STYLE FILES | SS21

Read the Dec Issue #60 of Athleisure Mag and see Style Files | SS21 in mag.

THE NEWEST LAS VEGAS CASINO RESORTS REVEALED

Planning your first trip to Las Vegas in 2021? Good choice. The bright lights of “Sin City” in the heart of the Nevada desert attract tens of millions worldwide each year. It’s not just a place to sit down and play cards anymore. It’s become an all-out entertainment paradise.

If you are unsure of where to stay on the Strip – or ‘Downtown’ on Fremont Street – read on as we outline the newest casino resorts to use as a stylish, contemporary base for your stay.

PHOTO COURTESY | Pisqels

Many of these resorts now specialize in extensive dining and retail experiences too. As we explored at https://www.athleisuremag.com, where else on the planet can you dine indoors looking out to an ancient Romanesque replica of the Trevi Fountain like the hugely popular? That’s before we even mention the city’s state-of-the-art entertainment, spanning comedy, theatre shows and live music performances. However, most first-time visitors to Las Vegas also want to sample the thrill of playing casino games. The new casino resorts listed below contain tens of thousands of square feet of casino floor space, spanning table games like blackjack and roulette, as well as hundreds of low and high-limit slots.

If you are new to playing slot machines, it’s always recommended to get a feel for slot dynamics before you travel by playing online first. https://www.vegasslotsonline.com/ is a reliable starting point. This portal lists thousands of free slots available to try without having to pay a cent using ‘play money’. Many of which are iconic slots still played on the casino floors of resorts on the Vegas Strip, including Aristocrat’s Buffalo and Bally’s Quick Hit slots. This site even offers a FAQ for those who want to look into this more.

The following five casino resorts are the newest kids on the Las Vegas block, bringing contemporary style and sophistication to your casino gaming, nightlife and all-round entertainment on vacation:

Waldorf Astoria (opened in 2018)

PHOTO COURTESY | Pisqels

Set back on its mid-Strip location beside The Cosmopolitan, the Waldorf Astoria is one of the most extravagant resorts for anyone with deep pockets. Formerly known as the Mandarin Oriental, this resort has undergone a significant transformation. The jewel in the crown for the resort is its 23rd-floor Sky Bar, which affords panoramic views of the Strip day and night. It’s easy to tell how ‘upscale’ this resort is by revealing that guests can make use of the Moet & Chandon champagne vending machines on-demand. Can you get any more decadent?!

Park MGM (opened in 2018)

The former Monte Carlo casino resort dates back to 1996 and 20 years on, it already desperately needed a revamp. Fortunately, the Park MGM renovations have transformed it into a warmer, more rustic resort, with entertainment oozing out of its every pore. A stone’s throw from the hotel is the new Park Theater, which plays host to some of the world’s biggest pop stars including Lady Gaga. Meanwhile, the T-Mobile Arena is also just around the corner, playing host to the Los Angeles Golden Knights NHL ice hockey team. The Eataly food court is also well-received, spanning cheap eats and delectable delights in equal measure.

Sahara (opened in 2019)

Located at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, the Sahara, formerly known as the SLS, opened its doors in 2019. It is a 21st-century rebuild of the classic Sahara casino, which was one of the oldest on the Strip when it was closed due to its lack of viability as a commercial concern in 2011. The recent renovation was completed by Meruelo and the hotel was rebranded as Sahara Las Vegas in August 2019. Although it’s slightly off the beaten track of the Strip, this hotel boasts its own station on the Las Vegas Monorail, taking you up and down the four-mile-long network in a matter of minutes.

Circa Resort (opened in 2020)

If you are someone that would prefer to stay in the old-school ‘Downtown’ district of Las Vegas’ Fremont Street, the region recently welcomed the new Circa Resort with open arms. Overlooking classic casinos like the Golden Gate, Circa Resort opened at the end of October 2020. It’s the first brand-new casino resort in the Downtown area for over 40 years. With 44 stories and 777 rooms, it’s a major boost for the area. Its most striking area is the outdoor pool area, which boasts a magnificent viewing area of all the best live sports. Imagine taking a dip in the pool and kicking back watching the big game, with the desert sun on your back – bliss!

Resorts World Las Vegas (opening in 2021)

The next big opening is due to occur in summer 2021 with the much-anticipated Resorts World Las Vegas. Constructed at $4 billion, this Asian-inspired resort will become the next big mega-resort after the launch of Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in 2010. It will comprise the trio of Hilton’s premium accommodation brands under one roof – LXR, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Conrad.

Hopefully one of these casino resorts will whet your appetite for your Vegas adventure but, if not, rest assured there’s at least another 30 resorts to peruse on the Strip alone!

CONNECTION MATTERS WITH JEN WIDERSTROM

We've all had many stories to share about this year and looking into next year which is par for the course when it comes to this time of year. Of course with what we have gone through this year as a global community, stepping into 2021 in the most optimized way is definitely something that we're looking to do around the office of Athleisure Mag! That entails a series of efforts that combine mind, body and soul.

We caught up with one of our favorites Jen Widerstrom Celebrity Fitness Trainer, TV Personality, Best Selling Author, Entrepreneur and Fitness Expert who we have enjoyed since seeing her as Phoenix on NBC's American Gladiators, the undefeated trainer on NBC's The Biggest Loser, as a bestselling author and having the ability to take classes led by her in years past. Her approach to motivating people and joining her clients journey in their transformation is no surprise to us!

We're looking forward to taking her 60 day challenge with Transformation Protein beginning Jan 5th - Mar 5th to hit our goals and prepare to be our best selves in 2021. We talk with Jen about how she got into the industry, how she navigated the landscape, the importance of mentorship and being inspired and giving back to others.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We know that you love being able to engage and help people. Can you tell us how you found your way into the fitness industry?

JEN WIDERSTROM: You know, it was such an accident girl! I was always involved in sports growing up and we always had a set of weights in the basement. We still do! Movement was a part of my life and my parents who are in their 70’s have their own garden plot. They grow their own vegetables. Being physical was always present early on but fitness was different. I was working out for performance in a sport or to look good for TV for American Gladiators and stuff like that. What really happened was that I came to LA after American Gladiators in 2008, I said, "I've made it. I am famous, this is great." I was 24 and I was in the greenest pasture right now. The show went off the air and I didn’t have any money to stay. I started teaching classes at this local little fitness studio called Pulse Fitness Studio that’s here in Sherman Oaks. They’re still rocking and rolling. It was great because I could have a free gym membership as I couldn’t afford one in LA and I had no money. I needed to pay my bills and I needed a gym membership.

That was it. I started out of reasons for necessity – financial. Then, I just realized that i wasn’t just about the weight loss but the pride in being able to see the changes and the person that came along with movement. I saw them just being able to open up and just starting to see what a beautiful motivator this was right? The ability to accomplish and to do. Waistlines will always change as that’s a side effect of the real work and when I saw that, I never looked back. I thought, “oh my gosh, there’s an impact here that’s far greater then I have ever given credit for.” Doing the group classes in the valley, turned into doing DVD’s for Men’s and Women’s Health to being a MSN Health person to being on NBC’s The Biggest Loser. I’ve been very lucky and honestly, that’s just where it started.

AM: We remember when you were Phoenix on American Gladiator! How was it to be on such a physical show?

JW: Headline – dream come true! You have to realize that I was born in 1982. I mean we’re talking about Zap, Jazz – these fit strong women and then you’ve got Gemini and Nitro – who’s better than Nitro – Dan Clark was great! I was just obsessed and I always wanted to be a contestant – always wanted to be on the show. I think that I have been a Gladiator 3 times for Halloween. When I actually got to do the show, I really felt that I had made it, I could literally die happy and that I got to do everything that I wanted to be able to do. It was a blast and it was special for a number of reasons. I met some incredible people. Very few times does a cast and production meld so well together. Dave Hurwitz was our producer and he had been doing MTV’s Fear Factor and he was such a class act. All of the people like former MMA fighter Gina Carano, known as Crush (Deadpool, Fast & Furious 6, The Mandalorian) and Beth Horn known as Venom, Valerie Waugaman known as Siren – all the women were just wonderful people. They were great in the industry and everybody was somebody. Hollywood Yates known as Wolf, was a professional rodeo clown. We had stunt people and then there was me. I was like, “I’m a bartender in Chicago.” I had no idea how I got this job and I was excited.

But it was good and there was a lot of pressure! These were live tapings and you didn’t get redo’s. So you’re out there and you’re in the rings with contestants. If they get by you, you look dumb! There was real pressure and there was no faking it. We really got after it so it was a lot of fun, but it was a lot of intense competition – no doubt!

AM: Obviously on the Biggest Loser, why did you like being on this show? Once again, it was great watching you on this show as the amount of care that you gave and the fact that you were an undefeated trainer is mindblogging.

