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.
samedi 11 août 2018
5 Parenting Questions to Ask If Your Teen Spends Too Much Time Alone in Their Room
This post written by Torie Henderson was originally featured on YourTango.
How much of your teen's need for privacy should you respect?
When it comes to parenting teenagers, you love your (sometimes difficult) teen and appreciate his growing need for privacy, but when your kid starts spending a lot of time alone in his bedroom with the door shut, it's only natural to worry something deeper might be wrong.
While you're aware it's totally normal for teens to want privacy, a million questions to ask start racing through your anxious brain: What is he doing in there? Is he meeting strangers on the internet? Sending naked photos? Watching pornography?
You want to make sure you're doing everything you can to raise a happy, healthy, and emotionally intelligent teen. But knowing how to be a good and attentive parent can be a difficult task ... especially when he spends most his time in his bedroom, out of your sight.
You want to trust him, but it's hard not to worry when your teen's bedroom door is always closed and he spends all his time alone.
Social isolation and withdrawal are warning signs for many teenage problems, so how can parents know when to respect their teen's privacy and when they should worry?
First, it's important to realize that a teenager's number one job is to figure out who they are and separate their identity from their parents. Shutting the bedroom door and spending more time alone are normal and vital parts of accomplishing this task.
You'll know your child has entered this stage if they enjoy pointing out your flaws, frequently say you're wrong, or critique the way you dress, speak or behave.
Although it can be annoying to live with such negative scrutiny, it's a normal and important part of how teenagers define themselves as they separate from you, develop their own opinions and grow into mature adults.
If your teen is keeping up with school work, friendships, chores, and personal hygiene, then he has earned his privacy - and it's your job to trust that everything is OK.
Granted, that's no easy task given what you watch the news and hear from other parents, but try and avoid jumping to conclusions and taking action until you see actual problematic behaviors from your teen.
Here are 5 parenting questions to ask yourself that will help determine if your teen's need for privacy is normal, or if the amount of time he spends alone is a red flag:
1. Does your teen leave his bedroom without you asking him to?
The amount of private time your teen needs can vary based on where he falls on the introversion/extroversion scale. For example, introverted kids may need days of solitude before they feel like socializing again.
Take note of when your teen leaves his room to understand how much alone time he needs to feel like himself again. Trust that he's taking care of himself, but keep an eye out to make sure his other behaviors are healthy, too.
2. Does your teen seem happy, sad, or irritated after leaving his room?
Is your teen moody and morose? Then whatever he was doing in his room behind closed doors wasn't helpful. Feel free to point it out to him.
Is he glassy-eyed and zombie-like? This can be a result of too much screen time, too much sugar, or other brain-numbing activities. If the time he spends alone in his room is good for him, it will show in a positive way.
Help your teen by verbalizing what you observe in his mood: "I notice that when you come out of your room, you seem cranky and irritable, but when you come home from volleyball you seem happy and relaxed."
This can teach your teen to reflect and make better choices without telling them what to do.
3. Are your teen's friends worried about him?
If you aren't sure if your teen's isolation is healthy or problematic, ask his friends if they have any concerns about him. Teens open up to their friends more easily than their parents, so if something's really wrong, they might know about it.
Many teenagers don't know how to handle it when a friend posts photos of themselves cutting, doing drugs, or talking about suicide - so they may not speak up if they see it. Give your teen's friends permission to inform you if they have any concerns, and tell them you will protect their anonymity.
4. Have you noticed a sudden drop or change in his friends, appetite, or sleep habits?
It might seem like your teen's door is always closed, and that may worry you, but it isn't necessarily a warning sign that something is wrong. Seeing a sudden drop in grades, appetite, sleep, or friendships is a stronger indicator of a problem that needs addressing.
Although teens may want to blame school, teachers, peers or even you for their problems, these sudden changes are often a result of how they're thinking or feeling about things.
Start by helping your teen get back to basics with healthy sleep and eating habits. Then, provide opportunities for your teen to lean how to manage his mind and emotions with stress reduction and life coaching skills.
5. Is your teen socializing online?
Your worries about social isolation may be put to rest if your teenager is doing homework with his friends over Facetime or playing online games against live opponents.
Instead of violating his trust by snooping, try simply asking your teen, "What do you do up there in your room?" You might be surprised by what he shares.Or, try being open about the top five things you do on your cell phone, and ask him to share the same.
If you want a strong relationship with your teen, leave your worries behind and keep the conversation friendly, not accusatory.
As you learn how to place even more trust in your teen and let go of your worry, make sure to carve out fun, relaxing time with them, too.
Keep up with family dinners and make time for game nights, shopping, or camping trips. Finding things teens enjoy doing with their parents can be challenging, but it helps you stay close during this natural separation process.
Worrying feels like good parenting, but it's annoying to teens and makes them want to keep things from you. Instead, listen to your teen and trust that your instinctual parenting intelligence will help you rise to any occasion that comes your way.
Torie Henderson is a life coach, teacher, and the owner of Life Coaching for Parents. She is also co-owner of Time for The Talk, a sex education class for parents and kids to take together. If you'd like to contact her about dealing with your own teen, you can reach her here.
More from YourTango:
7 Highly Effective Principles For Parenting Through Middle School & Adolescence
6 Pieces of Parenting Advice Experts WISH You'd Stop Ignoring About Your Teen
10 Non-Negotiable Rules For Raising A Teenager Without Wrecking Your Relationship With Them
9 Fortnite Costumes That'll Encourage Your Kid to Put Down the Game and Trick-or-Treat
If your child has been living and breathing Fortnite this year, you're not alone - and we feel your pain. And while we may not care to understand all the ins and outs of the game (all we know is we hear a lot of screaming while they play), we're of the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" camp and would rather not fight the craze (the alternative is dealing with angry tweens, so, no thanks). With that said, we've gone ahead and scoured the web for the Fortnite characters we know our kids are going to ask to be for Halloween.
To be fair, a bunch of these are fleece jumpsuits that your kids can wear all Winter long while they're holed up in their room rotting in front of their Xbox. It's not ideal, but at least they'll be warm. And another silver lining: if they're wearing these costumes on Oct. 31, you can encourage them to go outside to trick-or-treat, which will get them off the game and out of the house for at least a couple hours. Win-win?
Pregnant Mom Remixed "Tearin' Up My Heart" to Be About Pregnancy Heartburn, and LOL
As the wife of a Navy pilot, Charlotte Chatman has always stayed connected with her friends and family through photos, so when it comes to giving everyone updates on her fourth pregnancy, she sets her self-timer, grabs her kids, and smiles for the camera. However, after three rounds of pregnancy update photos, Charlotte has gotten a bit more creative with baby number four, and her pictures are so much fun you're 100 percent going to want to take inspiration from her ideas.
