By Liz Black, Refinery29
When I wrote about Gabi Gregg's capsule collection for swimsuitsforall just a couple weeks ago, I honestly was not expecting the level of ire that came with using the term "Fatkini," a term coined by Gregg herself.
You see, I'm fat. You can call me plus-size, curvy, voluptuous, or full-figured, and they're all accurate descriptions of my body shape. And so is fat. That word once had a huge negative connotation behind it to me, and I've shed tears over being called "fat," so I can understand the anguish that can come with such a tiny word. But I have embraced my body, my weight, my size. I'm active and I eat a plant-based diet; I know I'm healthy, and no amount of pounds is going to tell me otherwise. This is my body, and I accept it as such. So, I no longer view "fat" as an insult - to me, it's become more of a descriptor word (like skinny, tall, short), and nothing more. But not everyone views "fat" the same way.
The most vocal of our readers jumped to the
The Other F Word: Why Are We Still Uncomfortable with the Word "Fat"?
By Refinery29 | Healthy Living – Tue, May 14, 2013 3:35 PM EDTAngelina Jolie's Breast Surgery: Courageous or Extreme?
By Allure Daily Beauty Reporter | Healthy Living – Tue, May 14, 2013 3:19 PM EDTby Patrick Rogers
Read More »from Angelina Jolie's Breast Surgery: Courageous or Extreme?
WWD/Steve Eichner As you've probably already heard, Angelina Jolie published a piece on the editorial page of the New York Times today, describing the double mastectomy she elected to have after testing positive for a "faulty" BRCA1 gene, which increases her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Jolie writes that her own mother died of cancer at age 56, and she wanted to assure her children "that they don't need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer."
Jolie's startling statement clearly struck a chord: Online commentators rushed to praise her for speaking out about her tough decision, and the haters have been out in force, slamming her for "butchery" and choosing an option that's not available to women without considerable resources or comprehensive health insurance. We asked Susan Brown, managing director for community health at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for the facts about the procedure that doctors call bilateral prophylactic mastectomy--removing both breasts toPolitician Christine Quinn Reveals Past Struggles With Bulimia and Alcoholism
By Elise Solé, Shine Staff | Healthy Living – Tue, May 14, 2013 3:13 PM EDTBinge drinking and bulimia may not be topics that come to mind upon hearing the name Christine C. Quinn but the speaker of the New York City Council and Democratic candidate for mayor revealed her surprising life-long struggle with both diseases on Tuesday in The New York Times.
Read More »from Politician Christine Quinn Reveals Past Struggles With Bulimia and Alcoholism
More on Yahoo! Shine: Why Are Eating Disorders on the Rise in Older Women?
Quinn touches on these experiences in her upcoming memoir “With Patience and Fortitude” and says she contacted the newspaper because she believes that hiding her past isn’t healthy. “I just want people to know you can get through stuff,” she said. “I hope people can see that in what my life has been and where it is going.”
More on Yahoo! Warning Signs and Approaching Loved Ones With Eating Disorders
The 46-year-old described how coping with her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis contributed to her bulimia as a child. Her family kept her mother’s breast cancer and subsequent mastectomy a secret for almost six years, until Quinn discovered5 Reasons You're Bugging Your Fellow Yogis
By The Bethenny Show | Healthy Living – Tue, May 14, 2013 12:08 PM EDTYou're sweaty, smelly… and late to yoga? Oh, no. Don't be that girl. Here's how not to annoy your fellow yogis…
Today kicks off National Etiquette Week, and celeb yoga trainer Kristin McGee, who you know from "Body by Bethenny," is speaking the truth.
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"I wanted to share ways you can be courteous and gracious in yoga class. As a yoga teacher for over 17 years now, here are some of the most un-yogic manners you should try to avoid."
1. Being late for class.
Read More »from 5 Reasons You're Bugging Your Fellow Yogis
I realize we all have such busy lives and it's truly hard to be on time always, but it's also very disruptive to a class when someone walks in late. It's also dangerous, depending on how late you arrive. If you've missed some of the warm-up, you could injure yourself. If you are running late and you really want to take class, be as polite and quiet as you can when you enter the room, and before you stay, and ask the yoga teacher "Is it okay for me to still join in?"
2. Leaving early from class.Extreme Makeover: The 7 Craziest Fitness and Weight Loss Products EVER
By Babble.com | Healthy Living – Tue, May 14, 2013 12:07 PM EDTFrom a pair of blue sunglasses that supposedly curb your appetite, to a set of fitness dumbbells attached to forks and knives, you won't believe what we've found in these 7 crazy fitness and weight loss products. Perhaps the facerciser for only about $200 is more your style. After you check out these crazy workout gimmicks you might just settle on the ol' eating healthy and running approach…- By Jaime Morrison Curtis
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Read More »from Extreme Makeover: The 7 Craziest Fitness and Weight Loss Products EVERThe Real Reason You're Breaking Out
By Daily Makeover | Healthy Living – Tue, May 14, 2013 11:54 AM EDTBy Wendy Rodewald, Daily Makeover
Read More »from The Real Reason You're Breaking Out
Stress If you've ever gotten a breakout or a rash during a particularly stressful time in your life, then you probably realize that stress isn't just internal - it can show up on your skin, too. But how does the state of your mind end up affecting the state of your skin, and what's the best way to stop stress-related skin issues? For answers, we consulted Dr. Josie Howard, Simple Psychiatrist, who specializes in psychodermatology, an area of medicine that focuses on the relationship between stress, emotional well-being and skin health. Some of her answers may surprise you.
