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CONFIDENT in her own skin, Stephanie Paredes indulged her love of food.

As the reading on the scales crept up and up, the 29-year-old thought nothing of it.

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Stephanie says it was her mantra that "big is beautiful" that left her blind to the risks - and saw her eat her way to 30 stone.

It was only when she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and struggled to tie her own shoe laces that she realised she needed to make some drastic changes, for the sake of her health.

"Ive always considered myself as being beautiful even when I was bigger," Stephanie said.

"I'd embraced self-love and my personality and the way I carried myself attracted people to me.

"I think that's why I avoided bullying."

While embracing her body positivity, Stephanie, from Richmond, Virginia in the US, began to struggle with her health.

At her heaviest she weighed 29st 12lbs and was a UK dress size 40.

In August 2015, the office worker was diagnosed with high blood pressure and sleep apnoea, developed a knee problem and was told she had type 2 diabetes, all because she was classified as obese.

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Stephanie struggled to do normal, everyday activities and stopped going out with friends for fear of slowing them down.

She struggled going to restaurants because she couldn't fit into the booths, leaving her feeling embarrassed.

She became fed up of not being able to wear nice clothes, and struggled to tie her own laces or fasten her seat belt in the car.

In April last year, Stephanie decided enough was enough and booked to have a gastric bypass op.

The surgery was a success, and Stephanie now weighs a healthier 11st 13lbs, and wears a UK size 12.

"I have been overweight since I was a child," she said.

"I had no knowledge of nutrition and I was an emotional eater, I ate when I was bored.

"It meant I was always overeating.

"I would binge on pizza, Chinese, sweets, crisps, soda and juice and I ate so much bread and rice."

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Stephanie estimates she was eating around 3,000 calories a day - 1,000 more than the NHS daily recommended intake for a woman.

Due to her size, she struggled to walk far without being out of breath.

"I kept pulling back from my friends, I didn't want to go places like the amusement parks with them," she said.

"It was frustrating that I couldn't fit into cute little clothes or even buckle myself into cars."

Before resorting to weight loss surgery, Stephanie made a start, shedding 9st 12lbs by overhauling her diet and starting to walk 10,000 steps a day.

"I realised I needed to change for my health, and take my condition seriously," she said.

"Particularly when I found out I had diabetes, I didn't want any further problems."

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Shortly after her diagnosis in August 2015, Stephanie immediately cut out junk food, soda and juice.

She started to take note of food labels and began counting her daily calorie intake.

"I would eat three healthy meals a day and two health snacks," she said.

"For breakfast I'd have a protein shake, then at lunch a cup of meat such as grilled chicken or tenderloin steak.

"For dinner I'd have another protein, baked and served with vegetables."

As well as walking more, she joined a gym, and began weight lifting, and took Zumba classes.

By November 2016, Stephanie weighed 20st 10lbs, but over the next year some of that weight crept back.

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So, when her knee problem flared up again, she took the decision to have surgery in April last year.

Since then she has managed to continue to lose weight and now weighs 11st 13lbs.

Though her journey has been tough, she said it was worth it both physically and mentally.

"It was definitely an emotional rollercoaster letting go of unhealthy foods," Stephanie admitted.

"I went through moments of feeling upset and frustrated because I felt like there wasnt much I could eat.

Of course, now I feel this emotional journey was all worth it.

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"Although there are many factors to happiness, Im grateful to God that Ive lost the weight.

"Im no longer diabetic, I have no high blood pressure and no sleep apnoea.

Ive kept all my same friends and also gained new ones. People see me walking around during my breaks at work and they join me.

"They see me walking in place and they get motivated to exercise with me.

Those around me are amazed at my transformation. They say they are so proud of me.

"Most people cant believe that those old pictures are of me. Many say I have motivated them to live a healthier lifestyle and they themselves began losing weight."

Stephanie hopes her story will inspire others to take control of their lifestyle.

She said it's important to talk to your doctor if you're thinking of losing weight - to ensure you do it in a healthy and sustainable way, to make changes that can last.

