Latest news with #SanAntonio-based
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Muscle Mommies' are Out. 'Pilates Bodies' Are In. And All of This Signals Something Very Problematic
I came of age in the mid 2000s—a time of low-rise jeans and hip bone worship, of tabloids using their front pages to criticize any change in a celebrity's body. While I'd like to think that, as a society, we've come a long way since then, there's no doubt that the obsession has returned, repackaged for the age of social media. This time, more pervasively—and more problematically—through the guise of 'health.' The rise of the weight-loss shot Ozempic—a drug originally developed for those with type 2 diabetes—has undeniably been co-opted to usher in a new era of the 'thin is in' mentality, but that's not the only culprit. In the digital wellness spaces I frequent online, I have noticed an overwhelming shift in the approach to women's fitness. After the past decade or so of singing the praises of CrossFit and weight training—encouraging the idea of 'strong over skinny'—trainers and fitness influencers are suddenly posting videos about why they stopped lifting heavy to get a 'leaner' look, namely through Pilates. Whether via Ladder's Maia Henry or TikTok's Sivan Tayer, both of whom have begun touting paid workout programs promoting "leanness," my fitness feeds on TikTok and Instagram have gone from bench press workouts to videos about achieving '11 lines' on a reformer; about lifting lighter to prevent 'bulkiness.' The desire for strength has given way to a desire for sinews. In a nutshell, 'muscle mommies' are out, 'Pilates princesses' are in. And I hate it. I'm a Tween Girl Mom and Ozempic Is Bringing Back My '90s Trauma My issue is not that I believe one type of workout is better than the other (quite the opposite—I think we should celebrate all forms of movement that make people feel good). The issue, I think, is that it narrows the idea of what a 'fit' body should look like. Ironically enough, that ideology can prevent people from working out in the first place—or cause them to develop an obsessive approach to exercise—and that's no way to promote health. Indeed, about a month ago, a San Antonio-based TikToker went viral for her rant about seeing larger people in her Pilates class, saying that they 'shouldn't be there,' simply because they didn't align with her idea of a "Pilates aesthetic.' While I won't name and shame (she has since deleted it and posted an apology video), this is exactly the type of negative rhetoric that results from exalting a certain body type while excluding (or shaming) the ones that don't fit a preconceived mold. @heloomelloo/@abkpilates/@maiahenryfit Dr. Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, is an NYC-based licensed clinical psychologist, and the founder and Clinical Director of Comphrehend the Mind, a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. Dr. Hafeez applies her 20 years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today's common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology. Now, don't get me wrong, this is not condemnation of Pilates as a workout, or the folks who enjoy it (heck, I do, too!), but rather of the popularized perception of the 'Pilates body,' and its evolution towards exclusion, divorced from its own origins. After all, the father of the method, Joseph Pilates, developed it in a World War I internment camp as a way to aid in the physical and mental well-being of his fellow prisoners (a far cry from the sunny, perfectly curated studios it's taught in today). But that's what I think we're losing when we tie this—or any other form of exercise—to a purely aesthetic end goal: well-being! And it has real repercussions. I spoke to Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist based in New York City, for her insights into the negative effects of the Pilates body obsession. 'Seeing the same body type repeatedly on social media can make people feel like they have to look that way to be accepted,' she explains. 'It can cause people to feel unhappy with their bodies, even if they are healthy and strong. Some might start comparing themselves all the time, which can lead to low self-esteem. It can also make people feel like their worth depends on how they look, instead of who they are. This pressure can lead to harmful habits.' I won't lie, being bombarded with images of this idealized figure had begun to give me pause before booking my next class; I recently found myself thinking, 'I don't look like the Pilates girls on my feed. Maybe I don't belong there?' But then I thought of all the time and effort I had put into unlearning the negative body talk of my adolescence, and said, 'Screw that!' I wasn't about to hold myself back from doing something I enjoy, and that makes me feel good, just because I don't have '11 abs.' Dr. Hafeez agrees. 'It's important to remember that exercise is about feeling strong and healthy, not fitting a certain look. Enjoying Pilates or any workout doesn't mean you have to look like the people you see online.' But if you find yourself in a body image spiral like I did, take her professional advice: 'Focus on how movement makes you feel, such as being more energized, less stressed and proud of what your body can do. Celebrate small progress and personal goals instead of comparing yourself to others. You don't need to look a certain way to belong in any fitness space.' Bottom line? You can be a Pilates princess—or a muscle mommy, boxing baddie, walking wonderwoman—without being defined by your body or how you move it. 5 Wellness Trends That Will Dominate 2025, from Filter-Free Dating to Mindful Digital Consumption
