Innholdsfortegnelse for July - August 2017 i Women's Health

It’s one of the earliest things elementary school students and journalists alike learn about constructing a story: who, what, when, where, why. “Why” always comes last (sometimes beat out by “how,” but let’s ignore that for a minute). And it’s a prime example of “last but not least.” Because without the “why,” there’s no purpose, no meaning, for all of the rest. “Why” puts things in context, it helps us understand and get better and move forward. That’s why—there it is again!— beyond a story, it’s important to have a “why” to power you through life. For me, my “why” is to find fulfillment in two crucial places: At home, it’s about providing for and nurturing my sons. At work, it’s being part of a larger good, being able to…

Street Style: FITNESS EDITION Marnie Legrand, 43, New York City Putting together fun outfits comes easily to Marnie, a fashion buyer and visual merchandiser with an eye for color. She hits the gym in her “badass workout wear” five or six times a week for cardio and weight lifting. “I’m intense on the sweat seshes. If I’m not at the gym, I’m front row at cycling classes so I can never slack!” Post your own sweat-ready style on Instagram and tag it #WHStreetStyle. You could be featured here!…

juicy news. shareable stats. convo starters.…

MIXED FEELINGS FREE CLOTHES SWAPS Gained or lost lbs since you went shopping? If you bought certain clothes at Universal Standard, which sells sizes 10 to 28 (universalstandard .net, shown on these ladies), you’re in luck. The company is offering free exchanges for bigger or smaller sizes for up to a year after you click “Complete order.” The program was created to help relieve the stress, both emotional and financial, that comes with purchasing new clothes due to weight fluctuation—and snaps to the company for that. If you’re working to drop pounds, though, a word of caution: For some, aspiring to fit into the size they own may help drive their weight-loss efforts, says Keri Glassman, R.D. (For example, that dress you bought last year that’s now snug, but you…

A NOVEL WAY TO CLIMAX Sex therapists seem to discover orgasms as frequently as NASA finds signs of life on remote planets. In the latest exploration, they’re taking us past the familiar terrain of clitoral and vaginal Os to experience the cervical orgasm, which can have an intense, fullbody finale. To get there: 1 / Attempt a few days before your period, when your cervix is lower and easier to reach. 2 / Begin with missionary, to stimulate blood flow to the pelvic region. 3 / Switch to a deeper position (like missionary, with your legs raised 90 degrees) when you feel you’re close to climaxing. This gives him direct access to your cervix. 4 / Have him move in slow, circular motions with the tip of his penis gently…

1. BODY-WEIGHT SQUAT Stand with your feet a little more than shoulder-width apart, toes turned out slightly and hands at your sides (a). Keeping your core tight and chest upright, sit your hips back and bend your knees to lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the ground, bringing your hands together in front of you for balance (b). Press through your heels to return to start. 2. CURTSY LUNGE Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, hands together in front of you at chest height (a). Keeping your torso upright, take a big step back with your left leg, crossing it behind your right, then bend your knees and lower until your right thigh is nearly parallel to the floor, keeping your hips and shoulders as square as…

Ooh!! Amps Mood You know you’re not going to get hurt while viewing your city’s show, but your brain reminds you that you’re still watching stuffff explode. This trippy sense of “safe danger” triggers a hit of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine. Want to feel that rush before America’s next birthday celebration? Ride a stomach-turning roller coaster or watch a scary fifilm—you’ll get the same effffect. Argh!! Harms Hearing BOOM! The sound from a single firework can reach 175 decibels, well over the 85 dB that can, with extended or repeated exposure, cause permanent hearing loss. At a community display, if you can’t hear the person sitting a foot away from you talk, move back at least 10 feet. The blasters you launch at home pack less of a wallop but…

WHOLE BENTO BOX: 686 cal, 33 g fat (10.5 g sat), 72 g carbs, 35 g sugar, 1,381 mg sodium, 12 g fiber, 24 g protein BEAN SALAD . cup store-bought 3-bean salad FRUIT SALAD 4 quartered strawberries, . cup mixed blueberries and blackberries, and 1 oz dark chocolate broken into pieces PEAS AND HAM POTATO SALAD (Makes 4 servings) In a saucepan, bring 1 lb quartered small red potatoes covered with water to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool. Transfer potatoes to a bowl and stir in 8 oz reduced-sodium boneless ham steak, diced; . cup store-bought buttermilk ranch dressing; . cup peas; and 2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill, parsley, or chives. Chill, covered, at least 1 hour. EGGS AND PICKLE EGGS…

