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 7 juillet 2017
Exactly What to Eat 2 Weeks Before Your Wedding to Lose Weight
When it came to starting a wedding diet, I procastinated. Hard. In fact, a month before the big day I went on a work trip to Morocco and Paris where I ate all of the bread, butter, and chocolate my appetite desired (as one does). Which is all part of the how I found myself muffin-topping over the sides of my strapless Reem Acra gown (pictured, top left) at my last fitting, just two weeks before I was supposed to walk down the aisle.
I'll admit, I was bloated at the time from my period, so when it ended a few days before my wedding, my body tightened. But, I was also up a few pounds. Instead of accepting it, I took about four private workout sessions per week with celebrity trainer David Kirsch. The pro is responsible for sculpting the bodies of celebrities (like Jennifer Lopez and Heidi Klum) and has a wealth of fitness and health knowledge (to recap, he's written five books, has his own line of shakes and supplements, and owns a top-notch NYC gym). He put me on a routine that was a mix of cardio, strength training, HIIT, and TRX. Every time we met up, the moves and sequences were different, which kept my body guessing and metabolism revved.
But anyone who has successfully lost weight knows diet is more than half of the battle. And pre-getting "Kirsched," I had been working out almost every day anyways. So I do credit his eating plan for partly pushing those five extra pounds off of my body.
Here, I am going to share exactly what I ate - and most importantly, did not eat! - to shed the lbs, so my dress fit perfectly (top right). Note, the dress was not taken in or out between the two images, but my body actually transformed in two weeks!
"In my experience working with a bride-to-be, the last couple of weeks leading up to the wedding is uber stressful," Kirsch told me. "As you can attest to personally (Lauren), slight tweaking of your diet will go a long way to keeping you optimally energized, fueled, and looking your very best on the big day!"
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lauren Levinson
Let's start with the hard part, things to avoid according to Kirsch:
Say goodbye to pizza, because you will not be eating processed carbs (bread, pasta, crackers, etc.) or dairy. "I have found that dairy can cause bloating, and who wants to be bloated on their day?" Kirsch said. And no whole grains or potatoes either.
I have personally eliminated both gluten and dairy for weeks and added them back to reveal that I am not intolerant to either. I can have a slice of pizza and feel like a peach, but kicking them out of my diet definitely made my belly flatter. After three days of no carbs, I was craving them! So I texted Kirsch asking if I could have a sweet potato. He told me to crunch on celery instead. It took willpower to follow his advice, but it was worth it. I surely enjoyed sliding into my bathing suit when I arrived at my tropical honeymoon a few days after my wedding.
You'll also need to revamp your drinking game. That means, no alcohol (NONE!). While this meant sitting through events, family dinners, and bar nights totally sober, I enjoyed the mental clarity and increased energy in the mornings. "Save the glass of champagne for after you walk down the aisle!" he said. And yes, I got to enjoy a few flutes of well-earned bubbly at my affair . . . and a margarita!
I also had to limit the amount of coffee I drank. Kirsch recommends having one espresso in the morning. While I stuck to brewed coffee beans, I drank it black. I didn't even add almond milk, and I swear it makes a difference in better digestion.
Kirsch believes that "too much coffee can lead to belly bloat!" Think about it, coffee dehydrates you, so you retain water to hold on to it. Instead, switch over to green tea, which has both caffeine and antioxidants. Every morning, I also had one of his A.M. Detox Drinks (it's yummy and fantastic for your skin!). You can see it in the mason jar above.
Finally, the hardest (for me, since I have a sweet tooth): no sugar. Even dark chocolate. OK, I may have had a handful of dark chocolate-covered almonds one rough night, but for the most part (like 95 percent) I kissed my beloved cookies, ice cream, and cupcakes goodbye. In fact, my husband hid the chocolate on a very high shelf so I could not reach or find it in our apartment. Do what you need to do to survive, brides!
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lauren Levinson
Now onto what you can eat. Disclaimer, this was not Kirsch's exact plan but one loosely based off his advice and what I know works best for my body.
For breakfast I stuck to two options. The first, two eggs and sauteed spinach, all cooked in EVOO. Earlier in my wedding prep, I enjoyed that dish with a side of avocado, but the last two weeks I cut it based on Kirsch's recommendation to limit my fat intake (even healthy ones!). Otherwise, I had an antioxidant-rich bowl of unsweetened coconut yogurt with a handful of raw almonds, chia seeds, flax seeds, cacao nibs, and blueberries. While Kirsch recommended no fruit (remember, no sugar!), I know blueberries are good for eliminating belly fat and making skin glow, so I had some anyways. If you're going to have sugar, eat it in the morning so you can burn it off throughout the day.
When it came to snacks, I sipped on dark green pressed juice (the kind without fruit) and crunchy veggies (Kirsch likes celery, red peppers, and jicama sticks). I also ate GoMacro bars, which were referred to me by another trainer I'd been working out with, Steve Pasterino. I bent the rules a little since these are made with brown rice syrup, but it ensured that I had an option when I was on-the-go.
Dinner and lunch were pretty similar. I'd either have what I dubbed a "Sad Salad" of spinach, crunchy water veggies (cucumber and snow peas), and lean protein (homemade chicken or salmon with no sauces) - all drizzled with EVOO and a lemon squeeze. Snooze. Otherwise, I would cook veggies (such as steamed green beans or asparagus) and have it with the aforementioned lean meat or fish. Sometimes, I would even have the eggs (see: breakfast!) for dinner, which I found very easy to digest. Occasionally, I'd enjoy a green smoothie (kale, spinach, blueberries, almond milk) with pea protein powder.
Image Source: Bruce Plotkin Photography
And for our grand finale, what to eat during your actual wedding weekend:
By then being a bride had taken over my identity (it happens to the best and most chill of us ladies in white). So I brought my own food to the weekend destination, including unsweetened coconut yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, green juice, nuts, seeds, bars, etc. I made sure my hotel room had a fridge to store it in.
"The day before is a day that you want to make sure to put the finishing touches," said Kirsch. "You have planned hard, sweated hard, and stayed away from the obvious no-nos. What else can you do? I suggest a relaxing massage, sauna, and steam. Eating foods like asparagus and celery will help keep you full and debloat you."
So I couldn't resist a taste of homemade pasta during our rehearsal dinner at a delicious Italian restaurant, but by 7 a.m. the next day, I was back on it.
"The day of, I would have a couple of eggs in the morning and oatmeal as you will need the energy and fuel for the rest of the day," Kirsch recommended. "A protein shake for lunch and water for the rest of the day. Save the drinking and eating for after the ceremony, or better yet, for the honeymoon!"
Here's what I consumed for breakfast on my wedding day: I had the antioxidant yogurt and seed bowl as well as black coffee; for lunch I ate a simple salad with grilled chicken provided by my venue; and for snack, I went with a GoMacro bar. After the ceremony, my husband and I sat in a separate room and ate every single appetizer (including pork buns, pulled BBQ chicken, mini grilled cheese sandwiches, and more!) and drank champagne. Diet. Over. As the evening went on, I enjoyed the goat cheese salad (CHEESE!), the short rib and sweet potato entree, wedding cake, homemade cookies, and apple cider donuts. There was pizza at our afterparty. I ate that, too.
Was dieting fun? No. Was it satisfying? Absolutely not. Was it worth it? Hell yes! For two weeks, you can do this! And you likely will lose inches, but you have to stick to it almost perfectly. We all have our handful of dark chocolate almonds here and there, but make sure you get right back on track. The best part in addition to your tight bod? You can pig out on your honeymoon! (On mine, I sure did my job consuming all of the noodles and dumplings Southeast Asia had to offer . . . and that is another story. Next up: How to get back your hot wedding bod of yesteryear.)
Workout sessions for the author were provided by David Kirsch for the purpose of writing this story.
Why You Keep Talking to Your Baby in an Annoying, High-Pitched Voice
Baby talk can be annoying and addictive. Lauren Vinopal of Fatherly shares the science behind this behavior.
Talking to your baby in an annoying, higher-pitched voice is not a symptom of parenthood slowly melting your brain. It's a normal and scientifically backed way to communicate with infants utilized in cultures and languages throughout the world. Infant-directed speech, otherwise known as caregiver speech or "motherese" (which can't make dads feel much better about using it) is not simply sing-songy nonsense. It's sing-songy nonsense that helps kids develop the language skills.
"Fathers use it as much as mothers. It's not as if men go 'well, I'm not gonna sound like that.' They do sound like that," Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, developmental psychologist and professor at Temple University, who's studied the topic, told Fatherly.
Hirsh-Pasek suspects that it's in people's nature.
"Instinctually we know there are certain accommodations we can make in language to others that will make it more identifiable and clear." This clarity comes with a lot of developmental advantages. Infants take in all sorts of stimuli, but infant-directed speech signals that this language is for them and they should listen. It simplifies statements so babies can start to recognize where sentences begin and end.
