Category: life

Posted on

15 People Share the One Thing They Can’t Unsee

Have you ever stumbled upon something or witnessed an incident that you really weren’t meant to see – and that you wish you hadn’t?

We all have some of those moments, through no fault of our own.

In this AskReddit article, people share stories about seeing things that they definitely shouldn’t have.

1. Cringey

“Just 2 days ago, at a community pool, a teenage couple who entered into the pool area went into the hot tub. Stood up to stretch my legs and looked over to, well, sex in the hot tub. It was mid day!! I cringed pretty hard… but I laughed even harder when the neighborhood cop showed up.”

2. Almost in the buff

“I once arrived early to pick up a girl for a first date. She was renting a small garden apartment behind a bigger house. It was just after dusk and I walked around the corner. The sliding door was standing open and she was inside walking around, brushing her hair, wearing only her underwear.

She did not see me, so I just walked back around that corner and waited another 10 minutes. When I walked round again she had a dress on. I never told her.

edit: Since a few asked. The date went well. I only got to see her underwear again several weeks later.”

3. Dear Diary…

“When I was about 16, I was snooping in my parent’s wardrobe. Found a diary written by my mother when she was 14 (from the year 1970). Read some beautiful and brilliantly written entries about meeting and dating my dad (who was 16 at the time).

Had to read a little between the lines in some slightly later entries as they were written with such flowery language. In one such entry, all of a sudden she discloses that she’s had an abortion. Performed by my grandfather. An anesthesiologist. She never told anyone.”

4. Oh boy

“I found a suitcase full of dildos under my moms bed when I was 8.”

5. Sad

“My dad’s AA chips. Learned it’s why my parents got divorced. Proud of him for being in recovery though.”

6. Don’t make a sound

“Me and a friend snuck away from a house party at 2am once, we wanted to go to this local abbey. We were exploring the grounds and generally having a nice time when we see two cars stop nearby.

Instinctively we hid in some bushes and witnessed what was clearly a large drug trade.

We definitely were not supposed to see that. We waited for them to finish their business and then we headed back to the party.”

7. My eyes!

“Saw my parents having sex. Scarred me for a good 4 years and I forgot about it until you decided to make me relive the pain.”

8. She knows…

“Found out a relative who everyone believes to be filthy rich and always throws extravagant parties, put his kids in expensive private schools, his wife shopping and eating fine dining, is broke and close to declaring bankruptcy. He’s in deep debt and that he hasn’t paid his bills in months and from what I could see, he owes a loan shark too.

Now, every time I see him post an invite to my mom, I cringe at the thought of him owing more money.

My mom knows, but I never told her, she just knows.”

9. Well, that’s ruined

“David Copperfield show: I was at an angle that allowed me to see the volunteers running out from the stage during a disappearing act.”

10. Nudes

“My mom gave me an old laptop of hers when I was about 13 and I was scrolling through random pics she had left on it of my little brothers football games and then boom, nudes of my mother.”

11. Addicted

“Back in 1997, I started work at a new job and took over the office of a salesman who had recently been fired. I was in IT, using the same computer that had been setup for Sales. My first task was to install all the software I’d need.

The computer hard drive was almost full, so I poked around and found a TON of folders filled with porn. Went to my supervisor, and he said to delete it, warning me that the salesman had been fired for downloading porn.

Over the next few weeks, I kept finding secret porn folders on the the company’s network. Not only had he downloaded enough porn to max out his computer’s HD, he had the network at about 90% capacity.

When I was done deleting all the folders I could find, the server capacity was less than 50%. Dude was seriously addicted to porn.”

12. Cooking the books

“Leaving work late one evening, I saw the HR director and CFO in a dark office shredding papers (no, that’s not an euphemism). I didn’t say anything but quietly walked on down the hall. Two weeks later we were raided by the SEC and several people were charged with cooking the books.”

13. Better call the cops

“Worked for a downtown metropolitan hotel for a long time, and I’ve seen a lot I wasn’t supposed to see. Probably the worst was a kid with an old man.

Checked this guy in at like 1 in the morning (not uncommon because people travel t different times) but he was alone. Like an hour later he asked for something like a towel or blanket. Anyways, dispatched our runner to deliver it. After the runner comes to me and says he thinks something is wrong because he caught a glimpse of someone and the old guy was trying hard to block the entrance.

Being that we were supposed to take stuff like human trafficking seriously, I asked our maintenance to cut his power so we would get a call to come up to try and fix the problem. He does and I go up with him to apologize for the inconvenience because the guy was also a tor tier member. Sure enough we hear a kid in the bathroom hiding.

Tried to ask who the kid was and the old guy tried everything to shut us down from throwing his status around to bribing. Called the cops and let them deal with it.

EDIT: didn’t expect this to gain so much traction. Here’s are some additional info for people that have been asking: I don’t recall the specific charge (or if I was even told so, use your imagination), I don’t know the age of the child (I only saw him briefly one time when the cops showed up), I don’t know the age of the guy, this was in Southern California (as specific as I’d like to be).”

14. The poor pillow

“Back when I was a teenager, we hosted a New Zealander at our house for a couple weeks. Guy gets to our place after the flight, and about 10 minutes later I’m walking around my house to see where he’s at.

The door to his room is partially open, and the dude is laying face down on the bed and HUMPING THE EVERLOVING F*CK out of a pillow. I backed away slowly like Homer when he saw Apu cheating on his wife.

I felt bad for the pillow.”

15. Put it down

“Years ago a colleague had an old smartphone that he brought in to give to another coworker as theirs broke. The phone was sitting on the new owners desk but she hadn’t yet tried it out, as it was still charging after months of not being used.

We were talking about how cool it was with the coworker (smartphones were not widespread yet), and I picked it up to see how it felt in my hand. I pressed a button and the first thing that I saw was a Google search for “lump on anus”. I quickly put the phone back down.

This must have been the last thing he searched for when he last used it a long time ago, and forgot about it…”

The post 15 People Share the One Thing They Can’t Unsee appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

4 of the Biggest Lies Told By HGTV

Just as doctors despise when patients quote WebMD or Grey’s Anatomy, and lawyers roll their eyes when someone brings up Law & Order (or one of the other 100 million legal dramas), real estate agents are having to bite their tongues and smile when people claim to know what they’re doing because they spend a lot of time watching HGTV.

Image Credit: OnSizzle

Now, I watch a ton of HGTV. Property Brothers, Fixer Upper, House Hunters, Love It or List It – I’ve seen them all (and most of the episodes, too), and I know I’m guilty for thinking that I know about the biz because of it.