Batch Craft To save time, make a whole pitcher of shots at once. Just multiply the amounts above by seven, mix it all together, refrigerate, and dispense daily. They’ll keep in the fridge for up to one week—or freeze them in large ice cube trays and thaw as needed. Check that FRUIT JUICES are 100 percent pure—no added ingredients— to AVOID guzzling EXTRA sugar. LOWER DISEASE RISK 1 tsp ground turmeric + . cup coconut milk + a pinch of black pepper Toss one back: Once a day at any time Taste: Rich and creamy with a hint of heat Turmeric’s powerful active compound, curcumin, reduces inflammation, which can cause asthma, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions. E Black pepper enables your body to absorb as much as 2,000…

There’s a “nerd” revolution happening, and the definition is a million miles from the stereotype. Women are claiming the term—including our yearbook of A-listers and WH staffers—and giving it a positive slant. The old version, of course, was a booksmart, socially awkward goody-goody with a math or science bent—the female fictional versions being Hermione Granger, Lisa Simpson, and The Big Bang Theory’s Amy Farrah Fowler. And there are plenty of purists who still swear by this—picture the devoted Trekkies and hardcore gamers who relish their alpha nerd status and police the noobs. But on a looser scale, nerding out has come to mean delving embarrassingly deep into your passion—even if it’s the nichest of niches. “I probably know more about ecologically innovative fabric made from mushrooms than someone should,” says…

FOR DIGESTIVE HEALTH Lactobacillus acidophilus FIND IT IN Some yogurt and kefir (check the label), miso, tempeh, and kimchi HELPS WITH Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (such as Clostridium difficile infections) and irritable bowel syndrome FOR VAGINAL HEALTH Lactobacillus reuteri Lactobacillus rhamnosus FIND THEM IN Supplements such as Fem-Dophilus and UltraFlora Women’s HELPS WITH Preventing recurring yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis FOR IMMUNITY Lactobacillus plantarum FIND IT IN Most fermented foods Lactobacillus paracasei FIND IT IN Some yogurt and kefir (look at the label); supplements such as UltraFlora Cold Support HELPS WITH Warding off viruses and easing cold symptoms; take at the first sign of getting sick Source: Alliance for Education on Probiotics, an industry consortium…

On the Cover Lanston wrap-back tank, $70, lanstontees.com Saha Swimwear bottoms, $58, sahaswimwear.com Jennifer Meyer diamond long-bar studs, $800, barneys.com Jet Set Candy Sydney luggage tag charm, $68, Brisbane luggage tag, $68, Bondi surfboard charm, $68, and small plane charm, $58, jetsetcandy.com Coco Loves Rome Step & Repeat ring, $14, cocolovesrome.com G-Shock S Series Vivid Color Collection watch, $130. gshock.com/s_series Pandora Jewelry double leather charm bracelet, $45, pandora.net Lotus Jewelry Studio Latitude Longitude bar bracelet, $60, lotusjewelrystudio.com Elizabeth and James Marieta ring, $95, bloomingdales.com Miansai thin screw cuff ring, $125, miansai.com On the Flip Cover From left Tracksmith Run bra, $55, tracksmith.com C9 Champion compression boyshorts, $17, target.com/c9 Ryka Elita sneakers, $70, ryka.com Body Language Sportswear Posh top, $75, bodylanguagesports wear.com H&M three-quarter-length yoga tights, $25, hm.com Reebok Hayasu sneakers,…

What’s your objective? (For example, “I want to lose 15 pounds.”) Why do you want it? (“So I can fit into my medium shirts again without my love handles sticking out.”) But why? (“So I can feel more attractive and not so self-conscious.”) But why? (“So I can feel happier with myself.”) Why? (“So I have more confidence to go after what I really want in life.”) Why? (“Because I’m tired of settling for less than I’m capable of.”) Your own road map might take fewer or more “whys.” The point is to keep asking why until you arrive at your ultimate reason for pursuing your goal. When you’ve found it, hang on to that why. Tape it somewhere visible and return to it whenever your motivation falters, or when…

GOBLET SQUAT No leg routine would be complete without a squat—it gets more muscles and joints working together than any other stand-in-place exercise. As a result, you release hormones that can speed muscle hypertrophy (a.k.a. growth) and fat loss, studies show. The goblet type is king among this royal crew: Holding a weight by your chest keeps you from slumping forward and forces you to shift weight into your heels (so you don’t tip over). Both tweaks bring your hips closer to the ground for a better burn. DO IT: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell vertically in front of your chest, both hands cupping the top of the weight, your elbows pointing toward the floor (a). Push your hips down and back and bend your knees…

