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John Blanchette: Sour Cheez-It Bowl epitomized how Washington State regressed this season – The Spokesman-Review

Posted: December 28, 2019 at 4:52 pm

PHOENIX On Cheez-It Bowl Eve, Anthony Gordon was agreeably facing questions about matters post-Cheez his appearance in the Senior Bowl next month and the NFL draft beyond. One seemed to suggest that Gordon had a decision to make, that there were choices involved.

Washington States senior quarterback clarified the point but hastened to add, I wish I could come back.

Theres probably plenty to read into that.

Maybe its because the Cougars season silhouetted against the programs recent history wasnt all that special, bowl rerun notwithstanding, and he coveted a do-over.

Maybe its that he never got a chance to showcase his considerable skills on the big-time stage until his fifth college year and now it seems done all to quickly.

This morning, maybe its the regret of another defining moment slipping through the Cougars paws in Gordons finale a 31-21 loss to Air Force on Friday night at Chase Field.

Well, actually it was kind of a defining moment, 2019-style.

Little in the way of defensive relief, a potent offense that couldnt bail the defense out against a decent opponent, an untimely midseason injury to Americas most unsung impact player, curious decisions and more fireworks off the field, frankly, than on.

Five bowls in a row? An achievement in itself.

A 6-7 season as the cherry on top? Pretty damned bitter.

Especially since loss No. 7 cant be blamed on the other team getting, you know, better recruits.

Unless the recruiting battle is for future lieutenants and generals.

Its not back-to-the-drawing-board time, by any means, but given what the Cougars have accustomed themselves to, some evaluation and soul-searching surely seem in order.

Maybe its already started.

Youve got to keep pushing the envelope, coach Mike Leach said. I thought we were capable of more and were going to do everything we can do as we approach the offseason.

But in-season this season the Cougars didnt just fail to push the envelope. They regressed, and it was evident in microcosm against the uber-disciplined Falcons.

Given more time to prepare for the Flexbone triple-option than the Falcons week-to-week opponents in the Mountain West Conference, the Cougars still surrendered 371 yards and an average of 5.4 every time the Birdies ran the ball.

Hey, thats 3 fewer yards than what the Cougars averaged when completing a pass but with the Falcons owning the ball for a ridiculous 43 minutes, 24 seconds, there wasnt time for Gordon to complete enough of them.

We let them eat the whole clock up with our inability to stop them, Leach said.

Hmm. This from the guy who wipes his muddy shoes on time-of-possession stats.

Meanwhile, Leachs offense had two killing whiffs fourth downs inside the Falcons 5-yard line in the first and fourth quarters when handoffs went to Max Borghi and the sophomore running back was stopped short.

They were the kind of situations the give-to-Borghi brigade has been begging for all year. Funny how the Falcons seemed so prepared for what was coming.

TV Take: Air Forces early soul-sucking drive helped set tone for Cheez-It Bowl full of clichs against Washington State If you had contrasting styles as the most on-point clich of the bowl season, you are a winner. Even if only half of the folks who watched Air Forces 31-21 win over Washington State in Fridays Cheez-It Bowl could have been satisfied. | Read more

For all that, the game likely came down to a spectacular play of inches by the Falcons on a fourth-down of their own Kadin Remsberg going airborne and stretching the ball barely over the goal line as he was met by Cougars safety Tyrese Ross a split-second too late. That the Falcons ate up another 6 minutes of clock in getting there was merely a bonus.

Youve got to put it in thats all that counts, Leach said. Did we score or did we not? Did they score or did they not?

The Cougs did not. Just 34 points in their last two games, in fact. Turns out you can beat Wazzus high-octane O by flooding the intermediate secondary with defenders, or by just keeping it well-rested on the sidelines.

But by this point, no one should have expected much more from the Cougs. Their bowl eligibility was attained against teams that went 22-50 this season, remember. Thats not a postseason resume though its more of an indictment of college football getting drunk on bowl games and the need to fill them than it is on the Cougs, who certainly cant be held responsible for anybody else being lousy.

But its been characteristic of Leach teams both at Wazzu and Texas Tech that a season would produce the odd victory or two over a favored sometimes heavily favored opponent, as well as a pratfall against the overmatched. Only the latter was achieved this time around, with the late swoon against UCLA.

Whatever energy and determination the Cougs summoned after the October loss at Arizona State to resurrect their season enough to play in December, it was mostly fools gold against anyone decent.