Which means I need to check out these 4 falsehoods perpetrated by television dramatizations of house hunting, just the same as the rest of y’all.

So, let’s do it.

#1. If everything isn’t exactly the way you want it, keep looking.

Image Credit: OnSizzle

In reality, you’re probably not going to find a house that’s updated to the nines and within your budget, so keep in mind that you’ll probably live there for several years – enough time for you to make changes over time as you can afford them.

#2. You’ll only have to look at like 3 houses before you find “the one.”

Image Credit: OnSizzle

If you’re not a first time home buyer, you likely know this already. My search took months and dozens of tours before a decision could be made.

#3. Renovations happen quickly.

Image Credit: OnSizzle

The longest timeline I’ve seen on any of those shows is like 7 weeks to completely overhaul a house from the studs on up. In reality, those types of renovations can take months, or even years. Contractors are just not that into you, I promise.

#4. Going over your budget is no big deal.

Image Credit:

It really is, and you and your co-buyer (if applicable) should sit down before you even start looking to determine what size mortgage you can afford without struggling down the road. (Just think back to 2009…)

All of a sudden I’m less pumped about moving later this year. Oh, well.

The post 4 of the Biggest Lies Told By HGTV appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

10 Life Lessons Gained by Wasting Your Childhood Playing “The Sims”

If you’re like me, you could have been a millionaire if you spent as much time learning about finance as you did playing “The Sims” growing up.

I guess we’re all not millionaires then, yeah? Anybody?

But we did learn some completely useless things about life, so here they are…

Your life isn’t complete until Drew Carey crashes your party…

Photo Credit: EA/The Sims

House look like hot garbage? Who cares… as long as that bed is hot AF!

Photo Credit: EA/The Sims

You’re so lazy that you’ll just pee on the floor.

Photo Credit: EA/The Sims

How many personality traits do you really need? Five. Just five.

Photo Credit: EA/The Sims

Newspapers just take up WAY too much space…

Photo Credit: EA/The Sims

Nobody knows what to do when fire breaks out.

Photo Credit: EA/The Sims

Friendship is hard.

Photo Credit: EA/The Sims

Life has no maybes. It’s now or never.

Photo Credit: EA/The Sims

Remember that kid you had who started getting bad grades and then they were shipped off to a military school, never to be seen again? Yeah, me neither…

Photo Credit: EA/The Sims

Clowns can just randomly move in to your house and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.

Photo Credit: EA/The Sims

Okay, now go study some finance and get rich. Enough Sims already!

The post 10 Life Lessons Gained by Wasting Your Childhood Playing “The Sims” appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

15 People Share The Things They Wished They’d Known About Life as an Adult

Whether it’s college or your first apartment on your own, moving out of your parents house always comes with surprises – some good, others bad, and a good number we wish someone would have warned us about ahead of time.

Below are 15 that would have been nice to have had some warning for, right?

#1. No one is going to do it for me.

Happy things don’t just happen. You decide to do them.

All those fun events and great memories you had growing up? The birthday parties, beach trips, days you decided to turn the living room into a castle of sheets and cushions?

My parents deliberately planned those things (or gave their own time on a whim) because they wanted me to be happy.

Even if I’m tired from work, I try to plan fun, silly events and always celebrate holidays, because I realized no one’s going to do it for me anymore.

Edit: This comment really seemed to resonate with people! Thanks for the comments and bling. I’m glad this made you happy, or think, or feel seen.

For all those without parents or guardians that made things special for you, I’m sorry. You deserved to have someone who cared.

For those who ask, How do you make special things happen on your own? Or when life is busy, or when you’re poor?, here are some things I’ve done to make my own life nice:

I pick myself wildflower bouquets… or sometimes from people’s shrubs if they’re near the road shhhh
I often take myself to the beach
I like to drive fast with my windows down and good music blaring
I journal a lot
I take myself out to the movies on week nights! I actually prefer to see movies alone. I’m free to emote as I please, and I don’t have to explain anything to anyone.
I strike up a lot of random conversations with people on transit, restaurant waitstaff, folks working at coffee shops, etc. It feels good to make human connections.
I teach. Teaching is one big high for me.
I’m always on the lookout for neat treasures on the ground. Lone earrings, a nice rock, and red autumn leaf.
Get a warm cup some something and hold it in both hands while you walk around on a cold day. Best ever.
I guess these aren’t necessarily holiday-things, but they’re still special, and make my life joyful.

#2. Being sick.

Being on my own if I got sick. I once got food poisoning when my roommate was away for the weekend. Vomiting every 20-30 minutes for an entire day. I was severely dehydrated and didn’t even have the strength to walk to the drug store for meds and gatorade.

#3. All that stuff.

The amount of small things that needs to be done on everyday basis: cooking, house cleaning, dish washing, laundry, etc… And this does not include homework (if you are a student), hobbies, personal life… I’m just so tired of all that stuff.

#4. The magic toilet fairy.

DON’T FORGET TO BUY TOILET ROLL! THERE IS NO MAGIC TOILET FAIRY DESPITE APPEARENCES!

Edit: Having read all the replies, it appears that I am the Toilet Roll Fairy! I am glad to have reminded you all to buy more!

#5. I still can’t get over it.

You need to actually THINK about what you want to eat each and every day. I still can’t get over it.

#6. I can’t chill.

How alike my mom and I are. I used to tell her to chill with the household chores.

She couldn’t chill.

I can’t chill.

Must. Clean…

#7. Condiments and spices.

Not having condiments or spices on hand. I took for granted having salt and pepper and whatever spice I needed in the cupboard. Buying all that at once can add up quickly.

#8. Drinkable water.

Water cost money. I grew up on a farm with well water. It completely blew me away people had to pay for tap water. Years later I feel bad for people in cities that dont provide drinkable water.

Our home town had an oil pipe burst and contaminated their drinking water. Many people came to our farm for drinkable water.

#9. Reality check.

The cost of food and how fast it goes bad.

#10. My idea of independence.

How wrong my idea of “independence” was.

Sure, you can do whatever you want whenever you want. But almost every activity generates waste in some capacity that YOU need to deal with.

Also, if you have a full-time job, having to forego hanging out with friends that don’t. Sorry guys, I can’t hang out until 2 am on Tuesday to play video games anymore. Gotta be up at 6!

#11. Sad, but true.

The fact that $100 is no longer a lot of money.

#12. How reassuring it was.

Come back to a dark, liveless home in the evenings.

