Latest news with #results
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
I tried this popular at-home DNA kit — here's what happened
Collecting my DNA using MyHeritage Opening the box, I was given an activation code to create an account on the website, a cheek swab, and a biohazard bag for my used swab. The directions were straightforward to follow — all I had to do was swab the inside of my cheeks for 30 seconds before inserting the swab into a solution. I then mailed the test. After I sent it to the lab, I received very little communication from the brand regarding where it was, how long it would take to arrive, or when I'd get my results. The only emails I had were when it eventually arrived on June 10 and when my results were in on June 27. While I would have appreciated more communication, the timing was slightly faster than the advertised four weeks. But it was still long enough that I forgot all about the test until I received the email containing the results. MyHeritage results Owing to having a common first and last name, I was a little worried that I wouldn't receive the most accurate results without a phone call to my parents to learn exactly when my grandparents were born. But this, thankfully, wasn't the case. Once my results were in, the website ran through a series of infographics, similar to Spotify Wrapped. The data was displayed in an easy-to-digest way, highlighting every country I have ancestors in. While I sadly wasn't given the exciting news that I am secretly part-Neanderthal (that is, of course, no fault of MyHeritage), I did receive results that mostly checked out with what I've heard before. I am 51.2 percent Eastern European, 12.2 percent Germanic, 5.1 percent Norwegian, 5.1 percent English, and 26.4 percent of nine other ethnicities. Pretty soon after getting my results, I started receiving notifications about other people who used MyHeritage that were genetically matched to be my second, third, or fourth cousins. I'm yet to reach out to any of these relatives, but I'll update this review with my experiences if I choose to do so. In light of recent privacy concerns over companies selling data, it's reassuring that MyHeritage's privacy policy states that it has never sold data and will never do so. Similarly, I liked the fact that my data could be deleted at any time. MyHeritage price Currently, the basic MyHeritage kit has been reduced by more than 60 percent, from $88 to just $33, making now a great time to try the service. There is also the option to sign up for a subscription, with prices starting from $89 for the first year — but you can currently get a 30-day free trial. Depending on the plan you choose, you get instant discoveries, photo features (repairs and animations of old family pictures), and more.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How Long Does It Take To Transform Your Body In The Gym? The Answer Isn't What You Think.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." NO MATTER WHERE you are on your fitness journey, it can be tough to stay patient. Yes, you might wish you could fast-track your goals so you can cross that finish line (literally or figuratively) ASAP. The sense of accomplishment that comes with tangible progress and reaching new PRs is often what motivates you to keep going. But as a wise man once said, there's no magic pill for immediate gratification. And, after all, if it were that easy, it wouldn't be called 'work,' right? Don't be discouraged if you feel like you haven't noticed the results you were after immediately. There are lots of changes happening behind the scenes that are worth celebrating. Just know, exactly how long it takes to see results from your workout routine will vary from person to person. 'There are numerous factors that contribute to these timelines,' says Kurt Ellis, C.S.C.S., owner and coach at Beyond Numbers Performance. 'Factors such as genetics, age, gender, type of training program, and lifestyle indicators can impact how soon someone will see changes.' Here, Ellis digs into a few of these key elements, shares some of the results you can expect to see and when, and offers other perspectives on what it means to 'see results' so you can celebrate your wins through every stage of your journey. How Long Does It Take to See Results From Working Out You might assume that seasoned gym-goers would see results sooner because they aren't new to this game, but that's not necessarily the case, according to Ellis. 'Beginners will usually experience results sooner than more advanced athletes because both their baseline level of fitness and training age [how long you've been working out] is lower,' he says. Think of it this way: If you're a beginner staring at a ladder from the floor, there are more rungs to climb, and therefore more levels to reach—and with each rung, you're making progress. Whereas more advanced athletes may have already hit some of the lower rungs and milestones and have less distance to travel to the top. There's also the matter of neurological adaptations, a.k.a. "newbie gains." When beginners start strength training, neural adaptations will lead to rapid progress in strength (and to a lesser degree, muscle growth). That early progress is exciting, but it only lasts so long (and probably won't take you up to the point of accomplishing your larger training goals, anyway). Once you go beyond that initial progress and maybe even hit a plateau, it's important to remember that you'll still see results—just more slowly than you did at the start. One often-cited study from 2009 shows that it takes a minimum of 18 days for someone to form a habit once a decision to change a behavior is made, and that goes for athletes of all kinds, explains Ellis. So you might consider that timeframe your first benchmark toward progress—and that should be celebrated. Deciding to work toward something, make changes, and commit to them is no easy feat. From there, 'typically you can see tangible changes—whether it be body composition, change in resting heart rate, etc.