One evening when my daughter was 2, I pulled out a duffel bag I’d been storing under the bed since I got pregnant. It was my secret stash of clothing, the ones I’d return to when I lost the baby weight: my favorite jeans, my pre-breastfeeding-sized t-shirts, my thongs. But I wasn’t taking it out to try the clothes back on. I was taking it out to give the clothes away.
There came a moment, I don’t know exactly at what point, when I realized I just wasn’t going to return to my pre-baby weight. It dawned on me slowly and then—BAM!—it was clear as day.
I assumed I would lose all the baby weight quickly because I shed a chunk of weight early on, simply out of circumstance: I had gestational diabetes, so because of a strict diet during the last trimester of pregnancy, I gained almost no weight. If I stuck to that same diet post birth, maybe it would all be gone soon!
But then it slowed. Because I was back to my old eating habits and worse given that I was breastfeeding and sleep-deprived, chocolate at 10 a.m., burgers and fries, muffins and cookies, and more meant I never got rid of the last bit.
Now it’s been almost five years, and I’m quite sure that unless I get very strict with myself, I will never return to those pre-baby looks. But honestly? I’ve learned to not care so much.
I mean, of course I do care. Don’t we all want to look the way we did at our most fit? I was a dancer and a yoga teacher. I could eat whatever I wanted and still burn the calories off. I could have fries and wine for dinner and fit into my size 26 jeans! And I thought it was all genetics! Ha!
No longer. The problem is not that I can’t. The problem is that I’ve been told that I should: that I should be able to return to my old weight, that I should want to, that I should care about no longer looking that way.
In fact, for many women, their primary obsession once the baby comes out is losing weight. But is this really fair? Does this make us feel good about ourselves?
These days, whenever I have a negative feeling about my body, I try to stop myself from going down a rabbit hole. You grew a human, I whisper to myself. You fed her. You’ve changed. And: You’re getting older. Letting go of being my “ideal” weight is a little like letting go of the fact that I’ll never be 32 again. It isn’t sad—it’s part of growing up.
Now, I’m not saying throw in the towel! No way! I work out multiple days a week. I eat well. I want to look and feel good. But “good” (or “skinny”) is different now than it was then—and not just because of my weight, but because of all sorts of other things: lack of time, more self-confidence (regardless of what the scale says).
I could, of course, work super hard and get super skinny. But at what cost, exactly? Not enjoying my food? Not indulging once in a while? Working out when I could be writing, or spending time with my family, or—heaven forbid!—resting?
After years of obsessing about whether I’d ever lose that last 10 pounds, I’ve decided it’s not worth it to me—and this isn’t the same thing as not caring about my appearance. It means that losing the last 10 pounds cannot be the anchor around which I rule my life.
Here is my advice for dealing with your (beautiful) post-baby body:
Eat well. A fabulous nutritionist once told me to think of it in these terms: 80/20. 80 percent of the time you eat well: healthy foods in healthy proportions; 20 percent of the time, though, you indulge, so you don’t feel deprived and “act out,” eating half a box of cookies at 11 p.m. when the kids are in bed.
Exercise as much as you can. And make sure it’s something you find enjoyable, even if that means just taking a super long walk pushing the baby in the stroller.
Enjoy your kid. You’re amazing for having grown her inside your body.
And as a wise shrink once said to me, “Enjoy your life, sweetheart.”
Tag: organic
[noads]
Hey friends!
Spring has sprung—finally! It’s the season of rebirth and brings a fresh, fun newness that I desperately need after a long, Midwest winter. And while I’m excited to finally spend time outside, I’m still a homebody at heart and I like to make sure my space is decked out for lazy weeknights in, lounging in my backyard, and dinner parties with friends.
I’ve put together a list of what I’m looking at to help get my home into the swing of spring; you’ll be happy to know most of my picks are sustainable! Throw open those windows, bring in the fresh air and sunlight, and dig in for options that’ll spruce up your whole house.
Senior Lifestyle Editor[/noads]
Living Room
One of my favorite ways to give my living room a seasonal facelift is with new throw pillows. (Can you ever have too many?) This season I’m especially feeling lush fabrics, touchable textures, and rich colors. Target’s newest home line, Opal House, checks all three boxes for me with this pleated velvet oversized lumbar pillow; the citron color will go especially well with my navy Chesterfield couch and is sure to be a sunny spot on a cloudy spring day.
Now let’s make like Lil Jon and head to the window, to the wall. I’m a true believer in the power of fresh air, so until the humidity of Midwest summers takes over, I keep my windows open day and night. To give my house the laid-back feeling I’m looking for this spring, I’m hanging white linen sheers on my windows. I’m excited about these linen curtains; they’re handmade in Lithuania from 100 percent organic linen, so it’s a pretty purchase you can feel good about.
If your walls are feeling a little stale, hanging new art is an easy fix. You can print out your favorite snaps from the past year and hang them in the float frame from internet fave Artifact Uprising, or go budget friendly with something from IKEA—a few of the Virserum frames are perfect for curating a gallery wall.
