During large, multiunit exercises, the US military's snipers can be overshadowed by the men and machines roving the battlefield.

To correct that, Staff Sgt. Joe Bastian — a former active-duty sniper who is now a sniper observer/controller/trainer with the First Army's 1st Battalion, 335th Infantry Regiment — designed a special 10-day training course for snipers during the 33rd Infantry Brigade's Exportable Combat Training Capability, or XCTC, at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.

"The course is designed to get all of the snipers from the brigade together to train, broaden their horizons and share tactics, techniques and procedures,"he said in an Army news story.

Bastian called on two former instructors from the US Army's Sniper School at Fort Benning in Georgia, and their course filled the 10-day exercise with weeks' worth of training for soldiers from Illinois' 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Puerto Rico's 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment.

The course teaches snipers how to design their own training courses, as well as how to work with ammunition, targets, and ranges, and how to use camouflage and stalking techniques during training.

Below, you can see some photos of US Army National Guard snipers getting the specialized instruction they need to seek out and pick off their targets. 

SEE ALSO: The US military is struggling to keep up with all its responsibilities

XCTC is the Army National Guard’s program to provide an experience similar to an Army combat-training center at a home station or a regional training center, like Fort McCoy. Soldiers from the 502 Infantry Regiment stood in as opposition forces.

"I had to call in a couple of favors because of the scope of this course," Bastian said. "My two co-trainers bring a breadth of knowledge and experience that is unparalleled and gives these soldiers an opportunity that they won't get otherwise."

Source: US Army

"The Army has a multitude of systems and professionals to continually train everyone, except snipers," Peterson, one of the co-trainers, said. "When these guys go back to their units, there's not a lot of personnel that can train them properly. This course will help them continue their education and properly train themselves."

Source: US Army

On Thursday, the NBA released a list of the best-selling jerseys over the final three months of the 2016-17 season, and it was eye-opening to say the least.

The players at the top of the list are a healthy mix of current superstars, respected veterans and ascendant members of the next generation. The list is also loaded with MVP finalists and members of the Cleveland Cavaliers or Golden State Warriors as nine of the top 11 come from one of those groups.

Here is a look at the top 15 most popular jerseys in the NBA.

15. Dwyane Wade

No. 3, Chicago Bulls

This 12-time All-Star may have lost a few fans when he left the Miami Heat last summer, but a return to his native Windy City made up for that in spades. Wade had a strong first season with the Bulls, averaging 18.3 points and 4.5 assists per game in the most limited action of his career. Even with a new team and a new role, he remains one of the most revered players in the NBA.

14. Damian Lillard

No. 0, Portland Trail Blazers

A member of the Portland Trail Blazers for his entire career, Lillard hasn't gotten much of a chance to shine on the postseason stage. He's still managed to gather one of the largest followings in the league, and his popularity has risen steadily since being drafted with the sixth overall pick five years ago. He averaged a career-high 27.0 points per game last season, as well as 4.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists.

13. Jimmy Butler

No. 21, Chicago Bulls

Don't get down on yourself if you bought a Butler jersey in the last two months -- think of it as a collector's item. The All-Star wing is on the move after being traded to the Minnesota, but he still had a strong final season in Chicago, averaging 23.9 points and 6.2 assists per game. Butler's Timberwolves jersey should also be a top seller once it becomes available.

Your doctor has probably told you to avoid certain foods and eat more of others. But do you ever wish you could just tag along on her next trip to the grocery store to see how she shops for nutritious food?

Michael Ruhlman, a chef and author, does just that in his book "Grocery: The Buying and Selling of Food in America."

Preventive medicine specialist and the medical director of the Cleveland Clinic's Wellness Enterprise Roxanne B. Sukol takes Ruhlman through the aisles of her local grocery store to point out which foods she picks, which products she avoids, and which sections she spends the most time in at the market.

SEE ALSO: Americans have been making a huge diet mistake for 100 years — here's what they should do instead

DON'T MISS: 13 diet 'truths' that are doing more harm than good

First stop: The produce section, where Sukol says people should "spend most of their time."

