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I N S P I R AT I O N F O R W O M E N I N TO DAY ’ S B U S Y W O R L D

NEW YEAR

BETTER

YOU

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO

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TRENDS

What’s Trending: February 2021 As soon as February hits, what do we think about? Snow, cold and the Super Bowl. But let’s be honest, ladies, we can’t talk about February without thinking about our hearts.

From Valentine’s Day to heart health, this month’s What’s Trending focuses on love.

By Jessica Dill

HEART HEALTH:

Our hearts are good to us, so we have to take care of them. Did you know heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the US? February is American Heart Month so there’s no better time than now to learn heart health basics.

First, focus on your mental health! Mental health and physical health are linked, so the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends you find ways to reduce stress. Reducing stress can be as easy as positive self-talk. Remind yourself you can do tough things and everything will be okay. Also, find stress-free activities like reading, taking a walk or painting. Don’t forget to schedule “you” time during your busy days.

Second, move more! A lot of us may be working from home, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get our bodies moving. Bundle up and get outside for a quick walk or find some at-home workouts you can do. Moving around boosts our immune system and improves our overall health.

HEY THERE, LADIES! Time to refresh with beauty, fitness and heart health tips. Learn how to get fit virtually, how to keep yourself looking and feeling younger, and see some creative and romantic ideas for at-home Valentine’s Day dates. Forget about the cold and snow and instead focus on the fun in February. It’s a short month so let’s make it a good one!

Jessica Dill

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Finally, eat healthy. The AHA says a healthy diet is one of the best weapons to help fight cardiovascular disease. The organization advises eating a variety of nutritional foods from all the food groups, including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, nuts and skinless poultry and fish. Limit saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, red meat and sweets.

DATING DURING A PANDEMIC

Single ladies, this one's for you. Looking for love during a pandemic has its hurdles, right? Health experts are recommending virtual dating as the safest way to meet people.

Match.com and eHarmony are still go-to dating sites, however some new phone apps have appeared.

Bumble is a free location-based dating app so it’s going to match you with people nearby. Interestingly, women have to make the first contact on this app, so it’s your turn to make the first move.

Hinge is a dating app that allows you to provide a ton of information in your profile. You can let people know your religious and political beliefs right off the bat. Also, its slogan is “designed to be deleted.” In other words, the app’s goal is to match people looking for long-term relationships.

The League considers itself an “elite” dating app and is geared toward young professionals. You have to apply and include information like your job title, college and LinkedIn profile.

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TRENDS

FUN VALENTINE’S DAY IDEAS AT HOME: Has romance taken a back seat during this pandemic? It’s completely understandable, if so. Restaurants are closing early, we’re not having as many babysitters over our homes, and that new tie dye loungewear set is just so much more comfortable than high heels. Here are some fun at-home ideas to add a little creativity to make this Valentine’s Day special.

5. Game night. Turn off the TV and phones and spend time together around a deck of cards or Monopoly board. Make it fun by picking a prize for the winner. How does no laundry for a week sound? Remember, you can always invite the kids to this one.

6. Zoom night. Don’t have a significant other this year? No problem. Pour your favorite glass of vino and schedule a Zoom night with your girlfriends. Choose a dinner theme and you can all make your own meal to match the theme.

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1. Bring date night to your home. You know that little black dress you have shoved in the back of your closet? Pull it out this Valentine’s Day and have your significant other grab his nice suit. Get dolled up as if you were going out for a night on the town. Order take-out from your favorite restaurant, light some candles and bring date night to you. Will your kids be running around in the background? Maybe, but at least you don’t have to pay for parking!

2. Take a virtual dance class. Are your dance moves a little rusty? Push the couch over, put on your favorite flowy skirt and start dancing. Just Google “dance classes for couples” and you’ll find plenty of free online classes. Who cares if you’re terrible at it, as long as you’re laughing through it together, right?

Amazingly we’ve gotten through the holidays and one heck of a distressing year! After ringing in the new year with anticipation for a better tomorrow comes Valentine’s Day, the traditional day for lovers. It’s easy to find gifts that say “Be My Valentine!” but the year we’ve had calls for more to celebrate the love and passion that has been difficult to maintain during the last 12 months. A visit to Ambiance will help make your Valentine’s Day a real celebration of love and passion.

Whether flirtatious or downright seductive, Ambiance offers lingerie in misses and curvygirl sizes that will make your Valentine’s Day a real “lover’s holiday”! Raise the passion you share with stimulating lotions and our high tech, mind-blowing “Romantic Technology”!