—within two to six weeks,' says Ellis. That breaks down to roughly two to four weeks for beginners and four to six weeks (or more) for more seasoned athletes, he adds. Shop Now Signs You're Getting Fitter Even if weight loss is your goal, the number on the scale is certainly not the only meaningful metric to measure against your progress. (Not to mention, the benefits of fitness and staying active go far beyond just your weight or how you look.) Neurological Adaptations Lots of the initial 'results' from your workouts are happening on an imperceptible, cellular level. As outlined above, whenever you ask the body to do new or challenging things—trying a new sport, learning crow pose in yoga, or merely starting a workout routine for the first time—the brain has to create new pathways to signal the body to perform in ways it hasn't before. 'Neurological adaptations are changes that take place within the nervous system, which play a very important role in improving strength, coordination, motor learning and overall performance,' explains Ellis. 'Neural plasticity [the brain's ability to adapt and evolve] allows you to continue developing new pathways throughout your fitness journey,' says Ellis. 'Because of this, it's beneficial to manipulate different variables in a training program such as incorporating a variety of movements and some novelty and proper training stimuli. It's important to continually build on progress to strengthen and stimulate these neural pathways.' The easiest way to do this is with a pre-made training plan. You'll know exactly which exercises to do, when to up the intensity, and how much to rest. Get a personalized recommendation from our library of training plans using our Workout Finder below. Energy Also, 'one of the earliest changes that people would notice is a change in energy levels,' says Ellis. Just as microtears in your muscles caused by strength training help the body to repair, grow, and come back stronger, there's a similar process for your energy levels. Exerting yourself during a workout might make you feel taxed during a session, but this challenge actually signals to your body to produce more mitochondria, the energy stars of your cells, according to Harvard Health. Mood Also, thanks to the release of feel-good hormones like endorphins during exercise, your new fitness routine can also give you a mood boost. Physical activity of all kinds releases endorphins, but research is still evolving as to what type of training or workout intensity gives you the biggest endorphin rush. For example, one 2017 study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology suggests that high-intensity training is the way to go if you're looking for that 'exercise high.' Sleep Another big result you'll likely notice fairly early after beginning a new fitness routine or training program is better sleep. Don't underestimate this as a key factor to your overall health. Adequate rest can be a crucial factor for maintaining motivation for training both in the short and long term, according to one small 2013 study. Other Benchmarks to Consider to Track Workout Results In addition to some of the more lifestyle measures like energy and sleep, if you're someone who is looking for something a bit more measurable, Ellis suggests one of two quantitative benchmarks depending on your fitness goals. For those looking for results from strength training, you could track progress against absolute strength. This is often measured by the one-rep max (1RM) test—the heaviest weight you can lift in a single exercise, such as a bench press or a barbell squat, for one rep at the full range of motion and with proper form. (If you're newer to strength training, we suggest you test for a three to five rep total, then use a training load chart for a one rep max rather than going all-out for a single rep.) You could also look at your progress in relative strength, which takes your body into account, looking at how much you can lift compared to your body weight, says Ellis. Simply divide the weight lifted by your body weight to find this measure. If you have more endurance and cardio-focused goals, the universally used metric to measure progress is your VO2 max. This essentially measures how efficiently your body is able to use oxygen. But know this: Accurately tracking your VO2 max requires lots of fancy equipment and is best done in a lab setting. Luckily, due to the demand of athletes wanting a more realistic way to assess their numbers, many fitness trackers and smartwatches offer a VO2 max estimate, which you can use to track your progress. Use SMART Goals Remember that when it comes to thinking about your workout results, how you set your goals initially can make a big difference. "Setting SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound) goals are major keys to success,' says Ellis. 'Athletes will typically see long-term, sustainable results when they include process goals along the way to their big-picture goals.' Think about it: Getting swole or "getting abs"involves so much more than simply working out. 'Highlighting the importance of other aspects, such as sleep quality, proper nutrition principles, and joining a community, go a long way in setting habits that can change the trajectory for your overall well being for the better,' he says. Once you can think of your workout routine as being just one aspect of a more comprehensive healthy lifestyle, you might have an easier time staying patient. You Might Also Like The Best Hair Growth Shampoos for Men to Buy Now 25 Vegetables That Are Surprising Sources of Protein
