by Lee Penman

Picture the scene, you are twelve years old, sitting in your doctor’s office and he announces that you have type 1 diabetes, a condition that requires taking insulin shots for the rest of your life. That is exactly what happened to top professional bodybuilder, Colette Nelson, as she revealed to me recently in a very candid and personal interview, where she not only spoke about her own journey through life with this demanding condition, but also offered some real hope and inspiration to fellow athletes with diabetes.

So Colette, let’s start with that initial diagnosis.
When I was diagnosed with diabetes at 12 years old, it was definitely a shock. As it happens, my father had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes about two years prior, which is unusual because most people are diagnosed as a juvenile. However, the simple fact is that type 1 diabetes can happen at any age. It could happen to you! It is an auto-immune disease, and we don’t know why all of a sudden the immune system decides to pull the trigger.

Going back to that fateful day, what was your initial response?
I asked the doctor if I could take pills. He told me that I didn’t have that type of diabetes, I had a different kind and I would have to take insulin shots for the rest of my life. I mean, when somebody says that to you, you are like, Oh my god, tell me anything but something for the rest of my life! Then I asked him what I had to do to stay healthy. He told me to exercise, watch my diet and take my blood sugar regularly. From that point I never looked back. At thirteen years old I joined a gym and gradually got into working out.

How did simply “working out” turn into hardcore bodybuilding?
It’s funny but I actually see a lot of diabetics in the sport of bodybuilding. In a way it makes sense. I mean a bodybuilder has to eat six times a day, that’s exactly what a diabetic is supposed to do. You are supposed to eat raw meals-just like a bodybuilder. You are supposed to exercise just like a bodybuilder. It’s weird, but the lifestyle just seems to attract diabetics. So it was just a natural progression for me and it made me feel more comfortable with myself. I mean here was a sport where people could actually understand me. I never drank; even as a kid I never drank alcohol. I knew I couldn’t figure out the insulin with it and I never wanted to be out of control. So when I started getting into hardcore bodybuilding and hanging out with bodybuilders at around 19 years old, I felt like these are my people, they understood my lifestyle. I went to college in Michigan State and when I went out with friends they would always say have a drink but I didn’t feel like telling them that I was a diabetic and making an issue of it. I mean that would lead to them saying things like are you okay? and do you need to test your blood sugar? So I just gravitated towards bodybuilding. I loved the people I hung out with.

Taking a leap forward in time, how did you handle your first competitions? I mean this is a time when even a normal person can suffer blood sugar disturbances due to the stress of strict dieting not to mention the sheer stress of contest day itself?
Well, I only really started talking about diabetes around three years ago. At the beginning of my career no one even knew. When I first started competing I kept it to myself and would keep a check on my blood sugar secretively by doing it inside my bag or in the bathroom so no one could see me. I mean I had so much more to worry about than most of the other women. I had to make sure my blood sugar didn’t go too low on stage. In addition to this, in my first few shows my blood sugar would end up spiking. Now I manage to keep it below 200 and, ideally, never going above 140. It is a struggle, it really is. I mean my energy is good; it’s just that I have to be so careful. I have to keep checking every fifteen to twenty minutes because I have to take minute amounts of insulin just to make sure my blood sugar stays straight. The last thing I want to do is let it get really high because the next thing that happens is it falls really low, and I don’t want that to happen when I am on stage. I mean, how embarrassing.

I am sure I am not alone when I say that’s one thing you will never be Colette, embarrassed on stage! As far as working out goes, do you have to put any restrictions on the amount of time you spend in the gym?
That’s an interesting question, because I love to train! As a diabetic you don’t need to limit your time in the gym as long as you are really aware of your blood sugar. I test my blood sugar before I train, after I train and sometimes during a workout. It’s a constant battle every day of my life. Usually I test my blood sugar about 15 times a day and it’s annoying but it is the only way to make sure that I keep my blood sugar between 70 and 120.

Usually your blood sugar will rise when you are working out. It’s weird, but I have actually gone into workouts where my blood sugar was 70 (and medical researchers would tell you never to workout with a blood sugar of 70!) and when I finish the workout I am at 100. Now you are talking about a two-hour workout. It really comes down to knowing how much food you have eaten and the timing of the insulin.
On the other hand, there have been times, especially when I am getting ready for a show, that my blood sugar has dropped. When that happens I have to stop and have something to eat and then just sit around until my blood sugar stabilizes and then go back to my workout. Thankfully that doesn’t happen to me that often, just maybe when I am near the end of a contest diet and I’m depleted.

So what would you say to either a bodybuilder who had just been diagnosed with diabetes or someone with diabetes who wanted to get into the sport?
I would sit them down and say to them, what you have to deal with is a battle, but as a bodybuilder you are facing battles every day. However, if you are not committed to testing your blood sugar 10 to 15 times a day, then bodybuilding is not for you.

It’s really not that bad, you just have to know where your blood sugar is at. You can’t go into the gym and train unless you know this because if your blood sugar is too low, your workout is going to suck. If it is too high then you are going to be burning muscle as fuel. So you have to commit to testing and you have to commit to taking as many shots a day as it takes. That’s where doctors fail, they want to make it easy and tell you to take three shots a day. As bodybuilders, we eat five to six times a day and, guess what, you need insulin every time you eat. That makes a minimum of six shots a day. I take twelve because I take a shot calculating what I am going to eat and then I test my blood sugar after a meal to make sure it doesn’t rise over 140, because if it does I need more supplemental insulin.

So these are the tools I teach bodybuilders so that they can better manage their diabetes. I also make sure that they are in regular communication with their doctor.

In fact as a certified diabetes educator, Colette gives generously of her time when it comes to helping other athletes excel in their chosen sport and cast aside the shackles they may once have believed having diabetes placed on them.

As far as her own personal accomplishments, her impressive history of achievements in the sport further illustrate the fact that the day she received that initial diagnosis may very well have been the day her life really began and that her destiny finally revealed itself.
Her story is one of strength, courage and determination and I hope that you, like me, will find inspiration in its telling.

You can find out more about Colette Nelson by visiting her website at www.colettenelson.com

LEE PENMAN – RX MUSCLE

“Ideally you should squat to below parallel while maintaining a neutral spine.”

A good deep squat is very healthy for your knees and also recruits the hamstrings and glutes far better than a partial range squat does. However, most people lack the mobility and flexibility necessary to sink a squat a few inches below parallel without rounding their lumbar spine (lower back). How Deep Should You Squat?

Ideally you should squat to below parallel while maintaining a neutral spine. A good deep squat is very healthy for your knees and also recruits the hamstrings and glutes far better than a partial range squat does. However, most people lack the mobility and flexibility necessary to sink a squat a few inches below parallel without rounding their lumbar spine (lower back). When you allow repeated spinal flexion under the heavy load of a squat you’re asking for problems. In fact it’s one of the best ways I know to eventually suffer some type of disc injury. My solution for you is this:Squat as low as you can while maintaining proper technique/posture. This may be just at parallel or it may be a couple of inches above. Continue to do that while also working on your mobility and improving your range of motion. Two things to remember that will help you get a little deeper are to actively pull yourself into the hole with your hip flexors instead of just yielding to gravity. Secondly, remember that squatting takes place between the knees and not over them. My thanks to Pavel and Dan John for those two excellent coaching cues.After hitting your big barbell squat to right around parallel you’ll want to add in an assistance exercise to get that deep knee bend, full squat position.So do a few sets of 6-10 reps on an exercise that doesn’t load the spine and will allow you to do that. This could be any of the following:•    Single leg squats•    High step ups•    Pistol squats•    Goblet squats•    Kettlbell front squats•    Weight vest squats

Does Everyone Need Full Range of Motion? Quite simply, no. If you’re a sprinter you will never really need the strength in that deep, full range position. The great Charlie Francis had his sprinters do half squats and reverse leg presses (for glutes and hamstrings).That obviously worked out quite well and was all they needed. Would pistol squats have made them faster? I highly doubt it.If you’re a mixed martial artist, on the other hand, you could benefit tremendously from training the deep knee bend position as it is more specific to your sport and the situations you will find yourself in where you will need that strength. So for this type of athlete I would recommend the inclusion of a deep knee bend as an assistance exercise after their squats.

