This is Please Like Me, BuzzFeed News newsletter about how influencers are battling for your attention. You can sign up here.

Emily Schuman is an OG blogger. In 2008, she started her fashion and lifestyle blog, Cupcakes and Cashmere, as a way to document the things she loved. She quickly became one of the most recognizable and influential personalities in the lifestyle blogosphere and quit her job in media to run her site full-time. In 2010, she designed a bag with Coach and now has a line at Nordstrom. She has written two coffee-table books and her website has a full-time staff of 10, besides Emily and her husband Geoff. In the golden age of blogging, she was an A-lister.

The online landscape is very different now than it was in 2008. Influencers are the new bloggers, and everything is on social media. While Emily and her blogging peers grew their audience through lengthy posts, sometimes multiple times a day, now all it takes is an iPhone and photos with captions to become a fashion influencer. The bar for entry is much lower, and the competition is much fiercer. Bloggers like Emily have had to convert their audiences to new platforms to remain relevant. Not that Emily has been unsuccessful in many ways she is the model example of this. She has more than half a million Instagram followers and her brand is chugging along just fine.

There are bound to be hiccups, though. And this week, Emily had a big one when she did an #ad for a new at-home company called P.volve. P.volve offers streaming classes and unique fitness equipment to go along with its low-impact training method. One piece of equipment is the p.ball, a rubber ball attached to a band that fits between your legs for glute and thigh work.

Last week, Emily uploaded a video of herself using the p.ball during a at-home workout. The caption read: Luckily wasn't feeling too intimidated when the only other members of my @pvolve workout class were my cats. #ad.

Emily immediately got completely read for filth by her followers for the ad, which you can watch here. They had two main gripes. The first is that Emily has many times written about how she doesnt really exercise. She has explained in blogs that she has a somewhat complicated relationship with fitness and has said she remains slim due to her naturally athletic build and a naturally fast metabolism, along with dabbling in intermittent fasting. So followers felt that Emily suddenly shilling an exercise product was extremely inauthentic, a mortal sin for bloggers and influencers.

Come on Emily!! Im sorry but this is SO ridiculous. It is soooooo off brand and unauthentic. It comes off like all you care about is making money, no matter the cost or how it comes off, wrote one.

The second gripe: They thought the video was just plain weird and awkward. Some of the commenters trolled her. (Maam this is the olive garden...lol.)

I see both sides here. On the one hand, I understand it can be frustrating to follow someone for years and watch them seemingly sell out with inauthentic ads for money. Fans highly value the authenticity of influencers: It builds the trust that allows their recommendations to be taken seriously. Also, I think this is a microcosm of a growing trend of frustration about how ridiculous some ads on Instagram are becoming.

On the other hand, it has to be incredibly difficult to build your brand around your life and maintain that brand authentically for more than a decade while simultaneously remaining relevant from a business standpoint. The competition for #ads is incredibly tough, and Id imagine it is hard to ensure sponcon is also perfectly on-brand all of the time. I bet it has been harder for Emily to jump from blogging to Instagram influencing than we think. We reached out to Emily for comment.

I think we can all agree, though, we are all lucky we have never had to film ourselves doing as awkward a workout as the p.ball machine, and then post it to 500,000+ people.

Stephanie

If social media helped convince people to go vegan, its now creating a bit of an identity crisis especially for the people who were at the forefront of pushing the cause.

In 2019, famous vegan bloggers have either been outed or have come forward to say theyre no longer vegan. And the fallout has been explosive and difficult for their followers. Many seem to understand that people can change their diets for health reasons, but others feel flat-out duped.

In the case of Yovana Rawvana Mendoza, earlier this year, she was caught eating meat in her private life as she was still proselytizing and profiting off a vegan diet on her YouTube channel. Her fans understandably had trouble with this.

For others, its more complicated. Alyse Parker is a lifestyle influencer who became well-known at one point for advocating an all-plant diet and making exercise videos. She recently came out not only as a meat-eater she announced that shes on an all-meat diet.

The Carnivore Diet first came into my awareness when a close friend shared with me all of the benefits that he was experiencing by eating this way, Alyse wrote. She also said she woke up the next morning feeling more mentally clear, focused, wholesome, and healthy than I had felt in years.

The responses to her newfound carnivore diet was a mess. Some fans congratulated her, told her she was brave, voiced their support, and others were...profoundly mad. And took it very personally.

When I reached out and DMd with two commenters who voiced their anger, they explained exactly what upset them so much about Alyses changed diet: Both of them said she directly influenced their own decisions to go vegan.

