When it comes to improving our physical fitness, the time you dont spend exercising (often known as recovery) is as important as the exercise and training you do.

Not only is recovery important for anyone who wants to build muscle mass, taking enough time to recover between training sessions is also important for avoiding overtraining a form of extreme fatigue where recovery can take weeks to years to occur.

Overtraining happens when theres an imbalance between the amount of exercise you do and the amount of recovery you have between sessions. It can cause an impaired immune response, altered hormonal activity and persistent fatigue (often lasting for more than four weeks). But some reports and comments online also suggest that overtraining might be a reason why some people are struggling to lose weight or may even be causing them to gain weight. This is unlikely to be the case heres why.

To lose weight, you must create whats known as a calorie deficit. This essentially just means burning more calories than youre taking in, and over a sustained period of time.

There are two ways to achieve a calorie deficit whether thats changing your diet so youre eating fewer calories than your body burns, or increasing the amount of exercise you do so youre burning more calories than youre taking in.

On this basis, it would seem realistic to expect that if someone is overtraining then theyd probably be burning more calories than theyre taking in leading to weight loss. But some people believe that because exercise stresses the body, overtraining would therefore cause long-term stress to the body subsequently leading to weight gain. This counterintuitive link normally involves a hormone called cortisol.

The hormone cortisol is usually released in response to stress such as from mental stress due to work or school. Cortisol is also released when we complete moderate or intense exercise stress. The body does this in order to help prepare for the stress it will experience so it tells the body to release some energy to help to complete whatever exercise were doing.

Increases in cortisol levels from exercise-related stress are typically short-lived and usually return to normal within an hour after exercise. Anyone who frequently trains at a high level will therefore repeatedly experience elevated cortisol levels due to exercise-related stress.

Overexposure to cortisol leads to an increase in the activation of a particular enzyme called lipoprotein lipase that exists in fat cells. This enzyme tells cells to increase their storage of fats and explains why excess stress can sometimes lead to an increase in fat in the abdomen area, face and chest. Excessive cortisol levels can also make it easier for fat tissue to regenerate cortisol in the fat tissue itself further increasing the activity of lipoprotein lipase and subsequent fat storage.

Theres some evidence that the group of glands that make cortisol (known as the HPA axis) are affected by overtraining. But much of this research shows that the response of cortisol to stress actually decreases during a period of overtraining.

Work from my own laboratory found that the cortisol response to a high-intensity, 30-minute cycle exercise stress test is lowered following a short period (11 days) of intensified exercise. This, alongside findings from other research, suggests that during periods of overtraining cortisol concentrations in our blood may actually be decreased in response to a stressful event such as exercise.

This may be a protective mechanism for the body when it is repeatedly exposed to increased cortisol levels. It means that its unlikely a period of overtraining will increase fat storage and weight gain.

Even if you exercise regularly, its really hard to know what your risk may be of overtraining. We do know that high-level athletes are more likely to suffer from overtraining due to their intense training demands, with studies showing between 30% and 60% of athletes experience overtraining. But research looking specifically at how often the average person experiences overtraining is scarce.

So why might people be experiencing a weight loss plateau even if theyre exercising often? While the hormone cortisol is linked with weight gain, its unlikely that the average person who exercises a few times a week is going to stress their body enough to cause the kind of significant and sustained cortisol spike needed to do this.

The reason people might be experiencing a weight loss plateau or even weight gain despite going to the gym a few times a week or even daily can be due to any number of factors. Excess stress in your day-to-day might be one cause, alongside poor diet, not being in a calorie deficit or even overestimating the number of calories youre burning in the gym.

If youve already succeeded in losing some weight but find that your progress has stalled, it may be worth calculating whether you now require fewer calories. Adding in some additional light activity everyday such as a lunchtime walk might also help you burn some additional calories without stressing your body.

While its unlikely that overtraining is preventing the average person from losing weight, its always important to schedule rest days into your exercise routine to avoid fatigue and allow your muscles to recover.

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Overtraining probably isnt behind your weight loss plateau heres why - The Conversation UK

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) A new Cleveland Clinic study shows bariatric surgery can be an effective treatment for advanced fatty liver disease.

The results were remarkable. For the progression of liver disease, to the progression of liver cancer, cirrhosis, liver transplantation or liver-related death, there was an 88% reduction in the patients that got bariatric surgery. That is an enormous reduction, said Steven Nissen, MD, cardiologist for Cleveland Clinic.

For those unfamiliar, advanced fatty liver disease, formally known as non-steatohepatitis (NASH), can develop as a result of obesity.

Dr. Nissen said their goal with this study was to see if bariatric surgery could help stop the progression of NASH. Researchers looked at nearly 1,160 patients with confirmed advanced fatty liver disease, who had a biopsy between 2004 and 2016, and were followed through March of 2021.

