Month: June 2017

This Company Designed Skincare For The Minimalist In Us All

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date June 5, 2017

Simplicity is key, especially now. In the post-’90s world of excess, we’re all aiming for that minimalist aesthetic, but it can be hard to achieve. As pop-punk queen Avril Lavigne once sang, “Why’d you have to go and make things so complicated?” Chances are Ms. Lavigne was singing about tortuous teen relationships, but this statement also directly applies to skincare.

The last thing you need is beauty regimen with an ingredients list miles-long with no end in sight. Plus, how can you trust any ingredient enough to put it on your face if you can’t even pronounce it?

Thankfully, there is a solution. Lark Skin Co. is a skincare company based in St. Louis, Missouri. Lisa Dolan founded the company based on the skincare needs that she, herself, had. When she was preparing to be a new mom, she scoured beauty stores for a regimen that was simple and natural. Plus, she wanted multifunctional products that used ingredients she could pronounce.

Now, four years later, Lisa works to share products from Lark Skin Co. that fulfill those very needs.

Minimalism is Key

Empty your shelves of exorbitantly priced products that satisfy only one need and make use of a minimalist way of life. Not only is having a million products splashed across your counter an eyesore, it also takes a ridiculous amount of time to complete your skincare routine when you have approximately fourteen different cremes and serums that all serve one purpose each.

Worry not—Lark Skin Co. makes a product specifically for the minimalist in you. The Beauty Balm is multifunctional in the sense that you can use it as a creamy cleanser, makeup remover, moisturizer, hair conditioner, or body balm.

That’s not even the best part! If you’re in a pinch and your hair or skin resembles the Sahara Desert, you can apply the balm to the ends of your hair as a conditioning treatment, or you can apply it to your skin as a deep penetrating moisturizer. This trick is perfect for long flights!

Maintaining Luscious Locks

Is there anything better than running your fingers through silky hair? The answer is no. No there is not.

Lark Skin Co. made their Hair Potion—sans-witchcraft!—which is designed to actually improve the texture and shine of your hair.

Not to mention that this potion protects your hair from heat styling. No more using a copious amount of different products to achieve the desired effect that this product has. Talk about a triple whammy!

Take a Bath; You Deserve it

Life is rough, and you deserve to treat yourself.

There is no better way to release your stress than by taking a bath. What’s more, with the New Moon Ritual Salts you can actually start anew during your soak.

By taking a bath with the luxurious New Moon Ritual Salts, which are infused with lavender and sage, you get the opportunity to set your intentions for the month while detoxing.

Not to mention, Lark has included Himalayan salts as one of the ingredients, which is the ultimate aid in detoxification. Whether you’re detoxing because of the New Moon or because you simply have a case of the Mondays, this is the perfect bath salt for you.

Treat Your Skin to Some Rest and Relaxation

Lark Skin Co. makes a Red Clay and Aloe Clay Mask and it’s exactly what you’ve been missing your entire life. The clay and aloe combine and work together to restore moisture to your skin while reducing any inflammation you may have. While the mask is geared toward those with sensitive and aging skin, anyone can use it. It’s never too young to be proactive about aging!

You work hard—your skin shouldn’t. Give your beautiful face the chance it deserves to be vibrant and hydrated. Take time for yourself throughout the week to give your skin some attention, rest, and relaxation.

Be Good to Yourself

Life is full of complications and compromises, but of all the things you should be compromising on, skincare is not one of them.

Your skin is only as vibrant as the time you put into it. Simplicity is key in all areas of your life, skincare included. Find a routine that checks all of your boxes while using the fewest number of products. If you’re looking to make your life easier, Lark Skin Co. is the brand for you. Give it a try; your skin is waiting!

Tags 50025751, care, hemingway

Lifestyle

8 Beauty Trends In America That Seem Weird To Other Cultures

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date June 5, 2017

In a number of ways it seems as though we’re broadening our horizons every day, but Americans tend to have preferred standards when it comes to beauty. As with so many other cultural norms, some people in other countries don’t understand them and actually think they’re just plain weird.
Each and every country has its own standards when it comes to beauty, and the United States is no different. In fact, it’s often one of the first things people from the States notice when visiting other countries—that those who live there don’t pay as much attention to things that we wouldn’t leave the house without doing.

