Emily Becker

<p>It can be hard to stay positive, especially during times when things feel out of your control, but looking on the bright side doesnt mean you have to pretend like youre living inside of a Disney movie. (After all, when was the last time little birds showed up to help you do your hair in the morning?) </p>

<p>Instead, its more about taking an optimistic approach to the world as it is and believing you are resilient, explains Dr. Patricia Thompson, PhD, a corporate psychologist and creator of the  . "Positive people face the same challenges as more pessimistic people," she says. "However, because they have an underlying belief that they can withstand the inevitable challenges in life, they do, indeed bounce back more quickly."</p>

<p>That ability to bounce back more quickly is something that will also help you in other aspects of your life. Optimism has been linked to better health, better success in business and happier relationships, according to Thompson, mostly because being positive often means youre a more persistent person. And if youre persistent, youre probably more likely to succeed. </p>

<p>So, how can you capture all this good energy for yourself? Turns out, there are small tweaks you can make to your everyday routine that will help you be a more positive personsome of which are backed by actual scientific research. Here are 14 tips recommended by psychologists for how to be more positive:</p>

<h1> 1. Seek out the activities that bring you joyno matter how small. </h1>

<p>One of the biggest misconceptions people have about positivity and happiness is that these emotions just happen, says <a href="http://www.erinolivo.com/" id="86658834-13cb-3016-a500-33602e3606b6">  Dr. Erin Olivo </a> , PhD, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of the <a href="https://www.centerforwisemindliving.com/" id="30a6eec6-661c-3b97-a022-63cbc887ca28">  Center for Wise Mind Living </a> . When youre feeling sad or angry, you can usually point to a specific instance that caused those feelings (a fight with your friend, getting passed up for a job opportunity, etc.). But it's not always easy to recognize that feelings like joy or love can also be triggered by particular activities or eventseven when you find yourself down in the dumps.</p>

<p>How do you know what will trigger your happiness? Well, thats up to you. Got a song that always makes you want to dance? Put it on. Or, if playing with your dog always lifts your spirits, make time throughout the day for fetch, work on a new trick, or just watch them be the adorable doofus they are all on their own. "Everyone has to figure out what their own triggers are for joy or love or excitement, and once you know what some of those are, you can actively seek those out," explains Olivo. </p>

<p>In three related studies published in the <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/GratitudePDFs/6Emmons-BlessingsBurdens.pdf" id="600691f8-3c32-32e5-aa80-d7108ce407b3">  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology </a> in 2003, scientists researching different ways a person can be more positive concluded that giving thanks shouldnt be reserved just for the fourth Thursday in November. Keeping a gratitude journal is as easy as taking a few minutes every night to write down three things that happened that day that you are grateful for. Not only will this practice encourage you to appreciate the positive moments in your life, but youll also start to look out for all those things you're grateful for throughout the day.</p>

<p>One pro tip from Olivo, though, is to be as specific as possible in expressing your gratitude for the day. Dont just write that youre happy the sun was shining. Say that youre happy you were able to take a break from work by taking a walk around the block in the sunshine, and it left you feeling refreshed. "Were actually trying to generate a feeling," she says. "Were not just trying to do the task of 'make a list.'"</p>

<h1> 3. Do something for someone else. </h1>

<p>Nothing wrong with the "treat yourself" mentality, but if you want to feel happier longer, it might be better to adopt a "treat others" mentality. Feeling like youre contributing or being of service to others has been shown to give individuals a longer-lasting hit of dopamine than doing something for yourself, according to Olivo. So, the next time youre treating yourself to a latte, consider treating the person behind you in line as well. </p>

<p>If youve been skeptical of the thousand and one mindfulness apps that have taken off in the past year, now might be the moment to actually give one a try. Both Thompson and Olivo recommended mediation as a way to calm your body and quiet the outside chatter. <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a24750828/meditation-for-beginners/" id="0648b02d-f933-3f6e-a357-6b444f577f53">  Meditation practice </a> also helps you to focus your mind, which means you can work on choosing to focus on an experience (like, say, an awkward first date) as a whole, instead of just zeroing in on the negatives.</p>

<p>Watch this video to learn mindfulness exercises to try during difficult times: </p>

<h1> 5. Accept that the world is chaotic. </h1>

<p>As much as you plan and schedule and think ahead, there are some things you just cant control (sorry, but that superpower is currently out of stock). Once you accept that, Thompson explains, you can spend less time wishing you could change all those chaotic things you simply cannot. "It is obviously something that you dont want, but by fighting against it in your own mind, all youre doing is adding additional layers of angst and anxiety on top of an unwanted situation," she says. </p>

<p>Instead, use that time and energy to make a clear-headed decision about what you can do in a particular situation. (Case in point: A global pandemic. You can't control how the rest of the world acts, but you can choose to take proper safety precautions for yourself.) There will always be things that seem unfair or are unequal, but rather than harping on those injustices, think about how you can make things better. </p>

<p>As much as spending the weekend bingeing Netflix sounds like a great idea, taking a moment outside will do wonders for your mood. A 2019 study from the U.K. published in   found that spending two hours a week outside helps boost both your physical and mental health. Dont feel like you need to spend two hours on a strenuous hike, thoughThompson says that even an easy walk in the park will do the trick. </p>

<p>Theres a reason why people say to fake it 'til you make it. No matter how much you dont feel like it, there is some   that smiling helps you feel better. The act itself sends a signal to the brain that helps calm the negative thoughts you might be having and releases those feel-good neurotransmitters (like dopamine) that help bring on the warm and fuzzies.</p>

<h1> 12. Take the negative when it comes. </h1>

<p>No matter how much you adopt the previous tips into your life, theres no guarantee that you wont encounter some bumps in the road. (In fact, the guarantee might be that you will experience a setback at some timeyou're human, after all.) But if youre able to experience negative and positive emotions together, this balance helps give you more perspective, Olivo says. </p>

<p>This is similar to the idea that losing something helps you see how much it mattered to you, she explains. (Laid off from your job? Remind yourself of everything you accomplished, and take pride in that.) "The more you can bring in the positive, it might not help you immediately today to be more positive, but all the research shows that it will help feel more positive down the road," Olivo adds.</p>

<h1> 13. Have an encouraging mantra at the ready. </h1>

<p>It can also help to be your own cheerleader when you do experience setback (think <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a30718417/sarah-hyland-health-endometriosis-jerry-cheer/" id="f1235460-754f-3622-ab17-994ca77ef72d">  Jerry's mat talk from Cheer </a> ). Dr. Thompson suggests telling yourself things like "You can do this," "Youll get through this," "Youre doing your best, and "Youve got this" will help you get through those tough times.</p>

