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10 cringe-worthy awkward moments from Trump's first year in office

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President Donald Trump's first year in office has included many awkward moments.

Whether implying a 19 th century abolitionist was alive or ignoring a handshake from the German Chancellor, Trump provided plenty of fodder for ridicule from his online critics and amusement from his supporters.

Here are 10 most cringe-worthy awkward moments from Trump's first 11 months in office:

SEE ALSO: The 22 women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct

DON'T MISS: Trump's most outlandish, bombastic, and eye-popping tweets of 2017

Trump implies Frederick Douglass is alive

During a Black History Month event, Trump implied that Frederick Douglass, the revered 19th century black abolitionist, was alive. Speaking about Douglass in the present tense, Trump praised his accomplishments and claimed that the former slave and celebrated writer was becoming more well-known.

"Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who's done an amazing job and is getting recognized more and more, I notice," Trump said.

Critics ridiculed Trump for his comment. Comedian Seth Meyers joked,"Keep your eye on that Fred Douglass kid, he's going places. Fred Douglass is an up-and-comer."



Trump appears to reject a handshake with German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Trump appeared to reject an offered handshake from German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to the White House in March.

When photographers asked for a handshake, Merkel leaned over to Trump and seemed to ask him to shake hands.

Trump didn't appear to respond to the question, and he didn't look over at Merkel as she spoke to him. It's unclear if it was a deliberate snub or unintentional. They have shaken hands at other meetings since.

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Melania Trump swats her husband's hand away

First Lady Melania Trump made waves when she appeared to swat her husband's hand away while walking down a tarmac in Tel Aviv with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, in May.

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The dinosaurs of rock had an amazing year in 2017 — here are the best albums

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rolling stones

  • The dinosaurs of rock had a very big 2017.
  • The Rolling Stones, Robert Plant, and Jeff Beck all rolled out new releases.
  • Old school rock isn't for everybody, but if it's your thing, these albums are worth a listen.


If rock-n-roll or old-school blues rock and its derivatives are your thing, the pickings these days are slim.

Washy synthesizers and ornately produced rap dominate, which is fine. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about St. Vincent's "Masseduction," and one of my kids is bringing a lot of contemporary hip-hop into the house, which has actually given me an excuse to revisit the Public Enemy catalog.

But of course I was raised on rock on the 1970s, and at the moment, the authors of that art form are aging toward their final rewards. Presumably. Keith Richards might live forever.

The year 2017 was actually a great one for the dinosaurs. Numerous classic rock Rexes released new albums, and they were all quite good.

Here's a rundown of my favorites:

The Rolling Stones, "Blue & Lonesome"

This might be my favorite Rolling Stones album ever, and I'm a student of their vaunted run of records from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s that featured "Sticky Fingers," "Exile on Main Street," and "It's Only Rock 'n Roll."

"Blue & Lonesome" consists entirely of blues covers, so in a sense it's a true back-to-the-beginning effort from Mick, Keith, Ronnie, and Charlie. The Stones started out as a cover band, determined to preach the gospel of American blues, as Keith once put it. 

The Stones' core garage-band vibe matches up perfectly with heavy, rollicking blues numbers originally composed by Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Willie Dixon. Imagine the young, raw Stones of the early 1960s combined with decades of experience and modern production. The result is just great, but the revelation is Mick Jagger's skill as a harmonica player.

You don't really get a lot of high-profile harmonica albums these days, but the instrument is crucial to the authentic Chicago blues sound, and Mick is a master. As Richards said when recounting how the album — recorded in just a few days and released in December of 2016 (I've grandfathered it into my 2017 list) — came about, he and Ronnie Wood were working up a few blues cover to get the band back into a groove, and Mick's "harp" playing inspired them to keep going.

The goal was basically to get Mick playing more harp, Richards said. Was it ever worth it! (And for good measure, Eric Clapton joins in for a few tracks.)



Jeff Beck, "Loud Hailer"

Beck was one of the three former Yardbirds guitarists — the other two were Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page — to invent the British blues-rock sound of the 196os. But Beck didn't stick with vibe, while Clapton refined the form and Page went on to start Led Zeppelin.

Beck moved in a progressive direction and has been relentlessly and restlessly reinventing himself ever since. It's kept him young, and because he doesn't sing, he's open to new vocal talent. Which he found and then some on "Loud Hailer" in Rosie Bones of the eponymous UK group Bones.

Beck's tone is rich, gruff, scratchy, supple, energized, and virtuosic, usually all at the same time. He has power to burn, and combined with Bones' fierce, confrontational vocals, he unleashes the incandescence on proggy, punky gut-checks such as "Live in the Dark." 

This is a dark, futuristic album that sounds like the soundtrack to something bad. Beck is trying to get our attention. And at 73, he proves he can do it again and again.

This is the most in-your-face record I've listened to from anybody in years. When Beck isn't blowing your mind with the effects he can extract from a Stratocaster, he's captivating your imagination with beautiful phrasing and huge, chunky riffs.

"Scared for the Children" is the ballad, if you could call it that. More like a warning. Heed it.

 



Robert Plant, "Carry Fire"

In his late sixties, Plant — with his group the Sensational Shape Shifters — has been exploring a kind of world-music-meets-The-Band semi-solo career.

Zep is ain't, but the yowling, yelping, shrieky vocals that made Plant such an icon in the 1970s aren't really suited to a musician of his stature, as he himself has said many times when asked about a Zep reunion.

Instead, on "Carry Fire," we get a rumbling, meditative Plant, backed by a versatile, crackerjack lineup. Almost all the songs feature rolling, drone-like structures, evocative of Middle-Eastern music and folk. It's hypnotic, and for fans of Plant's post-Zep records with Jimmy Page, an extension of a slightly bluesy take on those traditions, heavy and serious.

What it is, in the end, is classic rock for the thinking person. Standouts are the title track and "Bluebirds Over the Mountain," a simultaneously menacing and uplifting exercise in thrum and feedback that features a guest appearance by Chrissie Hynde.

You can put this one on an endless loop.



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I tried Gwyneth Paltrow's diet and workout routine for a week — here's what happened

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I tried Gwyneth Paltrow’s personal diet and exercise routine. Here’s how it went.

I decided to embark on this project because I wanted to see if I could handle two hours of exercise a day.

THE EXERCISE ROUTINE:

Gwyneth exercises for two hours a day: one hour of cardio and one hour of weights.

Before this experiment, I was pretty sedentary. I didn't do much exercise. When I’m feeling super lazy, I'll go on occasional runs.

So for the week, I started on Monday, I skipped Friday because Gwyneth only does six out of seven days, and then I carried through on Saturday and Sunday as well.

I would exercise after getting home from work. I got a medicine ball and a big pile of handheld weights and I would go to town on those every night. A lot of it was lunges, some Russian twists, things that I kind of remembered from my varsity swimming days.

I'm a decent runner — that wasn't too hard for me. I would hop on the treadmill, sometimes I'd go outside.