Believe it or not, people from other countries not only don’t focus on these aspects of beauty, but they also think it’s pretty strange that we do. Here are some of the most common trends when it comes to American beauty standards that other countries just don’t understand.

Tanning

Some Americans wouldn’t even dream of leaving the house without some sort of color to their skin, and the thought of going to a big event without getting a tan first is basically unimaginable.
Although using a tanning bed has been deemed unsafe for many years, we’ve found our way around it with inventions like at-home tanning kits and spray tan salons. With something that is such a huge industry in the U.S., you might be surprised to hear that people in some other countries think artificially tanned skin is pretty strange.

In particular, many Japanese women find it weird that American women would actually want tan skin. Pay a visit to any Japanese beach and you’ll notice that women are often wearing long sleeves and hats, not to cover themselves up for modesty, but because they don’t want their skin touched by the sun.

The same standard of having creamy-looking light skin is also present in countries like Thailand and South Korea, where women also think tanning is basically insanity. In fact, you might be hard pressed to find skincare products that don’t have some kind of lightening agent in them.

White Teeth

There are a million different products out there to help with getting whiter teeth—from strips to gels, pastes, and even teeth-brightening devices.
If you use Instagram, you’ve also probably noticed that any Insta-famous person you follow will likely promote some type of whitening gadget every now and then because it’s something that’s become that important to us. Other countries, though? Not so much.

Americans often have preconceived and judgmental notions about British teeth. So it may come as no surprise that Brits also have their own thoughts about American teeth—mainly how straight and blindingly white they tend to be.
The American standard is obviously based completely on looks, because it’s actually been proven that teeth that are a bit yellow are actually stronger and healthier than super white teeth.

Extremely Thin Bodies

For as long as most anyone can remember, super thin has been the body type to strive for in America. Models are generally always waify, and it seems like almost the only celebrities who actually make it big are the ones who are very lean.

But this isn’t the standard of perfection everywhere. Beauty expert Michelle Phan has said that in certain countries, the obsession with being stick thin is unheard of.
In the African country of Mauritania, for instance, Phan she says that being a little bit overweight is actually preferred. It’s something that’s often associated with wealth and fertility, which makes it a more ideal body type in that culture.

We want t0 be clear that we’re not telling anyone what their body should or shouldn’t look like, but don’t think that being thin is the only way to live your happiest life.

Full Lips and Big Butts

In our Kardashian-obsessed culture, it’s not that surprising that lots of women are constantly working toward a bigger butt, smaller waist, and fuller lips.

It’s actually become somewhat normal to see even “regular” people adopt this type of aesthetic, because there are endless tips, products, and procedures to help us get this look. There are many cultures out there that aren’t into it, though.

South Korea is one country that just doesn’t understand the hype surrounding lush booties and full lips. There are even reaction videos in which Korean people look at images of the Kardashians, and they appear to be pretty shocked because it’s not at all what they’re used to seeing.

Heavy Makeup

There are many American women out there whose goal is to have makeup that’s done so flawlessly that it looks professionally airbrushed.

Although it’s not necessarily a bad look—or even a bad thing to want, other countries tend to go for a more natural look and find the obsession with daily glam makeup a little weird.
Laura Mercier, owner of the French skincare line of the same name, has seen the differences between makeup in France and America firsthand. “It really astonishes me the way American women wear so much makeup,” she said.

“French women are not flashy. They must be subtle. The message must not be, ‘I’m spending hours on my face to look beautiful.’”

Revealing Clothing

It’s no secret that there are many women in America—and around the world—who love to wear clothes that show off the goods.

We say flaunt it if you feel comfortable doing it, but there are some countries that don’t know how to react when someone dons something revealing.

In Japan, for example, if you run into an older man while you’re wearing a tank top, it’s likely that he won’t meet your eyes. Even a visible collarbone might be considered too sexual for some.

Overly Groomed Brows

There’s no doubt that your eyebrows really complete your face, and a bad shape can change your look for the worse.

Americans, however, seem to have taken their brow routine to the extreme, drawing on and carving out brows so sharp that you might be afraid they could cut you. This isn’t the style everywhere, though.
That’s not to say that women elsewhere don’t groom their brows at all, but they do tend to strive for a more natural look.