Since my mom worked 6am 2pm until a few years ago, and we lived with my grandparents, there were always someone home when I’d come back from school. Even if we didn’t chat, there were someone there, moving around, doing their own things. It sometimes was annoying because I sometimes was tired and needed peace and quite. But I underunstimate how much reassuring it was.

#13. The depressing post.

The amount of depressing things that come in the post: bills etc.

#14. Food.

Food is SO EXPENSIVE. I moved out a few months ago and that’s been the thing I was least equipped to deal with.

#15. Very small and secluded.

Loneliness by far. I loved living by myself, but lying in bed without my cat on my bed, or without hearing my mom laughing downstairs made the room feel very small and secluded.

Take heed, everyone about ready to strike out on their own!

The post 15 People Share The Things They Wished They’d Known About Life as an Adult appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

Scientists Discovered a Way to Treat Burns Using Fish Skin

Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d write: a team of Brazilian scientists has figured out how to treat burns using fish skin. This is absolutely insane, and more than a little creepy and also… who in the world even comes up with an idea like that?!?

Ok, in all seriousness, it’s actually a really cool invention!

Researchers at the Federal University of Cearà in Brazil came up with this innovation. They use tilapia skin, which is high in collagen (a healing protein) and moisture. It reportedly speeds up healing and reduces the need for pain medication.

In modern medicine, burns are often treated with grafts of human or pig skin, both of which transfer collagen to burn victims’ healing skin. The alternative is to use burn creams and gauze strips that have to be changed out frequently, which involves a lot of pain for victims.

But in Brazil, it’s not easy to get human or pig skin for grafts. Thus, the foray into fish skin. Fish skin works similarly to other tissues — and it may even be MORE effective.

“We got a great surprise when we saw that the amount of collagen proteins, types 1 and 3, which are very important for scarring, exist in large quantities in tilapia skin, even more than in human skin and other skins,” said Dr. Edmar Maciel, a burn specialist at the José Frota Institute.

Even better, tilapia is a cheap, abundant fish. It costs 75% less than the burn cream used in Brazil. While it’s still under study and has yet to catch on mainstream, it has been used experimentally in the US on bears.

And yes, it does look really bizarre. But the tilapia skins are sterilized first, so it’s totally safe.

The post Scientists Discovered a Way to Treat Burns Using Fish Skin appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

15 People Share Their Generation’s Version of Trusting Technology

You know how, in this day and age, someone saying “I don’t use a computer” would literally make you stop in your tracks? Well, even though the world has changed and technology has advanced like crazy, it turns out that every generation has had their hold-outs – and below are 15 examples of what the “cool” kids might not have been doing along with everyone else.

#1. The mark of the beast.

I’m not an older generation, but my grandparents are very old-fashioned for their generation, if it counts.

My grandfather worked as a grocery manager for years. He finally quit when his small Mom & Pop store buckled down on bar scans and electronic cash registers.

He was convinced that bar codes were going to be the “mark of the beast” from Revelations, and that if people use computers to access porn, then all computerized items must be banned. So there’s that.

#2. Ice was a luxury.

My grandmother drinks only hot decaf coffee. 95 degrees with 100% humidity? Hot decaf coffee. Feeling parched after a day of hard work? Hot decaf coffee. And what to drink with your hamburger and French fries? Hot decaf coffee. Every meal, every day.

“When I was growing up, we never had ice. That was a luxury. Cold drinks aren’t good for your stomach.”

Edit: Grandma’s from the States. Grew up during the Depression.

#3. I get paid by check.

I am the web designer for a local organisation. Their treasurer refuses to accept card payment via their website. People have to print out forms, fill them out and post them with a cheque. I also get paid by cheque with a handwritten note. They would be a much more popular and successful business if they just modernised a little!

#4. Such an amazing sentence.

When remote control TVs came out, I suggested that my father buy one, and he said said, “It will be a cold day in Hell when I’m too lazy to tell one of you boys to get up and change the channel.” It was such an amazing sentence that I committed it to memory, and I still remember it word for word 50 years later.

#5. People thought they were unnecessary.

When I was a kid (late 50’s early 60’s) seat belts in cars were an option. Lots of people thought they were unnecessary and refused to pay extra for them

Heaters and windshield defoggers were likewise optional (my parents bought a new 1964 Plymouth Valiant and didn’t get the option).

#6. She didn’t want to mess up her hair.

My dad once told me a story about his grandmother refusing to fly in planes because she didn’t want to get her hair all messed up from the wind.

#7. The forward pass.

My dad is 65. He remembers old folks complaining about the forward pass in football.

#8. I was given a typewriter.

My grandparents laughed at the idea of a mobile phone or sending messages through the phone line when fax machines were a thing. My grandparents didn’t like computers they still had a typewriter or wrote by hand. I was given a typewriter as a kid but by then I was using windows 95.

#9. She wouldn’t use it.

Back in the 80s I knew an old lady who used one of those really old toasters that could only toast one side of the bread at a time. As a present, we went out and bought her a modern pop-up toaster, but she wouldn’t use it. She preferred to use her old one.

#10. He called them machines.

My grandmother is 89. When she was a kid, she had an uncle who hated cars. He called them machines and refused to drive one. It could’ve been job security though, her whole family worked for the railroad.

#11. They were laughing.

Some people still had outdoor toilets and were laughing at those who had them installed inside because “they are shitting their own houses”.

#12. A depression-era baby.

My 89 yr old mom pays for cable but insists on watching only PBS and occasionally NBC, CBS or ABC. The other channels are too much technology to find on the remote. She also buys multiple boxes or cans of food, dates them in sharpie marker, records the price (less coupon or sale special) and has a rack of all her finds. She will never eat all the oatmeal or beans in our collective lifetimes. But she was a depression era child so I get why the urge to stock up on food is strong.

#13. A time when literacy wasn’t a given.

My grand-aunt still believes that 15 is the age of adulthood, that schooling isn’t necessary beyond that point. She grew up in a time when literacy wasn’t a given.

#14. The age of answering machines.

My grandparents refused to get an answering machine.

My mother, who has a smartphone and uses email, still refuses to communicate via text messages.

#15. She got promoted.

My mom was just telling me about when answering machines were new, and how people were so fearful of them and refused to leave a message.

She got promoted at a job because she didn’t mind calling clients and leaving messages.

Hipsters, man. I guess they don’t know there’s nothing new under the sun.

The post 15 People Share Their Generation’s Version of Trusting Technology appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

5 Great Reasons to Wear the Same Outfit on a Daily Basis

We live in a society where the “clothes make the man” (or the woman). There’s a lot of pressure to look sharp and dress to impress. Some of us take it more seriously than others, but there’s no denying that a lot of people drop a ton of cash on trying to keep up with the latest trends and styles.