He said in addition to learning that bariatric surgery can help with advanced fatty liver disease, they also discovered that it was associated with a 70% lower risk of developing serious cardiovascular diseases.

To see the risk go down by such an enormous extent, that was surprising and it was surprising for both liver-related adverse outcomes and heart-related adverse outcomes.

They both showed a very, very large effect of surgery on how patients did, said Dr. Nissen.

Currently, there is no FDA approved medication to treat fatty liver disease.

However, Dr. Nissen said based on the evidence from their study, bariatric surgery could be an alternate treatment option.

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2 Your Health: Study finds weight loss surgery decreases risk of progression of liver disease, heart complications - WCBD News 2

When you need to slim down, it can feel tempting to exclusively focus on planning out meals and designing the perfect workout routine. While these factors can lead to weight loss success, anyone who really wants to shed some pounds also has to take a closer look at their drinking habits. Even if you eat right and constantly hit the gym, too many sodas or cocktails can spell disaster for your weight loss journey.

On paper, figuring out what drinking habits help you lose weight seems simple. But upon closer inspection, some patterns that seem harmless can have more of an impact than you think. In order to create healthier drinking habits for weight loss, we created a comprehensive list you can follow with help from a handful of nutrition experts.

While these drinking habits can help anyone reach their weight loss goals, you can always fine-tune your liquid intake with some help from the 11 Healthiest Drinks for Weight Loss for maximum results.

Everyone has heard that you need to drink enough water throughout the day, but in the right quantities, this beverage can also help promote weight loss.

"Water is the first choice when looking for something to drink and lose weight," says Brenda Peralta, RD and writer for FeastGood. "We are [around] 60% waterno wonder why we need that much to function properly. By drinking plenty of water, you make sure that everything runs smoothly. You have good bowel movements, and it helps your stomach feel full. Thus it makes you less hungry, which means you end up eating less. Clients that manage to drink half their body weight (in pounds) of water end up having better results."

"Staying adequately hydrated is essential in regulating your appetite," says Claudia Hleap MS, RD, LDN.

One study from theEuropean Journal of Nutritionshows that people who drank an adequate amount of water before a meal reduced their energy (i.e. calorie) intake for non-obese males. Another study from Annals of Family Medicine also stated that those with inadequate hydration typically have an elevated BMI or even are marked as obese.

The best way to make sure you're eating because you're actually hungry is to preemptively make sure you're staying hydrated throughout the day. Stick to non-caloric drinks to make sure you're getting enough fluid without contributing to caloric intake.

RELATED:Get even more healthy tips straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter!

"Another drink I typically recommend for weight loss is tea," says Peralta. "It really doesn't matter which one since they all have antioxidant properties, and they help you flavor the water without any calories. There is one I try my clients to drink more, and it's green tea. Several studies have shown that it increases your metabolism slightly, which means you burn more calories."

Here's6 Ways Drinking Green Tea Can Add Years to Your Life, According to Science.

Alcohol is known to contain empty calories (i.e. calories that do not provide nutritional value for the body), and these drinks can sneakily add up without you even realizing it.

"Research has shown that drinking too much alcohol is a bad idea when you want to lose weight," says Jay Cowin, NNCP, RNT, RNC, CHN, CSNA, and the ASYSTEM registered nutritionist and director of formulations. "Alcoholic drinks and liquors, in particular, can be very high in calories and often contain sugar, which we all know we should keep away from if we're trying to lose weight."

If you love unwinding with an occasional adult beverage, don't immediately assume you have to ditch this drink from your lifestyle.

"Drinking too much can damage your health so if you do choose to drink alcohol, try limiting yourself to only one glass per day," Cowin continues. "In fact, drinking less is probably the single most important thing to do for your health! It will reduce your risk of liver problems, heart disease, and certain cancers."

Make sure you choose the best alcohol for the occasion and drink within the limits. To know exactly how much alcohol to enjoy, here's The Exact Amount of Alcohol That Derails Weight Loss, New Study Says.

If you feel like having a drink, make sure you have some food in your system.

"It's usually a bad idea to drink on an empty stomach because it can exaggerate the effects of alcohol," says Cowin. "It can also lead you to eat more. If you're going out for dinner, have your first drink at least half an hour after your meal begins so that the food will absorb some of the alcohol and make you feel less intoxicated. For best results, try drinking sparkling water with lime instead."

"Alcoholic drinks mixed with soft drinks or fruit juice can be very high in sugar (and calories), so if possible stay away from these," says Cowin. "It's usually best to stick with soda water."

However, that doesn't mean you need to give up on cocktails or mixed drinks entirely. Feel free to use one of 11 Healthy, Low-Calorie Mixers for Every Kind of Cocktail that can keep your diet on track.

