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Im Danielle Rivoli (@raisingmeadowsage) and Im 32 years old. Im from Long Island, New York, and Im a stay-at-home mom and a breastfeeding counselor. After having my daughters, I knew I needed to take care of *me*so I found a workout and eating trick I loved and lost 50 pounds.

Weight loss was always something I saw as a short-term thing. My mindset was: I need to lose weight for this vacation, or, I need to lose weight for this event. I would follow whatever the latest trend was or try crash diets and over-exercise to reach my goal.

But even when Id reach that weight-loss goal, it was only temporary and I'd always put the weight right back on. I was never making a true lifestyle change, and the vicious cycle was not healthy for my body or, more importantly, my mental health.

I fulfilled every craving I had, especially birthday cake. And after having my first daughter I was at my heaviestand my lowest confidence ever. But I had my daughter to think about and care for, and so I tried to work out during her nap times and incorporate some fitness into my life, but it never really stuck. My husband and I found out I was pregnant again just 10 months postpartum, and I immediately started to gain weight again.

I put on above and beyond what I gained during my first pregnancy. After having my second daughter (this was in January 2017!), I was a size 12 and a new stay at-home-mom of two babies that were 19 months apart. For the first several months I was a breastfeeding machine and burning the candle at both ends.

I had decided about three months postpartum (in March 2017), that I needed to do something for myself. I loved and lived for my girls but I was feeling lost in this whirlwind of motherhood. I lost myself and any sense of "Danielle" that had existed before children.

I felt uncomfortable in my own skin, being 50 pounds heavier than I had been prior to having my babies. I could barely keep up with them. Stairs were difficult and carrying the car seat was difficult. Putting them in the car was so hard that at times Id just stay home instead.

I knew that it was time to start incorporating some sort of home workout into my day. For my mental health and sanity, I just needed to take a half hour a day, even if it was in my husbands big t-shirts and pajama pants. I began working out in my kitchen with one baby in a swing and my toddler helping" me. No matter what, I'd find a way to get it done every day.

At the start of the new year in January 2018, I thought my girls could handle time in a gym daycare. Initially I felt some mom guilt but knew that we would mutually benefit from going to the gym as a trio. I would get a short break to work out and have that time for myself, while my girls made friends and played safely. I started with group fitness classes and eventually decided to start incorporating some weights.

I told anyone who would listen about the program. Little did I know, it would completely change my life. I began following Kelsey because she was a mom, just like me, and her story resonated with me. Seeing her share so honestly about her journey made me feel like anything was possible.

She helped me realize that I didnt have to accept that being tired, self-conscious, and out of shape was just what New Motherhood was for everyone. I could create my own new reality, even though it was really hard.

Each day I went to the gym, I would pull up the PWR program and the calendar in the app. It was like having a mini Kelsey as coach and personal trainer in my pocket. It made me feel like I knew what I was doing and took the fear out of the equation.

With all of this motivation and possibility, I would dress my girls each morning, nurse/pump, pack their snacks and bottles, load them up into the car, drop them at the Kids Klub, and get my workouts in day after day. I didn't focus on visible results; I trained with the goal of improving my mental well-being and the ability to be there for my girls.

When I first started my weight-loss journey, I cut back on desserts and sugary beverages and coffee creamers first. I also started searching for healthier recipes and cooking those instead of my typical comfort foods. I started to feel a mental shift happening.

But my goals started changing. I wanted to gain muscle and get even stronger. My weight loss had plateaued and I needed to figure out how to fuel my body in a new way to build more muscle. So I researched different, higher-protein diets, as I had been eating salads and no longer was losing weight.

I came across macro countingand it clicked for me instantly. I viewed macro counting as a budget of protein, fats, and carbs that I could fill each day with whatever I wanted, but I would just do it in the portions that my macros outlined for my body and goals.

I learned how carbs gave me energy and how delicious healthy food can be. I learned how eating and fulfilling my bodys nutritional needs helped me lift heavier, gain muscle tone, and lose body fat. By counting macros, I busted my plateau and started to see changes in my body I never thought were possible.

Listen, hearing someones journey that has been in the making for years may make weight loss seem impossible and a lifetime away. But trust me, it's worth being patient for. Another tip? I set small, weekly goals that feel rewarding and achievable, as the big picture can feel overwhelming. Checking weekly, smaller goals off the calendar adds up to success in the long run.

I used to think that fitness and being healthy all came down to genetics, that some people just had it while others didnt. I thought that I could never be fit or healthy for XYZ reasons, especially in my 30s and after having kids. I also felt I could never commit to the work it takes. Or that I'd never be able to say no to the foods that I found delicious. Now, I've erased that negative self-talk that was holding me back.

Instead, over a long period of discovery, I learned I didnt need to deprive myself with food as I once thought. I just had to learn my limits, what healthy feels like for me and my body, and what my balance is. Going after small goals, experimenting with recipes and foods, learning what works for me, and finding a workout I genuinely love has all made me a better mom and a better person.

Read the rest here:
'I Used Kelsey Wells' PWR Program And Lost 50 Pounds In A Year' - Women's Health

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SIMON Cowell continued to show off his incredible weight loss as he played with a monkey on the beach in Barbados.

The60-year-old, who has lost over 20lbs, went topless in his swimming shorts during the family day by the water.

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The X Factor boss demonstrated his love of animals as he allowed a monkey to climb on his shoulder.

He then popped on his life jacket and headed off on a jet ski with his son Eric.

Simons long term partner Lauren also joined them and looked amazing in a black swimsuit.

The X Factor judge's body is in stark contrast to the start of the year when he appeared larger around the waist as well as the face.

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Earlier this year,Simon was forced to deny he had a gastric band fitted.

He shocked America's Got Talent viewers when he stepped out looking remarkably different in August after shedding the pounds.

He told Best Magazine: "People have said: "Oh, he's had a gastric band fitted"- but I haven't. If I had, I would admit to it. This diet is all about what you put into your body."

Although, the music mogul did confess that the secret behind his slimmer figure was down to expert doctor's advice.

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He revealed: "I met this doctor in LA and he told me my diet was appalling and I had to cut out fatty foods and certain drinks.

"I could see the difference. Cutting out sugar made a massive difference.

"The first few weeks were difficult, but then I actually stopped craving sugar.

"I had also found a brilliant gluten-free beer, which helps."

And he explained that he found watching his five-year-old snack on tasty treats the most difficult, adding: "The hardest part is when I see Eric eat pizza in front of me. That's really tough."

