Author: Staff Writer

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Wellbeing

Want To Lose Weight? We'll Drink To That!

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 74 percent of American men age 20 and older and 64 percent of women the same age are either overweight or obese. Those numbers have been creeping up for decades, and it looks like they’ll continue to do so for the foreseeable future. As Americans’ waistlines get bigger, so do the number of products, recipes, miraculous discoveries, and “weird tricks” that promise to melt away those extra pounds with little or no work.
From time to time weight loss hucksters cite a study (including “luminaries” such as Dr. Oz, who recently appeared in front of a Senate subcommittee and admitted that some of the amazing weight loss drinks he promotes on his show don’t pass “scientific muster”). But for the most part, there’s little or no evidence to back up their claims (and most of those studies turn out to be flawed or simply made up).
That said, there are a handful (actually, not quite a handful) of drinks that may indeed accelerate weight loss. Let’s take a look at the ones with the most science behind them.

Coffee (Preferably Black)

Given that many fancy coffee drinks clock in at 500 to 1,200 calories, simply switching to plain old black coffee could put a real dent in your calorie consumption, which will undoubtedly result in some weight loss (as long as you don’t replace those calories). Black coffee—especially the caffeinated kind—has been shown to increase metabolism and fat burning. A type of antioxidant in coffee called chlorogenic acid appears to slow down the production of glucose, resulting in fewer fat cells being produced and a metabolism that burns more fat. Bottom line? Weight loss.

Green Tea

Green tea (either in liquid form or as a supplement) contains small amounts of caffeine along with a compound called catechin. Caffeine alone speeds up the metabolism. In combination with catechins, it increases fat burning—especially around the belly—and helps with weight maintenance.

Vegetable Juices and Soups

Americans don’t get anywhere near enough fiber. And that by itself plays a role in our obesity problem. Fiber bulks up whatever we’re eating, slows down digestion, and makes us feel full. That, in turn, reduces the amount of food we eat. Study after study has found that a high fiber diet is associated with weight loss and better weight management.
What does this have to do with vegetable juice and soups? Simple: Many vegetables, including carrots, beets, spinach, and broccoli, are high in fiber and so is the juice that’s made from them. Vegetable soups are great too, for the same reason. Soups made from beans and legumes, including lentils and peas, are even better.

Water

Water is, hands down, the closest thing there is to a miracle weight-loss drink—but there’s nothing magical about it. Here’s how it works. According to the NIH, 75 percent of Americans are dehydrated. But many of us confuse feelings of thirst for hunger and we end up eating when all we really need is a drink. Drinking more water during the day and starting every meal with a big glass of water will go a long way toward reducing our appetite. Smaller appetite leads to less food intake, which means fewer calories, which translates to weight loss (or at least less weight gain).
Water helps in other ways too. Your liver metabolizes fat, meaning that it turns fat into usable energy for your body to burn. Meanwhile, your kidneys are filtering toxins out of your body. But if the kidneys don’t get enough water they can’t do their job, so they bring in the liver to help. If the liver is doing the kidneys’ job, it can’t do its own. When that happens, fat that the liver would have otherwise metabolized ends up getting stored by the body, leading to weight gain.
Some people claim that ice water is better for weight loss because your body has to burn a few extra calories to heat the water to your body temperature. If that’s true, the difference is tiny. But it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.
Finally, if you’re not excited about drinking large amounts of a (hopefully) colorless and tasteless liquid, drop in some fruits or veggies and let them soak for 15 to 20 minutes. The resulting “infused” water will taste better but won’t have any calories. Beware, however, of claims about infused waters. No matter what anyone says, the reason they help with weight loss has less to do with the lemons, parsley, apples, cinnamon, watermelon, honey, cayenne pepper, or anything else you’ve thrown in than the water itself.
Drink up!