Nicole Zach, a 20-year-old who lives in Santiago, Chile, told me Alyse was an inspiration to her, and after watching her videos, she then started a successful vegan lifestyle.

When she announced she was eating meat again I couldnt believe it, Nicole said. She used to be so devoted to veganism.

Nicoles issue, as a fan or, er, former fan was how extreme Alyse seemed to have jumped from one ship to another. And that she fears because she was so effectively convinced to change her lifestyle, that this might influence others the same way.

She can do whatever she wants of course, I just hope this change of diet and lifestyle doesnt affect others. I would hate to see some of Alyses followers getting confused and considering eating animals again, she said.

Another fan named Haley told me shes been following the influencer since 2014. Up until [Alyses latest Instagram post] I would still reference her and be proud that she inspired me, said Haley. However, now I feel as though I listened to a hypocrite.

Haley said she grew skeptical about Alyses motivations after seeing her do a complete 180 about her lifestyle choices.

Considering much of her product and basis of her career is on health and helping the environment, I do not think she has a care for anything besides herself,Haley said.

Both Haley and Nicole said they remain vegan and are happy about their decisions theyre just let down by someone who they once saw as a heroic figure.

Ive reached out to Alyse, but did not immediately hear back.

Its always a sad reality to face when youre empowered by a message, but disappointed by the messenger. And someone you almost viewed as superhuman now continues to show you theyre...just human. And that they might loosely wield their power of influence. However, it sounds like going vegan is a decision Alyses followers are now actively making for themselves, independently, and thats pretty great.

Until next time plant yourself at home this weekend, or go meat someone out. Do whatever the hell you wanna do.

Tanya

See more here:
How Fans Are Handling Their Favorite Influencer Going From Vegan To An All-Carnivore Diet - BuzzFeed News

A team of Harvard scientists have found a potential new method of treating obesity by limiting the bodys absorption of fat, according to a paper published Nov. 25 in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Md Nurunnabi, a former postdoctoral fellow at the Wyss Institute and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, led an eight-month project to test the interaction between fat molecules and choline and geranate known as CAGE an orally administered liquid salt.

Bioengineering professor Samir Mitragotri first developed CAGE in 2014. He initially tested the ionic liquids ability to improve the bodys absorption of medicines, an experiment which helped the team conceive of CAGEs potential ability to also prevent fat absorption.

When the team was looking at how the intestines absorb certain molecules, they found that CAGE was able to enhance the delivery of insulin and other medicines. They also discovered that CAGE caused the body to not absorb hydrophobic molecules.

That was very puzzling and counterintuitive, Mitragotri said. It led us to the idea that maybe we can use CAGE to reduce the transport of a hydrophobic molecule. And what molecule that came to our mind was fat, and the idea that if you can reduce the uptake of fat, it could have therapeutic applications.

The team assembled a mixture of CAGE and fat to test their hypothesis. The mixture formed particles that were noticeably larger than when the fat mixed with water alone.

The team fed a mixture of a high-fat diet and CAGE to rats and found that those large particles reduced fat absorption in the rats intestines, which ultimately reduced the body mass of rats with high-fat diets.

Additionally, the team observed that the rats treated with CAGE ate less food compared to the experiments control groups.

Mitragotri said he believes CAGE could become a simple, safe, and cost-effective treatment for obesity.

The team noted in their paper that over 70 percent of American adults are overweight or obese a fact Mitragotri said makes this type of research particularly important.

Obesity is a huge issue. It is extremely pertinent. And it is at the root cause of many secondary complications, including diabetes, cardiovascular, and many other conditions, Mitragotri said.

Eden E.L. Tanner, a postdoctoral bioengineering researcher who contributed to the experiment, wrote in an emailed statement that she believes it is important to reduce discrimination against people who are overweight or obese, though finding new medical treatments is also necessary.

While working to combat this discrimination is of critical importance, some people opt to reduce their body mass, Tanner wrote. Orally administered CAGE shows great promise at being able to provide a safe alternative to conventional approaches.

Nurunabbi said he believes the studys results are promising, but that CAGE requires further research.

We are going to continue working on CAGE, because we are still in a very early stage, Nurunnabi said. Does it work or not? We see, yes. Now we have to answer the question: how does it work?

The immediate question is how does this finding translate to the clinic for humans, Mitragotri also said. That requires many more studies and testing and collaboration with other clinicians in moving it forward. So thats the path we would need to explore moving forward.

More here:
Harvard Scientists Develop Method to Limit Fat Absorption as Treatment for Obesity | News - Harvard Crimson

Dan Buettner, a continent-trekking cyclist and storyteller, figured out that the world consisted of at least five "Blue Zones," in the early 2000s. That's when he made the term, which was first coined by Belgian professor Michel Poulain, a household phrase in a best-selling cover story for National Geographic.