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AMBER SOLAIRE Amber Davies dazzles in the sun Down Under before heading home for Christmas

Exclusive

OASIS OF CALM Liam Gallagher moves out of posh London pad after boozy bust-ups at local pub

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FRESH START TOWIE star Ferne McCann finally in love again with mystery man after ex jailed

BRAYING ALIVE Donkey lands role in BBC series after she was saved from slaughter

NO LOV-ATO Demi Lovato splits with boyfriend Austin Wilson and pleads dont go after him

Quiz

QUIZMAS TIME! Can you name the 20 Christmas hits hidden in this tricky festive brainteaser?

Simonalso ditched the junk food following a health scare in October 2017, when he fell down the stairs in the middle of the night.

He used to binge on sausage rolls, hamburgers and his favourite jam tarts made by his personal chefs before converting to veganism.

"Within 24 hours I changed my diet and Ive not looked back since. You feel better, you look better," he said.

"I cut out a lot of the stuff I shouldnt have been eating and that was primarily meat, dairy, wheat, sugar those were the four main things."

Read more here:
Simon Cowell continues to show off his incredible weight loss as he plays with a monkey on the beach in - The Sun

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What are the market pressures investors need to be ready for in the new year, and how can they improve their portfolios while at the same time possibly improve the world?

By Will Lofland, Director and Head of Intermediary Distribution | GuideStone FundsDecember 20, 2019Contact Me

As we near the new year, setting resolutions will be on the minds of many. Feeling in need of a fresh start, many individuals create goals for themselves centered around weight loss, self-improvement and making better financial decisions.

Making better financial decisions sounds like a wise thing to do in theory, but what all does that actually entail?

For many, one of the most overlooked resolutions within that bucket revolves around investing. When it comes to your portfolio and investing techniques, its easy to set it and forget it in a sense, but its a missed opportunity not to take advantage of aligning ones resolutions with changes in your portfolio.

While investors dont need to make tweaks constantly, the new year can serve as a reminder to check in with your approach, where you are today and where you want to be over the short and long term.

As we head into 2020, here are three resolutions to consider specific to your investment portfolio:

Its no secret that 2019 saw its fair share of market volatility. In fact, many in the industry are saying that we are in the ninth inning of this bull market, so a downturn to some extent is inevitable.

While we are cautiously optimistic, there are market concerns at play including the Fed cutting rates again, geopolitical turmoil and the upcoming political season expected to dominate the headlines for the next 12 months.

While we dont recommend taking the chips off the table heading into 2020, we do recognize where the markets may go. Implementing a defensive strategy can reduce portfolio volatility while still providing long-term capital appreciation. For example, the health care and utilities sectors have a defensive nature and may be worth working into an overall allocation in the new year.

The beauty of todays market environment is that there are new ways individuals can approach their investments. For example, five to 10 years ago, investing philosophies such as SRI (socially responsible investing), ESG (environment, social and government) and faith- or values-based investing were in their infancy stages with only one or two fund families that offered niche products.

Now, with hundreds of products on the market within these arenas, investors have easier access and the ability to truly align their values with their portfolio. According to a survey conducted by Bank of America, 82% of high-net-worth investors who align with ESG portfolio choices ones backing companies that are good corporate citizens see investing as a way to directly express their personal values.

At the start of the new year, take time to determine what values define or matter to you. Are you anti-tobacco? Do you support water-preservation efforts? Do you want to avoid companies that align with gambling? Have an open dialogue with your financial professional and highlight what matters to you, and he/she can identify appropriate solutions to weave into your portfolio.

Every company has room for growth and room to make an impact. Understand that as an investor, you have the power to do more. For example, there are faith-based investment companies like GuideStone with shareholder advocacy programs that work to encourage other companies to evolve based on community and consumer preference (e.g., CVS opting to take tobacco off their shelves). The goal is to take your investing habits to the next level by engaging with companies to communicate why your values matter in your investment decisions.

With 2020 right around the corner, remember that setting resolutions for the new year is about taking a specific interest in amplifying your portfolio and making the intentional effort to adopt those changes. Over the coming weeks, work closely with your adviser to implement these resolutions and others that may be important to you.

As with any resolution, the road to success begins with the desire to change and the thoughtfulness to create a solid plan.

Will Lofland is director and head of intermediary distribution at GuideStone Funds based in Dallas, Texas. In addition, Will oversees GuideStone's shareholder advocacy strategy and represents the firm as a participant in the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.

Comments are suppressed in compliance with industry guidelines. Click here to learn more and read more articles from the author.

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

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3 Resolutions for Investing in 2020: How to Make the Most of Your Portfolio - Kiplinger's Personal Finance

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Really hard.

Turkey, ham, stuffing. Mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole. Cookies, caramels, pies, jellos The tasty temptations abound, splayed out across tables at family Christmas gatherings (and some families have a few of those), work potlucks and other group functions.

For a lot of folks, the time between Thanksgiving and the New Year is a time of food. A time to satisfy that sweet tooth, indulge those savory cravings, and get good and full or, as is often the case, overfull.

It creates a real challenge for people who are trying to eat healthy, or who need or want to follow a special diet. Dietary restrictions are becoming more and more common, with a growing number of people discovering they have food allergies, or needing or choosing to follow a gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian, low-carb, or Keto diet, among myriad others.

Staying on the wagon with these diets isnt always easy especially around the holidays.

Alexa Stelzer, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Essentia Health St. Marys in Detroit Lakes, said the biggest thing people can do to keep their food intake in check is to change their mindsets about the importance of food. To think about food less, and loved ones more.

For all people, whether on a special diet or not, Stelzer said, make the focus of the gathering be about connecting with and spending time with people, not so much about food Focus on having great conversations, rather than circling back to the food table. That can be really helpful.

In her role at Essentia, Stelzer works with clients one-on-one and in group settings, in both the hospital and clinic. Around the holidays, she commonly talks to them about how they can stick to their usual eating patterns in this unusually bountiful season. Some have strict guidelines they absolutely must stick to at all times of the year, such as a diabetes diet or a peanut allergy, while others are just trying to make gradual, healthy lifestyle changes.

I feel like more and more people are needing to follow special diets, she said. And I think a lot of people are becoming health conscious and are trying to follow diet patterns and eating patterns that they recognize can make them feel better in the long term.

