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 24 août 2018
A Trainer Says Doing This Style of Cardio Will Sculpt and Tone Your Booty
Did you know the gluteal muscles are among the most underused and undertrained muscles in the body? Crazy, right? One of the common causes of dormant butt syndrome, as some like to call it, is sitting. Yes, sitting. When you sit for extended periods of time (you may want to stand up now and continue reading this), your hip flexors tighten and your glute muscles turn off.
The good news is you can begin correcting and activating your booty muscles today (and start getting those gains). It's 100 percent OK to train your butt every day, just be sure to mix up the stimulus in order to prevent over-training and injury. If you're new to strength training, you'll want to begin with no more than three strength sessions a week, in order to allow your body to adapt to the new stimulus. Once you become comfortable with the movements and aren't extremely sore, you can begin to advance your programs.
Personal trainer Ryan Read has transformed a butt or two and told POPSUGAR that he likes to add walking on a treadmill at an incline into his programs to help with booty gains. "I base my whole program on building and burning," he said. "I have my girls lift heavy weights to build muscle and do incline and resistance cardio to burn calories and tone." Ryan said that the combination of lifting heavy weights and doing resisted cardio are "key to getting the lean, full look girls want."
How exactly does walking on an incline help? Glad you asked. Ryan said that it allows the glutes to stay involved while keeping the heart rate elevated and burning calories. "It's highly intense, fast-paced, and makes for a great workout to keep the muscles guessing, which is key to growth."
Start sculpting your booty today with Ryan's butt-transforming workout. And as a bonus, begin implementing these exercises into your strength sessions to really see a change in your assets.
I Freed Myself From Bloating With These 3 Simple Diet Tweaks
Bloating is a widespread epidemic that many women suffer from on a daily basis. Not only is it annoying, but it usually means our body isn't processing or digesting food properly. I work out at least four days a week and have a relatively healthy diet, but despite my efforts, I still felt perpetually bloated and uncomfortable. Feeling frustrated and hopeless, I asked my trainer what else I could do to get rid of this annoying feeling. I made three small tweaks to my daily diet and lost five pounds in one week, eliminating the endless bloat I felt. Here's how I did it.
I Drank Lots of Water
When my trainer told me to drink a gallon of water a day, I thought he was crazy. I told him there was no way my body could even manage that amount of water. I thought for sure downing a gallon of water would only make me feel more bloated. Despite my griping, he told me to give it a try, so I did. To be honest, I did feel a little more bloated for the first day or two, but per his instructions, I was patient. After a week, to my surprise, it actually worked. Don't get me wrong, though, I had to pee a lot.
Drinking a gallon of water a day allowed me to flush out all the excess salt and sugar in my system that was already making me bloated. After the first week, I didn't have to continue my gallon a day challenge, but I do still aim to drink about 128 ounces of water a day. Not only does water help regulate your system, but it also manages hunger.
I Added Fiber to My Diet
My next task was to add fiber into my diet, ideally into every meal. So I added ground flax seeds to my morning oatmeal and various veggies throughout the day like celery. I work a desk job, so I munch on celery a lot when I'm hungry between meals. These fiber-enriched foods are also low in calories, making me feel fuller for longer.
Fiber helped my bloating because I wasn't overeating, so I was eliminating extra calories, also contributing to weight loss. It also helps with constipation, which can cause gas and bloating. The weird thing is that your body can't actually digest fiber, so when you eat it, your body is working harder and you're actually burning more calories than the calories in the food itself.
I Cut Back on Sugar
This task was probably the hardest one on my list. I love to put copious amounts of cream and sugar in my coffee to start off my day. I also work in an office setting so someone usually has a sugary treat that I can't pass up. This was part of my problem, though, so getting rid of those "treats" was necessary. Don't get me wrong, I didn't go crazy and eliminate every source of sugar in my diet – just refined sugar. A lot of foods naturally have some sugar in them, and that's OK, but my days of drinking sugar-infused coffee and soda were over. Hello, black coffee.
Cutting back on my sugar intake would make sure I didn't undo the damage that I worked so hard to correct. I didn't want any more unnecessary sugar sitting in my system making me feel bloated. Honestly, the more I cut sugar out, the less I craved it. Soon enough, if I had sugary coffee, it was actually too much for me. I preferred black.
Bloating is different for everyone, and what worked for me may not work for you. It takes practice and patience to figure out how your body responds to certain foods. I get it, sometimes you just want to throw your hands up in the air and give up – don't, though. Just keep going until you find what's right.
This Equinox Trainer's Fat-Burning, Bodyweight HIIT Workout Only Takes 10 Minutes
Despite what you may have heard, you don't need to spend hours and hours at the gym to tone up, shed fat, and feel amazing. Martel Martellus, NASM-certified trainer at Equinox, recommends doing HIIT (high-intensity interval training) sessions when you're short on time and want to get in a good workout.
"HIIT workouts can help you burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time," Martel told POPSUGAR. "They also keep your metabolic rate high after your workout so you burn extra calories, even after." That means you'll burn more calories throughout the day, long after you've wrapped up your sweat session.
Not only does HIIT equal more calorie burn, but "it adds as a post-exercise appetite suppressant," Martel said. "It allows for higher levels of fat oxidation in the muscles, which basically means that your lipid molecules (fat cells) are broken down into smaller sizes and used for energy rather than excess storage, which contributes to weight loss." Sounds good to us. Where do we sign up?
I did a HIIT workout with Martel last week, and it was a tough one. We did seven different exercises for 20 seconds and rested for 10 seconds before moving onto the next one. You go through all the exercises once, rest for 60 seconds, and repeat two more times for a total of three rounds. That only equals 10.5 minutes of work. You can do anything for 10 minutes! And the best part is, you don't need any equipment for this session.
Here are the exercises, and descriptions for each one are below.