JW: It’s funny because it was a scary show. There was no other biggest show in our field. What I loved about it was the people – my contestants and also those that were on the other teams as well. I realized very quickly that I wasn’t here to fill Jillian Michael’s shoes, to replicate what Bob Harper has done – I had to do me. I mean talk about a formula for life – do you and that’s scary you know. Will you like me, will I be invited to the birthday party? Am I accepted for who I am and what I have shared? I was really scared because I had not been on TV in that way and I had never been in that scenario. The one thing that I knew was that if I put my people first, if they were my focus it would be right. If you ask anyone that I have trained in the decades that I have worked, ask anyone and they would tell you the same that my contestants would – they were my focus and I just knew that the rest would take care of itself. People were able to see my care and my heart and that came across the screen so clearly. I said, do whatever you want with the cameras. I still talk to them every day. I have group threads with all of my teams and we’ll do little challenges like Team Jen versus Team Jen. Colby and Hope Wright (Biggest Loser Season 17), they were contestants on the show and they were struggling to get pregnant before their show and they just had their first child. I love being involved in their lives and when I have had hard days, I can call them and they are truly family to me. That really comes down to the favorite part – the relationships that I made were real and now they’re in their own lives and the effects continue to ripple in their own communities of wellness and being able to inspire others.

AM: How would you define your approach or methodologies that you use when it comes to training your clients whether it’s in person or virtually?

JW: I think that for me, I don’t know when this happened, but at some point health and weight loss got hard and confusing. That happens in media because it’s sales and marketing and people want you to be able to buy their stuff and my approach is, take away the mystery, take away the fear and just really show people, base line health. It’s not very hard to take care of yourself and people get very nervous about failure and I just take the judgement away. There’s no judgment, there’s nothing to be afraid of and I really teach people to be students of the experience and of themselves. I start there because the rest takes care of itself.

Think about a kid learning to do a cartwheel. How many times do they do a cartwheel before they actually get it? They may never get it, but they never stop trying. They’re not judging themselves and I thought that we had to bring that back. The ability to say, “hey, I’m not a failure, I’m learning and I’m trying.” The way that I actually equate it which really helped me is that I used to be really fluent in Spanish and of course, I forgot everything. When I started to teach myself again, I was feeling stupid because my pronunciation was off or I wasn’t conjugating correctly or I said “la” when it should have been “el” – the fear of trying and looking foolish with the language became a light bulb for me with health and weight loss. They’re afraid of looking foolish and afraid to tell their friends that they are doing to do this now – going to the gym. People aren’t looking for you to fail but we get it in our heads sometimes that we are going to look dumb and that the failure is something that we can’t take it – why? Treat it like a kid during cartwheels. Keep trying. I always tell people that the great thing about the wagon is that I always let you back on it! Always! I think my approach is really putting a curiosity, the minds of the students in front to remove the judgment and just keep showing up. We all get stuck. I’m trying to normalize some of those bumps in the road. That’s what gives people the chance to learn. It’s all mental – it’s all behavior.

AM: We’ve had the ability to train with some amazing trainers. What’s your advice when it comes to people finding the person that they want to train with whether in person, via IG or virtually? What should they be looking for in terms of them opening themselves up to someone who will be working with them and directing them?

JW: It’s funny because my opening statement is find someone who doesn’t annoy you - #1. If they’re annoying, you’ll never go back. There has to be a likeability and then the connection will follow. If it’s an in person trainer, do they pay attention to you and do they make adjustments? Do they have a plan for the day? If you say that your knee feels weird and they don’t change anything, that’s a big red flag to me. A trainer is a beautiful job and we are in the service industry. Gunnar Peterson is a good friend of mine and he always says that effort is second. We love serving our people, we love being there and being that support system. So if you don’t have that support, that adaptation to your workouts, really asking how you are feeling – cut and run! You do not want someone that can’t adapt to where your body and your mind is that day. It’s just not possible. Adaptability to you is key, but when it comes to online, you want to find the people that when you leave their page, you feel good about yourself. You should keep going to that person’s workouts. If you leave feeling worse, then maybe don’t follow that person anymore. Since we’re digitally coaching and caring right now – even the challenge, I don’t keep friends that don’t make me feel good. Do the same with the trainer. There are plenty of us out there as Instagram shows you that will make you excited to go to their page and get your motivation on. Whether it’s the music that they play or the exercises that they do – whoever keeps you going is who you stay with.

AM: This summer while we interviewed Gunnar, we were talking with him about the early days of the pandemic and how we were early enough to fill in the equipment that we needed scouring through Amazon and other sites. We talked with him about how he assisted his clients in getting them what they needed. How did you do this with your followers and your clients?

JW: I felt this urge to be available. I was actually going to close all social media this year as a birthday gift to myself.

AM: That will be a delayed birthday gift ha!

JW: Exactly and when the pandemic hit, I was like well I’m a resource I care and I need to be there for them so I made myself available. That’s what was needed. There are millions of exercises on YouTube, social media all kinds of great resources, your magazine – there are all these great things. What people needed more then content was people and community. That is what I had them focus on. I said to find someone that they could be accountable to, FaceTiming, I was doing Facebook Lives 3-4 times a week and doing those workouts. Listen, I’m a good trainer and there are a lot of people that can tell you how to do push-ups and situps, but I’m GREAT at community. I wanted people to be able to know that they had time with me. They show up for you and they move as a result. So while they’re here, they might as well do the push-ups that I was talking about.

For me, it was an accountability. They knew that I missed them when they weren’t there. They needed people, support, a voice on the other line saying that I am here and that I feel what you’re feeling. That’s really it!

AM: What are your go to workouts that you really enjoy doing whether it’s for arms, glutes, abs or legs?

JW: You know it’s funny. I’m almost 40 and gravity is doing something weird to my body. My butt didn’t use to do that and anyone that reads this will just laugh and nod. Right around 39 ha! So I realized and it really hit me this year and I think part of it was not having a gym as well. I was doing more walking outside, I was in lockdown in Florida and thankfully the weather was great and it was warm so it was good for me spiritually. Man, my butt started to sink, there was a looseness in my arms. So what I really started to think was that weight training has always been in my life. As I said, I had weights in my basement. My go to exercises were those that allowed me to simulate muscle where I didn’t want to lose shape. I’m a big glute thruster person – whether you put a barbell on your hips or a dumbbell or a kettle bell on your lap. There are a number of ways that you can target it as a single leg or a double leg. Glute Thrusters to me especially when done correctly – which I can go into. A lot of people don’t realize that their chin, sternum and pubic bone all need to be in alignment. You want to keep that straight. I will see people who will try to sag their butt down because they feel it hurts their back but you have to keep that constellation aligned. It really loads your hamstring and butt. That’s been such a savior for my backside! I’m like, there you are! I needed it!

When it comes to upper body and what happens because I didn’t have a lot of equipment and people were in this position, I always remember that tempo training has been my go to. I was tempo’ing with the glute hamstring. Even an incline push-up which takes a little weight off of your body just go s-l-o-w. I’m talking, 5 counts down, hold the beats and 5 counts up. Let me tell you that your arms will start to change. It really brought the life back to my body. Using tempo for my arms and even my legs helps. And also, as far as core is concerned, I like having a toned stomach and not like abs because I don’t want to be ripped. But pilates for me, is my go to core work. Any type of pilates, sign me up! It keeps me long and I feel very connected in my lower core, it supports me in my other movements and I just love the shape that my body takes when I am doing pilates and especially in my stomach. So those are my go to’s if I had to pick one for each.

AM: We’re fans of pilates too and couldn’t agree more!

What is Transformation Protein and why did you want to partner with them?

JW: It’s kind of funny as I joked before that I don’t know who made me an expert. I think it’s because I try a lot, I ask questions, I give the truth and I lead people to things that work. Just live everybody else, I have questions! Are these supplements any good, is this product any good, does this company have integrity – just like any civilian looking at products. It was Gunnar – a dear friend of mine. I didn’t have a place to live so I was living in his backyard at his guest house. He’s the man that opens his door and his heart and his life to you and he’s such a great mentor and friend to me and he was working with it. I was really looking for a solution with collagen because it’s an incomplete protein and it’s sold in a way that you have to actually have a supplement with it to be affective and a lot of people don’t know that. I really wanted to look into what that solution would be for someone to get the collegen which is so critical as well as high quality protein. I remember I was at his gym literally just working out and mooching off his protein and I was like, “what is this stuff?” I started asking him and he was like, “this is Transformation.” He gave me the rundown over the summer and I thought that it was great and it tasted good, its plants and when I looked at the combination and the quality of the protein, I thought this is a really incredible thing going on. What company spends the time or the money to give you what your body actually needs. Usually it’s like, let’s take the leftover protein that’s shit and put another label on it and sell it to you by saying that it’s night time protein. The way that Brian Wargula (President/Co-Founder) and Transformation have sourced the ingredients and have found that combination is really some of the best that I have ever seen.

Ask any nutrition pro and I’m a nutrition specialist so ask anybody, they will tell you that there isn’t a better formula combination out there. The fact that there is probiotics – it’s really an all in one package. They have done a great job and they have spared no expense. But when you work with people that actually care, let’s put a ring on it and get married!

AM: We have tried a number of proteins and there are those that we like and those that we can’t get behind so we can’t wait to get ours. But we knew that Gunnar was a fan of it and also you, so we’re pretty pumped to include this in our routines and we knew it was legit!

