#what is whey protein made from

[boltnutrition]

#what is whey protein #what is whey #what is whey protein isolate #what is whey protein made of #what is the best whey protein #what is whey protein made from #what are the benefits of whey protein #whey protein shake #whey protein powder for weight gain

[the-cat-and-the-birdie]

I bet Miguel can cook REALLY well.

Like CRAZY WELL.

Being a dad he did have to come up with something to eat for dinner every night

And with Gabriella being a bit picky, sometimes he had to get creative

And some of his favorite memories are the conversations he and Gabbie had while dinner was on the stove

But even now, he loves it. Miguel finds he act of cooking so relaxing. He likes the peace and the order of it

And even if he comes in really really late from HQ - he'll still try and cook something

Fighting sleep while cooking a quesadilla on the stove

He's a Sazon loyalist SORRY ADOBO STANS

There's always tortillas, sour cream and salsa verde in his fridge - freshly made

(if you got those you can figure something out)

And he grows his own cilantro and basil on the window sill

And he'll never use powdered garlic, only fresh

Yes he can eat garlic - yes people on campus ask him that a lot

(he's hot ACTUALLY a vampire)

His seafood is TO DIE FOR

Miguel can make amazing lobster tail, or crab legs (with Old Bay and butter of course)

And his Ceviche is SO GOOD and SO FRESH

Most likely makes everything spicy. It's not even that he 'loves' spicy food - He just makes it spicy AF and acts like he doesn't notice

MEANWHILE you're next to him and it hurts to breathe

He and Hobie are bean stans.

Miguel loves them in Chilli con Carne, with rice, refried, you name it

and Hobie goes through those British blue cans of Heinz baked beans like it's nobodies business

They both think beans are underrated

Makes AMAZING MOLE and even better Tamales

But you have to BEG him for weeks on end to get him to make Tamales cause he can't be bothered - and he will make you help

He likes Avocado, like in general. On toast, with eggs, guacamole use always a staple

He'll often just eat chips and guacamole the whole day in his office and he'll get pissed if the food court is out of it.

Well look at a corn shell ground beef taco and be like 'You think that's a taco? Is that what you honestly believe?'

Loves cooking with other people - in fact Miguel actually just likes working with people in general. That's why Lyla has a personality.

He's good at guiding others during cooking and teaching them things and not bossing them around

OBSESSED LIKE CONCERNINGLY SO

With mango and Tajin

He'll put Tajin seasoning on ANYTHING - the first time Jess saw him put it on watermelon she was like 'what for????'

But he loves fruit in general, watermelon, lychee, guava. A lot of them are grown fresh in the Society gardens

Strawberries are a favorite of his. Gabriella loved strawberries on pancakes

He pronounces lychee - Leechee (not Lie-chee)

He's the fucking PRO at protein shakes and milkshakes

The man needs workout fuel and whey powder and kale and potassium and-

He's in the kitchen 5am getting ready for the gym

Making a shit ton of peanut butter strawberry banana and oats protein smoothie with coconut milk and honey to sweeten

Because he does have a sweet tooth.

Jolly Ranchers are an oral fixation

You can hear him sucking on one, the quiet clacking of it.

Or see him press it into his cheek, lost in thought

But baking and sweets are his secret love

He just doesn't have anyone to test it on anymore - so he doesn't

His flan is the best, and it was one of Gabbie's show faves

He eats parfaits pretty often, and makes them a lot for Jess (and she teases it for it)

Miguel LOVES tres leches cake, as sweet as possible. And fancy stuff like creme brulee

Don't tell anyone but he actually really likes cheesecake he acts like it's a secret

With him cooking get ready for the most sugariest breakfast ever. It's a dad thing.

Whipped cream, fruits, syrup, chocolate chips, you name it.

Sure Miguel shouldn't have been giving Gabriella THAT much sugar THAT early - but with you it's fine so enjoy the stomach ache in two hours

Another dad thing:

COOK OUT FOOD.

Him and Peter get INTENSE.

Miguel swears by charcoal grills, Peter likes propane and gas

Miguel is the tio with the best Hot dogs and relish that HITS

Peter is the burger dad who spends an insane amount of money on Angus beef

Miguel judges your hot dog toppings but says nothing

His ELOTE???? EUPHORIC

Like,,, it'll bring you to tears it's so good - I don't know how he does it

And when it comes to cooking he's ALWAYS willing to learn

He'd rather invite you over and cook you something than going out to eat

He'll learn something you like or where you're from and make something from there

Even better if you can teach him how to make something - the two of you can make it together

But his favorite part by far is setting it down at the table, trying not to seem like he's watching your reaction

And seeing your face light up at the first bite

Or even better -

Seeing you collapse into bed with a food coma

Miguel with cooking and food as a love language

#yes please #spiderman #atsv #marvel #spider man #across the spiderverse #Miguel Ohara #Miguel x reader #miguel o'hara #miguel o hara #Miguel O'hara x reader #Miguel Ohara x reader #Miguel x you #gabriella o’hara

[unpretty]

from Karen from HR chapter 10:

""I did have an eating disorder for a while, but she didn't even notice that. I read somewhere that most eating disorders are actually about control."

"Mm," Bruce agreed.""

from Gotham High chapter 3:

"""You should eat more real food, too," she added.

"That wasn't real food."

"You know what I mean, though," she said. He didn't respond. "I'm pretty sure you have a disorder." She said it vague and off-hand, as if she didn't actually care; she wasn't sure if she did. He was rich, and he was eating. No one got to that size without eating. He was still better off in every way than most of the people she knew. She could not rationally explain why his careful lists of calories and vitamins felt so wrong to look at, seemed so inhuman.""

the fucking. DETAILS. the stupidly wonderful way you weave character details throughout your stories make me scream. it's so good

also I wonder if he still has that eating disorder??? or at least, disordered eating habit. like, he STILL doesn't like most "junky" foods (I'm specifically thinking of Tim suggesting he try Doritos from Anti-Social chapter 7, and Selina suggesting coney dogs from Stolen moments)

but SOME foods that can be kinda gross he IS okay with and sometimes even seems to prefer (like bad Chinese and hot dogs from Third Wheel chapter 3. I would include gyros from the same chapter and Anti-Social (again) chapter 6 on this list but that shit's tasty. can you tell I've read this collection of fics too many times)

but that doesn't necessarily mean he DOESN'T still have that eating disorder. it could just mean he's gotten very good at gestimating nutritional information and keeping mental track of stuff like that

anyways. I also feel the need to mention his "my father liked to cook" mini-monologue from HR chapter 7, but I don't know how to weave it into here. it just feels important somehow. have a lovely day, I love your writing i'm far too obsessed with it

you missed a couple! >;3

backup:

"I'm not apologizing for the fact that I wanted real food," Nightwing said. He turned around in his seat to look back at Harley. "Have you seen his little protein shake things? "They're his robo-fuel!" "You know he's not a robot." "Yeah, I know that." Harley and Nightwing both looked at Batman.

earlier in stolen moments:

Tim huffed. Then he knocked on the silver-domed lid resting at the desk, covering a dish that rested on a hotplate. "Alfred left a plate." Bruce only glanced at it. "Then eat fast." "It's for you." "I'm not hungry." Tim crossed his arms. "I'm not leaving until you eat." His chin tilted upward, attempting to look implacable. She came out from underneath the desk to circle his legs, and smelled the air. Salt and fat and starch. Bruce stood straighter to look at Tim. Tim immediately faltered. "You have school in six hours," Bruce said. "Go to bed." "... promise you'll eat?" She wound around his legs. "You're aware that I'm the adult here." "Are you going to eat?" "Yes. Bed. Now." Tim sighed. "Night, Bruce."