"For many reasons, those one [or] two glasses of wine pours up to around 120 to 125 calories a serving," says Dr. Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND and the host of Spot On!. "However, if your wine glass resembles the size of a stemmed water goblet, and you pour it half full of wine, you may be serving yourself a hefty glass of seven or more ounces or the equivalent to about 1.5 servings of vino. Now we are talking about 175 calories a glass. If you pour a second glass, you will be consuming about the same amount of calories of a mini meal."

Dr. Blake points out that a "750-milliliter bottle of wine is supposed to provide five 5-ounce servings. If you are getting only four servings after popping the cork, or less servings, it's time to get new wine glasses."

"To make matters worse, after drinking this much wine, your ability to keep to more manageable portion sizes at dinner and in the evening, may become anesthetized," he continues. "This will cause you to over-munch, adding even more excess calories to your day."

Dr. Blake recommends investing in smaller wine glasses or even swapping out your wine with a low-calorie beverage or seltzer. To make it interesting, you could add an ounce of juice and a mint leaf to your seltzer and make a low-calorie mocktail.

"You will be drinking less booze and less likely to over-munch in the evening," he says.

For even more drinking tips, read these next:

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Drinking Habits for Weight Loss That Experts Say Actually Work Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Sister Wives star Christine Brown, polygamist Kody Browns third wife, shocked fans when she announced she is leaving the plural marriage after 27 years. However, recent seasons of the TLC show subtly indicated she was unhappy in the relationship and no longer interested in her spiritual union with Kody.

As fans watched Christine and Kodys relationship wax and wane over the years, another thing thats evident is the mother of sixs impressive weight loss. Christine has been open about her journey. Heres how she got healthier.

The Brown familys reality show premiered in front of TLC viewers in 2010. The plural marriage of Kody and his four wives, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn, was intriguing to many, to say the least.

Christine is the third wife to marry Kody. She joined the family in 1994. Kody and Christine do not have a legal marriage as he could only be legally married to one wife, Meri, at the time. Christine and Kody considered their union a spiritual one. The couple shares six children between them. Between Kody and the four women, there are 18 children total.

Loyal fans of Sister Wives cant miss Christines impressive weight loss over the years. Fans assumed Christine was working to become healthier in order to impress Kody and save their strained marriage. While that theory did not age well, many viewers want to know how she lost weight.

Fans first met Christine when she was very pregnant with she and Kodys sixth child, Truely. Screen Rant explains that as a wife and mother of so many children, it was easy for Christine to put her needs on the back burner. Shes spent the majority of her life raising a family with little time to focus on her own needs.

Fans began noticing Christine shrinking through the 15 seasons of Sister Wives. But the talk blew up recently when she posted a pic of herself looking slim this past January. According to Distractify, Christine finally opened up on her Instagram after a few months.

She said, I eat for my blood type and work out. When asked where she learned about this program, Christine said, Just online. Ive read about it for years and I just did it. And I love it!She lists some benefits of her program as living longer, feeling more energetic, and weight loss.

While Christine did share that she eats for her blood type, the 49-year-old remained vague. She shies away from telling fans what to eat or not eat. Instead, she likes to show pictures of what snacks she currently enjoys, namely apple slices and almond butter.

On November 2, Christine announced she was calling it quits with her marriage to Kody Brown after 27 years together. Fans have known for quite some time that she was unhappy with the union.

She and Kody grew apart over the years. It was most evident last season, during the pandemic, as the duo struggled to agree on a treatment plan for their daughter, Ysabel, who suffers from severe scoliosis.

The couple is choosing to stay available and present in each others lives as they work together to raise their children and support the other sister wives and their children. Many of those kids consider Christine their aunt as she helped raise them since they were babies.

RELATED: Sister Wives: Christine Brown Confirms Split From Kody Brown Will Be Documented on the Show

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Christine Brown's Weight Loss: Here's What the 'Sister Wives' Star Has Shared About Her Journey - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

It's often called the most important meal of the day, and in some ways, breakfast does jumpstart your eating habits. If you begin with a sugar-filled frappuccino and a plate of maple syrup smothered pancakes, you'll probably have a hankering for sugar as the hours wear on. But, for those who are hoping to gain better control of their diets and drop weight, it's better to set smarter, more balanced breakfast habits first thing in the morning.

Here, we spoke with nutrition experts about the best habits for breakfast munchies. Then, be sure to sign up for our newsletter and receive even more healthy tips straight to your inbox!

Protein is important for a plethora of reasons, but in relation to weight loss, it ensures our stomachs feel fuller for longer. This, of course, means we won't be reaching for a snack immediately after finishing a meal.

In fact, protein is the leading macronutrient for satiation, meaning eating a protein-rich breakfast is an excellent way to begin your eating habits of the day, says Serena Poon, certified nutritionist and celebrity chef.

"Even the simple act of eating protein burns calories," says Poon. "Protein has a higher thermic effect than the other macronutrients, which means your body uses more energy digesting this macronutrient than fat or carbohydrates."