People in many other countries, such as South Korea, don’t go for an intensely arched brow, instead going for a brow that’s straighter. Thicker brows are still popular in places like Indonesia, but women tend to keep them more natural and dense looking.

Salons for Everything

It seems like any city in America truly does have a salon that’s dedicated to anything and everything you could want. From a salon that just does eyebrow threading to another that just does blowouts, the possibilities are endless when it comes to finding a professional to fulfill any grooming-related needs you have.

When it comes to something like a blowout, though, other countries aren’t on board. According to British writer Suzanne Jannese, Americans “seem to spend an unholy amount of time being groomed: blow-dry salons and making time in your day to get your nails done and hair coiffed. Why? You’re just gonna sleep on it and wake up with a bird’s nest the next morning.”

We can definitely understand it to some degree. Sometimes you just want to look bomb, but you don’t have the necessary hairstyling skills to do it yourself. For a special occasion, it can be worth spending more to save yourself the stress. Getting a blowout just to get one, though? Yeah. We’ll save our money for something that’ll last a little longer.

Tags 50025021, body, hemingway

Motherhood

6 Things You Never Knew You Could Do With A Packet Of Kool-Aid

Post author By HealthyWay Staff Writer
Post date June 5, 2017

If you think those Kool-Aid packets are only good for making a delicious drink for your children, you’re mistaken. There’s actually quite a few uses for these packets that you may not have realized. The following uses for Kool-Aid that have absolutely nothing to do with drinking. Considering how inexpensive those packets are, these tricks can potentially save you some serious money!

1. Cleaning The Washing Machine

To ensure that your washing machine is getting your clothes as clean as possible, you should make sure that the washing machine itself is spotless. Kool-Aid can do just that.

To clean your washing machine, take a quarter cup of lemonade Kool-Aid and sprinkle it in your washing machine (where you would normally put your liquid detergent or pod). Then, run the machine on the normal wash cycle. This will prevent unwanted deposits that can give your clothes a funky smell.

2. Cleaning The Dishwasher

Like the washing machine, the dishwasher needs to be regularly cleaned in order to keep your dishes spotless. Kool-Aid is perfect for just such a task.

In order to clean out your dishwasher, just sprinkle a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid into your dishwasher’s detergent tray. The lemon will break down deposits in the dishwasher that may be leaving spots on your dishes.

3. Dying Eggs

When Easter comes, many of us buy expensive egg dyes in order to dye Easter eggs with our children. It turns out, you can make much cheaper dye with items you probably already have in your kitchen.

Simply mix one packet of Kool-Aid into two-thirds of a cup of water. Stir the mixture together until the Kool-Aid is dissolved. Then, place the egg in the colored water and keep the egg submerged until the desired color is achieved.

4. Make Lip Gloss

Many of us rely on lip gloss, especially during the colder winter months when our lips become dry and cracked. Fortunately, you can actually make your own lip gloss using Kool-Aid and non-petroleum jelly.

To make this, all you’ll need to do is add a tiny amount of your favorite color of Kool-Aid to the non-petroleum jelly. The more Kool-Aid you add, the deeper the color will be, and the more it will taste like the Kool-Aid. If you’re addicted to expensive lip gloss, this use can really help your pocket book.

5. Cleaning Concrete

Stains on concrete can be almost impossible to remove. Amazingly, Kool-Aid actually works pretty well in getting stubborn stains off of your concrete surfaces.

Just mix some lemonade Kool-Aid with a couple drops of water in order to form a paste. Next, apply that paste to the stain and use a stiff brush to scrape it up. With this method, you should be able clean your concrete.

6. Create Colored Glue

If your child loves arts and crafts, they’ll love colored glue. To make this fun project, you’ll just need a bottle of Elmer’s school glue and some Kool-Aid packets.

To dye your glue, simply pour a packet of Kool-Aid mix directly into a bottle of glue. Next, you’ll want to shake the bottle for a few minutes until the powder has dissolved and the color is evenly distributed. Just like that, your child can have glue in whatever color they desire!

Tags 50025666, hemingway, parenting

Sweat

Stylist Tricks That Will Make You Look 10 Pounds Thinner

Post author By curtis.strite
Post date June 5, 2017

Want to lose 10 pounds in an instant?