In this handful of hidden corners scattered across the globe, he discovered that people were sailing past the 100-year mark with surprising frequency, and often avoiding dementia.

People residing in these Blue Zones are outliving us because they have figured out what others have not, according to Buettner. They consistently eat a healthful diet, and they also move around about every 20 minutes or so during each day.

But he says it took him years after that initial discovery to figure out exactly why the rest of us are getting the simple diet and exercise formula so wrong.

"People start thinking that the entrance way to a healthier lifestyle for most Americans is through their mouths," he told Insider. "But the core tenant of Blue Zones, and it took me about 10 years to realize what I'm about to tell you, none of them have better discipline, better diets, better individual responsibility, they don't have better genes than us."

Instead, "they live a long time because longevity happens to them," Buettner said.

An elderly troupe of singers and dancers from Kohama Island in Okinawa wearing traditional local costumes perform at a herb garden on Kohama Island. Toru Yamanaka/AFP via Getty Images

The homegrown, plant-based diets of the Blue Zones residents are only about half of the longevity equation, Buettner estimates. The rest is about making healthy choices the easiest ones by turning them into instinctual rituals of daily life that people don't have to think about or use willpower to fight for.

Namely, Blue Zones residents found in Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California move consistently through each day, live with purpose, and do it all with a little help from their friends.

Buettner has successfully trialed this holistic approach in cities and towns across the US, with stunning success. In 2009, he piloted his first "Blue Zones Project" in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The goal was to reverse-engineer it into a Midwestern Blue Zone.

"If you want to live longer and be healthier, don't try to change your behaviors, because that never lasts for the long run," he said. "Think about changing your environment."

For Albert Lea, that meant the town of roughly 18,000 people was pushed to do more daily movement, with citywide changes that turned healthful actions into the simplest choices.

The city added 10 miles of sidewalks and bike lanes for its residents, and local businesses made it easier to pick and eat healthy food. People started walking more and creating their own strolling groups that hit the streets together, collectively shedding 4 tons of weight (an average of 2.6 pounds per person). Smoking went down by 4% during the first five years of the program.

"When I started four years ago, I had high cholesterol and high blood pressure," Albert Lea City Council Member Al Brooks told MinnPost in 2015, saying he started walking 2.5 miles a day since the city turned into a Blue Zone. "My cholesterol is lower, my blood pressure is 116/70, and I lost 15 pounds."

Playa Santa Teresa, on the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica, is in one of Buettner's Blue Zones. Gerhard/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Buettner has now consulted with dozens of other "Blue Zone Project" cities around the US that are trying his "ecosystem approach" to health and longevity, and saving millions of dollars in health insurance costs in the process.

The city of Fort Worth, Texas, for example, reduced its smoking rate 6% after partnering with Buettner in 2013. Fort Worth now saves an estimated $268 million annually as a result of that one action alone.That figure doesn't even account for the tens of millions of dollars in other health care costs saved because of Blue Zone-inspired programs in the city.

Sheep shearing in Sardinia, Italy. Enrico Spanu / REDA & CO / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

But making it a habit to ditch smoking and move around throughout the day doesn't mean you should neglect eating the crunchy vegetables, beans, fresh herbs, and oils that are so popular in the Blue Zones. Instead, Buettner's eating advice aligns with what nutrition experts and dietitians consistently recommend.

He suggests formulating your diet around plants, including plenty of complex carbohydrates (like beans and whole grains) and making convenience snack foods, desserts, and trips to fast food joints the exception, not the norm.

"When it comes to longevity, there's no short term fix," Buettner said."There's no pill or supplement or hormone. If you're not going to do something for years or decades, don't even bother with it."

Buettner's new "Blue Zones Kitchen" cookbook is filled with vegetarian recipes from each of the five Blue Zones, but he says you don't have to buy his tome to try out the eating technique. Instead, find "five or 10 recipes that you love." Then make those foods, along with some consistent, regular movement at home, an integral part of your daily routine. You can even get lazy and skip the gym.

"The secret to eating for 100 is to find the plant-based foods, heavy with beans and grains and vegetables, and learn how to like 'em," he said.

Originally posted here:
The man who unlocked the world's secret to living to age 100 says you can skip the gym - INSIDER

Robbie Williams originally found fame as a member of the English pop group, Take That from 1989 to 1995, however, he achieved greater commercial success with his solo career, beginning in 1997. Robbie is a highly beloved British singer and has been a constant presence in British culture throughout the last 20 decades. Recently, the singer-songwriter has made an admission that he has struggled with a relentless weight battle for several years and admitted that to overhaul his lifestyle and improve his health and diet he cut out one thing to trim down. What did he cut out?