Sukol's first stop at her grocery store — the Cleveland, Ohio-based Heinen's Fine Foods — is the produce section. "This is where I do most of my shopping, when I'm in this section," she told Ruhlman.

Several recent studies suggest that whether you're looking for weight loss or to improve your overall health, the best eating plans are based around produce, plus some whole grains and lean proteins. In its most recent report on the best eating plans, US News and World Report described vegetable-based ("plant-based") diets as "good for the environment, your heart, your weight, and your overall health."

Next stop: The make-your-own nut butter section

Sukol said she buys a lot of freshly-made peanut butter because its ingredients are so simple — just peanuts.

Unfortunately, make-your-own-peanut-butter is often pretty pricey: around $7 per pound, so registered dietitian and nutritionist Andy Bellattiadvises simply buying pre-made nut butter (a 16-oz container of Smucker's Chunky Peanut Butter retails for around $3 at Walmart) that only lists two ingredients on the nutrition label.

"If the only ingredients are nuts and salt, just natural nut butter, that totally works," Bellatti told Business Insider. It's going to have your protein, healthy fats, and vitamin E."

On the way to the dairy section, but first, a quick break for dessert

In a special section at Heinen's on the way to the dairy section, Sukol paused at a snack section and picked up a lemon tart. After reading the ingredients, she said, "It's expensive, but it's food."

Each year, one album taps into the hearts and ears of the public on its way to topping the Billboard year-end album chart.

Times have changed, though. In the 2010s, pop stars like Adele and Taylor Swift have dominated the charts, while in the 1950s and early 1960s, musical soundtracks and Broadway cast recordings tended to top the list. 

Billboard has been tracking the top album of the year since 1956. From 1992 onward, total album sales were recorded by Nielsen SoundScan. Before 1992, the top album chart was "based on a survey of representative retail outlets that determined a ranking" and was "not a tally of actual sales."

Business Insider compiled all the best-selling albums and their respective notable singles, dating back to 1956, so you can see, and hear, which album was the soundtrack to your birth year (so long as you're between the ages of 1 and 61).

Check out which album made it to the top each year:

SEE ALSO: The 25 best songs of 2017 so far, ranked

2016: Drake — "Views"

Copies sold: 4,140,000

Notable singles:"Hotline Bling,""One Dance"

2015: Adele — "25"

Copies sold:8,008,000

Notable singles:"Hello,""When We Were Young"

2014: Taylor Swift — "1989"

Copies sold: 3,661,000

Notable singles:"Shake It Off,""Blank Space,""Bad Blood"

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

One of life’s greatest pleasures is opening up a good book for the first time and not setting it down until you’ve excavated everything inside of it.

Once you leave school and all mandatory English classes with well-informed syllabi, though, the sheer amount of books out there is overwhelming. Sometimes instead of picking the wrong one to devote our time to, we pick none.

If working through a list of the great literary classics doesn’t appeal to you and you’d prefer to read something that better engages with now, "best books of the year" lists are going to be the best resource out there, second (maybe) only to word-of-mouth recommendations from close friends.

Below are the 10 books Amazon's book editors think are the best to come out so far this calendar year; many of them have been featured in op-eds and other critical areas of pop culture. 

The great thing about such a wide category as "best books of the year" is that you’ll get the best without narrowing your search to a genre. Here you have novels and memoirs of vastly different topics and authors, yet they all (at least based on their growing popularity) will pay you back for any cautious investment of your time.

If you have a flight coming up or a long commute to work, one of these 10 might be a great new companion.

All captions are provided by Amazon editors. 

SEE ALSO: These are the 20 best-selling books of 2016 so far

1. "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness: A novel" by Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy's new novel, "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness," is an intricate and graceful story of lives touched by magic, broken by tragedy, and mended with love.  It's an exceptional work of storytelling well worth the 20-year wait since "The God of Small Things."

Buy it here >>

2. "Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI" by David Grann

Smart, taut, and gripping, Grann’s true-if-largely-unknown tale of big oil and serial murder on the Osage Indian Reservation in the 1920s is sobering for how it is at once unsurprising and unbelievable, full of the arrogance, and inhumanity that our society still has yet to overcome.

