December, 2019

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10 Top Trending Workouts of 2019, According to Google + MORE

Beauty and health are wonderful areas to dedicate one’s life. We have seen the simple addition of hair with Invisablend’s hair extensions and treatments cause an immediate increase in our client’s confidence and life enjoyment. We encourage you to do the little things that make you feel good and give you confidence. It will have a dynamic effect on your quality of life.

10 Top Trending Workouts of 2019, According to Google

– health.com

The best thing about Google—aside from, you know, having the entire world at your fingertips—is that you can find ideas for literally any of kind workout at the stroke of a keyboard. Want to find the perfect at-home ab workout? Google it. Need to know the difference between squats and deadlifts? Google it. In search of something new and exciting to get your sweat on? You know the drill.

And if you're consistently turning to trainer Google for fitness tips and tricks, you're not alone—in fact, you're in very good company. In 2019 alone, Google saw trillion of searches across news, entertainment, sports, food, and more.

Because of that, Google rounded up the top trending workouts of 2019. Ranging from ones you've heard of (hi, planks!) to ones that sound completely new (uh, One Punch Man workout?), here are the top 10 trending workouts everyone was looking for this year, plus what they mean for your exercise routine. The best news: These workouts all offer unique ways to get active. So you just might find one intriguing enough to inspire your next move.

RELATED: The 7 Best Workout Apps You Need to Try

1. Mirror Workout

This discreet at-home device, appropriately named Mirror, hangs on the wall and looks just like a regular full-length mirror. The major difference: It also serves as a personal trainer, leading users through workouts ranging from barre and boxing to yoga and kettlebell, with routines spanning 15 to 60 minutes. You get more than 10,000 programs to choose from with the Mirror, so you’re bound to find a few you love. And it’s relatively wallet-friendly, if you sign up for the payment plan of just $42 per month for 36 months.

2. One Punch Man Workout

If you’re an anime fan, you might have typed this term into your search. But for those who aren’t, One Punch Man is a web comic that features a hero who can knock out his opponent in one single punch. YouTube star Tyler Oliveira decided to train like this fictional dude to see what results he'd gain. At its basic level, the workout Oliveira followed included 100 push-ups, sit-ups, and squats and a 10K run. Oliveira switched up some of the reps throughout his weeks of training, though, and increased and decreased the distance of the run each week. In the end, he did build some muscle and kick up his cardio, so it could be worth a try.

3. Manduu Exercise

Manduu, an exercise concept and studio with 11 locations across the country (most in Tennessee), features electric muscle stimulation or EMS. The device is meant to turn up the results of a strength training session by sending electrical pulses throughout the body to help muscles contract and potentially activate more muscle fibers. In class, instructors work with just two clients at a time, who get strapped into whole-body EMS gear—it typically provides a buzzing sensation—as they work through strength exercises…

Hilary Duff is Wearing the Most Stunning Star Print Leggings in This Adorable Photo With Her Daughter

– health.com

Hilary Duff recently shared an adorable photo to her Instagram stories with her 13-month-old daughter, Banks, on a playground slide and it is seriously giving us all the warm, fuzzy feels. While we can’t help but fall in love with this mommy-daughter duo on their play date, we also couldn't help noticing the A-lister’s cute athleisure outfit—specifically her star print leggings.

The 32-year-old actress rocked Ultracor’s Gradient Velvet Knockout Leggings ($198; ultracor.com) along with a stylish purple tie-dye sweatshirt, navy beanie, and chunky sunglasses, and is truly the epitome of cool mom.

RELATED: The Exact Products Hilary Duff Uses Every Day for Longer Lashes and Fuller Brows

You might be thinking that the price tag on Duff’s leggings is pretty steep, but the celeb-loved brand (ICYMI, Kelly Ripa is a fan of Ultracor leggings, too!) is a smart investment, since Ultracor pieces not only stand up to your active lifestyle but also really last, unlike cheaper alternatives. 

