Changed Into a Glam Gala Gown After Reuniting With Harry and Meghan
Kate Middleton continues to make sustainable style choices for her royal events. Shortly after the Duchess of Cambridge attended the Commonwealth Day service with Prince William and her in-laws, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, she hosted a gala at Buckingham Palace. Kate met with schoolchildren for the Place2be's 25th anniversary, and she rewore a favorite Jenny Packham gown for the occasion.
She first wore the intricately designed dress back in 2016 to attend a Bollywood-style celebration in Mumbai. This follows a pattern of recycling outfits which Kate has established recently, opting for older outfits over new pieces. We stan a eco-concious royal! She tied the glittery blue look together with a matching beaded clutch and sparkling Jimmy Choo pumps. Ahead, see Kate's look from all angles.
Kate Middleton Changed Into a Glam Gala Gown After Reuniting With Harry and Meghan
Kate Middleton continues to make sustainable style choices for her royal events. Shortly after the Duchess of Cambridge attended the Commonwealth Day service with Prince William and her in-laws, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, she hosted a gala at Buckingham Palace. Kate met with schoolchildren for the Place2be's 25th anniversary, and she re-wore a favorite Jenny Packham gown for the occasion.
She first wore the intricately designed dress back in 2016 to attend a Bollywood-style celebration in Mumbai. This follows a pattern of recycling outfits which Kate has established recently, opting for older outfits over new pieces. We stan a eco-concious royal! She tied the glittery blue look together with a matching beaded clutch and sparkling Jimmy Choo pumps. Ahead, see Kate's look from all angles.
The Bachelor: Get Madison's Distinctive Lash Look With Her Exact Mascara
Being on The Bachelor usually means one thing: a lot of crying. That's why the contestants need a mascara that can hold up to all the drama (or risk having a Hannah B. moment). This season, throughout all the drama and countless teary confessionals, Madison Prewitt's makeup look has been particularly gorgeous. If you're wondering what mascara she uses to get that look, we've got good news for you: it's actually a super common brand that's affordable and accessible for anyone.
On an early episode of The Bachelor, Prewitt is shown applying mascara in preparation for her date with Peter. Eagle-eyed viewers zoomed in on the mascara tube and figured it out: Prewitt's mascara is Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Waterproof Mascara ($10). The brush and the mascara both are designed to lengthen lashes and apply a shiny black coat for that camera-ready look. Most importantly of all, of course, is the fact that it's waterproof - or, at least, this version is; the same exact mascara also comes in a "washable" version that dissolves in just water. For all your pool party or rose ceremony needs, though, the waterproof version is your best friend.
As a stylish woman who also knows how to work hard (she works with foster families and hopes to open an orphanage, according to her official ABC bio), it's no surprise that Prewitt's makeup choices are refreshingly ordinary. While other elements of The Bachelor style seem incredibly unattainable for viewers (those glamorous wardrobes! the international locales! the exclusive dates!), it's great to see the contestants with some more down-to-earth choices.
The Bachelor: Get Madison's Distinctive Lash Look With Her Exact Mascara
Being on The Bachelor usually means one thing: a lot of crying. That's why the contestants need a mascara that can hold up to all the drama (or risk having a Hannah B. moment). This season, throughout all the drama and countless teary confessionals, Madison Prewitt's makeup look has been particularly gorgeous. If you're wondering what mascara she uses to get that look, we've got good news for you: it's actually a super common brand that's affordable and accessible for anyone.
On an early episode of The Bachelor, Prewitt is shown applying mascara in preparation for her date with Peter. Eagle-eyed viewers zoomed in on the mascara tube and figured it out: Prewitt's mascara is Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Waterproof Mascara ($10). The brush and the mascara both are designed to lengthen lashes and apply a shiny black coat for that camera-ready look. Most importantly of all, of course, is the fact that it's waterproof - or, at least, this version is; the same exact mascara also comes in a "washable" version that dissolves in just water. For all your pool party or rose ceremony needs, though, the waterproof version is your best friend.