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Sweat

Rocks In The Head? This Kind Causes Bad Breath

As a kid, I often felt like there was something stuck in the back of my throat. One day in my early 20s, after spending 10 minutes trying to dislodge whatever was back there with a finger, I jabbed the back of my toothbrush into a tonsil and was surprised—and a little grossed out—when a hard white rock popped out. It smelled horrible. So naturally I kept at it, and with each poke a new piece emerged. Eventually, I had a handful of stinky gravel, but I felt much better.
Unfortunately, it didn’t last, and I found myself repeating the same tonsil-poking routine every month or two. Finally, in frustration, I saw an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor who suggested removing the tonsils.
I never mentioned this to anyone but the doctor, so you can imagine my surprise when my HealthyWay editor asked me to write an article about a major cause of bad breath: tonsilloliths (tonsil stones). Until then, I never knew that those nasty things that lived in my tonsils had a name—or that that I was far from alone in having them. Turns out that up to 25 percent of us have stones in our head.

What are they?

In case you didn’t know, tonsils are those roundish lumps on either side of the back of your tongue. They’re actually part of your body’s lymphatic system and help you fight infection. At first glance, the tonsils look smooth, but they’re actually covered tiny pits called crypts, kind of like a golf ball.
Saliva in our mouth starts breaking down the food we eat and washes it down the throat and into the stomach for digestion. But in some lucky people, food particles, bacteria, mucus, dead cells, and other gunk collects in those crypts. Over time this matter hardens and becomes tonsil stones.

Symptoms

In most cases, tonsil stones are pretty harmless, causing some minor discomfort and, as with me, an annoying sensation of something stuck in the throat. In more severe cases, though, they can cause severe pain in the throat or ears and difficulty swallowing. And let’s not forget about the really bad breath that persists no matter how many times you brush your teeth, scrape your tongue, floss, or gargle with mouthwash.
Many people discover that they have tonsil stones after a particularly vigorous cough dislodges one. Others are able to see whitish spots on their tonsils.

Treatment

Preventing tonsil stones is possible with good dental hygiene, including regular brushing, flossing, and gargling with salt water or hydrogen peroxide and water to keep as much bacteria as possible out of your mouth. But if you’re predisposed to getting tonsil stones, even the most careful prevention strategy may not work.
Once you’ve got them, there are a variety of ways to deal with tonsil stones. Vigorous gargling with salt water can sometimes knock them loose. It’s also possible to dislodge them as I did, by poking the tonsils (if you decide to go that route, be very gentle and use a clean object so you don’t shove even more dirt into those crypts) or by blasting the tonsils with a Waterpik. If none of those approaches works, you and your medical provider may wish to explore a few medical options, which include antibiotics and using lasers to get rid of those tonsil crypts. However, the only guaranteed permanent solution is to remove the tonsils entirely. But be prepared: Plenty of doctors have never heard of tonsilloliths.
The surgeon who did my tonsillectomy was one of them, and I still have vivid memories of the procedure. They didn’t knock me out completely, so I could feel the doctor tugging in my throat and hear him chatting with the nurses.
The part that sticks in my mind, though, was when the doctor—who must have squeezed one of my tonsils—gasped and announced, “Oh, my God, that’s disgusting,” and invited one of his colleagues over. “Bob,” he said, “You’ve really got to see this.” Not the kind of bedside manner one generally hopes for in a doctor.
The good news is that in the decades since, I haven’t had a single tonsil stone.

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Sweat

6 Workouts That Strengthen Your Chest And Give You A Lift

Age, health, and breastfeeding affect the look and feel of your favorite girls.
Although breast lifts offer a relatively permanent fix for sagging boobs, the side effects can be devastating–no one wants a drooping bank account!
Instead, try these six workouts.
They’re quick, easy, and results are guaranteed.

Pushups with Alternating Shoulder Taps

In order to get the most out of your pushup game, here’s a solid add-on. When you’re coming up from your first dip, lift your left hand off the ground and tap your right shoulder. Alternate arms for a complete workout.
Reps: 15-20
Sets: 4
Pro Tip: This is one of the most effective moves; it works all of your chest muscles as you lower and raise your body while alternating shoulder taps.

Rear Lateral Raises

Take a light pair of dumbbells and stand straight with your legs roughly hip-width apart. (Make sure your knees have a slight bend.) With your weights in front of your thighs, inhale while tightening your core. Pull your shoulder blades down and back while lifting the weights above your head, resembling a “Y.”  Return to your original position as you exhale.
Reps: 20
Sets: 4
Pro Tip: Your pecs are strengthened since your weight is going against gravity.

