| Search Weight Loss Topics: |
Posted: September 5, 2020 at 5:49 am
As the conversation around body positivity and body-shaming continues developing new layers with every new voice added to the conversation, we are growing in appreciation for Lizzos brand of body positivity and what it means to be body goals
From her hyper positive music to her out of this world can-do attitude, Lizzo is quickly changing what the world considers body goals. Here are three reasons we are completely on board with Lizzos version of body goals.
Health is wealth. In the culture of extreme dieting and get slim quick gimmicks, health is secondary to finally fitting into those jeans and getting bikini ready.
Lizzo, a proudly plus-sized artist has a tight workout routine and maintains a clean diet and she does it all to feel good. From her music to her social media presence, Lizzo maintains she has no intention of losing weight and is doing it all just for herself.
Loving the body she has, has become a signature for Lizzo and put her front and centre of the body positivity movement but Lizzo says her body is no gimmick and nothing to be brave about.
Loving myself was the result of answering two things: Do you want to live? Cause this is who youre gonna be for the rest of your life. Or are you gonna just have a life of emptiness, self-hatred and self-loathing? And I chose to live, so I had to accept myself, she wrote in her NBC News op-ed.
Sending a strong message to critics like biggest loser trainer Jillian Michaels, Lizzo shared a Tik-Tok video which stated in colourful language that health isnt always about what you look like.
Warning: Video contains strong language
Related: Lizzo claps back at body-shamers in explosive TikTok video
While Lizzos self-love and lifestyle might be of concern to some, concern for your health (whether it means losing weight or not) stems from self-love.
Lizzo has inspired many women to exercise no matter their size and eat well for their health and not short-lived weight loss.
Lizzo has recently gone vegan, while many expected her diet change to lead to drastic weight loss, it hasnt.
A plant-based diet doesnt automatically lead to weight loss, a calorie deficit diet does. Extremely restrictive diets may lead to rapid weight loss, but are rarely sustainable and could contribute to binge eating and other destructive eating habits.
A clean diet may not give you quick results but it can sustainably improve your health.
Related: Lizzo goes vegan during lockdown, shares her new healthy diet
Read the original:
Why you, me and Lizzo are totally #bodygoals - All4Women
Posted: September 5, 2020 at 5:49 am
Melanie Huneycutt and her husband Bradley were looking forward to welcoming a third child into their family last August when, at around 10 weeks pregnant, Melanie received news no mother ever wants to hear: she had suffered a miscarriage.
We thought that was one of the worst days we would ever have in our life, said Melanie, 28, a sixth grade math teacher at Albemarle Middle School.
But the couple, who reside in New London, put their trust and faith in God to help lead them through the grief and pain.
We trusted in God and prayed about it and knew that God would send us a blessing, though we didnt know what that blessing would be, she said.
They wouldnt have to wait long for their prayers to be answered.
Rainbow Baby
Roughly two months after suffering unimaginable heartbreak, the Huneycutts tragedy quickly gave way to pure joy when in October, Melanie discovered she was once again pregnant. They referred to the child as their rainbow baby the term often used to describe a child born to a family who had previously lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death.
Roughly 10 months after suffering the loss of one child, the family exuberantly welcomed the birth of another. On June 18, Kolbie Dawn Huneycutt, who weighed 8 pounds and was 21 inches in length, entered the world.
We are so thankful God has given us this sweet sweet blessing, Melanie posted on Facebook at the time, adding the hashtags #ourrainbow, #rainbowbaby and #rainbowafterthestorm.
Unlike most typical newborns, whos crying often prevents parents from getting much, if any, sleep, Melanie said Kolbie was different.
She was perfect, Melanie said, adding that she would sleep all night. She didnt do anything but smile and laughshe was eight weeks of pure joy.
The couples two older children Callie, whos almost 8, and Robbie, 6 were also elated at the birth of their sister, Melanie said. Both kids enjoyed holding their sister and she loved to be held. Bradley, whos 32 and works at Crook Motor Company, also enjoyed holding his daughter and playing her favorite song, The Blessing by Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes.
Pictures of Kolbie, often adorned with cute headbands, colorful outfits (especially llama-themed ones, which Melanie loved to dress her in) and a warm smile, quickly dominated Melanies Facebook. In one picture, Callie and Robbie, wearing Big Sis and Big Bro shirts, lovingly smile at their sister, who is asleep and snugly bundled in a wicker bassinet. In another, Kolbie, wrapped tightly in what appears to be a rainbow blanket, is lying on a bed surrounded by a garland.
Melanie said Kolbie was by all accounts a completely healthy baby, which is what makes what occurred two months after birth all the more unexpected.
The first day of school, on Aug. 17, started exactly as planned. Bradley changed Kolbies diaper and delivered her to the babysitter while Melanie headed to Albemarle Middle to welcome her new students. She was behind her desk pumping milk at around 8:15 a.m. when she received an urgent call from the babysitter.
Kolbie wasnt breathing.
Melanie immediately rushed to her car, called Bradley and they both raced to the babysitters house. The ambulance was already there when the Huneycutts arrived and first responders were performing CPR. The couple werent allowed to see Kolbie, so they stood outside the house and did the only thing they could they prayed.
After detecting a faint heartbeat, the first responders rushed Kolbie to the hospital with the Huneycutts trailing behind. Once at Atrium Health Stanly, Melanie was in a triage-type room as around 10 to 12 nurses performed CPR on Kolbie.
I didnt know if I wanted to see that, but Im so thankful that I did see that because I could see how hard they were working to save her life, Melanie said.
Melanie and Bradley were at the hospital for at least an hour when they were informed that despite the nurses and doctors best efforts, Kolbie had passed.
Even though that day is a blur and she has forgotten much of the specifics, she does remember sitting with Bradley for a long time, both still in shock, holding their child because we didnt want to leave.
The family has not yet received the autopsy report so they dont know the specifics behind Kolbies death. But there is one thing the Huneycutts know for sure: After going to sleep that morning, Kolbie woke up in heaven, Bradley said.
Her funeral was Aug. 21 at the Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care Chapel and she was buried the same day at Mattons Grove United Methodist Church in Gold Hill, according to her obituary. The Huneycutts decided that for Kolbies funeral, in lieu of flowers, they encouraged people to make donations to the Pregnancy Resource Center in Albemarle.
Finding Joy In Helping Another Mother
Even after Kolbies death, Melanie, out of simple routine, continued to pump milk for the next week and a half. She had already compiled an oversupply of milk for her daughter over the past two months, which she kept in the freezer. Melanie ultimately had 800 ounces of breastmilk she no longer needed.
Melanie was debating whether she wanted to donate her milk, when she happened upon the Facebook page Human Milk 4 Human Babies North Carolina, which is an informed milk sharing network where mothers can post specific milk requests.
She read through tons of requests from mothers across the state before quickly zeroing in on a woman named Tessa Davis. Though Davis, who lives in Carthage, was looking for breast milk donation for her daughter Dylann, who was born in July, what initially caught Melanies eye was the accompanying photo of a sleeping child wearing a llama outfit, which reminded her of Kolbie.
Though Melanie had gravitated towards Davis and her child, she still didnt know if she wanted to donate her milk. She prayed to God for discernment while continuing to think about Davis.
Once she got confirmation from God when he says move, you move, she said, Melanie contacted Davis on Facebook and the two began a conversation that culminated in Davis and Dylann coming to New London to meet Melanie and her family.
Davis, who has been on medication due to postpartum depression and therefore could not breastfeed Dylann, said she had tried several formulas, but her baby was upset with each of them.
She was nervous about meeting Melanie, and admits taking anxiety medication before driving to New London, because she wasnt sure how to act or what to say to a woman who had recently lost her child.