As a stylish woman who also knows how to work hard (she works with foster families and hopes to open an orphanage, according to her official ABC bio), it's no surprise that Prewitt's makeup choices are refreshingly ordinary. While other elements of The Bachelor style seem incredibly unattainable for viewers (those glamorous wardrobes! the international locales! the exclusive dates!), it's great to see the contestants with some more down-to-earth choices.
The Best Disneyland Food and Drinks Worth Sitting Down For
During a Disneyland visit, it's easy to get caught up in the "go go go" mentality of running back and forth between attractions, barely stopping to catch a breath - let alone a bite to eat. Many people never even bother with sit-down eateries at the parks, opting instead for the quickest meal options. While many of these counter-service meals are tasty (hellooooooo, corn dogs!), there's a whole new world of tasty Disney delicacies that are worth sitting down and waiting for.
Between Disneyland, California Adventure, and the famous park hotels, here are our top picks for menu items that will take your taste buds to a whole new world. Trust us . . . they're worth the wait.
- Additional reporting by Lauren Harano
Meet the Aspiring Musicians Hoping to Find Love on The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart
Bachelor Nation is expanding once again with ABC's new series, Listen to Your Heart. The reality show, which premieres on April 13, follows single men and women (all of whom are musicians or people who work in music) as they live together and go on music-themed dates with one another. After making a special connection with someone, the couples will be tested through musical challenges, including some live performances in front of famous singers. As ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke put it, it's basically "The Bachelor in Paradise meets A Star Is Born." So, just who will be competing on the series? Keep scrolling for the full cast ahead.
The Best Disneyland Food and Drinks Worth Sitting Down For
During a Disneyland visit, it's easy to get caught up in the "go go go" mentality of running back and forth between attractions, barely stopping to catch a breath - let alone a bite to eat. Many people never even bother with sit-down eateries at the parks, opting instead for the quickest meal options. While many of these counter-service meals are tasty (hellooooooo, corn dogs!), there's a whole new world of tasty Disney delicacies that are worth sitting down and waiting for.
Between Disneyland, California Adventure, and the famous park hotels, here are our top picks for menu items that will take your taste buds to a whole new world. Trust us . . . they're worth the wait.
- Additional reporting by Lauren Harano
Meet the Aspiring Musicians Hoping to Find Love on The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart
Bachelor Nation is expanding once again with ABC's new series, Listen to Your Heart. The reality show, which premieres on April 13, follows single men and women (all of whom are musicians or people who work in music) as they live together and go on music-themed dates with one another. After making a special connection with someone, the couples will be tested through musical challenges, including some live performances in front of famous singers. As ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke put it, it's basically "The Bachelor in Paradise meets A Star Is Born." So, just who will be competing on the series? Keep scrolling for the full cast ahead.
The Best Disneyland Food and Drinks Worth Sitting Down For
During a Disneyland visit, it's easy to get caught up in the "go go go" mentality of running back and forth between attractions, barely stopping to catch a breath - let alone a bite to eat. Many people never even bother with sit-down eateries at the parks, opting instead for the quickest meal options. While many of these counter-service meals are tasty (hellooooooo, corn dogs!), there's a whole new world of tasty Disney delicacies that are worth sitting down and waiting for.
Between Disneyland, California Adventure, and the famous park hotels, here are our top picks for menu items that will take your taste buds to a whole new world. Trust us . . . they're worth the wait.
- Additional reporting by Lauren Harano
The Best Disneyland Food and Drinks Worth Sitting Down For
During a Disneyland visit, it's easy to get caught up in the "go go go" mentality of running back and forth between attractions, barely stopping to catch a breath - let alone a bite to eat. Many people never even bother with sit-down eateries at the parks, opting instead for the quickest meal options. While many of these counter-service meals are tasty (hellooooooo, corn dogs!), there's a whole new world of tasty Disney delicacies that are worth sitting down and waiting for.