<h1> 14. Remember that its a journey. </h1>

<p>Becoming a positive person doesnt just happen overnight. You are trying to rewire your brains natural instincts, after all. But as long as you consistently work at having a more positive outlook, your mind will eventually follow. "Youre truly training your brain," says Olivo, "Youre training your brain to do something different than what it even wants to do." </p>

<p>And that journey alone is worth feeling good about. </p>

14 Ways To Be Positive, According To Experts

When it comes to general rules for living, perhaps it was Monty Python who said it best: "Always look on the bright side of life." But for anyone who's been stuck in traffic when theyre already late to work or received a particularly curt email from a boss, <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a19984459/how-to-be-happier/" id="99329daa-8238-3c31-ab32-74c0e5876ba7">  staying positive </a> can sometimes seem like an easier-said-than-done scenario.

14 Ways To Be More Positive, According to Psychologists

<p>The stories of the victims in the <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a28551986/atlanta-child-murders-wayne-williams-timeline/" id="b4443672-5fde-3311-a84e-86ff1946ccf2">  Atlanta Child Murder case </a> are stories of lives that had just barely begun. From 1979 to 1981, authorities in the area recovered 29 bodiestwo girls, six adult men, and 21 boys. The body of one missing boy, Darren Glass, has still not been found.</p>

<p>All 29 victims were Black and almost all from low-income areas. They were beaten and strangled and tossed into the river, tied to a tree, or left in an abandoned building with no regard to the future these kids might have had. </p>

<p>So, if you can, take a moment to learn more about the victims in this case. <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a28628084/wayne-williams-now/" id="529ef750-2890-36ae-a69b-5384329e27f8">  Wayne Williams was charged in 1981 with two of the murders </a> , and officials declared the cases closed, but many questions remain over how many of the 29 deaths can actually be attributed to Williams. <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a28601007/atlanta-child-murders-case-reopened/" id="401bfb2d-7ce1-31a7-aacd-e4c66bd4202a">  Several of the cases have been reopened </a> since, but no further charges have been brought.</p>

<p>Last seen on the way to a Kung Fu movie, Evans was found strangled in the woods outside a fairground. According to  , he was lying face down and was missing his shirt and shoes. In his pocket was a $1 bill. </p>

<p>The photo shows some of Atlanta's missing and murdered children: (A) Charles Stevens; (B) Earl Lee Terrell; (C)Christopher Philepe Richardson; (D) Clifford Jones; (E) LaTonya Wilson; (F) Patrick Balazar; (G) Angel Lanier; (H) Yusef Bell; (I) Jeffrey Lamar Mathis; (J) Alfred James Evans; (K) Lubie Geter; (L) Darron Glass; (M) Eric Middlebrooks; (N) Anthony Bernard Carter; (O) Edward Hope Smith; (P) Milton Harvey.</p>

<p>Smith was on the way home from a skating rink near his home in Atlanta when he disappeared, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/15/us/investigators-feel-many-killers-separately-slew-atlanta-children.html" id="109ef562-123d-312d-ad16-9febd738808a">  New York Times </a> reported. Eight days later, he was found shot. The two boys' deaths were almost written off as drug-related by cops, but eventually they would come to be understood to be the first victims in the Atlanta Child Murders.</p>

<p>Harvey was last seen riding his bike a few miles from his home, according to the Times. His remains were found over a month later; his body was too decomposed to determine a cause of death. </p>

<p>Neighbors described Bell as "wily, quick witted, near brilliant" to   and told stories of the fifth grader being asked to help balance checkbooks of adults in the community. Bell had dreams of being a gymnast before his body was found strangled and stuffed in a crawlspace in a boarded up school four blocks away from his home. </p>

<p>Lenair and her mother Venus had recently moved to the Atlanta area from Chicago. Venus thought it would be good for her daughter to "grow up around trees," the Post reported. When Lenair wasnt home in time to watch her favorite show, Sanford and Son, after school, Venus knew something was wrong. Lenair was reported missing on March 4, 1980 before her body was discovered strangled, raped, and tied to a tree a few blocks from her apartment. </p>

<p>Mathis, known for being a good student at school, left home on March 11, 1980 to buy his mom cigarettes at the store, but never returned home, per the New York Times. His remains were found by FBI agents 11 months later. </p>

<p>Middlebrooks was found dead by blunt force trauma behind a tavern in southeast Atlanta, according to the Times. Reports at the time state Middlebrooks had testified against some of his peers at a criminal proceeding a few days before he disappeared, and authorities suspected his death may have been an act of vengeance. </p>

<p>Richardson was on his way to the public swimming pool in Decatur, Georgia when he disappeared, the New York Times reported. Eight months later, the boys remains were found.</p>

<p>Wilson was thought to have been taken from her home while her family slept in late June, but volunteers who spent every Saturday searching for her didnt find her remains until October, per the Post. </p>

<p>Wyches death was initially ruled as an accident by Atlanta police who claim he accidentally fell from a railway trestle. However, according to the Washington Post, his mother told authorities that Wyche was afraid of heights and would have never climbed up the trestle in the first place. She believed he only would've done so if he was frightened or running from someone. </p>

Two members of the United Youth Adult Conference hammer a cross into the ground, marking the place where Aaron Wyches body was found on June 24, 1980.

<p>Carter was reported missing the day before his body was found near a neighborhood warehouse, according to the New York Times. He died of multiple stab wounds, and the fact that his cause of death was different from the others initially led authorities to believe that his murder was unrelated to the others. </p>

<p>Terell was last seen leaving a park or public swimming pool in his southeast Atlanta neighborhood on July 31, 1980, the Times reported. Almost six months later, his body was found next to Richardsons, which led the police to believe the two murders were connected. </p>

<p>One day, while visiting from Cleveland, Jones decided to go out to collect aluminium cans to earn a little pocket change, according to the Post. He was later found strangled beside a shopping center dumpster. </p>

<p>Glass had run away from several foster homes before his disappearance in September 1980, per the New York Times. Because Glass body has never been recovered, he has not always been included as one of the 29 deaths in the Atlanta Child Murders. </p>

<p>Reported missing the day before, Stephens' body was found in a trailer park about five miles away from his home. He had been suffocated, the Times reported, and police were able to collect a green fiber from the scene for analysis. </p>

