You dont have to necessarily start lifting weights the very moment you step inside a gym to lose weight. Weight loss is a combination of eating healthy and working out in a progressive manner a manner that enables your body to burn its stored fat over a period of time.

More importantly, working out doesnt have to be limited to only gymming. Working out can have many definitions playing a sport, indulging in an intense cardio session, swimming and even aerobics.

QUICK READ: This is how many calories you can burn without setting foot in a gym

20-year-old Harsh Haniya tells us that not only was he able to lose 32 kgs by following an aerobics-dominated workout routine but it also helped him change his overall approach towards fitness and become a Fat Loss Aerobic Instructor in his hometown of Jaipur. I started gaining weight after I turned 11, and by the time I turned 15, I was on the verge of being a diabetic, courtesy of bad eating habits and a bad lifestyle. I had also contracted a number of skin diseases such as eczema, vitiligo and Acanthosis nigricans. My legs would constantly ache as well, he says.

I remember my doctor telling me that to begin recovering from these ailments, the first thing that I need to do was lose weight, he adds. Consequently, I started jogging daily. However, I was not eating healthy and didnt notice any change in my body. So I stopped jogging after 2 months.

By the time I arrived in college, I had become the quintessential fat-funny guy but after the first year of college, I realised that I am still constantly gaining weight. This shook my confidence. Suddenly, I was the heaviest guy I knew in my life. I realised that now I really and truly need to make some changes."

"I started by going to the gym and on the first day itself I met a trainer who tried to get me to take fat burners and book personal sessions with him. I was very skeptical of him and his approach to weight loss, so I decided to lose weight on my own by joining an introductory aerobics class and learning about nutrition from Youtube and books." Through his own new-found knowledge of the subjects of weight loss and fitness, Harsh followed the below step by step guide to lose weight and trim from 96 kgs to 64 kgs in 8 months, naturally.

1

Eat clean: I started eating clean. I completely cut-off sugar and refined oil from my daily meals. I also stopped eating processed foods such as biscuits. I replaced these empty calories with whole foods and healthy alternatives. To give you an example: I started consuming whole wheat over maida, jaggery over sugar, olive oil or coconut oil over refined oils and raw vegetables over heavy curries.

2

3

4

5

Sleep is important: Rest and recovery are as important as eating right and exercising daily.

In line with the first two steps, Harsh charted the below diet plan.

I started following a calorie deficit diet plan, made in accordance with my BMI.

A calorie deficit is a specific diet pattern that revolves around the number of calories you consume in a day. According to Healthline, the concept is based on the idea that as long as you eat fewer calories than you burn, youre bound to lose weight.

This diet pattern requires you to calculate the number of calories your body needs to consume to function smoothly without feeling hungry, and how much deficit you need create without harming your health. The deficit can then be created by cutting down empty calories and unhealthy fats. Keep in mind that the number of calories required to create a deficit is different for different body types. You can calculate yours online via a calorie calculator.

Early Morning: A cup of green tea

Breakfast: 5 egg whites + one whole egg + one small apple

Lunch: 50 gms brown rice + dal or curd OR sprouts + curd + salad

Evening Snacks: 2 oranges or 1 apple + 10 almond or walnuts

Dinner: 40 gms oats +one whole egg OR sprouts + salad

Monday: Upper body workouts + cardio

Tuesday: Aerobic exercises + core (abs)

Wednesday: Aerobic exercise + yoga

Thursday: Aerobic cardio + lower body exercises

Friday: Cardio + bodyweight strength exercises

Saturday: Aerobics + overall body strength training & stretching

Some of the aerobic and body strength exercises that I did were: Jumping Squats , Lunges, Planks, Pushups, Burpees, Sit-ups, Leg raises, Russian Twist, Side planks, Glutes Bridging, Bird-Dog, Spot running, High knees, Plank Push ups, Plank Jacks and Crunches.

I have been able to maintain my current weight by tracking my macros and never skipping my workouts.

Always believe in hard work and please be consistent and dedicated towards your goals. If you missed following your workout or diet routines 1-2 days then dont worry, come back on track again. One cheat meal isn't make you fat and one healthy, clean diet isn't make you fit. So vow to make a lifestyle change. Itll go a long way like it did for me. I am now a Fat Loss Aerobic Instructor.

Disclaimer: The diet and workout routines shared by the respondents may or may not be approved by diet and fitness experts. GQ India doesn't encourage or endorse the weight loss tips & tricks shared by the person in the article. Please consult an authorised medical professional before following any specific diet or workout routine mentioned above.

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See the original post here:

How to lose weight like this guy from Jaipur who lost 32 kgs & became a Fat Loss Aerobic Instructor - GQ India - What a man's got to do

WITH much entertainment scheduled for the festive season, there is no need to stay at home and be bored. Check out the line-up of events for this weekend and beyond, and plan your days accordingly.

FRIDAY Catch accomplished Maskandi musician Qadasi at the Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre at noon

FRIDAY Family Movie Night at the Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre at the undercover parking area at Woolworths from 7pm. Grab the family, popcorn and a blanket and watch a fun and entertaining Christmas movie, A Dennis the Menace Christmas. Entrance is free

SATURDAY The 1st annual Zululand Music Festival takes place at the eShowe Sports Club. For more information contact Kyle on 060 4895604 or 060 6531380

CHRISTMAS DAY Christmas lunch at the Umfolozi Casino Resorts Jabulani Dome from noon to 4pm. Tickets cost R350 per adult for Winners Circle members or R400 for non-members. Children between 6 and 12 pay R175 each and children under five may eat for free. Tickets include a welcome drink, Christmas cracker, live entertainment and kids play area. Reservations: 035 787 8269/46 or [emailprotected] before 20 December