Finally, the slower more enunciated speech helps kids learn vowel structure, Hirsh-Pasek explains. Many, many, many studies echo her claims. Still, it's not exactly harmful to defy this tone either, she notes.
Melanie Soderstrom, associate professor of psychology at the University of Manitoba, has studied the topic as well. She's found that adults don't always want to believe they change their voices. "A lot of parents tell me that they 'never use baby-talk' but then in the next moment you hear them talking with their baby, and they're doing it," Soderstom told Fatherly. To her, what's important is that parents talk to their babies at all. If using infant-directed speech makes them self-conscious to the point of silence, she stresses that not using it is better than not talking at all.
Hirsh-Pasek agrees that the most important takeaway for parents is that they take the time to have a conversation with their kids. "Put down the cell phone, look in your child's eyes for two minutes and have a real conversation," she says. "What comes out of their mouths will be more informative than anything on that phone." It might even influence how they baby-talk to your grandkids one day.
If You Want to Lose Weight, This Meal Should Be Your Biggest
How many calories you eat in a day has a direct impact on whether you'll lose, gain, or maintain your weight. If you're looking to lose, creating a calorie deficit is a must, but when you eat your calories also plays a role. Should you have an even supply of calories throughout the day, or should you try to eat most of your calories by a certain time?
According to certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition, "making lunch your biggest meal" could be the change you need in order to see results. A recent study of 80 women, ages 18 to 45, found that having lunch as the biggest meal of the day increased weight loss but also helped with blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. The study also showed that over 12 weeks, those having lunch as the biggest meal lost 12.8 pounds and those with dinner as the biggest meal lost 9.6 pounds.
Pretty interesting, huh? Just changing when to eat the most calories could be the edge you need to see results that you aren't seeing from a healthy diet alone. You have more time to burn off those calories, which means less stored calories overnight.
Leslie suggests trying to "eat 40 percent of your daily calories at lunch. So for a 1,500-calorie diet, which would be common for weight loss, it would be a 600-calorie lunch. That leaves a 450-calorie breakfast and a 450-calorie dinner. Or if you prefer snacking, a 400-calorie breakfast, a 100-calorie snack, and a 400-calorie dinner.
It seems easy enough to make this change, and not only could it help with weight loss, but eating less at night could also help prevent bloating or heartburn and help you sleep better. It's worth a try! Remember that just because you're making lunch your highest-calorie meal, it's not a green light to go for unhealthy calories! Keep the mantra in mind, "think of food as fuel," and make sure your meal contains protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
Dua Lipa's "New Rules" Music Video Should Be Your 2017 Single Summer Goals
It's time for some fresh faces on the music scene. Sure, we've seen the return of some killer artists in previous months: we're counting our blessings because of Kesha's powerful new single, Lorde's groundbreaking second album, and even Haim's triumphant return this week. But now, we're turning our attention to the new and lively tunes of Dua Lipa. The budding artist released her debut self-titled album just last month, and this week, she's treating us to a music video for "New Rules." Like the lyrics suggest, Dua Lipa spends the majority of the video moving on from that ex that she just can't seem to let go of. Luckily, she's got an entire girl squad to help her through.
Lorde Hints That She's Not as Close With Taylor Swift as People Think She Is
You may remember Lorde comparing her friendship with Taylor Swift to an autoimmune disease while promoting her album Melodrama a couple of weeks ago. Well now, the "Green Light" singer is saying she isn't as close with Taylor as people think she is. When asked how it felt to suddenly be hanging out with her celebrity idols in an interview with Australia's Sunrise, she said, "I don't hang out with these people at all." Host David Koch then brought up the fact that she's part of Taylor's squad, to which she replied, "You make friends in different places, but I think for the most part, I'm not calling up my idols for advice necessarily."
But, hold on a second, didn't Taylor give Lorde the royal treatment for her 20th birthday party back in November 2016? And didn't she come out of hiding back in March to gush about "Green Light?" I don't know about you, but I'm confused.
Mom's Warning About "Motherhood Battles" After a Riptide Almost Killed Her Twins
In an instant, Sarah Grundy's day at the beach with her twins went from a typical Summer afternoon to a traumatizing experience.
While this mom from Philadelphia and her 14-year-old girls were enjoying the water at Long Beach Island in New Jersey, Sarah walked out of the waves to put her sunglasses on the beach. Suddenly, she heard her daughter Isaana scream, so she turned. All she could see was the top of her other daughter's head and went racing back into the ocean.
"Moments prior when I turned around, the water was just up to our knees! So there was no concern at all," she told POPSUGAR. "The water was ERIE calm. It happened in ONE INSTANT that suddenly they were getting dragged under water."
The girls were caught in a riptide and instead of swimming parallel to shore, which is what should be done in that situation, they were fighting the waves. "I'm a good swimmer, surfer (sort of), and have swam in the ocean all my life, but nothing I did could get me to them fast enough," she said. "The harder you fight a riptide the more chance you have of sinking and [them fighting] it was sinking them even faster."
Isanna was holding her sister Lezele to help keep her from drowning as they continued to struggle underwater. In order to save them, Sarah explained that a group of six people had to create a chain to get them out of the water and safely on shore. "It took all of us. Me screaming, the locals being stronger and smarter than I was to get them out of that current, and Isaana holding Lezele above the water, screaming for help loud enough for me to hear, until we got to them," she wrote on Instagram. "If it weren't for the guards and the men on the beach that day . . . "
The girls were gray by the time they made it to the shore and an ambulance immediately took them to the hospital. "No. joke. It was one of the scariest moments of our lives," Sarah wrote. "Motherhood. We choose our battles. All can't be won, but I'm trying to be grateful for those I have won . . . we nearly all lost that battle."
The doctor explained how lucky Sarah was that neither of her girls had water in their lungs after he examined them for potential secondary drowning symptoms - something she had never heard of before. "After a near-drowning incident you can actually 'drown' 24 hours later, if you're not careful," she explained. "It happened to one of the dads on the island who rescued a kid, just the day before."
Two other families at the beach unfortunately weren't as lucky that day, as the riptides took the lives of two people, and now a year later, Sarah wants other families to realize what she took for granted:
Riptides can catch even the most avid swimmer, surfer, and ocean-lover off guard. Swim out of them, parallel to shore, then head back to shore. DO NOT resist them, if you can't escape, float or tread water. A group of lifeguards, and those on the beach saved the twins from the riptide. I could not get to them. That's something we'll never forget. SWIM NEAR GUARDS ONLY. This beautiful salty sea does not play. Especially when she's at her prettiest.
Now, Sarah and her girls talk about safe swimming practices regularly, check the water for riptides, and always stay near a lifeguard. "I see kids in the water alone all the time and now it scares me to death because I saw how fast and how fierce that water truly was," she said. "I've always loved the sea, but what I realized after she nearly gobbled both my babies in one gulp, was that I didn't have enough respect for how powerful she truly is, and now I see."
After almost losing her girls, Sarah wants parents not only to be vigilant when their kids are by the water, but to also appreciate when things are calm. "Win the important battles and save your energy for them," she wrote. "Don't let the little sh*t (that really gets tough) be where you place your focus, because we just never know when we will need to fight a much bigger battle and you'll want to conserve your strength for it."
The Perfect Selena Gomez Summer Outfit For Every Type of Girl
From Coachella to getaways with her boyfriend, The Weeknd, and public appearances, Selena Gomez maintains a very chic wardrobe. But each of her outfits is different than the one that came before. Selena can turn up the bohemian vibes one day and show up in a daring, sexy, sophisticated midi dress the next.
Most of Selena's outfits - even the most dazzling - are actually pretty easy to pull off, especially in the Summer when she mainly sticks to strappy sandals or white low-top sneakers. If you want to dress as effortlessly as the singer, you have to define your signature style first. Scroll for a rundown of Selena's different fashion personalities, then choose the look that matches your own mantra.
Once Upon a Time Adds 5 New Faces to Its Season 7 Cast
Once Upon a Time is going in a completely different direction for its seventh season, and while it's all very exciting, it means that a bunch of regular cast members are leaving. Jennifer Morrison was the first to announce her departure, followed by Rebecca Mader, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Jared Gilmore, and Emilie de Ravin. That leaves a handful of familiar faces plus a few new ones. It's also not the end for the cast members who have left; Morrison is under contract to appear in one episode of season seven, and Goodwin told Entertainment Weekly that "of course I (and we) will be back" for the series finale. Until then, here are the people who we'll be seeing the most of in season seven.