If you ever lose your motivation, remind yourself why you started in the first place and remind yourself where you used to be," she said.

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Id also just like to add that big or small, self-love is so important.

"Even with the weight loss I still have moments of anxiety and depression.

"Dont think that losing weight will solve all your problems. It will certainly help but remember to love yourself."

Link:
Weight loss: I ate my way to 30st thinking big is beautiful now Ive lost 23st after shock diagnos - The Sun

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Rice and roti, both are the staples in Indian cuisine and it is difficult to choose just one as they are either part of breakfast, lunch or dinner. However, weight watchers find it difficult more. Read on to know more.

Rice and roti, both are the staples in Indian cuisine and it is difficult to choose just one as they are either part of breakfast, lunch or dinner. However, weight watchers find it difficult more as several reports claim different things and debate of rice vs wheat will be on forever. Some claim rice needs to be excluded while some state that carb-rich wheat chapatis should be out from the diet. Most of the time rice is what people ditch when they are on weight loss and they are replaced by rotis.

1. Calories and nutrition profile

However, in the fight between the two, roti kind of wins when it comes to weight loss considering the macros and calories. Medium size of roti has 100 calories, 40 grams of complex carbs, 7 grams of protein, 5 grams of dietary fiber and 1.4 grams of fats.On the other hand, one serving of rice has around 200 calories, 53 grams of simple carbs, a few grams of protein and negligible fiber. The Glycemic index of wheat is less in comparison to rice. Also, Rotis have more fiber and the same us feel fuller for a long time and that's not the case in rice.

ALSO READ: Orange Peel Tea: HERE's how orange peel and its tea can help you with constipation & weight loss

2. Best versions of rice and roti

However, whole wheat can lead to lethargy and other issues so ideally go for multigrain atta or add wheat bran in your mix. Also, the rice we eat is the white and polished ones that lack a lot of nutrients.So instead of white polished ones go for the brown rice. Ideally one should go for semi-brown-hand-pounded rice or red rice as they are high in fiber and full of micronutrients. Also, make sure tocomplement it with high protein and low-fat food items to make the most of the rice.

ALSO READ: Flax Seeds in the Indian Diet: Add these seeds to your diet for COMPLETE nutrition

3. Don't ditch any of them

So, instead of fighting over rice vs wheat one should go the ideal versions and healthier versions of both and include them in your diet whenever you want. However, make sure you have control over the portion sizes.

ALSO READ: Green Chillies vs Red Chillies: Which one is better and why?

4. What Nutritionists say on rice vs wheat

Nutritionist Diksha Chhabra earlier had told Pinkvilla that calorie deficit is what will help to lose weight and rice or any food leads to giving calorie, however, rice has a bad reputation as it is a simple carb. It gets digested very quickly and you get instant carbs for energy. If the dieter is exercising and maintaining your calorie requirement, eating rice will not harm you. You can eat rice, however, you have to plan in a smart way.

ALSO READ: Weight Loss: 3 delicious and quick salad recipes that you can make in under 10 minutes

ALSO READ: Weight Loss: Nutritionist Diksha Chhabra busts the myth of skipping rice to lose weight

Read more here:
Rice VS Wheat: Which grain will help you to lose weight? - PINKVILLA

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When you are overweight, it is not the comments of the people that break you, but rather the inability to perform everyday tasks with the same ease. It is also disheartening to see your clothing size go up. Something similar happened with 32-year-old Tejas Bari, who realised that he needed to lose those stubborn kilos when even XXXL size did not fit him. His weight loss journey is an example that you can achieve anything, once you put your mind to it.Name: Tejas BariOccupation: IT Professional

Age: 32 yearsHeight: 5 feet 7 inches

Highest weight recorded: 110 kgs

Total Weight lost: 30 kgsCurrent weight: 80 kgs

Duration it took me to lose weight: 10 months

The turning point: While there were a lot of things that were going wrong with me, the wake-up call was when I couldnt even fit into XXXL clothing size. I realised that I needed to do something about my weight. Additionally, I was really inspired by real-life weight loss stories and decided to lose weight.