Plank Reaches

This sounds a lot easier than it actually is and will probably call for an Advil or two. Position yourself in traditional plank form–palms under your shoulders, flat on the mat, while your body is horizontal from head to toe. Raise your left arm and reach out in front of you, like you’re trying to grasp a rope. Hold for three seconds then lower your palm back to the ground. Repeat with your other arm; this is equal to one repetition.
Reps: 15-25
Sets: 3-4
Pro Tip: Raising your arm takes the effectiveness of a traditional plank from a 3 to an 8.

Chest Dips

Sit on a bench, or chair if you’re at home, and place your palms on either side. Have your fingers facing forward with your legs stretched out. Stabilize your core, and slowly lift yourself off the bench and then gradually lower yourself towards the ground by bending your elbows. Allow your elbows to slightly flare outward. Hold this for about five seconds and then return to your beginning position.
Reps: 10-15
Sets: 3-4
Pro Tip: Because you’re allowing your elbows to flare the primary muscle being used is the chest.

Burpees

Perform a push-up then keep your hands on the ground and jump forward so you’re in a standing/bent position. Lift your hands and jump into the air. Bend back over placing your hands on the floor, directly in front of your feet, and jump backward into a push-up position.
Reps: 10-15
Sets: 4
Pro Tip: Your pecs will be burning during the pushup and directly before your jump.

Chest Fly

Grab a pair of dumbbells, take a few breaths, and lay flat on the ground pressing your spine into the floor. Your knees should be bent while your feet are flat and securely placed on your mat. Inhale and extend your elbows out to the side–they should be slightly bent with your upper half resembling a “T.” Exhale as you bring your dumbbells together over your chest, mimicking a hug. Slowly lower them back into starting position.
Reps: 10-15
Sets: 4
Pro Tip: Better than your average bench press due to your isolated joint movements.

Categories
Lifestyle

The Hidden Dangers Of Laser Pointers

Ben Armitage, an optometrist in Hobart, Australia, was recently confronted with a 14-year-old patient who had shined a laser pointer directly into his eyes for only a brief period of time. Despite the brevity of the occurrence, the boy’s vision was decreased by 75 percent. “The laser burns are basically areas where he’s not going to be able to see ever again,” said Armitage.
Sure, it’s fun to make your pet chase laser beams, but beware: The more powerful the laser, the more damage it can do. Lasers can pop a balloon, light a match, cut through plastic, ignite steel wool, or even, as in the case above, cause immediate and permanent blindness.
The word laser is actually an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Ordinary light is made up of many different colors. Laser light is made up of just a single color. Because it’s amplified, laser light is focused and extremely bright. And it comes in a variety of colors and powers.
Laser power is measured in milliwatts (mW), and those that put out less than 5 mW are generally considered safe. Our eyes have a built-in blink reflex that makes us close our eyes or turn our head away when we’re exposed to a bright light. That reflex typically happens in a quarter of a second, which is fast enough to minimize any damage the light might do. But we can override that reflex by deliberately shining a laser directly into the eye. When that happens, the laser can burn a hole in the retina. Lasers that put out more than 5 mW of power are especially dangerous, because they can start burning the retina before the blink reflex kicks in.
Color plays an important role as well. Our eyes are naturally more sensitive to red light than to blue or violet, so while we might turn away from a 5 mW red laser, we might not turn away from the same power blue or violet one. Our eyes are even more sensitive to green light than to red, but green lasers also emit radiation that we can’t see, which makes green lasers even more dangerous than red ones.
Unless you’re using a laser for some kind of industrial purpose, there’s no reason for you to have one that’s any more powerful than 5 mW. In fact, the FDA has proposed a ban on handheld lasers (such as laser pointers) over that threshold. However, it’s still extremely easy to get lasers 10 or 100 or more times more powerful on the internet (and no, we aren’t going to tell you where).
So here’s the bottom line: Lasers are not toys, even if they’re rated at 5 mW or fewer. Never, ever shine one at anyone else or directly into your eye (that includes bouncing the light off of a mirror or shiny surface into your eye). And never allow a child to play with a laser. Theoretically, it should be easy to tell whether a laser’s power is low enough that you can use it safely. Unfortunately, in one of the few examples of products over-delivering on the promises made on their label, the ratings on laser devices routinely underestimate their actual power. Often by a lot.
If a laser pointer runs on tiny, button batteries, it’s probably okay. However, the pointer you’re considering may be stronger than 5 mW if it runs on AA or AAA batteries, or if it claims to be “military grade,” “powerful,” or advertises a range of several miles.

