Table of contents for September 2021 in Shape

WOMEN RUN THE WORLD™ Meet Our Photographer The electric images that grace our digital covers are the work of award-winning photographer Djeneba Aduayom, seen above in one of the self-portraits she crafted during lockdown. “I always want to elevate and change the perceived ideas people might have,” she says. “Women are usually featured for their sexiness only, but they’re so much more. I want to show the layers of their beauty, their power, and their vulnerability.” Throughout the issue—and with this special series of digital covers—we highlight inspiring women who are shaping a healthier world. Click here to check out our cover stars. “With my artistry, I want people to see the human experience, that we are all one.”—Mj Rodriguez, actor and barrier breaker “Speaking up is so important. You…

MIGHTY MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE These delightful Infinite She fragrances ($74 each, infininteshe.com) pair botanical blends with shout-outs to pioneering women—like the suffragettes—on the packaging for a double punch of a pick-me-up. Choose from four uplifting scents: Empowered with orange blossom and cardamom, Inspired with violet leaf and jasmine, Vibrant with yuzu and vetiver, and Fearless with geranium and rosewood. Click here to shop these products! HIIT Meets Meditation Your favorite workouts have already cracked the code for supplying sculpting and cardio in a neat package, and now studios like the new Mind Body Project in New York can help you also get your postpandemic head straight by bookending sweaty classes with doses of meditation. “It’s a holistic experience that taps into your physical fitness and mental wellness in one…

TO DO THAT, you’ll want to increase your cardio capacity. Here’s how: High-intensity interval exercise (like HIIT or sprintervals) is better at expanding your cardiorespiratory fitness—the heart-lung power that fuels your movements—than steady moderate exercise, according to a new meta-analysis of studies in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. “In general, exercise intensity is the main important factor when you want to increase cardiorespiratory fitness,” study coauthor Felipe Mattioni Maturana says. Regularly pushing your effort induces adaptations, like an increase in your heart’s stroke volume; that is, the amount of blood it’s able to pump with each contraction. “This improves the oxygen delivery to the active muscles during exercise,” Mattioni Maturana says. Turn the page to start your engines with three new Shape Studio workout videos, plus our…

1 LOOK TO THE LIGHT Change all your bulbs to LED. It’s a low-lift, big-impact move that you’ll relish in every time you notice your beautiful, consistent lighting. The payoff is huge—an LED bulb uses 85 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb, so you’ll also save a ton of money on bills (roughly 30 percent). Even better, they last 20 times longer; you won’t need to replace them for 10 years. 2 MAKE CHOOSING PRODUCTS A NO-BRAINER When buying nontoxic cleaners, it’s hard to weed through all the info to determine what’s legit. Make life easier by picking a brand with the Made Safe (madesafe.org) seal. This certification ensures that all ingredients in the product are safe and healthy. 3 GO ALL CLOTH Stop buying disposable paper towels. Take…

TOP IT WITH GRILLED FRUIT These three summer picks add flavor, texture, and nutrients to your dish or cone. PINEAPPLES Brush slices or rings with olive oil, and grill for 3 to 6 min. Sprinkle with chili-lime salt for a hit of salty and sweet. Place over ice cream, and top with coconut flakes. PEACHES Cut in half, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with a little sugar, and grill for 4 to 5 min. Serve over ice cream topped with crushed walnuts. PLUMS Cut in half, brush with olive oil, and grill for 4 to 5 min. Serve over ice cream, drizzle with honey or chocolate sauce, and sprinkle with chopped pistachios. NO-CHURN CASHEW & CARAMELIZED-BERRY SWIRL START TO FINISH: 5½ HR. (INCLUDES TIME TO CHILL) FOR THE BERRY…

SEEHER“I make sure we’re telling these stories right—and telling them with honesty and respect.” FOLLOWING HER BREAKOUT ROLE in the 2019 coming-of-age comedy Booksmart, Kaitlyn Dever hasn’t blinked at the challenge of embodying some heart-wrenching lives that speak to our times. A rape survivor (in the Netflix series Unbelievable). A sister left grappling with the aftermath of teen suicide (Dear Evan Hansen, in theaters September 24). Another young victim of the opioid epidemic (Hulu’s forthcoming series Dopesick). “These stories deserve to be told in the best way possible,” says Kaitlyn, 24. “I put so much pressure on myself to do all these characters justice.” And it shows: Her raw portrayal in Unbelievable earned her a Golden Globe nomination for best actress in a TV motion picture. Her role as Zoe…

