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If your new years resolutions include eating healthier, you might be considering Whole30in which case, check out this Whole30 diary to see what its like.

Theres nothing like a week in Vermont, home to cheese and creemees, and a trip to meat city U.S.A: Austin, TX to kick you into health gear. For me, getting back on track means another round of the Whole30.

Its now over a decade old, but for those who have no idea what Whole30 actually is, in simple terms, its cutting out (get ready for this!) sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, and dairy. What in the world can I eat? A lot, actually, including meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, some fruit, and good fats from oils, nuts, and seeds. You can consult theWhole30 program rules for much more in-depth information.

Whole30 may not be for everyone, but its most certainly for me. Ill be honest and say I wish I could live the lifestylebecause it really is a lifestyleall year round, but for now Ive settled into doing it every few months when I feel my eating habits spiral out of control and, more importantly, when I just feel plain old awful both physically and emotionally. But although I know it will make me feel better, its certainly not easy. Because wine. And cheese. And chocolate. Nuff said. But if youre organized, strong-willed and open to playing in the kitchen, youre fully capable of doing it. Plus, the benefits always outweigh the struggles, both of which you can read aboutalong with a ton of recipes and kitchen experimentationbelow in my consolidated diet diary:

Chowhound

So I never EVER start a new diet plan mid-week because Ill take any excuse to binge my way through a weekend before Im getting healthy. This is dumb, Im aware. But this time around I started on a Wednesday, a feat in and of itself. Of course, I ended up having a friends last minute birthday dinner. What to do? I ordered grilled fish, greens, and a seltzer while they had gooey, fancy gravy fries that looked like heaven in a bowl. To be honest, Im glad I didnt know of the plans ahead of time because I wouldve postponed my start date.

On Saturday, Day 4, I finally went for a run, but the rest of the day I hit the I dont care if its finally summer in New York I just want to sleep all day phase that you can find on the Whole30 timeline. However, I did try some new recipes, including Whole30s green cabbage slaw with Asian dressing and Pork Fried Cauliflower Rice from the One Pot Paleo book that I especially loved. I also made Whole30s Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato side dish, and holy yum, these two dishes were good (and pretty simple too).

Related Reading: Whole30 Instant Pot Recipes to Rely On

Chowhound

While Week 1 ended with getting up early for a run, for the start of Week 2 I hit the snooze button no less than three times. And I never snooze! My pants also feel tight which is annoying, but I know I have to make it through these next few days to get to the good stuff. My willpower is also tested with a breakfast meeting full of carb-loaded, New York bagels. #Igotthis.

Over the course of cooking more at home, I achieved some self-discovery in the kitchen: I suck at making sauces. I made Whole30s Halibut recipe with Citrus Ginger Glaze (but I subbed cod).

The final dish was certainly edible, but Im not quite sure the orange glaze ended up in the right state. Was it the recipe, or my cooking competency? Hard to say, but its still worth a shot at making.

Another dish I discovered, which Ill go so far as to say is life-changing, is avocado baked eggs. HOW HAVE I NEVER TRIED THIS BEFORE?

Its perfect for a weekend breakfast when youre not on-the-go, and truly, its so delicious. With that being said, Im still working out the timing to get the eggs cooked just right. Pair it with no-sugar bacon (Whole Foods sells some options). Cooking tip: Paleo-style bacon tastes best if you really cook it until its crispy.

Another dish I made, which is great for both lunch at work and dinner at home, are these paleo chicken fingers.

They actually got rave reviews from my co-workers, which is huge, let me just saytheyre a picky bunch! I use Trader Joes tomato sauce in a can (always make sure to check your labels!) as a dipping sauce.

Alexandra Grablewski

I had to do something I NEVER do and thats send my food back, during a breakfast meeting no less, because my omelet had cheese in it. Fail. But lets be honest, I didnt stick to my guns for two weeks to ruin it just because Im embarrassed to say something, right? Heres a harsh, but predictable truth about doing Whole30: Its very hard to be social. And dont even get me started on going on a first date sans booze. But hey, if your friends/colleagues/awkward first dates are understanding, then you can make it work, not to mention that youll feel better when you dont wake up with a hangover or stuck in a food coma!

You can also show them how eating healthy can be tasty, which is why instead of going out to dinner with a friend one Saturday night I cooked for us. I took a risk by trying a new recipe, but wow, it officially tops the list of one of the best things Ive ever cooked. Period. Not just on Whole30. I made this Romesco Garlic Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles recipe, and thistime, I finally got a sauce right! Plus, my non-dieting friend loved it too. Wins all around. I also follow Whole30Recipes on Instagram and found an easy stuffed peppers recipe.

An easy one-pot weekend dish I made (which is great for lunch leftovers) is this slow cooker sweet potato, kale and chicken stew. I also discovered another easy lunch is shredding (aka ripping apart) a whole rotisserie chicken and adding some pieces with mashed avocado as a fake chicken salad. If you want to be fancy, you can make your own Whole30-approved mayo, but Im not fancy, plus I dont like mayo anyway.

Related Reading: The Best Healthy Meal Kits to Try in 2020

Alexandra Grablewski

By this stage, if not sooner, you realize you have no idea what day it is during your Whole30 because its become your everyday normal. This is the best part because you feel great, you look great, you dont feel like youre uprooting your life, and youre happily eating whole foods and cooking new recipes like its no big deal. Why is that? Oh yeah, because its not a big deal. And its a good thing too because in my final 9 days I have a July 4 BBQ/kids birthday party and I dont even feel like I have to miss out.

