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PETA wants you to boycott A Dog's Purpose

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People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is making it clear that dogs are not movie props.

More: PETA is not happy with Farrah Abraham after she posted this picture

USA Today reports the organization is calling for a boycott of the upcoming film A Dog's Purpose after a video was released show a scared-looking german shepherd being forced into churning water.

tmz video of scared german shepherd

tmz video of scared german shepherd

TMZ originally shared the video, explaining at least one crew member present during the scene was "extremely disturbed by the dog's treatment during this scene."

The video's commenters seem to think the only reason the dog didn't want to enter the water is because he feared it was cold. But the rushing created to look like rapids were also clearly an issue since, as soon as the dog was forced in the water, he became submerged. The frantic crew members then yelled cut and rushed to the dog's aid.

"New footage shows a terrified dog who is forced into churning water on set," PETA senior vice president Lisa Lange said in a statement to USA Today. "At one point, a dog who is in danger of drowning has to be rescued."

More: Joanna Krupa boycotts SeaWorld by getting naked, looking like an orca (PHOTO)

Lange continued by asking dog lovers to "boycott the film in order to send the message that dogs and other animals should be treated humanely, not as movie props."

Actor Josh Gad, who did the voice for the dogs in the film, also released a statement on Twitter, condoning the video and promising readers he would also be investigating the treatment of the dogs in the film.

josh gad a dog's purpose tweet 1

josh gad a dog's purpose tweet 1

As a voice actor for the movie, Gad was never actually present on set.

More: Pretty Little Liars star strips down for PETA in sexiest shoot yet

Amblin Partners and Universal Pictures released a statement following the video's release, stating, "Fostering a safe environment and ensuring the ethical treatment of our animal actors was of the utmost importance to those involved in making this film, and we will look into the circumstances surrounding this video."

a dog's purpose trailer

a dog's purpose trailer

Are you planning on boycotting A Dog's Purpose after seeing this video?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

celebs with rescue dogs slideshow
Image: Amanda Seyfried/Instagram

40 years of caring for others helped me recover from a coma

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My first thought was that I was tied down. I was terrified when I realized I could only move my head. Suddenly, it occurred to me that I was in a hospital, but couldn’t remember why. I tried to talk, but no sound came out.

Finally, I made eye contact with my ex-husband Ross. He told me that after my dual-knee surgery I had developed respiratory and kidney failure, along with sepsis, and had been in a coma for several weeks. The doctors didn’t think I would make it. I laid there in shock as I remembered the day I had gone into the hospital for surgery almost a month before.

More: 6 things I've learned from being my mother's caregiver

The realization of my situation hit me full force. For 40 years, I had been a caregiver. I had taken care of both my parents, two of my sons, my husband when he had his strokes and my mother-in-law, and now I couldn’t even turn over in bed.

How was I going to take care of my 6-year-old son if I couldn’t even sit up? Would I lose him? I was scared. How long would I have to be here? Was this permanent? Who would take care of me?

The day came when an ambulance moved me to a nursing home for long-term care, even though I was only in my early 50s. I begged to go home to my son instead.

More: How cancer changes caregivers

I tried to be cooperative because I knew what it was like to have a difficult person to take care of; my father was an alcoholic and refused to stop smoking even though he needed oxygen.

But it was hard — the food was always cold and gross and I refused to eat it. I hated being dependent on others for my every basic need. I felt I had no control of anything.

Being a caregiver myself, I knew my situation was hopeless unless I improved physically. I tried to move every second I was awake. I prayed constantly that God would heal me so I could go home. I had two heart-shaped stress balls that Ross had placed in my hands the day I arrived at the nursing home that I tried to squeeze constantly. Eventually, I had movement in my hands and then my arms. I learned to talk again. I was determined to get better so I could go home.

Days dragged on and yet no one got me out of bed. I knew from experience that if you don’t use your muscles you lose them. I saw the doctor and although I had made progress, he said I couldn’t go home. I lost it. I started screaming at the staff about not getting me out of bed. They told me they didn’t have a chair they felt safe putting me in. I screamed louder asking why they took me if they didn’t have the equipment to take care of me properly.

I wasn’t getting physical therapy, so I decided I was going home at the end of the month whether the doctor released me or not. Ross agreed to be my caregiver and began to prepare a place for me. We were married for 30 years and still loved each other even though we had divorced three years prior. I was grateful.

More: Caregiver burnout: 5 tips for staying grounded

Ross came to the nursing home and learned how to take care of my tracheotomy to prevent infection. I went home at the end of February after being there for three months. I tried to do as much as I could for myself to make it easier on Ross. I took over homeschooling our son since I could use my arms and hands again.

I was determined to make progress. I knew what to do to improve my ability to take care of myself from being a caregiver all those years, including trying to keep a positive attitude. I think being a caregiver made me more cooperative than I would have been had I not known what it’s like to care for other people. I exercised for hours every day and finally had enough strength to walk about 8 feet without help.

It has been 10 months since I got out of the nursing home. I still need to work on standing up straighter when I try to walk, and I get weak quickly, but my endurance improves steadily. My ex-husband has developed new health issues since I came home, and now I am in a place where I am able to do some things to help him again. I’m also in a place where I can, for the most part, care for my son by myself.

I believe that working as a caregiver for so long gave me the tools and attitude to improve my situation and learn to care for myself — and others — again. I expect a full recovery.

Spread the word — gossiping is good for your health

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We all love a good gossip (anyone who says they don't is lying) and now we have even more of a reason to share the juicy stuff: It's good for us.

Loose lips may sink ships, but they may also trigger a wide range of physical and psychological effects.

More: Quitting my workouts was the healthiest decision I ever made

A study from the University of Pavia in Italy analyzed the effects of gossip on 22 women after the lead author Dr. Natascia Brondino noticed she felt closer to her female colleagues after they gossiped. This prompted her to study the effects of gossiping on the brain, and the results were clear-cut. The women's brains released more oxytocin (commonly called the "love hormone" or "cuddle chemical,") after gossiping compared to an ordinary conversation about, say, the exorbitant cost of takeaway coffee.

Oxytocin is produced by women during labor to help them bond with her babies, and is also released during sex and other loving touches, such as petting an animal and hugging a soft toy. In terms of friendship, oxytocin helps establish group rules and develop and strengthen social bonds — basically, it brings people closer together.

More: Here's the next sneaky tactic to reduce access to reproductive health care

Only women took part in the study (not because men don't like to gossip, because we all know that's not true) because Brondino didn't want sexual attraction (which also releases the hormone) to interfere with the results. (Which, of course, doesn't take into account women who are attracted to other women.)

Additionally, the study found that the effect of gossip isn't affected by the person’s personality: "Psychological characteristics, e.g. empathy, autistic traits, perceived stress, envy, did not affect oxytocin rise in the gossip condition."

So don't feel guilty about that daily watercooler gossip sesh — it's good for you.