SEEHER“There’s no point in having a platform unless you use it to stand up for your beliefs.” WHEN SHE READ THE SCRIPT for To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Lana Condor knew the movie was made for her. “It was something I’d never seen come across my desk—a rom-com with an Asian American actress as the lead,” she says. “I remember sitting in the car before my audition thinking, I have to get this.” The role turned Lana, 24, into a household name, and the film was so successful that it became a franchise. “The greatest blessing is that it made [Asian] people feel represented. They come up to me and tell me how watching the movie made them feel seen and not alone,” says Lana, who is…

BE UNIQUE NEAL SCHULTZ, M.D. Dermatologist DENDY E. ENGELMAN, M.D. Dermatologist MONA GOHARA, M.D. Dermatologist ELIZABETH K. HALE, M.D. Dermatologist MICHELLE HENRY, M.D. Dermatologist MELISSA KANCHANAPOOMI LEVIN, M.D. Dermatologist ELLEN MARMUR, M.D. Dermatologist RON ROBINSON Cosmetic chemist GITA BASS Makeup artist PORSCHE COOPER Makeup artist NUNZIO SAVIANO Hairstylist BE STRONG + WELL JEN WIDERSTROM Consulting Shape fitness director, trainer, life coach ADAM ROSANTE Strength and nutrition coach NICOLE KEITH, PH.D. President of the American College of Sports Medicine CEDRIC X. BRYANT, PH.D. President of the American Council on Exercise JORDAN METZL, M.D. Sports medicine physician MICHELE OLSON, PH.D. Clinical professor of sport science SHAUN T Celebrity trainer ALEX SILVER-FAGAN Nike Master Trainer HARLEY PASTERNAK Celebrity trainer JAY WRIGHT Fitness expert, studio owner CARRIE PAGLIANO Clinical specialist in orthopedics CHRISTINE…

Our smiles frame our features and light up our faces. And when the corners of someone else’s mouth turn upward and their eyes crinkle—the telltale signs of a true smile, aka a Duchenne smile—it signals that they’re happy. These are things we inherently get. But when the masks went on, we felt it. Without seeing one another’s expressions, we deeply understood the impact that grins, openmouthed laughs, and subtle, secret smiles have on our connections. The instantaneous signal of friendliness was missing. The energy was off. Suddenly, there was a need for overgesturing to compensate. “Smiling is the most potent way to convey positivity and connect with others. It does that even better than words can,” says Michelle Wax, the founder of the American Happiness Project. “I witnessed the…

1 TEAR UP THOSE TRAILS When you want to boldly go on more challenging mountain biking routes, getting your balance on the bike out of the saddle is the strong foundation you need, says Meagen Dennis, the owner of the Trek Dirt Series mountain biking clinics (90 per-cent of the instructors are women). “The ready position—standing on your pedals, off your seat, with your knees and elbows bent and your chin in line with your handlebars—prepares us to roll over anything on the trail,” Dennis says. To find a route for your level, she suggests apps like TrailForks and MTB Project, which give color-coded grades (green, blue, black), plus ski hills, photos, descriptions of the terrain, and more. (dirtseries.com, $295 for a day camp, $495 for weekend) 2 RULE ON…

Over the past year, while the headlines were all about COVID-19, some scientists were working diligently to find new ways to treat and address some top women’s health issues. Their discoveries will help millions of patients, but they also show that female-focused wellness is finally getting the attention it deserves. “These advances are evidence that we’re putting money and time into women’s health, which is a much-needed and long-awaited change,” says Veronica Gillispie-Bell, M.D., an ob-gyn in New Orleans. Here are the facts you need to know. 1 Fibroid Fix Fibroids, which affect over 80 percent of Black women and about 70 percent of white women by age 50, can cause heavy menstrual bleeding in half of sufferers. Myomectomy (fibroid removal) and hysterectomy are the most common treatments, in…

A delicious meal is a glorious thing. And when you can give it a twist to serve double duty as the next day’s dish? The beauty gets amplified—now it’s a savior from cooking fatigue and food waste. “In today’s world we want to be cognizant of our time and what we’re spending and putting into our bodies,” says Ari Bokovza, a chef and partner at Dagon, a new Mediterranean restaurant in New York. “Leftovers play a huge part in this—they’re a great way to pare down the effort and cost and to stay healthy. The best advice I have for home cooks is to change your outlook on leftovers. They should be viewed as creative transformations.” Here, Bokovza offers some simple, exciting spins. PUT IT BETWEEN BREAD “One of my…