Breakfast foods rich in protein include eggs, chicken/turkey sausages, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese. Or start with one of these19 High Protein Breakfasts That Keep You Full!

Most people think they need to eat before working out in the morning. Yet for most of us, this is not true, according to Dr. Heather Moday, an author and an integrative functional medicine physician.

How come? We have plenty of stored glycogenfuel to get us through a moderate workout of 30 to 60 minutesfrom our dinner the night before.

"When we work out in a fasted state, we burn through this stored glycogen, so we are more likely to burn fat for fuel," she explains.

Of course, this doesn't mean you should push yourself to the max by running a half-marathon in the morning or lifting weights for 90 minutes. But if your preferred method of fitness is shorter or less intense, you'll be fine. Just make sure to replenish what you lose in your sweat session within 30 minutes of exercise, Dr. Moday adds.

"There is also an 'afterburn' effect to exercise in which your metabolic rate increases post-exercise for several hours, so you will actually burn more calories post-workout while you are fueling," she says.

When your alarm clock alerts you awake, do you immediately get excited about your morning cup of coffee? Java addiction is real, and while it's healthy to have in moderation, you also need water.

As Poon explains, our bodies are made of 60% water, and we need plenty of H20 to function correctly.

"Staying hydrated supports healthy digestion, which can lead to a healthy weight and belly appearance," she continues. "No matter how you look at it, drinking a lot of water can help you achieve your health goals."

Here'sHow to Make Sure You're Drinking Enough Water.

Most of us have been trained to eat breakfast as early as possible. However, when we are trying to lose weight, it could be worthwhile to delay our first meal of the day via a practice known as intermittent fasting.

Dr. Moday says this doesn't mean you skip brekkie altogether, instead, you aim to make sure you fasted overnight for at least 12 hours. Many people will push the 'fasting' window to 16 hours for a longer burn.

"The science behind this is that every time we eat, our insulin spikes in response to an increase in blood sugar," says Dr. Moday. "This tells our body that we have plenty of fuel on hand, so we don't need to tap into our fat stores. In fact, longer fasts of 13 to 16 hours can comfortably be attained over time as blood sugar regulation improves."

Mindful eating may feel like a random piece of advice, but remember, maintaining healthy habits emotionally is vital to continued weight loss success. Without tuning in to our bodies or being truthful about our feelings, we can't make lasting change. That's why Poon suggests taking a few moments to connect with your body while you're eating breakfast.

"Tuning into your body like this every day can help you develop the tools to listen to your body's natural signals, including signs of hunger, which sets up a strong foundation for healthy eating," she says.

Then, as you sit down to eat, give thanks for your food and chew slowly to really taste the flavors and experience the textures of each bite.

"Mindful eating has been shown to support the development of healthier eating habits that can lead to weight loss," she adds.

Here are the Ways Intuitive Eating Can Help You Lose Weight, Say Dietitians.

You may not immediately think of vegetables when you consider breakfast menus. However, these wonders from Mother Nature are full of antioxidants, phytonutrients, and most important, fiber, which makes us feel fuller faster.

"Fiber also supports balance in your gut microbiome, which can contribute to sustained weight loss," Poon says. "Vegetables can also contain nutrients that can decrease belly bloat, such as the potassium and magnesium found in leafy greens that can help your body balance sodium levels."

You can add greens and veggies to omelets or egg bakes, eat them raw, pile them on top of an avocado toast, or any other sneaky way to include them on your breakfast plate.

Switch up the spices and drinks you consume to give your metabolism a little kickstart in the morning. Poon recommends organic, fair trade green tea to improve fat-mass-reducing properties. And, if you find a way to add ginger into your smoothie or dash of cayenne, you'll see a boost, too.

"Drinking coffee with a dash of cinnamon might help moderate your blood sugar, which can lead to healthier eating patterns," she says. "Keep in mind though that a dash of spice is not going to lead to miraculous weight loss. These foods can simply add value to an overall regimen that includes a wholesome diet, regular exercise, and a healthy, balanced mindset."

For even more breakfast tips, read these next:

See more here:
Breakfast Habits That Help With Weight Loss, Say Experts Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

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Tom Holland said he lost nearly a quarter of his body weight for a role.

Holland achieved this weight loss by crash dieting and running 10 miles per day in a trash bag.

Other celebrities like Kim Kardashian have also used the trash bag trick to lose weight quickly.

Tom Holland said he wore a trash bag during runs to help him lose weight.

But the wardrobe choice would have only dehydrated him faster, according to an expert trainer.

The 24-year-old "Spider-Man" star told GQ he lost nearly a quarter of his body weight by crash dieting and running 10 miles per day while wearing a trash bag.

Wearing a trash bag while running is meant to induce greater amounts of sweat. It is a common trick used by wrestlers to make weight for meets, and other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, have been seen running with a trash bag on in the past as well.

