Losing over 100 pounds in a year may sound almost impossible, but it's Jeffrey Hadley's reality.

Jeffrey Hadley lost over 100 pounds and took charge of his health.

Credit: Jeffrey Hadley/LIVESTRONG.com Creative

The 50-year-old landscaper from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, topped 270 pounds four years ago, when a health scare that landed him in the hospital for almost a week served as a wake-up call. He was discharged with a diagnosis of adult-onset asthma, COPD, high blood pressure and a determination to change.

Today, at 160 pounds, his health issues have vanished, and he's never looked or felt better. Here's his amazing story, in his own words.

Most of my life, I'd never had a weight problem. I worked as a landscaper, an active job that easily burned 10,000 calories a day. As a result, I could pretty much eat anything I wanted.

But in 2013, I got promoted to general manager at my company, a desk job that didn't involve much activity. I kept on eating the same way, though, and within a couple years I'd gained 100 pounds. The more weight I gained, the more sedentary I became, and over the months I noticed I was becoming winded doing relatively easy activities like walking across the room.

"A little lightbulb went off in my head and I realized that my health problems were most likely due to my being so overweight."

Then, in 2015, I ended up in the hospital for six days because I was having so much trouble breathing. My oxygen levels were hovering around 80 (normal is between 95 and 100). I ended up on oxygen 24/7 with constant nebulizer treatments and three inhalers. The doctors diagnosed me with adult-onset asthma, COPD and hypertension.

On my fifth day there, one of the physicians who came in to see me began asking me a lot of questions about my diet and exercise habits. Before he walked out, he turned to me and said, 'You know, if you just lose some weight, all of this would stop.'

A little lightbulb went off in my head and I realized that my health problems were most likely due to my being so overweight.

I was released the next day. The first thing I did when I got back home was to research the term 'clean eating.' I learned that all the processed foods like pizza and calzones that were the staples of my diet were loaded with calories, added sugars and chemicals that had caused all my weight gain.

In the beginning, I just ate a ton of fruit and veggies, some meat and eggs and lots and lots of chicken. I cut out starches like bread and processed food as much as possible.

Breakfast was usually eggs, oatmeal and fruit, while lunch and dinner were usually some type of lean protein paired with fruit and veggies. I only let myself snack on fruits and veggies.

I'm single and don't have much time or space to cook, but even when I ate out I focused on healthier choices: Instead of my usual cheesesteak, for example, I'd have plain chicken.

The weight came off fairly quickly, and I think it's because I had been overeating so much. I'd order a family-style Stromboli entre at work, for example, and end up eating it all myself. I was consuming a ton of food without even realizing it.

Did you know that keeping a food diary is one of the most effective ways to manage your weight? Download the MyPlate app to easily track calories, stay focused and achieve your goals!

It was tough at first, because although I wasn't really physically hungry, I was so used to snacking all day that it felt like a real void. I bought a motorcycle and went on a ride every day as my "reward" for clean eating.

While he was losing weight, Jeffrey rewarded himself for eating well by taking his new motorcycle for a spin.

Credit: Jeffrey Hadley

When I first got home from the hospital, I was in bad shape. I was 270 pounds with a 48-inch stomach and I was barely able to climb three steps without getting out of breath. Just walking to the bathroom required a rescue inhaler. I knew if I wanted to lose weight, though, I had to become physically active.

I asked a friend who owned a kickboxing gym what I could do that would get me moving while being easy on my body. She told me to just walk. So that's exactly what I did.

At the beginning, I couldn't walk two steps without having to use my inhaler. It would take me an hour to walk a quarter mile. But I refused to quit, and as the weight came off, it became easier and easier.

Within a couple months, I was walking 2 to 3 miles a day, until I eventually worked up to 10 miles a day. Now, I regularly run 5Ks.

The medical problems that landed me in the hospital asthma and hypertension have vanished. It turns out all my excess stomach fat had been crushing my lungs and my heart.

"At the beginning, I couldn't walk two steps without having to use my inhaler. Now, I regularly run 5Ks."

Consistency was key for me. I never did cheat days, or cheat meals, or even cheat snacks. I made sure I was 100-percent dedicated to what I was doing. It wasn't easy I'm normally a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of guy.

I decided to keep everything very basic, with five main food staples: veggies, fruit, chicken, rice and eggs. I swear, I ate scrambled eggs with chicken every morning for a year, but I needed to keep it simple.