What About Non Athletes? If you aren’t an athlete I still believe that training the deep knee bend position is beneficial and will result in healthier knees. The knee was made and meant to full squat. We spend the first nine months of our lives in the full squat position and do it all the time as infants. So it’s quite natural and the ability to do it should be maintained throughout our lives. But this is only applicable to those that already have healthy knees. Unfortunately, most of us have lost the ability to full squat due to our sedentary lifestyles and a variety of other factors. If your knees are already damaged you may not be able to go below parallel without pain, nor would I recommend it. Unless you are a powerlifter there is no reason to freak out if you can’t get below parallel on any type of squatting variation.Take your time and work into it. It may take weeks or even years, but be patient and don’t risk an unnecessary injury. Squatting slightly above parallel, as Charlie Francis’s athletes did, will still provide tremendous benefit, even though it wouldn’t count at a powerlifting meet or on a gym record board. There are plenty of people who simply aren’t built to squat and will never be able to break parallel without some kind of lumbar flexion no matter what they do. If that means you can only get to two inches above parallel that’s fine. Better to be a little high and safe than break parallel and your back in the process. Work the assistance exercises for the full range strength if it’ something you need and can tolerate.

Strengthen Your Hamstrings One thing I have found over the years is that a lot of people who complain of pain on deep knee bend and single leg exercises can alleviate their suffering a bit by strengthening their hamstrings. If you can back squat without pain but can hardly get through a set of split squats without wincing try focusing on your hamstrings, and glute ham raises in particular for the next eight weeks.Start every lower body session with glute ham raises before you do any type of squat or single leg exercise. As the hamstrings come up the pain often decreases. The other benefit of this is that the glute hams will warm up the knee and pump up the hamstrings a bit which will also make the deep knee bend exercises a bit more tolerable.

Hopefully that all makes sense and you picked up a useful tip or two.

Eleonora has a commanding presence, an amazing physique, and she is downright beautiful. She is a WBFF’s Pro fitness model, personal trainer/online coach and she is quintessentially SHREDDED.

In Her Own Words

When I was first born, I remember everybody was incredibly tall and talked to me like I was an idiot. Naturally, I had to grow up to be a bit of a rebel! (HA-HA!)…..

Any way to be serious I see some people get confused about where I was born and where I lived , mostly now because I live in Canada Toronto. I added my city Krasnodar ,Russia because this is really where I was born and I was there only till 3 years old , then my parents move to Moldova, as before it was Russia there was no confusion. But after 1992 every damn city became independent and create their own government LOL… so now when I see Russian sites where I already shining from their pages proud !!! VERY!!!

There people who asking where exactly my HOME…hahaaaaa Iam not sure if I have a home , because once you leave your country your home is everywhere But just to be clear, i was BORN in RUSSIA Krasnodar, and then I move to MOLDOVA KIshinev, where I lived and studied till 21 years old. So i hope there will be no more questions, as people start calling my FB profile fake , its not fake this is me, one person , and my profile is the ONLY ONE on FB :D.

Female bodybuilder Cassandra Floyd was kind enough to catch up with Female Muscle while rushing from the Atlantic City Pro to the Olympia Weekend. Thanks Cassandra!

Lori Braun: What was it like winning your pro card?

Cassandra Floyd: It was a validation that all the hard work and dieting finally came to fruition. By the way, this is my second Pro Card. I was a former WNBF Pro Light Weight for over 10 years. But, I put things in perspective. I know Rome wasn’t built in a day. The process of training at another level is required. I am patient, so I will be on top at some point in time in my career.

Lori Braun: You just hit the stage at the 2009 Atlantic City Pro. Will you be competing again this year? And if so, what are your goals?

Cassandra Floyd: No more shows for 2009.I now have to focus on school and work. My full-time job pays the bills and not this sport. I have to keep everything in perspective.

Lori Braun: What first got you interested in bodybuilding?

Cassandra Floyd: Actually, I use to watch my dad lift weights in the den part of our home growing up. I would sneak and take the lightest one and do bicep curls. Then in high school and college I would go work out with the guys and they pushed me. So after college I joined a World’s Gym and a group of powerlifters took me under their wings. They stated I had the genetics for bodybuilding, so I did my first NPC show in 1989. Won my class and the overall. So I was hooked from that time until present.

Lori Braun: Is there anything that you remember the powerlifters teaching you that you still use in your training today? Such as training techniques or philosophies?

Cassandra Floyd: Technique is so important. Deadlifts are the best but if your feet are not set properly, you can injure yourself. Major lower back pain. Always wear a belt to support your back. Wrap your knees.

Lori Braun: What advice can you give women who want to lift weights and get toned, but who fear lifts like the deadlift and bench press?

Cassandra Floyd: My advice to all women: you have the control to take your body to the level that suits you. You have to incorporate weights to get toned or to firm up the muscle. Deadlifts and bench press are not totally necessary, always. You can use dumbbells with high reps and less rest between sets. You must also add some type of cardio exercise to your routine.

Lori Braun: What are the most important aspects of gaining muscle for a new female lifter who wants to compete?

Cassandra Floyd: The most important aspect of gaining muscle is nutrition. Eating the right foods. Getting plenty of sleep.

Lori Braun: What guidelines do you recommend for daily protein intake?

Cassandra Floyd: I can only recommend what works for me because everyone’s body is different. Off season I split 75% protein and 25% carbs. My carbs stay low all year round. When I prepare for competition my protein is 85% protein and 15% carbs. This is what works for me.

Lori Braun: You mention in your bio on your website that you were bullied when you were younger. Tell us about that…and how did it motivate you?

Cassandra Floyd: Well. I grew up in the Jehovah’s Witness religion which was very strict at the time. We were not allowed to be around school mates after school if they weren’t part of that religion.

So kids at school would want to come over to play, and each time I told them no, my parents would mot allow it. And I could not go to their homes as well. So I was picked on because they felt that I was too good to be around them which wasn’t the case.

I was a major tom boy growing up because I have 9 brothers. I fall number 11 out of 16. There’s 4 boys in front of me 2 after me. I didn’t have a sister to hang out with. I would play every sport they played: flag football, regular football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball , kickball. I was always thin but muscular. I use to watch my father lift weight and I would mimic him. I would sneak and pick up the lightest weight possible. I had a plan for the girls and boys who would always made fun of me.

Basically, the plan was to kick their butts. This was my inspiration to start lifting weight.

Lori Braun: What does it feel like now when you meet an old friend (or enemy) and they see what great condition you’re in… I imagine everyone is now your friend?

Cassandra Floyd: To answer your question, I can’t say I have enemies. If they are out there too bad. I live a very simple life and I was raised open minded and color blind. I give people the same respect they give me. It does give me pleasure when I visit my hometown and see some of my classmates who where very popular in school and to see them fat out of shape. Also they look like they have 10 years of aging on me. Such pleasure!

Lori Braun: You just came back from the 2009 Olympia Weekend. What’s the best and worst part about the Olympia weekend for you?

Cassandra Floyd: The best was seeing the reaction from the men’s finals. Jay and Branch made night and day improvements from last year. Dexter was basically pissed on stage. The bottom line size and condition made the Olympia this year. It was judged fairly. The worst…it ended too soon. I worked at the Europa booth this year with Denise Masino. Had a blast… just didn’t want the fun to end.

Thanks for your time.