18 Times Hilary Duff Chased the Sun in a Bikini
Hilary Duff has only gotten more beautiful since playing our teenage role model, Lizzie McGuire. Aside from showing off her incredible style on her hit show Younger, the mother of 5-year-old Luca isn't shy about flaunting her incredible figure during vacations. Whether she's hitting the beaches of Hawaii or she's taking selfies with a fish during her downtime, we can't get enough of her physique. See all the times she chased the sun while wearing a two-piece.
Jennifer Aniston's Dress Doesn't Scream "Look at Me," but Her Tiny Bag Does
Jennifer Aniston's go-to outfits for red carpets and dinner dates are usually black. This much we know, so it wasn't a surprise when we spotted her in an LBD. The star grabbed dinner with her husband and a few friends while wearing a ruffled wrap dress with peep-toe heels. Though her going-out outfit didn't exactly scream "look at me," her bag, on the other hand, definitely stood out.
It was a structured little box with an adjustable strap, which Jennifer wore across her body. Though the accessory was black to complement her outfit, the polished style didn't go unnoticed. It was a classic mini bag and one we hope to see Jennifer wear again. Scroll on for a closer look, then shop similar box bags of your own.
What You Need to Know Before Quitting the Pill
Between reports of health complications and more women thinking about IUDs, you might be considering a break from birth control pills. If you're concerned about what this change will do to your body, here's some information and advice from a board-certified physician who practices in southern California.
Dear Doctor,
I have been taking birth control pills for 10 years and things have shifted in my personal life and I no longer need to worry about getting pregnant. I want to go off this pill but am worried what will happen to my body and my cycle. Can you tell me what I should expect when I stop taking the pill? Will I gain weight? Will I break out? Will my period be just awful? Also, how long will it take for my hormone levels to return to normal?
- No More Pill For Me
Let me take off my lady doctor cap for a moment and share with all of you that I went through this very same issue last year. After years on the pill, I stopped taking it and will give both some professional and personal advice on this matter with you.
To begin, the birth control pill works by preventing ovulation. Once you stop taking the pill, the hormones are out of your body quickly, usually within a couple of days (this is why women who miss a couple days of pills on birth control have a chance of ovulating and getting pregnant!). Another important point to make is that it does not matter how long you were on the pill, from 10 weeks to 10 months to more than 15 years, your body will still be rid of the hormones within a couple of days!
Once the hormones are out of your system, your body will begin to start producing hormones to initiate menstrual cycles. Some women will begin to ovulate in a couple of weeks, whereas it may take several months for other women to begin to ovulate. Generally speaking, your body should be back to "normal menstruation mode" within two to three months after stopping the pill. It is important to emphasize that if you had problems with ovulation prior to starting the pill, you may continue to have irregular ovulation/periods after stopping the pill. Most women with normal ovulation/periods prior to starting the pill will continue to have normal ovulation/periods after stopping the pill. But some women who had regular periods prior to starting the pill may have irregular ovulation after stopping the pill. The key point here is that everyone's experience with ovulation/periods after stopping the pill is different!
There is a condition called post-pill amenorrhea (or lack of menstruation) that can occur after stopping the birth control pill. According to the Mayo Clinic, the reason for lack of menstruation in these women is that the body is just taking longer to produce the hormones necessary for ovulation and menstruation. If you still haven't had a period after three months, they recommend taking a pregnancy test. It would be prudent to also schedule an appointment with either your primary care physician or gynecologist for evaluation. Some women never get a period after they stop taking the pill because they ovulate and conceive right away after the discontinuation. If you do not want to become pregnant, use another form of contraception such as condoms or a diaphragm.
Many women take certain birth control pills to regulate their acne. Once you stop using birth control, you may notice an increase in acne on your face or on other parts of your body. When your body's hormone levels regulate again, the acne can subside in some cases. As far as weight fluctuation is concerned, it has been shown that birth control pills that are higher in estrogen may cause weight gain and water retention. Therefore, your body may adjust after stopping the pill and some weight loss may occur due to a decrease in water retention. Again, each woman's experience may be different. Case in point, I did gain some weight after I stopped the pill, but it may have been because of other factors due to the stress of trying to conceive, which is why I stopped taking the pill. Many birth control pills are designed especially to help treat exaggerated premenstrual syndromes or, in certain women, premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Thus, some women will notice increased breast tenderness and other premenstrual symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and fluctuating emotions.
I'll finish by telling you more about my experience with stopping birth control. I had regular menstrual cycles before I started the pill, but this was not the case after I stopped the pill. It took approximately two months to get my first period off the pill, and they were very irregular after that (ranging from five weeks to 12 weeks between periods). After seeking consultation with my gynecologist after one year of irregular cycles, I was diagnosed with oligo-ovulation, which basically means I ovulate very infrequently. They could not find any medical cause for this problem after an extensive workup. At first, I felt like something was wrong with me or that I had done something in my lifetime to cause this. But I now realize I am not alone and that there are many women out there going through the same problems I am going through! Hopefully, if any of my readers are going through the same problem as me, they can feel better knowing that there are many women out there (including myself) that are going through it as well!
DrSugar posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.
12 Zumba Routines to Maluma Songs So Fun You'll Want to Wake Up Early and Work Out
As soon as Maluma's music comes on, you know you won't be able to resist; you'll be up and dancing faster than the Colombian singer gets to the part where he says "pretty boy." And if you have to force yourself to basically not dance in public every time his music is on the radio, consider it a sign that you should be working out to those songs.
The Zumba teachers ahead felt just like you, so they created and uploaded their own routines to YouTube using Maluma's biggest hits. Get ready to get in shape and have some fun.
Cute Maternity Clothes For Summer - All From H&M
Come that third trimester, you've probably noticed that you just can't get away with wearing your normal clothes anymore (and for some of you, that happened in the second trimester). Your body is growing, so give it some room to breathe by picking up a few forgiving pieces for Summer. If you're in the market for warm-weather maternity wear, H&M has a vast offering. Here are our top picks.
7 Apps That Apple Thinks Are Worth Your Time
Every year, in addition to unveiling new products and an iOS system at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple also awards developers for creating fun and useful apps. This year's Apple Design Award winners include 12 apps, some of which are games and some of which are productivity apps. See the seven we liked the most ahead and consider them worthy of making space on your iPhone.
A Day in the Life of a Kate Spade Designer
With over 140 retail shops and outlet stores across the United States and more than 175 shops internationally, the colorful products of Kate Spade New York are easily recognizable around the globe. But have you ever wondered what it's like behind the scenes of this spirited world?
Below, Kelsie Woodbury gives us a peek into her everyday life as a Kate Spade designer. Having worked for the company for three years, Kelsie breaks down everything from her creative process to revealing what she finds most rewarding about designing for such a vibrant, fun brand.
POPSUGAR: Tell us a little bit about yourself! Where did you go to college and what did you study?
Kelsie Woodbury: I attended Savannah College of Art & Design with the goal to become a jewelry designer. I nearly completed the jewelry program but when accessories design became a major, I knew I had to spend an extra year completing this degree as well.
PS: Did you always want to go into design?
KW: Yes! Once my art teacher in high school told me I should get into design, I never looked back. Sometimes, all it takes is for someone to believe in you so you can believe in yourself.
PS: As a designer, what does a typical day look like for you?
KW: BUSY! A normal day consists of collaborating cross-functionally with partners in others departments of the business. Some days I am sketching new ideas for a future season while also wrapping up a past season. It is forever a revolving door, and as we all know, fashion will continue to keep moving with or without you.
PS: Can you walk us through your creative process? Is there a step in the process you love most?
KW: I think each designer has their own process, but we all start with inspiration. For me, I have to feel something, react to it, and see it in a way that speaks to me. Having an idea and then translating it to fit the Kate Spade customer is next. I start with quick thumbnail sketches to get the idea down and then move onward to more detailed sketches. I love thinking about material - whether it is going to be a soft leather or more structured one - as I build the concept. My goal is to tell a story through my work. That is my favorite part of design.
PS: What do you love most about being a part of the fashion industry?
KW: I think of my first internship in NYC often and can vividly see where there was a turning point for me. My eyes opened when I met a group of young designers like myself in the basement of Diane von Furstenberg's Fashion House. We all focused on different mediums, and during that Summer they taught me how to embroider, hand-bead, and screen print all in one room. It was then I knew fashion was where I belonged. I was so intrigued that there we were, all artists with a common interest working on the same product, but we came from such diverse backgrounds.
For me, that is my favorite part of fashion - so many different creative minds coming together to build a brand.
PS: What do you find most rewarding about your job as a designer?
KW: The most rewarding aspect of being a designer is hearing someone say they love wearing a product I designed. For most women, a bag is an extension of themselves and their style, so it's got to be just right.
PS: How do you constantly stay inspired?
KW: I seek to find inspiration in little ways throughout my daily life. Whether it's traveling near or far, I believe experiencing newness expands the mind, and it is during these explorations I am able to find inspiration in new colors, architecture, cultures, textiles, etc. Traveling leaves me refreshed. Therefore, it allows me to find the creativity to design.
