Relax & Reclaim

This is going to make a few weight loss and fitness enthusiasts  pretty mad. They'll get over it... So here's the thing about exercise and weight loss that rarely makes it on the shiny fitness posters at the gym. Exercise may not be as impressive as you'd expect when it comes to helping you shed pounds. But after you've lost the weight? Exercise becomes far more valuable. Recent research suggests that physical activity may be more beneficial for maintaining weight loss than for achieving large weight loss in the first place. A study that involved more than 1,100 participants found that physical activity did not have a significant effect on initial weight loss, but was strongly associated with weight loss maintenance after the fact. And those who were physically active didn't just win in terms of "my jeans still fit." Physical activity was also connected to improvements in cholesterol, inflammation , blood sugar regulation a...

Last time, we covered the big four: hydration, diet, stress, and what's in your makeup bag. Consider that the foundation. This time we're getting specific — the actual triggers dermatology research points to, and which treatments ( topical and oral ) have real evidence behind them versus which ones are riding on vibes and good marketing copy.  Let's get back into it. *ICYMI (Part 1):⬇️ Clear Skin, Straight Talk: The Real Causes (And What Actually Treats Them) * The Usual Suspects Acne doesn't have one cause — it's what dermatologists call multifactorial , meaning genetics, hormones, and your environment are all pulling levers at once. Here's what's confirmed to be part of that mix: Humid environments ( heat and moisture trap oil and bacteria against the skin ) Certain medications, including some antidepressants, lithium, and anticonvulsants Corticosteroids, and anabolic-androgenic steroids used medically or for bodybuilding Heavy, oil-based c...

Your skin has probably been in a war for a good portion of your life and you never even realized it.  The bumps rise up on your face and body at the most inconvenient times.  Most likely, it isn't a simple rash or allergy flare-up. I t's acne. So, Let's Cut Through The Noise, Shall We? Acne advice online is a mess of half-truths, wishful thinking, and — let's be honest — a fair amount of stuff people just made up and never fact-checked.  So in this two-part series, we're going back through the greatest hits of acne folklore and separating what's actually backed by research from what's just something your aunt swears by ( no offense to all the aunts out there ). Part one here covers the four big levers: hydration, diet, stress, and what you're putting on your skin.  Part two  digs into specific ingredients and routines.  With that said, let's get into it. Hydration: Helpful, But Not Magic Here's a popular claim: drink half a ...

There's still a little bit of summer left. How about one more recipe? Pasta Primavera is one of those dishes that sounds more complicated than it really is. That's DEFINITELY not a bad thing, In fact.. That's exactly what we're talking about here. Pasta tossed with colorful vegetables and a little bit of sauce creates a beautiful, healthy-looking dish that seems to have taken way more work than it really did. We're right there with you. This version includes a handful of roasted sunflower kernels or seeds for added crunch, nutrition and umami ; * sunflower kernels may just be the answer to that empty bowl. A note on the name, 'Primavera' Before getting into the recipe, let's take a moment to recognize Italian language, which is responsible for some of the most beautiful words ever invented, including 'primavera' (the name of this dish). It's root comes to us from the Latin term 'primo vere,' which also means 'spring. The wo...

🎶 When your stress is outta range and you don't feel good, Who ya' gonna call?? STRESS-BUSTERS!!! 🎶 Okay, that was a terrible rendition of the original "Ghostbusters" movie theme song, but it did fit the theme of this article. So there.. Anyway, here's a pattern worth noticing: most of what stresses us out today isn't actually about today.  It's Monday's deadline still rattling around your head on Tuesday.  It's an argument from last week that you're still relitigating in the shower . Stress builds when we let yesterday's leftovers pile up on top of today's plate, and eventually the plate just can't hold any more. The fix isn't complicated, even if it's not always easy. Let go of yesterday.  Deal with today . Repeat.  Here are five ways to actually do that, not just nod along and keep scrolling. 1. Hit the Reset Button on Purpose Right now, decide to drop every thought still lingering from yesterday. Just...

In this article, we're going guilt-free... The Cambridge English Dictionary defines "guilt-free" as "... allowing you to enjoy something without feeling unhappy that you are doing something bad ."  In other words, it's all about the ability to enjoy something without having to worry about the consequences it may entail for your health, specifically your nutrition.  Traditionally, snacks have been seen as guilty pleasures with a reputation of being unhealthy and even as the enemy. But, this is not necessarily true, as you can easily enjoy a variety of wholesome foods that can satisfy your cravings without the negative impact on your health. Frankensnacks, anyone? Mary Shelley wrote: "Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus" in January of 1818 .  It focused on a mad scientist named Victor Frankenstein who used body parts to create a new man, known only as "The Creature". So, where are we going with this you may ask? The re...