Author: 8okaybaby@gmail.com
Throughout my life, I have been a reliable friend, a good student, a driven worker, a consistent athlete, and an adventurous person. I come from a loving home and consider myself fortunate to have the family that I do. I have always found meaning in helping others, which is what motivated me to pursue a master’s degree in counseling psychology and become a licensed mental health counselor and addiction specialist. I am a wife, mother, daughter, therapist, and author. I’m also a woman in long-term recovery from alcoholism.As a teenager and young adult, I had a “work hard, play hard”…
Coffee on its own doesn’t typically have a significant impact on your blood sugar levels. Adding sweeteners and flavored creamers, among other factors, can increase your blood sugar.Cut back on sweeteners, pair coffee with meals and stay active to limit glucose spikes. Your blood sugar naturally fluctuates throughout the day. “Levels rise after meals for everyone because carbohydrates break down into glucose,” says Kathleen Benson, CSSD, CPT, RDN. In people with insulin resistance or diabetes, these increases may be higher and last longer because the body doesn’t respond to insulin as efficiently or doesn’t produce enough of it, Benson explains. “For…
Trader Joe’s cookie scene is unmatched. Sure, Costco has giant variety platters, and Sam’s Club now offers single (and warm!) to-go brookies. But Trader Joe’s has such a robust portfolio of cookies year-round, from All the Things Cookies to Joe-Joe’s to the new Peppermint Brookies, which debuted this holiday season. But the bittersweet catch with TJ’s is that cookies come and cookies go. Like other snacks and treats at the hibiscus-clad grocery store, many of these sensational, unique flavors are only around for a limited time. Such is the case for these new shortbread cookies that are quickly winning fans…
I lack consistency when it comes to most of my beauty routine. However, the same can’t be said for taking care of my damaged and thinning strands. I’ve stayed committed to my hair care regimen over the last few years, trying countless products that thicken, strengthen, and repair. And let’s just say, my fluffier mane is proof I’m doing a fantastic job. That said, I’m always looking for new hair treatments to maintain a denser and healthier appearance. I recently stumbled upon the Pura D’Or Anti-Hair-Thinning Biotin Shampoo, a best-selling treatment that Shape editors even named one of the best…
The thing is, everyone tolerates caffeine differently. Some people will have no problem drinking four cups of coffee, about 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, whereas others get jittery after one cup or less. So, if your brain is feeling a bit sluggish, foggy, or flat-out running on empty, what can you do? Well, caffeine may help a bit with alertness, but there’s another ingredient that’s even better for boosting brain energy.*
Skipping meals to save up for a special holiday meal can seem like a good strategy.It can raise blood sugar by making you overly hungry, which may encourage you to eat more.Instead, focus on balanced meals and snacks, and be sure to hydrate throughout the day. What happens when you have a big holiday party on the calendar for tonight? You know, the one where your neighbor brings the dessert you love? Or a festive meal at your favorite restaurant? If you try to “save up” for that special meal by skipping meals earlier in the day, you’re not alone.…
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We may earn a commission from links on this page. 2025 was a fun year to review fitness devices. We saw three companies introduce devices that could have been Whoop killers, and one definitely came closer to the mark than others. One running watch gobsmacked me with its accuracy, one device was so inaccurate it sent me down an investigative rabbit hole to figure out why, and two devices delighted me with how well they solved a real problem no other device even tried to tackle. Read on for the winners of my very subjective award categories.Most accurate: Garmin Forerunner…
Dietitians say the best high-protein snack at Costco is Go Raw Sprouted Organic Pumpkin Seeds. Each serving has 8 grams of protein, plus fiber and energizing minerals.They’re also shelf-stable and easily portable, so they’re great for snacking on the go. Whether you’re on a long car ride, spending the day running errands, or powering through a busy workday, healthy snacks are a necessity for squashing between-meal hunger. Especially snacks that are high in satisfying protein to keep you full. If you’re a Costco shopper, you’re in luck. Costco has lots of healthy, high-protein snacks. But dietitians say there’s one that…
Key Takeaways Gender identity is a person’s internal experience of gender, which may be different from the sex assigned at birth.There are many different gender identities, such as non-binary, agender, and two-spirit.People choose how to express their gender with different pronouns, names, clothing, and behaviors. Gender is separate from sex. Although genetic factors usually define a person’s biological sex, people determine their own gender identity. Explore what gender identity is and find out the definitions of several unique gender identities. Discover where individuals can find support if they experience gender dysphoria. What Is Gender Identity? Because a person’s sex and gender…