Well, that’s impossible. But what you can do is throw on the right outfit, highlight your wardrobe with the right accessories, and instantly look a few sizes smaller. Here are the secrets that celebrity stylists use to keep their clients camera-ready.

1. The Magic Of Monochrome

You don’t have to rock one color from head to toe, but do try matching colors for your shoes, skirt, and leggings. For the most slimming look, go with classic black.

If that’s too boring for you, keep your skirt and leggings matched, and incorporate bright shoes for a fun pop of color.

2. Speaking Of Skirts, Go Pencil

Pencil skirts that don’t hug the hips all the way down are naturally slimming. They create a long, lean appearance that will make you love the way you look in the mirror. Try it!

3. The Right Pants

These tips about skirts are all well and good, but what if you’re more of a jeans-and-slacks kind of lady? Pick pants that have a flat front rather than pleats—this slims the stomach and, as an added bonus, makes you appear taller.

For even more slimming power, choose pants that have at least some flare. Boot-cut is the new stretch denim. Use that to your advantage.

4. Pick Perfect Prints

Prints can be slimming or, well, the opposite, depending on one thing: the size of the print itself. Larger elements make you look bigger, but if you can find some prints where the design is nice and petite, you’ll look a lot smaller yourself.

5. Define The Waist You Want

You could look great in a potato sack with the right belt, worn just so. Pick a belt that has a bit of stretch to it. That will help to define the center of your hourglass. It may seem paradoxical, but a wider belt will create a skinnier look.

6. Throw On A Statement Necklace

You may doubt that a simple accessory can make you look thinner, but statement necklaces are designed just for the task. A long, chunky U-shape down the front of your top will make your torso look tall and thin. Besides, statement necklaces are totally in right now.

7. Use What You Have

Pick your favorite feature and dress around it. If you love your waist, wear a fitted shirt. If you’re proud of your long legs, wear tight pants. The trick here is to offset the focus by going bigger elsewhere. When you go with the tight jeans, set it off with a long top. When you wear a skin-tight shirt, pair it with flared jeans. You see what we’re getting at here?

8. Cardigans For The Win

Throw a long cardigan on to complete your slimming look. Layering is key to a stylish appearance, and cardigans that stretch at least to your waist will make you look taller and thinner. This is one of the many reasons why we’re obsessed with autumn.

9. When All Else Fails, Go Scarlet

A bright red dress has a way of accentuating the good stuff while guiding the gaze away from problem areas. Long story short, red is magic. Research even shows that men are more attracted to women who wear red, so what do you have to lose?

Tags 50025651, body, hemingway

Motherhood

This Is How Moms Are Using Hair Ties To Become Better Parents

Post author By curtis.strite
Post date June 5, 2017

All parents of small children get frustrated every now and then.

While you may feel regret later on for getting angry with your little ones, remember that it’s totally normal, and it doesn’t make you a “bad parent”. At a certain point, though, many parents realize they speak to their kids harshly more often than they do with warmth. That can set up a contentious relationship, spurring your child on to disobedience and creating a downward spiral of parent-child antagonism. That’s no good.

So how do you stop these feelings of frustration even when your kid is being a little monster?

A self-proclaimed “angry mom” named Kelly Holmes, who blogs about parenting at The (Reformed) Idealist Mom, cracked the code. Her secret? Hair ties.

Holmes recommends wearing five elastic hair ties around one of your wrists. These will become your reminders—visual and tactile cues that can make it easier to break bad habits. Here’s how it works:

Put your five hair ties (or rubber bands, or bracelets—anything that will sit comfortably on your wrist will work) on your wrist before your child wakes up for the day. Every time you find yourself snapping at your kid, move a single hair tie from one wrist to the other.

Don’t panic if your “off” wrist starts to fill up.

There is a way to earn those hair ties back. You can return a hair tie to the original wrist simply by having five warm moments with the child you snapped at. Any positive interaction counts; a hug, a simple “I love you,” or a board game just for two.

The number five isn’t arbitrary. Holmes describes a parenting rule that she calls the “magic 5:1 ratio.” “Research shows that to have a healthy relationship, for every one negative interaction you need five positive interactions to balance that out,” she writes.