I was pretty much at a loss on how exactly to fill up an hour with weight exercises. So I was pretty much doing random stuff for at least 30 minutes of the time. I think that probably contributed to me getting hurt as well. Part of it was me just lying on the floor trying to recover, so I was definitely not working out the entire hour. There were breaks. And, running to get water, petting my dogs who were very confused about what was happening.

I woke up very sore on Tuesday. So, I was worried about how the rest of the week was going to be. Thursday morning, I woke up, my shoulder was killing me, and I decided to skip the weights that day. Friday was my free day. Over the weekend, it was much easier to squeeze in two hours of exercise because you're off work.

THE DIET:

Her diet consists of skipping breakfast, a low carb lunch, and a decadent dinner. So I usually start the day with a bagel, then have either another bagel or slice of pizza, and then have whatever for dinner.  All of this is punctuated with a lot of soda.

I decided to start skipping breakfast, made myself a giant salad that I ate for lunch throughout the week, and did whatever for dinner. She didn't get too into what she typically has for dinner, but she did mention occasionally having homemade french fries or a baguette drizzled with cheese.

Figured out I could melt Gouda cheese in a frying pan with some olive oil and it didn't explode my kitchen. So I would have that. The nice thing about this was that it was kind of decadent, especially after a day of just salad. It was kind of like a treat at the end of the day.

We had our holiday office party on Thursday and I freaked out, ate a lot of chocolate, drank a lot of wine, so, that's my bad.

THE CONCLUSION:

So Gwyneth Paltrow's not exactly telling people to dedicate two hours to exercise a day. This isn't something that's part of her goop line. She's just a pretty intense lady and this is how she exercises.

One of the advantages that Gwyneth Paltrow has over me is that she has a personal trainer. I don't have a personal trainer and I believe I ended up pulling my shoulder.

This whole experiment has made me realize that I probably should fit more time for jogging and cardio exercise into my life. I think it's kind of kicked me of a bit of a junk food habit for now, which is great. I did it, but I'm really glad it's over.

Join the conversation about this story »

We should never have told people to take vitamins — and a new study shows why

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  • Decades of research has failed to find substantial evidence that vitamins and supplements do any good — and some supplements may even be dangerous.
  • A new study has found that vitamin D and calcium supplements may not protect against bone fractures in older adults.
  • If you think you may need a supplement because of a deficiency, you should ask a doctor.

 

It seems like simple, obvious advice: Eat your vegetables, get some exercise, and, of course, take your vitamins.

Or not.

Decades of research, including a new study published in December in the Journal of the American Medical Association, has failed to find substantial evidence that vitamins and supplements do any significant good.

The latest paper is a review of more than 33 studies involving over 50,000 adults over age 50. The researchers wanted to find out if people who took calcium, vitamin D, or both were less likely to suffer bone fractures. They found that the people on the supplements were no less at risk than the people who didn't take them.

In fact, the researchers found that for certain groups of people — such as those who started out with a certain minimum amount of vitamin D already in their blood — adding more vitamin D was actually tied with a slightly greater risk of hip fractures.

These findings held steady even when the researchers accounted for people's gender, current supplement dose, intake of calcium from their normal diets, and the current loads of vitamin D in their blood.

"These findings do not support the routine use of these supplements ... in older people," the authors wrote.

While supplements might sound harmless, many are unnecessary, misleading, or even dangerous.

The supplement industry has few regulations

tongue pills vitamins supplements mouth

The $37-billion-dollar supplement industry is largely unregulated. The agencies who oversee the products are confined mainly to reacting once a supplement is found to have hurt someone or severely misled them.

As a result, pills and powders that are found to be linked with negative conditions like cancer or kidney stones may only get recalled after they've lingered on grocery shelves for months.

Every year, supplements send roughly 23,000 people to the emergency room, according to a 2016 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"In the US, no dietary supplements are pre-screened for safety and efficacy," S. Bryn Austin, a professor of behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told Business Insider. "What that means is the FDA and consumers have no way to know if what’s in the bottle or box is what’s on the label. There’s no way to know for sure that what’s in the product is safe."

Aside from a suggested dose, supplements do not come with explicit instructions about how much to take. Many also fail to list potential negative interactions with other drugs or supplements.

Yet the quantities of active ingredients in supplements can vary dramatically. A 2013 study published in the journal BMC Medicine found that doses of ingredients in a supplement — even those from the same bottle — can vary significantly from pill to pill.

In rarer cases, supplements can also be deadly. Between 2000 and 2012, 34 people died as a result of using supplements, according to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology.

Nevertheless, new formulations of vitamins and supplements continue to crop up every year, promising a wide swath of benefits including weight loss, improved skin, and better athletic or sexual performance.

If you're not eating a balanced, nutritious diet, these promises can sound appealing. But nutrients generally are not processed as efficiently from pills and powders as they are from real food — meaning that even taking a supplement as a means of accounting for nutritional deficiencies may not work as intended.

"We use vitamins as insurance policies against whatever else we might (or might not) be eating, as if by atoning for our other nutritional sins, vitamins can save us from ourselves," Catherine Price, a science reporter, wrote in the book "Vitamania."

Study after study suggests that vitamins can't fix dietary woes. For a large recent review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers combed through 27 trials of vitamins involving more than 400,000 people. They found that the people who took vitamins did not live longer or have fewer cases of heart disease or cancer than people who did not take them.

That said, a specific supplements may be beneficial to add to a healthy diet depending on your individual health situation. To find out if you need one, talk to your doctor.

Otherwise, instead of relying on a pill, make a commitment to yourself that will actually reward you, like eating more fruits and vegetables or being more active. Those types of changes can truly go a long way in improving your health.

SEE ALSO: The $37 billion supplement industry is barely regulated — and it's allowing dangerous products to slip through the cracks

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: These are the only vitamins you should be taking — and the ones you should skip

Disney got rid of 'Do Not Disturb' signs at its hotels — and the reason is chilling

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disney grand floridian hotel

  • Walt Disney World resorts are replacing "Do Not Disturb" door signs with signs that say "Room Occupied."
  • Resort employees are now required to enter each room at least once per day.
  • There is speculation that the changes were put into effect to prevent events like the October shooting at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

 

If you stay at a Walt Disney World resort in the coming months, you may have less control over when cleaning and maintenance staff enter your room. 

Some resorts are beginning to replace "Do Not Disturb" signs on guest rooms with signs that say "Room Occupied," Walt Disney World News Today reports. The change means that resort employees can enter your room while you're in it, but will attempt to alert you before doing so. Employees are now required to enter every room at least once per day. 

These changes have gone into effect at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Polynesian Village Resort, and Contemporary Resort near the Magic Kingdom, with other Walt Disney World resorts to follow soon, according to Walt Disney World News Today.

Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but there is speculation that the changes were put into effect to prevent events like the October shooting that killed 58 people at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Many Walt Disney World resorts have rooms that give guests views of crowded areas below.