In a move beyond fashion pressure, Joshua Becker, a writer, conducted a sort of anti-fashion experiment, just to see what it was like. He wore the same outfit every single day: a dark grey T-shirt and khaki pants.

Becker said that after one week of wearing his new “uniform”, nobody even paid attention anymore. He said, “and in that silence, I was liberated.”

Here are Becker’s five reasons for trying this experiment for a week. Maybe you’ll decide it’s for you and you’ll become a whole new person, who knows?

1. Forever fashion

Photo Credit: pxhere

Quality over quantity: it’s as simple as that. Before you buy a new item of clothing, ask yourself if you’re really going to want to wear it down the road – i.e. if it will be “forever fashion.” If the answer is no, don’t bother. Resist the temptation, friends!

Becker says, “I value the quality of friendships more than anything. It goes without saying, but I’ll choose quality over quantity any day. By adopting this same mentality for clothing, you can evaluate what articles are most important to you. Similarly, when you go to buy new items, imagine its place in your closet years from now.

Will you still want it? Trendiness is challenging to chase, and provides an infinite opportunity for spending. Instead, focus on quality goods that can last years and, potentially, by brands who encourage you to repair and recycle before you buy new.”

2. Less laundry, more free time

Photo Credit: pxhere

As we get older, it seems like our free time fades away like an old memory. Everyone is so busy with work, friends, family, etc. So why spend a bunch of your time doing laundry? Bottom line: the less you have to wash, the more free time you’ll have to do whatever you want: exercise, read, go to the movies, anything you want! I’m talking about quality of life here, people.

Becker said about this, “A week later, I threw my shirt and jeans in the laundry for a much-needed wash. By consuming less throughout the week, I had less to clean. Again, I could focus on what’s most important: time with my family. Rather than washing, drying, and folding clothes for half a day, I could play, read, and listen.”

3. Reduce the fatigue of decision making

Photo Credit: Pexels

I’d not thought of it this way before, but it really does ring true. Freeing yourself from the process of deciding what to wear gives you more free time and energy to focus on the more important things in your life.

Becker says, “We cannot escape decisions. Even in our dreams, we’re thinking about what to do next. Every option drains us. Decisions with larger consequences take more of our energy, too. When tired, people make more short-term, instant-gratification decisions.

Conspicuous consumption becomes more common amidst this fatigue. While it might seem small, adopting a more universal, uniform outfit might provide you greater decision-making power for the day.”

4. Find what works for you, repeat

Photo Credit: Pixabay

We all experiment with fashion and image as we grow up (that’s why some photos are so hard to look back on). But once you settle on a look, it’s all gravy baby, as some people like to say. Find your look, and never worry about it again!

Becker says, “Since I’ve adopted a minimalist lifestyle, I have looked for basics that work across situations. My most frequent outfit these days tends to be a nice-fitting black T-shirt and casual khaki pants. By wearing one thing for a week, I was tested. Would I get bored?

Did this really look good on me? Interestingly, I recognized what clothes were most important to me. Finding your “look” can take time, but realizing what you feel confident and comfortable in is empowering.”

5. Minimalism

Photo Credit: pxhere

It’s liberating to rid yourself of all the junk you’ve accumulated throughout the years. Endless piles of t-shirts, pants, shoes, etc. Once you get rid of the stuff you know you’re never, ever going to wear again, your closet and your life will be much less cluttered.

According to Becker, “Minimalism is about focusing on what matters most, while ridding the rest. It quickly applies across situations; especially, for clothing. Over the years, I’ve actively applied this philosophy and avoided replacing items.

Slowly, I’ve centered on my most important items. My closet is smaller and neater than ever before. And when I look for something to wear, I effortlessly see my favorites.”

I think this sounds like a great idea. My wardrobe is already pretty limited anyway, but this little experiment might force me to get rid of even more clothing.

Give it a shot!

The post 5 Great Reasons to Wear the Same Outfit on a Daily Basis appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

Some of Our Most Beloved Wedding Traditions Have Really Weird Origins

Once you’ve been to enough weddings, you just take all the traditions in stride and don’t even give them a second thought.

But where do these time-honored traditions come from? Why do women have bridesmaids? Why is there a best man?

Read on to find out the strange, but very true, origins of these wedding customs.

1. The bouquet

Have you ever caught one?

Brides in ancient Greece wore wreaths made out of mint and marigold as an aphrodisiac. Brides would also have clusters of herbs to ward off evils.

2. The honeymoon

Photo Credit: Pexels

While it’s not totally clear, i’s rumored that the honeymoon was born out of necessity, back when kidnapping a bride was a thing. The husband would hide out for about a month after the kidnapping so the bride’s family would not be able to find her.

3. The first look

In the days of arranged marriages, it was believed that if the bride and groom had the opportunity to see each other before the wedding, they would have enough time to cancel the nuptials if they didn’t like what they saw.

4. Carrying the bride across the threshold

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Supposedly, a bride needed to show that she was displeased about having to leave her father’s home, so she was carried – ie forced – across the threshold.

Another idea is that the bride was carried so evil spirits couldn’t enter her body through her feet.

Evil spirits galore, back in the day.

5. The first kiss

It old days, the priest kissed the groom, who passed on this “kiss of peace” to the bride. The priest would also kiss all the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Sounds like a party!

6. Wedding rings

It’s believed the fourth finger is used for the ring because it was thought to contain a vein that leads directly to the heart.

The bride’s ring was also meant to symbolize ownership: Rings were often given to the fathers of brides as payment or collateral in ancient Roman, Greek, and Jewish cultures.

7. Bridesmaids

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Back in the day, bridesmaids were asked to wear dresses similar to the bride’s to confuse and ward off exes and evil spirits.

8. The best man

Men would sometimes steal or kidnap a bride for themselves, particularly if her family did not approve of them. The best man was originally chosen for his strength and fighting prowess to help the groom fight anyone who opposed the bride being kidnapped. And then the best man would stand next to the groom during the marriage so the bride wouldn’t run away during the ceremony.

Think about that one for a minute…

9. The white dress

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

If you thought brides always wore white, you’re wrong. Before the mid-1850s, brides typically wore red on their wedding day.

Queen Victoria wore white on her wedding day because she simply liked the color. It was shocking at first but the trend caught on – and never went away.

10. The father of the bride

Photo Credit: Pixabay

The father “giving away the bride” dates back to when women were thought of as property and the marriage was thought of as a transfer.