- Split lunge jump + squat
- Plyometric push-ups
- Mountain climbers + burpee tuck jump
- Shuffle + curtsy lunge
- Reverse burpee
- Lateral hops
- Split lunge jumps
Making This 1 Change to My Diet Helped Me Quickly Lose Belly Fat
Last year, I saw a pretty incredible transformation in my body. There was a particularly stressful period of my life where I gained 40 pounds, so when I was ready to get my health back on track, I knew I had my work cut out for me. I wanted to lose weight everywhere, but especially around my midsection, because that's the part of my body I'm most insecure about. For example, I'd never been comfortable just wearing leggings and a sports bra.
After trying all kinds of rigorous exercise, different diets like Paleo or Mediterranean, and even juice cleanses, I still wasn't seeing my stubborn belly fat go away. That all changed when I started doing intermittent fasting, though, where I eat all my meals in an eight-hour window (I chose 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and fast for the rest of the day.
My belly fat started coming off quicker than I ever thought possible, and it turns out there is a very real explanation for that. Certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition says that intermittent fasting "gets your body out of 'storage mode' and mobilizes fat stores for energy." This means that without having a constant food source, your body will dip into the fat it already has stored as its energy source, and in my case, that fat was in my belly.
Similarly, Dr. Daryl Gioffre, a celebrity nutritionist and longevity expert, adds that when you fast for 16 hours, "Your blood sugar and insulin levels lower," and the human growth hormone increases. He says this increases your metabolic rate "by up to 14 percent in some people." When this happens, your body has no other choice but to start burning your body's stored fat for energy - and my body started burning fat around my belly.
"Belly fat can be stubborn to lose because the abdominal area contains more alpha-2 receptors that slow down your ability to burn fat, compared to beta-2 receptors that increase your fat burning potential," Dr. Gioffre continued. IF lowers insulin levels, "activating your b-2 receptors and shutting down your a-2 receptors, allowing you to burn targeted fat in your belly area."
Pretty amazing, right? IF isn't necessarily for everyone, but it could work for you. Speak to your doctor before making any significant changes. If you find that IF is a good fit, you might just find that it blasts away your belly fat sooner than you expected, as long as you're still maintaining a healthy calorie deficit and also exercising regularly.
If Lower-Belly Fat Is Your Trouble Spot, Then Try This Ab-Focused Workout
Lower-belly fat is a common problem area for people looking to flatten their bellies and tighten their core. Although you can't specifically spot target fat loss - as you lose weight, you can't control which fat cells shrink from which body parts - you can target specific muscles with certain exercises.
To lose weight overall, it's important to eat a healthy diet in a calorie deficit, incorporate cardio and HIIT exercise, and strength train your whole body. But if you're looking to strengthen your lower ab muscles specifically, these 18 exercises are a great place to start. Best part? Most of them are equipment-free so you can do them right at home.
Amazon Reviewers Can't Stop Raving About These 5 Top-Rated Sports Bras
One of our favorite ways to shop is by reading customer reviews. It's the best way to learn unbiased information about the products you're about to buy. Plus, you can relate to other people's personal experiences. If you're on the hunt for a new sports bra, we know it's not always easy to find the perfect fit. To save you both time and money, we scoured Amazon for its most affordable and highest-rated picks, so all you have to do it shop. Whether you're looking for an underwire choice or something strappy with medium support, we have you covered. Keep scrolling to see what reviewers love and find your perfect match.
I'm a Group Fitness Instructor - These Are the 6 Ways I See People Wrecking Their Workout
There are a lot of things I love in this world, but very few things are more exciting for me than teaching a full class at the gym where I coach, Epic Hybrid Training Center. I love the thrill of the loud music and the sweaty, smiling people all around me. And I love pushing them to their limit and seeing them get stronger. Most of all, I love that Epic uses functional movements to give our clients the best possible workout.
However, I've noticed quite a few things at my gym when I teach group classes that are pretty common among regularly attending clients. Judging by what my other trainer friends tell me, these mistakes are easy to see in just about any group fitness class. If you're a group fitness junkie, listen up. These are the six mistakes I see my clients make all too often.
Jillian Michaels Says You Should Lift Weights This Often For Fat Loss
You may have heard your fair share of claims that weightlifting can speed up fat loss and help you lean out faster. Well, that's not a myth. We confirmed with Jillian Michaels, health and fitness expert and creator of the My Fitness by Jillian Michaels App, and she agreed that lifting weights can help you efficiently shed fat.
"Lifting weights absolutely speeds fat loss because it burns more calories during and after your workout if done right," Jillian told POPSUGAR. Part of doing your workout the right way is doing "circuit training with HIIT intervals included in that circuit," according to Jillian. You can include both strength training and cardio into a circuit like this, ensuring you make the most of your time.
But here's the million-dollar question: how many times a week should you strength train to see positive results? "Women should lift four times a week if possible," Jillian explained. "Train each muscle twice a week with two days of rest between training days."
This is the example Jillian gave us. On Mondays and Thursdays, work on muscle groups that are primarily responsible for pushing movements, like "chest, triceps, shoulders, quads, and obliques." Then focus on the "pulling" parts of the body, such as your back, biceps, hamstrings, and upper and lower abs on Wednesdays and Fridays.
If you have no idea where to start or you don't know how to do basic exercises, consider working with a trainer for a few sessions. For more inspiration, here are some workouts to get you started.
jeudi 23 août 2018
Gigi Hadid Is Wearing the Jeans Mary-Kate and Ashley Made Cool in 2002
Are they back? Could they be!? These are the thoughts that ran through my head when Gigi Hadid stepped out in NYC wearing the distressed flares of my 2002 dreams. They have little snippets at the ankle, all to better show off her chunky platforms and that signature fade at the hem any girl would recognize from Limited Too's archives. These jeans, designed by Trave, are slightly low-slung, and, when worn with a micro top like Gigi's, they are the focal point of the outfit.