Between Disneyland, California Adventure, and the famous park hotels, here are our top picks for menu items that will take your taste buds to a whole new world. Trust us . . . they're worth the wait.
- Additional reporting by Lauren Harano
The Best Disneyland Food and Drinks Worth Sitting Down For
During a Disneyland visit, it's easy to get caught up in the "go go go" mentality of running back and forth between attractions, barely stopping to catch a breath - let alone a bite to eat. Many people never even bother with sit-down eateries at the parks, opting instead for the quickest meal options. While many of these counter-service meals are tasty (hellooooooo, corn dogs!), there's a whole new world of tasty Disney delicacies that are worth sitting down and waiting for.
Between Disneyland, California Adventure, and the famous park hotels, here are our top picks for menu items that will take your taste buds to a whole new world. Trust us . . . they're worth the wait.
- Additional reporting by Lauren Harano
H&M's New Spring Line is a Total Dream and Prices Start at Just $10
H&M is one of our favorite shopping destinations for affordable yet stylish wardrobe essentials that you can wear just about anywhere. The retailer just dropped hundreds of new Spring clothes, and we can't get enough. From chic denim pieces to flattering dresses and stunning blouses, these picks are almost too good to be true. The best part: prices start at just $10. Keep scrolling to shop our top picks and find what belongs in your closet this season.
The Bachelor: Yeah, Peter Weber Is Cute, but Can We Talk About His Brother?
Peter Weber won over the ladies on The Bachelor this season, but his brother is just as charming. We first met Jack Weber during Peter's hometown date on The Bachelorette, and during part one of The Bachelor finale, we caught another glimpse of him when Peter's family met his final two women.
According to Peter's Instagram, Jack graduated from UCLA in June 2017. It seems like he eventually took up the family business shortly after. In August 2018, Jack shared a photo of him at the United Airlines Flight Training Center, and his Instagram (which is appropriately titled jettinjack) says he's an airline pilot like his brother. Peter even congratulated his younger brother on becoming an official commercial-rated pilot in June 2018. See more pictures of Jack ahead.
The Bachelor: Yeah, Peter Weber Is Cute, but Can We Talk About His Brother?
Peter Weber won over the ladies on The Bachelor this season, but his brother is just as charming. We first met Jack Weber during Peter's hometown date on The Bachelorette, and during part one of The Bachelor finale, we caught another glimpse of him when Peter's family met his final two women.
According to Peter's Instagram, Jack graduated from UCLA in June 2017. It seems like he eventually took up the family business shortly after. In August 2018, Jack shared a photo of him at the United Airlines Flight Training Center, and his Instagram (which is appropriately titled jettinjack) says he's an airline pilot like his brother. Peter even congratulated his younger brother on becoming an official commercial-rated pilot in June 2018. See more pictures of Jack ahead.
H&M's New Spring Line is a Total Dream and Prices Start at Just $10
H&M is one of our favorite shopping destinations for affordable yet stylish wardrobe essentials that you can wear just about anywhere. The retailer just dropped hundreds of new Spring clothes, and we can't get enough. From chic denim pieces to flattering dresses and stunning blouses, these picks are almost too good to be true. The best part: prices start at just $10. Keep scrolling to shop our top picks and find what belongs in your closet this season.
These 15 Floral Dresses Look Luxe, but They're All From Amazon and Start at $14
Spring obviously gets us in the mood to rock beautiful florals. If you're looking for something to wear to a celebration, date, or big event, we found pretty options online. And the best part is that they're all ridiculously affordable. Believe it or not, Amazon has an impressive selection of dresses for all sorts of occasions. Whether you want something sexy and chic or sweet and simple, we curated choices you'll find irresistible. So stop stalling and get shopping. Your wardrobe is waiting!