The post Some of Our Most Beloved Wedding Traditions Have Really Weird Origins appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

Anyone Trying to Lose Weight Should Read This First

Diet and weight loss is a billion-dollar industry, and there’s a reason for that – most people end up in a cycle of weight-loss and -gain that never ends, sending them back to the hamster wheel over and over again.

Or maybe, like personal trainer and nutrition coach Graeme Tomlinson believes, the trouble is that the diet and nutrition industry lies to people in order to get them to keep buying “health” food, and to keep them spinning the hamster wheel.

What if a little education, a little extra time, and a little adjustment in attitude could change all of that? What if eating “healthy” and losing weight didn’t have to make you sad?

Check out the 12 posts below if you’re intrigued – I know I am!

#1. Why counting calories is important.

View this post on Instagram

Nobody in the world (or certainly very few) intentionally aim to be overweight or obese. Yet it has happened to more than 65% of us. Whilst gaining fat appears relatively straightforward, reducing fat continues to be problematic. As does our understanding of the process required to do so and the food we eat. – – Google, social media, friends and family will all suggest means to achieve fat loss. The unanimous message from such sources is that one has to consume less food. And with this in mind, many attempt to severely reduce episodes of eating and minimise portion sizes. – – The problem with intuitive use of the above method is that alteration of body composition is not subjective. Instead, it answers objectively to the numeric balance of energy. Therefore unmeasured reduction of meals or quantity of food in meals/snacks/drinks may be redundant to fat loss unless actual energy within meals/snacks/drinks is accounted for. – – As the above example shows, reducing episodes of eating does not guarantee a calorie deficit. Here, an individual is hoping that their assumption of ‘eating less’ will support the goal. But the reality is that the individual is not factually aware of the caloric volume included in their nutritional consumption. – – Alternatively, accurate calculation of an individual’s compositional statistics in relation to TDEE can factually determine basic values of energy required to enter a state of caloric deficit. Once this is attained, an individual can become more astute at appreciating what counts for fat loss – consistent adherence to a negative energy balance. Thus, assumption is replaced by certain science whilst inclusion of all foods is possible. – – Despite what you hear, rigorously proven science shapes the world we live in – including our physical ability to change. The simplicity of accurately adhering to a functional caloric deficit is your fat loss science. It doesn’t force you to restrict carbs, do torturous HIIT, believe you need to detox or loiter around imaginary starvation modes. Instead, energy balance is the sole decider of fat loss/gain and it is free. You may want to make use of it, or at the very least appreciate it.?

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#2. You can’t tell me they don’t want us to be fat.

View this post on Instagram

For the ordinary individual, it is possible to consume balanced, nutritious food without eating into an overdraft. One can save money by purchasing nutrient dense produce in bulk. But, in 2019 it is becoming more difficult to purchase high quality convenience food for an affordable price. This is compounded by the fact that our lifestyle relies on convenience more than ever. – – The price difference is not because supermarkets want us to become overweight or consume poor quality ingredients. Instead, it’s simply down to the increased cost of quality, fresh produce in comparison to cheap, processed, lower quality produce. Many convenient, nutrient dense foods have also become fashion accessories, consumed boastfully with glee. – – The brutality of western business is exemplified by the rise of quinoa (which correlated with the rise of veganism). A grain which originated in Bolivia and Peru before its rise to the top of the Hollywood ‘clean eating hall of fame’. Despite its palatable unavailability, flossing manufactures no doubt experienced a boom in sales as celebrity nutrition guru’s the world over flocked to its side to feel ‘superhuman’ after consumption… – – Back in the real world of toil and pluck, such is the demand for quinoa, that poorer Bolivian’s can no longer afford it. A previously local, nourishing, dietary staple has now been forcefully replaced by cheaper, processed food. – – Granted, non optimal foods can be enjoyed as part of any diet. But bargain deals attached to lower quality produce increases likelihood of excessive quantities being purchased and consumed. – – In 2019, irrespective of business based reasoning, quality is not available to some underprivileged people. Whilst the price gap regarding convenience is large now, this may infiltrate into all food purchases, such is our societal appetite for nutritional status. – – For us to progress as a healthier, nutritionally classless society which considers a duty of care for all, this has to change ?. – – But how? ? – – #thefitnesschef #mealprep #junkfood #fastfood #cheapfood #obesity #diet #eatwell #healthyfood #nutrients #salad #fruit #nutritious #losefat #lunchbox #worklunch

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#3. The more you know.

View this post on Instagram

As we speak, hardcore keto combatants will be frantically searching their favourite blogs to find the recipe for this ‘fat burning’ bacon cheeseburger in an avocado bun. That’s after they leave a beleaguered comment on this post, complete with 12 uses of the word ‘insulin’ and a link to a 2011 study conducted on field mice. – – The Keto diet has credence regarding epilepsy. But for rational human beings, including level headed keto dieters, this comparison highlights some extreme and farcical concepts of the ketogenic diet regarding fat loss. – – Like any method of eating, going Keto is an option if it is rational and sustainable for an individual. But given the demise of rationality in the fitness industry, it is hardly surprising that Keto ‘conceptual fat loss exclusivities’ (which rips up 7 billion years of evidence) keep prevailing. – – The extreme beliefs that carbs inhibit fat loss and that fat can be shed in a state of ketogenic caloric surplus are both fanciful and false. In fact, they are as deluded as believing that this avocado bun won’t slide around in your hands like a BMW in the snow. Rigorous studies continuously negate direct relationship between moderate carbohydrate consumption and weight gain. – – Such pro-keto/anti-carb beliefs would therefore assume that the ‘keto burger’ (and high volume of cheese & streaky bacon) is automatically better for fat loss. Yet, by virtue of rationality, fat loss is (and always will be) about achieving an overall caloric deficit, regardless of the food consumed. Therefore, in isolation, the keto burger is more detrimental to fat loss than the regular burger. – – Both these burgers are an option, and the ketogenic diet can work for fat loss. But only if a calorie deficit is achieved. Funny that… ?. – – Reg burger: Mix 150g 5% beef, 1tsp garlic powder, 1tsp dried herbs. Oven cook for 20 mins. Add to brioche bun with 2 cooked bacon medallions, 1 fried egg, 15g low fat cheese, 1 tsp ketchup & spinach. – – #thefitnesschef #keto #diet #ketodiet #ketoweightloss #fatloss #burger #nutritioncoach #eatsmart #carbsarelife #balanceddiet #fatlossdiet #fatlosshelp #losefat #fatlosstips

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#4. It’s all about calories in, calories out.