JW: Oh yeah! I mean I had a hard fall, broke my foot, a week later, I got attacked by a dog and he bit my face. I put on about 10lbs. It was weird my body was just slower, I wasn’t training, I was doing what I could, but it was about getting enough food in. I just didn’t have an appetite and I started back with Transformation Protein and it really helped lean me out. I was getting enough good food in, my body was able to let go of the extra weight and it was critical for me.

AM: We love this 60 day Total Body Challenge and the fact that you and Gunnar are a part of it. Can you give us an overview about what this is and is it true that it’s limited to a set number of people only that can participate in this and why?

JW: Yeah and here’s why. Because I’m one person –

AM: Really? We thought you were 10?

JW: I know! I always keep my promise and what I mean by that is that my word means something to me and I want it to mean something to people that follow and trust me. When I took on this challenge, no one reads my emails, no one signs Jen for me, no one takes calls for me. When there’s quotes in magazines and press releases, those are my words and there is no one writing for me. It’s really important for people to know that when they sign up to work with this coach, they’re getting Jen. These days, there’s a lot of dishonesty around signing up for x,y,z coach and it’s actually not them leading you in the challenge at all. Because it’s me, I thought, what is my capacity to give and help that’s going to be the sweet spot of being able to have as many people as possible to be there without diluting my abilities to be there for everyone. That was that 100 person mark. I wanted people to be able to have me and again, it’s all digital. I’m creating the emails every week, I’m sending the videos, I’m answering the emails, I’m hosting the live meetings, I wrote and filmed every single workout. Part of me is like, “maybe I’m just really controlling and a micro manager.” But, I swear I’m not! This is what people deserve and I take pride in telling people that this is what a real coach does and I want to set the standard for them so that they don’t accept anything less in their lives whether it’s an in person training when things begin to open up or whether they want to do another challenge.

That’s really what it was and the 60 days as a timeframe was intentional! Because we’re after big transformations. We were talking earlier that of course you want to see transformations that’s the visual carrot and of course people are going to lose weight, that’s a blast but the transformation or me is the 6” between their ears and we all know that. I need that for that moment of time. I’ve done other challenges in the past, but I found that they did a 30 day challenge with me and then they signed up for the next one. So I’m like, ah they want more time, they need more time and that’s why we went with that.

AM: When this challenge is over, will people be able to go to other ones or will there be other things that are rolling out?

JW: What’s really great is, I don’t feel that I am separate from Transformation. It’s not like I get a check and do a few Instagram posts. I’m very part of the team. We’re really starting to allow it to be user generated content. People are wanting it to be more support around recipes, nutritionist support – so we’re building it. Putting in the blog that's around it, recipe support, our registered nutritionist that’s there. We want to be in a place that people can trust and come to. There will definitely be more challenges. I feel like I heard a conversation or an email where they said, “the next one,” and I’m like, “guys, I gotta get this one under my belt first.”

What we're doing is we’re kind of taking an approach like a bar. If you think about it as a 1 in 1 out situation. So we will have a waitlist and we’ll run another one and we will have other great coaches as well. It’s something that they have never done before and that’s why they’re really trusting me to take the reigns and runs with it. Based off of what I see in this challenge, I’ll know what I want to do and run with on it. That’s why it’s user generated so I’m not assuming what people want and feel. I need to know so that I can develop from there. You can assure your readers that there will definitely be more opportunities!

AM: We assumed. When you’re preparing to do a transformation whether it’s this challenge specifically or something else, you have to have the want to do it. But how else can people best prepare themselves in terms of maintaining the goal and sticking with it when they are approaching something like this?

JW: The #1 thing is that people just assume that there won’t be any roadblocks or obstacles. You have to make it different and I think we have to think about when you’re driving home from work and you hit a pothole and you say, “oh man, I hope my wheels still on.” We’ve all done that and then when you go home the next day, you know there is a pothole coming up and you remember. What we tend to do as humans is that we don’t want to address or to think about the pothole. So you hit it again and again as opposed to saying, “no I remember this. It was on this street and this street and I’m going to navigate around it.” People have to look at where there are going to be problems as there will be hard days, set backs, days where you pack your food and leave it on the counter – that’s ok. So instead of going into a panic mode and being like it’s all ruined and over, I just expect things to go wrong and I know that it won’t all be perfect. There will be some turbulence and when you know it and expect it, it kind of shocks you less and you can navigate it better. Go in with the interest to be ready for the change and the reality of knowing there will be some bumps. You’ll be ready for whatever comes and to look for them not in a pessimistic view but as a way to learn to adapt and to navigate. It’s a beautiful thing.

AM: How have you found ways to keep yourself motivated this year and as we head into next year?

JW: Man, good question. I care about where this road goes. I sometimes try to look at the destination and try to find my way back. This has not allowed me to do that. My motivation is that I have to practice what I preach. Am I learning, am I being curious? What’s really been fun is that I’ve learned how capable I am and it’s been a fun experience. I’ve hard weeks and I’ve had times where I drank every single day just like the rest of America! I’ve allowed myself to ask questions like why am I drinking every day this week? Am I bored – am I avoiding something? I’ve really let that motivation that I have in me at almost 40 to know that I have so much more to learn and that when I learn, I get to share! That’s the beauty of it. It’s not about being a public figure, being a celebrity like me, having millions of followers - it's what we do as humans. We get to learn and we get to share. My experience is I get to do this and to share it with other people. That’s the backbone. I love people and I love helping – I love being an everyday hero and that’s my heart. I had to learn the lesson first and I really had to do that by putting myself first. It’s changed my perspective in myself and the confidence that I have in myself as well. That’s the motivation because it feels great and I’m not going to stop doing this. I will tell you though, having people in your life – I’m always better with a teammate. I have a friend that we go on a walk together and she’s in Georgia. We walk and talk and I have my headphones in and we agree that on this time/that day, we’re going. I meet people – online for workouts. I have a few people that I’m potting with, I go in their backyard. I know I need the accountability and the other thing I would tell people if they are struggling to get motivated is create that accountability for yourself. It gets you going, it gives you that support and it’s a great thing to let them be there for you and it’s powerful. That’s what I have allowed the focus to be and it has just changed my outlook on the whole year. I had a great year. I don’t have young children, I’m not going through the school stuff and I feel that that is a whole other experience that I can’t even speak to or begin to understand what parents have been going through or how they have been able to cope. But I had a great year and I have used my time to get so much done personally and professionally. 2021 is going to be an excellent year for me regardless. I think that people need to feel ok in being able to ask for help when they need that support.

AM: Who are 3 people in your life that have inspired you to be where you are today?

JW: You know, I’ll tell you what. When it comes to life, I have won the lottery. I have been inspired by incredible people who have believed in me before it was cool to watch Jen Widerstrom. I’m going to tear up a little bit when I think about it. My parents are just such incredible people – they are incredible people. They have been married for 46 years. I look at my mom, she had a 4 and a 5 year old, 40 years old, pregnant 9 months with my brother and going with a full-time job in the inner city of Chicago, one of the most violent schools that there were. At night, my dad would drive her to Northern Illinois University at night so that she could get her Masters Degree. She wanted to work in higher education. She was so pregnant that she couldn't sit behind the wheel and drive any way and it’s like at least an hour driving each way! It was like, what if she has the baby in a cornfield so my dad’s driving her each way. Her commitment to her, their relationship, their love, their family – she took her finals early so she could have my brother, When people ask me about my work ethic, mom and dad they are incredible and they worked so hard to give us so much for us. We didn’t have a lot of money and we didn’t go on planes, but every year they saved up money to drive us to Florida or to get in the van and go to New Mexico and that’s what we did. It was really special. They still work, they still grow their own vegetables. They are such salt of the Earth and intelligent special hard working people. They inspire me and whenever I think that I have had a long day, I tell myself, “well you’re not 9 months pregnant with 2 kids and a fulltime job trying to get your Masters in night school!”

I think that the people who inspired me along the way. I had incredible teachers, I could just name a list of the teachers. I think back to my 7th grade science teacher, I was an average student, never talking and by the end, I had a 96% in the class and I was in the front. He taught me how to give a good handshake, he taught me how to feel confident in myself. My orchestra teacher Mr. Foley, he encouraged me to keep playing bass. I was playing sports and orchestra wasn’t cool, but he encouraged me to find a voice in music for myself. I look at my college track coach. I was a walk on in the rowing team and I was terrible. He saw me lifting and he said I should be a hammer thrower and I thought he was crazy and yet a year later, I was placing at the Big 12 Conference, earning a scholarship, winning the nationals to compete - he believed in me first! I use them as inspiration because the people along the way - people will say, how did you get here - what was it? It’s always the people. It’s the people that believed and saw something in you when you couldn’t believe it yourself. For me, that’s the legacy that I try to pass through those people.

I had a diving coach Steve Mazzerella – dear friend of mine until he passed away. He taught me how to see things in people and to help them let it shine. That’s what I do and I always joke, the waistline will change, bit it's the heart that I am really after and I know the difference that that will make. I know I can do that same difference and that's where I take it.