On page 132, we ride beside 316 women to discover what it takes to compete in a nine-day off-road race in the Moroccan Sahara. Below, WH advisor Manisha Thakor reveals her most daring moment—and what she learned by taking that risk. “After I got divorced, I needed to reboot my life in a new location. Through my own mini version of Eat Pray Love, I spent six weeks testing places from Boulder to Barcelona. Portland, Oregon, won, and I moved there without knowing a single person. I learned that having a chance to start fresh at age 46 is both terrifying and exhilarating; that the brain, soul, and heart have an amazing capacity to learn and heal at any age; and that one can make some amazing new friends in…

The actress, who reprises her role in Descendants 2 (in theaters July 21), considers herself a “fitness and health junkie.” It’s a title she proudly upholds by following an all-natural diet and staying in shape with a weekly routine of cardio, body-weight strength training, and a mix of Pilates, barre, and cycling classes. GET SOCIAL WITH US!…

Attention, #catsofinstagram lovers! Science is on our side! A new study found that cats are not the antisocial divas that dog propagandists would have us believe: Felines love people more than their favorite food or toys. Timed perfectly to celebrate this win? Paul & Joe—the French beauty brand that started the trend of emblazoning cats on beauty products—is releasing its 15th Anniversary Makeup Collection ($85, b-glowing.com), a cat-shaped makeup case with a feline figurine lipstick (shown above) and eye-cheek duos. More picks for tabby fans: NEXT BIG THING Hair Journaling There are diaries for just about everything—even hair. We spotted the trend on the NaturallyCurly.com message boards, but now women of all strand types are giving it a shot, including beauty writer Ali Finney. She noted the products she used…

Trading Friyay cocktails for kettlebell swings? It’s a trend! Better yet, it’s a trend with benefits: A Friday evening gym class more effectively wipes away the week’s work drama and sets you up to make healthier choices throughout the weekend. Meet your match. 1 / LET-IT-GO YOGA On those everything-is-a-priority weeks, you need a reset. Look for “candlelit” or “restorative” classes that encourage deep breathing, which slows your heart rate to elicit your body’s relaxation response. Also helpful: The instructor’s cueing (“That is over/Now you’re here”) keeps your head in the present. 2 / DANCE PARTY! Slow workweek? Having too little to do can drain your energy just as easily as having too much. A cardio dance session might be exactly what you need to feel alive again—the amped-up choreography…

Emily Skye has to pee. Badly. “Thank god we’re here, I’m busting!” the 32-year-old fitness guru exclaims in her cheeky Aussie accent after an hour-long, iced-almond-milk-latte-fueled drive across the San Gabriel Valley to Burbank, California. Yep, she’s as frank in person as on her wildly popular social media feeds, where she cops to zits, digestive drama, and “dessert babies”—a.k.a. post-sweets bloat. That openness not only sets Emily apart from the gaggle of sculpted fit-fluencers out there, but has boosted her to the apex of the fitness market. The figures tell the story: 13 million followers across Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube; a number-three spot on Forbes’s 2017 list of the 10 most influential fitness stars worldwide; and a paying audience of 250,000 for her online workout program, F.I.T. On…

That cal explanation we promised? A recent study found that packing in half your daily calorie load at midday can help you shed pounds. And the “fuller soul” part? Lunch breaks can make you happier and more productive at work—science proves it. Not only that, but taking time away from your desk to eat, like in a local park or a conference room down the hall, may boost creativity and innovation. So! We’re relaunching our #LeanInToLunch campaign, encouraging women to transform this meal from perfunctory to pleasurable. Follow @WomensHealthMag on Instagram to score some cool ideas for how you can #LeanInToLunch all summer long—and don’t forget to tag your lunch buddies. For inspiration, try the dishes here: Each is packed in a fun bento box, making it easy to house…

