Break a Sweat and Look Fab in These Laceless Sneakers
http://ift.tt/2rNnqQw Let us hearken back to those elementary school days when putting on shoes was as easy as sliding into a pair and rolling out the door. It's not that you don't have the time to lace up your sneakers; it's just that you'd rather not on some days. Not to mention, the laceless sneakers trend looks cool as hell. To help you jump-start your shopping, we've rounded up a versatile range of our favorite lace-free athletic shoes. May your future be full of breezy footwear and nice, sweaty workouts! Health via POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/2mWxwLI January 30, 2018 at 10:41AM
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7 Date-Night Meals That Won't Take You All Day to Make
http://ift.tt/2nrsMvn Staying in on Valentine’s Day can be just as fun as going out to a fancy dinner. You don’t have to get all dressed up (or you can!) or wait in line with a ton of other couples and families all scrambling for the next table. But that doesn’t mean you can’t bring the upscale vibes home. Even if your cooking skills are still a work in progress, these recipes will look like a five-star meal, without driving you crazy in the kitchen. Really, they’re that simple. Grab a bottle of your favorite bubbly and get cookin'.
For some reason, steak seems more intimidating to make than chicken, turkey, or even pork. That doesn’t mean you have to leave it to the pros though. This 15-minute pan-seared method is impossible to mess up, and the fresh chimichurri adds a kiiller lime-and-garlic flavor to the meat.
This meal is the perfect shade for V-Day (TY, salmon and strawberries) but tastes so good we'll definitely be making it year-round. The spice rub gives the salmon a little kick and a lot of flavor, while the strawberry-avo salsa combines two of the best foods, so you know it’s gotta be good.
If you’re feeling extra fancy, go right ahead and follow the directions to make your own gnocchi. But in the name of simplicity, we won’t blame ya if you just pick up some pre-made pockets instead. Either way, the sautéed mushrooms, crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and fresh sage make this dinner a standout.
You probably don’t eat scallops too often, which makes them the perfect date-night addition. Same goes for risotto… there’s something that feels special about it since it’s not exactly a weeknight staple. Serve those scallops with fresh lemon, sweet peas, and tarragon risotto.
Sushi makes a great date-night meal. It’s light so it’s pretty unlikely you’ll feel stuffed afterward (more room for dessert). And if you make it at home, it’s a fun bonding experience to try and roll 'em up correctly. This veggie roll leaves out the raw fish, but you could always add a little tuna or salmon if you want some more protein.
Is there anything more classic date-night than steak and lobster? Whether you want surf and turf or just surf, these lobster tails are definitely a treat but are surprisingly simple to make. Serve with lemon, green onions, and a salad or some roasted veggies.
If you want a Lady and the Tramp moment sans actual pasta, this spaghetti squash copycat will be right up your alley. It looks just like a traditional plate of noodles, especially since it’s served with ground turkey meatballs and a savory red sauce. Health via Greatist RSS https://greatist.com/ January 30, 2018 at 10:32AM
Our Editor Will Fight You for This Nut Butter
http://ift.tt/2DN14UG When was the last time you felt joy? Like pure, blissed-out, forget-the-bad-stuff joy? Not to brag, but I feel joy like that all the time. And it's because I figured out how to get it on-demand: with Julie's Real Cinnamon Vanilla Bean Cashew Butter. A spoonful of Julie's Real is the cure for a bad hair day. It reduces stress, helps you sleep better, and makes doing your taxes less complicated (anecdotal evidence, but still). It tastes like heaven itself was bottled up in a nine-ounce jar, and one spoonful has brought entire armies to its knees. If you need more convincing, there's also this: Julie's Real is healthy. It's gluten-free, Paleo, peanut-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free. It's sweetened only with honey, and not even that much—between the honey and natural sugars, there's only three grams of sugar in a two-tablespoon serving. That barely even registers as unhealthy. It's clear Julie uses some kind of white magic to make this cashew butter sweet but not too sweet, spreadable but not too runny, and healthy but not bland at all. Whatever it is, she uses it on all her products—from Cacao Espresso Almond Butter to Coconut Vanilla Bean Cashew Butter, any nut butter Julie touches turns to gold. They say you can't put a price on happiness, but I would argue someone already has. It's $16.99 a jar on Amazon. Do yourself a favor and buy it at juliesreal.com for a buck cheaper or Amazon if the convenience is worth the extra $. Health via Greatist RSS https://greatist.com/ January 30, 2018 at 09:55AM
Weight-Loss Surgery Alone Won't Keep Pounds Off
http://ift.tt/2nrPNhD Doctors usually recommend patients try different types of diet and exercise for at least five years before considering weight-loss surgery. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ January 30, 2018 at 09:42AM
A Diet to Boost a Woman's Fertility?