and there's chapter five of anti-social and probably some other bits in various places

i don't know if orthorexia is really the word for what i write bruce as having, because that's usually associated with Clean Eating and Health and No Processed Foods and that's not really what he does. what he's concerned with is Maximum Efficiency. if he were left to his own devices he would take a multivitamin and then eat mostly peanut butter out of the jar and possibly some kind of whey slurry (which is p much exactly what he's doing in chapter five). protein and calorie density are the priorities.

the foods he favors tend to be things that in his mind don't 'count', foods that made it onto his list early on and now he sticks with them. like cucumbers. or yogurt. a handful of plain kix. when you have an eating disorder and you're carefully tracking everything you develop certain habits and certain 'safe' foods, and even when you try to go back to eating intuitively you still have that list in your head. if he's going to eat Real Food he favors protein-heavy and cheap because it feels like less of a waste that way. he thinks high quality foodie stuff is a pearls before swine situation when he's the target audience for soylent.

he hasn't noticed that he thinks of cheap chinese food as special occasion food, but he does

#original #ficblogging #ednos #once he decided to Travel The World In Disguise keeping a food diary stopped being realistic #he's capable of eating normally the same way he's capable of smiling #he has practice

[darlingdarkly]

While I carefully craft part 5 here is a little snippet that I can’t seem to find a proper fit for in the story itself but I love too much to keep all to myself. Call it 4.5 if you will 💕

You come into the lobby and just like clockwork he’s there, shining teeth and bright baby blues. There’s a glint in them you’ve seen before and the part of you that remembers the consequences of said glint is yelling at you from its place buried in the back gray matter of your brain that he’s up to something. You can’t immediately see anything out of ordinary just him and what looks like a protein shake in his hand, nothing unusual.

He takes your bag from you and thrusts the blender cup into your hands. You look down at it, the top is covered with an opaque black lid and while the cup itself is semi see through, it’s frosted which means all you can really tell from the outside is that it’s about three quarters of the way full and the liquid inside is a creamy white.

“What’s this Johnny?” He smiles at you, one that is probably meant to put you at ease but still has your wind up, way up. “It’s a protein shake, hen. Made it me’self. S’gonna get ye into gear and get yer blood pumping, gonna push ye nice and hard today so ah figured ye needed a bit of a boost. Drink.”

He doesn’t give you time to protest just takes it from your hands and puts the straw up to your mouth, you give him one last cautionary look and take the straw between your lips, warily. He watches intently as you suck on the tip and the cold, creamy mixture pours over your tongue. It’s sweet and admittedly delicious, there’s a salty undertone you can’t quite place but otherwise is quite enjoyable.

You moan a little as it rolls into your mouth and down the back of your throat and you swear you almost see his knees buckle underneath him. You pull away, still wary of whatever antics you’re sure he’s still up to. “You ok?” He nods, a nonverbal communication that is very uncharacteristic of him but you let it slide and suck down more of his protein drink.

“Johnny, what’s in this?” He smiles and pulls you into his side as he walks you further into the building. “Bananas, milk, a bit of whey. Do ye like it?” You nod and scrunch your nose up a little. “It’s a bit salty though, is that like sea salt caramel or something?”

His eyes light up, like he’s just had a brilliant idea and agrees. “Aye lass, sea salt caramel. Do ye feel it working, energizing ye?” Maybe it’s just all the sugar but you do feel something, a kind of rush zinging through you.

“Yeah. I like it, it’s good. Can you give me the recipe, I wanna make it before I go to work so I can start my day with it.” He seems a bit dumbfounded at this but quickly stutters forth an answer, something that should have concerned you but you let it pass without so much as another accusatory glance.

“Jus’ let me make ‘em for ye hen. The ingredients are hard tae find and can be a bit tedious tae make.” You just shrug and take your gym bag from him. He watches you disappear into the women’s locker room, humming a little as you sip deeply from the straw and get another big gulp of his very special protein shake. Made with Bananas, milk, a bit of whey and his cum.

#johnny soap mctavish x reader #call of duty #cod #cod mw2 #john soap mactavish #johnny soap mactavish #cod soap #cod x reader #twdubcon #dark!johnny #dark!fic #johnny mactavish

[beansidhebumbling]

feyneth (feyre x gywn) pls. they’re my recent obsession. lemon tarts are their thing if that helps

Feyre can't recall the precise moment she falls for her sister's best friend. In the haze of young adulthood, still so deep in the closet she was practically being strangled by scarves, she remembers liking Gwyn's hair.

Begging for a chance to play hairdresser for the seniors going to their house parties and formals, knowing she'd get a chance to run her hands through strands of copper and rust, and drown in the sweet scent of strawberry shampoo.

Gwyn, all smiles and bubbly laughter, freckles and sunlight would hug her. Nothing like her sister's awkward one armed embraces, these were hugs that warmed her from the inside out.

And when Nesta's gang would stumble into the night in a haze of vodka and Victoria Secret bodyspray, Gwyn would always turn back to wave at Feyre, a secret smile and flutter of manicured nails that would sustain that hidden part of her until their next encounter.

***

When her sister left for college things were quieter in Velaris. She was gone too, brilliant Gwyn, off to study Medieval History with her pretty boyfriend, Azriel Scatha, following her.

He was a model. They met at the lake, the hangout of Velarian youth since the dawn of time. He was handsome, Feyre supposed, in that clinical symmetrical way. Each angle accounted for, each feature blending perfectly with the other. Not exactly exciting to look at, not with Gwyn beside him, she who made sunflowers turn towards her over their namesake.

She loses Gwyn but finds herself in the years that follow. Grows into a body that never felt like hers in ruffles and skirts. Between bench presses and deadifts, creatine and whey protein she starts to like what she sees in the mirror.

Her mother despairs. Too big, too muscular, too much. She finds quiet acceptance in the way Elain cuts her hair, says nothing when she requests it short, her sister who has relished plaiting her hair since she was five simply asks for a Pinterest reference and picks up a scissors, bearing their mother's proceeding hysterics with saint-like patience. Nesta takes her clothes shopping on the holidays. Her sister, still sarcastic and so different to her, never comments on her sartorial choices and shuts down any festive family criticism thrown her way. In their own ways they tell her again and again she is enough.

***

She is half-way through her undergraduate degree when she meets Gwyn at a Christmas party. Drunk on eggnog and kisses from Mor, a casual college fling at her favourite hook-up spot, the old willow by the green, she doesn't recognise the lithe frame of Gwyneth Berdara splayed on the counter, pale legs blocking passageway to the gin.

'Hey gorgeous, mind moving please?'

She says, texting Lucien as she does, more focused on finding the exact emoji to convey her disgust with the Vanserra than another drunk body in a veritable sea of them.

'Little Fey!'

Glancing up, she feels the instinctual blush rise to her cheeks at the unappreciated childhood nickname. Gwyn, in sequined glory is scanning her from tip to toe in disbelief.

Coughing she murmurs, only just audible in the relative quiet of the kitchen,

'Not exactly little anymore, G.'