Reuters
12-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
PNC convinces US appeals court to overturn $218 mln USAA patent verdict
June 12 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday sided with PNC Bank [RIC:RIC: and overturned a $218 million verdict won by financial services provider United Services Automobile Association (USTEX.O), opens new tab in a patent dispute over mobile check-deposit technology. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said, opens new tab that the patents USAA had accused PNC of infringing were invalid. The case is part of a series of patent lawsuits brought by USAA against other financial services providers over its technology. San Antonio-based USAA has settled similar disputes with banks including Wells Fargo and Truist and filed a related ongoing lawsuit against Regions Bank in January. Spokespeople and an attorney for USAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Thursday decision. A PNC spokesperson said the bank appreciates that the court "recognized that USAA's patents should never have been issued." USAA said in its 2020 lawsuit against PNC that its "Deposit@Home" technology was developed to allow military members overseas to deposit checks remotely. It had convinced a Texas jury in 2022 that PNC's mobile deposit feature worked in the same way as its patented technology and owed $218 million for violating its rights. PNC told the Federal Circuit that the 2022 verdict could not stand because the patents were invalid. A three-judge panel agreed with PNC on Thursday, finding that the patents covered "the abstract idea of depositing a check using a mobile device" using "only routine and well-known steps." The case is United Services Automobile Association v. PNC Bank NA, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, No. 23-1778. For USAA: Willy Jay of Goodwin Procter For PNC: Mark Fleming of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr Read more: USAA wins $218 mln verdict from PNC in mobile-deposit tech trial
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nonprofit fights back after Texas ends in-state tuition for undocumented students
Texas ended in-state tuition for students without legal documentation last week in a quick concession to a Trump administration's lawsuit, but now a San Antonio-based civil rights group has taken the first step to legally restore the 2001 law. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed a motion Wednesday to challenge a judge's decision to enjoin the state from enforcing the Texas Dreamers Act, a 2001 law authorizing in-state tuition for eligible residents. The federal government sued June 4 alleging that the 2001 act violated federal law that prevents students without legal status from accessing special benefits unavailable to citizens. Texas asked a North Texas district court to strike down the law, joining the Trump administration's suit, and the judge stopped the state from enforcing it. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said last week that he joined the Trump administration's motion to end the "unconstitutional" law. 'Ending this discriminatory and un-American provision is a major victory for Texas," he said. MALDEF said it is planning to pursue legal status on behalf of Students for Affordable Tuition, a group of students who would have to pay out-of-state tuition four times as high if the judge's ruling holds. "What happened last week — the invalidation of longstanding state law in the course of one afternoon — was an abuse of our judicial system; those affected by the attempted invalidation have the right to be heard on the legality of the Texas Dream Act," said Thomas Saenez, the president and general council of MALDEF. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas nonprofit fights end to in-state tuition for undocumented students
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Is Kris Jenner's age-defying look AI-manipulated? A plastic surgeon claims so