Buy it here >>

3. "Beartown: A Novel" by Fredrik Backman

The author of "A Man Called" sidesteps the predictable as he forges a new path of soul-searching and truth-telling in his gripping new novel about a small, hockey-mad town whose hopes and loyalties are torn apart by a crime no one wants to believe happened.

Buy it here >>

A chicken chain that breaks the fried chicken mold is taking over the US. 

This June, Nation's Restaurant News released its annual Top 100 list, which included a breakdown of the 10 fastest-growing US chains as measured by American sales growth in 2016.

While these chains aren't necessarily the biggest in the US, they're well on their way to getting there.

Opening dozens of locations in 2016 and growing sales by millions of dollars, these are the brands to watch out for. If there isn't one in your town yet, there probably will be soon. 

Americans seem to be craving chicken more than ever. In 2016, three of five fastest-growing restaurant brands were chains selling chicken fingers, wings, or sandwiches.

Here are the five fastest-growing restaurant chains in America:

SEE ALSO: One of the few remaining Blockbusters in the US is closing — take a look inside

5. Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A had a standout year, growing sales 16.9% and opening its 2,000th location. 

One major indicator of Chick-fil-A's success is its incredibly high estimated sales per unit, which reached $3.9 million this year. That is more than any other limited-service or chicken concept on the market, and it is roughly three times as much what a KFC location brings in on average. Analysts say exceptional customer service sets the chain apart from its competition.

4. Wingstop

Wingstop grew sales 16.9% in 2016, reaching $943.3 million. Last year marked the company's 13th consecutive year of same-store sales growth. 

CEO Charlie Morrison told Business Insider that the chain's success is rooted in just a few straightforward ideas. 

"Our brand is founded on simplicity," Morrison said. "Wings, fries, and sides make up about 95% of what we sell."

3. Marco's Pizza

This 770-location chain has made NRN's list of the top-five fastest growing brands two years in a row. The fastest-growing pizza chain in the US grew sales 17.1% in 2016, reaching $488.9 million. 

The pizza industry is hot right now as new tech makes ordering and delivery easier than ever before. This Toledo, Ohio-based chain is ready to cash in on the trend.

The INSIDER Summary:

• INSIDER asked 11 popular celebrity chefs to reveal their best grilling secrets.
• Iron Chef Michael Symon advises using two different heat zones to properly grill meat.
• Restaurant: Impossible star Robert Irvine says to skip the bottled marinade in favor of fresh herbs and citrus. 

It's peak grilling season, but by July you may already be running out of creative ways to make burgers, hot dogs and dry grilled chicken taste less boring.

Luckily, your favorite celebrity chefs are coming to the rescue with tips that will kick your BBQ up a notch.

From Alex Guarnaschelli's smart grilled chicken hack to Marc Murphy's secret to easily cleaning your grill, here are insider grilling tips and hacks from 11 famous chefs.

Iron Chef America Donatella Arpaia says that you should stop over-touching your food.

Donatella Arpaia ("Iron Chef America," co-owner of Kefi in New York City) warns people to not touch their food so much: "The biggest mistake grillers make is touching and flipping their food too much. The food needs to develop a nice char and crust and while waiting by a hot grill.”

James Beard award winner Jamie Bissonnette says it's important to sear your burgers before putting them on the grill.

For perfectly juicy burgers, Jamie Bissonnette (James Beard "Best Chef Northeast" award winner, chef at Toro in New York and Boston), recommends searing: "For grilling the ultimate burger, sear it on both sides, and cook it evenly.  Don't let it flare up.  Make sure the meat is mixed enough that it sticks together before grilling.”

Chopped star Scott Conant says to season your grill, not just the food you put on it.

Scott Conant (Chopped, owner of Impero Caffe in New York City), has a trick for extra flavor in your grilled meats and vegetables: “I throw herbs and garlic heads and other seasonings directly onto the grill with the items I'm grilling. I love the flavor transfer and the slight char of the herbs and seasonings.”

There's no such thing as a free lunch. Unless you work at Twitter.

In Twitter's New York offices, employees head to a private café to tuck into free breakfasts and lunches, five days a week.