Related Article: 3 Smoothie Recipes For Clearer Skin
How does stress show up on the skin?
Stress and emotional turmoil can show up in the skin in a variety of ways. Signs include everything from brittle and ridging nails to hair loss, hives, and breakouts, as well as worsening other topical skin conditions - such as eczema and psoriasis. It's also important to remember that skin problemsWhat to Do when a Dog Attacks While Running
By SHAPE magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, May 14, 2013 11:47 AM EDTby Charlotte Andersen for SHAPE.com
Read More »from What to Do when a Dog Attacks While Running
What to do if man's best friend attacksWhether you run in the park or around town, chances are you've come across a dog or two during your miles. And while some are friendly, leashed, and only want to play with you, others can cause panic as you wonder if you're going to be attacked.
For one 63-year-old female, that nightmare came true last week. The unidentified woman was found dead, mauled during her morning run in Littlerock, CA. Police quickly seized eight dogs that were identified by an eyewitness as the attackers, though DNA tests need to be run to verify if the dogs were the killers.
Unfortunately stories of runners being confronted by dogs are becoming more common as irresponsible owners dump their unwanted pets or improperly restrain them. But you don't need to stop your workout to stay safe. Roo Yori, a dog trainer who specializes in pit bull rehabilitation and the proud owner of the famous and beloved therapy pit bulls Wallace and Hector, offers advice on how to deal with an6 Things You Didn't Know About Your Muscles
By SHAPE magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, May 14, 2013 11:28 AM EDTby Elizabeth Goodman Artis for SHAPE.com
Read More »from 6 Things You Didn't Know About Your Muscles
How your muscles can keep you healthy, happy, and disease freeFull disclosure: As the executive editor of Muscle & Fitness Hers, I'm vehemently pro muscle. It keeps your metabolism revved, takes up less space than fat, protects your joints, and allows you to lift heavy objects without the help of a guy.
Full disclosure number two: I almost never weight train. Like most women, I typically choose cardio (my go-to workout is Bikram yoga) over strength training, not because I'm afraid of bulking up, but I'm a sweat addict and hate figuring out the correct weights, reps, muscle groups to target, and so on. But I should. I really really should, for the reasons listed above, as well as the surprising muscle-related facts that follow.
1. Muscle is like scaffolding for your entire body: Without muscle, your bones, joints, and ligaments are considerably more vulnerable to age-related decline and injury, according to Dr. Kenneth Hansraj, an orthopedic and spinal surgeon based in New York City. Building core strength
Read More »from Best Snack Foods for Diabetics
Healthy snacking doesn't have to be boringFiguring out the right snack foods in between meals is hard enough for most people, but what if you're one of the 18.8 million people in the United States who have been diagnosed with diabetes? The options may seem even more limited. That's why we've put together a list of 15 diabetic-friendly snacking options based on advice from a few experts.
20 'Healthy' Foods That Are Actually Unhealthy and How to Fix Them
Lori Kenyon is a certified nutritional consultant, personal trainer, and co-founder of Ritual Cleanse. She was diagnosed early on in her life with a disorder that prevented her from consuming animal protein and has since had to adapt her diet to compensate. Kenyon advises clients to consume snacks which contain no more than 20 grams of carbohydrates and 140 milligrams of sodium per serving, in accordance with American Diabetes Association guidelines.
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Stella Metsovas is a certified clinical nutritionist who specializes in food science and human7 Ways to Put Your Health First
By The Editors of WOMEN'S HEALTH | Healthy Living – Mon, May 13, 2013 6:19 PM EDT
Read More »from 7 Ways to Put Your Health First
It's National Women's Health Week! To celebrate, we're challenging you to focus on your well beingWhen was the last time you visited a doctor for a checkup? Do you know what, if any, health risks run in your family? How often should you get a pap smear? Why, you ask, are we playing this game of Twenty Questions?
Now through Saturday, May 18th marks National Women's Health Week, a wellness initiative coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and we think the mission behind this event is too critical for any woman to ignore.
"The truth is, as women, all of us are busy juggling jobs and family responsibilities and everything else, and it's easy for things like healthy eating and exercise to fall to the bottom of the list," says First Lady Michelle Obama in an essay she wrote for us in honor of National Women's Health Week. "However, we all know it's just as important to focus on our own health as it is to focus on the well being of our spouses and, if we're parents, our kids."
RELATED: Michelle Obama on Putting Your Health First
We couldn't agree more.
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