Gwyn blinks, pupils widening and teeth digging into her full lower lip, before giggling nervously, jumping from the counter. Now standing, she is just shorter than Feyre in her kitten heels. She extends her arms and Feyre engulfs her in a hug that tastes of long ago, warmth and sunshine.

That's where the comparison to the old embrace ends because now, with their bodies pressed close, her breath on Feyre’s neck, electricity spikes and singes her nerve endings. Judging from how Gwyn tenses before digging her nails in, just slightly, to Feyre's flanelled side and releasing a quiet whimper she feels it too.

Bolstered by that one small sound and the insatiable need to show Gwyn exactly how much she's grown from that awkward gangly freshman Feyre takes her sweet time letting go.

It wouldn't make sense when Gwyn fits so well in her toned arms. It is Gwyn who finally disentangles herself, but stays standing far too close to Feyre for polite company, so that the constellations of freckles that smatter her pretty upturned nose almost overwhelm the power of her gaze.

'I..I..haven't seen you around.'

Gwyn stutters, gaze fixed on Feyre’s mouth before she blinks and studies the tiled floor like it contains the meaning of life.

'I live off-campus.'

Feyre shrugs lazily, pathetically hoping Gwyn notices her traps as she moves. It was chest and back day today after all.

'Nesta mentioned you're living in that PhD accomodation on campus right, little G.'

That gets Gwyn's attention, her head darting indignantly up before she laughs at the teasing grin plastered on Feyre’s face.

'Yes I am, you brat.'

Her lip is being worried by her sharp teeth again, a job Feyre would happily volunteer to do.

'Where's Azriel?'

The words come out more gruff than the light and casual Feyre was aiming for.

'Not on the scene. Not for a while. Any girlfriends?'

Gwyn throws back.

'Not for a while.'

Feyre's smile sharpens, becoming all canines, when she spots Gwyn fixated on the hickey on her tanned neck.

Mor was a biter.

'Any girlfriends for you, little G?'

Feyre leans in a hair until she can smell the same strawberry sweetness, until Gwyn's lips are so close, divine temptation.

'Not...not yet.'

The words are breathless as manicured nails trace Feyre's bare forearm until like long ago she is utterly consumed by Gwyneth Berdara. Each atom of her straining to be closer, fizzing with excitement at the prospect of further touch.

When Feyre presses her thumb to those glossed lips to rub the faint teeth marks imprinted on plush pink, Gwyn's sooty lashes flutter shut.

She is loveliness incarnate in the harsh unforgiving light of the back kitchen.

Feyre swallows and gathers her courage

'How about I show you the willow tree, love?

#feyre archeron #girlies in love #acotar #i am not american #i did my best with americanisms #feyneth #gwyneth berdara

[tropes-and-tales-archives]

Whistle Down the Wind, Chapter Three

Word Count:  2454

TW:  Pining, unrequited love, angst, mild violence (reader slaps Sonny); hooking up discussed obliquely but nothing explicit.

AN:  Part of a series.  The series masterlist here.

Sonny hadn’t meant to miss your performance.  He had thought he could make it in time, but Nicole kept pulling him back into the bed every time he tried to get up.  Before he knew it, he had missed it.  He had a panicky back-and-forth texting exchange with his sister, promising to meet everyone for drinks.  But she had eventually told him not to bother.

She’s pretty upset, Bella’s final text said.

He felt terrible.  He had every intention of the evening ending with you and Nicole as friends, and instead he had only hurt you.  Before he finally fell asleep, he promised himself that he’d think of some way to make it up to you.  Maybe a movie marathon night.  Maybe tickets to a show.  You loved music – all music – so an evening together at a concert would be a safe bet.  At least you were easy-going.  You’d forgiven him for missing less.

He woke up at 4:30 in the morning to Nicole shaking him.  “Your phone is blowing up,” she muttered, the irritation seeping through his sleepy fog.  She unplugged it and handed it to him after glancing at the screen.  “It’s your sister.”

“Bella?” he said, his voice thick with sleep as he answered the phone.  “What’s wrong?”

Her shrill voice cut through his sleepiness, and he had to hold the phone away from his ear.  It took a couple of tries before he got the whole story.  Bella and Tommy had left you alone at a bar.  You were supposed to text her when you got home.  Bella had woken up half an hour earlier and hadn’t seen any messages from you.  She had been trying your cell ever since, stopping only long enough to call Sonny.

“Okay, okay,” he finally replied.  He slid out of bed and started pulling on clothes.  “She only lives five blocks away.  I’ll go check on her.”  He hung up and sat on the edge of the bed, then put on his socks and shoes.  Then he turned and faced Nicole.

“I’ll be back soon,” he promised, but his girlfriend only scoffed at him. 

“Funny that you go running for someone who’s just a friend,” she said.  Sonny peered at her closer in the dim room.  She looked mad, and she was probably justified to feel that way. 

“Bella’s upset,” he said, shifting the focus.  He wasn’t checking up on you.  He was giving his little sister peace of mind.

“I’m upset,” Nicole retorted.  Sonny turned on the bed to face her, then leaned in to kiss her.  She moved away from him though, and his lips only brushed her cheekbone as she stood up and stalked her way to the bathroom.  He watched her naked form for a moment, then growled in frustration.  He’d have to make it up to her now, too.

********

If you had to list out your regrets, it would start with all the drinks you had at the bar.  Then it would continue to going home with a random guy.  Then it would end with letting your phone’s battery die completely.

Or maybe your list of regrets should start with wasting so much time on pining over Sonny Carisi.  Because going home with a random guy didn’t turn out terribly.  Of the bits you could remember, it had been fun.  Mutually consenting.  You vaguely recalled straddling the guy until you got too wobbly from the alcohol.  Then you remembered him helping to hold you up, drunkenly laughing underneath you until you both came.

The regret only came in the harsh light of the morning.  The random guy’s bedroom was covered in posters of souped-up racecars, like a middle school boy’s.  And then he had offered you a protein shake for breakfast, the gritty whey making your already queasy stomach worse.  And then he sat in his living room, doing bicep curls in front of you until you did an awkward soft-shoe out the door.

You made your way home and plugged in your phone to charge.  You showered, letting the hot water wash away the night before.  When you climbed out and toweled off, you checked your phone.  There were about a million messages, most from Bella.

They were increasingly panicked.  Then there were message from Sonny – first, the ones just asking if you were okay.  Then, the terse ones demanding that you call him immediately.  Apparently he’d been by your place, camping out and waiting for you until he gave up and went home.

You rolled your eyes and deleted those.  You called Bella instead. 

You swore your best friend picked up before the first ring.  “Hey,” you said, trying to sound apologetic.  You winced and just listened to her berate you, nodding along even though she couldn’t see you.  Yes, you should have texted her.  Yes, it was incredibly stupid to go home with a stranger while drunk.  You admitted as much when she let you get a word in edgewise.

“You need to let Sonny know,” Bella finally told you.  “He’s about ready to dispatch all of NYPD to find you.”

You should feel happy that he cared, but instead you felt a swell of irrational anger at this.  “I don’t need found now, Bella,” you replied through gritted teeth.  “And you can call your brother yourself.”

********

Sonny sent a few texts to you over the next few weeks, and he saw that you read them, but you never responded.  He would have gone and visited you, but he had to make amends with Nicole too for his sudden disappearance the night Bella had panicked and called him.  He switched shifts with Fin and took a long weekend with her to a cabin in upstate New York.  He had thought it would be a romantic, cozy getaway, but she had mostly complained about the lack of reliable cell service and the musty smell in the cabin.