If you’re looking for something a little more elevated, I always recommend Society6. Everything on the site is made by independent artists and it’s great to support the little guy. I’ve got my eye on rich photography, simple line work, and abstract landscapes.
Kitchen + Dining
I love having friends over when the weather gets nicer. Whether we’re sitting inside around my vintage mid-century dining table or eating out on the patio, spring dinners with my favorite people are one of the best parts of the year. Before our first get together, I’ll pick up some new tableware and glasses to get in the mood for food (as if I’m not already).
These pretty blue petite Moroccan glasses from The Little Market look perfect for warm-weather cocktails—and each purchase supports artists in Morocco.
For those al fresco nights, I’m excited to bust out these bamboo plates from Xenia Taler. They’re shatterproof, super trendy, and biodegradable. I love the bright stripes on the Marseille and Amalfi collections—at under $50 for four plates, I’m buying both sets.
Bedroom
I’m staying on the linen train with new sheets—there’s no easier way to make a change to your bedroom that looks pretty and feels indulgent. This year I’m looking at Parachute’s linen sheet set, made out of 100 percent European flax. The blush color is still on trend but is muted enough to not be overwhelming.
Even the smallest spaces need upgrades; for me, that’s my makeup corner. I don’t have a dedicated dressing room (one day!) but I do have a small space for my makeup table and accessories. If you don’t have a spot like this, create one! But don’t just pick a corner and call it a day; spruce up the space with a few accessories.
No. 1 on that list is a mirror you really love. Though I always recommend getting a dedicated makeup mirror (that 10x magnification is ideal for eyebrow tweezing adventures), hanging one like the Reese mirror from World Market will help reflect light around the room and remind you that this space is all about you—just as it should be.
If you’ve ever walked down the aisle of a bookstore and tried to choose a pregnancy preparedness book out of the shelf after shelf of options, you may find it hard to believe there’s anything that can crop up during pregnancy that isn’t already out there for the masses to know. There are books on every part of the pregnancy journey from every perspective.
Single motherhood? Check. Conceived by IVF? Check. High-risk pregnancy? Check and check.
And yet, you can read a half dozen pregnancy books cover to cover, only to hit a stage of your pregnancy that catches you totally off guard. These are the moments the books can’t prepare you for, the moments of pregnancy that you hear about only from other folks who have been there, done that, have the stretch marks to prove it.
Wondering what could possibly be ahead that wasn’t already covered in all those books you read? We asked moms to share the one thing that they wished someone had filled them in on before they got pregnant. They were caught off guard, but they’re sharing their stories so you won’t be!
Your nose gets stuffy.
Mom of two Naomi expected her belly to swell, but she didn’t know that other tissues in the body swell too, including the membranes in your nose. “It made me feel like I had a cold for six months, even though I wasn’t sick!” she says. The reason? The changing hormones in your body can affect the mucus membranes, including those in your nose. The good news is you’ll get your inflammation-free honker back after baby shows up.
Your favorite shoes won’t fit.
Just like your nose, pregnancy hormones can cause your feet to grow, according to the scientists. Mom of one Jeana says she went up a full size, spending the latter months of her pregnancy “waddling around in cheap flip flops.”
Don’t throw out your favorites just yet, though! Jeana’s feet went back down a half size after the baby arrived, and yours may too.
Sex is…different.
No matter what the books say, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sex during pregnancy. Some moms-to-be can’t get enough and some have no interest in ever having sex again (well, so they think at the time).
But what mom of two Lisa says no one told her was that when she did want to have sex, her enjoyment level would be off.
“Orgasms [felt] different for me—weird—like there was a plug down there,” she says.
It’s okay to say “I don’t love this.”
Some women love pregnancy. But for mom Brook, the months she spent expecting her daughter were pure misery. Looking back, she tells HealthyWay she wishes someone had told her it was okay to hate her pregnancy. It didn’t mean she wouldn’t love her child.
Mom of three Brett adds, “There’s a dark side to pregnancy. There are so many not-glowy-wonderful emotions as well as fears and anxiety and they seem to be glossed over.”
Your appetite changes.
You’ve probably heard about [linkbuilder id=”2759″ text=”pregnancy cravings”] and maybe even aversions to foods while you’re expecting. But did you know you’ll likely hit a time when you just can’t seem to fit anything else in your body? Nyssa tells us that as she entered the later months of pregnancy with her son, she felt like there was no room left in her body to fit food!
Pee happens.
You go to the bathroom during pregnancy. A lot. Sometimes it feels like baby is purposely bouncing on your bladder, and you’ll find yourself running to the bathroom. And as mom of two Terri tells HealthyWay, sometimes you just don’t make it. “You pee your pants when you cough, laugh, sneeze, and sometimes just as you walk,” she says with a laugh.
You might leak.
Urine’s not the only fluid you might find leaking out of you. Mom of three Amanda remembers being shocked to find her breasts were leaking colostrum (the precursor to breast milk) when she was just five months along. Of course it happened while she was at work—wearing a white shirt!