Lori Braun: Thank you Cassandra!

Bodybuilding is usually synonymous with men, but an increasing number of Malaysian women want to have bodies that are beautiful too.

Female bodybuilding practitioner Nana Al-Haleq, 29, said a lack of confidence in her body some time back was a driving factor which led her to embrace the sport three years ago.

“I like to go for outdoor activities such as rock climbing, but I still lacked confidence in my own body shape until I started looking for a personal trainer and actively worked out at the gym.

“After that, changes in my body shape began encouraging me to share pictures of it on social sites such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter till I gained many followers,” said the Psychology and Communications graduate.

She said her husband also supported her growing interest in the sport of bodybuilding.

“I stopped working after two months of marriage to focus more on the sport, with my husband’s support,” she told The Rakyat Post.

For Linora Low, 31, having a well-built body created the impression among her peers that she is tough and she has been called ”bro” (brother) by others.

“Sometimes they call me ‘bro’ but they still treat me like a lady nevertheless,” she said.

The Mix FM radio deejay had previously been called ‘the ball’ for having a plump body.

She said the intake of protein supplement was important to get a well-built body.

“Protein supplements are for when the body does not have enough nutrition. With a busy lifestyle I need enough food to build muscle and fulfill my body’s everyday needs,” she told The Rakyat Post.

Hanisah Shahril, 23, is of the opinion that bodybuilding is associated with fertility problems in women and that the public is still sceptical over the participation of women in the sport of bodybuilding.

“Exercise should be according to individual capability and the advice of professional coaches on how to be fit,” she said.

Courtesy of: The Rakyat Post

Marijuana is enjoying an unprecedented level of acceptance in the United States, but along with the medical and social benefits of legalization, doctors are also learning about side effects that haven’t received much coverage. One of these effects is a particularly nasty one that gives heavy marijuana users extreme nausea and vomiting, which doctors have only recently characterized as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS).

Hyperemesis, which literally means “excessive vomiting,” sounds unpleasant enough as it is, but it actually undersells how bad CHS can be. Exact experiences vary, but some patients describe extreme abdominal pain, and many report being incapacitated by the physical distress. One patient told the New York Times on Thursday that the pain is worse than a broken bone. There are only two ways to get reliable relief: quitting marijuana or, strangely, taking hot showers. In fact, in a paper published January 2018 in the journal Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, researchers report that shower-induced relief is a major marker of CHS.

Doctors don’t know exactly why CHS occurs, but they suspect it has something to do with cannabinoids’ effects on the body’s endocannabinoid system. This system, which is involved with a wide array of bodily processes, affects appetite and the ability to feel satiated by food. The endocannabinoid system is also involved in pain management. Doctors hypothesize that hot showers offer relief by refocusing the patient’s pain perception away from their physical discomfort. They haven’t identified any signs that predict a person’s likelihood of developing CHS.

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As unpleasant as it is, CHS definitely isn’t the only side effect of marijuana. Studies have shown that marijuana use can exacerbate underlying psychological issues in some people, and it’s likely that we’ll see patients report issues like these more frequently in states where marijuana has become legal. As Inverse reported on CHS in 2016, doctors very rarely saw the condition before liberalization, but now the rising tide of cannabis law reform has brought CHS to the forefront.

“Marijuana is probably safer than a lot of other things out there, but the discussion about it has been so politicized and the focus has been on the potential benefits, without looking rigorously at what the potential downside might be,” Dr. Joseph Habboushe, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at New York University Langone and the first author on the January paper, told the New York Times. “No medication is free from side effects.”

Moving forward, doctors have a lot to learn about marijuana and its biologically active compounds. While in a lot of ways marijuana can seem like a godsend to patients who don’t respond to other therapies, we’ll need more research to tell us about the relative risks of medical marijuana.

• marijuana
• legalize pot
• weed
• Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
• pot smoking
• pot health risk
• thc

Article Source: https://www.inverse.com/article/43415-marijuana-vomiting-nausea-cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome

I began typically as most people begin, FED UP! I first stepped into the gym at age 35. I was ready to make a change. My only agenda was to make myself happy and see what I could do for me. My husband loved me the way I was. My friends were used to “Allie the Party Girl”… pleasantly plump and the coolest LP (Little Person) you’ve ever met! Which brings me to my first quandary—being born with Achondroplasia Dwarfism standing at 3’11”.

The traditional approach was definitely out of the question since my skeletal/muscular system is proportioned and arranged differently than the average person. My genes are such that I’m predisposed to excess body fat and a mild estrogen imbalance. Regardless, I was determined!

I walked into the gym for the first time, completely unaware my life would be changed forever. I was armed with absolutely zero knowledge of fitness and nutrition. I did know that I needed guidance and was prepared to hire a personal trainer. Enter Matthew Crouch.

From our very first session together, I knew Matthew was the perfect fit for me. My stature and physical limitations paired with my being sedentary and out of shape was going to be quite a challenge for him. The workouts that Matthew designed¬ for me were extraordinary! Unable to use any of the standard machine equipment, Matthew made sure we did something new and beneficial every time we trained. He answered ALL of my questions regarding clean eating, proper supplementation, workout planning, and more. Matthew seemed to know every “Who, What, Why, When, Where and How” in regards to fitness and nutrition. He was teaching. I was learning, and I was excited!

As the months passed, Matthew and I reached a point where we had trained using the majority of the plyometric- and functional-style exercises/workouts that fit my personal manageability. It was now time for us to attack the resistance machines.

Matthew, a master of body mechanics, was able to modify the resistance equipment to make it “LP-Friendly”. These creative mods allowed for a more structural and comfortable workout. Following 30-months, an abundance of progress, and having fun while doing so, yielded significant fat loss and a healthier more positive change within myself. I was steadfast on taking my body as absolutely far as possible. Together we established exactly what my goals were at this point. Matthew designed a personal meal plan and supplementation regimen targeted at reducing body fat and developing lean muscle mass. The supplement program was geared towards optimizing my results both inside and outside the gym. This is where Nutrishop became a much needed part of my lifestyle. I began incorporating the following supplements: Vitasport PRO7EIN Synthesis, FORZAONE BCAA Sport, XP2 FemFire Pre-workout, CELLSHOCK N’ Fuze, and STANCE Lipotropic to my daily regime.

After pushing myself daily to the absolute brink in the gym, I made the decision to compete in a women’s physique competition under the International Natural Bodybuilding Association, INBA. Something in my wildest dreams I would never have thought of previously. After everything I’ve learned, all the friends I’ve made, the constant support and encouragement I received from everyone around me, I felt like I could make this journey with confidence.

My hard work and passion was recognized. Shortly thereafter, I became a sponsored Nutrishop Athlete with Nutrishop Eastvale/Corona, CA.

On April 4th, 2015 I took the stage competing in my very first Women’s Physique competition with the INBA. I placed 2nd in both the Novice and Open categories. I was also awarded the title of “Best Poser of the Event”.

The thirst for competition continues to grow. I once again competed on July 11, 2015 in an INBA event. My ultimate goal being that I become the first “Little Person” to earn her Pro Card. I am confident that the work my coach and I are putting in right now are pointing me in that direction.

I cannot thank my Nutrishop family, my coach Matthew Crouch, and my family at City Gym in Downtown Riverside, CA enough. I have never been surrounded by so many uplifting people in my life. I am excited to see where this road leads and I am grateful for everyone who is taking an interest in the goals I am working hard to achieve.

During the summer of 2014, I started a support group on Facebook known as H.E.L.P. (Health & Exercise for Little People). H.E.L.P. has sparked a great deal of inspiration and motivation by enlightening others with dwarfism. H.E.L.P. continues to grow with more than 1100 members. Should you know of someone with a form of dwarfism, please spread the word to join this energetic group.