View this post on Instagram

When frequenting online nutrition blogs in 2019, one is often confronted with ‘that’ dreaded statement: ‘A calorie is not a calorie.’ A statement issued by those who turn the most simple nutritional concept upside down in a disastrous attempt to convey an unrelated message. – – When analyzing ingredients in food it is clear that significant differences exist. For example, consumption of a cookie offers a different nutritional acquisition than that of brazil nuts. The nuts contain nutritional benefits which the cookie lacks, just like the cookie contains palatable benefits which the nuts probably lack. But there is still one simple, yet constant similarity which aligns the cookie and the nuts – they both contain 203 calories. And all calories are created equal. – – To argue otherwise is irresponsible. And whilst it is usually a constructive attempt to explain micro/macro-nutritional benefits some foods hold over others, denial of the calorie as the unit of energy it is casts the most basic nutritional equation of calories in vs calories out into an unnecessary hellfire. – – It clouds one’s beliefs concerning energy balance. In the example of fat loss, one may be led to believe that the micro-nutritional benefits attained from 203 calories of nuts will directly translate more favourably than 203 less nutritious calories from cookies. But whilst more nutrients are acquired from the nuts, the balance of energy (which defines fat loss) is the same after consumption of both calorically equal foods. – – Some foods have more nutrients than others. But that doesn’t make them universally better, it merely makes them different. And whilst many nutritional variables change from one food to the next, the calorie does not. – – Whilst their value may be higher or lower, a calorie is always a calorie, irrespective of additional nutritional variables. Or any agenda driven annihilation of basic nutrition science you read online. ? – – #thefitnesschef #calories #caloriedeficit #nutrients #brazilnuts #cookie #cookielove #snacktime #fatlosstips #losefat #balanceddiet #nutritioncoach #snack #fatlosscoach #nutritiontips #flexibledieting #caloriecounting #caloriecontrol

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#5. Labels are your friend.

View this post on Instagram

After 4 months together, it’s time for Peter to meet Monica’s parents. And so they begin their voyage of doom, frequenting delightful service stations such as Watford Gap and Slough to delay the onset of hell on earth. – – The arrival. Both parents stand side by side, more overweight than 6 months ago. Susan (mother) sports a false smile that would terrify anyone under the age of 23, whilst Donald (father)’s facial expression resembles a constipated tangerine leather satchel in the mound of trump himself. – – Small talk commences. Mother takes a handful of nuts and turns to Monica with a dismissive tone, “you’ve lost weight then…” “Yes! I feel better than ever” replies Monica. I finally understand that cals in vs cals out defines fat loss.” Mother cuts her off with “We eat healthy, don’t we Donald?” He nods his head approvingly before shoveling a handful of raisins into his palm. “See… FRUIT”. He begins to chew on plentiful mouthfuls, squelching each one with a side snarl. “And we barely eat anything” he adds. – – The evening meal begins. Peter, for the want of making a good impression, doesn’t report the piss and vomit that Hector the cat laid so kindly on his shoe. He also chooses not to report that the chicken is dry and that the broccoli looks like it’s just arrived back from a holiday in a septic tank. – – In the morning, Monica and Peter are greeted by Monica’s mother. She stands with her arms placed either side of a bowl of granola and avocado toast. “Think you know about weight loss?! Well I’ll show you two sh*ts how it’s done.” She wolfs down both items in 86 seconds. “Whala”. She wipes her mouth with her wrist and struts into the lounge muttering “calories… pah… nourish_mandyxx from Instagram says we must fuel our soul with goodness and eat intuitively.” – – Deflated, Monica sets off for home with Peter. And her parents continue their life of nutritional presumption, all the while ignorantly guessing and failing to understand their erroneous ways. ? – – #thefitnesschef #portionsize #calories #caloriedeficit #nutrients #eatsmart #caloriecontrol #fatloss #nutritioncoach #diettips #diethelp #fatlosstips #snacks #snacktime #diet #avotoast

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#6. This kind of blew my mind.

View this post on Instagram

Here we are again. Tackling irresponsible marketing propaganda which idolizes consumption of nutrients within products as a majestic means to manage or change body composition… – – Consumption of nutrients and quality ingredients is vital for optimal health and there is no doubt that the two juices on the left contain an abundance of nutrients. But they also contain calories and sugar. In fact, 1100 of the total 1350 calories derive from sugar to be exact. This accumulates to 275g of sugar overall. – – One could compare the juices on the left to zero calorie ‘diet drinks’ to accentuate the point of this post, but a comparison with original calorie/sugar inclusive drinks displays the point even better. Whilst the drinks on the right are bereft of any nutritional value, seven of the cans combine to 411 calories and 99g of sugar. That’s less than 1/3 of the calories of the ‘superfood’, ‘invigorating’ drinks on the left. In addition, nearly 1/3 of their sugar content. – – Consuming 1350 calories from the juices on the left may fit your goal. However, consuming such a proportion of calories from swiftly consumed drinks each week may reek havoc with one’s adherence to calorie control. – – Health and fitness is all encompassing and nuance is always present amid the overlapping fundamentals which ultimately form optimal health and ideal composition. But these two fundamentals (nutrient acquisition and energy balance) run separately in their translation to our anatomy. We need to realise this before we can reap the rewards of both nutritional representations by intertwining them into an inclusive, enjoyable, nutrient dense, energy controlled diet which is the result of calm, informed choice. – – Despite what well marketed products promote, no food or drink makes you slim, fat, healthy or unhealthy. But mismanagement and poor understanding of the components of overall diet and lifestyle may do as time goes by.? – – #thefitnesschef #calories #smoothie #sugar #caloriecounting #highsugar #dieting #fatloss #fatlosshelp #fatlosscoach #fruit #caloriecontrol #diettips #caloriedeficit #nutritionfacts #lowsugar

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#7. Can I get an Amen?