These 15 Floral Dresses Look Luxe, but They're All From Amazon and Start at $14
Spring obviously gets us in the mood to rock beautiful florals. If you're looking for something to wear to a celebration, date, or big event, we found pretty options online. And the best part is that they're all ridiculously affordable. Believe it or not, Amazon has an impressive selection of dresses for all sorts of occasions. Whether you want something sexy and chic or sweet and simple, we curated choices you'll find irresistible. So stop stalling and get shopping. Your wardrobe is waiting!
lundi 9 mars 2020
7 Habits That Could Be Causing Your Flu Symptoms to Linger Even Longer
It can feel like you might never recover from a case of the flu. The coughing, sneezing, fever, and body aches can knock you on your butt for days, keeping you from classes and work, and just generally disrupting your life. The flu is a major inconvenience, but it also proves year after year to be a potentially deadly virus. In other words, this isn't something you want to mess with for very long. POPSUGAR spoke with flu experts to find out exactly how you can get back on your feet - and they agreed that you should start by kicking these seven habits.
5 Lumbar Support Pillows That'll Help Relieve Your Workday Back Pain
Between stiff button-ups and caffeine hangovers, surviving a 9-to-5 is painful enough, but gritting your teeth through shooting back pain can make office life unbearable.
While we can't implement a sweatpants dress code, we can alleviate some of that low-back tension caused by sitting for hours with the proper lumbar support pillow.
The following desk-chair attachments can do wonders for relieving discomfort by supporting your spine, boosting your posture, and taking pressure off sensitive areas. Once you decide on a pillow that best fits your needs, you'll find cubicle life to be much more manageable.
Vanessa Hudgens Plays The Sims and Doesn't Care Who Knows It
There's a lot that you likely know about Vanessa Hudgens. She's an actress, singer, and dancer who rose to fame as a cast member of the High School Musical franchise. Most recently, she starred in the Netflix holiday rom-com The Knight Before Christmas and in this year's Bad Boys For Life. But the 31-year-old also harbors a deep, dark secret; one that she bravely shared with me during a phone call on March 3.
You see, Vanessa Hudgens is what we in the community call a Simmer. Simply put, she is an enthusiastic player of the iconic life simulation game The Sims, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Vanessa first discovered The Sims after watching her younger sister Stella play and has become such a dedicated Simmer that she's partnering with EA for their ongoing Play With Life campaign, which encourages fans to unleash their creativity, joy, and love of adventure in The Sims 4. She even got her very own Sim for the occasion, which you can check out ahead and download here. As a fellow obsessive of The Sims, I was delighted to chat with Vanessa about her play process (we all have one!), and how she uses the game as a tool for creative expression (and, you know, full control).
Britt Stephens: I love hearing that you got into The Sims by watching your sister play, because that's exactly how it was for me. What made you want to start playing the game yourself?
Vanessa Hudgens: I just love the fact that anyone can create their own world, their own rules, and their own story. It's just so customizable and I'm such a detailed person that I love being able to pick out every single tiny little thing in my Sims' house and have that be my online refuge. I also love magic, so the Realm of Magic game pack really got me going [laughs]. I love Halloween, and now I can escape into this magical world? Winning!
BS: I think everyone has a play process, so I'd love to know yours. For instance, my sister puts the bare minimum in her home, like a toilet, an oven, and a shower, and starts playing right away. Whereas I spend six hours just picking out outfits and decorating my Sims' house.
"There are no boundaries, and it's really cool to have that in such a safe space."
VH: I love the details! I love being able to pick out my clothes and creating my own character that's going to be in the game was so much fun because there were so many options that I could use to actually make my character look like me - and a great representation of me, not like the Bratz doll version [laughs]. It is legit me, and I love getting to interact and engage in this world that I can create for myself. There are no boundaries, and it's really cool to have that in such a safe space.
BS: Absolutely. Would you say that most of the Sims you make are reflective of you, or do you like making characters that aren't anything like you?
VH: I mean, I like it looking like me. But when it comes to the way that I dress, that tends to be all over the place. Some days I want to be wearing a full tuxedo and other days I want to be like a warrior woman, and that's what you get to do in the game, so I'm taking full advantage of it!