Categories
Wellbeing

Dad Raps Back To His Daughters' Bullies

Khari Touré is a spoken word poet whose messages drip off the tongue, sweeter than honey. He has a strong value system and loves his three daughters more than himself, something all parents can intimately understand. As his oldest daughters traveled through school, he began to witness an onslaught of verbal abuse directed towards them. Whether it was their size, skin color, or hair, Ashé, 15, and Nia, 6, began to feel less than their former selves. So, Touré decided to speak to them in the form he knows best–rap.
He created a body-positive rap which he flipped into a music video that has now reached thousands of people. Titled “Love Yourself,” Touré penned a song for every child who has been made fun of or who has felt less than themselves because of relentless bullies.
“Seeing both my [older] daughters bullied, it made me want to write a song of affirmation for children that they could repeat to themselves. It was a love letter not only to my daughters, but to every child who’s been bullied, made fun of, and made to feel less-than, unworthy, or unattractive,” Touré explained.
Not only did he include his precious daughters, but he drew in kids from the community who had real-life experiences that included children with autism, Down syndrome, and ADHD. It serves as a positive reminder that children with disabilities suffer more than your average adolescent.
Throughout the video, Touré speaks to his daughters individually and his community collectively reminding them that they are all beautiful, smart, and kind.
“I’m beautiful. I’m worthy. And those mean words can’t hurt me. I’m priceless. I’m smart. And I love myself, I’m focused on my health.”
His hope is that these lyrics will continue to resonate with children and serve as a constant reminder of their significance. If you’re different, that’s something to celebrate because it makes you unique and truly one-of-a-kind.

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Lifestyle

Just How Sanitary Are Airplanes?

After the Ebola scare of 2015, it’s no wonder that people would worry about being trapped on a potentially germ-filled tube with a bunch of anonymous travelers, some of whom don’t bother to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze (and may be, for all we know, carriers of some horrible diseases). So I’ve been pleasantly surprised to notice on recent cross-country flights a definite increase in the number of people wearing surgical masks. But it turns out that when it comes to health risks on planes, air quality is just about the last thing we should be worried about.

Airing Grievances

The truth is that on most planes, the cabin air is completely replaced with fresh air from outside every two or three minutes (far more frequently than the air in your office building or, for that matter, your home). In addition, that air is run through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which remove more than 99 percent of bacteria, viruses, and other scary stuff. Newer planes have additional technology that increase the filtration to 100 percent.

Don’t touch that. Actually, don’t touch anything

The air in the cabin is clean, but when it comes to health risks, everything else in the cabin in a horror story. So, rather than a surgical mask, you’d be better off investing your money in surgical gloves. Planes used for short trips may do as many as eight trips per day. Those used for cross-country flights may do only two.
Planes are usually “cleaned” between flights, but that “cleaning” typically consists of picking up newspapers, replacing old or torn in-flight magazines, and possibly pulling trash out of seatback pockets. The most germ-infested places may not be disinfected for weeks or months. Those include seat pockets, tray tables, window shades, armrests, seatbelts, headrests (especially those on the aisle seats, since they get touched by the most people), the toilet flushing lever or button and the handle inside the restroom. How big a problem is it? Consider this:

  • Seat-back pockets are sometimes stuffed with used tissues and airsick bags and other stuff you wouldn’t want on your hands. Researchers at Auburn University just completed a two-year study to determine how long six types of bacteria, including E. coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), would survive on commonly touched surfaces on airplanes. On material from seatback pockets, MRSA survived 168 hours (7 days). On armrests, e-coli survived 96 hours (4 days)
  • Researchers at the University of Arizona did a similar study and found that 60 percent of tray tables tested positive for MRSA (which can be fatal). Tray tables are rarely cleaned, and there’s no way of telling what kinds of things have come in contact with the surface. Since it’s been more than 20 years and the statute of limitations has (hopefully) passed, I will admit to that I once changed my infant daughter’s diaper on a tray table—and I know I’m not the only one. Just to have a reference point, Jonathan Sexton, who led the UA study, found MRSA on only 11 percent of samples taken from the New York City subway.
  • The website Travelmath.com found that those tray tables were 195 percent more likely to be romping grounds for bacteria than your average cell phone, which according a Which? magazine study, provide homes for 18 times more germs than your average toilet.