http://ift.tt/2DNiYGJ By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Jan. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Could the so-called Mediterranean diet boost success of infertility treatment involving in vitro fertilization? Maybe, a very small study suggests. Greek researchers report that younger women who followed this heart-healthy eating plan in the six months before trying IVF had better odds of a successful pregnancy than women who didn't. IVF is the process of fertilization where the egg is combined with sperm outside the body, then is implanted in the uterus. "As more couples worldwide face infertility problems and seek access to assisted reproduction technologies to conceive, it is essential for them to receive counseling on the importance of dietary influences and of adopting a healthy lifestyle," said study researcher Meropi Kontogianni. However, the findings do not prove cause and effect. A Mediterranean diet emphasizes plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. It favors healthy fats such as olive oil and lean sources of protein -- fish and poultry. The diet is low in salt and red meat. Why this style of eating might aid fertility treatment isn't known, said Kontogianni, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at Harokopio University in Athens. Perhaps any healthy eating plan would have the same effect, she said. "Our findings, however, provide support that couples undergoing infertility treatment may benefit by adhering to the Mediterranean diet," Kontogianni said. But, future studies are needed to confirm any benefits, she acknowledged. For the study, Kontogianni and her colleagues gave a food frequency questionnaire to 244 women in Greece at their first IVF treatment. The patients were between 22 to 41 and not obese. They were asked how often they ate certain groups of food in the preceding six months. The researchers then divided the women into three groups based on their adherence to a Mediterranean diet. The highest scorers had significantly greater pregnancy rates than those with the lowest scores (50 percent versus 29 percent). Their birth rates were also higher (49 percent versus 27 percent), according to the findings. ContinuedAmong women younger than 35, every 5-point increase in the diet score was tied to nearly a three times higher likelihood of a successful pregnancy and birth, the study found. One fertility doctor thinks this study highlights the importance of lifestyle in achieving a successful pregnancy through IVF. "This study makes women aware that a healthy lifestyle -- including a healthy diet, not smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing stress -- does have an impact on fertility," said Dr. Tomer Singer of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Following a Mediterranean diet may be a sign of other healthy behaviors that, taken together, improve IVF outcomes, said Singer, who is director of reproductive endocrinology at the hospital. Based on their previous research, the study authors said a man's diet is also important for IVF success. Kontogianni cautioned that her study's findings cannot be generalized to all women trying to become pregnant, or to obese women. In addition, no association between diet and IVF success was seen among women aged 35 and older, she said. Kontogianni believes this is because changes in hormones, fewer eggs and other changes women experience as they get older may mask the effect of factors such as diet. Dr. Norbert Gleicher, a fertility specialist in New York City, is critical of the study's findings. Medical director and chief scientist at the Center for Human Reproduction, he doesn't think this study reveals anything about the benefit of diet on IVF. "The study design is totally flawed in that patients were assigned to three different IVF treatment protocols, which, by themselves, can be expected to cause different IVF outcomes," he said. The report was published Jan. 29 in the journal Human Reproduction. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ January 30, 2018 at 09:42AM
Kidney Donors Could Face Long-Term Health Risks
http://ift.tt/2noClvL More than 19,000 kidney donations were performed in the United States in 2016, the latest figures available, according to U.S. Government Information on Organ Donation and Transplantation. About 1 in 5 donations of all organs is from a living donor. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ January 30, 2018 at 09:42AM
How to Break Up With a Friend (and Not Feel Guilty)
http://ift.tt/2noEW8Z
“You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” - Jim Rohn