BS: Have you played Get Famous, the expansion pack that allows you to be an actress and go on set?
VH: Yeah. That's another great one because I can be an actress and I can be a singer. It's just fun.
BS: If you could have any aspect of the Sims in your own life, what would it be? For me it would be the motherlode cheat code.
VH: Just the fact that I have full control over what happens. Life is crazy, and it's a crazy time in the world right now, so being able to have full control over everything . . . that sounds maybe not healthy in the real world [laughs]. But, wishful thinking.
The Sims has been in my life for so long because of my sister playing it. So just the fact that I'm going to be a character in it is kind of bewildering to me. It's such a safe, inclusive place; when The Sims started 20 years ago, it was literally the only game that allowed players to form LGBTQ+ relationships. And I think it's really beautiful that they've been supporting that since the beginning. It's a community.
7 Habits That Could Be Causing Your Flu Symptoms to Linger Even Longer
It can feel like you might never recover from a case of the flu. The coughing, sneezing, fever, and body aches can knock you on your butt for days, keeping you from classes and work, and just generally disrupting your life. The flu is a major inconvenience, but it also proves year after year to be a potentially deadly virus. In other words, this isn't something you want to mess with for very long. POPSUGAR spoke with flu experts to find out exactly how you can get back on your feet - and they agreed that you should start by kicking these seven habits.
Vanessa Hudgens Plays The Sims and Doesn't Care Who Knows It
There's a lot that you likely know about Vanessa Hudgens. She's an actress, singer, and dancer who rose to fame as a cast member of the High School Musical franchise. Most recently, she starred in the Netflix holiday rom-com The Knight Before Christmas and in this year's Bad Boys For Life. But the 31-year-old also harbors a deep, dark secret; one that she bravely shared with me during a phone call on March 3.
You see, Vanessa Hudgens is what we in the community call a Simmer. Simply put, she is an enthusiastic player of the iconic life simulation game The Sims, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Vanessa first discovered The Sims after watching her younger sister Stella play and has become such a dedicated Simmer that she's partnering with EA for their ongoing Play With Life campaign, which encourages fans to unleash their creativity, joy, and love of adventure in The Sims 4. She even got her very own Sim for the occasion, which you can check out ahead and download here. As a fellow obsessive of The Sims, I was delighted to chat with Vanessa about her play process (we all have one!), and how she uses the game as a tool for creative expression (and, you know, full control).
Britt Stephens: I love hearing that you got into The Sims by watching your sister play, because that's exactly how it was for me. What made you want to start playing the game yourself?
Vanessa Hudgens: I just love the fact that anyone can create their own world, their own rules, and their own story. It's just so customizable and I'm such a detailed person that I love being able to pick out every single tiny little thing in my Sims' house, and have that be my online refuge. I also love magic, so the Realm of Magic game pack really got me going [laughs]. I love Halloween, and now I can escape into this magical world? Winning!
BS: I think everyone has a play process, so I'd love to know yours. For instance, my sister puts the bare minimum in her home, like a toilet, an oven, and a shower, and starts playing right away. Whereas I spend six hours just picking out outfits and decorating my Sims' house.
"There are no boundaries, and it's really cool to have that in such a safe space."
VH: I love the details! I love being able to pick out my clothes and creating my own character that's going to be in the game was so much fun because there were so many options that I could use to actually make my character look like me - and a great representation of me, not like the Bratz doll version [laughs]. It is legit me, and I love getting to interact and engage in this world that I can create for myself. There are no boundaries, and it's really cool to have that in such a safe space.
BS: Absolutely. Would you say that most of the Sims you make are reflective of you, or do you like making characters that aren't anything like you?
VH: I mean, I like it looking like me. But when it comes to the way that I dress, that tends to be all over the place. Some days I want to be wearing a full tuxedo and other days I want to be like a warrior woman, and that's what you get to do in the game, so I'm taking full advantage of it!