The Mandalay Bay and its parent company, MGM Resorts International, are facing a number of lawsuits that claim the resort didn't implement preventive measures that could have stopped the shooting.

SEE ALSO: MGM is in crisis as hundreds of Las Vegas shooting victims accuse the Mandalay Bay of missing red flags

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Breakfast at Tiffany's is finally a reality — here's what it's like to dine at the new Blue Box Café

New Year's resolutions you should make based on science — and how to keep them

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The most common New Year's resolutions tend to be vague goals intended to "get your life together" by losing weight, eating healthier food, or exercising more.

But most people don't successfully follow through on their resolutions — largely because they're so general and non-specific.

That's where science can help. Using specific, science-backed resolutions, you can boost your chances of successfully transforming your life in the New Year.

These are some of our favorite resolution ideas, all backed by recent science. Some have to do with fitness, others diet or health, others productivity, and some are simply designed to help you maximize happiness.

You don't need to attempt all at once, but pick one or two that'll get you closest to your goals.

SEE ALSO: How to make this the winter you finally stay in shape

To help you lose weight, eat healthier, and feel better, resolve to fix your sleeping habits.

Recent research shows that getting enough sleep makes it easier to avoid cravings for unhealthy foods, keep off excess weight, and that it's key for psychological health.

In the long run, sleep could be even more important: in several studies published in the summer of 2017, researchers demonstrated that after disrupted sleep, individuals had higher levels of proteins associated with Alzheimer's and dementia in the brain.

And as sleep expert Matthew Walker, author of the new book, "Why We Sleep," recently told Business Insider, you really can't get by on six or seven hours of sleep — the vast majority of people need an average of eight hours a night.

To improve your sleep, experts recommend going to bed and getting up at the same time every night, improving your sleep environment, and avoiding screens for at least a half hour before bed, if not longer. If you're struggling with insomnia, there are science-backed tips for that too.



Resolve to get moving

Yes, exercise resolutions are common, but there's a good reason for them. Along with fixing your sleep, there's little that will have such a transformative effect on your life.

Exercise provides such a laundry list of physical and mental health benefits that it's basically the closest thing we have to a wonder drug.

Not only will exercise do everything from improve your heart health to boost your sex drive, all while improving your sleep and mood, recent research has shown that working out may help keep the brain young, improve memory, and fight cognitive impairment.

The trick is figuring out the exercise resolution that's going to work for you — saying you'll "go to the gym (more)" probably won't cut it.



If it fits your schedule, make an early morning cardio workout a new habit

Morning workouts aren't for everyone, but experts say that if you can get some morning exercise in that'll get your heart going and get you some morning sunlight, that'll kickstart your circadian rhythm, which will both wake you up for the day and make it easier for you to sleep at night.

Getting a good amount of cardio exercise seems to be strongly linked to many of the biggest benefits of exercise, and if you can do this in the morning, there's recent research suggesting that morning is best time of day to work out to lose weight.

To provide motivation to follow-through with your morning run, swim, or ride, experts suggest working towards a goal (like a race) so you have a concrete objective, training with a friend, and making it competitive. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

6 mistakes unsuccessful people make in the New Year

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2018 is almost here.

However, if you're going to start off on the right foot, you've got to have a good strategy and mindset.

Business Insider spoke with Ryan Kahn, career coach and founder of The Hired Group and creator of the "How To Get Hired" online course, about what not to do come January.

Here are eight mistakes that unsuccessful people make in the New Year — along with some advice on how to turn things around:

SEE ALSO: 7 things unsuccessful people do over holiday breaks

1. They don't reflect on their accomplishments

Many companies have performance reviews around this time, but even if yours doesn't, take the time to think about all that you've accomplished. Don't take your success for granted. "Take the time to think back on the year critically before heading out to holiday," Kahn said.



2. They forget to set goals

Kahn said it's important to think about your long-term goals and short-term steps around the New Year. You're not setting yourself up for success if you fail to sketch out some sort of path forward.



3. They leave loose ends

Unsuccessful people allow work to spill into their free time over the holidays. Try to celebrate the New Year by treating yourself to a much-deserved break. "Spend the extra time now to make sure you can enjoy worry-free time off," Kahn said.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

6 tricky morning routines that are difficult to pick up but will pay off for life

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The early birds will inherit the earth.

At least that's what a 2009 University of Leipzig study found. The researchers concluded that "morning people were more proactive than evening types."

But being an effective early riser isn't just about waking up before everyone else. It's about putting yourself in a positive mindset and getting important things done before everyone else.

So there's no point in setting your alarm clock at a crazy-early time if you're just going to zone out in front of the television for a bit before slouching off to work.

To start your day right, you've got to get into some good habits.

Following are six morning rituals that may seem hard to adopt but will ultimately reap major rewards, if you stick with them.

SEE ALSO: I tried waking up at 4 a.m. every day like Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi, but I ended up creating a perfect morning routine for myself

DON'T MISS: I followed Benjamin Franklin's daily schedule for a week, and the most rewarding part was also the most difficult

Make a plan the night before

This isn't a morning ritual per se, but it's a habit that's definitely conducive to a productive morning routine. So make sure to set yourself up for a successful morning by creating a game plan the night before.

It's always helpful to have everything you need for the day laid out and ready to go when you wake up. Make sure you're stocked on whatever you need for breakfast. Write out a little schedule on what you need to accomplish the next day.

This all sounds pretty simple, but when you're getting home at night, it's very tempting to just crash on the sofa with a glass of wine and leave all the thinking for tomorrow.



Wake up painfully early

Sorry, night owls. It's time to adapt.

In a poll of 20 executives cited by Laura Vanderkam, a time-management expert and the author of "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast," 90% said they wake up before 6 a.m. on weekdays. PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, for example, wakes at 4 and is in the office no later than 7. Disney CEO Bob Iger gets up at 4:30 to read. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is up at 5:30 to go jogging.

Yes, this might sound awful, but if you get to sleep earlier, that'll numb the pain of such early wake-ups over time. The bottom line: Productive mornings start with early wake-up calls.



Start the day right with exercise

Yeah, there are super humans among us who crave that pre-sunrise workout (that, or they're just really good liars). Still, for everyone else, waking up at the crack of dawn to sweat and get sore probably doesn't sound ideal.

But the morning is probably the ideal time to exercise. By starting your day with exercise, you'll prevent yourself from putting it off.

Think about it this way: If some of the busiest people in the world can find time to workout, so can you. For example, Vanderkam notes that Xerox CEO Ursula Burns schedules an hourlong personal-training session at 6 a.m. twice a week.

US President Barack Obama starts out each day with strength and cardio training while Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey does three repetitions of a seven-minute workout, Anisa Purbasari reported for Business Insider.

