Women: Try a female-only gym
No intimidation. No negativity. No cussing—there are kids around, after all. If a big-box gym isn’t your thing, maybe something like Burn Boot Camp is. Burn is a female-only gym that opened its first franchise in Naples late last year. Owners Jen Day and Holly Strickland say the gym is individually modeled—any woman at any skill level and any age is welcome. And, kids can come, too—the gym has a staffed kids’ space. Trainers also work with the women on diet and out-of-gym exercise plans. A private Facebook group links the members together for further conversation. Day says it’s a contrast to the large gyms, which can give off unfriendly vibes with impersonal service and prying eyes. “We’re trying to build a community of like-minded women,” she says.
Living better with diabetes
Diabetes remains a major health issue for Americans, but there is one piece of good news. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that people are developing it later in life and are living more years without disability.
The Granola Gap: The perception vs. reality of health food
When we think of “health food,” we think of granola, yogurt and all that good stuff (or boring stuff, depending on your taste). But a new study from The New York Times exposes the differences between the general public and health experts on what exactly “health food” is. The Times polled nutritionists and the American populous about what both groups considered healthful snacks. One of the surprising results was “The Granola Gap.” The public and the experts were far apart on granola bars. The reason: added sugar. Nutritionists say too many “healthy” granola bars contain too much sugar. Same with yogurt. (Hint: Check out Greek yogurt if you haven’t already.) On the flip side, the public underestimates tofu, sushi, hummus, wine and shrimp.
Be good to your skin
Your skin has done so much for you throughout the years. It’s probably time to return the favor. As you age, skin care gets more important. The Harvard Women’s Health Watch has several suggestions to protect your skin.
- Keep showers to roughly 5 minutes. If you start hitting the 10-minute mark, you start to strip away your skin’s oily layer that can lock in moisture.
- Moisturize after a shower. Look for a thick cream if you have dry skin. Make sure it contains dimethicone, glycerin, mineral oil or hyaluronic acid.
- Watch out for retinoids and alpha-hydroxy acid in anti-aging creams. They can irritate the skin.
- Especially in Florida, put on sunscreen before going out. Look for SPF 30 and broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
A Fitbit, but for emotions
We already have all sorts of wearable technology that tracks every step we take. But how about one for the roller coaster ride of emotions we go through each day? Zenta is a Fitbit-like device that tracks heart rate, skin temperature, respiration and a whole host of other biometrics. At first, you’ll have to log into its app to record what you did during the day (was an elevated heart rate at noon part of a positive or negative experience?). But over time, it learns what your reactions are to certain situations and can give insights into how you can manage your stress. Zenta is scheduled to launch early next year, according to its indiegogo.com crowdfunding page.