What can you do?

One possible solution is to never fly again and make better use of Skype and Google hangouts. But that’s not going to be practical for most people. So we suggest that you do the following when traveling—and that you have anyone you’re traveling with do the same.

  • Carry hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes with you and carefully wipe down the armrest, headrest, and tray table.
  • Use hand sanitizer before you eat.
  • Use a tissue or some other disposable item to flush toilets, twist overhead airflow vents, and open lavatory doors.
  • Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Keep your hands out of seat pockets and try not to touch other people’s seats as you walk by.
  • Don’t touch airline blankets or pillows even if they’re in plastic bags. Bring your own instead or use a jacket.
  • Use the bathroom in the terminal before your board. If you have to go on the plane, try to do it as early in the flight as possible. Lavatories are rarely cleaned during flights.

Bon voyage!

Categories
Wellbeing

World's "Ugliest Woman" Motivates Women Around The World

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This a mantra many of us have said, wishing it to be true. It typically takes people till they’ve reached college to find a state of self-acceptance; some never reach this point. High school bullies are nothing to laugh at, their words can be more damaging than a physical blow, but somehow we make it through. For better or for worse we end up on the other side. But can you imagine, for just a moment, being told you were the ugliest human being on the planet. Not only by a classmate but by a complete stranger, over YouTube no less. So imagine, a person has just verbally ousted you as the ugliest person in the world and to your horror you realize there are over 4 million views with thousands upon thousands of comments agreeing with this antagonist. How could you possibly recover from such a traumatizing event? Well, Lizzie Velasquez not only recovered but she flourished. 

Lizzie Velasquez is a 26-year-old woman suffering from Marfan Syndrome and lipodystrophy. These are disorders where you’re not able to gain weight, suffer from premature aging, and a field of other problems. When Lizzie was just 17-years-old she was on YouTube for a school assignment. She clicked on an eight-second clip of “The World’s Ugliest Woman,” and didn’t realize this woman was her till it began. “Why would her parents keep her?” and “Kill it with fire,” are just some of the horrifying comments she read below the clip. She couldn’t stop with just one; she ended up reading all of the thousands of comments not talking to friends or family about it for days, due to her shock and deep sadness (BBC).

“It was a long process of being really sad, then being really angry, then saying, ‘I need to take this into my own hands. How can I turn it around?'” she said. ” It was scary. But I wanted to have control over what I showed people who I was” (ABC).

Lizzie’s entire life has been filled with situations like these. When she entered elementary school she had no idea kids would treat her differently and had to navigate, as a six-year-old child, the way to brush off negativity and move on. She attributes her success in large part to her parents who have felt nothing but unconditional love since the day she was born. Even though they were told that she wouldn’t live long and would need constant care that did not deter them from treating her like a normal child. They were the ones that encouraged her to be in cheerleading, to go to the mall, and to just live life as she should. So when Lizzie discovered this horrible video she only had one option – to prove everyone wrong (ABC).

After the mourning period, Lizzie began formulating a video response. This response reached thousands of people, and nothing but positivity flooded her newsfeed. This led her on a quest to learn public speaking and ultimately inspired her documentary “A Brave Heart,” which ended up premiering at SXSW. 

“If I ever see that person [who made the video] I would jump on them and give them the biggest hug in the world and tell them, ‘Thank you for bringing the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life,’ ” she says. “That video changed everything and it has given me the platform that I have now to be the voice for anyone who’s ever been bullied – and not just myself” (People).

