We're not short of infuriating examples of society's sense of entitlement over womens bodies. But those mindless ideas about what certain women "should" or "shouldnt" look like are rarely quite as pronounced when a womans appearance changes on her own terms. This week, few can feel more familiar with that phenomenon than Adele.

This week the notoriously private singer shared a tiny snippet of her personal life with the world, this time, sharing a photograph in which she appeared noticeably smaller than we had ever seen her before. And, lo, the narrative quickly turned to what her weight loss "signified". Almost immediately, Adeles slimmed-down look was seen as a bounce back from divorce, a revenge bod against her soon to be ex-husband.

We will quite possibly never know the reason Adele has lost weight - nor should we expect to. Speculating in this way, that a womans weight loss is only ever for the purpose of vanity, is neither helpful nor healthy. And as someone who knows exactly what it feels like for people to use your weight as an indication of your worth, the practice makes me quite nauseous.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

While some on social media simply delighted in the fact that Adele chose to share anything of her private life at all, and (regardless of her "transformation") looked great doing it, there were, as always, others determined to sully the moment. Did she look better "when she was big", or now? That's all most commentators on social media could bring themselves to consider. Scanning the threads and posts, society's complicated relationship with fatness was impossible to ignore.

When we promote the idea that women, particularly fat women, can only be celebrated once they look the way we want them to, were not just telling women and girls everywhere that theyre not enough, but that others are within their right to tell them as much.

If youve ever been on the receiving end of that, youll know just how crushing that feels. Ive dated men whove attempted to force me to live by those expectations; been disappointed by friends whove repeated them without thinking; and faced strangers who do the same. No matter who it comes from, it hurts. And - as too many fat women and girls often have to repeat - it will do nothing to deliver the outcome you think that person needs. Not a healthy version of it, at least.

When Adele first burst onto the music scene, Im sure, that, just like me, many fat girls felt a sense of pride and nervousness. Nervousness, because it wasnt immediately clear what treatment shed receive from the press and the public, so familiar were most of us with being maligned. And pride, because we couldnt remember the last time we'd seen a fat woman top the UK charts with less mention of her body than her talents.

Over a decade later, I feel the same way. Adele may no longer be fat, and the fact that she isnt really is of no concern to me; I paid little attention to what she looked like when I first heard her music on Myspace as a teenager. But whatever Adele's body shape, were still thinking of her in the same terms, concerned only with what her body says about her when its simply existing, fat or not, like the rest of us.

Though many would enjoy salivating over it, I hope Adele never feels the pressure to offer an explanation about her weight loss. If youre familiar with social media's "fat influencers", who have built their platforms on body positivity, youll know how heavy those expectations are.

There are endless examples of women who, for whatever reason, began their careers at one size and later emerged at another - and have felt unnecessary guilt about that. Women with thousands of adoring fans whove felt the need to apologise, or offer an explanation, for no longer being the same weight they were when we first fell in love with them. As if losing too much weight betrayed their core audience - just as much as being fat meant they were excluded from other markets.

I do not feel betrayed by Adeles weight loss, and nor should anyone else. The politics of living in fat bodies is real, and ideas like that are almost as damaging for body positivity and fat activism as fatphobia. If we want to really talk about these issues, we should. We dont need to speculate over one womans body to do it.

Whether Adele is a size 10 or a size 32 gives us no insight into her state of mind, even if it reveals heaps about our own misguided opinions. Her being slim has no bearing on fat representation either. There are, as were constantly reminded in scaremongering campaigns about obesity, a lot of us out there already. We can continue to inspire each other whether or not a beloved celebrity shares our waist measurements.

Read the rest here:
Adeles weight loss isnt revenge and your excitement about it says a lot about your fatphobia - The Independent

Some of the most well-known celebrities in the world become unrecognizable after slimming down. Heres a look at some of the most dramatic celebrity weight loss transformations.

Adele first appeared to be losing weight back in October 2019 when she was photographed at Drakes birthday party. After, the paparazzi captured the Send My Love singer showing off her new figure while hanging out on the beach and taking a walk. The 32-year-old star seemed to be keeping a low profile, but then took to Instagram to show off her new figure in a Christmas Instagram post and flaunted even more progress with a pic on her birthday in May 2020. Adeles celebrity friends went crazy for her new look, which she reportedly maintains with the Sirtfood diet and help from a personal trainer. Her weight loss came on the heels of her divorce from Simon Konecki in September 2019.