Appearing on the WW, Weight Watchers reimagined, Wellness that Works podcast Robbie speaks about his weight loss and wellness journey since joining the programme.

Robbie Williams is a WW ambassador and is currently on the new myWW programme - its most customised weight-loss programme ever.

The WW Wellness that Works podcast is a fun and motivational podcast for anyone who wants to build healthy habits whether that means eating better, moving more, shifting your mindset or all of the above.

What did Robbie Williams have to say about weight loss?

READ MORE:Man loses175lbsusing 'life-changingdiet plan

During the episode the ever-entertaining singer and showman, opens up about how his previous relationship with food had affected his mental health, with Robbie commenting that: I found that normally my history is being overweight and being dreadfully unhappy and then counteracting that with extreme measures and being depressed because there are no nutrients in my body.

Talking about why he became a part of the WW family Robbie said: There is this relentless weight battle and weight issue that Ive had forever.

WW phoned up and said hey, we want you to be really healthy and have a clean head, and feel good about yourself!.

DON'T MISS

The universe spoke and I listened to it, and I was like, yes, please let me get on this. And I started boxing. That was great for my mind.

Since becoming a WW ambassador, Robbies relationship with food and exercise has changed: Im golfing a lot and Im in nature. And its three hours of walking and its meditative because all youre thinking about is that next shot and it takes you out of yourself.

Like boxing does. You know, you go boxing and its so hard but so enjoyable.

And then I saw on a podcast somebody would say, if you dont work out, its the equivalent of taking a depressant pill instead of an antidepressant. If you dont work out and dont do something you're taking a depressant pill.

Robbie credits WW for how well hes feeling at the moment saying that: Its helping me tremendously.

Ive changed my life. Im loving being a daddy. Loving the WW, loving - the wife.

Yeah all is good. There is a confidence thats coming with the WW programme.

So, what was one of the main things that Robbie cut out to lose weight and overhaul his lifestyle?

Robbie revealed during the podcast that he gave up smoking to overhaul his diet after he became worried about having an early death.

He revealed: The most recent thing that triggered this whole [weight gain] thing was I relapsed on smoking.

So when I smoke, I'm half-smoke, half-man. I'm a man of extremes. And the wife said, 'You got to give up smoking'.

I didn't want to do the death, the early death. So I was like, yeah, OK.

And I just thought, hang on, maybe I can just view this differently. This whole process, not only could I give up smoking, but I could be fit and healthy and have a clean head and a clean vision of how I want my future.

And I found that moment to be very, very powerful.

For more information about myWW, visit WW.com or download the WW app.

Listen to the podcast episode in full and subscribe on the WW YouTube channel,iTunesandSpotify

See the original post here:
Robbie Williams weight loss: Gave up one thing to slim down and shed fat - what was it? - Express

Coconut water and guava are considered great for managing high blood sugar.

Highlights

A good diet can make a world of difference in bringing relief from chronic health issues like diabetes. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas are unable to produce sufficient insulin, due to which, blood sugar is left unchecked and is unable to get stored in the cells. This may lead to sudden rise in the blood sugar level. Diabetes also poses the risk of other diseases, including cardiovascular problems and obesity. Medications and diet work in tandem to manage the condition effectively, hence, it is important to include diabetes-friendly foods and drinks in your diet. As we are now smack-dab into the winter season, it's even better to consume seasonal foods to get the most out of them till they last.

Coconut water is an all-seasons star drink that comes with a range of health benefits. This recipe adds the goodness of winter-special fruit guava to coconut water to make a delicious, healthy drink that may also help in managing diabetes.

This miracle water is considered great for people dealing with high blood sugar. It is revered for its high electrolytes content that supports the pH balance of the body and boosts its metabolic functioning. Coconut water is naturally sweet and packs a good amount of fibre and proteins. It is low-calorie, cholesterol-free and also hydrating.

(Also Read:Drink This 3-Ingredient Coconut Water Juice To Boost Your Immunity)

Coconut water is packed with electrolytes

Guava has a low glycaemic index (GI), which is a must-have quality in foods for a diabetes diet. The fruit is digested gradually, which avoids immediate spike in blood sugar. It is low in calories and sodium, and rich is fibre and potassium, making it perfect for regulating high blood sugar.

