Sometimes, we need all the motivation we can get to get our butts to the gym, and a perfectly packed, ready-to-go workout bag sitting by the door goes a long way toward getting you in motion. Gather everything you need before, during and after your workout, and pack it all up in a cute bag you'll be proud to throw over your shoulder. All that's left is to grab your keys and head out the door.

This post was sponsored by StarKist® Tuna and Salmon Creations® Pouches.

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There was a time when, according to reports, Paris Jackson and her mother, Debbie Rowe, were not that close, but that has definitely changed.

More: Paris Jackson is reportedly unaware of her mom's cancer diagnosis

Last summer, Rowe's struggle with breast cancer was made public, but thankfully she hasn't had to face the disease alone, because she's enjoyed the full support of her daughter, Paris. And on Tuesday, Jan. 3, Jackson took to Instagram to show her support for Rowe in a big way.

Sharing a photo of Rowe holding up a sign that reads "chemo done," Jackson captioned the post with a touching message. She wrote, "my badass mom, kickin butt n takin names. ain't she fuckin fabulous????"

More: Debbie Rowe's cancer may help her & Paris Jackson mend their relationship

This is not the first time that Jackson has been vocal about her support for Rowe during this hard time, and she previously took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and her mother embracing. She captioned it with, "i'm a fighter because she's a fighter. love you mom."

The mother-daughter duo have reportedly had a volatile relationship over the years, but are believed to have reconnected last summer when Rowe's cancer diagnosis was made public — something which Rowe commented on during an October interview with Entertainment Tonight.

Speaking to the outlet of her daughter's unwavering support, Rowe said, "She's my rock, she's amazing." Adding, "She's been with me the whole time. She was there. First phone call, [it] took her 30 seconds [to reach out] when she found out."

More: Prince & Paris Jackson celebrate family on Thanksgiving

While it's not a situation anyone ever wants to be in, it's great to see that Rowe and Jackson were able to forge a better, stronger relationship during this difficult time.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Two weeks ago we first discovered that Bachelor in Paradise couple Amanda Stanton and Josh Murray had called it quits, but it wasn't until Tuesday, Jan. 3, that Murray finally broke his silence about the end of his relationship — and he's clearly not in a very good place emotionally right now.

More: Amanda Stanton is having a hard time enjoying her engagement to Josh Murray

In a statement to Us Weekly, Murray revealed that he has been through a tough couple weeks, and that aside from his engagement being called off, his beloved dog, Sabel, died, and his uncle also passed away.

"I'm emotionally drained," Murray admitted in the statement, adding, "As for our relationship, it just wasn't working out and it sucks. I moved across the country for her, I fell in love with her kids, really loved her family, but we just weren't able to grow together as a couple and it was very frustrating."

More: Did Amanda Stanton finally see Josh Murray's dark side?

Murray continued, revealing that while he and Stanton did want a lot of the same things from life, they were also very different. That said, he maintains that he "will always love her and the little ones." He added that he wants nothing but the best for Stanton in the future, and hopes that they can both find their happiness.

This week Stanton also spoke out about her split from Murray, telling the publication on Monday, Jan. 2 that they had broken up. She added, "It's been kind of a weird situation because we broke up and we didn't release a statement, obviously, so I think people have been kind of going crazy wondering if we're together or if we're not, and we're not. … Hopefully everyone can know the truth now."

More: After Bachelor in Paradise, Josh Murray & Nick Viall will never be friends

So, there you have it, Murray and Stanton are officially over. But, by the sounds of their comments, they don't seem to be harboring any ill feelings towards each other.

Are you surprised that Josh Murray and Amanda Stanton broke up? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

In the world of celebrity conspiracy theories, Beyoncé's so-called fake pregnancy ranks up there as one of the most hotly debated. But leave it to an OG like Janet Jackson to one-up her.

Settle in kids, because this yarn might take a hot minute. And it's a doozy.

So, as the whole world knows by now, Janet Jackson "gave birth" to her "first" child this week at 50 years old, a baby boy she and husband Wissam Al Mana named Eissa. Why are those words in quotes? That's where the conspiracy comes in — and this one goes way, way back.

More: The craziest rumors about Janet Jackson's pregnancy are flying around right now

Last May, we told you about a longstanding rumor, seemingly confirmed by her ex-husband James DeBarge, that a 16-year-old Janet Jackson secretly gave birth to a baby girl who she gave up for adoption. There are various theories on who this secret baby may be, but one contender is her "niece" Brandi, who happened to be adopted by Janet's brother Jackie in 1982 — when Janet was 16.

Dun-dun-DUN!

Fast-forward a few decades. Last spring, Janet announced her pregnancy at the unlikely age of 49 years old. While some pointed to the probable use of donor eggs as the cause, another theory sprang to light: that Janet wasn't actually pregnant at all. Instead, the idea goes, she had her secret daughter impregnated to carry the baby for her with the intent of raising the baby as her own — sort of a reversal of fortune, if you will.

No, I'm not kidding. This is a real conspiracy theory being bandied about on the internet. For example:

Another fun addition to the theory is that she did it to excuse canceling her failing world tour.

Y'all, this is way more compelling than Bey's magically folding stomach.

So what does Jackson have to say about this? Nothing, because we're lucky we even know about little Eissa in the first place. Jackson is notoriously private, to the point that she was married to René Elizondo for nine years and no one knew about it until they divorced. So if, in fact, this little bundle of joy is actually her biological grandchild, it will probably be yet another secret she will take to the grave.