Jessica Simpson had a massive mommy makeover after giving birth to daughter Birdie May. The 39-year-old singer revealed on Instagram she had lost 100 pounds in just six months after she and husband Eric Johnson welcomed their third child together. She shared that she was so proud to feel like herself again. Simpson credits her long-time trainer for helping her shed the pounds in such a short amount of time.

Ricky Gervais had a total body transformation back in 2011 and hes been keeping it tight ever since. The 58-year-old comedian lost 22 pounds at the time without having to make any changes to his diet. Instead, The Office star slimmed down by exercising daily. He starts off every day by going on a run and finishing off his fitness routine with 20 minutes of weight training.

Ariel Winter first showed off her slimmed-down figure in September 2019 when she posed for a photo in a racy corset. The Modern Family star later revealed that her dramatic weight loss occurred after she switched antidepressants. For years I had been on antidepressants that caused me to gain weight that I couldnt lose no matter what I did, she wrote on Instagram at the time. It was always frustrating for me because I wanted to be able to get fit and feel like the work I was doing was paying off, but it never felt that way. I had accepted it and moved on. Since coming clean, the 22-year-old actress has continued to show off her waist in sexy Instagram posts. Now, Winter says shes done losing weight and wants to gain muscle instead.

Mama June was nearly unrecognizable after going from 460 pounds to a size 4 in February 2017. Her weight loss journey began in 2016 when she started to shed some serious pounds. She then tried to get her extra skin removed but was rejected by plastic surgeons because she still had not lost enough weight to complete the procedure. Nearly a year later, the 40-year-old reality stars body hit a plateau and she couldnt lose any more weight, so she underwent gastric sleeve and skin removal surgeries. She stayed incognito to hide her transformation from the public and debuted her new look in March 2017.

Jonah Hill decided to slim down and shocked fans when he appeared noticeably thinner in July 2016. The 36-year-old comedy star was known for his fluctuating weight, even after dropping 40 pounds in 2011 thanks to a personal trainer. But Hill was serious about his weight loss journey, losing it in 2016 and then slimming down even more in October 2017. Now, Hill is keeping the weight off and has turned to Jiu Jitsu to stay in shape.

Kelly Osbourne made a major transformation when she reportedly lost 70 pounds after years of struggling to lose weight. The Fashion Police! host started her fitness journey in 2009 with a weight loss program and stuck with it. Becoming healthy doesnt start with a diet, Osbourne, 35, told ABC back in June 2013. It starts with you mentally. For me it was about first realizing that I didnt want to be the person I was anymore. Then the weight loss just came as a plus afterwards. A year later, she flaunted her new figure in a bikini while vacationing in Australia.

Khlo Kardashian changed her entire lifestyle and in doing so managed to lose weight and gain confidence. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star began vigorously working out and eating healthy after struggling to lose weight for several years. The hard work paid off and in April 2015, the 35-year-old Revenge Body star revealed she dropped a staggering 35 pounds. Kardashian continued to stay devoted to her fitness routine and frequently shares her workouts on social media. While pregnant with her daughter True she weighed over 200 pounds, but after giving birth she quickly got back into shape and lost 33 pounds in 2018.

Nicoe Snooki Polizzi stunned Jersey Shore fans back in 2013 when she appeared even smaller than she already was. The formerly curvaceous meatball lost 50 pounds by July 2013, just 11 months after giving birth to her son Lorenzo. At the time, the 32-year-old revealed she got serious about losing the baby weight and turned to consistent physical activity with a personal trainer. I work out in the gym seven days a week. I go with my trainer five days a week, I have a treadmill downstairs or I do crunches, she revealed at the time. I try to do something at least once a day. The 48 reality TV star has maintained her fit frame ever since.

Shonda Rhimes looked like a new woman after losing 117 pounds in 2015. The Scandal creator managed to slim down by adding exercise into her daily routine as well as eating with portion control. Rhimes, 50, has been open about the fact that she decided to lose weight for health reasons and not for vanity. I did not do it because I thought I would become beautiful like in the movies,she said in 2017, two years after losing the weight. I did it because I could not walk up a short flight up stairs without stopping to take a break and wiping sweat from my brow. I did it because my body was physically rebelling against the brain that had been ignoring it for so long.

Janet Jackson has managed to stay fit after struggling to maintain a weight that she is happy with. The singer, who got pregnant at age 49, revealed she lost 70 pounds after giving birth. The 53-year-old worked out with a personal trainer four times a week and tries to eat a healthy diet without depriving herself of the food she loves. I dont eat meat anymore, just fish occasionally and veggies, she told InStyle in 2018. But I love catfish. I love a fried fish. But Im also crazy about grilled fish. I love Snickers. The pop star opened up about the pressures the music industry puts on women to stay thin and said that expectations are changing for the better. I think its changed, thank God, she had said. People are more accepting of others. Which is the way it shouldve been from the jump.