IG @JenWiderstrom

@TransformationProtein

PHOTOS COURTESY | Jen Widerstrom

Hear Celebrity Fitness Trainer, TV Personality, Best Selling Author, Fitness Expert and Entrepreneur Jen Widerstrom on our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

Read the Dec Issue #60 of Athleisure Mag and see Connection Matters with Jen Widerstrom in mag.

THE BACHELOR S25. E1. | MEET MATT JAMES + THE LADIES

If you have yet to see season premiere of tonight’s episode 1, spoilers are ahead! We enjoyed ABC’s The Bachelorette and thankfully, didn’t have to wait too long before seeing The Bachelor which will have its first Black Bachelor, Matt James. The 25th season of The Bachelor is taking place at Nemacolin which is a stunning resort in Pennsylvania. Many of us know him through being best friends with Tyler Cameron from Hannah’s season. In addition, they co-founded a philanthropic platform, ABC Food Tours. Matt also works for CBRE as a researcher here in NYC.

Prior to meeting the girls, it was great to hear Matt talking through the weight of his decisions with Chris Harrison as he talked about being the product of an interracial marriage and how he doesn’t want to disappoint people in whether he will date someone that is white or someone that is black. Talking about race on this platform and having people of color in key positions as The Bachelor and the Bachelorette is just a great way to represent the array of people that we come across every day whether in person or online.

There are some amazing women in this group of contestants where you can see their personalities jumping off the page. Carolyn shares some lavender with him, Kaylah’s entrance with the pickup truck and who can forget Kaili walking with a styling rack of dress options while she rocks lingerie, a silk robe and abs in heels.

After meeting all of the women outside, he’s finally ready to see them all together. Having the prayer to kick everything off was a great touch and it lets them know more about him as well. He also talks about the importance of being mutually vulnerable and being biracial. Matt talks with a number of the women, but of course, Victoria does a double-dip by talking to him twice.

The first impression rose goes to Abigail. A number of the women have yet to have the chance to talk with him but it’s time for the first elimination of the rose ceremony.

On night one, Matt eliminated Alicia, Amber, Carolyn, Casandra, Corrinne, Emani, Kimberly and Saneh.

Each night, we’ll tweet about The Bachelor and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!

Each week we will let you know who our faves were last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.

We also suggest a podcast that we’re newly obsessed with, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour which is hosted by Rachel Lindsay (contestant on The Bachelor Season 21; The Bachelorette Season 13) and co-hosted by Becca Kufrin (contestant on The Bachelor Season 22; The Bachelorette Season 14) to get their feedback!

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WEEK 1

We’re not going to lie, The Bachelor casting crew found some amazing women that are beautiful, accomplished, passionate and you can see great fits. We think that these 4 women could very well be introducing their families to Matt at Hometowns - Abigail, Bri, Jessenia and Khaylah.

WHO WE’RE PREDICTING WILL BE AT HOMETOWNS

ABIGAIL 25 - Beaverton, OR

BRI 24 - San Francisco, CA

JESSENIA 27 - San Antonio, TX

KHAYLAH 28 - Durham, NC

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THE BACHELOR CONTESTANTS

ABIGAIL 25 - Beaverton, OR

ALANA 26 - Toronto, ON

ALICIA 24 - NY, NY

AMBER 30 - Costa Mesa, CA

ANNA 24 - Chicago, IL

BRI 24 - San Francisco, CA

CAROLYN 30 - Los Angeles, CA

CASANDRA 25 - Newport Beach, CA

CHELSEA 29 - Brooklyn, NY

CORINNE 22 - Pomfret, CT

EMANI 25 - Albuquerque, NM

ILLEANA 25 - NY, NY

JESSENIA 27 - San Antonio, TX

KAILA 26 - Chicago, IL

KATIE 29 - Renton, WA

KHAYLAH 28 - Durham, NC

KIMBERLY 28 - Seattle, WA

KIT 21 - NY, NY

KRISTIN 27 - Jersey City, NJ

LAUREN 29 - Miami, FL

MAGI 32 - Adwa, Ethopia

MARI 24 - Odenton, MD

MARYLYNN 28 - Studio City, CA

MJ 23 - Hudson, OH

PIEPER 23 - Happy Valley, OR

RACHAEL 24 - Cumming, GA

SANEH 25 - Denver, CO

SARAH 24 - San Diego, CA

SERENA C 24 - San Francisco, CA

SERENA P 22 - Toronto, ON

SYDNEY 28 - Nashville, TN

VICTORIA 27 - Los Angeles, CA

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ROCK THIS WHEN YOU'RE NAVIGATING ZOOM SESSIONS

Read the Dec Issue #60 of Athleisure Mag and see Rock This When You’re Navigating Zoom Sessions in mag.

10 EASY YOGA POSES FOR TIGHT BODIES

Many people have tight or inflexible bodies before they started doing yoga. If you think you can’t do yoga because your body is just not that stretchy, think again. Yoga is, in fact, suitable for people who aren’t flexible. 

To start off, yoga is more than just an exercise and is believed to provide holistic benefits the way ancient people believed in the healing powers of gemstones. Tinyrituals.co provides helpful information on various gemstones you can use incorporate into your yoga routine. 

Here are some poses to start practicing yoga today and make your tight body more flexible over time. 

1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

With your feet together, stand and spread your toes. Imagine strong energy through your feet. Breathe in deeply, relax your shoulders away from your ears. Then when you’re comfortable, you can close your eyes and then focus on your breathing. 

2. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Muka Svanasana)

Form an inverted ‘V’ by getting your hands to the floor. If you feel that your hamstrings and shoulders are tight, slightly bend your knees. Push your palms to the floor with your fingers spread. Then, position your head between your arms. Bring your shoulders away from your ears, then bring your tailbone up. Finally, breathe and focus. You can also use gemstone jewelry to create a yoga mala that you can use during your yoga practice. This kind of jewelry is believed to help the wearer achieve more focus.

3. Standing Forward Fold (Uttasana)

With your feet apart, stand and slightly bend your knees. Gradually lower your upper body and let it hand all the way forward. While doing this, you may also let your arms drop to the floor. Alternatively, you can also grab your opposite elbows. Stay in this position for at least thirty seconds and experience the benefits of the stretch. 

4. Extended Child’s Pose (Utthita Balasana)

Whether you’re doing this in a yoga class or at home, this pose can be done easily.  Start by getting on your hands and knees. With your knees apart, bring your big toes together. Bring your sit bones down to your heels. Then, let your torso rest between your thighs. Stretch your arms in front and you can rest your forehead on the cushion or mat. Stay in this position for up to two minutes to stretch the thighs, hips, and groin. 

5. Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana 2)

In a standing position, step your feet around four feet apart. Then, turn your right leg out ninety degrees and ensure that your left toes are angled slightly inwards. Ensure that your right ankle and knee are fixed on top of the other. Bring your hips away from each other while feeling the stretch. Bring your arms up parallel to the floor, with your palms down stretching to the fingertips, look towards the front middle finger. Hold this position for five breaths before switching sides. 

6. Crescent Lunge (Anjaneyasana)

Begin with a downward-facing dog position. Move your right foot up between the hands with exhalation. Make sure that your ankle and knee are aligned, or the ankle is slightly in front of the knee. The front foot should be flat on the mat and the back heel is lifted. As you inhale, bring your hands to the hips then, lift your upper body. Bring your arms up to the ceiling, with your palms towards each other. Relax your shoulders. Stay in this position for up to sixty seconds before switching sides. 

7. Easy Seated Pose (Sukhasana)

Start by sitting in a cross-legged position. Ensure that you cross at the calves and the feet are under the knees. If you feel your hips are tight, you may try sitting on a block to help you. Bring your spine upright to align with the hips and body. Relax your shoulders down away from your ears and close your eyes. You may place your hands lightly on your knees or let it rest on your lap. Focus on your breathing and stay in this position for as long as you feel comfortable.

8. Thread the Needle (Parsva Balasana)

On your mat, start with your hands and knees in neutral position. Move your knees to hip-width distance then, tuck your toes. Move the right hand one to two inches forward of your shoulder, then turn your gaze and chest towards your right hand. Then, thread your left arm under the right while positioning your left shoulder on the mat. Then, stretch your left fingers on the floor and straighten your arm. Have the left side of your head also rest on the floor. Hold and breathe while tension is naturally released. To get out of this position, push yourself into a neutral position by using your right hand. Do the same steps for the other side. 

9. Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani)

This position is perfect for relaxing and is excellent to perform at the end of a tiring day. Lay down flat on your back and swing the legs up a flat wall. Then, bring your sit bones towards the walls as close as possible. Add a pillow under your head or lower back for comfort, if needed. Focus on your breathing while you close your eyes and remain in this position as long as you need. 

10. Bridge (Setu Brandha Sarvangasana)

To start, lie flat on your back while bending your knees, placing them in line with your hips and parallel with your ankles. Keep your arms beside you, palms down while the head is on the floor, and your gaze down the middle of the body. While inhaling, gradually push the feet into the floor and moves your glutes while pushing the hips up towards the ceiling. Your arms should remain pushing into the floor. Stay in this position for five breaths then, gradually release down on the floor. Repeat three times. 