PS: You design everything from handbags to fashion accessories. Do you have a favorite category and/or a specific season you prefer when it comes to designing?
KW: I do have my hands in a lot of different categories, which keeps the job extremely exciting and has only opened up more doors for me. I love tying the categories together and knowing all the product will ultimately sit in the store together. But my main focus has always been handbags.
My favorite season will always be designing for Fall. It's usually the largest collection, and I get really excited for the materials, colors, and details.
PS: The crisp color, the glitter and sparkle, the playful sophistication - what is your favorite part about working for such a vibrant, fun brand as Kate Spade New York?
KW: Working at Kate Spade has taught me to embrace every side of being a women. It's about loving yourself and accepting who you are and being proud!
15 Bags That Were on Every Early-'00s Girl's Wishlist
We love a good throwback, even more so if it makes us cringe a little and ask (sometimes out loud), "Did we really wear that?" Which is exactly how we feel looking back at the bags from the early 2000s in all their monogrammed, brightly colored, buckle-embellished glory.
Many ladies who lived through the aughts remember needing that heart-decorated Dooney & Bourke or lusting after a Dior Saddle bag. They were pretty much the Mansur Gavriels of their time.
But perhaps even better than the designs are the then-It girls who wore them: Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton, and even Paris Hilton were the ones who really sold them for us. Take a read through the gallery and see all the styles we had to have, some of which are actually pretty cute, but most of which are still so 2006.
My Body Changed Dramatically When I Started Adult Ballet but Not From Weight Loss
Image Source: Unsplash / Kiersten Ramshaw
First position: plié. Once, twice. Relevé, and hold. Balance, plié. Repeat in second, then fifth. What once would have been like another language to me (OK, fair, part of it is in another language) is now a calming repetition I consider the only form of meditation that has ever worked for me. Bonus: my butt is toned as hell.
A couple of years ago, I knew two things to be true: I hated working out, and I loved ballet. Watching ballet, that is. I'd dabbled in dance the way that most 6-year-old little girls do - I donned a sparkly pink tutu for an end-of-year recital (I have photographic evidence of this), tapped and jazzed my heart out for a short stint, and then called it quits when I lost my patience with the monotony of following strict rules and pointing my pink-slippered toes in a creaky old studio.
Despite giving up on my prima ballerina dreams at an early age, I still loved the art itself. Watching it, reading about it, and following dancers I admired for their strength, skill, and, most of all, complete and utter dedication.
So when I began to take an interest in my fitness (I hit my late 20s; it was bound to happen eventually), I tried countless classes and workouts that made me feel miserable and defeated. I wanted to be toned and strong but had no interest doing anything at the cost of my happiness and comfort. I stumbled upon several studios offering adult ballet classes. I assumed this meant for adults who had ballet experience and training from childhood but who decided not to pursue professional careers. I assumed they were at a skill level I couldn't possibly aspire to. Wrong.
Adult ballet isn't about the pounds you'll lose - it's about everything that you will gain.
There are studios in many cities that offer various levels of adult ballet classes, from (very basic!) beginner to advanced and even adult pointe training. Was I willing to put myself out there and explore a part of the fitness world that isn't necessarily as well-known or conventional? What if I was terrible and everyone was dancing circles around me? And how exactly would I feel sporting a leotard and tights?
Well, two years and a lot of late nights at the barre later, I can tell you that taking that first (literal) leap into adult ballet didn't just change my body but my life. My mindset about health and wellness is radically different, and I am more fit than I've ever been. Thanks to the rigorous and challenging nature of ballet, rest assured, you will get a worthwhile workout. I've been able to evolve and grow in a way that's been safe and beneficial for my body as I get older. Ballet, with its rhythm and repetition, its musicality and its simmering heart, is also a solace for those with busy minds who find it hard to turn off their thoughts.
Thanks to the rigorous and challenging nature of ballet, rest assured, you will get a worthwhile workout.
When I came to my first class at the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco, the teacher laid it bare. "You won't lose weight in this class," he said with his characteristic frankness. But adult ballet isn't about the pounds you'll lose - it's about everything that you will gain. Each week, twice a week, I'm not doing hours of cardio so I can lose weight. I am building muscle, toning every last inch of my body: abs, butt, legs, arms, feet, back (oh the beautiful backs ballet dancers have!). I am improving my posture, my balance, my core strength. Taking stairs by two is easy, thanks to improved quad and calf strength. Lugging home bags of groceries is a walk in the park since I spend an entire class holding my arms chest height or above and shaping them into graceful positions. Watching my classmates - adults of all ages, from different backgrounds and places in the world - I can see how far we've come since we shyly shuffled into the studio that first night. My turnout is still far from perfect (one might even say it's far from good), but my mind is clear every time I leave that place, and for me, that is no easy feat.
If you are interested in trying out adult ballet, don't be intimidated. If you've always wanted to do it but thought it was "too late" to start, you're just plain wrong. It's never too late. You will see results you may not expect, and you just might find the type of fitness class you've been looking for.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
This Where the Wild Things Are Baby Shower Is Sophisticated Nostalgia
Warning: this mystical Where the Wild Things Are baby shower will take your breath away!
In honor of Megan's first baby, Shayla Hawkins Events planned a whimsical celebration inspired by Maurice Sendak's beloved children's book. The tented event turned into a spectacular wild rumpus with a green, brown, and white color palette. Wooden farm tables housed modern-meets-rustic flower arrangements overflowing with greenery that gave this nostalgic theme some sophisticated flair. Between the paper flowers made from book pages, illustrated signage, and custom cookie favors, the stunning details will inspire you.
100+ French Baby Names For Girls and Boys
When it comes to the exciting venture of choosing a name for your baby, the possibilities are nearly endless. From vintage names to pop-culture-inspired names and beyond, there are so many resources to pull from when you need inspiration for your little one on the way.
These are over 100 of the most beautiful and classic French names for both girls and boys. Your baby fever might soon turn into Paris fever!
French Girl Names Starting With . . .
A
Adalene, Adele, Adrianna, Alison, Amélie, Antoinette
B
Bella, Bernadette, Bette, Blaise, Bridgette
C
Cadence, Camille, Cecile, Celeste, Célia, Charlotte, Clara, Claudette
D
Danielle, Darcey, Diane, Dominique, Doreen
E
Ella, Eloise, Emile, Esmée, Estelle
F
Fae, Felicity, Fleur, Floria, Francine
G
Gabrielle, Gemma, Genevieve, Georgine, Giselle
H
Halette, Harriett, Henrietta, Holly, Honore
I
Ila, Ines, Isabella, Isabelle, Ismay, Iva
J
Jacquelyn, Joanna, Jocelyn, Josephine, Juliette
K
Kathleen, Kathryn, Katriane
L
Lisette, Lorraine, Louise, Lucille, Lynette
M
Madeleine, Mae, Magnolia, Margot, Marguerite, Mathilde
N
Nadine, Nicolette, Noelle
O
Odette, Odila
P
Pascale, Patrice, Paulette
Q
Questa
R
Rachelle, Renée, Rosamonde, Roselyn, Roxanne
S
Simone, Sinclair, Solange, Stella, Suzanne
T
Tempeste, Thérèse, Tilda, Trinette
V
Valerie, Veronique, Vignetta, Violetta, Vivienne
Y
Yvette, Yvonne
Z
Zara, Zola, Zuri, Zuria
French Boy Names Starting With . . .
A
Absolon, Aldrick, Andre, Ansel, Avice
B
Baron, Bartlett, Bayard, Beaufort, Bennett
C
Caine, Campbell, Cannon, Corbin, Curtis
D
Damien, Darrell, Delaney, Durant, Duval
E
Edgard, Edmund, Émile, Emmanuel, Eugène
F
Fernand, Fitzgerald, Fletcher, Forrest, Francois
G
Garner, Garnett, Garren, Gaspar, Gaston
H
Hamilton, Harcourt, Harvey, Henry, Hugh
I
Ignace, Iven
J
Jacques, Jasper, Javier, Jean
K
Kane
L
Lancelot, Latimer, Laurent, Leon, Ludovic
M
Mandel, Marcel, Mathieu, Maurice, Maynard
N
Napoleon, Nathaniel, Neville, Nicolas, Normand
O
Octave, Oliver, Orson, Orval, Orville
P
Pascal, Percival, Percy, Philippe, Pierre
R
Rainier, Raymond, Rémy
S
Sébastien, Serge, Seymour, Stephan
T
Talbot, Thibaut, Thierry, Travers, Tristan
V
Vale, Vernon, Victor, Vincent
Y
Yves
Z
Zacharie
14 Quotes That Prove Kesha Is, and Always Will Be, a Warrior
Kesha might have made her name with upbeat party jams like "Tik Tok" and "We R Who We R," but the singer has a whole lot more to offer than lyrics about brushing her teeth with the remnants of last night's Jack Daniels. The singer, who recently found herself at the unfortunate and unfair mercy of the legal system, is not only a supremely talented songwriter, but she also has plenty of wise words to share with the world. Keep reading to see Kesha's most inspirational quotes, then check out all the famous faces who've rallied around her after the fallout from her case against Dr. Luke.