Drew Carey decided to slim down after deciding that It sucks being fat, he told People. Carey, 61, lost a whopping 80 pounds with strict diet and exercise in 2010. He cut out carbs, snacks on fruits and veggies, and turns to egg whites or greek yogurt for breakfast. He also does about 45 minutes of cardio when he can. I like being skinny, Carey said at the time. I was sick of being fat on the camera. Really, I just got sick of it. Once I started losing weight, again, like once I started dropping a couple pant sizes, then it was easy cause once you see the results, then you dont wanna stop.

Missy Elliott had a total body transformation after getting her diet and exercise routine under control. In 2014, she revealed that she lost 30 pounds with the help of her personal trainer and eating healthy. After fluctuating for a bit, the rapper, 48, decided to get back into it. Elliott decided to cut out all sugary drinks and drank only water for four months straight. She showed off her slimmer frame in an Instagram post and shared that her next move was to try and cut out all junk food from her diet.

Jennifer Hudson made a major transformation when she joined Weight Watchers. Combined with exercise, Hudson, 38, lost 80 pounds in 2010. Being pregnant with her son inspired her to get in shape. I wanted to set a good example for my son. Right after I had him, I began trying to change things, she said in 2011. The star admitted that she used to deprive herself when she tried to lose weight but learned from Weight Watchers that it was all about moderation. I didnt eat pasta, fried food, red meat. I hadnt had pizza in 10 years! Then, about two months after my son was born, I joined Weight Watchers and learned about balance Its about portions and balance, she said.

Chris Pratt transformed his dad bod into a six-pack all for work. The 40-year-old actor slimmed down in 2012 for his role in Zero Dark Thirty, and then in 2014, he lost 80 pounds for his role in Guardians of the Galaxy and then put on 20 pounds of muscle in 2014. The star revealed that he had to gain weight for his role in Parks and Rec but when he hit 300 pounds, he was impotent, fatigued, emotionally depressed. Thats when he decided to make a change and head to the gym.

Roseanne Barr looked like an entirely new woman after her major weight loss transformation. In the 90s, the TV star reportedly weighed around 350 pounds. She underwent gastric bypass surgery in 1998, according to Womens Health, which helped her lose 80 pounds. She then had a tummy tuck to remove her extra skin following the procedure. Barr, 67, would see her weight fluctuate for the following years after her surgery, but in 2014 she committed herself to getting healthy again with a diet and exercise. Im just doing the things youre supposed to do you know, moving more, and eating less, she said at the time.

The rest is here:
The craziest celebrity weight loss transformations of all time - Page Six

Dear Dietitian,

Can you settle a bet between my sister and me? She says apple cider vinegar has many health benefits and that it even can help with weight loss. I say that's bologna. What do you say?

Jenny

Dear Jenny,

If you check out apple cider vinegar (ACV) on the internet, you will find uses for it from weight loss to blood sugar management to cancer treatment. How is one to know what to believe?

Apple cider vinegar, or just cider vinegar, is made from apples and water that have fermented over time, producing alcohol. Then a bacterium known as Acetobacter converts the alcohol to acetic acid, and the concoction becomes vinegar. Some claim that ACV is rich in micronutrients and antioxidants. The truth is it contains mostly water, about 4% acetic acid, and small amounts of potassium and carbohydrate.

Cider vinegar has a long and rich history. It is said that Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, prescribed it along with honey to alleviate a cough. It was also used as a disinfectant to clean wounds. The acetic acid would eliminate bacteria, which would help prevent infections.

Vinegar was also used to make posca, a drink common in ancient Greece and Rome. Posca was made from wine vinegar, diluted with water, and flavored with herbs. It was consumed by soldiers, the lower economic classes, and slaves. The acid in the vinegar destroyed germs in otherwise unclean water.

Vinegar is still used today as an inexpensive cleaning agent. It cleans windows and floors and can even help remove the unpleasant odor of pet urine in carpet by neutralizing uric acid. Of course, ACV is used in salad dressings and other recipes.

As far as ACV health studies, there are few and they are small. A randomized, controlled trial of 39 participants studied its effect on weight loss. All the volunteers were put on a calorie-restricted diet for twelve weeks. One group was given 30 mL/day of ACV, while the other group was given placebo. The ACV group lost more weight and had reduced levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol compared to the control group (1). This study is greatly limited by its small size. It is too small to draw any real scientific conclusion. If the study contained 100 people in the control group and 100 in the ACV group, it might attract attention.