Her recommended diets vary from person to person, but no matter what, she always tells her clients to develop eating plans they can realistically continue for years to come.

There are pros and cons to most any way of eating, but for a diet to be successful long-term, it has to be a diet that you can stick with, she said.

This can be trickier to do around the holidays, not only because of the tempting foods all around, but also because of the extended duration of the season.

It's pretty easy, if you're following a diet, to stick to it over one day, Selzer said. It's when we have multiple parties that we're going to, and we're continuing to not follow our eating plans over a longer period of time (that we run into trouble).

To avoid the pitfalls of overindulgence and unhealthy eating, she suggests people fill their holiday plates half-full with vegetables before adding any other types of food. This ensures a sizable portion of low-calorie, low-carb, fiber-rich, nutritional foods, and leaves less room on the plate for less healthy options.

Also, she recommends leaving leftovers at the party, instead of offering to take them home. Or, for those who host, sending leftovers home with guests who want them.

Probably the most important thing anyone can do, though, at any time of the year, is pay attention to every morsel that enters their mouth.

One of the most common things that I talk about this time of year, with holiday eating, is practicing mindful eating whether youre following a special diet or not, Stelzer said. Mindful eating is being really conscious of what and how you're eating. With mindful eating principles, you really slow down and savor the foods as you're eating them.

By tuning in to the smell, sight and taste of the foods you eat, she explained, you become more aware of the act of eating, and more easily recognize when youre satisfied and have had enough.

That's something I work with people on a lot being aware of hunger and recognizing that full feeling in your body, and remembering that if you continue to eat, you're going to get really uncomfortable, Stelzer said.

If you practice mindful eating, focus on family over food, stack your plate with veggies first, and leave the leftovers for someone else, you dont have to completely derail your diet over the holidays, she added. A number of people put their healthy patterns on hold through the holidays and then try to 'catch up' afterward. But it doesnt have to be an all or nothing sort of thing.

Alexa Stelzer, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Essentia Health St. Marys, says planning is the key to successful holiday meals for those who are on a special diet, whether its vegan, low-carb, gluten-free or any number of others out there.

Stelzer offers the following tips for those who want or need to stay on the wagon:

Give the host a heads up. The host wants everyone at the party to have a good time and have options available for food, so a heads-up is usually appreciated. If they seem receptive, provide a little education about which ingredients to avoid and how to minimize risk of cross-contamination. Dont expect everything to be compliant with your diet, but the host can often make some modifications, such as cooking turkey and stuffing separately (to keep the turkey gluten-free), or making the salad a build-your-own option rather than mixing all the ingredients together ahead of time.

Bring a dish everyone can enjoy. Bring something that you absolutely love that complies with your diet. Then even if everything else is off-limits, youll still have an option you enjoy and that will satisfy you. Even better if you can bring a main dish and a dessert to make sure you get something hearty as well as something sweet. There are lots of specialized baking mixes that make the dessert side of things easy. And there is always the fresh fruit and veggie tray option, which is safe for most people. If cross contamination is a concern, be sure to bring your own serving utensils.

Prepare for questions. People will likely be curious about why you are eating the way you are. It is helpful to have some basic responses prepared. If you feel uncomfortable getting into details, leave your answers vague and say something like, I just feel better when eating this way, or I need to follow this diet for health reasons. You may also want to direct the curious to a relevant article or documentary for more information. You have no responsibility to educate and inform people if you dont want to. On the other hand, avoid educating and informing everyone you meet about the many reasons for your special diet if they arent asking or interested.

Express gratitude. Even the smallest efforts people make to provide appropriate dishes for you or to learn more about your special diet are worthy of a genuine thank you.

Consider being a host yourself. As a host, you have control over most of the food choices and the way they are prepared. You may want to avoid serving some of the out there foods from your special diet if your guests have never experienced them, unless you have an adventurous group. It be more crowd-pleasing to adapt classic holiday favorites to be compliant with your diet. The internet can be a great resource for finding appropriate substitutions, modified recipes, or entire diet-specific cookbooks. If guests want to bring a dish, make suggestions that would be safe for you, or just allow them to bring their favorites so you know theyll have an option theyre familiar with and enjoy. Be proactive and ask your guests ahead of time if they are following any special diets that you can help accommodate.

More:
Keep indulgences in check with mindful eating and a focus on family over food - Echo Press

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Another busy year for clinical research has come and gone. What are the most important findings from 2019? Here is our overview of some of the most noteworthy studies of the year.

"Medicine is of all the Arts the most noble," wrote the Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates whom historians call the "father of medicine" over 2,000 years ago.

Advances in therapeutic practices have been helping people cure and manage illness since before the time of Hippocrates, and, today, researchers continue to look for ways of eradicating diseases and improving our well-being and quality of life.

Each year, specialists in all areas of medical research conduct new studies and clinical trials that bring us a better understanding of what keeps us happy and in good health, and what factors have the opposite effect.

And, while each year, experts manage to overcome many obstacles, challenges old and new keep the medical research field buzzing with initiatives.

Reflecting on how research has evolved over the past decade, the editors of the reputable journal PLOS Medicine in a recent editorial emphasize "ongoing struggles" with infectious diseases, as well as growing tensions between two approaches in medical research. These approaches are the effort of finding treatments that are consistently effective in large populations versus the notion of "precision medicine," which favors therapy that we closely tailor to an individual's very personal needs.

But how has clinical research fared in 2019? In this special feature, we look at some of the most prominent areas of study from this year and give you an overview of the most noteworthy findings.

The medication we take as long as we follow our doctors' advice is meant to help us fight off disease and improve our physical or mental well-being. But can these usually trusty allies sometimes turn into foes?

Most drugs can sometimes cause side effects, but more and more studies are now suggesting a link between common medication and a higher risk of developing different conditions.

In March this year, for instance, experts affiliated with the European Resuscitation Council whose goal is to find the best ways to prevent and respond to cardiac arrest found that a conventional drug doctors use to treat hypertension and angina may actually increase a person's risk of cardiac arrest.

By analyzing the data of more than 60,000 people, the researchers saw that a drug called nifedipine, which doctors often prescribe for cardiovascular problems, appeared to increase the risk of "sudden cardiac arrest."

Project leader Dr. Hanno Tan notes that, so far, healthcare practitioners have considered nifedipine to be perfectly safe. The current findings, however, suggest that doctors may want to consider offering people an alternative.