Personally, I became obsessed with them while watching Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in Holiday in the Sun as they climbed aboard the private yacht in the last scene to find "the evidence," their dark-wash bell bottoms trailing all the while. MK and A also wore similar styles in Getting There, which was released in 2002, even trying out the same silhouette in corduroy. But you can't bring up such denim without referencing Britney Spears, who owned her fair share in the exact same cut.
I don't know about you, but I plan to fully embrace this resurgence, and Gigi and I aren't alone. Victoria Beckham must've had an inkling and rocked a pair with a white tee during Fashion Week in 2017 and CR Fashion Book editor Carine Roitfeld recently shared her own roughed-up iteration on Instagram. Even Kylie Jenner is a fan! Scroll to backtrack on these jeans you so obviously need for Fall 2018, then shop some of our favorite picks that are beginning to hit the market.
This Detail Will Make You Love Kylie Jenner's Dress Even More
If we were allowed to have one look at Kylie Jenner's closet, here are the things that we would see: incredibly sexy bikinis, hypnotizing heels, and mini dresses that perfectly show off her famous curves. So when the 21-year-old star stepped out in a little bodycon number by Alexander Wang, we weren't necessarily surprised. Well, until we took a closer look at her ensemble, that is.
For a night out in New York, Kylie wore a fiery red minidress that featured black spaghetti straps. While at first glance it could have looked like any other little red dress, the young star stood out thanks to the brocade detailing that covered her outfit. She finished her ensemble with long pendant earrings, black strappy heels, and a handbag covered in diamante. Ahead, get a closer look at Kylie's Alexander Wang dress, and then shop similar options for yourself.
The Absolute Best Way to Cook Zucchini Noodles
Congrats! You've successfully made zoodles in a spiralizer. Now, onto the important question: how do you actually cook them? Unlike pasta, you fortunately don't need to wait around for a pot of water to boil. Instead, you treat the veggie "noodles" as vegetables you'd normally sauté on the stovetop.
The best way to cook a batch of zoodles is to heat one or two tablespoons of oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil, in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the noodles with a generous pinch of salt and a little pepper. After about five minutes, the zoodles will be slightly softened but not mushy, which is what you're after. They'll be similar to the al dente texture of traditional pasta.
And that's it! You can turn off the heat and turn your zucchini noodles into a full meal catered to your preference. You could add homemade bolognese sauce, basil pesto and parmesan cheese, lemon butter shrimp and red pepper flakes, or even more of your favorite satueed veggies to the mix. After trying out this healthy alternative to carb-heavy pasta a few times, you might convince yourself you like it almost as much as the real thing.
Ready to get cooking? Here are some more zucchini noodle recipes to get you started.
Kelly Clarkson and Many More Stars Support Simon Cowell at His Hollywood Star Ceremony
Simon Cowell's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony brought out some of music's biggest stars on Wednesday. The producer was surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues as he was honored with a star in LA. In addition to posing with his wife Lauren Silverman, their 4-year-old son Eric, and Lauren's son Adam from her past marriage, the America's Got Talent judge had a reunion with some of his past American Idol and X-Factor contestants, including Adam Lambert, Louis Tomlinson, and Leona Lewis. Kelly Clarkson, who won the very first season of American Idol, even gave a speech during the ceremony gushing about how Simon changed her life.
"I said yes right away because I was so excited to be here for this, because literally we were right here 16-years ago when this man helped change my life," the Grammy-winning singer said. Kelly also spoke to Simon's ability to find "authentic people that have a raw talent and are really themselves and that's all they really know how to be and I think that is something that should be applauded and praised, in this industry especially." How sweet! See which other musicians popped up for the star-studded ceremony ahead.
9 Things You Didn't Know About Gina Rodriguez
Not only is Gina Rodriguez an incredibly talented actress and the star of The CW's iconic telenovela, Jane the Virgin, but she's also a passionate advocate for girls' education. Now, she's using her voice to help empower girls and end "period poverty" by teaming up with Always and Feeding America to donate 15 million period products this school year.
While chatting with Gina about the #EndPeriodPoverty campaign, we also spoke with her for our Falling in Love With series. A study on interpersonal closeness by the psychologist Arthur Aron (and others) - which went viral in The New York Times's article "The 36 Questions That Lead to Love" - offered up 36 questions that could potentially deepen the connection between two strangers. We decided to put the questions to the test with some of your favorite celebs to see if a few simple questions could truly make you feel closer to them. Here's what we learned about Gina.
POPSUGAR: What would constitute a "perfect" day for you?
Gina Rodriguez: Waking up after 8 a.m. ideally, so that means my body has to tell me to stay sleeping. That would already start a perfect day! Then probably doing some muay thai with my bestie. Doing something creative, some kind of art - either reading a script or breaking one down to do blocking because I'm directing one. And then a movie and go to sleep early, like 8:30 p.m.
PS: Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
GR: Jesus.
PS: Is there something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven't you done it?
GR: To be very honest, I have done everything I've dreamt of. I gotta start dreaming some more to be honest, and that's a beautiful blessing. Why haven't I done it? Well, I haven't dreamt it up yet. I need more time to sleep!
PS: Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?
GR: Wouldn't go back. I don't own anything that precious. Let it burn, just possessions.
PS: What is your most treasured memory?
GR: It happened about a month ago and I can't share it. [Editor's note: Gina recently confirmed she got engaged last month!]
PS: When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
GR: Easily this morning, when I was pooping.
PS: What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
GR: I don't think I've had it yet. And I'm hoping that one day that accomplishment is being a mother.
PS: If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future, or anything else, what would you want to know?
GR: Nothing. I don't wanna know nothing! Don't tell me!
PS: If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?
GR: The ability to heal - magically - or I have a doctorate. I'd take a superpower though, happily.
Check it all out in the video above, and to learn more about #EndPeriodPoverty, head here.