Not every pregnancy is the same.
Jill, a mom of one with a second on the way, thought she knew what she was up for when she decided to try for baby number two. She’d been pregnant, given birth, and had a happy, healthy son.
How could things possibly be different?
Well, about that!
“[I wish someone had told me] that just because a first pregnancy may have been a cakewalk, that a second pregnancy could be a hellacious, miserable nine months,” Jill says.
Ultrasounds go inside.
Sure, ultrasounds are part and parcel of a modern day pregnancy. Some moms will just have one or two during pregnancy, while others may have these special tests as often as monthly or even weekly in the later trimesters.
Megan, a mom of twins, tells HealthyWay she expected the process to go the way it goes on TV: A woman lies down on a table and pulls up her shirt. A sonogram tech squeezes some goo all over her belly and starts moving a little gadget (officially called a transducer, by the way) around on her belly.
It wasn’t until the tech pulled out a pointy tube and announced she’d be inserting it into Megan’s vagina that she learned things could go very, very, differently. As she jokes, “No one warned me about the stick of doom that comes with those early ultrasounds!”
Not every mom gets a transvaginal ultrasound, so you may get off scot-free during your pregnancy. On the other hand, don’t be alarmed if your doctor says they’re going inside for this ultrasound!
Long before a become a mom, I was a nanny, and let me tell you, no one knew how to raise other people’s children quite as well as I did.
I had an opinion on when (and where) kids should nap, how to get them to eat healthy foods, and what bedtime routines should look like. Surprisingly, I was able to stick to my ideals when it came to child rearing, due in no small part to the fact that I was only with the kids for a few hours every day.
I thought—no, I knew—that I had it all figured out. I was a great nanny, so naturally I would be a great mom. When I was pregnant with my first child I knew exactly what her infancy would look like: She would be exclusively breastfed, she would sleep in her own room, she would have a strict schedule, and, of course, she’d be potty trained by age 2 at the latest.
Here is where all the experienced moms are probably laughing (and for good reason). It turns out that children like to disrupt our well-laid plans. As a nanny it was easy to stay on track; I had the energy to constantly correct the kids and push back when they were breaking the rules since I got to go home at the end of the day, eat an uninterrupted dinner, and sleep for eight glorious hours. As an exhausted new mom, on the other hand, I realized that as long as I was keeping the baby alive, that was good enough. I was too tired to be that perfect parent I had always envisioned myself being.
Still, I felt the pressure to be the mom I always planned to be (and the mom that Facebook mommy groups told me I should be). I worried that my daughter was watching too much television, spending too much time at her grandmother’s, or playing too often on her own.
“Look at how happy she is,” my husband would say when I expressed concern. Still, I couldn’t let go. I often found myself feeling jealous about his laid back approach to “good enough” parenting, while I scrambled for perfection.
It all came to a head the summer that my daughter was 3. I had a miscarriage, a family dog died, and my aunt passed away—all within five weeks. Work was madness, and my marriage was stressful. I was in survival mode like never before.
All of a sudden self-care via embracing imperfection didn’t feel indulgent, it felt absolutely necessary. Sending my daughter for a night away wasn’t a luxury, it was my only chance for critical time to relax and catch up on sleep. My child ate more takeout and watched more television than I would have liked. And through it all she thrived. She grew even more confident in her relationships with other caregivers, engaged with new concepts (thanks, TV), and developed skills and interests that allow her to entertain herself.
Finally, I felt like I was able to see what my husband had known since day one: that taking time to rejuvenate and recharge as a parent is essential to raising well-adjusted kids. Allowing some things to be imperfect didn’t make me any less of a good mom.
I want my daughter to know that she doesn’t have to be perfect, and one way to show her that is to embrace imperfection in myself. Now I take guilt-free time to myself, let my parenting ideals slide a bit, and refuse to get caught up on how I “should” be parenting.
And you know what? Since I’ve embraced imperfection, I’m a better mom—which was the whole point in the first place.
In my previous life as a sales manager, I worked out of a small cubicle in a windowless warehouse office.
Sterling Cooper, it was not.
We worked straight from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and just like my personal hero Dolly Parton sang, it really was all taking and no giving. We didn’t even have a break room, which was totally fine because we didn’t get a lunch break anyway. Even if we did, most of us worked through lunch—as 62 percent of American office workers do, my coworkers would snarf down midday meals between meetings and phone calls.
But I drew the line at sad desk lunch, so I just wouldn’t eat at all. I’m pretty sure my crash office diet resulted in what I can only assume was acute pancreatitis or a stomach ulcer (I can’t be sure because my job didn’t offer insurance, so I never saw a doctor. For the record, I don’t recommend self-diagnosing.).
Take it from me, ladies: Your health is more important than your work inbox.
My own wake-up call came when I read an article that said sitting is the new smoking. Gross, right?
The minute I saw that, I decided to make a change in my work life and my health life. I set reminders to drink water and move around every hour. And yes, I even started eating lunch at my desk for the sake of my health.