Final Thoughts

Doing yoga comes with plenty of benefits including improving flexibility, strengthening the body, and better focus. Yoga may look intimidating for some people, especially among those who think that they need to be flexible to do the poses. Fortunately, there are many poses that can be done even for people with tight bodies. 

WILLOW BARK BEAUTY

Read the Dec Issue #60 of Athleisure Mag and see Willow Bark Beauty in mag.

IN OUR BAG | LOUNGING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Read the Dec Issue #60 of Athleisure Mag and see In Our Bag | Lounging for the Holidays in mag.

HOW TO DRESS | PREPPING FOR NYE AT HOME

Read the Dec Issue #60 of Athleisure Mag and see How to Dress | Prepping For NYE at Home in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG | #60 DEC 2020

ATHLEISURE MAG | DEC ISSUE #60

In this month’s issue as we ring in the New Year with DJ/Producer, Benny Benassi. Our virtual cover shoot took us to Italy as we talked about Benny’s career in music, the process of creating music and collaborating and more. This month, we took a moment with TNT’s Claws Niecy Nash in between completing shooting for the final season of this series. We talk about the holiday season, how she is staying connected with her family and upcoming projects. You can also hear our conversation later this season on our podcast show, Bungalow SK. We’ve always been a fan of Jen Widerstrom’s from her days in NBC’s American Gladiators as well as NBC’s Biggest Loser as well as her approach to working with her clients. We took some time to catch up with her to find out about her latest project, a challenge running from Jan 5th – March 5th with Transformation Protein. We also find out more about what she is working on and how she has maintained her positivity during these times. You can hear the full interview on our podcast show, #TRIBEGOALS later this season. We catch up with Chef Brandon Collins, the North American Mustard Sommelier of Maille to find out about the historic roots of the brand, how it’s made and how it can be used beyond being a condiment. You can also hear our conversation in full this season on our podcast show, Athleisure Kitchen. We’re always up for taking some time with ourselves with a glass of wine. We took some time to talk with Joey Wölffer who continues the legacy of running and maintaining creative inspiration to make such wines as Summer in a Bottle and more at Wölffer Estate Vineyard. While we’re enjoying the holiday season and looking forward to the beginning of the new year, we talk about how we can get on the best financial path with Grant Sabatier.

This month, EDM DJ duo, NERVO shares 9 songs that we should listen to in this month’s 9PLAYLIST. BRAVO’s Top Chef Season 14 winner, Chef, Restaurateur + TV Personality, Brooke Williamson shares her favorites and why in our 9LIST STORI3S. One of our favorite features that appear in our Dec as well as our Jan issues is known as NEW YEAR, N3W YOU: THE GOOD, THE ADD and THE BUZZ where our celebs share their thoughts on this year and what’s coming up for next year (we do have spots for the Jan issue). This month, we talk with Celebrity Makeup Artist, Author and Founder of Jones Road Beauty – Bobbi Brown, International Racing Drive and winner of the 2020 ELMS, 2020 WEC and 2020 Le Mans 24 Hour Winner – Phil Hanson and Celebrity Fitness Trainer, Entrepreneur, TV Personality and Author – Jen Widerstrom.

Our monthly feature, The Art of the Snack focuses on Alfie’s Bar + Kitchen. This month’s Athleisure List comes from Winona’s in Brooklyn and CITYROW. This month’s BING3WATCH looks at one of our favorites, HBO’s LOVECRAFT COUNTRY. As always, we have a number of our roundups that include our favorites in an array of categories that are timely to the season.

Read the Dec Issue #60 of Athleisure Mag.

EASY WAYS TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY IN VEGAS

With endless entertainment, natural landscapes, and sunny weather, Las Vegas is drawing more permanent residents to it every year. Las Vegas is considered a business-friendly place for many sectors, which also affects the housing market. The low amount of homes sold in Las Vegas makes it very easy to sell your house quickly due to the lack of competition. It’s worth mentioning that buyers will still want their properties to be shiny and interesting, which is where you’ll have to chime in. We’ll be mentioning a few of the easiest ways that can get you to sell your property in Vegas easily.

PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Jason Leung

Picking the Right Time

The time that you put your house or property on sale is very important in cities bustling with growth like Vegas. According to market trends, July seems to be the most profitable month to sell a house in. The appreciation rate of properties picks up starting from April until August. This is when families flock to the city to look for homes, especially those who have children that go to school. Naturally, holidays are known to be quite slow in sales as most people stay at home or go on vacation. It’s worth mentioning that Vegas’s weather is conveniently dry for most of the year, so the activity of property sales isn’t as high as other locations.

Hire a Real Estate Agent

The lack of competition in a hot housing market like Vegas may tempt a lot of people to forgo the services of real estate agents and sell the property on their own, especially those who are selling a fixer-upper property, but that can sometimes be a gamble. A good local real estate agent will anticipate problems before they happen, leaving enough time to come up with a plan that can tackle them. The legal paperwork involved is sensitive when it comes to mistakes. The wrong handling of the legal paperwork can leave you vulnerable to litigation and delays in sales.

Real estate agencies are now using a combination of online and conventional marketing strategies to maximize the presence of the property in the market. It’s worth adding that online listings are often done wrong by new sellers, where they don’t truly understand the value of the pictures presented. Seasoned real estate agents use professional property photographs to present the property at its best to online buyers. As seen with some properties sold by Las Vegas Homes By Leslie, some pictures are taken by drones to ensure the proper display of the property. Even though there is no shortage of real estate agents in Vegas, you need to look for one you can trust if you want it sold as quickly and profitably as possible.

Finding the Right Price

Fortunately, the housing market of Las Vegas sees a lot of action recently. The home prices are increasing at a pretty good rate, while the number of local home sales is dipping below the average. The increase in buyer demand can be credited to the ever-growing population boom and the tech sector’s interest in the area. The health of the housing market has been on a rapidly increasing curve after the housing bubble impact was reduced. If you’re new to this industry, you should know that pricing is one of the most important aspects you must get right if you want to sell your home easily. Using the wrong price is one of the most common problems that make the sale extremely difficult.

A price too high will only make the process longer, not to mention that you will probably never sell the property if the price is ridiculously high. Creating a cycle of confidence where buyers are interested in your property is very important if you want to get the momentum going. Putting a high price tag will make it harder to gain traction in the market, which will be a hard mistake to fix. If you push the price too low, you are losing money that you could’ve easily asked for.

Presenting a Move-in Ready Property

Luxury-oriented interests direct the majority of the housing projects in Las Vegas. People are looking for developments that are huge, with many local amenities and businesses, in addition to schools. These high-end locations haven’t seen a lot of positive buyer action in the recession, but they made a recent comeback, which is helping in switching things up in the city. Design trends are very impactful when it comes to creating homes move-in ready. The aesthetic fads of the past are very impractical for those trying to present their homes as a move-in ready property. If you want to create the right aesthetic for a quick sale, look for modern designs with recent upgrades. Even though some dated designs may have cost a pretty penny back then, they will do the property more harm than good when it comes to setting a price.

PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Jean-Philippe Delberghe

Selling the Property As-Is

Selling the property as-is means not investing money in repairs, upgrades, renovations, makeovers, or cleaning. While this route isn’t always perfect when you’re not using a real estate agency, it can make the process a lot faster than you think. Spending time and money on your property before selling it in Las Vegas can end up not very fruitful in terms of sales speed. 

Since you’ll probably ramp up the price after this process, it is bound to take more time to be done. In a city like Vegas, investors have no problem closing on your house without you needing to do anything to it, but it all boils down to finding the right buyers. It’s recommended to use the help of a real estate agent to avoid being low-balled or pushed into a corner during price negotiations.

Whether you’re trying to sell a property in Las Vegas to make a profit after making renovations or if you’re tight on cash and would like an easy way out, you should know that it’s possible to get it done easily and quickly. Unlike many common misconceptions, tourists and wild gamblers aren’t the only people who populate Las Vegas; it is home to many people and potential buyers.

THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN - FIRST GRAND SLAM OF 2021

As the New Year draws closer, everyone is beginning to focus their attention on 2021. One of the earliest big sporting occasions will be the Australian Tennis Open. Coronavirus permitting, the tournament is due to take place between the 8th and 21st of February and the entries have just been announced.

The Golden Oldies - Roger Federer

Two of the games "golden oldies," Roger Federer, and Serena Williams are among the names, although for Federer, it will be a race against time. The Swiss is still recovering after two operations on his knees. Not only is there doubt about the 6-times winner's fitness to compete for the Australian Open, but there is also speculation that his playing career might already be over.

It hardly seems credible, but the 39-year-old hasn't played since he lost to Rafael Nadal at Melbourne Park at the beginning of 2020. In a recent interview, he confirmed that as at today, he isn't fit enough. But the three-week delay to the start of the Australian Open has thrown him a lifeline - thin though it might be.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams has also been struggling to get back to full fitness. She hasn't played since retiring from the French Open at Roland Garros in September 2020 when she was forced to bow out due to an injury to her Achilles. Like Federer, she too is 39 years old.

The American's first professional match was back in 1995, and four years later, in 1999, at the age of 17, she became the 4th youngest women's player to win the US Open. In an illustrious career spanning 25 years, she has won 23 Grand Slam titles. More than any other woman, or man, in the so-called "open era" which began in 1968.