Another study, appearing in JAMA Internal Medicine in June, found that anticholinergic drugs which work by regulating muscle contraction and relaxation may increase a person's risk of developing dementia.

People may have to take anticholinergics if some of their muscles are not working correctly, usually as part of health issues, such as bladder or gastrointestinal conditions, and Parkinson's disease.

The research that specialists from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom led looked at the data of 58,769 people with and 225,574 people without dementia.

It revealed that older individuals at least 55 years old who were frequent users of anticholinergics were almost 50% more likely to develop dementia than peers who had never used anticholinergics.

But, while common drugs that doctors have prescribed for years may come with hidden dangers, they are, at least, subject to trials and drug review initiatives. The same is not true for many other so-called health products that are readily available to consumers.

Such findings says the study's lead researcher, Prof. Carol Coupland, "highlight the importance of carrying out regular medication reviews."

In 2019, we have celebrated 50 years since someone first successfully sent a message using a system that would eventually become the internet. We have come a long way, and now, we have almost everything within reach of a "click and collect" order.

This, unfortunately, includes "therapeutics" that specialists may never have assessed, and which can end up putting people's health and lives in danger.

In August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning against an allegedly therapeutic product that was available online, and which appeared to be very popular.

The product variously sold under the names Master Mineral Solution, Miracle Mineral Supplement, Chlorine Dioxide Protocol, or Water Purification Solution was supposed to be a kind of panacea, treating almost anything and everything, from cancer and HIV to the flu.

Yet the FDA had never given the product an official assessment, and when the federal agency looked into it, they saw that the "therapeutic" a liquid solution contained no less than 28% sodium chlorite, an industrial bleach.

"[I]ngesting these products is the same as drinking bleach," which can easily be life threatening, warned the FDA's Acting Commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless, who urged people to avoid them at all costs.

Many studies this year have also been concerned with cardiovascular health, revisiting long held notions and holding them up to further scrutiny.

For instance, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine in July which involved around 1.3 million people suggested that, when it comes to predicting the state of a person's heart health, both blood pressure numbers are equally important.

When a doctor measures blood pressure, they assess two different values. One is systolic blood pressure, which refers to the pressure the contracting heart puts on the arteries when it pumps blood to the rest of the body. The other is diastolic blood pressure, which refers to the pressure between heartbeats.

So far, doctors have primarily taken only elevated systolic blood pressure into account as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

However, the new study concluded that elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure are both indicators of cardiovascular problems.

Its authors emphasize that the large amount of data they had access to painted a "convincing" picture in this respect.

"This research brings a large amount of data to bear on a basic question, and it gives such a clear answer."

Lead researcher Dr. Alexander Flint

At the same time, a slightly earlier study, appearing in the European Heart Journal in March, emphasizes that having high blood pressure may not mean the same thing for everyone, and while doctors may associate it with adverse outcomes in some, this does not hold for all populations.

The study's first author, Dr. Antonio Douros, argues that "[w]e should move away from the blanket approach of applying the recommendations of professional associations to all groups of patients."

Dr. Douros and team analyzed the data of 1,628 participants with a mean age of 81 years. The researchers found that older individuals with lower systolic blood pressures actually faced a 40% higher risk of death than peers with elevated blood pressure values.

"[A]ntihypertensive [blood pressure lowering] treatment should be adjusted based on the needs of the individual," the study's first author advises.

When it comes to protecting heart health, 2019 studies have shown that diet likely plays an important role. Thus, research in the Journal of the American Heart Association in August showed that people who adhered to plant-based diets had a 32% lower risk of death that researchers associate with cardiovascular disease than those who did not.

People who ate plant-based foods also had a 25% lower risk of all-cause mortality, according to this study.

And another study from April in the journal Nutrients warned that people who follow a ketogenic diet, which is high in fats and low in carbohydrates, and who decide to take a "day off" from this commitment every now and again, may experience blood vessel damage.

Ketogenic or keto diets work by triggering ketosis, a process in which the body starts burning fat instead of sugar (glucose) for energy. But "cheat days" mean that, for a brief interval, the body switches back to relying on glucose.

"[W]e found [...] biomarkers in the blood, suggesting that vessel walls were being damaged by the sudden spike in glucose," notes first author Cody Durrer.

In 2019, the topic of how our food choices influence our health has remained popular among researchers and readers alike.

According to Google Trends, some of the top searches in the United States this year included intermittent fasting diets, the Noom diet, and the 1,200 calorie diet.

And this year's studies have certainly reflected the widespread interest in the link between dietary choices and well-being.

One intriguing study in Nature Metabolism in May pointed out that protein shakes, which are popular among individuals who want to build muscle mass, may be a threat to health.

Fitness protein powders, the study authors explain, contain mostly whey proteins, which have high levels of the essential amino acids leucine, valine, and isoleucine.

The research in mice suggested that a high intake of these amino acids led to overly low levels of serotonin in the brain. This is a key hormone that plays a central role in mood regulation, but which science also implicates in various metabolic processes.

In mice, the heightened levels of leucine, valine, and isoleucine, which caused excessively low serotonin, led to obesity and a shorter life span.

So, if too much of certain types of protein can have such detrimental effects on health, what about fiber? Dietary fiber present in fruit, vegetables, and legumes is important in helping the body take up sugars little by little.

But how much fiber should we consume? This is the question that a study commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) and appearing in The Lancet in January sought to lay to rest.

The research took into account the findings of 185 observational studies and 58 clinical trials, covering almost 40 years.

It concluded that to lower their death risk, as well as the incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and colon cancer, a person should ideally consume 2529 grams of fiber per day.

"Fiber-rich whole foods that require chewing and retain much of their structure in the gut increase satiety and help weight control and can favorably influence lipid and glucose levels," explains one of the authors, Prof. Jim Mann.

On the other hand, several studies from this year draw attention to just how detrimental foods that are not 100% natural can be. A small trial, whose results came out in Cell Metabolism in May, showed that processed food leads to abrupt weight gain but not for the reasons we may think.

The study authors said they were surprised that when they asked participants to eat either an ultraprocessed food diet or a nonprocessed food diet whose caloric contents the researchers matched perfectly the people who ate processed foods rapidly gained more weight than the ones who ate the nonprocessed foods.

The researchers blame this on the speed with which individuals end up eating processed foods, in particular. "There may be something about the textural or sensory properties of the food that made [participants] eat more quickly," says study author Kevin Hall, Ph.D.