View this post on Instagram

A carbohydrate by basic definition is; ‘a biomolecule consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.’ Though, rather unfortunately over the last 30 years or so carbohydrates have been met with revulsion, fear and persecution. Mainly by those who erroneously sympathize with the notion consumption of carbs will impact body fat more so than any other macronutrient source. – – The immediate problem with such a dubious claim is the mirky differentiation of carbohydrates as an entity within edible food. Pizza, pasta, chips, bread and pastry all fall inside the umbrella of “Don’t eat it because it’s got carbs and you’ll get fat.” Yet if we examine the exact ingredients in such food we can immediately assert that carbohydrates are not the only caloric variable present. The examples displayed on the right of this graphic represent foods which contain calories from carbs, protein and more pertinently, fat – which houses caloric density. – – Put simply, fat contains 9 calories per gram, compared to 4 calories per gram respective of protein and carbs. Therefore the presence of protein and fat (via additional ingredients) within food will increase its overall caloric worth. Calorie balance (of any macronutrient ratio) determines body composition. Not carbs. – – The futility of the ‘carbs make you fat’ argument is compelled by the fact that fruit and vegetables are mostly made up of carbohydrates. Therefore by persecuting carbs in such generic terms, one would be inadvertently claiming that ‘broccoli makes you fat’. – – Reducing body fat has and always will be about creating a negative energy balance, irrespective of carbohydrate consumption. Cutting out carbs may create a calorie deficit, but the same applies if fat and protein are removed. And given that most foods contain all three macronutrients, it’s a much more logical and realistic idea to address overall caloric worth of food. Then you can realize that carbohydrates can feature in any dieting goal. ? – – #thefitnesschef #carbs #fatloss #fatlosshelp #dieting #fatlosstips #caloriedeficit #pizza #nutritioncoach #dieting #keto #insulin #diettips #nutritiontips #carbsarelife #nocarbs #diettips #fruit #vegetables

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#8. Rethink your definitions.

View this post on Instagram

If there was a jar where £1 was payable every time the words “I was good” or “I was bad” were uttered when discussing food intake, we would be very rich. – – The problem with such vague descriptions defining the success of our eating decisions is that they are meaningLESS regarding the meaningFUL physiological result of that decision. Whilst ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are broad terms of moral direction, our biological system cannot relate to them. – – Good for what? Is it not that one simply consumed food including micronutrients, fibre and a balance of macronutrients, thus supporting function and satiety? But what if such consumption exceeded one’s caloric limit regarding their desired composition, is it still good? – – Bad for what? Is it not that one simply consumed food bereft of micronutrients which may be less likely to satiate them? But what if such consumption supports to one’s caloric limit regarding their desired composition? What if nutrients have already been attained? Is it still bad? – – The long term key to taking control of one’s dietary outcomes is to understand that there is no good or bad, only difference. And our understanding of nutritional difference is what enables us to find a balance that support all aspects of our diet. Science determines nutritional outcomes. Not morality. – – Instead of being good or bad each time you consume food, understanding the food you consume within the context of your individual dietary goals will allow you to find this balance. You can understand that micronutrients are required for overall health, caloric management is needed for desired composition, and enjoyment is a necessity for adhering to any type of eating strategy or dietary transition. Balancing these dietary aspects via a non rigid variety of different food is the key to achieving all of the above. – – Each individual episode of eating is a small piece of the jigsaw. No matter what is consumed in each episode, it can fit the overall goal if you put the other pieces together around it. ? – – #calories #caloriedeficit #micronutrients #nutrients #fatloss #thefitnesschef #fatlosstips #eatsmart #diettips #snacktime #optimalhealth #dieting

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#9. Carbs can’t tell time.

View this post on Instagram

Whilst the mythical onslaught on those carbohydrates who like to stay up late has been circling for years, I doubt they were read in the journal of nutrition. Or any scientific journal for that matter. – – For years this ‘no carbs at night’ metabolic artifice has plagued us to the point where people trying to lose fat still believe in it’s validity. It’s concept was probably born out of the fact that our metabolism slows down as we may move less in evenings. And obviously sleep. – – But according to a study published by the obesity journal, a test group that ate most daily carbohydrates at dinner, compared to those who spread them out during the day, actually showed greater losses in total body weight, body fat and waist circumference. This study is a small sample, but proof that this fallacy is mythical. – – To summarize another study published in the Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease Journal, it found that eating carbs at night “may prevent midday hunger, better support weight loss and improve metabolic outcomes over conventional weight loss diets”. The study looked at macronutrient distribution throughout the day and its impact on hunger controlling hormones such as ghrelin, leptin and adiponectin. Subjects who consumed more carbs at night reported greater satiety. These are just two studies of course. – – Important considerations: Body composition is determined by total energy in vs energy out, regardless of food/nutrient type or time of day consumed. By eliminating carbs at night to lose fat, you are simply over complicating a way to reduce overall calorie intake. Our metabolism does not operate on a chronological timer, instead it operates when it is required to do so. – – It’s now after 6pm (in the U.K.). If you want carbohydrates and they fit your goal and enjoyment, eat them. ? – – #thefitnesschef #carbs #carbsafterdark #fatloss #nutritioncoach #nocarbs #fatlosstips #eatsmart #caloriedeficit #caloriecounting #dieting #nutritiontips #balanceddiet #fatlosscoach #fatlosshelp #carbsarelife

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#10. Eat whichever pleases you.

View this post on Instagram

Empty (noun) means: “containing nothing, not fulfilled or occupied” – – Therefore, according to the notoriously popular label of ‘empty calories’ preached by many a ‘pseudo-nutritionists’ the world over, these slices of toast and jam contain nothing but thin air. Yet this is categorically untrue because they still contain macronutrients/calories. And whilst such jargon adoring nutritional dust mites actually intend to shed light on minimal micronutrient presence within such foods, they would be better placed to just f*cking say that. Because all food has value, including its enjoyment. – – Good (noun) means: “morally right, righteousness” – – Therefore, attributing a label of ‘being good (or bad) when eating food is to believe that it is a moral act of right or wrong. But consumption of food involves a metabolic process answerable only to science. It is not an audition for the Nobel Peace Prize. And even if it was, the same metabolic events would still occur anyway. To claim that 550 calories of nutrient dense food is better for fat loss than 285 calories of less nutrients dense food ‘because it is more likely to fill you up’ is very irresponsible. – – The nutritional breakdown within different foods can be very different. Appreciation of this difference is more helpful than succumbing to abject headline grabbing jargon which has no essential meaning. – – This peanut butter toast contains relatively high nutrients, the jam toast x2 less so. The former contains 550 calories, the latter 285. Both are legitimate eating options that are not good or bad, nor empty or full. Calorie intake directly relates to body composition, nutrients do not. Nutrient intake directly relates to function, calories do not. – – To find peace, we need to remove meaningless nutritional labels from our vocabulary and replace them with relatable facts. No food is good or bad, it is merely different. And by realizing this, we can finally nourish our nutritional education properly. ? – – #thefitnesschef #nutrients #emptycalories #caloriedeficit #eatsmart #diettips #fatlosstips #healthyfood #pbtoast #peanutbutter #toast #snack #nutritionist #diet #nutritious #macros #fatlosscoach

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#11. Don’t be fooled.