And it's not your typical work canteen with dried-out meat and shriveled vegetables; this café serves up a gourmet menu, which changes every day.

Tech companies are revolutionizing food at work. Google was at the forefront of this, reportedly spending $80 million a year on catering food for its employees. It now has more than 185 cafés globally and serves more than 108,000 meals every day. Twitter is now following suit.

Take a look at all the amazing things on offer below:

SEE ALSO: 21 photos of the most impressive free food at Google

This is Twitter's canteen-style restaurant in its New York office in Manhattan's West Village.

Every day, employees are offered multiple options at breakfast and lunch.

The café is run by Amelia Ekus, who was formerly a front-of-house manager at a trendy West Village restaurant.

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Amelia Ekus (@tweats) is breaking down “lunch-lady” stereotypes as Twitter cafe’s GM https://t.co/7TLWkrb9TQpic.twitter.com/1t3EzsGt0K

The three-day Battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War and one that tipped the scales in favor of the Union, ended 154 years ago on Monday.

The Union fielded 90,000 troops in the battle, and the Confederacy 75,000, according to historian James McPherson. Eleven thousand died, 29,000 more were wounded, and 10,000 were missing or captured.

The hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, as McPherson described them, witnessed nearly 10 times as many casualties as the D-Day invasion in World War II.

There were many engagements over three days of combat — such as Devil's Den, the Slaughter Pen, and the Valley of Death — but some were more consequential to the battle, and therefore the war itself, than others.

Here's how the battle unfolded.

SEE ALSO: Trump said Andrew Jackson could have prevented the Civil War — but the 7th president has an ugly history

Here is a shot of Gettysburg from Cemetery Hill, which was taken in July 1863. The battle started, some historians say, because both armies were looking for shoes in the town. McPherson says this story cannot be proved or disproved, but whatever the case, it was a "meeting engagement" or "encounter engagement."

The first day of the Battle of Gettysburg was a skirmish compared with the last two days, as troops from both sides were still filing into the area. Still, as night fell, "three thousand dead and dying soldiers and the moans of many of the additional seven or eight thousand wounded" could be seen and heard on the field, McPherson said. Below is a photo of dead Union soldiers after the first day's fighting.

Though the Confederates had not captured the Cemetery and Culp's hills by the end of the day, the prospect of the battle still appeared promising for Robert E. Lee and the Rebel army.

John L. Burns, who is pictured below, is one of the more colorful people to take part in the battle. On the first day of the battle, the 69-year-old Gettysburg resident grabbed his musket and joined the Union ranks, much to the confusion of the Northern officers, when he saw the battle materializing on the first day.

He was deployed to the woods and picked off numerous Confederate troops before getting shot in an arm and a leg. When the Confederates found him wounded and wearing civilian clothes, after the Union soldiers had retreated from the area, he told them he was just a lost old man who had gotten caught in the cross fire. This picture, by famed Civil War photographer Mathew Brady, was taken shortly after the battle.

Breakups suck.

Yet, we somehow always find a way to pick ourselves up and keep going — whether it's by meeting new people or drowning our sorrows in a big bowl of Rocky Road.

However, sometimes the best way to get over an ex is to pack your bags and get away.

Whether you want to go the "Eat, Pray, Love" route or would prefer to party with someone new, here are the 19 best trips to take to mend a broken heart.

Machu Picchu, Peru

If you thought your ex took your breath away, wait until you see the stunning views of Machu Picchu, set high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. And if that won't do it, the multi-day uphill trek along the historic Inca Trail will.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Is there a better place to distract yourself from your ex than Sin City? Between wild pool parties, incredible shows, and the many games at the many casinos, you won't have a second to think about them. Even better, Vegas is home to some of the most famous pawn shops in the world, such as Gold & Silver Pawn Shop from the History Channel's show "Pawn Stars, Vegas," so why not make some money off of your ex's gifts?

Lisdoonvarna, Ireland

Sometimes the best way to get over someone is to put yourself out there again. The Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna is the perfect place to start. The festival, which goes from September 1 through October 8, attracts over 40,000 people, and pairs many of them off thanks to speed-dating events and dances in pubs. There are also daily matchmaking sessions with Matchmaker Willie Daly in his ‘office’ — the Matchmaker Bar.