Or maybe a snack cracker, crumbling under the weight of someones heel.

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John Blanchette: Sour Cheez-It Bowl epitomized how Washington State regressed this season - The Spokesman-Review

What You Need To Know About Female-to-Male Surgery – Science Times

Posted: December 28, 2019 at 4:51 pm

(Photo : pixabay)

Female-to-male surgery or FTM surgery is a type of sex reassignment surgery, which is also called gender-affirming surgery or gender affirmation surgery. This can take different forms, including a mastectomy, the removal of breasts and the altering of the genital region, also known as bottom surgery.

Examples of bottom surgery include the removal of the uterus known as hysterectomy, removal of the vagina known as vaginectomy, construction of a penis through phalloplasty or metoidioplasty.

Surgery

Before having FTM gender-affirming surgery, a person will receive testosterone replacement therapy. They may then undergo one or more of the following types of procedure.

Chest restructuring

Someone undergoing surgery to transition from female to male usually has a subcutaneous mastectomy to remove breast tissue. The surgeon will also make alterations to the appearance and position of the nipples. Meanwhile, testosterone therapy will stimulate the growth of chest hair.

Removal of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes

A person may wish to undergo this type of surgery if they are uncomfortable having ovaries, a uterus, or fallopian tubes, or if hormone therapy does not stop menstruation. In a partial hysterectomy, a surgeon will remove only the uterus. In a total hysterectomy, they will also remove the cervix. A bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or BSO involves the removal of the right and left fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Metoidioplasty

A metoidioplasty is a method of constructing a new penis, also known as neopenis. It involves changing the clitoris into a penis. A person will receive hormone therapy before the surgery in order to enlarge the clitoris for this purpose. During the procedure, the surgeon will also remove the vagina, called a vaginectomy.

Also, they lengthen the urethra and position it through the neopenis. To get the exact length, the surgeon uses tissues from the labia minora, the cheek or other parts of the vagina. The aim of this is to allow the person to urinate while standing.

Another option is a Centurion procedure, which involves repositioning round ligaments under the clitoris in order to increase the girth of the penis.

A metoidioplasty usually takes 2 to 5 hours. After the initial surgery, additional procedures may be needed. A Centurion procedure takes around 2.5 hours and removing the female reproductive organs will add to this time. An advantage of a metoidioplasty is that the neopenis may become erect, because of the erectile abilities of clitoral tissue. However, neopenis resulting from metoidioplasty is usually to small for penetrative sex.

Phalloplasty

A phalloplasty uses grafted skin that is usually from the thigh, arm, abdomen or back, in order to form a neopenis. Doctors consider taking skin from the forearm to be the best option in penile construction. Compared with metoidioplasty, a phalloplasty results in a larger penis. However, this neopenis can't become erect on its own.

After a period of recovery, a person can have a penile implant. This can allow them to get and to maintain erections and have penetrative sex. During a phalloplasty, the surgeon performs a vaginectomy and lengthens the urethra to allow urination through the penis.

The disadvantages of a phalloplasty include the number of surgical visits and revisions that may be needed, as well as the cost, which is usually higher than that of a metoidioplasty.

Scrotoplasty

A person may decide to have a scrotoplasty, which is the creation of a scrotum, alongside a metoidioplasty or phalloplasty. In a scrotoplasty, a surgeon hollows out and repositions the labia majora to form a scrotum and inserts silicone testicular implants.

ALSO READ: In Oregon, Teenagers Can Now Undergo Sex Change

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What You Need To Know About Female-to-Male Surgery - Science Times

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2019 2026 – Industry Mirror

Posted: December 28, 2019 at 4:51 pm

Global Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market Report Scripted in a systematic way so that it will explain how it is usefull for the business players, upcoming players, growing companies, etc which will elebrote the Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market Size, Industry Share, Revenue ($), Upcoming Trends and Growth Ratio towards 2027.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market is catching a substantial CAGR for the coming years towards 2027. The Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market Report studies the market in detail along with focusing on significant market trends, revenue share, market segments and various regions across the globe for the key players operating in the market. Expertise from the specific industry have analyzed the profile of key players in the industry and their forthcoming market plans and current developments during the forecast period 2020 to 2027.

Download sample PDF of Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market Report here!

Operating and Emerging Players in the Market: AbbVie, Endo International, Eli lilly, Pfizer, Actavis (Allergan), Bayer, Novartis, Teva, Mylan, Upsher-Smith, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Kyowa Kirin, Acerus Pharmaceuticals

Significant Features Offering and Key Highlights of the Reports:

The Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market Report Taxonomy:

Global Testosterone Replacement Therapy market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of Testosterone Replacement Therapy market for Global, Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.