This Is Exactly What Happens to Your Body When You Don't Take a Rest Day
If you're someone who has a hard time giving yourself a break, and you've been skipping rest days, then listen up: while we admire your dedication, skipping your recovery is doing you more harm than you think.
We wanted to find out exactly what happens to your body when you train too hard, so we talked to Michelle Opperman, director of group fitness for Crunch, and Jan Milano, CSCS and sports performance coach at DIAKADI. Did you know the effects can be so severe physiologically and psychologically that there's a name for it? It's called "Overtraining Syndrome."
Want to know what Overtraining Syndrome looks like? Here's what happens to your body when you don't take time to recover from intense exercise (or endurance events!):
- Glycogen stores are depleted. Opperman and Milano both noted that your glycogen decreases. Glycogen is your body's energy source, and not something you want to eliminate. Milano says "decreased glycogen may contribute to the lowered lactate responses," meaning your muscles fatigue more quickly.
- Corticosteroids increase. We know that cortisone and cortisol (stress hormones) are not good for weight loss, and even add to belly-fat retention. Milano told us that these elevated levels also depress the immune system by inhibiting the reaction of lymphocytes to antigens (basically, the fighter cells can't fight the bad invader cells). So overtraining equals a higher likelihood of getting sick.
- Your heart goes into overdrive. "Both resting heart rate and submaximal exercise heart rate are increased," said Milano. Be nice to your heart. Take a breather.
- Your performance suffers. Opperman told us that when sufficient rest is not included in a training program, your ability to perform (i.e., continue training, growing muscle, getting stronger) plateaus or declines, because your muscles literally cannot recover and regenerate. So things just get worse and worse.
- You'll lose muscle mass. Consistent breakdown + no recovery = bye, muscles. That's the opposite of what you're trying to do, right?
- You'll feel AWFUL. The tiny tears in your muscles cannot heal, which results in inflammation, swelling, and tenderness. Opperman says the feeling will "become extreme, lasting for days." She also noted that you'll feel physically exhausted for an extended period as well, which could make it hard for you to perform your day to day functions.
- It messes with your mind. Muscular fatigue is not the only thing Opperman and Milano warned about. The fatigue and distress extend psychologically, and Milano noted that you'll notice mental changes before physical ones. "Decreased vigor, motivation, and confidence; raised tension, depression, and anger accompany an individual's recovery," said Milano.
Do yourself a favor. Go to yoga, don't skip savasana, do your cooldowns, and take a day off to recover. Need some pointers? Make sure you keep our recovery checklist handy, or try any of these recovery essentials.
We Can Definitively Say That Chris Pine Has Only Gotten Hotter With Age
Chris Pine is currently steaming up the big screen as Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman, but he's actually been giving us heart eyes since he hit the scene in the 2006 romantic comedy Just My Luck. With his baby face, piercing blue eyes, and undying commitment to rocking high-waisted trousers, it's no wonder that some of Hollywood's hottest models and actresses have fallen for the guy - he even managed to look hot with a f*cking handlebar mustache!
In addition to his good looks, Chris can sing, dance, and also has a sense of humor; he isn't afraid to admit that he's not the only hot Chris in Hollywood, and despite our plethora of choices for sexy stars named Chris, we just can't help but keep pining over this one. Look back at Chris's evolution in pictures.
19 Times Pippa and Kate Middleton Dressed So Similarly, We Had to Do a Double Take
If Mary-Kate and Ashley have mastered comfy-cool, and Malia and Sasha can pull off any trend, then it's time to crown Kate and Pippa Middleton as the world's most polished - and impeccably chic - set of sisters. Both ladies' closets contain a handful of shifts, neutral heels, and even printed gowns, and their taste is so similar, they've rocked nearly identical items on more than one occasion.
Scroll through for a few times Kate and Pippa were stylishly in sync - so much so, we swore they were fashion twins. Then check out Pippa's favorite dress style.
25 Creative Dinner Ideas That Will Inspire You to Cook Tonight
"What's for dinner tonight?" It's a question we all face every day. If you're really in need of some fresh recipe ideas, look no further than these 25 of our most popular. Some are fast and easy (under 30 minutes). Others are easy but will take you an hour or more. And lastly, there are a few "projects;" in other words, they require advanced cooking skills and will take around two hours or more. Allow the captions to guide you to making the right dinner choice tonight. Happy cooking!
You Might Stop Buying Skinless Chicken Breasts After This
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a staple for healthy eaters everywhere - they're lean and they're an excellent source of protein, but all too often they're also bone-dry and flavorless. This could lead anyone astray from healthy eating!
Fortunately, Disneyland Resort Executive Chef Chris Faulkner has a solution for dried up, unappetizing chicken. As a star chef and Ironman triathlete, he knows how to fuel a body in a way that also tastes delicious (read: gourmet sports nutrition!).
As Chef Chris told us during our Lunch 'N Learn cooking class at Disneyland, "Cook the breast with the skin on, then take it off to keep the chicken juicier. You'll save calories by removing the skin, but you'll have more flavor and better texture."
Don't forget to brine your chicken, too. His recipe: lemon juice, orange juice, salt, peppercorns, thyme, garlic, bay leaf, and sliced lemons, limes, and oranges. Simmer for 20 minutes, then add ice to cool it down.
Do you prefer the skin on? Unless you're really trying to cut calories, having a little fat won't hurt you. In fact, fat can be a nourishing fuel source for your body that can keep you full. That said, fats are tougher to digest, so before a race or endurance event, we might suggest cutting it down to ensure you don't experience any GI nightmares during your run. Trust us on this one.
Blast Belly Fat With These Delicious Recipes
MUFAs are fun to say, delicious to eat, and good for you - what's not to love? Foods high in monounsaturated fatty acids, help lower your risk of heart diseases and stroke, and have also been shown to target fat around the midsection. Found in many types of nuts (like almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and pistachios), oils (like cashew oils, olive oils, and flaxseed oils), as well as other types of foods like avocado, eggs, dark chocolate, and meats, be sure to add MUFAs to your diet with a few of our favorite recipes.
3 Questions About Baby Driver, Answered by the Star and Director Themselves
I haven't been able to stop humming the catchy soundtrack from Baby Driver since I first saw the genre-hopping action film, which is playing in theaters now. And based on the unprecedentedly positive reviews following the movie's release, it seems like nobody else can get the film out of their heads, either. If you're racing to theaters to see what the hype is about, you might walk out with a few questions. Luckily, I was able to sit down with director Edgar Wright and actor Ansel Elgort and ask them a few of the things I wondered about after the credits rolled. So, without further ado, here are three questions about Baby Driver, answered by Baby himself.
1. Was Ansel actually listening to music in those headphones?
Ansel Elgort: Yeah, always.
POPSUGAR: And was it the stuff that was in the movie?
Ansel Elgort and Edgar Wright, in unison: Yeah!
AE: In fact, my headphones were usually attached to not an iPod but the playback, and somebody would be perfectly timing the music. Start at the right time, you know. And usually other cast members would have little earwigs in if they didn't have the headphones so they could also hear the music. So the whole cast would hear the music and move to the music if they needed to, or whenever there was choreography we would all make sure that we moved to the music. Or even if there wasn't choreography, we wanted to make sure there was subtle choreography, like putting a drink down on a certain beat or talking on a certain line.
2. What meal would Baby have ordered at the diner if he'd gotten the chance?
AE: I know what he woulda ordered.
EW: OK, you go.
AE: He would've ordered off the kids' menu; the amazing looking, like, banana split sundae. He would've ordered that. And he would've ordered . . . maybe chicken fingers and french fries.
EW: From the kids' menu, though!
AE: From the kids' menu. The thing is, she [Debora, Lily James's character] says: "Oh, you know this is the kids' menu," and he totally knows it's the kids' menu. It looks much better! There's pictures, there's ice cream . . .
EW: A PB&J . . .
AE: Oh, peanut butter and jelly, yeah! He likes that, too.
3. What's the significance of silence in the film?
PS: I noticed that throughout the film that all of the gunshots and everything happened in time to the music, and that was one of my favorite elements of it. But I also noticed that there was a really interesting dichotomy between music and so much noise and so much choreography and then . . . the silent, deafness element. Is there a significance to that that you wanted to include the juxtaposition between?