So even if you do lose your temper with a little one, five happy moments together will repair the damage, Holmes says.

But won’t you eventually get used to having those five hair ties around your wrist? Won’t this trick stop working, like so many other techniques that we use to change bad habits? Not necessarily.

Holmes tells us that we should only wear the magic hair ties when we’re actually with our children. When you go to work, or the kids are at school, or nap time finally arrives, take off the hair ties. This will build the association between the ties and your children, which will prevent them from becoming just another background element in your life.

The blogger insists that this trick has changed her parenting fundamentally. “Months later, the hair tie hack is still working wonders,” she writes. “I talk to my preschooler with love and kindness in my voice instead of annoyance and frustration.”

That sounds like a worthwhile goal. If you sometimes lose your patience with your kid (and who doesn’t?) try this parenting hack. You might be surprised how much more calm and collected you’ll be when your kid does what toddlers do, which is to destroy.

Tags 50025646, hemingway, parenting

Motherhood

Moms Are Sharing Terrifying Stories About The Real Dangers Of Fidget Spinners

Post author By HealthyWay Staff Writer
Post date June 5, 2017

Fidget spinners have become one of the most popular toys available. Men, women, and children everywhere love having something to do with their nervous energy. Unfortunately, this enchanting item brings some hazards that people should be aware of before letting their children play with it unsupervised.

Because this item is a hit with young mothers (both for themselves and for keeping children occupied), many young children are being put at risk. There are currently no consumer warnings associated with fidget spinners, but some mothers are currently trying to change that.

The most common hazard of fidget spinners that has been reported is a choking hazard. Several children around the country have been hospitalized because they’ve choked on a loose part from the fidget spinner. A girl in Texas, for instance, was hospitalized when a part came loose and was lodged in her throat.

Just a few weeks later, a 5-year-old was hospitalized when a part came loose and was swallowed. The metal disc had to be surgically removed from the boy’s stomach, a traumatic event both for the mother and the child. We know what you’re thinking, but this terrifying incident happened despite the mother warning her son not to put the toy in his mouth. Thankfully, both of these children survived their fidget spinner encounters.

It’s not just choking that has caused injuries to children. One child in Missouri was hospitalized after he got his finger stuck in a loose part on the toy. The child eventually had to be taken to the Emergency Room, where doctors used two different tools to cut the piece off of his finger.

These injuries have caused the Consumer Product Safety Commission to take a closer look at fidget spinners. Until their investigation is complete, they urge parents to keep fidget spinners away from young children and be sure older children know not to put these toys in their mouths.

If you have a fidget spinner, there are steps you can take to ensure that your child is protected from any hazards. First, check for any small parts on the toy. If it can fit through a toilet paper roll, it can be swallowed by your child. If any small parts seem loose or broken, throw the toy away.

Next, always supervise your child while they’re using the fidget spinner. Even a child who has been instructed not to put the toy in his or her mouth might still do so. By closely supervising your child, you can stop them if they are misusing this toy.

If your child does happen to suffer an injury from a fidget spinner, the first thing to do is make sure they’re alright. Once they are out of immediate danger, register your complaint with the CPSC. This information can help them keep other children safe by warning others.

While fidget spinners have been singled out, it’s important to note that any small toy could represent a choking hazard for children. Make sure your children are only playing with age-appropriate toys, are properly supervised, and know not to put their toys in their mouths. By doing so, you may prevent a serious injury to your child.

Tags 50025616, hemingway, parenting

Wellbeing

Does Your Sense Of Style Affect Your Workout? Here's The Answer

Post author By HealthyWay Staff Writer
Post date June 5, 2017

Gym apparel can greatly vary in price. From the $5 low-end gym shorts to designer workout tops that can cost upwards of $85, there’s no shortage of options no matter what your price range might be. But does your gym apparel influence how much you work out? Research suggests it might.
Researchers at Northwestern looked into whether our clothing impacts our mood and behavior. What they found in their 2012 study was that yes, our clothing does impact us in major ways.

The concept is called “enclothed cognition.” They tested it by dividing people into two groups: one group was given a lab coat for the study, the other group was allowed to wear street clothes. They were then given attention-related tasks. Those in the lab coats performed much better because they were dressed like actual scientists.
It turns out that if we prescribe certain attributes to the clothes were wear, we’re more likely to adopt those attributes to ourselves. If you’re looking to get in shape, that means you may want to invest some nicer workout clothes.