More: Too young for hot flashes? It could be perimenopause

Bachelor Nation is trying to raise $100,000 to free Corinne's nanny

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God bless the internet and whatever comedic genius decided to start a crowdfunding campaign to free The Bachelor contestant Corinne Olympios' nanny.

More: It's time for Corinne's nanny to make an appearance on The Bachelor

Olympios has been making waves on the show for doing things like taking her top off and making Bachelor Nick Viall cup her boobs in front of everyone, giving long-winded speeches about how she's not there to make friends (rookie mistake, Corinne!), stealing Nick from every other girl multiple times a night but throwing a fit when someone steals him from her and really just being generally terrible. But on this week's episode, she left the other girls speechless when she revealed that, at 24 years old, she has a nanny named Raquel to make her bed and bring her snacks while she's working.

Now, Mark Chandley from Beverly Hills, California, is trying to raise $100,000 to "free Raquel." Chandley wrote on his GoFundMe page, "Raquel deserves better. We can only hope that she doesn’t already suffer from Stockholm Syndrome from living under Miss [Olympios]." He also claims that the money is going to go to Raquel, or if he can't track her down, will be returned to the people who donate.

Honestly, does anyone think this is a serious crowdfunding attempt? Clearly not, because it's only raised $130 of the $100,000 goal as of Thursday morning. The only person who seems to be taking it seriously is Corinne, who posted a pissed off Instagram about it.

Corinne repsonds to gofundme to free her nanny

Corinne repsonds to gofundme to free her nanny

"This is not a joke anymore someone took this way too far and is trying to make money for themselves," she wrote. "Raquel is not a slave and my family and I treat her like part of the family. Leave it alone already it's getting old. Grow up. #raquelisfree #celebnanny."

More: This season's Bachelor contestants take "wrong reasons" to a whole new level

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Bachelor Season 21 contestants slideshow
Image: ABC

Lauren Conrad's 4 'Ladylike Laws' of pregnancy etiquette

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Lauren Conrad is a lady, thankyouverymuch. She is also a very pregnant lady at the moment. And she’d like to teach you some basics about pregnancy etiquette.

Not pregnancy etiquette as in, hey, if you’re knocked up, stop eating all the ice cream in the middle of the night. Because as we all know, pregnant women can — and should — do whatever the hell they want. It’s no picnic, growing a human in a space smaller than toaster oven. Back off and let bun-in-the-oven lady do her thing, even if that means no ice cream for the rest of the household.

No, Conrad’s rules are for the casual observer of a pregnant woman in the wild. Conrad, currently in her second trimester, has (politely! ever so politely!) had it up to here with nosy, mouthy, grabby plebeians getting all up in her pregnant grill. On Jan. 17, she posted “Ladylike Laws: 4 Things to Never Say to a Pregnant Woman” on her eponymous blog. In a perfect world, Lauren Conrad would not have to take precious time away from her lifestyle maven-ing to lecture us (those tchotchkes are not going to decoupage themselves, people). Still, we have to admit that Conrad’s refresher course in what not to do if you suspect you are in the presence of a possibly pregnant person is eminently reasonable.

More: How early is too early to announce your pregnancy?

Rule No. 1: Do not ask a married couple when they are going to have kids. (We completely agree with Lauren that this can be a “major trigger question.” There’s no way of knowing if someone’s dealing with fertility issues, is mourning a recent miscarriage or just really, really doesn’t want to be the reason someone is a slave to psychotherapy in 30 years. KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.) 

Rule No. 2: Never ask when someone is due unless you are 100 percent certain they are expecting. (If you don’t know, you’re not supposed to know — either because they don’t like you or because they are totally not preggers. KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.)

More: Gifts that pregnant women actually want

Rule No. 3: Refrain from commenting on the size of someone’s bump. (Unless they first comment on the size of some part of your body. Otherwise: KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.) 

Rule No. 4: Don’t touch the belly without asking! (This may be the top complaint of the pregnant women we know — and who can blame them? LAY OFF. NO TOUCHIE.)

Basically, if you find yourself around anyone of childbearing age, maybe just don’t be a toddler, m’kay? Keep your hands to yourself and wait for someone to give you the 411. This public service message has been brought to you by Lauren Conrad, her fabulous hair and us.

More: 11 early signs of pregnancy you shouldn't be ignoring

Lots of sex before conception is linked to lower risk of preeclampsia

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You can add sex to your list of things to do for a healthier pregnancy — but you'll have to start long before you start trying to conceive.

According to research and clinical studies by Robinson Research Institute and University of Adelaide, women who have regular sex with the same partner for at least three months before conception have less risk of developing preeclampsia, a potentially serious condition for both the mother and the baby.

More: Depression is more likely to cause cardiac arrest than high blood pressure

"'Preeclampsia is more common when there has been limited sexual contact with the father before pregnancy is conceived and is associated with insufficient establishment of immune tolerance in the mother," said Professor Sarah Robertson from the University of Adelaide.

It all comes down to timing, it seems. "Women with less than three months sexual activity with the conceiving partner had a 13 per cent chance of preeclampsia, more than double the average occurrence," Robertson explained.

The chance of preeclampsia was 22 percent for women who conceived on the first sexual contact with the father, which is three times higher than the average. In this group, low birth weight babies were also more common.

Sex is also an important factor for couples going through IVF, with a study of Australian and Spanish couples showing that sex in the days immediately before or after embryo transfer boosted pregnancy rates by 50 percent.

More: Why there's been a post-election surge in IUD requests

So why does long-term sex with the same partner help facilitate a healthy pregnancy? Without getting too scientific, it all comes down to the relationship between the man's seminal fluid and the woman's immune system. Over time, repeated contact with the same male partner helps build up a tolerant immune response (recognising and accepting his swimmers, you might say.) 

Note that it's the duration of sexual relationship and not the frequency of sexual intercourse that's important. "No relationship is observed between frequency of sexual activity during pregnancy and risk for preeclampsia," said Robertson.

More: Could a hormone shot prevent miscarriage?

The Women’s March on DC is leaving out sex workers

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Note: I want to preface this piece with an acknowledgement that women with disabilities were, unfortunately, left out of the extended PDF principles of the Women’s March — read more on that here.

The Women’s March on Washington holds, in many ways, possibility for an exciting precedent for solidarity. Their Guiding Vision document manages to recognize and honor women from many walks of life that are often forgotten by white feminism — women of color, trans women, queer women, immigrants, women in prison and in a move that surprised and excited many activists, sex workers.

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

Historically, sex worker rights movements have been left out of a lot of feminist spaces. Sometimes, like in the case of Feminist Current, sex worker voices are ignored because those running the website are focused on an abolitionist stance — that is, the belief that all sex work is exploitative and should be banned. Sometimes, like with the Women’s Equality Party, sex worker voices are talked over because sex workers are not seen as capable of advocating for themselves. Sometimes, like at the Reclaim the Night rally in London, sex workers don’t feel safe because other feminists are telling them what they can and cannot do with their bodily autonomy. And sometimes, sex workers are just forgotten entirely.