Air travel with a baby is only for the brave. I know parents who didn't attempt it until their kids were old enough to be seated at the other end of the plane. It doesn't matter how you fly: coach, first class, private jet — being trapped in a confined space with an infant is no fun.

More: Why Diego Luna's 8-year-old shared Star Wars secrets

Mom Arielle Noa Charnas thought she was doing the right thing by booking first-class seats for herself, her husband and their daughter Ruby for their Delta Airlines flight from New York to LA last week. It was the first time they'd taken Ruby on a plane, so they wanted to make the experience as stress-free as possible. Hence shelling out for the best seats. More space, more assistance… and a glass of bubbly on hand to take the edge off if things get really fraught.

Alas, little Ruby had other ideas. "I had a screaming, crying, sleepy baby who was so overwhelmed that she couldn't fall asleep," Charnas wrote on Instagram. The fashion blogger revealed that some of her fellow first-class passengers complained (as well as giving her the eye roll and head shake) to the extent that a flight attendant asked the family to move to the back of the plane — after only 10 minutes.

More: Amy Smart kicks off 2017 as a mom

We've all had to deal with eye rolls and annoyed looks from other people (and not just on an airplane). It's hardly surprising that people were pissed about having a screaming baby in the row behind them. Crying babies on planes are annoying as hell. But it's unlikely that Ruby would have screamed all the way from New York to LA. If the flight attendant had done her job properly, she would have done her best to placate the angry folk and helped Charnas figure out ways to calm the baby down. Ordering them to the back of the plane only minutes into the flight was lazy and patronizing and screws the passengers who didn't have the money to fly first class.

Money may be able to buy you the best seat in the house, but it sure can't buy you compassion and tolerance.

More: Travel is actually more fun now I have a toddler

Calling all you New Year's resolution-makers who have pledged to eat more veggies this year. We've got some ideas for you. Or rather, Kim Lyons, former trainer from NBC’s The Biggest Loser and author of Your Body, Your Life, does.

Roast some vegetables and make some super-flavorful dips and dressings to keep in the fridge for when a snack attack hits. Then you can throw together a roasted veggie bowl in a snap. Lyons is sharing three of her favorite dips and sauces with us — she says her son loves making them with her and using them to dip everything from veggies to chicken in them. She uses True Lemon packets but fresh lemon or lime juice will work just as well.

More: 20 perfect lunch bowl recipes to add to your rotation

Coconut-True Lime curry sauce recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 (13.5 ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
• Juice from 1/4 lime or 1 packet True Lime
• 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 4 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled and minced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for serving

Directions:

1. Bring the ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, 8 to 9 minutes. Remove from heat.

More: These gorgeous hot cereal bowls will inspire your mornings like nothing else

Tangy True Lemon-Dijon dressing recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 3 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
• Juice from 1 lemon or 4 packets True Lemon dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a Mason jar. Cover and shake to mix.
2. Toss with any salad to coat as desired.
3. Refrigerate remaining dressing.

* Makes about 1 cup.

True Citrus spicy peanut sauce recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons reduced-fat peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
• 3 teaspoons soy sauce
• Juice from 1/4 lime or 1 packet True Lime
• 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 4 tablespoons water

Directions:

1. Mix peanut butter, soy sauce, True Lime and red pepper flakes.
2. Microwave 30 seconds.
3. Stir with a small whisk or fork.
4. Add water to desired consistency.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Kylie Jenner had a killer year in 2016 but, so far, 2017 doesn't seem to be going her way.

More: Tyga has settled his debt, and Kylie Jenner had nothing to do with it

On Tuesday, Jan. 3, Jenner took to Twitter to inform her fans that she would no longer be personally posting on her official app after a very personal post was uploaded without her consent or knowledge.

So, what was so bad about the post that Jenner has vowed to stop posting altogether? Although it has since been deleted, fans were able to screen-grab the message, which offered up tips on how to keep her man, Tyga, happy.

Suggestions include baking for him, cooking for his friends, making him breakfast in bed, surprising him with gifts, oh, and a mention about their sex life and suggestions on how to make your own sex life "fun."

More: Kylie Jenner got naked for Christmas

Really, they're not that bad, but Jenner was clearly unimpressed with the post. And apart from her Twitter explanation, her team also released an official statement, which according to Elle, read, "To Kylie's fans: This morning, a drafted article was inadvertently posted for a short period of time on Kylie's app. This was a draft that was not in Kylie's words, was not Kylie's idea and had not been sent to her for approval.

"We'd like to sincerely apologize to Kylie for this mistake and the fans because it was never our intention to misrepresent Kylie and Kylie's voice. We deeply regret that this happened and will work hard to ensure this never occurs again."

More: Kylie Jenner teams up with Terry Richardson — again — for sexy 2017 calendar

But besides the app blunder, Jenner is facing a second problem — there appears to be a misprint on her 2017 calendar.

As fans well know, Jenner's birthday is on Aug. 10, but in her 2017 calendar there is clearly a mistake because her birthday is shown as Aug. 20. Fans have noticed the typo, and have taken to Twitter to comment on it.

Hmmm, we have to say, although the personal information about Jenner is not great, it's way worse to sell a calendar dedicated to yourself that has your own birthday marked on the wrong date. Just sayin'.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

If you're on a specialized diet or have an egg allergy, you probably already know that pretty much every baking recipe calls for them. It's a frustrating fact — but there are alternatives you can use to whip up incredible baked goods sans egg.