Now I work from home, but it’s just as easy to forgo your health in a home office. I recently noticed I was slacking in the workday health department, so I talked to Dianna Leyton, a marketing manager in Richmond, Virginia, who has also decided to make her work health a priority (all while slaying at her 9-5 job).
Here are her favorite tips for staying healthy and strong when you work in an office:
Get better sleep at night.
“If you stay up all night before a workday, you’re going to be exhausted all day long,” says Leyton. “Get a good night’s sleep, and you’ll start your day feeling fresh and energized for the day ahead.”
Leyton admits she has a hard time winding down before bedtime; to tire herself out, she makes sure to log a good workout in the evening, so she’s ready when bedtime rolls around. But if you like working out in the morning, you can still get a good night’s rest. Try to stay away from all your devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime (do-not-disturb mode can still let important and emergency calls through) and ready your mind and body for sleep with a calming bedtime yoga flow.
Practice self-care.
“Self-care during the workday is important. Sometimes I eat lunch at my desk so I can go get a mani-pedi during my lunch break or take a walk in the park,” says Leyton. “When I do something for myself during the workday, I feel better all day long.”
See? Leyton turned sad desk lunch into a rewarding experience by using her lunch break to treat herself to something fun. Think about some of your favorite relaxing activities, and figure out how to incorporate them into your workday. Simple acts of self-care can have a positive impact on the choices you make throughout the day and can even result in greater productivity at work and at home.
Get a work spouse.
“I started doing the Whole30 program with a co-worker so that we hold each other accountable over our eating habits,” says Leyton. “It makes it easier when you have someone else passing on the free Friday donuts!”
It’s true, having an accountability buddy at work can help you stay on track with diet and exercise in the office, but having a work bestie is also great for your overall work performance and mental health, according to a recent Gallup poll.
Not sure how to turn Susan in payroll into your new bff? It’s just like dating; at first, finding out which co-workers you’re most compatible with might be a little awkward, but over time, you’ll be able to forge real friendships that have lasting benefits for your health.
Take the longest route to the printer.
“I know getting your steps in sounds a little trite, but I really do try to count my steps during the workday,” says Leyton. “I take walks during lunch, and I try to take the least direct route to meetings and the copy room to maximize my step count. I just make sure to give myself extra time, so I’m not late!”
Wearing a step counter can open your eyes to how many steps you’re actually taking at work. You might be shocked to find that even though you are exhausted when 5 p.m. rolls around, you only took a thousand steps!
To increase your step count during the day, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk around the printer while you’re waiting for that 90-page document to print. Set a reminder to get up and walk to the break room (for water!) every hour. You’ll be surprised at how many more steps you’re getting in every day when you’re making a conscious effort.
Shop online. Yes, really.
Okay, so this last tip comes from yours truly. You’re welcome.
A study conducted by Brent Coker at the University of Melbourne found that workplace internet leisure browsing (WILB)—like shopping the latest Amazon deals or scrolling social media—can actually increase your productivity at work.
Bless you, Dr. Coker.
So, if you’ve been plugging away at a project for several hours, it’s okay to take a break and scroll through that cute guy from the gym’s Instagram. Just make sure you don’t accidentally deep like one of his pics!
It’s not uncommon to see gray and dreary skies for days on end during the winter months and on into early spring, especially if you reside in the Midwest. After a week filled with cold, rainy weather, a Sunday with clear skies and temperatures in the high 40s left me feeling more motivated than ever to head outdoors and stretch my legs.
Since my partner and I were both feeling stir crazy, tired of Entourage reruns (sorry, Vince), and eager to breathe fresh air, we chose to start our rain-free Sunday with a light jog around the track at the middle school directly across the street from our home.
It was only 35 degrees at this point, but we were determined to take advantage of our day off. Before we left our house, I decided that this would be a great opportunity for me to try plogging for the first time. In case you aren’t familiar, plogging is a Swedish trend that combines physical exercise in the form of running or jogging with picking up litter in the surrounding area.
I wore one sanitary glove and one winter glove (because 35 degrees is ice cold to my native Texan bones) and brought a small trash bag with us so that I could pick up garbage around the middle school track and soccer fields during our jog.
The amount of plastic products, duct tape, and cigarette butts that I noticed only a few paces into our workout was eye opening. Despite the fact that our route was less than a mile round trip, my small trash bag was almost completely full as we neared the end.
I tried to pick up as much litter as I possibly could, but I’m certain that I missed some along the way, including one Styrofoam cup that had been thrown behind a fence with a No Trespassing sign.
One of the most disheartening realizations of my first plogging experience was the fact that there were trash cans distributed throughout the school property in convenient locations near the track, soccer fields, and parking lot—yet some people had still made the conscious decision to throw their garbage on the grass instead of taking a few extra steps to ensure their waste made it to the trash receptacle or recycling bin.
After about 20 minutes of plogging, my partner and I returned home with a heavy trash bag and even heavier hearts.