Along with her trusty letter board and three older children, Lennox, Lela, and Luna Darling, Charlotte has been documenting her pregnancy with baby number four, Leif, in a variety of ways. Like most pregnant women, Charlotte has done a few weekly updates, comparing her baby's size not to fruits and vegetables but things like Target receipts and has taken a few photos in which she's holding up her letter board containing remixed lyrics of '90s and '00s pop songs - and we can't get enough.
"After four pregnancies of baby updates, you just start to get creative with it and have fun," Charlotte told POPSUGAR. "The older kids love feeling included, and it's helped get them excited for their brother!"
Since Charlotte is 36 weeks along at the time of writing, there may not be too many more baby updates before Leif makes his entrance, so take a peek at all of the hilarious pregnancy updates ahead, as well as a few of Charlotte's general parenting humor letter board photos and Leif's name and gender reveals.
34 Family Costume Ideas So Good, Everyone Will Want to Dress Up This Halloween
They say that the family that plays together, stays together, and we're thinking that the same thing applies to the family that gets creative and dresses up together for Halloween! Young kids look cute no matter what they choose to dress up as for All Hallows' Eve, but when their parents put on coordinating outfits that fit within a theme, the final look takes the holiday to a new level. Whether you want to go for a classic story, or dress as something more modern and current, we have 34 family costume ideas that are practically guaranteed to cue "oohs" and "ahhs" from your neighbors. Time to start planning.
After a Man Asked a Nursing Mom to "Cover Up" in 90-Degree Weather, She Obliged (Kind Of)
Carol Lockwood is sick of breastfeeding women being shamed for any aspect of the natural act, especially for simply nursing in public (which, by the way, is legal in all 50 states). So when her friend's daughter-in-law was approached by a man who asked her to "cover up" on a humid, 90-degree day, she knew she had to share the mom's response. As it turns out, the nursing mom obliged . . . kind of.
In a post to Facebook, Carol shared a photo of the mom's reaction to the man's request - which was to cover her own head with her baby's swaddle blanket - and it's epic. "I've never met her, but I think she's AWESOME!!!" Carol wrote. "I'm SO over people shaming women for nursing!!!"
We think she's awesome, too and are currently applauding.
28 Photos That Prove There Is No Beauty Look Rihanna Can't Pull Off
When it comes to the beauty scene, no one is killing it quite like Rihanna. Since emerging onto the music sphere, the singer has proven to be a true chameleon, pulling off just about every single beauty look in the book. Her Fenty Beauty line also created a brand new industry standard for what diversity in in the makeup aisles should look like - and if that isn't badass, we don't know what is. To further prove Rihanna's ability to look gorgeous in just about anything, we've rounded up some of her most stunning red carpet beauty moments. Like most things she does, you won't be able to look away.
Is Your Perfume Secretly Ruining Your Love Life?
While you may have one special, confidence-boosting perfume you save for first dates, there are compelling reasons to take the au natural course. According to a psychologist, fragrances mask the real you - and might ruin your chances of scoring a second date.
"Historically, humans used to rely on smell to give them information about a person," said Dr. Belisa Vranich, psychologist and author of The Breathing Class. "Now, people mask smell with things like perfume, so we're missing out on scents that we might be otherwise attracted to."
Studies have shown that our olfactory sense plays a part in how people choose partners, which is probably not news to anyone who steals an SO's t-shirt to wear when they're not around. "One reason smell consciously - or unconsciously - dictates how you feel about a partner is because the part of your brain that senses smell is located near your memory," Dr. Vranich said.
While there is nothing wrong with making yourself smell sweeter when your natural musk just isn't cutting it, Dr. Vranich warned that such perfumes or colognes can hinder chemistry on dates. "It's really important to see if you like someone's scent on their own, without perfume," she said. If you want to try going sans fragrance for your next Tinder meetup, don't worry if you smell a little too ripe for comfort. One famous 1995 study showed that we're naturally attracted to people who have opposite odors from us, which means there is someone out there who could actually like the smell of your sweaty gym bag.
12 GlamGlow Products Every Beauty Lover Must Try at Least Once
True skincare aficionados know that GlamGlow products are worth the hype. The brand is known for its highly effective formulas that often yield immediate results, from peel-off glitter masks to blue face moisturizers. If you're unsure of which product is right for you, we have created your ultimate guide to the very best options. Check them out and pamper your skin with something new.
Cardi B Is a Hair Color Chameleon, Okkkkkur
Cardi B is not only one of the most popular and beloved musicians right now - she is also a major hair color chameleon. The over-the-top, hysterical artist is often spotted wearing a variety of colorful wigs, proving that she really can pull off any look. Cardi has gone from red to pink to rainbow and was most recently seen in a blue hue while hanging out with Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner.
Looking for some hair color inspiration yourself? Ahead, we've rounded up the rapper's hands-down best hair looks that are so good, you might just want to cop a style for yourself. Okkkur.
57 Cheap and Original DIY Couples Halloween Costumes
The best part of any holiday (besides the food) is dressing up. Whether it's Fourth of July or New Year's Eve, putting together the right outfit is key to starting the celebration, and no other holiday calls for outrageous and funny costumes like Halloween. For this trick-or-treat celebration, these 57 DIY couples' costumes are not only effortless to make but also up your outfit creativity level. If you're planning to dress up with your partner but have no idea where to start, just get some sweet (or scary) inspiration now! You guys can make the outfits together and then stun the crowd at your Halloween bash.
7 Things Millennials Still Ask Their Parents to Do (but Shouldn't)
From setting up a 401(k) to negotiating car insurance, transitioning into adulthood can be exciting and a bit overwhelming. You may feel like you're continually turning to parents or a trusted advisor for advice. And that's OK - you are likely making big decisions and taking on greater financial responsibility.
But if you're ready to start adulting on your own, check out these seven ways to take on more responsibility.
1. Know What You're Paying For
When you lived at home, your parents probably handled most of the decision-making: they picked the cable plan, figured out utilities, and planned for groceries each week. If you're ready to tackle those choices on your own, the first step is knowing what you're paying for and how much you're paying for it.
We have more recurring payments and subscriptions than ever before - including Netflix accounts, Amazon Prime memberships, extra iCloud storage, and phone and internet bills - so take stock of your current expenditures. Do you know how much internet speed you're paying for? A full 42 percent of people don't. Avoid that trap; take an inventory of everything you pay for; and make sure each subscription is worth the money.
2. Budget and Track Your Spending
Most of us have received financial assistance from parents while in school or just starting out on our own, and that's perfectly OK. Whether you're paying your own way or getting some help from family, you have the power to create a budget and track your spending. Taking responsibility for your budget now will help you manage your money later.
You can use budget apps like Mint to track your spending, or check with your bank or credit union to see if they offer free financial counseling.
3. Schedule Your Own Appointments
From haircuts to teeth cleanings to oil changes, our lives revolve around our schedules. Growing up, we often relied on our parents to arrange these appointments for us. But you'll feel more in control of your life (and your schedule) when you start making your own appointments. And while you may not love making phone calls, most businesses - whether it's the salon or doctor's office - have friendly staff waiting to help you out.
