This easy fitness tracker hack will make sure you’re actually getting *all* those steps in
How can I count my steps with more accuracy, because my device isn't doing its very expensive job? It might just involve switching the wrist you wear it on.
This easy fitness tracker hack will make sure you’re actually getting *all* those steps in
How can I count my steps with more accuracy, because my device isn't doing its very expensive job? It might just involve switching the wrist you wear it on.
It’s easy to become thigh-crampingly fanatical about counting your steps. Despite the naysayers who claim there’s no science behind the 10,000-steps-a-day-for-health benchmark, there’s something satisfying about hitting that milestone. It’s like a shiny badge that says, “Even if I skipped SoulCycle today, I have proven to the universe that I did more than sit at my desk for nine hours and watch Buffy in bed for another four hours.” But what’s devastating is learning, like I did today, that your fitness tracking device—your sophisticated and expensive device—might not be giving you an accurate read on your step habits. Like, really, you had one job.
While wearable step counters, like your smartwatch or Fitbit, are more accurate than your garden variety iPhone app, slapping something on your wrist can capture weird gestures and mistake it for steps. Well, get this: One easy way to make step count more accurate is by switching your device to your non-dominant hand. Seriously!
So why does it matter which hand you use? Chances are that you’re using your dominant hand more often, whether it’s to write your daily to-do list, scramble through your purse for one particular lip balm, chop vegetables for a meal-prepped lunch that will live and die in your refrigerator… you know. But because fitness trackers are neurotic creatures, all that movement can be misinterpreted as steps, and that’s aggravating. You can’t do the mental math every time you pet a great dog in the park during your morning jog—who has the time for that? When you wear your step counter on your other wrist, however, falsified steps are less likely to show up in your end-of-day tally.
Now, as your dear, dear friend, it might be wise to remind you that while it feels right as a goal, the 10,000 step rule is sort of… arbitrary. In reality, 10,000 steps isn’t necessarily going to have a major impact on your metabolsim alone, if that’s what you’re going for. One small (like very, very smol) study suggests that 15,000 is the actual magic number.
On the upswing, hitting 10,000 steps isn’t necessary for you to be healthy. The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition suggests adults aim for 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous exercise per week in order to get “substantial health benefits.” That translates to something closer to 7,000 to 8,000 steps a day. Sounds way better than forcing yourself to forgo the work elevator to get a quick thou, doesn’t it?
Whatever your goals are, it’s comforting to know that a little more accuracy can come from the switch of a wrist.
If you’re actually *so over* the 10,000 steps rule, maybe it’s time to turn to the VO2 max metric. But keep in mind that adding this many more steps to your day might help you live longer.
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Want to stay strong, steady, and mobile for life? It’s time to stop thinking only about forward and backward movements and start training side to side.
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Lateral exercises boost your ability to move and stabilize in the frontal plane—a genuine game-changer for longevity. Developing this kind of strength helps prevent falls, improves balance, and keeps your joints healthy as you age (more on this later).
Whether you’re climbing stairs, getting in and out of a car, or just want to feel more confident in your body, adding lateral exercises to your routine can keep you moving with ease for years to come. Here’s your bulletproof guide.
How lateral exercises boost strength
Lateral strength is your ability to move side to side—think stepping sideways, lifting your arms, side-bending at the waist, or balancing on one leg, says certified strength coach Maggie Fazeli Fard.
These movements, known as frontal-plane motions, rely on small but crucial muscles like the gluteus medius (outer hip), adductors (inner thighs), and quadratus lumborum (a lower-back muscle that helps lift your hips).
Neglecting these muscles can lead to poor balance, lower-back pain, and even knee issues, says Fard.
Why does lateral strength matter for longevity?
Incorporating more lateral exercises into your routine isn’t just about moving better—it’s about aging better. Stronger lateral muscles improve balance, coordination, and lower-body stability, helping you stay active and independent as you age, says Fard.
Want to carry groceries, chase grandkids, or swing a golf club with ease? Here’s why lateral strength matters:
Balance: Falls are the leading cause of injury and death in seniors, with 1 in 4 older adults taking a spill every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Strong lateral muscles help keep you steady.
Coordination: As we age, our brain slows down, affecting movement and reaction time. Lateral exercises help keep coordination sharp and movement smooth.
Lower-body mobility: Weak lateral muscles lead to stiff joints and poor mobility. Since most workouts focus on forward-backward movement (like running and lunging), skipping lateral work can leave you prone to injuries, says Fard.
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6 Best Lateral Exercises
Lateral strength is essential for balance, mobility, and injury prevention. But Fard says it’s best to think of these lateral exercises as accessory moves—not the core of your routine.
Sprinkle these moves into your workouts a few times a week (they’re great for warm-ups, pairing with bigger lifts, or conditioning workouts), and you’ll move stronger, smoother, and pain-free in no time.
1. Figure Eights
This low-impact move improves balance, coordination, and control—a perfect warm-up or daily brain-body booster, Fard says.
How to do it:
1.
Stand on your right foot, lifting your left knee to hip height.
2.
Extend your right arm forward.
3.
Gently move your left foot and right hand in small figure eight patterns (think: a sideways “8”) concurrently.
4.
Do 20 reps, then switch sides.
2. Side-Traveling Ape
This primal “animal flow” exercise engages “your lateral system from head to toe,” says Fard. Do it in warm-ups or pair it with heavy lower-body lifts.
How to do it:
1.
Stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees bent.
2.
Keeping your back flat, lean forward to place your hands on the floor shoulder-width apart, with your left hand directly in front of your right foot.
3.
Press your hands into the floor and hop your feet to the right, landing softly with feet hip-width apart.
4.
Bring your hands to the starting position and repeat for six steps, then switch directions.