SUNDAY, 29 December Author Scelo Mncube will be part of the fun at a comedy show at the Imbizo Hall in Empangeni. Also featured will be Justice Kubheka, Fly Motion, Amawele ase-Chesterville and others. For more information on the event contact Nhlahla Myeni on 061 4404080

TUESDAY, 31 DECEMBER End the year with a bang during the 1st annual fitness bash at the Empangeni Rugby Club from 6pm. The bash is presented by biokineticist Mondli Linda and will include fitness activities such as aerobics. Anyone can come and enjoy the night suitable for the whole family. In-between the sessions, attendees will enjoy loads of entertainment from the likes of award-winning comedian Sifiso Nene, DJ Amenisto, DJ Mo as well as DJ Mayaya. Tickets are available at R100 (pre-sold) and R150 at the door. For more information and tickets sales call 035 9401291, 073 1933581 or 083 4825674. The fitness bash will be followed by a 10km run on New Years Day from the same venue at 6am

Read more:

Whats On - Zululand Observer

World Class, the market leader in Romanias wellness industry, opened on Thursday, December 12, its 30th club in Bucharest.

The new health and fitness club is located in Expo Park, a new office campus in northern Bucharest, close to the 1 Mai subway station.

We are today celebrating the opening of our 30th World Class club in Bucharest and the 39th in Romania. This is a milestone for our movement, which is growing in a good and healthy way, said Kent Orrgren, CEO World Class.

World Class Expo Park is a Bronze category club that covers an area of 1,480 sqm that includes a functional training area, aerobics studio, cycling studio and group fitness classes.

World Class has three more openings scheduled this year and in 2020, which will increase its local network to 42 clubs. The operator has over 65,000 members.

World Class Romania is owned by Polish private equity fund Resource Partners.

[emailprotected]

(Photo source: the company)

For a decade,Romania Insiderhas been your platform of choice for reliable information on all things Romania. We have always been proud of our ability to bring you bias-free reporting but this hasn't always been easy. We have been thinking about making some changes and can't imagine doing this without your feedback. For this, we would appreciate it very much if we could borrow2 minutesof your day to fill out this survey. Thank you for reading Romania Insider!

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Fitness network World Class opens its 30th club in Bucharest - Romania-Insider.com

From Liza Minnelli and her lamp to Too Much Tuna, its been a great decade for sketch comedy.* Illustration: by Ari Liloan

From Liza Minnelli and her lamp to Too Much Tuna, its been a great decade for sketch comedy.* Illustration: by Ari Liloan

Sketch comedy has always been one of the genres trusted forms, but as comedy has evolved grown shorter, longer, bigger, stranger, launched numerous podcast networks where does that leave good old-fashioned sketch comedy? Surely not in the dust. But sketch comedy has shifted in the wake of our far-too-online era, and often for the better. Over the last decade, the internet era opened doors to writers, creators, and comedians who didnt come up through the traditional (and perhaps dated) comedy-theater route. As a result, it would be too vague to call sketch more diverse; what it is is more specific and in a lot of cases, more cinematic. Thats how we wound up with Inside Amy Schumers 12 Angry Men or Key & Peeles Aerobics Meltdown. Even SNLs oddball favorite Darrells House is mostly built on a joke about, well, editing. What has endured from the decades sketch comedy, then, is not so much timely and immediate satire but well-made, frequently contextless, and joke-heavy material.

Weve worked to alphabetically (its only fair!) round up some of this decades best comedy sketches. Weve limited ourselves to sketch-comedy TV shows a list of the decades best internet and late-night sketches would be far bigger and stranger than can be catalogued though longform sketch shows like Documentary Now and At Home With Amy Sedaris make appearances below. Saturday Night Live, the behemoth of the sketch show genre, makes up a majority of the list, though the show transitioned out of the goofy Hader/The Lonely Island/Rudolph/Wiig era into the sharp and strange current era of the show. The decade also bid farewell to some of the old and beloved Key & Peele, Portlandia and welcomed the new and exciting A Black Lady Sketch Show, I Think You Should Leave. The list below ranges from popular favorites (Did you think you could end the decade without one more viewing of David S. Pumpkins orContinental Breakfast?) to bizarre marvels (Sammy Paradise is a highlight, though the singular Maya Angelou Prank Show is worth a revisit) and everything in between.

Have you ever seen 12 Angry Men? Amy Schumer asks a pedestrian at the end of her episode of the same name. Yeah, he says, to which Schumer then asks, Wouldnt you love to see a remake of that? and the man grimaces. No, he says, wincing. And yet Schumers remake in all its black-and-white, star-studded glory would go down as one of the more audacious and well-made pieces of comedy of the decade. Twelve men including John Hawkes, Jeff Goldblum, Kumail Nanjiani, Paul Giamatti, Vincent Kartheiser, and Chris Gethard argue behind closed doors about whether Schumer is hot enough to be on television. Its tempting to say its thesis is dated some four years later, but the conversation over what types of bodies, especially womens bodies, we see on TV still echoes, and Schumers take is the funniest of them all.

Donald Glovers 2018 SNL episode is one of the decades strongest featuring another favorite, Friendos and its his turn as the bizarre 80s crooner Raz P. Berry who punishes himself to get back at the woman he believes is cheating on him that won the night. Berry goes on and on about everything hes gone through, only to learn that his cool-guy sunglasses have prevented him from seeing that its not his girlfriend after all.

Having to keep high-kicking in the face of unspeakable tragedy feels like an apt metaphor for the decade, no? (Both Key and Peele are wonderful in this mostly dialogue-free sketch, but its Clint Howards panicked cue-card holder that steals the show.)

Next decades Best Comedy Sketches list is no doubt going to be full of A Black Lady Sketch Show, but for the time being, watch as one woman in the Bad Bitch Support Group (led by a majestic Angela Bassett) almost undermines the entire beauty industry by realizing that once in a while she may want to just be an okay bitch.