I also finally took a trip to the new Bareburger in my neighborhood. From all my Googling, it seems this is the place to go if youre Paleo/Whole30, and now that they dont use peanut oil, their fries are safe to eat! I got a burger wrapped in a collard green with a side of fries. Such a nice treat to eat out and not worry about every single little ingredient. Added bonus points: its also fast and cheap. But this is also where you can learn from my mistakes. Despite having read the Whole30 book countless times, I missed the part where you cant have French fries, even if theyre compliant. Fail! But the good news is I didnt eat anything Im not technically supposed to, its just the idea of fries they dont subscribe to.

In my final days, I also made Whole30s Chicken Cacciatore recipe and mashed cauliflower. Remember that whole not good at sauces thing? Well, it came back to haunt me, and while my cacciatore sauce was watery and ugly, it still tasted OK. I had a kitchen fail trying to make coconut cream, but again, the mashed cauliflower was good! Again, always remember to check your labels on coconut milk since only a few brands are Whole30-safe.

With that, Ive come to the end of my 30 days. Funny enough, I had no idea I hit the last day until it appeared on my calendar! I feel pretty great, I got a compliment on my skin yesterday, and I can totally have my tight pants on.

A few recipes I didnt cook this time around, but I made during the winter while on Whole30 and LOVED are:

I highly suggest giving these recipes, plus these favorites a shotwhether youre on the Whole30 program, or not. Yes, theyre that good:

Expert Tip! Here are some go-to food items that always save me throughout the program:

See more Whole30 tips from people whove done it, and youll be set up for success.

Robyn Ross was the Special Projects Director for TV Guide and is now a supervising producer at People. You can follow her on Twitter at @RobynRossTV and Instagram at @RobynRoss214.

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What Happened When I Said Goodbye to Sugar, and Hello to Whole30 - Chowhound

Knowing what people want simply makes sense if your business sometimes comes down to anticipating need.That's why restaurant consultants and marketing experts spend outsize effort analyzing food trends, tossing out ideas that sometimes seem practical, and other times just seem silly.

The rise of robot waiters predicted for 2019 comes to mind as a good example of the latter. And an expected explosion of food from Kazakhstan didn't quite reach Western North Carolina, much to at least my own dismay. And even if New York seems to be hogging more than its fair share of pelmeni, some food trends have boomed in Asheville for years, including the rising national hunger for gut-friendly probiotic-rich food or, simply put, ferments.

So what's next in the world of food? Here, I've shared some of the common ground I found in the trend forecasts for 2020. And since looking back can be equally fun, you can also take a gander at some of the things experts said would come to fruition this year, some of which did, and some of which did not.

Let's kick things off with an unsavory anecdote. Unfortunately, E. coli wreaked havoc on romaine lettuce's reputation in 2019, and New York Times food writer Kim Severson rightly predicted the distrust of everyone's favorite vehicle for Caesar dressing would make way for alt-lettuces to steal the spotlight.

A local lettuce salad at Sawhorse in Leicester.(Photo: ANGELI WRIGHT/ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES)

But tradition dies hard, and romaine is thankfully back in the salad bowl once again the romaine salad with pickled veg, buttermilk dressing and corn nuts at East Asheville's Copper Crown is a fave. Local lettuces, romaine or no, are an Asheville menu staple, which means California-bred contaminations don't always hit us hard.

More: High-tech lettuce company to create 100 jobs in Yancey County with greenhouse complex

Severson also predicted an explosion in farms growing lettuce hydroponically, and locally that's come to fruition.The Massachusetts-basedLittle Leaf Farms,a grower of pesticide-free boxed babygreens, recently announced the imminent construction of 20 acres of high-tech hydroponic greenhouses in Yancey County. And BrightFarms, a New York-based packaged saladcompany, plans to invest $21 million to operate a hydroponic greenhouse in Henderson County.

At Dayton Valley Aquaponics, hydroponic crops are fertilized by fish waste. Water filtered by the crops is returned to the tanks, benefiting the tilapia.(Photo: Provided to RGJ Media)

Severson may have some sort of crystal ball, because she predicted 2019 would usher in cheese tea as "the thing you will try against your better judgment."

Reader, that happened to me, and it will not happen again. Regardless, if you're curious, you can find it atMoge Tee at 5 Biltmore Ave.

Cheese tea at Moge Tee.(Photo: ANGELI WRIGHT/ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES)

Nearly every food trend prognosticatorsaid fermented foods would further increase mainstream reach, failing to freak out the general public quite as much. Indeed, anecdotally speaking, restaurant menus seem to be unapologetically boasting strong, funky flavors.

One memorable moment came from a summer dinner at Cultura, where our large group was presented with a platter including a few tiny and aggressively fermented cucumbers, the deeply complex flavor of which I can still recall months later.

And while koji is perhaps best known for its work in sake and miso, over at H&F Burger, which recently opened at 77 Biltmore Ave., the chefs are growing the fungus on beef to safely age the meat in record time.

Burgers and big, bad steaks:First look at H&F Burger, opening in downtown Asheville

That brings me to another trend: In late 2018, international food and restaurant consulting firm Baum + Whiteman predicted the rise of lab-grown meat would have ranchers "running scared." Technically, that means meat grown from cells in a lab, which is more high-tech than the Impossible Burger, which is so well-loved thatrestaurants experienced shortages this year.

Local restaurants experienced Impossible Burger shortages in 2019.(Photo: Angeli Wright/awright@citizen-times.com)

I've yet to see real lab-grown meat anywhere, but steaks are ever more prolific in a town that used to have precious few. For example, a new steakhouse will open in 2020 in the Grove Arcade called AshevilleProper, a live-fire cooking concept courtesy of former Storm chef Owen McGlynn. I don't think ranchers are exactly running for the hills yet.

