Health Digest 4

My late husband’s colourful legacy | Brief letters

Guardian Staff — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:15:00 +0000

Farrow & Ball colours and names | Patriarchy chicken | Caroline Lucas giving up politics | Early Christmas emails

Emma Beddington’s article amused me (Let’s hear it for the true geniuses: the people who name paints, 22 April). My late husband, the decorative painter John Sutcliffe, who died in September 2022, collaborated very closely with Farrow & Ball to help mix the first batch of colours. He also researched and created the names for which the company became so famous, starting the trend that we all know. John even had one of the colours named after him, Sutcliffe Green, No 78, which just happens to be the age he was when he died.
Gabrielle Sutcliffe
Cambridge

• It’s easy to win “patriarchy chicken” (Digested week, 19 April). Without knowing it had a name, I’ve been doing it for years. When a man (or people walking three or more abreast) approaches, behaving as if they don’t see me, I just stop walking and stand still. Suddenly, I become visible and their options are to swerve or walk into me. They always swerve. Sometimes they may even think about why I stood still.
Peggy Sellers
Pickering, North Yorkshire

Becoming a mother was impossibly hard during Covid. Has anything changed since?

Maggie Doherty — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 11:00:39 +0000

Rates are improving in the US as healthcare organizations take steps to confront the continuing crisis. Still, new mothers often feel alone: ‘People don’t know what to do’

After five months of maternity leave with her second baby, a daughter born on 26 March 2020, Pam Lins felt she was ready to return to work and start a new role. This was the first year of the pandemic, so she had to work remotely while simultaneously raising her newborn and a toddler.

Six weeks into her leadership position – about eight months postpartum – she finally admitted something was wrong.

‘I wanted sexual adventures, I didn’t want to fall in love’: Molly Roden Winter on her astonishing memoir of an open marriage

Michael Segalov — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 09:00:52 +0000

An open marriage, dating sites, sex with strangers – now the writer’s fearsomely frank and funny memoir about the joys of polyamory has become an instant bestseller

Molly Roden Winter wasn’t planning an extramarital affair. Certainly not a string of sexual encounters with multiple partners, each liaison now intricately catalogued in the public domain. When she stormed out of her Brooklyn home one evening in 2008 – kids crashed out upstairs, husband barely through the front door – it was space, not sex, she desperately craved. “The night this all started,” she tells me, “my husband, Stew, had worked late. And I was pissed off. He’d promised to be home early.” Once again, he’d returned early enough for her to still be awake (for dinner, TV and sex, maybe), but too late to help put the children to bed.

She was 35 then, a middle-school English teacher with two young sons, aged six and three. “I’d taken some time out of work to raise the kids and soon felt lost. I forgot who I was outside motherhood. I felt so devoted to my children. I loved being a parent. I was also angry that my husband got to continue having this whole other life while I did not.” Her husband, a successful writer of music for television, had become the family’s breadwinner; her teacher’s income would hardly have covered the cost of childcare. “It would have made no sense for him to stay home and one of us needed to. But something was bubbling up.” She’d started to suffer migraines, occasionally hives – “a physical expression of my bottled up angst. That night, I’d had enough.” She had no predetermined destination. “I was so out of sorts I didn’t even take my phone or wallet. The second he walked in, I went out.”

"The Tortured Poets Department" Is Cathartic as Hell - Experts Explain Why

Molly Longman — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 00:05:02 +0000

I was in the middle of a dramatic breakup when Taylor Swift's "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" came out, and I'll never forget scream-singing about the patriarchy in the back of a car with my best friends. I still look back on the memory of that ride as a breakthrough moment in my healing process. It was the definition of catharsis - and I know I'm not alone in that feeling.

Those of us who identify as Swifties have witnessed the emotional release that comes with listening to a song written by Swift. Whether it's a nostalgic tune like "Peter" from "The Tortured Poets Department," a classic breakup ballad like "All Too Well," or an upbeat redemptive track like "Mean." Even Swift has said that just writing her albums is often a "process of catharsis," per a Rolling Stone interview about "Reputation."

When Swift puts out new music, it can feel like she's pulling a dusty curtain off a big, gilded mirror in your mind, forcing you to look at your deepest emotions. And those who dare to stare will be rewarded with crying, screaming, throwing up - all the feels! Her latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," is particularly heavy on the catharsis, offering space for full-blown breakdowns.

But how does Swift do it? And what makes her music so cathartic in the first place? We asked the experts to weigh in.

What Makes Music Cathartic?

Music is obviously subjective, so it can be difficult to put a finger on just what makes a song "cathartic." However, generally, the most cathartic songs are the ones using a combination of frequencies, tempos, instruments, and lyrics to make people feel seen, heard, and "less alone," says Matthew Donahue, PhD, a professor in the department of popular culture at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. The jams give you an emotional release.

The music speaks to our "collective consciousness" by giving voice to emotions we thought we were alone in feeling, he adds. So, when Taylor sings, "My boy only breaks his favorite toys / I'm queen of sand castles he destroys," the lyrics might hook deep into the brain of someone who's been with a self-sabotager (or hurt a lover themselves). As they think about the song, it may help them parse bitter feelings they'd buried long ago.

"At base, we long to feel understood, and to be understandable," adds therapist Moraya Seeger DeGeare, LMFT, the granddaughter of legendary folk artist Pete Seeger, who grew up around this world of music. "When a song validates or mimics our lived experience, it says: 'You're normal. It's not that weird that you've had these thoughts because I've had them, too.'" It's essentially providing enough validation to give us permission to feel how we feel. It's only then that we can start to unpack those emotions, and eventually learn from them. It's why a therapist's first move is almost always to echo how you say you're feeling, DeGeare says. You can't fix it if you're ashamed to feel it.

Why Is Taylor's Discography So Cathartic?

First, there's the lyrics. Swift is known for one-liners that can sum up a mountain of feels in just a few strung-together words ("So casually cruel in the name of being honest," anyone?). As DeGeare puts it: "You know the feeling when a simple line says what you've been trying to say for the last six weeks? And in one sentence she just nails it?" It's the magic of Taylor.

It's not only validating, but satisfying, too. The words wriggle into the folds of your brain like a worm - nay, a "Reputation"-coded snake. They may make you ruminate or cry or slam a golf club into a car, but healing is on the other side (just try not to get arrested).

Swifts's music may also open doors to the same "nostalgic healing space where we do our inner child shadow work," DeGeare adds. We can think about our younger selves, "asking them what they need."

Research backs her up on this nostalgia factor. A 2021 study found that when music makes us feel nostalgic, it can provide benefits like raising self-esteem, making us feel youthful, and even "strengthening meaning in life," per the journal Psychology of Music.

There's something especially powerful about the emotional work Swift is doing for her fans. "We historically have so many sexist ways of talking about women's emotions, seeing them as 'immature,'" DeGeare says. "But Taylor is saying: 'Whatever you're feeling, it's not too much. I go through these intense emotions too. You're not crazy.' We need more of that."

Sometimes it can feel like she's venting on her fans' behalf, Dr. Donahue adds. "This gives them comfort by making them feel like they're not alone."

What Are the Benefits of Music-Driven Catharsis?

It can help us literally tune into our emotions, DeGeare says. "When we hear lyrics or sounds in music that we associate with a specific emotion or memory, it can be very medicinal," she explains. "If we've been holding back, music can allow us to release emotions we've needed to get out."

If you've ever felt you needed to cry but couldn't quite get there on your own (or almost reached orgasm, but not quite), you know it can be frustrating. Putting on a sad or thought-provoking song can be the push you need to reach that "release of emotion," DeGeare says. "It's embracing what's going on inside of you and letting the music move you into a healthy release, which can be re-grounding and stress-relieving."

How to Get the Most Out of a Cathartic Bop

At this point, when I devour a new Taylor album, I know I'm about to be emotionally impacted. I'm going to think about my crush, my ex, my frenemies, my accomplishments, my downfalls, and everything in between. "We're essentially asking to be influenced by listening," DeGeare says. We're asking Taylor to lead us down twisty thought paths that we'll then have to find our way out of, with no map.

This is why, to get the most out of Swift's cathartic craft, you may want to set boundaries first. For example, don't listen to a track that's going to make you cry before a night on the town or before you head into the office where your ex also works. You'll want to focus on the music deeply when you listen, so you can reap the most benefits. Research published last year in Musicae Scientiae found that those who focused more deeply on music had stronger emotional reactions that could have significant therapeutic benefits.

"To harness the cathartic power of music, it's essential to create moments where you can engage fully with it," DeGeare says. For busy moms, this could be during those rare 20 minutes alone in the pickup line while others might find their moment during a calm self-care Sunday or during a long run in the park. "The key is to choose times when you can deeply connect with the music - so it's not mere background noise," DeGeare says.

So, as you take in "The Tortured Poets Department" (both albums!) give yourself the space to feel - to take in all the catharsis you need. Whether that looks like running to the music or scream-singing it in the back of your bestie's car, it's all good. But maybe hide the golf clubs before you hit play.

Molly Longman is a freelance journalist who loves to tell stories at the intersection of health and politics. Molly enjoys hiking, public records, and looking at cow videos on Instagram. She's originally from Iowa.

We Found the Perfect Not-Quite-White Sneaker For Your Spring Wardrobe

India Yaffe — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 23:40:02 +0000

Sneakers are a wardrobe essential. But if you're like us, you're getting a little tired of the whole "plain white sneakers" thing. Even though everyone needs a pair or two of white trainers in their closet, we're wanting something a little fresher for spring. Enter: the Hoka x FP Movement Capsule Footwear Collection, which contains three classic Hoka sneakers in super chic colorways.

The capsule collection is made up of the Hoka Clifton 9, Hoka's classic and much-celebrated running sneaker; the Hoka Clifton L, a lifestyle version of the Clifton 9; and the Hoka Kawana 2, a do-it-all running-studio hybrid that looks at home in streetwear too.

Hoka delivers the sneaker performance, and FP Movement amps up the style. The sneakers are available in muted colors with pastel accents, perfect for the spring and summer. The color palette is full of creams, lilacs, and blues - the perfect refreshing neutrals you'll find yourself reaching for over and over again this season, whether you're en route to the gym or pulling on a sweet spring dress.

More details on each shoe, here. And act fast, if you're going to - the last collaboration these two brands worked on, in 2022, sold out in hours.

- Additional reporting by Mirel Zaman

What Is Lupus?

Ginny Graves — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 21:05:02 +0000

This informational guide, part of POPSUGAR's Condition Center, lays out the realities of this health concern: what it is, what it can look like, and strategies that medical experts say are proven to help. You should always consult your doctor regarding matters pertaining to your health and before starting any course of medical treatment.

You may be more broadly familiar with lupus as celebrities like Selena Gomez and Toni Braxton have opened up about their diagnoses in recent years. But what is lupus, exactly? And how does it impact the body? A simple way to explain it: lupus occurs when the immune system mistakes the body's own healthy tissue as a foreign invader and attacks it, causing widespread tissue damage and inflammation. "The body essentially becomes allergic to itself," says David Wallace, MD, professor of medicine at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and a member of the Lupus Research Alliance board of directors. The causes of lupus isn't certain either, but experts have a few theories as to why certain people are more impacted than other (more on that below!). For example, ninety percent of people with lupus are women, mostly in their childbearing years, and the condition can be fatal in some instances, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. The are also a handful of other morbidities associated with the condition (like an increased risk of heart disease and pregnancy complications) - so being aware of its symptoms and bringing them to the attention of a doctor is critical. Ahead, experts break down everything you need to know about the condition, including what causes lupus, how lupus is diagnosed, lupus symptoms and risk factors, and treatment for lupus.

What Is Lupus?

Lupus falls within the autoimmune-disease family and "occurs when the body immune system attacks your own tissues and organs," per the Mayo Clinic. It involves a spectrum of symptoms and can affect several different organ systems, including the skin, heart, kidneys, joints, lungs, blood, and brain (in 50 percent of systemic lupus cases, there is major-organ involvement).

There are two main types of lupus: systemic and cutaneous. "Systemic lupus, the most common type, involves the organs, and people who have it are usually fairly easy for medical professionals to identify," Dr. Wallace says. "Cutaneous lupus causes achiness and rashy skin."

Symptoms of Lupus

Lupus symptoms can vary from person to person and day to day, ranging from mild to very severe. Some common symptoms of lupus include:

Extreme fatigue
A butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose
Headaches
Low-grade fever
Swelling or stiffness in the joints
Chest pain when you breathe deeply
Dry eyes
Skin lesions that can worsen with sun exposure
Fingers and toes that change color with cold temperature or stress

Fatigue is often the most debilitating factor, limiting ability to function mentally and physically. Most people with the illness don't suffer continuously, though. The disease often alternates between flares, or periods of disease activity, that can vary across a person's lifetime and with treatment. The flares can range from mild symptoms to downright debilitating.

What Causes Lupus?

No one knows the exact cause of the syndrome, but a combination of factors likely come into play, including genes, environment, and hormones, per the Mayo Clinic.

Lupus is about 25 percent genetic, according to twin studies, Dr. Wallace says. There are more than 50 genes associated with the condition.
Environmental factors such as excessive sun exposure, cigarette smoking, infections like Epstein-Barr virus, and exposure to silica dust in agricultural and industrial areas may all increase the risk.
Certain drugs, including penicillin and other commonly prescribed antibiotics, may trigger symptoms.
Stress and trauma may be associated with lupus risk. A 2017 study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology found that women who experienced post-traumatic stress disorder after incidents like serious car accidents or sexual assault were three times as likely to have lupus - and those who were exposed to trauma but didn't develop PTSD had more than double the risk of their nontraumatized peers.
Estrogen is somehow associated with lupus, doctors believe, given that the condition primarily affects women of childbearing age. Some people with the condition are more symptomatic before their periods or during pregnancy, when estrogen is high. "If you have lupus, you should talk to your doctor about whether it's safe to use hormonal birth controls or hormone therapy," Dr. Wallace says. Also, while people with lupus can have normal, safe pregnancies, they're considered "high-risk pregnancies" because of their condition.

Black people tend to be disproportionately affected by the condition: they are three times more likely to get lupus than white people, per the CDC. Latinx, Asian, Native American, and Alaska Native people are also more commonly affected by lupus. This disparity may be due to several barriers, including language or communication, lack of access to care, inadequate or lack of healthcare coverage, and stress caused by racial discrimination, reports the American Journal of Epidemiology.

How Is Lupus Diagnosed?

Receiving a lupus diagnosis is no easy feat as symptoms vary from person to person and can change over time. "A lupus diagnosis can take up to six years from the time symptoms are first noticed. You might have to advocate for yourself to see a rheumatologist, who is better trained to identify the condition," Dr. Wallace tells PS. (This short quiz from The Lupus Foundation of America can help you discern whether you should ask your doctor for a referral to a specialist.)

In order to diagnose lupus, experts will use a combination of blood and urine tests, symptom analysis, and physical examination, as there is no one test for the condition. They may also rely on imaging or a biopsy, if the condition is suspected to have impacted your lungs, heart, or kidneys.

How Is Lupus Treated?

Early diagnosis and avoiding triggers for the disease, like excessive sun exposure, can help people with lupus manage their symptoms. There are a range of medications that are used to treat it, from antimalarial medications like hydroxychloroquine to steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. Patients with organ-threatening disease might require chemotherapy or other specialized treatments, Dr. Wallace adds.

Lupus is often categorized as an "invisible illness," and experts emphasize that it's important to advocate for SLE testing or for an appointment with a rheumatologist when you aren't finding answers to "invisible" symptoms such as recurrent joint pain, fever, and severe fatigue. "Educate yourself about the disease - lupus advocacy organizations have high-quality information - and call your doctor when you get a fever or swollen joints," Dr. Wallace says.

Talk to your doctor about diet and exercise, too. Both can help you feel better and function better, but you need to make sure you're making the best choices for you and your particular condition. "If you're on steroids, for instance, you want to limit carbs and cholesterol," Dr. Wallace says. "The best exercise includes range of motion, like Pilates, tai chi, and yoga. Anxiety and stress reduction is vital, too."

- Additional reporting by Alexis Jones

Alexis Jones is the senior health editor at POPSUGAR. Her areas of expertise include women's health, mental health, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, diversity in wellness, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining POPSUGAR, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women's Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.

Ginny Graves is an award-winning writer in the San Francisco Bay Area whose work focuses on science, psychology, health, nature, and the human-animal bond.