People who wear expensive, fashionable workout clothes, something like Lululemon, look like they are regulars at the local gym. Because they look the part, they’re more likely to actually go to the gym to workout.
Luckily, fashionable workout clothes are becoming less and less expensive. Clothing manufacturers want people, women especially, to feel comfortable wearing their workout clothes to the store as well as the gym. This allows women to look like someone who loves to workout, even if that’s not always the case.

The more a woman wears these workout clothes, the more likely she’s going to actually hit the gym. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts — because the woman wears clothes that make her look like an exercise fanatic, she then becomes an exercise fanatic.
The key to finding the right workout clothes may not be price so much as it is about feeling confident in how you look. Brands like Lululemon can help you feel confident because of the message that brand sends to the world, but it can be any workout outfit that gives you the motivation to hit the gym.

The flip side of this is that if a woman doesn’t feel confident about her clothing or her looks, she’s far less likely to return to the gym. Fitness classes are far more fashionable than they were even a decade ago. If a woman walks in and looks out of place, that’s a sure sign that she won’t be back again.
Researchers do caution that a person shouldn’t just run out and buy a completely new wardrobe. If you try to change too much too quickly, the change won’t really take place. Instead, start small and try to work these new clothes into your regular lifestyle. Over time, add more to see if your personality changes with your wardrobe.

If you’ve been trying to get in shape and just can’t seem to find the proper motivation, try to add some cute workout clothes to your closet. It could just be the catalyst you need to start regularly hitting the gym.

Tags 50025606, hemingway, mind

Wellbeing

Teen Saves Her Mom's Life After Learning THIS In School

Post author By HealthyWay Staff Writer
Post date June 5, 2017

Katie Murphy is a 14-year-old from Wisconsin. Recently, she was helping her mother when she noticed something was off. She thought back to something she had recently learned in school, and it proved to be a valuable lesson. In fact, it saved her mother’s life.
Christa Murphy, Katie’s mother, was starting her day when she was having some difficulty performing simple routine tasks. She was struggling with tasks like putting toothpaste on her toothbrush. Finding this odd, she called Katie into her room for help.

When Katie came to help, she noticed that her mother’s speech was all jumbled as well. Katie quickly realized that her mom was trying to tell her what was going on but wasn’t making any sense. Katie thought back to a science class that she had just two days prior and immediately called 911.
It turned out, her mother was having a stroke. Katie knew that because she thought it was “cool and weird” that a person’s speech got mixed up when having a stroke. That mental note would come in handy. Thanks to Katie’s quick thinking, Christa was rushed to the hospital where doctors were able to stabilize her.

Strokes occur when a blood vessel to the brain is blocked or bursts open. When this happens, parts of the brain are deprived of oxygen and begin dying after just a few minutes. Strokes typically occur in people 60 or older.
Considering Christa is only 45, she had no idea that a stroke was even a real possibility. Thankfully her daughter knew exactly what to look for and reacted quickly. Doctors are urging everyone to learn the symptoms of a stroke so they can act quickly, just like Katie did.

The mnemonic device for what to look for in a stroke is FAST. F stands for facial drooping, which typically happens to one side of the face. The A stands for arm weakness, or the inability to raise the arm above one’s head. S stands for speech difficulties, like the kind Christa suffered. And the T stands for time, meaning a person should act quickly because time is of the essence during a stroke.
This is important for all people to know because strokes are happening in younger and younger people. It was typically something that only happened to elderly people, but doctors are seeing more strokes in young people, even as young as 18.

The reasons for this are varied, but strokes in young people are related to hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, tobacco use, and obesity. Because these young people don’t regularly see a doctor, they may have no idea they have high blood pressure and are at risk for a stroke. It’s only after one occurs that many people realize they have something wrong with their body.
In order to reduce your chances of a stroke, doctors recommend routine exercise, quitting tobacco, managing your weight, and regularly seeing your doctor. Considering strokes are the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States, it is important to do everything possible to reduce your chances of having one.