4. Build Your Credit
Your parents may have cosigned with you on big items in the past (and they may need to cosign on things in the near future), but with a little initiative, you can start building your credit up enough to eventually take on loans without a cosigner at all.
Improving your credit score can also help you get lower interest rates and approval for mortgage and car loans. Use the following suggestions as you start working on your credit score:
- Stay current on all your loan and bill payments to demonstrate financial responsibility.
- Take advantage of credit card rewards, such as cash back, points, bonus miles, and low initial interest rates.
- Build a solid credit history by keeping credit accounts open - a good credit history of five years or longer will increase your credit score.
5. Save For Large Purchases
Have you ever had someone tell you, "It will mean more to you if you pay for it yourself"? It's actually true. Saving for a big purchase will help you manage your money and make more conservative spending choices.
While you're saving, extravagant plans or trips may have to wait, and that's OK. Here are some tips to make the saving process easier:
- Create a separate savings account for your big purchase.
- Set up automatic transfers to your savings account from each paycheck.
- Purchase something that you can realistically afford, and when you go to make your purchase, stick to your budget.
6. Set Up Your Insurance
Although another birthday is always fun, turning 26 can be a bit of a bummer once you realize you are no longer covered under your parent's health insurance plan. Luckily, many companies offer health and dental insurance plans for employees. There are various plan options on the market, so take some time to determine the best option for you.
For automobile insurance, you'll also have quite a few choices. It's easy to overpay for car insurance, so make sure you're getting a good price. Get several quotes, and check out several different types of coverage. If you don't know where to start, consider going through an insurance broker. Also keep in mind that your driving record impacts your insurance rate.
7. Plan For Your Future
If your parents or grandparents set up some sort of trust fund for you, you may already have a good start on financing your future. But you shouldn't bank on that fund exclusively. Start making your own "rainy day" fund for any unexpected expenses, and if you're in school, have a plan to finish your degree and start figuring out what you'll do after graduating.
You should also learn how to set up a 401(k) or an IRA for retirement - any little bit you can set aside now will have a good chance to grow and mature in the coming years.
Whether you are just starting out on your own or receiving some assistance from your parents, you can use these tips to gain greater freedom as you take on more responsibility.
Yes, Amazon Has Spooktacular Halloween Decorations! Here Are 15 Affordable Items
For true Halloween-lovers, preparation for the holiday pretty much begins Nov. 1, and things really kick into gear once the rest of the world catches up. Besides killing the DIY costume game, you must have the most epically decorated house on the block, of course, and Rome wasn't built in a day.
This year, we're looking straight to Amazon for all the goods. The site has festive tablerunners, themed lights, and large creepy crawlers, all at insanely low prices. Plus, if you have Amazon Prime, you get free two-day shipping. Check out our favorite picks and stock up so you're fully prepared for All Hallows' Eve.
101 Gifts Your Best Friend Will Obsess Over in 2018
Best friends are like soulmates. They are there for you when you laugh and cry, and they want to know if their outfit looks stupid. She will agree with you when your SO is a jerk and be your wingwoman when it's time to look for someone new. Basically, BFFs are your everything and you would be nonfunctional without them. That being said, anytime is the perfect time to show your girlfriends how much you love them. We have compiled an ultimate gift guide for giving the best present ever to your best friend - in order of price, from $4 to $1,350. She'll obsess over these cute surprises.
15 Things He's Not Telling You, According to Men
Let's face it. From getting the seal of approval from your partner's family and friends to understanding each other sexually and so much more, relationships can be complicated . . . as hell. Throw in some lack of communication, and you have a recipe for mixed signals, hurt feelings, and an overall hot mess.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Taking a look at how you may be contributing to your relationship woes is the first step. The second? Tapping into your mate's inner workings to fully understand what he or she has going on, even if it hasn't been expressed. This can be a challenge, we know. So, we've decided to make the process a little bit easier for you. We spoke with multiple men about secrets - big and small - that they or people they know tend to keep from their partners. Take these notes with a grain of salt and do with them what you will. Hopefully, though, they can encourage dialogue between you and your SO. Scroll through to see 15 common secrets that men keep from their partners.
vendredi 10 août 2018
Hold On to the Hot Days of Summer With These 12 Sexy New Books
August is shaping up to be a fantastic month for book-lovers everywhere! With the hottest temperatures burning outside, it's time to settle in for a much more preferable heat with these sexy book boyfriends. Got a hankering for a hot cowboy? I've got you covered. In need of a domineering alpha? I've got your man . . . actually, I have options. And if you're feeling more in the way of a sweet romance, I've got a few reads just for you. These August releases are must reads for any bookworm, so get your wish list ready!
Hold On to the Hot Days of Summer With These 12 Sexy New Books
August is shaping up to be a fantastic month for book-lovers everywhere! With the hottest temperatures burning outside, it's time to settle in for a much more preferable heat with these sexy book boyfriends. Got a hankering for a hot cowboy? I've got you covered. In need of a domineering alpha? I've got your man . . . actually, I have options. And if you're feeling more in the way of a sweet romance, I've got a few reads just for you. These August releases are must reads for any bookworm, so get your wish list ready!
This Gorgeous Halloween Wedding Was Inspired by Disney's Haunted Mansion!
Teresa and Peter have shared a love for all things Disney ever since they met. But they didn't want their families to have to travel across the country from New York for their wedding, so they did the next best thing and brought Disney to them. The Bear Mountain Carousel at Bear Mountain State Park was the perfect location for their Haunted Mansion-inspired reception. Peter wore shoes based on the Disneyland attraction, and the movie's soundtrack played throughout their wedding day. The bride wore a stunning custom-made dress that complemented the dramatic and dark florals. Their fun wedding cake was adorned with skull pumpkins with mouse ears, while the toppers were their own skeleton renditions!
One of the many highlights from the couple's Halloween wedding was definitely the merry-go-round that guests were able to ride all night.
See the awesome photos!
Related: We're Now Considering a Halloween Wedding Thanks to This Bride's Gorgeous Black Gown
Bless Kelly Clarkson For Filming Her Daughter Explaining Her Crush on Chris Martin
So my daughter wants to marry Chris Martin and is obsessed with his song Yellow. She wants to marry the boy in the video, which I have informed her he is not a boy anymore and has kids older than her but she will have none of it, she is determined 😂🤣 #RiverRose #Yellow #Lello pic.twitter.com/6MvgeSSVoN
- Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) August 8, 2018
Kelly Clarkson recently revealed her 4-year-old daughter's celebrity crush to her millions of followers on Twitter - because what are parents for? As it turns out, Kelly's River Rose "wants to marry" Chris Martin and is "obsessed" with Coldplay's "Yellow." It is a pretty iconic song, after all.