Compound Exercises Are the Workout Hack Everyone Should Be Doing

Tamara Pridgett — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 19:15:02 +0000

People are always looking for the quickest way to lose weight, get in shape, and build muscle, and honestly, there's no get-fit-quick scheme. Depending on your genetics, body type, and fitness level, it can take anywhere from a couple of months to years to see a transformation - and there's nothing wrong with that.

One style of training that can help simultaneously lower your body-fat percentage and build muscle is weightlifting. There are a lot of ways to lift weights like circuit training, bodybuilding programs, and HIIT workouts. Regardless of how you decide to lift, I highly recommend incorporating compound exercises into your weightlifting routine. Instead of focusing on spot reduction, I find that these moves will strengthen and define multiple muscle groups at once and allow you to have more efficient workouts.

Compound exercises are multi-joint movements that work groups of large muscle like squats, deadlifts, and push-ups. These movements elicit a greater energy expenditure (they require more energy to perform) and as a result, your body burns more calories and fat. The more muscle groups working at once, the more energy you will expend, which means the more calories and fat you'll burn.

Begin incorporating the following exercises into your strength routine in order to get maximal results at the gym. If you aren't sure where to begin when it comes to lifting weights, you can follow this four-week strength training program to get started.

I Tried Biohacking My Way Out of a Health Rut - and the Results Were Mixed

Elizabeth Gulino — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 18:20:02 +0000

For the past few months, I've been feeling a little . . . blah. As we emerge from the dark depths of winter, I'm ready to leave my bed rotting era behind and become a brand-new person - specifically, a brand-new person when it comes to my health. While I know the main things I need to stay on top of are sleep, exercise, and diet, I've been curious about the effects of biohacking for quite some time now. I've never actually tried to optimize my health and wellness to such an extent before, and in the name of self-improvement, I've decided to give it a go.

What is biohacking, exactly? While the trend may feel like a hobby taken up by mostly white, mostly affluent cis men - the former CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, or Andrew Huberman, for example - it's simpler than you think. "Biohacking is a DIY method of using science to modify and monitor physiologic responses with technology," Nisha Chellam, MD, a provider at Parsley Health, tells PS.

It's not just one thing, either. Biohacking can be almost anything that consists of manipulating your body and environment to improve your health, longevity, and performance. Some common examples include cold plunging, tracking sleep patterns, and buying and using expensive tech gadgets such as DNA tests or red light therapy devices.

My goal isn't to radically change my genetic makeup or to try and live forever- I just want to feel better, healthier, and more energized as summer approaches. While Dr. Chellam warns that biohacking doesn't often yield consistent results (everyone is different, after all) l decided to go through with my experiment to see if I could see a difference in just seven days.

And so, my week of biohacking began.

Biohack #1: Getting 9 to 10 hours of sleep a night

Humble brag incoming: I'm a fantastic sleeper. I fall asleep fairly quickly and stay asleep through the night. I usually feel rested when I wake up and ultimately enjoy my time spent in REM - I've even been known to nap every once in a while. But just because I'm good at sleeping doesn't actually mean that the sleep I'm getting is good, too. I usually get about six to eight hours of sleep each night. But recently, a rumor was circulating TikTok that cis women allegedly need nine to 10 hours of sleep to function. While we couldn't find any actual research to back up that claim (further proof that you shouldn't believe everything you hear on the internet), the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends adults get between seven to nine hours a night, or closer to 10 if you're recovering from sleep debt or not feeling well.

What I did: Since I've been feeling a little listless, I decided to aim for between nine and 10 hours a night to see if it helped perk me up.

What happened: I attempted to close my eyes by midnight every night with a wake up time of around 9:30 a.m. I'm not a morning person - you won't catch me awake before 8 a.m. ever, if I can help it - so, at least for me, getting in some extra hours wasn't too difficult. And I'm sorry to break it to you, but they're right - getting enough sleep does actually make you feel better. I've always struggled with revenge bedtime procrastination and doomscrolling until 2 a.m., but consciously making the effort to get some shut eye in the name of journalism ended up actually working. While I still fell victim to the occasional late night, I've never slept more than I have this week - and I'll definitely be keeping this biohack going.

Biohack #2: Infrared sauna

Unlike a traditional sauna, infrared saunas use infrared lamps to warm your body from the inside-out. Some of the purported benefits include better circulation, improved heart health, and muscle pain relief. Warning: Infrared saunas aren't cheap, so unless you're willing to shell out some cash this isn't a biohack that can be easily accomplished. Luckily, I was able to secure three gifted infrared sauna sessions at Remedy Place, which would normally run you $100 each session.

Worth noting: a lot of these alleged benefits of infrared saunas still haven't been studied well enough to be confirmed. But sitting in an infrared sauna still feels good - and doesn't that count for something?

What I did: I went to three, 45-minute infrared sauna sessions during this week. To be honest, 45 minutes feels so long and the saunas got super hot - I had to hop in and out a few times during the sessions because I felt myself overheating.

What happened: To be totally candid, I'm not the biggest sauna fan. I don't love being hot and sweaty and I'm not going to lie, I was a bit bored sitting in there. It did feel luxurious though. The infrared saunas at Remedy Place are private, meaning that I got to spend the 60 minutes alone with my own personal shower to rinse off afterwards. But will I keep this one up? Probably not.

Biohack #3: Cold therapy

It's no secret that cold plunging is trending right now, but I had an eye on some different forms of cold therapy: cryotherapy and cold showers. Both have been found to have some benefits in exercise recovery, according to research in the European Journal of Applied Physiology and The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, respectively. Additionally, cold water swimming may improve mood, immunity, and even heart health, a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found - and it stands to reason other forms of cold therapy may have similar effects.

That said, I'm someone who likes my showers hotter than the center of the Earth, so this was indeed a challenge.

(Warning: There's still a chance of hypothermia even if you're taking cold showers in the comfort of your own home. Listen to your body and get out whenever you feel uncomfortable - even if it's only after a few seconds.)

What I did: Because I don't have the luxury of owning my own cold plunge, I settled for cold showers in the morning and one cryotherapy session at Remedy Place.

What happened: Nothing good, that's for sure. I am not a morning girlie, and definitely not a cold shower girlie, so this particular wellness practice was not high on my list of fun things to do. To be fair, doing a cryo session was kind of fun - yes, it was absurdly cold, but it gave me quite the adrenaline rush and it was fun to challenge myself to stay in for the entire three and a half minutes. On the flip side, since I'm more of a mid-day or nighttime showerer, getting out of bed and into the cold water was my least favorite part of the week. I barely stayed in for longer than a couple of minutes before immediately wrapping myself in my bathrobe and getting back under my covers. If this works for you, congratulations - just know that I will never do it again!

Biohack #4: Nootropic supplements

I'm new to the world of nootropics, which are substances that have been claimed to improve brain performance and boost cognitive function. They're mostly taken in the form of supplements. Dr. Chemellan says nootropics "include mushrooms like rishi, ginkgo biloba, bacopa, ginseng, caffeine, Kava, tea, and ashwagandha." She adds that nootropics "have been known to improve attention, memory, learning, and executive functioning."

But, she adds, not all nootropics have good, peer-reviewed research proving they have any effect at all. And the world of supplements is far from perfect. Supplements aren't as strictly regulated by the FDA as drugs or food, and it's not uncommon for third-party quality testing to reveal problems with supplements, from them containing a different amount of active ingredient than what's listed (which recently happened with melatonin supplements) on the label to them containing heavy metals.

So, really, this is a biohack best tried out with the help of a doctor. You can ask your healthcare provider which ingredients, if any, are appropriate for you to take, and ask for doses and brands they recommend. You may also want to only take supplements that have been quality tested by a third party like USP.

What I did: Took nootropics from Thesis, a supplement brand that offers personalized mixes, every day for a week.

What happened: First off, I really appreciate that these are in pill form and not a powder that you pour into water or some other kind of liquid - for some reason, those don't sit right with me. I took the Energy blend from Thesis every morning and definitely felt something, although I can't quite put my finger on it and I'm not sure the effect is pronounced enough for me to consider it an essential part of my routine. The first day, though, I did take one of Thesis's caffeinated supplements and found it hard to fall asleep at night so I switched to another non-caffeinated blend. Whether or not that was actually the supplement's fault though is still unknown.

Biohack #5: Intermittent fasting

I was not looking forward to this one. I don't play when it comes to my food intake - when I'm hungry, I eat, and that's it. While I knew this particular practice probably wouldn't last long, I did decide to give it a go one morning as an experiment to see how I felt about it.

What I did: Fasted between the hours of 8 p.m. at night to 12 p.m. the following afternoon.

What happened: I tried to do intermittent fasting for a couple of days, but to be honest I'm more into intuitive eating and listening to my body. While one day I was fine only eating between the hours of 12 p.m. and 8 p.m., the next day I found myself hungry for breakfast at 10 a.m. - so I listened to my body and made some eggs and toast.

According to Mayo Clinic, some research suggests that intermittent fasting reduces inflammation - but it has downsides too. A study in the journal Eating Behaviors, for instance, linked the method to disordered eating in young people. And research recently presented at an American Heart Association conference in Chicago involving more than 20,000 adults found that people who practiced the eating plan for several years were nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease than others.

Intermittent fasting can also be harmful to people who are underweight, have type 1 diabetes, or have a history of disordered eating, Michelle Loy, MD, an integrative medicine specialist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, previously told PS.

The bottom line: I'm happy I quit this one early, and don't think I'd ever try it again.

Biohack #6: Breathwork

It might sound surprising, but the way we breathe can affect our wellbeing. And breathwork, which is made up of different breathing techniques, may help reduce stress, treat hypertension, and more, according to a 2020 review involving over 100 studies published in the journal Medicine. The review also noted that more research is needed to confirm the benefits of breathing exercises, but tbh, I'm willing to try anything to feel zen.

What I did: Each morning, I tried a different breathwork practice that I found on YouTube, like this one and this one. I also tried to work in the physiological sigh each time I felt myself becoming stressed or overwhelmed during the week, which is a series of two short inhales through the nose and one long exhale through the mouth.

What happened: A lot of breathing, that's for sure. While it's hard to quantify the results of breathwork, I do think that having something like this be part of my morning ritual is beneficial to my productivity and overall feeling like I'm ready to start the day.

What I Learned From Trying Biohacking

Although I may have failed at a few biohacking tasks, making a conscious effort to better myself for an entire week gave me more than any supplement or sauna ever could (the extra zzzs were good though, I'll admit). This week has taught me that biohacking - at least, to me - is really just incorporating more wellness into my routine and prioritizing healthy habits. I'm not trying to morph myself into some superhuman or turn back my biological age to 18 or even live forever - I'm just trying to make what I'm currently doing even better.

I'd love to keep continuing on hacking my biology, but realistically a few of these will drop from my routine and become distant memories of a once-ambitious week of healthy living. Who knows, maybe I'll try even more wellness hacks in the future - but for now, I'll pat myself on the back for putting myself first.

Elizabeth Gulino is a freelance journalist who specializes in topics relating to wellness, sex, relationships, work, money, lifestyle, and more. She spent four and a half years at Refinery29 as a senior writer and has worked for House Beautiful, Complex, and The Hollywood Reporter.

How Much Does F45 Training Cost? Here's What to Know Before Committing to a Class

Renee Cherry — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 16:45:02 +0000

Every fitness studio has its own approach to hyping up its visitors and inspiring a sense of accomplishment. F45 Training uses a combination of 45-minute functional training sessions programmed for efficiency, coupled with a motivational team-building mentality. Fortunately, this unique pairing has proven to be a winning formula. F45 opened its first studio in Australia in 2013 and has since expanded to more than 3,300 studios in 67 countries. But how much does F45 cost? Before signing up for a single class or a membership of your own, there's a few things to consider about F45 pricing.

If you live near one of the many F45 studios and are interested in giving it a try, there are several different class and membership options. But since the chain's pricing is dependent on location, we dove deeper into the various prices, including F45 membership cost, to give you a better idea of what to anticipate financially. Here's the inside scoop on how much you'll spend at F45 costs, plus what you can expect to get out of your investment.

How Much Does F45 Cost?

Pricing varies across studios, as do the specific membership tiers and class pack options available. The easiest way to find out exact pricing is to contact your closest studio or to use the "Find a Studio" feature on the F45 site. That said, you can generally expect to pay around $30 to $40 for a single drop-in class. Monthly memberships fall around $170 at some of the more affordable locations, while other locations charge upwards of $250, although there are also options to pay biweekly. As an important note, your membership will typically only grant access to the specific studio you sign up for. For a better estimate, the pricing at a studio in the Flatiron district of Manhattan is as follows:

Single Class: $40 for a drop-in class.
One-Week Pass: $99 for a one-week pass. If you're local and new to the studio, there's also a one-time, seven-day trial available for $49.
Five-Pack of Classes: $189 for a five-pack of classes.
10-Pack of Classes: $349 for a 10-pack of classes.
20-Pack of Classes: $649 for a 20-pack of classes.
30-Pack of Classes: $899 for a 30-pack of classes.
F45 Limited Membership: $239 monthly for eight classes per month.
Unlimited One-Month Pass: $399
F45 Unlimited Six-Month Membership: $138, biweekly
F45 Unlimited Month-to-Month Membership: $158, biweekly

F45's pricing places it within the ballpark of other national workout studios, like Orangetheory Fitness and Club Pilates. If you prefer group instruction, value the benefits of cardio and resistance training, or just love to push your limits, you might find that F45's fees are well worth it.

Whether you opt for a membership or à la carte classes, you can use F45's extensive selection of workouts to craft a well-rounded routine. The studios offer Cardio classes that combine aerobic and anaerobic work; Resistance classes designed to build power and stability; Hybrid cardio and resistance classes; and Recovery classes focused on mobility and flexibility. Each F45 class offers a full-body workout, and no two workouts are the same, according to the brand. You'll also use tons of different equipment in class, from spin bikes and free weights to battle ropes and plyometric boxes.

Are There Any Other F45 Costs to Know About?

If you like tracking your metrics during workouts, you can purchase F45's Lionheart Heart Rate Monitor to use during the classes. The device tracks your heart rate, percentage of maximum effort, total calories burned, and rates your performance with a points system. You can view your stats on screens in the studios throughout class. While the heart rate monitor is available for purchase at F45 studios, they aren't a requisite for taking classes. The cost of the monitors is set by each individual studio, per the F45 website (around $50-100 with the accompanying band, according to Reddit).

F45 holds several 45-day challenges throughout the year, which are targeted fitness and nutrition programs that sometimes come at an additional cost. Anyone who downloads the F45 Challenge app can view meal plans and recipes, and F45 members also get access to on-demand workouts.

- Additional reporting by Chandler Plante

Renee Cherry is a POPSUGAR contributor who specializes in beauty and wellness. Her writing has appeared in Shape, Women's Health, Glamour, and Well + Good, among other publications.

Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for POPSUGAR Health & Fitness. Previously, she worked as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributed to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her free time, she overshares on the internet, creating content about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.

Not All of the 2024 WNBA Draftees Will Wind Up on a Team. Here's What to Know.

Alexis Jones — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 21:50:01 +0000

Excitement for the 2024 WNBA season is at an all time high, following April 15's WNBA draft, where collegiate players including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink were offered their bids. Coming off a record-breaking NCAA women's tournament, fans are eager to see the rookies play; so much so, that WNBA ticket sales are already experiencing a surge, per CNN. But one thing many people, especially newer fans, may not realize is that your favorite draftee isn't actually on a WNBA team just yet.

As pointed out by the Atlanta Dream's Laeticia Amihere in a recent TikTok video, "everybody got to try out." In other words, getting drafted by one of the 12 teams in the league doesn't guarantee you a spot on the team's roster. It means you're invited to training camp and tryouts, where cuts will be made and a select number of slots will be filled. In fact, about half of this year's draft picks could go on to be cut. More about the road ahead for the 2024 rookie class, here.

What Happens After WNBA Draft Night?

After the WNBA draft, rookies are given about a week and half to get settled in the cities that their teams are based. Training camp for all teams begins on April 28, per the WNBA. During this time, the rookie draft class will train and compete with a host of athletes, including players who were on the team last year, as well as those that weren't drafted but did receive invites to training camp.