"If you're eating very quickly, perhaps you're not giving your gastrointestinal tract enough time to signal to your brain that you're full. When this happens, you might easily overeat," he hypothesizes.

And more research in mice from Scientific Reports in January found that emulsifiers, which are a common additive present in many products from mayonnaise to butter, could affect gut bacteria, leading to systemic inflammation.

What is more, the impact on the gut could even influence processes that occur in the brain, increasing anxiety levels. "[W]e [now] know that inflammation triggers local immune cells to produce signaling molecules that can affect tissues in other places, including the brain," explains co-lead researcher Prof. Geert de Vries.

While some of the studies that made the headlines in 2019 were conclusive, many encourage further research to confirm their findings or further investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Stepping into the next decade, this much is clear: The wheels of medical research will keep on turning for better health across the globe.

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2019 in medical research: What were the top findings? - Medical News Today

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Highlights

Winters have arrived and how! The chill in the air doesn't seem to be resting anytime soon and the layers of clothes have only just begun to increase. And let's admit it, during such a weather all we want to do is keep ourselves tucked inside our quilts in the comfort of our homes with a piping hot cup of chai. Without a doubt, a cup of tea in this weather is all we need, no matter if we are at home or at work, struggling to keep ourselves up.

While making a cup of simple tea might look like an easy task, it too can get tricky with each one of us having our own preferences. While some like it black, others like it with milk or with special chai masala, with or without sugar; such preferences might require some skill. And then comes the variety one can get! The typical Indian masala chai or the whole range of herbal teas such as ginger tea or one of the most sought after green tea - one just cannot have enough of tea all around the world.

(Also Read: This Tiny Tea Stall In Kerala Keeps Ramasseri Idli Alive)

Since winter season is the best time to brew a soothing cup of tea, we've got you the best of teas you can try this winter season to keep yourself warm and cosy.

Here's a wonderful concoction of freshly brewed chamomile tea with orange chunks, berries, ginger and mint leaves. While chamomile will help boost immunity during the scathing winter season, ginger and fresh berries will double the effect.

Perfect for days when you are feeling under the weather; the combination of honey with lemon is known to work wonders. Honey is known to be used traditionally in many concoctions to manage cold and cough while lemon is packed with vitamin C and antioxidants that helps foster immunity. These when combined with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of ginger can be great for your winter health.

(Also Read: A Cup Of Tea May Help Improve Brain Health, Study Suggests)

How many of you have heard your mother and grandmother boast about the innumerable benefits of turmeric? Not just it boosts immunity, but haldi (turmeric) is also an excellent pain-reliever that is packed with anti-inflammatory properties. And so if you are a fan of herbal teas, here is an excellent brew packed with turmeric, black pepper, honey and ginger that will cleanse your body from the toxin overload

Here is the quintessential Indian chai that can wake up even the laziest of us from deep sleep just by its aromatic spices. Cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and much more, this kadak cup of masala chai is sure to keep cold at bay.

An innovative combination of tea and soup, here is a brew tailor-made for the winter season. Tangy and fresh tomato puree along with goodness of jasmine comes together with tabasco and thyme for a concoction that can be your go-to brew this season.

Make the best of winter season with these amazing tea recipes for your next tea-time. Let us know which one you liked the best in the comments section below.

About Aanchal MathurAanchal doesn't share food. A cake in her vicinity is sure to disappear in a record time of 10 seconds. Besides loading up on sugar, she loves bingeing on FRIENDS with a plate of momos. Most likely to find her soulmate on a food app.

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The most common mistake we make when goal-setting is having a highly general end goal without a flexible, customizable framework (that becomes a blueprint for your game plan). Many people will say things like, This is the year I take control of my health! but if you dont have a picture of what that looks like of how youll actually execute small actions within your everyday life as a healthier person, how do you really know where to start and what to start with?!

Plus, a bigger problem that comes up in my line of work time and again is that the universe of diet culture and pseudoscientific information about health is so deafening (and that particular breed of disinformation is everywhere) that it tricks us into believing that in order to reach any health related goal we have to somehow become someone other than who we are right now living a lifestyle thats wholly different from the one in which we currently exist. Were told to cut out, eliminate, restrict, and cut back without realizing that these elimination-focused interventions come at the cost of living our lives! In order for anything to truly stick long-term, it has to work for your lifestyle not in opposition to it.

Think, Small, simple, specific.

Any health plan thats sustainable for you that will ultimately get you to reaching your goal (and maintaining that goal) has to consist of mostly small actions that feel attainable for you right now, actionable in a few hours from now (this sounds obvious, but in the world of keto and fasting, you never know) and just a little bit outside of your comfort zone to feel challenging enough for you (in my book Dressing on the Side, I talk about this using a Pareto 80/20 rule.)

If you want to lose weight and are committed to making healthier choices without uprooting your whole lifestyle, think about tangible things you can do every day that are equal parts hyper-specific, simple, and actually enjoyable (or at least sound like they might be!). For example: Adding more veggies to every lunch meal, committing to prepping breakfast every night before you go to bed,or setting a night-time alarm clock to get you into bed earlier than usual. And since all of us are different humans with different needs and lifestyles, staying accountable to yourself making your personal health a top priority and making plans to achieve goals that help you consistently do this over time is going to require you to set some boundaries (which is an ongoing challenge for everyone). If you need a place to start, Id suggest taking a look at page 92 of Dressing on the Side (which walks you through boundary-setting as it relates to health related goals). To start you off, use these three boundary-setting tips:

Step 1: Prioritize personal health by assessing your daily/weekly/monthly routine

Considering where you are when youre eating throughout the day is crucial, often because your environment is likely to determine what types of foods and snacks are actually available to you. Ask yourself, Where do I spend most of my time? Where do I lose time that Id otherwise use for physical activity of any kind? Where am I when I typically say, Whatever, Im getting cheese fries! How many days do I eat at home per week? Plan ahead by first determining where your schedule leaves you in terms of environment if you work from home but want to make exercise a priority, then youll have to schedule that in either at home, or make plans to leave your home. The same is true of the foods you eat. Assess your schedule, determine where you are and when, and use this framework as your guideline for how to put a healthier habit into action. For example: Lets say youd like to make more nutritious food choices, but youve been struggling because your current job requires dining out at lunches every week, at least four times per week. Your first step can be to decide a realistic number of eating occasions, or number of meals that youre committed to making more veggie-heavy, and develop a plan that meets the demands of your current routine. Lets say your first healthier eating habit to prioritize is adding more vegetables to your meals. After assessing your calendar, you settle on lunchtime as your target, and:

Step 2: Set boundaries that will help you stick with a schedule

If you only like the pancakes at your local diner, but your priority is to form healthier habits, then is having breakfast at said diner every single day of the week really your best bet? Establish a boundary with yourself or with others in your environment to put this into action, like going to this diner on Saturday and Sunday, and committing to making more breakfast meals at home during the week. If you always eat too-many-muffins at your monthly status meeting, then put a boundary into place that keeps you from eating muffins at this meeting, only. In other words, just because you say no to meeting muffins doesnt mean you never eat muffins. It means youre not going to eat them during this meeting time, but make a plan for when youll eat them this month so you dont have to live the rest of your life without baked goods! Entering that new date into your calendar and stick to that plan = boundary-setting success. Honoring whats important to you for the sake of your mental, physical, and emotional health does not require restriction of a specific food or nutrient for life, but it may mean leaving it off the table in a scenario that you find triggering for you. So put those muffins where they belong: into a free time slot on your calendar, with people you enjoy spending time with, sourced from the bakery that you love.

Step 3: Identify your boundary bullies (BBs)

Boundary bullies are the people, places, and other work or personal activities that pop out of nowhere and suck the time and energy out of your day. Figure out where they are, who they are, where theyre hiding, and what it is that makes you the victim of said bullying. Is it a post-work happy hour at the local bar where the Buffalo wings become dinner? (If thats the case, then pack a snack before you go). Is it a colleague who is always getting coffee at the same time you are, and always talks you into donuts? (If thats the case, then eat a snack before, or make this mid-morning run a part of your breakfast by eating half of your breakfast sandwich before the break, and the other half during coffee.) Is it friends who order items for the table when youre at a restaurant, only to leave you grazing on a bucket of fried dumplings you didnt even want in the first place, but dont want to waste them? (If thats the case, tell your friend, Im having the shrimp and broccoli! But Ill split the string beans instead.)

Real, genuine, and lasting self-care requires developing clearly defined personal health goals that will inform the food and exercise choices you make, and the boundaries you create to keep these routines in place. Over time, youll get new habits that set you up for better health and well-being for life.

Follow us here and subscribe here for all the latest news on how you can keep Thriving.

Stay up to date or catch-up on all our podcasts with Arianna Huffington here.

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Cory Booker is on a mission to shut down factory farming in the U.S.

The New Jersey Senator and Democratic presidential candidate hopeful put forward a new bill earlier this month. Titled the Farm System Reform Act (FSRA), the bill is aimed at transitioning agriculture away from the factory farming system.

In the U.S., 99 percent of all animal products currently come from factory farms. These conditions are not only harmful to the animals, but theyre a threat to the planet too. One farm of 5,000 pigs can produce as much waste as a town of 20,000 people, according to animal protection organization Make It Possible.

This waste can pollute soil and make its way into water systems, including oceans, rivers, and streams.

If passed, FSRA will place an immediate moratorium on new large-scale facilities known as CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations). It will also place limits on existing CAFOs. It will devote $100 billion over a period of ten years to helping CAFO owners transition to more sustainable forms of agriculture. By 2040, the bill hopes to phase out the largest CAFOs.

Booker who follows a vegan lifestyle hopes the new bill will help small farmers and hold larger corporations to account for their environmental impact.

He said in a statement,large factory farms are harmful to rural communities, public health, and the environment and we must immediately begin to transition to a more sustainable and humane system, such as raising pasture-based livestock, growing specialty crops, or organic commodity production.

Booker isnt the only presidential candidate to slam factory farms. Earlier this year, Bernie Sanders labeled them a threat to America. He wrote on Twitter back in May, factory farms are responsible for 1.4 trillion pounds of animal waste in America.

They are a threat to the water we drink and the air we breathe, he continued.It is unbelievable to me that Republicans in Congress have been working overtime to exempt factory farms from environmental laws.

In 2018, the United Nations Environment Programme condemned the meat industry. It labeled tackling meat consumption as the worlds most urgent problem. It stated, the greenhouse gas footprint of animal agriculture rivals that of every car, truck, bus, ship, airplane, and rocket ship combined.

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Cory Booker Has a Plan to End Factory Farming Forever

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Vegan presidential candidate Cory Booker has put forward a new bill designed to end environmentally harmful factory farming in America.

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Charlotte Pointing

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LIVEKINDLY

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Merry Christmas! This time next week, resolution time begins. Its that time when a lot of us will be making our resolutions to drop those pounds gained over the previous couple of months of parties, gluttony and inactivity. If you are one of those who fears the inevitable holiday weight gain, I have good news for you.

Contrary to the popular belief that we gain 5 to 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, studies show that people gain quite a bit less. According to the National Institutes of Health, even though Americans gain 80% of their excess weight during this period, it equates to a mere 1 to 2 pounds. The bad news is that the weight isnt lost during the rest of the year and can lead to future obesity.

There are many tips that you hear every year about controlling the holiday bulge. These include staying active, making healthier choices, limiting alcohol consumption, not arriving at a party hungry, and learning to politely just say no. All of these tips are good advice, but the advice Im going to give may surprise you. I advise allowing for a few pleasures this time of year and dont feel guilty. Its best not to go completely out of control, but this isnt the best time of year to start a diet. The toughest part of a diet isnt watching what you eat. Its watching what other people eat.

So enjoy time with friends and family and your break from the daily grind. If you gain that 1 or 2 extra pounds this holiday season, this can easily be dropped just by returning to your normal active lifestyle and way of eating. A week of hard work and a slight calorie deficit will get you back on track. Its the rest of the year we need to be concerned about. Just an extra 100 calories a day above our energy needs will equal an extra 10 pounds of fat a year. Stay in shape through the year, and you can afford to indulge over the holidays. Instead of worrying about counting calories, you can spend the time posting your Instagram photo of your puppys new Christmas pajamas. Then, when this last week of the year passes, you can get serious by following these four tips to achieve your New Years fitness resolutions.

Write out your fitness resolution and your feelings about why that resolution is important to you. The why is the most important part of your goal. Perhaps your goal is to quit smoking. Naturally you realize smoking isnt good for you, but the why (your real reason) may be so you will be around longer for those who love you. Anytime you feel as if you might jeopardize following through with your goal, remember your why.