EW: Well, I think you wanted to experience it like Baby does. And even the way the movie starts, you kind of have that high-pitched whine, so you kinda have the whine of the tinnitus, and it's to sort of experience the movie like he would. So you hear that high-pitched whine and then when the music starts, that stops. So it's just kind of explaining to the audience that for Baby, the world is just better when there's music playing.
Sometimes there's bits where the music stops, like there's that second car chase where they have to abandon their car and get into another one. When the music stops, you just hear drilling and traffic and all the things that when . . . one of the reasons why you listen to music is just to drown out the world, you know? So, it was very intentional, all of that. I wanted it to be that when the audience, sometimes when you hear the high strings or the sound of the tinnitus, the music comes back on and you're like "Ahhhhh, that's it," you know what I mean? You want to feel the relief of just the sort of escape of the music.
This Gorgeous New Salmon Hair Instagram Trend Might Make You Very Hungry
When we think of food-inspired hair trends, a lot of fruit comes to mind. There's peach hair, tangerine hair, Starburst hair ( . . . sort of counts, right?). Why should one food group get all of the fun? Luckily, hair color just expanded to include the fruit of the sea, because LA colorist Jessica Gonzalez just created salmon sushi hair. Now we can all let our sushi addiction radiate through our hair - yum!
Gonzalez told HelloGiggles all about the hue, saying that she mixed Pravana's rose gold dye with orange, yellow, and pink. The trend was born when Gonzalez slightly tweaked her client's request. "She wanted a peachy color and she was really tan, so I wanted to make it peachy with pink undertones. We came up with the salmon sushi name once we started applying it," the stylist explained.
If this color leaves you wanting to order sushi ASAP, let these other salmon-inspired looks hold you over until lunch.
Did You Know You Could Snag These 7 Gorgeous Makeup Palettes From Amazon?
It's time to put your Amazon account to better use. The online retailer has just about every product you can think of, but we are particularly impressed by its massive makeup selection. Plus, if you're an Amazon Prime member, eye-popping goodies will come to your door in just two days. We rounded up our favorite palettes from the site so you can treat yourself. These options are great deals, so don't miss out.
Game of Thrones Star Gets Real About Her Battle With Postpartum Depression
Cersei Lannister may be a fierce mom of three on Game of Thrones, but in reality, Lena Headey is a relatable parent of two who has been through her own battles.
In a recent interview with Net-a-Porter, the actress opened up about her struggle with postpartum depression while filming the first season of Game of Thrones. She shared that after giving birth to her first baby, Wylie, in 2010, she was internally hurting but didn't understand why. "[Filming was] really horrendous - I was postnatally depressed but I didn't know it," she said. "I saw a doctor for the medical check, and I just burst into tears. She said I was postnatally depressed and I went, 'Am I? Why is that?' I saw a great guy and he sorted me out, but I did the first year [on Game of Thrones] in that space, figuring out motherhood and going through a weird time personally. It was tricky."
Headey, who also has a 23-month-old daughter, Teddy, has been candid about her mental health struggles in the past. In 2014 the actress shared with the Telegraph that she had endured times of clinical depression since she was 15 years old. "Then I had postnatal depression, which I didn't realize for a long time," she said. "I went a bit nuts and eventually went to a guy who mixes Western and Eastern philosophy in terms of medicine and he put me on a course of something that changed everything. But I would never want to be dependent [on medication]."
A Look at the Many Women in Marc Anthony's Life
Marc Anthony is famous for his beautiful voice and amazing love songs, and while that might have gotten your attention (raise your hand if you've been to more than one Marc concert!), the effect has been the same on more than a few women who were wrapped into Marc's sweet romancing. The 48-year-old Puerto Rican singer has had many ladies in his life, and he's never been afraid to show them off.
While a part of us will always wish that Marc and ex-wife Jennifer Lopez get back together - it could happen, you guys! - there is a long list of women who came before Jennifer and after, including Marc's new leading lady, Italian model Raffaella Modugno. Take a moment to look back at Marc's many conquests.
This Viral Photo of 2 Families Interacting on the Subway Is the Best Thing on the Internet
The subways of New York City are typically comparable to a can of sardines: jam-packed, smelly, and generally unpleasant. But just two days before the Fourth of July this year, one particular train proved to be quite the opposite when the sweetest darn interaction took place on board. It's sure to melt your cold, cold heart.
Taken today on the C Train. Thiiiiiis is what makes America great. Happy 4th of July, y'all. ❤️💙 http://pic.twitter.com/2b7Q89E2EI
- Rachel MacKnight (@rachmacknight) July 2, 2017
Rachel MacKnight was riding the C train when she witnessed two families that appeared to be from different backgrounds sharing a heartwarming moment together. She quickly snapped a photo of the interaction, in which the two families smiled at each other, and shared it on Twitter. "Taken today on the C Train. Thiiiiiis is what makes America great. Happy 4th of July, y'all," the caption read.
Since then, the photo has rapidly taken over the internet. Rachel's photo received more than 17,000 retweets and 69,000 likes, and it was also shared on other sites like Imgur and Reddit. On top of that, hundreds of Twitter users replied to her tweet, offering up their candid reactions to the brief yet moving moment she captured.
This photo is so adorable. Love this.
- jax ☘️ (@jaxbra) July 4, 2017
This is beautiful, but it's kinda sad and somewhat shocking that till this day and year(2017!), occurrences as this may come as an oddity.
- Melina Kim (@peacefulsabaa) July 4, 2017
This made my day!!! Happy fourth to all! ❤️🇺🇸🏳️🌈🎊
- ballgirlpdx (@heartsnbonespdx) July 4, 2017
We can't help but smile at this adorable picture every time we see it. Looks like I just found my new phone background!
The Top 4 Workouts to Avoid If You're Trying to Lose Weight
We encourage all types of fitness, for more reasons than just weight loss. While weight loss is an awesome side effect of working out and living a healthier lifestyle, exercise can benefit your brain, your mood, your sleep, and your overall health, too!
However, if you're focusing on dropping pounds, are there types of exercises you should flat-out avoid? We asked certified personal trainer John Rowley - International Sports Science Association (ISSA) director of wellness and founder of UX3 Nutrition - for his opinion on the matter. While we still encourage anyone to give these workouts a shot (in fact, we love all of them!), these four may not give you the results you're looking for if weight loss is your top priority.
- CrossFit: "CrossFit is number one on the hit list," Rowley said in an email. "The risk-to-results ratio just isn't there." If you're just beginning your weight-loss journey, you likely won't have the strength to get an effective workout without injuring yourself. "It's very popular, and I can see how fun and challenging it is," he noted. "But the way the exercises are done is very dangerous, especially for someone not in tiptop shape."
- Yoga: Rowley explained that yoga "has a lot of benefits, but losing weight is not one of them." Although you'll gain strength and tone up, if you're aiming to shed pounds, "you want to work as much of your body as possible to lose weight and to stimulate your metabolism," and Rowley said yoga is not the most effective way to do so.
- Indoor Cycling: While indoor cycling classes are great for exercise veterans, Rowley said, "they can get out of control as well," and the format of the classes can put you at risk for injury. "The rooms can get too hot, the movements can be too aggressive for some, and any vigorous exercise will make you hungry." More on that hunger in the next point . . .
- Cardio-Only Routines: Rowley said these should be avoided if your only goal is weight loss. Why? The munchies. "Cardio will help burn calories but can often make you hungry, leading to excessive calorie-consuming after workouts," putting you at a higher risk for undoing your progress. Additionally, if you're only doing cardio and not balancing with strength training, it can lead to muscle loss. "The loss of muscle destroys your metabolism; if you are going to do cardio, do it in conjunction with a well thought-out weight training workout."
Again, we love (and do) each of these workouts - and you absolutely can lose weight doing any of them. But if your number one goal is weight loss, Rowley warned, you might want to reprioritize your workout schedule.
So what should you do? "The only way for lasting, healthy weight loss that will change your body composition is through resistance training," Rowley said. "Lifting weights stimulates your muscles; your muscles burn calories even when you are eating and resting." We encourage you to be open to all types of workouts - get comfortable with movement of all types! But start with a good, healthy balance of strength training (as recommended by this trainer) and a bit of cardio to help build up your endurance so you can keep shedding pounds and crush your goals.
Why This Mom Doesn't Care That Her Kid Drops "a Few" F-Bombs
Constance Hall is the first to admit that she swears - and those who know her would most likely respond "no sh*t" to that admission. However, when this mom of four accidentally uses these particular words in front of her children, she tries to justify it to herself by remembering that she only swears for emphasis and not actually at someone.
"You'll never catch me calling someone a name or screaming 'f*ck off.' It's the 'for f*ck sakes' when you [sic] you've gotten everyone in the car and are pulling out of the drive way [sic] when you smell a baby decided now was the perfect time to drop a sh*t," she wrote on Facebook. "Or the 'holy sh*ts!' At the pain that an innocent babies [sic] soft little lips can shoot through your body when latching onto your nipple."