Weight loss diet: I didnt consult any professional nutritionist or fitness trainer. I start my day with a glass of warm lemon water. After that, I have a banana and then head to the gym.

My breakfast: I prefer to have poha or upma in breakfast with 4 boiled egg whites. I would have a cup of green tea in between my breakfast and lunch.

My lunch: I have 3 chapatis, a portion of sabzi and salad.My snacks: Dry fruits (almonds, walnuts and cashews) and a glass of fruit juice

My dinner: For my last meal of the day, I stick to grilled paneer or roasted chicken or 1 chapatti with sabzi.

My workout: When I weighed a massive 110 kilos, I started doing cardio in the gym. Gradually as I lost weight and became fitter, I started working towards burning more calories. In the beginning, I worked out for 45 minutes and then I started working out six days a week for at least one hour.

After I touched 98 kilos, I also started weight training under the guidance of my friend Ajit Bhosale. Once I got used to weight training, I reached out for heavy weights and now I target one body part per day for muscle training with heavy weights.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by: A bowl of dal, roasted chicken and fruits.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: First things first, you need to completely stop consuming sugar and all sugar-laden products. Secondly, start drinking plenty of water every day and try to work out daily. Even if you are not motivated enough for a full-blown workout, try exercising a little daily.

How do I stay motivated? I keep myself motivated by watching fitness training videos on Facebook and YouTube. Also, I have made exercising a part of my lifestyle, so that when I don't work out for even a single day, it feels like something is missing. Hence, I do not bunk gym for two days continuously. If that isnt possible, I work out at home.How do you ensure you dont lose focus? I make it a point to check my weight regularly and keep a record of the same. It is important to remember that your weighing scale doesnt reflect your progress. It should not deter your confidence as it is just to keep you on the track.

Secondly, whenever I crave for anything which is not a part of my diet, I make it a point to control the urge and have it only on Sunday.

Whats the most difficult part of being overweight? I used to completely avoid doing physical activities. Moreover, getting clothes that you want to wear is one of the most difficult parts of being overweight. I never got the desired readymade clothes of my choice. Hence, I always had to compromise on what I wore and it was really disheartening.What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line? Now my focus is on muscle toning and to maintain my current physique. I want to stay healthy and fit, no matter what.

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Weight loss story: From 110 kilos to 80 kilos, this guys weight loss journey is unbelievable! - Times of India

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Low carb and keto are the two popular and trending weight loss diets these days. More and more people are opting for these diets to lose weight efficiently. As both limit the carbohydrate intake and claim quick weight loss, it is pretty difficult to differentiate between them. So, here we will review both these diet trends and reveal which is better than the other. Whats a low carb diet?Low carb restricts intake of dietary carbohydrates, which mainly comes from grains, sugar-sweetened beverages, and bread. There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to a low-carb diet. It is generally a diet in which only 25 to 45 percent of your daily calorie intake is obtained from carbohydrates, the rest is balanced by protein and other micro-nutrients. So, in simplified terms, if carbs make up 45 to 65 percent of your total daily calories, then you have to bring it down to 10 to 30 percent.

At the same time, you have to increase your intake of protein, healthy fats, and vegetables to stay full. Just by restricting carbs intake, you reduce your overall calorie intake, which ultimately helps you lose weight. This diet trend is considered excellent for people suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular issues and obesity. Overall there is no harmful effect of following this diet but in the beginning, it may make you feel constipated and weak.

Whats a Keto diet?Even in a keto diet, you have to restrict your carb intake, but with this, you also have to consume lot more fat. The basic aim is to consume the right amount of fat, carbs, and protein, to force your body to change its source of energy or to reach ketosis. Ketosis is a state in which our body starts to produce ketones from fat deposited in your liver and uses fat as the chief source of energy instead of carbs.

So, basically in this diet, you have to consume less than 50 grams of carbs daily, keeping your protein intake moderate and increase fat consumption drastically. When the body starts to use fat for energy you automatically start to lose weight.