The illegal status of sex work here, alongside the stigma against those in the adult industry, increases the dangers sex workers experience in their daily lives — police brutality, loss of day jobs, custody of their children or housing, patriarchal violence from clients or family, deaths being underreported and often not making the news at all. Therefore, the Women’s March making a point specifically to include solidarity with sex worker movements is an incredibly meaningful step toward listening to sex workers themselves and respecting their voices as integral to feminism. It’s been a long time coming and is especially poignant now, when a loud and proud sexual assailant is sliding into the presidential suite to the terror of women across the United States.

More: Scenes from anti-Trump protests around the country

While I was writing this piece, however, the Guiding Vision was altered without any statement or even acknowledgement from the organizers. The wording shifted from “undocumented and migrant workers must be included in our labor protections, and we stand in solidarity with sex workers’ rights movements” to the polar opposite stance of “we stand in solidarity with all those exploited for sex and labor,” a bold move and one that felt all too familiar. The seemingly sneaky way the Women’s March changed one of their more radical stances to one that actively denies the agency and humanity of a group of already marginalized workers feels antagonistic… and alienating.

Janet Mock, who wrote sex worker solidarity into the Guiding Vision initially and then defended putting it back in, addressed this on her Tumblr, saying:

“My work and my feminism rejects respectability politics, whore-phobia, slut-shaming and the misconception that sex workers, or folks engaged in the sex trades by choice or circumstance, need to be saved, that they are colluding with the patriarchy by 'selling their bodies'...

"...We will not be free until those most marginalized, most policed, most ridiculed, pushed out and judged are centered. There are no throwaway people, and I hope every sex worker who has felt shamed by this momentarily [sic] erasure shows up to their local March and holds the collective accountable to our vast, diverse, complicated realities.”

More: The Women's March on Washington cheat sheet

Currently, the Guiding Vision has attempted to please everyone by combining both statements into one that stands in solidarity with sex workers’ rights movements while also noting that exploitation for sex and labor in all forms is a violation of human rights. This stance is not made on the website proper — rather, you have to download the PDF of the full statement to find it at all. It is a step toward equality for all women, but there are still many steps to go, especially for those who carry the weight of multiple oppressions. We cannot leave the marginalized behind — that is not solidarity, but the very exploitation anti-sex work feminists are so concerned with.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Quotes from amazing women
Image: Jeremy Woodhouse/Holly Wilmeth/Getty Images

Throwing out my scale helped to save me from my eating disorder

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During the height of my anorexia, getting on a scale was an obsession. A year into my starvation, I was weighing myself between 50-75 times per day. Weighing myself had started out in a normal "healthy" way, but slowly destroyed my brain like a flesh eating disease. I would weigh myself after waking up, after drinking water, after eating, after exercising and after peeing. In addition to starving myself, I was also exercising compulsively and running three 10Ks a week. If the number on the scale was too high, sometimes I would work out an extra hour, or restrict my already 500 calorie a day diet to under 300. Sometimes I would go back to bed and cry for hours because the starvation and over exercising wasn't working anymore. If the number was too high, I felt like a worthless loser and wanted to die. I felt like I wanted to apologize to everyone I met for my imperfect body.

This was my life for almost three years. An endless, sick cycle of self-torture and starvation. I was slowly drying up into a pile of skin and bones. But even at my thinnest I wanted to be smaller and still saw a chubby girl in every photo and in the mirror.

More: Quitting my workout was the healthiest decision I ever made

After a certain point, my body started fighting back. My metabolism quit its job and I was holding on to every single calorie I ate. I went from 5'7 and 108lbs to 114 in a week. To counteract this new issue, I decided to settle for chewing and spitting my food, so that I could enjoy the taste but not absorb the calories. When that didn't work either, I would just binge and eat everything in sight and throw it up.

I woke up one morning and began the daily routine of weighing myself, counting calories and beating myself up over how I had failed on my diet the day before. I don't know what changed in me that day, but I had a brief moment of feeling like a fog had lifted. My mind felt clearer than it had in years. I walked into the bathroom to weigh myself, but instead of getting on the scale, I threw it in a garbage.

For the first time in years I felt free, and excited at the possibility of being able to enjoy life again.

More: I'm not "lucky to be thin" — I'm chronically ill

I haven't owned a scale since. During my years of recovery, I've learned that weighing myself is a major trigger for my disorder. Despite knowing this, I am still often shamed for refusing to be weighed at doctors appointments. I eventually got so tired of struggling with nurses trying to force a weigh in that I would flat out tell them "I used to be anorexic and the scale is a trigger." The first time I said those words out loud I almost started crying. I had hidden my disorder for so many years, that saying it out loud was emotional and empowering.

Most times when saying this, the nurses have been understanding and backed off, but not always. Recently a nurse rolled her eyes and said, "Just get the scale backwards then, I don't understand what the big deal is. The doctor needs your weight." After refusing a second time, she harshly told me that I would need to 'explain myself' to the doctor for refusing to be weighed, then slammed the door. The doctor was equally lacking compassion and demanded I get on the scale twice. She then let me know I needed "help" if the scale causes me so much trauma and then disregarded my concerns which I was there for which had nothing to do with my weight. But I knew that they enter weights into your chart which would be visible to me online and in my appointment summary.

More: I’m finally learning to love my big beautiful belly

Anyone has the right to refuse being weighed at the doctor without shame. University of Pennsylvania researchers say they believe some women may be avoiding the doctor just to avoid being weighed in front of other people. I compare forcing someone with an ED history to get on a scale to putting a bottle of vodka in front of someone in an AA program. I have found that using stronger language like "Please chart that I decline to be weighed" or "I do not consent" gets them to back off a bit. The times I have been berated by nurses over a getting on scale have made me feel inadequate and really crappy about my progress. They don't understand that the fear isn't just about the number. It's about being terrified of going back to the very dark place I was trapped in for so long, but next time not getting out alive. I hope that women and men in similar situations stand up for their right to not be weighed to avoid relapses.

Throwing away my scale was a monumental step in my recovery and I am thankful I did it. Though I'm not back to 100% yet, I'm proud of how far I've come in my recovery. Maybe someday I'll be in a good enough place to weigh myself at the doctor and not care, but I'm not there yet.

Originally posted on BlogHer.


Top Chef's Jamie Lynch may be out, but he's definitely not done fighting

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Another week, another Top Chef rookie eliminated. This time it's Chef Jamie Lynch. You should have used your immunity, man!

Padma Top Chef GIF
Image: Giphy

But, it was an admirable move. We'll give you that, sir.

More: Top Chef's BJ Smith reveals how challenging it was being on the show

So, how does Lynch feel about what went down? Let's dive right into our Q&A with the chef.

SheKnows: Were you surprised by your elimination?

Jamie Lynch: Yes. I figured they would accept my immunity, but didn’t expect I would be the one to go considering the mistakes on other chefs’ dishes.