When he got back to SVU that Monday, he already felt exhausted from the weekend.  And there was a new case that hit closer to home than usual:  a dentist was accused of sexually assaulting numerous patients – including his young niece.  Sonny had nieces and the thought of ever hurting them made him feel sick to his core.

He needed someone to talk to the night after they arrested the dentist, but Nicole was out with friends, so he just went to his own apartment, alone.  Any other day, he’d call you.  Or go to your place for pizza and sympathy.  Any other day, you’d listen to him rant and then offer either support or advice.  Any other day, you’d send him a playlist, some perfect, alchemic blend of classic rock and instrumental and alternative and EDM and obscure horn pipe compositions that would bolster his mood perfectly.

Instead, you were freezing him out.  He felt a wave of irritation at you.  He’d missed plenty of your events – you had so many gigs, no one could keep up.  And you knew better than anyone that his job was difficult.  The least you could do was offer a little forgiveness.  You were usually so easy-going, but suddenly now you weren’t.  And according to Bella, you had been hooking up with random guys.  The seed of irritation with you had taken root when Bella had informed him of that little fun fact.

He wasn’t sure what was wrong, but between work and Nicole, he didn’t have the energy to bother and figure it out.  Either you’d come around or you wouldn’t. 

********

You were busy.  Your performance with the chamber orchestra had made you a wanted woman, and for the first time in your life, you had to turn down offers.  The new exposure drove more traffic to your website, which drove more people to listen to your scoring work, which led to an offer to score a small, indie film that was set to start filming in a few months.  You had a script that you were working through, coming up with musical themes and ideas to pitch to the director and producers.

You still had you regular shows with your cover band, and you still did freelance work as a producer for a handful of artists who liked to layer in samples of classical pieces.

And in the evenings – when you had a free one – you had your hunting.

You called it hunting because it made you feel like a vampire slayer, but mostly because you couldn’t call it “looking for hook-ups.”  You’d gotten lucky the night of your big performance – you’d been incredibly reckless, but aside from a gross protein shake, you’d come away from it unscathed.  So now you had rules.

One drink, maximum, and never one that was unattended or handed to you by a guy.  You always insisted that the guy show you his driver’s license, which you took a picture of and texted to Bella or one of your other friends as evidence.  Most of the guys were bemused by your measures, but a few got angry.  You knew to stay away from those guys.

Other rules?  Never give your last name or phone number, always use protection, and never stay the night.  You got yours, then you got out. 

One night, a few weeks after your cello performance, you had hooked up with a brutally hot bartender.  You had gotten yours and gotten out, per your rules.  You walked home, your coat wrapped around you.  You could have called a cab but you wanted to walk.  It wasn’t far, and the night air would clear your head. 

You always enjoyed yourself on your nights out hunting, but there was always a pang of regret afterwards.  Probably some remnant of patriarchal conditioning, you tried to reason, making you feel guilty for feeling pleasure.  But more likely, you felt regret because the guys above you or underneath you or behind you weren’t the one you really wanted.

You shook your head and crossed the middle of the street, ignoring a whistle behind you.  Guys in New York could be creeps.

The whistler whistled again, and then a third time – this time closer to you.  You reached into your coat pocket for your bear spray as you turned around, ready to fight.

“Listen, creep,” you started, but you stopped when you saw who it was.  Sonny.  You mentally kicked yourself.  You were only one street over from his.  You’d have to make a new rule:  avoid the dude you wanted to be with when you were out being with other dudes.  Or some variation thereof.

“Hey,” he said.  He was in his camel overcoat and a rumpled suit, obviously just getting off of work.  It was late.  He must have had a long day.  In one hand, he held a bag from the local chicken joint around the corner.

“Hey,” you replied.  “Late night?”

He nodded, then looked you over.  “You too.”  It wasn’t a question. 

“I’m headed home now,” you said.  “I have an early start tomorrow.”

He nodded again.  He peered at you with his eyes that looked tired but were no less blue than any other time.  You felt the familiar flush of love that you always felt when you looked at him, but you tried to push it down.

“I’m sorry about missing your performance,” he finally said.  His Staten Island accent got thicker when he was tired, and it was showing now.  “Performance” came out “perfawmance.” 

You shrugged.  “No big deal.  You were busy.”

“I tried to make it,” he continued.  “Something came up.”

You gave a bitter laugh.  “Yeah, I heard.”  You turned to leave, but you felt him reach out and take a hold of your arm.

“Why are you so upset?” he said.  You turned and looked at him, and he was scowling.  Was he mad at you?  You felt anger bubbling up in you.

“Maybe it gets old, always jumping when you need someone.  A study buddy, or someone to cheer your up or tell you that you’re the best.  And then that person never comes through for you.  Or hasn’t for a long time.”

Sonny dropped his hand from your arm.  “Nicole…”

You laughed again, a dry bark dripping with rancor but didn’t say anything.

“She’s my girlfriend,” he continued, spreading his arms out in a helpless gesture, the bag of greasy take-out rustling.  “She wanted to stay in.”

There it was.  There was the core of your anger, and it turned white-hot like a nuclear reactor.  You’d drop everything for Sonny, but he’d drop everything for her.  And then he’d have the audacity to look at you with that wounded look he was giving you now.

He sighed.  “If you had someone…” he started, but didn’t finish.  He looked you over again, from your feet to the top of your head.

You narrowed your eyes at him.  “Maybe I do have someone,” you said, your voice low.  “Maybe I took your advice and decided to stop being so picky.”

Now it was his turn to laugh.  “Someone?  Or several someones?” he asked.  “Are you going through some delayed slutty phase because you didn’t get a chance to in college?”

Before you could even stop yourself, your hand shot out, quick as a viper and slapped him across the face.  A part of you, deep down, felt horrified at the look that crossed his face as his blue eyes widened.  But that part of you was small and quiet, and the white-hot angry part of you was in charge.

“Fuck you, Sonny,” you said, your voice going up half an octave and doing that shaky thing that it did before you started to angry-cry.  “I didn’t have any sort of phase in college because I was too busy mooning over you.  And I spent the years after that doing the same fucking thing.  Year after year, just waiting around for you to notice me.”  You ignored the emotions that crossed his face because you couldn’t read them anyway.  You used to think you knew him better than anyone but did you, really?

“I didn’t…” he started, but you shook your index finger at him and didn’t let him continue.

“I’m done waiting around for you,” you said, the tears forming and then spilling down your eyelashes.  “You have a girlfriend?  Great.  Go to her when you need a fucking pep-talk.  I’ll keep taking your advice, keep my standards nice and low.”  You half-turned from him, then added, “and if I need someone to stand me up for my performances, I’ll just call my mom, okay?” 

Then you turned away from him completely and left him standing on the sidewalk as you walked home in tears.

#sonny carisi #sonny carisi imagine #sonny carisi x reader #law and order svu fanfiction #law and order svu #tropes and tales

[omnitf]

Cliqued into Place: A Patreon Preview

This story is rated mature due to cursing. You can find the full story on my Patreon in the $5 tier. Credit for this image goes to @morphedcocks

------------------------------------------------

“How…? Why does it taste so good?” Once more, his voice cracked. This time, he didn’t clear his throat.

“Cause protein shakes’re sweet, bro.”

