If I were a religious man, Id think this was a sign from God.

Swarms of locusts have descended upon East Africa, destroying crops and adding further pressure to a region already faced with massive food insecurity.

According to Oxfam, a large desert locust plague can contain up to 150 million individuals per square kilometer, with half a million locusts weighing approximately one tonne. One tonne of locusts eats as much food in one day as about 10 elephants, 25 camels, or 2,500 people. The insects can destroy at least 200 tonnes of vegetation per day.

The UN has recently ponied up $10 million to help eradicate the locusts with pesticides, and another $70 million is needed to complete the job.

Of course, even after these swarms are eliminated, new ones will return.

Last years irregular weather and climate conditions, which included heavy rains during the last three months of 2019, have contributed to the massive locust invasion. And while a hefty dose of poison will wipe them out today, future generations of locusts, perhaps in even larger numbers, are likely to return as these irregular weather and climate conditions become the norm.

But as I noted last week, with every crisis comes an opportunity.

Although this recent plague of locusts is destroying entire crops throughout East Africa, the reality is that this region was already dealing with a level of food insecurity that most in the West could never even imagine.

The locusts are just one more heavy burden being placed on a population already battling the strain of hunger and starvation.

Spraying most of East Africa with pesticides is really only going to serve as a temporary measure of relief to a region that clearly needs a more long-term solution, a solution that can ensure a steady flow of food that wont be put at risk by the realities of a changing climate.

This solution is called

Simply put, cellular agriculture is the production of agricultural products from cell cultures.

Foods produced from cell cultures are exactly the same produced from animals and plants. The only difference is how theyre made.

While the idea of growing food in a lab may seem strange or foreign, the reality is that this is whats going to help feed a lot of hungry people in the future particularly those living in regions that are most susceptible to the results of climate change.

And this isnt science fiction or some lofty goal thats 50 years from reality.

Labs have been making huge strides in not only growing food, but drastically cutting the costs to do so. Its entirely possible that within five years, the cost to grow food in a lab will be cheaper than growing and producing it the old-fashioned way.

It should also be noted that theres a lot of money to be made in lab-grown food.

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A couple of weeks ago, we learned that Memphis Meats, one of the more well-known players in the lab-grown meat space, raised $161 million.

Some of the folks who ponied up for a piece of this action include: Bill Gates, Richard Branson, and Kimbal Musk, the brother of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk. Cargill and Tyson Foods also have a few million invested, too.

To date, Memphis Meats has created cell-based beef meatballs, chicken, and duck.

Theres also another very cool cell-based food maker thats doing some amazing things with seafood.

The company is called BlueNalu, and just last month it demonstrated its first commercial product yellowtail amberjack with chefs preparing the fish using various cooking techniques.

Heres a picture of BlueNalu Corporate Chef Gerard Viverito demonstrating the companys whole-muscle, cell-based yellowtail thats beer battered and deep fried for fish tacos.

Following the demonstration, BlueNalu was able to show that its product performs the same way as a conventional fish fillet in all cooking applications. It can be cooked via direct heat, steamed, or even fried in oil. It can also be prepared in a raw state or acidified for ceviche or poke.

An interesting observation made by the companys chef was that he didnt have to worry about bones, fish scales, or having to throw away any unused fish parts.

To date, BlueNalu has raised $25 million.

Again, this isnt science fiction.

This is all very real, its happening right now, and soon, lab-grown food will serve as a valuable solution to hunger and food insecurity.

As we gear up to adapt to a rapidly changing climate, lab-grown meat, and the companies that provide it, will prove to be incredibly valuable, and of course, excellent investment opportunities.

To a new way of life and a new generation of wealth...

Jeff Siegel

@JeffSiegel on Twitter

Jeff is the founder and managing editor of Green Chip Stocks, a private investment community that capitalizes on opportunities in alternative energy, organic food markets, legal cannabis, and socially responsible investing. He has been a featured guest on Fox, CNBC, and Bloomberg Asia, and is the author of the best-selling book, Investing in Renewable Energy: Making Money on Green Chip Stocks. For more on Jeff, go to his editor's page.