She is hoping to make the 2021 Aussie Open title her eighth. She first won this competition in 2003, then again in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, and her last win title came in 2017. However, there is a certain young Australian who might have something to say about that.

Ashleigh Barty

At the age of 24, Australian born and bred Ashleigh Bart won her first junior Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2011, when she was 15 years old. In 2012, she then made her singles and doubles debuts on the WTA circuit before establishing herself as a major competitor on the world double's stage where she won several titles with partner, Dellacqua.

But in 2014, after the US Open, Barty announced that she had decided to take an indefinite break from tennis. She signed for Brisbane Heat, an Australian Cricket Club, and with an impressive inning in the inaugural match of the Women's Big Bash League, took to the sport like a duck to water. Many people predicted she would one day play for the Australian National Women's Cricket team.

Luckily for the tennis world, Barty decided to return in 2016. The break had made a significant difference, and in 2017, she won her first WTA title at the Malaysian Open, rising to No 17 in the world rankings. It was the start of a journey that would see her become the ATP top-ranked women's tennis player in the world, and by some margin too.

So far, she has won two Grand Slams: the American Open in 2018, The French Open in 2019, and was a semi-finalist in the Australian Open in 2020. She has high hopes of winning it in 2021. Out to stop her will be Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek, the latest Grand Slan winner (Roland Garros 2020) and a certain Selena Williams. It's going to be some competition.

HOW TO PICK THE CORRECT JEWELRY FOR EVERY DRESS

Ornaments can aid in enhancing the smartness of an attire, drive attention plus interest to a simple ensemble, or bring to life an otherwise uninteresting outfit by adding some color plus sheen to it. Jewelry is a long-lasting decoration that all beauty lovers must own in their assortments.

However, the most typical problem that many beauty lovers experience is the difficulty in pairing up a particular outfit with impeccable jewelry, which aids in boosting it minus stealing the show.

Such difficulties should not be a problem for you. Below is an outline of some of the ways you can select the right jewelry for pairing up your clothing. You can continue reading to find out what these ways are, and how you can implement in your daily life.

Focus on Your Necklines

Get to know the various necklines existent and the type of jewelry that match perfectly with them. There is the V-neck, turtleneck, scoop neck and sweetheart neck. Wearing a necklace with a wrong or mismatched neckline can completely damage your look. On the contrary, wearing the correct necklace, which complements your neckline, can emphasize your attire for an appearance that is improved everywhere.

A strapless outfit matches well with a heavy necklace, which rests fitted on your neck. Off shoulders plus single sleeved clothing can be paired up with dense, dangly necklaces of great designs. In case you have adorned high-necked shirts, you can match that appearance with a bigger suspension on a tinny chain necklace. On the other hand, shirts plus dresses with low necks can be ought to be matched with chains that are shorter, which complements your neckline’s shape. For instance, the silver heart necklace matches perfectly with a low neckline.     

Match Pattern Shapes

One essential aspect that you need to put into consideration is ensuring that the design of the jewelry that you wear should match or complement the shape and designs of your clothing. However, this phenomenon is applies only with clothing such as shirts and dresses containing bold print designs. 

Select Single Focal Piece

Avoid matching bold plus huge jewelry together.  For instance, you cannot complement bold tribal trinkets with lengthy dangly earrings. Moreover, hoop earrings plus chunky necklaces are a no match.

Actually, it is often advisable to avoid other jewelry if you are wearing either the chunky necklaces or dangly earrings.   

Extra Is Not Continually Best for Official Functions

Going to a fancy event does not necessarily men putting on excessive large jewelry to match the outfits. Rather, you can wear simple and small ornamental pieces to match with long, extravagant gowns. For instance, you can try out the glossy insignificant earrings like the diamond studs to enhance your outfit just a little bit without driving attention away from it.              

Match Bracelets to Sleeves

The prevailing principle here is that the lengthier the sleeves, the less the number of bracelets to be worn, and the tinier the size of the bracelets.

For example, dense leather shackle bracelets when matched with a sleeveless outfit give a very wonderful look. On the other hand, thin subtle chain bracelets match better with sweaters with long sleeves.

Wear a Lengthy Necklace to Balance Your Appearance

Long necklaces are very resourceful when it comes to changing one’s outlook of appearing rather boxy, or shapeless. Short dresses have the tendency to widen your look and cause you to look shorter and wider. However, pairing the short dress with a long or lengthier necklace transforms the look to even better.

Moreover, the long necklaces match with T-shirt dresses.

Pair Bold With Basic

You may also decide to complement your bold outfits with simple jewelry to avoid attracting too much attention or to avoid killing the bold look with bold earrings. However, sometimes you can match bold outfits with bold jewelry, which may turn out great.

Conclusion

The jewelry you decide to wear should largely be influenced by the clothing you have worn. Jewelry is mainly used to enhance your look. Therefore, learn how to match the jewelry plus your clothing to achieve the best look possible.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ELMIRON LAWSUIT

Drugs or any medication serve to alleviate symptoms of a disease. Its use dosage recommendations govern its usage. Product labels also inform users of potential side effects. What if your long-standing prescription results in a severe condition that threatens to impair your vision and leave you blinded for the rest of your life? 

Who do you sue when your medicine is certified by the FDA to manage your illness? Is the pharmaceutical company who manufactured the drug liable for failing to include such harmful effects in drug information? 

What if you aren't the only one affected, and there are potentially thousands who may be endangered by the drug?

These questions define the context of a hallmark case-in-the-making known as The Elmiron Lawsuit.

Facts of the Case

1. Elmiron as Treatment for Interstitial Cystitis

In the late 1990's Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, produced pentosan polysulfate sodium, more popularly known as Elmiron, to treat symptoms associated with Interstitial Cystitis (IC). IC is a chronic condition that involves frequent urination with little release accompanied by pain in the gall bladder or the pelvis. Elmiron protects the walls of the gallbladder from irritation and swelling. 

2. Studies Show links Between Elmiron and Maculopathy

Although alternative remedies can relieve chronic pain associated with painful bladder syndrome and IC, Elmiron is the only FDA-approved medication for managing symptoms of IC. Numerous patients used it over the years. In 2018, studies revealed that it causes retinal pigmentary maculopathy, a degenerative disease that affects the macula. The macula is the back part of the retina and is responsible for helping us focus on things. 

Continous research from 2018 up to the present from Doctors Robin A. Vora, Amar P. Patel, and Ronald Melles shows that prolonged use of Elmiron causes the development of retinal pigmentary maculopathy. Simultaneously, some claim that damage may stop from discontinued use; using Elmiron for extensive periods could result in maculopathy. This condition could eventually lead to loss of vision in both eyes. It is an irreversible illness that could lead to visual disability. 

3. Symptoms associated with the use of Elmiron  

Besides maculopathy, other reported side effects of Elmiron include blurred vision, eye pain, difficulty reading, trouble adjusting to dim light, and having problems seeing objects up close. According to a recent study, an estimated one-quarter of patients taking the medication for prolonged periods sustained eye damage and vision problems. 

Suppose you have been taking Elmiron for at least two years and feel the symptoms mentioned above or diagnosed with pigmentary maculopathy. In that case, you should contact a personal injury lawyer or go to https://1800injured.care/lawsuits/elmiron to gain an assessment of your potential claim. 

4. Drug-Related Product Liability Claim

Those who experience Elmiron-related symptoms are eligible for damages under drug-related product liability claims involving pharmaceutical drugs. The Elmiron lawsuit qualifies for two of the categories set forth by the statute, namely: 

• Pharmaceutical drugs with dangerous side effects

• Improperly marketed pharmaceutical drugs 

Janssen Pharmaceuticals allegedly concealed Elmiron's dangerous side effects from consumers since it did not give sufficient warning regarding the damaging side effects of the drug. Elmiron was produced in the late 1990s and did not contain any alerts in its drug information regarding maculopathy as a side effect. It was only in June 2020 that the pharmaceutical company included a warning for the said degenerative disease. 

5. Current Status of the Elmiron Case

There are currently 80 cases filed in federal and state courts in the United States, and half of these are under the jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It is currently pending under Judge Wendy Beetlestone. She is amenable to hearing all cases filed. She allows plaintiffs to gather evidence in the next 12 months to further their injury claim for pigmentary maculopathy and retinopathy, and other vision problems. Given the expanse of Elmiron users since its production, an estimated 1,000 cases could sue for personal injury claims.

While the case is still under trial, experts speculate that claimants are eligible for economic losses to compensate for their medical bills, cost of disability, and loss of wages or profits. They may also file claims for non-economic losses for the physical and emotional anguish from sustaining irreversible health outcomes. 

 The Future of Elmiron 

Continued research regarding the link between Elmiron and maculopathy has increased over the years and serves to inform potential users of its potentially dangerous effect on eye health. While the drug manufacturer has included the said disease as a harmful side effect in its packages in June 2020, its status as an IC drug continues as there as no indications that the FDA will issue a recall.