Black Jeopardy, written by Brian Tucker and Michael Che, has been one of SNLs most consistently funny recurring sketches this decade, led with a rarely better Kenan Thompson as host Darnell Hayes. Contestants guess their way through categories like FidNa and Bye, Felicia! (and, as always, White People), with the host of the episode playing the games wild card. From Drakes Black Canadian (Yo, theres thousands of us!) to Tom Hankss MAGA hat-wearing Doug (who recoils in horror at Hayess handshake), Black Jeopardy always hits.

Steve Buscemi stars as a hapless celery salesman who, on his mission to get more people to buy and eat celery, gets in way too deep with all the wrong people.

Nude Tayne is this generations cellar door.

The premise is simple: A white patient (Sue Galloway) visits a black doctor (Rothwell, accompanied by a male nurse played by Gary Richardson) to learn how to treat a case of chiggers she got while camping. The rest well, Im sure you can piece this together. Rothwell, Richardson, and Galloway shift in and out of conversations about stereotypes and gentrification and, yes, bugs, all with the grace and fortitude of dancers. (Watch it on Netflix.)

Continental Breakfast is perhaps the silliest of all of the Key & Peele sketches, a lovingly light send-up of chain hotels subpar breakfast buffets. Peele is the star here with his amused enchantment at all of the food options, his self-satisfied chuckle, and the way he coos, Arent you a tiny plum? to an unwashed grape. The profound joy he takes in the Continental breakfast builds to an absurd yet almost unsurprising ending (one not worth spoiling if youve somehow made it through these years without having seen it).

Darrells House was something of an anomaly for Saturday Night Live: a perfect cocktail of the shows and its host Zach Galifinakiss sensibilities. Galifinakis plays Darrell, a man taping an episode of his local-access television show in which he invites someone over to his house for the first time. Part One of the sketch, which aired relatively early into the nights episode, was full of mix-ups, mistakes, and stand-ins, and Galifinakis alternates between aw-shucks, upbeat enthusiasm, and utter rage. Its one of the most unique sketches not only of the decade but in the shows history. The Well fix it in postproduction joke of the sketch became Well fix it during the episode as it airs, and later in the episode, the incoherent, jumbled, wonderful Part Two of Darrells House pays off every setup.

Airing October 23, 2016, the general confusion around David S. Pumpkins Is he from something? Beck Bennetts character asks was the last thing to unite and delight the country.

Come for the satire of pseudo-hyperliterate logged-on types, stay for the plaintive nods that crescendo into rapid, manic head jerks to confirm, yes, theyve read it, but they did not like the ending.

Diner Lobster might really be the sketch of the decade, especially because it took almost the entire decade for John Mulaney and Colin Josts sketch to come to life. Pete Davidsons character makes the mistake of ordering lobster at an old Greek diner, and what follows, naturally, is a full-scale rendition of Who Am I? from Les Miserables. Kenan Thompason, waist-deep in a tank and dressed as a giant lobster, is one of the funniest sights in the history of SNL. Its a loving tribute to Les Miserables, ramshackle barricade and all, and an all-out insane gamble that pays off a thousandfold.

(Do It on My) Twin Bed was an all-star showcase for SNLs female cast: a joke-packed pop song in the style of an early-aughts girl group. The track was written by Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, who would co-author a number of the decades best SNL sketches before going on to create The Other Two. Each lyric is more quotable than the one before it, but Lil Baby Aidys moms feud with her friend Jean takes the cake (and makes another appearance in the videos sequel, Back Home Ballers).

From the names (Xmus Jaxon Flaxon-Waxon) to the universities (California University of Pennsylvania) to the various vocal modulations (Keys staccato delivery of Hingle McCringleberry and Peeles sultry, mysterious presentation of The Player Formerly Known As Mousecop), the East/West College Bowl rosters never, ever (Grunky Peep!), got old.

An escalating prank war between co-workers shot like its Michael Clayton.

Giving us You have no good car ideas in the last year of the decade is the most generous thing anyone has done!

If you dont have time to sit through The Wolf of Wall Street, this is a fine substitute.

Hamm & Buble is an oft-cited favorite of many fans of the show with a premise as simple as its name a ham-and-Champagne-themed restaurant run by, well, Jon Hamm and Michael Bubl. Hamm, who has shined not only as a host but as a frequent walk-on guest of the show, and Bubl, hilariously game, have incredible chemistry as a menacing restaurateur and the pop crooner hes holding hostage. Its not just that the restaurant seems awful or just that Bubl says, wincing, His eyes went black and he slapped my face about his new employer, but that a joke so simple could pay off in such a menacing, wonderful way.

Ian Rubbish, the Thatcher-loving punk rocker in SNLs tribute to the late PM, is an all-time great Fred Armisen character, and the note-perfect touches from behind-the-music documentaries lays the groundwork for his collaborations with Bill Hader in Documentary Now.

The gleeful mania of At Home With Amy Sedaris, with its deranged crafts and costumed guest stars, is often at its best when Sedaris is with her friend Chassie (Cole Escola, certainly one to watch in the decade to come). Season twos Hospital-tality is an incredible showcase for the two of them, as Chassies fake blindness makes her bedridden, and Amy has no choice but to invite over Chassies family, played by none other than Ann Dowd, Juliette Lewis, and Taryn Manning.

What is there to say about comedy other than sometimes you just want to see the same two guys over and over again in the form of the SNL opening credits? Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim alternate classic New York scenes getting a dollar slice, waving down a cab, going to a strip club in an attempt to deliver comedy in a funnier and faster way to their audience.