As the most recent crop of college seniors have been awarded their diplomas, the next important decision many will make is where they should move now that they've graduated.

A ranking of the best major metropolitan areas from the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) may help students having trouble making the call.

AIER calculated its list using nine economic, demographic, and quality-of-life factors. AIER defines major metropolitan cities as having over 2.5 million residents.

The report states that the most important factor in determining where recent graduates should relocate is the prevalence of other young recent grads.

"The location you choose to go to college determines where you will likely spend the next four years of your life, and possibly where you will start your career," Amanda Knarr, program coordinator at AIER, said in a press release. "Our ranking reflects the characteristics that make cities attractive to the average college student."

In addition to the overall ranking, college-student population, and overall city population, we also included each city's highest-scoring metric and rank.

Scroll through to find out the 15 best American cities for young college grads.

SEE ALSO: How much borrowers pay to attend the top public universities in the US— and how much they earn later on

15. Miami, Florida

Overall city population: 5,930,416

College-student population: 445,865

Best city factor: Bars and restaurants (No. 4)

14. St. Louis, Missouri

Overall city population: 2,801,285

College-student population: 193,985

Best city factor: Rent (No. 1)

13. Atlanta, Georgia

Overall city population: 5,580,601

College-student population: 407,257

Best city factor: Bars and restaurants (No. 1)

Knowing which products to buy at Sephora can be tough if you've never tried them before.

But did you know that you can sample many of the products in stores before purchasing them? This is just one of the secrets Sephora employees keep to themselves.

Of course, there are a few guidelines — for example, mascara and eyeliner samples are usually off-limits — but for the most part you can receive up to three complimentary samples per department.

From foundation to face masks, here are 13 of the best items you can try for free, and the cost of a full-sized version.

The Herbivore Lapis Oil Balancing Facial Oil unclogs your pores for clearer skin.

Cost: $72

Find out more about the Herbivore Lapis Oil Balancing Facial Oil here >

Fragrance fans are obsessed with Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb scent.

Cost: $85; 1.0 fl oz

Read more about the Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb Fragrance here >

The Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment by Sunday Riley is formulated with skin-plumping ingredients.

Cost: $105; 1.0 fl oz

Find out more about The Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment by Sunday Riley here >

The "Bachelor in Paradise" misconduct scandal threatened to not only cancel the show, but forever change ABC's long-running hit "Bachelor" franchise going forward.

Even though an investigation into the incident by show producer Warner Bros. concluded that that there was no misconduct, there continues to be more to the story.

The alleged "sexual misconduct" incident occurred in early June while taping in Mexico. It temporarily shut down production, but has since resumed after Warner Bros. wrapped its investigation.

But both "Bachelor in Paradise" contestants who are at the center of the scandal, DeMario Jackson and Corinne Olympios, have claimed that they're victims and have sought legal counsel.

How did we get here? and what's next?

Here's a rundown of all the events so far:

SEE ALSO: 'Bachelor in Paradise' has been suspended over alleged misconduct

SEE ALSO: 

The potential for a sexual misconduct scandal was already at play.

Before we go into the actual events of the current scandal, we have to acknowledge that all the elements for it have been cooking for years. It's almost a wonder that it took 15 years of "The Bachelor" and multiple spin-offs for a sexual misconduct scandal to happen.

Just look at the mix: Attractive young men and women vying for the attention of equally attractive people, competition, hunger for celebrity, and in many cases, a real desire to fall in love. Throw alcohol into the mix and you have a recipe for possible disaster, and certainly legal trouble.

That said, the current "Bachelor in Paradise" scandal — in which a female cast member was, according to reported allegations from those working on the show, sexually assaulted while too drunk to consent — clearly stepped over the boundaries set for reality TV.

A veteran reality TV producer, who has never worked on the "Bachelor" franchise but has worked on similar shows, told Variety that they found this incident "unusual."