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Cellular Agriculture: Investing in the Future of Food Production - Energy & Capital

The second season of Netflix's "You" takes place in Los Angeles, California, where Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) gets a new job working in the book department of a trendy grocery store known as Anavrin.

In the show, Anavrin is a high-end food market owned by the Quinn family and operated by siblings Love (Victoria Pedretti) and Forty Quinn (James Nicholas Scully). The fictional grocery store's shelves are stocked with plenty of green juices and organic produce as an ode to Los Angeles' health and wellness culture.

While Anavrin is fictional, it seems to have been inspired by a real health-conscious grocery store chain in Los Angeles called Erewhon, which has become popular thanks to its wide selection of organic, local, and sustainable foods.

I stopped by the Erewhon location in Venice Beach, California, to see how it compares to Anavrin.

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Anavrin from season 2 of 'You' was inspired by Erewhon in Los Angeles - Insider - INSIDER

Eating out has always been associated with unhealthy food. But, here's a restaurant that brings together taste and health in a taut harmony. Fire, at the luxury hotel -The Park, is just the place where all the dust-up between the bon vivant and salubrious freak in you can be dusted off. With an extensive menu brimming with seasonal goodness from organic produce, Fire puts together a delicious fare to remember. The award winning restaurant presents indigenous foods on its menu that are sourced directly from farmers across the country practicing sustainable techniques of production. The menu that is mostly organic, changes season after season imbuing long-forgotten flavours and ingredients from different regions, gathering the culinary treasures of the nation in one place.

The winter menu of Fire promises yet another expansive menu that will warm your heart and soul to brave the chilly weather. With the season's freshest ingredients to celebrate the diversity of rich Indian flavours, executive chef Ajay Jain put together some of the most authentic winter recipes for an inspirational experience.

If you gave in to your temptations all through the winters and put your health on the backseat, make your redemption to enjoy the last leg of winters while you still can, with some delectable foods that won't put you on a guilt trip. We surely did, on our culinary trip to Fire.

We started off with winter-special Thakkali Pondu Rasam, a Madurai soul soup with tangy tomato puree and a hint of garlic. Served with bruschetta bread, the tantalising appetiser got us afoot on a long gastronomical journey. Zad Apple Salad with fresh winter greens from the highest peaks of the Himalayan region is a must-try. It is served in a beautifully decorated bamboo basket, making it hard to resist.

If you love missi roti with saag, you'll definitely love this take-off -Missi Roti Taco with arbi and bean sprout.It was followed by Bengali Pea Chop, which could have fared better with some more flavours.

Missi Roti Taco with arbi and bean sprout (Image Credit: Fire, The Park)

Non-vegetarians must pick Koli Barthad, a Coorgi-special pan fried chicken paired with kachampuli, peppercorn and tomato chutney. Another delectable treat that stood out for us was Red Snapper Pollichathu - succulent and juicy fish, wrapped mystically in banana leaves.

Red Snapper (Image Credit: Fire, The Park)

Going forward to the mains, we absolutely loved Smoked Masala Pork Ribs that packed a punch of flavours with a distinct smoky flavour. The finale of the meal was the grand traditional thali circling a myriad of regional dishes. From Delhi's iconic Nalli Nihari to Malabar Prawn curry, to Khubani Stuffed Malai Kofta and Sarso Ka Saag - make you pick from the host of drool-worthy dishes on the menu. And pair these with red rice and choicest of breads. Five Seed and Cheddar Kulcha, and Truffle and Parmesan Kulcha, are our picks. However, if you want healthier options, there is 9 Grain Roti (an amalgamation of various healthy flours) and Gluten Free Ragi Roti.

Indian thali (Image Credit: Fire, The Park)

We ended our meal with Strawberry Cheese Cake with macerated strawberries and angoori petha, which gave a sweet ending to our perfect meal.