Read more from the original source:
Low carb vs. Keto: What is the difference between the two? - Times of India

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DEAR ABBY: My companion of many years and I are retired and live a few hours away from some of his family. When one of them plans a visit, she always insists on taking us out for a meal. She doesnt ask if we would like to eat out but rather commands it. Then she insists on paying for the meal.

I enjoy cooking and visiting with family during and after meals. I know what our dietary restrictions are, and most restaurant meals do not meet those requirements, which include low sodium, fat and sugar and no gluten. According to my companion, Im a good cook, and he enjoys everything I make.

I know I should say something, but what? I need a suggestion on how to deal with the situation without hurting anyones feelings. THANKS, BUT NO THANKS

DEAR T.B.N.T.: This relative may not mean to seem overbearing and may only be trying to be nice. Thank her warmly for wanting to take you to dinner, but tell her no. Explain that because of medical reasons, both of you must strictly limit the sodium, fat, sugar and gluten in your diet, which is why the two of you have decided it is safer to eat at home, where you can control what goes into your food. Then invite her to join you because you would love to see her and spend time with her while shes in town.

DEAR ABBY: I am in a difficult situation. My dear friends and bosses, Rebecca and Caesar, are selling their home. They had offered to sell it to me and, at the time, I was interested in buying it. Then I did the one thing I never thought I would do. I found love. Because its no longer just me, their house wont work for us. I was honest with my friends. They have been giving me the silent treatment ever since, and its causing problems at work. What is a girl to do? IN LOVE IN THE MIDWEST

DEAR IN LOVE: Recognize that Rebecca and Caesar are understandably upset that what they thought would be a quick and easy sale has now become more complicated. Explain to them again that you didnt mean to cause them a problem, but your circumstances changed. And if they continue to take out their disappointment by punishing you at work, look for another job.

DEAR ABBY: I agreed to pay for a cellphone for a friends daughter while she went to school in the U.S. She was supposed to be here for three years. WELL, it is now year four, and shes planning to stay here after graduation. How do I tell her that I am not willing to continue paying for her phone after graduation? TRIED TO HELP IN TEXAS

DEAR TRIED TO HELP: You have several choices. You can tell her parents, write to her or call her on the cellphone you have so generously underwritten. And after you deliver the message, you should be thanked for your generosity not only by her but also her parents.

Link:
Dear Abby: Dinner out is unwelcome gift for couple on restricted diets - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

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Weve seen it all when it comes to celebrity diets.From the Air Diet (yes, thats really a thing) to the Baby Food diet, there will never be a lack of extreme diets touted by one celebrity or another.

Heres a look at 5 healthy eating tips from famous people that actually make sense, and even better, can be easily worked into anyones daily routine, and achieve killer results.

Its not sexy, but keeping a food journal really does work, according to American Idol winner Carrie Underwood. If her toned figure is the result of tracking food, its worth giving it a serious try.

Ive kept a food journal forever, since Im a bottomless pit, the Before He Cheatssinger told Cosmpolitan in 2017. I can out-eat everyone I know its like theres no sensor between my stomach and brain that says, Hey, youre full, stop eating! Once I recognized that about myself, I started tracking my diet, which helps me make better choices and pay attention to what Im eating. I also write down which exercises Im going to do later on.

Live with Kelly and Ryan host Kelly Ripa really sticks to a very cleandiet and loves Fage Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries or pistachios. But even she says its important to make room for treats once a week.

She told Good Housekeeping in 2017,At dinner, I eat a ton of vegetables and a salad, soup, or a light piece of fish. I try not to have too much cheese or too many high-fat foods, even though I love them.I would love nothing more than to have pizza and french fries every day, but I try to limit those treats to once a week.

Black-and-white thinking with food only leads to binges and more negative patterns. Its more realistic, more sustainable to eat well 80% of the time and relax the rules the other 20% of the time. Former The Biggest Loser trainer, Jillian Michaels, told US News in 2013 why shes such a big believer in the 80/20 rule.