"These are incredibly busy people," says Vanderkam. "If they make time to exercise, it must be important."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Fake news' is officially the 2017 word of the year

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Every year, we pick up new lingo thanks to newsworthy people and events — but some stand out more than others.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, The Collins Word of the Year 2017 — an annual campaign that gives "a chance to reflect on the words that have defined the last 12 months" — is "fake news."

As defined by Collins, "fake news" means "false, often sensational, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting."

The word saw an "unprecedented usage increase of 365%" since 2016, according to the company.

"It has been derided by the leader of the free world and accused of influencing elections, but 'fake news' is today legitimate news as it is named Collins’ Word of the Year 2017," the site states.

You can watch Collins' hilarious announcement of the Word of the Year here:

It added: "In a year that’s been so unbelievable it’s hard to know what is fact and what is fiction, you can rely on Collins to keep you updated on the words you need to know."

The shortlisted words for 2017 include "unicorn," "echo chamber," "gig economy," and "cuffing season."

The 2016 winner was "Brexit," while "binge-watch" took the title in 2015.

You can see the full list here.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Look out for these early warning signs that you're dating a narcissist

Intermittent fasting was one of the biggest diet trends of 2017 — here's what you should know if you're planning to try it in the New Year

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  • Intermittent fasting was one of the most talked about diet trends of 2017.
  • Business Insider spoke to Max Lowery, the man behind the 2 Meal Day, to find out how you should prepare — and what to expect — if you're planning to try it in the new year.
  • You can expect initial headaches and hunger pangs, but the good news is you don't have to give up alcohol or count calories.


Intermittent fasting was one of the most talked about diet trends in 2017.

There's the 5:2, where you eat what you want for five days of the week but restrict your calorie intake to just 500 a day on two days. There's also the 16:8, which sees you eat within an eight-hour period, then fast for the remaining 16. Now, there's The 2 Meal Day — as the name suggests, it requires eating just two meals in a day, either breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner.

As Business Insider's Lifestyle Reporter, I've decided to give The 2 Meal Day a go in the new year, following what's sure to be an indulgent holiday — but first, I wanted to find out everything I need to know before I give it a try.

I met up with 27-year-old Max Lowery, the former stock broker and personal trainer who published a book on the 2 Meal Day in July 2017.

Before he went through what I should expect, he asked me a series of questions on my eating and exercising habits: How many meals do I usually eat in a day? Do I snack? Do I drink alcohol? Do I take my own lunch in? Do I eat until I'm full? Do I calorie count? I quickly realised my eating habits are both sporadic and unpredictable.

"The number one misconception people have about intermittent fasting is that it's a magic pill that will solve all your problems," Lowery said. "Fasting is an incredibly powerful tool, but you have to change the way you eat first for two reasons.

Firstly, he said: "It will be a lot harder if you're not eating nutrient-dense foods because it's only when you start eating proper food full of nutrition that you will start to feel less hungry because you're nourishing yourself properly, so fasting will be a lot easier.

"And 2. If you're eating processed foods and carbs full of sugar it can have a negative effect on losing weight, even if you're fasting."

Here's how to prepare for — and what to expect from — the 2 Meal Day, according to Lowery, though many of these tips could be applied to other intermittent fasting regimes.

As you prepare, stick to three home-cooked meals a day

In the lead-up to starting the diet, Lowery said it's important to get into the habit of eating three home-cooked meals a day, with no snacking in between. It will stand you in good stead for what's to come.

Clear out your cupboards...

Perhaps an obvious one, but to avoid temptation clear out all junk in your cupboards so that you only have fresh ingredients to make meals from scratch.

...And stock up on good ingredients

Go shopping and make sure you have certain long-term things in your cupboards that will make things easier to cook homemade meals. "Things like tuna, tinned tomatoes, chilli, olive oil, and spices should all be in your cupboards," Lowery said.

Next, pick a meal to skip, and stick to it

"Decide which meal you're going to skip and stick to it, at least at first," Lowery said. "This can be changed later down the line to fit in with your lifestyle but to help you at the beginning it's better to get into a routine."

For those on the 16:8, this could be working out what time you'll stop eating and sticking to that.

Lowery said that for most people it's easier to skip breakfast, so if you decide on that then you should have lunch when you would normally have it. Then, as your body gets used to it all, you might start to feel less hungry and eat later at 1, 2 or 3 o'clock.

Plan, plan, plan

Organisation is key to this diet so that you don't end eating rubbish when you break your fast.

"You're either someone who does it all on a Sundays and spends about two to three hours cooking, or you overcook in the evenings." Lowery said. He usually cooks the night before but does sometimes freeze a batch on Sundays.

Be strategic with caffeine use

Photo by Drew Taylor on UnsplashLowery only really ever uses caffeine when he trains and says it's important to not be dependent on it for energy.

"I believe caffeine should be a performance enhancer, not something you use to get to a normal functioning level," he said. "There's nothing wrong with drinking a black coffee or green tea during your fasting period, as long as its for the right reasons."

But don't have it first thing in the morning, he warns. "Caffeine can be used as an appetite suppressant, so it makes sense to go as long as you can without it when you really think you're about to break, have a tea or coffee and you'll manage to fast for longer."

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

water glasses

You need to be drinking at least two litres a day, especially when you're fasting, because you're not getting water from food, Lowery said, adding that he drinks up to four of five litres a day.

He said that at the beginning lots of people get headaches from dehydration, but there's a method for dealing with this. "If you've drunk more water and it's not working, put a teaspoon of salt into a pint of water for electrolytes which will increase the absorption rate."

You can drink — but limit your alcohol

wine

The good news about this diet is that you don't have to cut out alcohol. In fact, Lowery warns his clients against trying to cut out alcohol as well as introducing fasting to their diets. "If you want to get the most out of The 2 Meal Day you obviously need to limit your alcohol intake," he said — and he advised me to just have it once or twice a week. "But from a lifestyle perspective it's really important to change your habits around drinking rather than just cutting it out for a month."

Lowery says that he completely transformed his drinking habits that he says were the "worst imagineable from [age] 16 to 23."

Have three meatless days a week

Lowery advised to try and have at least three meatless days a week and by buying less, try to spend slightly more on  quality meat when you do have it.

The same goes for fish

By Noor Haswan Noor Azman

"If you can, go for wild salmon rather than farmed and just have it once or twice a week," Lowery said. "In this country there are different levels of pollution in fish, and generally mackerel is one of the best kinds."

Time your carbs around exercise

Your rest days should be low-carb and you should time your carb intake around your training. White bread and pasta should mostly be swapped for sweet potatoes, quinoa, and brown rice — though Lowery said he eats loads of gnocchi, but just adds loads of vegetables, like this dish above.

Don't focus on time periods

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Lowery encourages his clients only to focus on the meals they're eating and not the timings of their eating period/fasted state. "No matter how disciplined you are, if you get obsessed with time periods that's never going to be a way of life," he said.

"I will often eat late at like 8 or 9 o'clock, or if I get back from Olympic lifting in the evenings, I sometimes don't eat until 10 p.m. "Eating late wont affect your weight loss but it will affect your sleep cycles."