I Think You Should Leaves Instagram sketch is one of the few in the show that feels like legitimate satire (including, I suppose, both of Robinsons self-important rants about being on our phones too much), poking fun at the way in which people rush to put self-deprecating captions on otherwise nice photos of themselves with friends. Vanessa Bayer shares several of her caption options, heightening in both absurdity and vulgarity, for a picture of herself with friends at brunch, including, Slurping down fish piss with these wet chodes.

Good comedy sketches about comedy itself are few and far between, but heres a great one.

David Cross and Bob Odenkirks deconstruction of the good-cop-bad-cop interrogation scene blossoms into a reconciliation between two co-workers who no longer have any idea how to communicate with each other, except through a suspect. Its oddly touching, as well as a good lesson on how to use obsequious in a sentence.

Can Scott Aukerman and his team transform a man cave thats looking more like a mans grave?

Though late into the Lonely Islands tenure at SNL, Jack Sparrow was one of their most unexpected Digital Shorts. Michael Bolton, as the featured artist who promises the gang a really sexy hook, derails whats meant to be a heavily produced club hit with his admiration for the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Boltons enthusiasm both for the Pirates movies as well as the other films mentioned in the song is gorgeously paired with the Lonely Islands feigned frustration and annoyance. Andy Sambergs deflated what in the midst of Boltons first chorus builds to reluctance acceptance with his resigned Turns out Michael Bolton is a major cinephile at the end of the song.

Documentary Nows loving parody of Jiro Dreams of Sushi and Chefs Table about a man named Juan making arroz con pollo 40 minutes away from the nearest road, complete with near-impossible ingredient preparation and absurd rituals (Juan needs to chase and grab the chicken in a pen, otherwise hell leave it off the menu), sticks its landing with such elegance and grace that it transcends the material its riffing on.

Last Fuckable Day, directed by Nicole Holofscener, was one of the hallmarks of the third and final season of Inside Amy Schumer: an outdoor gathering of Schumer and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tina Fey, and Patricia Arquette, in which the three older actresses reveal to Schumer that there comes a day in every actresss career in which the public deems her no longer fuckable. The women commiserate and toast to reading for the part of Mrs. Claus, which went, as it turned out, to J.Lo (Oh, shell be good, Louis-Dreyfus simpers). The sketch literalized what had long been a conversation about ageism in Hollywood: that when women reach a certain age, they no longer become objects of desire, which, in turn, liberates them to eat dairy and grow their pubes out. Mazel!!

This one speaks for itself, really.

Maya Rudolph, an impersonator extraordinaire, plays the late poet with charm and levity and gravitas as she pulls practical jokes on her esteemed colleagues, all of whom are just honored to share space with her.

Thats five fingers, Tina Fey explains to Taran Killam about the child, soon to be his characters second wife, onstage. I believe shes trying to say shes 5. Of all the absurd game shows to come out of SNL this decade, Meet Your Second Wife is one of the bleakest and best.

I actually said, thats not a good idea for a show, John Mulaneys Stephen Sondheim stand-in Simon Sawyer says at the opening of this episode, but one whole cast recording later, its safe to say it was the perfect idea for a show. Co-op, featuring the vocal talents of Alex Brightman, Rene Elise Goldberry, Richard Kind, and Paula Pell, was Documentary Nows take on D.A. Pennebakers Company documentary. It feels absurd to praise the level of specificity of just one episode, especially because so much of the show depends upon it, though composing a fictional Sondheim musical is Documentary Nows greatest accomplishment to date. Though it might hit the hardest with musical-theater fans, its impossible not to marvel at the level of genius and sheer number of jokes packed into a single episode.

Liz B.s (Jenny Slate, offscreen) niece Denise (Jenny Slate, onscreen with the funniest set of fake teeth imaginable) shows up at the PubLIZity offices, and Liz G. (Nick Kroll) takes it upon herself to take her for a day in Hollywood. Kroll and Slate have always had incredible comedic chemistry together, as proved time and time again across multiple shows this decade, and this particular pairing of characters is rife with laughs. Liz G. is the perfect guardian for awkward, shy Denise (who, when invited out for a girls day, asks, Is this a prank?) up until the moment she abandons her with a skeevy male photographer (Will Forte).

Seth MacFarlanes 2013 episode was a solid showcase for its host including this underseen 10-1 sketch with Tim Robinson, Wooden Spoons but its the deranged Puppet Class that goes down as a decade best for Bill Hader. Hader plays Anthony Peter Coleman, a veteran working through his PTSD by dissociating into his puppet Tony. Try as he might, Coleman and Tony cant seem to shed the memories of Grenada, even roping other classmates puppets into their flashbacks (Please do not act out any murder scenarios with each others puppets, MacFarlane pleads). Haders sternness and seriousness in both human and puppet form is haunting and hilarious.

Its almost impossible to believe now, but there was a time in this very decade where birds were on everything, as exemplified in Portlandia duo Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownsteins most famous sketch. After Bryce and Lisa decorate a variety of homegoods with hand-painted birds to maximize tweeness, theyre terrorized by a live bird, reminding the viewer that what is adorable is often extremely frightening.

I guess its true what they say: Soon as a black man gets some moat money, he turns his back on the hood. Astronomy Clubs revamp of the classic Robin Hood story, in which the titular thief tries to rob the richest black family in Sherwood, quickly and hilariously spirals into a discussion about intersectionality.

Is this Marriage Story?

What if they dont wave back? Mark (Bruno Mars) asks, before donning a vague patriotic mouse costume and heading out into Times Square. The Matt & Ozdirected Digital Short brought depth and melancholy to the world of costumed Times Square mascots. Sad Mouse plays like the wordless first act of WALL-E, culminating in the heartfelt and star-crossed final meeting of Sad Mouse and a character that can only be described as Luau Frog.

Tim Robinsons episode of The Characters, which aired three years before I Think You Should Leave, opened with Sammy Paradise, a Vegas crooner serenading Lady Luck, only to lose all his money not once but twice in the same evening. Its go-for-broke (pun intended) peak Tim Robinson screaming, his voice straining itself as he bellows NO! for four whole seconds.

Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisens pop ditty about Brownsteins sister who floundered from job to job (I thought shed end up in politics / She was always really into Kucinich, remember?) until she started making jewelry is a loving send-up of independent artisans and Etsy-site-havers. Consider Armisen yelling What time does the post office close? a warning to anyone thinking about turning a hobby into a full-time job.

A community rallies behind a sweet terminally ill child with one wish and one wish only: to never meet Macklemore. Its not just the music, Arturo Castro explains as the boys father, tears in his eyes. He just hates the guys whole vibe.

Keegan-Michael Keys ability to harness and project rage in the form of frustrated educator was honed during his tenure at MADtv and perfected in this sketch, where he plays an experienced, inner-city substitute teacher stumbling over milquetoast, suburban white names. Time will pass, decades will change, but few things bring more joy than Key snapping a clipboard over his knee.

Before their IFC run, the Birthday Boys presented their terms for air, including preferred fonts for each of its cast members. Something to note for all sketch shows to come: They shouldnt air at the same time as other programs on whatever channel theyre on.

John Earlys episode of The Characters weaves in and out of sketches (including Vicky, which has gone on to be one of the comedians most memorable characters) and a wedding party going achingly, hilariously awry upstate, but its his botched toast, full of self-aggrandizing statements New York is my home, he states, before clarifying, and sometimes, you know, L.A. I do go back and forth for business that feels like the pinnacle of the episode. Earlys overwrought speech bombs, and when his characters fianc, Mahan, delivers a simple, to-the-point declaration of love to their friends and family, Early viciously steals the spotlight back, fainting like a 1940s starlet. (Watch it on Netflix.)

Good luck finding another comedy sketch this decade that went to Broadway.

Saturday Night Lives Totinos runner, in which Vanessa Bayer plays an eager-to-please but ignored and putdown housewife whose sole purpose is making Totinos for her husband and his friends, builds to a beautiful, sensual conclusion. Enter Sabine (Kristen Stewart), the first person to enter Bayers (Whats your name? I never had one.) house and really see her and love her for who she is.

The Canadian sketch show starring Aurora Browne, Meredith MacNeill, Carolyn Taylor, and Jennifer Whalen is full of zany, often female-centric sketches, like the searing Girls Gay Night Out, where they cant help but compare Taylors character to Ellen before patronizingly adding, I wish I could be gay! Its We Care that feels most true to life, however, as a group of friends after a happy, normal hangout cant help but immediately talk shit about each other the second one of them leaves. Every cruel thing they say, of course, is because they care, and isnt friendship the best reason to be hateful to someone?

Some boys live unexamined lives, but this ones heart is full of questions. Jeremy Beiler and Julio Torress Fisher-Price commercial parody lovingly captured the melancholy and loneliness many young, and often queer, boys face in their childhoods, and as the boys mother, Emma Stone delivers, Everything is for you, and this one thing is for him with all the power and nuanc of, say, an Oscar-winning actress.

Whats That Name? in all its iterations has always preyed on the innate social anxiety of forgetting the name of a person known to you, but [Stefon voice] this Whats That Name? has everything: John Mulaney and Bill Hader, Lil Xan, an exploration of institutional sexism, Cecily Strongs Mama whimper, Hader saying the squad in the most menacing voice imaginable, and, of course, Youre not seeing double, thats three women.

*Illustration key (clockwise from left):Romantic scene with Kristen Stewart and Vanessa Bayer from SNLs Totinos; eating a magazine from Portlandias Did You Read It?; SNLs Black Jeopardy with Tom Hanks; Liza Minnelli playing with a lamp from SNL; Bad Bitches Support Group with giant makeup items from A Black Lady Sketch Show; an overfilled tuna sandwich for Kroll Shows Too Much Tuna; a lobster costume in a Greek diner for SNLs Diner Lobster; and Key and Peeles Aerobics Meltdown.

More here:

The 50 Best Comedy Sketches of the Decade - Vulture

We would walk into the swimming pool and the baby would burst with excitement. Photograph: iStock

Im just going to come out and say it, because Lord knows no one else is likely to: small babies are boring.

They cant talk to you about reality TV (mainly because they dont know who anyone is, and they cant talk); they cant get a round in (owing to not being allowed to drink, plus no money); and they dont laugh at your jokes (which I suppose makes them like everyone else).

Im nostalgic for the days of maternity leave, when Isola was a tiny, non-crawling, non-jumping-off-the-changing-table thing. It was hard work, certainly, keeping her fed and changed, but once the visitors scattered to the wind, filling the days seemed to require a degree of effort. After a couple of hours, wed both be tapped out on cuddles and cooing. Id look at the clock, and there would be four more hours until B was due to walk in the door. Its a strange kind of benign solitude, but we certainly needed something to do.

A friend had mentioned Water Babies as a potential activity and lo, there were beginner classes in the next neighbourhood over. The baby would learn to swim, I would get some semblance of exercise, and best of all, wed be doing something together. There was nothing not to like in this plan.

Except on the first day, I damn near gave up on the whole thing and fled in my half-on, half-off swimsuit. Have you ever tried to dress a baby in a swim nappy and too-tight shorts, while also trying to get yourself into a swimsuit? On the first day, a half dozen of us were trying the same polite, tricky feat. Id been running late, so was already sweating like I was due in court. I peered into the bag. In the rush of it all, we were one clean pair of knickers down.

Im never leaving the house again, I shouted, exasperated. Finally, and with much ado, we were ready for the water.

Reader, the baby absolutely loved it. After a few minutes of oh, this is new suspicion, shedecided that she was fully committed. She splashed and flailed, trying to break free into the big blue. It was such fun, seeing my fearless little adventurer want to become independent and give this swimming lark everything she had. She shrieked and laughed and screamed and it was wonderful. She didnt even hold it against me when I sent her underwater a couple of times.