Whether eggs make you sick or you're knee deep in a baking project and just realized you're out, these egg substitutes will change your world.

More: How long eggs are good for in the refrigerator — and when to worry

1. Applesauce

Use 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce in place of one egg in most baking recipes. Some sources say to mix it with 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder. If all you have is sweetened applesauce, then simply reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe. Applesauce is also a popular healthy replacement for oil in many baked goods.

2. Banana

Use 1/4 cup of mashed banana (from about half a banana) instead of one egg when baking. Note that this may impart a mild banana flavor to whatever you are cooking, which could be a good thing.

More: 17 super-easy bread recipes even an amateur baker can pull off

3. Flaxseeds

Believe it or not, hearty-healthy flaxseeds can be used as an egg substitute! Simply mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds with 3 tablespoons of water until fully absorbed and viscous. Use in place of one egg. (You can use pre-ground flaxseeds or grind them yourself in a spice or coffee grinder.)

Next up: Vegetable oil

Originally published June 2016. Updated January 2017.

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4. Vegetable oil

Typically 1/4 cup of vegetable oil can be substituted for one egg when baking. If you are short more than one egg, you will want to try another method, as any more vegetable oil may make the recipe too oily or greasy.

5. Water, oil and baking powder

Whisk together 2 tablespoons of water, 1 teaspoon of oil (like corn or vegetable oil) and 2 teaspoons of baking powder. Use this in place of one egg. When used in cookies and other baked goods, it works so well no one would ever know.

More: Apple cinnamon muffins with white cheddar spread

6. Aquafaba

The hot new egg replacement is bean juice — specifically the liquid that comes in your can of chickpeas. It may not work for everything, but if your recipe calls for egg whites, whip up some aquafaba instead (about 3 tablespoons per replaced egg). For best results, use an unsalted variety.

After successfully using these food substitutions, you may employ them for more than emergency backup in the future. They are all vegan alternatives and, with the exception of the vegetable oil, are more heart-healthy than eggs. Using banana, applesauce or other puréed fruit in baked goods is a wonderful tactic to boost flavor and make them incredibly moist. Talk about a happy accident!

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

A new vaccine is bringing in a tiny yet incredibly powerful ally against breast cancer: our own cells.

Researchers from the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, are testing a new vaccine that could potentially activate the body’s immune system cells to target the HER2 protein on breast cancer cells in early-stage breast cancer patients.

More: 7 things to know about the new groundbreaking breast cancer treatment

HER2 proteins (which are created by the HER2 gene) are receptors on breast tissue, meaning that they generally control how breast cells grow, divide and repair themselves. Sometimes, though, the HER2 gene operates in excess and creates too many receptors — which, in turn, make the breast cells grow and divide without control. This occurs in about 25 percent of breast cancer cases; these cases, called HER2-positive breast cancers, generally spread faster and have a higher rate of recurrence than HER2-negative breast cancers.

Previous research has suggested that part of the reason that HER2-positive cancers offer such poor prognosis is because our bodies’ immune cells have difficulty recognizing and targeting HER2-positive breast cancer cells. The teams at the Moffitt Cancer Center wanted to develop a treatment that would help to stimulate these immune system cells.

More: Young breast cancer survivor bares her scars in powerful photos

They created their vaccines by harvesting a particular type of immune system cell called a dendritic cell from early-stage patients. These individualized cells were then exposed to fragments of the HER2 protein — think of a bloodhound taking that initial sniff of the fugitive she’ll be chasing — so they could more effectively recognize them in the body.

Patients received their highly personalized vaccine for six weeks, and initial results seem promising. According to a Science News report on the study, “approximately 80 percent of evaluable patients had a detectable immune response.”

More: Breast cancer in men is no myth — here's what you need to know

Our own cells could be our greatest secret weapon against cancer.

It's true — a lot of people prefer the company of a tall drink of water. But you guys, we're seriously overlooking an entire demographic of men. Deliciously hot men. Super-yummy, sex-on-a-stick men. Pick-them-up-and-stick-them-in-our-pocket-because-we-never-want-to-let-them-go-type of men. Yes, we're talking short guys. And we found some celebs who make a serious case for the fact that a man's attractiveness shouldn't be limited by height.

These GIFs prove it: It's not the size of the boat; it's the motion in the ocean.

1. Tom Cruise: 5'7''

Arguably the easiest target of ridicule in the Hollywood height community, Cruise has garnered a lot of taunting over the years because of his shorter stature. He's mostly known for playing tough guys and action heroes, and our perception of a guy like that is he should be an enormously tall man. It's no matter to Cruise. He still gets a bighearted heaping of help in elevation everywhere, from his Mission: Impossible films to his red carpet premieres.

2. Daniel Radcliffe: 5'5"

He's the "Boy Who Lived." Radcliffe can be as short as he wants to be. The pint-size Brit we all grew up watching didn't really grow up. He's been rubbing elbows of Hollywood's elite with his shoulders for a long time, and it looks like things aren't going to change. Oh, well, he still defeated Voldemort to save Muggle-kind.

More: 9 times Daniel Radcliffe tried to shed his sweet, innocent 'Harry Potter' image

3. Bruno Mars: 5'5"

Always a big presence on stage and off, Mars' shorter stature could explain his sky-high hairdos and larger-than-life voice.