Expect a transition period

Lowery said that as your body gets used to the new eating habits, it will go through a transition period where it goes from being sugar dependent to burning stored body fat.

"For some people it can be quite difficult for up to a week, and other people are used to it within two days," he said. "It's often a mindset thing, whether you have the confidence to believe that this is a normal thing you're doing.

"Headaches, lethargy, feeling hungry, stomach grumbling, and pain are all normal side effects to experience during this time. The pain is just your body releasing digestive enzymes because it's expecting food. That usually goes away after about two or three days."

He added: "Just because your stomach is empty, it doesn't mean you're hungry — and it's having the confidence to know this."

Despite how you might feel, know you're not starving yourself.

weight loss"Another misconception is that fasting is a means of starvation. It's not. It's nothing to do with calorie restriction. Four to six hours after eating you enter the fasted state and your insulin and blood sugar levels begin to stabilise, it's a normal state to be in, but people are just afraid of it."

Hear Lowery's tips on fasting over Christmas in the video below:

SEE ALSO: A personal trainer explains why you should always do your weight training before your cardio at the gym

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NOW WATCH: Cryptocurrency is the next step in the digitization of everything — 'It’s sort of inevitable'

21 of London's most exclusive private members' clubs, ranked by price

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London's private members' circuit has come a long way since the days of the stuffy gentleman's club.

The capital now boasts one of the most diverse selections of clubs in the world.

While areas such as Mayfair and Pall Mall are still synonymous with the members' club scene, an explosion of more accessible, affordable, and arguably trendier clubs have shaken things up.

Whether you are looking for a wellbeing sanctuary, to indulge in the world of fine wine, fine art, live performances, and intrepid exploring, or just somewhere with cool rooms where cool-looking people hang out, each club has its very own niche, making it even trickier to pick the right one.

We've rounded up a selection of London's most exclusive private members' clubs, which cost between £150 to over £5,000 — or the cost of a new car — for an annual membership.

Scroll down for a sneak peek inside some of London's best clubs, ranked in ascending order by the price of a standard annual membership and joining fee.

Disrepute, Soho — £150.

Disrepute, a "hidden gem" nestled within an opulent Soho basement, offers an expertly curated cocktail menu and an atmospheric space perfect for secret late-night sessions. It is one of the most reasonably priced members' bars in London.

Membership privileges include priority reservations, the ability to book in parties of up to 12 people, and free access to special events, talks, and masterclasses.

A members' bar not in the conventional sense, according to the club, applications are welcome from people of all backgrounds and persuasions. Non-members are also welcome to book a table, subject to availability.

You can apply for membership here.



L'escargot, Soho — £450, plus £250 joining fee.

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Set in a Georgian townhouse in the heart of Soho above London's oldest French restaurant L'escargot, the chic Upstairs Club is accessed via a psychedelic carpeted spiral staircase.

It's a secretive hideout away from the hustle and bustle of the capital. There is an air of eccentricity to the club which offers its members access to a series of private rooms, including the salon noir, salon bleu, and salon rouge, which regularly host performances and general debauchery.

Under 28s can obtain a reduced membership of £250. If you don't have a proposer, you may be asked to visit the club and meet with one of the membership team for a drink and a brief introduction.

To apply, hopefuls should submit a personal profile online here.



Quo Vadis, Soho — £500, plus £150 joining fee.

Quo Vadis, easily recognisable by its iconic neon street sign, is another of Soho's members' haunts. The club consists of a first floor bar and lounge, and a dedicated members' restaurant, which serves quintessentially British cuisine. The second floor is home to the "Blue Room," an intimate, atmospheric lounge with open plan bar and first-rate sound system.

It is popular among Soho’s creatives, foodies, and more generally seekers of relaxed business and serious pleasures. Members can enjoy £5 Martini Hours on Thursday and Fridays and half price Pie and Oyster Mondays.

Under 30s benefit from a discounted yearly rate of £300. The club doesn't have a blanket policy for membership and says it instead looks at case by case applications, accepting people without airs and graces who are interesting and happy to be themselves.

Prospective members can apply online here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

17 photos that prove the country where America has been fighting its longest war is actually one of the most beautiful on earth

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For most people around the world, hearing the name Afghanistan brings to mind images of war, terrorism, political turmoil, and a near-failed state whose human development index is one of the lowest in the world.

The United States has been at war in the country for over 16 years — the longest in American history. Afghanistan has been embroiled in conflict for almost 40 years, during which the Afghan people have experienced a Communist coup, an invasion by the Soviet Union, and the rise of al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Just this week, an ISIS militant detonated a bomb in a Shia cultural center and news agency in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, killing over 40 people. The tragedy evoked just how much violent extremism still hampers the country's progress.

But underneath this brutal and frustrating modern history lies a country with a natural and cultural beauty that has few equals in today's world. With sweeping valleys, snow-capped peaks, and a patchwork of cultures and peoples, Afghanistan is truly one of the most gorgeous places on earth.

Here are 17 stunning photos that showcase the side of Afghanistan you won't see on the news:

SEE ALSO: Mike Pence makes surprise visit to Afghanistan for war meetings and to visit US troops

DON'T MISS: Here's how the longest war in US history has unfolded

When American soldiers first arrived in 2001, many were taken aback by the stark contrast between the war and the natural beauty all around them.



"The surroundings were so beautiful," recounted Sergeant Thristan Tupaz. "Even though there is a war going on, I know there's going to be Taliban surrounding us — for some odd reason I just find it very peaceful."

Source: Journalism for the Soul



Afghanistan is nestled amid the steep Hindu Kush mountains between South Asia and the Middle East, and its peaks stand among some of the highest in the world.



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Those little bags found with new shoes and electronics are more useful than you think

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Don't throw these little bags out! Silica bags are found with new shoes and electronics. They contain silicon dioxide, aka "silica." Silica can absorb moisture and keep things dry.

Here's how:

1. Water-damaged phone? Leave it to silica to dry it right up. 

2. De-clump salt or sugar. 

3. Preserve stored ornaments and decorations. 

4. Keep your razors alive longer. The bags will dry out moisture and make the blades last longer. 

5. Smelly gym bag? Silica bags can prevent bacteria or mold from growing. 

6. Storing lots of photos together? The bags prevent moisture damage and photos from sticking together. 

You can reuse the bags by heating them up in an oven. Start collecting.

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A college student with a life-threatening illness used Make-A-Wish to meet JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon

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  • After being diagnosed with cancer in high school, Sean Korpal was granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
  • Korpal, who had developed a childhood hobby and passion for stock trading and investing, ultimately decided to head to Wall Street and meet JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon.

 

One year ago, college sophomore Sean Korpal and his family stepped out of a limo in front of the towering office building at 270 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. They were met by security guards, who ushered them into an elevator and whisked them skyward toward the executive offices, where they sat and anxiously waited. 