BS: Have you played Get Famous, the expansion pack that allows you to be an actress and go on set?
VH: Yeah. That's another great one because I can be an actress and I can be a singer. It's just fun.
BS: If you could have any aspect of the Sims in your own life, what would it be? For me it would be the motherlode cheat code.
VH: Just the fact that I have full control over what happens. Life is crazy, and it's a crazy time in the world right now, so being able to have full control over everything . . . that sounds maybe not healthy in the real world [laughs]. But, wishful thinking.
The Sims has been in my life for so long because of my sister playing it. So just the fact that I'm going to be a character in it is kind of bewildering to me. It's such a safe, inclusive place; when The Sims started 20 years ago, it was literally the only game that allowed players to form LGBTQ+ relationships. And I think it's really beautiful that they've been supporting that since the beginning. It's a community.
5 Lumbar Support Pillows That'll Help Relieve Your Workday Back Pain
Between stiff button-ups and caffeine hangovers, surviving a 9-to-5 is painful enough, but gritting your teeth through shooting back pain can make office life unbearable.
While we can't implement a sweatpants dress code, we can alleviate some of that low-back tension caused by sitting for hours with the proper lumbar support pillow.
The following desk-chair attachments can do wonders for relieving discomfort by supporting your spine, boosting your posture, and taking pressure off sensitive areas. Once you decide on a pillow that best fits your needs, you'll find cubicle life to be much more manageable.
Here's What Blue Light Before Bed Can Do to Your Circadian Rhythm - and How to Avoid It
As dedicated as I'm trying to be about my yearlong goal of getting better sleep, one habit I can't seem to kick is using tech before bed. I'm a big fan of bingeing YouTube videos, catching up on The Bachelor, and reading news stories from my comfy bed. Sometimes I'll be working late. Other times I'm FaceTiming my boyfriend. If there's an excuse out there to keep me scrolling instead of sleeping, I'll find it.
This is a common problem, and one that really can screw up your sleep. At first, I'm too distracted, entertained, and awake to want to power down. Then, when I finally do turn in for the night, my brain is still buzzing from the stimulation. I'm lying in bed feeling wired up instead of sleepy.
What is it about our devices that makes it so hard to go to sleep? You may have heard of a little thing called blue light, which is a wavelength of visible light produced naturally by the sun and artificially by our devices. Natural blue light during the day can help you stay awake and even provide a mood boost. But when you're overexposed to it, especially from your devices and especially at night, it can wreak havoc on your sleep-wake cycle and your sleep quality in general.
I Gave Up Caffeine For Health Reasons - Here's How I've Adapted Almost a Year Later
You know the pain you get from holding your pee in for too long? That's how I felt constantly when I used the bathroom beginning in Fall 2018. Long story short, after months of persistent pain as well as inconclusive ultrasounds, tests, and doctor appointments, I finally saw a urologist in April 2019. That was when I found out my symptoms aligned with the clinical diagnosis of interstitial cystitis (IC for short and sometimes called "painful bladder syndrome"), a chronic bladder condition associated with pelvic pain, pelvic pressure, and urinary tract symptoms such as urgency and frequency. The symptoms range in severity and differ per person, and they affect between three million and eight million women.
Barry Jarnagin, MD, FPMRS, medical director of the Center For Pelvic Health in Franklin, TN, and occasional consultant for Desert Harvest, described IC as an abnormality in the lining of the bladder meant to protect the muscle nerves from toxins. "The bladder is designed to be a reservoir to hold waste. That protective layer is defective in women who have IC, which allows that waste product to get into the muscle nerves of the bladder wall," he said.
There's no known cure, and doctors have not found exactly what causes it yet, though Dr. Jarnagin said that there is some precondition of getting IC as well as a trigger that damages the bladder and sets it off. "That trigger can be anything," he noted. "It can be having a vaginal delivery, it can be having a surgical procedure, it can be having a car accident, it can be having a UTI." There's also no test for IC specifically; it's diagnosed by exclusion once you eliminate other potential conditions.