What: Fire - The Park Where: 5, Sansad Marg, Hanuman Road Area, Connaught Place, New Delhi When: 12noon - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm Cost: INR 3,000 for two (approx.) Until: the winter ends

About Neha GroverLove for reading roused her writing instincts. Neha is guilty of having a deep-set fixation with anything caffeinated. When she is not pouring out her nest of thoughts onto the screen, you can see her reading while sipping on coffee.

More:

Fire-The Park Will Fire Up Your Appetite With Its Organic Winter Menu - NDTV Food

WIN WINSupporting organic farmers by buying their produce means enjoying more-nutritious food while supporting biodiversity.

Nature and rewilding Pat Fahy

Cycling on the Greenway, heading to the weekly Coastal Communities demonstration in Westport one Friday, mind wandering, thinking of the value of organic produce, legs going like bumblebee wings. Ye know the price of everything and the value of nawtin, an old boss of mine once said, flooring a room full of bigwigs, sticking up for our small department, squeezed on all sides. His words came back to me as I thought of some attitudes to organic farming and food. Sounds bit harsh, I thought then, considering all the people beating a path to Pax Whole Foods & Eco Goods in Westport, to Glasra organic farms stalls in Castlebar and Westport, and to various other organic-produce market stalls up and down the country. What does organic mean?, you might ask. It simply means working with nature rather than against it whilst providing food that tastes like nature intended. Westports Edible Landscape and Pax, among others, are sowing the seeds for change a while now. Pax especially, since its inception, has been a revelation, effortlessly radiating community to the environmentally cognisant. In the store, shoppers serendipitously meet others with a mutual interest in plastic-free goods, organic local produce, palm-oil free products, sustainability, biodiversity and climate change. Organic produce is worth that little bit of extra cost, or the time and effort in your own garden, because it is more nutritious, never mind all the benefits to our planet. Fruit and vegetables grown decades ago were much richer in vitamins and minerals than the varieties most of us get today. The main culprit is soil depletion. Sadly, each successive generation of fast-growing, pest-resistant carrot is less good for you than the one before. The key to healthier produce is healthier soil. If you want this, buy regularly from local organic farmers. But still, increase the amount of vegetables and fruit in your diet regardless extraordinarily rich in nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals, theyre our best source. Eat the rainbow for good health dieticians often tell us. Each plant produces various phytochemicals to make these colours, and theyre more abundant in organic produce, according to scientific research, such as a 2014 study in the British Journal of Nutrition by Marcin Baranski et al. There are wider reasons to go organic, besides them being more nutritious and tasty. From a biodiversity perspective, a variety of pesticide-free organic planting and habitats will attract the complete spectrum of wildlife, including bumblebees, butterflies, beetles, hoverflies, dragonflies, hedgehogs and birds. And the larvae of hoverfly and ladybirds are good example of natural pest control: they eat the greenfly. Taking a leaf from the organic farmers bag of tricks, arable farmers now sow wildflowers around their tillage fields, as well as another strip down the middle for greater effect. Doing so reduces pesticide costs by attracting all sorts of ichneumon wasps, which are bad news for many crop pests. An elegant solution. Monsanto (now owned by German pharmaceutical corporation Bayer) was recently forced by US courts to pay out millions of dollars in damages to people who got cancer after using its glyphosate-based weedkiller Roundup, with thousands more cases yet to be heard. No doubt headlines about the cases have given many people pause for thought. Every year, some pesticide previously thought to be safe is banned somewhere in the world a problem no organic farmer needs to worry about. With the increasing pressures of climate change, food security is also something we all need to consider. Most conventional farmers use very few crop varieties, but diversity is essential for survival. We would do well to remember that during the Great Hunger, there were only three varieties of potato in Ireland, and all were prone to blight. We should also be grateful to organisations like Irish Seed Savers, who are doing Trojan work in preserving heritage varieties of Irelands fruit and vegetables before theyre lost forever. Organic is the future. Organic farmers are young, energised and on a mission, matching conventional farming after a relatively short transition, outperforming conventional during drought, building rather than depletes the soil, using 45 percent less energy and generating 40 percent less greenhouse gases. Not only that, the food consumers who go organic tend to be careful about food waste a huge and unnecessary burden on the planet. If you pay that little bit extra, you wont think of food as being cheap and throwaway. Were all learning the cost of the quick fix and the value of natures services. These changes are priceless, because they are our future. Were all on that journey. Whats good for us is also good for our planet the only one weve got.