Tags 50025601, body, hemingway

Wellbeing

Here's How To Make Yourself Enjoy Exercise

Post author By HealthyWay Staff Writer
Post date June 5, 2017

Everyone knows that exercise is vitally important to overall health. Unfortunately, many of us can’t seem to find the time or the motivation to actually do it. That’s a problem because regular exercise can substantially lengthen our lifespans. If you’re someone who just can’t seem to find the motivation to become more active, here are some tips that can help you fall in love with fitness.

First, you should know just how much exercise you need and what type of exercise you should be getting. Doctors typically recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. A common, simple exercise that meets this requirement is a brisk walk. You don’t have to run wind sprints or break a major sweat, just walk at a steady pace.

That 150 minutes translates to 30 minutes of brisk walking five times a week. It’s fine if you split that up into 15-minute sessions, 10-minute sessions, or 100-minute sessions. Just make sure that you’re getting at least 150 minutes each week in order to reap the health benefits.

You’re probably imagining how you’re going to fit this fitness regimen into your lifestyle, considering it another burden or chore you have to commit to daily. However, this is the wrong mentality. If you’re struggling to find the motivation, switch up your exercise routine until you find something you like.

Maybe you love walking. If you do, great. If not, try to find something that’s yours. Some people do yoga, some use the elliptical, some swim while others play racquetball or go for a bike ride. There’s no shame in trying out different activities until you find one that really resonates with you and your personal fitness journey.

If you can do this activity with a friend or family member, even better. Studies have shown that people who work out with a partner tend to stick with it longer than those who go at it alone. Try to find someone at your fitness level to help you stay motivated.

Once you and your partner have found your activity, don’t compare yourselves to other people while you’re working out. Some people become intimidated by those who are in shape or feel embarrassed to be huffing and puffing when it seems second nature to others. Don’t worry about it! Most people are actually incredibly encouraging when it comes to motivating those around them who are trying to get back into shape.

Don’t forget that everyone was a beginner once and that if you stick with it, you will see improvement. Before you know it, you’ll be the envy of the beginners just starting out on their fitness journeys.

The next thing you’ll want to do is be realistic about your weight loss goals. The biggest hurdle many people face is that when they don’t see results right away, they simply give up. This is a major mistake. Don’t focus on the number on the scale, just focus on getting your exercise. If you’re eating right and sticking to your fitness routine, you’ll begin to lose weight eventually. Don’t get discouraged if it takes longer than you’d like.

Finally, focus on the health benefits. Regular exercise lowers your risk for heart attack and stroke, the number one and number five killers of people in the United States. Exercise has also been shown to improve mood and mental acuity. Those who exercise regularly tend to live about seven years longer on average than those who lead sedentary lifestyles, regardless of weight. If you focus on these health benefits, it won’t seem like a chore to incorporate exercise into your chaotic weekly schedule; in fact, you’ll be happy to find time for it.

Tags 50025551, hemingway, mind

Lifestyle

8 Things You Do Every Day That Are Bad For Your Health

Post author By Lisa Douglas
Post date June 5, 2017

No one starts the day intending to be unhealthy. For the most part the majority of us try to exercise, attempt to make good meal choices, and generally observe some cardinal rules of health. But sometimes as good as our intentions are, we unknowingly do things that can potentially harm our health.

Think you have everything in check? You might want to have a look at our list of things that many of us do every day that are bad for us.

Eat From the Salad Bar

You choose to eat from the salad bar for lunch because it has to be good for you with all of the nutritious lettuce, broccoli, and carrots, right?

In truth, although they may appear to offer you good choices, most salad bars also offer high fat food items like creamy potato salad and oily, marinated vegetables, causing the total meal to be worse for you than a burger.

For example, a Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad has 780 calories and 51 grams of fat, and a Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger has 680 calories and 36 grams of fat. If you choose to eat a salad, make sure you check the caloric content (if available), and stay away from items that contain mayonnaise or a lot of oil.

Sit a Lot

Everyone knows that it’s important to exercise and that not exercising can put you at risk for certain health issues. But did you know just how bad sitting is for you? Recent studies have shown frequent sitting to be linked to increased risk of heart disease, decreased mental health, and other issues.

Surprisingly, even if you regularly exercise—but also sit a lot during the day—you’re still at risk! Experts refer to excessive sitting as “the new smoking,” because people who sit excessively are as unhealthy as those who puff on cigarettes. What should you do if your job requires you to sit a lot? Stand whenever you can!