Everybody gets caught up in thinking that health requires an extreme philosophy or state of mind, cutting out things like carbs, or fats or protein. Ive seen every diet, from Im paleo to Im vegan, to fasting diets and cleanses.

But the reality is, to lose weight and maintain your health, youve gotta have balance and common sense. So I say: 80 percent of the time, make the better food choice. And 20 percent of the time, have the fries. Have the pizza. Thats how you achieve that balance, so its not all or nothing, and it becomes manageable and sustainable.

Cutting down on meat can improve cholesterol levels, can reduce cancer risks, and can help with weight loss. Quite a few celebrities are vegan or vegetarian including Paul McCartney, Carrie Underwood, Kristen Bell, Natalie Portman, Alicia Silverstone, and even Americas Got Talent judge Simon Cowell, who lost 20 pounds when he switched to a vegan diet. He told Extra earlier this year about it.

I went to see this guy, whos very well-known, and he said to me after doing some blood work, You cant have red meat, dairy, sugar, bread or gluten. Im thinking, what about alcohol? Thats all I care about. And he said, Maybe not quite as much as you had before.

Having a good breakfast equals weight loss success.According to the National Weight Control Registry, one of the main factors among dieters who have successfully lost and kept weight off, was eating breakfast.Cindy Crawford is a believer in breakfast.

Its really important to start the day out right, the supermodel told Elle in 2015. Its very easy to control what you eat for breakfast, for the most part, if youre home. If you start with a good foundation, it sets you up well. I start out with a protein shake. That gets me through with very even energy.

Try these tips, be consistent, and the superstar changes will happen.

Read more:Jennifer Lopez Isnt Quitting Her No Carb and Sugar Diet Anytime Soon

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5 Celebrity Diet Tips That Could Actually Work For the Rest of Us - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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Jennifer Aniston is one the worlds most recognizable and beloved celebrities, and the fact that she has stayed youthfully glowing for the three decades shes been in the spotlight is a feat that has drawn a lot of attention. It turns out that Anistons health routines are relatively sensible. She makes choices rooted in self-control and repetition to maintain her health.

If fans want to follow in her footsteps, what changes should they make to their own exercise and diet habits? It turns out that one eating habit has really made a difference for Aniston.

Aniston has revealed that part of her health routine is intermittent fasting. She explains that she does not eat any solid food in the morning and sticks to just green juice and coffee. While it may sound easy enough to skip a hearty breakfast, Anistons routine is a little stricter than that. She has only an 8-hour window in which she is allowed solid food each day.

I noticed a big difference in going without solid food for 16 hours, she explained.

While this may sound like simply another fad diet, Aniston (and the many other celebrities and fitness gurus who follow suit) have science on their side. The Harvard Health Blog explains that more and more studies are stacking up to show the benefits of intermittent fasting. The trend can help with weight loss, but it can also boost metabolism in people generally.

Dr. Monique Tello writes that the fasting can be particularly useful at preventing diseases like diabetes: There is some good scientific evidence suggesting that circadian rhythm fasting, when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, can be a particularly effective approach to weight loss, especially for people at risk for diabetes.

While some celebrities boast mind-boggling workout routines that would never translate to most regular peoples lives, Anistons workout regimen is surprisingly common sense. She focuses on a reasonable 45 minutes of cardio intervals (she prefers the elliptical) and gets a wide variety of weight and resistance training.

She likes to mix up her activities to prevent boredom, and she makes sure to travel with a pair of 8-pound weights so that she can squeeze a workout in on the road.

While the actress doesnt spend hours upon hours exercising every day, she makes it clear that consistency is key. Sticking with an exercise plan on a regular basis makes it a normal part of daily life, and Aniston has made a commitment to her health.

While Aniston clearly takes good care of her body, its important to note that her healthy habits extend to her mind as well. The actress has a daily routine of meditation that makes sure she sets herself up for a great day of focus and intention.

When shes not on set working, she tends to be a relatively late riser, letting herself sleep in until 8 or 9 in the morning.