Can you imagine having that type of attitude? It’s something that’s almost incomprehensible. Her YouTube channel now has more than half million subscribers, and she has positively impacted thousands of women. She receives emails daily from young girls and women who struggle with a range of issues, whether it is image, bullying, or just general unhappiness. They thank her for her positive spirit and have let her know how she has touched their lives and helped them reach a complete 180. Her range of activism goes further than her YouTube channel; she had a TED Talk and has teamed with Tina Meier whose daughter Megan took her life after being ruthlessly bullied online (BBC). 

Lizzie Velasquez is an incredible inspiration to every single female in the entire world. She suffers from painful physical ailments on a daily basis and somehow maintains her positivity. Mix that with brutal public criticisms and Lizzie could very well be a superwoman. Her love towards those who have shown her nothing but criticisms is incredible. Take a moment to search your heart and soul and imbue your actions with some of her unyielding love and positivity. 

Categories
Sweat

The Case of the Shrinking Muscles

No matter how often you work out and how well you eat your muscles just aren’t becoming pronounced. In fact, they almost seem to be…shrinking. How is that even possible? You quickly go over your head and okay, maybe you shouldn’t have eaten that extra slice of pizza and maybe going out for beers two nights in a row wasn’t ideal, but it could be way worse. However, shrinking muscles is actually more than just a vanity problem. Deteriorating muscles interfere with your daily activities, such as walking, running, or even picking your kids up. This horrifying reality is called sarcopenia and it causes muscle mass to slowly decrease with age. It can be as much as 1% each year after you hit 40.
There are certain things you do (or don’t) that will accelerate the process. But not to worry, there is hope! Here are five activities that are enhancing the wear and tear on your muscles and what you can do to avoid them.
Eating Right
Typically, morning foods are high in sugars and carbs, but these sugary bread stuffed items are really doing nothing for your mind and body. If anything, it’s giving you a quick energy boost that quickly plateaus leaving you sluggish and hungry. The main building block for muscles is protein, yet we usually leave that till the end of our day. Protein helps our muscles rebuild and if we’re eating protein at the end of the day then there’s really not a whole lot of time for it to take effect and work. Instead of pastries and cereal why not grab a cup of yogurt or make some fluffy scrambled eggs? Not only will you have more energy but your physique will start perking up as well.
However, don’t forget your veggies! Just because I said to increase your protein supply doesn’t mean that you need to go on a meat binge. If you do that then your body has a tendency to increase its acid production, which eats away at muscle as well. To even out your protein intake make sure that your fruits and veggies outweigh your meats and grains.
Lastly, and this is usually the hardest, cut back on the booze AFTER a workout. I know, it’s so relaxing and is a must after your marathon run. However, once booze hits our bloodstream it halts the production of new muscle. So, instead of heading for that free brew, try and stave off that urge for at least an hour. Then at least you’ll be able to reap some of the muscle repairing benefits.
Sleep Deprived
When your body finally powers off for the night it’s almost working harder than it does during your wakeful period. The majority of your recovery from a workout, or just regular wear and tear, occurs once you’ve entered your REM cycle. When you’re in various stages different hormones are released that promote muscle regrowth. Scientists just released that the appropriate amount of sleep for adults is a minimum of seven hours a night. So do your body a service and shut off your smart phone, close your book, and let your body do a mini workout of its own.
Work It
Lastly, the main way to build muscle is through weight training. If you don’t engage in some type of strength training to build muscle then there’s absolutely no way that you will ever get close to achieving the results you’re wanting. However, just because you’ve started lifting weights day in and day out doesn’t mean that you’re going to achieve the appropriate amount of muscle either…I know, there always seems to be a caveat! If you do the same weight workouts every day your body will plateau or it can take a turn for the worse and begin to regress, and that’s exactly what you’re trying to fight against.
Instead, you should begin doing a light weight for your first few strength training sessions. In doing this, you’re getting your body used to the motions that way you can utilize correct form and not injure yourself in the future. Once you feel comfortable amp up your weight and begin doing repetitions that reach up to 15x per set. Once this begins to feel less challenging that means you either need to bump up your repetitions, or, more than likely, increase the amount of weight. Also, it’s crucial that you’re engaging every part of your body. One day you could try strength training for your hips, while the next day it could specifically be for your calves.
It’s incredibly disturbing when you realize that your muscle is being replaced by skin and fat, but that’s why it’s important to be treating your body the right way. Also, make sure to check in with a physician because sometimes they can prescribe medication that assists in muscle regrowth as well. Whatever the case, don’t lose hope as there’s usually a solution if you just put in a little extra effort (Prevention)!