Compared with sitting, standing burns an extra 20 calories per hour. Also, try to get up and move periodically or make it a point to move every hour or so. Sneak in movement whenever you can.

Pace while you’re on a conference call. Instead of scheduling a meeting over coffee, suggest a walk. Commit to walking during lunch or climbing a certain number of stairs per day.

Wear Skinny Jeans

Sure those tight pants look great on you, but are they worth the risk? An article in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry describes a case of a woman who experienced nerve damage from helping her friend move while wearing skinny jeans.

She was squatting throughout the day, and this caused compression of the area under the knee that houses a lot of nerves. The compression was severe enough to cause numbness in her lower legs that landed her in the hospital for a couple of days.

Doctors say that this condition is called “compartment syndrome.” It happens when the blood supply to the leg muscle is reduced because of tight-fitting pants. This in turn causes swelling of the muscles and compression of the nearby nerves.

What should you do? If you plan on doing a lot of squatting or sitting, don’t wear tight pants. If you don’t have a choice, make sure that you don’t bend down for extended periods.

Bite Your Nails

It may be a common temporary cure for the jitters, but biting your nails may not be worth the risks. The number and type of bacteria that live under your fingernails range from mild to pretty nasty.

Studies have found salmonella, E. coli, and other harmful pathogens.

If you bite your nails, basically wha
tever your fingers touch during the day ends up in your mouth. Even if you wash your hands regularly, most of us don’t get under the nails well, so bacteria festers there.

What can happen if you keep biting? You could end up with severe gastrointestinal issues or other unpleasant sickness.

Hold in Sneezes

We know this one doesn’t come as a shock. Ever try to hold a sneeze in? It feels like your head is going to explode! Well, it kind of can. Sneezes move at a whopping 100 miles per hour and can cause some damage if they’re stopped in their tracks.

Incidents of fractures in nasal cartilage, nose bleeds, and even detached retinas have been reported. What should you do if you’re in a situation where you need to hold it? Just do your best and muffle it in your sleeve.

Stare at a Screen All Day

Your mom was right. If you stare at it long enough, you’ll go blind. Well, maybe not blind, but staring at your computer screen for extended periods can cause some serious eye issues. The most common one is computer vision syndrome (CVS), which is characterized by blurry vision, dry and red eyes, headaches, eye irritation, and neck or back pain.

As you get older (say over age 40), it gets tougher to work on a screen for prolonged periods because your eyes become less flexible, and you become more susceptible to CVS.

What can you do to combat it? A couple of things. Try reducing the surrounding glare on your computer by dimming lights and avoiding window glare. Also, move your computer so that it’s slightly below eye level and about 20 to 28 inches away from your face.

Lastly, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look away from your screen and at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Wear Contact Lenses Excessively

We know that wearing your glasses is a pain, and a lot of people don’t really dig the laser eye correction surgery. So wearing your contacts is your best option, but wearing them too often may be bad for you.

The mechanism by which the lens sits on your eye causes the tissue of your eye to be blocked from receiving oxygen. As you can imagine, this is not a good thing. Wearing contact lenses too often can cause pain and dryness as well as damage to the corneas.

Give your eyes a break by using your contacts a little less and wearing your glasses a little more.

Not Clean Your Washing Machine

We wash our clothing in the washing machine—don’t the soap and bleach that we add clean the machine and our clothes at the same time? Apparently not!

Experts say that our washing machines are full of bacteria that get on the wet clothing and then on to our bodies. Microbiology experts explain that in a load of just underwear there can be about 100 million E. coli transmitted to the next load. And E.coli isn’t the only germ present in your wash.

Hepatitis A virus, norovirus, rotavirus, and salmonella can all be sharing the same living space in your washer as well. Want to get rid of these nasty germs? Wash your clothing with bleach and hot water (regular detergent doesn’t touch them).

Can’t use bleach? Use a product like Clorox 2 with peroxide. Also, periodically clean your washer by letting the machine go through its cycle empty with just bleach and water. Want to go the organic route? Experts say that the sun’s ultraviolet rays are as good at killing bacteria as bleach. As often as you can, dry your clothing in the sun.

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