Naturally, Kelly informed her daughter that her crush isn't exactly age-appropriate. "She wants to marry the boy in the video . . . I have informed her he is not a boy anymore and has kids older than her," Kelly said. "She will have none of it, she is determined."
In the adorable video, River explains her affinity for the singer and then even does an impromptu cover of her favorite song with some backup vocals from her talented mama. Watch the adorable exchange above.
You Probably Don't Remember This Relationship Bombshell From Insecure's Season 2 Finale
Insecure has exposed its fair share of failed relationships and single struggles, but behind all the ho-tation hookups, ex regrets, and even Kelli's epic diner scene, there's always been that one "stable" couple throughout the series: Tiffany (Amanda Seales) and Derek (Wade Allain-Marcus). It seems like Tiffany will take any opportunity to let her friends know she's in a happy relationship. She boasts her blow-job capabilities, throws an over-the-top dinner party for Derek's birthday, and doesn't stop talking about how much she loves her man - we get it, honey! But it's time to look beyond the facade and discuss what we think is really going on between the "strongest" couple on the show.
While we know that there was some sort of indiscretion between them (they reference it throughout the series), Tiffany never shares the exact details with her friends. She accidentally tells the girls that she let Derek come back home after he lived at a hotel temporarily the year before, but it isn't until the emotional season two finale that we finally get a clue about what went on between the couple, and it's so subtle that it *almost* went right over our heads.
When Lawrence (Jay Ellis) is discussing his relationship with Aparna (Jasmine Kaur) and his insecurities about her relationship with their coworker Colin, Derek tells Lawrence he has to take matters into his own hands. During their conversation sans couch, Derek tells Lawrence that Tiffany had a situation with a coworker named Fred. "Fred and I had a talk," Derek says. "Fred is gone now. Why? Because I dealt with it."
Could Fred be the reason Derek had to move out last year? Well, the clues about their relationship struggles didn't stop there. During this same conversation, Derek says that Tiffany is watching Due North at Issa's. Flash forward through the episode, and we see Issa (Issa Rae), Molly (Yvonne Orji), and Kelli (Natasha Rothwell) watching the epic show at Issa's apartment. Kelli's phone soon vibrates, and she tells the girls that Tiffany isn't able to make it (cue Issa calling out Tiffany for being dramatic about her pregnancy already). If she's not with her girls and she's not watching with Derek, where could she be?
Another major question is about Tiffany's pregnancy. She calmly tells Issa and Molly that she and Derek are expecting baby DuBois during Kelli's race, but it strikes us as pretty sus that she waited until then to tell her girls. Yes, Issa and Molly acknowledge the fact that they're sh*tty friends because they didn't know Kelli was training for a marathon, but pregnancy - that's something you tell your girls immediately, especially when you're so ostentatious about everything else in your relationship. Could Derek not be the father of Tiffany's baby?
We'll have to wait until season three to premiere on Aug. 12 to see what's going on between this seemingly perfect couple, but one thing is for sure: Tiffany and Derek's relationship isn't as perfect as she'd like us to believe.
Jennifer Aniston Owns Flip-Flops, but Her Sexiest Shoes Are Definitely Not in That Family
Jennifer Aniston owns flip-flops and thong sandals, and she keeps her white sneakers on rotation all year long. But on date nights and for fancy events, Jen has proved her prowess at rocking sky-high heels. Sometimes, her stilettos are even strapless and we question how she's standing up straight. But the actress has clearly had some experience when it comes to adjusting to new heights. Her Burberry wraparound wedges even have sex appeal.
There's something about a Jen spotting in pumps that makes us want to get real leggy with our look and head out for the evening. On that note, read on to see all the moments she wowed us with her footwear - making a minidress, a thigh-high slit, or a simple date night jumpsuit all the more alluring - and shop similar silhouettes for yourself.
This Gorgeous Halloween Wedding Was Inspired by Disney's Haunted Mansion!
Teresa and Peter have shared a love for all things Disney ever since they met. But they didn't want their families to have to travel across the country from New York for their wedding, so they did the next best thing and brought Disney to them. The Bear Mountain Carousel at Bear Mountain State Park was the perfect location for their Haunted Mansion-inspired reception. Peter wore shoes based on the Disneyland attraction, and the movie's soundtrack played throughout their wedding day. The bride wore a stunning custom-made dress that complemented the dramatic and dark florals. Their fun wedding cake was adorned with skull pumpkins with mouse ears, while the toppers were their own skeleton renditions!
One of the many highlights from the couple's Halloween wedding was definitely the merry-go-round that guests were able to ride all night.
See the awesome photos!
Related: We're Now Considering a Halloween Wedding Thanks to This Bride's Gorgeous Black Gown
Kanye West Recalls the Emotional Moment With Daughter North That Brought Him to Tears
Regardless of how you feel about Kanye West at the moment, no one can deny that his relationship with his children is pretty sweet. The rapper, who recently appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar with 5-year-old North and 2-year-old Saint, stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday where he recalled a particularly adorable interaction with his eldest daughter while she was attending a fashion Summer camp.
"Together we put the thread through the sewing machine, and it really brought me to tears to think about," he said, going on to describe the billion-dollar companies that he and designer Virgil Abloh have since gone on to build. "My daughter asked me, 'Daddy, do you have a sewing machine like this at your office?' And I brought her to my office and she did a bunch of sketches, and my head pattern cutter made her dresses right there for her."
Jimmy also asked Kanye about lyrics from his song "Violent Crimes," off of his latest album, Ye, which are about a father "getting worked up about" men objectifying his daughter later in life. After telling the late-night host that he thinks "lifetimes and lifetimes ahead" when it comes to his daughter, he also made a very interesting confession about how his attitude hasn't changed toward women since having two little girls. (Skip ahead to the 1:55 mark to hear his response, you won't regret it.) (OK, maybe you'll regret it a little.) (JUST WATCH IT!)
32 Times the Royal Family Broke Protocol and Packed on the PDA Anyway
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sneaked in a smooch after a polo match in England this week, and while the newlyweds aren't shy about showing PDA in general, they aren't the only royal couple to kiss on the field over the years. We've seen Harry's brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate Middleton, display rare PDA with a subtle postgame peck, and his parents, Princess Diana and Prince Charles, also had a history of stealing celebratory kisses after a match.
Outside of sporting events, we've been able to see even more sweet PDA from the royals over the years, from high-profile wedding ceremonies - that Buckingham Palace balcony has sure seen some lip-locking - to random displays of affection around the world. There may be some official rules in place, but even the royals aren't immune from showing love every once in a while! Scroll through to see the royal couples who have given us a glimpse of their love for each other.