If you take anything away from this, let it be the tried and true, ‘with hard work and determination, you can achieve anything you put your mind to’.

• The Olympic gymnast, 23, opened up about her naked Sports Illustrated Swimsuit spread in a new video interview
• Aly was revealed on Monday to be one of the women starring in a nude photo shoot as part of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s In Her Own Words project
• She can be seen posing with words of her choosing written across her body
• As part of the shoot, Aly, who suffered horrific abuse at the hands of pedophile doctor Larry Nassar, chose to have ‘survivor’ written on her chest
• ‘It felt good to put the word “survivor” across my chest and to not be ashamed of those words,’ she said, adding that the photoshoot made her feel strong

Aly Raisman has proudly detailed how her nude photo spread in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit came to represent an empowering experience for her, and how she hopes it will help change how people think about victims of sexual assault.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist sat down for an interview with Refinery29 health writer Cory Stieg, discussing the naked photo shoot as well as her approach to body positivity and her own body image journey.

Aly is one of the women who have taken part in Sports Illustrated’s In Her Own Words project, which sees the subjects posing with words of their choosing written across different parts of their bodies to reflect certain aspects of their identities.

Aly Raisman has proudly detailed how her nude photo spread in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit came to represent an empowering experience for her

The Olympic gold medalist (pictured on Wednesday night at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue launch in New York City) discussed the naked photo shoot in an interview

Aly is one of several women who posed naked for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue

23-year-old Aly posed for the shoot not long after taking the stand at the trial of pedophile doctor Larry Nassar

The gymnast, who is one of the many victims who suffered horrific abuse at the hands of pedophile doctor Larry Nassar, picked ‘survivor’, ‘fierce’, and ‘trust yourself’ as some of the messages she wanted to sport on her body.

She revealed that Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor MJ Day had even opted not to be present in that moment so that the women involved in the photo shoot would feel complete freedom.

‘It was just really really cool,’ Aly told Refinery29. ‘The whole day was really empowering. I felt really strong. It felt good to put the word “survivor” across my chest and to not be ashamed of those words. I think everyone is a survivor of something. We’ve all be through something traumatic or something that’s hard.’

Aly, who delivered an incredibly powerful victim impact statement during the ex-doctor’s sentencing hearing last month, has become a vocal advocate for survivors of sexual assault, and wants her voice as well as that of others to be heard.

I stand by what I put on my body, women do not have to be modest to be respected

‘I want to try to change the conversation to where it shouldn’t be scary for people to come forward,’ she added.

‘And it is, I can tell you from personal experience, it’s very hard to come forward and to be honest about something you’ve been through that is hard.

‘We live in a social media generation where everyone’s lives seem perfect, and I want to change the conversation where if you go through something hard, or you’re currently going through a hard time, or you’re suffering in silence, I want to encourage people to use their voices and encourage everyone else around them to support them, so when people do come forward we believe them, we listen and we take proper action.

‘Because nobody deserves to be abused and nobody deserves to feel uncomfortable.’

Aly said she know from the get go that some people wouldn’t agree with the spread, but insisted she firmly stands by it and its message.

‘I stand by what I put on my body, women do not have to be modest to be respected,’ she added.

‘I stand by posing in a sexy bikini. You can be sexy. You can be wearing whatever outfit you want and still be powerful, strong, advocating for change, still be a kind, good person, and you can still be respected.

She said she is ‘very grateful’ for those who have supported her, and explained how she intends to keep working to change people’s mindsets when it comes to assault.

The gymnast posed with ‘truthful and empowering’ words written across her body, including ‘survivor’ on her chest

Aly joins fellow Sports Illustrated stars Sailor Brinkley Cook, Paulina Porizkova, and Robyn Lawley who also took part in the nude shoot for the publication

‘For the shoots, I was excited, but also a little nervous in the beginning, because it’s still a new experience,’ Aly said

Aly explained that one of the messages behind the shoot is that ‘women do not have to be modest to be respected’

Aly’s shoot allowed her to ‘take control’ in front of the camera, and gave her the chance to direct how the photos were taken

‘We still have to continue to educate other people so they understand that if you’re walking alone late at night in an alleyway, whatever outfit you are wearing, you never, ever should be attacked,’ she said. ‘And I think there are people who really believe that if you’re wearing a sexy outfit you’re asking for it, and that’s disgusting. It’s not acceptable.’

Aly has also become a voice in the body positivity movement, partnering with Aerie for an unretouched adverting campaign revealed last month.

Whatever outfit you are wearing, you never, ever should be attacked

While she is still figuring out exactly what body positivity means for her, so far, she feels that it entails ‘figuring out how to be the best version of yourself and not comparing yourself to other people’.

‘I think it’s important to respect other people, be kind to other people, stop body-shaming but also appreciate yourself, stop body-shaming yourself,’ she added. ‘It’s obviously easier said than done.

‘Every day, we wake up and we feel differently. Some days I look at myself in the mirror and I like the way I look. Other days, by accident, without realizing it, you pick yourself apart.

‘In those moments, I try to take a deep breath and realize what I’m doing and shift things, and focus on what I like about my body because its not healthy to do that. And I also think about ways to, if I feel insecure, talk about it.’

The gymnast, who has in the past said she was bullied as a young girl for her muscular frame, recounted how boys in her class would sometimes deem her body shape ‘disgusting’.

This, combined with the fact that gymnasts are often expected to be thin, led her and her teammate Simone Biles, now 20, to believe they didn’t have the ‘right bodies’ for gymnastics.

Aly and Simone have seven Olympic gold medals between them.

‘It’s kind of crazy that we didn’t think our bodies were good enough,’ Aly said, reflecting on her and Simone’s past self-doubts.

The athlete said she know from the get go that some people wouldn’t agree with the spread, but insisted she firmly stands by it and its message

‘The whole day was really empowering. I felt really strong,’ she said of the shoot

In her interview, Aly encouraged young women chasing their dreams to compete only with themselves and to refrain from comparing themselves to other people.

‘Trust yourself,’ she added. ‘Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, then it’s important to ask questions and to speak up. I think it’s just important to remember you have a voice and you deserve to be heard.’

Sports Illustrated’s stunning black and white photos, which include Aly’s, were shot by Taylor Ballantyne for the magazine’s ‘In Her Own Words‘ project, which marks the ‘evolution’ of the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in the light of the ongoing push for women’s equality.

Aly joins fellow Sports Illustrated stars Sailor Brinkley Cook, Paulina Porizkova, and Robyn Lawley who also took part in the nude shoot for the publication.

Sailor, 19, Paulina, 52, and Robyn, 28, all stripped and turned their bodies into canvases covered with words that represent how they see themselves, with their pictures being shared with the world one week ahead of the issue’s launch.

‘I’m so excited to be a part of the issue for the second year in a row,’ Aly, who posed in an athletic-themed bikini spread last year, told Sports Illustrated.

‘This year has an extra special meaning to me, because it’s such an incredible time for women and everyone should feel as though they can express themselves however they want.

‘For the shoots, I was excited, but also a little nervous in the beginning, because it’s still a new experience. Once we started shooting, I felt comfortable because everyone on set was so supportive!’

Aly’s bikini shoot took place in Aruba, and saw her posing in front of photographer James Macari.

The gymnast also posed in a more conventional bikini spread for the issue

It isn’t the first time Aly has graced the pages of the magazines; last year, she posed for an athletic-themed shoot for the swimsuit edition

‘I believe that women (or anyone) should be able to wear whatever makes them feel comfortable and happy,’ Aly said

Aly, who has become a vocal advocate for body positivity, said society ‘puts too much pressure on women and young girls to look “perfect”‘

While Aly was initially nervous during the shoots, she said her team’s supportive attitude helped her relax in front of the cameras

‘This year has an extra special meaning to me, because it’s such an incredible time for women and everyone should feel as though they can express themselves,’ Aly said

The gymnast, who made headlines after staring down her abuser in court while delivering her incredibly strong statement last month (pictured), wants her voice to be heard

Aly previously explained when the spread came out that her photos are meant to convey a message of respect for women.