Since my symptoms weren't debilitating like they can be for some women, my doctor explained that the first course of action would be to cut out triggering foods and drinks from my diet. Note: there are people who can control their IC by diet alone while others have persistent and severe symptoms that requirer prescription drugs, therapy, or surgery. It's different for everyone, but generally speaking, triggers include acidic foods and beverages, anything spicy, and caffeine. For me, the game plan focused on ridding my diet of OJ and other citrus (I had a clementine around Thanksgiving time and regretted it the next morning), most carbonated drinks, alcohol, and, tragically, coffee.
Caffeine can cause flare-ups in symptoms because it's a diuretic, Dr. Jarnagin said, meaning it increases urination. This stimulates the bladder, which is already tender, "and it's just like having a sore back or a sore arm or a sore neck: the more you have to work it, the more symptoms you're going to have."
How I've Gotten Through Almost a Year Without Caffeine
As someone who lived off copious amounts of coffee and Starbucks Doubleshot Espressos in college and relied heavily on my morning (and afternoon) fix to get me through workdays, I was devastated to find out I needed to say goodbye to caffeine. I experienced withdrawal and had headaches for the better part of two weeks after I cut it out. However, there are ways that I've learned to live a caffeine-free life. Plus, the even better news is that my bladder pain felt noticeably better once I made this change and cut out other drinks like OJ. (My IC symptoms as of right now are under control!)
I'll start out by acknowledging that I can 100 percent make improvements (one of those being learning to get more sleep). But, here's what I've done so far to help me maintain a decent amount of energy throughout the day.
I make sure to eat breakfast. I used to rely on coffee to help me feel awake in the morning, but I now try to eat a full-enough breakfast to give me energy when I start my workday. I've always been a breakfast person; I'm just more cognizant of it now.
After that, I try to eat smaller meals at work more frequently. To keep my energy levels up, I make sure I'm eating smaller meals that have protein and complex carbs.
I maintain a normal exercise routine. I typically work out four days a week. On top of that, exercise is recommended for IC patients to promote a healthy bladder and pelvic floor (low-impact activity is recommended for those who experience flare-ups from higher-impact exercise).
I stay hydrated. I'll be the first to admit that I need to get better at this, but I've really been trying to drink more water. This especially helps with IC because, as Dr. Jarnagin explained, it dilutes the waste that sits in the bladder and flushes it out.
Decaf, decaf, decaf. Decaf coffee still has a small amount of caffeine in it, and some IC patients report that decaf still affects their bladders. Also, Dr. Jarnagin explained that decaf coffee can have acidity levels that irritate the bladder. But, for me, I haven't noticed any flare-ups with decaf. In fact, I mainly drink it because having a morning cup of coffee was part of my everyday routine for so long, and I like the taste. I also frequently drink herbal tea (I skip black and green teas because they have caffeine). You can see some of the products I bought when I first cut out coffee here.
Especially in the office, I want to take more breaks to get some fresh air, so adapting to the lack of caffeine is still a work in progress. A bonus of cutting out caffeine is that I don't get jittery and I'm less anxious. Note: if you're having trouble keeping your energy up without caffeine, it's best to speak to a medical professional for their advice.
Will I Ever Have Caffeine Again?
Do I miss caffeine? Yes. My doctor didn't say anything about adding it back into my diet. However, when I spoke with Dr. Jarnagin, he said that, generally, once IC symptoms subside, people can slowly incorporate caffeine back into their routine as long as it isn't triggering flare-ups. He also said he's a realist, so he typically doesn't tell his patients that they have to cut out coffee cold turkey to begin with; instead, he suggests limiting their caffeine intake to see if that helps.
In theory, if I incorporate caffeinated coffee and tea back into my life and don't feel any symptoms, I should be fine, but for now, I'd rather be safe and keep doing what I'm doing. As Dr. Jarnagin put it - and I'm paraphrasing - don't screw with what's working. To learn more about IC, check out urologyhealth.org, ic-network.com, or the Interstitial Cystitis Association website.