The 1 Thing That's Still a Nonnegotiable For Me After 3 Kids
You know how you loosen up a bit as a second-time (or, in my case, a third-time) mom? Maybe you didn't stress as much about how long they used a pacifier or spent fewer hours researching the effects of screen time. You probably even got a little more lax about letting them eat sweets or wear costumes out of the house. I'm happy to spend way less time worrying with my youngest than I did with my firstborn, but there is one thing I haven't let slide now that I'm three kids in . . . and that's sleep.
Sleep has always been a nonnegotiable for me as a parent. I need sleep to stay healthy and to function at my job. I need sleep to maintain my relationship with my husband and to be a good friend. I need sleep to be an enjoyable person to be around and to be a mom who doesn't lose her sh*t more than moms inevitably lose their sh*t. I need sleep to be happy.
And to make that happen, I also need my kids to sleep.
So beyond the newborn weeks when there's no way around not getting a full night, I made sleep a priority in our house early on, and I'm so glad I did. Because not only is it very obvious that I need sleep, but my kids do too. They're more fun to be around and less likely to melt down when they've had a full night of sleep, and they aren't as crabby or whiny when they're well-rested.
Studies show that kids need even more sleep than you might think, which means early bedtimes are a must. Getting them down shortly after dinner also allows me and my husband to spend a few hours together or alone doing whatever we want without kids, which is key for us in order to recharge and reconnect before we get up and do it all over again the next day. So, how did we make it happen?
How We Got Our Kids to Sleep
First, let me make it clear that I am not a sleep expert. I've never even read a full book on baby sleep, and I really don't like the term "sleep-training." But I do have three kids from 8 months to 5 years who have put themselves to sleep and slept well through the night since they were about 4 months each. Here's roughly what we did:
Pick a bedtime and stick to it: We chose to put our babies down at 6 p.m., since they were always fussiest between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Five seemed a little early to be stuck in the house for the night, so we compromised with 6 p.m.
Create a routine: Our nightly routines varied (read: became shorter and shorter) with each baby. For our first, we'd give him a bath, dim the lights while we dressed him in pajamas and a swaddle, then read a short book, put on the sound machine, and feed him before putting him in his crib on his back. With our third, we put the sound machine on while we get her dressed and swaddled, then feed her and put her down.
Leave them be: As long as they didn't cry for more than 15 minutes, we left the room and didn't go back in. Even if they were "talking" or "playing" in the crib, we let them go until they fell asleep on their own. If they started crying at night, we'd let them work it out on their own for at least 10 minutes before intervening. Often, they would go back to sleep on their own, but if they didn't, we'd go in and offer the pacifier or rub their back, then leave the room. We'd repeat this until they stopped. Setting a timer helped with this too, because when a baby is crying, seconds can feel like torturous hours.
Keeping It Up
When they were babies, some nights all the rules went out the window because they were teething or sick. Some nights they'd cry for 20 minutes before going down. And some nights we'd wake up at 6 a.m. and realize we hadn't been up once since we went to bed. We found that while our kids aren't going to be 100 percent consistent, sticking with our own sleep "rules" has helped set a good foundation for the future.
It became more important than ever for us to stick to a routine once our oldest two turned into toddlers who transitioned to big-kid beds, figured out how to turn on lights, and stalled by asking for "one more sip of water." We got through all those disruptions so much easier by referring back to our routine and staying strong (don't fall for it, no matter how thirsty they claim to be!).
Keeping It Flexible
We've definitely turned down invitations because the timing didn't work with our kids' bedtimes and readjusted annual traditions to work with nap schedules. But I refuse to be a prisoner to sleep all the time. So for us, the best part about giving our kids a solid sleep foundation is that it has allowed us, and them, to be flexible.
Some nights they'll come into our room and get in bed with us (who doesn't love toddler snuggles?). On weekends we'll stay out past their bedtimes so we can spend more time with friends or family. During vacations, they might not nap every day. When they're being extra sweet, we'll give in to their request for one more book. But we don't let any of those diversions become habit.
Those unfolded clothes will cause less chaos than a mom running on five hours of sleep.
Our basic "rule" is that we try not to stray off course more than two nights in a row. One of them has a bad dream and comes into our bed? Totally fine. They do it again the next night? A-OK! Easier for me to roll over and go back to sleep anyway. But if they try it a third time, it's on us to get them back to their beds. The same goes for late bedtimes or missed naps.
Getting Yourself to Sleep
Once you get your kids to sleep well, you can't forget about yourself! It's enticing to want to stay up later to have more alone time or get things done when the house is quiet, but I've learned the hard way that those unfolded clothes will cause less chaos in my house than a mom running on five hours of shut-eye. Sure, if you can doze off during those precious naptimes, you should. But you should also have a plan in place to make real sleep happen consistently.
For me, that means a superearly bedtime when my babies are little. Since mine went down at 6 p.m., I sometimes called it a night at 8:30 p.m. in order to get the longest stretch I could before a middle-of-the-night feeding. And now, with all three sleeping through the night, I still try to have my head on the pillow before 10 p.m. every night since I'm usually up at 6 a.m.
I also try to squeeze in extra hours on the weekends when I can. I'm lucky to have a husband who is naturally an early riser, so weekend mornings are my chance to snag at least another hour after the kids wake up. But if your partner isn't usually up with the sun, try trading off weekend morning duty so you each get a little extra snooze time.
A Trainer Shares How to Burn Fat and Build Muscle - It's About Reps and Sets
The old, but disturbing, saying "there's more than one way to skin a cat" (sorry for the gruesome image) applies to the relationship between fitness and weight loss. There is more than one way to work out to lose weight. It's easy to get caught up with what worked for your favorite fitness influencer, what you read online, and what you see people doing in the gym. But the true objective is to figure out what works for you, your body, and your weight-loss goals.
When it comes to fitness, there are a ton of tools to help you achieve what you're looking for; you just have to find the ones that work best for you. As a personal trainer, I suggest you take the time to research fitness and nutrition programs to find the best fit, even if it seems mundane and difficult. Here's a four-week strength-training plan for beginners to see how to program a month of workouts.
Don't NOT Have a Plan
It's easy to go to the gym with the goal of losing weight but no real plan. In my opinion, that's one of the biggest mistakes you can make. It's great that you're getting in the gym, but without a plan, achieving your goals will be challenging. Instead, follow this simple structure when it comes to your strength programs if your goal is to lose weight and build lean muscle mass.
Reps and Sets For Weight Loss
If you're new to strength training, I suggest doing two to three strength sessions a week and gradually increasing the number of sessions you do as your body begins to adapt to the stimulus of lifting weights. Here's the breakdown:
- If you've never lifted before, start with three sets of 10 reps per exercise.
- As you become comfortable with the movements, begin to increase this to three to four sets of 12 reps.
- If you have experience lifting weights, complete anywhere between three to five sets of eight to 15 reps.