For competitor segment, the report includes leading players from the Globe of Testosterone Replacement Therapy as well as some small players. The information for each competitor includes:

If you have any special requirements, please let us know @

The content of the study subjects, includes a total of 15 chapters:

Chapter 1, to describe Testosterone Replacement Therapy product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market driving force and market risks.

Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Testosterone Replacement Therapy , with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Testosterone Replacement Therapy in 2014 and 2019.

Chapter 3, the Testosterone Replacement Therapy competitive situation, sales, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast.

Chapter 4, the Testosterone Replacement Therapy breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales, revenue and growth by regions, from 2020 to 2027.

Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales, revenue and market share for key countries in the world, from 2020 to 2027.

Chapter 10 and 11, to segment the sales by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2020 to 2027.

Chapter 12, Testosterone Replacement Therapy market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2020 to 2027.

Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Testosterone Replacement Therapy sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion, appendix and data source.

In conclusion, the Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market report adds other information related to the market dynamics like possible risks in the business sphere, the opportunities, and the driving factors fueling the industry landscape. Statistics that make the report a precious source for advertising individuals, industry executives, sales & product executives, advisors, and forecasters hunting for important industry information is provided in the form of tables, statistics, and graphs.

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Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2019 2026 - Industry Mirror

Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes with Diet and Weight Loss? – Discover Magazine

Posted: December 28, 2019 at 4:49 pm

More than 30 million Americans have diabetes. The vast majority suffer from Type 2 diabetes, which arises when the body doesnt process insulin properly. This causes blood sugar levels to rise and potentially triggers a host of other health problems, like heart disease, kidney disease and loss of vision. The disease has long been characterized as a chronic condition, requiring people to receive regular insulin injections, test their blood sugar levels and take medications.

However, a growing body of evidence suggests that reversing the condition essentially, bringing blood sugar back to a non-diabetic level without meds may be possible through diet and weight loss. In a 2016 study in Barbados, more than half of participants given a low-calorie, low-carb diet, in addition to fibrous fruits and vegetables, were able to reduce their blood sugar to non-diabetic levels. Weight-loss surgery has also been used as a technique to keep diabetes at bay.

But not everybody can control their blood sugar levels without medication, particularly in the diseases later stages. And experts caution that major lifestyle changes involving diet can be difficult for many people to maintain.

Often times, people will go on these very restrictive, low-calorie diets, says Ann Albright, director of the Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The evidence is clear that, for a majority of people, those are not sustainable.

Read more:

When Dieting, Should We Be Fasting or Grazing?

The Biggest Factor Behind Obesity May Be One We Don't Want to Hear

Breakfast Might Not Be So Essential After All

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Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes with Diet and Weight Loss? - Discover Magazine

Have You Seen This? French bulldog on diet is all of us – KSL.com

Posted: December 28, 2019 at 4:49 pm

THE NEW YEAR Saying goodbye to 2019 and welcoming 2020 is a few short days away.

Many of us are still reveling in rich, decadent Christmas foods (mmm, pies) while ignoring the calories and that particular shortness of breath that comes when your belly is way too full. But no matter how hard we try, the New Year will still creep up on us, and for many, the New Year means new resolutions.

The "Christmas diet" of 5,200 calorie meals may or may not be what pushes many people to make health-related goals at the start of the New Year, but regardless, diet and exercise seem to be top of mind for many when it comes to resolutions.

If a diet is part of your 2020 goals, and youre not happy about it, youre not alone. Many humans (and dogs) feel the same way.

In this video, youll meet a French bulldog on a diet, and he is definitely N-O-T happy. The clip starts in the first stage of grief denial. With his back to the camera and soft woofs, hes attempting to gently remind his owner that she forgot to give him all his food.

When its clear that she will not budge, a full tantrum appears, with anger and bargaining coming in hot.

The noises this dog makes while whining and complaining is something that may shock you not into a state of horror, but into a state of puredee delight. The only way to describe it to imagine a sort of mix between a toddler, an angry cat, and of course the (sort of) classic howl of a dog's wolf ancestors.

It's glorious to behold, and it is clear that this frenchie on a diet is all of us.

About the Author: Martha OstergarMartha Ostergar is a writer who delights in the ridiculous that internet serves up, which means she's more than grateful that she gets to cruise the web for amazing videos to write about.