WHOLE BENTO BOX: 656 cal, 22 g fat (3 g sat), 75 g carbs, 35 g sugar, 1,071 mg sodium, 16 g fiber, 48 g protein CHICKEN 3 oz store-bought chicken satay or sliced grilled chicken breast SPICY PEANUT NOODLES (Makes 4 servings) Cook 8 oz whole-wheat linguine according to package directions. Reserve . cup cooking water and drain. In a large bowl, toss pasta with ? cup store-bought spicy peanut sauce, 1 cup julienned carrots, and . cup sliced scallions, adding splashes of pasta water to loosen. Divide into 4 portions and top with an additional . cup sliced scallions, 1 sliced hot red pepper, . cup chopped cilantro, and 1 tsp sesame seeds. EDAMAME . cup steamed edamame in pods sprinkled with . tsp kosher salt SALAD 1…

Cindy Hamilton, 40, of Highwood, Illinois, has a trainer, works out four times a week, and ran the Marine Corps Marathon last year—and yet she’s gained seven pounds since November’s contentious presidential election “I’ll watch cable news while eating straight from a fivepound vat of licorice,” she confesses. “It numbs my worry. Plus, I’m like, ‘Everything’s going to shit, so I might as well eat candy.’ I never understood emotional eating before, but now, having a bagel and cream cheese makes me feel better in the moment.” Studies, and scales nationwide, show that Hamilton isn’t alone. The sordid combination of heated political sparring and 24/7 news coverage of world calamity and crises—made worse by the attendant social media chatter and trolling— has driven more than half the U.S. population to…

“I often wonder what would have happened if we met at the right time”....“The hardest part about the whole thing is that I lost you as a friend too”....“I’ll never be able to love him like I loved you, and I feel bad about it but it’ll only always be you.” When artist Rora Blue asked a single Q—“What would you say to the first person you fell for?”—those were three of the 34,000 responses she received. The messages became a Web installation called The Unsent Project, which continues to grow. Why the lasting intensity? “It’s called primacy,” says Jennifer Talarico, Ph.D., a cognitive psychologist at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. “Memories of a first experience are more vivid than similar events that come later.” Like baby ducks thinking a…

1/ SCENT The incense smells of sunny lavender fields; this essential oil can soothe anxiety. And the charcoal sticks burn without releasing harmful chemicals (like phthalates) into the air. 2/ SHAPE Incense holder or objet d’art? Both! Made entirely of concrete, the weightiness and sculpture-like ripples make any space more sophisticated. 3/ COLOR Paint-splattered hues of pastel blue and pink can signal calm—the colorscape version of transcendental meditation (pale hues are associated with peacefulness). 4/ FUNCTION The ripples catch the soot, and you can store your incense inside the box. Plus, the barely detectable hole for the incense stick holds it upright, a position that significantly reduces the chances you’ll burn down your house. Yay!…

RUNNING FOR GOOD Join us this fall for RUN 10 FEED 10: Our 10-K race series delivers 10 meals per runner to needy people in your community through our partnership with the FEED Foundation. Find out more and register at RUN10FEED10.com.…

YOGA Q What’s the point of om-ing in yoga class? First of all, there’s the benefit of bringing the group together in a way that allows everyone to participate without worrying about standing out. The om also serves to ritualize the time you’re spending and is a way of dedicating yourself to the practice: You are caring for yourself and tuning out the noise of daily life. Plus, the actual sound and vibration you make when you chant om is the same vibrational frequency that, according to sacred geometry—a sequence of mathematical patterns that reoccur throughout nature—is in everything and is supposed to have emotional healing properties. Therefore, through making this sound, we are connecting to everything in the universe. Physically, the actual vibration the sound produces in your body…

WHEN LIGHT GOES DARK Think “seasonal affective disorder,” and your mind goes to winter, but there’s also a summer version. Both are caused by seasonal changes (in this case, light and heat) that can disrupt the internal clock responsible for your sleep and hormones. If light’s your issue, stay inside as much as you can, or try to force your body into a strict pattern: a halfhour of light each morning (around 6:30 a.m.) and a consistent bedtime. For heat, crank the AC and take cool baths. Since SAD is annual, see your doc next spring to ask how to proactively treat your blues. Source: Norman Rosenthal, M.D., author of Winter Blues and the psychiatrist who first researched SAD POP QUIZ! What item are people most likely to leave in…

Like the evil queen in Snow White, I consult a talking mirror every morning. “HiMirror, listen” is my prompt—the 2017 version of “Mirror, mirror on the wall”—but instead of telling me I’m the fairest of them all, it proceeds to take my photo and analyze my skin for flaws. It’s the brand-new HiMirror Plus ($369, himirror.com), a next-level image-processing gadget designed to help me achieve my complexion goals…and bring me face-to-face with my own vanity. ON TRACK In this era of quantifiable data, tracking our personal health and fitness has become the new norm. I already use technology to monitor the steps I take, the calories I consume, the water I drink, and my heart rate at any given moment. But we haven’t had anything to track our most prominent…