<p>Aaron Jackson would spend his days wandering around his Atlanta community. The fourth grader roamed around the woods, the park, and one time, into his neighbors kitchen, where he helped himself to some plums before falling asleep on the couch, the Post said. A day after Jackson went missing, his dad, Aaron Jackson, Sr., turned on the TV and saw the body of another black boy had been found strangled, lying face-up on a river bank. Aaron Sr. called the police, took one look at the picture they showed him and knew it was his son.</p>

Aaron Jackson (left), Terry Pue (center), Patrick Rogers (right)

<p>Rogers knew several of the previous victims and, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/15/us/investigators-feel-many-killers-separately-slew-atlanta-children.html" id="456af26c-0cee-3d07-a025-50934320a449">  according to reports </a> , was being investigated by police for a robbery. His body was pulled out of the Chattahoochee River eight days after he went missing. His death was caused by a head injury, and Rogers is the first victim to be suspected of having been dropped into the river from a bridge above.</p>

<p>Hoping to make a little pocket change, Geter was selling car air fresheners at an Atlanta mall the day he disappeared, the Times reported. His body was later found in a wooded area where he'd been strangled. </p>

<p>Pue spent the night he disappeared at a hamburger restaurant in East Atlanta, per the New York Times. The next morning, he was discovered strangled on the side of the road. </p>

<p>Last seen at the Omni entertainment complex, Baltazars body was found strangled behind an office park by a maintenance worker, per the Times. Police were able to link his death with five of the other murders with fibrous materials found at the crime scene, the <a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/atlanta-child-murders-chronology-the-missing-and-murdered-cases/NJ61ANzP7lxyrVqisqEzYK/" id="0c8732b9-5eff-3613-a156-73bd5aae4912">  Atlanta Journal-Constitution </a> reported.</p>

<p>Walkers body was found partially submerged and caught on a log near the bank of the South River a few weeks after he disappeared, the Times said. Last seen at a gun store where he had applied for a job, Walker had been suffocated. </p>

<p>Known as "Jojo" to his family, Bellnot related to victim Yusuf Bellhad been missing for over a month before his body was found in the South River, according to the Times. He had been last seen at the fast food fish restaurant near his home where he did odd jobs each week to earn a few dollars. </p>

All 29 Atlanta Child Murders Victims, Remembered

As you watch HBO's latest true crime documentary series, Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children, unfold every Sunday night, its important to remember that these cases are not just about the drama and intrigue of the investigation. When so much focus is placed on the perpetrators, it can be easy to forget about the victims.

Who Were The Atlanta Child Murder Victims? Many Were Under 10 Years Old

<p>Much is still unknown about the <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31198534/coronavirus-symptoms-vs-cold-flu/" id="c5aa1726-4b89-339d-a726-14375bafa677">  novel coronavirus </a> , as you knowbut experts are gathering more and more interesting info every day about the virus, how it behaves, and where it came from. One surprising tp of investigation? The new coronavirus and snakes.</p>

<p>While most scientists are in agreement that the virus started in animals <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31674736/coronavirus-bats/" id="8f47c096-7379-3f39-a500-76df999bfa8e">  bats, specifically </a> and jumped to humans, researchers are still trying to figure out the details on how exactly that transfer went down. Since the first <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31944668/covid-loss-of-taste-and-smell-symptoms/" id="8ff1a5d7-4f85-33bf-a384-da029f75b621">  cases of COVID-19 </a> were identified in December (the number of cases is now over 693,000 worldwide, according to the <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/685d0ace521648f8a5beeeee1b9125cd" id="25c7c208-1b62-3b92-a261-468c804c3d27">  World Health Organization </a> report from March 30), experts have looked into bats, pangolins (aka anteaters!), and, yup, snakes as all potential players in the spread of the virus.</p>

<p>While the scientific community has largely ruled out snakes as being directly involved in the transfer of the virus to humans, research on the role reptiles played in the outbreak has helped scientists better understand other aspects of this virus. Here, everything you need to know about snakes and novel coronavirus.</p>

<h1>  Why are people talking about coronavirus and snakes in the first place?  </h1>

<p>A little background info: The novel coronavirus is a zoonotic virus, which means it belongs to a class of diseases that are able to be transferred from animals to humans and vice-versa. About <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31674736/coronavirus-bats/" id="548f03cf-3e4e-3883-a58c-ca8cf82c7b5d">  80 percent </a> of viruses that exist are zoonotic, says Richard J. Kuhn, PhD, a professor of biological sciences at Purdue University. (Other diseases like Ebola, Zika, and the flu are all zoonotic viruses as well.) In the case of novel coronavirus, researchers have determined that bats were the likely original host.</p>

<p>But these diseases often jump from the origin animal to humans with the help of an intermediate host, meaning an animal that isnt the first carrier of a virus, but one that contracts it and then transfers the virus to another animal, or a human. That's why you may have seen headlines about snakes and the novel coronavirus recently. </p>

<p>In a study published in the   in January, researchers compared parts of the novel coronavirus DNA to the DNA of suspected hosts of the virus and found similarities between that of the novel coronavirus and the DNA of certain snakes (specifically, the Chinese krait and cobra). </p>

<p>At the time of the study, that DNA similarities were thought to be indications that snakes were a natural reservoir for the virus, explains Haitao Guo, PhD, a professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at the University of Pittsburgh. A "disease reservoir" is an environment or organism in which a pathogen can live and reproduce, the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section10.html" id="fd2d6466-3080-3a37-ad73-19fbcc6afd6d">  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention </a> (CDC) explains.</p>

<h1> So do researchers really think snakes were the middleman (er, animal)? </h1>

<p>The short answer is no. Snakes hunt bats in the wild, and snakes were sold in the Wuhan seafood market, which is where scientists believe the virus first jumped to humans, notes Guo. So it seemed plausible that a snake could have come in contact with an infected bat (or bat feces) and served as the intermediate host.</p>

<p>But, as scientists have done more research, many have raised questions about methodology and parameters of the initial snake study, Guo explains. Additionally, a study published by the   noted that coronaviruses usually only infect birds and mammals. </p>

<p>What's more: Reptiles dont normally play a role at all in viral outbreaks like this one. Neither Guo nor Kuhn could think of any examples where a reptile played a major role in a viral outbreak in humans. This is partly due to the fact that reptiles are cold-blooded and mammals are warm-blooded, explains Kuhn. This temperature difference would affect the virus ability to replicate in a new species, which means that in order for the virus to actually infect a human from a reptile, it would have to evolve much more than if it was jumping from another mammal to another human. </p>