"My concern about this situation is that if the person was beyond a point of making her choices and was still being shot and being put into this scenario, it’s a very weird situation," the producer said. "When you talk about sexual assault, it’s almost always just two people alone and it becomes a he-said-she-said situation; this is the most unusual situation because not only is there a third party, but there are cameras that watched everything that happened and everything that led up to what happened. That, to me, is the smoking gun as to why a franchise worth hundreds of millions of dollars was shut down."

Sunday, June 4: Day of the alleged sexual assault.

With three seasons under its belt, taping on its fourth season started on this day in Mexico. Taping was slated to last three weeks. It also happened to be the day when the reported incident occurred.

Sources told news outlets that a sexual encounter between Jackson ("The Bachelorette" season 13) and Olympios ("The Bachelor" season 21) occurred when she was too drunk to give proper consent and the show's cameras were rolling.

TMZ published a graphic description of the alleged sexual encounter between the contestants in a hot tub.

Tuesday, June 6: An investigation was underway, production halted, and the contestants were placed on lockdown.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, production continued on the show Monday. But at some point between Sunday and Tuesday, a producer filed a complaint of potential sexual misconduct. It isn't clear whether that producer was present while the incident was being taped.

On the condition of anonymity, a contestant told People that taping was being suspended and the cast members were placed on lockdown Tuesday, meaning they were sent to separate rooms, couldn't contact one another, and were under constant supervision by production.

"We were told to stay in a certain part of the [resort] while they figured out what the hell had happened,” the contestant said “We knew something bad had happened; there was a dark energy that came around the house. You have to understand that we weren’t even there a week. The game hadn’t even really begun yet."

THR reported that Jackson and Olympios had been questioned ahead of the other contestants after the complaint was filed and were sent home.

In much of the USA, school's out for the summer and vacation plans are in full swing.

With gas prices still at low levels, Americans are going to be taking to the road for trips both short and long.

That means getting the car in shape for the rigors of travel.

Here are some tips that will make your summer roadtrip a breeze:

SEE ALSO: VW used a simple technology to solve the problem of dirty backup cameras

Oil change time.

I usually change my oil twice a year, in the spring and fall, but summer is always a good time to check your oil levels and get some fresh quarts in there for maximum hot weather, long-range engine protection.

And, thanks to an extensive AAA study, we now know that synthetic oil, although more expensive than the old-fashioned stuff, is the best bet.

Evaluate your tires.

Oil changes are always a good excuse to take a close look at your tires. They may be rated for 40,000 miles, but wear can vary, especially if you haven't rotated them on schedule.

You're mainly checking out tread wear — a good rule of thumb is that if the tread even seems worn down, to the point where you wonder whether adequate traction will be provided, then zip by your mechanic for a quick evaluation.

And while you're at it, have your mechanic examine your brakes pads, rotors, and/or drums for an indication that you need to replace some or all of these components.

Lubricants and other fluids don't want to be neglected.

Your car has other liquids besides oil and wiper fluid that need to be checked out. Transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant — all need an occasional gander.

And don't neglect the lube. Yep, doors, liftgates, and so on all need a bit of grease to operate smoothly and quietly.

Lily Collins lost weight to play an anorexic woman in Netflix's upcoming original movie, "To the Bone."

It was a role the actress was apprehensive about taking on, since she dealt with eating disorders in the past. But she's not alone. Plenty of actors will transform their bodies to get in character for a role.

INSIDER recently took a look at actors who have gained weight for movie and TV roles. Some of the same actors who have gained an extreme amount of weight for roles have also gone on diets and even stopped eating for their Oscar-nominated and winning roles as ballerinas, journalists, AIDS patients, and more.

Keep reading to see 15 actors and actresses who have lost weight for movie roles.

Jake Gyllenhaal went all-out to lose 30 pounds for his role in "Nightcrawler."

The actor told Variety he didn't take on any special diet. Instead, he just stopped eating.

"I would try to eat as few calories as possible," said Gyllenhaal. "I knew if I was hungry that I was in the right spot. Physically, it showed itself, but chemically and mentally, I think it was even a more fascinating journey. It became a struggle for me."

Gyllenhaal added that he would often go on 15-mile runs from his home to the film's set.