5.
Perform three sets.
3. Side Plank March
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This move strengthens your hips, inner thighs, lower back, and shoulders while improving overall balance and full-body lateral stability, says Fard.
How to do it:
1.
Lie on your left side with your feet right foot directly in front of your left and your left elbow under your left shoulder, forearm along the floor.
2.
Press through your left forearm and lift your body so that you're balancing on your left forearm.
3.
Keeping your hips lifted, bend your right knee toward your chest, then return to start. Bend your left knee toward your chest; return to start.
4.
Continue “marching” for 8 total reps, then switch sides and repeat.
4. Banded Lateral Walks
This exercise strengthens the small stabilizing muscles around the hips (which are key for lateral strength), says Fard. Control is key here—no bouncing.
How to do it:
1.
Place a resistance band around your ankles.
2.
Stand with your feet hip-width apart and clasp your hands in front of your chest.
3.
Bend your knees slightly, and step to the left.
4.
Bring your right foot back to hip-width slowly, resisting the band's pull.
5.
Repeat on the right side (returning to start); continue alternating for 10 reps per side.
5. Lateral Lunge
Stronger hips, knees, back? This move can help you achieve all three, targeting the outer hips and inner thighs for improved hip stability and lower-body control, says Fard. (Make it harder by holding a pair of dumbbells.)
How to do it:
1.
Stand with your feet at hip-width distance, toes facing forward. Clasp your hands in front of your chest.
2.
Shift your weight to the right and step to your right with your right foot.
3.
With a flat back, bend your right knee and shift your hips back, keeping your left leg straight.
4.
Keep your toes pointed forward on both feet.
5.
Press into your right heel to return to standing.
6.
Complete 8–10 reps, then switch sides and repeat. Do 2–3 total sets.
6. Lateral Step-up
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This lateral step-up variation strengthens the outer hips, inner thighs, and lower back, making it a great prehab move for injury prevention, says Fard.
How to do it:
1.
You’ll need a bench or box to complete this exercise.
2.
Stand next to your bench and place your left foot on the bench, so that your left knee is bent round 90 degrees.
3.
Keeping your torso upright, press your weight into your left foot and push through your quads and glutes to straighten your left leg and stand on top of the bench.
4.
Reverse the move, lowering your right foot to the floor with control. Step your left foot down to the floor next to your right.
5.
Complete 8–10 reps, then switch sides and repeat. Do 2–3 total sets.
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When you think of Scarlett Johansson, the epitome of a picture-perfect movie star probably comes to mind. Everything from her red-carpet confidence to her glowy complexion seems flawless, effortless, and yes, a *bit* unattainable.
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Well, about that glowy complexion... Just a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to interview Johansson at QVC's Master Beauty Class event, where she got candid about her skin. Turns out, she’s not as unrelatable as you’d think—she’s struggled with her complexion for much of her life. (Stars, they’re just like us.)
At just 12 years old, Johansson began dealing with acne—a journey that would last well into her 20s despite seeing countless dermatologists and trying every pimple-fighting product she could get her hands on. "At the time, the message was very much like, ‘If you have acne, you have dirty skin that needs to be cleaned,’" she says. "Back then, we didn't know anything about the skin barrier and the pH balance of your skin, and how important that was."
This lack of education created a vicious cycle for her: Harsh products dried out her skin, which only triggered more breakouts and irritation. It wasn’t until she decided to simplify her routine and switch to sensitive-skin products that she started to see a real difference. After spending a few months committed to this gentler approach, she watched her breakouts and irritation decrease for the first time in years—and she finally felt confident enough to skip foundation.
The experience completely shifted her outlook on skincare and inspired the creation of The Outset, the skincare brand she founded as a reflection of her own story and hard-earned philosophy. Each gentle, hydrating product in the collection is designed to support the skin barrier and keep things simple—exactly the kind of products she wished she'd had as a young adult.
I’m no stranger to the struggles of sensitive, acne-prone skin, so Johansson’s story hit close to home. Before we wrapped up our conversation, I had to ask one final question: Which product from The Outset do you find yourself reaching for the most? I assumed her answer would be one of the brand’s buzzy bestsellers, like the Collagen Prep Serum (which I swear by) or the viral Blue Clay Mask that hydrates while exfoliating.
To my surprise, her answer was neither: Johansson revealed that her most-loved product is the Barrier Rescue Balm, which has earned a permanent spot on her bedside table and in her purse.
The Barrier Rescue Balm was originally formulated as a lip balm, but it’s much more versatile than that. Johansson coats it on her cuticles, the ends of her hair, dry patches on her knees and elbows—and even swipes it on her cheeks as a subtle, hydrating highlighter.
It’s also become a family favorite. "The other day, my daughter—she's 10—asked, 'Can I have the balm from your bag? My lips are so chapped,'' Johansson says. "So I gave it to her, and then my brother used it, and then I used it. My brother was like, ‘I should be videotaping this, it's great content.’"
Packed with nourishing ingredients like rose hip oil, jojoba oil, marula oil, and The Outset’s signature botanical hyaluronic acid, the Barrier Rescue Balm is formulated to hydrate and protect the skin’s barrier, making it the ultimate multitasker for dryness and irritation. Whether it’s protecting against harsh weather (these days, Johansson uses it to shield her children’s cheeks from the bitter New York temps), soothing cracked lips, softening rough patches, or adding a natural glow, this balm does it all.
So yes, when it comes to daily struggles like irritated skin, even stars like Scarlett Johansson are just like you. And you can be just like her by putting The Outset’s Barrier Rescue Balm (plus other favorites like the Night Cream or Travel Set) on permanent rotation. Your skin will feel deeply moisturized, soothed, and ready for anything—red carpet or otherwise.