But those thoughts quickly dissipated once she met Melanie and realized how easy and natural it was to talk to her.
The two women talked for about an hour and a half, bonding over how each had ended up on the breastfeeding Facebook page and about their faith similarities. Davis grew up in an Assembly of God church while Melanie and her family are members of The Gathering in Albemarle.
Melanie Huneycutt with Tessa Davis and her one-month daughter Dylann last week.
For the first time in weeks, Melanie was able to hold a baby in her arms again, which she acknowledged brought up a mix of emotions.
It was hard, but it was nice to have that weight in my arms because I had missed that so much, she said.
Davis, 32, said she was especially touched when Dylann actually reached out and grabbed onto a necklace Melanie was wearing, which featured a picture of Kolbie.
It was kind of one baby reaching out to another baby thats not here anymore, Davis said of the moment.
Melanie Huneycutt holds Tessa Davis daughter Dylann.
She was so overcome with emotions due to the encounter with Melanie that she started crying once she got into her car. The 800 ounces of breastmilk, Davis said, have filled up her deep freezer and should last at least two months.
For Davis, the milk means more than merely feeding her child. Melanies donation has also helped to alleviate some of her mental health problems.
I cant even say thank you enough, she said.
Even through tragedy, the Huneycutts were thrilled that they were able to glorify God by donating Melanies breastmilk to Davis and by doing so, they were also able to keep Kolbies memory alive. The two women have exchanged numbers and plan to continue their friendship.
After the visit, Melanie posted on Facebook: My arms are still empty as is my heart, but it gave me joy knowing that because of Kolbie I was able to provide something to someone in need.
Any time you can help somebody else out, thats what were here for, Bradley said. Thats the standard to help other people in need.
Uplifted By The Community
Over the past few weeks after losing Kolbie, the Huneycutts have felt the love and support not just from the community, but from people in other cities in the state and beyond who have reached out after hearing their story.
The support from the community through all this has been overwhelming, Bradley said, adding that people from other states have sent cards and other gifts to the family. It has helped out a ton to know how many people care.
One of Melanies good friends, Mary Margaret Wysocki, who owns Make it Personal, a screen print and embroidery shop in Albemarle, has been selling shirts with the word Mama on the front of them. Melanie modeled the shirt for her when she was pregnant with Kolbie to post on Wysockis website. All proceeds from the shirts have gone to the Pregnancy Resource Center.
The community really showed out in purchasing these shirts in memory of Kolbie, Wysocki said, adding that she has sold 520 shirts and has raised about $9,300 for the Pregnancy Resource Center. People really have supported them through the fundraiser.
The Huneycutts faith, even in the face of such terrible grief, is what has really stood out to her, Wysocki said.
Even people Melanie has never met have gone to great lengths to comfort the family. A woman from the Sweetest Beginnings gift shop in Concord designed a rainbow and butterfly sticker with Kolbies name affixed to it while a woman from Virginia sent books to Melanie and her kids about dealing with loss.
From phone calls, texts and heartfelt Facebook comments to people sending cards, packages, donations and even a colorful weighted bear composed of a variety of burp clothes and blankets with the words Llama Love You Forever, the overwhelming love and support the family has received has meant so much to them. And its helped them to realize that, even in the midst of such great pain, they have a strong support system and they are not grieving by themselves.
The Huneycutts received a colorful weighted bear with the words Llama Love You Forever from their friend Audrey Carter.
We felt alone for the first couple of days (after Kolbies death), Bradley said, but the more you go through it and the more support you receiveyou realize that other peoples lives stopped that day, too.
The familys pastor told them during the funeral that the death of a child affects people so much because its out of order, Bradley said, because parents are not supposed to bury their children.
The family has set up a small memorial inside the house with several pictures of Kolbie. Theyve also talked to others who have lost loved ones whove told them you never get past it, you just live through it.
Melanie has been out of school since Aug. 17 and doesnt plan to go back for at least another week as she continues to process what has happened and spend time with her family. She said the school system and the faculty at Albemarle Middle have been incredibly supportive of her during this tough time. But she still misses her students and calls teaching in a classroom her heart and her happy place.
Reflecting on Kolbie, we know that she knew nothing but love, Melanie said, and were thankful for that.
And Kolbie loved many things in her short life, according to Melanie, including her brother and sister, being held, smiling, her silky blanket, her butterfly mobile and spending time on Lake Tillery.
For some people, it takes 80 years to have an impact on others, Melanie said, but for Kolbie, it took her 8 weeks. She had a humongous impact.
Chris Miller has been with the SNAP since January 2019. He is a graduate of NC State and received his Master's in Journalism from the University of Maryland. He previously wrote for the Capital News Service in Annapolis, where many of his stories on immigration and culture were published in national papers via the AP wire.
More:
After suffering great loss, family helps another - The Stanly News & Press - Stanly News & Press
Posted: September 5, 2020 at 5:49 am
For the last two seasons, we've watched a second-year quarterback take the league by storm en route to an easy MVP win. Patrick Mahomes earned the award in 2018 before his top-seeded Chiefs fell short of the Super Bowl by losing to the Patriots. Lamar Jackson was named unanimous MVP last year but couldn't break through in the playoffs as his top-seeded Ravens lost to the Titans.
Will the pattern of AFC quarterbacks earning MVP honors then losing in the playoffs continue? Or could the second-year breakthrough quarterback scenario play itself out again with Cardinals signal-caller Kyler Murray? Our staffers dug through the 2020 NFL MVP odds over at William Hill Sportsbook, and somewhat surprisingly, no one cast their lot with Murray at 20-to-1. No one went with Mahomes as the favorite either, and only one person backed Jackson to repeat.
So who did we pick? The most popular selection is a franchise quarterback forced to play this season on the franchise tag, as five of us are backing Cowboys star Dak Prescott. "The one thing about Dak is that despite playing in the Cowboys' run-happy offense last season, he still finished with the second-most passing yards in the NFL and the fourth-most touchdown passes," writer John Breech said.
The next most popular pick for MVP is someone who shockingly has never earned even a single MVP vote in his career: Seahawks star Russell Wilson. "Russell Wilson has 100 TDs to just 23 INTs over the last three years, with the second-best QB rating in the NFL in that span, doing Herculean work often without that much help," NFL insider Jason La Canfora said. "And yet no MVP votes. Problem is, the word is out and the voters know it."
You can find all of our MVP best bets below, including two staffers grabbing a 66-to-1 longshot. Then, we share our one other award best bet on the board at William Hill, with multiple names earning a vote for Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Comebacker Player of the Year.
Here's the rundown on the staff members making these picks: NFL insider Jason La Canfora; senior writer Pete Prisco; Pick Six Podcast host Will Brinson; staff writers Cody Benjamin, John Breech, Jordan Dajani, Bryan DeArdo, Jared Dubin, Josh Edwards, Jeff Kerr, Tyler Sullivan, Chris Trapasso, Patrik Walker and Ryan Wilson; and editors Brett Anderson, Dan Schneier and R.J. White.
Patrick Mahomes +350 Lamar Jackson +600 Russell Wilson +800 Deshaun Watson +1400 Dak Prescott +1500 Tom Brady +1600 Drew Brees +1800 Kyler Murray +2000 Carson Wentz +2500 Aaron Rodgers +2500 Saquon Barkley +3000 Cam Newton +3000 Matt Ryan +3300 Jimmy Garoppolo +3300 Derrick Henry +4000 Christian McCaffrey +4000 Josh Allen +4000 Philip Rivers +5000 Jarrett Stidham +5000 Ben Roethlisberger +5000 Ezekiel Elliott +5000 Baker Mayfield +5000
Schneier: The Ravens have the fourth-easiest schedule, Marquise Brown is now fully healthy, they added a perfect fit for their run-blocking scheme in J.K. Dobbins, and Lamar Jackson is entering year two in this offensive system -- yes, he can be even more dominant in 2020.
