Although going to the gym is often considered good for female health, a recent study reveals that microbes and bacteria may bring on a health problem of a different nature. Over 70% of the bacteria found on gym equipment such as free weights and the treadmill is harmful. However, there are ways to keep bacteria away from your gym gear.

Keep Your Clothing Bacteria Free

Bacteria is the leading cause why gym clothing gets funky no matter how many  times you have sent it through the wash/rinse cycle. When coming home from the gym, it is important to let the clothing air dry first before adding the garments to the laundry basket as a damp, dark laundry basket is the playground of smelly bacteria. To prevent odors, turn the clothing inside out before adding them to the machine to properly clean the clothing.

While it’s tempting to add loads of detergent, less is more when it comes to bacteria as soapy suds make the smell worse if not rinsed properly. By reducing the detergent, adding around a cup of white vinegar, and doing away with fabric softener entirely, clothes come out smelling fresh.

Make Use Of Anti-Bacterial Detergent

Even if a machine looks clean, it is important not to assume it. Not all gym patrons are mindful of cleaning the equipment they just used, which leaves it to the next patron to ensure the area is germ-free. While many gyms provide anti-bacterial detergent along with paper towels or specially formulated wet wipes, it’s important to have sanitizing wipes of your own handy. A towel which is separate from your exercise towel is also a good to keep handy, as sweaty hands tend to be the culprit. Wiping down the equipment is essential as free weights have been found to have 362 times more bacteria than a public toilet.

Remember Your Other Personal Gear Too

While you might have paid special attention to your clothing and the equipment, there are other gym items that may also be teeming with germs. Gym gloves come into contact with all the equipment in the gym and deserve some special attention too. Swim caps are also a good carrier for germs and the gym towel simply has to be washed immediately when reaching home. One item that is often forgotten, however, is the gym bag.

While the items inside are often taken care of, the bag itself could harbor all sorts of germs and bacteria. Airing out the bag by turning it inside out and leaving it in direct sunlight is a good start.

A workout is a chance to focus on improving the body, whether for fitness, strength, or health reasons. When these workouts are compromised by ill health caused by bacteria and germs, it can reduce motivation to workout. A healthy hygiene routine can solve this dilemma. Share these tips with your family, friends, and workout buddies to keep your gym clean as possible.

Acclaimed musician C. SHIROCK has a new single out Entitled “Confess Your Love,” a passionate love song about the first moments of connection and the bravery involved in taking a risk to be the first at initiating romantic feelings. The single features heartfelt, emotional vocals with glistening synthscapes and powerful melodies reminiscent of early Madonna, George Michael and Prince. 

C. SHIROCK explains, “It tells the story of a couple meeting and their beginning…those little chance encounters that if we take them, can change the entire course of our lives”. The stunning visuals subtly play into this narrative. Shot in a beautiful colonial town near Tulum, Mexico the story starts and ends with the same scene, not revealing whether or not the love story actually happened or if it was a “what if” moment. Sonically “Confess Your Love” features heartfelt, emotional vocals with glistening synthscapes and powerful melodies reminiscent of early Madonna, George Michael and Prince.

LISTEN TO Confess Your Love.

 The new music from C. SHIROCK is an evolution and a distillation of his previous work, cutting to the core of his identity, with a power and clarity.  He blends anthemic choruses, musical builds and releases with heartfelt and personal lyrics to show vulnerability and urgency. 

About C. SHIROCK
C. SHIROCK was born in the United States and has since lived in both the Philippines and Scotland, before relocating to Nashville, TN to further study music. Coming from a family of creatives and musicians, he grew up the oldest of four, playing piano, writing and composing from a very early age. SHIROCK’s mother was a professional ballet dancer, his father an avid guitarist and his grandfather an accomplished jazz pianist.

Los Angeles five piece rock band Bizou has a new single out entitled ‘Superstition,’ a powerful rock’n’roll track with potent gritty guitars, throbbing basslines and anthemic melodies. Built upon dense instrumentation and doses of textured energy, the single packs a punch and emanates clashing tones. Fun facts: The bassist of Bizou used to be in world renown band The Smashing Pumpkins. Each member from the band hails from a different state in the US. Bizou uses their different experiences and diversity to improve their creative process.

Photo credit: Priscilla Scott
Bizou admit that the best time to listen to ‘Superstition’ is when you’ve pulled up to the Taco Bell drive-thru on the eve of a blood moon, with a bottle of mountain dew in the passenger seat and a pack of Virginia Slims in your purse. Try it out.

Happy Monday! Today Fromgirltogirl is bringing you the new EP from Chicago/Toronto based artist Deanna Devore. The multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer has just released the highly anticipated Half and Half, which beautifully blends downtempo electronic beats with organic instrumentation.
 