The Water Babies classes are roughly a half-hour of gentle water aerobics, singing cute nursery ditties and, after a while, dunking the babies so they learn how to deal with being underwater. All told, I was a little self-conscious of breaking out the Twinkle Twinkle in public, but after a few minutes I, too, was fully in.

The changing/showering/drying got easier in the end (top tip: have a rice cake to hand). The exertion and excitement of the morning would send the baby straight to sleep, meaning I could have a peaceful post-swim coffee. In the weeks that followed, we would walk into the swimming pool and the baby would burst with excitement.

This has been one of the most gratifying parts of becoming a new mum: watching this tiny personality unfurl and bloom. Seeing her react to small challenges and new experiences. Standing back (well, not in the pool as such) as she becomes her own little person.

And what a person she already is. At the risk of sounding like one of those insufferable parents, sheis already a cooler person than both her parents put together. She stares at all strangers, hoping to catch their eye and lob them a charming smile (this, I suspect, is a trait she inherited from B, who starts conversations with every stranger he can, even on the Luas). She is a keen watcher and appraiser of people; she enters every room with her head held high, uninhibited, looking for the action. I hope it will always be this way.

Best of all, she glares in an absolute state of you fashion at toddlers having tantrums in the supermarket who are in the midst of a biscuit-aisle meltdown. This gives me no end of hope for the near-future.

The year has felt molasses-slow in some ways, and like a finger-snap in others. Isola changes all the time; behind my back and then right in front of my eyes. She is burbling now, and the words are doubtless the next thing to come.

What a time that will be.

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I nearly gave up on Water Babies on day one, but Im glad I didnt - The Irish Times

Breastfeeding Support Group

LOCATION: Hoops Family Childrens Hospital MOMS classroom, third floor

INFORMATION: Facilitated by a certified lactation consultant, this informal setting is a great way for new moms to exchange information and experiences about breastfeeding. There is no cost and registration is not required. More information: 304-526-6358.

LOCATION: Wellness Center Aerobics Room, St. Marys Regional Heart Institute, first floor

INFORMATION: This class combines fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body using principles from aerobics and fitness to achieve cardio and muscle-toning benefits. Cost is $5 per class or a package of eight classes for $35. Free trial classes are available. More information: 304-526-1660.

Gynecologic Cancer Support Group

LOCATION: Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center Resource Room

INFORMATION: This free support group is for women with ovarian, cervical and other gynecologic cancers and their loved ones. Everyone is welcome and no RSVP is required. Refreshments will be served. More information: 304-526-2443.

LOCATION: St. Marys Medical Center Lobby

INFORMATION: St. Marys will dedicate a special memorial Christmas tree in the medical centers main lobby this holiday season to give the community the opportunity to honor loved ones who have passed away. Community members may purchase a special ornament for the tree in honor of a loved one with a minimum donation of $25 to the St. Marys Foundation. To purchase an ornament, call St. Marys Spiritual Care & Mission at 304.526.1188. More information: 304-526-1188.

LOCATION: Cabell Huntington Hospital

INFORMATION: Future big brothers and sisters can learn to help care for the new baby. There is no cost for this class, but registration is required. More information: 304-526-BABY (2229).

Brain Aneurysm, AVM and Stroke Support Group

LOCATION: St. Marys Conference Center, 2849 5th Ave.

INFORMATION: In conjunction with the Joe Niekro Foundation, this free support group is open to anyone who has suffered from a brain aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or stroke and their family members. Registration is not required. More information: 304-399-7478.

Free Diabetic Foot Screenings

LOCATION: Wound Healing Center, 1600 Medical Center Drive, Suite 2500

INFORMATION: Do you suffer from lack of sensation, a feeling of pins and needles, or pain in your feet? If you have diabetes, regular foot screenings are important. Learn your risks at these free, five-minute screenings. More information: 304-399-3510.

LOCATION: St. Marys Wound and Hyperbaric Center, St. Marys Medical Center, ground floor

INFORMATION: Free screenings include an exam, health education and giveaways for people with foot-related concerns or those having difficulty caring for their own feet. Screenings will be provided by registered nurses. More information: 304-399-7450.

LOCATION: Vascular Lab, St. Marys Regional Heart Institute, first floor

INFORMATION: Screenings are for peripheral vascular disease, carotid artery and abdominal aortic aneurysm. The cost is $45 for each test or $99 for all three tests. Screenings are by appointment. More information: 304-526-1492.

LOCATION: Wellness Center Aerobics Room, St. Marys Regional Heart Institute, first floor

INFORMATION: This class combines fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body using principles from aerobics and dance to achieve cardio and muscle-toning benefits. The cost is $5 per class or a package of eight classes for $35. Free trial classes are available. More information: 304-526-1660.

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Healthy classes, events and programs - Huntington Herald Dispatch

RIPLEY For those who are 50 years or older and looking for a place to get out, visit, and learn new things, the Young at Heart group in Ripley is just the place. It only costs $3 a month to join, and the group meets at the Ripley Parks and Recreation building. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, they do aerobics from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they meet in the parks Compton Center for arts and crafts from 8 a.m. to noon.

Kim Hellums started the program 26 years ago, and, except for a five-year break, has been directing it ever since. She said, Our purpose is to serve your mind, your spirit and your body. In addition to the aerobics, they also have a time just to drink coffee and chat with each other. When a member is going through a tough time, they make sure to send cards and keep them in their prayers.

For arts and crafts, she is really excited about pottery and ceramics, which is their most recent endeavor. They have been experimenting with a variety of different things some of their pottery has added texture because they pressed old doilies into the clay before it was baked. It takes a lot of patience to work with clay because you dont get instant result. It takes about a week to go from a lump of clay to finished product, whether thats a tray or an ornament or a coaster.