My Son Got Made Fun of at School For His Packed Lunch - This Is What Was in It
Thanks to former First Lady Michelle Obama, nutrition has become an even more important part of our kids' school lunches. There are healthier choices available to them, and they're learning more about what good food actually means (sorry, kids, but juice boxes and fruit snacks do not count as fresh fruit). Eating healthy foods has become so important and widespread that I've actually read stories about kids being shamed by school officials and other kids for not bringing totally clean and organic meals in their lunchboxes. But during my son's kindergarten year, he was teased for his healthy lunches, and my first reaction was, "Wait, what?"
As we sat together and ate the delicious food, his friend asked me, "Why don't you ever pack Joey any junk food in his lunchbox?" I couldn't believe it.
It started a few weeks into the school year. I was packing his lunch before our busy morning commute. In his lunchbox sat string cheese, almonds, a mixed veggie and fruit pouch, an apple, and a bag of popcorn. While eating his breakfast at the table, my son asked, "Mom, can you pack me some yummy junk food in my lunchbox today?" "Um, no," I responded. "Why?" "Well, all of the other kids get to eat junk at school. Their moms pack them chocolate and chips - stuff like that."
As I questioned my son more about this lunch dilemma, he ended up telling me that his lunch was "nerdy." "How could a lunch be nerdy?" I thought. While I felt badly for my son, I did my best to explain to him that eating nutritious foods is important for his growing body and mind. If he ate junk food every day for lunch, he would likely feel sleepy and sluggish once he went back to the classroom. He was blessed to be able to eat healthy food! Rolling his eyes, he begrudgingly accepted my lecture.
The funny thing is is that I'm not a huge stickler when it comes to healthy eating, either. Yes, I do my best to give my kids nutritious foods, but they are by no means deprived. We let them have desserts and treats, and in the Summer, they get to indulge in popsicles and s'mores far too often. But I also try to educate them about the kinds of foods they need to properly fuel their bodies. Overall, our family abides by the "everything in moderation" motto.
So, one day I decided to bring my son's lunch to his school. It was a special treat for his birthday - cheeseburgers and French fries. We sat at the round table and waited for my son and his friends to come join us. As we sat together and ate the delicious food, his friend suddenly asked me, "Why don't you ever pack Joey any junk food in his lunchbox?" Again, I couldn't believe it. This kid was trying to guilt me into packing unhealthy stuff, too? I simply responded, "Because it's important to eat healthy food so that you can learn and grow." The kid didn't say anything.
But then I looked around the cafeteria. The majority of the kids were eating the unhealthy food my son told me about. Fruit Roll-Ups, Doritos, and all assortments of Little Debbie treats were being gobbled up by the kindergartners. I felt slightly guilty for making my son the odd man out in this situation. Did he get tormented every day for his lunch? Were his feelings hurt? Did he dread opening up his lunchbox in front of his friends? Did all the other mothers get together and talk about how silly my lunches were? Did the school roll their eyes at my efforts? Despite my moment of doubt, I knew deep down it didn't matter. I needed to trust my judgment when it came to his lunches, no matter what anyone else said or did. And I haven't budged.
I still want my son to eat a well-balanced meal every day. Yes, sometimes I drop in a piece of chocolate or a bag of chips, but for the most part, we keep it healthy. And you know what? He's fine! My son's friends are still his friends, and I feel good about the food he eats to get him through a day of learning and playing. Even if he sometimes questions the lack of junk food, I know I'm setting him up for a healthy life, and that's something I'll never feel guilty about.
25 Cute and Motivational Quotes to Leave in Your Kid's Lunch Box on the First Day of School
As parents, we want nothing more than to do what we can to make our children's first day of school as awesome as it can be. Whether it's your child's first day of school ever or just the first day of a new school year, starting off on a positive note is essential. While you can't control what happens at school, making sure they leave the house with everything they need for a great first day can have a big impact and goes beyond having the right clothes or the trendiest pair of shoes.
Motivational quotes and words of affirmation can give your kids the confidence they need to do their best, be themselves, make friends, and take on the school year. For their first day of school, try putting one or two of these motivational quotes in their lunchbox!
- "If you can dream it, you can do it." - Walt Disney
- "Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud." - Maya Angelou
- "Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." - Confucius
- "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt
- "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss
- "Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale." - Hans Christian Andersen
- "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" - Dr. Seuss
- "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky
- "When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us." - Helen Keller
- "You become what you believe." - Oprah Winfrey
- "Dream big and dare to fail." - Norman Vaughan
- "Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt
- "Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, 'I'm possible!'" - Audrey Hepburn
- "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else." - Booker T. Washington
- "Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world." - Lucille Ball
- "Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." - Mother Teresa
- "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." - Harriet Tubman
- "A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself." - Jim Morrison
- "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
- "The big lesson in life, baby, is never be scared of anyone or anything." - Frank Sinatra
- "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde
- "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." - Arthur Ashe
- "I avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward." - Charlotte Brontë
- "Everything you can imagine is real." - Pablo Picasso
- "Don't worry about failure. You only have to be right once." - Drew Houston
To My Delivery Nurse, Thank You From the Bottom of My Heart
To My Delivery Nurse,
Thank you. From the very bottom of my heart, thank you. I know for a fact I couldn't have gotten through labor without you, and I truly think you're an angel. Not only did you help me deliver a healthy baby, but you also put up with me during my long labor and delivery - something I know wasn't easy. And this is what you do day in and day out. How do you stay so calm, reassuring, and loving? Your strength amazed me.
Right from the start, you knew my experience was not going to be a typical (or easy) one. I have a heart condition and was so desperate for a vaginal birth after a C-section. You knew helping me was going to be a very large mountain to climb, but instead of hesitating or trying to change my mind about my delivery, you pressed on, guiding me every step of the way.