“Best whey to make sweet gains, bro. Huhuhuh.”

CLANK

Huhuhuh. Huhuhuh. Huhuhuh…. That same dull laugh seemed to come from everywhere.

It wasn’t funny. It was so stupid. Literally a Dad joke. And yet…. Why was his mouth twitching? Why did his jaw suddenly feel sore? Why was his chest all tingly?

“Fuck, bro. That was bad. That joke was bad—”

The creature rose from the depths like a great blue whale, its ascent slow and steady at first until it broached the surface. “And you should—” Then, unable to be held back, it bellowed like an effusive belch. “—feel bad.”

Was that … his voice? Or was it just a trick, some reverb or software in the helmet that kicked in after sampling his voice to make it sound lower in his ears? Maurice didn’t have long to think about it.

The one who made the joke smiled along with Maurice. And that smile kept on, even as he delivered his terrible counterblow. “Just for that, you’re doin’ leg lifts before we undo the rest, bro.”

Leg lifts? Really?

“That, or you can stay there and listen. We got time.”

“Listen to what—”

CLANK

“—BRO?” Maurice’s eyes widened, even as he shuddered. That … that had come out of him. But, … he didn’t mean to say it. Bro talk was for brutes like Tim and Bryce, not for—

CLANK

Not for—

CLANK

Not … for….

CLANK

…

Thump

The vibration carried up Maurice’s legs while the two big brutes looked on, their cocky smirks almost as broad as their backs and cannonball delts. Meaty veined arms folded over massive, nigh-identical chests. Their eyes were still a mystery, obscured by the visors of their own headgear, doubtless a mirror to what Maurice had so firmly placed on his own head.

He could almost hear the subtle creaking of a hinge, the tautness of a pulley as the subtle release of pressure from gravity granted a few precious seconds of agonizing buildup before the next

CLANK

Creak

CLANK

A wave of dizziness struck now. His head rolled like a buoy on an ocean swell.

Huhuh. Swell….

His breathing felt … funny, labored. And his shirt felt … tight. And kinda cold?

As the creaking built up again, he looked in an unreal sense of bemused detachment at the two throbbing masses of flesh that stood straight as a board. They looked so ridiculous, so pumped and loaded down with the sheer weight of corded mass rippling while his core burned.

CLANK

Thump

They were out of sight.

Creak

Strain. They were there again as he huffed and puffed, his mouth seemingly refusing to close, almost as if he had forgotten how….

CLANK

Thump

How to….

Creak

Pop! Pop! RIIIiiiiip!

Cold on his thighs. The pants on the funny legs were breaking, drooping to reveal the sculped flesh quivering beneath.

“Atta bro.” The twin voices rang in unison, and Maurice felt his head spin as his eyes rolled in a mix of dazed confusion and sheer, blazing ecstasy.

CLANK

Thump

Pop-Pop!

Ch-Ch-ChhhhrrrrriiIIIIIiip!

Smack-Smack!

Creak.

“UUUuuuuhhhhHhhhhh….” The groan warbled and thrummed with the steady, heavy beating of his heart hammering in his head. This time, the tatters were gone, replaced with a tight white sheath of nylon and spandex that hid nothing of the mesmerizing display of swollen pumped muscle rippling and coming to rest like the crash of waves on a shore. The tattered remnants of his now burst shoes sloughed off, leaving bulging feet and toes behind that strained against the confines of the socks that were barely holding on in the fight to keep the monsters contained. He could almost picture the state of their soles, creaking and straining, made dark by the repetitive impact against the old soles of the shoes that had once contained them.

“Fuck, bro,” Maruice heard one of them exclaim.

“Bro,” the second brute echoed.

Not bro. Something in Maurice shied away from that, cringing and whimpering. He didn’t want bro, but—

“Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck….” He could live with that. They’d said it so many times already, and he hadn’t been bothered by it. And … the situation did call for it, right? His head was feeling so messed up. And … he was all bound and shit, right? So he could totally curse himself out if he wanted to.

Nobody would judge him for it, right bro-ooohhhh no! He wouldn’t … fall into the brutes’ bro talk that easily. But … damn, that did feel good.

The burning in his core and thighs dulled and pulled away, retreating to concentrate in—

Creak

“Oh, Fuck,” the word drew out in another mighty expulsion. And in response, something began to swell.

CLANK

Thump

Creak

“Fuck.”

CLANK

Thump

Creak

“Fuck.”

#patreon preview #muscles #bro #jock #transformation #dumber #dumb #jocking #meathead #dumbing down #musclehead #Brawn #brain to brawn #patreon

[autoandro-meda]

already sent this to a couple of blogs that aint answered me yet, need someone to acknowledge and praise a bit. im so desperate to start my medical transition that i lifted a couple bottles of testosterone supplements from my local pharmacy. i hope it does something, anything for me. im hoping.

Hey anon. Kink gloves off im gonna talk to you real serious right now.

Ill just rip the bandaid off: that is not going to do what you want it to do (transition you). Testosterone supplements either do one of two things; decrease estrogen production on a very small level/ridiculously high dosage, or increase existing hormone production. Unfortunately, since we typically dont produce testosterone already, taking a t supplement does not work akin to hrt. Im sorry to tell you.

I was barred from HRT for a good while due to my families rejection of it, my healthcare not covering it, and only having 4 clinics in the state that would actually treat me (despite having branches all over the state.) It was miserable, i was misgendered everyday and mostly gave up on binding or doing anything. Anon if youre not doing good right now doing risky things out of desparation isnt going to help you. At best youll stressed yourself over something you now have to hide and at worst you get caught.

I do not know your situation but here are some broad things i can suggest to hopefully try and help you out/relieve any amount of dysphoria:

-im not sure if youre in the states and if so where but plannedparenthood is the usually referenced for a reason. I got to my HRT appointment and had no insurance and not enough money. So they lied about some stuff to get my fees waived. If it is legal where you are at least google you locations treatment pages/insurance options.

-there are simple forms of voice training you can do that do help lift spirits a bit. Im sure theres tons on youtube but my usual practice was cycling through specific syllables at the lowest pitch i could possible for a bit. So like, for the duration of a shower id be prattling off strings of noises like "Beng Bong, Heng Hong, Seng Song.." or "ka-ku-ki-ka-ku-ke-ka, ha-hu-hi-ha-hu-he-ha" trying tk do it in routine. You can laugh, i hope its funny.

-im not saying go hyperdrive workout routine but if you have the ability to be a bit more active some how i suggest it. I took a hour walk most days before i could start transitioning and it didnt change much but it made me feel more confortable.

-if working out is something you would wanna look into theres a ton of options for high protein foods/drinks that do help with muscle development (i used to be more into em when i started my transition.) Check if theres a place by you that does whey protein smoothies im so goddamn serious they taste so good and are the main reason i have Something Resembling Biceps

-i am behind a screen. I have a sort of idea of how i come off to my followers but take it from me i am 1 year into my hormones and its not been a very massive change at all. I look almost the same in my comparison pics, i hardly have facial hair, you realize quickly this is gonna take time. Which i mention as to say your transition will always be waiting for you and while right now it may seem out of reach or impossible i promise that will someday change.

-tip from me: dont shit where you eat. If youre gonna shoplift dont go to a pharmacy thats local to you, try to go somewheres you dont frequent. But for real stop stealing dick pills bro.

-i am taking this ask in good faith because i dont want to potentially shut this anon out, but if this is a troll or copypasta youre a piece of shit.