4. Usher: 5'7"

Now this one may be a shocker since so many of us have watched the R&B singer grow up right before our eyes, but yes, Usher is among some of the shorter men in Hollywood. And like so many of our favorite leading men, Usher doesn't have any problem with dating taller women, including ex-wife Tameka Foster.

5. Mark Wahlberg: 5'8"

The two-time Oscar nominee has done a complete 180 from his early days of Marky Mark and underwear modeling. He still has the body of a chiseled rock, and his acting gets better and better. But this ultra-cut Hollywood titan isn't as tall as you'd think. Wahlberg's taller female costars like Charlize Theron and Heather Graham (both 5 feet 9 inches tall) have had to walk around barefoot next to the hunky star on set. Still, the Boston boy with the sheepish grin proves good things come in small packages.

6. Dave Franco: 5'7"

The younger brother of James Franco, Dave has appeared in several comedies, including 21 Jump Street and Neighbors, alongside Zac Efron (who we'll get to soon enough). Obviously, his height isn't hindering his career.

Next: Elijah Wood: 5'6"

Originally published March 2012. Updated January 2017.

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7. Elijah Wood: 5'6"

Elijah Wood will always be Frodo Baggins to us. And we're sure that doesn't help him appear taller in any way.

More: Every time Air New Zealand, Elijah Wood made LOTR-obsessed minds explode

8. Seth Green: 5'4"

This comes as no surprise, but we can thank Seth Green for Robot Chicken — and that's all that matters.

9. Emile Hirsch: 5'7"

Who doesn't like Emile Hirsch, especially after Into the Wild? Our favorite 20-something actor may be a little shorter than most, but he's damn talented. Also, that face!

10. Robert Downey Jr.: 5'8"

Freakin' Iron Man is even on the short list. The comeback kid of Tinseltown hasn't let his shorter size stop him from being a heavy hitter in Hollywood. With already classic performances in the Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes franchises, and Oscar nominations for Chaplin and Tropic Thunder, Downey shows us that height plays no role in becoming a movie legend. Check out our profile of Johnny Depp. Does it really matter he barely gets to 5 feet 8 inches?

11. Zac Efron: 5'8"

Sure, we always thought the former Troy Bolton would grow up into a tall, dark and handsome fella. But Zac Efron's muscles make up for the lack of height.

More: 11 Mind-blowing photos of Zac Efron look-a-like Garrett Clayton

12. Kanye West: 5'8"

While ego apparently doesn't count for physical size (we're only kidding, Kanye!), most fans are shocked to hear that Kanye isn't as tall as he seems, pairing well with his shorter wife, Kim Kardashian, who is at 5'3".

13. James McAvoy: 5'7"

We could never say a bad thing about this handsome, handsome man. So we won't. Just watch his GIF for the rest of the day. You won't regret it.

14. Kevin Hart: 5'2"

He's only 5 feet 2 inches tall! This one surprised us the most. He does a great job at appearing taller, apparently.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Ellen DeGeneres isn't having it with gospel singer Kim Burrell and her homophobia.

More: Ellen DeGeneres is Hollywood's secret mean girl according to Kathy Griffin

Burrell came under fire recently for a video that was posted to YouTube showing her preaching a sermon Dec. 30 at the Love and Liberty Fellowship Church in Houston in which she calls homosexuality "perverted" and an "embarrassment."

The video went viral, and Burrell, who was slated to appear on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, faced backlash from DeGeneres' fans, who tweeted and started a Change.org petition urging DeGeneres not to allow Burrell on the show. The petition got nearly 6,000 signatures.

DeGeneres took a casual approach to addressing the controversy, simply tweeting, "For those asking, Kim Burrell will not be appearing on my show."

More: Ellen DeGeneres explains: Why she doesn't celebrate lesbianism (VIDEO)

Burrell was set to appear on DeGeneres' show on Thursday to perform "I See a Victory," a track she contributed to the Hidden Figures soundtrack alongside Pharrell Williams. Williams, as well as Hidden Figures stars Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe, were set to appear on the show the same day. Over the weekend, Williams, Spencer and Monáe denounced Burrell on social media and spread messages of inclusion.

Burrell has not apologized for her remarks. In a now-deleted Facebook video, she actually defended herself, saying, "I do what God tells me to do. I make no excuses or apologies."

More: The whole internet's up in arms over Ellen DeGeneres' "racist" tweet

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are well on their way to having the messiest celebrity divorce of all time.

More: Leaked video shows Johnny Depp yelling at Amber Heard and throwing her phone

Despite settling their divorce all the way back in August, the two continue to file motions against each other and drag things out. Most recently, Depp, who still hasn't paid up his agreed-upon settlement amount, asked a judge to force Heard to pay him $100,000 in "sanctions" after she filed papers in court asking for a judge's help getting Depp to pay his settlement.

Depp asked for the money just before Christmas, but his legal team just filed new papers, apparently just to diss Heard.

More: Oh, so now Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are trying to play nice

Heard "continues to needlessly litigate a case which has been settled, all while parading in front of the media in a desperate attempt to extend her fifteen minutes of fame," according to the latest motion filed by Depp's team. The motion also accused Heard of making "an embarrassing grab for additional and unwarranted attorney's fees," you know, as Depp demands that she pay him $100,000 because she asked the court to order him to pay the settlement he owes her.

Depp is asking the judge to allow him to just deduct the $100,000 from his next settlement payment if Heard doesn't give it to him.