They also use their pottery kilns to make slumped bottles, where they take old glass wine bottles and melt them into decorative molds. Some of the bottles have a special paint that stays on, even in the extreme heat of the kiln, which gives the finished product a very unique style.

In addition to pottery, they do a variety of other crafts, such as flower arrangement, painting, sewing, quilting and woodworking, to name a few. Hellums said, Its not a taught class; we teach each other. Everyone might come in with a project and say Hey, lets try to make this! And we all get together and we figure it out.

The Compton Center becomes a store during Christmas season, and the projects that they have been working on all year are available for buying. Its a great opportunity to buy Christmas gifts, because their prices are very reasonable. The most expensive items are about $40-45, and thats for just a few things like quilts or the stoneware. Hellums said shes working on finding somebody who can work there so the store can have certain hours, but until then, just drop by. If its not open, just give her a call and shell come down and open it, she said.

For those interested in traveling, theres a branch of Young at Heart dedicated to that. The Golden Seniors, as theyre called, have visited locations all over the South, including Natchez, the Ark and Creation Museum, and Paula Deens house in Georgia. When Hellums first started the program, they focused on aerobics, but eventually they began talking about taking trips together and the Golden Seniors began. She said they started out by renting vans, but that quickly became expensive. So they started fundraising through bake sales and political stumping. She said, They (the politicians) would come speak and pay and buy our cakes for outrageous prices. With a contribution from the city, they were able to buy their own bus and now they are off and traveling at least once a month. Its $30 a month to join, and everyone covers their own trip costs. This month, theyre going on a day trip to Memphis, and next month, theyre going on their first cruise, which will be going to Cozumel and Progresso.

Hellums said that anyone who wants to just walk can join for $2 a month; the gym is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for walking. But she also said, For just a dollar more, they can get it all!

For questions or more information, contact Kim Hellums at (662) 837-6747.

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Young at Heart helps serve mind and spirit of local senior citizens - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

At the Goleta Valley Community Center, residents forced to flee their neighborhoods just a few days before Thanksgiving awaited word about their homes as the Cave fire continued to chew through dry brush in Santa Barbara County.

Among them was 90-year-old Irene Lamberti, who arrived at the center with her 88-year-old husband. Lamberti, who lives in an unincorporated area of Goleta a few miles from the edge of the fire, first saw smoke while driving home from a swim aerobics class Monday afternoon.

She didnt think she would have to evacuate and settled down to watch an episode of Antiques Roadshow on television and eat dinner.

I didnt think it was going to affect us, she said.

But about 8 p.m., an official knocked on the door and told her that people in her neighborhood were evacuating. Lamberti and her husband spent about half an hour packing a small suitcase, grabbing what they could.

They forgot their toothbrushes and her husbands pajamas, but Lamberti made sure to bring a Japanese embroidery of a Geisha that shed been working on for months.

Our house is like a museum. You cant take everything, she said. I wasnt going to leave that.

By 7 a.m., the fire had burned 4,100 acres but had not touched any homes in a rural region north of Santa Barbara.

Stan Jeffries, 91, was at home with his wife in San Vicente Mobile Home Park on Monday afternoon when his daughter called to alert him to the fire. He walked out to the street and could see plumes of smoke in the surrounding mountains.

First we saw smoke, and it wasnt too alarming, he said. As it got darker, you could see the flames and they began to blossom.

The fire didnt seem to be an immediate threat, but hours later, a neighbor from their mobile home communitys disaster preparedness committee knocked on their door.

I think our committee was a little conservative, but by the time we left, we could see the fire coming down the mountain, he said.

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Cave fire: Flames and smoke 'began to blossom,' residents say - Los Angeles Times

Downriver Classes is a listing of classes taking place throughout the Downriver community. To submit an event, send an email to downriverlife@thenewsherald.com. List the time, date, location, cost and contact information. For a complete listing, visit http://www.TheNewsHerald.com/DownriverLife.

Birthing Classes And More: A range of birthing classes are offered at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, including breastfeeding; infant CPR; and Great Expectations, which teaches participants about labor, comfort techniques, Cesarean sections and baby care. A tour of the birthing unit is included. Weekend, evening and online classes are available. Call 734-246-9601 for more information and to register.

Kim's Walk Party: Low-impact, walk-aerobics class, from 4:30-5:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Victory Gym, 23156 King Rd., Brownstown. Cost: $5 per class/ For more information, contact: Kim at 313-690-3255.

Yoga: Tuesdays at Downriver Council for the Arts, 81 Chestnut, Wyandotte from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Suitable for all levels, this Hatha Yoga Flow will focus on linking breath to movement, deep stretching, building core strength and improving balance and overall well-being. Bring your own yoga mat. Drop-in for $10 a class or $35 for (4 classes). For more information call 734-720-0671 or visit http://www.downriverarts.org

Free exercise classes: 1 to 2 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays; Ecorse Senior Center, 4072 W. Jefferson Ave.; intended for older adults to improve fitness and well-being but all adults are welcome; those with physical disabilities or who travel by wheelchair also are encouraged to attend; open to the public; advance registration not required; for more information, call the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan at 800-482-1455.

Gentle yoga classes: 11 a.m. Mondays; First Congregational Church of Gibraltar, 29885 Bayview; $5 per class; 734-566-0679.

Mantra Meditation: From 5-6:15 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital Multipurpose Room. Introduction and benefits of meditation. Learn mantra meditations and take a stress reduction break. Everyone is welcome. Call 734-246-6057 to RSVP.

Relax And Renew Yoga: From 4-5 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital Multipurpose Room Wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a mat and water. All experience levels are welcome. Call 734-246-6057 to RSVP.