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Have You Seen This? French bulldog on diet is all of us - KSL.com

How to live longer: The best diet to increase life expectancy according to new study – Express

Posted: December 28, 2019 at 4:49 pm

Long life expectancy can be attributed to a persons diet - a healthy, balanced diet has been proven to improve longevity. Experts recommend eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day, basing meals on higher starchy foods like potatoes, bread and rice, having some dairy or dairy alternatives, eating some protein, choosing unsaturated oils and spreads, and drinking plenty of fluids.

But new research, published this week, has found the times of day a person eats holds the most benefits.

Dr Mark Mattson, a professor of neuroscience at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, in the US, has said intermittent fasting could be part of a healthy lifestyle."

Intermittent fasting diets usually involve daily time-restricted feeding, which narrows eating times to six to eight hours per day and so-called 5:2 intermittent fasting, in which people limit themselves to one moderate-sized meal two days each week.

A range of human and animal studies have shown that alternating between times of fasting and eating supports cellular health, probably by triggering an age-old adaptation to periods of food scarcity called metabolic switching.

READ MORE:Type 2 diabetes symptoms: How often do you go to the toilet? Warning sign of the condition

Such a switch occurs when cells use up their stores of rapidly accessible, sugar-based fuel, and begin converting fat into energy in a slower metabolic process.

Dr Mattson says studies have shown that this switch improves blood sugar regulation, increases resistance to stress and suppresses inflammation.

Because most Americans eat three meals plus snacks each day, they do not experience the switch, or the suggested benefits.

In an article in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr Mattson said four studies in both animals and people found intermittent fasting also decreased blood pressure, blood lipid levels and resting heart rates.

DON'T MISS

Evidence is also mounting that intermittent fasting can cut risk factors associated with obesity and diabetes.

Studies also suggest intermittent fasting could boost brain health too.

Experts say people adopting intermittent fasting regimes should gradually increase the duration and frequency of the fasting periods over the course of several months, instead of "going cold turkey."

Many studies have highlighted the benefits of a vegetarian diet.

The authors of a large, long-term study concluded vegetarianism is associated with a reduced risk of ischemic heart disease.

The study featured in the British Medical Journal looked specifically at plant based diets and their effect on the risk of ischemic heart disease and also stroke.

As part of the study, scientists took data from 48,188 people whom they followed for an average of 18.1 years.

The participants who had an average age of 45 years at the start of the study had no history of ischemic heart disease or stroke.

They were then assigned to one of three groups:

Using food questionnaires, the researchers assessed their overall food intake and nutrient levels.

They also collected information about factors such as body mass index (BMI), height and blood pressure.

During the 18.1 years of follow-up there were 2,820 cases of ischemic heart disease and 1,072 cases of stroke.

After adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, the analysis revealed both positive and negative relationships between cardiovascular health and reduced meat intake.

The rate of ischemic heart disease among pescatarians was 13 per cent lower than that of meat eaters, while vegetarians had a rate that was 22 per cent lower.

Putting this into perspective, the authors of the study explained: This difference was equivalent to 10 fewer cases of ischemic heart diseasein vegetarians than in meat eaters per 1,000 population over 10 years.

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How to live longer: The best diet to increase life expectancy according to new study - Express

The Witcher’s Henry Cavill Had A ‘Miserable’ Dehydration Diet To Look Ripped Shirtless – CinemaBlend

Posted: December 28, 2019 at 4:49 pm

In order to tone his muscles and appear fit onscreen, Henry Cavill says he gave up drinking water altogether. The Witcher actor dehydrated himself over the course of several days to get his skin really thin, so it sits on the muscles in scenes requiring him to be shirtless. Heres what Cavill had to say about his experience without water:

That diet sounds a bit unhealthy, though Henry Cavill clarifies that it wasnt that he had absolutely no water for all three days. Rather, he had a dwindling amount over a period of time. In his December 27 appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Cavill explains that he drank a liter and a half of water on the first day, a half a liter on the second, and absolutely no water on the third.

After the fourth day shooting these shirtless scenes sans water, Henry Cavill admits to being the most miserable person on the planet. However, Cavill revealed that, though this regimen was for aesthetic reasons, it was also used to remain fit without injuring the body.

You can watch the clip of Henry Cavill discussing his health regimen below!

Thankfully, the regimen didnt last very long and Henry Cavill seems to be in good health and spirits. However, its likely hell have to get back to drinking less water fairly soon since The Witcher Season 2 is due to start filming as early as the spring of 2020.