Depp agreed to pay Heard close to $7 million when they settled their divorce in August. She pledged to donate the entire amount of the settlement to the ACLU and Children's Hospital of Los Angeles to help combat domestic violence. It's been widely speculated that Depp is withholding the settlement to make her look bad by failing to make the donations she promised. If that's actually the case, it's backfiring big time — Depp is the only one who looks bad here.

More: Now Johnny Depp is demanding money from Amber Heard for some reason

I've always been fat. I've always struggled with my weight. I wasn't lucky enough to be born skinny. My family's fat genes are prevalent, and I've slowly learned to be OK with that. It's a part of who I am, but it does not define me.

More: I'm a hiker, rock climber, kayaker – and I'm fat

As a child, I didn't start to get chunky until the first grade. My guess is that sitting at a desk at school all day coupled with being greeted at home by a lonely mom – I am an only child after all – with a bowl full of ice cream as an after school snack contributed to my childhood obesity.

My poor nutrition wasn't the only reason I was overweight. One of my favorite activities as a kid was watching TV. When we weren't watching one of my many kids shows, we were watching one of my mom's favorites. Some parents tossed around a ball with their kids, my mom watched television with me.

As I got older I used to pretend I was sick so we could stay home to watch The Price is Right. I did this a lot since I struggled at school and had a hard time fitting in and making friends. It didn't help that I was very self-conscious of how much fatter I was than the other kids.

One of the worst things that I had to do at school was run a mile. Nobody enjoyed doing it especially as the summer months approached and it was hazy, hot and humid every day, but for a roly-poly elementary school student whose pants were always tight, it was even worse.

It should come as no surprise that I barely survived these yearly torture rituals. I have vivid memories of our gym teacher giving us eight pennies and instructing us to run around a set of cones eight times. Each time we reached the start we were to give her a penny until we had none.

I always started out OK, but it didn't take long for me to be huffing, puffing and sweating like a pig in the boiling sun. I was miserable. I hated those damn pennies, but they weren't the problem. I'm pretty sure there were several years that I technically didn't finish the mile because I gave up quickly and resorted to walking. Class often ended before I could walk my way to the finish. Needless to say, it was upsetting to me to always be last and to be known as the fat one when all of my classmates could finish the mile run before class was up.

I wish I could say that I was so upset by this that I confided to my parents and they started instilling some healthy changes, but that's not how the story goes. Both of them have battled with obesity for most of their lives, so they were pretty unclear on how to go about it with their child.

I know it upset my Dad who was athletic as a kid. He tried to make me be more active, but it just made me feel worse about myself. It was like admitting something was wrong with me. My mom, whose health suffers to this day thanks to her unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle, saw no problem with it.

I was fat, unhealthy and lazy from an early age, and that's just the way it was.

Years later, when we had to repeat this mile challenge in high school, I got it done in 18 minutes. I was dead last. Again. That number has stuck with me for some reason nearly 20 years after I graduated. Was I embarrassed? Absolutely. Did I change anything about it. Nah, not really.

More: Sex work was the first time my fat body felt powerful

Flash forward nearly 20 years and my fastest mile to date after seven months of training, as a 38-year-old I might add, is nine minutes – half of the time it took me when I was much younger and my body could recover a lot faster.

You have no idea what this means to the fat kid that is still inside of me.

Just the other day I went out on my first group run with my running group. It was an easy three mile out and back course. Everyone there was running at different paces. Some runners ran/walked. I was quietly reminded of those awful mile runs in school and the shame and guilt I felt about my weight, and lack of physical fitness at such a young age.

I was always in the back of the pack, struggling, sweating, wishing someone would throw me a SunnyD and a Devil Dog. (You know, for recovery purposes.) 

This run was different. I didn't know anyone and they didn't care what my abilities were. We were all there to support each other. The plan was to run and then celebrate with drinks after.

It started easy enough. I popped in my headphones and started up my Half Marathon playlist. I had barely run all week so my legs were well rested and they just wanted to run. I managed to get ahead of the pack early on, and I just took off. I hadn't wanted to run all week. I was hoping this run would give me my mojo back.

Not only were my legs strong, but my lungs were powerful. With every step I became faster. Every once in awhile I would look back to see where everybody was and they were far behind. In fact, only three women were in front of me out of the 30 that had attended. They ended up being too fast to catch but that wasn't the point. I was running as fast as my legs could take me.

I was running fast.

At the 1.5 mile mark we were to turn around and run back to where we started. When I did, I ran by the other women in the group.

And guess what? They smiled at me. They laughed. They cheered me on. I think even one of them called me "speedy." Me, the fat, slow and lazy kid being called speedy? Wow. What an incredible feeling to be thought of like that by strangers. But that wasn't even the best part. I was happy just to run. I was happy to run and not completely miserable wishing that the torture would end so I could go back inside and sit down. I enjoyed myself and what my body could do. There was no shame or embarrassment about what my body couldn't do.

I was proud and in awe of all I had accomplished and all that I was capable of doing. I wasn't holding myself back anymore because I was the fat kid. I was running as fast as my body would take me that day. It was glorious.

Even though I was never able to catch up to the three women in front of the pack, I was the first person to arrive back to our meeting point after them. I enjoyed giving kudos to them and to the women who followed me.

I've put in a lot of hard work during the last two months of my half marathon training and even though this wasn't a race, I was incredibly satisfied to be ahead for once.

Guess what? That fat kid inside of me is a runner now.