October 2013: In an early post, Emily took on the thigh-gap obsession, writing that it’s “not only unrealistic but ridiculous and unhealthy!” About her own amazing thighs, she added,“I don’t have a gap and I don’t want one!” October 2014: Accused of making women feel insecure, Emily posted zits-and-stretch marks photos on Facebook, and a passionate personal note about her own unhealthy past. Number of views: 91 million. August 2016: “There’s a big difference between what most people post online and ‘real life,’” Emily told followers. The proof? Her face, pre- and post-makeup. “It took me years to be comfortable with my ‘raw’ self.” November 2016: Emily documented her transformation in an Instagram post that revealed an almost 30-pound weight gain. Her earlier self was “starving” and depressed; now she’s…

BROKEN BONE URGENT CARE Suspect you broke a peripheral bone (foot, ankle, wrist, finger)? Urgent-care docs can X-ray it and put on a temporary splint, then refer you to an orthopedic M.D. for follow-up care and (if needed) a long-term cast. EMERGENCY ROOM Hit up the ER for a broken long bone (arm or leg) or centralized one (skull, neck, hip), any break that restricts blood flow (it’ll feel numb), or a fracture in which the bone is sticking out of your skin—you’ll need a cast and possibly surgery. FEVER AND VOMITING URGENT CARE A temp of up to 102.5°F, with or without vomiting, is likely a temporary bug or the flu. You can ride it out, or if symptoms last longer than 24 hours, see an urgent-care doctor for…

WHOLE BENTO BOX: 754 cal, 28 g fat (5 g sat), 98 g carbs, 30 g sugar, 1,464 mg sodium, 16 g fiber, 33 g protein GRAPE LEAVES 3 stuffed vegetarian grape leaves LENTIL SALAD WITH FETA AND HERBS (Makes 4 servings) In a saucepan, bring 1 cup dry French lentils and 2. cups water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until soft, 25 minutes. Drain. Whisk together 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 Tbsp chopped fresh herbs (such as dill, parsley, or chives), and . tsp each salt and ground black pepper. Stir in the lentils, . cup each diced cucumber and red bell pepper, and . cup crumbled feta cheese. YOGURT . cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt topped with 1 Tbsp honey and…

WHOLE BENTO BOX: 737 cal, 23 g fat (8 g sat), 95 g carbs, 20 g sugar, 770 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 40 g protein RICE . cup cooked brown rice, . cup drained and rinsed canned black beans, . cup drained canned Mexicorn, and 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro, tossed together MANGO . cup diced mango with a squirt of fresh lime juice and 1 tsp chopped mint STEAK FAJITA (Makes 1 serving) Rub 1 tsp low-sodium taco seasoning on a 4 oz skirt steak. Coat 2 slices of onion and half a bell pepper with cooking spray and grill until tender, flipping once, about 8 minutes. Coat steak with cooking spray and grill, about 3 minutes per side for medium; let rest 5 minutes. Chop onion and pepper…

ON STILL DATING HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART [DANCER VIOLETTA KOMYSHAN, 21]: I’ve never been with somebody from Hollywood, so I don’t know what it’s like, but I like having my love be away from my work. It’s nice that she knows me as me before I was influenced by success or the stress and responsibility of being an adult. I feel like everyone’s at their purest when they’re just a kid. ON “ACTOR ANSEL” VS “REAL-LIFE ANSEL”: My work life and my regular life are very different—I feel like it’s two personalities. There’s actor Ansel, where I have to play a role and be “on.” I take photos with everybody who asks, and I try to be professional. But when I’m real-life Ansel, I’m not on all the time. If…

For complete shopping information, see Where to Buy on page 156.…

If you think of your body as its own stock market, your lower half is the safest bet for maximum returns. “The muscles here—your glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves—are the largest, so collectively, they possess the most potential to change your physique,” says Lee Boyce, a strength coach in Toronto. Every time you engage all that muscle-fiber power at once, you burn more calories per rep. And doing that regularly is like adding lighter fuel to your body’s metabolic fire, helping you torch more fat around the clock. In fact, “I’ve seen female clients successfully lose a few inches off their waist and hips in as little as six weeks by adding targeted lower-body weight lifting to their weekly routine,” says Boyce. There are literally dozens upon dozens of exercises…