Do your closest five friends reflect the real you—your goals, ambitions, values? You'd be surprised how often the issue of friendships timing out comes up in my sessions as a life coach. It surfaces in the form of questions like, “I find myself wanting to spend less time with my BFF. Why is that?” or “I don’t want to do happy hour with my co-workers anymore. Is that cool?” So why is this such a common topic? Because I work with a lot of people who are making changes in their lives. They’re starting businesses. They’re leveling up in their careers. They’re moving cities, changing their bodies, adopting a new spiritual practice. Whatever it is—it’s change. And in life, change begets more change. What does this mean for lifelong friendships, office spouses, and college buddies who don’t follow along on your journey as it continues to unfold? It can inevitably mean a change in your relationship too. And that's OK! Here’s how to deal when you change but the people around you don’t: 1. Accept it’s normal.When you were a kid and joined the swim team, moved to Chicago, joined a ballet class or a Sunday school service, did you meet more people a little bit more like you? And as a result, did you spend more time with them? The same thing happens whenever you change jobs, become a parent, join a new fitness tribe, or actively pursue a hobby or a side hustle. Life will attract more people like you, to you. Time changes people. That’s natural and positive. And as the months and years pass, if the only thing you have in common with your friend is your past, it’s probably not enough to sustain you in the long term. You can still support and love each other and spend less time glued at the hip. Friendship is about shared experiences and joy, not pressure and stress. 2. Don’t expect other people to change.There’s nothing worse than not feeling supported by the people you love. But just because you might be going through a personal shift doesn’t mean other people have to come along with you. I’ve seen it countless times. People get fit. Decide to save for a big investment. Start freaking out over personal development and want to preach their new ways to old friends. It doesn’t always land. And it doesn’t have to. All you have to worry about it yourself. 3. Step off the gas.I have a friend, Karen, who left New York City, moved to the suburbs and had two kids. For well over a year, I frequently asked her if/when I could come and visit. I was happy to jump on the train and do what it took for some quality time. The truth was that she was busy with her family and naturally had more mom friends filling up her weekends. Good. She ought to be doing that if it’s right for her (and it is). As a woman without kids, I understood. And I still understand. But I also know that she understands that I stopped giving 100 percent via weekly texts and calls when I knew that she could only give me 50 percent at this expansive stage of her life. Life separates people. But that's not a bad thing as long as we're more accepting of other people's journeys. Karen and I see each other less now (and it’s certainly noisier when we do!), but it’s just right. Stepping off the gas doesn’t mean abandoning the car. 4. Ditch the duty.When you feel obligated to see a friend, versus excited, it’s a sign that something probably has to shift. If you feel uncomfortable seeing a friend—perhaps you feel unsupported, uninspired, or you even have what my friend Laura calls a “friendship hangover” after seeing someone—ask yourself, "How long have I felt like this?" And then ask, "Why do I still do it?" There’s no gun to your head. And there never will be. Unlike a romantic relationship that has firmer boundaries, friendships are non-exclusive, and if they’re healthy, they should be more flexible. Unless you wish to have a frank discussion over something in particular, timing out over a period can be kind and respectful. You become a little less available. You share less. It’s gradual and gentle. Finally, don’t spend a second feeling guilty about transitioning out of a friendship. Not all relationships are meant to last a lifetime. But that doesn’t mean that your friendship failed, or that it’s dead, or even over for good. Just for now, it’s complete. Susie Moore is Greatist's life coach columnist and a confidence coach in New York City. Sign up for free weekly wellness tips on her website and check back every Tuesday for her latest No Regrets column! Health via Greatist RSS https://greatist.com/ January 30, 2018 at 09:31AM
Groups Ask Facebook to Scrap Messenger Kids App
http://ift.tt/2Gvjh79 Facebook should scrap its Messenger Kids app because it could pose health and development risks, 19 groups say in a letter to be sent Tuesday to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ January 30, 2018 at 08:31AM
Memory Loss Hitting Some Fentanyl Abusers
http://ift.tt/2ntxJn4 Imaging scans of patients revealed lesions on the hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with memory, Haut explained. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ January 30, 2018 at 07:42AM
Trying Rock Climbing Made Me Stop "Doing It for the Insta"
http://ift.tt/2GtDPgh It’s Saturday afternoon and I’m hovering approximately 20 feet above a small crowd of people I’ve just met. OK, I’m not actually hovering—it’s more like a dangle of sorts, attached to a complex system of ropes in the middle of Castle Rock State Park in northern California. I’m a first-time climber, but thanks to a friendly climbing guide, I know what I’m supposed to be doing: Find the crevices in the earth that I can use—along with the intense grip of my climbing shoes—to pull me higher. Unfortunately, at the moment, I’m motionless, paralyzed by fear… and the slight hangover that’s been plaguing me all morning. You might also like {{displayTitle}} READRealistically, I know I’m not in danger: I'm in a climbing harness, shoes, and helmet, and the intricate belaying system