SK: What was it like working with all the judges on the show? Who's the most intimidating?

JL: Tom [Colicchio] is the most intimidating because he is a badass chef. His palate is more refined and he can decipher your technique through tasting which is nerve-wracking.

SK: Which contestant do you think deserves to win? Or who are you rooting for?

JL: Me. I’m still on Last Chance Kitchen and in it to win it.

More: Who should win Top Chef? Amanda Baumgarten has three female chefs in mind

SK: Who did you consider your biggest competition?

JL: I think everyone there is talented and capable, but the veterans were the ones to look out for the most. I look forward to cooking with all of them again.

SK: Was there anyone on the show you really clashed with? Who was it and why?

JL: No. I got along and have respect for everyone. As long you don’t let Katsuji [Tanabe] rattle you or get to you.

More: Top Chef's Silvia Barban & Sylva Senat apparently had beef on the show

SK: Who do you think deserved to go home on last night’s episode?

JL: There were a couple of other options that were better options than me. But the judges made their decision and I respect it.

SK: What was the best experience you had on the show?

JL: The quick-fire wins felt the best. Being on top is the best feeling, especially in that field with some really excellent chefs.

SK: What was the biggest challenge for you on the show?

JL: Being removed from everything during filming and having no idea what was going on outside in the world. We had 5Church opening in Atlanta and it was tough to be in the dark through that process.

SK: Who's your favorite Top Chef contestant of all time and why?

JL: Kevin Gillespie. He’s an awesome chef and in general seems like a good dude with solid values and cooks from his heart. I have mad respect for him.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Top Chef where are they now slideshow
Image: Joe Kohen/Getty Images

On the last day of his presidency, one last look at Obama being the best dad ever

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It’s President Obama’s last day in office and it's zero secret that we are officially verklempt about parting ways with this particular first family. Sob.

During Obama’s eight years in office, we learned what a Portuguese water dog was, what #OvalOfficeRelationshipGoals looked like (Barack + Michelle = 4Eva!!!) and that our commander-in-chief’s favorite job of all time wasn’t being POTUS. Nope, this man’s favorite gig is fatherhood, hands down. And nobody’s captured more evidence of Obama’s joy with his daughters than White House photographer Pete Souza.

More: Obama is officially America's favorite dad

Souza — who’s feeling as nostalgic as we are, clearly — shared a few #TBT pics on Instagram yesterday of Obama, Sasha and Malia playing in the snow in February 2010.

Obama snow day 1

Obama snow day 1

Souza wrote: “People are always asking me to choose my favorite pic of the President. But I just can’t do it. So let me tell you about my favorite day…Washington was underside with snow. I slept in my office overnight, knowing I probably couldn’t drive to the White House the next day. And then I guessed...and yes, hoped...that the President of the United States would be a dad and play with his girls in the snow. And he did.” 

Obama snow day 2

Obama snow day 2

“AND HE DID.” Siiiigh. Best. Bedtime. Story. Ever.

Obama snow day 3

Obama snow day 3

Yep, the photos are pretty much priceless. Pete Souza, can we take up an office collection to pay you to keep photographing Obama rocking fatherhood? Give us a call.

In the meantime? Hail to the chief dad. We're going to miss you.

More: What President Obama wants all working moms to know

The love for Chrissy Teigen's stretch marks continues on

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The internet is in love with Chrissy Teigen Chrissy Teigen's stretch marks.

More: Is Chrissy Teigen taking it too far with her Twitter clap-backs?

Teigen, a former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, isn't shy about getting real online about the weird things bodies do, especially when it comes to "stretchies" on her thighs.

Chrissy Teigen shares stretch marks on social media 1

Chrissy Teigen shares stretch marks on social media 1

She's shared them on Instagram and Snapchat already to her followers' delight:

Image: Chrissy Teigen/Snapchat

So now, obviously, it's Twitter's turn.

Teigen shared a close-up shot of the stretch marks and cellulite on one of her thighs on Twitter this week, and proving that she's too cool for school, captioned the shot with just "whatevs."

Chrissy Teigen shares stretch marks on social media 2

Chrissy Teigen shares stretch marks on social media 2

More: More celebrities need to take Chrissy Teigen's lead regarding stretch marks

Teigen's habit of fully embracing her bod "flaws" and all is something her followers love about her. Their responses to the latest snap were, as usual, overwhelmingly supportive.

Chrissy Teigen shares stretch marks on social media 3

Chrissy Teigen shares stretch marks on social media 3

Chrissy Teigen shares stretch marks on social media 4

Chrissy Teigen shares stretch marks on social media 4

Chrissy Teigen shares stretch marks on social media 5

Chrissy Teigen shares stretch marks on social media 5

And hey, if a supermodel like Teigen can be down with her stretch marks, obviously the rest of us can too. Who doesn't have a stretch mark somewhere? They're natural, so just embrace them, ladies.

Or, if not, Teigen recommends a "liquid gold" stretch mark lotion she used while she was pregnant, and it can be yours for just $375 for a 1.7-ounce bottle.

More: Chrissy Teigen's "clean eating" posts piss off everyone on Twitter

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

14 pics of Chrissy Teigen, John Legend & baby Luna so cute we can hardly stand it
Image: Brian To/WENN

You know a House Hunters couple is going to break up when...

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The coolest thing about House Hunters is that you get to follow a family on their journey to buying a new home, whether it’s a snug studio apartment in Chicago or a rambling ranch in Wyoming. The second coolest thing about House Hunters is getting a very weird window into a couple’s relationship, all through the extremely stressful lens of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on place where you will permanently live.

Sometimes, you get a warm, fuzzy feeling while watching the couple interact, during which you can just imagine their new house filling with children and then grandchildren or else with lovely dogs or perhaps even wily ferrets, the happiness of their love spilling over from years into decades. But other times, all you can do is hope that the housing market in their area improves over the next five years so that both people can afford to get a pretty nice two-room apartment when they sell the house as part of their divorce settlement.

Image: Awful People on House Hunters

What are the five biggest red flags that a House Hunters couple might be moving to Splitsville?

They have starkly different visions for the bonus room

Oh, the bonus room. So much potential! So many possibilities! So awkward when one person wants it to be a nursery and the other person wants it to be a home office! From the moment the realtor opens the door and makes a comment about the south-facing windows, you can see Mike placing a crib in the corner with his eyes and Carey taking mental measurements for her solid oak desk. “Wouldn’t this be a wonderful room for the baby,” Mike will ask. “Whose baby,” Carey will respond curtly. “Maybe a guest room,” the realtor will quickly posit while physically pushing everyone back out into the hallway. The realtor surely knows the truth, but she also knows it isn’t her truth to tell.

Someone has a collection

Sometimes I think an episode is going really well for a couple until I hear, “I love everything about this house, except that I don’t see a super-great place for my grand pianos,” or “Wouldn’t this wall be perfect for my hutch of offensive salt and pepper shakers?” No, you won’t be spending the rest of your life with someone who has a collection. They are obviously already partnered, and it isn’t with you. It’s with gramophones or baseball cards or antique door hinges. It might be difficult for you to hear, but they are more concerned with finding a display shelf for their creepy dolls than with your solitary request for a house with a little porch. The only advice I have is to try to get half of their collection in the break up and sell it on eBay.

They choose the haunted house

Whoops, big mistake, House Hunter couple. Sure, you might save a few thousand dollars by getting that turnkey bungalow built atop an ancient burial ground, but you are going to pay for it later when your relationship is terrorized by ghouls. I recognize that living in a haunted house brings a small number of couples closer together, but most are torn apart, sometimes literally. You should have settled for that unhaunted end-unit condo where all of the lawn maintenance was included in your HOA. But you just had to have that bungalow.

Image: Giphy

Someone keeps insisting that a fixer-upper will be easy

Someone, usually a guy named Craig, will insist from the opening credits onward that fixing up a dilapidated heap of rotting garbage will be a breeze. “I watch house-flipping shows on HGTV, and it is really easy,” he’ll say, dismissing the fact that the house they are touring has a teeming ant hill where the kitchen should be. “We’ll just eat off paper plates for a few weeks and hold umbrellas over our heads when it rains.” You will be able to see that Craig’s wife, Annabelle, knows he is wrong, but also that she wants him to find out for himself, painfully, over a series of months. She also knows a cute general contractor. Don’t look for this couple on House Hunters: Where Are They Now? because they are busy deleting their honeymoon pictures from Facebook.

Image: Giphy

They clash over tray ceilings

If anyone ever does a study on it, I am convinced we will find that tray ceiling disagreement is the second-leading cause of divorce after irreconcilable differences. Or perhaps having contrasting views about tray ceilings is the leading irreconcilable difference. “Aren’t these tray ceilings absolutely elegant,” Jason will ask as they enter the master suite. “I don’t get it,” Miguel will answer. “It’s just like the ceiling goes up a little and then over, and then up and over again. Like, why?” Later, after each time Jason and Miguel argue in bed, Miguel will gaze up at the tray ceiling in the darkness and think to himself, “I don’t get it. I just don’t get any of it.” 

The phrase “man cave” is uttered by anyone on the show, even once, in any context

Doomed.

They don’t pick a house with double sinks in the master bath

Totally doomed.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

HGTV scandals slideshow
Image: FayesVision/WENN.com

Proud dad of Maybelline's first male model trounces troll

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Maybe he was born with trolls. Or maybe it’s Maybelline!

Manny Gutierrez recently made history by becoming Maybelline’s first male model.

Everyone said, “Dude, that’s awesome!” and Maybelline’s mascara sales skyrocketed. THE END.

Ho, ho, ho! As if. We’re not quite there yet, friends.

Gutierrez is making big waves. The buzz about the striking male model has been mostly positive, with adoring fans tweeting messages of support and congrats. But — sigh — there are, of course, a few detractors, who are feeling mighty nervous about what this could mean for them and their itty-bitty boy parts and fragile, precarious senses of self.

More: 10 LGBT organizations that have made a difference

Because when a dude wears makeup, it’s all about every other dude, didn’t you know?

Case in point: Pompous and homophobic blogger Matt Walsh is getting reeeeeal twitchy about this whole male Maybelline model thing. His latest post, charmingly titled, “Dads, We Can’t Expect Our Sons to Become Real Men If We Don’t Teach Them How” predictably expresses his disdain for Maybelline’s choice.

Walsh was not intelligent enough to try to come up with a working definition of "real men." Instead, Mr. Smirky Pants tweeted a picture of Manny with the offensive (and predictable... did we mention predictable? yawn) comment: "Dads, this is why you need to be there to raise your sons."

Maybe it's just us, but we think Walsh’s own father dropped the ball. Because he raised a real twit. Oopsie.

Hey, you know who didn’t drop the ball on that whole “real man” thing? Manny Gutierrez’s proud-as-hell father, who defended his son after getting wind of Walsh’s judgmental rhetoric: 

"This is Manny Sr. Let me first begin by telling you that I have always been there for my son and will ALWAYS be there for him.

"Not only am I proud of what he has accomplished but I'm more proud of the person he has become.

"I know the words you speak are from a lack of knowing anyone from the LGBT community. If you did, you would soon realize they are some of the most real and kind hearted individuals that walk this planet of ours.

"Going forward, I would choose your actions and words wisely. Just like you would do anything for your family, I would do for mine.”

Walsh, you just got served.

More: Geeky facts: The history of mascara (VIDEO) 

Manny Jr.’s fans went wild over the incredibly supportive message from his dad. (What’s not to love, right? We’re adopting both Mannys.)

One follower said admiringly: "Your dad is a G."

Manny the Younger quipped to his dad that he loved him before adding, "let's keep you out of jail.” 

The model later tweeted that being a man wasn't about being “masculine," but instead about looking after your loved ones.

Gutierrez Jr. added: "My dad actually works for me and is so proud of me. Sorry bout it.” 

We’re thinking a #SorryNotSorry is in order there. Keep on keeping on, Mannys.

More: How to use the right colors to create your perfect makeup look

Choosing to shave my legs doesn't make me less queer

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I started shaving when I was in the fifth grade.

I wasn’t even out of elementary school yet, and I was already analyzing the soft baby hairs that lined my thighs and calves.

My first shaving memory is deeply rooted in my mind. I remember the color and the shape of the Venus razor, watching the commercials of those long smooth legs — mine short, stocky and furry from my European heritage. I groomed my legs in secret, worried my mother would find out. Who was I shaving for? Why did I feel the need to shave? My secret was silly, but I felt grown up. Plus, all of my friends were doing it.

More: Pre-shave: How to prep your legs for a great shave

I have always considered myself queer in some sense, although my definition has slightly evolved over the years. My queer community rejects heteronormative beauty standards and embraces body positivity, and that can be something entirely unique to each individual; however, my queer community can also be hierarchical, something that we do not often discuss.

Am I too femme? How do I remain attractive to all sexes? Why am I seen as a straight female at every social event?

These questions loom over my queer state of mind with the incessant worry: Am I queer enough?

More: Everyone is a bit sexually fluid, including you

Body positive campaigns like #BodyHairDay and the history of shaving routines, which began in the 1920s, give me a feeling of queer guilt. My current routine involves shaving whenever I choose to shave. Some days I do, some weeks I do not. Yet, I still feel inferior if I am spotted with shaven legs or underarms. Will they think I am a victim to the patriarchy?

This queerer-than-thou mentality can be exhausting. While hair might only be a small portion of what it means to be body positive, the subject of hair, and body hair specifically, will always be on the fringes of queer discourse. The “positive” in the phrase “body positivity” is a celebration of our vessel, a reinforcement for our community to be who they desire to be.

In a 2015 Slate article entitled, "The Femme Renaissance," Evan Urquhart said that “…being femme is about embracing and expressing femininity without apology, and without compromise."

"While it’s primarily a term used by, for, and about queer women, a femme aesthetic and political consciousness could theoretically be adopted by anyone who wishes to both express the aesthetic and challenge the ideals of traditional femininity," Urquhart wrote. "Even straight people. Even men. For too long, the masculine ideal has been raised above the feminine, denying feminine people the dignity of being thought strong, independent, serious, or competent. Queer femmes exist in opposition to this, and for that they should be celebrated.”

My identity as a sometimes hairy, sometimes hairless queer female may be misleading about my sexuality. But it represents my truest and most authentic self. I feel strong as I celebrate my descriptor as a feminine queer. My body feels safe when I lift my arms and I do not have a dark bush. My body feels like my own when I rub my fuzzy legs together and they keep me warm.

More: How sex toys really helped me navigate my sexuality after I came out

A year ago, I slipped into a slim-fitting black dress with fishnet stockings. My lipstick was dark and my heels were high. I tossed my short hair as I glanced at myself in the mirror. My partner (at the time) smiled and said, “I don’t think your arm hair goes well with your ‘look.'”

I swiveled on my heel to grab my purse — a leopard-print clutch — lifted up my arms in a dancing position and shimmied out the door. Hairy, femme and choosing the right to be so.

By S. Nicole Lane

Originally published on HelloFlo.

We are all Tiffany Trump

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Right now, a significant portion of America is feeling left out — overlooked, even. We voted for a presidential candidate who won the popular vote by almost 3 million votes, yet somehow, it’s like we don’t exist and our interests don’t matter — at least in the eyes of the president-elect.

If there’s one person who can relate to this feeling more than anyone right now, it’s Tiffany Trump — Donald’s daughter with ex-wife Marla Maples.

More: 8 things to know about Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany Trump

The 23-year-old “Like A Bird” singer recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, is considering attending Harvard Law School and is friends with Little Miss Sunshine. By all accounts, she’s doing pretty well. In fact, she is likely the most well-adjusted of all the Trump offspring, particularly since her mother famously told The New York Times that “I had the blessing of raising her pretty much on my own.”

Since starting his presidential campaign, Donald has made no secret of his love for — and attraction to — his daughter Ivanka. He is also fond of Don and Eric — his other children with ex-wife Ivana Trump — and their slicked-back business hair. And his youngest son — with current wife Melania Trump — is literally named Barron, so his legacy within the Trump dynasty is pretty secure.

More: Abigail Breslin tried to stop a Tiffany Trump Twitter roast

The Brothers Trump are there to take over the family business. Ivanka will settle into her role as first daughter-lady. And then there’s Tiff.

On Election Day, Donald told a Fox & Friends panel that he was proud of all his children — and Tiffany — “you know, to a lesser extent.”

Tiffany is Jan Brady to Ivanka’s Marcia. She’s the Peggy Schuyler of the Trump family. We are aware of her existence, but don’t really know much about her beyond that. And her father seems to prefer it that way.

More: Everyone is talking about Tiffany Trump after the last presidential debate

Tomorrow I’ll think of Tiffany — we’ll both be in D.C., neither one of us with free blowouts — and hope that her exclusion from the spotlight will allow her to lead a relatively normal life. If nothing else, at least she’ll be able to afford health care.


Kanye's not 'American' enough for Donald Trump's inauguration

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What do 3 Doors Down, Toby Keith and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir have in common?

More: Donald Trump's joke about dating a little girl is creeping everyone out

They're the most top-tier talent President-elect Donald Trump could manage to book for his inauguration. Despite claiming constantly that A-listers are just beating down his door to attend the festivities, that's actually the best Trump could do. His inauguration is going to be the worst concert in American history.

There is one A-lister, though, who does want to perform at the inauguration: Kanye West. Too bad Trump's team shot down that idea because, apparently, they don't think West is "American" enough for the job.

"He’s been great, he considers himself a friend of the president-elect, but it’s not the venue," Tom Barrack, the chairman of the Presidential Inauguration Committee, told CNN about the possibility of West performing for his new BFF's big day. "It’s going to be typically and traditionally American, and Kanye is a great guy, we just haven’t asked him to perform. And we move on with our agenda."

More: Donald Trump, Rosie O'Donnell has one message for you: 'Eat me'

Somehow, Kanye West, an American who performs hip-hop, a genre of music that originated in the U.S., isn't American enough for Trump's inauguration. Meanwhile, Trump's team has asked — and been shot down by — two Canadians (Celine Dion and Paul Anka), three Brits (Elton John, Rebecca Ferguson and Charlotte Church) and one Italian (Andrea Bocelli).

Don't worry, though. Barrack went on to assure us all that the three biggest celebrities in the world will be at the inauguration: Barrack Obama (who is forced to be there), Washington, D.C. (which is forced to be there and is also not a person) and Donald Trump. Yeah, sounds like a party for sure.

More: Everybody's talking about golden showers after recent Donald Trump claims

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

donald trump quotes slideshow
Image: Alex Wong/Getty Images

5 reasons river cruises are more fun than you think

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River cruising has become very popular in the last ten years, especially with active older travelers, however, more and more demographics are beginning to take notice of the advantages of river cruises over ocean cruising. Many of the large river cruise lines, like Viking River Cruises, are aggressively pursuing the younger traveler. Luxury brands often associated with ocean cruising, like Crystal Cruises, are entering the river cruise market with a focus on the savvy traveler. Companies are also offering more exotic destinations, adventurous excursions, and unique experiences.

A recent river cruise with Viking from the gastronomic capital of Lyon, France to the beautiful medieval walled city of Avignon in Provence reminded us of the reasons why you should consider a river cruise for your next vacation.

Image: Roger Pratesi - PratesiLiving.com

1. All-inclusive pricing

Many lines now offer all-inclusive pricing and include regional wines with meals. Certain excursions, tips, premium wines, and alcoholic beverages in the bar may be extra, but you can budget ahead for those expenses so there’s no end-of-vacation cost surprises.

More: The Azores islands should be on your list for a winter getaway

2. Unpack once

Whether you travel a lot or only travel once a year for vacation, nobody wants to pack and unpack every day or every few days. Once you’re on the ship, you move from one destination to the next and never have repack your bags, rent a car, change hotels, or race through an airport to catch another plane. It’s more relaxing and allows more time for exploring and enjoying the destinations.

3. Visit beautiful destinations around the globe

River ships navigate the waterways of some the most fascinating places in the world: The iconic rivers of Europe such as the Loire River in France and the Douro River in Portugal; the Amazon River in Peru and Brazil; the Nile River in Egypt; the Yangtze River in China; and the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. With the ships docking so close to major cities and their most popular attractions, you’re able to see more of these amazing places and get a better overview of the destinations. Join one of the many pre-planned excursions or take off on your own to explore and take part in the activities that most interest you.

More: 5 reasons Anguilla is the Caribbean destination you can't miss

Image: Roger Pratesi - PratesiLiving.com

4. Become immersed in the local culture and cuisine

During our cruise, we went on an excursion to the Camargue region in Provence while our ship was docked in the port of Arles. Here we were able to see the famous wild horses and visit a manade or cattle ranch where the bulls are managed by a herder. We watched as these French cowboys dressed in Spanish-inspired gear rounded up the local black bulls on their picturesque white horses. Quite the spectacle and witnessed from a tractor-drawn carriage, this was the prelude to an aperitif enjoyed in their Mediterranean-style courtyard on a gorgeous warm sunny day followed by a delicious lunch of a traditional Provençal “Cowboy” stew prepared with braised meat and black olives.

On board the ship, daily menus and wine pairings were inspired by the places we visited.If you’re interested in learning much more about the wines and food of a particular country, lines like AmaWaterways and Uniworld offer special themed cruises focused on the culinary aspects of the regions.

More: 6 things to do when you're visiting Myrtle Beach

Image: Roger Pratesi - PratesiLiving.com

5. More focused on travel than ocean cruises

Most ocean cruise ships are like self-contained cities with a multitude of on-board activities and dining options, while river cruising affords the opportunity for more off-ship exploring, learning, adventure, and excursions that appeal to a broader audience.

6. Great for family time

With so many options for things to do each day through various excursions or self-guided activities, and an established dining experience that can be shared together, river cruises are a great way for older parents and adult children to spend time together. Each can enjoy what interests them the most by day without the need for constant togetherness, yet being together on the cruise provides moments for family time and bonding.

So, pick the part of the world you’ve been dreaming about traveling to and book a river cruise for your next vacation.

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Here's what it's really like to commit to the keto diet

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I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I’ve never made them because I know I’ll never stick to them. So when my best friend called me on Jan. 2 asking if I’d try a new diet/workout routine with her, I begrudgingly agreed to embark on this new health and fitness journey with her.

The first step was to pick a diet plan. “I heard Megan Fox and Adriana Lima follow something called the keto diet. It’s low-carb. Shouldn’t be too hard,” I explained to my friend on the other end of the phone. She agreed it sounded like a good plan and that was it; all we had to do was cut out some pizza and pasta and in return, we would feel more energized, lose weight (specifically belly fat), have increased brain function and potentially lower our risk of developing certain cancers.

More: Here's what you can do if your body doesn't respond to exercise

So, what exactly is the keto diet? In short, you cut out almost all carbs (even high-carb veggies) and refined sugars (including most fruits) and start eating copious amounts of fat instead. I know, I know — this kind of sounds like the opposite of healthy diet advice, but supposedly, if you starve your body of carbs, your body will have nothing to do but start using stored fat as fuel.

Specifically, your daily caloric intake should consist of 60 to 75 percent fat, 15 to 30 percent protein and 5 to 10 percent carbs. After 3 or 4 days of eating 20 grams or less of carbs, your body supposedly enters a metabolic state called ketosis. When in ketosis, your body stops burning sugar and carbs for energy and starts burning through your fat reserves.

It sounded easy enough. I mean how bad can giving up pizza actually be? SPOILER: Hard AF. But severe carb-deprivation side effects aside, keto has also given me some pretty impressive results.

Here’s a rundown of my first 10 days on the increasingly popular keto diet.

Day 1:

Since the keto diet isn’t exactly, on-the-go friendly, I meal prepped the day before so my breakfasts and lunches would be ready for the week. I made a batch of bacon, egg and spinach muffins, stocked up on salad supplies and was ready to get this thing started.

Breakfast: One egg muffin consisting of one egg, one slice of bacon, a handful of spinach, a little shredded cheese and salt and pepper

Lunch: Mixed green salad with a strip of crumbled bacon, grilled chicken, a small handful of walnuts, feta cheese and olive oil and apple cider vinegar for dressing

Snacks: Two cheddar cheese sticks

Dinner: One salmon fillet with lemon juice, salt and pepper and a heaping bunch of kale and broccoli sautéed in grass-fed butter

How I felt: Pretty great, honestly. I never once felt hungry or like I was on some crazy kind of diet. I mean, I got to eat bacon TWICE!

Day 2:

Breakfast and lunch: These were repeats of day one.

Dinner: Two links of organic andouille chicken sausage sautéed with a big handful of kale and broccoli

How I felt: I definitely started missing carbs on day two. I felt a little tired, but overall, still good.

Day 3:

OK, let me begin my day three entry by introducing you to a little thing called the “keto flu.” After a few days of less than 20 grams of carbs a day, your body is confused. It’s been burning carbs and glucose for energy basically your entire life, and now you’re trying to tell it to stop what it has been programmed to do. Seemingly in retaliation to starving it of carbs and sugar, your body turns on you. It’s pissed, it wants its carbs back and it isn’t afraid to send you a very clear message about its state of distress.

I felt nauseated. I was exhausted. I wondered how I would possibly muster up the energy to roll out of bed and go to work. As a result of the keto-flu, I was too sick to eat breakfast or lunch, but I did force myself to stay hydrated by drinking loads of water.

Dinner: I crawled up the stairs to my apartment and laid on my couch for about 30 minutes before I found the energy to stick a salmon fillet in the oven. I spiralized some zucchini, sautéed it with spinach, butter and some salt and pepper.

Then I went to bed. At 6 p.m.

Day 4:

Breakfast: I was still definitely feeling the keto flu, but my nausea had subsided enough to eat one of the egg and bacon muffins I had made.

Lunch: I still wasn’t feeling hungry, so I guzzled down a glass of water and carried on.

Dinner: I read a bunch of blogs and Reddit threads that suggested I might be feeling lethargic because I simply wasn’t eating enough fat. So I dipped a small chicken breast filet in an egg, rolled it in Parmesan cheese, wrapped it in bacon and popped it in the oven. I put together a side salad of greens, cucumbers, walnuts and cheese to pair with my super-fatty, bacon-wrapped chicken.

How I felt: After dinner, I felt renewed. Not only was it delicious, but for the first time since starting this diet, I actually had enough energy to get a 30-minute workout in as well.

Day 5:

Breakfast: I woke up ravenously hungry. So two bacon-egg muffins it was.

Lunch: A salad consisting of mixed greens, flaked salmon, a handful of blackberries, two strips of crumbled bacon and balsamic vinaigrette

Dinner: That Parmesan-crusted, bacon-wrapped chicken was so damn good, I had it again the very next day.

How I felt: Keto is hard to get used to. I was still more tired than usual, but the worst flu-like symptoms had subsided and I was maintaining a high enough energy level to do light workouts, so I was pretty pleased. I don't own a scale, so I'm not sure exactly how much weight I had lost at this point, but my clothes were noticeably looser. Maybe keto and I can be friends after all.

More: Why being considered "overfat" isn't what it sounds like

Days 6-10:

I pretty much stuck with my bacon and egg breakfasts for the first 10 days. Lunches continued to be some variation of a salad or some organic meat and cheese. For dinner, I tried to pair a fatty meat with a nutrient-dense veggie that I would either cook in coconut oil or grass-fed butter. If I was feeling a little low-energy, I'd wrap my veggies in bacon or prosciutto and feel an instant energy boost.