Thank you for keeping my dream alive throughout every second of my 50-hour labor. Because of you, I was able to push through the hardest days of my life to receive the best reward. You never let me give up.
When I was first wheeled into my room, I had already labored for 18 hours at home and was in immense pain. I moaned while you calmly and thoroughly went over some of the details with me. I heard none of it, but you made sure that at least my husband absorbed it. Once my contractions intensified, so did my agony. My groans turned into screaming. I remember the pain was heavy in my thighs, and I was crawling around the bathroom floor in desperate search of some relief when you walked in. "Let me help you," you said. "This f*cking kills!" I screamed in your face. I couldn't think about anything else but the pain, and judging by your cool response, you'd witnessed this many times before. You gently helped me into bed, not once judging my erratic behavior.
A little later, before I got my heavenly epidural, I began pressing the call button like a maniac. My husband tried to quiet me, but it didn't work. When you came into the room, still calm as ever, I threw the call pager against the back of the bed. "I'm dying!" I screamed. "Honey, please don't throw things. I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself or the baby." "Fine," I said. "Just please give me my epidural!" Thankfully, for the entire hospital, it worked quickly. And the next time you entered the room, I apologized for my very bad behavior. "Don't worry," you said with a smile. "I've seen and heard it all."
Thanks to you, I was finally able to calm down enough to deliver my daughter. You helped me push for three hours. You believed in me, even when I had lost all hope and was so convinced I couldn't do it for one more second. You helped give me the VBAC I was so set on having. You didn't let me give up, even after I lashed out at you. You understood what women go through during childbirth, and I know now that it takes someone so special and strong to do what you do. I know I never could.
Thank you for putting up with me and for believing in me. If it wasn't for you, I likely would not have delivered my daughter the way that I wanted to. After she was born, you said, "I knew all along that you were going to deliver her vaginally. I could tell you had the strength and fight within you to do it." I will carry those words with me forever. I still think of them now, whenever I get discouraged, and find the strength to push through. You helped me do that. Only you.
Thank you for doing what you do every single day. Nurses like you make the birth process one to be cherished and loved. I hope you know that you're making a difference with every single baby you help deliver. And you're helping change the lives of the women you support through it. You are amazing.
Sincerely,
Me
How Princess Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles Went From Friends to Rivals
We all know how strongly Diana, Princess of Wales, and Camilla Parker Bowles felt about each other in the '80s and '90s. As Diana's marriage to Prince Charles fell apart, she laid the blame very firmly with Camilla, and the uncomfortable and sometimes angry relationship between the two was played out on a very public stage. But the two women were initially friends. Camilla's biographer, Penny Junor, noted that when Lady Diana Spencer first began dating the heir to the throne in 1980, they were often guests at Bolehyde Manor in Wiltshire, the country home Camilla shared with her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles. The women enjoyed each other's company, and Diana is said to have enjoyed helping Camilla with her young children, Tom and Laura.
Before the royal engagement was announced, Camilla provided a friendly shoulder to lean on as Diana navigated one of her first experiences with the cameras at Ludlow Races, where both women watched the Prince of Wales competing. Soon after Charles and Diana announced they were to wed, in February 1981, the bride to be moved into Clarence House where, Diana later told Andrew Morton, who wrote the 1992 book Diana: Her True Story, she found a note from Camilla on her bed, asking her to lunch. The two enjoyed a gossipy meal, but Diana later remembered the meeting less fondly, believing Camilla was using it to work out when she would be able to see Charles on his own after the royal wedding.
In fact, soon after the engagement, Diana became distrustful of her new friend. Morton's book describes how upset Diana was by Charles's decision to give Camilla a bracelet, engraved with the initials G and F, just before his wedding in July 1981. Diana was convinced it symbolized "Gladys and Fred," the pet names Charles and Camilla allegedly used for one another. Others claim it meant "Girl Friday." Penny Junor also sheds light on the pain Diana felt when a photo of Camilla fell out of Charles's diary during their honeymoon on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
But the early years of Diana's married life involved little actual contact with Camilla. In fact, Charles's former girlfriend (they had dated in the 1970s before her wedding) stayed away from events she knew the Prince and Princess of Wales would attend. But in the mid '80s, Diana was convinced her husband was seeing Camilla again.
In 1989, the women came face to face at a birthday party for Camilla's sister, Annabel. Diana told Andrew Morton that she surprised Charles and his friends by attending the celebration, and once there, she engineered a conversation with Camilla in which she told her she knew about the real state of her relationship with Charles. Diana later recalled that Camilla had come back by saying the princess had beautiful children and public adoration before asking her what more she wanted. Diana's reply? "I want my husband." Both women were left visibly shaken by the encounter.
"There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."
In the following years, there was no more contact. However, the relationship between Diana and Camilla became very public as the royal marriage broke down. In the 1990s, the princess began to reveal her feelings toward Camilla, and in 1995 she gave her famous Panorama interview. Her conversation with Martin Bashir shed light on her relationship with her rival, with Diana famously saying, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."
While her relationship with her ex-husband is said to have mellowed following their divorce in 1996, Diana never reconciled with Camilla and was reported to be upset when Charles organized a 50th birthday party for her at Highgrove, their former marital home, in July 1997. Diana's death, just weeks later, led to a public backlash against Camilla.
But it was the growing warmth shown to her by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, that helped fully ease Camilla into royal life - and the public spotlight. William met her first, with Harry following in his brother's footsteps just weeks later. Those encounters in 1998 led to a regular string of meetings, and when the princes organized a birthday party for their father that November, they invited Camilla to sit with him at the celebration.
By the time Charles and Camilla finally married, in 2005, the princes enjoyed a comfortable relationship with their new stepmother. Angela Levin's book Harry: Conversations With the Prince quotes Harry describing her as a "wonderful woman," adding "William and I love her to pieces." The bond was further shown in 2011 when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge asked Camilla's granddaughter Eliza Lopes to be one of their bridesmaids. Camilla has also helped both Kate and Meghan settle into their new royal roles. Her stepsons continue to care for her deeply as they also keep their mother's legacy alive.