(Also Read:This Guava Salad May Help Keep Your Sugar Under Control)

Coconut water in itself is a delightful drink. Add to it, the mildly sweet and amazingly soft fruit of guava, and you get a naturally sweet, soul-stirring drink. You don't need to add any harmful refined sugar.Method of preparation:Grind guava to its pulp and pass it through a sieve to separate its seeds. Add the pulp to equal part or more of coconut water and give it a good stir. In one glass of coconut water and guava pulp drink, add juice of half a lemon and half teaspoon grated ginger. Also add 6-7 finely chopped basil leaves to add in a dash of herby freshness.This drink is so delicious that you might want to have it every day. But, since coconut water also contains some fructose, it would be better to consult your doctor before consuming too much of it. Nevertheless, you can always enjoy this lip-smacking coconut and guava drink in moderation on your diabetes diet.

About Neha GroverLove for reading roused her writing instincts. Neha is guilty of having a deep-set fixation with anything caffeinated. When she is not pouring out her nest of thoughts onto the screen, you can see her reading while sipping on coffee.

Link:
Diabetes: This Coconut And Guava Drink Is A Great Option For High Blood Sugar Diet - NDTV Food

Chinstrap and gentoo penguins diets and futures -- differ

A gentoo (left) and a chinstrap penguin standing on rocks along the Antarctic Peninsula.

December 4, 2019

New NSF-funded research reveals how two penguin species, the gentoo and the chinstrap, have dealt with more than a century of human impacts in Antarctica, and why some species are winners and others are losers in this rapidly changing ecosystem.

Michael Polito of Louisiana State University and co-authors published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Polito co-led a team of researchers working to understand how human hunting of seals and whales over the last century, and fishing in modern times, has affected penguin populations. Seals, whales and penguins all feast on shrimplike crustaceans called Antarctic krill.

As seal and whale populations dwindled, a surplus of krill was likely available. More recently, the combined effects of commercial krill fishing, climate change, and the recovery of seal and whale populations may have drastically decreased the abundance of krill.

Because humans have never commercially harvested penguins, Polito and colleagues expected that changes in penguins' diets and populations would mirror shifts in krill availability. But although gentoo and chinstrap penguins are found in the same locations, gentoo penguins are increasing in abundance while chinstrap penguins are rapidly declining.

As the availability of krill has decreased, gentoo penguins have diversified their diets to include fish and squid along with krill. In contrast, chinstrap penguins have remained krill specialists. The findings support the idea that dietary specialists are more vulnerable to changes in resource availability and environmental change than are more resilient generalists.

"This research highlights the value of long-term studies for understanding the impact of environmental change on long-lived marine predators such as penguins," said Jennifer Burns, a program director in NSF's Office of Polar Programs. "That changes in the availability of a preferred food item such as krill can differentially impact otherwise similar species emphasizes our need to better understand the role of behavioral flexibility in Antarctic and other ecosystems."

Continued here:
Whaling and climate change lead to 100 years of feast or famine for Antarctic penguins - National Science Foundation

While weight loss is a more common goal in todays day and age, some people are interested in gaining weight for specific purposes.

In the world of bodybuilding, strength sports, and certain team sports, a common term for gaining weight is often tossed around dirty bulking.

This article reviews dirty bulking, its possible negative side effects, whether its effective, and some foods to eat and avoid when following the method.

In general, the term bulking refers to a controlled phase of being in a calculated calorie surplus and combining it with sufficient resistance training to boost muscle and strength gains.

A calorie surplus involves consuming more calories than you burn, which can lead to weight gain in the form of muscle or fat.

Dirty bulking takes this a step further and can be defined as a period of unrelenting weight gain by any means necessary to promote muscle and strength gains. Its usually paired with high-intensity resistance exercise to complement these adaptations.

The approach may be utilized by off-season bodybuilders, weightlifters, powerlifters, or the average gym-goer looking to pack on some size.

When following a dirty bulk, no foods are off-limits. The goal is to eat as much as tolerable to increase body mass.

Often, high calorie shakes and mass gain powders are utilized during a dirty bulk to promote a calorie surplus and subsequent muscle gains.

While this may work for some, others may find that the negative side effects outweigh the benefits.

Dirty bulking is a method of rapid weight gain thats usually paired with high-intensity resistance training and used by various athletes to promote muscle and strength gains.

While a dirty bulk can surely cause weight gain, you may wonder whether its an effective long-term strategy for muscle gain.

Here are a few upsides to following a dirty bulk.

Just as many people find it difficult to lose weight, others find it hard to gain weight.

For these individuals, a dirty bulk may be a helpful tool, as it usually promotes a significant calorie surplus and thus leads to weight gain (1).