Still, acceptance of plant-based food is on the rise. Ingles dietitian Leah McGrath sees customers snapping up nondairy beverages, reformulated margarines and meat-free meatslike chickenless "nuggets." Expect to see more variety in plant-based foods, with oat milk becoming a standard non-dairy optionat cafes. Over at Blackbird Restaurant at47 Biltmore Ave., there's an entire vegan menu, including risotto made with hemp milk.

The Truffle Mushroom Risotto at The Blackbird in downtown Asheville features arborio risotto, local mushrooms, seasonal vegetables, hemp milk, nutritional yeast and cauliflower puree. It is listed under the vegan section of their menu. (Photo: ANGELI WRIGHT/ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES)

At the same time, McGrath said, the high-protein, low-carb keto diet is likely to still gain traction this year, with more food companies loudly promoting keto-friendly products. They're even showing up in the frozen treat aisle, where shoppers can now find low carbohydrate "ice creams" with sugar alcohols, added protein and fiber.

An increasing desire to customize food to the diet du jour is making some restaurants rethink the way their menus arewritten.

"Unlimited customization may be gumming up service speed at fast-casual chains," said consulting group Baum + Whiteman's Michael Whiteman. Some restaurants are working to focus consumers attention on culturally relevant pre-set lifestyle bowls," marketed as keto or Whole 30-friendly, gluten-free and the like.

Some are toying with eliminating build-your-own bowls altogether, he said. "The lifestyle idea is spreading to pizza, so we predict that more chains (will) shift customers away from infinite invitations to choose individual ingredients."

Assembly-line production at Blaze Pizza.(Photo: Courtesy of Blaze Pizza.)

Blaze Pizza, a chain operation with a couple local stores, now offers "lifestyle" options, like keto and cauliflower crust. The independent 828 Family Pizzeria offers cauliflower crust, too.

But not so fast: Baum + Whiteman also predicts either sweet potatoes or winter squash will soon usurp cauliflower as the "in" vegetable.

More: Ramen, burgers and restaurant expansions: 23 notable Asheville restaurants opened in 2019

QSR Magazine, a publication geared toward the fast-casual dining industry, suggests curbing food waste will continue to trend upward in 2020, as consumers begin to consciously invest in more sustainable businesses.

The USDA states the United States wastes about66.5 million tons of food, which is more than any other country, except for Australia.The waste happens in various places, including on farm fields and in grocery stores, with more than 40% of the food tossed before consumers even touch it in restaurants and other food-service operations.

Inside dish: Inside dish: Thoughts on food waste heading into the holidays

QSR predicts more and more food service operations will work to reduce food waste with technology, including food dehydrators and digesters. Local chefs are beginning to take the zero-waste kitchen challenge seriously.

Restaurants like Green Sage and The Corner Kitchen have long used local composting service Danny's Dumpster to handle their compostable trash. And with many local stakeholders, chefs and other food service workers present at the recent Asheville Food Waste Solution Summit, expect to see even more efforts toward community composting and other landfill diversion techniques.

That's a trend we can get behind.

Mackensy Lunsford is an award-winning food writer, former professional line cook and one-time restaurant owner. Contact her at mlunsford@citizentimes.com.

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Asheville food trends: What experts got right, wrong, and what's up for 2020 - Citizen Times

As we begin a new year and, arguably, a new decade, there are a few things I think we can safely do without. Here are three nutrition myths that I believed, or maybe wanted to believe, at the start of the decadeand why Im leaving them behind.

Remember superfoods? Anything with a high antioxidant score was supposed to be especially good for you. The buzzwords have changed, but the concept has not: We keep hearing that the flavonoids in coffee or red wine, for example, make a food particularly healthful.

But these ideas tend to come from studies that look at one food component in isolationoften in lab studies that are miles away from any relevance to humans. Like, okay, if you extract one chemical from red wine and give it to mice, maybe the mice have slightly lower levels of inflammation-related biomarkers in their blood. So? That doesnt mean that a human being with a habit of drinking red wine is going to be healthier than a human who doesnt drink at all.

We dont eat nutrients, we eat foods; and we dont only eat foods, we live rich lives involving hundreds of things to eat and hundreds of considerations besides what might possibly reduce levels of a certain blood chemical.

Eat your vegetables, get a variety of foods, you know the drill. If youre debating whether to eat these berries versus those berries, youre wasting your time.

Keto and other low-carb diets have undulated in popularity. Remember Atkins? Its induction phase was basically a strict keto diet, and it dates back to the 1970s.

At the beginning of this decade, there was still a possibility that a ketogenic dietone that is low enough in carbs to produce a certain blood chemistrywas doing something special to our metabolism. But since then, weve seen some rigorous studies that test that hypothesis, and they find that theres no biochemical advantage to low-carb diets, nor to any diet in particular.

All diets seem to work equally well (or equally badly, to be honestmost everyone regains the weight they lose in the long run) as long as they restrict calories by about the same amount. So what really matters is choosing a way of eating that you can stick to, whether thats low fat or low carb or anything else.

Im convinced that meal timing only became a thing because people are looking for an easy thing to optimize. Maybe you have trouble eating the right amount and type of food, but at least you can get the timing down. Or perhaps you want to prove to yourself that youre serious about your workouts, so you take the time to plan out the perfect post-workout shake.

Just as low-fat and low-carb diets seem to work equally well, theres no solid evidence that intermittent fasting is better or worse than many small meals a day. If you like breakfast, you can eat it; if you dont, skipping it is fine.

While there is some evidence that meal timing around a workout matters, its effect is small compared to the basics of what youre eating and how much. If you cant get 30 grams of protein immediately after a workout, its not like your muscles will shrivel up and die. (I distinctly remember watching the clock after the gym to make sure I got my shake in the supposed 30-minute window.) It turns out that the window to get that protein is probably several hours long. So most of will be fine to just plan our workout to fall between mealslunch and dinner, say, or breakfast and second breakfastrather than sweating any specific timing.