As time went on, I tried different diet programs, like keto and intermittent fasting, but I found them very restrictive and hard to stick to long term. I felt I was more successful if I followed what I dubbed JERF, or Just Eat Real Food!

The first piece of advice I'd offer to others who are looking to lose weight is to simply cut out processed food. If it comes in a bag or a box, it's probably not good for you. I found I was more satisfied and naturally ate less if I just focused on fresh, real food.

Secondly, focus less on the scale and more on how your clothes fit and how you feel.

After I'd lost about 70 pounds, I decided it was time to start going to the gym. That was tough, because I'd never lifted weights before. I was scared to death. Again, I decided to keep it simple: the first time I went, I used three machines, and that was it.

But as I gained confidence and began using more machines (and lifting heavier weights) I realized that while my stomach was getting smaller and my shirts were fitting better, my scale wasn't moving as much anymore. I was losing fat, but replacing it with muscle.

I gauge my progress now by how my clothes fit. At my heaviest, I wore a triple-extra-large shirt. Now, I easily can slip into a medium.

The rest is here:
'I Lost 100 Pounds in a Year by Walking and Cutting Processed Foods' - LIVESTRONG.COM

LONDON: People with an eating disorder are nearly four times more likely to develop addiction to exercise, which may lead to mental health issues, and injury, according to a study.

The study, published in the journal Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, is the first to measure rates of exercise addiction in groups of people with and without the characteristics of an eating disorder.

An eating disorder is defined by abnormal eating habits that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health. They include binge eating disorder, where people eat a large amount in a short period of time.

The meta-analysis examined data from 2,140 participants across nine different studies, including from the UK, the US, Australia and Italy.

It found that people displaying characteristics of an eating disorder are 3.7 times more likely to suffer from addiction to exercise than people displaying no indication of an eating disorder.

"It is known that those with eating disorders are more likely to display addictive personality and obsessive-compulsive behaviours," said Mike Trott from the Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the UK.

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The researchers noted it is not uncommon to want to improve our lifestyles by eating healthier and doing more exercise, particularly at the start of the year.

However, it is important to moderate this behaviour and not fall victim to 'crash diets' or anything that eliminates certain foods entirely, as these can easily lead to eating disorders, they said.

"Our study shows that displaying signs of an eating disorder significantly increases the chance of an unhealthy relationship with exercise, and this can have negative consequences, including mental health issues and injury," Trott said.

Health professionals working with people with eating disorders should consider monitoring exercise levels as a priority, the researchers said.

It is because this group has been shown to suffer from serious medical conditions as a result of excessive exercise, such as fractures, increased rates of cardiovascular disease in younger patients, and increased overall mortality, they said.

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Watch what you eat: Eating disorders can cause exercise addiction, mental health issues and injury - Economic Times

INVOKANA is the only diabetes treatment in Canada approved to treat this patient group

TORONTO , Jan. 28, 2020 /CNW/ - The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today that following a Priority Review, Health Canada has approved INVOKANA (canagliflozin) as an adjunct to diet, exercise, and standard-of-care therapy, to reduce the risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), doubling of serum creatinine, and cardiovascular (CV) death in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy (also known as diabetic kidney disease) with albuminuria (>33.9mg/mmol).1

Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (CNW Group/Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson)

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease in Canada ; up to one in two people with diabetes will experience signs of kidney damage in their lifetime.2Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is progressive and if left untreated, can lead to dialysis or kidney transplant.3In addition, people living with diabetic kidney disease are at a high risk for heart attack and stroke.4

"This is an important advancement given the increased prevalence of diabetic kidney disease in those living with type 2 diabetes," said Adeera Levin, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.A.C.P., C.M., Head, Division of Nephrology, Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia , Executive Director, BC Provincial Renal Agency and CREDENCE National Lead Investigator for Canada .** "With this new indication for INVOKANA, physicians are now able to offer a treatment option that reduces the cardiovascular and kidney risks associated with diabetic kidney disease."

The new indication is based on results from the landmark Phase 3 CREDENCE study, the first dedicated renal outcomes study of any sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. In CREDENCE, INVOKANA added to standard-of-care therapy demonstrated a 30 per cent reduction in the risk of the primary composite endpoint, comprised of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), doubling of serum creatinine and renal or CV death, compared to standard-of-care therapy alone.5Results also showed INVOKANA reduced the risk of secondary CV endpoints, including a 31 per cent reduction in the risk of the composite of CV death or hospitalization for heart failure, a 20 per cent reduction in MACE (major adverse cardiovascular events; composite of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction [MI] and nonfatal stroke), and a 39 per cent reduction in the risk of hospitalization for heart failure alone. Importantly, the study showed no imbalance in lower limb amputations or bone fractures and no new safety concerns were identified in this study of high-risk renal patients.

About CREDENCECREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes with Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation) is a randomized, double-blind, event-driven, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, 2-arm, multicentre trial that evaluated 4,401 patients with type 2 diabetes, Stage 2 or 3 chronic kidney disease (defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of 30 to <90 mL/min/ 1.73 m 2) and macroalbuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio [ACR] >33.9 mg/mmol to 565.6 mg/mmol). All patients in the trial were receiving standard-of-care therapy, including a maximum tolerated labeled daily dose of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB).

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ABOUT INVOKANAINVOKANA is an oral, once-daily prescription treatment used to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.6 INVOKANA belongs to a class of medications called sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, which offer a novel approach to treating type 2 diabetes by increasing the excretion of glucose in the urine, resulting in a reduction of blood glucose.7 INVOKANAhas been studied in more than 18,000 patients with type 2 diabetesacross 14 double-blind, controlled Phase 3 and Phase 4 clinical trials.

INVOKANAwas approved by Health Canada on May 23, 2014 as monotherapy or in combination with other antihyperglycemic agents as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes. INVOKANA received Health Canada approval for reduction of therisk of major adverse cardiovascular events on October17, 2018and was approved as an adjunct to diet, exercise, and standard-of-care therapyto reduce the risk of ESKD, doubling of serum creatinine, and CV death in adults with type2 diabetes and diabetickidney diseaseon January 24,2020.8INVOKANAis currently approved as a single agent in 79 countries.

Common side effects reported with INVOKANAinclude vaginal yeast infection, hypoglycemia, yeast infection of the penis, urinary tract infection, increased urination, constipation, skin ulcer, nausea and thirst.

Please consult the Product Monograph available at http://www.janssen.com/canada/products for important information relating to:

Canagliflozin is licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation. Trademarks are those of their respective owners.

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & JohnsonAt Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension.

Learn more at http://www.janssen.com/canada. Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/JanssenCanada. Janssen Inc. is one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

*All trademark rights used under license.

**Dr. Levin was not compensated for any media work. She has been compensated as a consultant.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding INVOKANA. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Inc., any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018 , including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at http://www.sec.gov, http://www.jnj.comor on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

References

SOURCE Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

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Health Canada Approves New Indication for INVOKANA* (canagliflozin) to Reduce the Risks Associated with Diabetic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type...

Jan. 30, 2020, 11:53 AM UTC

LONDON Even birds of prey may have trouble losing those post-holiday pounds.

A British wildlife charity has said that an owl that was found in a ditch in early January and initially thought to have been injured turned out to be simply extremely obese.

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary in eastern England told NBC News on Thursday that the sopping wet little owl (Athene noctua) was brought in by a member of the public in early January. When staff examined and weighed the bird, she was a rather chunky 245 grams, according to the groups social media.

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This is roughly a third heavier than a large healthy female little owl. The extra weight meant she was unable to fly properly due to the fatty deposits.

As it is unusual for wild birds to be in this condition, the sanctuary's falconers decided to monitor her for a few weeks to see why she had put on weight.

The sanctuary concluded that "natural obesity" was to blame. Due to an unseasonably warm December, the area where the gluttonous owl was found was "crawling with field mice and voles."

Its been very mild here, and prey species are on a cycle where they increase every four years, head falconer for the charity Rufus Samkin said.

When these two things happened to coincide, she absolutely gorged herself and got very fat. She had a lovely time, but went too far, he said.

The owl was put on a "strict diet" to slim down to a more "natural weight." Sanctuary staff also encouraged her to exercise in the rehabilitation center by feeding her low to the ground.

The owl lost between 20 and 30 grams over two-and-a-half weeks, while staff monitored her food intake.

The whole thing is quite exceptional, as most birds we see are starving, Samkin said.

The little owl was released back into the wild, flying gracefully off into the British countryside at a much healthier, and happier weight, according to the groups social media.