Dajani: Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes got their MVP awards, it's about time Russell Wilson got his. He will be the most consistent quarterback this season, and finally get not just one MVP vote, but the most MVP votes.
DeArdo: Wilson was in the conversation to win MVP honors last season after throwing 31 touchdowns (against just five picks) and leading the Seahawks to an 11-5 record. Wilson should be able to have similar success in 2020, as long as Seattle can avoid the injury bug that prevented them from reaching greater heights in 2019.
La Canfora: Russell Wilson has 100 TDs (15 more than anyone else) to just 23 INTs (tied with Tom Brady with a 1.5 INT%) over the last three years, with the second-best QB rating in the NFL in that span, doing Herculean work often without that much help. And yet no MVP votes. Problem is, the word is out and the voters know it. Could Mahomes get hurt again? Is Lamar durable enough to do that all over again? Perhaps, but Wilson has some playmakers around him. His time is now, finally.
Wilson: Is there a player more important to their team than Russell Wilson? The Chiefs won games without Patrick Mahomes, the Steelers went 8-8 without Ben Roethlisberger but we can't imagine what the Seahawks offense would look like if Wilson was sidelined for any amount of time. When he's on, he can carry this team all the way to a division title and a deep playoff run.
Breech: After not getting a long-term deal done with the Cowboys, I think Dak will be playing with a chip on his shoulder the entire season, which is bad news for Jerry Jones, because he's going to get stuck paying him Patrick Mahomes type money after Dak wins MVP and leads the Cowboys to the Super Bowl. The one thing about Dak is that despite playing in the Cowboys' run-happy offense last season, he still finished with the second-most passing yards in the NFL and the fourth-most touchdown passes. He also plays for America's team, which is notable, because it almost automatically puts you in the MVP conversation as long as you finish above .500 and I absolutely think the Cowboys are going to finish above .500.
Dubin: I really do not like picking a player from my own favorite team for something like this, but I'm not actually picking Prescott to win MVP. I'm just saying he has good odds. I'll be picking Mahomes to win the actual award for the foreseeable future, but betting it at +350 seems like not enough payoff for the potential risk of something like last season's knee injury occurring.
Trapasso: With the weapons Prescott has in Dallas, the momentum -- see: his reputation -- he'll carry into this season and the Cowboys winning the division will lead to Prescott earning MVP honors, and he represents the fifth-best odds right now.
Walker: One reason the Cowboys look good to cause trouble in the NFC en route to Super Bowl LV is Dak Prescott, who is once again tasked with proving his worth in a contract year, but this time tethered to Mike McCarthy and an offense that looks even more dominant than the one he had a career-best season with in 2019. You can't cover everyone, and that's the Cowboys' mantra for 2020, as Prescott follows in the footsteps of Mahomes and Lamar Jackson in proving he's the next big thing in the NFL.
White: If you're asking me who the favorite is to win MVP, I'd have to take Patrick Mahomes, but I can't bet on anyone to win this award with odds as low as +350. Dak Prescott has the best receiver trio in the league and incentive to rack up stats as he tries to land a new contract, and he should only get better with Mike McCarthy taking over for Jason Garrett.
Benjamin: Old Man River wasn't the prettiest QB in his final Patriots season, but wouldn't it be prototypical Tom Brady to go out and win MVP, proving the doubters wrong once again? The best thing he has going for him is his supporting cast. Between Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, Leonard Fournette and a do-or-die coach in Bruce Arians, TB12 will be back in business.
Sullivan: The weapons around Tom Brady and the offense that Bruce Arians is constructing should result in him putting up some insane stat lines this season. The Bucs competing as one of the top teams in the NFC will also help his chances.
Edwards: Brees is customarily a bridesmaid but never a bride when it comes to the league's MVP honor. He has routinely finished runner-up to the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers. Voter fatigue is very real and it may require huge seasons from Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson to win again so soon. The upcoming season could very well mark the last for Brees and it would not be a surprise if voters wanted to do right by him and send him off into the sunset with a shiny new trophy. It does not hurt that New Orleans should be good.
Prisco: I get Rodgers at +2500? That has to be a misprint. It isn't. The Packers went to the NFC Championship Game a year ago, and Rodgers threw 26 touchdown passes and four picks. Not great by his standards, but I think those numbers will be more like 33 touchdown passes and six picks this season. The Packers will also be good again. Oh, and it's +2500.
Kerr: Wentz threw for 4,000 yards with three players that were on the Eagles' practice squad earlier in the 2019 season to lead the team to the division title. Now he has Miles Sanders as his No.1 running back, a healthy DeSean Jackson, Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert and Jalen Reagor as his top pass-catching options. The NFL may see the 2017 version of Wentz this year.
Anderson: Stafford played exactly half the season in 2019 before getting injured and was on pace for 5,000 yards, 38 TDs and 10 INTs. He's got a cannon, and Darrell Bevell has him throwing downfield. A Stafford MVP depends on two things: health, and if the Lions can put up some Ws. At 66-to-1, it's worth a shot.
Brinson: I'm sort of all in on the Lions this year, which feels like it could potentially backfire! But look at Stafford's numbers from last season, his first under Darrell Bevell, and project them over 16 games. If the Lions can win 10 games and the NFC North with him going nuts, he will get legitimate consideration.
Anderson: Burrow's a very likely OROY if he stays healthy; the Bengals have some good receivers, while Tua Tagovailoa seems unlikely to start every game.
Breech:Just remember, Burrow's team doesn't have to be great for him to win this award. Kyler Murray won OROY last season on a five-win Cardinals team, so if Burrow can will the Bengals to at least six wins, I think he walks away with this award.
Schneier: Burrow seems like an easy OROY play given that he'll be starting all 16 games, the Bengals will have a much-improved supporting cast around him, and they'll be playing from behind often (which will pad his stats).
Trapasso: Did you see what Taylor did in the Big Ten over the past three seasons behind one of the better offensive lines in the conference? He does have Marlon Mack to contend with, but the Colts boast an elite blocking unit, and Taylor is a big, powerful, elusive and fast runner.
Wilson: Bills fourth-round rookie Gabriel Davis drew rave reviews from teammates during training camp, and while Offensive Rookie of the Year is usually reserved for running backs, if Davis can continue during the season what he started in August practices, he could quickly become a favorite target of Josh Allen.
Dubin: I think Queen is going to rack up a ton of tackles in Baltimore's defense, and if Chase Young ends the year with "merely" seven or eight sacks on what I expect to be a really bad Washington Football Team, that could swing enough votes in Queen's direction that he ends up with the hardware by virtue of excelling in the middle of one of the league's best defenses.
Walker: Patrick Queen couldn't find himself in a better situation than the one in Baltimore. They need him desperately, and his skill set is one that translates effectively to the professional ranks. He should run away with DROTY honors, even if it's a close race at the midway point.
White: The Ravens don't have any clear DPOY candidates, but there will be a push to give them some type of recognition if they play as well as they did on defense last year. I believe Patrick Queen will have a boatload of tackles in the middle of that defense, so if no one posts absurd sack or interception numbers as a rookie, he's a great value to land the DROY award.
La Canfora: Kinlaw was one of my favorite players in the draft. He joins a dominant defensive line and slides into a spot where DeForest Buckner shined. He can be a beast and rack up sacks in the interior with so many others you need to block. Great scheme fit. Yeah, defensive tackles tend to get overlooked, but don't sleep on this kid for that much value.
Benjamin: Watt is just as underrated as his Steelers entering 2020. He's already been dominant for more than a year, but something like 17-20 sacks seems well within reach.