As the day warmed up, we decided to take our dog to a local park for plogging round two. This was about a two-mile journey round trip. My boyfriend held our dog’s leash while I jogged along beside them and picked up trash along the path leading to and from the park and within the park itself. Without prompting, my partner began plogging with me, which warmed my heart.
During our second plogging adventure, we saw at least seven different people and I couldn’t help but wonder how much cleaner the park and surrounding area would be if everyone who used the space took responsibility for the litter they brought into the area or made the effort to pick up and dispose of just one piece of trash before leaving the park.
As we made our way back home, I was relieved by how light this trash bag felt in comparison to our morning plog at the middle school and how clean the park had been overall. My sense of relief came too soon, however, and as we neared our home my boyfriend spotted a full string of broken Christmas lights in some tall grass along the side of the road. It’s currently late March, so seeing those sitting there definitely caught our attention and the rubbish-filled reality of the day sank in yet again.
Although we went to two different locations in our suburban area, they did share one major similarity. Both locations had public containers for trash and recycling—yet there was still waste on the ground in the form of plastic products, cigarette butts, candy wrappers, duct tape, and more.
From an environmental perspective, this experience was a bit discouraging considering the amount of waste I discovered in such a short amount of time. With that being said, my first plogging experience did have some positive aspects.
First and foremost, I was able to give back to my local community by making these shared spaces more sanitary both for myself and others by properly disposing of waste. Secondly, this was a surprisingly wonderful workout! Not only was I reaping the cardio benefits from jogging, but I was also feeling that leg and booty burn from frequently squatting down to pick up garbage.
Once we returned home, I documented my trash collections and disposed of the waste and recycling appropriately. I also washed my hands twice (for those of you who, like me, are concerned about germs and bacteria).
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment and pride after plogging and will make a continued effort to pick up litter during my future after-work jogs and weekend hiking adventures. Later in the evening, my partner commented that my actions had motivated him to pick up trash at the park, sharing that it felt good to give back to the natural world we’re able to enjoy.
We can’t be 100 percent eco-friendly at all times (and I certainly don’t claim to be), but I would encourage you to go plogging for yourself and see how much trash you collect along the way.
If you don’t have time to plog, I challenge you to start small—pick up that receipt in the parking lot out outside of your office building instead of walking past and rinse or recycle that empty water bottle in the bush at your local playground instead of kicking it like a soccer ball. Who knows, your effort just might motivate someone else to start their own plogging adventure.
You’ve seen my plogging pics, now I’d love to see yours. Share your plogging pile with me by tagging @itsthehealthyway on Instagram.
Being empowered to make choices about your health is the ultimate glow-up for 2018. The latest way to stay up to date (and keep yourself in optimal health) involves a whole lot of data—from when to expect your next period to how sleep and exercise are affecting your mood.
Enter femtech apps.
Search the App Store for any number of women’s health needs like period tracking, pregnancy, sexual health, or birth control, and you’re likely to be scrolling for a while. These apps are a huge part of women’s healthcare in 2018. Danish entrepreneur Ida Tin calls this niche technology femtech, and it generates billions of investment dollars a year.
Tin is the co-founder and CEO of period-tracking app Clue and claims femtech’s popularity is due to the number of women who want more personalized choices. Femtech allows technology—which we’re already using in daily life—to address the complexities of women’s bodies and shed light on topics once considered taboo, like menstruation and sexual health.
“Reproductive health is an incredibly foundational and central part of our lives, but there’s a real lack of clarity for women,” Tin told Code Red Co. last year. “These misconceptions and stigmas exist because of a lack of research into, and understanding of, menstruation.”
With everything from weekly updates during pregnancy to trusted sexual health info at your fingertips, femtech apps have a lot to offer. Here are six apps that will give you a better understanding of your health, help you connect with other women, and keep you safe along the way.
[sol title=”Clue” subheader=”Period Tracking”]
Clue is one of many apps helping users track their menstrual cycles. However, it is set apart by being the highest ranking free period-tracking app according to the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a publication of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The study scored more than 1,000 apps based on accuracy, features, and functionality and Clue earned the highest score of those evaluated.
With Clue you can track your period and fertile windows and document moods, pain symptoms, exercise, medication, and sexual activity to gain a better understanding of your own personal patterns.
Available for iOS and Android.
[sol title=”Maven” subheader=”Making Healthcare More Accessible”]
Lack of access to healthcare services is one of the biggest women’s issues we face. From the inability to attend regular medical appointments to financial barriers to affording standard care, women are struggling to keep themselves healthy. Enter Maven, an app that connects users with medical and mental health professionals via video call or private message.
You can book an appointment with a doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife, nutritionist, lactation consultant, or licensed counselor directly through the app. The appointment costs vary, from $18 for a 10-minute appointment with a nurse practitioner or midwife to $70 for a 40-minute appointment with a mental health professional. They’ll also write you prescriptions, so you’ll never have to go without birth control, no matter your state legislature’s feelings on it. Unfortunately, most insurance companies won’t accept claims from Maven, so you’ll likely have to pay out of pocket. Still, increasing the potential for access is something we’re definitely happy to get behind.