Read more here:
'Extremely obese' owl released back into the wild after being too fat to fly - NBC News

The moment your doctor first said the words rheumatoid arthritis, a million questions probably went through your head. What does this mean for my future? Will I be able to work or raise a family? Will I ever feel like I did before my symptoms began?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks the joints and other parts of the body. This causes painful inflammation in the joints as well as the eyes, mouth, skin, lungs and blood. Other symptoms include fatigue, stiffness and low-grade fever. There is no cure, but there are several medication options and lifestyle habits that can help (such as diet, exercise and reducing stress).

Every person with RA has a unique experience, and not even a doctor can tell you exactly what your journey will entail. But sneaking even a glimpse of what other RA warriors have experienced and learned since they were diagnosed can help you feel more prepared for the roller-coaster ride of RA.

Related: How Rheumatoid Arthritis Changed My Relationship With Pain

We asked our Mighty RA community to share what they wish they knew when they were diagnosed with RA bits of knowledge that might have made their path a little less bumpy, or that would have reassured them and shown them that what theyre feeling is completely normal. Consider the following list your RA cheat sheet. If youve just been diagnosed, youre now ahead of the game.

Because RA includes the word arthritis, many people assume the condition only targets the joints. However, RA is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation not only in the joints, but other body systems as well, including the eyes, skin, mouth, lungs, heart, and blood. Fatigue and low-grade fever are also common.

[I wish I knew] how many other things apart from joints are affected. I really thought it just meant having a few stiff joints like you normally hear about arthritis but its so much more than that, it affects almost everything. Natalie P.

Related: Fighting the 'Stoner Stigma' as a Medical Cannabis Patient

Again, because of its association with arthritis, people often dismiss kids who exhibit RA symptoms. Doctors might have told you your symptoms were just growing pains or misdiagnosed you with another condition. Not only is it possible to develop RA as a child or teen, but its also common enough that theres a name for it: juvenile idiopathic arthritis. An estimated 300,000 kids and teens in the U.S. are affected by JIA, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

[I wish I knew] that young people could get it too. I kept being told I couldnt have those issues because I was too young for that and I ended up internalizing that idea. I wish someone told me illnesses dont care whether youre young or old, theyll still get you. Nicole S.

Some people find that with the right medications, their symptoms are drastically reduced, giving them the ability to lead a relatively normal life. On the other hand, certain medications can have absolutely no effect or make you feel worse. The point is, its important to take medications seriously. Dont stop taking them without a doctors approval, and know that if a certain medication isnt working for you, there may be another that will work.

Related: 7 'Red Flags' You Need a New Rheumatologist

I wish my doctor had expressed the severity of everything and that if we found the right med combo that I had a chance to go into remission. Twice I quit the meds due to side effects and I wish a nurse or someone had called me and told me the importance ofthe meds and staying under a doctors care. Meredith I.

Many people with RA find that fatigue affects their quality of life just as much as the joint pain. Fatigue can make you feel like youve run a marathon even though its only noon and prevent you from working, spending time with friends and exercising. People who dont live with chronic illnesses may think youre just tired and will feel better after a nap, but fatigue typically isnt resolved with a few extra hours of sleep.

Not everybody will understand about the rest days or the fatigue that strikes. Julie R.

[I wish I knew] that I would experience unpredictable episodes of extreme fatigue that extra rest and/or sleep will not cure. Genevieve M.

Lifestyle habits dont cause RA, and changing up your eating or exercise habits wont cure it. However, some find that eating a well-balanced, anti-inflammatory diet, quitting smoking, prioritizing sleep, reducing stress, and staying as physically active as possible helps minimize their symptoms. Talk with your doctor about strategies that make sense for your body.

Growing up I wish I had known more about implementing a healthy lifestyle (eating the right foods, staying in shape, etc.) when I was younger and it wouldnt be as hard now. Montana F.

Lets say it together: You did not cause your RA! In fact, scientists still dont know exactly what causes RA, though factors like gender, age and family history can contribute. Rather than spending energy feeling guilty about what you must have done to cause your RA, its more productive to focus on managing the condition as best you can.

[I wish I knew] that other kids had JRA as bad as I did, and that having the disease wasnt my fault. Alyson K.

There are a few blood tests physicians use to help diagnose RA. These tests look for the presence of antibodies that signify you have high levels of inflammation in your body. These tests include rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP, ESR and CRP. These tests, combined with your symptoms and imaging scans, contribute to an RA diagnosis. However, just because you do not test positive for RA, does not necessarily mean you dont have it. If you still exhibit the symptoms of RA, you might have seronegative RA, which means you dont have the antibodies that usually indicate seropositive RA. Make sure you see a rheumatologist who understands this possibility (as well as the possibility of testing positive for RA, but actually having a different autoimmune disease like Sjogrens syndrome).