-if not, sorry about above, i hope you know you have a place with trans men who would love to support you in this difficult process because we know. Its alright.

-you gotta keep trying. With love.

#ask tag

[kcrossvine-art]

Hihihi all! It’s startin to get hot out. Or maybe it already is hot. I can’t feel this. Today from the little book of mice and war we are making a chilled treat named “Great Hall Gooseberry Fool”.

(If you’d like to follow along with this foolish endeavor, original recipe is under the cut!)-

MY NAMES CROSS NOW LETS COOK LIKE ANIMALS

SO, “what goes in to a Great Hall Gooseberry Fool?” YOU MIGHT ASK

Gooseberries

Sugar

Cornstarch 

Milk

Heavy Cream

(Optionally, vanilla pudding)

Grated chocolate

SO funny story; the principal, crown jewel, fruit of this confection was federally outlawed until 1966, where it transferred to a state-by-state basis. Now, the state I live in doesn’t have any restrictions on ribes (the family of fruit the gooseberry belongs to), but due to the decades of being banned, its still super duper hard to find. I’m not keen on the deets but golden berries are a lot more common than gooseberries, despite being the same family,. The main difference between them seems to be appearance, and taste. This will be relevant. 

AND, “what does Great Hall Gooseberry Fool taste like?” YOU MIGHT ASK

As if you ground up a pregnant mammalian insect and its unbirthed internal egg clutch, and ate it. 

Kind of like a rancid orange. Meaty.  Grainy. Viscous. Acrid.

With many tiny seeds

The custards pretty good!

Texture overall reminds me of baby food. 

A schnasty exploding bullet that gives way to an infection. The grated chocolate makes it look even more unsanitary but it and the custard were the most enjoyable parts.

.I managed about 2 bites before my mouth dug its heels into my brain and halted. This was meant for UK gooseberries, and you cannot substitute for cape/golden berries. 

.substituted Gooseberries for ‘Golden Berries’ .used almond milk for ‘milk’  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yipes! YUH oh!YORK!

In the future I’d make this with blackberry or raspberry, maybe? What I’m able to gather between the flavor profiles of goose vs golden, they seem to be more comparable to those. It’s also very very possible I didn’t puree it correctly, it called for an amount of water that didn’t quite cover the fruit and combined with the sugar I noticed even on low heat it seemed to caramelize some pieces of fruit skin?

The custard part actually turned out super well! Considering I’ve never made custard before, or, actually tasted custard before- I was thoroughly impressed with how it turned out! If only I hadn’t folded all of it into the fruit.

The custard and chocolate shavings try to papermache the termite infestation, and its damn good papermache, but the termites eat that too. 3/10. didn’t give me food poisoning, wasn’t as bad as the time i needed a scented candle held to my face to force down a whey protein shake, still super duper nauseating. 

🐁 ORIGINAL RESIPPY TEXT BELOW 🐁

Fruit:

1 pound gooseberries, washed

1/2 cup sugar

Custard:

(or substitute 1/2 cup prepared vanilla pudding):

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

10 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped

Grated chocolate (use a cheese grater), for serving.

Method:

Place the gooseberries in a saucepan with the sugar and two tablespoons of water. Cook over medium heat until the fruit is completely soft, about 10 minutes. Press the fruit through a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl to achieve a smooth puree. Let cool.

To make the custard, in a bowl, mix the cornstarch and sugar with 2 tablespoons of the milk.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the remaining 1/2 cup of milk to a boil. Pour the hot milk onto the cornstarch mixture and stir to blend well. Return the mixture to the pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until thickened, about 4 minutes. Let cool, stirring occasionally.

Fold the custard and then the whipped cream into the gooseberry puree. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.

To serve, divide the fool between four sundae glasses and sprinkle each with a little grated chocolate.

#redwall #cooking recipes #digital art #cross cooks redwall

[ayin-me-yesh]

Something I see online that's frustrating to me is you'll get people telling the vegan activists who promote veganism as a universal ideal that there are disabled people who can't have a vegan diet, but then a lot of the people who point this out don't seem to know what conditions actually cause that. And then you end up having arguments about that so I want to actually point out a few examples

I think the number one example where there's no way to safely, healthfully avoid having to consume animal products is haemodialysis for kidney failure. People on dialysis need more protein than other people because they lose protein and blood cells during the dialysis process, and they are required to have a low potassium diet because their kidneys can't filter potassium. This means legumes and soy aren't viable alternatives. [x] "Renal dietitians encourage most people on haemodialysis to eat high-quality protein because it produces less waste for removal during dialysis. High-quality protein comes from meat, poultry, fish, and eggs." [x] If you can't meet your protein needs with these foods for whatever reason, you'll be prescribed whey protein powder, which is made from dairy. [x]

Ketogenic diets are also high in animal proteins. They're innately low carb and high in fat, which means legumes and other meat alternatives aren't a great fit. "The ketogenic diet can boost insulin sensitivity and cause fat loss, leading to significant health benefits for people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes." [x] PCOS, a common condition effecting about 10% of people who menstruate, is also often treated with a low carb, high protein diet because it involves insulin resistance. [x]

Ketogenic diets may also be recommended to treat seizures in epilepsy. [x] It is most frequently used for focal seizures in children, infantile spasms, Rett syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, Dravet syndrome, Doose syndrome, and GLUT-1 deficiency. In these conditions, ketogenic diets can reduce or even eliminate seizures.

People with food allergies can find it difficult to afford safe and healthy food in general. [x] The inability to rely on cheap, plant-based proteins like canned beans or dried lentils can be a general hardship, especially when disabilities themselves can limit job opportunities or the capacity to work.

Intestinal disorders are another factor that can make vegan diets difficult. Foods high in insoluble fibre, like beans and other legumes, as well as nuts and seeds, can cause Crohn's flare ups in some people. [x] Seeds, nuts, and legumes can also be trigger foods for people with ulcerative colitis. [x] IBD flare ups are not like a run-of-the-mill case of intestinal discomfort. They can land people in the hospital and require major surgery. [x]

For allergies, the main factor that can make a vegan diet difficult isn't allergy to specific vegetables, but to specific plant proteins. Someone who is allergic to soy, peanuts, or other legumes will have more limited options for meeting their daily protein requirements on a vegan diet. People with allergies to a broad spectrum of legumes may not have any reasonable substitution options. Substitutions can also increase the price point and make a vegan diet too expensive for people in poverty who also have allergies. Poor people with food allergies may find it difficult in general to afford a safe and healthy diet. [x]

For some people, including some disabled people, a vegan diet may in fact be ideal. Vegan diets can certainly be part of a healthy diet when trying to reduce bad cholesterol [x], treat high blood pressure [x], or treat earlier stages of kidney disease. [x] And while insulin resistance may be best treated with a ketogenic diet in some people, others do seem to benefit from a plant-based diet instead. [x] A person's diabetes specialist and trained dietitians can help them figure out which is best for them, potentially based on other factors like whether or not they have high blood pressure or bad cholesterol, or whether their diabetes risks are linked to PCOS or other known metabolic conditions.

Achieving sustainable food production and equal access to a safe, nutritious, well-balanced diet is fundamental to us all. But there's simply no one-size-fits-all ideal human diet, and that's something everyone needs to take into account.

