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Dramatic video shows a woman confronting a harasser at the gym

That's how you do it.

via Chelsie Gleason/TikTok

Chelsie Gleason confronts a man who was harassing her.

In 2021, a video on TikTok posted by Chelsie Gleason garnered more than 12 million views because of the way she assertively told a man who who was harassing her to get away. Gleason was filming herself lifting weights when a man approached her attempting to strike up a conversation. She ignored him and was wearing earbuds, but the man didn't get the point.

"I was just trying to work out when this happens," a voiceover says in the video taken at a Crunch Fitness gym. "I've never met this guy and he's been harassing me for months." Finally, Gleason had enough and snapped at the man. "Don't come near me," she said confidently as she dropped her weights and took a step back. The man immediately turned and briskly walked away. You can tell she got her point across because he looked like he wanted to get out of there fast.

@_chesslee_

being a female is fun(:

Registered dietitian Carrie Taylor says that Gleason did the right thing by telling the man to stop while he was harassing her. She says that if you tell someone to stop harassing you at the gym and they persist, to immediately talk to the manager and threaten to call the police if swift action isn't taken.

She also says you should also get a restraining order if necessary. Do anything to stop the harassment because it could intensify. Gyms should also prominently post signs that warn people about sexual harassment so that these situations don't happen in the first place.

gym, man, harassment, workout, gym safetyMan at gym.Canva Photos

After the video went viral, Crunch Fitness announced it had found the man and banned him from its facilities.

"Our philosophy at Crunch is 'no judgments,' where we promote positive self-esteem and respect all races, cultures and nationalities in a fun atmosphere," a spokesperson for Crunch Fitness told Newsweek in 2021. "All of our gyms are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all members."

"He's been found and as been banned! Thank you @CrunchFitness," Gleason wrote in the comment section.

One person in the comments made an important point about why this type of harassment is so dangerous: "Imagine if a shyer girl is walking to her car at night and he's out there...he needs to be kicked out," they wrote. Who knows what the man's intentions were and whether he was grooming her for something truly terrible?

This isn't the first time Gleason has faced harassment in the gym. She's tweeted about it several times in the past. It's clear from the video that she's hit a breaking point.

Four years on from the incident, Gleason keeps the video pinned at the top of her TikTok page. Unfortunately, this is necessary to keep raising awareness about unsafe situations for women at gyms and showing women how to handle themselves when these situations happen. A quick search on TikTok will return numerous videos of women in similar situations to Gleason confronting creepy men at the gym. Various publications have also written about women facing harassment at their gyms over the years, from feature writer Sirin Kale's 2020 piece about sexism, stalking, and surveillance in The Guardian, to the BBC 2023 feature, "The TikTok trends calling out gym harassment against women."

Earlier this year, WellHub published a survey they'd taken of over 150 women in the U.S. regarding their experience with in-gym harassment. Other publications such as The New York Post, have published pieces about what women have to face while working out, aptly calling it misogyny.

woman, gym, safety, workout, misogyny, harassmentWoman at the gym.Canva Photos

Gleason's brave decision to confront the man put an end to his creepy, threatening behavior in the moment. But the video may serve a greater purpose by showing women how to react to men who harass them. Further, it could also deter men from harassing women in the first place by showing them there are serious consequences for being a creep.

This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.

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Public Health

How often should you shower? Doctors weigh in and rock some people's worlds.

Once a day is not ideal.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska/Pexels

Doctors say a lot of us are showering more than we need to.

A few times in recent years, celebrities and social media influencers alike have made waves by sharing that they don't make their kids bathe every day. For some parents, that was totally par for the course, but for others, letting a child go more than a day without bathing was seen as a travesty.

Doctors have made it clear that kids don't need to bathe daily, with some going so far as to recommend against it when they are young to protect kids' delicate skin. But what about grownups? Most of us don't take baths regularly as adults, but what's the ideal frequency for showering?

According to a YouGov poll of over 5,700 Americans, just over half of respondents said they shower daily and 11% said they shower twice or more per day. That means two out of three of us are showering at least once a day.

woman, showering, shower, daily shower, batheA woman in a shower cap.Canva Photos

But according to doctors and dermatologists, that's probably overkill for most people. Unless you're doing heavy labor, exercising vigorously, working outdoors or around toxins or otherwise getting excessively dirty or sweaty, a few showers per week is enough for healthy hygiene.

In fact, Robert H. Shmerling, MD of Harvard Health says too frequent showering could actually have some negative effects on your health.