<h1>  So   what animal *did* serve as an intermediate host, then? </h1>

<p>Research published within the past month points to  <strong> pangolins </strong> , a scaly anteater found in parts of Asia and Africa, as a more likely candidatethough this is still up for debate in the scientific community. </p>

<p>For one thing, pangolins are also mammals. Plus, the dried scales of pangolins are often sold in wet markets, and likely were sold in the Wuhan market. The aforementioned American Chemical Society study also found genetic similarities between a coronavirus found in pangolins and the current novel coronavirus presenting in humans. However, the similarities are not strong enough for researchers to say for certain that the pangolin is the secret missing piece in the transmission of the novel coronavirus from animals to humans. </p>

<h1> Whether it was snakes or pangolins or bats all by themselves, the best ways to protect yourself and others remain the same.  </h1>

<p>Per the latest   guidelines, the best way to avoid getting sick and help stop the spread of germs is by washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face or hands, and disinfecting often-touched surfaces. Also, continue practicing social distancing and stay 6 feet away from other people if you do have to go out for groceries or supplies. </p>

<p>If you do feel sick, self-quarantine for at least two weeks. Even if you dont feel sick, if youve been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, the best thing you can do to protect others is to *stay home.* </p>

What Does New Coronavirus Have To Do With Snakes?

What Does The Novel Coronavirus Have To Do With Snakes?

<p>While a lot about the virus is still unknown, part of the answer to that mystery may have to do with an animal more commonly thought of as an important part of any good Halloween decoration display: the bat.</p>

<p>The first cases of COVID-19 ( <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31704399/why-is-it-called-coronavirus/" id="7371cea9-1421-38e8-ae64-1278d3ae1f81">  the illness caused by novel coronavirus </a> ) can be <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31246167/how-did-coronavirus-start/" id="9a917bd1-3662-3206-a0a5-02815086d57f">  traced back to a live animal market in Wuhan City, China </a> , according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#basics" id="ff76d304-6261-33d8-a773-91cc2e464015">  CDC </a> . And research suggests that, like other recent viral outbreaks, COVID-19 originated in bats before it made the jump to humans. Here, the details on how bats played a role in this COVID-19 outbreak.</p>

<h1> How did bats get the novel coronavirus in the first place? </h1>

<p>It's unclear exactly how bats picked up novel coronavirus, but researchers do know they carry it and are the reason it's been passed on to humans. COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease, which means it is caused by an animal virus that has been picked up by humans, explains <a href="https://www.bio.purdue.edu/People/faculty_dm/directory.php?refID=16" id="a9240377-5d78-3cb6-a867-4f9833ac9dde">  Richard J. Kuhn </a> , PhD, a professor of biological sciences at Purdue University. By Kuhns estimate, about 80 percent of viruses that exist are zoonotic viruses, and they work in both directions: animals can pass them to humans, and humans can pass them back to animals.</p>

<p>The novel coronavirus that caused this current outbreak comes from a family of zoonotic viruses. Viruses from this family have been passed to humans from animals before (more on this later) and usually result in <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31198534/coronavirus-symptoms-vs-cold-flu/" id="9e89e058-bf5f-3256-ac75-f749333bc1cf">  cold- and flu-like respiratory symptoms </a> for humans. But the illnesses they cause can also lead to death in animals, according to a <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/48401" id="cfd1c4d3-2f59-3ef6-a6d0-3bb2aebd1a3b">  study </a> from the University of California, Berkeley.</p>

<p>However, researchers have found that when bats contract these viruses, their particularly strong immune systems prevent them from getting sick or dying from the infections. This means they can continue to carry and pass on the virus, whereas other animals that contract it may get sick and die, and therefore are less likely to pass it on. The UC Berkeley researchers found that a bats immune system is so strong, in fact, that when a virus infects a bat, the animals immune system response is thought to cause the virus to adapt and replicate even faster. That means when the virus infects an animal with a weaker immune system (lets say a human), the virus is able to wreak havoc. </p>

<p>One of the reasons bats have such strong immune systems is thought to be the fact that they can fly, according to the UC Berkeley study. When they fly, bats elevate their metabolic rates to a level that would hurt other mammals, but for bats, helped them develop an immune system that is able to quickly repair the cell damage caused by flight, the researchers found. </p>

<h1> How did novel coronavirus spread from bats to humans, then? </h1>

<p>As a virus jumps from species to species, it mutates, which means that researchers won't see an *exact* copy in animals of the novel coronavirus found in humans. But scientists have found a 96 percent genetic match between the virus that's currently infecting humans and a coronavirus that is found in bats, according to a study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2012-7" id="008f50c1-2217-37ef-a600-740ece483fe2">  Nature </a> in February.</p>

<p>Kuhn believes that its not likely that novel coronavirus spread directly from bats to humans, but that one or more animals at the market in Wuhan were infected by bats and served as an intermediate host in the transfer of the virus from bats to humans. It's thought that humans then came in contact with an infected animal, or animals, at the market. How exactly the virus was transmitted is still unknown, but some theories include a human consuming an infected animal or touching an infected animal during the butchering process. </p>

<p>While they don't know the exact route the virus took to get to humans, scientists all seem to agree that the novel coronavirus came from animalsparticularly considering other recent disease outbreaks that were caused by zoonotic viruses. </p>

<h1> What other illnesses have been linked back to bats? </h1>

<p>COVID-19 is not the first illness that has made the leap from bats to humans. The viruses that caused SARS, MERS, Ebola, Nipah, Hendra, and Marburg can all be traced back to bats, according to the UC Berkeley researchers, although all were spread through intermediate hosts. While animals and humans have traded diseases back and forth historically, recently, outbreaks that can be traced back to animals have become more commonpartly, at least, due to human behavior. </p>

<p>"This is something that has been increasing probably because weve degraded their habitat and come in more contact directly with more animals," says Kuhn. He also notes that humans have created environments where there are high densities of animals, "whether thats a swine farm or a wet market, in which viruses can spread," he explains. "So, there will continue to be this threat of pathogens moving into a new ecological niche."</p>

<h1> Is there any way for people to prevent the spread of viruses from bats to humans?  </h1>

<p>Unfortunately, experts say no. Humans come in contact with animals in all sorts of waysby hanging out with pets, consuming animal products, and encroaching upon their habitats. So, Kuhn says, the best thing to do is try to learn from this outbreak and try to be prepared for when the next one occurs. </p>