When to Lift More
First and foremost, I recommend mastering the technique before worrying about weight. Once you've got the form down, I suggest lifting with medium to heavy weight and recording your progress to determine if you need to increase your weight. It might feel like paperwork, but this is how you will know what you need. You can mix up your strength sessions by doing a day of lighter weight and more reps (four sets of 15 squats with 10-pound dumbbells) or fewer reps and heavier weight (three sets of 10 squats with a 45-pound kettlebell).
Avoid the Plateau
I know you're probably thinking, "Why isn't there one definitive set and rep scheme?" First, I've found this range of sets and reps successful when it comes to weight loss, and second, if you don't constantly change your rep and set scheme, you'll hit a plateau. So come with a plan, and make sure that plan mixes it up. Finally, I wouldn't be doing my job if I told you that all you had to do was four sets of 12 squats in order to lose weight - you need to work with your workout to find what is challenging you and your muscles right now.
As I mentioned earlier, this rep and set formula is just a tool to kick-start your weight-loss journey. You're going to have to be consistent with your workouts and, most importantly, consistent with your nutrition in order to achieve the results you're after.
Who Do You See in This Picture? The Answer Is Important to Your Vision
You might not want to know the answer to the test, but you should take it anyway. Play the video, and an image will appear - you'll see either Marilyn Monroe or Albert Einstein. We won't tell you what each answer means till the end, so as not to influence what you see.
The video comes to us from AsapSCIENCE, which creates popular YouTube science videos. What's going on? The video uses a hybrid image that combines pictures of the two icons and mutes or enhances certain details from each face. The test measures how well you're able to focus and pick up on details like contrast and spatial frequency.
So, for the answer: If you're at a normal viewing distance and get Albert Einstein, you have pretty decent vision. But if you see Marilyn Monroe, you should talk to your doctor about glasses or contacts.
This might be better than the whole dress debate, since it actually means something to your life. How do you compare to everyone else? Vote in the poll to find out!
Who Do You See in This Picture? The Answer Is Important to Your Vision
You might not want to know the answer to the test, but you should take it anyway. Play the video, and an image will appear - you'll see either Marilyn Monroe or Albert Einstein. We won't tell you what each answer means till the end, so as not to influence what you see.
The video comes to us from AsapSCIENCE, which creates popular YouTube science videos. What's going on? The video uses a hybrid image that combines pictures of the two icons and mutes or enhances certain details from each face. The test measures how well you're able to focus and pick up on details like contrast and spatial frequency.
So, for the answer: If you're at a normal viewing distance and get Albert Einstein, you have pretty decent vision. But if you see Marilyn Monroe, you should talk to your doctor about glasses or contacts.
This might be better than the whole dress debate, since it actually means something to your life. How do you compare to everyone else? Vote in the poll to find out!
This Trainer Says These 10 Easy At-Home Exercises Will Get You Toned Abs
Fitness professionals will tell you that abs are made in the kitchen, which is . . . totally true. You have to eat clean to remove subcutaneous fat and reveal the muscles below, but did you know that abs can also be built in your living room? If you're not working out your core, you won't get that six-pack.
We teamed up with Sarah Chadwell, NASM, CPT, a certified trainer, to bring you a 10-move workout you can do at home and with no equipment.
"Use my favorite at-home ab exercises two to three times per week to flatten, tone, and sculpt your midsection. I like to put the names of 10 to 20 exercises on strips of paper and draw five or six of them out of a bowl for a surprise routine each day. It keeps abs-day interesting and varied," said Chadwell. Here are her favorite exercises.
Princess Diana's Summer Style Was Way Ahead of Its Time
Before Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton, we had the original royal style icon: Princess Diana. William and Harry's mum served up fashion inspiration regularly, and the world was always watching to see what she would wear. Whether she was dressed up for an official engagement or enjoying downtime on the beach or a yacht, some of Lady Di's best looks were from the Summer months.
Diana had a way of making every outfit look elegant and effortlessly chic, even when she was sporting overalls or bike shorts (which are conveniently in style again). So in honor of the "People's Princess," we're having a look back at her best Summer fashion moments and scoring some warm-weather dressing inspo of our own. Join us, won't you?
I Gave Up Dairy Completely and Had Instant Regrets
Like many people, I have some issues when it comes to dairy. After eating anything with a moderate to high amount of dairy in it, I tend to become bloated and miserable. Sometimes my jeans don't even fit. So I decided to do something I never thought I would do . . . give up dairy for a week! You see, I love creamer in my coffee, I pride myself on my baking abilities, and every Tuesday my dad and I have root beer floats together. But I did it, and here's my experience of living without dairy for seven days.
In the Beginning
When I started this week-long dairy-free journey, I was a bit of a nervous wreck. What if my friends wanted to go out for pizza? (Serious FOMO.) What would I put in my coffee? (I don't like it black.) What about baking? Are there even any decent dairy alternatives for baking? And how do I tell my dad I'm skipping root-beet-float night? Luckily, things started to resolve and my nerves calmed a bit.
First off, the coffee situation was solved pretty quickly, thanks to my best friend. She offered me some Nutpods plant-based coffee creamer that can be used in just about anything you'd put cream in: coffee, tea, or cooking. The "creamer" also comes in really great flavors, like Hazelnut and French Vanilla, if you want to make your morning cup feel special. While the creamer is unsweetened, it tastes so good that I didn't really need any sugar in my coffee. A double win, for sure!
As for baking, instead of making things with milk or butter like cakes and cookies, I was able to try my hand at using shortening as the fat in my baked goods. I ended up not exactly loving what I made but considered it a work-in-progress since I was experimenting with ingredients I hadn't used before. When weekly root-beer-float night came along, my dad and I were both so full from dinner that no one wanted dessert, so I dodged a major bullet there!
Middle of the Week
In the middle of the week, I started to notice some things were getting easier; I was actually enjoying the taste of my coffee and learning not to freak out when someone offered me cheese. I also noticed that my bloating had started to ease a bit, and my jeans zipped up easier since eliminating dairy from my diet.
One thing I didn't like, though: my face started to break out in some areas. While this might not be directly related to giving up dairy, that was the only thing in my lifestyle I'd changed recently. Obviously, having some spots on my face wasn't ideal, but sometimes it happens, so it's not a total deal-breaker. But what happened at the end of the week was!
End of the Week
The end of my week without dairy was right around Father's Day, and my dad really wanted a cake. Since I'm the baker in my family, I said I would make it. Most cakes contain some kind of dairy, so I knew I was either going to have to make a dairy-free cake and hope my dad didn't notice or make a cake but not eat it - neither option seemed all that great. I decided to do the latter; my dad is my personal hero, and he deserves the best cake I can make. As much as I wanted to give up this week-without-dairy thing and eat a piece of this cake I made, I held strong for the last two days.
Will I Keep Going?
If I'm being honest with you here, no. I like cheese and cake too much to go without dairy forever. In the process, though, I did find some great dairy alternatives for both coffee and baking - hopefully using these in my life will help calm my bloating issues. But I won't be missing another root-beer-float night with my dad. Those moments are just too special to leave behind forever.