Grilled Sweet Potato Salad With Spinach & Plums START TO FINISH: 25 MIN. SERVES 4 Vegetable oil, for grill2 medium sweet potatoes (about 6 oz. each), well scrubbed and sliced about ⅛ inch thick¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzlingKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper2 Tbsp. brine-packed capers, drained¼ cup pitted kalamata olives, roughly chopped2 garlic cloves, minced1 tsp. ras el hanout¼ cup packed fresh mint, thinly sliced½ tsp. finely grated lemon zest, plus 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice1 tsp. honey2 red plums, pitted and sliced ¼ inch thick, then cut crosswise into small pieces1 bunch spinach (4 oz.), washed and dried well2 Tbsp. thinly sliced almonds, toasted 1 Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Oil the grates. In a heatproof bowl, toss sweet…

Hey, September, I’ve got so much to say! FIRST, SOME PERSONAL NEWS I’m Liz, Shape’s new editor in chief, and I could not be more thrilled. I’ve watched (actually, loved) this magazine my entire career and respected how it draws a direct, vital link between health and confidence. More than any other health or fitness media brand, Shape captures the nexus of strength, beauty, and style in a way I find completely inspiring. And what timing: The need for trusted information about living well has never been greater than it is right now. I intend to answer the call for science-backed health, nutrition, and fitness advice and continue the magazine’s dedication to raising diverse voices and delivering inclusive information. Check out one first step in that direction: Our new…

WOMEN RUN THE WORLD™ ASHLEY GRAHAM HAS her favorite products and a trusted routine—we’ll get to those—but what the supermodel and body-positivity advocate wants to make clear up front is that “beauty starts with being confident—and that comes from inside. Getting my hair and makeup done isn’t going to make or break my day. It’s confidence that affects how I’m going to feel.” She also points out that beauty is subjective and thather preferences are evolving: “As a new mom, I’m all about efficiency—that’s what makes me happiest now,” Graham says. Brushing her eyebrows up and swiping on mascara are her two quickest and most powerful moves. She also applies her self-tanning mousse (a collaboration with St. Tropez) once a week. “As long as I have a tan, I’m good,”…

Bubble Pony “Kendall Jenner is super glam here, but ’90s hairstyles really lend themselves to a casual vibe,” says Nunzio Saviano, a hairstylist in New York and a Shape Brain Trust member. Add one or two bubbles for a workout look: Create a ponytail, secure, then place a new hair tie every few inches, gently sliding each band up a bit to form a “bubble,” Saviano says. Buns “Hairstyles of the ’90s were more playful than we’ve seen in the last several years,” says Ryan Trygstad, a hairstylist in New York. Take this Spice Girls–esque throwback, which works well on all hair types. Start with a flexible gel to make hair pliable, then grab small sections and secure with elastics. There are no rules for sectioning—make as few or…

WOMEN RUN THE WORLD™ Click here to shop these products!…

“A healthy, delicious lunch can lift your mood, fuel you through the afternoon, and increase your overall well-being,” says Heidi Swanson, the author of the best-selling cookbook Super Natural Simple. “Level up yours by boosting the flavor with dressings, drizzles, and crunchy toppings that also lend a nutritional punch and color. Bright salads, soups, and bowls tend to be packed with vitamins and minerals. Plus, they’re beautiful to sit down to.” Turn the page for Swanson’s expert-but-easy tips. HOW TO MAKE A LUNCH YOU’LL LOVE 1 PREP IN ADVANCE Weekday lunches come together easier if you get some of the main elements ready on the weekend, Swanson says. Skip the supermarket and buy lettuce, arugula, and spinach at the farmers market because they’re more flavorful, she says. Wash, dry, and…

BEING AN AFRO-LATINA TRANS woman in America is hard,” says actor and singer Mj Rodriguez, who starred on Pose, the groundbreaking TV show featuring the largest cast ever of transgender actors. “I take 15 minutes alone to appreciate the life that has been given to me and to figure out how I can move the needle forward every day.” As Blanca in Pose, Mj, 30, earned critical acclaim and a devoted fan base. In July she made history as the first transgender performer to earn an Emmy nomination in a major acting category. “Being part of a historic show meant a great deal to me,” she says. “It meant that our lives, our story, was being centered on and didn’t consist of just one individual from the trans community—it was…