In another small study of 29 people, ACV was found to improve post-meal blood sugar levels in those who were insulin resistant or had type 2 diabetes. It was proposed that vinegar prevented the breakdown and absorption of some starches, thereby decreasing blood sugar (2). The same limitation of small study size applies here.

A misconception exists that the acid in vinegar can treat or prevent cancer. Although a study found that tumor cells died when treated with cider vinegar, these tests were done in a laboratory and have no indication of its use in the human body. The same goes for the theory that cancer grows more quickly in an acidic environment. These tests were performed on cancer cells in a lab. The human body has a built-in mechanism that constantly regulates pH balance, and it is not affected by what we eat or drink.

As with just about anything, ACV has potential harmful effects. Full-strength ACV can cause erosion of tooth enamel, which may lead to decay. It can also cause mouth sores and trigger gastric reflux. Proponents recommend diluting ACV with water before drinking it.

In summary, apple cider vinegar has versatile uses as a cleaning agent and food ingredient. However, there is no significant clinical evidence to support any health claims of ACV, and its use is not recommended in medical guidelines of any major public health organization (3).

That should settle the bet.

Until next time, be healthy!

Dear Dietitian

Leanne McCrate, RDN, LD, CNSC, aka Dear Dietitian, is an award-winning dietitian based in Missouri. Her mission is to educate consumers on sound, scientifically-based nutrition. Do you have a nutrition question? Email her today at deardietitian411@gmail.com. Dear Dietitian does not endorse any products, health programs, or diet plans.

More here:
Dear Dietitian What's the real story with apple cider vinegar? - Kiowa County Press

The start of phase 0 of coronavirus deconfusion has filled runners and walkers the Spanish streets. And the experts agree: there is a lot of new runner who has dusted off the tracksuit after many years in the closet. And, especially after several months of inactivity, the known obstacles appear: shoelaces.Experts say that good stretching and an adequate rhythm of exercise is the best way to avoid small breaks (thats really the stiffness).

But, once they appear, there are home remedies to fight its. And food is of paramount importance, also to lose weight, since exercising is the main help for it. There is a common fruit, in fact, in which experts place special emphasis, according to the specialized publication Mens Health, and it is none other than pineapple, which is one of the sweetest fruits there is. The Studies carried out say that its carbohydrates help to recover quickly after an effort, therefore it is recommended to consume it just after exercise.io.

The key is glycogen that recovers, that has been previously spent in physical effort. On the other hand, pineapple contains bromelain, which is an oak that helps repair damaged muscle fibers and causes stiffness. The shoelaces, as a quick explanation, sWith micro-breaks that appear in the body due to the accumulation of lactic acid and leave in about 48 hours.

Anyway, the best formula to avoid them is not to leave mother. The best treatment is prevention: stretch well and exercise in a very slow progression. We cannot start the exercise strong, but we must keep a rhythm that is adequate to our possibilities, explains Miguel del Valle (Villaviciosa, 1955), specialist in Sports Medicine and Professor at the University of Oviedo. In addition to stiffness, blisters can also appear, not being used to sneakers and sports shoes after so much time locked up. The best thing against stiffness, once they arise, is good rehydration. Many people also use anti-inflammatories or pain relievers.

The best thing is to detoxify the body with good rehydrationexplains Del Valle, who stresses that after training it is necessary to apply a cooling. The expert refers to the fact that it is not advisable to stop suddenly, but rather that you should opt for some stretches at the end (in addition to the initial ones). Once cold, cryotherapy (using the cold) is also recommended. Experts also recommend that newbies in running wear good shoes, wear white clothing and lots of stretching. In this link you can see various premises to follow.

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Continued here:
Weight Loss Tricks: The fruit you should eat daily to remove stiffness and lose weight effortlessly - Explica

Are you overeating during the lockdown? Here are 5 tips to eat in control, without starving yourself  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic led to a nation-wide lockdown that began on the 25th of March, 2020. The lockdown has been further extended twice to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. A lot of people are worried about weight gain, overeating, reduced physical activity, and the repercussions this will have on their overall health. Many of us have the tendency to stress eat, or just east because we are bored.

If you think you are overeating during the lockdown, here are 5 tips that will help you control your diet and portions. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is important, and it is also important to not starve yourself, even if you need to lose weight. These tips will help you control how much you eat, while ensuring your body receives all daily nutritional requirements.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

For full coverage on Coronavirus pandemic, click here.Join the Times Group initiative #MaskIndia.Share a picture with your home-made mask on your social handles using #MaskIndia. The best picture will be featured in TOI and on maskindia.com

See more here:
Are you overeating during the lockdown? Here are 5 tips to eat in control, without starving yourself - Times Now

For some reason, its just hard to remember to drink enough water throughout the day. And while we all know the importance of guzzling H2O, especially as the temperatures rise, its even more crucial for runners to hydrate properly when youre trying to log long runs in the heat.

And when it comes to your water intake, there are plenty of questions. So we tapped Heather Milton, M.S., RCEP, C.S.C.S., an exercise physiologist and clinical specialist at NYU Langones Sports Performance Center and Katie Kissane, R.D., C.S.S.D., at UCHealth in northern Colorado to break down everything you need to know about hydration.

In general, about 60 to 80 ounces of water is adequate for most people in a day. One way to calculate how much you should be drinking is to halve your body weight, and drink that number in ounces. However, this isnt perfect, as it may be too much for someone who is overweight and not enough for someone who is underweight, Kissane explains.

Kissane suggests starting your day with about 16 to 20 ounces in the morning after waking up to rehydrate after a night of sleep, and then continue to drink all day to prevent the onset of dehydration. If that seems excessive, its important to remember that once you start to feel thirsty, thats an indication that you are already dehydrated.

I also do not recommend drinking excessive amounts in the evening as this may cause the athlete to wake up to pee several times at night, Kissane says.

Also, everyones kidney function is different, so spacing fluids out throughout the day helps to maintain healthy kidney function, Milton says. One way to help facilitate this would be filling a water bottle that holds roughly 20 ounces and drinking half of that each hour.

You also have to consider how much fluid is consumed in other beverages like teas and coffee. (Yes, they are diuretics, but so is water.) Fresh foods also have higher water content than dried or processed items, and all count toward your daily intake. An individual who eats all fresh foods with tons of vegetables at meals may need less water than someone who eats microwave dinners for meals, Milton says.

Nope, light yellow is appropriate. Clear is an indication of possibly too much water intake, Milton says.

One thing to keep in mind medications and some foods can change the color of urine, so if you are on antimalarials, antibiotics, or a number of other medications, these simple color rules may not apply.

Should runners drink more than the recommended amount?

Yes, athletes do need to consume more than the recommended amount on training days. They can start with the 60- to 80-ounce recommendation and add fluids according to how long they are training. Each athletes needs are different, and it can be difficult to determine exactly how much more water to drink, because things like altitude, heat, and humidity can affect how much fluid is lost through sweat, Kissane says.

One way to see how much additional water you need is by determining your sweat rate. To do that, weigh yourself before and after a one-hour workout, and drink 16 to 20 ounces per pound that is lost.

[Weighing yourself] may not be feasible, so I always encourage an athlete to consume fluids throughout the day and monitor their urine, Kissane says. If urine is clear or slightly yellow, thats a sign that youre hydrated. If it is dark yellow, you need to drink!

Ideally, youve already been hydrating throughout the day, so having about 16 to 20 ounces in the hour prior to exercise should be goodbut dont chug water immediately before heading out the door for a run, because it might make you feel full, Kissane says.

Adds Milton: Try not to drink so much water before exercise that the stomach is distended.

[Smash your goals with a Runners World Training Plan, designed for any speed and any distance.]

A general rule of thumb is to drink about four to eight ounces every 15 minutes of exercise, but again, that varies depending on the individual, and the type and intensity of exercise, says Milton.

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When youre running outside, especially in the heat, dehydration can make it more likely that someone would succumb to heat stroke. Dehydration also can cause painful muscle cramping, which can impact athletic performance. If an athlete is dehydrated, and they drink excessive amounts of water without replacing electrolytes, they can cause a dilution of electrolytes in the body, which can lead to a dangerous condition called hyponatremia (low sodium levels in the blood), Kissane explains.

Someone is doing moderate to intense exercise in hot and/or humid environments for an hour or longer should consider having an electrolyte drink before or during exercise and possibly afterward, Kissane says. This does not have to be a sugary beverage, but could be a tablet or unsweetened electrolyte powder they add to water.

Another option is to consume something salty, such as pretzels, before the workout and have a food rich in both potassium and sodium such as a fruit smoothie with fruit and yogurt.

If your urine is straw- or lemonade-colored [pale yellow], you are usually good. You can also tell by the frequency of urination. If you are [using the bathroom] every few hours, that is a good sign, Milton says.

Another way it to check your skin. If you pinch your arm and the skin snaps back quickly, it is a sign of better hydration, Milton adds.

More:
Drinking Water Benefits | How to Hydrate | Hydration When Running - runnersworld.com