Every pair of Ultracor leggings, including Duff’s pick, features built-in shapewear that helps keep everything in place while flattering your abs and giving your booty a sculpted lift. Plus, these leggings are made of moisture-wicking, compression fabric that is silky and comfortable—to the point that it feels like second-skin—and will keep you cool and dry throughout your workout.

Also neat? They’re cut from scratch by way of precision laser technology to ensure a perfect fit that hugs your curves and moves with you without being too restrictive while you run or sweat it out in the gym. And if you weren’t already sold, they are machine-washable, so you can toss them in the wash without fear that they’ll fade, lose their shape, fray, or pill.

RELATED: Kelly Ripa Owns Three Pairs of Ultracor Leggings—and Some Styles Are on Sale

If you’re feeling the celestial trend, we are also super into Ultracor’s Ultra High Lux Knockout Print Leggings ($198; bandier.com), which is a twist on a classic black tight with a hit of style, thanks to the monochrome shiny star print. 

However, if you’re coveting Duff’s exact pair of leggings, but are wanting something more budget-friendly, we’ve discovered a few affordable dupes to help you steal the actress’s sporty look without breaking the bank. Shop these similar styles: Calvin Klein High Waist Lacquer Star Print Tight (from $59; amazon.com), Betsey Johnson Women's Star Studded 7/8 Legging ($68; amazon.com), Starter Women's 20" High-Waisted Star Cropped Workout Legging ($23; amazon.com), and Terez Women's Star Foil Printed Tall Band Leggings ($100; amazon.com). 

Even if you opt for one of these cute star-studded pairs from Amazon over Duff’s go-to Ultracor legging, we’re pretty sure it would still get her stamp of approval.

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We All Really Need to Calm Down About That Peloton Commercial

– health.com

I’m sure you’ve heard about the latest Peloton ad—the one where a husband buys his wife the bike for Christmas, and she vlogs about how it "changes her life" throughout the year.

I'll be the first to admit that Peloton puts out commercials that are eye-watering in their privilege: Everyone is thin. Everyone is white. Everyone lives in a three-million-dollar glass house in the Hollywood Hills. But this specific Peloton commercial has caused so much outrage that it drove the company's stock down by as much as 10%, according to Bloomberg. 

Let me back up for a second: The commercial in question shares a 30-second story of a woman whose husband buys her a bike—a fancy, $2,200 Peloton bike—for Christmas one year. The "wife," an actress who's a thin, white woman, then records her "progress" on the bike for a year, playing back a video for her husband at the following Christmas. 

That's it—that's the commercial. The negative press associated with the ad, however, comes from commenters believing the commercial's plot is that of a passive-aggressive husband who buys his wife the workout bike because he wants her to be in better shape, or thinner. They remark that she seems desperate and anxious. They read into how her "eyes crinkle in quiet desperation" when she receives the bike as a gift. They believe she’s "trapped" in her house, forced to ride the bike like a canary chained to its cage and forced to sing.

We’re so quick to jump to conclusions to accuse a company of ‘body negativity’ and ‘submission to diet culture’ even though nothing outward about the commercial indicates those things. Sure, they exist, and they’re still issues in our society. But not here.

In reality, we’re making up an entire backstory to a commercial and extrapolating our own feelings and judgments onto it, creating a story about an oppressed woman, a misogynist husband, and a bike. These assumptions are all in our imagination. Not once did the wife step on a scale, or did her husband mention her weight. 

RELATED: Peloton's Holiday Bike Commercial Is Making the Internet Angry—Here's Why

What if, however, another alternate reality had been created: Maybe the bike changed the woman’s life because she finally found a workout she loves. Maybe she’s happy because she made a ton of friends and a sense of community from the Peloton leaderboard. Maybe she fully understands her privilege and is grateful that her family can afford such a damn expensive bike. Or maybe, IDK, she really did feel better about herself after riding for a year. Paints a slightly different picture, don't you think?