"It was kind of nerve-racking," Korpal, an undergraduate at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, told Business Insider. "We were about to meet a CEO." 

And it wasn't just any CEO. The office belonged to JPMorgan chief executive Jamie Dimon, one of Wall Street's biggest titans.

Why was one of the most powerful men in the world taking a meeting with a family from a Detroit suburb with no material ties to JPMorgan or its business?

It'd be just as fair to flip the question around: Why would a young man, afflicted with a life-threatening cancer and granted the chance to go anywhere and meet anybody in the world, use the opportunity to meet the CEO of a bank?

When fatigue becomes a dark diagnosis

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has been around for decades, helping thousands of children with life-threatening diseases make their dreams come true. Most kids who are part of the program choose to go to Disney World, though many opt to meet a heroes or celebrities they admire, like tennis superstar Roger Federer, NBA legend Michael Jordan, and pop singer Selena Gomez. 

Though there are some limits, the foundation has accommodated a wide-ranging array of experiences

Sean Korpal's experience started in May 2014, when the then-high school junior was cramming for end-of-year Advanced Placement tests and spending hours on the ice for his school's hockey team. 

Fatigue was understandable — expected, even. But the fatigue didn't abate, and it was soon accompanied by a cough and 103-degree fever. 

After going through days of symptoms without any improvement, Korpal was hospitalized and given a grave diagnosis: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood cancer that is highly treatable among children but has a bleaker prognosis for adults. 

A few months after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for the life-threatening illness, Korpal got word that the Make-A-Wish Foundation would be granting him a wish. 

With a world of possibilities at his fingertips, Korpal immediately zeroed in on a longtime passion: financial markets and investing. 

An unorthodox childhood hobby 

Korpal's unorthodox wish was guided by a similarly unorthodox childhood hobby. 

At the age of 12, while playing around with the Stocks app on an iPhone, Korpal inadvertently discovered the world of stock trading and it quickly drew him in. After opening an E-Trade account with $100 of his savings, Korpal soon became engrossed in the world of financial markets, reading books and taking in a steady diet of financial news from CNBC.

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He dreamed of a career in investing one day. 

By the time Korpal was ready to make a final decision for Make-A-Wish, it was roughly a year and a half after he'd been diagnosed, and he was pursuing a business degree as a freshman at the University of Michigan. 

"I knew I wanted to pick someone who was well respected in the industry. Someone who was high up, someone with the notion that they got there for a reason," Korpal said. 

His mind finally settled on Jamie Dimon, whom Korpal said he respected for his pragmatism, character, and integrity.

Dimon had a cancer scare of his own in 2014. He underwent a taxing but successful chemotherapy regimen for throat cancer.

"I knew he would be straight up with me and tell me things how they are" and "that he would give me some real, genuine advice," Korpal said. 

The biggest take-away after meeting Jamie Dimon

Jamie DimonKorpal's nerves melted away when, after a few minutes of waiting, Jamie Dimon entered the office and cracked a joke. Dimon was dressed casually and invited Korpal and his family into a less formal office with a dining table and couches to relax on.

"That relieved a lot of tension," said Korpal. He added that he felt, at that moment, that his instincts about Dimon being genuine and down to earth were validated. 

They initially talked a lot about family and of Korpal's condition, and then moved on to life and leadership advice. What was meant to be a 30-minute meeting lasted an hour and a half. 

Security guards joked to the Korpals afterward that world leaders didn't get that much time with Dimon. 

The biggest thing Korpal said he learned from Dimon was about the power of relationships and the importance of humility.

"Being likable is more of an art than a science, but it's incredibly important for success," Korpal said. "The people at the top usually don't get there on their own."

Wall Street has a cutthroat image and reputation. But if you want to rise the ladder, you have to lean on others and empower others to succeed, he said. 

Remission, and a one-year reunion

Several weeks ago, Dimon paid a visit to the University of Michigan, where he was invited as a guest speaker. 

Korpal, whose cancer was in remission, had stayed in touch with Dimon, letting him know in September that he'd received his last chemo treatment.

After Dimon's speech, and before Dimon was mobbed by throngs of excited students, the two were briefly reunited.

"I walked up to him after, and he instantly recognized me," Korpal said. "He asked about my family and asked about my health."

"He really was almost a celebrity on campus. But after meeting him, you realize he's just another person like you or I," Korpal added. 

While he was in New York the first time he met Dimon, Korpal also got to visit the New York Stock Exchange, and he met CNBC hosts Jim Cramer and Carl Quintanilla, as well as NYSE President Thomas Farley. Korpal said the Make-A-Wish experience instilled a new sense of confidence and him and made him realize it was possible to bridge the gap between dreams and reality.

Korpal's dream is to one day lead a trading division, be a fund manager, or serve as the CEO of a major company. He'll take the next step in that mission this summer — Korpal will be a summer analyst in sales and trading at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Join the conversation about this story »

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11 of the most powerful movie moments of 2017

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There’s nothing better than a movie moment you immediately know will be stuck in your mind forever.

It might be the emotion of the moment, the way the music matches the powerful visuals, or a line that’s delivered just the right way. Whatever it is, it’s the moment when you are hooked on the movie not just for the rest of the year, but for many more to come.

With 2017 coming to a close, I looked back on 11 moments in the movies this year that I won’t forget anytime soon.

Warning: Some spoilers are also included. 

SEE ALSO: All 36 notable characters in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," ranked from worst to best

11. The K-Ci & JoJo scene in “Ingrid Goes West”

I've pretty much been cracking up about this scene since I first saw it at the Sundance Film Festival back in January. Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza) befriends Taylor (Elizabeth Olsen), the person she's been stalking on Instagram, and they take a girls' trip to Joshua Tree. 

During the car ride they play the late 1990s hit "All My Life" by K-Ci & JoJo. Ingrid gets so into the song that she begins to stare at Taylor as she sings the lyrics, "I pray for someone like you, and I hope that you feel the same way too." This leads to her slamming into the guardrail.

Plaza's lust stare for Taylor makes the entire moment incredibly funny. 



10. Paz de la Huerta interrupts “My Scientology Movie”

This is definitely one of the top bats--t moments I have ever seen in a documentary. 

Louis Theroux is having a serious chat with former Scientology member Marty Rathbun in a hotel room when out of nowhere a bikini-clad Paz de le Huerta knocks on the window of their room. Theroux opens the door and the actress walks in demanding not to be filmed, though goes on to brag that she's been in over 45 films (there's a lot more to this story). And as quickly as she appears she's gone, and the two men are left wondering if somehow Scientology was behind the encounter.

The randomness of the encounter and Theroux's handling of the situation is something I can watch on a loop for days (and perhaps I have!).