Wish I knew my bloodwork didnt have to be positive to RA. Danielle F.

If you have one autoimmune disease, you are at risk for developing another (or two). Experts think genetics may be at least partially to blame since one gene could be linked to several different autoimmune diseases. Exposure to environmental factors could be another trigger. About 25% of people with autoimmune diseases have a tendency to develop additional autoimmune diseases, according to research.

[I wish I knew] that I could be more prone to other autoimmune diseases as well. I am at three now. Dani L.

Since RA causes your immune system to attack healthy tissues, some drugs treat RA by targeting the parts of the immune system that cause inflammation. As a result, a common side effect is a weakened immune system and greater susceptibility to illness since youre less able to fight germs.

If youre taking medications that lower your immune system, youll want to take steps to avoid coming into contact with germs; for example, by frequent hand-washing and staying away from people who are sick.

If anyone suggests that RA is no big deal or can be easily cured, they must not know anyone living with RA. Far more than just joint pain, the condition often forces you to limit or alter activities you used to do with ease. Its only natural to experience some anxiety and/or depression while you come to terms with your diagnosis. Theres no shame in reaching out to friends, family, therapists and/or online support groups for help.

I wish I knew my life was going to change completely. Most people dont understand what RA really does to a person. I have found people that think and they have told me that RA is curable. Its very frustrating trying to explain them. They think they know more than my rheumatologist. Janeth G.

No two people with RA are exactly alike, and one medication can work amazingly well for one person and have no effect on someone else. Thats why its important to find a rheumatologist who is willing to try different treatment options and approach your relationship as a partnership. Settling for the first rheumatologist you meet, even if they arent enthusiastic about finding the best treatment for you, could mean you miss out on helpful disease management strategies.

I wish someone would have told me that a relationship with my rheumatologist was a beneficial step in my care. Finding a rheumatologist who believes we are a team and hears me out is so important to my overall care. Knowing me as a person and not just a patient humanizes my appointments. Elaine W.

Check out these stories for more insight on RA from our Mighty community:

Tatum O'Neal's Honest Photo Reveals the Painful Side Effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis

An Important Message to Doctors Who Treat Young Patients With Chronic Illnesses

What I Want Others to Understand About Life With Chronic Illness

See the rest here:
11 Things People Wish They Knew When They Were Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis - Yahoo Lifestyle

James Martin will often appear on the small screen to share his cooking tips with Britons. In the past, the chef has been open about his incredible weight loss journey. What did he do to slim down?

The TV chef recently shared snaps online showing his ten year transformation.

He has dramatically slimmed down during his career and most recently showcased a 1st 7lb weight loss in May 2018.

Speaking at the time, he revealed his TV appearances motivated him to make a change.

James told Mail Online: You kind of watch and go, 'oh God there's a bit of chin happening there'. And everybody's TVs are bigger now.

READ MORE: Weight loss diet: One drink can help burn fat fast - how much should you have?

Before you used to watch TV on a small one and now they're massive."

Working in the public eye, he revealed negative comments persuaded him to change his lifestyle.

I looked on social media and every comment was about me being fat, he told The Sun.

So I lost a stone-and-a-half. And no doubt Ill lose another stone on this tour.

DON'T MISS

It is reported he cut back on butter and foods high in fat to help him get into shape.

However, he has admitted he will use lashings of fatty foods when cooking on his show.

He said: If you want to do Weight Watchers this show probably isnt for you!

I have double cream, full fat milk, cheese and butter and thats just for one of the side orders on this tour.

But I like food. Ive always been surrounded by food. I was brought up on a farm, I worked on a farm producing pigs.

You have to understand food and I am seriously passionate about ingredients.

On social media, the popular chef will often share posts of healthy meals he has cooked.

However, it was exercising that first helped him lose a staggering amount of weight.

Previously weighing in at 19st 7lb, James lost a huge amount of weight when he competed in the reality dance show, Strictly Come Dancing in 2005.

While on the show, contestants will follow an intense training regime and James managed to dance off an impressive five stone.

Opening up on the training routine, he said he eventually trained seven days a week for 10 hours.

The routine helped him kick start his weight loss journey.