There are some players who are protected, like "the very high players, the vets," Amihere says. But everyone else has to compete for a spot on the roster, including the draft class. "Whether you get drafted super high or last round, it's free game," Amihere says. "I got drafted first round last year and I'm still trying out." By May 13, WNBA teams are expected to have decided their final roster, just a day before the season begins.

@laeticiaamihere
Replying to @dantavius.washington #wnba #draft
♬ original sound - Laeticia Amihere

How Many Players Will Make the Cut?

There are only 144 slots across the 12 WNBA teams in the league. Each WNBA team has a minimum roster of 11 players and a maximum roster size of 12 players. In both 2023 and 2024, 36 collegiate players were drafted. But last year, only 15 of the draftees made the roster. So it's possible that upwards of half of the 2024 draftees won't make it onto the team.

It's brutal, but it's also sparked some conversation around the need to add more teams to the WNBA. "WNBA needed an expansion like 10 years ago it's ridiculous," wrote one commenter under Amihere's video. "We REALLY NEED more teams in the WNBA aannddd a pay increase for players," wrote another. Fortunately, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is already in talks about expansion, aiming to have 16 WNBA teams by 2028, per AP News. Philadelphia, Toronto, Portland, Oregon, Denver, Nashville, and South Florida are all on the perspective list of locations.

What Happens After You Get Cut?

Getting cut is a normal part of the WNBA drafting process. "If you get cut after training camp, that does not mean you're not good," Amihere emphasizes. "That does not mean that player sucks. Don't stop supporting that player." Athletes can get cut for a number of reasons, many of which have nothing to do with their talent or skills, including fit and chemistry, she adds.

Getting cut also doesn't mean that your pro career is over. You can still get signed by another team to try out, or you can go overseas and play there, Amihere says. In fact, compensation is substantially higher internationally, which is why many players who are in the league also choose to play overseas during off-season.

Alexis Jones is the senior health and fitness editor at POPSUGAR. Her areas of expertise include women's health and fitness, mental health, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, diversity in wellness, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining POPSUGAR, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women's Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.

The WNBA Deserves Pay Equity. Here's What That Actually Means.

Ralinda Watts — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 21:15:02 +0000

The WNBA draft may be over, but the conversations about it are still swirling. Amid the discussions about the prospects of this year's rookie class and the draftees' stunning orange carpet looks, one more upsetting narrative is getting attention again - and it involves salary.

First-round pick standout Caitlin Clark is expected to make $338,056 over the next four years, including $76,535 her first year. Considering how much attention she's brought to college ball over the last two years, that number seems small. Especially when you take into account that Clark's expected salary is significantly lower than the NBA rookie salaries. This again.

To put things in perspective, the 2023 first-round NBA draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, was offered a four-year 55.7 million rookie contract to play for the San Antonio Spurs; he's expected to earn over $10 million in year one, reports RealGM.com. Not just that, but the 30th pick is expected to earn over $2 million in year one, nearly 27 times more than Clark's salary.

This issue has added fuel to the ongoing debate about pay equity for women's sports, and the changes that need to be made off the court for the WNBA, now and into the future. "Honestly, y'all should be embarrassed for even posting this salary. Women deserve better," wrote journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones on X, in response to a repost of a Sportrac post listing Clark's salary.

Historically, the WNBA has always had a pay gap. (Just like hockey, soccer, tennis - and the list goes on.) This pay gap exists due to various factors, with two of the most significant being player contracts without revenue sharing, and audience viewership compared to the NBA. Since the inception of the WNBA 27 years ago, each team has been financed by an NBA team, Forbes reports. Player salaries were capped to the 40-game season, and player contracts were never connected to revenue sharing. By design, this has kept the WNBA salaries significantly lower than NBA salaries. One result of that inequity: many WNBA players end up having to play overseas to supplement their compensation, a situation that made headlines when WNBA player Brittney Griner was detained for ten months in Russia, where she playing during the off-season, to earn extra money.

Whenever the issue of WNBA salaries is raised, so are the same tired rebuttals. First, that Caitlin Clark will be taking home many times more than her actual salary, thanks to sponsorship and endorsement deals. (But what about players who aren't in the spotlight to the degree that Clark is?) Second, that WNBA games don't garner the same attention, and therefore the same revenue dollars, as NBA games.

It's true that the NBA makes $2.6 billion annually in media rights, per Forbes, while the WNBA makes about $60 million, reports Front Office Sports. But those figures come from a contract negotiated in 2014, which expires at the end of the 2024-25 season. And with more attention than ever being paid to women's basketball, there's reason to believe the next contract will see a significant increase in media rights for the WNBA. Case in point: more people tuned in to watch the Women's March Madness final in 2024 than the men's - the first time that's happened in the event's 42-year history, reports CNN. The 2024 WNBA draft was record-breaking as well, and saw a 307 percent increase over last year's ratings, The Athletic notes. Clearly, people are excited about women's basketball, and that excitement will translate into a rise in viewership and dollars.

But it's also important to note that some WNBA players aren't necessarily saying they should be earning equal salaries to NBA players, dollar for dollar. "In the NBA, they have percentages of revenue shared for the players - so, jersey sales, obviously their TV contracts," said Las Vegas Aces's, Kelsey Plum, in an interview with The Residency Podcast. That's not the case in the WNBA, she noted, continuing: "We're not asking to get paid what the men get paid. We're asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared." The WNBA player contracts are up for negotiations that could take effect in the 2025 season.

During this debate, I've seen some takes where women have been scapegoated for why there's been a lack of support for the WNBA. This issue isn't about women not supporting women; instead, it's about everyone recognizing that women's basketball is great, that it's fun to watch, and that there should be equitable compensation in women's sports. Ultimately, it's exciting to see the impact this moment can have on the future of women's basketball at every level.

As the conversation evolves, I hope that we stop making comparisons between two leagues that are not only 50 years apart from each other, but also have received very different levels of support since their respective inceptions. To compare the WNBA league to where the NBA is today is like comparing apples to oranges. And, as the saying goes, "comparison is the thief of joy", and there is so much joy in watching where women's basketball is at; with the success of Caitlin Clark, South Carolina's 38-0 winning season, Kamilla Cardoso's inspiring story, Angel Reese's authentic confidence, and swag - the game is on the biggest stage and is only going to shine brighter.

While the salaries of the 2024 rookie class aren't where they should be, these young players are ushering in an era of change, fighting for equity for themselves and all future sustainability of the WNBA. "I'm hopeful that rookies 5 years from now will be making significantly more than rookies do today," Chicago Sky player Brianna Turner wrote on X, naming her $44,207 starting salary in 2019 (as the 11th overall draft pick) as proof of the ability for change. "It's all about the growth, even if it's more beneficial for others."

Pay equity for women isn't a new conversation. And the arguments against it are feeling more and more antiquated. With the success of women's college basketball continuing to grow, these dynamic, popular, attention-grabbing players transitioning into the WNBA, and with key contracts up for negotiation, the momentum is there to keep moving forward.

Ralinda Watts is an author, diversity expert, consultant, practitioner, speaker, and proven thought leader who works at the intersection of race, identity, culture, and justice. She has contributed to numerous publications, such as POPSUGAR, CBS Media, Medium, Yahoo Lifestyle, and the Los Angeles Times.

Solidcore For Beginners - Everything You Need to Know Before Taking a Class

Sarah Wasilak — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:40:02 +0000

If you're curious about all the Solidcore hype, but you're feeling rather intimidated by the thought of a navigating a Pilates reformer machine in a dark, blue-lit studio with thumping music, we get it. That's why we pulled together a primer for Solidcore beginners: so you can get familiar with what Solidcore is ahead of your first class, and feel a little more confident as you walk in the door. (It's also why we suggest taking beginner classes to develop a foundation, rather than diving right into the 50-minute, full-body strength training workout.)

It's worth knowing up front that the goal of Solidcore is to help you reach muscle failure via small, controlled movements and repetitive muscle contractions, so your body will likely feel shaky during and after the workout. Don't worry - that's the point. "The purpose of the class is to target your slow-twitch muscle fibers, breaking them down so they build back stronger over a couple of days," Triana Brown, Solidcore's head of talent and product development, tells PS.

At the 110+ locations across the US, you can sign up for Foundation50 and Starter50 sessions, which allow for breaks between circuits and involve more in-depth demonstrations by your coach. Again, if you're a beginner, I highly recommend attending as many of these as possible; you'll still get a very good workout as you get used to the Solidcore-style workout. And in the meantime, keep reading to find answers to frequently asked questions, according to Brown, about everything from what to wear to when you can expect to see results.

- Additional reporting by Angelica Wilson

What Is Constipation? A Gastroenterologist Weighs In

Ginny Graves — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 23:10:02 +0000

This informational guide, part of POPSUGAR's Condition Center, lays out the realities of this health concern: what it is, what it can look like, and strategies that medical experts say are proven to help. You should always consult your doctor regarding matters pertaining to your health and before starting any course of medical treatment.

For a health problem that strikes around four million people in the US and is common across all ages, constipation is rarely talked about. But having infrequent or painful bowel movements is uncomfortable at best, and it can sometimes be a sign of a more serious health problem. Constipation also affects more women than men (particularly premenopausal women), so becoming familiar with the signs and treatments can ensure you know what to do if pooping becomes problematic - including when to see a doctor.

What Is Constipation?

Almost everyone has times in their lives when they don't go for a day or two. Travel can mess up your bathroom schedule, as can stress. But if you have three or fewer bowel movements a week on a regular basis, the stool is hard and difficult to pass, and your sluggish poop schedule makes you feel uncomfortable and unwell, you likely have the diagnosable condition known as constipation.

"The 'uncomfortable' part is key," Shanti Eswaran, MD, a gastroenterologist with the University of Michigan Health System, says. "People's bodies are different, and some people feel fine when they move their bowels less frequently. But if you're straining when you move your bowels and you feel bloated and it's bothering you, it's time to make some simple dietary and lifestyle changes that will help correct the problem."

Constipation usually isn't a cause for alarm, she adds. But if you have new-onset constipation that's accompanied by rectal bleeding and abdominal pain, you should see your doctor to rule out more serious issues like thyroid disease or possibly colon cancer.

How to Tell If You're Constipated

Think about your trips to the bathroom recently. Have you passed at least four bowel movements this week? Three or fewer bowel movements a week on a regular basis is considered a pretty sure sign that you're constipated. Stool that is hard and difficult to pass, accompanied by a general discomfort are also signs that you may be constipated.

Symptoms of Constipation

Constipation is typically marked by the following signs and symptoms, per the Mayo Clinic:

Three or fewer bowel movements a week
Hard, dry, or lumpy stool
Stool that's difficult to pass
Feeling like your stool hasn't passed or the rectum is blocked
Having to use a finger to help stool pass

If your symptoms are long-lasting (longer than 3 weeks), impact quality of life, or are accompanied by rectal bleeding and abdominal pain, it's best to see a doctor.

What Causes Constipation?

There are lots of reasons you may get backed up, Dr. Eswaran says.

A variety of medications have constipation as a side effect, for instance. Common ones include antacids with aluminum and calcium; diuretics; iron supplements; narcotic pain medications; and some antidepressants.
Health problems - like celiac disease, diabetes, hypothyroidism, Parkinson's disease, irritable-bowel syndrome, and intestinal obstructions (from a tumor, for instance) - can all cause constipation.
Poor motility in your colon, which keeps waste moving, might slow digestion to an uncomfortable degree.
Women are more affected, partly because some conditions that cause constipation, like hypothyroidism, affect them more often, Dr. Eswaran tells PS. "Also, constipation commonly crops up during pregnancy and after giving birth because they can damage the pelvic-floor muscles, making it more difficult to have bowel movements." Hormonal shifts that affect women can add to the problem, and so can the length of one's colon. Also, women's colons are typically longer than men's, meaning that they empty slower, which could make them more prone to getting backed up.
Certain lifestyle habits may cause slow stool movement, including not drinking enough fluids, lack of fiber in one's diet, infrequent exercise, and putting off bowel movements when there's an urge to pass stool, per the Mayo Clinic.

How to Treat Constipation

Most cases of constipation can be safely and effectively treated at home with basic lifestyle changes. Eating around 25 grams of fiber a day - whole grains, oatmeal, beans, berries, vegetables, and nuts have it in abundance - can soften your stool, making it one of the best ways to alleviate constipation. (Processed foods, on the other hand, can actually cause constipation.) "Fiber is good for your overall health, too," Dr. Eswaran says. Just make sure to increase your intake slowly if you've been eating very little up until now to avoid bloating, and drink plenty of water and other fluids at the same time to help the fiber work its magic.

"Exercising on a regular basis can increase the wavelike contractions of your colon that move its contents along, and the faster your stool moves through your large intestine, the less likely it is to become hard and dry," Dr. Eswaran adds.

Sticking with a regular sleep schedule can help, too. "Inconsistent sleep throws your whole body out of whack, including your GI tract," she says.

If you've already tried these strategies and you're still having problems, see your doctor. "We often start with over-the-counter fiber supplements, and if that doesn't fix the problem, we move on to prescription laxatives, which work very well," Dr. Eswaran says. "The vast majority of patients find relief with simple treatments."

Ginny Graves is an award-winning writer in the San Francisco Bay Area whose work focuses on science, psychology, health, nature, and the human-animal bond.

Alex Morgan's Game-Day Routine Includes Meditation and Pickle-Flavored Vitamins

Chandler Plante — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:35:02 +0000

As a person with a chronic illness, my nightstand is neatly lined with bottles of medication, medical tape, and topical pain relief. Notably missing is a fluorescent green pickle-flavored multivitamin. "I feel like you have to try it at least once," says pro-soccer player and self-proclaimed pickle-lover, Alex Morgan. "As an athlete, I crave salty food sometimes, and pickles just - they kind of check all the boxes." Morgan, a Nature Made partner, swears by the brand's pickle-flavored multi-vitamin gummies for any fellow pickle fanatics looking to prioritize their health.

Aside from daily vitamins, Morgan's current wellness routine has a lot to do with recovery, which means she gives herself plenty of time to rest and occasional permission to indulge. "It's a balance, in a way, of making sure I'm doing the right things to recover - but also not forgetting about enjoying the little things." Since becoming a mom, this balance might mean taking her 3-year-old daughter out for ice cream, or going for a bike ride even at the end of a long day. She also tracks her sleep, eats a high-carb, high-protein vegetarian diet, uses cryotherapy and infrared saunas, and is starting to get back into meditation, especially on game days.

"I think anyone can relate if they have a big meeting or a PowerPoint or anything that's really important. I feel like you just start to get anxious and you start to go over it in your head, over and over and over again. So for me, even meditating [for] five minutes, like breathwork or guided meditation, that's great."

As a huge supporter of women's sports (she recently repped Caitlin Clark's Iowa jersey and voiced her support for the women of the NCAA Final Four), Morgan spotted a couple sideline meditations during March Madness. Still, she prefers to do her own meditation before she hits the playing field - either on the bus, on the way to the game, or in her room.

"A lot of people think of meditation as like, 'Oh, 30 minutes, you have to sit still,' and this or that, no - it can be a few minutes of just breathwork. It can be box breath: in [for] four, hold for four, out for four, hold for four. Things like that can really just help slow your heart rate, [and help you] think about one or two things, not a million things at once."

Having been at the top of her game for over 13 years, Morgan's wellness routine - from pickle vitamins to meditation - is part of what enables her to actively participate in yet another groundbreaking year for women's sports, and she doesn't anticipate the momentum stopping anytime soon. "It's definitely an exciting time to be involved in women's sports, and for me to be so close to it...I'm just soaking it all in."

6 Smoothies For Constipation That Get an RD's Stamp of Approval

Olivia Luchini — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:45:02 +0000

Dealing with a bout of constipation is never fun, but thankfully, there are solutions to this problem that can be easily found in your kitchen. There are plenty of constipation-relieving ingredients you can incorporate into your diet in the form of a meal or snack you already know and love - that's right, we're talking about a smoothie.

Smoothies are a great way to deal with constipation because you can easily fill them up with fiber, a nutrient that can aid in digestion. "Different foods contain different types of fiber, with the main two being soluble and insoluble fiber," dietitan Rebekah Shulman, RDN, explains. "Soluble fiber forms a gel in the gut and helps feed our good bacteria, while insoluble fiber adds bulk to the stool and draws water into the gut, aiding in regular bowel movements."

To help relieve constipation, Shulman recommends adding fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds into a smoothie. If you need an extra boost, a few tablespoons of prunes or ground flaxseed can also help. In addition to this, Shulman suggests incorporating foods rich in probiotics such as yogurt, kefir, and kombucha into your smoothie for maximum constipation relief.