has been making headlines - not for any drama- but her age-defying facelift, which is hailed as a jaw-dropping transformation. However, a renowned plastic surgeon has raised his eyebrow and has claimed that the look is morphed with AI to create unrealistic expectations, because these are not normal results. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'What did Kris Jenner do, and when can I get an appointment?' According to the Daily Mail, when the 'momager' appeared in Paris in the previous month, she sent shockwaves through the internet with her mind-blowing face transformation, where the netizens claimed she now looked 20 years younger. The question that surfaced everywhere was: 'What did Kris Jenner do, and when can I get an appointment?' Kris Jenner's surgery is... AI-manipulated? The 69-year-old's representatives later confirmed that she had taken an appointment with New York's surgeon, Dr Steven M Levine, to get the magical look. However, an Instagram post has been going viral with more than 692,000 views, where another plastic surgeon, Dr Gary Lawton, stated that Kris Jenner's pictures have been tainted with AI tools and morphing software to achieve the unrealistic look in pictures and videos. The San Antonio-based plastic surgeon showcased the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star and said that the look defies all the surgical and anatomical realities. Lawton, who is known to debunk beauty trends and offer practical advice, said, 'There is no possible way that this is a surgical transformation.' What did Dr Lawton say? 'The problem is that people have seen her in person. If you look at the images, there is no possible way this is a surgical transformation,' he said before giving an anatomy for her impossible surgical procedure. 'That kind of extensive restructuring, the precise symmetrical, idealised geometry suggests digital manipulation, AI-generated or heavily retouched images,' he added, before concluding, 'Neither mid-facelifts or fillers can produce this kind of flawless surface, devoid of any subtle depressions or textural inconsistencies.'
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kris Jenner's facelift transformation sparks debate, top plastic surgeon claims it's 'AI-generated or digitised'; video goes viral
Kris Jenner is hyping up the plastic surgeon who performed her facelift 14 years ago, and is currently making headlines across all platforms. However, amid this, a renowned plastic surgeon has cast doubts on Jenner's dramatic new look, accusing her of using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to alter her images. In a recent post, the doctor also called out the American media personality for setting unrealistic expectations, which aren't true. Kris Jenner sparked a frenzy when she showed up in Paris the previous month, joining her daughter Kim Kardashian during court appearances, when she looked far younger than her age, 69. As soon as the pictures surfaced on social media, they quickly went viral, and social media users became desperate to find out who her doctor was. Some even joked that Jenner has found the 'fountain of youth.' A renowned plastic surgeon questioned Kris Jenner's viral facelift procedure After Jenner's look went viral, her representative later confirmed that she had consulted a celebrity plastic surgeon, Dr. Steven M. Levine, who is also popularly known as 'the facelift maestro.' However, soon after this, a post on Instagram grabbed the attention of netizens on Wednesday. The video went viral and has been viewed over 250,000 times since it was dropped. The post has been shared by Dr. Gary Lawton, who suggested that Jenner's pictures are morphed or have been altered with the use of AI tools. 'Defy all surgical and anatomical realities' According to the Daily Mail, the San Antonio-based surgeon said that the pictures published across the platforms show her new look 'defying all surgical and anatomical realities'. Dr. Lowton went on to say in the video that there is no possible way that this is a surgical transformation. Adding a detailed analysis, Dr. Lawton noted that the images circulating online look AI-generated or heavily edited. According to him, the problem is that people have seen her in person, and if you look at the pictures now, there is no possible way this is a surgical transformation. Viral post suggests reasons behind the Jenners' fake facelift Dr. Lawton explains, If you look at the jawline and chin, it's markedly narrower, and the chin is more pointed. There is a drastic reshaping of the mandible (jawbone). According to him, severe slimming at the lower jawbone would need bony recontouring, which happens with an extensive soft tissue repositioning, where there is no surgical evidence. However, Jenner has neither confirmed nor denied that she has undergone surgery. Netizens react to the viral video As soon as the video surfaced on Instagram, netizens shared their thoughts on the same. Some said, "Thank you. Somebody had to say it and it was said. 👏👏🙌" While another added, "Its hard to believe anything you see these days." "I saw video of her not a picture and she looks exactly like that," one added. What's your take on Kris Jenner's new facelift look? To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