The Witcher Season 1 is currently available to stream on Netflix. For more on what to watch in the new year, be sure to check out our 2020 midseason schedule to find out when new and returning shows are premiering.

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The Witcher's Henry Cavill Had A 'Miserable' Dehydration Diet To Look Ripped Shirtless - CinemaBlend

The New Year’s Noise Diet: Why You Should Cut the Empty "Brain Calories" in 2020 – Kilgore News Herald

Posted: December 28, 2019 at 4:49 pm

If you're like most of us, you overindulged a bit too much in 2019. No, not on calories (well, maybe those too!), but on "noise." That's 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 won't 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 isn't what you're doing; it's what you're not doing. You're tuning out what really matters. You're skimming the surface. When you're scrolling Facebook, for instance, you aren't 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, let's take a look at what noise junk food looks like:

The irritatingyet addictiveparade 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 don't 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 don't.

Dumb@$$ shows on TV. You don't 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 don't need to totally disengage, but it's good to be discerning about what you let in and 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? Don't worry, you can kick off the new year with a different kind of dietone that cuts the empty "brain calories" of digital distraction and gives you what you're 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, you'll 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 can't 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 you're not constantly reaching for them.

Break the idiot-box "background noise" habit. It's easy to mindlessly turn on the TV when you get home. Problem is, it's 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" isn't 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 won't crash if you stop answering emails around the clock. After 7:00 p.m., put away your devices for the night. Don't pick them up again until 7:00 a.m. the next day.

Insist on phone-free family dinners... Yes, the kids might whine at first, but soon enough they'll 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. Heck...maybe even read.

Learn to save your "appetite" for the stuff that really matters... Your "appetite" is really your attention span, and it's your most precious resource. Filling up on headlines, emails, and social media means there's 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 ex's 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 don't 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 that's exactly what happens as time passes. Once you think of it this way, it's 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.

The New Year's Noise Diet:

Why You Should Cut the Empty "Brain Calories" in 2020

By Joe McCormack

If you're like most of us, you overindulged a bit too much in 2019. No, not on calories (well, maybe those too!), but on "noise." That's 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 won't make you fat but theywillmake 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 isn't what you're doing; it's what you're not doing. You're tuning out what really matters. You're skimming the surface. When you're scrolling Facebook, for instance, you aren't 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, let's take a look at what noise junk food looks like:

The irritatingyet addictiveparade of social media stock characters in your newsfeed.This band of noisemakers assaults your brain with their cries for attention. For instance:

Dumb@$$ shows on TV.You don't 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 don't need to totally disengage, but it's 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 justhadto email you at 9:30 p.m....again. The moment you jump out of the bath to write back isthemoment work email becomes yet another source of noise.

Are you feeling that noise hangover settle in? Don't worry, you can kick off the new year with a different kind of dietone that cuts the empty "brain calories" of digital distraction and gives you what you're 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, you'll survive.)A short detox from social media is a pretty painless way to unplug and reclaim alotof 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 can't 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 you're not constantly reaching for them.

Break the idiot-box "background noise" habit.It's easy to mindlessly turn on the TV when you get home. Problem is, it's broadcasting nonstop noise into your work-free hours. Instead,plana time to watch your favorite shows. Daily exposure to the depressing litany of pain and conflict we call "news" isn't making your life better. Neither is watching the "Fatty McButterpants" episode ofKing of Queensfor the 50th time. (Okay, we admit that one is pretty funny.)

Set some work/life boundaries with the 7-to-7 rule.The company won't crash if you stop answering emails around the clock. After 7:00 p.m., put away your devices for the night. Don't pick them up again until 7:00 a.m. the next day.

Insist on phone-free family dinners...Yes, the kids might whine at first, but soon enough they'll 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. Heck...maybe evenread.

Learn to save your "appetite" for the stuff that really matters...Your "appetite" is really your attention span, and it's your most precious resource. Filling up on headlines, emails, and social media means there's 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 ex's 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 don't 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 that's exactly what happens as time passes. Once you think of it this way, it's 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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The New Year's Noise Diet: Why You Should Cut the Empty "Brain Calories" in 2020 - Kilgore News Herald

Carrie Underwood Reveals That Eating Carbs Is Part Of Her Healthy Diet – Yahoo Entertainment

Posted: December 28, 2019 at 4:49 pm

Fitness and healthy eating are a big part of Carrie Underwood's wide range of interests, especially since the launch of her athleisure clothing line, CALIA, in 2015.