View this post on Instagram

Clean eating trends may be in slight decline, but they still exists to distort many relationships with food in 2019. Because no food cleanses you as you consume it. And no food rubs dirt on your face as you enjoy it. – – Over the years, many health themed recipe books promise their consumer a life of being ‘lean and healthy’ if they primarily use their recipes. – – Such recipes may be an inspiring collection of palatable, nutritious food, but such content is still bereft of important explanations around basic nutritional foundations. For example: calorie/macronutrient relevance. Both being barometers that can improve one’s understanding of compositional aspects of their diet. But instead, people are challenged to micro-nutritional perfection. – – We need to evaluate the food we eat objectively, despite how it is presented to us. Here we have one raw cacao slice (a ‘healthy substitute’ for a chocolate bar), made by a celebrity influencer vs three mainstream chocolate bars. Whilst there may be more micronutrients, fibre and naturally occurring ingredients in the single raw slice, the calories are virtually equal to that of 3 chocolate bars. Yet one is unconditionally idolised whilst the others demonised and confined to guilt should such consumption occur. – – Consuming quality food is definitely important for overall health. It may well correlate with fat loss, but it does not define it. Quantity of calories consumed in relation to how much energy expended does. Regardless of food type. – – Regular consumption of 3 chocolate bars in one sitting will unlikely support nutrient acquisition or composition. But if there is no understanding of relevant nutritional cores, regular consumption of nutrient dense “raw, healthy, superfood, nourish the soul, unprocessed, detoxifying, paleo, vegan, cleansing, gluten free” foods may not aid composition either. – – And certain celebrities may be more helpful to their tribe by discussing nutritional balance. That way the consumer may stop failing in their quest to emulate their idol’s genetically gifted physique by mere means of an array of ‘clean’ recipes – when basic education is what is required to truly progress.?

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

#12. The hamster wheel: illustrated.

View this post on Instagram

When Jack (Robert De Niro) welcomed Gaylord Focker (Ben Stiller) to his circle of trust in the 2001 smash hit ‘Meet The Parents’, he did so out of protection of his daughter, but also because he was a maniac. In fact, it wouldn’t be off the mark to conclude that Jack’s so called circle of trust is akin to the proverbial yo-yo dieting circle of hell. Naturally, both were/are hellish to endure, both didn’t/don’t work and both were/are unsustainable. – – Jack’s means to find out about Greg were unnecessary and extreme in the same way that an extravagant dismantling of one’s diet fails to identify the main cause of an individual’s weight problem. Furthermore, the futility of such extreme dieting methods can be exacerbated by their procedural fallacy. Juicing, cleanses, meal replacements and removal of food groups come with glorious claims, but dismal long term results. – – There is no urgency for a new diet – because you already have one. Instead of disregarding entire dietary habits, one must realise what the problem is, why it has occurred and how it can be resolved. Patience, consistency and rationality must be considered. In Layman’s terms; you’re overweight because you eat too many calories for the amount you move. You need to consume fewer calories and move more. You need to be patient and be able to adhere to a sustainable, consistent calorie deficit for a considerable length of time. – – In desperate compulsion for fat loss, one must understand simplicity and forgo extremity. Once this is appreciated, there can be recognition that only minor adjustments to existing diet and movement are required to satisfy progress. – – The sooner we realise that health, fitness (and fat loss) is not about perfection, six packs, narcissism, restriction and the proverbial Everest, the sooner we will get to the core of our problems, understand them better and gather momentum. This will enable us all to achieve new heights each day. And these will last for the rest of our lives ?. – – #thefitnesschef #fatloss #diet #dieting #fatlosstips #juicing #detox #nutritioncoach #caloriedeficit #diettips #losefat #losebellyfat #dietingsucks #caloriedeficit #eatsmart #newdiet

A post shared by ?????????Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on

Some of those completely blew my mind!

The post Anyone Trying to Lose Weight Should Read This First appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

Photographer and His Wife Restore Life to a Dead Ecosystem by Planting 4 Million Trees

Earth Day has come and gone, but as humans, we should consider doing something for our environment more than once a year. Of all the myriads ecological disasters befalling us, deforestation is one of the biggest issues we face. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations states that the growth of the global population from 7.6 billion to 10 billion in 2050 (estimated) will vastly effect how we use our land, likely including further deforestation:

“Land-use changes result in a loss of valuable habitats, land degradation, soil erosion, a decrease in clean water and the release of carbon into the atmosphere. How to increase agricultural production and improve food security without reducing forest area is one of the great challenges of our times.”

So what can we do? As we continue to expand into forested areas, deforestation can seem overwhelming.

Photo Credit: Instituto Terra

But not to Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado and his wife Lélia. Two decades ago, he took over the land he grew up on and was devastated by what he saw: deforestation at its most severe. The land no longer held the tropical paradise he remembered. Rather, it was desolate, and all the wildlife from his youth was gone.

Over the last 20 years, he and his family made it a mission to plant one tree at a time to restore his once beautiful homeland. The results are incredible.

An aerial view of the land.

Photo Credit: Instituto Terra

In an interview with The Guardian, Salgado said:

“The land was as sick as I was – everything was destroyed. Only about 0.5% of the land was covered in trees. Then my wife had a fabulous idea to replant this forest. And when we began to do that, then all the insects and birds and fish returned and, thanks to this increase of the trees I, too, was reborn – this was the most important moment.”

In April of 1998, they started an organization called Instituto Terra or “Earth Institute” and raised enough funds to plant 4 million saplings native to that land and surrounding areas.

Photo Credit: Instituto Terra

“Perhaps we have a solution,” Salgado said. “There is a single being which can transform CO2 to oxygen, which is the tree. We need to replant the forest. You need forest with native trees, and you need to gather the seeds in the same region you plant them or the serpents and the termites won’t come. And if you plant forests that don’t belong, the animals don’t come there and the forest is silent.”

The results of his restorative efforts are extremely impressive: 172 species of birds have returned, 33 kinds of mammals, nearly 300 species of plants, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. His institute managed to rebuild an entire ecosystem from literally the ground up.

It just goes to show, if you have passion and commitment, you can achieve anything. And when it comes to our environment, that is priceless. I’ll give Salgado the last word:

“We need to listen to the words of the people on the land. Nature is the earth and it is other beings and if we don’t have some kind of spiritual return to our planet, I fear that we will be compromised.”

The post Photographer and His Wife Restore Life to a Dead Ecosystem by Planting 4 Million Trees appeared first on UberFacts.