I Wore Biker Shorts 3 Different Ways, and I Totally Get the Hype Now
I have to admit, when biker shorts first made an appearance on the runways at Off-White, I instantly fell in love with the idea but had no idea how to style them. Even when I saw some of my favorite bloggers and celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner style them, the look still seemed unrealistic.
Yes, I could tell that they are super flattering (because they're stretchy and suck everything in), but how exactly was I supposed to wear them without (a) looking like a total fool and (b) looking like I was about to go for a 50-mile triathlon? Because let's be real - anyone who knows me knows I couldn't even possibly survive two miles.
After getting some inspiration off of Instagram, I decided to put this trend to the test and try three different outfits to see if biker shorts were actually easy to style. I got myself a pair of Good American Biker Shorts ($65) from Six:02 and embarked on my mission of becoming a Kardashian (I kid, I kid.) Read on to see three surprisingly easy ways I styled them.
That Meghan Markle Outfit Everyone Was Talking About? You Can Now Find It at Zara
I've been obsessed with Meghan Markle and her incredibly chic wardrobe since the first time I saw her in Suits. Sure, her style has ever-so-slightly changed since she became Mrs. Prince Harry, but it's actually made me love her even more. While the Duchess of Sussex does follow most of the rules, she also knows what she loves, and she certainly isn't afraid to push the boundaries.
For her very first appearance at Trooping the Colour, Meghan stunned in a pink off-the-shoulder ensemble by Carolina Herrera, and I still remember thinking, "Wow, she looks breathtaking." Accessorized with a matching Philip Treacy hat and a clutch, her outfit was sophisticated and elegant (if not a little protocol-breaking), and I've been thinking about it ever since - so you can imagine my delight when I came across a Zara blazer that looks exactly like the top half of the stunning Herrera creation.
While the blazer in question comes in a fiery red instead of a powder pink, I immediately recognized the gorgeous bateau neckline and its fold-over collar. The other two main differences are the presence of pockets and two rows of buttons instead of one, but it didn't keep me from immediately adding the piece to my shopping cart. Read on for a reminder of what Meghan's Trooping the Colour outfit looked like, and shop the Zara creation before everyone starts wearing it.
Dakota Johnson Gets Roped Into the Ultimate Horror Show in the Suspiria Trailer
As a follow up to award season darling Call Me By Your Name, director Luca Guadagnino has dramatically changed courses by remaking one of the scariest horror movies from the 1970s: Suspiria. After feasting our eyes on some ominous images of star Dakota Johnson in the film recently and the first, silent teaser in June, we now finally have an official trailer. In the footage above, we get to see Johnson's ambitious young dancer, Susie, arriving at a world-renowned dance company led by a mysterious artistic director (Tilda Swinton) who will send Susie on a journey filled with darkness (translation: satanic rituals, witches, curses, murder, etc.). Mia Goth, Lutz Ebersdorf, Jessica Harper, and Chloë Grace Moretz also star, and the film hits theaters on Nov. 2.
Teaser:
A Timeline of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's Royal Relationship
By the time Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank wed this Fall, they will have already been together for around eight years. The two will walk down the aisle in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Oct. 12 in front of family and friends - and 1,200 members of the public.
Though Princess Eugenie didn't need the queen's permission for her wedding, her royal relationship with Jack, who works in the hospitality industry, is widely on display. From their romantic meeting in 2010 to wedding dates and their own impending nuptials, their relationship has been a whirlwind of sweet moments. Here's the all-important timeline!
- 2010: Eugenie and Jack met while they were both skiing in Verbier, Switzerland, and were introduced by friends. She was 20, and he was 24. Jack told the BBC this year that it was "love at first sight."
- 2011: The couple made their public debut at Royal Ascot in 2011, not too long after meeting.
- 2013: Eugenie moved to New York to work for online auction house Paddle8, leaving the couple to deal with a long-term relationship. Despite the distance, though, Jack told the Daily Mail at the time that they were still "very much together."
- 2015: Eugenie moved back to England, and her relationship with Jack began to pick up steam.
- September 2016: Eugenie and Jack took their relationship to the next level when they joined the queen and the rest of the royal family at Balmoral for a weekend getaway.
- May 2017: Eugenie and Jack attended a (kind of) royal wedding when they went to Pippa Middleton's wedding.
- January 2018: Jack proposed to Eugenie while the two were in Nicaragua - but without a ring! In an interview with the BBC, Jack said he wanted to propose without a ring so Eugenie could help design it - and what a beautiful ring she ended up with!
- April 2018: Jack and Eugenie moved into Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace, right next door to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
- May 2018: The two were guests at Harry's wedding to Meghan at St. George's Chapel - the same place they will be married this Fall.
- October 2018: Jack and Eugenie will celebrate their own wedding at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in front of all their friends and family.
The 28 Best New Books to Curl Up With This Fall
Brenda Janowitz is the POPSUGAR books correspondent. She is the author of five novels, including The Dinner Party.
Summer is great, but who doesn't love Fall? Is there anything better than curling up beside the fire with a book? OK, yes, taking a long, warm bath with a great read is pretty wonderful, too. Are you sensing a trend here? Everything is better with a book! So after you take that hay ride, grab a pumpkin spice latte and get comfortable. I've got the definitive list of what to read this season - and trust me, you're not going to want to miss a single one.
According to Winona Ryder, She and Keanu Reeves Accidentally Got Married on the Dracula Set
Dracula - he'll suck your blood, turn you into a creature of the night, and . . . accidentally cause you and your costar to get married on the set of your latest film? At least, that's what may or may not have happened to Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves. While sitting down with Entertainment Weekly to promote their latest collaboration, the rom-com Destination Wedding, the pair began to reflect on a previous film they'd done together, 1992's Bram Stoker's Dracula.
In the horror-drama, Ryder plays Mina Murray to Reeves's Jonathan Harker, while Gary Oldman was tasked with playing a version of the iconic vampire (with pretty questionable hair, I should note). And, apparently, there was also a real-life Romanian priest on set for a wedding scene, meaning the vows Ryder and Reeves say as Mina and Jonathan could, technically, have bonded them for real.
"We actually got married in Dracula. No, I swear to god I think we're married in real life," Ryder explained. "In that scene, [director] Francis [Ford Coppola] used a real Romanian priest . . . We shot the master and he did the whole thing. So I think we're married."
After Ryder revealed that fun behind-the-scenes tidbit, Reeves plays along at first, telling her, "It's lovely to see you again," as if they've been a long-separated couple. But then the Stranger Things actress reminded him that they went through the entire traditional ceremony, including "I dos."
"We said yes?" Reeves asked.
"Don't you remember that?" Ryder responded. "It was on Valentine's Day."
According to EW, Reeves then uttered a shocked "Oh my gosh, we're married," concluding what is perhaps the greatest interview of all time.
Deep Breaths: Urban Decay Is Discontinuing Its Naked Palette
We have some good news and some bad news. Let's start with the almost tragic: after eight years on the market, Urban Decay is discontinuing its original Naked Palette ($54). The upside? Before it sells out, Urban Decay is honoring Naked with a swan song 50 percent off sale on its website right now.
Since 2010, sales of naked Naked broke $1 billion, or about 30 million palettes. It spawned nine iterations, including the dearly departed Naked Smoky. "Saying goodbye to Naked is extremely bittersweet," Wende Zomnir, founder of Urban Decay said in a press release. "It's a little painful to leave your past behind, but it's also essential to always evolve." We can't wait to see how, exactly, Urban Decay does just that.
Fans of the 12-pan palette, take our advice: don't sleep on this sale - you definitely want to scoop up your last-ever palette before fans leave Urban Decay's shelves. . . stripped.
Disneyland's Halloween Treats Are Here, and OMG, the Pumpkin Cheesecake Is Amazing!
Disneyland does Halloween right, especially in the treats department. This year, there's an exciting mix of new creations (hi, Coco-themed dessert!) and returning favorites that you won't want to miss. While the Halloween food at Disney World includes an awesome poison-apple cupcake and candy-corn milkshake, the Anaheim parks' creative offerings are just as noteworthy. Between the food and the new Disneyland Halloween merchandise, you've got a lot of things to add to your must-see list. Take a look ahead at what's set to arrive at Disneyland and California Adventure in the coming weeks.
OMG! The Harry Potter Studio Tour Is Hosting Another Halloween Feast in the Great Hall
Image Source: Warner Bros.
Floating pumpkins, special treats, and spooky decor. In the Harry Potter series, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry transforms into a Halloween wonderland each October. With the help of Hagrid and his massive pumpkins, the school gets into the spirit of the holiday, and for just three nights this year, fans will have another chance to celebrate the season in true Potter fashion - on the actual sets of the movie.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London is hosting a special event on Oct. 26, 27, and 28, when brave witches and wizards will be able to toast Halloween and Hogwarts in real life. After sipping on dry ice cocktails and canapés, guests will enter the Great Hall. The ceilings will be decorated with over 100 floating pumpkins, and the long tables will be laden "with a Halloween feast of red apples, pumpkins and cauldrons of lollipops."
After dinner and drinks around props from the movie, attendees will be invited to "follow the spiders" on the set of the Forbidden Forest part of the tour, where they'll have dessert alongside Buckbeak and Aragog.
But it's not all fun and games for guests! Death Eaters will be roaming around all evening, and they'll even been dressed in original costumes from the movies! Party goers will be able to explore the Studio Tour after hours, and will have the chance to meet members of the prop department who will be revealing some filmmaking secrets.
The tickets are a steep $325 (240 British pounds), and go on sale, Aug. 28. While we wait with our alarms set, we can dream of delicious desserts and Butterbeer while planning our own epic Harry Potter-themed bash.
Disneyland's Halloween Treats Are Here, and OMG, the Pumpkin Cheesecake Is Amazing!
Disneyland does Halloween right, especially in the treats department. This year, there's an exciting mix of new creations (hi, Coco-themed dessert!) and returning favorites that you won't want to miss. While the Halloween food at Disney World includes an awesome poison-apple cupcake and candy-corn milkshake, the Anaheim parks' creative offerings are just as noteworthy. Between the food and the new Disneyland Halloween merchandise, you've got a lot of things to add to your must-see list. Take a look ahead at what's set to arrive at Disneyland and California Adventure in the coming weeks.
OMG! The Harry Potter Studio Tour Is Hosting Another Halloween Feast in the Great Hall
Image Source: Warner Bros.
Floating pumpkins, special treats, and spooky decor. In the Harry Potter series, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry transforms into a Halloween wonderland each October. With the help of Hagrid and his massive pumpkins, the school gets into the spirit of the holiday, and for just three nights this year, fans will have another chance to celebrate the season in true Potter fashion - on the actual sets of the movie.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London is hosting a special event on Oct. 26, 27, and 28, when brave witches and wizards will be able to toast Halloween and Hogwarts in real life. After sipping on dry ice cocktails and canapés, guests will enter the Great Hall. The ceilings will be decorated with over 100 floating pumpkins, and the long tables will be laden "with a Halloween feast of red apples, pumpkins and cauldrons of lollipops."
After dinner and drinks around props from the movie, attendees will be invited to "follow the spiders" on the set of the Forbidden Forest part of the tour, where they'll have dessert alongside Buckbeak and Aragog.