HOW VAPE PENS MIGHT BE THE RIGHT SETUP FOR YOU

How Vape Pens Might Be The Right Setup For You

The vape pen is a relatively recent innovation; however, it has become popular with cannabis enthusiasts for a good reason. Because vaping creates the same experience as smoking without some of the harmful effects, it’s healthier.  

A vape pen doesn’t contain any combustible ingredients It heats only the air around it. The vapor it produces is inhaled into the user's lungs, travels through the air, and settles in the user's throat. The tobacco, oil, or dried herb is heated in the vape pen without burning, and only some chemicals in the product are released, turning into vapor. 

In this article, we’ll discuss what are vape pens and why they might be the right setup for you. 

What Are Vape Pens? 

A vape pen is a small electronic device that usually consists of a rechargeable battery, an atomizer, and a device for holding and filling a tank or cartridge. Rather than tobacco, the user inhales non-tobacco vapor instead. 

Like all electronic devices, most vaporizers require some sort of external battery. While using a vape pen, the user will breathe in the vapor from the device, which is then released into their lungs. As this process does not require the smoker to take in the tobacco smoke, it makes these products far safer than cigarettes. 

Vape pens look like pens with a cartridge. The cartridge is meant for oil, cannabis, or medicinal herbs. It comes with a rechargeable battery and a mouthpiece that can be removed and cleaned. High-quality vape pens come with temperature adjustment features and removable atomizers. This helps users to use oil, herb, or wax easily. If you’re looking for high-quality vape pens, check shops like Vape and Juice. They have a wide collection of vape pens to choose from.  

Below are some of the benefits of using a vape pen: 

• Healthier Than Smoking 

One of the key factors that make vaping a much safer and healthier experience than smoking cannabis is that it doesn’t burn the cannabis. Instead, the vaporizer heats the cannabis, causing the cannabinoids to evaporate. As a result, the vapor doesn’t contain any harmful tar, carbon monoxide, and toxins that are found in smoke.  

Whereas, when you smoke cannabis, the majority of the cannabinoids are destroyed by the combustion process, and the smoke released contains several toxic substances. There are many different types of these devices available on the market today from simple vape pens for beginners to that ideal for regular cannabis enthusiasts. It’s completely up to you which one you should choose. You may check out the beginner’s kit on sites like spinfuel.com. 

• No Smoke  

When you smoke cannabis, the combustion process produces thick, clingy smoke. However, vaping doesn’t cause any tar or chemicals, and the vapor disperses within a few seconds of being exhaled. Thus, only a faint smell is produced.  

As there’s no smoke caused by vaping, your house can be smoke-free. You may use a vape pen without bothering anyone with the clouds of smoke.  

• Control Over Dosage  

If you’ve been on CBD for an ailment, a vape pen can help you gain more control over your daily dosage. When using a vape pen, you can control the amount of heat and decide how strong the dosage will be. A vape pen evenly vaporizes the herb without destroying it. This ensures that you’re getting the maximum benefit of the cannabinoids released.  

• Cost-Effective  

Vaping is considered much more efficient than smoking. This means to get the desired results from a dosage of cannabis, you’ll need a lesser amount when compared with smoking. This can help you save up substantially on your CBD over time.  

Conclusion 

While there are several health benefits of consuming CBD, one of the effective ways to ensure that you get the maximum benefit out of your CBD dosage is using a vape pen. 

Today, there are a variety of vape pens available in the market. From kits available for beginners to high-quality pens with temperature adjustment features and removable atomizers for regular smokers. There are a variety of pens available to suit the needs of different users.  

Besides being convenient and cost-effective, vape pens are healthier and safer than smoking. Thus, if you’ve been thinking of getting a vape pen for yourself, go ahead and get one.  

PARTY ON THE OCEAN: 3 BOAT SAFETY TIPS FOR ADVENTURES AT SEA

Celebrating on a boat is one of the most enjoyable ways to get together with your friends and family. In fact, boat parties are well known for bringing a large number of unforgettable memories.

But, there are some boat safety tips that you'll need to keep in mind in order to avoid dangerous situations. Not quite sure how to begin? We’ve got all the info you need.

Let's explore everything you should keep in mind.

1. Check The Weather

 One of the most important responsibilities you have before you go out to a boat party is checking the weather. Inclement weather can easily lead to catastrophe if you're out on the water when a storm hits.

Fortunately, you'll be able to get a fairly accurate prediction of the weather by checking multiple different radar services. Otherwise, you run the risk of being far away from shore during heavy rain, strong winds, etc.

2. Have Enough Lifejackets for Everyone

 It should come as no surprise that you'll need to make sure everybody has access to a personal lifejacket. This is particularly true for boat parties that will take place far away from the coast.

Additionally, it's worth having your party-goers wear a lifejacket while the boat is in motion. Traveling to and from the party destination comes with far more risk of someone falling overboard as opposed to when your boat is stationary.

Since you should always adhere to the maximum occupancy guidelines that your boat has, you'll know exactly how many lifejackets you need. For instance, if your boat has a maximum capacity of 10 people, then you should always have 10 lifejackets available. You can check out lifejacketpro to learn more about their premier selection.

3. Keep Everyone Under Control

This is one of the most difficult tips to implement due to the atmosphere associated with the parties. People love to unwind out on the water and it can be tempting to let the party progress organically in order to avoid dampening the mood.

But, you run the risk of things quickly getting out of hand if you are constantly on top of the situation. For example, things may progress to the point where those who are under the influence of alcohol are backflipping off the boat's canopy.

Not only does this run the risk of causing damage to your boat, but they can also hit their head on the way down, fall while attempting to climb, etc. Situations like these need to quickly be put in check in order to maintain the safety of everybody onboard.

Implementing Boat Safety Tips Can Seem Complicated

But the above information will make the process far smoother. From here, you’ll be able to ensure that you fully utilize boat safety tips to keep everyone out of harm's way during your celebration.

Want to learn more info you should keep in mind? Be sure to explore what the rest of our blog has to offer.

BACK SAVING TIPS FOR PANDEMIC HOLIDAY ROAD TRIPS

More than 115 million people took road trips to visit loved ones last holiday season. That was pre-Covid. This year, exponentially more people will be driving long distances in cars to avoid crowded airports and airplanes. There are folks who might be driving cross country or down the northeast coast and spending in excess of 10 hours in a cramped car. Even for those who don’t normally have back pain, this type of situation can cause it.

Below are some tips from NYC Area Orthopedic and Spinal Surgeon Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo on avoiding or mitigating back pain while driving this holiday season.

Get comfortable immediately

Take the time to make sure you're comfortable from the moment you set off on your trip. Discomfort at the beginning of your trip can turn into nagging pain later.

Keep your back pockets empty.

Sitting on your wallet, phone, or anything else may throw your spine out of alignment.

Mind your posture

Position your knees slightly higher than your hips, and keep your chin pulled in so that your head sits straight on top of your spine.

Sit a comfortable distance from the steering wheel.

Sit with your breastbone at least 10 inches from the steering wheel, and keeping your hands on the wheel at 9 and 3 (the sides rather than the top of the wheel). But don’t sit too far away either, which can cause you to reach too far for the wheel and places more stress on the lumbar spine, neck, shoulder, and wrists.

Shift in your seat periodically

When possible, try to move a little in your seat. Even 10 seconds of movement and stretching is preferable than sitting still. At a minimum adjust your seat and change your position slightly every 15 to 20 minutes. Pump your ankles to keep the blood flowing and provide a slight stretch in your hamstring muscles. Any movement that is safe to do in the car will help you alleviate back strain.

Make your ride as smooth as possible

Bumps in the road can jar your spine and increase pain. For a smoother ride, consider:

Aim for a Smooth Ride

Replacing worn shocks to limit the bounce in the car

Replacing worn tires to reduce vibration or shaking

Sit on a car seat pillow or coccyx cushion to provide more padding between you and the road.

Move yourself

Sitting in one position in a car will stiffen up your back muscles and can lead to achiness and possibly muscle spasms. Everyone should ideally take at least a 15-minute break for every 2 hours of driving. If you’re prone to back pain, you may want to take breaks more frequently, such as every 30 to 60 minutes.

What to do if you’re in pain

Cold therapy can help reduce inflammation and swelling. Consider bringing a cooler to store reusable ice packs or other cold therapy packs.

Heat therapy can help increase blood flow and relax the muscles. Various types of heat therapy are available to buy, such as heat wraps or heat pads.

Note about application: It is recommended to apply ice or heat for only 15 or 20 minutes at a time, then give your skin a rest to recover for at least a couple hours before the next application.

WHAT IS A NEW CLASSIC SLOT MACHINE?

Classic slots are 3-reel slot machines that use gears, reels, cogs and a handle. You pull the handle and the reels spin—then they stop, and if the three reels have matching symbols, the machine drops a prize. While they are still available today, the antique ones that were made in the 1800s are only found in museums.

In the digital age, it is not unusual for people to miss the old days, and this nostalgia is what makes game developers motivated to publish what we call new classic slots. These are computer games that continue the tradition of physical slot machines. Most of the time, they run on three reels, and they only use classic symbols like the following:

●        Bar and its variants

●        Cherry

●        Lemon

●        Bell

because of such a symbol set, they are usually called fruit machines. Most of them, like the Blazing 777 online slot, do not offer special features. They are simple, and there is only one payline. This, however, proved to be not so financially dependable, so developers made adjustments to these games.