Dont set unrealistic goals. Set small goals. Start by dividing your overall fitness goal into a series of smaller steps. For example, if you resolved to lose 50 pounds, your goal might be to lose 5 pounds. Once you have achieved that, your next goal might be to lose another 5 pounds. Keep going until you reach your master goal.

Plan your actions. Once youve resolved to become fit, how are you going to do it? We all know that the key to fitness and a healthier lifestyle is exercising and eating a good diet. To get started, it helps to make a written exercise plan outlining fitness activity such as 30-minute daily walks, strength training every other day, or visiting the gym three to five days a week. Next, make a list of unhealthy foods you plan to avoid, for example greasy fast-food burgers, and French fries, or whatever you deem your weaknesses to be. And, finally, strive to follow through each and every day. By having a well-written plan, it will be easier to stay on track.

Dont beat yourself up over minor setbacks. Occasionally life will get in the way, and you will be forced to skip a workout or eat something not on your diet. That doesnt mean that youve lost everything that youve been working for. Return to your fitness plan and keep working at it. Just get back on plan, and progress forward.

All these tips will help keep you on track, but as advised, allow for a few pleasures and enjoy the down time with friends and family.

Perry Buchanan, owner of PT Gym, is certified as an exercise physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine, and fitness nutrition specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Email him at perry@ptgym.com. Follow @ptgym on Twitter.

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PORTLAND, Oregon Alisa Holteen likes to play a game where she imagines a life different from the ones shes currently living.

What would it be like, she wonders, to never have to worry about money?

She posed this question recently at the homeless camp she lives at in Northeast Portland, chatting with friends outside her tent about what it would be like to have an unlimited supply of cash. Certainly, theyd always be warm and clean, and have a roof over their heads, they agreed. Perhaps best of all, she recalled wistfully, shed never go hungry.

Holteen, 32, is one of an estimated 36 million Americans on food stamps, a federal benefits program that President Donald Trumps administration wants to cut dramatically.

There are lots of potential changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on the table, but earlier this month the Trump administration announced the first major changewillbe implemented early next year, limitingbenefits available to able-bodied adults between the ages of 18-49 like Holteen who do not have dependents. The change will not affectchildren and their parents, people over 50, people with disabilities or pregnant women.

Hunger is a problem across the U.S., with 37 million people suffering from food insecurity.That means roughly 1 in 10 Americans are hungry. And nearly one-third, or 11 million,are children.

Iyonna Logan of Denver carries a box of food to her car after visiting a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution on Dec. 19, 2019.(Photo: Trevor Hughes, Trevor Hughes-USA TODAY NETWORK)

Abby Leibman, president and CEO of MAZON, a Los Angeles-basedJewish organization committed to fighting hunger, says whether they realize it or not, every single person is connected to someone else who struggles with food insecurity.

These are people hiding in plain sight, she says, terrified of raising their hands and self-identifying as someone who needs help, especially in a climate where theyre being vilified.

The rule changes will cut SNAP by roughly $4.2 billionover five years, and directly affect nearly 700,000 able-bodied Americans, according to the Urban Institute.

The charitable food sector food banks, food pantries andsoup kitchens is bracing for a surge in need to make up for the loss in federal benefits, whichmeans such organizationswould need to nearly double their budgets and output to make up for the gap, according to MAZON.

Critics say the move is the latest stepby Trump to limit food benefits to low-income Americans. Forty-four percent of food stamp beneficiaries are working families, and 70%of them have children. They receive roughly $120 a month in benefits, and many use food pantries and food banks to supplement their benefits.

WATCH: Joe Burrow's Heisman speech helps drive more than $100K in donations to food bank

Other proposals to cut the program include limiting deductions for shelter and utility costs (which are considered when someone signs up for SNAP) and changing the way states automatically enroll people who are already receiving other forms of federal aid.

Supporters say the move protects U.S.taxpayers bymotivating anyone who can work toget a joband support themselves.

We need to encourage people by giving them a helping hand but not allowing it to become an indefinitely giving hand, said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in a press release announcing the change. He went on to cite the national unemployment rate of 3.6%.

Now is the time for every work-capable American to find employment, the release read.

Holteen says its not that simple.

Shes been out of work for almost four years since she moved back to Oregon from Kansas. When a family member in Portland fell ill, Holteen says she quit her job in fast food and moved home. Shortly after that, her mothers boyfriend who paid the rent at their house left abruptly, leaving Holteen, her girlfriend and her mom in a bind. They couldn't pay rent and got evicted.Theyve been homeless since, living outside with her dog, a 65-pound mutt named Colby Jack Cheese who she also has to find food for.

Clients of the Food Bank of the Rockies line up to collect food distribution in Denver on Dec. 19, 2019. The Trump administration is changing food stamp requirements in a move that poverty experts say will increase demand on food banks nationwide.(Photo: Trevor Hughes, Trevor Hughes-USA TODAY NETWORK)

Holteen struggles to leave the homeless camp to find a job,worried about abandoning her mom and girlfriend. She considers herself their protector because she says shes one of the few non-addicts at the camp. Shes looked for a job but its rough out there, she says especially when your stomach is growling.

Without food, she says, you cant think.

Right now, Holteen visits food banks around Portland three to five times a month, but she anticipates shell go more if and when she gets kicked off her benefits.

Its a scenariofood pantriessay they aren'tready for. At St. Rita's Catholic Church in Northeast Portland, whereHolteen visits the food pantry once a month, they're already talking about how they'll combat the increasedneed.

Its gonna be an enormous challenge for us to figure out how to cover this financially, says Chris Kresek, a St. Ritas food pantry volunteer for 20-plus years. If we tried to make up for how much people are going to lose, wed spend what we have in the bank in two months. Were gonna have to think of a new strategy.

Robert Campbell, managing director of the Chicago-based food bank network Feeding America, says the Trump administration did what Congress would not, when legislators rejected similar cuts in the 2018 Farm Bill. And while food banks across the U.S. serve 46 million people annually, SNAP benefits provide nine times as many meals, according to Feeding America. That will be almost difficultto replicate.

For those who are losing benefits, it can be absolutely devastating, Campbell says. Charity cannot make up the gap in food assistance from the SNAP program.

Campbell says the Trump administrations repeated efforts to clamp down onfood stamp benefits showa clear pattern of taking a political stance without regard for how it will affect poor Americans.

Taking food away will not make them more employable, Campbell says. It will just make them hungry.