She opened up to PEOPLE in a recent interview and revealed that fitness and eating is more about being healthy than being skinny.

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Its been more about health, and being strong, and setting a good example for my kids, and working out because it makes me feel good, Underwood said. And just kind of shifting my mindset about why Im into health and fitness.

She continued:

When it comes to her diet, the longtime vegetarian thinks balance and moderation are important, and says shes not a huge fan of trendy fad diets. Underwood told PEOPLE, I dont eat meat because its kind of a conscious decision that I make, but anytime anybodys like, I dont eat carbs, Im like, Oh, but carbs are important!

Underwood eliminated beef from her diet as a teenager, and by age 21 she was a complete vegetarian. She said that no eating meat makes her body feel and function better.

But she insists that she definitely still eats carbs. I eat my carbs. Most of the time I eat more quinoa, rice, veggie carbs, but I eat my cake too,

She also talked about her workout routines. I have to make sure and work extra hard on my hamstrings and my glutes and stuff like that, because whatever Im doing, a lot of times my quads will take over, Underwood said. I dont feel like anything is super complicated. I dont do anything crazy.

Underwood said that her body recovered quickly after her first son, Isaiah, was born, but took longer after her second child.

After having my first kid,I felt like I bounced back fast. And then with Jake, it was like my body took a minute to get back to me.It was frustrating, because Im like, Why wasnt it like the first time? Underwood told PEOPLE. But Im four years older. That also helped me shift my mindset Im still working hard, wanting to be the best me possible, but cutting myself slack and just thinking, Be kind to yourself. Its amazing what we [women] do to ourselves. Were probably all our toughest critics.

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Carrie Underwood Reveals That Eating Carbs Is Part Of Her Healthy Diet - Yahoo Entertainment

Royal Enfield Is Putting Some Of Its Bikes On A Diet – RideApart

Posted: December 28, 2019 at 4:49 pm

As the president of Mahindra recently discovered, the bike business is hard. Indias still the biggest market in the world for bikes, but that doesnt mean it hasnt seen a slowdown in sales. That, in turn, means that manufacturers in India have had to ask themselves what they can do to attract new ridersa problem that U.S. manufacturers have also been struggling with.

As weve seen in this country, some of those youth-courting decisions have been both questionable and cringe-worthy. Frankly, as a U.S. rider who is not a) a boomer, b) white, or c) male, Ive often been left shaking my head. I mean, Id like to think that I want what most riders want: A selection of interesting bikes that fit me well and a culture that makes me feel like I belong. Also, interesting roads. Are these things really so much to ask? Sometimes, it seems like they might be, and those are the issues our little niche needs to address.

Anyway, a new report from the Economic Times of India about Royal Enfields J1C bike development program has me cautiously optimistic, but also not a little bit skeptical. The companys stated goal with this program is to make its bikes more accessible to a younger and more female demographic. To that end, its creating lighter-weight bikes with lower seat heights. So far, thats definitely not sounding terrible. Still, I cant help but wait for the other shoe to drop and find out its not what wed hope.

According to ET, a tenth of motorcycle licenses in India are held by women, and women also account for around 7 to 8 percent of existing Enfield new bike sales. Therefore, it makes sense that the company would want what other companies want: to keep existing customers, as well as attract new ones. Making it easier for all existing riders to progress within the brand as their skills develop is also a logical move.

Enfield executives told ET that theyve been listening to feedback from customers, and think they have a better grasp on what women and younger riders want. Confusingly, the publication referred to younger riders as Gen X in its piecebut it turns out, thats simply because India has a different definition of Gen X than the West. Per the Times of India, the terms Gen X,Gen Y, and Gen Z are often used interchangeably in Indian culture to simply denote any younger generations, and arent as rigidly defined as they are here.

Weight reduction and lower seat heights sound like promising changes, but as always, the proof will be in build quality and rider reviews of the J1C bikes after theyre released. I have to say, though, that centering those practical considerations for bikes aimed at less experienced and likely shorter riders seems like a positive step. It makes a lot more sense than, say, offering a bunch of hideously bedazzled, atrociously pink gear and then wondering why more women dont buy it when you didnt even bother to ask them what they wanted in the first place.

Sources: Economic Times of India, The Times Of India

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Royal Enfield Is Putting Some Of Its Bikes On A Diet - RideApart


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