However, celebrity trainer Mike Boyle said that while the daily running contributed heavily to his weight loss, the only thing the trash bag caused was him to lose water weight.

"He lost weight by running 10 miles per day, the trash bag is 100% irrelevant, except it contributed to his state of dehydration," Boyle told Insider. "There's no weight loss benefit to trying to make yourself sweat more."

Wearing a trash bag can manipulate the body's cooling process. The trash bag prevents the sweat from evaporating, signaling the body to keep producing sweat in the hopes of lowering your body temperature, and ultimately causing the body to sweat more than a workout in typical gym clothes.

Expending water from the body may induce a lighter weight in the moment to help wrestlers make weight for a certain match, or even temporarily reduce bloating or puffiness for a person for a day or two. However, it doesn't equate to long-term fat loss.

Story continues

The trash bag trick can even be dangerous since a person would be losing excessive amounts of water and electrolytes from sweating that much.

Dehydration can lead to fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and kidney damage, while losing too many electrolytes can lead to seizures.

By combining the dehydration from wearing the trash bag with crash dieting, Holland may have been dealing harmful blows to his energy levels.

Crash-dieting is when a person reduces the amount of food that they normally consume to minimal levels in order to achieve short-term weight loss. It can be effective at achieving that weight loss. But it also comes with potential side effects. It can drastically reduce the speed of your metabolism and lead to muscle breakdown, according to a study by the European Congress on Obesity.

Crash-dieting also means the body is not receiving all the minerals and vitamins it needs to maintain strong immune system, leaving someone more susceptible to illness and infection, according to WebMD.

Holland told GQ that his energy levels became very low and he felt burned out during the filming of "Cherry" earlier this year which can be a side effect of crash-dieting.

Read the original article on Insider

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Tom Holland ran 10 miles a day while wearing a trash bag to lose weight, but a trainer says it just caused him to lose water - Yahoo! Voices

video:Lead author Michelle Barrack and principal investigator Adam S. Tenforde discuss the first investigation into the prevalence of dietary supplement and sport food use in male and female middle school-aged runners. Researchers found that almost half the study participants used these products on two or more days a week during the prior year. Characteristics associated with supplement use included a prior bone stress injury, following a vegetarian diet and behaviors suggesting dietary restrictions such as losing weight and skipping meals. view more

Credit: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Philadelphia, November 17, 2021 The first investigation into the prevalence of dietary supplement and sport food use in male and female middle school-aged runners has found that almost half the study participants used these products on two or more days a week during the prior year. Characteristics associated with supplement use included a prior bone stress injury, following a vegetarian diet and behaviors suggesting dietary restrictions such as losing weight and skipping meals, researchers report in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The preadolescent years represent a crucial period of growth. While previous studies have examined the use of dietary supplements in high school and college athletes, intake among preadolescent athletes was unknown, explained lead author Michelle Barrack, PhD, RD, CSSD, FACSM, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA. It is important to evaluate this population due to the recognition of an elevated risk of low bone mineral density, bone stress injury, and inadequate intake of energy. Additionally, in some cases, dietary supplements have been associated with the development of adverse events in children and adolescents.

Data were gathered from 2,113 middle school-aged cross-country runners who completed a survey on dietary supplement use and related factors. Dietary supplements included vitamin/mineral and non-vitamin/mineral products; sport foods included energy bars, carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks, and protein bars or drinks. The survey covered demographic information, weight, height, sports participation history, weekly exercise training, running performance times, dietary patterns, menstrual function, history of a clinical eating disorder, and injury history. Respondents were asked to indicate the type and frequency of supplements and sports food consumption over the last year.

Among the middle school runners surveyed, 42.7% used either a dietary supplement or sport food on two or more days per week. Overall, 26.1% of runners reported using one or more dietary supplement, and 32.6% reported use of a sports food. Girls reported higher use of multivitamins/minerals, vitamin D, calcium, iron, probiotics, and diet pills. Boys reported higher use of creatine and sports food.

A higher proportion of runners with supplement use, compared to preadolescents with no supplement use, followed a vegetarian diet, were underweight, had one or more running-related injuries, met criteria for elevated dietary restraint, had a diagnosed eating disorder, or reported currently attempting to gain weight. Supplement use was reported by 51% of runners who skipped meals and 77% of runners with weight loss in the past year. The findings support associations between higher supplement use and factors consistent with lower food intake or energy deficiency.

To our knowledge, this is the first study to observe these associations in youth runners, said Dr. Barrack. Findings from the study draw attention to the need for teaching middle school runners following an omnivorous or vegetarian diet about the importance of eating adequate energy, while avoiding calorie restriction or skipping meals.

While supplements can aid in addressing nutrient inadequacies, limited regulation means that some products may contain harmful ingredients or promote adverse health effects. Preadolescent endurance runners should maximize energy and nutrient intake from foods and consume a level of energy that supports their exercise energy expenditure, added principal investigator Adam S. Tenforde, MD, FACSM, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Dietary supplementation should, ideally, be considered after a nutrition assessment and with consultation from a registered dietitian nutritionist.

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Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Data/statistical analysis

People

Dietary Supplement Intake and Factors Associated with Increased Use in Preadolescent Endurance Runners

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Prior weight loss, history of bone stress injury, and eating behaviors associated with dietary supplement use in preadolescent endurance runners -...

Billy Joel fans know that for decades, the legendary singer-songwriter has been in a "New York State of Mind"but as the Piano Man resumed his residency at Madison Square Garden last week, thousands also found him in a refreshed andhealthy state of mind. Here's what was behind Joel's recent 50-pound weight loss.

It was November 5 when Billy Joel, 72, stepped before a crowd at Madison Square Garden for the first time since February 2020 (in what was reportedly his 120th show in the history of his MSG career). As Men's Health has reported (via MSN), the audience cheered on the icon as he grinned from behind the piano. Part of his energy was likely thanks to the steps Joel took for his health at the start of this year.

Keep reading to learn how Joel has reflected on his health over the years, and don't missThe #1 Best Soup for a Flat Belly, Says Dietitian.

Men's Health referenced aRolling Stone interview from 2019 (the same year this photo with Tony Bennett was taken). In that interview, Billy Joel described himself as a "schlubby-looking guy," and said, "I see pictures of myself at the Garden recently, and I go, 'That don't look right.'"

Sign up for the Eat This, Not That! newsletterfor the latest health and weight loss news!

In 2010, the BBC reported that Joel had undergone a double-hip replacement to address a "congenital" condition.

Shortly after, in 2013, Joel shared further about this in aNew York Times interview when he mentioned he "was probably born with dysplasia."

He also confessed that four decades of intense performances may have taken a toll: "Way back in the early '70s, I used to do somersaults, flips off the piano. I would climb up cables and hang upside down, anything to get attention," he said.

RELATED:Everyday Habits That Are Wrecking Your Body, Say Experts

Taking his seat on the piano bench last Friday night at MSG, the singer shared a svelte and smiling lookbut, as he explained to Howard Stern in late October, it wasn't the product of a seamless weight loss journey. "I had back surgery early this year and the pain afterward was so bad I lost my appetite," Joel said.

RELATED:Studies Show These are Proven Ways to Reverse Aging

In any case, fans seemed thrilled that Billy Joel was back, evidently sounding as in-shape as ever.

As Instagram user @debbyhymowitz shared in her live video post from last Friday's show, Joel opened by announcing: "We're back at the Garden!"

The fan also said the singer performed "all the classics of places we know and love" and displayed "RESILIENCE. UNITY, JOY, ENERGY INSANE TALENT!"

We've got more of the latest news and expert wisdom to help you feel your best at any age. Keep reading:

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Billy Joel Reveals New Look After 50-Pound Weight Loss Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Throughout 2021, Good Housekeeping is exploring how we think about weight, the way we eat and how we try to control or change our bodies in our quest to be happier and healthier. While GH also publishes weight loss content and endeavors to do so in a responsible, science-backed way, we think its important to present a broad perspective that allows for a fuller understanding of the complex thinking about health and body weight. Our goal here is not to tell you how to think, eat, or live nor is to to pass judgment on how you choose to nourish your body but rather to start a conversation about diet culture, its impact and how we might challenge the messages we are given about what makes us attractive, successful and healthy.Content warning: Discussion of specific clothing sizes.

When I was planning my wedding, I put time and effort into choosing the venue, making the guest list and picking the flowers. One thing I didn't waste mental energy on? Losing weight before the big day.

That might not sound radical on the face of it, but so many women feel extra pressure to drop pounds before their wedding day. In fact, theres a whole phenomenon known as shedding for the wedding or sweating for the wedding, in which women put themselves through varying degrees of rigor to diet and exercise their way into a smaller gown. Ive even been down that road myself, at my first wedding in 2014. But my work since then as a body-acceptance advocate has given me the perspective I needed to embrace my body the second time around and free myself of the pre-wedding weight-loss stress that so many brides are subjected to.

I remember feeling really badly that I couldn't lose weight the first time I walked down the aisle, and it added to the stress of planning a wedding. But life carried on after we were married, and eventually I went through a divorce, launched a successful body-positive platform and happily, I hit it off with someone new that I could tell was a good match for me. That's how, in the lead-up to my second wedding in 2019, I found myself in a totally new headspace. This time around, I thought, What is this phenomenon that as soon as you get engaged and you make a commitment to someone, the second thought you have is, I'd better lose weight?

It's really weird when you sit down and think about it. Theres this idea that you have to start your marriage at your thinnest and most of the time, it has nothing to do with your spouse. It's really about this strange societal moment where it's understood that 1) you get the engagement ring; and then 2) you have to lose the weight. The two should have nothing to do with each other. You're in this exciting time and youve made this really big choice to give your whole self to someone and build a life together, but immediately you feel you have to change your body. Then you take all these photos at your wedding and you print them out and you put them up in your house.

But after the nuptials, most women gain back the pounds they shed. That may well mean that you look like a different person and for the rest of your life, and the pictures are there to remind you, Well, I'll never be as small as my wedding weight.

Going into this marriage, I realized that this concept didnt make sense, and no, actually my body did not need to change so that I could tie the knot. Ive seen so many of my friends do a lot of drastic things to get down to a certain size for their wedding. Instead of radiating positive, glowing energy, they show up tired, stressed, not as themselves and not really in a good mental spot because they haven't been eating properly for months.

COURTESY OF KATIE STURINO

Not only is there pressure from media, social media and sometimes even close family or friends to embark on this weight-loss journey, but its reinforced by the wedding industry. For starters, trying on dresses is a whole messed-up experience because you go in and they only have sample sizes (about 10 or 12 in bridal sizing the equivalent of 6 or 8 in streetwear), which are much smaller than the 16 or 18 in streetwear that research shows the average American woman wears. You can't really see how you're going to look in a particular gown style, which is not helpful.

Then, to top it off, the salesperson or the seamstress might say, Well you'll come in a couple of months before the special day for another fitting because you'll have lost weight. Those are real things that you hear from wedding professionals! And if you're a size 8 and they're implying that you have to lose weight, what will the saleswoman say if youre a size 18 like me?

The entire wedding experience for bigger women can be really upsetting.

I receive messages from women weekly who want wedding or bridesmaid dress recommendations because the entire wedding experience for bigger women can be really upsetting. For sure, the search for a dress is much different for plus-size women than for those who wear "standard" sizes. Bigger brides have to think less about what is my dream dress? and more about what's going to be available to me? In fact, some people don't even have traditional wedding celebrations because they're so scared to go shopping for a dress.

That brings us to the issue of thin privilege. Thinner people don't always understand that when you walk into any clothing store and you assume they're going to have your size, it's not a mindset plus-size women can share, especially when it comes to a big-stakes item like a wedding gown.

All of this takes away from a time in your life when you should be thrilled that you finally connected with this human that you want to spend your life with. You should be able to bask in all that love and energy and focus on treating yourself well, connecting with friends and family and generating a lot of happy feelings instead of generating a lot of feelings of restriction, fear and anger.

But it doesn't have to be this way no matter what size you wear. It's a matter of embracing who you are and marrying someone as you are now and not this version of yourself that you think you have to be at your wedding. Dont get me wrong everyone wants to look and feel like a 10 on their wedding day. I'm all about getting your teeth whitened or your nails done, but this goes deeper than that. Needing to change your body, in my experience, speaks to a feeling of unworthiness in the body that you're in right now.

courtesy of Katie Sturino

My own journey to body acceptance actually started when I was in a much smaller body than I am now; I still wanted to lose weight and yet I felt much worse about it. I started my blog The 12ish Style in 2015 with the intention of creating a place where women who are over size 12 could find cute, stylish clothes and styles for their size. What I learned talking to women was that it wasn't just the big girls who had problems accepting their body. I was hearing from women who were a size 4, a size 2, a size 6, a size 10. So many hated their bodies, wished it were different, wanted to lose weight and were constantly thinking about it and striving for it.

All of a sudden it hit me: So you mean that even if I'm in the size that I think would bring me peace, I will still want to be smaller? Oh my God, what's the point? What is the point of this whole merry-go-round? That kind of snapped something in my brain, and I thought, Well, if she's not going to be happy at a 4, I'm certainly not going to punish myself for not being physically able to get to a size 4.

Then I had a second realization the people who really love me aren't paying attention to my body the way I'm paying attention to my body, anyway. Why am I so hyper-focused on this body and speaking to myself so negatively and punishing myself when no one really notices if I'm a size 12 or a size 14 or a size 16? Like, it's all kind of in the same space. So those are two realizations that I had, and my messaging to women since then has really been to just embrace where you are. It doesn't mean you can't try and lose weight if that's what you truly want. It just means that you should start thinking about your body in a way that is less critical or to stop striving to be something else.

My platform has evolved and now Instagram is where I connect with women every day, through my #SuperSizetheLook and #MakeMySize hashtags. We also launched Megababe in 2017 when I wanted to create a solution for thigh chafe and we currently carry an array of personal-care products for women in all types of bodies. The goal is to create innovations, solve problems and break down taboos.

One thing people don't like to admit is that the journey to body acceptance is never done. Its something you have to work on every day and its very easy to fall back into that negative mindset, but learning to recognize your triggers can help you recover faster.

Body Talk: How to Embrace Your Body and Start Living Your Best Life

When you're not feeling great about your body, youre always feeling negative. Changing your mindset and finding peace and acceptance in your body brings along a new form of confidence and positive energy in every aspect of your life. And once you have more peace with your body, you're able to do more with your brain, which is why I wrote my book Body Talk. I realized we waste so much time thinking about our bodies in a negative way and all of that focus and attention could be going toward solving real problems that we have.

Because so many people assume every bride will attempt to slim down before their big day, it can be difficult to go against the tide. To accept and love your body as it is and say No, I dont need to change myself to fit your beauty standards is seen as weird. The best thing a bride can do is take a deep breath and have honest conversations with people who make comments about "shedding for the wedding."

For instance, if the person selling you a wedding dress mentions ordering a smaller size, consider a response along the lines of, Yeah, Im not going to be losing weight so I can just get fitted right now. Not only will it give your own mental health a little boost, its encouraging for other people to hear that youre confident in knowing that you dont need to fall into this joy-draining cultural phenomenon.

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Are you out of control around sweets, chocolate, or chips? Do you often hear the bag of tortilla chips calling you by name? Read this before you answer the call.

Everyone has food cravings, especially for foods that are rich in fat, sugar, and salt, or any combo of the three. (That's why we find chocolate, chips, baked goods, ice cream, and fast food so irresistible.) In fact, one study found that 97% of women and 68% of men reported having food cravings.

But the answer to your cravings problem isn't to ignore them. Research shows that food restriction and avoidance can increase the intensity of cravings, so the key is to eat foods that can actually help tamp down hunger and cravings. The other strategy is to have healthier options of what you're craving, so you can feel satisfied without derailing your diet. The next time you feel a hankering for an indulgent food coming on, you can cave into that craving without destroying your diet by reaching for one of these hunger-crushing foods. And for more on how to eat healthy, don't miss 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.

Starting our meal with soup has a similar effect as having a piece of fruit before your meals. It fills you up with fewer calories, thanks to its high water content. Studies show that having broth or vegetable-based soup before your meal reduced the amount of calories you'll eat at that meal. Many weight-loss experts advise their clients to eat soup daily to help them lose weight and keep it off. Look for soup that is low in calories, like broth, vegetable, or tomato soup, or choose those that have high fiber counts like minestrone or bean soups. One study found that enjoying soup as your first course helped study participants eat about 20% fewer calories or an average of 134 fewer calories at their meal. What's more, even though they ate fewer calories, they stayed satisfied.

READ MORE:The #1 Best Soup for a Flat Belly, Says Dietitian

Fruit helps increase the fiber in your diet, which helps to keep you full. What's more, water-rich choices will help send a signal from your stomach to your brain that you're full. Some fiber-rich picks: a cup of raspberries packs in 8 grams fiber, and a cup of wild blueberries has 6 grams. A medium apple has nearly 4.5 grams, a pear has 5.5 grams, and an average-sized orange has around 4 grams of fiber. A small study in Brazil found that participants who ate either an apple or pear before each of their main meals lost a significant amount of weight compared to those who didn't eat fruit before their meals.

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When it comes to cravings, protein-rich foods can be your best friend. Good sources of protein that rank high on the satiety index include eggs, Greek yogurt, fish, and lean poultry options. For the best effect, try to start your day off with some protein (about 25-30 grams at your first meal) to help keep your hunger and appetite in check. This can help jump-start your weight loss. In fact, one study found that eating an egg and turkey sausage breakfast sandwich was more filling and helped study participants eat fewer calories at lunch compared to eating a low-protein breakfast.

RELATED: 19 High Protein Breakfasts That Keep You Full

According to research, chocolate is the most craved food. If you feel like gooey chocolatey candy bars, brownies, or chocolate chip cookies are calling your name, opt for an ounce of dark chocolate that has at least 70% cacao. Dark chocolate has lower sugar and calorie counts and is packed with beneficial antioxidants, so it helps keep blood sugar levels stable to control hunger and cravings. Another great option is to make a chocolate protein pudding by mixing 6 ounces plain Greek yogurt with 2 teaspoons cocoa powder. Stir to combine. The protein in Greek yogurt will help keep you full while the cocoa powder will satisfy your craving for chocolate.

Oats are a fiber-rich whole-grain often recommended for their heart-health benefits but several studies show that they can help control appetite and cravings. Oats are particularly high in a type of soluble dietary fiber called beta-glucan, which has been shown to trigger hunger hormones, keeping you fuller, longer. What's more, beta-glucan slows digestion to keep blood sugar and your appetite in check. A cup of oats has about 150 calories and 4 grams of hunger-crushing fiber. In addition to enjoying oats for breakfast, try incorporating oats into burgers, soups and stews, casseroles, and desserts.

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The Best Foods to Crush Hunger Cravings and Lose Weight Fast Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That