Not sure how to incorporate those ingredients? These six smoothies for constipation feature a handful of Shulman's recommended high-fiber fruits and probiotic-rich ingredients to help you get your bowel movements back on track.

Is Life Time Fitness Worth the Money? Here’s How Much a Membership Costs

Chandler Plante — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:15:02 +0000

Life Time Fitness claims to be so much "more than a gym" - and rightfully so. With deluxe amenities like saunas and steam rooms, plenty of group fitness classes, plus Olympic-size indoor pools, rock-climbing walls, and areas to play pickleball, basketball, and tennis - the 24-hour fitness chain is more like a mini wellness retreat. Given all that Life Time has to offer, it may be tempting to sign up for a membership right away. But before you make the commitment, it's good to know how much a Life Time Fitness membership actually costs.

Life Time Fitness memberships are generally broken up into four tiers, with a fifth "Premier" tier at certain locations. Membership cancellations require a 30-day notice, and according to the Life Time Fitness website, new memberships come with a complimentary personal training session. Additional baseline benefits include unlimited access to virtual training programs via the Life Time Fitness app, a month of free group swim lessons when you enroll your junior in recurring lessons, and $25 of LifeSpa credit to put towards any spa or salon service. Read on for more information about Life Time Fitness membership pricing, and see if the hype is worth the price.

How Much Does a Life Time Fitness Membership Cost?

Life Time Fitness membership pricing varies depending on where you're located. To give you a better sense of the price range, we explored membership costs in multiple different areas. For more specific pricing, you can input your details and build your personal membership here, or contact your local Life Time Fitness for more information. Note that some memberships - including the standard and 26 & under tiers - are not available in all major cities. Prices in most New York clubs are also set to rise later in April, and some clubs in California are currently on a waitlist. If you want to get a feel for the gym without signing up for a membership, you can always request a tour or opt for a day pass, starting at around $50.

Life Time Fitness Memberships

Standard Membership ($99-139 monthly): The standard membership gives you access to the workout floor and studio classes like barre, Pilates, spin, HIIT, and strength training. Multiple amenities are also included, such as the indoor swimming pools, gymnasiums, and high-end locker rooms (although the exact amenities may vary depending on the location). Standard members get access to multiple Life Time locations, as long as they're within the same price point. Members say they appreciate Life Time's cleanliness, organization, and great instructors (but the amenities are always an added bonus).
Signature Membership ($149-299 monthly): A step up from the standard membership, this upgrade gives you access to the workout floor, unlimited group training like unlimited GTX, Alpha, and Ultra Fit programs, and all of the top-tier amenities. "Small-group advanced fitness programming is included in the membership. This is above and beyond the standard class types and typically draw a dedicated crew of great people to work out together," one member writes on Reddit. "This is why we have this tier to cover as it's far less expensive than personal training and pay-per-class." Another major perk of the signature membership is that pickleball and tennis court fees are included. You also get priority reservations for studio classes and infant care.
26 & Under Membership ($89-239 monthly): A discounted membership rate for anyone 26 and under. Note that this particular membership only grants you access to one Life Time location, so you may have to upgrade if you wish to visit another club.
65 Plus Membership ($89-239 monthly): A discounted membership rate for anyone 65 and over. Note that this particular membership only grants you access to one Life Time location, so you may have to upgrade if you wish to visit another club.
Premier Membership ($329 monthly): An exclusive tier offered at the Manhattan Sky club, this membership comes with access to nine indoor pickleball courts in Manhattan between Sky and PENN 1 (and there's already on a waitlist).

As mentioned, most memberships allow you to visit multiple Lifetime Fitness locations across the country, so long as they're equal to or below your own price point. If you're looking to attend a more expensive club you must upgrade your club access by visiting the front desk or contacting your local Life Time Fitness at accountservices@lifetime.life. For example, a membership in Colorado Springs will give you access to five Life Time Fitness clubs in Arizona, but you'll need to upgrade if you're visiting the one in Scottsdale. Along the same lines, you'll have to upgrade your club access to go to any of the seven clubs in California or the 12 clubs in New York, because they're all more expensive than the Life Time clubs in Colorado Springs. Upgrading will cost a one-time service fee of $10 plus the applicable dues, according to the Life Time FAQs.

Additional Costs

As mentioned, signature members have the option to register early for child care and summer camps. But child care is included with all memberships if a junior membership (a tier ranging from $30-$100 for children 13 and under) is purchased along with it. Kids can also opt to have their own membership at age 12, with a parent or guardian's permission.

Certain Life Time locations offer Beach Club access for the one-time price of $150 per adult member and $75 per junior member (13 and under) for the upcoming 2024 summer season. This fee can be added to your membership after purchase, allowing you access to the outdoor pool area and its corresponding amenities (like towel service, full-service bistro, and water slides). Other services include the Life Time spa, salon, and café, to name a few.

You Can Get Ozempic at Med Spas - but Experts Warn It May Not Be Legit

Soo Youn — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:30:02 +0000

As an American woman living in the year 2024, I'm constantly hearing about Ozempic. For the past year, it seems like every week, someone I know says they've started the diabetes medication-turned-weight loss super drug - and when I'm not, I'm bombarded with the conversation on social media. Not to mention the ads - I see them on the New York City subway, on Instagram (RIP my algorithm for researching this story), and, well, everywhere else.

Since Ozempic has exploded onto the weight-loss scene, it can seem both ubiquitous and scarce, creating confusion about who can get it and how. Initially developed by Novo Nordisk to treat type 2 diabetes, its off-label usage has morphed into a phenomenon now associated with quick and extreme weight loss, leading to shortages for some diabetic patients. The company also makes a similar semaglutide drug called Wegovy, which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for weight loss.

You need a doctor's prescription to get the drugs, which are extremely expensive if insurance doesn't cover the cost - out of pocket, it's about $935 per month for Ozempic or $1,350 for Wegovy. Generally, prescriptions are reserved for people who have diabetes or are prediabetic with other underlying conditions. Yet medical spas (nonsurgical, aesthetic medical centers that usually offer injectables, lasers, or other procedures), online pharmacies, and telehealth services are blasting social media with ads offering the hard-to-get pharmaceuticals - raising questions about what's being offered and if it's legit.

After I called many med spas in different states - including California, West Virginia, and Louisiana - to inquire about getting on Ozempic, the answer that emerged was: there's no way to know what you're getting.

Ozempic, Wegovy, and other drugs like Saxenda (liraglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are part of a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists. They imitate the hormone GLP-1, which stimulates the body to produce insulin to control blood sugar. In practice, they make you feel full faster and longer, so you eat less.

Ozempic and Wegovy are listed on FDA's Drug Shortages list, as is Saxenda. The diabetes drug Mounjaro and the obesity shot Zepbound are also facing shortages in certain dosages. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus tablets, which are all under patent without a generic option. So how are some people getting it, especially when they don't have diabetes or other conditions, including a high BMI, that doctors usually require to prescribe? And is accessing it through avenues like med spas and online pharmacies legal and safe?

The answers can be murky.

When I called med spas and weight-loss clinics, most do require an in-person consultation, unlike online pharmacies. When I asked if what they were offering was real - brand name Ozempic or Wegovy - I was told yes. But when I asked how they could offer it so cheaply (as low as $200 per month in some cases), I was told it was because they got the product from a lab or pharmacy. When I asked who would do the evaluation to see if I qualified to take it, I was told it could be a nurse or a doctor, but it was not specified. Some places said I would need to book follow-up visits to adjust the dosage. But after talking to several of these institutions, it's clear there is no uniform protocol.

It's likely that many of these med spas and clinics are getting their semaglutide drugs from compounding pharmacies, which make customized drugs. In times of shortages, the FDA allows these pharmacies to offer altered versions. Some versions may simply take out potential allergens or irritating ingredients, or tailor individual dosages. But some may be counterfeit drugs, or ones made from unknown or dangerous active ingredients. There is no federal oversight for compounding pharmacies; they are regulated on the state level.

"I do not know what's in the shot, I do not know where they get it."

"Compounded drugs pose a higher risk to patients than FDA-approved drugs because compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and do not undergo FDA premarket review for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Compounded drugs also lack an FDA finding of manufacturing quality before such drugs are marketed," FDA spokeswoman Amanda Hils wrote in an email.

From Aug. 8, 2021, through March 31, the agency received 209 reports of adverse events and 110 complaints in association with compounded semaglutide drugs.

Although the reactions may be similar to those logged for the brand name, FDA-approved semaglutide products, the agency can't dismiss other factors "such as differences in ingredients and formulation between FDA-approved and compounded semaglutide products," Hils wrote, adding that the data is limited because "compounding pharmacies generally do not submit adverse event reports to the FDA."

In addition, some facilities offering semaglutide are reportedly using something entirely different. Compounded drugs made with semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate, which are salt forms that are not semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy, have been reported, prompting the agency to issue multiple warnings. As Hils wrote: "These salt forms are not the active ingredients of any FDA-approved medication, and the FDA is not aware of any basis for compounding a drug using these semaglutide salts that would meet federal requirements. In addition, it is not known whether semaglutide salts are safe or effective."

Last year, Novo Nordisk announced it was taking action against med spas, pharmacies, and wellness and weight-loss centers that offer compounded versions of semaglutide, and has filed at least a dozen lawsuits. Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro, has also launched several lawsuits against similar providers for marketing and selling compounded versions of the drug's active ingredient, tirzepatide. Mississippi's State Board of Medical Licensure now prohibits prescribing, dispensing, or administrating compounded semaglutide for weight loss, citing safety concerns, but laws vary from state to state. Customers can consult the FDA's BeSafeRx campaign to navigate buying drugs safely online.

Given how much is still unregulated when it comes to compounded versions of these drugs, medical experts discourage getting the drugs outside of a licensed physician's supervision and care. Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition at the University of California at Los Angeles, describes weight-loss drugs coming from med spas like this: "I do not know what's in the shot, I do not know where they get it."

"We're talking about prescription drugs," she adds. "The reason it's prescription is because it does carry significant risk and also benefits. We are now learning more and more possible side effects."

Side effects of these drugs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, burping, and constipation; abdominal discomfort and pain; injection site reactions; fatigue; hair loss; gallbladder problems; low blood sugar; acute kidney damage; diabetic retinopathy (damage to the eye's retina); and suicidal behavior or thinking, according to the FDA.

Li also emphasizes that GLP-1 agonists work differently in different people. "There are people not losing weight, and they're also people losing a lot of weight, particularly losing muscle. That is a significant concern for elderly in particular," she says. She urges patients taking these medications to tell their doctor if they are feeling weak.

She adds that some people "have significant depression with those shots," noting that some patients lose weight as fast as those who undergo bariatric surgery, which can also result in increased depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in patients. However, she says, "we have guidelines about how to take care of patients after bariatric surgery, but we have nothing for people taking GLP-1 treatments, especially at a med spa or water therapy place."

At UCLA's Nutrition Clinic, the drugs are prescribed by a doctor, who also integrates a lifestyle regime that tracks diet and exercise and includes regular follow-up visits.

Li reiterated that there's no way to know what is in the injections given out at med spas. She also warns that these places don't offer any standardized practice of care for patients while they take the drugs.

After reading about, calling, and interviewing experts and facilities providing these weight-loss shots, I - like the FDA and the head of nutrition at UCLA - cannot tell you exactly what is in them. Hopefully, the drugs become more accessible to the people who need them. In the meantime, if something sounds too good to be true, there may be a reason for it.

Soo Youn is a journalist who covers pop culture, business, gender, and technology. She has worked at Reuters and ABC News and has written for PS, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, NBC News, Teen Vogue, and other publications. She's particularly interested in global cultural movements like K-pop fandoms and loves to find stories that show how the world is shifting.

The Best Sneakers on Amazon, According to Ratings and Editor Reviews

Marisa Petrarca — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 23:46:02 +0000

Slipping into a fresh new pair of sneakers before a workout is exciting, to say the least. Maybe your fresh kicks mark the start of marathon training, or perhaps it was just due time to upgrade your gym footwear. Regardless of your motivation, you've landed in the right spot. If you're in search of premium-quality sneakers to enhance your exercise routine, we've conducted a thorough exploration of Amazon's offerings to bring you some top-rated selections that will align seamlessly with your fitness goals.

Ahead, you'll discover an array of styles from renowned brands such as Nike, Under Armour, Asics, and more. We included editor-favorite sneakers for long-distance runs, comfortable walking shoes that have street style appeal, and more. We've taken the liberty to dissect what makes these top-sellers unique, whether they cater to underpronators, overpronators, are designed for neutral running, or have other specialized features to suit various workouts.

Without further adieu, keep scrolling to shop our top 13 sneaker picks from Amazon, starting at $48.

What Is a Low-Impact Workout, Actually?

Lauren Mazzo — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 22:30:02 +0000

It wasn't all that long ago that box jumps, burpees, and treadmill sprints likely dominated the fitness side of your social feed. Nowadays? I'll bet it skews more toward things like cozy cardio and Pilates.

There's been an undeniable shift in the fitness culture lately, and it's seeming to steer away from brutal, bring-your-all type of workouts and toward ones that are, well, a bit more chill. A phrase that often accompanies the latter? "Low impact." But what is a low-impact workout, exactly?

Low-impact workouts are often touted as being great for your joints and beginner-friendly - and though it might feel like a niche category of exercise, there's actually a whole lot that fits under the low-impact umbrella. The thing is, as is the case with many buzzy fitness terms that get co-opted for use even when they're not accurate (see: people using "HIIT" to describe literally any workout), it's unclear how many people truly understand what "low-impact" means.

Here, fitness pros set the record straight on the meaning of "low-impact" exercises, clear up some misconceptions about low-impact workouts, and discuss why everyone should incorporate low-impact workouts at home or in the gym.

What Is a Low-Impact Workout, Exactly?

The general definition of "low-impact" is "involving movements that do not put a lot of stress on the body," according to Oxford Dictionaries. While that's true, it's also pretty vague. After all, "all exercise is stress on the body, whether it's high- or low-impact," CITYROW founding instructor Annie Mulgrew tells POPSUGAR. "We want the body to be able to respond to stress effectively - that's one reason why we exercise."

What really makes a workout low-impact is when "you always have one foot on the floor at any given moment in your exercise," says Justin Norris, cofounder of LIT Method, a low-impact training method. This means there's no jumping. Think of it this way: "a low-impact workout is one in which your body is not being forced to brace itself for impact," explains Mulgrew.

Low-impact workouts can also be described as more "fluid in movement" since they "create less stress on your joints as your feet or body meet the ground," explains Xio Colon, personal training leader at Life Time Sky in Manhattan.

Low Impact vs. Low Intensity

Just because you're doing a low-impact workout doesn't necessarily mean you aren't breaking a sweat. In fact, low-impact workouts can still be really freaking hard - and that's because impact isn't the same thing as intensity. However, people often get the two confused.

"Impact is the stress that a workout can have on your joints, whereas intensity is how much you're challenging yourself," explains Syndey Miller, certified Pilates instructor and creator of the HOUSEWORK workout program, which blends low-impact Pilates-style moves with high-intensity cardio and strength.

For example, a high-impact, high-intensity workout would be a set of burpees. "That's going to increase your heart rate very quickly, and you're also jumping and landing, so there's impact against the body," explains Mulgrew. Meanwhile, rowing is a high-intensity, low-impact workout, since "it's non-weight bearing (since you're seated), but you can row quickly or with power, and that's going to increase the intensity at which your body is working," she says. Then you can also have a low-intensity, low-impact workout, which would be something like going for a long walk on a flat surface. None of these are inherently better or worse than the others: "it really just depends on what your goals and intentions are," Mulgrew says.

Examples of Low-Impact Workouts

"Fitting low-impact workouts into your current exercise routine can be easier than you think," Colon says. That's because many workouts are inherently low-impact, such as Pilates, yoga, walking, cycling, swimming, and even strength training. And you can easily make a workout low-impact by removing or modifying any jumping moves. For example, a plyometric HIIT workout can be made low-impact if you swap out, say, jump squats and do a squat to calf raise instead.

One exercise you can't make low-impact, however, is running. Because you're airborne for a brief moment while you're transferring your weight from one leg to the other, running, by definition, is high impact. For that reason, sports that include running or agility, for example, (think: tennis, pickleball, soccer, and basketball) would all be considered high-impact.