Despite the "example" Constance was setting, she explains that her kids never curse because they know that only mom can use these words. "I barely even needed to teach them that, it was instinctual," she wrote. "Adult words and they rarely repeated them despite the odd hilarious moment in the supermarket . . . "
However, her 5-year-old boy, Arlo, recently started "dropping a few bombs," and to Constance's surprise, his friends also feel pretty cool when they throw the word "f*ck" around. "Does it bother me? Not much, meanness would bother me more," she wrote. "I certainly don't encourage it, have pulled him up on it and he appears to have stopped."
Instead of getting upset, Arlo saying "f*ck" and other "adult words" made Constance realize something important about her child. "Arlo is reaching an age where his friends have a greater influence on him then [sic] I do, he copies them, loves them dearly, and gets empowered by them," she wrote. "I read about that once, about how you will come to a time where your children get their power from their mates and there isn't much you can do about it, you need to let them discover who they are in a group of peers." To Constance, this development in her son's language is socializing, and she sees it as a beautiful thing.
Constance recommends making an effort to point out when a friend does something nice and to recognize the positive behaviors and respectful qualities you see in your child's peers. "So while it's important to say 'don't swear it's not cool' it's equally important to teach your kids to strive to find friends with similar moral codes to your family," she wrote. "That way when they do ignore you and run off with their mates, they are in good hands, maybe cheeky ones, maybe sweary ones, but good ones none the less [sic]. Because our house hold [sic] might be a sweary one, but it's a bloody kind one and it's full to the brim with love."
The Mini Version of Your Favorite Designer Bag Is Calling Your Name
I've always been a fan of small bags (shout out to my Givenchy Antigona mini!). I'm aware most of them can only hold the essentials: phone, wallet, keys, and, if I'm lucky, a water bottle. It's a challenge to downsize, for sure, but for the most part I love miniature bags because I don't feel like I'm dragging a dead weight around. Plus, my shoulder needs a break every now and then from my work tote.
But these pint-size designer offerings aren't just practical, they have another perk too: they're usually a few hundred dollars cheaper. For those on a budget, investing in the mini version of your dream bag is not only smart but efficient. You're basically getting the same style for less, and mini bags are infinitely cuter. Don't believe us? Just check out some of the micro options ahead.
These Are the Earrings That Kate Middleton Wears With Everything
Looking back at standout royal outfits, we noticed a little something: these power women love a good drop earring. It's that statement-making extra that'll turn any shift or suit special, and Kate Middleton's got a go-to pair she wears with pretty much everything.
Combining Annoushka pearls with hoops from Kiki McDonough earrings, Kate's custom-made creation is perfect for everyday wear. The duchess has worn these babies with colorful coats, floor-length dresses, and even casual looks. Scroll through to see the accessory this stylish royal's been wearing since 2012. Then, check out the one shoe every royal owns.
How 1 ParaAthlete Team Represents the Changing Culture of Cheerleading
Wendy Armitage, 37, always loved dancing. She began teaching dance in her teens, and when she was in college, she set up a cheerleading squad for the football team on campus. Armitage loved cheering so much that she continued to coach even after graduating from college.
Then, at age 28, she was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome, a condition that causes immense pain in various parts of the body. That, combined with other health issues, eventually led Armitage to use a wheelchair. At one point, she thought she'd never cheer or compete ever again. That is, until Armitage joined Team England ParaCheer in her native UK, a team comprised of athletes both with and without disabilities.
"Being a part of Team England ParaCheer has been amazing," she said. "I have met people with such a variety of backgrounds and disabilities, and most of the time, I forgot who were the disabled athletes and who were nondisabled."
For many years, several major local, national, and international cheerleading competitions have featured teams with special needs. However, those performances and divisions have been "showcase" only, which means they are not included in competitions. That's why the participation of not one, or two, but five ParaCheerleading teams (including Team England ParaCheer) in competition at last month's International Cheerleading Union's World Championships in Orlando marks a huge milestone for the sport.
The three divisions - ParaCheer Unified Advanced, ParaCheer Unified Pom, and ParaCheer Unified Hip Hop - featured two teams from England and a team each from Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, and Wales. A team manager for Wendy, Jayme Rodgers, a former cheerleader for the London City Stars, was instrumental in taking Team England ParaCheer to the 2016 World Cheerleading Championship. Years ago, Rodgers performed with her husband, Rick Rodgers, across the UK. This was prior to Rick's accident - a non-cheerleading-related injury that led him to use a wheelchair full time. The pair continued competing at events like the European Championships in France in 2011 and the World Championships in Florida in 2011 and 2012. Their wheelchair stunt team was the genesis of UK charity ParaCheer International.
"The International Cheerleading Union were very supportive right from the beginning," Rodgers told POPSUGAR. "An influential cheerleading coach from the USA, Kenny Feeley, saw Rick performing in 2010 in the UK. He was the person who got him a performance slot at Worlds in 2011."
The ICU invited the Rodgerses to the US in 2014 to discuss the possibility of setting up a new division for athletes with physical challenges. Along with their coach from London City Stars, Joanna Cuthbert, the duo set up ParaCheer International. They held some introductory workshops to learn about working with a range of different abilities, and eventually, Team England ParaCheer was born. The initial groundwork also resulted in the development of scoring criteria and rules for the new ParaCheer divisions, which had to be tested for safety during competitive routines.
"There is still much development to be done in these areas, including the development of a classification system, which most para sports have in place," Rodgers admits. "But this could take quite a long time and so just getting the ball rolling and getting teams out on the floor is a huge milestone."
This sea change is just one example of how the culture of cheerleading is shifting in ways both big and small.
Cheerleading and the World of Sports
Last December, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted cheerleading the status of provisional Olympic sport. The IOC will reconvene in three years to decide whether to include cheer on its official sport roster, but the initial recognition is a huge boost for anyone connected to cheerleading.
The sport has struggled to find a space in the world of athletics over the years, despite the high levels of athleticism, endurance, and flexibility required by modern cheerleading. Some have argued that because cheerleading typically takes place on the sidelines of and in support of sports played by boys and men - with routines performed by women in tight, short skirts - it will never be a totally legitimate athletic pursuit in its own right. But as the modern iteration of the sport earns more recognition for the strength and skill it demands, cheerleaders of all genders increasingly flock to the sport. As cheer's most powerful institutions make way for more inclusivity, cheerleading seems increasingly poised to transcend its own stereotype.
"It used to be that you would only see slim, white girls cheering."
Cheerleaders Lead the Push For Diversity
In amateur cheerleading, transgender cheerleaders like Anry Fuentes have helped lead the charge to push the sport toward more inclusion, while a number of middle- and high-school athletes with Down syndrome, like Port Isabel, TX, varsity cheerleader Monica Gonzalez (featured in the video below) are proving to be valuable assets to their school squads. Beyond that, professional cheerleaders are speaking out and demanding better treatment and pay equity. Earlier this month, the Raiderettes were awarded a $1.5 million settlement over failed payments.
This shift is demanding greater respect within and outside of the cheerleading community for women and athletes of every gender and ability. It's also hugely encouraging about what the future of the sport could look like, say parents like Jennifer Lopez. Lopez's 5-year-old son Jonathan has Down syndrome and is on a special needs cheer team in Liberty, MO. The team competes regularly, and almost every competition includes about three or four special needs teams.
"It used to be that you would only see slim, white girls cheering, but Jonathan's gym is very diverse," Lopez said. "It has all races and sizes, and not just [on] the special needs team - all teams. They show that anyone can do this."
Nicky Presby's 13-year-old daughter Audrey is on a special needs cheer team called Invincible in Huntington Beach, CA, which takes an inclusive approach to placing young cheerleaders. "If you want to cheer and have the heart and drive for it and attend tryouts, you make a team," Presby said.
Audrey, who has Down syndrome and was diagnosed with idiopathic juvenile arthritis when she was almost 4, has received tremendous support and encouragement from her coaches.
"I love dancing and learning routines. I loved performing and learning new moves. My coaches and teammates are amazing," she told POPSUGAR.
"Making adaptations for all their different needs is one of the big challenges of coaching a ParaCheer team."
"For my daughter, being on a special athletes team was the best choice. She was able to keep up physically and highlight her strengths," Presby said. "The 2016-17 Invincible team had 13 athletes this year ranging in age from 11 to their early 30s. Some athletes have physical challenges, while others have differing cognitive abilities, while others have both. Our coaches find each athlete's strength and highlight it in the routine."
Cheer Culture Is Changing
Team England ParaCheer won the Unified Advanced division this year. Their teams were comprised of 43 athletes, five coaches, and four management team members. Their Unified Pom team was all female, while the Unified Cheer team consisted of six males and 19 females. The pom team had 28 percent members with disabilities and the cheer team 40 percent members with disabilities. "We have one team member who had a stroke when she was only 21, another with cerebral palsy, and one who has frequent nonepileptic seizures," Rodgers said. "Making adaptations for all their different needs is one of the big challenges of coaching a ParaCheer team."