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Leave These Nutrition Myths Behind in 2019 - Lifehacker Australia

If youre like most of us, you overindulged a bit too much in 2019. No, not on calories (well, maybe those too!), but on noise. Thats the name for the dizzying onslaught of information from work emails, app notifications, the 24/7 news cycle, social media updates, and other forms of screen time that leaves us unable to focus, listen, or do deep work.

A smidgen of noise now and again is okay. (We all have our guilty pleasures!) But consuming it mindlessly, all day long, is as bad as keeping a bag of chips, a monster-size soda, and a can of frosting at our desk and reaching for them every few minutes.

Too many empty brain calories wont make you fat but they will make you mentally anemic. Noise keeps you in a constant state of distraction. And like actual junk food, a high-noise digital diet is addictive, yet it never satisfies or nourishes you.

The real problem with giving into noise temptation isnt what youre doing; its what youre not doing. Youre tuning out what really matters. Youre skimming the surface. When youre scrolling Facebook, for instance, you arent learning a new language, refining that career-changing presentation, or engaging with your kids in a meaningful way.

The new year is the perfect time to put yourself on a noise diet. To help with your calorie count, lets take a look at what noise junk food looks like:

The irritating yet addictive parade of social media stock characters in your newsfeed. This band of noisemakers assaults your brain with their cries for attention. For instance:

The humble bragger. Your college rival who subtly slips into her post that she just got another promotion at her swanky company. #blessed #gag.

The cryptic drama-stirrer. That self-righteous friend who calls out people anonymously for perceived slights or makes vague poor me pity posts. (Cue the wave of very concerned commenters.)

The over-sharer. We dont need a play-by-play of your colonoscopy. Thanks.

The drop-of-a-hat ranter. Whose day would be complete without a furious recounting of how the barista screwed up your nonfat, dairy-free, double-shot, decaf, extra-hot mochaccino with extra foam? The nerve!

The overly zealous kid promoter. Yes, yes, we know Junior is the smartest, cutest, cleverest tot around your other 15 posts this week made that perfectly clear.

The amateur political pundit. Do not engage just dont.

Dumb@$$ shows on TV

You dont need to waste your precious attention span watching Jerry Springer, B-list celebrity lip-synch contests, or those morning talk shows. Substance-free television combined with the lure of a cozy couch can quickly turn into a lost day or evening.

The 24/7 news carousel-of-darkness

Sadly, most news is bad news, and during a controversial election year it can also be fodder for controversy, vitriol, and the loss of civility with friends, family, and neighbors. (Hint: You dont need to totally disengage, but its good to be discerning about what you let inand about how often you engage in debates with the people in your life.)

Your work email

Your boss just had to email you at 9:30 p.m. again. The moment you jump out of the bath to write back is the moment work email becomes yet another source of noise.

Are you feeling that noise hangover settle in? Dont worry, you can kick off the new year with a different kind of diet one that cuts the empty brain calories of digital distraction and gives you what youre really craving: a more intentional life.

Join my Just Say No to Noise Movement and tip the scales in the other direction. A few suggestions:

Try going a week without social media. (We promise, youll survive.) A short detox from social media is a pretty painless way to unplug and reclaim a lot of lost time. When the week is over, you can see if you even want to go back to occasional scrolling.

Reduce temptation by hiding distracting devices from yourself. Okay, you probably cant hide your computer but you can shut the office door. As for cell phones and tablets, treat them like what they are: gateways to digital distraction (and it is a very slippery slope). Find an out-of-the-way place to charge and store your devices so youre not constantly reaching for them.

Break the idiot-box background noise habit. Its easy to mindlessly turn on the TV when you get home. Problem is, its broadcasting nonstop noise into your work-free hours. Instead, plan a time to watch your favorite shows. Daily exposure to the depressing litany of pain and conflict we call news isnt making your life better. Neither is watching the Fatty McButterpants episode of King of Queens for the 50th time. (Okay, we admit that one is pretty funny.)

Set some work/life boundaries with the 7-to-7 rule. The company wont crash if you stop answering emails around the clock. After 7 p.m., put away your devices for the night. Dont pick them up again until 7 a.m. the next day.

Insist on phone-free family dinners Yes, the kids might whine at first, but soon enough theyll get used to conversing with the out-of-touch Boomers and Karens at the table. and screen-free family fun days.

For instance, make video games and TV completely off-limits every Wednesday and Friday. Yes, even if the kids swear they have no homework. Instead, do something fun or productive as a family. Play a board game. Go bowling or skating. Cook a great meal together. Volunteer at the local animal shelter. Heckmaybe even read.

Learn to save your appetite for the stuff that really matters Your appetite is really your attention span, and its your most precious resource. Filling up on headlines, emails, and social media means theres little left over for doing the deep and meaningful work that helps you reach big goals at work and in your personal life. Before you cozy into an hour of lurking on your exs Facebook page, close the laptop and find something productive to do.

and choose some meaningful goals to pursue. When you are able to sharpen and aim your focus, you can do some pretty impressive &%$#. Want to start a website? Get a better job? Learn to code? These North Star goals are the best incentive to rethink your relationship with noise and see how your life changes.

We dont realize that very often our addiction to information is the thing holding us back from getting a huge promotion, becoming valedictorian, or training for a marathon, but thats exactly what happens as time passes. Once you think of it this way, its so much easier to put yourself on a noise diet. Make this the year you take back your time and use it to do something that matters.