Natalie Portman dropped 20 pounds to play a ballerina in "Black Swan."

Portman was on a carrots-and-almond diet, working five-to-eight hours a day for a year to slim her already trim figure down for the lead role in Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan."

The 33-year-old actress revealed the extent of her preparation for the role to Entertainment Weekly. 

"There were some nights that I thought I literally was going to die," Portman told EW. "It was the first time I understood how you could get so wrapped up in a role that it could sort of take you down."

After filming ended, the singer quickly returned to carbs. She also announced a pregnancy with her now-husband, choreographer Benjamin Millepied, who she met on set. 

Mila Kunis also lost 20 pounds for her role in "Black Swan."

Kunis was pretty vocal about her dismay with her frail body. 

"I could see why this industry is so f----d up, because ... I would literally look at myself in the mirror and I was like: 'Oh my God! I had no shape, no boobs, no a--...,'" she told the Daily Mail. "All you saw was the bone. I was like 'this looks gross.'"

After filming, the actress binged out at a Panda Express in JFK Airport and an In-N-Out Burger in Los Angeles.

Kunis joked, "It took me five months to lose 20 pounds, and it took me hours to gain it back!"

People often have a hard time watching child stars grow into adults who dress and act as they please. Ariel Winter is no exception.

Over the last decade, the 19-year-old "Modern Family" actress has grown up in the public eye, and her style has changed dramatically since she first hit the red carpet in 2008.

As she approaches her 20s, Winter regularly finds herself targeted by internet trolls for her "revealing" outfits. But her sharp comebacks on social media have earned her a reputation as a body-positive icon.

Below, we've compiled 23 of Winter's most iconic looks to show her style transformation.

At the age of 10, Ariel Winter wore a jewel-studded dress to make her red carpet debut in 2008. Metallics would become one of her go-to looks.

In 2009, aged 11, the actress experimented with skater-inspired patterns like plaid. She completed the '90s-inspired look with a pair of Mary Jane shoes and a button-up vest.

At 12, Winter wore a black dress and red lipstick to the premiere of "Charlie St Cloud" in July 2010.

The INSIDER Summary: 

• Epcot's World Showcase features many drinks from all over the world.
• Some of the best include the Avocado Margarita in the Mexico pavilion and the Welsh Dragon in the United Kingdom pavilion.

There is no better way to spend a day than day drinking through Epcot's World Showcase. If you're anything like me, you look at all of the drink options and are instantly overwhelmed. I asked around and researched carefully to come up with this unofficial guide to drinking around the world in Epcot. 

Mexico: Avocado Margarita

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All of my friends are always raving about the avocado margarita at La Cava del Tequila, and I can't blame them. It's completely worth every bit of the hype. You can enjoy this drink for $13.50. 

Norway: Viking Coffee

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I've heard at time or two that the drinks in Norway pale in comparison to the other countries in the World Showcase. These people obviously haven't tried the Viking Coffee at Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe. It's coffee flavored with Kamora Coffee Liqueur and Baileys Irish Cream. It will cost $10.25. 

China: Tipsy Ducks in Love

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Found at the Joy of Tea stand in China is the Tipsy Ducks in Love drink. For $8.95, you can enjoy this blend of bourbon whisky, coffee, black tea, cream, and chocolate syrup. 

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Grilling is one of my favorite pastimes.

There are very few things that bring me more joy than putting beers in a cooler, burgers on the grill, and inviting some friends over for a barbecue.

Yet with those joys comes a price: At the end of the day, you have to clean the grill, which can be quite the endeavor.

Enter: the Grillbot, which is essentially a Roomba for your grill.

I put the Grillbot to the test on my family grill that had not gotten the care and attention it deserved for years. You can check out the results below; suffice to say I was impressed with them. 

SEE ALSO: This $15 grill brush has more 5-star reviews on Amazon than any other — here's why

At first glance, the Roomba comparison is easy to see. With three rotating brushes, the Grillbot is designed to bounce around your grill and scrape away grime.

This is my grill back home. While I was once an avid, every-other-day griller, when I left for college and my grilling became more sporadic, I gave up trying to keep my grill clean.