Edwards: Watt was a strong candidate to win the award this past season but Pittsburgh struggled as a team. With Ben Roethlisberger back in the fold, the Steelers should be much improved. After watching Myles Garrett and Joey Bosa get massive contracts, Watt will be motivated to put himself in a similar situation next offseason on a team built to contend.
Kerr: Jones hasn't received the praise he deserves over the last few years, largely due to the Cardinals record and how poor their defense has actually been. The man deserves his due for leading the NFL with 60 sacks and finishing second to only Aaron Donald in quarterback hits (98) and tackles for loss (67) over the past four seasons. Jones finished with 19 sacks and led the league with eight forced fumbles on a defense that ended up dead last in yards allowed. What will he do with an improved defensive line and linebackers in 2020, a year which Arizona should have its best season since its NFC Championship Game appearance in 2015? More eyes will be on Jones, as the NFL world will get to see how good he really is.
Prisco: Miller had a down year by his standards with just 8.5 sacks. But he didn't have Bradley Chubb most of the year, and the offense wasn't as dynamic as it will be this year. The Broncos will score more points, which means more pass-rush chances for Miller. His odds are crazy at +2500 as well. Give me two veterans with those odds and I will take it every day.
DeArdo: Roethlisberger, who missed most of the 2019 season, says that he feels better than he has in over a decade after losing weight and undergoing elbow surgery last fall. Pittsburgh has also added several pieces to its offense in receiver Chase Claypool and tight end Eric Ebron.
Dajani: Alex Smith should absolutely be the favorite for this award. His leg injury almost cost him his life, yet he worked his way back and is taking snaps under center once again for Washington. I don't expect him to compete for the starting job, but even if he does, that will just help my case. It's incredible that he's back in the league.
Sullivan: Alex Smith not being the favorite to win Comeback Player of the Year at this point seems silly to me. The stage is set for him to lock up this award just by playing a single snap at some point this season.
Brinson: Williams didn't just come back from serious injury; he also came back from a literal WTF situation. He will be the best left tackle in the league this year, the 49ers will dominate and I get to keep my OL award prediction streak alive.
Posted: September 5, 2020 at 5:49 am
Jodie Wagner|Palm Beach Post
PALM BEACH GARDENS - A new business offeringlaser facials,tattoo removal and cellulite treatments has opened its doors at Alton Town Center.
VANA Laser Club, founded in2018 by Miami resident Nicole Stern,debuted last month at the360,203-square-foot retail complex on Donald Ross Road.
It joins a handful of new businesses that have opened recently at the center, including Swedish-American restaurant Waxin's,Bergman Jewelers, Selfie Salonbar and State Farm.
More: Altons latest opening: Weight loss program Profile by Sanford
More: New food blog showcases locally owned restaurants at Alton Town Center
"I think with our demographics, we had a huge opportunity up there," said Emily Pearlson, one of VANA's two corporate managers."There's nothing like it up there, and that shopping center is absolutely stunning. It's a great opportunity for both the company and the people of Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter."
Alton Town Centeris one of three VANAlocations in South Florida, and the first in Palm Beach County.
The other locations are in Miami Beach and Aventura, and a fourth location is expected to open in Delray Beach within the next few months, Pearlson said.
All four businesses arecompany-owned.
"We're a fairly new business, and we've tried to grow reasonably quickly," said Pearlson, who works closely with fellow VANA corporate manager Meredith Piper."Four locations in three years is pretty fast, especially during a pandemic."
VANALaser Club, located on the southeastern portion of the sprawling Alton Town Center complex next toLA Fitness, offers a variety ofaestheticlaser services performedby medical professionals.
Services include laser hair removal, Botox, injectables, vitamin B12 shots and cellulite treatments, among others.
Memberships are available for $65 a month, and includeaccess to competitive pricing on all aesthetic treatments. Long-term commitments are not required, and clients can cancel at any time, Pearlson said.
"We want everyone who's there to be therebecause they want to be there, not because they have a contract holding them hostage," Pearlson said."That's how much we believe in our product."
VANA's first two locations have performed well, Pearlson said, and the Palm Beach Gardens location also is attracting a loyal fan base despite restrictions put in place because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The business is following a strict set of guidelines in order to keep customers and employees safe, Pearlson said, including enhanced cleaning protocols, mask requirements and social distancing.
"People ... are cautious at first," Pearlson said. "They want to make sure that we're holding ourselves to a high standard of cleanliness and staff protection. They want to make sure we're clean and safe."
The pandemic has affected business at all three VANA locations, Pearlson said, but she expects things to pick up once seasonal residents return to South Florida this winter.
"A lot of people obviously fell off because of COVID, and all of our locations are seasonal," she said. "We're really going to see what we're dealing with more in the winter time, when the snowbirds come down."
@JRWagner5
See the original post:
'There's nothing like it up there': New aesthetic laser business opens at Alton Town Center in Gardens - Palm Beach Post
Posted: September 5, 2020 at 5:49 am
Not all face coverings are created equal. While face shields and masks with valves might score high on comfort, breathability, and making communication easier, they don't rank well when it comes to preventing the spread of viral particles.
A visualization study published in Physics of Fluids demonstrated this using a mannequin and an air pump meant to simulate the path of real-life coughs and sneezes.
"We've heard from all sorts of people in the general public, even medical doctors and other scientists as well, that this really helps convey what's happening in reality," lead author Siddartha Verma, assistant professor in the department of ocean and mechanical engineering at Florida Atlantic University, said.
Advertisement
Aerosols the technical term for smaller droplets that have a diameter of 5-10 microns or less are lighter, allowing them to move through the air more slowly and freely. As such, they are more likely to escape a face shield or a poorly-fitted mask.
The visualization also didn't address how effective face shields are at protecting the wearer. However, a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene in 2014 found that health care workers wearing face shields were only protected from 23% of aerosol inhalation.
More recently, the efficacy of face shields was called into question after a coronavirus outbreak at a hotel in Switzerland. The only people infected with the coronavirus were those who wore face shields without masks.
"If a person is sick and wearing one of these exhalation valve masks, then when they exhale, they let out the full breath through the vent," co-author Manhar Dhanak said. "That would potentially contain droplets of all sizes, particularly these aerosol-sized droplets which can then propagate into the room."
Dhanak said valved masks are not intended for medical use, but for people working in industrial settings where they may be at risk of breathing in chemicals. For the purpose of preventing the spread of disease, he said wearing a homemade fabric mask would be more effective than wearing an N95-rated mask with a vent.
"One thing to be mindful of is none of the masks that we tested were 100% effective," Verma said. "There's always some degree of leakage, which is why even when using masks it's important to be maintaining distance from others."
Verma and Dhanak acknowledged that, in certain situations, people may need to wear face shields. The shields may be more comfortable for outdoor exercise, and they allow people who are deaf or hard of hearing to read lips.
Go here to see the original:
These simulations show how face shields and valved masks allow clouds of respiratory droplets to escape - Business Insider India
Posted: September 5, 2020 at 5:49 am
This week, all eyes were on a pair of hard-fought Democratic primaries in Massachusetts. Sen. Ed Markey staved off a primary challenge from Joe Kennedy III, while the progressive mayor of Holyoke, Alex Morse, lost his bid to replaceRep. Richard Neal. Morse was dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct leveled at him by the Massachusetts College Democrats, which he was unable to shake off even after they were shown by The Intercept to be an unfounded smear campaign. Markey and Morse were both backed by the youth-led climate group Sunrise Movement. Sunrise leaders Evan Weber and Alex OKeefe join Ryan Grim to discuss the lessons of this week.