Pat Fahy is Biodiversity Officer with Westport Tidy Towns.

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The multiple rewards of going organic - Mayo News

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs new life has come at a cost literally. Since the Sussexes are no longer working members of the British royal family, theyve had to become financially independent. These means they will be scaling back on some of the lavish pleasures that the duke had been accustomed to for his entire life.

However, the Sussexes arent starting from the ground up. Prior to tying the knot in May 2018, both Markle and Prince Harry were millionaires in their own right. Also, despite the British press and publics disdain for the duchess, they are beloved across the globe and have a stellar brand.

Since they are building on their own wealth and legacy, it was a wise choice for the Sussexes to move to Canada.

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This evening,The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the annual #WellChildAwards in London. WellChild aims to ensure every child and young person living with serious health needs has the best chance to thrive with the support and medical care needed in the comfort of their own home. The Duke of Sussex became Patron of WellChild in 2007, and last year both The Duke and Duchess attended the awards to honour the children and families that WellChild supports. The Duke, who first came to these awards over a decade ago, shared in his remarks tonight: Last year when my wife and I attended we knew we were expecting our first child no one else did at the time, but we did and I remember squeezing Meghans hand so tightly during the awards, both of us thinking what it would be like to be parents one day, and more so, what it would be like to do everything we could to protect and help our child should they be born with immediate challenges or become unwell over time. And now, as parents, being here and speaking to all of you pulls at my heart strings in a way I could have never understood until I had a child of my own. To find out more about tonights event and how you can support this very special organisation, please visit @WellChild Photos PA images

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Oct 15, 2019 at 2:18pm PDT

They may not have access to the queens billions, but the Sussexes are still very wealthy with a combined net worth of $30 million. When the pair got married they did not have a prenuptial agreement and decided to combine their finances.

Prince Harrys independent net worth stands around $25 million a combination of inheritance from Princess Diana and an annual allowance from Prince Charles. Meanwhile from her acting work and endorsements, the duchess is worth $5 million.

Some of that money will be used to pay back the $3 million used to renovated their U.K. home, Frogmore Cottage.

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In Tembisa, Johannesburg, today The Duke and Duchess visited to meet young entrepreneurs at the YES hub a hive for creativity and social enterprise. Their visit was an amazing tour of the ingenuity and opportunity seeing businesses that varied from food to essential sanitary products for local women. During their visit, they were able to sample food from Chef Mish a local masterchef winner which he makes at the site as part of his catering business and cafe. They then joined YES community members to take part in training and tests that will help them gain skills and find work. On the third stop today, entrepreneur Moss showed The Duke and Duchess the organic produce he's growing in the township with aquaponics supplying local restaurants. And finally, The Duke and Duchess met the women behind the amazing Blossom Care Solutions who are making 80,000 sanitary pads every month for women in their community. They are 100% compostable, and provide an essential low-cost product for women and girls. The Duchess has long campaigned on this issue and wrote in Time magazine in 2017, saying: In communities all over the globe, young girls potential is being squandered because we are too shy to talk about the most natural thing in the world. To that I say: we need to push the conversation, mobilize policy making surrounding menstrual health initiatives, support organizations who foster girls education from the ground up, and within our own homes, we need to rise above our puritanical bashfulness when it comes to talking about menstruation. See our previous post to see The Dukes speech #RoyalVisitSouthAfrica Photo PA images

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Oct 2, 2019 at 5:26am PDT

Because they will no longer be supported, the duke and duchess will need to work to become financially independent. Theyve already to trademark their brand Sussex Royal We could easily compare them to any former presidents,Royal commentator and author Kristen Meinzer explained to Business Insider. My mind keeps going toBarack and Michelle Obamaand how [they] make money. The reason I compare the two is that theyre already friends with each other and I would put them on the same level in terms of fame.