This weight gain is best translated to muscle gain when paired with a proper resistance training program, which is another major aspect of dirty bulking that cannot go overlooked.

With more conservative weight gain methods, results may be quite slow due to an insufficient calorie surplus. Thus, a dirty bulk may be beneficial in this context.

Programmed weight gain is usually employed to promote muscle and strength gains in strength, physique, and some team sports.

For muscle gains to occur, a sufficient calorie surplus is required, usually 1020% additional calories for most people (2).

The dirty bulk usually exceeds this range, thus likely contributing to sizable muscle and strength gains for most people when combined with a proper resistance training regimen.

A dirty bulk can be effective in certain situations in which weight gain is desired. It provides a calorie surplus that can lead to muscle and strength gains when combined with resistance training.

Along with the potential muscle and strength gains associated with dirty bulking, it comes with some possible negative side effects.

Given that calorie intake is not usually tracked on a dirty bulk, its easy to achieve a calorie surplus, which undoubtedly leads to weight gain. Though some of this weight will be from added muscle, a sizable percentage will be from added fat mass (3).

When it comes to strength and physique sports, the goal is usually to maximize strength and muscle gains, respectively.

Specifically in physique sports, such as bodybuilding, competitors are judged on their muscle shape and size. Excessive fat gain likely makes it more difficult to get into shape when it comes time for competition (2).

In terms of strength and power sports, such as Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting, there are usually weight classes within which competitors must compete. Excessive fat gain may make it more challenging to achieve a given weight class.

For athletes participating in team sports, a dirty bulk could leave them out of shape when it comes time for pre- and in-season training.

Lastly, for the recreational gym-goer looking to put on some muscle, gaining too much fat may inhibit their goal of improving their physique.

Along with the potential for excessive fat gain, there are other possible negative health effects to consider. When following a dirty bulk, the intake of processed carbs and saturated fats is usually rather high.

Consuming too many of these foods has been associated with elevated cholesterol and blood sugar levels, leading to an increased risk of health conditions like high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, and diabetes (4, 5, 6, 7).

Its important to note that most studies on the topic have been conducted in non-exercising individuals.

Though starting a dirty bulk may increase your short-term risk of certain health conditions, resuming a nutritious, unprocessed diet will likely undo these effects.

The best way to monitor these important health markers is to have a blood test at least once per year, along with a physical. More frequent testing may be beneficial if you have a history of a certain health condition (8).

When following a dirty bulk, high calorie foods are eaten to promote weight gain.

Many of these foods are processed and contain large amounts of refined sugars and sodium, which can lead to water retention and fluctuations in blood sugar levels (9, 10).

This may leave you feeling sluggish after several days of following the diet.

One study suggests that a diet high in simple carbs can lead to increased fatigue and symptoms of depression (11).

These symptoms must be taken into consideration before starting a dirty bulk.

Though dirty bulking can be effective in certain situations, its usually better off followed as a short-term approach during the off-season of various sports.

Following a dirty bulk for an extended period can lead to compromised health.

Following a dirty bulk may cause several negative side effects, including excess fat gain, sluggishness, and abnormal levels of some important health markers. Thus, its best followed as a short-term strategy.

When following a dirty bulk, there are not many foods that are off-limits due to the diets unrestrictive nature. Here are some foods to eat and avoid:

Most foods are permitted while following a dirty bulk, though you may want to restrict some for various reasons.

While dirty bulking can be quite effective for gaining weight, its unrestrictive nature can lead to negative health effects.

For those looking to gain muscle mass without excessive amounts of body fat, there is an alternative to dirty bulking, which is often referred to as clean bulking or simply bulking.

When following a clean bulking approach, the goal is still to eat a calorie surplus with plenty of protein, though high calorie, processed, sugary foods are restricted.

A calorie surplus of 500 calories is usually a good place to start to promote muscle gains (2).

The majority of the diet is made up of calorie- and nutrient-dense whole foods, such as rice, nuts, nut butters, red meats, salmon, dried fruit, avocados, healthy cereals, whole eggs, and full-fat dairy products.

Some ways to ensure a sufficient calorie intake on a clean bulk include loading up on healthy fats, increasing your portion sizes, and surrounding workouts with plenty of carbs.

To ensure progress, it may be helpful to track your macronutrient intake the protein, carbs, and fat you eat and your weight to make adjustments to the diet as needed.

Considering that a dirty bulk can lead to excessive fat gain, some people may want to try a cleaner approach to bulking that omits processed, sugary foods and replaces them with calorie- and nutrient-dense whole ones.