Ed Markey: The time to be timid is past. The age of incrementalism is over. Now is our moment to think big, to build big. This is what this election is all about.
[Musical interlude.]
Ryan Grim: Welcome to Deconstructed, Im Ryan Grim, filling in once again for Mehdi Hasan who this time, we promise will definitely be back soon, and hell tell you what hes been up to.
But before he does, were going to take a look at this weeks much-discussed Democratic primaries in Massachusetts, starting with Ed Markeys victory in the partys Senate primary.
Evan Weber: He really had our back in a really big way over the course of the past year, you know, so when we heard that he was facing a tough reelection fight, we knew that we had to take a stand.
Thats one of my guests today, Evan Weber, Political Director of the Sunrise Movement, the youth-led climate action movement that threw its weight behind the Markey campaign and ultimately helped him to a surprisingly comfortable victory over his challenger, Joe Kennedy III. Ill also speak to his colleague, Sunrises Creative Director Alex OKeefe. Well discuss the Markey win, but also the primary loss of another Sunrise-backed candidate, Alex Morse, who tried to unseat Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal in Massachusetts 1st district.
Today on the show: What can we learn from the Massachusetts primaries?
[Musical interlude.]
A year ago, Joe Kennedy III looked like a real threat to Ed Markey, the incumbent in the 2020 Massachusetts senate election. No Kennedy had ever lost an election in Massachusetts. Kennedy was in his late 30s, compared to the 74-year-old Markey, and he had a big advantage in the polls, especially with Black, rural, and lower-income voters. And yet
Newscaster: In the Massachusetts primary, Senator Ed Markey became the first person to ever defeat a member of the Kennedy family in that state.
Joe Kennedy III: I called Senator Markey to congratulate him and to pledge my support.
Newscaster: And when all the votes are found, this is gonna end up being something like a 10-point win for Ed Markey.
RG: So what went wrong? Kennedy, it turned out, was never able to give a convincing answer as to why he was running in the first place, given his platforms apparent similarity to Markeys. Oddly, that was the same unanswerable question that had bedeviled his great uncles presidential campaign in 1980.
Newscaster: Why do you want to be president?
Former Sen. Ted Kennedy: Well, Im were I to make the announcement to run, the reasons that I would run is because I have a great belief in this country that it is has more natural resources than any nation of the world.
RG: That rambling answer came before Ted Kennedy had even announced his run, and it was over before it had begun.
In 2020, his great nephews race turned at the end on the meaning of the Kennedy legacy, and, as well talk about later during our interview, it was Sunrise and Markey that baited Kennedy into a trap.
In the closing days, his campaign released an ad in which Markey inverted JFKs most famous adage, telling voters:
Ed Markey: With all due respect, its time to start asking what your country can do for you.
RG: An offronted Kennedy went on the attack, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime friend of the Kennedy family, jumped in the race to defend the clans honor.
It backfired. The public was not here to stand up for dynasties not even the Kennedys in Massachusetts.
But the biggest part of the story is the support Markey got from the Sunrise Movement and allied youth organizations. Sunrise is a climate action group, made famous when it and Justice Democrats, joined by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, occupied Pelosis office in 2018. Markey and Sunrise were able to harness an energy reminiscent of the Bernie Sanders campaign, mobilizing young voters and transforming Markey from an old, staid incumbent into a familiar, hip progressive grandpa fighting off a challenge from the establishment.
Even the Bernie Bro trope showed up in the race. In recent weeks, Kennedy resorted to accusations of cyberbullying by Markey supporters. Even that didnt seem to move many voters; Markey beat him by 11 points.
But there was another story going on in Western Massachusetts, in the 1st congressional district. There, Sunrise, and Justice Democrats, and others endorsed Alex Morse, the 31-year-old mayor of Holyoke, in his campaign to unseat congressman Richard Neal. That story played out very differently.
Polls showed Morse closing in on Neal just a few weeks before the election, but on August 7, as early voting was already underway, all hell broke loose.
Newscaster: The University of Massachusetts Democrats stating Morse had sexual relations with male students while he was teaching at UMass Amherst and he used his position for sexual gain.
RG: The allegations against Morse, who is gay, were vague, claiming that Morse had made students uncomfortable with sexual advances. But they didnt contain any specific or verifiable claims, or even victims. They were enough, however, to persuade groups like Sunrise to back away from Morses campaign.
Newscaster: Morse, speaking to Western Mass News, saying he believes this is a political hit job and says the Neal campaign is to blame.
RG: Then starting on August 12, The Intercept published a series of exposs that turned the story on its head:
Newscaster: The online publication The Intercept reported yesterday that the allegations against Mayor Morse may have direct ties to congressman Richard Neals campaign.
RG: We actually never proved a direct link to Neals campaign, but we did reveal a scheme by College Democrats, going back a year, to entrap Morse in order to generate sexual misconduct charges that could be used against him in the hopes of currying favor with Neal. Even the state partys leadership was involved.
Nationally, Morse was vindicated by what The New York Times called a cascade of head-spinning revelations. And those revelations were enough to get Sunrise and other groups back into the race behind Morse for the final stretch, but by then the damage was done.
Locally, that reference to The Intercepts reporting was fleeting and anomalous, as new outlets continued to treat the story as if it was real, with Neal saying the non-existent student victims should be heard, and Morse denying he did anything wrong.
An ad from Neals super PAC tarring Morse with the accusations continued to run locally through Election Day, even after they had apologized for it and said that it had aired accidentally.
Ad Host: Now, Alex Morse admits to sexual relationships with college students, even while he was a university lecturer.
RG: Neal, after benefitting from well over $5 million in spending, survived the challenge, 59 to 41.
[Musical interlude.]
RG: To talk more about Markeys win, Morses loss, and whats next, Im joined by Evan Weber and Alex OKeefe, two leaders of the Sunrise Movement.
Evan, thanks for being here.
EW: Great to be here. Thanks for having us, Ryan.
Alex, thanks for being here.
AOK: Yeah, thank you for inviting me.
So, how did you all settle on both the Ed Markey race and the Alex Morse race? Which one came first?
EW: Yeah. So in both cases, [laughs] it was a pretty, pretty easy decision. Ed Markey came first. We endorsed Ed Markey back in August of 2019, a month before Joe Kennedy even entered the race.
You know, we had worked closely with Ed Markey throughout the prior year, right after Sunrise Movement famously sat in Pelosis office and was joined by AOC. And Markey quickly reached out to AOC and Sunrise Movement to figure out how he could work with us to build a movement for a Green New Deal. And
RG: So it was that occupation that kind of got his attention?
EW: It was. Yeah. And, you know, AOC kind of took Congress by storm by joining our protest of Pelosis office and, you know, Ed Markey is a guy who had been working on climate change for several decades, you know, since the 80s, working on clean energy and climate change. And when he saw sort of the energy that AOC and our movement brought along to the issue, he knew that he needed to be a part of really standing alongside and channeling that, and helping to bring it along to the halls of Congress.
And so he came up with the idea to turn our sort of proposal for a committee into a bill, into the Green New Deal resolution, that could set forward this vision for transformation that we were talking about. We started working really closely together with him from there.
You know, so when we heard that he was facing a tough reelection fight, he had had our back in a really big way over the course of last year and we wanted to have his. He stuck his neck out for us and, you know, really went out on a limb with the Green New Deal. And then there were these rumors that Kennedy was getting in the race and we knew that we had to take a stand.
RG: And so, its one thing to kind of have somebodys back, but you guys ended up doing even more than that. Alex, you know, when did you realize that the Sunrise Movement support, and the kind of millennial-left support of Markey was going to be kind of the entire rationale for his reelection? And how did that translate into how you shape the campaign message?
AOK: Well, I tend to like underdogs. And I remember when we worked on the Charles Booker campaign, and I was in the campaign office as we were awaiting the results. And I was talking to some people on the left and people gave Markey no shot I mean, even some people within our movement just did not believe that Ed Markey could defeat Joe Kennedy.
And I really tend to like these underdogs and I tend to think: Okay, well then, if they really need our help, if theyre desperate, then theyre going to allow us to be very creative, and really have control.
[Laughs.]
AOK: Markeys star really began to rise on a meme level when he posted this iconic photo of him wearing Air Revolution sneakers outside his home in Malden. And this just kind of created a new persona for him that is almost inexplicable, similar to Bernie Sanders as this progressive grandpa that has been around the block for so long and is tough as nails and is not really going to allow anyone to tell them where to stand, his iconic political ad says that as well.
And they were working on building what he was calling a Markey-verse, with a lot of Sunrise Movement volunteers online. Because Markey made a decision that he was not going to canvass door to door, we thought we need to have a whole new style of digital organizing. So there became many meme accounts and offshoot, spin-off accounts of Shrek for Ed Markey, doggos for Ed Markey and all this stuff does not necessarily persuade voters by 20 percentage points and swing elections, but what they do is they give people hope that theres other people out there that believe Ed Markey can win. And thats really important for mobilizing our base to do phone calls, to donate money to Markey, and to eventually vote for him. So this larger Markey-verse grew out and created a character of Ed Markey that many people opted into, many people could see and recognize.
RG: Whats the reaction been from elected officials in the Democratic Party, you know, since last night? Are you sensing any change in their posture toward the Sunrise Movement? Because one of the arguments for getting behind Markey was this will show veteran politicians that if they come the right way, it doesnt matter, necessarily, what theyve done in the past that, you know, the millennial organizations are going to have their back. Have you seen anybody kind of putting out feelers?
EW: You know, I would say it started even before last night, and in the last couple of weeks, it was clear that Markey was gaining a lot of momentum, he was racking up tons of endorsements from progressive leaders and organizations and icons, and poll after poll showing him with strong, single-digit, even double-digit leads, which is what he ended up securing the win with.
You know, right after, right after Pelosis endorsement, which just, you know, totally backfired, the Markey campaign raised $400,000, immediately after that endorsement in comparison to Kennedys campaign raising just $100,000 off of it. We saw more and more progressives endorsing Markey as a result of that, sort of upset at Pelosis hypocrisy around the primary rules. And we even saw some establishment folks like Carolyn Maloney and Jerry Nadler, you know, chairs of committees, people in democratic leadership, that work with and have to work with Pelosi regularly, throw their weight behind Markey, bucking Pelosi
RG: Right and both of those survived primary challenges of their own in New York recently.
EW: They did. Carolyn Maloney, in particular, had a very unexpectedly close primary challenge and Jerry Nadler as well. And since AOCs election, theres been this sort of sea change in the way that New York politicians have been relating to the left, including [laughs] the leader of the Senate, Chuck Schumer. He did have Markeys back in this election, which is perhaps unsurprising. Hes an incumbent Democrat, but Schumer also reached out to Markeys team, I am told, very early this morning to congratulate him, to see what he can do to work more closely together.
I also heard that Markey got a call from Joe Biden very, very early on last night to congratulate him.
RG: Right, Schumer is kind of the most interesting of those, and also could be the most consequential. You know, if Democrats take the Senate in 2021, hell be Senate Majority Leader. And he wont be a kind of rank and file guy who, you know, can rack up a decent voting record, but say: I wish I could have done more. No, hell be in charge of the entire floor agenda; itll be significantly up to him the strength of the legislation that gets to a potential Joe Biden administration.
Do you have a sense that the call he made last night to Ed Markey has something to do with the fact that hes up in 2022, and is wondering if some of this energy could get behind him if he goes the right direction? And is it possible? Or is Wall Street Chuck too far gone for people like the Sunrise Movement?
AOK: I think its possible. Im optimistic in general. I mean, if you look at Ed Markeys record, theres a lot of blemishes on it, things that I never supported the Iraq War he voted for, the Biden crime bill. He has a record that looks a lot like Joe Bidens on paper, even though hes led on progressive issues like climate his entire career.
But what were trying to show is that we will not just attack you if you dont endorse the Green New Deal. But if you convert, if you join us, were not going to hold a grudge. We say at Sunrise: No permanent friends and no permanent enemies. So if you join us, not only are we going to like, not primary you, but were also going to support you in a way that only young people can.
The reason why people are afraid of the Green New Deal more than anything, because its all based on political economy, theyre afraid of attack ads about the Green New Deal. And so if you show them that we can produce better political ads than the other side can, like the Green New Deal-maker ad that we produced, we can reinvent your character and sell you to a whole new audience, then thats going to make you a lot more willing to support the Green New Deal.
And I think Ed Markeys transformation is best seen in that Road to a Green New Deal Tour that Evan was talking about. Before our first stop in Boston, Ed Markey had a line, Theyre giving these tax breaks to these oil companies, then they have the nerve to call what were doing socialism. And at that time, the dirty word around the Green New Deal is that it was a socialist wish list, right? It was a Trojan horse for socialism.
And so he would go on to say, even though the crowd was cheering at the word socialism, he would go on to say: Well, no, thats not what it is, though, folks!
[Laughs.]
AOK: And then by the end of the tour, having seen the transformation that we were sparking and the fervor we were sparking around the country, by the last DC stop with AOC and Bernie Sanders by his side, he said: They call it socialism. Well, you know what I say? Give us some of that socialism!
Yeah.
AOK: And Ed Markey, to his core, is a politician a politician I respect who will move with the movement, who will make very smart political calculations. Thats why we trust him as a dealmaker for the Green New Deal. And he saw that the momentum was with the young people, and hes one of the few, few, few if any other incumbents that dont just say, I love these young climate kids. It inspires me! But Ed Markey would bring a Black kid from the South, like me on the phone and ask for my advice and then follow it. He bet his career on the advice we gave to that last line in that dealmaker video, Its time to start asking what your country can do for you.
You know, he bet his political career luring the Kennedys into a fight a fight about the soul of neoliberalism and what it ended up being was a disastrous miscalculation for Joe Kennedy, because it showed the ruling class was so offended that you would even ask them for more. But you have to have so much trust in the next generation, and that trust is weaved into the Green New Deal.
RG: Now the only member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation that hasnt signed on to the Green New Deal was up for reelection too, Richie Neal.
Lets talk a little bit about the bad news from last night. You guys got behind Alex Morse, the Holyoke mayor, supporter of the Green New Deal. Why do you think he fell as short as he did? The returns are still coming in it; looks like hell lose by about 18 points.
EW: Yeah. So obviously I think were gonna have to take our time to analyze what exactly led to the unfortunate loss there last night. You know, we backed Alex Morse early this spring, after many, many efforts to pressure and push, Richie Neal to close the gap [laughs] on Massachusetts delegation supporters of the Green New Deal and you know, hes a guy whos taking money from fossil fuel companies and utilities and he didnt seem too interested.
So, here was this young guy, Alex Morse, who moved his city to 100 percent clean energy, reduced their emissions by a huge amount while mayor, and shut down the last remaining coal plant in Holyoke. You know, it was kind of a no-brainer there for us to get involved in this race.
Obviously, there was this sort of late-breaking scandal-non-scandal in the race that
RG: Yeah.
EW: pulled groups like ours out of the race for a critical week near the end where we were trying to evaluate what was going on and your reporting helped us understand and see clearly that there were some pretty bad intentions and corruption at the heart of these allegations and scandals that I think did bring a lot of national attention to his race in a way that was helpful and allowed us to do one of the things that we do well, which is, you know, put national progressive firepower on a race like this. But it also created this opening for Richie Neal and his allies to continue to spread misinformation and homophobic smears behind the scenes, through mailers, and digital ads, and TV ads that his disgusting super PAC aired, which obviously did seem to have some impact in the race, because polls showed that there were a lot of people still undecided, that Richie Neal was under 50 percent, which is historically bad as an incumbent, there was a real opportunity to close that gap. But it seemed like when those undecided folks were making their decisions, they went with Richie Neal, for some reason.
And so I do think that that had an impact. And, unfortunately, the local media did not do a good job of picking up on the great reporting that you did as the rest of the national progressive movement, and did cover the scandal [laughs], and the original breaking thing, but did not do as good of a job of covering the corruption of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
The way that this smear unfolded, do you think itll change the way that kind of progressive organizations respond to the next attack that is leveled personally against an insurgent or progressive candidate?
EW: I think it absolutely will. You know, Ill speak for the Sunrise Movement specifically: The way that those attacks played out was a big learning moment for us as a young organization. And weve been doing a lot of reflection, and are going to be doing more debriefing about how we can be better responsive to those kinds of attacks and smears going forward.
As our movement continues to grow power, like Alex talked about, more and more of those character attacks and smears are going to come our way. And we have to be ready to discern whats real and whats not, and, you know, have a default position of standing by our folks and doing our best to take claim seriously, but also make sure that were getting properly vetted evidence.
So whats next for Sunrise Movement on the electoral front?
I know that at The Intercept were watching the New Hampshire Governors primary, Andru Volinsky, kind of insurgent candidate there.
Were watching Jess Scarane, a candidate in Delaware whos challenging Chris Coons.
But what are you guys looking at? And where do you think youll put your energy between now and November? Or are you just going all general election?
AOK: I mean, as far as I know, we are going all general election. Weve done our part. We won in landslides across the country in a lot of these primaries. We reelected the Squad. We have someone, Mike Siegel, in Texas running to flip a Texas red seat for the Green New Deal, supported by labor unions, could really transform the entire political game in Texas, if that happens.
So were pivoting to the general election and using these really powerful champions that weve elected as our major protagonist in the story. Obviously, Joe Biden is not the protagonist that is going to mobilize young people to vote, and, unfortunately, he doesnt seem to have that much intent to mobilize our generation to vote. We believe its very important to defeat Donald Trump, and we want to use the Squad as really powerful motivators for our generation to see what comes after November.
We have to build that vision, the first hundred days of Joe Bidens presidency, and build a vision of how we can shut down society and actually force him to take certain concessions from the left. We also have really powerful leaders like Ed Markey, who are now going to be on the inside negotiating with other senators who are now afraid of us, who also now want our support.
So we are going into 2021, if Joe Biden is President, with a real position of power to make the political agenda for the Democratic Party.
RG: Well, congratulations on your win last night, and good luck going forward.
Evan Weber is political director for Sunrise Movement. Alex OKeefe is the creative director of the Sunrise Movement. Evan and Alex, thanks so much for joining us on Deconstructed.
EW: Thanks so much for having us, Ryan.
AOK: Yeah, Thanks for the invite. Its good to win!
Beats losing.
AOK: [Laughs.] Thats for sure.
Read more here:
Markey Won. Morse Lost. What Happens Next? - The Intercept
Posted: September 5, 2020 at 5:49 am
You dont wake up at 5 AM every morning or workout in the gym after work to get average results. You do it to get 100% out of every rep and run.Every hard-earned drop of sweat is an achievement but you can stretch the results to maximum by doing the smart workout.Here are some powerful strategies to get the most out of your workout.
The more hours you invest in your workout, the more results youll get is a popular belief but its also a myth. Doing a high-intensity workout for 30-40 minutes is good enough for a human body.
You get the best results in these few minutes. After that, youre just spending more energy and more hours in exchange for lesser results.
Its understandable that youre pumped up. You want to finish your reps while you have that energy but a smarter decision would be to do reps for 20 seconds and rest for 10 seconds. Repeat for 4 minutes and rest for 1. This strategy will provide you more cardiovascular and fat loss benefits.
If you are a beginner, it is wise to take it slow. Lets say youre cycling or running, try to build up your endurance for a few weeks, even a whole month if you need to. Get your body to a rate where you can talk without going out of breath.
Once you reach this level, step up the intensity to increase the effectiveness of your workout.
For the ones who are only doing cardio, your metabolism will go down making it difficult for you to lose weight. Do resistance training as well, where you do more exercises for muscle gain, will increase your metabolic rate.
Also, during resistance training, pay attention to your lifting technique. Most people contract muscles slowly and release quickly. But if the lifting happens slowly in both directions, your every move will be maximised. Keep a 5-second count while lifting and lowering.
Try to lean more towards free weights over machines once you have a hang of postures. Exercising with free weights like dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells show better hormonal responses as compared to machine-led exercises.
In the long run, exercise is no good if you hate it. Pick a form of cardio that you can enjoy like running, walking, swimming, badminton, biking, hiking, rowing etc. and look forward to it.
This will keep you and your body from getting bored resulting in better performance.
Protein helps your body in building back muscles after a workout. And for better fitness results, that process shouldnt stop. You can increase your protein intake through snacks, pre-workout drinks and meals or post-workout nutrition.After protein, pay attention to carbs in your diet. You may believe the notion that after eating carbs, youll have to run a marathon but that isnt true. Carbs are a primary source of energy for your body, so when you eat just the right amount of carbs, your body performs better.Another important point to remember is hydration. Dehydrated people lose lesser bodyweight as compared to the ones who are well hydrated.
Remember to take a good nights sleep. This helps in increasing your efficiency and makes way for long-term benefits.
While these suggestions have shown good results, it is always better to consult a professional trainer who can guide you through as per your bodys needs.
Let us know if there are any other techniques you have been using while working out.
Explore more.
Photo: YouTube (Main Image)
Read the rest here:
5 Simple Yet Powerful Ways To Get The Most Out Of A Workout - MensXP.com
Posted: September 5, 2020 at 5:49 am
Its pretty normal to feel full of energy for exercise some days, and as though you cant be bothered on other days.
For women, theres a physiological explanation behind this. While mens hormone levels do change over a lifetime, day-to-day they remain quite stable. Women, however, experience fluctuating levels of sex hormones daily.
Scientists havent yet worked out the complete picture when it comes to how the menstrual cycle affects exercise. But we know different phases of the menstrual cycle, due to the fluctuation of hormones, can affect metabolism and recovery from exercise, particularly for women participating in endurance activities.
Understanding the rise and fall of hormones during the menstrual cycle can allow women to adapt their exercise routines, and optimise their chances of succeeding with any training or weight loss goals they may have.
A womans cycle, which is generally 28 days, can be broken up into two main stages: the follicular and luteal phases.
The follicular phase days 1 to 14 starts on the first day of a womans period. During this phase, levels of oestrogen (the primary female sex hormone) progressively increase and progesterone (the other female sex hormone released from the ovaries, which stimulates the uterus to prepare for pregnancy) stays stable.
At this time, women are physiologically similar to men in their metabolism and recovery. Training will feel easier and you will recover more quickly than during the luteal phase, which well get to shortly.
Read more: Childhood, adolescence, pregnancy, menopause, 75+: how your diet should change with each stage of life
This ease of training and speed of recovery become more pronounced during the later part of the follicular phase.
Around day 12, levels of oestrogen and another type of hormone, the luteinising hormone, surge, triggering ovulation. Youre likely to experience an increase in energy and strength at this time, allowing you to put even more effort into your workouts.
So the follicular phase, particularly at the end, is the time to train hard: to incorporate new exercises and train at higher intensities. This is particularly relevant for women trying to lose weight.