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Why you should cut the empty 'brain calories' in 2020 - Plumas County Newspapers

Almost every other year in the 2010s, an author has come out of left field and claimed the annual bestsellers top spot at the expense of the perennial contenders. It is either a first-time novelist going straight to No 1 (Gail Honeyman with Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine last year, EL James with all her Fifty Shades trilogy in 2012), or a former mega-seller returning with a new take on their old saga (Jamess reverse-angle Grey in 2015, JK Rowling and her co-writers script of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2016).

This happened again in 2019, but with a double twist: a non-fiction title with two debut authors. Pinch of Nom by Kay Featherstone and Kate Allinson, a pair of weight-watching food bloggers from the Wirral, was always a favourite for supremacy after it broke records in March for first-week sales. The spin-off Food Planner also makes the top 50, and the pair are bound to get a third title well up the chart by the end of the year as their follow-up, Pinch of Nom: Everyday Light, came out on 12 December.

Their success reflects a reconfiguration of the domestic sector, with a falling away of celebrity chefs recipe books (Jamie Olivers Veg is the sole survivor at No 9) and the rise of offerings centred on weight loss or fitness, including Michael Mosleys The Fast 800 (23) and titles just outside the chart by Joe Wicks and Tom Kerridge. Books about housework or home organisation are on the rise too, as shown by the remarkable sales for two books (5, 17) by Mrs Hinch Sophie Hinchcliffe promising to shine your sink and soothe your soul. Published a fortnight apart in the spring, Pinch of Nom and Hinch Yourself Happy both owe much to their authors social media presence Mrs Hinch has an eye-popping 2.9 million followers on Instagram.

Also mingling in the charts elite with the usual suspects Oliver, David Walliams, Lee Child, Jeff Kinney are representatives of another trend, the insider memoirs of people in stressful jobs: Adam Kay (6, 15) and Christie Watson (47) on hospital medicine, the Secret Barrister (25) on the law, Ant Middleton (19) on the army, and Peter Crouch (on the charts subs bench at 62) on football. Tellingly, the most popular examples of job lit outsold the top new celebrity memoirs Elton Johns Me (38), Billy Connollys Tall Tales (43) in a defeat of the famous by the non-famous that mirrors Pinch of Noms triumph in cookbooks.

The heftier, more scholarly end of the factual spectrum, by contrast, continued to flounder commercially. If Yuval Noah Hararis Sapiens (50) one of only two translated works in the list were not still hanging on five years after publication, Bill Brysons The Body (39) would be the lone standard bearer for the kind of non-fiction that wins prizes.

In fiction, meanwhile, a peculiar division is discernible in the top 50, whereby all the charts crime novels are by men an indication of the waning of the largely female-driven psychological thriller and, perhaps more surprisingly, childrens fiction (from Philip Pullman to Walliamss five titles to picture books) is a male preserve too. Conversely, no books classified as general and literary fiction are written by men, and the range of work by women is striking: Heather Morriss hugely popular historical novel (2), more BDSM sex from James (31), smart commercial fiction by Liane Moriarty, Jojo Moyes and Sophie Kinsella (7, 10, 40), Eleanor Oliphant still doing more than fine in paperback (14), and the award-winning literary novelists Sally Rooney, Kate Atkinson and Madeline Miller (13, 41, 49).

Plus, of course, the joint 2019 Booker winner Margaret Atwood, who scored with both the TV tie-in edition of The Handmaids Tale (37) and its victorious sequel. The Testaments (12) is the highest placed (adult) novel published this year and has quite possibly racked up the biggest sales ever by a winner in hardback, with 272,251 copies sold so far.

Among other reasons to be cheerful are the performances of writers who, like the chart-topping double act, were little known a year ago. These include self-styled grubby artist Charlie Mackesy, whose sleeper hit The Boy, The Mole, the Fox and the Horse (20) took the Waterstones prize, memoirist Raynor Winn (35) and Greta Thunberg (32). Six years after Malala Yousafzais I Am Malala, the Swedish teenager matched her in producing a bestseller as well as in addressing the UN.

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Bestselling books of 2019: cleaning guides and diet books hit big - The Guardian

Jessica Simpson is lookingsleek and slim on her family ski vacation in Aspen, and fans cant help butapplaud her weight loss efforts! The 39-year-old mother of three shared photosto her Instagram that showed her decked out in ski gear and enjoying a day onthe slopes. Even under the bulky coat and pants, it was obvious that Simpsonssilhouette looked severelyslimmed down compared to earlier this year.

Skiing with the kiddos today. This is far as Igot, Simpson wrote in the caption, which showed her beaming for the camera.Vacation, skiing, family bonding, and chic new look Simpson has somany reasons to be smiling!

This photo wasnt the first time Simpson showedoff her trimmer-looking figure. After the birth of daughter Birdie in March2019, Simpson got to work with her trainer to help shed the weight she hadgained during the pregnancy.

Celebrity trainer Haley Pasternak explained the unique challenges of shedding weight while being a mom. Once you become a mom, its not about you anymore, he toldUs Weekly. Youre living for something else, for someone else, and so you have to really be efficient with your time and you have to do things that are not quick fixes, [but] that are long fixes.

Thanks to hard work and the assistance of her trustedtrainer, Simpson was able to lose a whopping 100 pounds in just six monthsafter having the baby. How did she do it? A smart, efficient workout plan,better sleep, and a new way of eating that eliminated alcohol completely.

There are certainthings that are more conducive to weight loss and certain things that are goingto hurt you when losing weight, and alcohol is absolutely one of them, Pasternakconfirmed.

This seemingly simple fix worked wonders for Simpson. She revealed her slimmed-down look on Instagram. 6 months. 100 pounds down (Yes, I tipped the scales at 240, Simpson shared on social media. My first trip away from #BIRDIEMAE and emotional for many reasons, but so proud to feel like myself again. Even when it felt impossible, I chose to work harder.