Who Can Benefit From Low-Impact Workouts?

Everyone can benefits from low-impact, says Norris. Because so much falls under the low-impact umbrella, there's something there for everyone, no matter your needs and goals.

Notably, because your body and joints get less wear and tear from low-impact workouts, they can be a great choice for anyone who's had an injury in the past or who wants to prevent injury in the future, says Miller. Not to mention, low-impact workouts are generally friendly for beginners or people coming back from a workout hiatus.

Why Is Everybody So Into Low-Impact Workouts Right Now?

The internet's current love for low-impact exercise is real, from the 12-3-30 workout to reformer Pilates. But there are several reasons the trend has swung this way.

For one, "it just feels better," says Mulgrew. "It allows people to connect with their bodies - it's an inner-body experience rather than an out-of-body experience. Not to say that you can't experience that mind-body connection when you're doing more impactful things, but when the body doesn't feel good when you're doing it, it's very distracting. All you can think about is the discomfort rather than the way that your body is moving." Over the past decade, the cultural fitness narrative has shifted from being about aesthetics to being about abilities to being about mood and mental health - swapping unrealistic beauty standards for self-care. So it makes sense that people are starting to pick their workouts based on the feel-good factor rather than caloric payoff or body-changing promises.

This instinct to choose movement that feels good becomes even more relevant in the wake of a global pandemic. COVID pushed us to slow down life in all respects - including our workouts. "When you're already in an emotionally stressful environment, which we all experienced, it's really hard to get the body to do really impactful, hard, challenging workouts," Mulgrew says. Low-impact workouts are apartment- and living room–friendly and often seem to have a lower barrier to entry, as far as effort is concerned.

Not to mention, they're easier to stick with. "Moving in mostly low-impact ways feels really good on the body, so it's easier to do more of; you can show up five or six days a week without feeling broken down," Miller adds.

Miller, Mulgrew, and Norris all agree that, collectively, we're doing a bit of course-correcting from several years ago, when high-impact, high-intensity workouts were the norm, and there was a general "harder is better" mentality. "Now, people are realizing that there's a different way to work out where you can look and feel good and don't have to go beat your body up," says Norris.

"I think people are also just tired of doing that stuff," Mulgrew says. "Now, the industry is giving people permission, so to speak, to not have to do that kind of workout anymore. . . we've gotten smarter as an industry. We know you can still maintain or establish and celebrate wins without having to be so hard on the body."

While low-impact training has some undeniable benefits, it's important to note that high-impact workouts aren't inherently bad, either. In fact, you're better off if you do a little bit of everything, says Mulgrew. It's important that your body can respond well to impact because it's a nonnegotiable part of everyday life. You're going to need to jump over puddles and dash to the train - and if your fitness training includes a little bit of impact training, you'll be better prepared for when those moments arise. "Your workout needs to complement your lifestyle," she says. "There's a time and place for all of it; we just have to be mindful. You don't want to go to the extreme on either end."

One thing every trainer here emphasized was that the way you incorporate low-impact training into your routine is all about your personal preferences and goals. If you love running, by all means, don't stop it because it's a high-impact workout - just consider using your cross-training days to do some low-impact strength training instead of a plyometric HIIT class. And if your morning walk and Pilates classes are the best thing about your day, don't feel the need to change that; just consider adding a little bouncy dance cardio every once in a while, so your body is ready for whatever comes your way.

Lauren Mazzo was the senior fitness editor at PS. She is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist through the American Council on Exercise. Prior to joining PS, she worked for six years as a writer and editor for Shape Magazine covering health, fitness, nutrition, mental health, sex and relationships, beauty, and astrology.

11 Peloton Bike Seat Cushions That Deliver a Smoother Ride

Kalea Martín — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 21:35:02 +0000

A year into riding my Peloton, one thing still holds true (and has since I was a beginner): the bikes are a pain in the butt . . . literally. Sitting on a regular bike is already uncomfortable, but add in my favorite Peloton instructor's intense workouts, and it seems like my butt muscles are constantly sore. This level of intensity may motivate me to throw on a pair of Peloton-friendly cycling shoes and hop back on the bike, but there's only so much padded bike shorts can do to combat what the Peloton community refers to as the "sore bum conundrum." This is where Amazon's game-changing Peloton seat cushions come into play.

If an uncomfortable seat is holding you back from longer rides and more consistent workouts, I can confirm that a great bike cushion can make a world of difference. For Peloton bikes specifically, there are a number of compatible cushions designed to help you power through bruised tailbones and achy glutes. Plus, since they're all available on Amazon, these workout essentials are budget-friendly and super easy to shop.

Our favorite Peloton bike seat cushions are all about comfort, but they won't sacrifice your form or make your workout any less challenging. They're also easy to attach to your Peloton and informed by actual Amazon shoppers. In other words, your next best (and significantly more comfortable) workout is just around the corner. Keep reading to shop our picks for the best Peloton seat cushions.

- Additional reporting by India Yaffe, Kyley Warren, Lauren Mazzo, Alexis Jones, and Chandler Plante

How Festivalgoers With Chronic Illnesses Navigate Coachella

Chandler Plante — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 20:45:02 +0000

I didn't go to Coachella prior to developing a mysterious illness, and now, part of me fears I never will. The relentless Indio sun is daunting even for able-bodied people, but the undiagnosed autoimmune disease rendering me blind in one eye makes the heat especially intolerable. As I read through the festival's top-tier lineup, all I can think about is the slew of meds I'd have to carry around the campgrounds, the risk of dehydration, and the tens of thousands of steps standing between me and my desired venues. (This year, some stages are nearly a mile apart from one another.)

Coachella ADA services offer accommodations like accessible shower areas, assisted listening device systems, sensory support bags, and campsites closer to the festival grounds for those who need them, but for people with chronic conditions, it's not always enough to make a major music festival worth it. Still - and although every condition is different, so people should always consult with their healthcare provider for personalized medical advice - there are ways to navigate Coachella with a chronic illness.

To get a better sense of how, or what that might look like, we spoke with seasoned Coachella attendees about how they managed their own chronic illnesses at Coachella, and whether or not they think it's worth the hassle.

If You Can, Prep For the Occasion

Just like no chronic illness presents itself the same, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to preparing for Coachella. That said, there may be a few things you can do ahead of time to make the festival more pleasant.

"I actually train for Coachella like an athlete trains for a marathon," says Kait Gardner, a beauty YouTuber who frequently shares her experience with conditions like hypermobile EDS, POTS, and dysautonomia. This year marks her fifth Coachella, and she's been in full preparation-mode for the past four months. "When you have hypermobile EDS, your joints have a really hard time holding everything together. What that means is a lot of pain, and so, if my muscles aren't very strong, then I'm going to have a very difficult time walking the 40,000 steps [at Coachella]."

"I actually train for Coachella like an athlete trains for a marathon."

To give herself a better shot at experiencing the festival comfortably, Gardner does everything from walk training to strength training, gradually lifting heavier weights to prepare her muscles for the event. She even exposes herself to heat a few months in advance in an effort to improve her heat tolerance. "There's a lot that goes into the prep for [Coachella], and that's for me to be able to have a good time and try to reduce the pain that I'm in, and try to increase my endurance," Gardner says. "[Music is] like my entire world . . . if I lost this, I would have nothing."

Holly Fowler can relate to this passion, attending Coachella in 2019 as a music lover with ulcerative colitis. "Everyone, chronic illness warriors included, deserve to go and have an amazing time at Coachella," she says. "With a little bit of research and maybe a little outreach from the organizers, you can have an amazing experience."

Tailor Your Packing List For Your Needs

Consider this permission to scroll past every generic "Coachella packing list," because everyone's looks different based on their own individual needs. Gardner, for example, has mastered the art of packing for Coachella. Some of her essentials include orthopedic inserts for her shoes, loose clothing - "you've got to make sure that you're thinking about what you're going to wear in terms of comfort," she says - and a portable neck fan that blows cool air and charges like an iPhone. Mint and glycerin cooling patches are a more topical cooling option that act like a kind of portable wet washcloth (Gardner got hers from Amazon). Besides this gear, Gardner uses KT tape to hold her joints in place and reduce some of the knee pain caused by her hypermobility.

Just a note on packing your meds: Coachella typically allows prescription medication as long as it's in the original container with your name on it (matching the name on your ID). Gardner says she's only ever had an issue with her salt pills, which increase blood volume and help prevent fainting, but it generally hasn't been an issue at Coachella. The ADA site notes that medications must be cleared by the medical team, and you can always ask a crowd management supervisor to help you find a member of the medical team upon arrival.

Consider Alternative Transportation

In 2019, Fowler remembers taking a "bicycle taxi" from the campgrounds to the venue gates. (This is most likely referring to these pedi cab services.) In 2024, however, the Coachella ADA website noted that accessible cart services are available - with shuttles to entrances, exits, parking, accessible showers, and accessible campgrounds - but in the interest of public safety, they do not drive within the Coachella festival grounds. To use the shuttle, you need an accessibility wristband, which are issued on-site by the on-site accessibility services hubs. Expect wait times of up to 40 minutes.

"Sometimes I just don't go to shows because I know that it's going to be too much for me to walk all the way to that venue," Gardner says. "There's no golf cart service that I can get. I've never seen a golf cart. I've never seen people being transported between stages." It may still be a possibility (Coachella encourages people to reach out to ada@coachella.com for any additional accessibility-related needs), but generally speaking, there aren't many options for transportation within the festival grounds. Certain packages, including the safari campgrounds, come with golf cart transportation between stages, but it's marketed as more of a luxury, rather than an accessibility-related resource (and it'll run you upward of $9,000).

Knowing that it's a long day of walking in the hot sun, try to conserve your energy accordingly, taking breaks when necessary, and finding spaces with shade, air conditioning, and water. You may also want to take the various venues into consideration when planning out your concert itinerary.

Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time

There are plenty of food carts on the grounds at Coachella, but the options aren't always inclusive of specific dietary needs. In these cases, it can be helpful to plan ahead.

"I did a lot of research figuring out what to pack to eat all of our meals - which actually, I really liked, because I had control over all of my food," Fowler says. This made a big difference because ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel condition that affects digestion, so the food you eat plays a big role. Although Coachella generally doesn't allow you to bring your own food into festival grounds, there are several gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan food vendors, according to the ADA website. "I had my snacks, but I also ate at the festival," Fowler says. "They had a lot of different types of food choices, so that was a positive. And I wasn't stressed about not being able to eat."

Gardner agrees that festival food anxiety is real (if you're not prepared). "[As] part of having hypermobile EDS and dysautonomia, you have a lot of GI problems, and then it's difficult to control everything that you're ingesting because you're not cooking at a festival," she says. "So I always bring my GasX, my Advil, my Pepto Bismol, my Tums, all of the things, just in case." You can contact ada@coachella.com for more details about dietary needs and specific vendors.

A Note on Checking Into the Festival

Because there is no way to note your accessibility needs during the pre-event registration and Coachella does not sell specific "accessibility tickets," you'll need to register accordingly on-site. "Getting in and out of the festival is the hardest part," Gardner says. "[I] asked for a little cart to take me into the festival and skip the mile walk in, but in order to wait for that cart, I had to stand in the heat for 20 minutes." Gardner says she also had some difficulty getting her ADA wristband on-site because she appears to be able-bodied.

"They don't want to give a ton of people wristbands because they want to make sure the people who really need it are going to get it, and I totally understand that. But I did have to fight for it a little bit," she says. Gardner had a doctor's note ready to go, which quickly solved the issue, but she says this is one of the more stressful parts of the Coachella experience as a person with chronic illness.

Know Where to Go During the Festival

Once you get into the festival, there are more places to look for shade, first aid, and air conditioning, including certain vendors and pop-ups, where you can hang out if you need a break from the heat. Some venues are also indoors, including the Yuma and Sonora tents. "Those are kind of what I lean on as my own personal little ADA," Gardner says. "The ADA seating is very limited, and if you have a lot of people going who have an ADA wristband, if you don't get there early before a show, you will not have access to a seat." She adds that the ADA seating is also very far back, and often offers very little shade, which isn't ideal if you struggle with heat intolerance.

Fowler says she had a great time overall, but the heat also proved to be one of the biggest challenges. Luckily there are water stations all around the festival, which she used to fill up her camelback and stay hydrated throughout the day. To manage her energy, Fowler planned her day around artists with smaller crowds, finding moments to sit (when possible), and leaving early to get extra sleep. "Most of the time we didn't even see the headliners because they wouldn't come on until 11 or 12 and we were exhausted, so I was done by 10, 10:30 every night," Fowler says. "I was still really drained, from what I can remember, and needed a few days to recover."

So, Is It Worth It?

While every person is different, both Fowler and Gardner agree that their Coachella experiences were worth the extra planning. "It's truly the best feeling that I've ever experienced," Gardner says. "And so even though there are these challenges, and even though it takes a lot of effort, it's so worth it for me."

Flau'jae Johnson Steals the Spotlight - on the Court and the Stage

Natasha Marsh — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 18:15:07 +0000

"Came to LSU my freshman year and we made history," is not only a line in Flau'jae Johnson's 13-song mixtape "4 My Fans." It's also an accurate description of the rapper and LSU basketball player's life since she won the 2023 NCAA championship as LSU's All-American guard. Since those lyrics became a reality, the 5-foot-10 multihyphenate's life has been on a fast track. She's been featured in a Super Bowl commercial, secured multiple deals with sports and lifestyle brands, and signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Jay-Z's label, Roc Nation.

This past March Madness, Johnson made headlines when the LSU Tigers lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes in the semifinals and the team spoke honestly about their experiences with the media. Her support of Angel Reese, a fellow Black woman Tiger, was poignant. But despite the emotional moment, Johnson believes all the coverage of women's sports is a good thing. "LSU, Catilin Clark, South Carolina - these are great storylines and people are getting more interested to see, that's only going to grow," she says.

Johnson, 20, started playing basketball as soon as she could walk, and she realized she could take her skills far when she kept beating boys on the elementary school courts. Kia Brooks, the athlete's mother and manager, put her in Amateur Athletic Union Circuit, or competitive, basketball. It was here that her love of the sport grew. The Savannah, GA, native's intense focus led her to score over 1,900 points throughout her high school career, and she became the all-time leading scorer for her school's team before finding her place on the LSU women's team, where she averaged 14.9 points per game during the '23-24 season and 11 during the '22-23 season.

Like most great athletes, Johnson is the first one on the court and the last one off. Rising at 5 a.m. every morning before class, the star player likes to take at least 500 shots a day to maintain her practice. But she has multiple commitments, and her strict schedule involves hours in the gym, conditioning and playing; studio sessions spent recording new tracks and mixtapes; and time to unwind and connect with family. "It's about being disciplined in my schedule," she says.

Now, before you start thinking Johnson's music career took off because of her NCAA fame, think again. The multitalented entrepreneur has been performing since she was 7. As the daughter of Jason Johnson - also known as Camoflauge, a popular Georgia-area rapper who was tragically killed before her birth - Johnson has always used rapping as a way to continue her father's legacy.

"I try to help people go through what they are going through," the rapper shares of the meaning behind her lyrics. "It's always something I'm going through, too. I just know how to bottle it up and put it in music. It's like therapy."

"I see it, acknowledge it, but I don't let it get to me."

Johnson was only 12 when she appeared on Lifetime's "The Rap Game," a television series hosted by Jermaine Dupri featuring aspiring kid rappers. At 14, she was on the 13th season of "America's Got Talent," and took both opportunities as a way to grow her brand and enhance her musical talents. Today, the Georgia star has more than 300,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

Managing a full-time college basketball schedule and rap career would make many people's heads spin. But Johnson sees it as a blessing to be able to use two of her gifts simultaneously. It was the reason she chose LSU as her college; according to Johnson, it was the only school that provided options for her to succeed in both. But during basketball season, the star focuses on the sport, dedicating only three to four hours a day for music.

"It gets stressful, time management wise. I'm still working on that," Johnson shares. "That's one of the skills when I get that one all the way down pat, I'll be gone. I'd be able to execute ideas and all the stuff I want."

Johnson has an exciting year ahead with basketball and the May release of her new project, "Best of Both Worlds." As her first official EP, "Best of Both Worlds" boasts nine songs, including one that features hip-hop icon Lil Wayne. The sound represents a departure for Johnson.