‘I believe that women (or anyone) should be able to wear whatever makes them feel comfortable and happy,’ she added. ‘Our society puts too much pressure on women and young girls to look “perfect”, and we have to stop doing that.

‘I’m proud that SI Swim is using women of all shapes and sizes with various backgrounds. Each woman in the issue has her own unique story, and I am honored to be a part of it.’

The gymnast, who made headlines after staring down her abuser in court while delivering her powerful statement, wants to lead the way for others looking to assert themselves.

‘I take the responsibility [to be a role model] very seriously,’ Aly, who twice captained her country’s gymnastics team at the Olympics, said. ‘I am proud to be considered a role model, and I hope that by using my voice, I can help create change for future generations.

‘Everyone deserves to feel safe and heard. We must listen to those that speak up and offer our help.’

Sailor Brinkley Cook (pictured) has joined Paulina Porizkova, Robyn Lawley, and a cast of other models also star in the nude Sports Illustrated Swimsuit spread

As part of SI’s ‘In Her Own Words’ project, Paulina (pictured) and the other models stripped down and turned their body into canvases covered with meaningful words

The words written on their bodies represent how they see themselves, and Robyn posed with ‘creative’ and ‘nurturer’ emblazoned on her upper body

While posing provocatively while nude might not immediately seem like a move away from the publication’s traditional projects, those behind the shoot insisted that the nakedness was a form of expression, allowing the models involved to express their ‘voice, strength and passion… in the rawest form’.

The intention was to use the kinds of images that readers expect from the magazine and then use those as a platform to deliver a more meaningful and empowering message. It is in fact the first time that a fully nude spread — which was shot by a female photographer — will run in the publication, which previously focused more on raunchy shots featuring risque swimwear.

‘In Her Own Words is a continuation and evolution of the essence of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit,’ the publication explained on its website. ‘It is a platform that allows the voice, the strength and the passion of these women to be expressed in the rawest form…on the naked body…with all the artistic and creative control left to them.’

In order to make the models feel as comfortable as possible in the face of the perhaps-daunting prospect of posing nude in front of cameras and a crew of people, the magazine ‘stripped down’ its studio and used a team comprised of only women for this particular shoot.

‘We handed over the control to the women who are our brand,’ it explained online. ‘We believed in, supported and encouraged them to become a canvas and share their truth.’

For editor MJ Day, the shoot marks a big shift for the publication, and one which she feels has been worked towards for many years now.

She has made concerted efforts to embrace a much more diverse cast of Swimsuit stars, explaining to Vanity Fair that she hopes to continue diversifying the magazine beyond the rather narrow standards of beauty that it once embraced and celebrated.

‘Why are we only saying to ourselves that there’s just one type of person that’s worthy of being celebrated?’ she asked.

‘It’s bull****, and we all know it, and we all live it, yet it’s continued to be propagated in the media.’

She went on to explain to Vanity Fair that this does not mean the magazine is going to turn its back on those sexy beach-based shoots that have filled its pages for years – instead MJ hopes that she can alter the way that the images, and particularly the women in them, are viewed.

‘It’s about allowing women to exist in the world without being harassed or judged regardless of how they like to present themselves. That’s an underlying thread that exists throughout the Swimsuit Issue,’ she said.

‘You have Harvard graduates, you have billion-dollar moguls, you have philanthropists, you have teachers, you have mothers—you have a full range of women represented in the alumnus of this magazine, and not one of them failed because they wore a bikini.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5396121/Aly-Raisman-posing-nude-Sports-Illustrated-Swimsuit.html#ixzz57ZiJSISp

Melissa Coates

Call Melissa on TalkLive @ ext. 625

Melissa says, ” I grew up in a rough little place called Thunder Bay in Ontario CANADA, a city of about 125 000 located on the tip of Lake Superior. My parents Robert and Betty Coates had already had 3 kids by the time I arrived – 2 brothers, JR and David, and my sister Mary Beth. Yes I am the baby of the family!

Click Here to See More of Melissa

Contrary to what you might think, being the baby didn’t mean I GOT babied. My parents were fairly old when they had me. As you can imagine 3 kids, and my brother JR being just a year old when I was born, didn’t leave my parents with much time or energy to put special attention into me. This was really a blessing. I believe it led me to develop the not-so-conventional ideals and career interests that I have today, and gave me the strength and focus to pursue them in the midst of adversity.

The rest of the members of my family are VERY conventional – my father is a doctor, my mother was a nurse and amateur actress, my 2 brothers are doctors now, and my sister is a university professor with degrees in Philosophy and Psychology. I myself graduated from university with a BS in biology. I had also had plans to be a doctor – of the veterinary medicine kind. Needless-to-say, I didnt exactly continue along this career path. I had developed a strong inclination for doing sports that had started when I was quite young, and this was rivaling my desire to complete medical training. I guess we all know now which route I took. “

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After seeing her gallery, it will be easy to understand why Pamela is so popular. She is stunning, classy and elegant but she is also strong and can be very Dominant. Pamela can lure you in with her beauty and charm, then twist you around her finger and make you beg to please her. She will own you heart, mind, body and soul and there’s not a DAMNED thing you can do to stop her. If she wants something, she TAKES it. If you don’t please her willingly, you’re going to suffer until she is completely satisfied.

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We can’t help but to notice the regular buzz and flurry of activity Tweeting from the twitter account of incredibly strong Czech bodybuilder, Katka Kyptová. Here’s some information on her including a huge photo gallery and by all means follow her on Twitter!

My Loves:
hard workout! Cardio. Fitness. Coffee Heaven. Hello Kitty, Focení.Rachlá car. R & B / neo soul / hip-hop. Dance. Daniel Millman. Victorias Secret. High Heels.Intellectual conversation. Sexual experiences. Las Vegas. Sushi. Espresso. Dry Martini. Jahody. Coconut Body Lotion. Vanilla. Chocolate protein. Chillout music. Sauna. Inline. Puffed rice. Abercrombie & Fitch. Aéropostale. Candles. Incense. Herbs. Carnitine Drink!

Click Here for Katka Kaptova’s 50 Hottest Photos

Click Here to Read More

How I relax: a massage, sauna, salt cave, a glass of good wine with friends, watching fairy tales:)

What I was addicted:): on the move, counting calories ), on rice, the music, the fragrant bars and on the people:)

What can not be without: without my breakfast )) (puffed rice with protein ….: o) and without moving:)

What I am: friendly, always smiling, sociable, tolerant, sensitive, open, phlegmatic and still hyper

Motto: People who can not understand the value we have for growth. Those with whom souzníme have the value of benefits. Both are equally important, although the first is quite annoying and the other vice versa.

Education:Technical University of Liberec, Faculty of Education, majoring in Sports Management

• National Academy of Physical Culture – Cardiofitness (fitness trainer Sports II. Class)

• FISAF (specialization Muscle conditioning)

• Eva Blahušové Wellness – Pilates instructor

• FACE – Bosu Core Diploma

• FACE – Bosu Fitness

• FACE – Bosu Strength

• 3D FITNESS – TRX

• FACE – Personnel training in pregnancy and after childbirth

• FACE – Health and functional training for current clients

Work: I work with a personal trainer and fitness advice on healthy lifestyle

Specialization: Sport diagnostics, training for increasing fitness, reducing intensive training, training to support muscle growth, flexibility, training, compensation practice, removing imbalances, training of lower back pain in pregnancy and after childbirth, nutrition for athletes and the general population, the influence of nutrition on health, alternative treatment for diseases. Katka Kaptopva Twitter

Having trouble getting motivated to train? Staying motivated to train? Have I got the solution for you!