Currently only available for iOS, but appointments can also be booked online for those without an Apple device.
[sol title=”Eve by Glow” subheader=”Pregnancy Prevention”]
Glow, an enterprise that creates “personal health tracking products [to] illuminate health through data,” offers several femtech apps including Glow, an ovulation and fertility tracker focused on supporting women who are trying to conceive. Glow also offers Nurture for pregnancy tracking and Glow Baby for baby’s first year.
Eve by Glow offers similar features as other period trackers but is geared more toward women trying to avoid pregnancy. Eve allows you to track your cycle and sexual activity while also connecting you with trusted information on health and sex brought to you by Bedsider, a birth control support network operated by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
Available for iOS and Android.
[sol title=”The Bump Pregnancy Countdown” subheader=”Planner, Prenatal Health Tips, and Product Reviews”]
From the people who brought you the wedding planning website The Knot comes a one-stop-shop for expectant moms.
The Bump Pregnancy Countdown app features a planner with information and even suggested questions for prenatal doctor’s visits, a catalog of baby products and reviews, and a question tool that allows users to get quick answers from other moms as well as medical experts. HealthyWay’s audience development strategist and resident momma-to-be, Ashley, says she likes that “it tells you both what is going on with your baby and also what you can expect week-by-week to happen to your body during pregnancy.”
Available for iOS and Android.
[sol title=”Hey! Vina” subheader=”Community Building”]
Hey! Vina is like Tinder, but for female companionship. It uses the same “swipe right” idea to help you find new friends and join communities of like-minded women. The app, which is available only to self-identified women, suggests friendship matches based on mutual Facebook acquaintances, proximity, and results from various personality quizzes.
We all know how difficult it can be to find and maintain adult friendships, and Hey! Vina makes that process a little easier.
Available for iOS and Android.
[sol title=”SafeTrek” subheader=”That Secure Feeling, Just a Button Away”]
SafeTrek was founded in HealthyWay’s hometown: St. Louis, Missouri, and while we love giving a shoutout to local businesses, that’s not the only reason we’re recommending this personal safety app.
Though it wasn’t necessarily designed specifically for women, nearly all of this app’s 250,000 users are women. What sets SafeTrek apart from other safety apps is that you don’t have to bring the phone to your ear or even remove it from your purse or pocket to operate it. When you’re in a situation where you could feel vulnerable—walking alone to your car at night, for instance—this app may offer you some peace of mind. All you have to do is press the app’s center button while en route. Once you reach a safe place, release the button and enter a PIN. If the button is released and no PIN is entered, the app will immediately contact police and send them to your location.
Do we love that the burden of women’s safety nearly always falls on women? Nope. But there’s no doubt we feel a little safer knowing this app has our backs.
Available for iOS and Android.
I’m definitely a beauty junkie, which means you can name a product—from eyeliners to highlighters to my-lips-but-better lipsticks—and I surely have at least a few different options. But when I’m traveling, that goes out the window: I pare down my skin and makeup routines to the bare essentials so I can fit everything I need in a single carry-on. When I have to get smart about what I pack, I go simple with a few tried-and-true products that can do more than one thing. Hey, we multitask at work all the time—why not during our skincare routines too?
Whether you’re looking to save cash by killing two birds with one stone or you’re just trying to minimize your makeup bag for simplicity’s sake, it’s time to look at products known for their versatility. From multi-use to multitasking, here are five beauty products to make sure you have on hand.
1. Ouai Rose Hair & Body Oil
This haircare brand from celeb stylist Jen Atkin is my favorite answer to the What the hell do I do with my hair? question. I have major waves and curls, and the best way I’ve found to tame the frizz is with Ouai’sRose Hair & Body Oil. Once I realized I could put it on my legs post-steamy shower, my life was changed.
The absinthium, shea, and rosehip oils moisturize and hydrate; the subtle rose scent is an added bonus! And since Ouai never tests on animals, this is a head-to-toe oil you can truly feel good about.
2. Milk Makeup Holographic Stick
We’ve all heard of the NARS Multiple, and it’s a classic for a reason. But if you’re looking for an animal-friendly, eco-conscious alternative, Milk Makeup’sHolographic Stick is the vegan answer to your prayers. The highlighter, which comes in three shades—Supernova, a holographic purple; Mars, a shimmery peach; and Stardust, a sweet pink—will work wonders on your entire face.
Lightly swipe Supernova across your lids and cheekbones for a poppin’ highlight or use Stardust to get matchy-matchy on your lips and apples of your cheeks. For a summery glow, use Mars over all three.
3. Glossier Balm Dotcom
It’s the cult-fave product from a cult-fave brand: Glossier’sBalm Dotcom is touted as a universal skin salve, and it certainly lives up to its reputation. Use it to repair [linkbuilder id=”6481″ text=”cracked lips”], chapped cheeks, and frayed cuticles. The waxy texture sits on your skin, ensuring moisture is locked in; use it over your favorite lip balm or hand lotion and you’ll be fixed up in no time.