"I can't wait for people to hear this," the musician says. "Ain't My Fault," or AMF for short, is one of the three songs on the EP that was released early. Featuring Memphis rapper NLE Choppa, the song gives nostalgic nods to her late father and her basketball role models. She raps, "Balling like my daddy, stunning like my daddy" and "I keep on pimpin' like I'm Scottie," a tribute to Scottie Pippen, the former Bulls forward. Johnson says she spent a little less than a year crafting the tracks.

Despite all her exciting accomplishments, Johnson hasn't always been cheered on by the public. "I've been getting way more hate than I ever did in my life," she shares. But she chooses to turn the other cheek: "I see it, acknowledge it, but I don't let it get to me. Because I'm able to choose whether it affects me or not, I don't even let it get that far."

"Finally, it's our time. Women's sports and basketball is going nowhere anytime soon.

That doesn't mean she isn't privy to the headlines, both positive and negative. And she is aware that she's being scrutinized for being a Black woman in America, and that she has Black girls looking up to her. "It isn't necessarily a weight, but it is very nerve-racking being in the public eye," she says. "They get a scope on you, so you've got to just move in a certain way, especially when you inspire so many people. Then trying to just navigate that with being a regular kid, it can be a lot."

But all the hard work and dedication has been worth it. Johnson has monetized her name, image, and likeness (NIL) through numerous sports drinks, fashion, and beauty deals. According to On3, her NIL is valued at $1.1 million. And together, Brooks and Johnson have become a mother-daughter power duo that has landed deals with Powerade, Nike, Puma, Meta, JBL Audio, Experian, and many other brands.

Where many 20-year-olds might rebel against their parents, Johnson holds Brooks close. "I just know she's got the best interest in me at heart," the point guard says of their professional relationship. "Nobody's going to have my best interest like my mom. She's learned the game, learned how to manage, and learned so much stuff [to get me where I needed to be] that it only made sense that she'd be my manager and walk me through these doors. I just thought, keep my mother by my side."

In addition to family relationships, Johnson keeps a strong tie to her hometown. In 2018, Johnson became the first teenager to receive Savannah's key to the city, and she is very involved and committed to giving back to her community and state. Throughout her collegiate career, the star has teamed up with her various donors to gift headphones, school clothes, and sports shoes to kids in Georgia.

Carrying out this work, Johnson's next big goal is to build a resource center for the children in Savannah. "I want to supply the kids in my city with an outlet where they can go to play sports, be creative, and learn," she says. Johnson is very aware that this requires a lot of time, resources, and dedication, and she's in it for the long haul. "I want my brand and business to grow because I don't want to do that just on holidays. I want to help the economy and environment throughout the year. I'm staying in school so I can learn business and gather the tools needed to successfully see these goals out."

In everything she does, Johnson hopes to be an inspiration for others and keep the momentum up around women's sports. "The presence that women's sports occupies is so beautiful," Johnson says. "Finally, it's our time. Women's sports and basketball is going nowhere anytime soon. It's just going to be normalized."

Natasha Marsh is a freelance writer who writes about fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. Prior to freelancing, she held styling staff positions at The Wall Street Journal, Burberry, Cosmopolitan Magazine, British GQ, and Harpers Bazaar.

14 Movies About the Olympics That'll Get You Excited For Paris 2024

Corinne Sullivan — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 23:00:03 +0000

It's never too early to start getting in the Olympic spirit. With the 2024 Summer Olympics quickly approaching, now feels like an appropriate time to look back at record-breaking performances, incredible acts of teamwork, and even headline-making controversies. Unlike Olympic athletes who spend their entire lives training for such moments, we have a slightly different way of gearing up for the Games: lounging around on the couch and watching movies about the Olympics. In our opinion, the best ones are inspired by real-life athletes and events. Luckily, there are plenty of inspiring movies and documentaries about the Olympics that fit the bill.

To help you prepare for the Paris Games, we rounded up some of the best movies about the Olympics, from a biopic about one of figure skating's biggest scandals to a wholesome telling of the "Miracle on Ice." Read on for more inspiring movies and thrilling documentaries available to stream well before the opening ceremony, and get excited for more groundbreaking Olympic moments coming this summer.

- Additional reporting by Chandler Plante

Angel Reese Is Headed to the WNBA - but She Might Be Hanging Up Her Crown

Alexis Jones — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:50:02 +0000

Angel Reese is a star in every sense of the word. Despite Louisiana State's loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Final Four of March Madness, Reese ended her collegiate career on a high, walking away with a host of awards and broken records, as well as an entry into the WNBA.

On April 15, Reese, more affectionately known by fans as the "Bayou Barbie," will be selected by one of the league's 12 teams alongside some of her former NCAA competitors turned draftees, including Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, and Aliyah Edwards. PS caught up with the draft pick ahead of the big night, where Reese opened up about her collegiate legacy, as well as some of the goals she has for the W.

A Look at Angel Reese's Legacy

While at LSU, the forward became known for her bold gameplay on the court, which often includes unapologetic trash talk, fresh lashes, and edges laid to the gods. That likely won't change. It's how she earned the nickname "Bayou Barbie" and it's served as a representation that women athletes - and more specifically Black women athletes - can be exactly who they are in the world of sport.

Reese's notorious crown, however, might not make it to the league. You've likely spotted the jeweled tiara placed on Reese's head during LSU's pregame ritual. Throughout her career, it's symbolized that Reese is "the queen," LSU's Amani Bartlett (bestower of the crown), told the Associated Press. But it appears the athlete is approaching her next move with a fresh start mindset, potentially leaving the crown behind.

"I don't know if we'll see [the crown] in the WNBA," Reese tells PS while working a predraft shift at Raising Cane's in Manhattan. "That was something that I did at LSU and I want to just turn over a new page and start a new chapter."

That said, there will always be a figurative crown on her head - and it's a heavy one, Reese admits. The 21-year-old has faced relentless attacks from the public throughout her collegiate career, often being pitted against Caitlin Clark and villanized for the same gameplay that's made her such a formidable player. "I've been through so much. I've seen so much. I've been attacked so many times. Death threats. I've been sexualized. I've been threatened," Reese said in a post-game interview after LSU's loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes during the NCAA tournament.

What You Can Expect From Angel Reese in the WNBA

As Reese enters the WNBA, she's hoping for a clean slate and to focus on growing women's sports alongside players like Clark. For context, the NCAA women's championship final raked in 18.7 million viewers, more than any college or professional basketball game since 2019, per ESPN.

"It's crazy how the game's going right now and being able to surpass the men . . . it's exciting and I think our games are so much more interesting right now," Reese says. "So many people are tuning in and watching us and I love it."

Now, Reese is eager to see how the enthusiasm translates to the WNBA. "Being able to take this to the W is where you want to do it at and I think they deserve it, especially the vets - they've done a great job and laid the ground for us."

The Transverse Abdominis Is Key to a Powerful Core - Here's How to Train It

Megan Falk — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:45:02 +0000

It's easy to focus your ab workouts on the muscles you can spot in the mirror. But just as important for core strength and overall function are the muscles we can't see in our own reflection. This includes the muscles deep within your core, and most notably, the transverse abdominis.

Your core consists of several muscles located throughout your midsection. Together, they assist with movements such as bending, straightening, and rotating your torso, transferring force between your upper and lower body. Along with more well-known abdominal muscles such as the rectus abdominis (the "six-pack" ab muscles) and the internal and external obliques, your core also includes the diaphragm (which helps you breathe), back muscles called the erector spinae and lumbar multifidus, and even hip flexors called the quadratus lumborum and iliac psoas, as explained by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

The transverse abdominis is among the most powerful muscles in your deep core. This hidden abdominal muscle is essential for maintaining posture and reducing injury risk, but it may not be engaged in your current workout routine. Ahead, a strength-training expert explains why the transverse abdominis muscle is so important and what you can do to effectively train it. Read on for a few expert-approved exercises that will engage your transverse abdominis and help you build a stronger core (without overhauling your current routine).

What Is the Transverse Abdominis Muscle?

First, a quick anatomy lesson. The transverse abdominis is one of the four major abdominal muscles, says Alyssa Parten, PhD(c), MS, CSCS, a NSCA-certified personal trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, and powerlifting coach. That list of muscles includes:

Rectus Abdominis: The most well-known abs muscle, the rectus abdominis sits vertically in the center of your abdomen and plays a role in flexion of the spine (similar to a crunch exercise), Parten tells POPSUGAR.
Internal and External Obliques: The external and internal obliques help with lateral bending and twisting movements and run diagonally from the sides of your abdomen, she adds. The external muscles originate from the upper portion of your ribcage and insert into your pelvis, while the internal muscles stem from your pelvis and connect to your lower ribs and linea alba (the connective tissue that runs from the sternum to the public bone).
Transverse Abdominis: The transverse abdominis lies deep beneath these other abdominal muscles, and wraps around your entire abdomen, almost like a corset, Parten says. "While you can actually feel your rectus abdominis and your external and internal obliques with your hands, you can't palpate [i.e. touch] your transverse abdominis because of how deep it is," she adds. Its main function is to compress the abdomen and, in turn, provide stabilityto the spine and pelvis, Parten says.

To "find" your transverse abdominis and feel it in action, all it takes is a forceful exhalation. Breathe out of your mouth as hard as possible, blowing as much air as you can, Parten says. These are the deep core muscles you should think about engaging.

Transverse Abdominis Benefits

You may not be able to see any visual changes from training your transverse abdominis, but doing so will help you build better muscular endurance, Parten says. Muscular endurance is a muscle's ability to produce and maintain a particular level of force for a long duration, according to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Your core muscles, in particular, need high levels of endurance to help you maintain an upright posture all day every day, Parten says. The spinal stability provided by the transverse abdominis will also help support your posture and keep you standing when you quickly change your position (say, jumping to the side to avoid stepping in a puddle) or resist a force (e.g. a bar patron who bumps into you), she adds.

Consistently training your transverse abdominis can also help keep you pain-free, as the spine and pelvis are particularly susceptible to injury, Parten says. "A lot of the time, injuries are going to come from joints that are more mobile," she explains. "Your spine, specifically your middle back, and your hips are mobile regions. Being able to stabilize any movements that use those joints are going to help you mitigate [your risk of] injury."

Research suggests that your transverse abdominis may also play a role in back pain. Reduced transverse abdominis engagement has been linked to the development and progression of low back pain, and training the muscle may help relieve symptoms, according to the Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation.

How to Train Your Transverse Abdominis

Training your transverse abdominis doesn't have to be complicated. Since the simple act of a forceful exhale engages the muscle, you can easily train it throughout your usual strength workout. "You can engage your transverse abdominis doing just about anything," Parten says. Consider a round of squats, Parten says. Before you perform your first rep, breathe out through your mouth as hard as you can - you should feel the transverse abdominis engage. Then, inhale through your nose, which ensures your abdominals remain activated, as you lower down into your squat. (Inhaling through your mouth will make it more challenging to maintain that abdominal bracing.) As you drive through your feet to return to standing, forcefully breathe out through your mouth.

You can repeat the process with other compound movements, such as deadlifts and bench presses, Parten says. Just remember to exhale before you start your first rep, inhale through your nose during the eccentric portion of the movement (usually when you're lowering your body or a weight), and exhale through your mouth during the concentric portion.

You can also practice core exercises that zero in on the muscle group. Opt for movements that involve isometric contractions - meaning your muscles are contracting but not actively moving (think: holding a plank) - as they enhance stability. "Whenever you do an abdominal movement that's more isometric, you can exhale through your mouth, inhale through your nose, and hold that engagement," Parten says. "That will be a good transverse abdominis exercise." Core exercises that involve forward or lateral flexion of the spine will more heavily target your rectus abdominis and obliques, she says.

Exercises For the Transverse Abdominis

Ready to give your transverse abdominis the training it deserves? Start by adding these three transverse abdominis exercises into your next workout.

Dead Bug

The dead bug is Parten's favorite transverse abdominis exercise: "Getting used to holding that trunk position while you're moving your limbs is going to be super effective in improving the stability of your back and your hips," she notes. While you can incorporate dead bug exercises into a dedicated abs workout, Parten prefers to use them as a warm-up. "Whenever you do a lot of sitting, you lose a lot of the stability of your lumbopelvic region - your low back and your pelvis - which is where your transverse abdominis wraps around," she explains. Doing dead bugs before other moves, like squats, for example, helps you "maintain control of that region," she says, and keeps you moving optimally during your workout.

Lie on your back with your legs and arms raised in a reverse table-top position: arms are extended toward the ceiling, with your hands in line with your shoulders, and your knees are bent at 90-degree angles and stacked above your hips. Flex your feet so your toes point toward the ceiling and your shins are parallel to the floor.
Engage your core by forcefully exhaling through your mouth. Keeping your lower back glued to the floor, inhale through your nose and slowly lower your right arm to the floor behind your head while simultaneously straightening your left leg and lowering it to the floor. Continue lowering until your lower back begins to arch or your right hand and left heel touch the floor.
Exhale through your mouth and lift your right arm and left leg back to the starting position. Repeat on the opposite side. That's one rep.
Try doing 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography | Chaunté Vaughn

Hollow-Body Hold

The hollow-body hold is similar to the dead bug, but it's much less dynamic. You lower both your arms and legs as close to the floor as possible, then hold your body in a banana-shaped position to increase your muscular endurance.

Lie on your back with your legs and arms raised in a reverse table-top position: arms are extended toward the ceiling, with your hands in line with your shoulders, and your knees are bent at 90-degree angles and stacked above your hips. Flex your feet so your toes point toward the ceiling and your shins are parallel to the floor.
Engage your core by forcefully exhaling through your mouth. Keeping your lower back glued to the floor, inhale through your nose and slowly lower both of your arms to the floor above your head and extend your legs to lower your heels toward the floor. Continue lowering until your lower back begins to arch or your biceps are in line with your ears and your feet are lifted just a few inches off the floor. Your body should be slightly curved, like a banana. If that's too challenging or you notice your lower back is lifting off the floor, keep your legs raised higher toward the ceiling (e.g. about a 45-degree angle).
Hold this position, continuing to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Try 2-3 sets of 20- to 60-second holds.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography | Chaunté Vaughn

Bear Plank

This transverse abdominis exercise has the same starting position as a dead bug, only you'll be facing the floor and supporting your body with your hands and toes. Remember to maintain a neutral spine and continue breathing as you hold your plank.

Start in a table-top position on the floor with your knees bent at 90-degree angles and directly under your hips, your wrists directly under your shoulders, and your toes resting on the floor. Gaze down and slightly forward to maintain a neutral neck.
Engage your core by forcefully exhaling through your mouth, then press through your palms to lift your knees a few inches off the floor, maintaining a flat back.
Hold this position, continuing to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Try 2-3 sets of 20- to 60-second holds.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography | Chaunté Vaughn

Megan Falk is an experienced health and wellness journalist and editor whose work has been published by POPSUGAR, Shape, Livestrong, Women's Health, Well+Good, mindbodygreen, Wide Open Spaces, and other outlets. She has served as an editor on Equinox's content team and at Shape, where she primarily covered exercise tips, fitness modalities, workout trends, and more. Megan is also a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise.

I Asked ChatGPT to Help Me Figure Out My Mystery Illness

Chandler Plante — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:25:02 +0000

When I ask my 19-year-old sister if she uses AI in college, I'm only half-joking. To me, AI is less of a tangible tool and more of an abstract robot army to be avoided at all costs. Her bewildered "what are you, 90?!" response is a swift (and mildly embarrassing) reality check. Noting my confusion, she explains how free software like ChatGPT can answer almost any question and hold human-like conversations. Having dealt with an undiagnosed mystery illness for the past three years, I started thinking about the answers I want more than anything else in the world.

Within the realm of human intelligence, I've already been to five different hospitals, desperately trying to figure out the reason behind two ischemic strokes, and the loss of vision in my right eye. I've worked my way through treatments like corticosteroids, radiation therapy, spinal taps, angiograms, and biopsies, but nothing seems to stick. In terms of experts, I bounce from neurosurgeons to rheumatologists to oculoplastic specialists, hoping someone will be able to connect the dots. People say I just need to try a different hospital, a different doctor, a different specialist, but they don't know what it feels like to constantly come up short.

Given that I'm still experiencing persistent flare-ups, the possibility of an enucleation (the removal of my eye), is slowly inching its way into reality. The fact that a software with the ability to instantly assess almost 570GB of data exists, why wouldn't I give it a shot?