<p>The question is, will we be able to predict this in the future?" he says. "And were not there yet. We can anticipate that its coming because of our more frequent exposure to animals, but we cant anticipate what its going to look like right now. For Kuhn, one of the keys is developing better technologies that can tell if someone is infected with a virus <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31646078/coronavirus-infect-people-without-symptoms/" id="8ae68820-98d1-3701-aec6-c969bf32040e">  before they become symptomatic </a> . That way, someone who is sick can be treated and take appropriate action sooner and will hopefully limit the number of other people infected.</p>

<p>So, while researchers continue to investigate these diseases, the most important thing you can do right now is make sure you keep yourself and those around you healthy, per the guidelines, and look out for <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31339493/coronavirus-symptoms/" id="e9fc738c-cf59-3c8e-a6ad-fa22942feb07">  the symptoms of the illness </a> in yourself and others, and <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31266839/how-do-you-get-tested-for-coronavirus/" id="d78c0a69-e9a5-3961-a04b-a68f891a7590">  seek medical help and testing </a> if you suspect you or a loved one has it.</p>

<p>The novel coronavirus is <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31473784/who-is-most-at-risk-coronavirus-immunocompromised/" id="9f570591-77ac-347c-a416-6ea958f969d0">  especially serious for the elderly, those who are immunocompromised, and people with chronic conditions </a> . The best way you can <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31229708/how-to-prepare-for-coronavirus/" id="a1120e9b-4470-3680-a97d-7589db61a54a">  prevent the spread </a> of the virus is to <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31481769/social-distancing-coronavirus/" id="c9026627-fd69-3ad4-a326-7a542a1b99b5">  practice social distancing </a> , <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31230341/how-long-should-you-wash-hands/" id="532a06de-7216-3a6f-a777-03d2185b52ac">  wash your hands </a> frequently, avoid touching your face, and implement these other <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31229708/how-to-prepare-for-coronavirus/" id="3de0c125-8078-32ec-ac46-fcef14fa2e15">  hygiene habits </a> that can help protect the health of your family and community.</p>

How Is The Novel Coronavirus Related To Bats?

If youre not a member of the scientific or medical community (or, if you are, you're a hero right now!), it might seem like the novel coronavirus came out of nowhere. Now that <a href="https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200318-sitrep-58-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=20876712_2" id="b6b96230-f2b5-3cf1-afb7-8b34fff11c10">  191,127 COVID-19 cases </a> in total have been reported on every continent except for Antarctica, many people are wondering exactly <a href="https...

Wait, What Does The Novel Coronavirus Have To Do With Bats?

<p>As more businesses and communities put measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, scientists are working as quickly as possible to learn all they can about the disease and the novel coronavirus that causes it. New research is being published almost daily, including recent studies that suggest the virus might spread differently than officials originally thought.</p>

<p>Previously, scientists believed that individuals who were infected with the novel coronavirus were most contagious when <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31339493/coronavirus-symptoms/" id="f8cc913a-8a8b-3303-a8d1-bc890d31f300">  their symptoms </a> were noticeable. And that does kind of make sense; viruses are passed from person to person through particles, says Dr. Richard Kuhn, Ph.D., a professor of biological sciences at Purdue University. Those particles are released when someone coughs, sneezes or wipes their nose or mouth and then touches a surface.</p>

<p>So, if someone looks sicksneezing, coughing or running a feveryou would assume that they are more likely to get others sick. Current   guidelines specifically state that, People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic, and that, Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. (It also states, however, that "COVID-19 is a new disease and  <strong> we are still learning how it spreads </strong> , the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States.")</p>

<h1> New research is showing that individuals may not have to be displaying symptoms of COVID-19 to be contagious.  </h1>

<p>A study published on   about the outbreaks in Tianjin, China, and Singapore in January and February found that a significant number of infections can be attributed to people who had not yet developed symptoms. (It is worth noting that the study has not yet been peer-reviewed.) Of the COVID-19 cases in Singapore that were studied, it is thought that 48 percent of the cases were transmitted by someone who was pre-symptomatic. In Tianjin, China, that number was 62 percent.</p>

<p>In a recent letter in the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2001899" id="af0c18b4-3eff-3967-a241-d212709c8dbd">  New England Journal of Medicine </a> , researchers noted another circumstance in which two individuals who had recently returned to Germany from Wuhan, China, appeared to be asymptomatic, but <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31266839/how-do-you-get-tested-for-coronavirus/" id="81393ed4-9a0f-31fb-a5e3-8bd691966cc6">  tested positive for COVID-19 </a> when they were given a throat swab. "We discovered that shedding of potentially infectious virus may occur in persons who have no fever and no signs or only minor signs of infection," researchers wrote in the letter.</p>

<p>Bill Gates wrote his own letter in the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2003762" id="449fa1dd-0242-3b24-a4ff-1a76e9d8e3d0">  New England Journal of Medicine </a> in February that expressed similar concerns.</p>

<p>"COVID-19 is transmitted quite efficiently," he wrote. "There is also strong evidence that it can be transmitted by people who are just mildly ill or even pre-symptomatic. That means COVID-19 will be much harder to contain than the Middle East respiratory syndrome or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which were spread much less efficiently and only by symptomatic people."</p>

<p>While this new research contradicts initial thoughts about the virus, Kuhn doesnt find this information too surprising. There are a lot of viral infections that start and begin to produce new viruses before someone begins to feel ill, he says. Its unfortunate because it doesnt give us a head start, it doesnt give us a hint that someones infected, and it creates real problems.</p>

<p>Novel coronavirus is not the first disease where someone can appear perfectly healthy but still be contagious. For example, Kuhn says, you can have the flu but not be coughing or feverish yet and still pass on the illness to someone else. </p>

<p>Even if youre feeling completely healthy, if you do have a virus and it is actively replicating, it only takes one cough or one sneeze or you wiping your nose and then touching a countertop for those viral particles to be transferred," he says. "It seems like this is a pretty infectious virus, so not many virus particles are probably required to initiate infection. What this means is that this particular type of coronavirus seems to be especially contagious and can be passed through just a small number of virus particles. Kuhn says that even so much as touching a door handle that someone with the virus has touched could potentially transmit it from one person to another. </p>

<h1> This is why taking preventative measures like social distancing are so important.  </h1>