In rural Colorado, Lance Cheslock has worked for the nonprofit homeless shelter and food bank La Puente in Alamosa for 30 years, watching employment rise and fall with the economy. Hes also watched the potato-farming area'sslow shift away from good-paying jobs to service-industry positions paying minimum wage, with inconsistent hours and few benefits. Adjusted for inflation, the median family income in Alamosa County has dropped $2,000 since 2000, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Alamosa County unemployment rate of just 3% obscures the pocket of un- and under-employment in La Puente's larger service area, which covers a multi-countyrural area of Colorado that's the size of Massachusetts, he says. Of the approximately 48,000 people who live there, he says about 10,000 get food assistance through La Puente or other organizationsat least once annually.

This is just going to be a disaster for us, to try to come up with food that offsets what the government would have provided. As a community, we will suffer the consequences of a malnourished population, Cheslock says. This is one more nudge, one more thing that will hurt."

Gabriela and Brian Godoy feed their one-year-old son, Elian, bread after visiting a Food Bank of the Rockies food distribution in Denver on Dec. 19, 2019. The Trump administration is changing food stamp requirements in a move that poverty experts say will increase demand on food banks nationwide.(Photo: Trevor Hughes, Trevor Hughes-USA TODAY NETWORK)

Cheslock says he and other leaders ofLa Puente, or The Bridge in English,understand that for most people, a good job is a pathway out of poverty and toward self-sufficiency. The problem, he says, is that many of the able-bodied people targeted by the new restrictions are not workforce ready. They might have struggled with homelessness, substance abuse or mental disorders that make it hard for them to hold down a job without extra help.

Lack of reliable transportation is also a factor. For people who live in areas with heavily seasonal work, its an especially tricky equation to solve, he said.

To motivate someone to do something they cant possibly do is going to misfire, Cheslock says.

The cuts have been slammed by Democraticlegislators at every level.

Last year, Massachusettsstate Rep. Natalie Higgins, 31, challenged herself to feed both her and her fianc for five days using only food stamp benefits that worked out to just$45.She knew it would be hard. She didnt realize how hard and she had access to her own kitchen, a reliable car and even a pressure cooker, which meant she could buy inexpensive dried beans instead of more costly canned ones.

I really wanted to show I understood how inadequate these benefits are, says Higgins, a Democrat who represents Leominster, a city of about 42,000 that had an unemployment rate of nearly 5% at the start of 2018. Leominster, about 45 miles west of Boston, has a poverty rate of 13.3% and a per capita income of just $32,000.

For many folks, SNAP doesnt even come close to getting them to the end of the month, she says.

Higgins and her fianc ate lots of rice and beans during their food stamp challenge, supplemented with frozen veggies, oatmeal and peanut butter. Fresh fruits and vegetables were out of their price range. After only a few days, she developed a nagging headache and felt run-down physical symptoms of a poor diet that also caused her to lose four pounds.

When youre making minimum wage and housing costs keep going up and up and up, you just cannot make ends meet, Higgins says. I still cant wrap my head around how cruel we can be as a country to take away this food assistance.

Clutching a pink ticket signaling he's eligible, a man waits to collect his allocation from a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution in Denver, Colorado, on Dec. 19.(Photo: Trevor Hughes, Trevor Hughes-USA TODAY NETWORK)

That the news ofimpending cuts came around the holidays seems especially callous to some.

This is a terrible time to be poor, says Leibman, who leads MAZON. To double down on their loss by saying, And soon were gonna take food away from you, thats a terrible thing to communicate to human beings. I just think America is better than that.

AJay Scipio,51, is the program manager of the Northeast Food Emergency Program in Northeast Portland, a large food pantry that in 2018served more than 11,000 families. Scipio took the job a year ago andworried at first that she didnt have the emotional bandwidth for it. The need in the area is both overwhelming and heartbreaking: In one recent three-month span, the program served 8,700 individuals.

She'sterrified to think of the future. Thursday afternoon, she announced new rules at the Northeast Food Emergency Program: Starting in January, clients can only come twice a month to shop the pantry. Previously, theyd had unlimited access.

Scipio rolls her eyes at the Trumps administrations claim of a thriving economy: The economy might be booming for some people, she says, but it is not booming for immigrant families or low-income families. This booming economy has not made its way to the margins.

A'Jay Scipio, the program manager of the Northeast Food Emergency Program in Portland, Oregon, walks through the food pantry in mid-December as she helps clients look for special Christmas treats. "This is not a poor people problem," Scipio says of the estimated 700,000 people who could lose their SNAP benefits in the spring. "There are hard-working people, middle-class people, people with good jobs, who are hungry every day."(Photo: Lindsay Schnell, Trevor Hughes-USA TODAY NETWORK)

But even with that caveat, Scipio argues, this is an issue that affects everyday Americans.

"This is not a poor people problem, she says. There are hard-working people, middle-class people, people with good jobs, who are hungry every day.

Tess Robertson and Chris DeFrance have been shopping at the Northeast Food Emergency Program for a little over a year. They only take non-perishable food, because theyre currently living in their 98 Toyota Camry. Milk and frozen meat are out of the question, which means they have to make more trips to the store, buying in smaller quantities, which uses up their food stamp allotment faster. They dont have access to a kitchen and regularly find themselves eating inside corner convenience stores.

Robertson, 28, recentlygot a job sorting mail at a local Amazon plant, but its only part-time and pays just $15.10 an hour. She says she applied to dozens of jobsand was turned down for all of them. Shes trying to get bumped up to full-timeat Amazon. Shes worried it wont happen before the SNAP cuts kick in.

DeFrance, 36, is technically able-bodied, too, but says hes still recovering from an injury suffered at his previous job fixing cars. A few months ago, DeFrance says he was stabbed by a drug addict while working on a car. He hasnt been able to find steady work since because the PTSD is horrible.To help himreacclimate to being around groups of strangers, he, along withRobertson, started volunteering at the pantry.

A heroin addict whos been in recovery for three years, DeFrance tries not to think about the spring, when he and Robertsons lives could get even more challenging.

I try not to think about the future too much because thinking about that stuff makes you stressed. And when youre an addict and youre stressed, you can relapse, he says.

Right now its just about survival.

Resharde Law collects food for his family at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution in Denver, Colorado, on Dec. 19. Law, who works as a mover, wore a Santa hat in an effort to spread cheer during the distribution.(Photo: Trevor Hughes, Trevor Hughes-USA TODAY NETWORK)

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