My Experience With ChatGPT

My initial impression of ChatGPT is that I'm bad at texting robots. I have a lot of questions, but I worry about overwhelming the AI, my fingers awkwardly hovering over my keyboard. I start by punching in "medical diagnosis" and, in this moment, I do feel 90. ChatGPT promptly informs me that - while it can offer clarity on certain symptoms and conditions - it is not a doctor, nor is it a replacement for professional medical advice. "If there's something specific you'd like to know or discuss, feel free to share, and I'll do my best to assist you!" it responds, and I decide to take its cheerful advice.

"What are some reasons for ocular inflammation?" I ask. The answers are detailed, listing common causes like infections, allergies, and physical injuries to the eye, but are relatively unhelpful for my specific circumstance. Realizing ChatGPT has no way of knowing anything about my medical history, I decide to give the robots more context to work with.

"Are there any autoimmune conditions that may cause nongranulomatous inflammation in the orbit, cutting off blood flow to the optic nerve?" I type into the chat bar. It's such a specific query, I almost feel stupid writing it. Luckily, ChatGPT thrives on specificity. "Autoimmune conditions can indeed cause inflammation in the orbit (the area surrounding the eye), leading to various eye-related symptoms, including optic nerve ischemia," the chatbot replies, referencing the process that occurs when the optic nerve does not receive enough blood flow. It lists conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and thyroid eye disease (aka Graves' orbitopathy) as examples. Although I've tested negative for most of them, I'm encouraged by the amount of detail.

My next question has more to do with treatment. "Is there a way to help nongranulomatous inflammation in the orbit . . . if Rituximab and corticosteroids don't work?" I ask, referencing my previous medications. I'm curious to see how the chatbot will respond to this stipulation, but it takes the challenge in stride. While some specialists have shrugged and made me feel like there were no other options available, ChatGPT creates an extensive list of potential treatments in seconds - a few of which I've heard before, and a few I haven't.

The bullet points encapsulate everything from specific TNF inhibitors to plasma exchange, adding that surgical invention (like the kind I'm currently considering) is also a very real possibility. Given that my condition is so difficult to research in any meaningful way, this information feels strangely validating. I wouldn't let AI dictate my decision around removing an eye, but I appreciate its input nonetheless.

Speaking of which, it's time to see how ChatGPT feels about enucleation. I ask if it's possible to remove an eyeball if you have a mass behind it, including a few details about my circumstances. For the first time, the robots seem taken aback. This is a drastic surgery, ChatGPT tells me, but it may be necessary for a few reasons. The bot lists them out in a way I feel would be quite helpful to anyone trying to make sense of a very difficult situation (myself included). I ask a few follow-ups about the healing process, and notice that in each of its answers, ChatGPT emphasizes the emotional toll a surgery like this might have on a patient. I'm ashamed to say I hadn't expected so much thoughtfulness from AI, but I appreciated the virtual concern for my emotional and psychological well-being, even if only via chat.

Did ChatGPT Solve My Mystery Illness?

Compared to a clinical setting where you only get a few minutes to ask all your most critical questions, ChatGPT gives you time and space, free from any in-person judgment. Although AI isn't as thorough or personalized as information from a healthcare professional (and we still don't recommend using it as a replacement for actual medical care), it may help you uncover the questions you should be asking. Are there treatments you haven't considered? Is there a specialist that could offer additional insight?

I'll admit it's slightly emotional that even the robots don't know what's wrong with me. In a sad last-ditch effort, I seriously considered typing something like, "Why is this happening to me?" until I remembered an existential ask would get me nowhere.

While I still don't have a diagnosis, I walked away from my first ChatGPT experience feeling hopeful, validated, and heard, which is more than I can say about some of my other appointments out in the real world. And even if the robots aren't the definitive solution, at least they won't send me another medical bill.

This 15-Minute Barre-Inspired Workout Will Fire Up Your Glutes

Chandler Plante — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:15:01 +0000

Strengthen your glutes and feel the burn throughout your entire lower body with this fiery 15-minute workout. Presented by BODYARMOR Zero Sugar, this quick class draws inspiration from barre to lengthen your muscles and help you build strength using only your bodyweight. Although the individual exercises might look simple, they pack a serious punch as M/Body founder, Marnie Alton, leads you through each one for a workout you'll feel the next day. Low-impact modifications are also available, making this class accessible to all different levels of fitness.

You'll start by jumping from side to side, shaking off any built-up tension and allowing the energy to flow. Then, you'll use tiny runs get your heart rate up even further - swinging your arms and rolling out your head, hips, and feet before diving into the rest of the programming. To activate your hips and calves, you'll stretch out to alternating sides and squat, with an option to relevé in between (aka rise up onto your tip-toes). You'll then go straight into a series of high relevés, holding at the top before transitioning into full-range bodyweight squats. You can choose to add a few high-knee lifts before switching to knee taps and high-energy side steps. Finish this fast-paced series with a round of jumping jacks, then get ready to slow it back down.

The next segment is heavily barre-inspired, with lots of isolation and pulsating movements. You'll come into a wide second position, lowering down, holding, and pulsing at the bottom of the plié to build awareness of the lower body. Try dropping even lower into the position and lift one heel up up at a time for a more intense burn, staying low to the mat as you move into a high lunge
. From here, you'll tuck and release the hips while you hold the lunge. Drop the back knee and focus on range, possibly adding a jump. "The bigger the range, the bigger the burst of power," Alton explains.

Throughout the rest of the workout, you'll move from second position to curtsy lunges, adding a pas de chat leap as a transition. You'll continue to hold positions and pulse to build heat in the lower body, but Alton also includes a healthy dose of cardio to ensure you break a sweat. "Exhale judgment, inhale curiosity," Alton says. "Maybe a little joy, because we don't have to do this, we get to do this." Follow along for stronger legs and glutes, and check out new workouts every week on the POPSUGAR Fitness YouTube channel.

More Young Adults Are Getting Cancer, but These Women's Stories Go Beyond the Stats

Yerin Kim — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:00:02 +0000

Like all the "hot girls" on TikTok, Bri Mahon thought she had irritable bowel syndrome. Since her early 20s, she had been battling a variety of gut inconsistencies: bloating, constipation, blood in her stool, thinning stool. But it wasn't until she was 31 that she realized her IBS could be something more serious.

In September 2022, Mahon gave birth to her twin boys at only 23 weeks, landing them in the NICU. On top of her persistent stomach issues - plus brain fog and fatigue she associated with pregnancy - she was traumatized and stressed from their stay. Six months after her boys came home, she began noticing dark red blood in her stool. A colonoscopy soon after confirmed she had stage three colon cancer.

"As shocking as it was to hear, it was also, honestly, like, thank God that they found something," she says. "I would say to my husband every day, 'Something weird is going on.' I just knew something was off for a very long time, and things started escalating and escalating."

Mahon later learned from her doctor that based on the size and stage of her tumor, it had probably been growing for about 10 years - right around the time she first experienced IBS symptoms.

Mahon with her twin boys, Banks and Brooks. Image Source: Courtesy of Bri Mahon

Mahon's story is one of many growing cases of early-onset cancer, or cancers diagnosed in patients ages 18 to 49. Earlier this year, the American Cancer Society's 2024 report showed an uptick in new cases involving younger people - in fact, younger adults were the only age group with an increase in cancer cases between 1995 and 2020, though survival rates for this subset haven't changed significantly during this time. TikTok is full of 20- and 30-somethings sharing their shocking cancer diagnoses, and urging fellow young people to look out for specific symptoms and get checked. Recent stories about celebrities in their early 40s, like Kate Middleton and Olivia Munn, have also shed light on the rise in cancer among a younger group.

Why is this happening? The short answer is, we don't know for sure. "It's multifactorial," says Nancy Borstelmann, PhD, MPH, LCSW, co-director of Yale Cancer Center's Early Onset Cancer Program. As she explains, there are links to cancer we have evidence of, like obesity, alcohol and tobacco use, and genetic factors. But there are also others that are still being researched, such as environmental exposures in chemicals and water, or behavioral and lifestyle exposures like antibiotic use, breastfeeding patterns, and IVF.

In particular, colorectal and breast cancer have shown the greatest increase in young adults, says Veda Giri, MD, an oncologist and co-director of Yale Cancer Center's Early Onset Cancer Program. But, she adds, there's been a rise in cancers across the board among young folks, including pancreatic, thyroid, skin, and reproductive cancers.

But research and three-minute TikTok videos only tell a piece of the story. The lived experiences of women like Mahon, who get diagnosed with cancer in their 20s and 30s, show there's more to the data. They're reframing their idea of what their families might look like. They're finding community on social media. They're learning to advocate for their health at every turn. And, most importantly, they're beautifully optimistic about the future.

"Cancer Can Already Feel Very Isolating and Lonely"

When Jennifer Lava learned she had stage four colon cancer at age 34, she actually laughed. "In no way did that make sense to me. It is so unheard of. I was just like, 'Of course if I was to get cancer, it would be a cancer that is [associated with] 50-plus men.' My brain couldn't compute it," she says.

Though colon cancer is still most frequently diagnosed in people over 65, it's seen "the biggest increase" in the 20-29 age group, explains Robin Mendelsohn, MD, a gastroenterologist and co-director of Memorial Sloan Kettering's Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Lava, pictured ahead of radiation therapy. Image Source: Courtesy of Jennifer Lava

Unlike Mahon, Lava, now 39, didn't experience any of the typical colon cancer symptoms. Occasionally, she'd have sharp stomach pains, but nothing that alarmed her enough to seek medical attention. In April 2019, after battling what she thought was a stomach bug for five days, she finally went to urgent care, and then the emergency room, where the doctor discovered an eight-inch tumor in her right ovary.

She went into surgery two months later, where she lost both of her ovaries, fallopian tubes, 21 lymph nodes, and a piece of her colon. Then came eight rounds of chemo. Her cancer came back in her abdominal cavity in April 2021, and she did an additional seven rounds of chemo and another surgery. In October 2023, cancer returned in her colon. In total, Lava has endured 26 rounds of chemo radiation and chemo pills. Now, she's waiting to hear if she needs another surgery and will have her uterus removed, or learn to live with her colon cancer, treating it as a chronic disease.

Patients with early-onset cancer diagnoses are impacted differently, both mentally and physically, than those with average-onset, which is defined as cancer in ages 50 and up. "These younger patients have different needs than average onset patients," Dr. Mendelsohn says. With early-onset patients, there are considerations when it comes to sexual health, nutrition, psychiatry, fertility, more. For women in particular, fertility can be a huge differentiating factor.

Because of the size of her tumor at the time she was diagnosed, Lava didn't have the option to freeze her eggs. But, given that she always wanted kids, she figured she'd do IVF after she finished chemo. Her doctors were confident her other ovary would be clear of cancer. But after several surgeries, she lost both her ovaries and learned she would not be a candidate for IVF in the future.

"I feel very singular."

"It just feels like a death," she says. "I haven't fully processed my ovaries being gone. I haven't met anyone who has gone through this. Cancer can already feel very isolating and lonely. And my case of it being colon cancer, and losing my fertility now, I feel very singular."

It's hard to plan for the future because, as Lava puts it, "cancer affects every aspect of it." "I want to meet somebody and I want to have a family," she says. "Before the cancer, there were all kinds of pressure and fears, too, and they're just amplified now."

When Amanda Quick was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at 29, she also had to make "really quick choices about fertility." Her doctors recommended she start treatment immediately, and forgo freezing her eggs. The 31-year-old is now in medically-induced menopause, and she won't be able to conceive biologically.

Quick with her family. Image Source: Courtesy of Amanda Quick

"When I first got diagnosed with cancer, so many friends and family were like, 'Let me introduce you to my mom, my aunt,' people who've been diagnosed, and I was so grateful for those introductions," she says. "But I think a lot of those women were between 50 and 70, and I was in such a different place in my life."

When Quick thought about her own future, she was concerned about her career, dating, and fertility. "It was really hard for me to be like, 'How am I going to get back in the dating world? How would I explain this to someone?' Honestly, I'm still kind of working through that," she says. "With fertility, it's also changing my mindset around what a family looks like. I can still adopt; I can have a surrogate, but it was about being open to those different possibilities."

"I Needed to Find People . . . Who Were Going Through This"

Because cancer can often feel so lonely, patients and survivors emphasize the importance of community. That's why Taylor Bragg, who was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at 26, started sharing her experience on TikTok.

"When I first got diagnosed, I was afraid to look at anything online because I felt like everything about cancer was either so sensationalized, very medical, or kind of depressing," she says. "I wanted to give people a platform where they could talk in the comments or they could talk to me about what they were going through, and focus less on the diagnosis and more on getting through it every day."

Bragg wearing a cold cap during chemotherapy. Image Source: Courtesy of Taylor Bragg

Bragg says "the power of TikTok" led her to meet so many other young women with the same diagnosis, who in turn helped her understand her own diagnosis better.

Quick, on the other hand, turned to support via organizations dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness, particularly among younger women, like 5 Under 40 and The Pink Agenda. "I could talk to my mom or my dad, my sister, my close friends about this, but I needed to find people who were on the same drugs, who were going through this, who'd also been diagnosed in their 20s," she says.

Metastatic breast cancer may be a "lifetime diagnosis,' but on the outside, Quick doesn't look sick. "If you saw me walking down the street, you'd have no idea," she says. While she's currently on chemo drugs, she appears healthy. She still has her hair, she goes to work, and she travels.

"I've always said I wanted to change the narrative around young people with cancer and that it is possible to still live a full life with breast cancer, though everyone's experience is different," she says. "When I was going through this, I still didn't see that many people that looked like me and people that I could go to that were in a similar situation." Ultimately, that's why she's dedicated to spreading awareness and educating other young women about how to prevent breast cancer.

"Go In and Get It Checked Out"

Given the data, cancer patients and doctors alike stress the importance of speaking up about your own health and seeking answers. When Mahon's colonoscopy confirmed she had stage three colon cancer, she was told if she had waited "any longer," her cancer could have been terminal.

Even if it's really hard to hear about a diagnosis, it is just one step forward in the right direction of healing.

"If something's off, as scary as it is, schedule that appointment, get a second opinion, or even just talk about what's going on," Mahon says. "I have never regretted getting on medication or going to get tested and getting answers. Even if it's really hard to hear about a diagnosis, it is just one step forward in the right direction of healing."

Bragg also emphasizes this: "If something feels consistently off about your body, go in and get it checked out." In her case of lymphoma, she started feeling dizzy and sweating at night - symptoms she could have written off as nothing to worry about, as a healthy 26-year-old.

And when she did experience more significant symptoms, like problems breathing and unexplained swelling in her face, she felt like she was "bounced around" by doctors and not taken seriously. "If you feel like you're being brushed off because you're young, keep pursuing that and don't stop arguing," she says. "If you need to ask for a new doctor, ask for a new doctor, because at the end of the day, they don't know what you're going through; they can only go off of the diagnosis on paper."

Symptoms vary for different types of cancer, but a good rule of thumb is to bring "any new or persistent symptom" you have to a doctor, according to Dr. Giri. But more importantly, trust yourself, and feel empowered to voice any concerns or questions you might have. And not just to your doctor - talk about your health with your friends and family members. It's especially important to have a handle on your family's medical history to see if you need to seek earlier cancer screenings.

Lava wants all young folks to get comfortable talking about their bodies and bodily functions. "All of a sudden, I started becoming the person people talk to about poops and I'm like, 'Great, I'm happy to do that with you,'" she says. "I don't have any information or research to help support me because there is no research on women under 40 with colon cancer. I am the research. So I know it's scary for people to put themselves out there, but I think that the more they do, the less scary it becomes."

"Never a Doubt in My Mind That I Wouldn't Beat It"

While receiving a cancer diagnosis and navigating subsequent treatments might make it difficult to maintain any sort of optimism, these women prove otherwise.

"There was never a doubt in my mind that I wouldn't beat it," Mahon says. After watching her twin boys go from the NICU to being healthy, she thought, "If they fought so hard to be here, I am just going to do the same."

After six, seven rounds of chemotherapy, Mahon's tumor decreased in size, and was able to be removed via surgery. There's no longer any cancer detected in her lymph nodes, but she's on her 10th round of chemo, with two more to go to decrease chances of recurrence. Eventually, she'll have to get an ileostomy reversal, a surgery to reattach her bowel after a temporary ileostomy. "I have had scary moments, of course, where I'm like, 'What if this comes back? What if it doesn't work? What if surgery goes bad? What if it grows back? What if?'" she says. "But I just really don't let myself live there."