This was the result of my cleaning negligence. Full disclosure: I thought I had set the Grillbot up for failure. This is at least two years worth of grime and residue — it would truly be a test for the Grillbot. I set the timer for the max setting, closed the lid, and prayed.

The INSIDER Summary:

• We rounded up a list of the most controversial clothing items sold in recent years.
• Clothing from popular brands such as Urban Outfitters, T.J. Maxx, and Nike are included.

Every so often, fashion brands upset the masses by attempting to sell debatable merchandise.

While many designs were created in good faith, others have been perceived as ways to make money by ruffling feathers. Nonetheless, the internet rarely forgets.

Here are 12 examples of the worst clothing items and accessories that have left a lasting impression on the minds of consumers.

Kendall and Kylie Jenner are in hot water again for plastering their faces over musical icons to sell T-shirts.

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Kendall and Kylie are trash for so many things... but this... this is straight disrespectful, and they're selling them for $125 each 🤦🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/W50WqHUpRw

After complaints from music fans, Kendall and Kylie Jenner pulled a range of controversial T-shirts from their site. The shirts — which debuted on June 28 and were taken off sale on June 29 — showed the sisters' faces superimposed over several famous musicians, including Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., and The Doors.

The Jenners issued a statement apologizing for causing offense after receiving criticism from music fans and allegations of cultural appropriation.

They were even met with threats of legal action. The Doors' estate reportedly threatened to sue the Jenners, issuing a cease and desist letter that claims one of the T-shirts in the range — which shows a selfie of Kendall over an image of Jim Morrison and The Doors logo — tarnishes the band's trademark.

After receiving flack from the military community, Forever 21 pulled gray shirt-dresses that were designed to look like army training gear.

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Forever 21 made the Army PT shirt into a 'graphic tee' pic.twitter.com/UhmfAGzc77

In early May Revelist reported that alternate camouflage designs are still available for purchase online and in stores.

In 2013, Nike's bloody "Boston Massacre" shirts turned into an offensive reminder of the Boston Marathon bombings.

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The Nike "Boston Massacre" shirt is now selling on eBay for $155,000 http://t.co/Kt8kEiXH31

Nike claimed the design was intended to help New York Yankees fans celebrate the baseball team's double series sweeps against the Boston Red Sox, according to ABC News.

Despite being recalled, one eBay user made news for attempting to auction off a shirt for over $155,000.

Now that summer's here, many of us are probably daydreaming about frozen margaritas sipped on outdoor patios, beach days, long bike rides, and leaving work in time to enjoy several hours of daylight.

When the clock strikes 5 p.m. ( or 2 p.m. on a Friday, anyone?), it's natural to want to call it a day, turn off the computer, and enjoy the life part of the work-life equation.

But if you typically work nine- or 10-hour days, how is this even possible? How can you realistically work a little less and still make your mark at work?

Muse career experts have advice on how you can manage to be productive without being a workaholic.

SEE ALSO: More bosses are giving up on employees getting anything done on Fridays this summer

DON'T MISS: The unglamorous summer jobs 21 successful people had before they made it big

1. Practice open communication

"If enjoying free time in the evenings over the summer doesn't sound like something your work life can support, try speaking to your manager about getting in earlier to justify leaving at a specific set time. They'll appreciate your diligence, and you'll appreciate a more flexible summer schedule!"

—Matthew N. Ford

2. Talk to your boss

"Contrary to popular belief among many professionals, working ridiculous hours does not prove your worth. A good manager will work with you to be sure you are not overloaded.

"If you're working late every night over a long period of time, it might be time to speak to your boss about better distribution of responsibilities."

—Ashley Cobert

3. Hone your time management skills

"Be mindful of what's on your plate and strategically block out times to work on specific projects to ensure you're getting what you need done so you're able to enjoy some sun. If we're not intentional about choosing how we spend our time, it can and will get away from us.

"Be mindful of your social media use and other distractions. It also can't hurt to get in earlier and accomplish what you can while it's quiet and then you're able to leave earlier and enjoy the extended daylight!"

—Kelly Poulson