The balm comes in six flavors—two of which give a sheer wash of color—and is addicting enough that you’ll want one in every purse you own.
4. Son & Park Beauty Water
Sephora only sells two products from Korean beauty brand Son & Park, which is a shame, because their Beauty Water is a must-have in my beauty arsenal. This multitasking master—which comes in the sleekest packaging ever—can be used as a cleanser, a toner, and an exfoliant gentle enough for everyday use. It creates a smooth base for applying foundation when used during the day, and at night it’s a relaxing way to take it all off.
It’s formulated with lavender and rose waters and orange and papaya extract, which will make your skin look brighter than ever—all thanks to a little water.
5. Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial
Unlike the other products highlighted, this isn’t a multi-use product, but it is a damn good multitasker. Korres’Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial is a powerful mask packed into a little jar that you use—as the name implies—while you’re sleeping. If you’re getting lax on your skincare routine or jet lag has you running a bit behind, try an overnight facial to restore some lost luminosity.
The cruelty-free and eco-friendly Greek beauty brand created this sleeping mask with wild rose oil, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid, which together deliver a serious dose of hydration and radiance you can see as soon as you wake up.
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There are two kinds of women in this world: those who wear makeup to the gym and those who don’t. (There are actually plenty of other ways to talk about women, but stay with me.) And as a woman who has stood on both sides of this argument, I know the pros and cons of each firsthand.
Before you judge the woman next to you, remember this: Being a woman today is challenging enough. No matter where we are or what we’re doing, at least one person will be happy to tell us how wrong our choices are.
So keep this in mind: If you choose to wear makeup to the gym, that is okay. If you choose to sport bare skin, that is okay. If you want to hide your latest hormonal breakout, that is okay. If you want to revel in a natural glow, that is okay. If you feel empowered by either, that is okay.
So why wear it in the first place?
Women who choose to wear a full face at the gym may do so for a variety of reasons, many of which might be overlooked by someone who consistently goes bare.
For countless women, working a 9-to-5 means driving straight to the gym after punching out. When that’s the case, taking the time to wash off a day’s worth of makeup may seem like one extra hassle amidst an already hectic schedule. There are also women who simply make it to the gym no matter their work schedule and forget to wipe off their contour/highlight combo.
For others, wearing makeup offers an intentional boost of confidence when an acne flare-up wreaks havoc on her chin. For someone with cystic acne, working out in public might be a huge step; are we really going to look down on her for using some concealer?
And hey, let’s not forget the times we’re secretly hoping our luxe lashes draw the attention of our latest gym crush a few treadmills down. That’s a perfectly valid reason to flex your makeup skills—don’t let anyone tell you differently!
The bottom line? We’re human, and wearing makeup is not the biggest offense of gym-goers at large.
Keep in mind…
While these reasons (as well as any others that may come to mind as you read through this) are certainly understandable, working out with a face full of heavy makeup isn’t usually recommended.
The heat and sweat produced during workouts open the pores. While this can be healthy and detoxifying when skin is bare, open pores beneath a thick layer of foundation and bronzer tend to cause irritation. These pores can become blocked not only by the particles of makeup but also by the dirt and bacteria that have made it onto the skin throughout the day.
If you’re set on wearing makeup to a workout, it’s absolutely essential to fully cleanse your face immediately following your gym sesh. When we say immediately, we mean immediately. Make a pit stop in the women’s locker room before starting the drive home—a simple cleanser and moisturizer are enough until you have time to run through a longer skin routine.
Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser is powerful enough to remove any leftover makeup and sweat while still keeping skin soft and supple. Follow with a non-comedogenic moisturizer, like La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Mat, which can help mattify any excess oil.
Trust us, this quick and simple act of self-care is a habit that will reap noticeable rewards.
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The Best of Both Worlds
For those who aren’t down to ditch the makeup altogether, try opting for lighter alternatives created with non-comedogenic ingredients and skin health in mind.
- Tinted mineral sunscreens can offer sheer coverage while protecting the skin. Try Tarte’s BB Tinted Treatment with SPF 30; it gives a matte finish that goes on smoothly. For a bit more coverage, pick up Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer; its SPF 20 will keep you protected, but its non-comedogenic ingredients won’t clog pores.
- Brows are the key to looking “done” without much effort. Go for a tinted gel to keep it from sweating off. We like the Tinted Brow Gel from the brow pros at Anastasia Beverly Hills or Boy Brow from cult-favorite beauty brand Glossier.
- Finally, follow up with a bit of waterproof mascara to keep you looking wide-eyed during those early-morning workouts. Tarte’s Lifted Sweatproof Mascara is created in a natural dark brown color that’s sure to stick.
