About every 28 days the inevitable happens. Pain. Bloating. More pain. The feeling our ovaries convulsing as if they're having seizures. And all because they didn't get a chance to implant a fertilized egg? Rude. And unfortunately, we've got about another 20-25 years of this. Faaantastic.
If you've been a regular on Health Like Me, you know how much I love discussing tea!
Other options you can eat to help fight inflammation include oily fish — safe ones with low to almost non-existent mercury levels such as tuna, salmon — turmeric, curry or berries.
Success! I have actually had the Yogi tea along with ginger and peppermint when dealing with my cramps and I emphatically vouch for them all. The Evening Primrose Oil supplements are also wonderful. I definitely noticed a difference after taking them for two weeks before I rode the crimson tide. I can't say these options eliminate every single cramp I have, but I am no longer hunched over in the fetal position with even my thighs in pain! That's right, my thighs! I don't get it either... Now I release thee towards Mother Nature's curse and wish you all the best in your own endeavors. Feel free to fill me and the others readers in on what your remedies tend to be when the curse strikes you down below in the comments!
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I know the temptation of the complex carbohydrates of potato salad is hard to resist and everyone's mom and aunt's make the best. But as much as this will hurt, only stick to one portion of it today. Don't make this hard on yourself by getting a teeny portion of it however. Be generous with your one and only one portion of the day!
While the myth is that complex carbohydrates are bad and fattening, they are only damaging to your waistline when added with high calorie options. So, you know, basically everything else you might be ingesting for the remainder of the day. Complex carbs are also dangerous because they take longer to break down and use in your body in ways such as fiber or energy. I'm now wondering, can you make sweet potato potato salad? Siri? Pinterest? As much as beans are a wonderful source of vitamin D and fiber, the only thing they are on this lovely day is calories and sodium. And loads of both. It's quite hard to get around this Memorial Day staple, but you could try introducing chickpeas in the form of hummus. Hummus is a fantastic source of protein and fiber along with many other things. Surprise your friends and family by volunteering to make this dish instead of baked beans. Smothered in sauce. From a can.
If you have any great and healthy Memorial Day traditions, then you should totally leave a comment to share them! I'd love to try/hear about them! Be sure to also keep in mind the special significance of today.
XOXO, Courtney! Let's just call this a spring cleaning of sorts. Because, to me, spring cleaning means taking a cursory glance at what I need to do, crawling in bed with the intention of creating a checklist and... Falling asleep. Health Like Me and myself are both taking a breather today in preparation for the holiday. I do have a fun post headed y'all's way on Memorial Day, though! So while you're lounging around and getting the much deserved rest we've all worked hard for, take some time to catch up on all the blog posts you might have missed about health lifestyle, motivation, fun, and of course yoga pants here on Health Like Me! Everyone enjoy your holiday!
In the first part, we kept it short with only a 30-minute workout. Now, we need to bump it up to 45 minutes to an hour. Definitely not pushing ourselves by doing more than 60 minutes. I never understood those who worked out longer than that.
To get in and out knowing exactly what machines to use took some trial and error long ago when I was working at Gold's Gym. Keep in mind these aren't the only machines or workouts that have my heart. But they serve the purpose of working out my stubborn areas.
Cardio
Stationary exercise bike — once again easy-peasy to find at any gym. I'm not talking about those ridiculously overpriced and hi-tech Peloton bikes and not a cycle class bike either. I'm talking about your basic ass stationary exercise bike that you can find in the cardio sections of your gym. All you need it for is a quick and simple 15 minute cardio workout to end your gym session! Below is a picture of the general idea of what this bike looks like in your local gym.
To Close
I can't stress this enough: when you're done with your workout, stretch! Trust me, it'll save you the worst of the soreness you'll feel the next day.
I hope you enjoyed getting a mini-gym program! Honestly, this shouldn't take you more than an hour. Have fun, take your time so you properly work out these muscle groups, and until next time!
The summer months have crept up on us rather quickly, wouldn't you say? The swimsuit sections are out at all our favorite places and most of us are flocking there to buy the latest fashion-forward sarongs, swimsuits, beach hats and sandals. We've worked hard to get our bodies summer ready, so now it's time to show them off with some well-deserved time off, whether it be by the pool or taking that trip you've been saving your pennies for. You've got all the goods ready to go, but you make one last minute purchase. What is it? Sunscreen! This should be easy, though, because you grab the bottle you've always used since you were a kid. Probably that pink bottle Coppertone one or the Banana Boat one. But since you're no longer a kid, you might want to take a little longer in deciding what sunscreen your skin truly deserves now to keep it looking fresh and ultimately healthy, healthy, healthy! Not All Sunscreen Is Created The Same: Which Ones Are Truly The Best Ones For Your SkinJust like all skin type, color and texture are not all created the same. While choosing your sunscreen shouldn't be rocket science, you should take care when the time comes to choose them by at least knowing a couple of different sunscreen brands that keep your skin protected. Now, it's not just worrying about UVA rays. It's also UVB rays! Thankfully, there are now New Broad-Spectrum Sunscreens out on the market for us like Aveeno Active Naturals Protect Plus Hydrate Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 70 or Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50. Both of these also score awesome points in the price department. Without going into all these science-y words, I'll just tell you that you should look for the sunscreen that protects your skin against both UVA and UVB rays. And sticking to an SPF of 15 is standard for the majority of the population come summer. You can go up to SPF 30 just to be safe. Currently, L'Oreal has a great option on shelves now. If you're looking for a brand that won't pilfer your money though, as long as the brand contains Helioplex, you are good to go!
Sensitive skin? No problem! You run a safe bet by choosing a sunscreen that is free of perfumes and paraben free. Here are some options:
Best Brands For The Melanin BlessedBecause yes, although we are flooded with melanin, our skin needs protection from the sun as well. And because this is 2019, progress has given options for us, too! While our skin does afford us a sliver of protection from the sun's harmful rays, we still have chances to contract skin cancer. And yes, when we burn, we peel. When we peel, it hurts. And even though "black don't crack", we do wrinkle and pesky dark spots can and do appear. So, thank you Oprah Magazine and Crystal Martin for doing the heavy lifting! Now we have options for us!
A wonderful place to start spilling tea is at the very beginning because it's a very good place to start... (anyone catch that reference?) and that place is...
STEEPING! There is a likely chance we all steep our tea the wrong. This is because each type requires different lengths of time for how long it needs to be steeped and what temperature your water should be. How to Properly Steep Tea
A simple way to remember the basics of steep times is that caffeine-free/herbal teas traditionally have to steep longer than their caffeinated counterparts. Those super healthy herbal teas also need a higher water temperature than the teas high in caffeine.
Drinking a caffeinated tea for your morning wake up? Your best bet is to steep anywhere between 2-5 minutes. The exception here is going to be white tea. You only should steep this one for 30-60 seconds (tea bag). When to Drink Your Tea
It's good to note that depending on the time of the day, there are teas you can drink with gusto and ones you might want to steer clear of.
In lieu of what is obviously a "duh!", don't go for tea too high in caffeine before bed and I'd stay away from laxative/detox teas anytime before late afternoon. Just in case you get stuck working late at the office.
What Tea(s) To Drink For...
Who are the Unknowns
There're the usual suspects, and then there are the collective B-list ones of the tea world. Let's look at a few of them and why we should definitely have them become a part of our healthy living lifestyle.
Yellow --
Origin: China Family: Yellow tea Benefits: promotes weight loss, increases appetite, improves mental agility, lowers the risk of brain strokes, good during pregnancy When: not much research has been done on the best times to consume this elusive tea, but due to it being in the caffeine family, I think it's safe to assume that we shouldn't drink this too close to hitting the hay!
Which one: loose leaf or tea bag
There is also the ever popular debate of tea bag vs. loose leaf. But, I'll let you make your own decision about that because, frankly, you can't go wrong with either! Check out these three Read More articles or you can always do your own googles.
So now that I've given you the dish on all things tea, and explore which tea will benefit you on your own Health Like Me journey!
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