Categories
Sweat

Look Hot While Working Out With These Gym Clothes Hacks (and no, not the sweaty kind of hot!)

When you hit the trails, treadmill, or yoga studio you’re not going for a fashion show but to get fit. However, and it’s a huge however, style is pretty important to many females, myself included, and it doesn’t have to be sacrificed during the throes of sweat and grit. How discouraging is it when you head to the gym with your old and shapeless gear? You’re lying on the mat about to do your 300th core movement when a girl lies down beside you. She has perfect form, like you, but her clothes are workout perfection: tight tank, sleek cropped pants, and, quite possibly, shoes that are brighter than the sun itself. You push aside your clothing envy and keep pressing on, but if you’re honest with yourself, that annoyance you feel at someone for getting “dressed up” for the gym is just a facade for the envy you actually are feeling.
“How is it possible?” your inner-fashion queen wails. “And why do I care?”
But, it’s actually beneficial when you’re dripping in swag as you head to the gym. Working out in style not only motivates but also gives a boost in confidence for those trying to burn the cals. And if you’re feeling on top of the world, chances are your workout performance is going to skyrocket as well! Cute workout clothes are not only necessary for the fashion diva inside all of us, but keeping your wardrobe up to date can also improve your health! Regularly tossing old and worn clothes can cut down on the bad odors that crop up during a sweaty workout, plus it’s crucial that you trade in some new kicks every six months. This helps prevent injury and keeps well-balanced support for your tootsies.
“But I’d rather spend my money on something else!”
Sure you would, we all would, but investing in a few pair of statement pieces for the gym really isn’t the end of the world. Once you have some eye-catching staples you’ll be all set to sweat! Just watch, you’ll be a lot happier heading to your next workout; you might even catch yourself doing a slight strut. Here’s all you need to know for what to buy and how to wear it!

Bottoms/Tops

There are a few options for bottoms when working out, and it’s all up to your personal preference.
Tight cropped workout pants are a great universal choice. They’re form fitting so nothing gets caught, plus these pants typically have a fantastic wicking system. A universal black pant is a must, but so is a statement pair as well. There are a plethora of options ranging from subtle animal print, mesh inserts, and all the way to neon brights. Buy one, buy five, it doesn’t matter, but invest in at least one pair because they’re a great statement piece. Typically you’ll be able to rotate any style of shirt with them, whether they’re tight or flowy.
Shorts are another must have for your activities, and these are easy to spice up as well. You can buy an already patterned and glowing print, or you could get a little creative. Buy a neon pair of thin tight shorts, similar to biking shorts, and place them underneath your shorts. They’ll not only peek out, but they will also serve as great protection while you do your floor workouts!
Tops are even more versatile than pants. Personally I only purchase a few simple tops because, since I usually wear rather understated pants, I like my tops to be the focal points. Also, I typically invest in bright and fun sports bras. I always love a little bit of color or design peeking out, plus in the dog days of summer I just run in my sports bra! Although that may send you running in the OPPOSITE direction don’t! It can be a good motivator to love your body and also motivate you to work on firming up a bit.
P.S. When you’re headed to and from your workout location in the cooler months it’s always nice to have at least one cute pair of sweats and a jacket.

Hair Care

Quite frankly, when I’m working out, my hair is the last thing I’m concerned about. I do get mildly bored with the ponytail, but it’s not like I’m going to wear it down! Well here are some tips to make your hair a little less blah. Why not try a fishtail braid, or if that’s a bit too ambitious try a french one instead. A topknot isn’t just for a classy night out. You can easily wear one to the gym with a tight band and a hint of  hairspray. For those you live and breathe exercise why not try an undercut? An undercut is when part of your head is shaved. I actually have had one for close to a year now. I shaved the underlayer of my hair and every few weeks my stylist shaves a design into it. It’s perfect for me because I have loads of hair so this little pieces hasn’t been missed. Just go to the gym, throw your hair in a bun, and you have an automatic design to display! Or if accessories are more your jam why not try a hairband or a stretchy cloth hair tie. It’s the little things that add up!