Markle lived in Canada for years when she was filming the drama series, Suits, so it feels very familiar to her. However, Canada has other perks as well. The duo will have major tax benefits when it comes to moving to Canada.

According to Market Watch, Moving to Canada will keep Prince Harry out of thecomplex webof U.S. international tax law. The couple was already running into tax issues since Markle is still a U.S. Citizen. Also since security is a concern, and Canada is in the British commonwealth, the Sussexes security costs will be lower.

The Governor-General, who represents the Queen in Canada, is protected by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and as a prince of the realm of Canada, Harry and his family will be protected by the same team of guards, which will have to be expanded, according to the London Evening Standard.

Additionally, the pound isnt as strong as it was prior to Brexit. Therefore the duo will get more bang for their wealth in Canada.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Decision to Live in Canada Was Financially Savvy - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

The Global Organic Food Products Market Report, a new addition to the catalog, offers a comprehensive overview of the current market situation and presents the development and other key factors in the provincial markets. It offers its readers an enormous amount of information that has been collected using numerous prime numbers and subordinate research methods. The information contained in this report has been reduced using extensive industry-specific methodological events.

The report also includes a detailed and comprehensive overview of the competitive landscape and the administrative structure of the global Organic Food Products market. In this way, users gain an adequate understanding of the condition of drivers, restrictions, opportunities and strategies that affect the market. The report also includes both subjective and objective analyzes of the global market.

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Top Key players:Albertsons Companies, Inc., Cargill, Inc., Kraft Heinz Co., Danone SA, Kellogg Co., ConAgra Brand, Inc., Kerry Group Plc, The J. M. Smucker Co., Dole Food Company, Inc., and Organic Valley Cropp Cooperative.

North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa as well as Latin America are the most important regional markets. Among these, Organic Food Products has reached the overall market and continues to grow. However, it is now also to be expected that some other regions will take the lead in the next few years and prove to be the most promising regional markets. The global market is also expected to grow rapidly in the near future due to the presence of a large number of people entering this market sector.

Some of the key players in the global Organic Food Products market often strive to improve their services and offer their customers advanced and innovative products. In addition, these companies tend to pursue strategic business activities such as partnerships, joint ventures and acquisitions. Likewise, companies are now using and mixing newer technologies to attract more customers.

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Market value (USD Million) and volume (Units Million) data for each segment and sub-segment

Distribution Channel sales Analysis by Value

Competitive landscape involving the market share of major players, along with the new projects and strategies adopted by players in the past five years

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1-year analyst support, along with the data support in excel format.

Table of Content:

Chapter 1 Global Organic Food Products Industry Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2014-2020)

Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2014-2020)

Chapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application

Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis

Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

Continue for TOC

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Organic Food Products Market 2020 by cmfeinsights.com| Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Market Opportunities, Competitive Landscape, Segmentation, Top...

Paul Lindley OBE, founder of the hugely successful organic food company, Ellas Kitchen, child welfare campaigner, author and advocate for small businesses and start-ups will be the keynote speaker at the Darwin Festival Evolution of the Workplace lecture.

Mr Lindley has worked extensively to support small businesses and entrepreneurs through the Consumer Forum and Business and You to help build the next generation of world-class British brands.

Joining Mr Lindley at University Centre Shrewsbury on Thursday, 13th of February, at 5pm, will be four local business thought leaders:

Chairing the Event: John OBrien MBE, Shropshires bestselling business author, EMEA Head of the One Hundred marketing agency working with major corporates on strategy and communication needs;

Mark Walton, local-based serial entrepreneur and CEO of the paradigm-shifting, employee-centric, customer support company, Sensee;

Kate Holbrook, founder of Turtle Doves, a Shropshire-based, award-winning ethical recycling business which has received national recognition; and,

Gary Dee, Shropshire-based UK Managing Director of Bostik, the global manufacturer of adhesives.