Does Your Vagina Smell Funny? Don't Panic - This Might Be Why
Let's not beat around the bush: sometimes vaginas smell. Before we go any further, let's remember that there's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes body parts are a little stinky. You think your armpits always smell like a rose garden? No way. The smell that's coming out of your vagina is usually a sign of something going in on your body. Sometimes that sign isn't so serious, while other times that sign is something you don't want to ignore.
Here are five reasons your vagina is a bit smelly and what you should do about it.
Farmed Salmon Isn't as Bad as You Think It Is - Here's What You Need to Know
Whether or not you consider yourself a health nut, you're probably aware of the hot debate revolving around the health benefits of farmed vs. wild salmon. We fitness people are passionate about a lot of things, like making sure your chest touches the ground when you do burpees, and we're even more passionate about the foods we choose to fuel our bodies with. When it comes to salmon, some say wild is the only type you should be eating while others say farmed salmon is OK. Here's what you actually need to know about salmon in order to make an informed decision for yourself.
Benefits of Salmon
Whether farmed or raised, salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, essential fats the human body cannot produce on its own. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), "Omega-3s are important components of the membranes that surround each cell in your body." You can get omega-3 fatty acids by eating foods like fish, vegetable oils, nuts, flaxseed, flaxseed oils, and leafy vegetables. Omega-3 fatty acids also provide calories, giving your body energy, and "have many functions in your heart, blood vessels, lungs, immune system, and endocrine system," the NIH reported.
The Difference Between Farmed and Wild Salmon
To the eye and tongue, it's rather hard to differentiate between farmed and wild salmon. Both types of salmon have similar nutrient profiles with the main differences between the two are where they live, what they eat, and their seasonal availability. "Farmed Atlantic salmon are hatched, raised, and harvested under controlled conditions and available fresh year round," said Pamela Tom and Paul Olin of the University of California Sea Grant Extension Program. Wild salmon, on the other hand, are found mostly in the North Pacific and are harvested by fishing from June to September.
What Farmed and Wild Salmon Eat
When it comes to diet, there are a few key differences between what farmed and wild salmon eat. "Both farmed and wild salmon need a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and pigments," said Tom and Olin. Wild salmon eat zooplankton and fish and farmed salmon are fed fish meal, fish oil, and other land-based protein sources. Astaxanthin is a part of the vitamin A family and is an essential nutrient that salmon cannot produce and get from their prey and feed. Astaxanthin is responsible for the ovarian development, hatching, survival, growth, and respiration of salmon and is what causes the reddish-orange color of the flesh. As you may have noticed, the color of salmon can vary from rosy-pink to red and is determined by the amount of astaxanthin in the salmon's diet.
The Nutritional Information of Farmed and Wild Salmon
The following nutritional information was obtained from the USDA and compares 100 grams of farmed and wild salmon cooked under dry heat. As you can see, the nutritional differences between farmed and wild salmon are minimal. Wild salmon is slightly higher in the amount of protein, whereas farmed salmon has a slighter higher amount of saturated fat and omega-3s.
| Type of Salmon | Calories | Protein (g) | Fat (g) | Saturated Fat (g) | Sodium (mg) | Cholesterol (mg) | Omega-3 (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmed Atlantic | 206 | 22.1 | 12.3 | 2.5 | 61 | 63 | 2.1 |
| Farmed Coho | 178 | 24.3 | 8.2 | 1.9 | 52 | 63 | 1.2 |
| Wild Chinook | 231 | 25.7 | 13.3 | 3.2 | 60 | 85 | 1.7 |
| Wild Sockeye | 216 | 27.3 | 10.9 | 1.9 | 66 | 87 | 1.2 |
| Wild Coho | 139 | 23.4 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 58 | 55 | 1.0 |
| Wild Pink | 149 | 25.5 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 86 | 67 | 1.3 |
| Wild Chum | 154 | 25.8 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 64 | 95 | 0.8 |
At the end of the day, it doesn't make that big of a difference whether or not your salmon is farmed or wild. Some people's decisions are based off of ethical reasons, specifically how the salmon was raised and fed, and in this case opt for wild salmon over farmed salmon. If eating farmed salmon is a better fit for your budget or easier to find at your grocery store, go ahead and buy it. And remember, the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating eight ounces of seafood or more a week.
I'm a Trainer, and This Is the 1 Butt Exercise I Give to All My Clients (It's Not a Hip Thrust)
A lot of people come into the gym asking for a bigger butt. There's no shame in wanting a plump derriere! In fact, there are many functional benefits of having strong glutes, like less lower-back pain, the ability to run faster, more functional hips, etc. So when a client comes in asking for a bigger butt, I'm all for it.
Although the hip thrust is the king of glute exercises, I'm more partial to the Bulgarian split squat when it comes to the intersection of size and functionality of the glutes.
Bulgarian split squats will target your glutes and legs, but will also challenge your balance and stability. These are important components of a functional approach to fitness. Just as importantly, Jason Walsh, celebrity trainer to women like Jessica Biel and Brie Larson, told POPSUGAR, "Each leg works independently of each other and also together for certain moves." You can rectify imbalances (one side being stronger or weaker than the other), so there's a lot to be gained from doing single-leg variations of classic strength-training moves.
I have my clients do Bulgarian split squats once or twice a week. You can do it with dumbbells or kettlebells at your side, or you can do it with a barbell on your back (in the same position as a back squat). Here's how you do a Bulgarian split squat.
- Begin by placing the toes of your right foot on a bench, box, stair, or chair with your left leg straight.
- Make sure your left foot is out far enough so that when you lower your hips, your knee stays directly over your ankle.
- Bend your left knee, squeeze your right glute, and lower your pelvis toward the ground.
- Press your left heel into the ground to straighten your left knee. This completes one rep.
- Do 15 reps before switching legs.
Pain After Rough Sex? See a Doctor's Advice on What to Do Next
So, you and your partner just got done with your bedroom marathon and the pain is finally settling in. But before you freak out over burning urination, you may be experiencing something far less serious than an STI or a medical condition. Although pain during or after sex can be attributed to more serious health issues, it's likely that you simply received some cuts while getting it on. "Yes - it's actually quite common to get small tears on the vaginal walls during sex," One Medical provider Navya Mysore, MD, told POPSUGAR.
Oftentimes, this occurs when the vaginal area isn't sufficiently lubricated. Dr. Mysore added that other conditions, including lichen sclerosis, eczema, psoriasis, or lichen planus, can make getting vaginal tears more common. So, how do you differentiate pain caused by an STI vs. a vaginal tear? You may see a small amount of spotting or feel minor irritation or burning with urination, but other symptoms can indicate a potential infection: different colored discharge, itchiness, pus from the site of the tear, vaginal lesions, or pelvic cramps or pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see your primary care provider.