is secure and already proved its strength earlier when I lost my grip. Instead of falling to my death, I only skidded several inches lower. Despite this awareness, I have an incredible urge to give up. My head is pounding, my muscles are aching, and the ground below seems very, very far away. If you’re wondering why I’m surrounded by strangers in the middle of the woods, hungover, literally hanging by a thread (a very durable, incredibly thick thread, but a thread nonetheless), it’s because I couldn’t pass up an invitation to the Camelbak Pursuit Series. The adventure-filled weekend in Sanborn Park is designed to give adventure-curious people like myself the opportunity to dip their toes into the vast world of the outdoors—like adventure sports, wilderness survival skills, and, blessedly, portable coffee. I consider myself an active person: I’ve run marathons, finished an Ironman, and am a run coach. So when the call of the wild came, I answered it from with a resounding "YES!"—even if it meant living without the social crux of WiFi or a decent phone connection for three days. At the moment, though, my stoked-ness levels are not so high. I’m feeling the repercussions of a three-hour time change, a happy hour the previous evening, and a 5:30 am wake-up call for a surfing expedition. The negative self-talk unravels: You can’t do this. Why did you drink so many beers last night? You should just ask to come down and not show your face for the rest of the day. A voice from below snaps me out of my trance: "You got this, girl!" I recognize Kimmy’s voice—one of the recent-strangers in my expedition group, with whom I chatted briefly during the mile-ish hike from our drop-off point at the park to the climbing base. I respond with a groan. My arms are quivering and small beads of sweat are starting to trickle from my armpits, though I’m unsure whether they stem from work or fear. I’m still thinking of asking to come down. After all, unlike my coveted marathons and triathlons, there’s no prize or medal at the top of this climb. Without a Verizon signal, there will be no photos captured for Instagram, either. And to top it all off, none of these onlookers actually know me, meaning I can return to the East Coast and simply pretend this surrender never happened. Proving myself—to loved ones, acquaintances, and now onlookers on social media—has always been important to me. Checking off boxes, bringing home awards, publishing bylines, crossing finish lines, and racking up heart-shaped notifications on Instagram makes me feel validated. Exactly what it is I’m proving is unclear, however: Maybe that I have something to show for my 28 years of life, or that I’m someone worth paying attention to. Maybe, more simply, that I am enough. It’s easy to fall into validation-seeking traps, posting our accomplishments online, showing one glossy facade after another, asking for approval from friends and strangers—all while refusing to reveal anything less than stellar. This undertaking is deceiving, misleading, and an inaccurate portrayal of life, but we continue to do it, literally filtering our lives. Sharing a photo of my successful climb would only reveal the parts of my life where rugged excursions, new friends, and adventure are involved. In real life, I also make mistakes, I’m introverted and shy, I have one too many beers sometimes, I question my worth—but I never post any of that on Instagram. Before I submit to my pathetic thoughts, my belayer and a few others begin to echo Kimmy’s sentiments, relaying words of encouragement. I think again about how they don’t know me, and instead of seeing an out this time, I see opportunity. If this random crowd can believe in me, don’t I owe it to myself to believe in me too? I decide I do. Using my left leg as a launching point, I reach for a higher, seemingly unattainable crevice. I brace myself for the slip of grip and a subsequent slide, but instead, I find myself a little bit higher. With each reach and pull, I gain another couple of inches, which soon become feet. Before I know it, I’ve reached the top. Below, my new support group cheers. Though different from my typical feats, this climb was by far the most challenging thing I had done in months—and the most rewarding. There’s no hard evidence of my experience, and there never will be—but I’ll never forget how the small success made me feel. I may not have had anything to prove, but I had everything to gain. Pictures may be worth a thousand words (and often hundreds of "likes"), but there’s also something to be said about the feeling of doing something for you, and only you. And I may be going out on a limb here—or rock crevice (pun intended)—but it might be infinitely more rewarding. Erin Kelly is a writer, triathlete and RRCA-certified run coach living in New York City. Her talents include waking up insanely early to create room for more activities, running long distances, and authoring The Runner Diaries, an ongoing series featuring the trials and tribulations of life as a runner at every level and age group. Head to her personal website, Running From My Problems, for more musings, insight, and running advice. Health via Greatist RSS https://greatist.com/ January 30, 2018 at 07:04AM |
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