9. Rachael reunites with Deckard in “Blade Runner 2049”

The appearance of a CGI version of Sean Young, as she looked in the original "Blade Runner" movie in 1982, filled me with nostalgia and a burning desire to find out how they did it

She looks flawless (though Deckard finds a flaw) and the moment beautifully links both movies. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Phantom Thread' star Vicky Krieps opens up about the movie's grueling shoot and working with Daniel Day-Lewis

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  • Vicky Krieps plays Alma in "Phantom Thread," the muse of Daniel Day-Lewis' character, Reynolds Woodcock.
  • Krieps didn't meet Day-Lewis until their first day of shooting and said he was in character as Woodcock every day of production.
  • Being in the movie was grueling for Krieps, not because of working across from the demanding Day-Lewis, she said, but because her schedule was six days of shooting a week and her off day consisted of constant dress fittings.


Luxembourg actress Vicky Krieps is a veteran of over 30 movies, but many will see her for the first time as the star of Paul Thomas Anderson's "Phantom Thread" (currently playing in theaters).

Krieps plays Alma, the muse of renowned 1950s dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) who figures out an unconventional way to get him away from his work. Exploring obsessions and unconditional love, Anderson cast an incredible actress in Krieps to take on these themes opposite the all-consuming Method acting style of Day-Lewis.

Business Insider talked to Krieps about the experience of working with Day-Lewis and finding the strength to get through one of the most grueling shoots she's ever been a part of.

Jason Guerrasio: So when you got an email about auditioning for this movie you didn't realize it was a Paul Thomas Anderson movie, right? You've said at first you thought you were going out for a student film.

Vicky Krieps: That's right. It was more of me making things up out of not knowing anything. I basically got this email from an American casting agent, who I didn't know, and I certainly wasn't expecting someone from America to write to me. But I'm always interested in projects. Whatever I do, I'm interested in the color of the material, I'm not interested in who's making it. I'm more concentrated on the work. So I opened the email and scrolled to find not a script but just some text, really a monologue. So I did the lines on tape and sent it in. 

Why I thought it might have been a student film was because I didn't get a script, I thought maybe it wasn't finished yet or this is for a short movie. I never thought I wasn't getting it because of secrecy of the project and that it was in fact for a movie by a famous American director. [Laughs.]

Vicky Krieps APGuerrasio: Looking back, are you happy you didn't know who you were auditioning for? Perhaps you would have been more nervous?

Krieps: Perhaps. I think I always try to prepare the same. I don't think I would have been different. But I think what was good was I was only relating and concentrating on the work, and that turned out to work well for me. 

Guerrasio: When you realized what the movie was about and who you would be playing, did you do a lot of research on the era?

Krieps: I prepared mostly on London around World War II and after the war. My character had lost her mother. This isn't in the movie, but Alma's mother is dead. So that was my backstory. And I learned as much as I could about models in the 1950s. I found on YouTube how they walked back then in fashion shows. It's very different in how models walk now. It's more human. I also learned hand sewing. But everything else I couldn't really prepare before shooting because I knew I wouldn't meet Daniel until the first day of shooting.

Guerrasio: Oh, wow. 

Krieps: He requested that we don't rehearse and that we meet for the first time on the first day of shooting. So my big thing was to find a way not to be nervous. Really, for a lot of this I did the opposite of preparing.
 
Guerrasio: So the first scene of Alma in the movie when you meet Reynolds in the restaurant, is that the first time you met Daniel Day-Lewis?

Krieps: Yes. [Laughs.]

Phantom_Thread_241017Guerrasio: It's funny because Alma stumbles coming from out of the kitchen and she has this embarrassed look, it's really art imitating life.

Krieps: Exactly. I really blushed because I really tripped. 

Guerrasio: Really?

Krieps: Yeah. 

Guerrasio: Was it tough to act across from someone you barely knew?

Krieps: That's the thing, of course I was scared, but there was nothing I could do. I knew we would be working together and I just stayed calm as much as I could. I was really in a meditative state of emptiness and forget everything I was researching for the character and just reacted to him. Working with him was rather wonderful. Because of how he works, I could really fall into this world of Reynolds Woodcock. I just concentrated on the moment. Each scene in the movie I was just in the moment. Just reacting to the person across from me. 

Guerrasio: Can you say you even met Daniel while shooting this movie?

Krieps: No. 

Guerrasio: So you were with Reynolds Woodcock.

Krieps: Exactly. I never met Daniel on set until we finished. 

Guerrasio: So, as you said, you don't overthink how he wants to work. This is the job. You just react. 

Krieps: You go with it. I could only go with it.

phantom thread 2 focus featuresGuerrasio: The way he worked, did that bring you deeper into the Alma character than you would have if you worked across a different actor?

Krieps: I think the way I work is similar to how Daniel works, I just don't call it Method acting. I don't have the time and money to prepare the way he does. I have more projects to work on in a year, so it's impossible for me to do it that way. But I definitely have the same dedication and I'm crazy enough to invent worlds around me. It becomes a reality and you are involved in what you invented. 

Guerrasio: American audiences don't know you as well as other parts of the world, but you've worked a lot in your career. Compare this job to what you've done in the past. Is this the most unusual production you've ever been on because of the way Daniel works?

Krieps: It definitely has been the most intense work I've ever done. It was also the only one where I was really struggling with my strength. In the middle of making this I said to myself, "Oh my god, I can't see the end." I felt that I would never get to it. "How can I find more strength in me to continue?" Because it was 16-hour days sometimes. We worked every day, except for Sundays. But on Sundays I had fittings of all the dresses that were made for me. It was endless fittings. So strength was the biggest challenge for me on this. 

Guerrasio: With all that said, if Paul called tomorrow and said "I just wrote a part for you in my next movie," do you say yes?

Krieps: Yes. [Laughs.]

Guerrasio: It's worth the pain, so to speak.

Krieps: Absolutely. In a second I would do it again.

Guerrasio: A lot of the talk around this movie is that Daniel says it's his final movie. What are your thoughts? Do you think he's really quitting acting?

Krieps: I respect him enough to believe that if he says so then he will. But I also respect him enough to leave the door open if he wants to change his mind. If he's determined to stop I understand. But if this is an emotional reaction and he changes his mind I would love that. I would be happy if he continued to be an actor. I just want him to get what he wants. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how Jay-Z and Beyoncé spend their $1.16 billion

7 fun, free things to do in New York City on New Year's Eve this year

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New York City should be on everyone's list of once-in-a-lifetime New Year's Eve destinations.

The city is home to the world-famous Times Square ball drop, where last year more than two million people gathered in the chilly air to watch live performances and count down to midnight. And it's free.

Below, we've rounded up seven more fun events in New York City that won't cost you a penny on New Year's Eve.

SEE ALSO: 16 of the most luxurious ski resorts to visit this winter

DON'T MISS: 19 of the best ski resorts to visit this winter that don't cost a fortune

Dance at the Midnight Run in Central Park

While there's a fee to participate in the 4-mile run, spectating is free at New York Road Runner's Midnight Run in Central Park. The party starts at 10 p.m. with a live DJ, followed by a parade and costume contest at 11 p.m. and the race and fireworks at midnight. 