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop, beauty box giant Birchbox has created a fitness-inspired beauty line, Arrow, and it might be exactly what your skin has been looking for. Formulated specifically for women leading an active lifestyle, this breathable skincare and beauty line promises to minimize irritation. We’re especially excited about the In the Blink of an Eye trio, which comes with waterproof mascara, eyeliner, and brow gel. Paired with their Soothing Facial Mist to cool down post-workout, Birchbox is proving that makeup at the gym is easier than ever.
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The words “picky eater” tend to conjure visions of toddlers with scrunched up noses, a plate of untouched broccoli on the table in front of them. They’re not supposed to describe grown ups like me.
I haven’t been a toddler in more than 30 years. Even my own child has long since grown past the toddler years. But even as a woman in her thirties with a grown-up job and the grown-up bills to match, I am a picky eater. In polite conversation, I describe myself as a vegetarian, and while it’s true I don’t eat meat or seafood, the list of foods I will eat isn’t much longer now than it was in my childhood.
A short list of foods and beverages I won’t consume reads like a tally of Americans’ favorite dishes:
- Coffee
- All nuts (save for pistachios, but including peanut butter)
- Meat of any kind
- Seafood of any kind
- Stinky cheese (including the blue varieties)
- Red wine
- Broccoli
- Peppers
If you’re asking yourself “Can that be healthy?” allow me to butt into your train of thought. Next you’ll want to know about my protein consumption, if my doctor is aware and on board, and if I’m getting the required vitamins and minerals in my limited diet.
I’ve heard all the questions before, and then some. What sets me apart from most people isn’t whether or not I eat healthy foods; it’s how many healthy foods I have to choose from.
I’ve learned over the years how to find healthy choices in my short list of “good” foods, and I eat them. Eggs and beans give me protein. Spinach and tofu give me iron. Cheese gives me calcium. Tomatoes load my body with antioxidants like vitamins A and C.
I have other foods I like too. Chocolate. Strawberries. Apples. Pasta. To fill things out, I take vitamins.
It’s true that many of my meals are repetitive because being picky limits my options. Fortunately for my 12-year-old, my husband is a foodie who assumes responsibility for cooking most of the time.
Admittedly, when I cook, I prepare the same three meals on rotation. But repeating meals doesn’t make them any less healthy.
And the fact is, despite my selective eating habits, I am healthy too. I visit my doctor for yearly blood tests to ensure my efforts are keeping me on an even keel. At my last physical, I was a little low on vitamin D, but that’s a regular occurrence for people who live in upstate New York in the middle of winter. My red meat–loving, stinky cheese–devouring, will-eat-peanut-butter-out-of-a-jar-with-a-spoon husband got the same warning from our doctor. The rest of my levels were all normal, and I walked out of the doctor’s office with a clean bill of health.
My Take on the Battle to Diversify Kids’ Diets
When conversations with other moms at school come around to picky eating, I often bring up my doctor’s assurances. Sure, I say, your kid might only eat three things, but have you talked to their pediatrician? Do they seem concerned?
If not, my advice is to let it go. You may just be fighting an unwinnable battle.
The fact is, a growing body of research points to picky eating being genetic. People like me, with our handful of foods we really love, are often the progeny of picky eaters. In my case, I tie my limited palate back to my grandfather, who, family lore has it, ate only seven things.
My pickiness only worsened as my parents tried to force me to bend my likes and dislikes to fit their own. Growing up as a picky eater, I spent many a night at the dining room table, locked in a battle of wills. Unless I ate the food on my plate, I wasn’t allowed to leave my chair. But if I ate the food on the table, I knew well what would happen. My body would revolt.
I still remember forcing down a sausage link late one night in a desperate bid to escape my dining room torture, only to step away from my seat and immediately throw up all over the hardwood floor.
The Psychological Impact of the Picky-Eating Stigma
That I would eventually become a bulimic at age 14 is hardly surprising. Researchers have found that using food as punishment can be a precursor to disordered eating, as is picky eating itself.
I’m open about my eating disorder because I feel for other picky eaters who struggled to find control over their own diets. Don’t do this to your kids, I beg other parents. Don’t put them through what I went through. It’s not worth it.
When I declared myself a vegetarian at age 15, it was in a home where the dishes served were still laden with meat, cooked in animal fat, and soaked in gravy. The healthy foods I did like were rarely available, so I ate around the edges and supplemented with pure junk. Doritos. Cinnamon coffee cakes from the convenience store. I saw food not as fuel but as something I was just going to throw up later anyway, so I might as well enjoy it.
It was the power of adulthood that helped me turn a corner. I grew up, came out of the fog of bulimia, got married, and—like most adults—started buying my own groceries.
And there they were: the foods I liked, available whenever I wanted them. Even better, I could walk right past the foods I didn’t like.
Fast forward to today, and I’m still picky. But I have the power to make the right picks to stay healthy.
Society may frown on the picky eaters of the world, but at the end of the day, we are who we are. We can fight it, the way many of our parents did when we were kids, or we can find ways to make peace with who we are. The decision is up to you, but having come through the fight, scarred by disordered eating and weary from the battle, I have just one bit of advice: You have more power than you realize.