But it's not all fun and games for guests! Death Eaters will be roaming around all evening, and they'll even been dressed in original costumes from the movies! Party goers will be able to explore the Studio Tour after hours, and will have the chance to meet members of the prop department who will be revealing some filmmaking secrets.
The tickets are a steep $325 (240 British pounds), and go on sale, Aug. 28. While we wait with our alarms set, we can dream of delicious desserts and Butterbeer while planning our own epic Harry Potter-themed bash.
The Best Advice I Got About Choosing My Bridal Party
Choosing your wedding party is hard. It's a combination of feeling like you are in middle school, ranking your friends, and also thinking about the long term and who you'll still have by your side five, 10, or 20 years down the line. Over a month after asking all my bridesmaids to be in our wedding, I could not get my mind off the one close friend I hadn't asked. I couldn't quite put my finger on why I hadn't asked her, and I kept going back and forth. We already had a big wedding party. Would it be crazy to add one more to the mix? Would that mean my husband would need to find another groomsman?
I was talking to another friend about what to do, and she gave me advice that stuck: "If you are going back and forth on it, you should ask her. Wouldn't you rather regret including someone than regret not including them?" She was totally right. All my concerns about having one more bridesmaid were bullsh*t. It totally reframed my thinking: we already had a big party - why not add one more? Five years later, this ninth bridesmaid remains one of my closest friends, and I am so happy when I look at my wedding pictures and see her standing beside me.
This was the best advice I got about choosing my bridal party, and I'm so glad I took it. Read on for other tips I wish I had handy at the time.
ACK! This Memory Quiz Will Mess With Your Mind
Are you ready for this? If you love an addictive quiz, you'll want to try this memory test created by Playbuzz user Kate Walker. While we like to think we can recall just about any significant event or person, sometimes we can just be completely wrong. The quiz shows you two photos before asking a simple question about the images. Does the Mona Lisa face to the left or right? What's Facebook's actual logo? AHHH. This quiz may be a little challenging but completely doable. And if you mess up, just retake it again so no one has to know. Get started!
The Best Advice I Got About Choosing My Bridal Party
Choosing your wedding party is hard. It's a combination of feeling like you are in middle school, ranking your friends, and also thinking about the long term and who you'll still have by your side five, 10, or 20 years down the line. Over a month after asking all my bridesmaids to be in our wedding, I could not get my mind off the one close friend I hadn't asked. I couldn't quite put my finger on why I hadn't asked her, and I kept going back and forth. We already had a big wedding party. Would it be crazy to add one more to the mix? Would that mean my husband would need to find another groomsman?
I was talking to another friend about what to do, and she gave me advice that stuck: "If you are going back and forth on it, you should ask her. Wouldn't you rather regret including someone than regret not including them?" She was totally right. All my concerns about having one more bridesmaid were bullsh*t. It totally reframed my thinking: we already had a big party - why not add one more? Five years later, this ninth bridesmaid remains one of my closest friends, and I am so happy when I look at my wedding pictures and see her standing beside me.
This was the best advice I got about choosing my bridal party, and I'm so glad I took it. Read on for other tips I wish I had handy at the time.
ACK! This Memory Quiz Will Mess With Your Mind
Are you ready for this? If you love an addictive quiz, you'll want to try this memory test created by Playbuzz user Kate Walker. While we like to think we can recall just about any significant event or person, sometimes we can just be completely wrong. The quiz shows you two photos before asking a simple question about the images. Does the Mona Lisa face to the left or right? What's Facebook's actual logo? AHHH. This quiz may be a little challenging but completely doable. And if you mess up, just retake it again so no one has to know. Get started!
Call 911 - These Sexy Pictures of Giacomo Gianniotti Are About to Knock You Out
A round of applause, please, for those in charge of casting Grey's Anatomy, because that show has given us some very, very beautiful doctors. The day Giacomo Gianniotti walked in as Dr. Andrew DeLuca was a good one, you know? The Italian-born, Canadian-raised actor plays a surgical resident on the show, and while I'm sure his doctor skills are superb, it's hard to look past his dashing good looks. From his dark, luscious locks to his buff arms and down to what are probably equally cute toes, we like everything Giacomo's got going on. To further prove this point, we compiled more than 50 ridiculously attractive photos of Giacomo to keep you occupied while you're not tuned in to Grey's Anatomy.
The 67 Best Street Style Looks We've Seen All Summer
If we were handing out Summer superlatives, there would be some fierce competition for best street style. This season brought with it the return of biker shorts, the reimagining of the ubiquitous '90s dad sneaker, high-waisted pants, metallics by day, and, as always, breezy sundresses in every color and all of our favorite prints.
This set of chic street style stars chose well from the trends and the classics and made each look their own, giving us a veritable buffet of looks to save to our vision boards and re-create for ourselves, especially since these 80- and 90-degree days might just stick around for a while. Here, take in the 67 outfits we can't stop thinking about and all the inspiration you need to live out the rest of Summer in style.
After 20 Years, Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves Admit They're Still Crushing on Each Other
Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves have been promoting a romantic comedy, but their real life may be turning into one. The Destination Wedding costars recently sat down with Entertainment Tonight and admitted they've been harboring some healthy crushes on each other for a while now.
Earlier this week, Winona revealed she and Keanu may have gotten legally married on the set of Dracula, and now it appears their romantic bond goes deeper still. When asked about the first time they met, both actors had a clear recollection of the occasion: the Independent Spirit Awards in the late '80s. She explained that the memory came to mind so vividly because of how excited she was to meet Keanu.
"I had a pretty big, healthy crush on him," she bashfully admitted. Don't worry - Keanu's riding the same train. "Well, I had a pretty big, healthy crush on you too," he responded. While they may have met 20 years ago, it looks like the crush is still holding strong.
"It's still there; they're still raging. Trust me," Winona told the interviewer. Um, OK, cute! Check out the photos below and tell us honestly: is it too bold to call them the cutest almost-couple in Hollywood?
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