More: Let's separate fact from fiction in the war on fat and sugar

Originally published on RunLoveYoga and BlogHer

Zumba classes are a ton of fun, but not all of us are willing to shell out the cash to take them. Not only that, dance classes can be totally intimidating when you've never taken them before. But with the help of this wonderful little invention we like to call the internet, you can bring Zumba into your own home — without feeling self-conscious or breaking open your piggy bank.

Even better than saving money, doing Zumba in your living room is a totally easy way to work exercise into your already busy schedule. A quick routine can get your heart rate up and work on various parts of your body all at the same time, which is the key to effective exercise.

More: I don't care if Zumba isn't cool anymore — I still love it

Most Zumba centers around four different types of dance: cumbia, merengue, reggaeton and salsa. We've put together a fun, blood-pumpin' workout that clocks in at just under 25 minutes. And since you're keeping your cash in your wallet and conveniently getting down and funky in the privacy of your home, there's really no excuse to not stick to your New Year's health resolutions.

Side note: We tried to keep our routine at a beginners level, but the steps can still be tricky to get down at first. Don't give up! A couple of times through the routine and you'll be bouncing through it, no problem.

1. Warmup

According to Sports Medicine Information, a good warmup is an essential part of your routine that loosens joints and increases blood flow to your muscles — which helps prevent injuries. Don't skip out on it.

2. Cumbia

Cumbia music began as a courtship dance practiced by African populations along the Caribbean coasts of Columbia and Panama, but has become a hugely popular genre all over Latin America. It's definitely a fun and funky part of every Zumba routine.

3. Merengue

When you hear merengue, you usually think of ballroom — but that doesn't mean the style can't translate perfectly into a Zumba routine. This merengue set will definitely get your heart pumping.

4. Reggaeton

Compared to the other musical genres that comprise most Zumba routines, reggaeton is fairly new — but it's totally taken over the pop world. It's influenced everyone from No Doubt to Daddy Yankee, and it's a blast to dance to.

5. Salsa

You can't deny it: Salsa is pure fun. It revolves around one basic step and hip motion that can be altered from dancing in place to moving across the floor. It's all about the hips and what you do with your hands.

The moves in this salsa video seem a bit fast at first, but stick with it and keep moving.

6. Cool down

Don't drop to the floor just yet. Before you end your workout, make sure you do a proper cool down to avoid dizziness and extra-sore muscles. Plus, cool downs feel more like fun, crazy interpretive dance. So, why not?

Do it your own way

Once you think you've mastered the basics, don't feel like you have to stick to the videos. Find a good, inspiring and body-moving playlist and try it on your own. Try songs like this to get you started.

• "Limbo" — Daddy Yankee
• "Sexy and I Know It" — LMFAO
• "Eyes Like Yours" — Shakira
• "La Excelencia" — Salsa Dura
• "Show Me How You Burlesque" — Christina Aguilera
• "Zumba" — Don Omar
• "Starships" — Nicki Minaj
• "All Around the World" — Paulina Rubio
• "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" — Fergie
• "Pause" — Pitbull
• "Hold It Against Me" — Britney Spears
• "S&M" — Rihanna
• "Zamba Zumba" — Zumba Fitness
• "I Wan'na Be Like You" — Robbie Williams (ft. Olly Murs)
• "Oh My God" — Ida Maria
• "The Wedding Samba" — Edmundo Ros

Pick the ones that make you want to move the most and get to shakin' those hips!

More: This TV ad makes us want to shake it like Zumba rock stars

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Originally published December 2015. Updated January 2017.

If you're a parent of a teen or preteen, we're guessing that there are some tricky conversations about sexuality that you're trying to figure out how to muddle through without completely screwing your kid up. Or maybe that's just us. Regardless, parents could always use a little extra help finding informative, relatable ways to communicate with their kids about important issues. A new series of videos aims to do just that.

Amaze — which has the fantastic tagline "More info, less weird" — offers a set of animated videos aimed at kids between the ages of 10 and 14. The videos, which are each under two minutes long, are designed to "take the awkward out of sex ed."

Amaze has videos on everything from puberty to healthy relationships to the myths perpetrated by pornography, and they manage to do it in a way that will not only make sense to kids, but won't make them want to dig a hole and make a home in it, as most sex-ed videos will do. ("Patty has some strange and unusual feelings about her body....") Parents can also create a login for their child and pick which videos they can see. It's kind of perfect.

One of our favorites is their video about consent, which shows how important sexual consent is and what it means. For example, the video says, "Imagine that you and a friend are invited to a horror movie. You call to your friend in the other room and ask if she likes horror movies, but you don't hear an answer. Is it reasonable to say, 'Well, she didn't say no, so count us in.' No. Of course not. Or if you ask a friend to play catch, and they say yes, and then you start hurling Frisbees at them, it's OK for them to say that they only wanted to play ball and not Frisbee."

See? How much sense does that make?! We love it.

Lucinda Holt, sexual health expert and content manager for Amaze, broke down the importance of these kinds of videos in an interview with the Huffington Post, saying: "There's a clear payoff to open, honest and frequent dialogues about sex. Young people need access to factual, age-appropriate information that answers the questions they actually have. Otherwise, they'll be left with misinformation from unreliable sources."

We know by now that sex has some serious health benefits — being sexually active past the age of 50 can help you live longer, for instance — but we always seem to overlook sperm. Sure, we've all heard the "it has protein" quips, but for all of their function, those little swimmers aren't normally given enough credit. Beyond the sperm-meets-egg scenario, the recent developments in sperm research are way different than any of us expected.