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Nahla Monroe is gaining serious momentum in popularity.

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It is important for you to stick to the basics until you get to know how your body responds to weight training. People do not respond the same exact way to training and what works for one type will not necessarily work for another. One method of categorizing body types recognizes three different physical types and it is called “somatotypes”.

The ectomorph: short upper body, long arms and legs, long narrow feet and hands, and very little fat storage. This body type has a narrow chest and narrow shoulders and long, thin muscles.

The mesomorph: large chest, long torso, solid muscle structure and very strong.

The endomorph: short musculature, round face, short neck , wide hips, and heavy fat storage.

No one is totally one type but a combination of all three types. Any body type can be developed with the correct training and nutrition however people with different body types will need to approach their training with different objectives, even though they may all have the same goals.

Ectomorph Training

The ectomorph’s first objective is gaining weight and muscle mass.Strength and endurance will need to be developed and muscle mass develops very slowly. Stay with the basic exercises and include power moves that build maximum mass. Do an entire training workout, but take longer rest periods if you need to. Take in more calories than you are accustomed to and use weight-gaining and protein drinks to supplement your food intake. Try not to expend to many calories by keeping cardio to a minimum saving them for muscle building.

Mesomorph Training

The mesomorph will find it easy to build muscle mass but will have to include a variety of exercises in their program so that the muscles develop proportionately and shapely rather than bulky. A combination of heavy power moves and a variety of shaping exercises and a more varied for better quality, proportion and symmetry of the physique. Long workouts and short rest time. The mesomorphic type responds well to training so super-long sessions are not needed. A balanced diet with a good amount of protein and maintain an even calorie level all time.

Endomorph Training

The endomorph will not have much difficulty building muscle but will have to be concerned with losing fat weight and be careful not to gain the weight back. High-set, high-repetition training with short rest periods to burn off as much fat as possible. Additional aerobic exercise for calorie consumption. A low-calorie diet that contains the necessary nutritional balance with the minimum amount of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Make sure that you are getting the right amount of vitamins and mineral supplements the body needs.

Sofia Kenin‘s tennis life has so far been one of labels. From pre-teen prodigy, hitting with Anna Kournikova and getting her picture taken playing with Kim Clijsters‘ hair. To opponent, the woman who beat Serena Williams in last year’s French Open third round.

Now, a new title: Australian Open champion. And perhaps now, beyond labels, more deserved name recognition.

Kenin, at best the U.S.’ fifth most well-known active tennis player, became the youngest U.S. woman to win a Grand Slam since Williams in 2002. The 21-year-old beat Spain’s two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the Melbourne final on Saturday.

Kenin showcased her trademark ferocity, one that belies her 5-foot-7 frame and that she attributes to her birth nation of Russia. The crucial time was at 2-all in the final set. Kenin, born in Moscow and raised in Florida by Russian parents, rallied from love-40 down on her serve and won the last four games.

“I knew I needed to come up with the best shot, five best shots of my life,” she said. “It got me to win a Grand Slam.”

And to supplant Williams as the highest-ranked U.S. woman in the world (No. 7 overall). She’s the youngest woman to take that label since Williams was year-end No. 1 in 2002.

“Obviously,” Kenin said, “things are going to change for me.”

Kenin had never before gone past the fourth round of a Grand Slam. But she hasn’t doubted herself in more than a year. She backed up that win over Williams in Paris by beating top-ranked Ash Barty of Australia last summer and again in the semifinals in Melbourne with the crowd against her.

Younger Americans had bigger Grand Slam breakthrough in 2019 — Coco Gauff, 15, and Amanda Anisimova, 18 — but it was Kenin who was the WTA’s Most Improved Player last season. She made sure to point out that award in her champion’s press conference Saturday, with what appeared to be a half-full glass of champagne on the table in front of her.

“I knew I needed to establish myself to get to where I am,” said Kenin, who jumped from No. 52 at the end of 2018 to No. 14 at the end of 2019. “All the confidence has come with all the matches that I’ve had, the success I’ve had in 2019.”

Kenin said she overcame nerves to win each of her seven matches the last two weeks, including coming from a set down to oust Gauff in the round of 16.

“[Doubles parter] Bethanie [Mattek-Sands] tweeted I’ve been crying before every match,” said Kenin, who moved to No. 1 in U.S. Olympic qualifying and is all but assured one of four singles spots in Tokyo (and probably a doubles spot with Mattek-Sands, potentially leaving one doubles spot to be doled out between Gauff and Venus Williams after the French Open).

Kenin has repeated the phrase “American dream” this past week. Her Russian parents came to New York City in 1987 with $286, according to New York Times and ESPN profiles of Kenin after she uspet Williams in Paris. They went back to Russia for Kenin’s birth, then back to the States.

Kenin began playing tennis at 5 and honed her game in Florida. She became a U.S. age-group No. 1 in the 12, 14, 16 and 18 divisions. Sonyakenin.us was up and running when she was 9 (her nickname is Sonya). She made a junior Grand Slam final and reached No. 2 in the junior world rankings.

But unlike Gauff and Anisimova (and both Williams sisters), Kenin didn’t start making her mark in majors until she turned 20. Kenin considered delaying her pro career in 2017. Had she lost in the first round of the U.S. Open that year for a third straight time, she would have considered enrolling at the University of Miami, according to the Washington Post.

Instead, she beat two Americans before losing to Maria Sharapova in the third round. She earned $140,000, accepted it and announced on Instagram, “Can’t wait for what the future holds for me.”

“My dream officially came true,” Kenin said on court Saturday. “I cannot even describe this feeling. It’s so emotional, and I’ve worked so hard. I’m just so grateful to be standing here. Dreams come true, so if you have a dream, go for it, and it’s going to come true.

With two young children, Martine Etienne-Mesubi knew long runs and strict dieting weren’t going to work. What did? Intermittent fasting.

With a Ph.D. in epidemiology, Etienne-Mesubi put her research skills to work to learn about intermittent fasting. Courtesy Martine Etienne-MesubiJan. 28, 2020, 9:36 AM ESTBy Stephanie Thurrott

• Name: Martine Etienne-Mesubi
• Age: 43
• Residence: Baltimore, MD
• Job: Global health epidemiologist
• Family status: Married
• Peak weight: 225 pounds
• Current weight: 145 pounds
• Height: 5 feet 4 inches

In January 2019, Martine Etienne-Mesubi had had enough. She was 42 years old, and she weighed 225 pounds. She couldn’t play outdoors with Zoe, her 6-year-old daughter, without stopping to catch her breath. “When we went to the park I’d say, ‘Hold on Zoe, let’s take a break, let’s wait for mom, let’s sit down.’ I hated that,” she says.

Her second daughter, Ava, had been born a few months earlier, and Etienne-Mesubi ate whatever she wanted when she was pregnant and nursing. “At 10 at night I would pull out a bowl of cereal or make toast, then go to bed right after. My eating habits were down the drain,” she says. By the end of 2018 Ava stopped nursing, so the “eating for two” excuse wasn’t cutting it anymore. Plus, Etienne-Mesubi was concerned about developing diabetes and hypertension, which run in her family.

She knew she had to take control of her weight and her health. “Being 225 pounds and carrying on the way I was with no-holds-barred eating all the time, I realized can’t keep eating like this.”

After her first pregnancy, Etienne-Mesubi had lost weight by running and modifying her diet. She trained for 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons, and she watched everything she ate.

“I was in that diet mentality. I thought, ‘I can’t have this, I can’t have that, I don’t want to gain weight.’ Looking back, it was really not a good place for me with food. I was obsessive about everything I was eating and all the exercise I was doing,” she says.