My cancer definitely tore me down to my lowest point. But then from there, it really built me up to the most fulfilled I've ever felt in my life.

In fact, her cancer diagnosis has allowed her to introduce more fun, joy, connection, and groundedness. "I want to live my life and I want to love my life," she says, adding that "soft, gentle living" is her priority now. "I've always been someone that loves nature and loves being outside, but now I'm fully committed to farm life. We have chickens. I want to grow my own food. I want to be barefoot. I want to be a hippie farm girl." Plus, she adds, "I joke that I'll be potty training at the same time as my twins. We'll do it all together."

When Quick graduated college, she envisioned what her life would look like at 30, 40 years old. "I was such a planner," she says. "But when you get this diagnosis, so many things are uncertain. Of course, I'm still working towards some of those longer term goals, but how do I now really enjoy this time just in the present?" Her diagnosis has shifted her focus to "living a great life with purpose and celebrating all the people" in her life.

Bragg says she's experienced the same. "My cancer definitely tore me down to my lowest point," she says. "But then from there, it really built me up to the most fulfilled I've ever felt in my life." Prior to her diagnosis, she hadn't really thought about what "making a difference in life" looked like. "It made me realize the things that really matter, like the people that care about you, and what you do with your life and how you impact other people. That's why I started posting on social media in the first place."

Laughte

Weekend podcast: what’s it like to be a sociopath?; Gen Z’s lust for Sex and the City; and Marina Hyde on President The Rock

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 04:00:12 +0000

Marina Hyde with her take on Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s surreal US presidential bid (1m23s); Emine Saner meets the sociopath who learned to behave – and found happiness (8m05s); why Gen Z has fallen in love with Sex and the City (24m45s); and do our political opponents really hate us? (29m54s).

How we met: ‘We lost touch for years – then bumped into each other in Belgium’

Lizzie Cernik — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 11:41:42 +0000

Bart, 61 and Alicia, 56, became friends as students in Washington DC in the 1980s. A chance encounter in the 1990s led to a life-changing bond

Tell us your story of how you met someone special

As a student in 1989, Alicia went to Washington DC for an internship at the US Senate. “After six months, I extended my trip but I needed a place to stay,” she says. She moved to the International Student House, a hall of residence usually reserved for foreign students. “Although I am American, I managed to get a place. It was a very fun time; I could walk to work during the day and enjoy the nightlife in the evening, as well as communal meals with other students.”

It was at one of these meals that she first met Bart, a medical student from Rotterdam who was working on some research at the National Institute of Mental Health. “I was living with a host family,” he says, “but I had a friend living at the International Student House, so I’d go there to hang out.”

'A dark day': Arizona governor condemns ruling on near-total abortion ban – video

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 11:19:23 +0000

The Arizona governor, Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, called for an Arizona supreme court ruling to be repealed that permits enforcement of an 1864 law banning almost all abortions. Speaking at a press conference the governor said: 'The near total civil war-era ban that continues to hang over our heads only serves to create more chaos for women and doctors in our state.' First passed when Arizona was still a territory, the ban only permits abortions to save a patient’s life and does not make exceptions for rape or incest

Arizona supreme court upholds 1864 law banning almost all abortions

I’m 40 and suffering from hair loss. How do I find the cause?

Anita Bhagwandas — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:00:26 +0000

Got a beauty dilemma? Our expert is here to offer advice. This week, Zoe needs help with thinning hair

Hair loss is such a sensitive subject. If it’s a problem that started for no apparent reason, your GP should be your first port of call, and you may be referred to a dermatologist for tests. You can also see a hair loss specialist (a trichologist) privately, too.

The first step is pinpointing any obvious causes, often through blood tests. “There are many possible causes of hair loss,” says Anabel Kingsley, trichologist at Philip Kingsley. “These include anything from hormonal changes and genetics through to thyroid health, nutritional deficiencies, stress and scalp health.”

You can get a lot of great products in the US – so why do the deodorants stink? | Arwa Mahdawi

Arwa Mahdawi — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 10:00:30 +0000

Thankfully my mum is soon coming to visit me with a suitcase full of the best of Britain: chocolate, tea and savoury snacks

My mum, who lives in England, is coming to visit me in Philadelphia soon and I have given her strict instructions on what to bring from the motherland. Namely, deodorant. You can get a lot of things in the US – it is a land of excess – but the deodorant offerings here stink.

Most American women, you see, tend to use stick deodorants. In the UK, meanwhile, it’s far more normal for women to use a roll-on. Or, at least, its far more normal for shops to stock a wide range of roll-ons. I don’t have some sort of degree in deodorant studies, I should probably note; I have not done extensive market research on this matter. This assertion is based on empirical data gathered over a lifetime of deodorant shopping, along with several years of arguing with my American wife about our underarm preferences. She thinks roll-on deodorant is (trigger warning: an objectionable word is about to appear) moist and leaves a wet sensation. I think that stick deodorant feels clammy and flaky. Clearly I am right.

‘My sons hated it’ … Shakira says Barbie film is ‘emasculating’

Andrew Pulver — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 10:00:54 +0000

The Colombian pop star – and mother of two boys – disliked the global blockbuster, saying its message robs men of chance to ‘protect and provide’

In an unlikely dissension from what has become a critical and commercial consensus, Colombian musician Shakira has said that the Barbie movie is “emasculating” and suggested that it “rob[s] men of their possibility to be men”.

In an interview with Allure magazine that focused on the “she-wolf feminism” behind her work, Shakira said she had watched the Greta Gerwig-directed satire and said: “My sons absolutely hated it. They felt that it was emasculating. And I agree, to a certain extent.”

Is Poor Things a feminist film? Is Barbie? These have become meaningless questions | Beatrice Loayza

Beatrice Loayza — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 07:00:07 +0000

The label of ‘feminist’ is beginning to feel more like a subcategory on Netflix than a meaningful description of art

Let’s play a game. Of all the best picture nominees from this year’s Oscars, which film is the most feminist? Is it Barbie, a family-friendly paean to our childhood’s plastic It Girl? Poor Things, a racy riff on Frankenstein that charts one woman’s process of self-emancipation? Or is it Anatomy of a Fall, about a hotshot bisexual writer accused of murdering her man?

You can make a solid case for any one of them. Conversely, a takedown of each is easy, too. Barbie’s girl power is nothing but good PR for Mattel, and besides, why did they allow Ryan Gosling to steal the show? Poor Things is a man’s manicured vision of women’s liberation. If it’s so feminist, where’s the menstrual blood? The armpit hair?

Beatrice Loayza is a film critic and historian based in New York

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

I know I want at least one baby. But the more I learn about motherhood, the more terrifying it seems | Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff

Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:42:13 +0000

Even supposedly ‘positive’ birth stories make my heart sink. Am I just going to have to make a leap of faith?

It’s a conspiracy, I’m sure of it. Since the pandemic in 2020, the year I moved out of the category of young adulthood, my Instagram “for you” page has been filled with images and videos of the cutest babies you could ever hope to see. Round-cheeked and smiley, they drool and babble and fall haphazardly on their faces when they fart, or smile when they fart, or just fart very loudly. It’s adorable.

As someone who, at 30, hasn’t been around many actual babies, and has only a couple of close friends who have embarked on parenthood thus far, this online exposure has been transformative. I had always known I wanted at least one child, but approached the idea with the naivety of youth and the assuredness of socialised gender norms – of course I would have a child because all little girls have the ambition to care for babies, and why would I have wasted all that time swaddling a plastic doll or discussing baby names when I was barely out of babyhood myself (Chloe was my favourite) if it wouldn’t one day translate into reality?

How did I mark Mother’s Day? With a dream about putting mine in a home | Zoe Williams

Zoe Williams — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 15:16:24 +0000

A few hours later, I made the mistake of telling Mum all about it. And she was not amused

There is usually a bit of space between International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day, which means we don’t have to run straight from the swill of empowerment platitudes into the tooth-aching blancmange of filial adoration. I try to avoid the first and keep the second as an opportunity to guilt-trip my children and eat cheese with my mother, defiantly asking no questions at any point in March about the female or maternal condition.

This year IWD and Mother’s Day abutted each other in the same week. While I laboured in my waking hours to ignore them and concentrate on guilt and cheese, my subconscious didn’t get off so lightly.

The Women’s prize for fiction is a success – now it has a nonfiction sister | Kate Mosse

Kate Mosse — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 12:30:02 +0000

On International Women’s Day Kate Mosse, co-founder of the Women’s prize for fiction and bestselling author of Labyrinth, heralds a new honour

Gloria Steinem said: “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” The key then, for all of us trying to make the world a better place for women, is not to complain but to act.

I am celebrating this International Women’s Day in the same week that my own initiative to promote women’s equality, the Women’s prize for fiction, announced its longlist, and in the same year that we launched the inaugural Women’s prize for nonfiction.

To browse all of the books on the Women’s prize for fiction 2024 longlist visit guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.

Somalia to launch its first current affairs TV show led by women

Isabel Choat — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 11:37:33 +0000

New show will follow Question Time format answering audience questions on taboo subjects from periods to women in politics

Somalia’s only all-female media team, Bilan, is launching the country’s first TV current affairs show to be hosted by a woman.

The debate show, which plans to address some taboo subjects, will also be the first programme on Somali television to have a panel of at least 50% women, and the first to broach contentious topics, such as a critical shortage of female teachers and the challenges faced by women trying to get into politics, as well as environmental issues.

‘Horrifying numbers’ of women and girls will die because of UK aid cuts, say MPs

Kaamil Ahmed — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:14 +0000

FCDO cuts hit most vulnerable hardest, report says, with girl in South Sudan more likely to die in childbirth than finish school

British aid cuts have had a “devastating” effect on women and girls around the world, forcing sexual and reproductive health programmes to be cancelled, according to a new cross-party report by MPs.

The Commons international development select committee (IDC) said plummeting aid spending since 2020 had cost lives and endangered many more pregnant women, while abruptly cutting funding, often in mid-programme, had damaged relationships with partner organisations.

The card that’s a sign of eternal friendship | Brief letters

Guardian Staff — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 18:09:12 +0000

Birthday greetings | Bridget Phillipson | Women’s football’s nasty turn | Saveloy source | The joy of a post-hangover day

Re your letters on friendship (Letters, 19 March), 60 years ago, I popped in to a card shop and paid 1s 9d for a McTavish’s eternal birthday card. Inside was a list of numbers from one to 99. I ticked 18 and gave it to my pal Eddie. In October of that year, he ticked 19 and sent the card to me. Every year since then we have, without fail, delivered the card to each other.
Dr Roger Waterfall
Marlesford, Suffolk

• I was surprised and disappointed to read Zoe Williams’ comment in her interview with Bridget Phillipson (‘I grew up at the margins’: Bridget Phillipson on teachers’ strikes, Ofsted, Brexit and Corbyn, 21 March) that she was “still weirdly well turned-out, for a Labour MP”. This is 2023! Have we really not moved on from judging women and their politics from the way they dress?
Elizabeth Brown
Corsham, Wiltshire

Carol Vorderman 'absolutely disgusted' by ministers' attitude to menopause – video

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:38:28 +0000

The TV personality Carol Vorderman has said she is 'disgusted' by the behaviour of government equalities ministers, whom she accused of ignoring the needs of menopausal women. Vorderman said she had been blocked on Twitter by the minister for women, Maria Caulfield, after saying that Caulfield 'couldn’t be bothered to turn up' for questions by a select committee examining the menopause. She also accused Kemi Badenoch of being 'patronising' and 'insulting' during a discussion about whether the menopause should be a protected characteristic, in which the minister had compared the request to others made by carers, single people or those who had ginger hair or were short

Carol Vorderman ‘disgusted’ by ministers’ attitude to menopause

Women's rights will be respected 'within the limits of Islam', say Taliban – video

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 20:31:04 +0000

The Taliban said they wanted peaceful relations with other countries and would respect the rights of women 'within the limits of Islam', as they held their first press conference since seizing Kabul. During their rule between 1996 and 2001, the Taliban implemented their own strict interpretation of sharia law, preventing women from working and girls from going to school.

How can women get equality? Strike!

Sally Howard — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 09:10:27 +0000

The domestic burden – heavier in lockdown – falls mainly on female shoulders, yet Iceland’s housewives showed change is possible

On 24 October 1975, 75,000 women in Iceland left their jobs, children and homes and took to the streets for a general strike that was billed “Women’s Day Off”. In Reykjavik, 30,000 women marched up the Laugavegur (wash road), as a women’s brass band played the marching tune from Shoulder to Shoulder, a British TV series about the suffragettes which had recently aired in this small Nordic nation. Flyers fluttered against clear autumn skies: “We march because it is commonly said about a housewife: ‘She is not working, she is just keeping house’,” they read. “We march because the work experience of a housewife is not considered of any value in the labour market.”

For Icelandic men, this day became known as the “Long Friday”. With no women to staff desks and tills, banks, factories and many shops were forced to close, as were schools and nurseries – leaving many fathers with no choice but to take their children to work. There were reports of men arming themselves with sweets and colouring crayons to entertain the swarms of children in their workplaces, or bribing older children to look after their siblings. Sausages (easy to cook, of course, and a hit with children the world over) were in such demand that shops sold out; children could be heard giggling in the background while male newsreaders reported the day’s events on the radio.

Pressure to procreate: inside Hungary’s baby drive – video

Leah Green, Ekaterina Ochagavia, Noémi Varga, Katie Lamborn and Charlie Phillips — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 12:22:38 +0000

Hungary has one of the lowest birthrates in Europe, and the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, is spending significant money trying to convince young people to have babies. Leah Green and Ekaterina Ochagavia visit Budapest, where they meet three women of similar age and with very different outlooks on the country’s parenting drive

Europe’s 'baby bust': can paying for pregnancies save Greece? - video

Tulip Siddiq: ‘I needed a caesarean – instead I was at parliament’

Zoe Williams — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 10:00:34 +0000

The Labour MP was forced to postpone her C-section to vote against Theresa May’s Brexit deal. Her battle to bring parliament into the 21st century is far from won

When the Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq found out she was pregnant with her second child, which must have been roughly nine months and three weeks ago, “I said to Chris, my husband: ‘Thank God it’s [due at] the end of January – that means I can vote.’” She is sitting in the living room of her new home in Kilburn, north-west London. It is homely, because there’s a baby in it, but she and Chris have just moved in, and their only furniture is the gigantic plastic toy kitchen belonging to their two-year-old daughter, Azalea. Chris, she says “told me off, said that shouldn’t be the first thing on my mind. But …” I’m expecting her to say something a bit more predictable, about how obviously the baby comes first. Not so much … “My constituency is 75% remain. I don’t know who the other 25% are because I’ve never met them in my life. I have 22,000 EU nationals in my constituency; every single midwife and doctor I had at the Royal Free hospital, where I had this baby, was European. I can be doing a downward dog in a pilates class, and someone will ask me about their settled status. It’s a really important vote for me.”

In praise of loud women – the joy and power of being noisy and female

Viv Groskop — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 10:00:28 +0000

My big voice was frowned upon when I was a girl in the 70s. Now, celebrities from Beyoncé to Michelle Obama are helping to tear up the idea of what a woman should sound like

No one wants to sit next to a loud woman. I know this because someone recently moved the placement card on a dinner table to get away from me. That label – “loud woman” – has never been a compliment, even though some of us may wear it as a badge of honour. Picture a loud woman and she is in Technicolor, with the sound turned up past 11, looking like she is stuck in the 80s: big hair, massive gob, voice like a foghorn, part witch, part harridan, part pub landlady. You definitely don’t want to sit next to her when she has a drink inside her.

So, what are we supposed to do with the idea of loud women in our postfeminist age? Where have they all gone? Theresa May seems to maintain her fragile power by being the opposite of loud. Angela Merkel built a 30-year career on being as unnoticeable as possible. The response to Germaine Greer in recent years can be summed up as: “Shut up.” Is it no longer acceptable to be a woman and a noisy, loquacious pain in the arse? After all, the women we now think of as loud usually communicate through performance as larger-than-life versions of themselves: Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga.

I just grabbed the Noob Guide to Online Marketing. A free 6 month course ebook (pdf). https://t.co/mwplV2gFSA

healthnutritionsheila — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 04:24:15 +0000

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