Being a part of the team and competing in Orlando have proved great experiences for all participants.
"ParaCheer has really opened up doors for disabled athletes like myself who otherwise would not make a high-level team," said Emily Alner, 34. Alner has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a condition affecting the connective tissues. "After being part of the showcase team in 2016, I really wanted to be part of the first competitive team."
"Our hope is that in seeing this, the wider public will start to understand that with the right support and environment, people with disabilities can achieve pretty amazing things," Rodgers said.
Bella Hadid's Top of the Moment Is All Torn Up
Lately, we've noticed a trend popping up in Bella Hadid's Summer wardrobe: she likes her crop tops slashed in half. No, wait - not just slashed, but completely torn. A lot of the pieces she's been sporting, including little tees and denim from Sami Miro Vintage, appear as though someone took scissors and haphazardly snipped away at the hem.
While it might not be a look you're daring enough to get down with (Bella's shirts are often so short, she bares a hint of her bra), there are definitely variations of the style to try. Lots of our favorite denim brands offer ripped jackets that aren't quite as distressed as the one Bella's got. Allow the supermodel to introduce you to the new messy top of the moment, and see how she polishes it up on the street. If you like what you see, shop some inspired silhouettes we found.
Bella Hadid's Slashed Tee Is a Sexy New Trend She's Starting
Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner touched down in Paris for Couture Week, and you can bet the duo brought plenty of Parisian-chic outfits to flaunt. While Kendall's peplum blazer and silk neck scarf certainly had French flair, Bella's denim separates were decidedly more cutting edge.
Bella's patent Schutz pumps and chain-strap logo Dior bag spoke to the mood, but we had eyes on her supercropped tee, which was so short that it bared a hint of her bra from underneath it. The slashed-shirt look, which the supermodel has been on board with for some time, is something of a trend she just might be starting. Keep reading to take a closer look, and if you like what you see, dare to shop a few similar ripped tops we found.
This Is Exactly What You Need to Eat For Breakfast to Lose Weight
Did you know you can use the first meal of the day as a tool to lose weight? Want to know how? We've enlisted the expertise of two nutritionists - Stephanie Clarke, RD, and Willow Jarosh, RD, of C&J Nutrition - to share the perfect equation for how to make a scrumptious and satisfying breakfast that will help you lose weight. Follow their advice below to start seeing results.
Calories
Aim for a range between 300 and 400 calories. If you're trying to lose weight, stick with the 300 to 350 range, and if you're trying to maintain weight, especially if you're working out, shoot closer to 350 to 400 calories.
Carbs
About 45 to 55 percent of your breakfast calories should be devoted to carbs, which is about 40 to 55 grams of carbs. Skip sugary and overly processed foods or those made with enriched white flour, and choose whole grains, fruits, and veggies.
Protein
About 15 to 20 percent of your breakfast calorie amount should be protein, which works out to about 13 to 20 grams. Getting enough protein at breakfast is important for keeping you satisfied throughout the morning. And studies have shown that getting at least 20 grams of protein at breakfast may help you lose weight as well. Eggs, dairy products, soy milk, protein powder in smoothies, nuts and seeds, and whole grains are great sources of protein.
Fats
Shoot for about 10 to 15 grams, which is about 30 to 35 percent of your total breakfast calories. Instead of saturated fats like bacon and cheese, go for monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) like olive oil, nuts and seeds and the butters made from them, and avocado.
Fiber
Aim for about 25 percent of your recommended daily total of 25 grams per day. That works out to about six grams, but it's OK to go above that, as long as it doesn't bother your digestive system. Berries, pears, apples, greens and other veggies, nuts, seeds, and whole grains can help you reach that goal.
Sugars
If you follow the equation for carbs above, then you won't have to worry about going overboard on sugars, especially if you're eating a combination of foods like fruits, whole grains, and dairy products. But for a ballpark number to keep in mind, stick to 36 grams or fewer. And when it comes to added sugar, try not to exceed six grams - that's about 1.5 teaspoons' worth of any sweetener (white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or agave).
Timing
Ideally you should eat breakfast within 30 to 60 minutes of waking up. If you're not keen on eating anything big first thing, split this meal up into two parts, having something light close to waking up and the other half about an hour and a half later. This also works well if you're a morning exerciser and prefer not to have a full stomach while you work out. If you're exercising, you can aim to have the more carbohydrate-based portion of your breakfast (fruit, toast, etc.) prior to working out and the more protein-centric portion afterward.
A Few Examples of Perfect Breakfasts
- Steel Cut Oats With Fruit and Nuts: Steel cut oats not only have more fiber than an equal amount of rolled oats, but they also have more protein since you're eating more of the original grain. Cook one-half cup steel cut oats in a mixture of one-half cup water and one-half cup unsweetened soy milk. Top with one-half cup blueberries, one tablespoon chopped walnuts, and one teaspoon drizzle of maple syrup.
Calories: 328
Total fat: 9.7 grams
Saturated fat: 1 gram
Carbs: 51.1 grams
Fiber: 7.2 grams
Sugars: 16.6 grams
Protein: 11.8 grams - Mexi-Egg Wrap: Scramble one egg and one egg white with two tablespoons black beans, one-quarter cup chopped tomato, and two tablespoons onion, until eggs are set. Stir in one cup spinach. Fill a nine-inch whole-wheat tortilla with the egg mixture and top with one-quarter of an avocado, cubed, and one tablespoon salsa. Add salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder to taste.
Calories: 345
Total fat: 15.7 grams
Saturated fat: 3.5 grams
Carbs: 36.8 grams
Fiber 9.7 grams
Sugars: 3.2 grams
Protein: 17.4 grams - Smoothie and a Hard-Boiled Egg: Pair a carrot cake smoothie made with two medium carrots, half a frozen banana, two cups spinach, one cup unsweetened soy milk (you can use almond), half a scoop plant-based protein powder, one-eighth cup golden raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. This is easy to split - have half of the smoothie before your workout, then have the rest plus the egg after the workout.
Calories: 368
Total fat: 12.6 grams
Saturated fat: 5.1 grams
Carbs: 49.5 grams
Fiber: 9.4 grams
Sugars: 25.5 grams
Protein: 25.4 grams
Breakfast Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping out: When you sleep, your body slows down while you're not eating. So when you wake up, if you don't break the fast (yup, that's where the name comes from), your body will burn calories slowly. To jump-start your metabolism and get your body burning calories, you need to eat. Not fueling up also deprives your brain of glucose, which is why you feel foggy-headed and cranky. Think of breakfast as an opportunity to get your fill of valuable nutrients such as calcium, iron, and vitamin C.
- Skimping: You know skipping breakfast entirely is a no-no, but not eating enough will also backfire. It'll leave you feeling hungry soon after eating, which will cause you to need more food and can translate to more calories consumed over the course of the entire day. Stick to the formula above, and you'll not only feel satisfied longer, but you'll also have more energy for the workouts that can make you drop pounds even faster.
- Imbalanced meal: Leaving out a key component of the breakfast formula such as avoiding all carbs or going too heavy, such as having an all-protein meal, means you're not going to get enough satisfaction or nutrition from this first meal. Following the formula above will allow you to eat a balanced meal while also helping you see weight-loss results.
Looking to lose weight during other times of the day? Here's what to eat for lunch, what to eat at snack time, and what to eat at dinner to lose weight.
Woman Snaps a Selfie While Her Sister's in the Throes of Labor
SELFIE! While my sister is about to shove a baby out her vag!
Tons of women make the decision to hire birth photographers to document the progression of their labors and the delivery of their babies, but one photographer just took birth photography to the next level with a selfie she snapped during her sister's labor. Kat Armendariz of Kattegory Photography recently shared a casual selfie to Imgur that is going absolutely viral thanks to her sister's visible reaction to being in the throes of labor in the background. In the photo, Kat appears smiling while her sister is shown with her hands over her face and her mouth open in what can only be described as agony.
Kat, a mother of five herself, captioned the photo: "SELFIE! While my sister is about to shove a baby out her vag!" Although it doesn't seem like her sister was in the mood to be photographed, Kat assures us in the comments that her sister "pretty much gave me the OK after the epidural."
15 Striped Swimsuits So Cute They Make Solid Colors Seem Pretty Boring
Solid swimsuits are going to seem pretty mundane after you feast your eyes on these striped options. The classic print will elongate your torso when vertical and create curves when horizontal. That means that no matter what your body type is, there's a striped swimsuit that will look flattering on you. Take a look at our favorite flirty bikinis and modern one-pieces, then choose one for yourself. There's still a lot of Summer left - you deserve it!
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