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AT&T Second-Quarter Results Top Views; Sees up to $8 Billion in Savings From Trump's Tax Bill
AT&T (T) reported second-quarter results above Wall Street's estimates on Wednesday, while the telec Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Looking back on A-levels: an educational milestone
With exam season over, A-level candidates across Cumbria now face the anxious wait for their results, and we're remembering the successes of past students. Will Crisp achieved A*, A, A and was going to Cambridge (Image: Chris West) A-levels(Advanced Levels) are subject-based qualifications awarded as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as school leaving qualifications offered by educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational authorities of British Crown dependencies to students completing secondary or pre-university education. Crunch time for West Lakes Academy pupils Callum Bowness, Luke Jennings, James Duguid and Sean Tait (Image: Newsquest) They were introduced in England and Wales in 1951 to replace the Higher School Certificate. A-levels give students potential access to a chosen university they applied to with UCAS points. They could be accepted into it should they meet the requirements of the university. Caldew School's Lucy Wright got the three A stars and one A needed to take her to Oxford (Image: Newsquest) A-levels are typically worked towards over two years. Normally, students take three or four A-level courses in their first year of sixth form, and most taking four cut back to three in their second year. A-level student Glen Brown was about to start an apprenticeship with Sellafield as a nuclear welding inspector (Image: Newsquest) This is because university offers are normally based on three A-level grades, and taking a fourth can have an impact on grades. Unlike other level-3 qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate, A-levels have no specific subject requirements, so students have the opportunity to combine any subjects they wish to take. Netherhall student Jessica Douglas was heading off to Manchester University to study business management after doing well in her A-levels (Image: Newsquest) However, they normally pick their courses based on the degree they wish to pursue at university: most degrees require specific A-levels for entry. In recent years, doubt has been cast on the efficacy of A-levels and in 2023, the then prime minister Rishi Sunak announced sweeping changes to the qualifications. After receiving their A-level results, Netherhall students Chloe Pearson (left) and Rebecca Mitchell were both off to Northumbria University (Image: Newsquest) He announced that all 16 to 19-year-olds would typically study five subjects as part of the new Advanced British Standard, including some English and maths to 18. He said more teachers would be recruited and that it would take some years to implement the changes. Workington Academy's Beth Hilton, Lewis Maxwell, Heather Taylor and Glen Brown all did well in their A-levels (Image: Newsquest) One of the most striking aspects of the plan was that students would be able to combine both academic and vocational elements, with typically three major and two minor aspects. Cockermouth School's Alistair Martin goes in for a hug after getting his results (Image: Newsquest) However, it was cancelled by the Labour government after their victory in the 2024 general election.
South China Morning Post
16-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Cross-border top scorer ‘excited' about Hong Kong DSE success, as AI a hit among students
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP's journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Students across Hong Kong are learning their results on Wednesday for the city's muniversity entrance exams. Both parents and their children will be hoping for the best as they find out scores for the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE), which grades most subjects on a seven-level scale from 1 to 5**. This year, 55,489 candidates signed up for the exams, a 10 per cent increase from the 50,591 last year. Most of them, or 45,328, were school candidates. The figure marked a 5 per cent increase from the 43,160 who signed up for the exams last year. The other 10,161 students were private candidates, up 37 per cent from the 7,431 in the last edition, partly due to the increased number of takers living in mainland China. Students who achieve level 5 in a subject are graded as 5, 5* or 5**. Level 5** is awarded to the highest-scoring 10 per cent of candidates, with 5* allocated to the next 30 per cent and 5 for the rest. There are a total of 16 top scorers from 14 schools this year, with a male student achieving the highest results among the batch after securing 5** for four electives, three core subjects and the extended maths module, in addition to an attained grade in citizenship and social development. Ten male and five female students scored a perfect 5** across six subjects this year, with an 'attained' result in citizenship and social development and 10 of them were 'super top scorers', as they also earned a 5** for the extended elective maths module. Reporting by William Yiu, Emily Tsang, Leopold Chen, Lynn Zhang, Lorraine Chiang, Kathryn Giordano, Timon Johnson, Yohji Lam, Ellie Yau, Hannah Wang, Connie Wong and Nora Mankel More from our coverage:
