Gina Rodriguez stars on a TV show on which conversations about women’s health are as common as love triangles. She’s partnered with a national brand to end period poverty in the United States. Still, even she isn’t completely comfortable talking about her period. “The thing is, I’m even uncomfortable talking about it, which shows how much more difficult it is for a young, 16-year-old girl to talk about it. Some girls as young as 10,” Rodriguez tells StyleCaster.

Rodriguez, a self-proclaimed “late bloomer,” didn’t get her period until her late teens. The experience was difficult, especially as someone who was already made fun of for her underdeveloped body, and struggled to fit in with her friends who started menstruating years earlier. “I felt left out and very underdeveloped, and I got made fun of for that,” Rodriguez says. “So when it came around, it was both a relief and very difficult because I, like many women, were affected with ‘I can barely move when I’m on my period. I’m in the fetal position.’”

More: Badass Female Celebrities Who Have Spoken Out Against Period-Shaming

It didn’t take long for Rodriguez to become aware of the stigma surrounding menstrual health. Though she never experienced period discrimination firsthand, Rodriguez still carried a discomfort when it came to talking about her period. “I think it’s more self-inflicted at times,” Rodriguez says. “Because there’s not a normalization of the conversation, you don’t feel comfortable talking about it either. Sometimes, the lack of conversation can make you feel alienated.”

Even now, at 34 years old, Rodriguez isn’t completely comfortable with talking about her period, especially when she needs to pause a meeting to take care of her menstrual health. This is why she recently partnered with Always and Feeding America for their #EndPeriodPoverty campaign, highlighting the lack of access to period products in American schools, so that younger generations don’t have to follow in her burden. (An Always survey found that 1 in 5 American girls leave or skip school because of a lack of products.)

“At 34, I’m still a little uncomfortable, like, ‘Oh, can I just — I’m just going to go to the bathroom real quick,” Rodriguez says, whispering. “I shouldn’t have to feel afraid to claim anybody’s time that’s needed for myself. I shouldn’t have that, but I do. So I want to help free up young girls not only from the stigma of it, but to normalize the conversation, bring awareness to the fact that there is a problem in our schools right now and that they lack period products to give to the young girls that need access to it.”

Instead of stigmatizing periods, Rodriguez hopes that people view it for what it is: a superpower and a sign that women can give birth. “There’s a taboo around it,” Rodriguez says. “It’s rare we hear anybody speak about periods in the media and culture, recognizing this is something that should be normalized and OK to make young girls and women everywhere feel comfortable, because truly, it’s a sign that a woman can have a baby, which means that she’s a superwoman.”

More: How Grown-ish Star Francia Raisa Broke Free of Latina Typecasting

But Rodriguez’s fight to destigmatize women’s health doesn’t end with her Always campaign. As the star of Jane the Virgin, a CW rom-com about a woman who becomes accidentally impregnated, Rodriguez is also proud of the strides that she and her show are making on-screen as well. Abortions, orgasms and periods are only a few topics that are addressed each episode.

“The beautiful thing about working on a show that knows how to talk about social issues without commentary, without judgment is that it leads for a nice space in which people have the normalization of the conversation surrounding these things, surrounding pro-choice, pro-life, surrounding women’s health, women’s bodies,” Rodriguez says.

But for Rodriguez, the fight is far from over. In today’s political landscape, where women’s reproductive rights are being threatened on Capitol Hill and across the country, Rodriguez knows that using her voice is more important than ever.

“I’m not sure I can speak for women as a whole, but I can say that me and amongst my girlfriends, we do feel an invasion of our rights. And a fear,” Rodriguez says. “There’s definitely this small, steady, growling fear that our rights are going to be removed from us at any minute. But there’s a resistance and there’s a sisterhood and we, as women, are very vocal. So we’ll be OK. I’ll be OK.”

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Grey's Anatomy fans who love Jo Wilson will have the chance to watch her go on a special journey in season 15. Last time we saw Jo, she and Alex Karev were exchanging I dos in front of their friends and family in the season 14 finale. But crucially, she was also debating whether she wanted to stay in Seattle or move across the country to Boston. We've learned that when season 15 picks up, we'll get to see Jo going on a journey to find her specialty as a doctor and making other big career decisions that will affect her future.

More: This Grey's Anatomy Teaser Is All About Meredith's New Love Interest

In a new interview with TheWrap, actor Camilla Luddington, who plays Jo, revealed that the two-hour season 15 premiere will show Jo and Alex on their honeymoon and will see her going down a new path. “There are actually some decisions that will get made in the two-hour premiere,” Luddington said.

“One of the things that does happen on the honeymoon is that Jo becomes inspired by what she believes could be a new medical innovation, and she decides that she wants to work on it with Meredith. And she ends up having to go back to Seattle and try and pitch the idea and it sort of segues into inspiring what she wants to do as a specialty," she explained. "So you see in the two-hour premiere what direction she’s doing in, but then the question of Boston is still hanging in the air.”

When Jo was admitted into a fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in season 14, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) offered her a job at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital to convince her to stay in Seattle. While Luddington didn't tell TheWrap whether Jo makes a decision on the possible move or what she decides (that would probably be too spoilery), she did tell the outlet that the rocky honeymoon alluded to in the season premiere log line isn't as serious as it sounds.

“There’s no massive disaster that happens, I’ll let you know that," she said, teasing Jo and Alex's honeymoon adventures. "But I think it’s just that it’s not as romantic as initially intended."

More: This Nashville Alum Is Going to Shake Up  Grey's Anatomy  in Season 15

Color us intrigued. We look forward to learning what medical innovation Jo is so fascinated by and (hopefully) getting an answer to the Boston question when Grey's returns this fall. The two-hour Grey's Anatomy season 15 premiere airs on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 8/7c on ABC.

Though you may recognize the term "asexual" as a descriptor for animals that reproduce without intercourse, asexuality is actually a totally valid and real sexual orientation for human beings. 

Though asexuality has existed for a long time, it is only in the last two decades that the term and orientation have come to the forefront of cultural conversation. Here is everything you need to know about asexuality: what it means, how it works and who experiences it.

It’s a spectrum

Like sexuality, gender and relationship style, asexuality exists on a spectrum, as explained in a 2018 study in the Dalhousie Journal of Interdisciplinary Management. While some asexual people never experience sexual attraction ever, others do occasionally or in specific circumstances. This brings us to our next point...

There are a lot of terms that fall under the asexual umbrella

For example, people who identify as graysexual (or gray-asexual) occasionally (but rarely) experience sexual attraction, while those who identify as demisexual experience sexual attraction only when there is first a deep emotional bond. 

Other types of asexuality include placiosexual (little or no desire to receive sexual pleasure, but there is desire to give sexual pleasure), quoisexual (unable to differentiate between sexual and platonic attraction or unsure if they experience sexual attraction) and akoisexual (experiences sexual attraction with no desire to act on it).

More: My Sex Ed Ignored LGBTQ People — so I Took Matters Into My Own Hands

Asexual people can have relationships

People who are asexual can still desire and exist in romantic relationships according to the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network. Many asexual people are in relationships with both other asexual people and allosexual (having sexual desire) people. If a person does not experience romantic attraction, this is called aromanticism.

Not all asexual people are abstinent

The Asexuality Visibility and Education Network also explains that because asexuality is a spectrum, there are people who identify as asexual who have sex. For some asexual people, this may look like only having sex with people they love or only having sex with people they have no connection with at all.

Celibacy & asexuality are different

If you have never had sex or haven’t had sex in a while, this doesn’t make you asexual. If you choose not to have sex, this does not necessarily mean you are asexual. Celibacy is the act of not engaging in sex, while asexuality is specifically not wanting sex.

Some asexual people masturbate (including with sex toys)

Sexual attraction is different from libido or sex drive. Some asexual people do not experience sexual attraction but do regularly masturbate according to a 2014 study in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. For asexual people, this can equate to allosexual people scratching an itch or eating when hungry. Some asexual people also enjoy masturbating with their partner(s) either with their fingers or with toys.

More: Celebrate Pride Month With These LGBTQ Sex Toys

There are more asexual people than you might guess

According to a 2004 study published in the Journal of Sex Research, roughly 1 percent of the population has never experienced sexual attraction at all. With the population of the world estimated at 7.6 billion people, that means around 76 million people identify as asexual. Having said that, that particular study is 14 years old but is still the one most frequently referenced when it comes to putting a statistic on asexuality. This is an area where updated research is needed, as people's perceptions and understanding of the sexual spectrum are constantly evolving. 

There is an entire community for asexual people

It’s called the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network, and we've been citing information from its website throughout this article. It was started by David Jay, who stars in an excellent documentary about asexuality called (A)sexual. 

It is a real & valid orientation

Last, but not least, asexuality is 100 percent real. In a 2017 article in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, the authors, Drs. Lori Brotto and Morag Yule conclude that asexuality is, in fact, a sexual orientation. They also note that more research in this area is required to help us understand the nuances of the orientation.

So whether your child just came out to you or you are experiencing asexuality yourself, it is important to remember that not experiencing sexual desire is completely normal.

If you or somebody you know is interested in learning more about asexuality, there are some excellent resources available online, including the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network, Ash Hardell’s video on asexuality and sex, The Trevor Project, Ace and Aro Spec Sources and (A)sexual.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are living their best lives. Legend is officially the first Black American to win an EGOT. Teigen is about to release her latest cookbook and, together, they have arguably two of the cutest kids in Hollywood. Yes, they're fortunate. But I'd argue it's their kids, Miles and Luna, who are the lucky individuals — especially after both Legend and Teigen shared proof that their kids are essentially their miniature clones.

On Wednesday, Legend posted a side-by-side comparison of his 4-month-old son and himself as a baby. Both images depict a naked little one perched on a blanket and looking off into the distance (probably contemplating how to become one of the most talented men on Earth). "Miles inherited my love for lying on mustard colored blankets," Legend captioned the image. 

More: Chrissy Teigen Proves Baby Miles Is John Legend's Clone, Trolls Her Own Dad 

But it looks like he inherited a lot more than that from his famous dad. If it weren't for the photo quality, we might have a hard time even distinguishing the two babies from each other. Just look at those precious cheeks and rolls! 

You might be thinking, "OK, we all know that John Legend looks like many babies, so it's not too surprising he looks like Miles. But how do Teigen and her daughter stack up?" And to that, I present you with the following post of both Teigen and Luna honoring their Thai roots in colorful dresses.

It's so cute it hurts. 

More: Chrissy Teigen Says Having Kids Changed Her Sex Life

Looks are probably not the only things Miles and Luna will take on from their parents. We're guessing the kids will also grow up to be strong, talented individuals who feel free to pursue their passions, whether they love singing, cooking, modeling or something else entirely. And we already know they're going to follow in their parents' footsteps and use their privilege to fight for the voiceless and oppressed. After all, the tots have already advocated to keep families together by making sizable donations and attending rallies. 

Should Teigen and Legend decide not to have more kids of their own, we'd be more than willing to fill the role. 

They say real life is stranger than fiction, and when it comes to Matthew McConaughey that is certainly the case. Why? Well, as the actor recently revealed, he once saved his son from a ram.

More: How Shirtless Dax Shepard Just Became the Internet's No. 1 Dad Beast

A charging ram.

The revelation came about during a round of “True Confessions” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — the segment is a game in which players take turns guessing whether or not other players’ stories are true. And McConaughey's story was simple: “I [once] got charged by a mountain ram at the edge of the Grand Canyon and had to throw my 6-month-old child 15 feet through the air — to my wife — to save him."

After a minute of questions by Fallon himself and The Roots’ Tariq Trotter, Fallon determined McConaughey's story was true and Trotter determined his story was a lie. But as McConaughey quickly revealed, the story was an absolute fact.

"You know what? That is 100 percent true," McConaughey said.

According to McConaughey, he and his wife, Camila Alves, were enjoying a picnic with their eldest son, Levi, now 10, and their dog when a ram appeared. Since the dog was provoking the ram, McConaughey shooed the animal away before tossing then-6-month-old Levi to his wife, who was on the other side. But McConaughey was still in the beast's path, so he did what anyone would do: He hid behind a bush.

“I grabbed this little branch and I get behind it and it’s this cherry bush, and it’s about as big as my pinky, and I’m like, ‘This is not gonna save me at all,’” McConaughey explained. “And so I squared off and just tried to go as Yoda as I could with this ram and just say, ‘Not me, whatever it is,’ and he was kicking dirt and everything,” the actor explained.

Eventually, the ram ran off, and it was then that McConaughey realized why the animal was so aggressive: “His harem was on the other side. We were between him and all his ladies and he didn’t want any other male scent on his mountain," and who can blame him — especially when that man is Matthew McConaughey.

More: Ryan Phillippe Shares Photo Twinning With His Mini-Me Kids

So, whatever you do, remember: Rams are real, they can be aggressive, and sometimes babies do fly.*

*SheKnows does not condone or advise tossing your child.

John Legend is probably one of the busiest people in Hollywood. He just became the first Black man to win an EGOT (win at least one each Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award) and now, he's adding yet another thing to his plate: joining The Voice as a coach for season 16.

More: The Way Chrissy Teigen & John Legend Celebrated His EGOT Is #CoupleGoals

According to Variety, Legend will join current judges Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and host Carson Daly when season 16 hits the air in spring 2019. He will be taking current judge Jennifer Hudson's spot when she vacates her chair after season 15, which premieres Sept. 24.

Legend shared the news on Twitter on Wednesday, saying simply, "I'm excited!" He also shared an update on Instagram, where he got more in-depth about his feelings about the new gig.

Legend shared an official NBC promotional head shot with the words, "Introducing Coach John Legend" written across the bottom. In the caption of the post, Legend wrote, "I’m thrilled to join the coaches of @nbcthevoice. I've been a guest and mentor on the show multiple times and I’m so excited to discover talented singers and help them make the most of their gift. I hope the world is ready for #TeamJL."

He's not the only one who's excited for his turn in the judge's chair. The president of the alternative and reality group at NBC, Paul Telegdy, told The Hollywood Reporter, “John Legend is a one-of-a-kind musician and producer with remarkable skills that are beyond measure. His multi-dimensional career and incredible talents provide a repertoire that will excite and inspire our artists. This coaching panel is sure to ignite season 16.”

More: 10 Behind-the-Scenes Facts About The Voice

We won't complain about more Legend in our lives, especially in a role where he gets to help develop other musicians who hope to follow in his footsteps. We're ready for #TeamJL.

White Castle has low-key been a vegetarian destination for a few years now, but they're upping their game, as all 377 White Castle restaurants are now serving up the Impossible slider.

White Castle already offers up two vegan sliders, a black bean patty slider and a veggie slider made by Dr. Praeger's Purely Sensible Foods. They even reformulated their buns a few years ago so they'd be vegan, not just vegetarian. That's pretty impressive considering the fact that McDonald's doesn't have so much as a veggie burger, and their fries aren't even vegan (they're made with artificial beef flavor that's derived from milk ingredients). 

More: Newest Vegan Burger Uses a Secret Ingredient to Make It "Bleed" Like Real Meat

White Castle started testing sliders made with the Impossible burger at select locations this April, and because of its success, they're now adding it to all their menus.

The Impossible slider will retail for $1.99 and consists of an Impossible burger patty on a bun with smoked cheddar cheese, pickles and onions. Ask for it on an unbuttered bun sans cheese to make it fully vegan.

Made from wheat and potatoes along with soy leghemoglobin, the Impossible burger looks and cooks just like real meat and even releases juices (OK, it "bleeds") just like a regular burger. It also packs an impressive 14 grams of protein per slider.

More: Homemade White Castle Burgers

You can get the Impossible slider at any White Castle location, so if you're intrigued by this meatless phenomenon, the drive-thru is calling your name.

Kristen Bell is pretty darn down-to-earth. The actor and mother of two is known for her candor, her wit and her sense of humor. But just when we thought Bell couldn't get more relatable, she got down and dirty in the delivery room — literally — and lived to tell the tale. 

More: Kristen Bell Shares Her Daughter's Adorable Reaction to Her Parents' Fame

Recently, Bell helped a woman welcome her baby on her EllenTube show, Momsplaining , and later opened up about the experience during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In fact, she explained that despite having given birth to two children of her own, being present while another woman gave birth was just something she wanted to do. “I had said to the Momsplaining team, I said, ‘I want a delivery. I want to be in the delivery room.’ And they kind of looked at me like, ‘OK that’s very intimate.’ And I was like, ‘Just try to make it happen. It’s Hollywood!’ ” Bell told DeGeneres. 

And they did.

“Luckily, we got some very generous moms [Kimberly Patel and Martha Trujillo] who allowed us to be in there… probably it was the drugs that they said yes.”

Bell then told DeGeneres that Trujillo let her "get so up close and personal. I was in the splash zone... [but] I guess when you're in that amount of pain, the last thing you care is what your vagina looks like."

For those who might be a bit squeamish, Momsplaining isn't just a show about childbirth. According to Bell, the series is “basically momsplaining [where, in theory, an experienced mom would explain how to be a mom to other experienced moms] through my lens, through the lens of a mother. How moms see things [which] is not your typical way because the way I see things, they’re dirty and they’re messy and they’re gross and you love them and you hate them and it’s all those things. It’s also very funny.” 

And it is. Momsplaining has covered everything from new mom advice and kids parties to kidsplaining, which involves asking kids hard-hitting questions (like, "Do you know where babies came from?") in a very humorous way.

More: Kristen Bell Celebrates Dax Shepard's Sobriety Birthday With a Heartfelt Post

So, if you need a new laugh, be sure to check out season one and two of Momsplaining; you won't regret it.

If you only judged pregnancy announcements by celebrity Instagram posts, you'd think that sharing the news was always a happy event. But here in the real world, we understand that pregnancy can present women with a variety of feelings: elated, scared or, in some cases, angry. For country singer Carrie Underwood, she felt a mixture of both excitement and hesitation, which contributed to her delayed public pregnancy reveal. 

"Obviously, you kind of want to reach a point in your pregnancy where you're sure that everything is going well before you let other people in on it," she told PopCulture of expecting her second child with husband Mike Fisher. "Stuff like that was important. You don't want to jump the gun and then have to take it back." 

More: Carrie Underwood's Opinion About Female Representation in Country Music Is Important

Her apprehensions aren't unfounded. The Centers for Disease Control found that in 2010, approximately 17 percent of all pregnancies in the United States resulted in a fetal loss (miscarriage). While most miscarriages happen before the 20-week gestation mark, a 2014 study from the CDC found there were 15,840 fetal deaths "of 20 weeks gestation or more" that year due to an array of complications. The numbers seem jarring, but they're much lower than the 3,978,497 births that took place in 2015. 

Underwood said her growing pregnant belly ultimately pushed her to share the news. 

"I was like, 'I guess today's the day. I can't hide this anymore," she explained. "Going to the grocery store and it's 90-something degrees outside, and I'm in giant hoodies. It was just time to put it out there." 

The country music singer announced the news on Aug. 8 on Instagram while also explaining why she wouldn't be going on tour to promote her new album, Cry Pretty, until next May. 

More: Carrie Underwood Is Pregnant Again, & Her Announcement Is Too Cute

"Mike and Isaiah and I are absolutely over the moon and excited to be adding another fish to our little pond," she said. This has just been a dream come true with the album and with baby news and all that stuff. We're just so excited and so glad that you guys can share in this with us and be a part of this with us," she captioned the post. 

We're excited, too, Carrie — can't wait to see what's next for this badass trailblazer and her family. 

Duff Goldman from Ace of Cakes is getting married, and the plans for his January 2019 wedding sound almost as sweet as some of the concoctions he whips up in the kitchen.

In an interview with People, Goldman spilled the beans on his upcoming wedding plans with his fiancée, Johnna Colbry, to whom he proposed back in April. 

More: Ace of Cakes Star Duff Goldman Debuts Body Transformation

First of all, they're having it at a dream location: The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Guests will walk in and be greeted by a petting zoo with ponies, sheep and goats. Apparently, the duo loves animals so much they're even considering having a farm someday.

As for the food? It sounds totally amazing. Not surprising considering that Goldman himself is a chef. But it's not the fuddy-duddy black-tie grub you might expect from a wedding in a museum. Instead, the couple is treating their guests to a meal made up of tacos, a baked potato bar and pizza. It's like the ultimate sleepover party menu!

You might think Goldman would be in charge of dessert, but it turns out, he hopes Colbry will design it. At the wedding, it will become a centerpiece in the room, hung from the ceiling in all its glory.

More: Ace of Cakes  Is Baked

They're not skimping on the honeymoon either — post-wedding, they're going on a trip around the world. They're focusing on mostly warm-weather locales, including Fiji, Tokyo, Singapore, Cambodia, New Zealand and other locations around the globe. After the trip, they hope to write a book together about their adventures.

It sounds like an amazing time, and as excited as we are for the couple, we've go to admit — what we're really waiting for is pictures of that wedding cake! 

Chrissy Teigen is always in the news. The model, author and mother of two is known for her honesty, wit and candor (not to mention her amazing social media presence). And while Teigen regularly talks about motherhood, including her struggles conceiving and with postpartum depression, one thing Teigen hasn't spoken about before is placentophagy, or the act of eating your (or someone else's) placenta. However, in an interview with Rita Braver for Sunday's Best: Celebrating 40 Years of CBS Sunday Morning, Teigen opened up about just that.

More: Please Don't Eat Your Placenta

In fact, Teigen revealed that she believes eating her placenta helped her avoid postpartum depression.

"It sounds ridiculous, but people have this belief that, if you eat your placenta, it gets all those nutrients that you lost when you were pregnant rather than just losing them immediately and losing that rush of endorphins. By taking these dry placenta pills you can kind of keep this energy up and be weaned off that feeling more," Teigen said in the interview.

Teigen noted that she "didn't do this with Luna" and, looking back, she wishes she had. "Looking back... [I thought] 'I should have ate my placenta.'"

Braver then joked that she couldn't have Teigen eating her "placenta on primetime" to which Teigen responded, "Really? That's not a normal thing? I'm in LA. It's very normal. They grill it here. You can try some of mine after."

That said, it is important to note that the health benefits of placenta-eating have not been proven. There is actually no medical evidence on the subject. What's more, while many celebrities swear it is beneficial, the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology actually advises against placenta ingestion.

More: We May Finally Have a Drug to Treat Postpartum Depression

The full interview will air on CBS on Friday, Sept. 14 at 8/7c.

In case Westworld returning for a third season isn't exciting enough, the show just added yet another heavy-hitter to its cast. Aaron Paul, who won three Emmys for his role as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad, is reportedly joining the cast in season three and we're excited and full of theories about who he might play.

More: All the Westworld Questions We Now Have for Season 3

According to Deadline, there are few details about Paul's role, but rumor has it that he'll be part of the regular cast in the new season. After the news broke on September 13, he tweeted something that may give a hint to who he'll play.

"I feel like I'm in a dream Dolores," Paul tweeted. "Can you wake me up from this dream?" 

In addition to tweeting about Westworld, Paul shared the same photo on Instagram, with the same quote. He also wrote, "Feeling blessed and humbled to finally be able to mention this little secret of mine. Thank you Jonathan and Lisa and all of the people over at @westworldhbo for allowing me to come play in your park. See you all very soon."

When we last saw Dolores (played by Evan Rachel Wood) in the season two finale, she transferred her consciousness over to the body of Charlotte Hale (played by Tessa Thompson), making it possible for her to leave the park and letting her get to work creating hosts in the real world. Is it possible that Paul will play a new love interest for Dolores? Perhaps he'll be one of the first hosts she creates outside the park, so he can help her in her mission.

Since the Breaking Bad series finale in 2013, Paul has been incredibly busy with new projects. He starred in Hulu's The Path and he's a regular in the first series of the upcoming Apple anthology series, Are You Sleeping? He's also been voicing Todd Chavez on Netflix's BoJack Horseman since 2014.

More: The Internet’s Favorite Theories About Westworld Season 3

With the way Westworld season two ended, we were already looking forward to the recently ordered third season but Paul's casting makes it that much better. Until we know more about his role, we'll have to keep theorizing — but we know we may still be off the mark, since showrunner Jonathan Nolan told The Hollywood Reporter in August that season three will be a "radical shift." We're so ready.

“I have a fast metabolism; I can eat anything I want and stay skinny. I don’t know why!” How many times have you heard this humblebrag and rolled your eyes? Besides feeling annoyed and maybe a little jealous, you might’ve also wondered if this is true. Is there really such a thing as a fast versus slow metabolism? And if so, is it possible for us to ramp up our own so we too can eat anything we want and maintain our weight?

What is metabolism?

First, it’s important to know what exactly metabolism is. “Metabolism is the term that describes a combination of processes that the body uses to convert food into fuel to keep you alive,” Dr. David Greuner, surgical director of NYC Surgical Associates, tells SheKnows. “Metabolic processes include breathing, digesting food, the delivery of nutrients to your cells and the use of energy by your muscles.” 

While metabolism is a term most commonly used to describe how the body burns calories, Dr. Luiza Petre, a weight-loss and -management specialist and board-certified cardiologist, says metabolism is so much more than that. 

More: 7 Foods to Eat to Boost Your Sexual Health

“It powers everything you do, from thinking and eating to moving and growing,” she tells SheKnows. “Without it, you would lack the energy to get out of bed in the morning. The number of calories your body uses to keep you alive and carry out these basic functions is known as your basal metabolic rate — what you call your metabolism. It is the engine that burns calories and is the scale that regulates your energy needs.”

What does it mean to have a "fast" or "slow" metabolism?

While some people can eat whatever they want and remain the same size, some find it hard to lose weight no matter how much they exercise and little they eat. While Petre agrees metabolism is linked to weight, she says it's helpful to think of metabolism in terms of a car. 

“The more you put gas, or energy, in the engine, your metabolism burns it and converts it into mileage, or living,” she says, adding that not all cars are made the same way. "Some get better mileage than the others. Same for people and their metabolism; we are not all biologically created equal.”   

What affects your metabolism?

There are several factors involved in how fast your body burns calories, including genetics, gender and age, Greuner explains.

“Typically, men will have a faster metabolism than women, and metabolism for both genders will slow down after age 40,” he says. “Your metabolic rate can also vary from day to day, depending on your diet and activity level.” 

Not only that, but as we age, there are actual hormonal changes that take place in our body that affect the way we store or lose fat, Petre says. Specifically, our metabolic rate decreases as we get older because of these differences in hormones. This can include the decrease in estrogen around menopause, she adds.

"We also lose muscle mass as we age, and that makes your body burn less," Petre explains. "Your body goes into its aging stage as it leaves the growing one. When this happens, your body doesn’t need as much energy as it used to. Also, we lose muscle mass as we age, an average of 3 to 5 percent, every 10 years past the age of 35, and that makes your body burn less.” 

How can you improve your metabolism?

While metabolism is mostly determined by genetics and age, there are some strategies that you can use. For example, Greuner notes that what you eat and drink can affect your metabolism, but on a smaller scale. 

“Since the body burns more calories when digesting protein than carbs or fats, protein-heavy foods can help boost metabolism around mealtime,” he says. “Spicy foods are known to give a quick temporary boost to your metabolism, whereas green tea can speed up metabolism for several hours.”

More: Easy Jump Rope Exercises That Will Make You Forget You're Working Out

However, long-term lifestyle changes, such as exercise, work best to speed up metabolism. Specifically, Greuner recommends weight training because “the body is always burning calories, even while at rest, and muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue — which is why men, who are typically more muscular, will generally burn more calories than women.” 

Intense aerobic exercise, like HIIT training, will speed up metabolism for several hours after a workout since the higher the intensity, the longer your metabolic rate will remain at a higher level, he adds.

“Maintain consistent workouts, at least 30 minutes per day, to help keep muscle deterioration to a minimum,” Petre recommends. She also says drinking more water will burn additional calories, as it will keep you hydrated and feeling full, and recommends sticking to a diet that is filled with foods that are vitamin-rich, full of minerals and healthy nutrients. Finally, she says to avoid processed and refined foods.

As for what can slow a metabolism, Petre says not eating enough calories or drinking enough water are usually the main culprits.

“Since metabolism slows down between meals, eating erratically and waiting too long to eat may take a toll on your metabolism," she explains. "Water is a necessary component for the body to process calories, so if you are even mildly dehydrated it can disrupt your weight-loss efforts.”

While your metabolism won’t change overnight, implementing small, long-lasting changes like diet and exercise have the potential to kick-start your metabolism. Just don’t become one of those people who says they can eat anything they want without gaining weight. No one likes them. 

If you've been watching television or movies for, oh, the last couple of decades, then Regina King is undoubtedly a familiar face. King, who recently nabbed a fourth Emmy nomination for her performance in the Netflix drama Seven Seconds, has crafted a staggering career for the better part of two decades. She has appeared in acclaimed and popular films like A Cinderella Story, Ray, Enemy of the State, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde and Jerry Maguire. Her TV credits are nothing to sneeze at either. The Big Bang Theory, Shameless, 24 and Southland all figure prominently in King's illustrious career — not to mention the credits she's earned as a director and producer. With a lifetime of knowledge in front of and behind the camera under her belt, it makes perfect sense that King would partner with Gillette Venus for the "Her Shot" campaign, which seeks to offer a platform for 10 new female directors to step up and create videos that uniquely highlight the female perspective.

When we spoke with King recently about her involvement in the "Her Shot" campaign, we not only learned why it is so important for her to be involved in this initiative, but we also got some insight into how her mother helped her get a leg up in life and what other Emmy-nominated TV show you need to check out ASAP.

More: Tiffany Haddish & Samira Wiley Help Make History at the Creative Arts Emmys

SheKnows: What is making you feel powerful these days?

Regina King: Every time I wake up healthy, I feel happy and powerful. There's this saying that a grip [a specialized equipment technician in film and television] that I used to work with when I'm directing things in Atlanta, and he says, "As long as I wake up" — and he taps his foot on the ground — "I'm good." So every morning I wake up at healthy and my family's healthy. That's making me feel good.

SK: Can you tell me a little more about how you got involved with the "Her Shot" campaign?

RK: The "Her Shot" campaign is fantastic. It's a campaign that I've had the wonderful opportunity to partner up with a Gillette Venus on and to kind of help launch this campaign. The genesis of [the campaign] came from the recognition Gillette Venus had about how they've gone about designing their products for women. What they've done is in their research, they talk to women and they find out what it is that women want and need and things that would make products work better for them. They've taken it a step further with the "Her Shot" campaign by creating a platform for young and thriving creatives that are women that need to have their perspectives shown. It is a space that [Gillette and I have] created and it's a platform for female directors that we [don't know about yet], but we will learn their names and we'll get to see them express their stories through their own unique perspectives.

This call [for more female creative perspectives] is something women have been calling for, for a long time. I don't know if you know, but less than 7 percent of directors out there are women. So this is something that women have been feeling, like our voices should be heard. Our perspectives should be, "I'm allowed to tell stories, even if they aren't a story that has to do with a woman, our perspective."

SK: Why is it important for women to lift up other women, especially women of color?

RK: Oh, my gosh, I wouldn't be where I am today if I [hadn't been] a product of that. I'm actually lucky because I am a product of, especially with my directing career, men who have supported and uplifted me as a woman. It was unique because we are women and we know what it is like to be a woman and we know those insecurities that you feel only as a woman. I think it's almost just like a compliment. When you get a compliment from another woman, for some reason it sits with you stronger than when it comes from a man because you know that it's coming from a space of familiarity because 9 chances out of 10, that other woman has been there. She's walked that walk. 

SK: Are there any moments that stick out for you where a woman assisted you and helped you get closer to achieving your goals?

RK:  I'll just start with the first: my mother. My mother has always encouraged us to dream big. When that's all that you know and you get around another girl [and] that is not what's going on in her household, it's kind of like a shock to you. Our mom at a very early age allowed us to do — as far as the arts were concerned — anything we wanted to try. We just had to finish whatever lessons she paid for before we moved on. She just felt like her children should have the opportunity to try whatever it was they were interested in when it came to the arts.

SK: Who are some female actors, writers or directors you’d love to work with in the future?

RK:  I would love to work with Dee Rees [director of the 2017 Oscar-nominated film Mudbound]. I think she's just an amazing writer and director. She is one that I think is a great example of how many voices we're not hearing [right now]. There are thousands, millions of women that are out there who have something to say and who have stories to tell but don't have the opportunity; [Rees is] one that's broke through. She's somebody that if I knew that she was speaking somewhere and I was in that city, I'm definitely going to check her out.

SK: The Emmys are coming up! In addition to checking out your nominated performance in Seven Seconds, are there any other Emmy-nominated actors or TV shows that you love that you would encourage folks to seek out?

RK: I think it's Insecure. [That] is a show that I would encourage people to check out. I feel like what [series cocreator Issa Rae] is doing, what all of the writers are doing — they are representing a huge part of society right now. Just entering your 30s, your late 20s, and those things that you're feeling and that you're going through... while the cast that is predominantly Black, a lot of those things are not specific to race; they exist in every culture and in every race. I wish that, like, that show was on when I was 29.

More: Jane the Virgin Star Justin Baldoni on What Being a Male Ally Means to Him

SK: What is one challenge you have faced as a working mother and how did you work through it? 

RK: This is something that I was just talking about not too long ago. I was kind of at a crossroads in my career where I was realizing that to continue on in the movie industry, I was going to have to start taking roles that shot outside of Los Angeles. I did not want to homeschool my son. I didn't want to have to leave him at home and miss out on all those little milestones and triumphs that happen in a growing child's life. So I made the decision to not take any jobs that we're going to be shooting outside of LA, and that's how my TV career started. The answer is making most of the time, making the tough choice leads you to down a beautiful path.

Shannen Doherty may be best known for her roles in Charmed and Beverly Hills 90210, but the actor, producer and director has become synonymous with something else in recent years: cancer — specifically breast cancer. Doherty was first diagnosed with the disease in February 2015. And while it has been a long, hard battle, Doherty recently revealed that her cancer is in remission.

More: Here's What to Do if You Are Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

In fact, in the interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, Doherty said things were going "really well."

Doherty first shared news that her cancer was in remission in April 2017, and while she has remained optimistic since that time, she told Roberts the word evoked a slew of different emotions:

"You hear the word remission, and there's a rush of different emotions, right? It’s like, ‘What’s next?’ There’s a little bit of fear and apprehension. I felt lost for a second. I was like, ‘Now what?’ My whole life has been about this battle — what felt like my whole life.”

She continued, “But then it sort of starts seeping in, and then you get joyous, and you get so excited, but you got to wait for that five-year mark, and then the 10-year mark, so remission is a crazy word to me.”

Doherty believes it was her family who carried her through: “My husband was phenomenal. He took off a ton of work, really took fantastic care of me,” Doherty told Roberts. “[And] my mom just was always there. They would tag-team.”

But she was deeply touched by strangers, strangers who were also touched by cancer: “I know sharing helped me because when I got back these beautiful stories from other people, what they were going through, what they had been through, giving me hope, giving me support and love... it’s truly a family.”

And while Doherty wouldn't wish cancer on anyone, she also believes her battle and diagnosis changed her life for the better: cancer "made me a better actor... [it also] made me a better human being.”

More: Shannen Doherty Gives Update About Returning to Work After Cancer Battle

We wish Doherty continued health and success — and nothing but the best.

"Guys I'm so excited! I can finally say it!" Chrissy Teigen exclaims in her Instagram Story. "My Cravings collection kitchenware line is coming to Target exclusively Sept. 30th!"

And we're just as excited as she is for this announcement.

Following the release of her second cookbook, Cravings: Hungry for More, which hits stands Sept. 18, Teigen has partnered up with Target to launch the new collection.

More: The Best New Items From Chip & Joanna Gaines' Hearth & Hand Line

"We have a great relationship with Chrissy and have worked with her in a number of ways over the years — from her first modeling job being in a Target catalog, to her starring in our 2016 holiday campaign. When we learned she was launching her own kitchen and tabletop line, we both knew it would be right at home at Target," said Mark Tritton, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer of Target, in a press release.

"We know our guests will be excited to see Chrissy branch out with the launch of her new collection, and we are thrilled to be the exclusive retailer for Cravings by Chrissy Teigen," Tritton concludes.

The collection includes everything Teigen uses to prep, cook and serve her favorite recipes (likely from the upcoming cookbook and her first cookbook, Cravings) — from cast-iron Dutch ovens to cutlery, glassware, pitchers and everything in between.

"I've always wanted people to love what they've cooked from my books. Creating a collection was a natural extension of my passion for food, and I am so excited for everyone to be proud of and truly love their kitchen and tools," Teigen told Target.

There are over 40 items available as part of the collection, and they're all affordable to boot — ranging in price from $4 to $140.

Teigen's favorite items include her go-to knife, which she calls her "everything."

"It was the first thing we created," she said in the same press release. "I have so many knives in my own kitchen, but always found myself gravitating towards my 7-inch chef's and serrated knives. I always wished they would morph into one, so we did just that. It slices juicy tomatoes, steak and rustic loaves of bread perfectly. I truly love it."

She's also a big fan of the collection's organic plates and bowls.

"I wanted to make sure everything in the line felt unique and special, and each piece has little marks of character — like raw edges and flecks of glaze that differ from piece to piece," Teigen said of the dinnerware collection. "They're timeless but have character, and they look beautiful both on a table and stacked on a shelf. I think I'll cry when people start tagging me in Instagram photos of them filled with their delicious food!"

More: Chrissy Teigen Believes Eating Placenta Helped Her Avoid Postpartum Depression

Target will even release an exclusive edition of her second cookbook, which will include snack recipes you won't find anywhere else.

As far as what fans and readers can expect from her upcoming cookbook, Teigen says it'll include even more family recipes, many of which are Luna-approved.

"With the first book, I remember being a little bit nervous about including the Thai food my mom cooked for me growing up. I wasn't sure if people would be open to it, but they loved it. So, mom is back!" she says. "Plus, John tested absolutely every single dish, and there are many Luna-approved recipes (blueberry pancakes with cream cheese bombs, anyone?)."

The Cravings by Chrissy Teigen collection launches in Target stores and on Target's website starting Sept. 30.

The Conners are officially moving on without their matriarch in the first set photos from the Roseanne spinoff's series premiere. While we don't know for sure how Roseanne Barr's character will be written out of her TV family's lives, a recent comment from John Goodman makes us think that she's likely been killed off — and the background details in these photos hint at that too.

More: John Goodman May Have Just Spoiled a Key Detail on The Conners

As reported by Us Weekly, photos from The Conners show stars Lecy Goranson (who plays Becky, Roseanne's daughter), Sara Gilbert (who plays Darlene, Roseanne's other daughter), Laurie Metcalf (who plays Jackie, Roseanne's sister), John Goodman (who plays Dan, Roseanne's husband), and Ames McNamara (who plays Mark, Darlene's child and Roseanne's grandchild) going about their lives just like they always have, with some key changes.

In one photo, Becky and Darlene appear to be balancing checkbooks and handling other finances together at the kitchen table, possibly, as speculated by Us, to help out their newly solo dad.

In another photo, aunt Jackie looks worried while Darlene holds a mug in her hands and smiles at the same scene. Behind them, multiple casserole dishes paint the scene of a family whose neighbors have brought by food in the wake of a death.

Another photo shows Jackie speaking to her nieces, Darlene and Becky, and her brother-in-law, Dan. Although we can't see Jackie's face, we can see that the conversation is taking place outside on the porch and the Conners all look super-serious or worried. Based on the clothing and tone, this photo might follow the one of Jackie and Darlene in the kitchen.

The last photo shows a lot of heart and hope. In it, Dan toasts Mark in the kitchen while Mark seemingly works on their homework. 

More: Roseanne Barr Doesn’t Believe in ABC’s The Conners Reboot

Whatever happened to Barr in the narrative of The Conners, it's clear that her TV family is doing their best, just like they've always done. Barr was fired by ABC in the spring after she made racist remarks about former Obama aide Valerie Jarrett on Twitter. The network also canceled the Roseanne reboot, despite top viewer ratings, because of the controversy.

The Conners premieres on ABC on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 8/7c.

“We will no longer be attending couple’s therapy since Meredith has decided to end our relationship.” I read the email my newly minted ex-fiancé had written to our couples therapist, shook my head and laughed. He had cc’d me; my email address hadn’t even made it to the first line.

My email to our therapist had said, “We’re not coming back.” No cc, no bcc. Just relief.