Today, new slot machines mostly run on five reels, and they also offer special symbols like wilds. Fruit machines that have scatter symbols are rare. Developers have figured out that if they add scatter symbols and bonus rounds, the slot machine is no longer a real classic. Rather, it becomes a modern game.

The Components of a Classic Slot Machine

To be able to distinguish a class slot machine from a new one, you must take a look at its features:

●        Symbols – classic slots use fruits, the bar, the lucky number 7, and the bell.

●        Reel count – a true classic slot operates on three reels only. However, many players today also desire more reels because additional reels mathematically allow more paylines.

●        Paylines – classic slots only have one payline; it is a straight three-symbol combo. For 5-reels slots, this is not the case. Despite having five paylines, some manufacturers limit the payline count to five lines.

●        Bet level – “one-armed bandits” only had one bet level—you drop a penny, and that’s it. As hardware and technology improved, new slot machines allow players to bet two coins at one go. In the digital age, classic slots try to mimic this by limiting your bets to a maximum of two coins per spin.

●        Simplicity – classic slots are made of drums that rotate. On those drums are stickers of the symbols. The reels stop, and if the stickers of the same symbol line up, you win a prize. Digital fruit machines like 777 slots try to preserve this simplicity. What this means is that most of them do not have animations and features that only computers can do. 

Now that you know what makes up a classic slot, you can decide for yourself if the slot machine you are paying is a true homage to the slot machines in the 1800s.

Popular New Classic Slots

Here are some of the most popular titles that you can play today:

●        Ultimate Hot – a 5-reel slot that uses fruit symbols. The payout here is straightforward, and there are no wild and scatters symbols. To add fun to the game experience, the developer put a gamble feature that you can activate or deactivate for every winning round.

●        Mystery Joker – this game also uses fruits and it sits on a 3x3 grid. The thing is that it offers a scatter symbol, and the Joker symbol offers a mystery win.

●        Lucky Hot – a 3x3 slot by EGT, this one has bells and oranges and other fruits. There are only five fixed paylines, and there are no wilds and scatter symbols.

Conclusion

It may be difficult to distinguish new classics from the real ones. Nevertheless, the classic concept is here to stay. Why?

Because they offer simplicity that modern video slots don’t. With classic slots, you typically only have five to seven symbols, with one being the most special, which also pays the highest prize. You also do not have to worry about having to understand rules about bonus rounds, free spins, wild symbols, expanding symbols, or progressive jackpots.

Play new classic slots if you miss the old times. These games are easy to understand, and it is easier to win in them.

THE BACHELORETTE S16. E13. | TAYSHIA'S FINALE TO THE FINAL ROSE

If you have yet to see episode 12 spoilers are ahead! Tonight is the finale for ABC’s The Bachelorette begins with where we left off with Ben making his intentions known. Tayshia grapples with what she should do in this situation. She offers him the opportunity to come to the rose ceremony so that she has time to think about what she wants to do.

At the rose ceremony, the guys see Ben and are surprised to see that he is there. She pulls Ivan aside and lets him know that their religious differences are too much for her to want to continue with him.

Now that she is down to Ben and Zac, they are going to meet Tayshia’s family. First impressions seems to be great, but of course it’s seeing how Ben interacts with both of her parents that lets us see more about him. He acknowledges where he went wrong which both parents appreciated hearing from him.

Now it’s Zac’s turn and as we’ve liked him from day one, it should be interesting to see how he is embraced. Zac’s approach to talking with her parents and being open and honest is great to see how he lays it out as well as saying positive things about how her parents raised her. It was another great date.

While Tayshia has been thinking, her father came back and wanted to fill her in on the family’s thoughts about Ben and Zac. He wants to make sure that she makes the right choice so that she won’t have to deal with what she did during her divorce. Tayshia shares how involved her dad was in the aftermath of the divorce and feels the weight of the decision that she will need to make between the two.

Zac and Tayshia have a dancing date and you can tell that she’s still thinking about her father’s words. Zac notices, but continues to be as sweet as he always is. During their night time date, they talk about the day and she shares her fears. Zac lets her know that commitment has been essential to his sobriety and the concept is important to him and he loves her. She leaves their date feeling great.

The final date is with Ben and we hear her say that her heart is not with Ben and she knows what she has to do. She sends Ben home. When she meets Chris Harrison in the desert, she has a bit of a moment. Chris asks her if she is ok and happy. She says that she is, but she is also nervous. Zac heads over to see her and is nervous, understandably.

This season of The Bachelorette has come to an end. It’s always fun to share recaps after each episode and to chat with you on Twitter during the episodes (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what we think! We’ll be back on Jan 4th to do the same for The Bachelor.

Each week we will let you know who our faves were last episode and if we’ve changed up since.

We also suggest a podcast that we’re newly obsessed with, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour which is hosted by Rachel Lindsay (contestant on The Bachelor Season 21; The Bachelorette Season 13) and co-hosted by Becca Kufrin (contestant on The Bachelor Season 22; The Bachelorette Season 14) to get their feedback!

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LAST EPISODE

Last night, Ivan and Zac continued through Hometowns and we were left with a cliffhanger on whether Ben would be included. We still hope for Zac to get engaged to Tayshia.

TONIGHT

Hometown dates with Ben, Brendan, Ivan and Zac were fun to watch. We’re pleased that our prediction practically from the beginning of Zac being engaged took place!

THE FINAL ROSE & NEWLY ENGAGED

ZAC

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THE BACHELORETTE’S CONTESTANTS

BEN, 29 - Indianapolis, IN

BENNETT, 30 - NY, NY

BLAKE, 29 - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

BRENDAN, 30 - Milford, MA

CHASEN, 31 - Walnut Creek, CA

DEMAR, 26 - San Diego, CA

ED, 36 - Pittsburgh, PA

EAZY, 29 - Dallas, TX

IVAN, 28 - Dallas, TX

JASON, 31 - Rutland, VT

JAY, 29 - Langhorne, PA

JOE, 36 - North Woodmere, NY

JORDAN, 32 - NY, NY

KENNY, 39 - Chicago, IL

MONTEL, 30 - Boston, MA

NOAH, 25 - Tulsa, OK

PETER, 32 - Everett, MA

RILEY, 30 - NY, NY

SPENCER, 30 - San Diego, CA

TYLER, 27 - Morgantown, WV

ZAC, 36 - Haddonfield, NJ

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

THE TOP US SPORTS EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2021

2020 has been a challenging year for sporting events, but there are thankfully lots of major US sports tournaments happening in 2021. Here are the top ones to look out for.

PHOTO CREDIT | Pixabay/WikiImages

Super Bowl LV (February 7)

The biggest North American sporting event of any year is the Super Bowl, and 2021 will be no exception. The 55th Super Bowl, which decides the league champion for the current NFL season, is scheduled to be held in Tampa, Florida, in February. But who will make it to the Raymond James Stadium? Bookmakers place Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and New Orleans Saints as the hottest contenders, but it is still too early to call at the moment. Who do you think you will win? You can make a more-informed decision by checking out this guide on how to bet on Super Bowl LV.

Daytona 500 (February 14)

The 500-mile-long Daytona 500 race is the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar. Like every year, the event at Daytona International Speedway in Florida will attract motor racing fans from far and wide. Whether you watch the race in person or from the comfort of your home, you are sure to get caught up in the energy and excitement of the prestigious Daytona 500. It may be too early to predict who will win, but favorites include Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott.

The Masters (April 5 - 11)

The Masters golf tournament dates all the way back to 1934. Today, it is still one of the most prestigious events in the golfing calendar. The competition is held annually at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Early predictions suggest Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas or Rory McIlroy stand a good chance of winning the 2021 Masters, but at this stage, it is still anyone’s game.

Kentucky Derby (April 29 - May 2)

More people usually attend the Kentucky Derby than any other stakes races. The premier horse racing event in North America is a week-long event. It is due to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, in April and May. Although the race is still any horse’s, hot favorites for the 146th Kentucky Derby include Tiz the Law, Honor A.P., and Max Player.

Indianapolis 500 (May 28 – 31)

Indianapolis is known around the world for one thing above any other: the so-called “Biggest Spectacle in Racing,” the Indy 500. The annual event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway dates back to over a century ago. 2021 will mark the 105th running of the major racing event.

US Open Tennis Championships (August 30 - September 12)

The US Open tournament is the modern version of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the US National Championship, which was first played back in 1881. The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year, after the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon. The 2021 competition will be held in Flushing Meadows, New York. Last year, Dominic Thiem won the men’s singles title and Naomi Osaka won the women’s singles title. But at the moment, it is way too early to call who could win the 2021 championships.

US Grand Prix (October 24)

The United States Grand Prix began life in 1908 as the American Grand Prix. It later became part of the Formula One World Championship. The 2021 US Grand Prix is due to be held at the state-of-the-art Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in October. Seeing as the 2020 US Grand Prix was cancelled, racing fans are eagerly anticipating its return in 2021.