Cruise the harbor on the Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry offers riders the best views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. At no cost to ride, you'll see fireworks going off in each of the boroughs as you cruise the harbor on New Year's Eve. Bring a coat and get there early.



Listen to live music at the New Year's Eve Concert for Peace

A New York staple since 1984, the Concert for Peace takes place at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine every New Year's Eve. General admission seats are free and open to the public. This year's show features Cathedral Artist in Residence Judy Collins, and runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

LeBron James is the second highest-paid athlete in the world — and one chart shows how rich he really is

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  • NBA player LeBron James is the second highest-paid player in sports.
  • He's earned a total of $234 million in salary over his NBA career.
  • Still, the majority of James' net worth comes from endorsement deals.

 

It's good to be King James.

Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James, the second highest-paid player in sports behind Cristiano Ronaldo, has earned $234 million from 15 seasons in the NBA, according to Spotrac data.

In his rookie season, James made $4 million as a 19-year-old fresh out of high school thanks to the league's rookie salary scale. This season, his salary is more than $33 million.

James is currently in the middle of a three-season contract worth $100 million. He can opt out of his contract next season, foregoing a $35.6 million salary, to become a free agent.

Check out the chart below to see the progression of James' season-by-season earnings, from 2003 to 2018.

BI Graphics_LeBron James' career salary

Worth the money

James currently holds career highs in assists per game, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage.

James has won the MVP Award four times, appeared in the All-Star game every year since 2004, and made the playoffs 12 seasons in a row, and his teams have won the NBA championship three times.

LeBron is sixth on the NBA's all time earnings list, eclipsed only by players with several more seasons played than him. Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry is the only NBA player earning more than James in the 2017-2018 season.

James took a pay cut in 2011 to recruit other talent like Chris Bosh to the Miami Heat but it didn't affect his earnings much, since he was playing in Florida, a state with no state income tax.

Ultimately though, the bulk of James' wealth comes from endorsement deals. His lifetime deal with Nike is worth over $1 billion and he also makes money from Verizon, Beats by Dre, Coca-Cola, and Kia Motors, according to Forbes.

BI Graphics_LeBron James' career to date

SEE ALSO: From LeBron James to Jordy Nelson, the surprisingly frugal ways 5 athletes spend their multimillion-dollar paychecks

DON'T MISS: The 29 highest-paid MLB players of all time

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch LeBron James defend calling Trump a bum on Twitter

From Obama to Mugabe to the CEO of Uber — 9 figures who left the world stage in 2017

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2017 has been a year of change and turmoil.

Donald Trump became US president this January, bringing with him an administration rocked by more than a dozen high-profile exits. Robert Mugabe resigned after a military coup, ending a 37-year reign over Zimbabwe.

Outside politics, Britain's Prince Philip officially retired from his formal duties after 65 years of public service. In business, high-profile figures like Uber's Travis Kalanick also resigned.

Scroll down to read about more leaders who left the world stage this year, in chronological order.

Barack Obama, US President — January 2017

Barack Obama ended his eight-year presidency on January 20, 2017.

In a letter to his successor, Donald Trump,he said: "We've both been blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune.

"Not everyone is so lucky. It's up to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family that's willing to work hard."



Park Geun Hye, South Korean President — May 2017

A South Korean court removed Park Geun Hye from the nation's presidency in March, after she was accused of taking part in an alleged bribery ring which encouraged companies to donate money in return for government favours.

Her successor, Moon Jae In, was elected in early May and assumed office the day after.



Francois Hollande, French President — May 2017

François Hollande ended his five-year term as French President, and welcomed 39-year-old former banker Emmanuel Macron to the Elysée Palace in May.

Macron defeated Marine Le Pen, a far-right, anti-EU nationalist in a landslide victory earlier this year.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These will be the 5 biggest food trends in 2018, according to Waitrose

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The annual Waitrose Food & Drink Report for 2017-18 has been released— and it gives us an idea of what our eating habits could look like in the not-so-distant future.

The research combines a survey of 2,000 consumers, Waitrose sales stats, and the predictions of in-house experts to analyse shopping, eating, drinking, and cooking habits.

Last year the report predicted that Hawaiian poke, lighter eating, gourmet meal kits, vegetable-flavoured yoghurt, botanical cocktails, watermelon water, and "extreme indulgences" would be the big hits in 2017 — and most of them proved to be true.

Here are the 5 biggest food trends set to hit in 2018, according to Waitrose:

Japanese 'dude food'

japanese dude food

According to Waitrose, the time for miso and noodle soup is over. Now, we're turning to the indulgent side of Japan's cuisine.

"Gutsy sharing dishes favoured in the country’s izakaya bars are set to become a big thing," according to the report. "Whether it’s yakitori skewered chicken or deep-fried tofu in broth, the trend will combine the hearty 'dude food' of the southern US states with the unctuous, rich, and surprising flavours of after-hours Tokyo."

Indian street food

indian street foodIt's all about smoked, grilled, or seared delicacies over heavy sauces. According to Waitrose we can expect dishes like scallops in pickled ginger, or "puris stuffed with zingy vegetables and drizzled in chutney" in the near future.

"The cuisine lends itself to hybrids, such as spiced burgers or lamb keema tacos," according to the report. "It's Indian food like you've never seen it."

The fourth meal

Peanut Butter on Toast

Forget breakfast, lunch, and dinner — more and more people are now trying to squeeze a small fourth meal into their day, and this is set to continue in 2018.

"This is not about gluttony, rather it is about adapting our eating schedules to our busy lives," the report states. "If dinner’s particularly early one evening, why not have a mini cheese on toast before you go to bed?

"If you’re going to the gym after work, why not have an energy-boosting salad mid-afternoon? Whether it’s a healthy snack or an indulgent treat, we expect to see more of this in the future."

The end of the trolley?

A barista makes a latte at the Harris and Hoole coffee shop inside a Tesco Extra supermarket in Watford, north of London August 8, 2013. Tesco, the world's number three retailer, is hoping the allure of casual dining, coffees and even yoga will help tempt Britons back to its ailing retail park stores as part of a 1 billion pound ($1.55 billion) push to revitalise business.

Shopping days of the future will be all about the experience, according to Waitrose.

"The future of supermarkets looks likely to be an experiential retail space — immersive hubs where shopping is only one of the activities on offer," the report reads. "After all, who'd have thought 10 years ago there'd be supper clubs and wine bars in supermarkets?

"But with fewer of us doing a weekly 'big shop' could this mean the supersize trolley's days are numbered? If recent trends continue then it looks likely."

Plant proteins

chia seeds

"The demand for high-protein foods continues, and with more of us choosing a flexitarian diet it’s no wonder there’s such a buzz around new plant-based proteins," according to Waitrose.

"Whether with pulses, shoots, grains, seeds, soy or even algae, everyone from tiny start-up companies to big brands is looking for clever new ways to add a protein punch."

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