More: My Phone Ruined My Relationship

Over the course of our two-and-change-year relationship, my ex and I started dating, fell into the relationship bubble where no one else existed, got engaged, broke it off, got back together without telling anyone for three months, started couples therapy and then: a break up that included an all-caps Gchat session, two angry phone calls that resulted in a face-to-face where his last words to me were, “No one is ever going to love you.” 

As he was being escorted out of my apartment building by my very kind building manager, he capped it off by hurling a Polish curse in my direction. To this day, I have no clue what he said. (I will say that six months later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, so maybe it worked?)

To all of this, I say, “Thank You.”

Thank you for teaching me what I want and need out of a partner and for showing me all the red flags I'll know to run from next time. Fast. If I had never met my ex-fiancé, I would never know the looks on my friends’ faces when they truly don’t like something but don’t want to say it to my face. We’ve all been in that situation before — there’s nothing groundbreaking about your friend dating a total asshole that no one likes — but when you’re on the receiving end of it, it’s a whole new experience. Thank you for reminding me how important my girl group is and that they will always know me best.

Thank you for reminding me that my family also knows me, regardless of the fact that I have not lived at home since I was 18 years old. When I became engaged, my father looked me in the eye and said, “Are you sure this is what you want to do?” I burst into tears immediately. The father-daughter dynamic is an interesting one, at least mine certainly always has been. Has my father known about any of my relationships? No. Did he know that this one was a disaster? Yes.

Most important, thank you for reintroducing me to my sense of self and self-worth. So many women get into relationships and morph into “the girlfriend”; I was no different. I found myself involved in activities I had zero interest in but because he liked these things, I liked them as well. Where were all the things I love to do? All my interests ceased to exist and whether or not he meant to do this, I was shamed when we were doing things that I enjoy. I love food. I love going to dinner. I love a good glass of wine, but when someone is told that they’re “expensive,” your level of enjoyment turns to anxiety when you sit down at the table. 

More: 6 Trust-Building Exercises Every Couple Should Practice

The constant fear of being criticized led me to therapy, where I spent the year following our breakup building myself up to become a more confident person — the kind of person who can be in an adult relationship with another person who loves me for all my quirks and idiosyncrasies.

The wine always tastes better now. So thank you for that.

Pregnancy is hard. It is physically taxing, emotionally exhausting and a lot to take in. (Like, a lot.) But one mom, Maria, is going through all the trials and tribulations of pregnancy times three: The woman behind the popular Instagram account Triplets of Copenhagen is having (you guessed it) triplets. But what made the mom and images go viral wasn't what Maria had to say about them — it was the pictures themselves, because Maria's stomach truly became a sight to behold.

More: What's a "Rainbow Baby"? Here's Why That Term Matters

Seriously.

You have to see these pics to believe 'em.

Maria is already the mother of one child, a 2-year-old son named Mikael, and while she shared many of her struggles on her Instagram account — the mama battled some serious dizziness and nausea throughout her pregnancy — we've got to admit, Maria made her pregnancy look like a cakewalk.

That said, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for Maria. In fact, in an update at 33 weeks, two weeks before her scheduled induction, Maria revealed she was reaching her limits: "I’m reaching my limits now, and counting the days until delivery. The babies are kicking hard and moving around all day and night, to great discomfort. And my belly feels so full and stretched; I literally have to lift it with my hands to be able to turn over in bed."

The good news for Maria is that the wait is finally over. After carrying three babies to 35 weeks, the mama has given birth.

More: 29 Beautifully Raw Photos that Capture What Childbirth Is Really Like

And we wish Maria, Iben, Agnes, Filip and her entire family nothing but the best.

As Hurricane Florence inches closer to the coast, people affected by the storm will soon be greeted by ice-cold cans provided by Anheuser-Busch. 

And we're not talking about Budweisers. 

Anheuser-Busch announced Wednesday it has sent six truckloads of emergency canned drinking water to local communities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. That's more than 300,000 cans of water.

More: Everything You Need to Do to Prepare Yourself & Your Home for a Hurricane

The canned water will ship from Anheuser-Busch's brewery in Cartersville, Georgia. Once the cans reach the aforementioned areas, the American Red Cross, the South Carolina National Guard and other local partners will then distribute the water to those in need.

"Putting our production and logistics strengths to work by providing safe, clean drinking water is the best way we can help when disasters strike," said Michel Doukeris, CEO of Anheuser-Busch, in a press release.

Anheuser-Busch has worked with the American Red Cross since 1988, providing more than 79 million cans of water to U.S. communities affected by natural disasters. 

"For the last 30 years, we have been working with the American Red Cross and our wholesaler partners to provide clean, safe drinking water for communities hit by natural disasters," Doukeris said. 

For instance, in 2017, Anheuser-Busch provided almost 3 million cans of emergency drinking water to areas hit by natural disasters in Texas, Florida, Georgia and California.

Doukeris also says that the beer company made a commitment to expand their capacity to provide clean, safe drinking water for disaster relief at their Fort Collins Brewery, as well. 

"Today, we are pleased to deliver on that promise, doubling our production capacity to help our fellow Americans in times of need," he said.

More: How to Talk to Kids About Hurricanes

Anheuser-Busch isn't the only beer company donating in this time of need, however.

MillerCoors donated 200,000 cans of water. The 80 pallets will be shipped from its brewery in Shenandoah, Virginia. 

"We hope this water donation provides some relief and comfort to residents and first responders in Hurricane Florence’s path," said Karina Diehl, MillerCoors' senior director for national community affairs, in a press release. "It’s a MillerCoors priority to do our part in helping the communities where our consumers, employees and distributors call home."

Charlotte, North Carolina, brewery Blue Blaze Brewing has also donated water. According to local news station WCNC, Blue Blaze Brewing filled their tanks with fresh, filtered water. 

"We also have some kegs cleaned and sanitized on standby ready to fill with water should anyone with draft systems need water, too," a representative of Blue Blaze said.

The Category 1 storm made landfall earlier this morning in North Carolina. According to Fortune, it's expected to cause $27 billion in damages.