What are the trends affecting the workplaces of tomorrow? How does humanity and people-centric thinking potentially empower businesses with their employees and customers? How does technology, Gen Z and millennial thinking, localization, ethical and sustainable thinking affect our attitudes to business and offer routes to success?

Join in with a thought- provoking discussion on the evolution of the workplace. The event is free, but booking is strongly suggested. You may book your place through UCSs website at: https://www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk/public-events

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Ella's Kitchen founder to speak at 'Evolution of the Workplace' lecture - Shropshire Live

OPERATION Transformation star Tanya Carroll was shocked after failing to lose any weight on this weeks show - despite following the diet and exercise plan closely.

The mother-of-four's surprising 0lb weight loss stunned fitness expert Karl Henry, who admitted he was surprised as her Fitbit stats were strong.

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However, the shows resident medic Dr Sumi Dunne insisted that Tanya's failure to shed weight was down to her time of month coinciding with the weigh-in.

Commenting after Tanya missing her 2lb target weight loss, Karl Henry said: "Im surprised, your Fitbit stats are brilliant.

"Youve got the biggest inch loss of any leader - 20.5 inches. Im at a loss for words. Your stats are good."

However, Dr Dunne said: "When we come around our menstrual cycle, part of it is that we hold onto water.

"That makes us feel bloated and heavy. Pants can be tight, bra straps dig in."

Tanya, from Glanmire in Cork, insisted she wouldnt let the results of the weigh in hold her back.

She said: "(If this happened last year) I probably would have been back on the chocolate. Im not disappointed."

Dietitian Aoife Hearne also backed the busy mum and insisted her progress is remarkable.

She said: "Im absolutely not worried. Some big takeaways are that youre up muscle and down body fat.

"The body composition is changing and thats the most important thing - those things are moving in the right direction.

"Over the past four weeks, you have seven per cent weight loss. Thats a big thing."

Last week Tanya got emotional as she got to spend some time with her ill father.

The leader revealed in the circle of truth that her dad has had a number of health problems over the years.

During the truth circle Tanya broke down in tears saying: "My dad has everything. He has diabetes, he has stints, four kidney disease.

Exclusive

Exclusive

Exclusive

"He has heart disease, heart failure, liver disease, you name it he has it."

But this week her father joined her and her family to watch her back on the show.

Her father said on the show: "She means the world to me. She's outstanding. Sure there's six of them there and I'm proud of them all."

Read more:
OT leader Tanya shocked after failing to lose any weight this week despite sticking to diet and exercise p - The Irish Sun

You probably wouldn't recognize actor Ethan Suplee if you saw him out in public these days, even though he's been onscreen, both in TV and movies, for the better part of the quarter century (he's been in everything from Boy Meets World as a kid to Mallrats, American History X, Remember the Titans, My Name Is Earl, Wolf of Wall Street, and most recently Motherless Brooklyn). Suplee has pulled off one of the most dramatic and impressive transformations we've seen from someone living under the public eye, but his workouts weren't to pack on the muscle needed to play a superhero. Suplee was more focused on transforming his relationship with food and fitness. Then the pounds dropped, and muscle followed.

The 43-year-old actor recently documented his progress, sharing that he had shed over 200 pounds and started packing on muscle with a consistent weightlifting routine. Suplee is all-in on this newfound health kick, to the point that he's started his own podcast, American Glutton, that focuses investigates obesity, diet culture, and the ways that he has engaged with his own health over the last 20-plus years.

But this isn't the first time Suplee, who has weighed over 500 pounds before, has slimmed down. So far, though, it feels like it's the first time that all of his hard work will help him to actually maintain a healthy lifestyle. He opened up about his journey in a phone interview with Men's Health, along with sharing his go-to chest push day workout on video.

Suplee says that he was always a "heavy kid," and that's when his relationship to his weight and food developed. His grandparents put him on a diet, so he began sneaking food and preferring to eat alone, a cycle that would become hard to break as an adult. Food became just like every other drug, and I didnt understand how my body used it, he says. But there was still a long road ahead, and many of Suplee's earliest roles showcased his size as much as they did his talents.