As soon as she has woken up, though, she makes time to meditate. She uses a set transcendental meditation mantra and prefers to practice the mindfulness exercise for twenty minutes at a time. However, on days when her time is particularly strained, shell settle for a ten-minute session. The practice helps her make good decisions and is likely an integral part of her healthy approach to bouncing back from relationship struggles.

This combination of healthy mind, body, and diet practices has certainly worked for Aniston. She maintains youthful energy and appearance that stuns fans, and even though her personal life has often been splashed across headlines for the world to see she remains graceful and calm.

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Jennifer Aniston Made This 1 Change in Her Diet That Really Made a Difference - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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She slowly eased her way into exercise

Once I was 215 pounds, I kind of felt like I was just going to be stuck there forever, Dukes says. My mindset was really poor and I didnt enjoy exercise and I couldnt honestly even think of what life was like before I packed on the weight, because I felt very stuck in my body.

She says she didnt exercise at all.

And it felt very hard for me to move my body, she says, and frankly, I also felt very embarrassed to go to the gym. I felt like I didnt know what I was doing.

To get started, she set a goal for herself: In the beginning, it was just move my body every day, do a little bit more than I did yesterday.

Dukes signed up for a gym membership. Every day, she worked out on the elliptical for 20 minutes.

In the beginning, 20 minutes on the elliptical felt like I was dying each day, she says.

That eventually became a lot easier because my body got stronger. I built up my endurance and my strength, and so thats when it became more fun, she says.

She adds, I found I was able to do a lot more than I was beforehand because it made me want to try new things.

After about six months, Dukes says she had lost about 30-40 pounds. She started to do more high-intensity training with weights.

Losing weight can be difficult, but its important not to fixate on the end goal, says Dukes. Its easy to look at how far we have to go and feel very discouraged by that, she says.

She says to focus on one day at a time.

Focus today on making good nutrition choices, moving your body, and then tomorrow, doing a little bit more, she says. Maybe drink a little more water, get a little more activity in. Maybe rather than taking the elevator, take the stairs. Just do a little more, because all of those healthy habits compound over time, and they snowball into big results.

She says its also important to focus on having a healthy mindset.

Its not some diet or some weight loss kick that youre going to be on, says Dukes. Just make the decision to be healthy and never stop. If youre making those health decisions every day, its going to compound.

Dukes says losing weight feels amazing.

I never thought I would be in the shoes I am in today, but losing the weight has completely changed my life, she says.

She says her weight loss isnt about the weight on the scale or being able to fit into a smaller size.

Just genuinely loving how you feel and what you look like and having the confidence, it changes everything in life, says Dukes.

Want more tips like these? NBC News BETTER is obsessed with finding easier, healthier and smarter ways to live. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

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How this woman lost 75 pounds: Gradual lifestyle changes were the key to her weight loss success - NBC News

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Dwight Howards career trajectory took a sharp decline after his first stint with the Lakers. Hes played with five teams in the past five seasons, and each stop had its share of Dwight Howard Is Rejuvenated headlines that didnt exactly pan out.

This second stop with the Lakers, though, feels different. Not because Howard has been lighting up the stat sheet he hasnt been but hes finally acting like a player who knows his role on a team and knows how to take care of himself as a 34-year-old.

Hes no longer the player who needed medical intervention because he was eating 24 candy bars a day. Speaking after the Lakers 118-112 win against the Bulls on Tuesday, Howard was asked about being one of the last remaining prep-to-pro players in the league. He answered that question by discussing a newfound focus on health.

He said via The Athletics Bill Oram:

Back then I thought Id be able to play forever, thought I could eat McDonalds, chicken wings and honey buns every single day, but I realized as you get older, youve got to really take care of your body, youve got to listen to your body.

So, my advice for anybody is try to eat as healthy as you can. Health is wealth. A lot of people try to get rich with money, but try to get rich with your body.

Howard even followed up those comments by going through a quick workout after the game.

Even if the workout was strictly for an Instagram clip, its something. His diet and health habits used to be *that* bad. Hes clearly made a change in those habits, and the Lakers are benefiting from an efficient Dwight Howard who has accepted his role as a bench player.