Instead of being outraged at something as innocuous as an advertisement, I'm much more angered by the conclusions that we, as a society, made about the wife's body…

Continue Reading

10 Top Trending Workouts of 2019, According to Googlehealth.com
Hilary Duff is Wearing the Most Stunning Star Print Leggings in This Adorable Photo With Her Daughterhealth.com
We All Really Need to Calm Down About That Peloton Commercialhealth.com

The On Cloudflow Running Shoes Are so Lightweight, You’ll Think You’re Barefoot + MORE

Beauty and health are wonderful areas to dedicate one’s
life. We have seen the simple addition of hair with Invisablend’s hair
extensions and treatments cause an immediate increase in our client’s confidence
and life enjoyment. We encourage you to do the little things that make you feel
good and give you confidence. It will have a dynamic effect on your quality of
life.

5 Hand and Wrist Stretches You Can Do Anywhere

– health.com

From typing on your computer to texting on your smartphone, your hands and wrists get almost non-stop action every day. And while you might think to try some lower-back stretches or some shoulder rolls when you’re feeling tight or stiff, when was the last time you thought about wrist stretches or hand stretches? Like stretching before bed or incorporating morning stretches into your day, you might want to make hand and wrist stretches more of a habit: It turns out, there’s good reason to do so.

Your hands and wrists are made up of numerous muscles, and just like other muscles in the body (including those foot muscles), they’re prone to chronic conditions from almost constant use.

RELATED: The 8 Best Warm-Up Exercises for Your Entire Body

“They’re used more frequently than other muscles in the body,” says Austin Martinez, M.S., A.T.C., C.S.C.S., director of education for StretchLab in Irvine, Calif. Plus, because these muscles and their associated tendons are bunched up next to each other, repetitive motion can cause various conditions to develop over time, including carpal tunnel syndrome, golfer’s elbow, and tennis elbow. But research shows that consistent stretching exercises can improve mobility and performance and decrease risk of injury, Martinez says.

Fortunately, you can do simple wrist stretches and hand stretches that don’t draw much attention to what you’re doing, so you can do them anywhere (yes, even at work). Martinez recommends stretching hands and wrists at least two to three times a day, perhaps while sitting at your desk, after a workout, and before you go to bed. Follow his five-stretch sequence below, holding each stretch at least 30 seconds, for looser, happier hands and wrists.

RELATED: These Full-Body Stretches Will Help You Find Your Flexibility

Wrist extension with elbow extended

Extend your right arm in front of you, palm up with fingers pointing toward the ground. With your left hand, gently pull the fingers on your right hand back toward your body. Switch sides and repeat.

Wrist flexion

Extend your right arm in front of you, palm down with fingers pointing toward ground. Using your left hand, gently pull the fingers on your right hand toward your body. Switch sides and repeat.

RELATED: 15 Stretches You Should Do Every Day

Wrist extension with elbow bent

From a seated position, bend your right elbow and place it on your right leg. With your right palm facing up (as if holding a bowl of soup), pull your fingers gently toward the ground with your left hand. Switch sides and repeat.

Finger abduction

Using your left hand, place your fingers between the index and middle finger on your right hand and gently spread those fingers apart. Continue this sequence with each of the fingers on the right hand, stretching the tiny muscles that connect the fingers. Switch hands and repeat.

Thumb extension

Start with your right palm facing up…

The On Cloudflow Running Shoes Are so Lightweight, You’ll Think You’re Barefoot

– health.com

For the longest time, I assumed that supportive, comfortable running shoes built to withstand long distances and trail runs also had to be a bit clunky, heavy, and more closely resembling dad sneakers than sleek athletic shoes. But the new Cloudflow running shoes from popular Swiss brand On completely changed my mind.

RELATED: The 20 Most Comfortable Sneakers, According to Customer Reviews

First released in 2016, the On Cloudflow sneaker has since been given a total upgrade. The new-and-improved model—the Cloudflow 2.0—is better than ever. In order to revamp the already-supportive shoe, On used feedback from professional athletes to design the optimized 2.0 version, and the result is a lightweight, fully-cushioned sneaker that’s ideal for training and racing (though it’s also great for walking around a city or going for a casual jog). 