ABC Photo ArchivesGetty Images

By 2002, Suplee knew he had to change. "I had this girlfriend at the time, and I just realized at some point that in order to have a lasting relationship with her and be able to lead the life I wanted to lead, I would have to do something about my health." He opened up to her about his goals, and they set out to live a healthier life. Suplee started by putting himself on a liquid diet and estimates that he lost 80 pounds in two months, an extreme drop and lifestyle change that he would never advocate now. He shifted to a diet that only allowed him small portions of lean meat and vegetables, got down to around 400 pounds, then the weight loss slowed down. That wasn't good enough for Suplee.

"You have this immediate massive drop in weight, and you go okay, I want to keep riding that roller coaster to the finish line," he says. "But there's no thought to the long term practicality of weight loss."

Once 2005 rolled around, his wife was pregnant with their first child and Suplee was an exercise fiend, practicing Muay Thai and jiu jitsu. But his weight loss had plateaued, and he was thrown off his routine when he started filming My Name Is Earl. "I wasn't factoring in how I was going to maintain my weight at work when I was working like, 14 hours a day, five days a week," he admits. "Over the course of five years, I gained 100 pounds."

Coming out of the show, Suplee picked up a new hobby, cyclingbut the way he went about it wasn't healthy. He restricted how much he was eating, doing "all kinds of really crazy stupid diets"he once only allowed himself to eat while he was actually on the biketo go along with a grueling cycling regimen, and dropped all the way down to 220 pounds. This was the least weight he'd ever carried, but that in itself was not satisfying. "I was really, really unhappy with how I looked, and I didn't feel comfortable in my skin," he says. "I felt like a light breeze would knock me over. I don't know if I'm just big boned or a big dude, but 220 felt really, really small."

After all the hard work, Suplee was still unhappy with his body. He also had loose skin from all his weight loss, something that negative media outlets used to shame him for his progress. "TMZ stopped me and was like hey, you look great, what're you doing? And I said I ride bikes," Suplee recalls. "Then they had people talk about it and someone said 'well, he's still a fat guy." Suplee had 14 percent body fat at the time. Worse, Suplee says that paparazzi began to take photos of his loose skin for stories about the downside of weight loss, turning his hard-earned progress into a source of shame. "For the news to be kind of negative, I was like, fuck you guys," he says.

Worse still, he crashed his bike, badly. He dropped cycling, then picked up CrossFit, but busted his knee and gained "easy" 150 pounds. He was back to square one.

Then, Suplee was cast in a new show, Hulu's Chance. He began lifting weights for the role of D, a big, tough guyand something clicked. "I found that I really enjoyed lifting weights and I could get my workout in an hour, and so that wasn't like a huge part of my day," he says. "Even if I had a really long work day, I could go before or go after."

More importantly, Suplee decided to dig into the most difficult part of the equation, his nutrition. He started with keto, but everything finally clicked when he came across a TED Talk by Dr. Mike Isratel, "The Scientific Landscape of Healthy Eating". "I probably watched it four times in a row," Suplee says. "I was just like, this is not what I was being told." Suplee had bought into the theory that all carbohydrates are bad in any form, so being told that the macronutrient is actually a necessary source of fuel was eye-opening.

He switched to a low fat diet, gained 8 pounds in three days, but stayed the course after doubling down on the science and checking his lean body fat percentage using a DEXA scan.

Now, Suplee is about 260 pounds, and feels much healthier. He uses progressive overload principles very slightly over a four-week periods, then comes back a little heavier and repeats the process. He's mostly focused on hypertrophy, not lifting a house full of weights. "I don't give a crap about how many plates I have on there, that's irrelevant," he says. "The only thing I'm trying to do at this point is lose fat and hold onto the muscle." Suplee's biggest goal is to get to 10 percent body fat, then see how much muscle he can pack onto his frame. He calls it a "crazy, kind of science-y fun project I'm looking forward to."