How to Treat Vaginal Tears Caused by Sex
"Most often, small vaginal tears will heal on their own," Dr. Mysore said. "Vaginal mucosa is very well innervated with blood flow and tends to heal very quickly." She also advises you clean superficial cuts with warm water once or twice a day and avoid using harsh or scented soaps on the area. I've personally found coconut oil to be a miracle worker when it comes to soothing and healing painful cuts caused by too much friction during sex. Just apply a small amount onto the skin surrounding the vaginal opening and on the inner labia for instant relief.
If the pain is significant, Dr. Mysore recommended taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. In the meantime, it's best to wear cotton underwear and to avoid wearing tight clothing. You also may want to give sex a break for a day or two until the pain subsides.
How to Prevent Them From Happening
Lubrication is key! Make sure you're fully aroused before penetration and go slowly at the start. "Make sure fingers are clean and fingernails are trimmed, so there are no inadvertent cuts with possible foreplay," she said.
Trying to Lose Weight? Here's How to Kick Your Motivation Into High Gear
Having the best resources in your arsenal still isn't enough to lose weight unless you have self-discipline and motivation. At the end of the day, it's up to you to put it all into motion. Transforming your body is never an easy process, but it's not impossible. In addition to eating a clean diet and incorporating both cardio and strength training into your fitness routine, the key to shedding your desired amount of pounds is consistency. Now, we know that's easier said than done, so follow these eight tips below to help you stay on track through the finish line.
- Establish why you want to lose weight. Putting the thought out there won't be enough to get you fired up. Kick-start your journey by figuring out what inspired this change. Are you looking to be healthier? Do you want to build more confidence? Your answer will make your goal more focused, making it easier to remind yourself why you're doing this along the way.
- Set small, realistic goals. Dream big by all means, but you also don't want to set yourself up for failure. Not only are smaller goals more attainable, but they're also better markers of progress.
- Partner up. Recruit a buddy so you can hold each other accountable and push one another. Being in it together with someone else will make you less likely to fall off the wagon and help you practice what you preach.
- Give yourself something to look forward to. Maybe it's scheduling a celebratory dinner with your friends and setting that as your deadline or planning a vacation in advance to show off all your hard work. Giving yourself a timeline will encourage you to stay focused and motivated.
- Celebrate progress. Even a couple pounds lost is something worth acknowledging! Cheering yourself on as you see results (no matter how small) can help you maintain a positive attitude throughout the process. Otherwise, waiting to see drastic changes might end up making you feel discouraged.
- Don't just focus on the numbers. What you see on the scale isn't necessarily an accurate reflection. Instead, measure progress by how you feel and how your clothes fit.
- Don't be afraid to tweak your plan along the way. Just because things aren't going as you hoped doesn't mean you should ditch your efforts altogether. Experiment with different workouts, foods, and portions and adjust as needed.
- Don't give up. Look, it won't be easy, but it will be worth it. Remember why you're doing this in the first place (see #1).
Stop Saying Happiness Is a Choice, Because It's Not
As if mindlessly scrolling through Instagram didn't make me feel bad enough - perfectly airbrushed selfies, aesthetically pleasing apartments, endless vacation pics on some remote island, your designer handbag I'll never be able to afford - coming across so-called "inspirational" messages from health and wellness accounts is a gamble between being motivated and just feeling worse about myself.
A common trope among the wellness crowd is the idea that your mood is entirely within your control. More specifically, that happiness is a choice. "Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy" a popular text image declares. "Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy" reads another. While I understand the sentiment of choosing to be positive and grateful - it's better to look at the glass half-full, right? - it undermines those of us who live every day with a mental illness.
If happiness were a choice, I wouldn't need to visit a psychiatrist every month and take two different medications a day to function. If happiness were a choice, I would never choose to have some days so bad, I can't peel myself out of bed or put on real clothes. If happiness were a choice, I would just be able to wish away the suicidal thoughts that plague my brain when things get really bad. If happiness were a choice, I would have made the decision at age 14 not to be diagnosed with clinical depression and definitely wouldn't have made the choice to be diagnosed with bipolar II in my 20s.
Although understanding the specifics of what causes depression and how it's impacted by brain chemistry is complicated, it's generally thought to be the result of faulty mood regulation by the brain, genes, stress, and medical problems, among other issues, according to Harvard Medical School. Thinking of depression as a chemical imbalance in the brain may be too simplistic, but it encompasses the issues of malfunctioning neurotransmitters, regions of the brain, and the genetics of it all. The point is depression is complex, and each person experiences it differently. For some, treatment may require antidepressants or mood stabilizers to correct brain chemistry, in addition to therapy and other lifestyle changes. Other people may forgo medication altogether but acknowledge they need to manage their mental illness in a proactive way in order to function.
Sure, how you frame your outlook on life can impact your mood, but it can't create happiness; gratitude and happiness aren't the same thing. I choose to be grateful: I'm grateful for my loving husband, my supportive friends and family, my full-time job in my chosen industry, living in my dream city, a roof over my head, and a healthy body that carries me through life. I can also be grateful and still have days when I feel awful mentally, when I don't feel like life is worth living and there's no light at the end of the tunnel. Reconciling these two feelings also adds a layer of guilt, which just makes the downward spiral even worse.
If people really want to spread the message of finding happiness, they should focus on taking care of yourself, starting with your mental health. And not in a eat-a-pint-of-ice-cream-and-take-a-bubble-bath bullsh*t type of self-care, but in a way that prioritizes your mental and emotional needs. By pretending depression is "all in your head," they're trivializing mental illness and making the stigma worse for those of us who live with it every day.
No, happiness is not a choice. But I choose to take medication, I choose to go to therapy, I choose to eat well and exercise, and I choose to keep scrolling past memes that tell me otherwise.
Vegans and Vegetarians, Listen Up: Here's How to Do a Plant-Based Keto Diet
Going keto is more than just a diet trend; it's a lifestyle transformation that has helped people lose weight, gain more energy, lower blood sugar levels, and fight inflammation. The keto diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, super low-carb diet that puts your body into a state of ketosis wherein your body burns fat instead of carbs for energy. Although each person's specific macronutrient breakdown varies, it's generally about 80 percent fat, 15 percent protein, and five percent carbs.
But while countless people have found success on the keto diet, it can be quite limiting for people who are vegetarian or vegan. Since the diet is so low-carb - less than 50 grams a day - many vegan staples, such as quinoa, brown rice, and sprouted grain bread, are out. Although it's difficult, it is possible for people who eschew animal products to successfully do the keto diet. Our friends at Virta Health, a weight-loss clinic that helps treat type 2 diabetes patients with a ketogenic diet, outlined some key pointers for vegans and vegetarians who are interested in trying the keto diet.
As always, be sure to consult with your doctor or registered dietitian before embarking on any major dietary changes. The keto diet, especially a plant-based keto diet, should be done under medical supervision.
Articles