You can visit Ambiance online at Ambiance.com or one of our retail locations, which operate by following all recommended health and safety measures.

3. Spa day. A massage has always been a popular Valentine’s Day gift for couples.

Who says that has to stop during a pandemic? Turn your home into a spa. You can give each other massages. Why stop there?

Give each other facials and pull out the bubbles and bath bombs.

4. Paint and sip at home.

Have you been wanting to try one of those paint and sip classes? Why not create your own at home? Order some paints and canvases from Amazon and grab your favorite bottle of wine. Find a picture you both want to paint and see who can recreate it better.

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FITNESS

Virtual

Fitness

With or without the kids, on-demand or with others, online fitness provides no excuses, due to so many options available.

By Jessica Dill

I

t’s hard to think about tank tops and swimsuits when there is still snow on the ground, but summer bodies are made in the winter. If you don’t feel comfortable going to a gym during a pandemic, there are still plenty of ways to get yourself feeling good.

You can now choose from many online and streaming workouts. Many of the programs don’t even require equipment. However, you might benefit from buying a jump rope, yoga mat or weights.

On-Demand Classes

If you don’t mind paying a membership, you can check out Beachbody on Demand. It has more than 1,500 programs and classes you can pull up right on your TV. It costs about $40 for three months, and it’s something you can do in your own living room and on your own schedule.

Many women took barre, yoga and Zumba classes at the gym before the pandemic. Now, in addition to subscription services like Beachbody, you can stream hundreds of free classes on YouTube and on Prime Video if you’re a member of Amazon Prime.

Workout Connections

Do you thrive off the camaraderie of being around other determined women during your workout?

If working out alone and listening to a recorded instructor doesn’t motivate you, then check out Fit4Mom. Fit4Mom offers pre- and-postnatal fitness programs in person and virtually. For example, you can join Stroller Barre, a cardio and strength interval class or Body Well, an eight-week program which includes small group fitness coaching and nutritional guidance. You can workout from home but still be with women from across Northeast Ohio.

Lyndsey Stephan is a mother of two, group fitness instructor and owner of the Cuyahoga Falls/Stow/

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FITNESS Kent Fit4Mom branch. She says working out with other women is beneficial.

“It helps with support, accountability and creating new friendships, especially in a time where people need each other more than ever,” she says. “In a time where we feel so isolated and alone, it is nice to be able to virtually see the moms in my village,” she says.

No matter how you work out, Stephan says it’s important to change up your exercise routine.

“You don’t want to continuously work the same exact muscles every workout,” she says. “That will lead to muscle fatigue, which could eventually result in injury.”

Stephan recommends that the average adult get 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week.

“Regular exercise isn’t only good for your physical health but also has a positive impact on your mental well-being, which helps fight depression and anxiety and reduces

stress levels, improves sleep and boosts your mood.”

Don’t like working out virtually? No problem. Stephan says you can get in a great workout other ways.

“It can be as easy as going for a 30 minute power walk, jog or run,” she says.

Kids Join in

Only have time to work out when your child is with you? Try a program that incorporates your child in the exercises, such as Stroller Strides.

“Stroller Strides is a functional, total-body conditioning workout designed for moms with kids in tow,” says Sarah Andrecheck, the Fit4Mom owner and instructor in Beachwood/Shaker Heights. “No more mama guilt. This class is all about self-care in a supportive and encouraging environment.”

Have a Peloton account? Check out the virtual family classes they have available.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FIT4MOM

The Fit4Mom program provides workouts that allow kids to be included in unique ways.

You can find five- to 20-minute classes geared toward the entire family.

There are also a lot of free options on YouTube or Amazon. Just search for family workouts.

“You must take care of yourselves in order to take the best care of your kiddos,” Andrecheck says. “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

Whether you want to drop a couple pounds or just want to feel healthier, remember there are plenty of options out there. Do something today that your future self will be grateful for tomorrow.

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As an Ursuline student, you’ll benefit from small, interactive classes that weave theoretical knowledge with field experience. You’ll be taught and mentored by faculty who are leaders in their fields. Your education from Ursuline will allow you to advance in your current career or seek new opportunities.

Ursuline recently introduced the Institute for Women, Wellness and Work, which provides women with flexible, online learning options that enable them to drive change, both in their own lives and the lives of others. Whether you’re re-entering the workforce, looking for a corporate role, starting your own business, or exploring the flexibility of the gig economy, this is the place to start. The Institute’s programming includes webinars, workshops, micro-credentials, and a new master’s program in integrative wellness studies.