Related: Is Caffeine Actually Good For You? Here's How It *Really* Affects Your Body
Kat Ditched Her Obsessive Goal of 6-Pack Abs After Finding Out She Had Hashimoto's
I'm sure many of you can relate to Kat Spangler, 28, and her desire of wanting six-pack abs. But what started out as a healthy interest in food and fitness to support her dancing quickly turned into extreme diets and workout plans just to achieve that flat tummy. After experiencing a myriad of health issues, Kat finally said enough is enough. Here's her story of how she gave up disordered eating and took back her health.
Claire's Journey to Beat Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia: "My Weight Is Not My Worth"
From a life full of fighting with her weight, a bad relationship with food, and bullying because of it, Claireabelle Burt, 27, has endured bulimia and binge eating disorder. After ending a toxic relationship, she was done hiding from the world and began her journey of self-love. She shares her story now to let others suffering know they aren't alone.
If you or someone you love are experiencing signs and symptoms of an eating disorder, the National Eating Disorders Association has several resources, including 24/7 crisis support by texting "NEDA" to 741741.
Claire's Journey to Beat Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia: "My Weight Is Not My Worth"
From a life full of fighting with her weight, a bad relationship with food, and bullying because of it, Claireabelle Burt, 27, has endured bulimia and binge eating disorder. After ending a toxic relationship, she was done hiding from the world and began her journey of self-love. She shares her story now to let others suffering know they aren't alone.
If you or someone you love are experiencing signs and symptoms of an eating disorder, the National Eating Disorders Association has several resources, including 24/7 crisis support by texting "NEDA" to 741741.
We Finally Know Where All the Love Is Blind Couples Ended Up! Here's the Tea
Netflix's Love Is Blind is certainly a new twist on the classic dating show formula, which has us wondering if any of the couples are still together postfilming. The new series, hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, has contestants start their relationships without being able to meet in person - and they can't meet until they get engaged. But the engagement is just the start: the show then follows them as they try to figure out their relationships in the real world, integrate their families and lives, and head toward a wedding. Sound difficult? It definitely has produced tons of drama on screen, with plenty of intense breakups. Now that the season is wrapped up with a reunion episode available, we know which couples are still together after the show. Keep reading to learn who has - and hasn't - made it.
We Finally Know Where All the Love Is Blind Couples Ended Up! Here's the Tea
Netflix's Love Is Blind is certainly a new twist on the classic dating show formula, which has us wondering if any of the couples are still together postfilming. The new series, hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, has contestants start their relationships without being able to meet in person - and they can't meet until they get engaged. But the engagement is just the start: the show then follows them as they try to figure out their relationships in the real world, integrate their families and lives, and head toward a wedding. Sound difficult? It definitely has produced tons of drama on screen, with plenty of intense breakups. Now that the season is wrapped up with a reunion episode available, we know which couples are still together after the show. Keep reading to learn who has - and hasn't - made it.
Celebrities Are Proving That the Shag Haircut Is Back, and It's Cooler Than Ever
The shag haircut isn't exactly new. The choppy, layered hair look - typically styled with tons of texture - was popularized back in the 1970s, but it has since made a comeback this year on our favorite celebrities.
What you're seeing on seemingly every A-lister from Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez to Taylor Swift and Sarah Hyland isn't what you'd see decades ago. The updated version of the shag is what hairstylist Devin Toth told POPSUGAR would be the coolest haircut trend of the year.
"The two popular shag styles will be ultra curly, ultra layered, and then straight with long curtain bangs that sweep," he said. "The curly shag is very round with a pure release of texture. It will be a seamless transition from bangs to short layers to long layers to bottom length. The straight shag can be styled however you want, but it generally has longer layers with the focus of the style being the bold curtain bangs - sweeping but not fully connected to the rest of the style."
See the celebrities wearing this year's most-wanted hairstyle ahead.
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