Each day, my energy improved. By day 10, I was able to do my full workout routine without needing to collapse into bed afterward. Many people tout the brain-boosting powers of keto as one of the biggest benefits of the diet. While my initial brain fog did subside after my bout of keto flu, I never really felt like my brain function vastly improved after almost two weeks of no carbs.

So will I continue to stick to the keto diet? Yes, but with a few tweaks.

My carb cravings lessened, but they never completely went away. There were some days when it literally took all the willpower I had not to order a pizza. I don't think it's entirely natural (or healthy) to starve your body of something it was designed to process for long periods of time. So I do plan on sticking with the keto diet because the weight-loss effects have been great, but after a few more weeks, I definitely plan on adding in one or two carb days a week. And I don't mean an all-out carb-binge day, but just a day where I can eat sweet potatoes or some whole-grain pasta. It's all about balance, yeah?

More: What those crazy sugar cravings are really trying to tell you

It's not Megyn Kelly's fault if Days Of Our Lives gets canned

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There’s a sliver of hope for Days of Our Lives fans about seeing another season of the long-running show. NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt spoke to Deadline.com at the Television Critics Association Winter Tour this week and the news is good, but not great.

More: All the times Megyn Kelly's made headlines

“We haven’t made decisions, but we like that show,” Greenblatt said. “I think we will know more in a couple of months. As they age, these shows diminish, there is a lot of delayed viewing and very little linear viewing anymore, you have to keep looking at that.”

While it’s true that TV viewers watch their favorite shows in a multitude of ways from online to later viewing on the DVR, this idea is not foreign to network executives. However, the old-school ratings system is still used to measure the audience who watches live in addition to DVR viewers up to three days past the original broadcast.

More: Why Catherine Hickland’s tribute to Carrie Fisher & Debbie Reynolds is necessary

The rumor still persists that Megyn Kelly will be slotted into the 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. hour of The Today Show and Deadline.com is reporting that her show will not affect the soap. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that the site is speculating that even though NBC is about “60-40 in favor of renewal,” the network is looking at the 52nd season being the last one for DOOL.

NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke told the entertainment site, “We hope that the show comes back.”

More: RHOBH could be affecting Eileen Davidson's Y&R screen time

A renewal for one final season would allow the writers to bring back fan favorites, tie up loose ends and finish up with a proper ending that the show deserves. This would be devastating news to loyal viewers, though, who are already vocalizing their disappointment over the shift in daytime.

The #SaveDays hashtag is in full force as fans are tweeting to NBC their displeasure that their favorite show might be canceled.

Save DOOL

Save DOOL

Save DOOL-2

Save DOOL-2

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Save DOOL-3

DOOL has a lot to prove right now with slipping ratings and diminished storylines, there is a lot of pressure on writers and the cast even though they are a legacy show. What viewers need to remember is that DOOL was in this situation with or without Kelly in the mix, so they need to let NBC know that daytime won’t be the same without a daily dose of Salem on their screens.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

'Days of Our Lives': 22 Celebs you never knew were on the show
Image: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

How to prepare your kids for the inauguration protests

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“Mom, is there going to be a terrorist act at the March?” my 9-year-old asked me from the backseat. He knows I’m flying to D.C. from Los Angeles for the protest; the radio had just announced the news of the Fort Lauderdale shooting. It wasn’t the first time he had heard news like that before I had the chance to change the station.

I paused before answering him. I wanted to allay his fears, but I also didn’t want to lie.

“I can’t promise you that there won’t be, sweetheart, but there are going to be a lot of police. I don’t want you to worry about that.”

He seemed satisfied, but I wasn’t. I kept thinking about his question. What if that wasn’t the right answer? What else could I do to prepare my children for the marches about to take place around the country?

More: Scenes from today's anti-Trump protests around the country

I consulted with Roberta Goldberg, Ph.D., a licensed children’s psychologist who has spent over three decades helping children and their parents. Goldberg told me the challenges for parents in the upcoming week break down in two distinct categories: 1) how to protect your children from the potential anxiety of hearing and reading about what’s happening and 2) how to protect your children if they attend a march with you.

“The overriding most important action in both circumstances,” said Goldberg, “is that you stay calm. Parents control children’s reactions to situations. You can control how your child responds based on how you respond.”

Who doesn’t know that, I thought? But then I remembered my tone of voice around certain events in the last few months.

Goldberg then went on to share some great suggestions for guiding children through the next week. I have put them into a bulleted list for your (and my) convenience.

1. Curb your reactivity. If you overreact, your child is going to overreact. If you react with extreme alarm, disagreement and/or outrage to the news surrounding these events, your child will likely respond with fear.

2. Explain the value of peaceful protesting. As U.S. citizens, we have a responsibility to speak up when there’s something we don’t agree with. Important changes — like the end of racial segregation and women being given the right to vote — have happened because adults have protested and marched for what they believed in.

3. Assure them that in no way is violence a goal. Most protests start and end peacefully.

More: 13 celebs who refused to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration — and 4 who agreed

4. Don’t overanswer questions. Respond to your children using as few words as possible. Be clear. Only answer the question being asked. Don’t use your child’s question as an excuse to give a speech.

5. Ask them what they know about the marches. A lot of times, they hear inaccurate information at school.

6. Limit screen time during and after the marches. Especially alone screen time. If anything violent or sensational occurs, it will be featured on TV. Children watching TV alone might see something they don’t understand and become frightened and confused.

If you’re considering taking your child to a protest march this weekend:

 1. Know your child. It’s great to want to share your passion for justice and equal rights, but if crowds make your child anxious or they absolutely hate walking long distances, the lessons of peaceful protest will likely be lost on them.

2. Meet up with their peers. Make plans with the mothers of some of their friends who are planning to go to make it fun for them too. Get together beforehand to paint signs and talk about what to expect.

3. Make sure everyone has comfortable shoes. Seems obvious, but kids' feet grow quickly, and if you live outside urban areas, they may not be used to walking, so don’t be afraid to ask them if their shoes/sneakers feel good. Also make sure everyone has warm enough clothing, water — and, of course, snacks.

4. Stay in physical contact with your child. Always have not just your eye, but also a hand on them.

5. Check in with how your children are feeling. Plan rest stops to see how they are doing. Are they excited? Do they have any questions or concerns?

6. Be vigilant about noticing the tenor of the crowd. If you sense that feelings and actions are going to escalate, walk away. This doesn’t refer only to potential violence; the threat of emotional escalation can also scare children.

It’s a great impulse to want to show our children that they have a voice in how their country is run. The last thing any of us wants to do is have the experience be so unpleasant they never want to do it again.

Here’s to peaceful, effective marching, teaching our children to stand up for personal freedoms and equality and sharing the highlights of the days’ events over some hot chocolate when we get home.

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