Provided by Best Life Growing up, Jasmine Parenthas always been athleticnot to mention tall. Hitting 5'10" at an early age, her above average height and natural athletic ability made basketball the obvious sport of choice. And it was one she excelled at greatly, even playing at Arcadia College in Nova Scotia. But it wasn't long after graduating that real life started to become overwhelming. Missing the piece of her identity previously fulfilled by basketball and dealing with the loss of her father, Parent found herself struggling with a lack of purpose. She turned to food as a means of coping, and in just a couple of years she put on over 100 pounds. She also got married to her now-husband Jeremy and gave birth to two girls. As a wife and mother of two, she found little time to focus on herselfcausing both her physical and mental health to fall by the wayside."I looked at myself in the mirror and saw a photo of myself with some friends, and I didn't recognize myself at all," Parent, now 31, told Best Life. "It was like I blinked and two years had gone by."In late 2017, with New Year's Eve quickly approaching, Jasmine and Jeremywho was also significantly overweightdecided it was time to commit to turning their lives around. In order to be the best parents possible to their two young girls, they needed to get serious about their health. So, they did what millions of people every year dothey made a resolution to lose weight. But, they'd made resolutions in the past and tried an array of trendy diets. What would be different this time? After all, according to a survey by Statista, only 4 percent of people who made New Year's resolutions in 2018 reported keeping them for any reasonable length of time."We made a point of emphasis to say that this wasn't going to be like other New Year's resolutions before. We need to make this real," Parent said, adding that having two children to think about gave the couple the extra edge that had been lacking in previous attempts to change their lifestyle. "Instead of just making some short-term changes, we want to make life-long changes." And that's exactly what they did.On the morning of Jan. 1, 2018, Jasmine and Jeremy rid their house of any and all junk food deemed to have the potential to prevent the couple from achieving their goal. That was the first step of their plan, which also included cutting out all beverages besides water, getting regular exercise, and, perhaps most importantly, tracking their food with Lose It!, a popular weight loss app that allowed them to monitor their food and water intake."We didn't have a clue how much food we were actually consuming," Parent said. "You don't have to starve yourself. We decided to eat cleaner and track our foods. That's how you make long-term changes."That's not to say that there weren't challenges along the way, but based on trial and error, they figured out what worked for them. When two cheat days a month seemed to be pushing them too far off track, they narrowed it down to one day per month in which they allowed themselves to indulge in some less restrictive diet decisions.A few months into 2018 and already showing signs of success, on a whim, Parent began documenting her weight-loss journey on Instagram. Though she hoped her story would inspire others in similar situations, she never thought it would take off the way it did. After quickly growing her following on social media, by the time Dec. 2018 rolled aroundjust a year after the couple made their resolution to get healthyParent had not only dropped more than 100 pounds, but she was also able to leave her job and start her own business, I Am Worthy Wellness.Now a certified nutrition coach and behavior change specialist, Parent helps people overcome the hurdles standing in their way of achieving positive lifestyle goals, especially those posed by mental health issues, which she has a personal passion for."I had been on anti-anxiety medication for five years," Parent told Best Life. "And before this all started, my anxiety had reached the point of crippling." But after talking with her doctor, she was able to get off medication only a year after beginning her weight-loss effort. "I'm thankful to say I've never had to go back on them," Parent said. Though theirs is an incredible story, Parent swears it's not an unrealistic one for those who want to make a similar change.

RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter.

Gallery: How to Encourage Your Kid to Have a Good Relationship With Food and Their Body (PopSugar)

See the rest here:
Here's How This Couple Lost 220 Pounds Together and Changed Their Lives - MSN Money

CUMNOCK twins have shed an incredible seven stone between them in just under two years.

Brothers Ryan and Lewis McGregor, 20, have been on a sensational weight loss journey and have hailed their personal trainer Jordan Drummond who got them fighting fit.

Ryan has gone from 19st 3lbs to 15st 3lbs, whilst Lewis has gone from 17st 10lbs to a trim 14st 8lbs.

Lewis lost a total of three stone.

After entering a biggest loser competition at the towns In Da Hut gym, they started to blast the fat which was holding them back and leaving them low on confidence.

Smashing initial targets, they lost a stone each in the first month.

Last week they revealed the incredible results as they set their sights on some new goals.

Ryan told the Chronicle: We were 18 at the time and we were massive.

We were both big props who played rugby but when we stopped playing, we were just really unhappy and

unfit.

We entered the competition as we wanted to become a better version of ourselves.

Lewis and I would join up with another two people, and wed all compete against

each other as a group.

Ryan believes the intense workouts put them on the right track and helped them develop into football coaches for Kilmarnock FC at pro-youth level.

He said: For us it was really intense.

We werent used to that environment of having personal training sessions.

We are always there for each other, thats why weve got the opportunities we have.

Were always there to motivated to push forward.

It has helped us with football coaching. We started going to courses when we were 18 and we were the biggest there.

Now we work in a professional environment and look professional as well.

Its helped our confidence.

The twins helped support each through the testing times as they hit stumbling blocks along the way.

Ryan added: There was times where wed lose so much weight so quickly.

After that first stone, we werent losing. If we did it would only be every second week.

We battled ourselves to get through that.

Jordan was really patient with us.

Jordan added: They have both worked so hard and done exceptionally well.

Its been amazing to see both twin brothers achieving their own personal goals and doing it together.

Read the original:
Cumnock twins team up to smash weight loss goals shedding seven stone - Cumnock Chronicle

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

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

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.

Link:
2020 NFL MVP odds, picks: Why Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson are best bets, plus more award predictions - CBS Sports

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."

jwagner@pbpost.com

@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

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