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Dwight Howard is working out after games and no longer eating 24 candy bars a day - For The Win

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Plenty of people are skeptical of "miraculous" cures and belly-blasting products sold on infomercials and in airplane catalogs. But the seemingly healthy drinks sold at Whole Foods and the supplements lining your local drugstore are so ubiquitous, even skeptics may assume they work, or at least don't hurt.

Several products in particular have no place in people's kitchens or medicine cabinets, according to nutrition experts.

Insider asked nine dietitians who attended the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo to name a product people buy in an effort to improve their health that just isn't worth it, and three themes emerged.

Probiotic supplements, alkaline water, and "detox" products like juice cleanses don't have the evidence to justify their use, they said.

Probiotics are live bacteria found in foods like yogurt and kombucha that have health benefits, particularly for the gut. But when packaged in supplement form, their benefits are more murky, New York City-based registered dietitian Tamara Duker Freuman, who works in a gastrointestinal practice and wrote the book, "The Bloated Belly Whisperer," told Insider.

"There is such paltry evidence of benefit for most commercially available products," she said.

While the supplements may help treat infectious bacteria, there's not enough evidence to show they work at healing any of the other ailments they're marketed for, from the common cold to preterm labor.

The term "probiotic" also applies to many different types of bacteria. It's not always clear what a given product contains or whether the strain any one person buys is linked to the health benefit they're seeking.

Even the concept of using probiotics to help counter the potentially disruptive effects of antibiotics on the balance of gut bacteria isn't well-founded, registered dietitian Malina Malkani, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and creator of the Wholitarian Lifestyle, told Insider.

"Probiotics offer many potential health benefits, but there is evidence that probiotic supplements may actually prolong the gut microbiome's process of resuming its normal state after antibiotic use," she said. While people take probiotics in an effort to populate their guts with the "good" bacteria antibiotics can kill, the supplements may just make the process of getting the gut back to normal take even longer. Water is good for your health, whether or not it's in an expensive bottle with a fancy name. Cate Gillon/Getty Images

Ginger Hultin, a Seattle-based registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, named alkaline water as the one product people buy for health that just isn't worth it.

The beverage, which has a higher pH level and is therefore less acidic that plain water, is marketed as providing better hydration, detoxifying the body, balancing pH levels, boosting energy, and even supporting weight loss. Some varieties go for as much as $15 for a 1.5 liter container, Insider previously reported.

Nutrition experts say it's probably not superior to plain old water. Plus, research on diets and cancer risk found that alkaline water had no proven health benefits for cancer prevention or anything else.

"Basically, the type of water you choose to drink won't have a considerable impact on your health, provided that it's plain, calorie-free water," Ali Webster, a registered dietitian and associate director of nutrition communications for the International Food Information Council Foundation, previously told Insider.

You and your wallet are better off just eating an apple. Cindy Ord/Getty Images

While springing for a fancy cold-pressed juice isn't necessarily unhealthy, there are better and more cost-effective ways to get nutrients, experts say.

"I want people to eat and chew their food and get all the benefits," registered dietitian Amy Kimberlain, a certified diabetes educator at Baptist Health South Florida and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Insider.

Blending fruits and vegetables causes them to lose a lot of the fiber you'd get if you simply ate them, Kimberlain added. "We don't talk about fiber and all it's health benefits enough," she said. A lower risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic diseases are among those benefits, according to a study commissioned by the World Health Organization.

What's more, slinging back juices in the name of detoxifying or cleansing the body misunderstands how the body actually works and can even be risky, New York City registered dietitian Bonnie Taub Dix, author of "Read It Before You Eat It: Taking You from Label to Table," told Insider.

"We each have a liver and kidneys to do that job without needing a detox diet that is, in most cases, inadequately balanced and lacking in so many important nutrients," she said. As a result, dieters can wind up tired, irritable, lightheaded, and weak.

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3 'health' products that are a waste of money, according to dietitians - INSIDER

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