A dirty bulk refers to a period of aggressive weight gain used to promote muscle and strength gains in strength sports and certain team sports.

Considering that a dirty bulk usually includes high calorie, processed foods, it comes with possible negative side effects, such as excess fat gain, sluggishness, and abnormal blood values.

Despite its possible downsides, a dirty bulk can be an effective weight gain strategy for certain populations, as it provides the calorie surplus necessary to gain muscle and strength, though its best followed as a short-term strategy.

The rest is here:
Dirty Bulking: Effectiveness, Downsides, and More - Healthline

Princess Beatrice is the daughter of Sarah Ferguson, 60, and Prince Andrew, 59. Earlier this year, she announced her engagement to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, also known as Edo, and it has been confirmed they will marry next year. The royal has slimmed down in recent years, how did she do it?

In September this year, the couple announced their engagement and her sister, Princess Eugenie, quickly shared her excitement by posting pictures.

On Instagram, Princess Eugenie wrote: Beabea - wow! I'm so happy for you my dearest big sissy and dear Edo. It's been a long time coming and you two are meant to be.

She then shared a message from Beatrice and Edo about the news.

It read: We are extremely happy to be able to share the news of our recent engagement.

READ MORE: Weight loss: Top snacks to help you shape up revealed - which has fewest calories?

We are both so excited to be embarking on this life adventure together and cant wait to actually be married.

"We share so many similar interests and values and we know that this will stand us in great stead for the years ahead, full of love and happiness.

With the wedding confirmed for 2020, it is likely the Princess will already be making plans.

Many brides will go on a diet before tying the knot and this is something Beatrice might do as well.

DON'T MISS

The royal has previously slimmed down by pairing a healthy eating plan with regular exercise, according to her personal trainer, Nadya Fairweather.

Speaking in 2014, Nayda explained she had been training Beatrice for five years and opened up about how the Princess stayed fit.

She said: Beatrice is in great shape. She eats, which helps. She eats really healthily but she eats, which is massive in a celebrity world full of people starving themselves and doing crazy fad diets which I just do not agree with.

"Beatrice has beautiful curves and she embraces that.

As well as eating healthy meals, the trainer explained Beatrice exercised regularly to stay slim.

When working out, Beatrice is said to enjoy outdoor workouts and doing circuit training.

We do a full body workout each time I see her. We fit loads into a one-hour session as she has an amazing recovery time between sets of exercises, Nadya added.

We start with the lower body first and work on the big muscle groups like your quads. I am a big believer in squats and lunges.

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Princess Beatrice used this plan to slim - will she follow a diet for royal wedding? - Express

Deanne Panday, who is a Fitness Expert, Health Coach, Author & Blogger attended the first day of India Today Conclave East 2019 being held in The Oberoi Grand in Kolkata. The leading expert in the fitness industry spoke at the session titled, Fitness Lessons: How to keep Body and Mind fit?

The Journey

The 51-year-old said, "It has been a long journey. When I was 12, my sister used to practice Jane Fonda, the 30-minute and the 90-minute challenges. The moment my sister used to go to work, we used to steal those cassettes and workout. That is when I developed a liking towards it and that is when my journey started. That led to me working out a lot. At the age of 16, I saved up and got a gym membership because only 5-star hotels used to have gyms at that time. I started picking weights and I used to pick so many weights that men in the gym were embarrassed looking at me. "

She also added, "I started yoga also 25 years ago and people used to tell me that yoga is for old people, but I felt really good after yoga. I started getting offers from magazines to write on fitness. I hadn't studied fitness, it was more about self-educating for me. I started writing, but then I went to study fitness."

Training Miss India Contestants

Deanne said, "When I came back I got Miss India, I was asked if I want to train the Miss India contestants, I was a little hesitant, you know, this is not what I signed up for. But while I was training them, I think for the first time in the history they were doing weight training. They were allowed to eat proper portion sizes and they got the most toned bodies ever and I didn't look back."

Diets

The fitness guru said, "I never went on diet, I never got obsessed, I would never follow a fad or I wouldn't follow a diet that was in fashion. I just started getting better as I started eating right, and started proper training. At the age of 50, I am fitter and stronger than I was at the age of 20, I am stronger than my children. I am stronger than my husband. One day, someone came to my husband and asked how old is your daughter, they thought I was my husband's daughter. You can reverse your age if you stay fit."

Circle of life

Deanne explained the concept of primary foods that have the most effect on your health, "I call them the primary food, secondary food is what people have on their plates and they are obsessed with. Primary foods are the aspects of life and are known to nourish it. Eg relationships, if you are in a bad relationship, it takes a toll on your health. Similarly, finances, people want more money for a nicer bag or a bigger house and it adds stress in your life. It is also about your home environment. It is these primary aspects of your life that you need to fulfill."