"Normal, healthy skin maintains a layer of oil and a balance of 'good' bacteria and other microorganisms," Dr. Shmerling writes. "Washing and scrubbing removes these, especially if the water is hot." He shares that removing that protective layer can make our skin dry, irritated or itchy, which can lead to damage that allows allergens and bacteria to cross the skin barrier. Additionally, our immune systems require exposure to microorganisms, dirt, and other environmental stimuli in order to create "immune memory," and if we wash them away too frequently, we might be inhibiting the effectiveness of our immune system.

dirt, immune system, environment, kids, baths, dirt don't hurtA healthy coat of dirt.Giphy

Dermatologists who spoke to Vogue had similar advice about shower frequency. Board-certified dermatologist Deanne Robinson, MD, FAAD told the magazine that you can skip showering for the day if you haven't engaged in rigorous activity. Mamina Turegano, a triple board-certified dermatologist, internist and dermatopathologist. agreed. "I think that showering three to four times a week is plenty for most people,” she said.

Of course, everyone is different and what is good for one person's skin isn't good for another's. Showering frequency and health also depend on what kinds of products you're using, what temperature of water you're using, and how long your shower is. There's a big difference between a quick pits-and-privates rinse-off and a long, hot everything shower.

While scorching yourself and steaming up the bathroom may feel luxurious and relaxing, especially if you've got sore muscles, dermatologists say it's not good for your skin. Hot showers are especially problematic for people with skin issues like eczema.

"Any skin condition characterized by a defective skin barrier can be worsened by a hot shower," board-certified New York City dermatologist Shari Marchbein told Allure. "[It] strips the skin of sebum, the healthy fats and oils necessary for skin health, and dehydrates the skin."

shower, shower temperature, hot shower, lukewarm shower, showeringMaybe cool it on the hot showers. Canva Photos.

In fact most dermatologists recommend keeping showers lukewarm. That sounds like torture, frankly, but who's going to argue with the experts?

A lot of people, actually. Modern humans are pretty particular about our shower preferences, and judging from the comments on cleanliness discussions, some folks are dead set on the idea that a daily shower is simply not negotiable. Even with the experts weighing in with their knowledge and science, a lot of people will continue to do what they do, advice be damned.

But at least the folks who've been judged harshly by the daily shower police have some official backup. As long as you're showering every couple of days, you're golden. As it turns out, there really is such a thing as being too clean.

This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.

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Public Health

After an epic, unhinged debate about boogers vs. earwax, real doctors set the record straight

Our bodies know what they're doing, people.

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A baby picks their nose. A woman swabs her ear.

In a world where so many of us disagree on everything—from politics to parenting to pizza toppings—one thing might just be the bridge that binds us: the belief that boogers are grosser than earwax. As with all topics, we can't say this definitively, as some obviously might disagree.

On Quora, someone posted the age-old question, "Why is picking my nose gross, but scratching my ear is not?"

In one helpful answer, a person writes in part, "I believe it’s because picking one’s nose is a form of elimination, the technical term learned in school biology class for the physical expulsion of waste products from the body. Hardly anyone wants to watch that, is my point, outside of certain specific contexts."

However, they add, "The poet Sylvia Plath, in her journal, wrote a wonderful and rapturous description of the pleasure of extracting a giant and complex booger from her nose. Scratching one’s ear, by contrast, is trivial, compared to the queasy spectacle of a truly dedicated nose-picker. At least, that’s my take on the matter."

Another commenter shockingly weighs in with what seems to be empirical evidence: "The actual reason is that boogers taste good, while earwax tastes terrible. That means you don’t have to dissuade kids from sticking their fingers into their ears, but you do have to teach them not to stick their fingers in their nose. The bad taste means people only scratch their ears because they actually itch, not because they enjoy eating the earwax."

There are countless threads/questions relating to the matter. Queries like, "Was picking your nose always considered gross and embarrassing?" and "Why is it okay to pick your ears as opposed to picking your nose?" One person pushes back: "Picking your nose is actually comparable to picking wax out of your ear. Both are gross."

Another person adds a little scientific context: "Frankly, it could be harmful to pick either your ears or your nose. Traumatizing the skin of the ear canal may lead to an infection called otitis externa, which can be painful and especially dangerous in diabetics. Picking your nose can cause inflammation and possibly infection of the hair follicles of the nasal vestibule. This is a problem because inflammation in this area can become a chronically painful nuisance. So… don’t pick either your nose OR your ear!"

nose picking, health, mucus, doctors, scienceA woman picks her nose. Giphy, GIF by MaggieRAPT

Let's turn to some experts for more insight. First, let's break down the distinction between snot (AKA mucus) and earwax. According to audiologists on the podcast Let's Dive In, snot and earwax serve a similar purpose. Pete Duncan says both are "a protective way of stopping bacteria, and other things you don’t want, helping move it out. It acts as a filter."

How are they different? On the YouTube channel Cosmos Science Magazine News, the distinction is explained (throwing in "eye goop" for good measure). Earwax, they share, is "a goopy yellow secretion called cerumen [that] protects the skin and lubricates the ear." Snot, however, is a "watery secretion high in protein and protective enzymes." Also, mucus "catches dust particles and microorganisms before they can enter the body."