She didn’t see a path forward for weight loss. “In my mind there was no way to do it except the way I did after my first daughter, and I was not feeling that energy,” she says. “I thought, ‘I’m older, we have two kids now, and I’m tired. There’s no way I’m running anywhere or doing any HIIT exercises’,” she says.

On Instagram she came across people who were losing weight with intermittent fasting and tracking their progress with the LIFE Fasting Tracker app. “I didn’t know what that meant. I thought people were just not eating. How do you not have breakfast or lunch? I couldn’t grasp the concept,” she says.

With a Ph.D. in epidemiology, Etienne-Mesubi put her research skills to work learning about intermittent fasting: “I needed some science. I wanted to know what evidence existed to show this was a legit way to lose weight.”

She discovered people had been fasting intermittently for years who said they were losing weight, feeling better, and reversing diabetes and hypertension. “I was blown away by all the information I was finding, and a lot of it is based in science,” she says.

Still, she was apprehensive. “I love to eat, I love food, and I love to cook. My favorite store is Costco because they’re always giving you something to taste. I didn’t know if I could manage not eating for however long,” she says. “But I decided to start the new year fresh, and this was how I was going to do it.”

There are a lot of different options for intermittent fasting, and Etienne-Mesubi started with 18 hours of fasting and a six-hour eating window. “In the beginning it was challenging but within two weeks it became very normal,” she says.

She learned that hunger often comes in waves, and if she drank some water or tea, or read to get her mind off the hunger, the wave would pass. “The minute I shifted my mind onto something else I wasn’t hungry, and before I knew it, I was at my eating window,” she says.

She had no trouble skipping breakfast, and sometimes wasn’t hungry at noon, so she would push the start of her eating window to 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. and finish eating by 6 p.m.

She also fasted for 48 to 72 hours every week for about two months. “I’m not a medical doctor. I do have a Ph.D. in epidemiology, but I wouldn’t recommend anybody do that without speaking to your doctor and doing your own research,” she says.

By April 2019 she had lost 30 pounds and her eating window had shrunk to two or three hours a day. She decided to challenge herself with one meal a day (OMAD). She figured if it didn’t work for her, she could revert to her regular intermittent fasting schedule.

She planned her daily meal for dinnertime so she and her family could all eat together, and she didn’t restrict what she ate. “I’m Haitian and my husband is Nigerian, and we eat everything. I wasn’t going to restrict my traditional foods,” she says.

Over the holidays, Etienne-Mesubi continued with intermittent fasting but gave herself an expanded eating window of six or eight hours. “We were celebrating, and I have no regret and no guilt for extending my window,” she says. “Even though I allowed myself extended time to eat, I didn’t go crazy. I still enjoyed myself and my time with my family and kids. It was so freeing to know if I want to eat longer I can, and if I don’t feel like eating anymore I’m going to stop,” she says.

After seven years staying home to care for her daughters, Etienne-Mesubi returned to work last November as a public health epidemiologist working in global health. She was apprehensive about rejoining the workforce and says her weight-loss success helped give her the confidence to do it. “I thought, ‘Martie, you lost all this weight, you can definitely go back to work — you got this,” she says.

Etienne-Mesubi shares her journey on her blog, podcast and Instagram. “Anybody can do this. This is something you have control over,” she says.

“I feel amazing. I feel fantastic. I have newfound confidence,” she says. “I’m saying ‘yes’ to so many things. I’m excited about life and my future with my family. I’m a better mom and a better wife.”

One meal a day (OMAD): She’ll start with some nuts or guacamole and chips, and then have a traditional meal like Haitian rice and beans with oxtail and cabbage, or a big baby arugula salad with a bunch of things thrown in — nuts, beets, broccoli, braised turkey necks, quinoa and chickpeas. Some days they might have avocado toast with eggs and cheese, or fish tacos. Salad is a mainstay.

“I have one satiating meal in one sitting. Whatever that may be, I have that meal with my family and then I’m done for the day. That’s why it’s important for the meal to consist of healthy and filling components,” she says. “Once I have eaten my meal, I’m fully satisfied and won’t eat until the next day. It takes time for your body to get used to eating this way but once you get into the rhythm of it, it becomes a daily habit.”

And if Zoe asks for pizza or wants to bake cookies, Etienne-Mesubi is on board with that.

They always have dessert, which could be ice cream or cookies, or yogurt, granola or fruit. “I’m a big sweet eater, but I still try to get my daughter to choose fruits over ice cream or cookies,” she says.

Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, a nutrition and weight-loss expert with a virtual nutrition counseling practice based in New York City, says it’s important that Etienne-Mesubi realized that what worked for her in the past wasn’t sustainable for her current lifestyle.

“At some point, it’s difficult to maintain that level of exercise and rigidity over your food choices, which is why so many people throw in the towel. But you can eat better, find movement experiences that work for you, and get to a healthier weight without going to those extremes,” Cassetty says.

She says that much of the research on intermittent fasting comes from animal research, which is interesting, but not conclusive. “Based on the evidence we have, there seems to be some benefit to intermittent fasting, but the rules can be tough to follow,” she says.

Intermittent fasting might not be a great choice if you:

• Get get distracted and irritable by hunger
• Have had a turbulent relationship with food or your body or your weight, since this type of restriction may be triggering
• Have kids at home, since there’s some concern that normalizing this type of eating pattern for the sake of weight loss can normalize weight anxiety and may influence your child’s relationship to food and his or her weight

Instead, you might want to consider the Mediterranean diet for health benefits, or a regular, calorie-restricted meal plan for weight loss.

She says many people might struggle with just one meal a day: “Studies on intermittent fasters have high drop-out rates, suggesting how hard it is to ignore hunger and eat within limited windows.”

Cassetty also is concerned that people who eat just one meal a day may not be meeting their vitamin and mineral requirements. Etienne-Mesubi says she chooses nutrient-dense meals with leafy greens, eggs, nuts, grains, and loads of veggies and takes a daily multivitamin supplement to ward off any deficiencies.

“But there are some lessons we can learn from intermittent fasting,” Cassetty says. “For example, night-time eating is linked with an unfavorable metabolic shift that ups your risk of diabetes and other challenging, chronic conditions, so it’s a good idea for everyone to think about ways to curtail nighttime nibbling. A 12-hour fast is appropriate for most people, and can help create some structure in the evening, when people are prone to snacking.”

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Amber Deluca is a legend. A goddess. She is one of the strongest women in the world, and from the videos and photos you can find of her it is clear that Amber is a naturally dominant woman. I had the honour to interview her and ask her all the questions that I’m sure you want to see answered… Enjoy…

Amazonias: When did you start with bodybuilding and why?
Amber Deluca: I started training with weights at 13 years old.  My volleyball coach introduced the team to Nautilus and then free weights.  I knew that if I got stronger, I would become a better athlete.  I was a track athlete, at first a quarter-miler, then one-half miler.  But before too long, I was too big for these events to be competitive, so my coach talked me into throwing the shotput and discus my senior year, and I set the high school record in the discus.  I went to college on a volleyball scholarship, where I continued to weight train and also trained at a local bodybuilding gym.  I never competed in the art form of bodybuilding until 2001 as a figure competitor and then, finally, after doing a photo-shoot with Bill Dobbins, he encouraged me to take the next step and compete in bodybuilding, so I did in 2003.  I competed at the national level after winning my first show in 2003, up to 2006.  I weighed about 180 pounds during my competitions.  I lived with my girlfriend, an IFBB professional bodybuilder in the Netherlands in 2008.  When I returned home, I had a change of heart, and since I broke the 200-pound barrier in bodyweight, I decided to see how strong I could get.  Since then, I have had a love affair with getting strong as possible, and from there, I have been hooked on all things powerful.  I am best known for my human feats of strength, lifting men overhead with one arm and two arms and becoming one of the strongest women in the world.Do you like to be strong? what do you like about it?