What we're trying to say is, it might officially be time to stop worrying about whether to spit or swallow.

1. Semen is a natural anti-depressant

I know sex in general can put a smile back on my face, but I never thought it had anything to do with semen. According to a study conducted on 293 female college students at the State University of New York in Albany, exposure to semen can lower symptoms of depression. The study compared female students who were having sex with condoms versus those who were having sex without, and found that the latter group overall showed fewer signs of depression.

More: Bigger breasts linked to depression and eating disorders

According to the study's author, "These data are consistent with the possibility that semen may antagonize depressive symptoms, and evidence which shows that the vagina absorbs a number of components of semen that can be detected in the bloodstream within a few hours of administration." Basically, women absorb semen quickly, and thus its benefits can be easily detected in the bloodstream.

But don't go having unprotected sex because of this. I will state the obvious: There are still such things as STDs and you can still get pregnant despite this health benefit.

2. It helps you sleep better

Yes, sure, you're usually worn out after sex, but that may not be why you sleep so well that night. Semen actually contains melatonin which is a chemical that induces sleep and relaxation. Whether you ingest it, or receive it through intercourse, it will enter your bloodstream and help you doze off better than most over-the-counter sleep aids.

More: 6 Extremely common sex problems it's OK to finally talk about

3. A multivitamin in each ejaculation

One teaspoon of semen contains over 200 proteins and several helpful vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, calcium, chlorine, citric acid, fructose, lactic acid, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, vitamin B12 and zinc. While amounts of each vitamin vary with age and relative health of the obliging male, there is usually a significant amount of zinc present (about 3 percent of US RDA), which is an antioxidant that helps slow down the aging process. So besides exercise, sex (sans condom) gives you a healthy dose of something good.

Next Up: Oral sex can lower your blood pressure

Originally published April 2015. Updated December 2017.

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4. Oral sex can lower your blood pressure

A recent study suggests that swallowing semen on a regular basis can lower your blood pressure. Women who swallow their male mate's sperm during oral sex often have a much lower risk of getting preeclampsia — a complication during pregnancy that results in super-high blood pressure. So semen is helpful in making and birthing a baby.

5. It lowers the risk of prostate cancer (when expelled)

So this last one's not so much a health benefit of semen, but rather the act of semen is released. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that "high ejaculation frequency was related to decreased risk of total prostate cancer." This means that whether you do it alone or with a friend, if you're ejaculating regularly, you're lowering your chances of getting prostate cancer later in life. Suddenly the term "release your demons" takes on new meaning.

6. It could be the next all-natural fire extinguisher

You read that right. Research that's being conducted at the Polytechnic University of Turin suggests that the DNA in semen could be used to create flame-retardant materials. Right now, they're looking specifically at DNA from herring sperm cells and finding that it converts to a "ceramic-like material when exposed to extreme heat."

The science behind it is a little intense, but simply put, the components found in the DNA could be an environmentally friendly way to protect fabric from flame. While this sounds awesome, I wouldn't go attempting the human fire extinguisher just yet.

More: 3 Major things keeping you from better sex with your sig-o

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Mad Men's January Jones is just the type of strong woman who doesn't need a man in her life. And in the latest issue of Red magazine, Jones opens up about being a single mom by choice.

More: January Jones leaves baby daddy off birth certificate

"I just don’t feel I need a partner," she admitted.

But that doesn't mean she's ruling it out completely.

"Do I want one? Maybe. But I don’t feel unhappy or lonely," she continued. "It would have to be someone so amazing that I would want to make room. Someone who would contribute to my happiness and not take away from it."

According to Jones, her 5-year-old son, Xander, has plenty of male role models.

"Xander has a lot of bro time with the neighbor dads and my dad, who is super young. It’s good to have strong women around a man to teach him to respect women," she said. "He doesn’t have a male person saying 'don’t cry' or 'you throw like a girl.' All those shitty things that dads accidentally do."

More: 3 reasons January Jones is more than just Betty Draper

Xander was born in September of 2011, and Jones has never publicly revealed who his father is. Instead, she's focused on all the other badass ladies in his life.

"My younger sisters and my mom and my doula were in the room; my brother-in-law and my dad were next door. I only wanted women with me. Female energy," she said. "It was a 30-hour process but it was awesome. I’d love to do it again."

Still, as independent as Jones may be, she admits that single parenthood comes with plenty of challenges.

"I don’t want to be bad cop, but to have his respect, I have to be both. I’m an emotionally immature person — I’m an actor for God’s sake. I see myself behaving like a child all the time," she admitted. "This morning, I made Xander eggs, toast, a smoothie. He spat out his blueberries, threw the eggs into the sink, was playing with his toast, and I just lost my shit. And I took the plate and threw it in the garbage in tears. Someone needs to be the mature one here, but I had a full tantrum."

More: January Jones' baby daddy mystery deepens

She joked, "Maybe I should get a manny."

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy have been dancing around some important news this week. (See what we did there?) Fans have been playing a guessing game after Maksim posted a video to Instagram of the DWTS couple racing down New York City's Park Avenue.

More: My home birth turned dangerous when I had a rare complication

They didn't have to wait long for Chmerkovskiy to confirm that their destination was indeed the hospital, as he posted a picture of his fiancée applying mascara from her bed.