The public reception to his recent weight loss is much more positive as well, with no TMZ hit pieces or shame paparazzi photos. Suplee credits that shift in part to being totally in control of the narrative, through his posts on Instagram and his openness on his podcast about his journey.

"The more I feel that I understand, scientifically, the more power I have over it."

No matter what anyone thinks, Suplee is training hard now, and he plans to continue that going forward. That also applies to his acting career. "I made my career as the fat guy," he says. "I dont want to be fat anymore. If the podcast is what I have to do make a career, thats fine."

All of the effort has been worth it to Suplee for the knowledge he's gained. That's what he hopes everyone who marvels at his before and after photos can learn.

"The most important thing I would want anyone to take away is that for me, the biggest change was understanding how food works," he says. "And the more I feel that I understand, scientifically, the more power I have over it."

Suplee is hard at work at achieving his goals, so the Men's Health team met up with him at Grant Roberts' Granite Gym in Beverly Hills, where the man himself, strength coach Grant Roberts, helped to walk us through his chest push day workout split.

Power Plate Pushup

1A. Dumbbell Incline Fly - 3 sets of 10 reps

1B. Dumbbell Incline Press - 3 sets of 8 reps

2. Low Bench Press (Machine Press) - 3 sets of 10 reps

3. Cable Scoop - 3 sets of 10 reps

4A. Dumbbell Pullover - 3 sets of 10 reps

4B. Dumbbell French Press - 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps

5. Double Skullcrusher with Hold - 8 reps, 5 reps, 3 reps, 1 rep

See more here:
Ethan Suplee's Workout To Stay Fit and Maintain Healthy Habits - menshealth.com

Music therapy isn't the same for everyone, so find some joy in the music of your real-life and maybe even push away a moody cancer funk.

Martha lives in Illinois and was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in January 2015. She has a husband and three children, ranging in age from 12 to 18, a dog and a lizard.

I remember when my middle daughter was a baby - she was not an "easy" baby - and I'd drive around sometimes for hours just to try to get her to fall asleep. Once, or more precisely "if", she did, I would either just sit in the car quietly reading or sleeping until she woke or I'd risk bringing her into the house, where I'd put her in the crib, car seat and all.

It was during this time that I got a lot of advice from doctors, family, friends, magazines and pretty much every mother or grandmother whose path I crossed that music would soothe this savage beast. Not just any music, though. Classical music.

I still smile when I think about that advice. Classical music was the one surefire way to enrage this baby.

Music is often put forth as a complementary therapy for people with cancer. In the same way I tested out classical music on my daughter, I've tried to get into the calming "cancer music", like the flutes, the music my qi gong instructor puts on at the start of each class. I'm just not soothed by the tones though. I can appreciate the beauty of this music, and classical recordings don't send me into a fit the way it did that little baby in her car seat. Still, for me, music therapy has to sound a little different.

Starting with the early days of my diagnosis, I've actually made good use of my own music-as-therapy. At chemotherapy appointments, putting on my headphones and hitting play on my phone are the first things I do once those drugs are hooked up to the IV pole. It's not dulcet tones though. What I'm listening to is often whatever that same daughter has been playing in the car. It's loud, it's feminist, it's danceableand it has the power to pull me out of a moody funk.

It reminds me of the days when my daughters enthusiastically practiced their songs for Junior High plays, of the fun I've had at small concerts with them and the long days at huge music events in Chicago, where I am certifiably in the old-lady category.

It's music therapy for my real life.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that what people recommend when you're getting cancer treatment may simultaneously not work for you and work great with slight modifications. For me, music therapy falls into that category.

I'm probably never going to be calmed by listening to an Indian flute recording, but with different music, I can wind up in the same place. Sure, I get there with a bit more volume and a lot more movement (and some out-of-tune singing) but this is definitely a situation where it's the destination that matters and not the how-you-get-there.

Take a moment today to think about the exuberance for life that you respond to in your favorite music and let that be a bit of complementary therapy for your heart and soul. Sing it out loud or play it quietly to find the joy we all deserve.

Go here to read the rest:
Music For The Cancer Life - Curetoday.com