Kids reading program: 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; Gibraltar Community Center, 29340 S. Gibraltar Road; toddlers and children in preschool are welcome to attend.

Low-impact cardio class: 11:15 a.m. Fridays; First Congregational Church of Gibraltar, 29885 Bayview; $5 per class; 734-556-0679.

Natural family planning classes: Offered by the Couple to Couple League; classes are offered both in person and online; to find an upcoming class series, visit ccli.org or call 313-451-4NFP.

Physical and spiritual fitness class: 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; First Presbyterian Church, 600 N. Brady St., Dearborn; wear comfortable clothes and shoes; bring a mat or towel.

Square dance lessons: Offered by the Country Twirlers Square Dance Club; 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays; Blessed Hope, 3804 Hazel, Lincoln Park; the first lesson is free; future lessons are $5; beginners are welcome at any time; 313-686-2999 or CTsquaredanceclub@gmail.com.

Yoga and Reiki classes: St. Timothy Catholic Church, 2901 Manning, Trenton; Hatha yoga, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Tuesdays, the drop-in fee is $13 per class or $11 per class in advance; seniors only class for ages 50 and older, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays the drop-in fee is $10 per class or $8 in advance; yoga mats are available to borrow or purchase, the cost is $20 for a black mat or $15 for a green mat; all fees must be paid in cash; yoga helps to improve muscle tone, flexibility and strength, reduces stress and tension, improves concentration, stimulates the immune system and helps to create a sense of well-being; for more information, call 734-709-5396 or pranawithbrianna@gmail.com.

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Educational, exercise and medical classes in the Downriver area - Southgate News Herald

My father passed away in October 1986 from a heart attack at age 49.

That was his last in a series of major and minor cardiac events. I was 21 years old when he died. At the time I perceived my father to be old (as do most children).

Now, at age 53, its an odd perspective to look back at his passing and reflect on where he was in his stage of life and career and consider his outlook on the future.

My family has a history of heart disease and my father was no exception. As an engineer for General Electric, he worked long, hard hours and traveled frequently.

Physical activity, nutrition and doctors visits were not high on his priority list. I call this attitude the I feel fine so I must be fine mentality.

He enjoyed eating the crispy skin off the Thanksgiving turkey, fat from a well-cooked steak and ladles of cream sauces all the good-tasting stuff that was loaded with calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium.

When my father had his first heart attack, the doctors found he had extremely high blood pressure and major blockages in all four of his arteries. By that time, too much damage had been done to his heart and there was nothing they could do for him. Still, my father started eating better, took up golf, spent less time at work and focused on reducing his stress.

Its important to remember that during my fathers lifetime, 1937 to 1986, company wellness programs did not exist. He grew up with exercise guru The Jack LaLanne Show, hula hoops, calisthenics, the sauna suit, vibrating belts and other early fitness trends and fad diets. Most centered on the external appearance of fitness but lacked a focus on inner fitness, the biometric and lifestyle measurements that truly determine if one is healthy.

You would think I learned something from his experience, but youd be wrong. When I was young I felt indestructible.

I had a high metabolism and didnt gain weight no matter what or how much I ate. The good news: I was physically active in soccer, aerobics, long-distance running, weight lifting, competitive Taekwondo and many other activities.

The bad news: my diet was significantly less than stellar. It wasnt unusual for me to have fast food for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late-night snack all in the same day. I inherited my fathers I feel fine so I must be fine mentality.

In 1993, after eight years in the Air Force, I returned to civilian life to work at a large insurance carrier, where I learned about health care claims, annual employee benefit renewals and risk management, which drive and control an employers health insurance costs. I began to understand that the overall health of a workforce can affect an employers health care costs.

I learned about the decisions that organizations must make about health insurance cost sharing, like imposing premium increases, and that employee benefits are a large part of the workforces total compensation. I observed how employees who do not take responsibility for their personal health can cause others who do to pay more for their own health care benefits, something that always struck me as unfair.

At age 35, I finally visited my doctor for an annual physical, and the results were not good. My total cholesterol was over 300, my HDL was low and my LDL and triglycerides were high. I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

While this was an aha! moment, I should have seen it coming. I knew that I had a family history of high cholesterol and most men on my fathers side of the family died young from cardiac-related causes. But I felt fine so I must be fine.

My doctor prescribed cholesterol and thyroid medication. I began to focus on nutrition and continued to be physically active. After one year, my numbers started to improve, but even now I still have work to do. Progress, not perfection.

While conditions like these may take years to produce symptoms and can initially go unnoticed, they are still incrementally causing damage to ones health and well-being. This is why its so important to focus on preventive measures to manage a disease before it has the chance to cause a major medical event.

After my father had his first heart attack, he was released from the hospital and sent home. He walked slowly so as not to raise his heart rate. One day I watched him spend 20 minutes walking up 15 steps in our house. When we lose our health its the simple things we take for granted that are impacted the most.

Seeing first-hand the impact of how an undiagnosed heart condition affected my fathers health helps me stayed focus on wellness. In every wellness program participant, I see someone whose life can be positively impacted.

I often reflect on what would have happened if my fathers company had a wellness program. Knowing him, he would have been one of those people who wouldnt want to participate. Because he was too busy. Because he didnt have the time. Because it didnt make sense; he felt fine. Because he had too many other things to do. Because it was his choice how he managed his health, not the companys.

While all of this may be true, I think that if he had participated in a wellness program, gotten his blood work done and learned about his high blood pressure and high cholesterol before he had a heart attack, he would still be here today.

So I ask you, whats the downside of participating in a wellness program?

Gary Cassidy is the director of employee education, communication and wellness for Camden, New Jersey-based insurance broker Corporate Synergies.

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Please Tell Me Why Worksite Wellness Programs Are a Waste of Time and Money - Workforce Management