See more here:
James Martin weight loss: TV chef used this trick to shed a whopping six stone - Express

ARKPORT This time of year, were all looking for a fast and easy way to lose weight and theres no shortage of suspicious claims out there.

Fad diets create a buzz because they often promise just that. But anyone who is serious about losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle shouldnt be fooled. Katie Ferraro, MPH, RDN, CDE, nutrition expert for TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, provides five sound reasons to avoid the fad diets and eat sensibly instead.

Water Weight Is Not Fat Loss: The initial weight loss with most fad diets is water weight. It is easily gained back and then some when normal eating resumes.

Carbs Are Still King: Glucose is the preferred energy source for your body and brain. Healthy sources of carbohydrates, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, are optimal to fuel your body. Keep in mind: Nobody ever gained weight from eating raw veggies.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Research indicates that 1 to 2 pounds per week is the ideal rate for sustainable weight loss. Your friends may be losing over 5 pounds per week, but they will likely regain that and more.

Your Diet Shouldnt Deprive You: To truly follow some of the craziest fad diets out there, you would never be able to eat at a restaurant or enjoy food at a social event. The way you choose to craft a healthy diet should fit into your real life rather than being a barrier to living a full life.

The Scale Isnt All That Matters: When you eat healthy foods and exercise more, not only does your weight drop, but other metabolic measurements, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar, will improve. A fad diet might help you shed pounds quickly, but if its raising your cholesterol and stressing you out, the weight loss isnt worth it.

TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization. Founded more than 70 years ago, TOPS is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind. TOPS promotes successful weight management with a Real People. Real Weight Loss. philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise and wellness information. TOPS has members male and female, age 7 and older in thousands of chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is $32 per year in the U.S. plus nominal chapter fees.

Local chapters meet in Arkport, Hornell, Canisteo, Dansville, Wellsville and Bath.

To find a local chapter, visit http://www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

Read more:
Local TOPS Club offers five reasons to forgo fad diets - Hornell Evening Tribune

Eric Gorder, For USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 9:18 a.m. CT Jan. 24, 2020

Heart healthy foods include berries, avocado, whole grains and leafy greens.(Photo: Alicia Devine/Democrat)

As we burn through January at warp speed, we will soon embark on February, American Heart Month a month of focus on heart disease prevention.

While most everyone is still focused on their New Years resolutions, this is a great time to start thinking about and changing the foods you are putting into your bodies. Many articles will come out in February pertaining to what the top five, 10 or 15 foods are to strengthen and protect your heart. I thought it would be interesting and fun to take it a step further with those popular heart healthy foods and tell you why they are important for you.

Leafy greens are high in minerals, antioxidants and vitamins, especially vitamin K, which helps protect arteries.

Whole grains are high in fiber, which is strongly linked to reducing bad cholesterol (LDL), and helps reduce inflammation.

Berries are super high in antioxidants, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation which contribute to heart disease.

Avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fats, which also help lower bad LDL cholesterol. They are also super high in potassium aiding in cholesterol management.

Walnuts are another super food in that the high amount of monounsaturated fats help lower your bad LDL cholesterol.

Careful with this one! Dark chocolate is high in flavonoids, which help boost heart health, but only in small amounts and it needs to be 70% or higher in cocoa.

Tomatoes are another superfood in that they contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene that promotes HDL, good, cholesterol.

Seeds are surprisingly high in fiber. They also have omega-3 fatty acids which help control blood pressure and cholesterol.

Like dark chocolate, edamame are high in flavonoids which help to control overall cholesterol levels.

Known for its ability to increase fat burning and improve insulin sensitivity, green tea is also very high in polyphenols and catechins, helping to prevent cell damage and reduce inflammation.

Notice, all of these foods are whole, unprocessed and available year-round. There is also a common theme of high fiber, omega 3 fatty acids and plenty of phytochemicals that help balance your LDL and HDL for a healthier total cholesterol. Most are very impactful in small amounts and combined with moderate exercise and a complete diet low in sugar will help protect your heart, control your weight and have you bragging all the way home from your most recent health checkup.

Do yourself a favor and incorporate these foods into your daily meal plans. Youll set a great example for your family and bulletproof yourself from the leading cause of death in the United States heart disease.

Eric Gorder is the senior healthy living director for Greater Green Bay YMCA and a certified corrective exercise specialist. Reach him at 920-436-9667 or eric.gorder@greenbayymca.org.