#disability #ableism #dialysis #epilepsy #diabetes #allergies #long post #food tw #diet tw

[boltnutrition]

FOAMING IN YOUR WHEY PROTEIN SHAKE: IS IT CAUSING YOU A CONCERN?

When you mix whey protein powder with water or milk, do you notice that it forms a lot of foam? Does this bother you? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, this is a common concern among many people who use whey protein powder. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at what whey protein is and why it foams when mixed with liquid. We’ll also address the concerns that many people have about the foaming and whether or not there is cause for concern. So, if you’re wondering about the foaming in your whey protein shake, read on! 

What is Whey Protein?

Whey protein is a kind of protein supplement that is a derivative of milk. It is a mixture of proteins left over after the process of cheese-making. Since whey protein is a complete protein, it has every necessary amino acid your body requires. Whey protein is popular among those who exercise and is often consumed in a shake mix. 

Whey Protein and Foaming When powdered whey protein is mixed with water or milk, it tends to form a lot of foam. This is due to the proteins and fats that are naturally present in the protein powder. Those proteins and fats react with the liquids and create a foamy consistency.

Why Does Whey Protein Foam?

There are a few reasons why whey protein tends to foam. First, the proteins, or amino acids, in whey protein are polar molecules, which means they dissolve better in water. This causes them to form a foam as they mix with liquid.

Second, it can be anything from the aggregation of sugars or fat particles in the powder to the size of the protein particles themselves, which can cause foam. Lastly, adding flavoring to the powder can also increase the foaming, as certain flavorings also contain proteins that help create foam when mixed with liquids. 

Should You Be Concerned About the Foaming in Your Whey Protein Shake? The short answer is, no. Foaming is a normal part of mixing whey protein into liquid and is actually a sign that the powder is dissolving properly. Therefore, there is no cause for alarm when it comes to foaming in your shake. 

Obviously if the powder is clumping up or if the shake is simply too foamy then it could be a sign of low or bad quality protein or something else is going on. In this case, it may be a good idea to refer to the label of the whey protein or contact the company or manufacturer to determine if there is an issue with the powder. 

To Wrap it Up Foaming in your whey protein shake is normal and shouldn’t pose any health concerns. The foaming is a result of proteins and fats in the powder reacting with liquid, and should be looked at as a sign that the powder is dissolving properly. 

Of course, if the protein powder is clumping or the shake is overly foamy, then it may be time to refer to the label or contact the company or manufacturer.

#what is whey protein #what is whey #what is whey protein isolate #what is whey protein made of #what is the best whey protein #what is whey protein made from #what are the benefits of whey protein #whey protein shake #whey protein powder for weight gain

[ragsy]

You find yourself in an unfamiliar room with no windows and one door. In the room with you are a wooden desk and a cheerful gnome figurine. What do you do?

>KISS GNOME

You pucker up and plant a big wet one on the gnome's smooth porcelain lips. The gnome remains motionless as you pull away, but you swear you just heard a faint"Yippee!" from inside its hollow body. Your pocket feels heavier than before.

Item GNOME'S FAVOR added to inventory.

What do you do?

>LOOK GNOME'S FAVOR

The GNOME'S FAVOR fits neatly in your palm, but its polished surface makes it difficult to grasp. The gemstone glitters cheerfully, even in the dim light of the windowless room. Holding the GNOME'S FAVOR fills you with a powerful sense of comfort. You hear a faint "Hooray!" from inside the gnome's body.

Something crinkles in your pocket, and you catch a whiff of cheese dust.

Item GNOME'S FLAVOR added to your inventory.

What do you do?

>LOOK GNOME’S FLAVOR

GNOME’S FLAVOR® Dandelion Fluff Flavored Tortilla

Chip NET WT. 9 ¼ OZ. (276.4g)

Serving Size 9 1/4oz (276.4g/About 1 chip)

Amount per serving

CALORIES 1500

% Daily Value

Wishes 40mg 2%

Hopes 8g 10%

Dreams 0.3mg 0%

Ennui 210mg 9%

INGREDIENTS Corn, Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, And/or Sunflower Oil), Maltodextrin (Made From Corn), Salt, Whey, Monosodium Glutamate, Buttermilk, Romano Cheese, Whey Protein Concentrate, Corn Flour, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Dextrose, Artificial Color (Yellow 6, Yellow 5, And Red 40), Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Sugar, Disodium Inosinate, And Disodium Guanylate.

From inside the gnome’s hollow body, you hear a faint “Yum, yum!”

Somewhere outside the room, something shatters loudly.

What do you do?

>USE DOOR

The hinges groan as you muscle open the long-neglected door and step into the hallway. The air is musty and stale, and the grubby carpet crunches lightly under your feet. Behind you, the door slams shut.

Further down the hall and around a corner, you hear another loud crash, followed by the patter of several pairs of tiny feet. From within your pocket, you hear a faint "Uh-oh!"

#ragsycon exclusive #gnomequest

[themomsandthecity]

Are European Baby Formulas *Really* Better Than Ones Made in the US?

I live my life by the Reddit Click Theory (something I just now invented on the spot), which states: the number of clicks it takes to get to a piece of information on Reddit is directly correlated with its status as a conspiracy theory. One click? You're probably safe. Five clicks? You're in anti-vaxxer territory. Anyway, as I Googled "best baby formula" to feed my twin boys, Reddit threads professing the life-altering magic of HiPP, Holle, Kendamil, and other European baby formulas kept rising to the top. Upon further research, it became clear that there is a fairly sizable faction of parents who prefer the standards of European Union baby formulas to American recipes. "We dug into this trend in 2019, prior to the infant formula shortage," says Dina DiMaggio, MD, FAAP, medical research director at Bobbie Labs, an offshoot of the organic formula brand that supports research on infant feeding. "Our research, which focused on New York City-based parents, found that 20 percent of families were using illegally imported European infant formulas [bought through unregulated third-party websites]." Parents who utilize EU formulas regularly cite that the EU has stricter standards for baby formulas than in the United States, with non-GMO, grass-fed dairy, and organic ingredients being frequently thrown around. If you look at third-party sites, this is echoed in the reviews, which bemoan the use of corn syrup, pesticides, and sugar levels in American formulas. "The rise in this trend came while consumers were beginning to understand the difference between EU and US regulations in other product categories," says Dr. DiMaggio. "Just as people were taking a closer look at what was in the products they were purchasing for themselves, it's natural that they started to do the same for their babies." What Are the Main Differences Between EU and US Formulas? In scrutinizing labels, I found that both EU and US formulas contain the same key ingredients: a milk source (usually from cows; though sometimes sensitive formulas are made from goat's milk), lactose, vegetable oils, and whey protein. As with labels for personal care products, ingredients for baby formulas are listed with the ingredient that's in the largest quantity in the formula at the front of the label. Related: The Best Baby Formula of 2023, According to Reviewers Largely, the differences between formulas can be attributed to requirements that the Food and Drug Administration - which regulates baby formula in the United States - sets for brands to meet versus what the EU requires its formulas to meet. "Both the FDA and European Union have specific and strict standards for infant formula with nutrient requirements and labeling laws," says Anthony Porto, MD, FAAP, MPH, Chief Medical Director at Bobbie Labs. Let's take a closer look at where the regulating bodies' standards differ, shall we? 1. DHA The EU requires DHA - an omega-3 fatty acid that plays an important structural role for brain, skin, and eye development - to be between 20 to 50 milligrams per 100 calories; however, the FDA and US formulas have no DHA requirement. Though, importantly, many formula companies in the U.S. still enhance their formulas with DHA. 2. Carb Sources There are also differences in sugar in the varying formulas. "The EU also has a limit on how much of the carb source can come from an alternative sugar source other than lactose, which is the sugar found in breastmilk," says Dr. Porto. 3. Iron Most US formulas include more iron than formulas made in Europe.This is because the FDA requires US formulas to meet certain requirements for the level of 30 nutrients, one of them being iron. Formulas in the US are fortified with iron at 12 mg/dL. Okay, So What Should I Buy? Which formula to buy for your babe is a deeply personal decision. "It's important to remember that both US and European formulas provide safe and healthy nutrition for… https://www.popsugar.com/family/european-vs-american-formula-49314493?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[fitgirledit]

Hey fit girls!