She explained what fight of light means, "In response to acute stress the body sympathetic nervous system gets activated due to sudden release of hormones. The stress prepares the body to react to danger mentally and physically, it is good to have this response, this way you can perform better. But in today's time, you are constantly fighting for that light so your body is constantly releasing cortisol, which increases your metabolism so you want to eat food more."

She also explained what does joy exactly means, "People mistake joy for pleasure. Eg you buy an expensive bag or an expensive car, it is an external pleasure but joy is inner peace and happiness that you get when you help a friend in need or your child does good or you do charity work. These things give you peace of mind."

"Similarly, spirituality in your life is also very important, yoga, tai chi are a must for you to not release cortisol. Home cooking is also very important, Vitamin Love goes in the food during home cooking, which makes the home-cooked food better than the restaurant meals any day," she said.

She also gave on advice on how to control your urge to eat sweets. "To reduce your sweet food craving, add sweet vegetables to your diet, like sweet potato, beans, green peas, beetroot, carrot. You add that, it will definitely reduce your cravings."

Full coverage of India Today Concalve East 2019

Fitness Mantra For People With Regular Lives

Deanne had a very simple answer for people to want to continue their fitness streaks for a longer duration. She said, "Movement is the key, find what you love and love what you do. If you love walking, keep doing that. Try Pilates, find a dance class, do not get obsessed with the gym. You should be able to workout anywhere. But first, complete the circle of life. Find what are the aspects that are missing in your life from the primary foods. Find what is missing from that list and why you are gaining weight. Look at your lifestyle choices."

She ended by giving a few examples, "You have seen yogis, they are so thin because they are really happy, they don't even think about food. Children are so happy, they play all the time, you want to run after them and give them food but they just want to play. Be happy from inside. The actors are paid to look like that but you and I do not need to look like that. I talk about wellness being a broad spectrum thing. People are obsessive, they are taking fat burning pills, not eating food, taking supplements and processed food, which is not correct."

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Deanne Panday at India Today Conclave East 2019: At 50 I am the fittest I have ever been - India Today

LONDON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Britain holds an election on Dec. 12, a political gamble by Prime Minister Boris Johnson who sees it as his best chance to break the deadlock in parliament over Brexit.

The parties are on the campaign trail, travelling the length and breadth of the United Kingdom to drum up support.

Following are some colourful snapshots from the election trail:

The campaign routine of long journeys, early starts and late finishes isnt entirely compatible with a healthy lifestyle.

So far, Boris Johnson has been pictured eating a cream and jam covered scone in Redruth, a stick of rock candy in Blackpool and a sausage roll in Milton Keynes train station.

Hes visited a potato chip factory in Northern Ireland, a bakers in Somerset, at least two butchers and a brownies stall at a Christmas market in Salisbury.

All this has been washed down with tasters of Black Country beer, Cornish cider and Scottish whisky - and countless cups of tea.

Johnson has also revealed a weakness for flapjack, the rolled oats mixed with butter, sugar and syrup. Asked on TV on Thursday if he was a flapjack man Johnson replied: Im not meant to be ... Im trying to wean myself off them.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn provoked a very British row during a television interview after suggesting he often had Queen Elizabeths annual address to the nation on in his home at Christmas.

Its on the morning usually, we have it on some of the time, Corbyn, a republican, told ITV. His interviewer pointed out that the speech isnt broadcast until 1500 GMT.

Well said Corbyn. Our Christmas ... (there) is a lot to do, I enjoy the presence of my friends and family around on Christmas obviously like everybody else does, and I also visit a homeless shelter.

Labour education spokeswoman Angela Rayner valiantly defended her leader: He might watch it on catch up, some of us do, some of us have dinner at different times.

Britons love talking about the weather.

So, as the country gets ready to vote in its first December election for nearly 100 years, attention is turning to the forecast - and it doesnt look good.

The Met Office is predicting lower-than-normal temperatures, rain and, in some parts of the country, a risk of snow. Any drier interludes are likely to be short-lived in any one place, the forecaster said on its website.

However, the body representing the local councils who run the polling stations says organisers have taken precautions against a cold snap: With fleets of gritting trucks, state-of-the-art technology, more than a million tonnes of salt stockpiled and plans in place to try and ensure key routes to polling stations are accessible, councils have prepared for any freezing or snowy weather on polling day. (Reporting by William James and Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

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ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL-The election diet: sausage rolls, brownies and flapjack - Reuters