Kicks

Neon and bright shoes are so easy to find! You almost have to try and find some boring shoes. But hey, a girl likes to change things up. One idea to make your sneaks stick out is to buy some different laces that way you can change up colors and ensure that the fit of your shoe remains snug when they wear out.

Accessories

Finally, another way to spice up your workout style is to tote around a reusable water bottle. Not only is this amazing for the environment, but since they have such a wide variety you can easily find one that speaks to your style. Some other ideas are investing in wacky earphones, slick phone holders, and workout trackers.
Hopefully at least one of these has given you some style inspiration! Now get out there and rock it!!

Categories
Wellbeing

What You're Thinking Right Now May Be Chipping Away At Your Health

Have you ever had a day where everything just seems to go wrong? You get a flat tire, were late to work, forgot your lunch, filed a report incorrectly, and it all culminated with you laying on your couch moaning in pain from a mind-numbing headache. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. It’s just a stress headache.” These type of headaches are considered tension headaches, and the root cause  is still up in the air. Doctors and scientist haven’t been able to pinpoint exactly why the pain occurs, but they have been able to pinpoint the exact locations (Mayo Clinic).
If you were to visit a holistic doctor or an apothecary they’d give you some pretty definitive opinions as to where that headache was stemming from – negative thoughts, that point right before stress sets in. Recently there has been more investigation whether negative emotions and thoughts directly correlate with physical pain. Negative emotions circulate through the body and can sometimes rear its angry head as a physical symptom, whether it’s outright pain, discomfort, or tension. Health coaches, therapists, and workout instructors are placing more credence in the theory that physical pain can sometimes be a manifestation of a negative thought or emotion that you’re ignoring. Developing tangible symptoms is your body’s only way to grab your attention and force you to deal with your physical and emotional state (Healthy and Natural World).
Louise Hay, an American motivational author, has written numerous self-help books aimed at guiding people through tough, mental journeys. In 1998, she penned “Heal Your Body A-Z: The Mental Causes for Physical Illness and the Way to Overcome Them,” which describes how physical maladies can be attributed to mental thoughts. Hay also designed an emotional pain chart where visuals were constructed to create a link between emotional and physical trauma. As time has progressed her newfangled idea has slowly gained momentum and manifested itself in the Centripetal Force Studio, where the practice of physiotherapy is utilized to the extreme. Physiotherapy is a therapy that uses physical touch as its main source of healing, whether it’s through massage, ultrasound, heat, or exercise. Centripetal Force Studio identifies emotional issues and physical issues, links them together, and ultimately provides the person in therapy insight into how these two aspects can affect physical health.
Emotional Pain Chart
The emotional pain chart presents mental thought patterns that form your experiences. Below are some common ailments that most of you have likely encountered:
-Neck Pain: This neck pain has been associated with individuals who are refusing to look at situations through a new perspective. Classic character traits are stubbornness and inflexibility.
-Shoulder Pain: This can be representative of your ability to carry emotional burdens in a negative way based upon your attitude. Shoulders can become tense and cramped from the overall unease and discomfort that you may be experiencing from daily struggles.
Knee Pain: Unyielding pride and an overzealous ego has been linked to knee pain. Fear, inflexibility to give in, and an inability to go with the flow are also common descriptors.
Weakness: A classic remedy to weakness is mental rest. On an hourly basis, your emotions are pulled a million different ways. Whether it’s irritation, excitement, or disappointment our emotions take a toll, and that’s why it’s important to give your mind a rest so your body can heal too.
If you take time to peruse the pain chart it may seem a little “new-agey,” but it makes sense. Why couldn’t your thoughts be affecting your physical health? Is it really that far of a stretch to assume that your irritability could cause that elbow or hip pain? The American Psychological Association (APA) has identified that stress affects physical health, but stress stems from day to day thoughts. So next time you’re tempted to mentally berate Her for wearing those shoes with that dress, or smugly pat yourself on the back for burning 500 calories at the gym, take pause. Those toxic thoughts are not only polluting your mind but quite possibly your everyday health (APA).