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ANTI-AGING

AGE NUMBER is only a

Experts share skin, hair and health tips for looking and feeling your best.

By Jessica Dill

WHO IS THAT IN THE MIRROR, YOU ASK? We can’t escape the aging process. However, there are ways we can look and feel younger. To find out how, we interviewed three professionals in the skin, hair and dietary fields.

>> Skin

There isn’t just one skin change we see as we age, there are endless changes.

Ringaile Sirvaitis, nurse practitioner at Apex Dermatology, says there are a number of concerns women have, from fine lines and wrinkles to hyperpigmentation, scarring, dry skin, rosacea and stubborn fat deposits.

The dermatology and skin surgery practice has offices throughout Northeast Ohio and offers various cosmetic services, such as chemical peels, diamond glow, dermaplaning, microneedling, Botox, fillers and CoolSculpting.

To start with the basics, Sirvaitis recommends washing your face twice a day with warm water and a mild cleanser as opposed to harsh soap.

“Avoid vigorous daily scrubbing as it can irritate your skin,” Sirvaitis says. “Moisturize your skin daily. It helps to trap water in our skin, which provides a youthful appearance.”

We also should apply sunscreen every day, get enough sleep and exercise regularly. On the other hand, avoid tanning beds, tobacco, alcohol and too much coffee.

“To maintain healthy skin I recommend routine skin checks,” Sirvaitis says. Apex recommends adults get a full body skin screening annually. These skin checks will screen for skin cancer and are also good opportunities for dermatologists to give advice on other skin issues a patient may have.

>> Hair

We also see our hair go through changes as we age.

Catherine Tilow, the general manager and master stylist at Details Salon Couture in Rocky River and Avon, says there are ways to maintain a youthful look.

Make sure you’re using professional products that are sulfate free. Also, try to limit the amount of heat on your hair.

“Only blow dry, flat iron and curl your hair when it’s necessary,” Tilow says. “Use a good heat protectant first.”

We can also use a weekly hair mask, get haircuts every six to eight weeks and take vitamins. Tilow also says biotins are great for hair.

What about our grays?

Anti-Aging Foods Incorporate a variety of healthy foods in your diet for bright and youthful hair and skin.

COURTESY OF APEX DERMATOLOGY

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ANTI-AGING

“I have clients who are 70 years old without any gray and some who are 100 percent gray at 23,” Tilow says. Some prefer to completely cover the gray, but that can mean a lot of salon visits. She recommends gray blending, which is highlighting or low lighting your natural color, to slow down the PHOTO COURTESY OF APEX DERMATOLOGY appearance of the aging process.

From a variety of cosmetic services to gray “Gray blending gives a natural blending (right), there are many tricks to look with low maintenance and help hide the signs of aging. fewer visits to the salon,” she says.

Don’t forget gray is beautiful.

Tilow says you can always go all natural and let that silver sparkle.

>> Diet

Both Sirvaitis and Tilow say your diet affects the way your skin and hair look.

Camille Skoda, registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, says hydration is a vital part of reducing the aging process.

PHOTO COURTESY OF “Make sure you include half your body weight in ounces of fluid daily,” DETAILS SALON COUTURE Skoda says. “Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which naturally contain more water.”

Skoda says adequate dietary protein also helps maintain skin turgor and muscle tone. Aim for 20-30 grams of protein with each meal.

How do we keep our brain strong? Skoda says fats are best, especially those high in omega-3s. Think olive oil, walnuts, flaxseed, avocado and fatty fish.

“We used to be scared away from dietary fats, but now research is linking an increased intake of omega-3 rich fats with improvements in memory function, mental health outcomes, many neurological disorders, and even improved cardiovascular function,” Skoda says.

She also recommends that we focus on plant intake.

“Each different color of fruit and vegetable provides a different phytonutrient that helps to ward off inflammation and disease,” Skoda says. “A wide variety of color in your diet daily is a huge part of aging well.”

Skoda also recommends we eat more whole foods and less processed foods.

“Shop the perimeter of the store, and try to minimally buy packaged goods in the aisles,” she says. “”Look for the lowest number of ingredients on labels.”

While there are creative and inexpensive ways to make our hair, skin and brains healthier, don’t forget to embrace the gift of aging, too. You are beautiful inside and out!

Green Tea

Kiwi

Berries

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