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Could protein be the answer? Some might assume it answers the contentious question of why people are even drawn to picking their nose in the first place. Sadly, in Business Insider,, they emphatically state, "Sorry to say, there's zero scientific evidence to support any health benefits from eating your boogers."

Lauren Gelman', a writer for The Healthy, a Reader's Digest Brand, writes in her piece, "Guess Which of These Gross Habits Are Really Healthy," that doctors conclude, "Earwax is healthy and necessary; it protects your ears and has antibacterial properties, and too little earwax can leave your ears dry and itchy, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology." (She urges people to throw out their Q-tips.)

q-tip, health, earwax, doctors, gross habitsA lady uses a q-tip in her ear.Giphy GIF by James Curran

But when it comes to snot, while it also serves a purpose, she says the jury is still out in terms of "eating it." "It’s high on the ick factor, but a Canadian professor of biochemistry has wondered whether his young daughters’ habits of picking their nose and eating what comes out could be good for them." She cites a professor who "posits that consuming your boogers can prime your immune system to detect germs." Though, she clarifies, "Vanderbilt University infectious disease specialist William Schaffner, MD, told ABC News that 'it’s not likely that eating boogers would offer much additional immune system support, because people already unconsciously swallow nasal mucus.'"

At the end of the day, what's considered "gross" is pretty subjective. But experts do agree: picking at any part of your body does more harm than good, no matter how delicious some might find it.

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Communications expert shares the number one small talk mistake people make and how to fix it

It happens at the start of a lot of conversations.

via Canva/Photos

A group of friends having a chat.

Many people don’t like making small talk. They either believe it’s beneath them to talk about mundane subjects or don’t see the benefit of discussing the weather, sports, or television with people they hardly know. However, these folks are missing a very valuable form of interaction that can help them with their love lives, friendships, and careers. They also remove themselves from situations where they can elevate small talk to something more valuable and meaningful.

Jefferson Fisher, a Texas board-certified personal injury attorney and law firm owner of Fisher Firm, has become massively popular on Instagram, with nearly 6 million followers, for sharing communication tips “to help people argue less and talk more.” While promoting his new book, The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More, he shared the number one problem people have while making small talk.

What's the number one mistake people make during small talk?

"They unknowingly turn the conversation back to themselves too quickly," Fisher tells Parade. "It’s a natural impulse—we want to relate, to show we understand. But what often happens is that we hijack the conversation."

conversation, heart-to-heart, talking, girls talking, school conversation, Two girls having a heart-to-heart.via Canva/Photos

"For example, someone says, 'I just got back from a trip to Italy,' and instead of asking about their experience, we jump in with, 'Oh, I’ve been to Italy several times, it’s great.' It’s well-meaning, but it can come across as dismissive,” Fisher said. You may not be intending to make the other person feel unimportant, but they just got back from the trip of a lifetime, and you stole their thunder by making it about yourself. It can be tough to hold back in a situation like that, because you’re excited to talk all about your wonderful experience. But if you have a little self-control and ask them a few more questions about their trip, you’ll make a much stronger first impression.

“Instead, focus on them. Ask open-ended questions like, 'That’s wonderful, what was your favorite part?'” the lawyer continued. “Small talk isn’t about impressing people, it’s about making them feel seen and heard."


Fisher’s advice echoes that of the great Dale Carnegie, author of the 1936 classicHow to Win Friends and Influence People. In the book, Carnegie says, “To be interesting, be interested.” Carnegie’s advice is counterintuitive because we are taught to believe that being likable means dominating conversations and entertaining the other person. However, Carnegie thinks that people who are generous listeners and willing to serve the other person tend to make a better first impression.

How to be more likable.

Researchers at Harvard found out that when you ask someone a question, people will like you more if, after they answer, you ask them two more follow-up questions. So, if you ask, “Where did you go last summer?” And they reply, Italy, you can follow that up with two questions about their favorite city and the restaurant they’ll never forget. Then, you can tell them that you’ve been there, too.

conversation, parties, small talk, cocktail parties, rooftop party, A rooftop party.via Canva/Photos

“We identify a robust and consistent relationship between question-asking and liking,” the study's authors write. “People who ask more questions, particularly follow-up questions, are better liked by their conversation partners.”

People will take a shine to you after you ask a few questions because it shows that you are listening and interested in what they say. “Follow-up questions are an easy and effective way to keep the conversation going and show that the asker has paid attention to what their partner has said,” the researchers write.

While at first, it may take a little practice to ask follow-up questions instead of turning the conversation to your experiences and opinions, it should take some pressure off the need to be interesting. Now, instead of trying to wow people with your stories, all you have to do is listen to theirs, and they’ll like you all the more for it.

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