The luteal phase represents the second half of a womans cycle.
During this phase progesterone levels peak, resulting in an increase in resting heart rate, and decreases in aerobic capacity and ability to tolerate heat. Exercise may feel like an uphill struggle and you will tire more quickly.
The body burns more fat during the luteal phase, as the peak in oestrogen and progesterone suppress gluconeogenesis (the making of sugar from protein and fat).
This increase in fat burning may seem like good news from a weight loss perspective, but it makes it harder for the body to access sugar. This means exercise will feel harder.
So during this phase, the focus should be on incorporating lower-intensity cardio and strength sessions, and active recovery sessions such as walking, yoga and stretching.
Read more: Period pain is impacting women at school, uni and work. Let's be open about it
Progesterone also breaks down muscle, so you wont enjoy the same gains from your workouts, and recovery is slower.
Finally, the hormonal changes during this phase result in a shift of fluid from your blood plasma to your cells, resulting in bloating or fluid retention. Coupled with pre-menstrual symptoms such as headaches and fatigue, exercise is likely to seem harder than usual, so its not a time to be smashing your goals.
At this time your metabolism peaks (an increase by 5-10% from the lowest point one week before ovulation), and so can your appetite. The best way to manage all of this is with exercise just of the low-intensity variety.
Eating carbohydrates and protein within a couple of hours of exercise also helps as it reduces your reliance on making glucose from other sources. This results in increased energy levels and quicker recovery.
You could try chopped fruit with 100% nut butter, some wholegrain bread with 100% fruit spread, or a serve of dairy, such as yoghurt.
And make sure to surround yourself with plenty of foods naturally high in sugar and fat such as fruit, avocado, nuts and seeds. These foods release the same pleasure response in the brain as the processed and packaged foods you might be craving.
It seems counter-intuitive, but when your period starts, you will start to feel normal again, as hormone levels return to baseline.
A well-planned food and exercise program will allow you to work with your cycle, not against it. This is worth thinking about even if you dont usually experience menstrual symptoms these hormonal changes are happening in your body regardless.
Start by tracking your menstrual cycle. Circle the first and last days of your period and count the days between the first days of two consecutive periods to determine cycle length. Or you might choose to use an app.
By recognising these phases of the menstrual cycle, women are better placed to deal with common pre-menstrual symptoms, and achieve their health, training and weight loss goals.
Read more: Four common myths about exercise and weight loss
Original post:
From energy levels to metabolism: understanding your menstrual cycle can be key to achieving exercise goals - The Conversation AU
Posted: September 2, 2020 at 6:52 pm
Ive written in many of my columns about time restricted eating and how fasting can be beneficial for improving your health and additionally in helping you lose weight.
Fasting is an ancient healing method that has been used for thousands of years. Although many people now practice time restricted eating and fasting with the goal of weight loss, some use fasting to improve their overall health. Its saddening but not surprising that according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research study only 12% of people are healthy, which means that 88% of people are metabolically unhealthy.
You can be identified as having metabolic syndrome if you have three or more markers above certain levels, such as if your waist measurement is over 40 inches for men or over 35 inches for women, or triglyceride blood levels over 150 mg/dl and HDL (high density lipoprotein) under 40 for men or 50 for women, or if you have fasting blood sugar levels over 100 mg/dl (5.6) or blood pressure above130/85. Practicing time-restricted eating and removing added sugars and ultra processed foods from your diet could be life saving.
Time restricted feeding, which most people know as intermittent fasting, can be practiced every day or a few days a week by just restricting your eating window to 6, 8, or 10 hours each day. If you restrict it to 10 hours each day then that means that for 14 hours each day you are not eating. And thats really not hard, if you just stop eating a few hours before you sleep and start eating a few hours after you wake up then youve already fasted for over 14 hours.
Of course, it is also important what you eat during this time. However, even if youre eating some moderately unhealthy foods you may still see benefits from intermittent fasting.
Practicing regular fasting can lead you to become metabolically flexible so you can heal your body and improve your health markers. Other specific benefits include lower blood sugar, improved or reversed diabetes, improved gut health, reducing the likelihood of chronic diseases, improved sleep, improved mood, improved cognitive function, and weight loss.
According to a study on metabolic flexibility and insulin resistance by NIH Metabolic flexibility is the capacity for the organism to adapt fuel oxidation to fuel availability. The more common concept of metabolic flexibility has been promulgated in the context of fuel selection in the transition from fasting to fed states, or fasting to insulin stimulation to explain insulin resistance. (metabolic syndrome)
If you are relatively healthy then you can start by trying a 14 hours fast, then you may gradually increase to maybe 16 or 18 hours fast a few times a week. Of course, if you are using medication you may need to ask your physician.
However, eating less often is something that anyone can practice. Most of us eat much too often without realizing it, and intermittent fasting can help us to be aware of how much and how many times we are actually consuming calories. If you try it and on that specific day it doesnt feel right then just stop and try it again when you are ready on another day. Remember, this is not just a temporary change, this is a practice for your health.
Resources:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5708991/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5866840/
sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181128115045.htm
unc.edu/posts/2018/11/28/only-12-percent-of-american-adults-are-metabolically-healthy-carolina-study-finds
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5513193/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2584808/
Ayda Ersoy is anutritionist (Dip.C.N., Dip.S.N.), master trainer (CPT ACE, NCSF, CanfitPro), registered yoga teacher, founder, Health Angel Nutrition, Fitness and Wellness, and founder, SMS (Stability, Mobility Strength) Intuitive Training System.
See more here:
Additional benefits for intermittent fasting - Thegardenisland.com
Posted: September 2, 2020 at 6:52 pm
Drink These 3 Things and Have Pounds
Well, I highly recommend for you to include the following 3 drinks listed below that will have you drop pounds of fat lightning fast!
First things first. Always remember that to Lightning Keto get fast results with losing weight, you have to remember the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle. Those principles are proper nutrition, getting plenty of sleep every night, drinking plenty of water daily, cardiovascular exercise, and weight resistance exercise. Now, to get extremely fast weight loss, I highly recommend the following 3 drinks to help drop those pounds lightning fast,Green Tea: Green tea has an abundance of health benefits...including boosting your metabolism. I recommend for you to drink 1-2 cups daily.
Always remember that to get fast results with losing
Apple Cider Vinegar can help with reducing hunger, increasing your metabolic rate, and several other health benefits! Only one thing though....you are DEFINITELY going to have to get used to the taste! I recommend for you to get ACV three times daily. Take 1 tablespoon and add it into 8 oz. of water.
Including those beverages above into your diet plan
Adding protein shakes into your daily diet will help in building, repairing, and maintaining lean muscle tissue. The more lean muscle tissue your body maintains and have...the more your body will automatically burn fat! I recommend for you to get 1/2 your body-weight in ounces each day.Including those beverages above into your diet plan, following those key basic principles that I talked about above, making sure that you naturally increase your metabolism as high as possible, and staying 100% consistent with your diet and fitness plan will most certainly help you get extremely fast weight loss!
Best Diet For Weight Loss
Are you getting a headache trying to find the best diet for weight loss...that actually works?! Well, take 60 quick seconds out of your day to read this article and see which diet is the most effective to easily and permanently drop lbs. lightning fast!
First things first. If you want to lose weight safe, easy, and fast, you have to stay natural. Therefore, please take my advice and avoid those "fad diets" (low calorie, low carb, low fat, etc.). Those programs SLOW DOWN your metabolism which causes REBOUND weight loss and STORED body fat!
https://supplementgear.com/lightning-keto/
See the article here:
Sep 3 | Drink These 3 Things and Have Pounds | Nyack, NY Patch - Patch.com