But then they went dark, leaving those of us paying attention with questions. Had the baby been born? Had Murgatroyd been laboring for 36 hours? And most important, had her mascara stayed on throughout?

More: Pinterest predicts the top parenting trends for 2017

Their son finally arrived in the early hours of Jan. 4, with Chmerkovskiy revealing the name on Twitter. No picture of Murgatroyd afterward, which was disappointing, because we really wanted to see about that mascara. If any mascara could stay on during labor, that would be quite a selling point.

Shai is the first child for the Dancing with the Stars couple. His name is Hebrew and means "gift."

More: Beyond Emma and Sophia: Unusual baby girl names that end in A

Amy Duggar and her husband, Dillon King, were only married seven months before they started filming for Marriage Boot Camp.

More: Amy Duggar has a lot to say about Josh Duggar, and none of it's good

And while counseling is something that all couples can benefit from, Duggar is now opening up about the problems she and King faced that led them to take the far more serious route of appearing on reality TV to fix their marriage.

"It was about Dillon’s tone. His tone drives me completely crazy sometimes, like absolutely insane," she said in a new interview with Life & Style magazine. "He’ll say, like, 'Pick up the trash,' instead of, 'Hey babe, can you pick up the trash or something?' It’s the smallest things that can be an issue because of the way he talks to me."

Duggar did admit, however, that she could work on her communication skills too.

"Sometimes I just freak out instead of talking," she said.

More: Amy Duggar may have just responded to those constant pregnancy rumors

According to the promos we've already seen for the couple's season of Marriage Boot Camp, premiering this month, there are some deeper issues with the Kings' relationship. During one particularly dramatic teaser, Duggar can be seen telling the group about a time King lifted her "all the way up to the ceiling" by her throat.

Duggar and King have also been facing increasing divorce rumors over recent months. They seemed to clap back at the rumors on Christmas, when Duggar posted a photo of them cuddling under their Christmas tree, definitely looking closer than ever rather than on the brink of divorce.

More: Amy Duggar's husband outs the Duggar family for ignoring Josh Duggar scandal

Do you think Marriage Boot Camp saved Amy Duggar and Dillon King's relationship?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Having children is perhaps one of the biggest joys people get to experience. One child is a blessing, and another one is a bonus. So if you are expecting your second baby, let’s start off by congratulating you before we get all serious with the medical stuff! As excited as you understandably are, by now you understand that your second pregnancy is pretty different from your first one. The symptoms, the experience – everything seems to be unlike how it was when you were carrying baby number one. Let’s find out how the pregnancies are different.

More: It hurts me to see pregnant women after suffering a miscarriage

You’re more tired

This is natural. The major difference between pregnancy one and two is the fact that this time, you have one baby inside your womb, and one at home. Running behind your first baby contributes to most of the fatigue you feel, but because your body has already carried a baby, the tiredness you experience this time around will be much more.

Less anxiety

Since you’ve already gone through one pregnancy, delivery, and parenting, you’re not as anxious as you were during your first time. You’ve been there and done that, so small deviations from what is considered to be normal doesn’t end up firing those alarm bells in you. You know what to expect, and you’re at peace. You know what’s normal – you’ve pretty much mastered the numbers as to what your blood sugar and other hormones should be. So, you’re less worried and more in control of your anxiety.

More: I lost my daughter to SIDS and found out I was pregnant in the same month

You’ll register baby movements sooner

At the risk of sounding repetitive, you’ve been through all that flutter in your tummy before. Unlike your first pregnancy during which you were unaware that the butterflies inside your tummy were actually sensations of your baby moving around, this time, you’ll be more aware of every single movement. This is why you might assume that your baby is moving sooner than your first one did.

You might have more pelvic joint aches

If your joints hurt more than your first pregnancy, there’s a reason behind it, and there’s nothing to worry about. Your first pregnancy would have put a lot of pressure on your joints. Your pelvic joints relax (which means they’re doing the exact opposite) and the pressure from your growing baby all aggravate the pain in your hip area. Because the pelvic region has already gone through this pressure during your first pregnancy, it might have become weaker, making it a bit more painful for you this time around.

Your baby will be lower

Don’t worry if your baby isn’t in the same position as your first baby was. Your uterus has already carried one, and your abdominal muscles have been weakened in the first pregnancy itself. Due to this, they have stretched out, making your baby lie lower. This could cause you some discomfort such as needing to use the washroom more often, but apart from that, there’s nothing abnormal here.

False alarms

If you thought your body, having gone through one pregnancy, would be able to understand when the baby is going to pop, then sorry, this is going to disappoint you. Contrary to popular belief, false alarms are more common during second pregnancies compared to the first. Practice contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions happen more during the second pregnancy because the baby is lower and away from the spine, not in the center of the mother's pelvis, which is why even practice contractions find it difficult to set the baby into your lower pelvis as easily.

Shorter, quicker labor

So here’s the good bit – while your first pregnancy could have you in labor for hours, your second one is expected to be shorter. Thanks to your first delivery, your cervix is not as rigid as before, and therefore, dilation and thinning happen quickly, which leads to faster delivery!

Apart from all of this, the other experiences such as planning the birth, setting up the nursery, zeroing in on a name (you already have a reference now), buying stuff for your newborn (you won’t be buying a lot) will also be very different. However, it’ll be a new experience, teaching you so much more about your body. So, hold on tight and enjoy the journey!

More: How not to tell your boss you're pregnant