Even though Simpson lost a massive amount of weight, she didnt accomplish her goals by starving herself or insane amounts of exercise. Instead, Simpson made practical choices and stuck to her regimen for the entire time.

Besides the strict alcohol avoidance, Simpsonadhered to Pasternaks Body Reset Diet, which recommends three meals with twosnacks daily. Those food options included protein, fiber, and healthy fat to keepSimpson feeling full instead of deprived.

Plus, the busy working mom made sure to get plentyof walks in and strived to hit 12,000 steps per day minimum. Ultimately, theseactions were more impactful than her sweat sessions. Its not about the workouts, Pasternak toldUs Weekly. You dont lose weight doing biceps curls and lunges. You loseweight by changing your diet, hitting your step goal, working on your sleep those were the things she did so well.

Though she looks fantastic at every size, fans couldnt help but notice how much Simpson is glowing and happy in her latest Instagram photos. You look amazing! gushed one fan. Looking fit and trim Momma!! Have a blast!! echoed another.

Its all proof that hard work pays off. Hopefully, Simpson allows herself a tiny bit of champagne to celebrate her success in the new year!

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Fans Are Freaking Out Over Jessica Simpson's Slimmed Down and Sexy Ski Trip Photos - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

How did KSI build the body that beat Logan Paul in a boxing match? In a new video for Men's Health, the British YouTuber and rapperreal name Olajide Olatunjiresponded to hilarious comments from fans and let us in on his workout secrets.

When he saw a fan applauding his fitness transformation, KSI pulled out his phone and read one of his workout plans: a sweat-inducing series involving 800-meter runs, dumbbell thrusters, deep squats, and burpees.

He also gave some insight into his Nov. 9 YouTuber-on-YouTuber showdown with Paul, which ended with a split-decision victory in KSI's favor. One fan observed that his defensive stance resembled Floyd Mayweather's.

"Yeah I didn't use it though," KSI said. "There's a time and a place, and that wasn't the fight for it. I wasn't trying to be defensive at all. I was trying to get up in his grill. Hands up, move forward, close him down, punch."

One fan asked how the rapper managed to learn boxing in such a short time frame. "Practice, man," he said. "Practice and hard work. You just have to keep doing something over and over again." And the new hobby has had a positive effect on his lifeand we don't just mean the satisfaction of besting Paul.

"Boxing has changed me so much, man," he said. "Maturity-wise, mentally, physicallyit's one of the best things I've ever done.

"All of the boxing purists, they think I was just doing this for money and fame and clout, nah man. Your boy did this for inspirations. And just for myself as well, man. To prove that I can overcome the odds as the underdog to defeat him when everyone counted me out, there's no better feeling."

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How KSI Built the Body That Crushed Logan Paul - menshealth.com

Its the time of year where millions of us are looking for an easy way to get rid of our Christmas-induced bulge.

But its never a good idea to try detox teas, diet pills or other appetite suppressants, a top doctor has warned.

Professor Stephen Powis, the NHS medical director, said such products have a slim chance of success and are potentially dangerous.

Some contain ingredients which have a laxative effect, which may cause diarrhoea, unplanned pregnancies and even heart problems.

Professor Powis said:Its always a good time to try to get in shape, and New Years resolutions are a great time to make a change.

But the reality is theres a slim chance of success with diet pills and detox teas and people could end up doing more harm than good.

Making new year goals and shifting a few excess pounds after Christmas can be a good idea but is much easier to maintain when done gradually and safely.

Professor Powis said there are safe ways to lose weight without buying into products, including the NHS 12-week plan.

Other experts supported his advice against quick-fix diet products, but said the NHS plan wasnt the best alternative.

Dr Zoe Harcombe, an independent obesity researcher and diet expert, said: I agree with Professor Powis that theres a slim chance of success with diet pills and detox teas.

The NHS plan being promoted as an alternative is not evidence based. [Its] based on carbs, carbs and more carbs.

If it were based on the most nutritious foods red meat, oily fish, eggs, dairy products and green things I would be shocked and impressed.

Professor Powis advice follows a crackdown on the endorsement of diet products by celebrities on Instagram and Facebook.

The social media giant said age restrictions would be applied to some posts while others would be banned completely if they are linked with a commercial offer.

Advertising agencies have also threatened companies to stop making exaggerated claims about their products with little science-based evidence.

Products which claim to rid your belly or cleanse your insides, such as tea-toxes, sound miraculous.

But experts, such as the British Dietetic Association, say they are marketing myths with wild and exaggerated claims.

Such products have been slammed because they may cause long term damage both physically and mentally.

Ingredients such as senna leaf, yerba mate, fennel seeds and nettle leaves have a laxative effect, which causes frequent trips to the toilet.

This is how the body initially loses weight. But used for prolonged periods, these ingredients can damage the gut lining.

The addition of dandelion has been shown to interact with medications by changing how they are broken down by the liver.

Bootea has previously admitted the tea can affect the reliability of the Pill, with a wave of women having Bootea babies as a result.

Diarrhoea can decrease the efficacy of medication, as it rushes it through the system without being absorbed in the gut into the bloodstream.

The psychological aspects of diet products are of concern because they fuel body image worries among youngsters following celebrities online.

Social media platforms, where diet products are flogged by celebrities, have put new rules in place to help combat the issue.

Instagram and Facebook said this year it will censor posts promoting miraculous fat-burning products or glorifying cosmetic surgery.

Under Instagrams new rules, posts which advertise the sale of weight-loss products or cosmetic procedures will be hidden from users under 18.