To buy: On Cloudflow Running Shoe, $140; nordstrom.com

What differentiates this sneaker from the rest is a special foam cushioning element dubbed Helion, which helps your feet rebound upon impact. It’s light, responsive, and resistant to changes in temperature, so you’ll feel like you’re running on a cloud all year round.

The sole of the shoe is also ergonomically-designed to support the rolling motion of your foot for softer landings that feel natural. Even the laces were thoughtfully configured for ultimate comfort and support with the weaves covering a larger section of the sneaker and featuring an elasticated lace holder. And after testing the sneakers out for myself both indoors and outdoors—on a treadmill in an intense Precision Run class and outside in the park on my usual route—I can confidently say that these are the comfiest running shoes I’ve ever worn.

RELATED: These Are The Most Comfortable Slip-on Sneakers I’ve Ever Worn—and They’re Ridiculously Cute, Too

I had just changed out of my go-to ASICS running shoes when I first put on a pair of the Cloudflow sneakers, and the immediate difference in how light my feet felt was startling. It was almost like being barefoot, only with the added support and cushioning of a shoe that molded perfectly to my high arches. My skepticism of such a light and airy shoe disappeared after just a few sprints on the treadmill when I realized that they still offered all the stability and support I needed, despite the barely-there feel.

Now, these are the only sneakers I want to grab when I’m packing up my gym bag. As of this week, they’re finally available (in seven stylish colorways!) at Nordstrom—so if you’ve been thinking about upgrading your running shoes, now’s the perfect time to grab the newly-launched comfy sneaks.

Sign up for our Health Shopping newsletter to get your daily dose of retail therapy with great deals handpicked by our editors—straight to your inbox.

Peloton's Holiday Bike Commercial Is Making the Internet Angry—Here's Why

– health.com

The tagline is “the gift that gives back.” But if the internet is anything to go by right now, the Peloton bike is giving nothing but grief. Or, at least, its latest ad is.

Released by fitness-equipment startup Peloton on YouTube on November 21 and subsequently on television, the ad shows a fictional woman’s yearlong selfie diary after her partner gifted her a Peloton bike for the holidays.

The biggest gripe from social media users? She’s already slim (like, super slim) yet puts herself through 6 a.m. wakeup calls and works out on the bike five days in a row.

RELATED: The 15 Must-Have Pieces of Fitness Equipment for Home Workouts

At the end of the 30-second ad, she sits on the couch with her partner to watch her entire selfie diary, with the 1999 hit “She’s So High” from Tal Bachman playing in the background.

“A year ago, I didn’t realize how much this would change me,” the selfie-version of the woman says as the couple watch. “Thank you.”

Unsurprisingly, Twitter users found plenty of reasons to call Peloton out, mostly because this particular woman really, really doesn’t need to be a slave to her Peloton, according to commenters.

Then there are those who think the woman's partner is um, slightly controlling.

Which gave rise to various ideas for how to pay him back.

RELATED: The 10 Best Sports Bras for Large Breasts

This isn’t the first time Peloton has been scorned for their advertising, which in a word is considered unrealistic.

That’s not all. Viewers are also venting about the ad format, which seems to try to combine an Instagram Story with a traditional commercial—without much success.

Ultimately, people expect more from their festive ads. Of course, it’s all about getting the right eyes on your products. There must be someone out there who loves it.

Anyone?

To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter 

Fresh Box

10 Top Trending Workouts of 2019, According to Google + MORE

The best thing about Google—aside from, you know, having the entire world at your fingertips—is that you can find ideas for literally any of kind workout at the stroke of a keyboard. Want to find the perfect at-home ab workout? Google it. Need to know the difference between squats and de.... More »

Continue Reading

5 Hand and Wrist Stretches You Can Do Anywherehealth.com
The On Cloudflow Running Shoes Are so Lightweight, You’ll Think You’re Barefoothealth.com
Peloton's Holiday Bike Commercial Is Making the Internet Angry—Here's Whyhealth.com