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Why you need to include these heart healthy foods in your diet - Green Bay Press Gazette

Forty-three volunteers with high blood pressure completed the one-year trial. To measure the effects, the researchers gave their subjects questionnaires to gauge how well they identified and controlled their emotions as well as tests to assess their ability to pay attention to a task before the program began and again three months, six months and 12 months after it ended. The study also evaluated its subjects physical-activity level, diet, body mass index, perceived stress, alcohol consumption, medication adherence and blood pressure. Those who werent following official guidelines on heart health at the outset all showed improvements when it came to physical activity, diet and alcohol consumption; all participants reported lower stress. On average, a year later, the study participants had lowered their systolic blood pressure by six points and their diastolic pressure by an average of one point, a significant overall improvement.

But the study also illustrates the difficulties inherent in trying to judge the health effects of any psychological intervention. The scientific method, in comparison, is well suited to testing drugs like blood-pressure medications: One group of trial subjects gets the medication, another gets a placebo and neither the researchers nor the participants know who gets what until the clinical trial is over, eliminating the possibility that their expectations about the drugs effectiveness influence the results. In other words, the conditions for each group are exactly the same, except for the chemical makeup of the pill they are ingesting. In theory, then, any difference in health outcomes between the groups must be a result of that difference in chemicals.

It is impossible, though, for persons practicing mindfulness not to know whether or not they are doing it, so how do you create a placebo for a control group? Louckss study compared participants with themselves before and after the mindfulness training, but its impossible to be certain whether the training itself caused the observed changes. It could be that simply meeting in a group for two hours a week (or 10 minutes a week, for that matter) improves health. To find out, you would need to convene such a gathering for the same length of time as the mindfulness training group and then give them something to do, Loucks says. What is that content? taking a health class? and is it messing with our question? To put it another way, can you say what the precise difference is between the mindfulness training and that health class, which is the behavioral equivalent of the chemical difference between a drug and its placebo, that accounts for a difference in outcomes?

That difference, the aspect of mindfulness that impacts health, may become clearer as researchers develop increasingly specific mindfulness-training programs and test them on larger, more diverse groups of people. In Louckss study, as in many mindfulness studies, most of the participants who responded to advertisements seeking volunteers were white, college-educated and by definition interested in trying the practice, so its not clear if the results apply more widely. Loucks is currently running a randomized trial of his mindfulness-based blood-pressure program with 200 volunteers; those in the control group work with a physician to manage their blood pressure and receive a blood-pressure monitor to keep at home along with training on its use, which has been shown to improve how well patients manage their condition. (Not having all the answers yet doesnt mean we shouldnt act; health officials approve many drugs without knowing for whom they will work best, at what dose and why, or what their long-term effects might be, variables that even the most rigorous trials cant always determine.)

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Can Mindfulness Evolve From Wellness Pursuit to Medical Treatment? - The New York Times

Aussies are living longer than ever before, thanks to improvements in healthcare services and medical technology. However, many of us may still feel apprehensive about the effects of ageing on our body and may resign ourselves into thinking certain outcomes are inevitable as we tick off another birthday. Ive heard several old wives tales about what people believe happens to our bodies as we get older, so Im going to let you in on the truth of the matter.

Many of the most common age-related health hurdles can be overcome easier than you may think by tweaking aspects of your diet and lifestyle. To help you, Ive debunked five common healthy ageing myths and shared my top tips on feeling great at any age.

Making drastic changes to your diet at any age can sometimes do more harm than good, so its always recommended that you speak to a health professional before doing so. Big changes might be hard to maintain so focus on smaller tweaks to your diet, which can have great results on your health. As our bodies age slowly over time, ensure you eat a balanced diet of all five core food groups carbohydrates, vegetables, fruit, dairy and lean meat as this will help to ensure you provide your body with the right nutrition, regardless of your age.

Our energy comes from the food we eat, so if youre fueling your body properly and eating a balanced diet, you will have energy no matter what your age. You may feel a little lackluster though as you get older, so consider getting out and socialising, incorporating regular exercise or taking up a new hobby to feel motivated each day and maintain energy levels. You can also consider incorporating an energy-boosting supplement with the key ingredients of nicotinamide, also known as the molecule of youth, which has been shown to boost energy levels. And remember, if you have a medical condition, speak to a health professional first before taking any new supplements.

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What really happens to our bodies as we age: Health myths debunked - Starts at 60