It also said any content which makes a miraculous claim about a diet product, and is linked to a commercial offer such as a discount code, will be removed.

The move followed extensive criticism of celebrities by anti-diet movements, such as I Weigh, led by actress and body positivity campaigner Jameela Jamil.

She has repeatedly criticised high-profile online figures including Khlo Kardashian for posting on social media about diet products.

Manufacturers of extreme diet products have also faced a backlash on the advertising front.

Agencies havecome down harder on companies in recent years who falsely advertise the benefits of their products.

For example, Bootea was ordered to remove various unsubstantiated health and weight claims from its website by the Advertising Standards Authority in 2014.

This month, the extent of false advertising and endorsement was laid bare when celebrities, including reality TV star Lauren Goodger, were duped into promoting a fake and poisonous diet drink by the BBC for a documentary.

Miss Goodger was secretly filmed during a meeting where she was asked to promote a fake diet drink named Cyanora, containing hydrogen cyanide, before it was ready to be tasted.

In the show, Miss Goodger admitted she had never tried Skinny Coffee, which she previously claimed had helped her lose 12lbs in three weeks on Instagram.

MailOnline have contacted Bootea, XLS-Medical, Protein World and Skinny Coffee Club for comment.

A statement form XLS-Medical said: XLS-Medical products are clinically proven to help individuals lose more weight than dieting and exercise alone.

All of the weight management products in the XLS-Medical range have been tested in gold-standard, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials and have a well-established safety and tolerability profile.

Given the prevalence and serious health implications of obesity, we believe choosing to lose or maintain weight for a healthier lifestyle is one of the most important self-care decisions.

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England's top doctor warns there's only a tiny chance that quick-fix slimming regimes will work - Infosurhoy

Everyone and their mother is chatting about the diet that could be en route to saving the world. And, as it turns out, so are their kids.

We already know that's entirely possible to follow a vegan diet and get every single nutrient that you need to live a completely healthy life, but what about those among us who might be more vulnerable when it comes to growth and development?

Specifically, children.

It seems as if every couple of months we're presented with another shocking story of parents starving their children to the point of malnourishment via a so-called 'vegan diet.'

But is it really the 'vegan diet' we should be focusing on, or the active neglect these people are inflicting on their children.

And, at the end of the day, is it safe for children to be vegan?

According to dietician Maeve Hanan from Orla Walsh Nutrition - yes, it is.

She says that when it comes to nutrition, each individual is different.

What works for one person diet-wise may not work for another. However, choosing to eat a diet free from any animal products can be entirely safe if done properly, no matter how old a person is.

"A vegan diet can be safe and appropriate at all life stages," she says, "but there are certain groups that are more nutritionally vulnerable."

"Were talking about infants, young children, pregnant women, older adults, somebody whos unwell or malnourished, or someone who has an eating disorder. All those things can impact whether its appropriate, and those people may need some extra support."

This extra support could come in the form of working with a dietician, closely monitoring the person's health, and regularly going for check ups to ensure that they - and this is particularly applicable for children - are developing correctly.

It could even mean taking specific supplements that are suitable for children, providing them with their specific needs.

"There are appropriate supplements that vegan children and infants can take," says Maeve, "but generally you do need that extra bit of support and planning."

"If a child doesnt get the right nutrients at that stage, it can impact growth and development long term.

"[Veganism] absolutely can be done but if someones unsure, they should get individual advice from a dietician."

You can read more of Her's in-depth look at veganism in Irelandhere.

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Toddlers and tofu: is it safe for children to be vegan? - Her.ie

WILKES-BARRE Another holiday season is winding down and 2019 is in the rear-view mirror.

As we dismantle our Christmas trees and put away the decorations, we vow to get in good enough shape to fut into all those nice clothes in our closets that we used to fit into not that long ago.

As we devour our pork and sauerkraut today, we look ahead to a bright 2020. Spring will soon arrive, flowers will bloom and the Democratic Party will choose its sacrificial lamb to take on President Donald Trump.

The days and months will again fly by, the snow will have melted, the heat and humidity will return, the leaves will change in the fall and my rescued Santa Claus toilet seat cover will again grace my front door in December.

Happy New Year to all and read on to see what our leaders wish for in 2020.

Gov. Tom Wolf: In the new year, I am hopeful we can do more to invest in infrastructure, raise the minimum wage, tackle poverty, reform our probation system, expand gun safety laws, and even more to improve education, reduce health care costs, and enhance the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians. I wish, as well, that Pennsylvanians will continue to reach out to their neighbors and lend a helping hand.

Wico Van Genderen, CEO of Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber: There are going to be many market headwind and tailwind dynamics for 2020. Knowing that you make your best sea captains in a storm, heres wishing that our captains of industry and community can navigate the swirling waters.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh: Unemployment is at a 50-year low, wage growth is accelerating for low-income Americans, and for the first time in our nations history, there are more jobs than people seeking work. In 2020, Congress should resume work on pro-growth policies that will build upon the economic progress made over the past three years. I wish everyone across our great commonwealth a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton: We must continue the fight to protect access to quality, affordable health care in 2020. My wish for the new year is for Republicans to get serious and work with Democrats to support middle class families and people with preexisting conditions by strengthening the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I will keeping fighting like hell against GOP efforts to sabotage access to health care.

Outgoing Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George: To spend more time with his family.

Gerry ODonnell: My best wishes to all in our community for a safe and healthy New Year while remembering the New Year is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts that also comes with a time of reflection.