<p>While our understanding of the new coronavirus may be changing, what experts have been recommending as <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31402318/how-does-novel-coronavirus-spread/" id="7f540055-37e2-357a-acaf-79c292ce3ccc">  the best ways to protect yourself from infection </a> remain the same. In fact, this new research may even emphasize how important taking preventative measures like <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31230341/how-long-should-you-wash-hands/" id="76112295-f343-37c3-abd7-b966a583fe59">  washing your hands </a> and <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31481769/social-distancing-coronavirus/" id="584398fd-a8a5-382c-a3d9-d857d2b7f3f3">  social distancing </a> actually are.</p>

<p>Per the  , social distancing means avoiding large gatherings and staying approximately 6 feet away from other people whenever possible. On Sunday, March 15, the CDC released new recommendations to cancel events of more than 50 people throughout the United States for the next eight weeks. </p>

<p>Social distancing helps to slow how quickly a virus spreads and limit the potential of infecting high-risk populations. While you might be a healthy adult without any symptoms, you still run the risk of transmitting the new coronavirus to someone whose immune system might not be as well-equipped to handle the virus. </p>

<p>Kuhn also notes that, while doing things like working from home or staying in on the weekends instead of going out might be disruptive, they are also essential for helping to limit the spread of the virus. Especially while scientists continue to research more about this virus, you should continue to take the necessary precautions and follow the CDC's recommendations, he says.</p>

Why Social Distancing Is So Important Right Now

The New Coronavirus Is More Likely To Be Spread By Pre-Symptomatic People Than Experts Originally Thought

<p>The images of empty shelves and signs detailing limits on cleaning products have left many wondering about alternatives to traditional cleaning products and have some looking to a product that you might remember from first aid kits-past: hydrogen peroxide. The compound is used to kill germs and bacteria in wounds, which has led some to ask, can hydrogen peroxide be used to kill germs and bacteria in your house?</p>

<h1>  Wait, what is hydrogen peroxide again?  </h1>

<p>If you ever fell down and scraped your leg growing up, its likely that you had an encounter with hydrogen peroxide shortly after. The mild antiseptic been a staple of first aid kits for generations and has long been used to clean cuts and burns. </p>

<p>Still, many medical professionals don't recommend just pouring it directly over wounds anymore. "Hydrogen peroxide is very effective as a skin disinfectant but can inhibit wound healing," says Dr. Andrew Alexis, MD, chair of Mount Sinai's department of dermatology. "We typically dilute it 50-50 with sterile water and use the diluted solution as a soak with gauze which is applied to wounds."</p>

<h1>  Can You Use Hydrogen Peroxide To Clean Your House?   </h1>

<p>In theory, you can. <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/news/best-ways-kill-coronavirus-your-home" id="70db6b45-72a3-353d-aacf-ba291aa15c35">  Rutgers University </a> says hydrogen peroxide is typically sold in concentrations of about 3 percent, which is effective at killing germs in the home. You can use it straight from the bottle, or you can dilute it to 0.5% concentration and leave it on surfaces for one minute before wiping it off.</p>

<p>Worth noting: Hydrogen peroxide can cause discoloration so maybe don't use it on your white countertops. </p>

<p>Dr. Alexis also notes that while hydrogen peroxide is germicidal and can kill a wide range of bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, and spores, it may not be effective against some organisms. </p>

<p>When it comes to the coronavirus, he turns to the experts over at the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/cleaning-disinfection.html" id="ea42cfb7-8318-32a2-a71e-2d6d1de5db4c">  CDC </a> and recommends following their recommendation of using a diluted bleach solution (1/3rd cup bleach per gallon of water) for disinfecting your home.</p>

As the number of coronavirus cases continues to grow, more and more shoppers are stocking up on cleaning supplies. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the   recommends cleaning frequently touched surfaces and objects daily, and all that extra cleaning has resulted in a higher-than-usual demand for wipes, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer. (So much so that major retailers have warned of a cleaning product shortage, according to  .)

Does Hydrogen Peroxide Kill Germs, Viruses, And Bacteria? Experts Weigh In

<p>Despite the fact that <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a31401319/the-bachelor-hannah-ann-peter-weber-hannah-brown/" id="c1fd89d6-b90b-3ed0-a352-9ccd77bbe876">  Hannah Ann Sluss's Bachelor journey </a> didn't end with her living happily ever after as Peter Weber's co-pilot, she's still an <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a31039981/hannah-ann-sluss-wins-bachelor-peter-weber-instagram/" id="6cadba0d-34c6-330b-a999-115d9de78b7f">  absolute winner in Bachelor Nation's collective hearts </a> after that epic finale. After getting engaged to the Delta pilot, then calling off the engagement (all on camera, no less), and then confronting him on live television, Hannah Ann appears to be taking the entire situation in stride. She even took a moment to throw some (well-deserved) shade at her time on the reality TV show in a new Instagram Story post.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, Hannah Ann shared a photo collage of herself in the white dress she wore to the final rose ceremony when Peter proposed:</p>

<p>"I originally called this dress 'Timeless,'" she wrote in the post. "It's now called '60 day fiance.'"</p>

hannah ann sluss instagram joke bachelor dress

<p>ICYMI, Hannah Ann said on this season was that she names all of her dresses. And, apparently, those names can change when needed. </p>

<p>But that's not the only shade she's thrown like a certain Revolve wedding veil on a certain runway. (Remember that? Yeah... it's been a looooong season.) </p>

<p>In a new Instagram post, the 23-year-old model is wearing a brown leather jacket and holding a pair of matching pilot's goggles. "Flyin solo... no turbulence accepted. PERIOD." she captioned the photo. </p>

<p>In the comments, viewers were quick to leave messages of love and support for Hannah Ann, many of which she took time to thank them for.</p>

<p>"Love this! You are such a strong willed women and I absolutely support everything that you did and said. ," wrote one fan.</p>

<p>"You are such a boss!!! I love that you told peter to be a man!!! Heck ya girl!! #girlpower ," commented another. </p>

<p>So, it seems like Hannah Ann is handling this very public breakup better than most people would, IMHO. I have no choice but to Stannah Ann. </p>

Hannah Ann Made An Epic Joke About Finale Dress

'Bachelor' Star Hannah Ann Sluss Just Made The Best Joke About Her Final Rose Ceremony Dress

<p>One of the (many) things that is great about watching Dr. Pimple Popper, a.k.a. dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee, MD, do her thing is how much she obviously loves her job. Even when things are messy or stubborn or just won't come out, Dr. P is always living her best, most pop-tastic life. And the delight she gets from her work is more than evident in her latest video. </p>

<p>Titled "The Anime Cyst Removal," the Instagram video starts out zooming in on two cysts on the patient's back. Dr. P starts with the larger of the two, where viewers get a little bit of popping action before the video cuts to the second smaller cyst. She loosens the skin with a scalpel before starting to squeeze and is treated to a nice surprise. "Oh, that one's cute!" Dr. P exclaims in the video. "He's like a little alien that's coming out, like a little anemone or something!"</p>

<p>Using a pair of tweezers, Dr. P grabs the little ovular sack of cells that had accumulated beneath the skin's surface and is able to remove the whole thing in one pinch. </p>

<p>"Brand NEW anime cyst removal! " she captioned the video. </p>

<p>Even viewers who might be a little skeptical were converted by Dr. P's enthusiasm for the removal.</p>

<p>"Never heard as a cyst being described as 'cute'... but I get it and I'm going with it.." wrote one.</p>

<p>"Definitely very satisfying" wrote another.</p>

<p>Another satisfying removal by Dr. P, indeed.</p>

Dr. Pimple Popper Uncovers An 'Alien' Cyst In Her Latest Instagram Video

<p>As Chris Harrison and this season's promos have been promising all along, <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a31400304/bachelor-peter-weber-finale-memes/" id="dcd38a5b-054d-30da-a932-80bd86130537">  Peter Weber's stint as The Bachelor wrapped up </a> Tuesday night with the second half of <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a31401901/why-was-kelley-flanagan-at-bachelor-peter-weber-finale/" id="c72e83b4-c228-3408-a70f-71e1cfcb0068">  "the most dramatic finale ever." </a> It does seem like newly reunited Pilot Pete and Madison Prewett do actually love each other, but getting other people (*cough* <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a31399966/reality-steve-peter-weber-mom-barbara-instagram-dm-madison-prewett/" id="063a0a87-4195-3806-a8fd-ade8fa5f5be4">  Peter's mom Barbara </a> *cough*) on board with their relationship after that whole proposing to <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a30298969/hannah-ann-sluss-bachelor-peter-weber/" id="5205a027-a502-3236-a207-ef4d694d0cf9">  Hannah Ann Sluss </a> and breaking up with her thing might take a little longer than a four-hour finale.</p>

<p>Throughout the season, viewers kept being told that this ending would be unlike any other in Bachelor history, and, in at least one way, that would be accurate. Typically, after the dust settles from the Final Rose ceremony and the "After The Final Rose" special, the newly engaged couple (or still single star living his or her best life) are everywhere. </p>

<p>They typically start with a late-night TV appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, grace People magazine's cover and, of course, swing by Good Morning America the next day. That makes the total lack of appearances by Peter and/or Madi now that they're a public couple a bit, well, odd.</p>

<p>After her dramatic season and kicking Jed to the curb on "After The Final Rose," <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a28563972/hannah-brown-good-morning-america-jimmy-kimmel-tyler-cameron/" id="ddf32747-0eb8-3857-a550-109434735860">  Hannah Brown still went on GMA </a> the next morning and discussed how her journey made her stronger with Michael Strahan.</p>

<p>Compare that to this morning's GMA segment that only featured an interview with <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a31114537/chris-harrison-peter-weber-bachelor-producer-intimate-relationship/" id="4f4e82bd-f1bf-366f-a5ef-335985fe7b7d">  host Chris Harrison </a> , in which he discussed trying to referee the drama between Madi and Barb last night.</p>

<p>Besides a typical People cover story, the post-show coverage also usually includes saying hi to Jimmy Kimmel for his "After the After the After the Final Rose" segment. Check out Jimmy and Hannah B talking after the end of her season:</p>

<p>And peep this past Tuesday night's segment of Jimmy riffing on clips from the finale:</p>

<p>Now, not trying to dust up any Bachelor rumors here, but it looks like Peter was unavailable for the usual round of post-finale press! Considering all that went down Tuesday night, if Peter and Madi are looking to spend some one-on-one time out of the media spotlight, that would be 100-percent understandable. </p>

Peter And Madi Haven't Done Any Post-Finale Press

'Bachelor' Peter Weber And Madison Prewett Haven't Done Any Post-Finale Press

<p>Popaholics know <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31280701/dr-pimple-popper-sinister-cysts-blackheads-instagram-video/" id="9966a5ac-2cb0-38ea-a50d-875f00827121">  Dr. Pimple Popper </a> a.k.a. dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee, MD, always gives it to them straight. And by straight, I mean, doesn't leave out any of the oozy, poppin' goodness, and her latest Instagram video doesn't pull any puncheswell, except for maybe one.</p>

<p>In the video, Dr. P is first seen opening the small cyst with a <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a30917392/dr-pimple-popper-punch-biopsy-barnacle-neck-cysts-instagram-video/" id="74d1814e-c727-38cd-a9b6-25d0ffa33c80">  punch biopsy </a> , a tool she chose to use in this case because the blemish was smaller, she explained in the comments. "The method I use depends on how big the area is and how Ill be able to get the cleanest suture afterwards!" she wrote.</p>

<p>After opening the cyst, it's time for squeezing. First, a light yellow liquid oozes out of the cyst, followed by a thicker ribbon of gunk. It takes a little bit of maneuvering and adjusting, but Dr. P is able to remove most of what was beneath the surface. </p>

<p>"Hope you have a popping day! TAG someone whod want to start the day with a little pop action " she captioned the video.</p>

<p>In addition to tagging their friends (some of whom did not appreciate being tagged in the post), fans also commented their appreciation for the poppin' good video. </p>

<p>"Wow that was a juicy one!!! The more you squeezed the more came out .... you the queen of pop dr " one viewer wrote. </p>

<p>"it just keeps coming!" wrote another.</p>

<p>Like the ooze from the cyst in this video, may Dr. P's posts keep coming, too. </p>

Dr. Pimple Popper Punches Hole Through Cyst Before Popping It In Latest Video

<p>A bad blemish at the wrong time can make you feel like someone has put a curse on you, but you've likely never experienced the level of sinister spots that <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31136827/dr-pimple-popper-high-pressure-cyst-video/" id="d892837d-6a9b-3843-a4ff-0d4242aed968">  Dr. Pimple Popper </a> , a.k.a. dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee, M.D., dealt with over the weekend. You never know exactly what is lurking beneath the surface when Dr. P starts an extraction, and this rings especially true with her latest posts.</p>

<p>In one of the videos posted over the weekend, the camera zooms on in the blemish in question: a <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31265674/dr-pimple-popper-yellow-squirting-cyst-lipoma-instagram-video/" id="69eb55a4-3bdc-3617-abf3-1125cbc7daf4">  cyst </a> that is a so bright red it is almost glowing. The video then cuts to Dr. P working on the initial extraction. As she cuts away small pieces of the blemish, a chunky light yellow liquid immediately starts to ooze out. A title card over the video explains that the patient's immune system has been breaking down the cyst on its own, which is why it's so liquid already.</p>

<p>Dr. P takes a moment to dab the gunk away with a piece of gauze before switching to a pair of tweezers to remove a small piece of skin from under the surface, which Dr. P explains is a piece of the cyst that has already been broken down.</p>

<p>"A cyst apocalypse!" she captioned the video.</p>

<p>Fans, of course, were ready to cheer on Dr. P in the comments, even if it was the end of the world. </p>

<p>"*aPOPcalypse," one fan wrote to add a pun to the initial caption. </p>

<p>"Most people do yoga before bed to relax them me on the other hand (pop) I watch you @drpimplepopper thank you for making sure I have the sweetest dreams lol!" wrote another. </p>

<p>Next, Dr. P takes on a cyst with a small black dot at the center that almost makes the blemish look like an eye, which leads Dr. P to write "When a little cyst is watching you..." over the beginning of the video. But, after making a small initial cut with a scalpel, the little eye is no match for a couple of squeezes from Dr. P. Almost the entire cyst comes out in one sack, and Dr. P is able to remove it with a pair of tweezers and a couple snips of her surgery scissors. </p>

<p>"Dont give me the evil eye! " she captioned the video. </p>

<p>Her weekend posts were rounded out by a quick <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31159247/dr-pimple-popper-friday-blackhead-instagram-video/" id="b4c463ab-1e87-3176-a380-da4535d50ade">  blackhead extraction video </a> that Dr. P posted on Saturday. She uses a scalpel to loosen the larger of the two blackheads, which, as soon as the edges are free from the skin, comes rolling into Dr. P's waiting gauze. The other small blackhead is vanished with a swipe of Dr. P's trusty extractor.</p>

<p>"Rolling away from the weeks worries and into the weekend!" she captioned the video. </p>

<p>Here's to Dr. P keeping the rest of your week rolling and poppin'.</p>

Dr. Pimple Popper Removes A Couple Sinister Cysts And Blackheads In Latest Instagram Videos

<p>Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a28263196/how-did-teddi-mellencamp-lose-weight/" id="ba4c844f-4a67-3e40-a0b6-595bc50ecd30">  Teddi Mellencamp </a> and her husband Edwin Arroyave welcomed their new daughter, Dove, on February 25. But in between sharing photos of the oh so adorable newest member of their family, Teddi took to Instagram to offer a down-to-earth take on the less glamorous side of being a new mom.</p>

<p>The selfie shows Teddi standing in front of a mirror and wearing a black bra and black compression panties, proudly showing off her stomach. In the caption, titled "My Day 3 postpartum reality," the RHOBH cast member gives a detailed look at what her life the past three days has been like, including her joy at watching Edwin with their new daughter, her anxiety while she waits for her body's systems (yes, including her digestive) to be regular again, and her emotional ups and downs. She writes of her postpartum experience:</p>

<p>"It is doing your best to not compare your journey to anyone elses. It is overwhelming gratitude for each friend and family member who shows up without judgement, only to bring you love &amp; food. It is a constant roller coaster &amp; I wouldnt change it for the world. My baby girl is here and I love her more than words can say. We each have our own journey and this is mine."</p>

<p>Fans are loving her open and frank descriptions of new motherhood. </p>

<p>"Love this and love you so much sis. I still looked 8 months pregs day PP. So glad you shared this picture of your BEAUTIFUL body. (I honestly cant remember ever seeing a more gorgeous picture of you, and I mean that with all my heart). Love you guys!! " wrote Jamie Hess, founder of NYCFitFam.</p>

<p>"Beautiful! Look at the gift your body gave you! Women are miracle workers! Embrace all of yourself!" wrote another fan. </p>

<p>As Teddi pointed out in her caption, her son Cruz asked why her "stomach hasn't deflated." According to <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a27408786/meghan-markle-post-pregnancy-belly/" id="6deb41f4-6230-3b7a-a60d-a3c0fcacc171">  What to Expect </a> , it can take months for a woman's uterus, abdominal muscles and skin to decrease to its original size.</p>

<p>Kudos to Teddi for being totally candid about postpartum life. </p>

Emily Becker

Articles written by the author

14 Ways To Be More Positive, According to Psychologists

Who Were The Atlanta Child Murder Victims? Many Were Under 10 Years Old

What Does The Novel Coronavirus Have To Do With Snakes?

Wait, What Does The Novel Coronavirus Have To Do With Bats?

The New Coronavirus Is More Likely To Be Spread By Pre-Symptomatic People Than Experts Originally Thought

Does Hydrogen Peroxide Kill Germs, Viruses, And Bacteria? Experts Weigh In

'Bachelor' Star Hannah Ann Sluss Just Made The Best Joke About Her Final Rose Ceremony Dress

Dr. Pimple Popper Uncovers An 'Alien' Cyst In Her Latest Instagram Video

'Bachelor' Peter Weber And Madison Prewett Haven't Done Any Post-Finale Press

Dr. Pimple Popper Punches Hole Through Cyst Before Popping It In Latest Video

Dr. Pimple Popper Removes A Couple Sinister Cysts And Blackheads In Latest Instagram Videos

Teddi Mellencamp Posts Photo Of Her Body 3 Days Postpartum To Instagram

Did The 'Love Is Blind' Cast Get To Pick Out Their Own Engagement Rings?

Is 'Love Is Blind' Real Or Scripted? What Creator And Cast Says About Netflix's New Reality Show

Dr. Pimple Popper Tackles A High-Pressure Cyst In This #TBT Of One Of Her Greatest Videos

All The 'Love Is Blind' Filming And Wedding Locations, Explained

Selena Gomez Spent The Weekend Trying To Solve A Cold Case Murder In Chicago

Dr. Pimple Popper Pops A 'Medley' Of Blackheads And Milia In Her Latest Instagram Video

A 'Love Is Blind' Reunion Is Going Down On March 5, So Mark Your Calendar

Dr. Pimple Popper Removes Pilar Cyst Resembling Eyeball In New Instagram Video