If you're looking to take your nutrition to the next level to boost the effect of your workouts, you might consider using supplements.

I created a short list of the most popular fitness supplements that will help fuel and optimize your performance. You can also read about my personal experience with them.

So let's get started on finding out which supplements are right for you!

1. Protein Powders

One of the most popular supplements for athletes, protein powders provide your body with a steady source of muscle-building protein. They're perfect for those looking to increase their muscle mass or recover faster from intense workouts. Protein powders contain whey.

Protein powders are a fast and low-calorie option to ingest more protein. Remember that a sufficient protein intake is crucial for seeing changes in your body composition. The recommended daily protein intake varies wildly depending on the source, so I suggest tracking your intake and adjusting the amount of protein according to the body changes you observe.

I've been using protein powders from My Protein for several years now. There are tons of flavors to choose from. They also offer vegetarian and vegan protein powders. I mix protein powders with water to get a protein shake, but you can also use milk or plant milk.

2. BCAAs

Branched-chain amino acids are essential for muscle growth and energy. BCAAs provide your body with the essential building blocks it needs to repair and build muscle.

I personally saw no difference when I used BCAAs before my workouts, but a lot of people include them in their routine.

3. Pre-Workouts

Pre-workout supplements are designed to give you a boost of energy before your workout. They contain ingredients such as caffeine and other stimulants that help increase your mental focus and physical performance.

As much as I love to optimize my workouts, I am not a coffee drinker so the caffeine in pre-workouts made me jittery and nervous. But many people with a tolerance to caffeine swear by pre-workout supplements as they find they increase their energy and strength.

4. Creatine

Creatine is a popular supplement for athletes looking to improve strength and power. It's been scientifically proven to increase muscle growth, power output, and muscle recovery.

I highly recommend creatine, which is one of the best researched supplements on the market. I find that it improves my performance by about 10%. I currently take 3 grams of creatine per day.

5. Multivitamins

While all of these supplements are important for optimizing physical performance, multivitamins are sometimes essential for overall health and wellness. They help fill in the gaps of any nutrition deficiencies (eg. if you exclude a certain food group), giving you the energy and nutrients you need to stay healthy.

Before taking any multivitamins, I recommend getting a blood panel done to figure out if you actually have vitamin deficiencies. You might consider taking only a specific vitamin instead of a general multivitamin supplement.

Conclusion

Overall, supplements can be a great way to optimize your physical performance and get the most out of your workouts. However, it is important to do your research before starting any supplement regimen as there are potential risks associated with taking too much or not enough.

Additionally, monitoring your progress and tracking what you eat will help ensure that you're getting all the nutrients you need for optimal health. Ultimately, if used correctly, supplements can give you an edge in achieving your fitness goals- so don't forget them!

#supplements #creatine #multivitamin #bcaa #protein #protein powder #myprotein #health #healthy eating #healthy food #wellness #nutrition

[shwoo]

I think the gastroenterologist I saw the other week was probably right about my problems being exacerbated by poor nutrition, though not about the details, so I ordered some elemental shake powder off the Internet. Clearly I'm having trouble absorbing nutrients from whole food, so pre-digested stuff will probably make a difference. I'm not planning to eat only elemental food in the near future, though.

It's also got whey protein, but I just found out that whey protein doesn't actually contain casein, so that should be okay I hope.

It came today, and I've made up the shake, so I should probably... drink it...

Smells powdery. More powdery than before I added the water, actually.

That... actually tastes fine. Kind of a gross aftertaste, but a mild and not very lingering one. Definitely not the least pleasant shake I've ever had.

Well, that's good. Assuming it doesn't somehow make my guts explode in the next few hours. I'll have to see what it's like with the oil they suggest adding.

#My wonderful health problems #It's time for: Exciting liveblogging of some expensive nutrition powder from the Internet that I don't even bother to identify!

[selfpositiveundertale]

Another update, hopefully less bleak than the last one.

So on Wednesday I broke down in front of my chiropractor telling him what's going on with me. I apologized for breaking down and he said it's okay, he knows that blood sugar dropping can make a person very emotional. He was surprised to hear that I'd had a green smoothie consisting of whey protein powder, a cup of mixed greens, a ripe banana, and a cup of oat milk immediately before coming to the appointment and not even an hour later I already felt famished like I hadn't had anything all day, but he suggested that getting more fats in my diet might help me hold onto my food longer and keep my blood sugar at a reasonable level longer, so I should be consuming more butter, nut butters, avocado, coconut oil, etc. Putting peanut butter or avocado in my green smoothies, having avocado on whole grain toast like the millennial I am, and I think I'll go back to the special way I was making coffee a while back that involved heavy cream and MCT oil powder. I'll post how I do that in a separate post. I also mentioned to him that I was seriously considering purchasing liver and bones from the butcher shop to get more protein and iron in my system, and he approved of that idea as well.

After my husband picked me up from my appointment, we got food from our favorite local Chinese restaurant, and the orange chicken, fried rice, egg roll, and crab rangoon actually lasted longer in my system and kept me stable longer than anything else I'd had in the last week or two. Lots of fat in all that Chinese food. It was great. The chef seemed to have gotten a little enthusiastic with the spiciness of the orange chicken but I definitely wasn't complaining.

The next day I made a green smoothie and added a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter and that did help it to stay in my system a little longer, but it didn't have enough sugar since I only had half a banana to put in it.

So I'm thinking when we go grocery shopping this weekend, I'll get extra bananas, maybe apples, avocados, some whole grain bread, two jars of peanut butter, and heavy cream along with our usual items. And when we go to the butcher shop I'll see how much liver costs, I already know bones are sold at a reasonable price, and I'll ask the butcher if he can recommend how best to cook the liver, and if I can put it in the slow cooker.

I did more googling and found that low blood sugar isn't uncommon in people who have fibromyalgia, so I'll send my rheumatologist a message and ask about that.

Things are looking less hopeless, and it looks like I have some solutions almost within reach. Just have to make the grocery trip tomorrow.

Right now I feel my blood sugar dropping, so I think I'll go try to make something to eat. I had a bowl of greens loaded with butter, garlic, and salt pork earlier and it was very good and lasted a while but now I need more food. Might cook some more greens and see if I can make some mashed potatoes as well because I might need carbs. Might even cook the rest of the bacon we got from the butcher shop last week since I'm sure it needs to be cooked asap. Hopefully I can stand up long enough to cook. I'm in a lot of pain rn that's going to make being on my feet difficult.

Wish me luck, and stay determined.

Also @ the person who replied to my last update: thank you so much for your kind words. I needed that. ❤️❤️❤️