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I have always enjoyed being strong ever since I can remember.  When I was a young girl, from around 8-12 years old, I used to climb trees, get in foot races, and play games of strength with the boys in my neighborhood. We used to challenge ourselves in high jump, piling all the pillows up, wrestled, and did acro-balancing type movements without really knowing what we were doing.  It was just a natural thing for us to do.  I have always thought it was healthy and natural to be strong, and always wanted to be stronger.

Are you stronger than regular guys?
I am stronger than an average male.  I am also stronger than a lot of trained men.

Do you like to be stronger than guys?
I enjoy being stronger than men, particularly men that are athletes or are “alpha males”.  I like to beat them at their own game.   It’s a real turn on for me knowing I am so soft, feminine and beautiful, but also very strong.  The dichotomy and duality of strength and femininity is intoxicating for both men and women.  It is a natural aphrodisiac, because most men do not expect a beautiful woman to be strong.  I am stronger than I look, although, lately since I am into the mid 200’s bodyweight, that may have changed a bit.Do you enjoy being stronger than them? if so, what exactly do you like about it?

I enjoy being stronger than men because it is not expected.  I am not a bully. I think it is very sexy and erotic knowing that I can take care of a man physically.  A man is turned on by a strong woman biologically, because he is hard-wired to be attracted to a woman that can bear his children, hunt and gather food, collect water, fight and protect the family.  Men can appreciate a woman that is strong because this indicates she can bear healthy children; bring wealth in bearing many children, and being an active participant in a tribal community.   Even if a woman chooses to refrain from child bearing, the chemistry for a good sexual encounter is based on this biology.

Do you have any fighting skills? wrestling, martial arts, kickboxing… if so, what level are you, how long have you done it
I have practiced wrestling, Muay Thai and Brazilian Ju-Jitsu.  I have a basic knowledge and skills.

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Do you sometimes measure your strength with guys? lifting, armwrestling…? what is the result? tell maybe about one or more concrete experiences
I have armwrestled and lifted weights with many men over the years.  I can beat the average man in an armwrestling match, and even men that are trained.  I like to go to the gym and just bang out some heavy sets in whatever I am doing, bench press, and overhead pressing in particular.  One time, a world-class strongman approached me in the gym and told me he had never seen a woman overhead press 185 pounds for reps. I just laughed and told him I just do this for fun.  He told me I should compete in strongwoman shows, so I took him up on the offer.  I went to his house and after our first training session, was lifting a 300-pound Atlas stone from the ground onto a platform.  After three months of training with implements, I became one of the strongest women in the world, beating the world’s strongest woman in three events, and placing 4th overall in North America’s Strongest Woman in 2011.

Do you sometimes wrestle or fight with guys?
I will wrestle men from time to time.  I typically like to submit in a rear-naked choke, triangle choke, armbar, or bodyscissors. I have always just wrestled guys for fun—when I was in college, I regularly wrestled the guys on the wrestling team.

Have you ever been in a situation that was for real, where you really had to defend yourself against guys? have you ever hurt a guy?
When I was in college, my roommate and I had been to a frat party—we were pretty durnk.  The guys that were taking the money for the night and I got into a tussle.  I ended up submitting them and taking their money in the sub zero temperature on the street.   We counted it up the next morning, did our laundry and ordered pizza (those were high times for us) and it was in the neighborhood of $400.  We returned it the next day to them.  I think they would have preferred we kept it to save them the humiliation.

Can you tell us some fantasies about dominating guys?
There are so many, where do I start? First of all, true domination starts in the mind.  A man has to know in his heart of hearts that he cannot get out of whatever submission I put him in.  Or, that I can completely overpower him with my sheer strength, or lift him in any way I desire, and in the end, make him my pleasure slave.  But, it’s also fun knowing truly powerful men (intellectually, physically, and financially) who do not need to be trained trained or submitted and naturally know their place with me.

How do you enjoy being taller than guys (when it happens)
I am rather tall for a woman, at 5’9 barefooted and in heels, I tower over men. They like this, because they have to look up to me and their face is at my breast level.  I enjoy looking down at them, and wrapping my arms around them, allowing them to feel my power and sensuality of being engulfed in my big boobs and they embrace me and feel my powerful back, long strong arms and shoulders wrap around them.  This is the real essence of being a woman—showing a man both true power and sensuality.

Do you enjoy flexing for guys, and showing your muscles
Yes, I enjoy flexing and posing my entire body for a man.  Showing him something he has never seen, felt or experienced before.  My body is always full, hard, and my skin is smooth and tanned year round.  It must be an intoxicating experience to feel silk wrapped steel.  Most importantly, I like showing him how strong I am, such as lifting him up into my arms, overhead, and doing something erotic at the same time, such as giving him a blowjob or pinning him down.   This is something that most men will never experience from an ordinary woman!

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What is your earliest memory of enjoying the feeling of being stronger or bigger than a boy? how was it?
My earliest experience was when I was in grade school.  I used to chase down the boys on the playground, but I was like a cat with a mouse, and only like to play with them.  I did not really know what do with them when I captured them.  As a mature woman, I know what to do now!

Have you ever dominated a guy in a relationship? (you can skip if it’s too personal)
Yes, not only in private relationships, but in dating, and for my productions as a fetish model for my own website.  Any man that gets involved with me must know how to handle my true desires.  I never realized it, but I am a naturally dominant woman.  From childhood to adulthood, I have always known how to dominate a man.  I think it’s best when you have a relationship with someone where there is give and take, and you can change roles between dominance and submission.  This is called balance.  We are not always alpha 24/7.  But it’s nice to be with someone that knows how to take the lead when he has to, and vice versa.  One time, when I was dating a man, he kept physically challenging me.  A few times, I had to submit him, although I did not want to hurt him.  I really bruised his ego, and the relationship was never the same once he realized I could be in total control or even hurt him if I wanted to.

Do you enjoy the feeling when guys are impressed by your muscles? maybe when they are afraid of you?
Yes, I enjoy when men look at my body in awe.  It makes all the years of hard work worth it.  When I sense fear in a man, it is a turn on to me, not in a sadistic, bullying way, but because I know he will worship me in any way I desire.  And, this makes the chemistry good for me because he will do his best to satisfy me in any way possible.

Do you like to be worshipped? How?    
I like a man to spoil me from head to toe.  Starting with a massage over a nice bottle of wine or champagne.  But first, I like to be fed very well and entertained.  I enjoy an engaging conversation, which stimulates and leads into the foreplay and massage.  A man must understand how to turn a woman on from the beginning, to the end.  All great sex begins in the mind—a mental foreplay.   I do not expect all my men to be submissive, but even the most powerful and alpha males must know how to engage me and entertain.

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What position do you like a man to be in most?
I like a man to be on his hands and knees in between my thighs, worshipping me for a very long time.  This also shows his true devotion and capacity for endurance. Any real man has to be down on his hands and knees for long periods of time, not necessarily all at once, but intermittently and for bouts as long as I desire.  I also like for him to stay hard so I can ride him on top for long periods of time.

If a submissive man would like to date you, how would he best go about it?
He would simply contact me and tell me about himself, being completely open and honest about his desires.  I find true honesty to be the biggest attraction.  And, of course, he must know how to feed my desires.  This includes a willingness to learn how to please me both intellectually and sexually.  It is a seemingly simple formula, but includes layers of complexity that only true chemistry addresses.

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If you were really angry with a guy, and supposing you would take him on physically, what exactly would you do?
Since I am naturally a non-violent person, I would take him down and submit him in a chokehold that would make him pass out very quickly.  He would not know what just occurred, but when he awakens, he will be humbled, humiliated and feel respect at the same time.  He may even cry about this self discovery.

Article Source: https://www.amazonias.net/pages/an-interview-with-amber-deluca