LISTEN HERE

About Deanna Devore

Deanna Devore is a Chicago and Toronto based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. Her music beautifully blends downtempo electronic beats with organic instrumentation, creating emotionally captivating music that has been resonating with audiences across the globe. Here at Fromgirltogirl, we love Devore’s rich vocals, intricate guitar playing and emotive songwriting. She carries a lyrical sensitivity, maturity and sophistication that spans across downtempo electronic, RnB, acoustic, jazz and orchestral territories. Devore’s EP Half and Half  features 7 tracks to showcase her music versatility. Half of the record focuses on her hypnotic, downtempo electronic side and the other half illustrates her charming acoustic singer-songwriter style.

“I’d like to be known for my versatility and love to write in various different genres, while still maintaining a consistency,” says Devore.

Her songwriting is built around the result and impact it will have on the listener. Leading single “A Cause” features Devore’s soulful sultry vocals which glide atop the throbbing basslines, ethereal synths and glistening melodies. The single highlights the singer’s love for darkly poignant and mesmerizing soundscapes, with the sleek synth-driven melodies simmering amongst the hypnotic jazz infused chords. 

To learn more follow her on Instagram @DeannaDevore. 

Once upon a time, the tech world was a man’s world. Now women are having our say in some of the highest leadership roles and high-paying job roles available in the industry. Reekita Gala, one of the biggest name in the virtual and augmented reality (AR) field is one of the women trail blazing for generations of females to come in the once designated Boys’ Club.

About Reekita Gala

Reekita Gala is one of the first women in history to create a marketing, sales, and business consulting company tailored towards virtual reality (VR) and AR across industries. Gala educates people on how to best use VR and AR for branding and overall business growth. How does Gala do it? She offers e-courses, personal training, and mentoring programs to business owners about ways VR and AR can work for them, including maximizing profits.  For example, Gala helped create augmented reality setups to make training new staff easier.  She also helps organizations market products such as real estate and manufacturing concepts.

Now Gala is showing how VR can change the world of medicine in the form of medical testing, surgical procedures, and medical student instruction. VR technological implementation may lead to streamlined medical and better education for medical students. This is one of the reasons Gala has started to reach out to fellow VR/AR thought leaders in order to create technology that could save millions of lives.

To learn more about Reekita Gala, the VR/AR tech world, and how she juggles being a CEO, wife, and mother, visit  her company website VRARE.

Los Angeles based Night Lights has a new single out entitled ‘Talk To Me’ produced by Brian Philipps. This is a hooky indie pop/ alt rock song with infectious lyrics, jangly guitars and driving drums. 

LISTEN HERE:

Their diverse backgrounds (coming from 3 different continents) and story of “moving to the US to ‘make it’ as musicians” has been an interesting topic that has garnered attention from the likes of NPR, BBC World News, LA Weekly, Sonicbids, and more. 

 New Jersey’s Young Rising Sons releases a new single entitled ‘Scatterbrain’ which features infectious playful lyrics, driving drums and gritty guitars, while narrating the chaos and confusion of feeling something and not understanding or knowing how to process it. The band explains “It’s the byproduct of being an emotional hoarder and carrying baggage that you know you shouldn’t. Scatterbrain is about trying to balance the outside world when you’re living inside your head”. 

LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/track/4n5IVEg5k1WRuzuAehMGcQ?si=JJnnCIzWT86uEDuu5vad3w

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About 40% of adults in the United States who drink alcohol do in amounts that risk health consequences. While you likely already understand the common consequences associated with drinking alcohol to excess, there are lesser-known effects of alcohol that women particularly are prone to. While you don’t have to completely do away with the occasional glass of red wine and tailgate party beer, you should definitely take these into account before hitting the party circuit next weekend.

Alcohol Is To Blame For Your Aging Skin

Sorry, girls, but all of those brunch-time mimosas and margaritas are likely the culprit for why your skin is not looking ideal. Due to the fact that it doesn’t offer up much nutritional value and is considered to be a toxin, it can contribute to reduced immunity, hormone disruption, cell damage and insulin issues that all impact that quality, appearance and aging of your skin. If you have woken up with cotton mouth after a long night out partying, you will also know and understand the dehydrating effects of alcohol on your skin, which cause it to appear dry and even flaky. One dermatologist even stated that the sugar in alcohol can quite literally crystallize your skin cells, which makes it dangerous if you are already prone to breakouts and acne.

Getting “Swole” in the Worst Way Possible

If you are hitting the gym daily and trying to reduce bloating in your body, alcohol is the exact opposite of what you need. Alcohol, in part due to the dehydrating nature of the drink, causes your blood vessels to enlarge, especially in the face. Drinks like margaritas and other cocktails with high sodium levels are even worse for puffiness as they make your sodium levels skyrocket and leave you even more dehydrated after a night out partying. Swollen ankles, bloated bellies and puffy eyes are all lesser-known effects of alcohol that you can avoid by being smart about how you consume it.

Safely Consuming Alcohol

Like everything in your life, alcohol can be a great way to treat yourself, if done in moderation. Ensuring you are engaging in a healthy lifestyle that includes proper exercise, a well-balanced diet and more than enough water to stay hydrated, you can ensure you won’t experience the lesser-known negative effects that alcohol has on women’s bodies. A few glasses of wine with your friends, brunch time mimosas and a couple of happy hours won’t do much harm if you are taking care of your body in other ways.