Harold E Flack II, Dallas: At 58.7 cents per gallon, Pennsylvania had the highest gas tax in the U.S., until we were nudged back to second place by California in July of 2019. Pennsylvanias gas tax remains 22 cents higher than the national average. We spend our winters trying not to get another flat tire or break another wheel with potholes and craters everywhere on back roads and main roads alike. My wish is for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to make a serious effort to upgrade our roads, and to stop diverting gas tax revenue into other black holes of State Government.

Sen. John Yudichak: Ill go with the state motto, I wish for everyone a year filled with virtue, liberty, and independence.

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser: As we close out the year and decade and enter into our own Roaring Twenties, I look forward to working together to keep the American Dream alive and well for all.

Master Sgt. JP Karpovich, U.S. Army: I would like to wish all military, police, firefighters, first responders, nurses and doctors, as well as teachers, a Happy and Healthy 2020.

Teri Ooms, executive director of The Institute: My wish for 2020 is that we all find a way to work towards innovative solutions collaboratively. The parochialism and divisiveness that has engulfed nearly every aspect our lives does nothing to improve or sustain anything positive. We have so much potential as a region, state, and nation and we need to work together to harness that greatness so that it benefits everyone. Personal or political party agendas, geographical and political boundaries, and traditional political party ideology should not drive decision making that only benefits a few.

Will Beekman, general manager of ASM Global, Mohegan Sun Arena: My wish is for Wilkes-Barre to build a downtown skate park, and for Christian Wielage and crew to continue fighting the good fight on saving the Irem Temple.

Paul Keating, Kingston administrator: Happy New Year and best wishes to our great community and all of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Incoming Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown: Rebuild a working relationship between the Mayor of Wilkes-Barre and all members of Wilkes-Barre City Council based on mutual respect and the common goal of working hard for the betterment of the residents of Wilkes-Barre.

Create a 2020 Wilkes-Barre City budget that is based on sound fiscal management rather than hypothetical revenue sources that may or may not come to fruition in the coming year.

Promote safe, clean neighborhoods, work to address the homeless population, and increase revenue productivity within the city on a daily basis.

Former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta: Looking at the start of the New Year my wish for 2020 is that the politicians down in DC end the impeachment sham that is doing nothing but wasting taxpayers money. I wish that they will remember the voters that elected them also elected President Trump and that they will work with him to continue growing the greatest economy weve seen in decades allowing everyone a chance at the American Dream.

In 2020, my resolution is to build the Jordans Army Foundation. My family and I have been so touched by the prayers and support for my grandson Jordan and want to give back. We will be working on growing the foundation to support research for Rhabdomyosarcoma and to help families that are battling this awful disease like our Jordan.

C. David Pedri, Luzerne County manager: Im wishing for all Luzerne County citizens to have a positive experience with the Countys new voting machines. Also, Im wishing for a great turnout for Julys Rockin The River concert series.

Wilkes University interim President Paul S. Adams: First and foremost, we wish every success to the more than 1,100 students in the Wilkes Class of 2020. May your every wish come to be! Second, we wish for continued success under the leadership of our seventh president, Dr. Greg Cant. Dr. Cant will begin in June and we look forward to the ways in which he will continue to advance Wilkes as a small doctoral university like no other. And finally, our University has long enjoyed a productive partnership with Wilkes-Barres leaders. We look forward to continuing this tradition under the leadership of Mayor George Brown as he officially takes office.

John L. Augustine III, President/CEO Penns Northeast: Our new year goal is to add one more County to our regional partnership. We also hope to close on project Dempko, bringing hundreds of jobs to our area. And finally, a happy and healthy year for all in NEPA.

Anne E. Rodella, artistic director of F.M. Kirby Center: My wishes for 2020 are to continue to bring quality arts and entertainment to the F.M. Kirby Center, to make the arts accessible to all, to read more/create more/dance more, and to book Tom Waits at the F.M. Kirby Center.

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic: I wish everyone in Northeastern Pennsylvania a happy and healthy New Year. In 2020, Im planning to continue to use my increasing seniority on the House Appropriations Committee to bring our fair share of federal money to Northeastern Pennsylvania, attract more federal contractors to open shop in our area, and provide more and better-paying jobs.

State Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township: My New Years wish for our community is that our seniors (through legislative action) receive more property tax relief in 2020 so some of their burdens are lifted. For our children to have an increasingly innovative education so that they can bring in the next generation of family sustaining jobs to our region and to Pennsylvania. I also hope that more families will consider becoming emergency foster families for brief periods of time in order to meet our increased child protection needs in the Commonwealth.

State Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township: That the joy, grace, and meaning of this holiday season carry into 2020 and guide our public policy-making toward constructive and productive results. That we are able to more deeply realize that the diversities in heritage and belief among us distinguish and strengthen Pennsylvania.

Larry Newman, executive director of Diamond City Partnership: My wishes for the new year are to continue making progress toward the goal of a vibrant Downtown Wilkes-Barre, with more historic preservation wins and more local businesses choosing to invest in the economic engine that is our center city.

And, from a personal perspective: health, happiness, and more time spent enjoying the outdoors with my family.

State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston: I wish that we could build enough support in the legislature and from the governor to get property tax elimination done. Our area needs it.

State Rep. Karen Boback, R-Dallas: Wishing everyone a healthy, happy new year filled with love, peace and prosperity!

Plymouth Borough Council: Members would like to extend warm wishes of a happy and healthy New Year to the residents, businesses, local organizations and all who have helped in providing support and services to improve our community. Community support provided much success in 2019 and Council looks forward to continue to work with the community and organizations in making 2020 even better.

Joe Nardone Sr., Gallery of Sound/Magnus Productions: Stay young in mind and spirit and never get old. And remember to Shake A Hand.

Happy New Year snowman.

Bill OBoyle

Reach Bill OBoyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

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Local leaders offer their Happy New Year wishes - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader