Category Archives: Lose Weight Fast

I've been essentially healthy most of my life. Like many, though, I've gone through stages of working out and eating well, followed by sedentary and gluttonous periods. I try not to give myself a hard time for these changes, but when I start to feel sluggish or unwell, I turn back to whole foods and regular exercise to improve my symptoms. At the start of 2021, tragedy struck my family when my father lost his 17-year health battle. It served as a wake-up call for me and one that has motivated me to really think critically about how I'm feeling and taking care of my body.

With the recommendation of a friend, I started macro counting (macronutrients)specifically, fat, protein, and carb intakeand committing to 30 to 45-minutes of exercise a day. When balanced correctly, macros allow you to eat the type of foods you love in the right portion sizes, without completely giving up a food group, like you would with Whole30 or the ketogenic (keto) diet.

And guess what? I'm two weeks and two pounds down. Losing a pound a week is right around the number you want for sustained weight loss. Macro counting doesn't have to be stressful, and as you can tell, it can also be effective. But it can also have a negative impact on your health if you make this big mistake, according to sports nutritionist and personal trainer Dan DeFigio: Don't get too obsessive over the numbers.

Here's why, and for more healthy tips, be sure to check out our list of 15 Underrated Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work.

To calculate your macros, you need to take into account the weight you'd like to lose, as well as how much fitness you squeeze in daily.

I asked a registered nurse, certified sports nutritionist, and founder of Eat Me Guilt Free, Cristie Besu, to consider my stats and recommend a macro breakdown. I'm female, 5'3", 32-years-old, active; I have a goal to lose twenty pounds by summer. She suggested the following:

Protein: 120g/30% of daily intake.Carbs: 200g/50% of daily intake.Fat: 35 grams/20% of daily intake.

How come? Besu says it's critical for me to have enough protein to maintain my existing muscle mass and high-fiber, low-glycemic carbs, so I remain satiated (AKA, not hangry). By using an app like MyFitnessPal, I'm able to understand the nutrients of every single food I eat and balance out my meals, so I receive the right amount.

When I first considered 'macro' counting, I was anxious about computing math on the spot and having to stick to a very-specific numberforever. As he explains, those that are the most successful look at the big picture rather than the day-to-day excruciating minutia, and they use the data they learn from tracking their foods and macros to inform their choices for years to come. Plus, as we know, fat levels and fitness activities are averages of what we do most of the time. Another way to tackle macros is to examine how the process works for five to six weeks.

"Food does not contain exactly the number of calories or grams of macronutrients that is on the label, or that is in your tracking database," he continues. "Your body does not process nutrients in exactly the same way as someone else's. Heck, your own body does not process nutrients in exactly the same way on a day-in and day-out basis anyway."

Plus, there are lots of variables, like hydration, sleep, hormones, stress levels, temperature, and so on. The last thing you want to do is drive yourself crazy and end up giving up.

Instead, find a starting point, like mine above, and see how 'easily' you can keep within these bounds. When something feels hard, take note of it. And then, you can consult with your doctor or nutritionist to find a solution. Remember: your wellness is a life-long investment, not a gimmick to squeeze into a size or a dress. It's worthwhile investing the mental energy into making it a well-rounded effort, from mind to bodyand far beyond the scale.

Intrigued? Here's How Counting Macros Is Different From Calorie Counting, According to Experts.

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Doing This One Thing Won't Actually Help You Lose Weight | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

The recent COVID-19 pandemic with its time at home and stress eating may have caused some people to put on some extra pounds known as the COVID-15 and allowed others more time to focus on their health.

We had the best fall-winter season weve ever had, said Medi-Weightloss of Lutz Owner Gerri Willett. Our best time for new clients is now through April. Last year at this time wasnt that great.

Because of the pandemic, Medi-Weightloss now offers telemedicine sessions. Even with offering telemedicine sessions, some of our clients still like to come in for their session, Willett said. I feel our clients have felt very comfortable with everything weve done to ensure their safety.

Medi-Weightloss was developed by physicians, registered dietitians and health professionals in the area of weight loss to help its clients control their calories and carbohydrate intake while eating the optimum amount of protein to preserve muscle mass.

The Medi-Weightloss Program is evidence-based to result in a successful lifestyle change. When administering the treatment, Medi-Weightloss healthcare providers take each patients unique health profile into account, which is what makes them a program that works for their clients.

Our amazing success over the past 16 years is due in large part to our clients entrusting us with their care and the care of their friends and family. We are extremely proud and thankful that more than half of new patients are based on referrals, said Medi-Weightloss Founder Edward Kaloust.

The program is based on weekly visits where patients get a body composition analysis and a complete medical exam, including blood panel and EKG.

We educate our patients about nutrition and fitness, Willet said. We are a physician-supervised weight loss program where we offer a balance of education, appetite management and exercise activity to lose weight. We teach our clients strategies to keep weight off using real food. This is not a quick fix, our program is a lifestyle change.

Both Medi-Weightloss locations in Brandon and in Lutz have been a part of the Tampa community for 16 years.

We are extremely proud to serve our community for 16 years, Willet said. We want to let the community know we are here for them even during the pandemic.

If you would like to learn more about the Medi-Weightloss Program, visit http://www.mediweightloss.com or call the Brandon office at 654-1110. The Brandon office is located at 203 W. Bloomingdale Ave.

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Medi-Weightloss Moves To Telemedicine During The Pandemic - Osprey Observer

Only 18% of those with the stomach surgery had to go to the hospital for treatment

by: Len Rome

(WYTV) There is welcome news when it comes to bariatric surgery the stomach-shrinking surgery and the coronavirus.

The Cleveland Clinic has just finished a study of 4,000 patients who had the virus.

Some had that bariatric surgery and the clinic discovered that for the most part, it kept them from being hospitalized with the virus.

It was surprising because that was the first time that we could show that the significant weight loss can be protective to this extent in patients with severe viral infection, Dr. Ali Aminian said.

The Cleveland Clinic looked at patients who caught the coronavirus between March and July of last year.

Forty-two percent of virus patients who were severely obese had to go to the hospital for treatment. Only 18% of those with the stomach surgery had to go.

The takeaway? People are generally healthier after losing a large amount of excess weight, which gives them a better chance at fighting the virus.

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Study finds weight loss surgery patients had better chance at fighting COVID-19 - WYTV

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Women sometimes avoid weight lifting because they think it can be dangerous or will make them bulky. But these stereotypes about women and lifting weights aren't supported by facts.

Here are some of the most common myths about weight lifting for women, and why they aren't true, according to a strength training coach.

Women can and do excel at weight lifting. While heavy weight lifting is sometimes stereotyped as a men's sport, elite women athletes are, pound for pound, some of the strongest in the world.

Men may lift more weight, in total pounds, but when it comes to contests of strength relative to body weight, some women weight lifters can outlift the guys.

Moreover, weight lifting is not dangerous for women, even if you're not an athlete, according to Sara Carr, personal trainer, competitive weightlifter, and assistant head coach at Black Box NYC.

"Anything is dangerous if you're doing it incorrectly. With proper form, there's nothing dangerous about lifting weights" Carr says.

What the research says: Studieshave found that weight lifting sports like powerlifting and CrossFit have a relatively low risk of injury compared to other common sports like soccer, football, and running.

In fact, women of all ages and backgrounds can safely learn weight lifting with the help of a good coach. "That includes women who are pregnant," Carr says, although some movements may be modified.

Research shows that women can safely lift weight while pregnant, and it even has benefits however, it's best to do so if you have prior experience, and not start a new, intense workout regimen during pregnancy. And it's always a good idea to consult a doctor if you're not sure a certain workout is right for you.

Another common myth is that lifting weights will make women gain weight and muscle or give their body a "bulky" appearance.

It's true, that if you lift enough weights over a long enough time, you will gain muscle mass. However, research shows that there aren't significant differences between how quickly men and women build muscle on similar training plans.

"Can it make you bulky? Sure, but you have to put in a ton of time in the weight room," Carr says. Even then, it won't happen overnight. Building muscle takes significantly longer than burning fat, and years of hard work are required for the lean muscle mass you see on "bulky" athletes.

General advice: 'Bulking' or putting on lots of muscle mass takes hard work, including eating extra calories and spending many hours in the gym, so it's not likely to happen by accident.

"It's a really slow process. If you're doing it three times a week, the increase in muscle is not going to be noticeable for most people," Carr says. As a result, you don't have to worry that casual lifting will accidentally turn you into a bodybuilder.

It's a common misconception that cardio is the best way to burn fat or lose weight. Weight lifting is as good or better for burning calories, since research shows it can increase your basal metabolic rate, or the number of calories you burn at rest, for up to 48 hours after you finish your workout.

"As soon as you stop doing cardio, you stop burning calories," Carr says. "When you lift weights, once you stop, your body starts to recover, and continues to burn calories for a long period of time."

It has another benefit for a lean physique, too, particularly in the long-term. As you build muscle with weight lifting, your body will need to use more energy maintaining all that tissue, which can further increase the number of calories you burn during daily activities.

"The more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism is going to be," Carr says.

Workout routines designed for women often include light weight (or just body weight exercises) and lots of reps. The conventional wisdom is that these smaller weights will help "tone" your muscles without making them big.

However, the word "tone" here is misleading because it refers to the idea that you can achieve defined muscles by changing their shape but without bulking up. In reality, you can't gain muscle definition without gaining some muscle mass (or losing body fat).

"Your muscles can get bigger or smaller, you can't change the shape," says Carr.

Moreover, toning is sometimes associated with spot reducing, which refers to when you target a specific area of your body like your stomach or thighs to make it leaner. However, spot reducing is not real: "You can't just tell your body you want to lose weight in a certain area," Carr says.

As a fitness beginner, walking into a gym can be anxiety-provoking, since it's easy to worry about being judged or fitting in. This can be particularly true for women in weight rooms full of men.

While it can feel overwhelming to know where to start, learning to lift weights doesn't have to be scary, says Carr. Many gym communities are extremely welcoming to newcomers, and are happy to help a newbie learn the ropes (or barbells). And weightlifting increasingly includes women as much as men today, 47% of USA Weightlifting members are women, compared to just 17% in 2007.

One key toward feeling comfortable in the gym is finding a good coach. Coaching is crucial for beginners, but it's also valuable for even the most experienced athletes to improve their technique and make progress.

"Everybody needs a coach when they start weight lifting," says Carr. "I compete in weight lifting and I have a coach." Carr adds that when looking for a coach, "I never recommend people just walk into a gym and go with whoever is assigned them."

Carr recommends some of the following when looking for a fitness coach:

Lifting weights has mental and physical health benefits for all genders. According to research, it can improve your bone health, preserve mobility in your tendons and joints, and may even help you live longer.

Studies show weight lifting can also improve your self confidence and self image. This can be especially beneficial for women who struggle with body image due to social pressures to be thin.

"It takes the focus off of training to look a certain way and puts the focus on training to perform a certain way," Carr says.

In addition to these benefits, weight lifting, like any form of exercise, can reduce stress, boost mood, and improve the quality of your sleep.

Weight lifting isn't just for men. It's a myth that lifting weights will make women bulky or put them at risk of injury.

Women can excel at weight lifting and experience major physical and mental benefits from strength training, including a leaner, more muscular body as well as better self-esteem.

Strength and resistance training also offers significant benefits for bone health like building bone density, which can help prevent conditions like osteoporosis.

"My favorite thing is to put a barbell in a woman's hands for the first time," Carr says. "One of the biggest benefits is the confidence of realizing you're capable of that."

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5 weight lifting myths for women and the health benefits women who lift weights gain - Insider - INSIDER

Following a low carb diet means youll limit the number of carbohydrates (carbs) you consume every day. Research has linked low carb diets to some health benefits, such as weight loss and blood sugar management.

Is it worth saying see ya! to some of your fave high carb foods, like pasta and sourdough? Maybe. But its not right for everyone.

Heres how to know what to eat, what to skip, and whether a low carb diet is right for you.

Eating according to a low carb diet means youll restrict the proportion of carbs to other calories you eat every day.

For low carbohydrate diets, that means getting less than 130 grams of carbs per day, or less than 26 percent of your total calories from carbs. For very low carbohydrate diets, its 20 to 50 grams of carbs per day or less than 10 percent of total calories from carbs.

This might seem like a simple rule to follow, but for most people this would be a big change from their normal diet. Americans usually get 45 to 65 percent of their calories from carbs.

Why make such a major shift? A low carb diet could help you avoid health issues that some studies have linked to modern-day high carb diets. It might also help you lose weight.

You can build your low carb diet by figuring out what works best for you, but there are also popular diets you can follow.

The ketogenic (keto) diet comes in many forms, but the standard keto diet means youll get 70 percent of your calories from fat, 20 percent from protein, and 10 percent from carbs.

The Atkins diet requires eating 20 grams of carbs each day for the first 2 weeks and then slowly increasing until you reach 50 grams of carbs per day.

Although keto and Atkins are prob the most recognizable low carb diets, there are plenty of others out there, like the Low Carb, High Fat (LCHF) diet; the Bulletproof Diet; and the Dubrow Diet.

Low carb diets can contain a wide variety of foods, including some that are higher in carbs, depending on the macro composition of your preferred low carb diet.

If youre following a low carb diet, youll want to get most of your daily calories from whole, nutritious foods like these:

Depending on your level of carb restriction, you may need to limit or avoid the following foods:

Other higher-carb foods and beverages, like grains and wine, can be included in more moderate low carb diets.

Regardless, the most important factor when planning a low carb diet is to make sure youre staying within the recommended carb intake for your specific diet.

In general, youll want to say so long to foods with a high proportion of carbs, such as these:

Remember that many of these foods, especially fruits, starchy veggies, and beans, can be a part of many low carb diets. The amount you can eat depends on your level of carb restriction.

Theres a bunch of different low carb diets, each with its own recommended carb intake.

Heres a 1-week menu for a very low carb ketogenic diet. This plan contains less than 50 grams of carbs per day.

Keep in mind that this is a very low carb plan, so its not appropriate for those on more moderate low carb diets.

Low carb diets have been linked to some health benefits. Doctors often prescribe them in a clinical setting to manage certain medical conditions.

Check with your doc first

The benefits below are potential perks of going on a low carb diet for folks without known risk factors.

If you have certain health conditions, such as liver failure, following a low carb diet can actually be dangerous to your health. Its always a good idea to check with your healthcare provider before going on a low carb diet to make sure you can do so safely.

Going low carb could help improve blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes and diabetes.

Some studies have found that low carb diets led to greater weight loss and a slightly greater decrease in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) than diets with normal or high carb content.

The low carb diets also led to a much bigger decrease in triglyceride levels. (High triglyceride levels are common in people who have high blood sugar and can increase the risk of heart disease.)

Research suggests that adopting a very low carb ketogenic diet may even help people with type 2 diabetes reduce or discontinue their blood sugar medication.

Your diet and your blood sugar

Studies have found that some low carb diets are extremely hard to stick to in the long term because theyre so restrictive. Following a less-restrictive lower-carb diet is likely a better choice for long-term blood sugar management.

Low carb diets are all the rage in the weight loss world, and theres evidence to support this popularity. Studies suggest low carb diets are at least as effective as low fat diets and sometimes even more effective.

A small 2020 study found that older adults with obesity who followed a very low carb diet lost more body fat in 8 weeks than those who followed a low fat diet.

The people in the very low carb diet group also lost about three times as much visceral fat as the low fat dieters did. Visceral fat is a type of fat that surrounds your organs and is linked to an increased risk of many chronic diseases.

But research suggests that more moderate low carb diets can also be effective for promoting fat loss, and theyre generally easier to stick to. So if youre looking for a more reasonable approach to long-term weight management, you can prob skip the very low carb options.

Some studies have also found that low fat diets are just as effective as low carb diets, as long as the calorie content is the same.

Dieting for weight loss

Remember: The healthiest and most effective eating plan for weight loss is one thats sustainable and nourishing and that works for your unique lifestyle and nutrient needs.

Keto diets have been used in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy for a long time. Theyve also shown promise in treating other neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimers disease.

Research also suggests that going low carb may help improve sleep and reduce the risk of anxiety in some people.

Low carb diets may help treat medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome and fatty liver disease. More research is needed, but some studies suggest they could even be a valuable supplement to cancer treatments.

Keep in mind that research in these areas is ongoing, meaning theres still a lot to learn about low carb diets and their impact on health.

Theres a wide range of low carb diets, and some diets might be really helpful for one population but really dangerous for another.

In general, its important to check with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a low carb diet.

Very low carb diets arent appropriate for people with certain medical conditions, like pancreatitis and liver failure. These diets can also lead to nutrient deficiencies if youre not intentional about what nutrients youre getting.

If youre pregnant or breastfeeding, a moderate low carb diet might be OK. But a keto diet is typically not recommended unless youre under medical supervision for a health condition like drug-resistant epilepsy.

Depending on genetic factors and each persons overall health, very low carb diets can have varying effects on measurements like insulin resistance and blood lipid levels. This is why its important to be monitored by a healthcare provider if youre following a very low carb diet.

Switching to a very low carb diet may cause unpleasant side effects like headaches, constipation, and fatigue. You might have heard of this keto flu.

Are low carb diets healthy?

Even though very low carb diets may be beneficial for some people, a restrictive diet is usually not necessary to improve your health.

If you have questions about how to lose weight or improve other aspects of your health, work with a qualified healthcare provider like a registered dietitian to come up with a healthy plan that works for you.

Research on the long-term effects of low carb diets on overall health isnt conclusive.

Theres a lot to learn about low carb diets, including how to do them properly and whether theyre healthy and safe to follow.

Even though this article offers some helpful advice, its best to work with a registered dietitian or another healthcare provider if youre interested in following a low carb diet.

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Low Carb Diet: Types, How to Choose, Menu, and Benefits - Greatist

Belly bands can help to ensure that incisions heal properly. BabaGaga received advice from doctors on the benefits of using belly bands postpartum.

Belly bands are very useful tools during the postpartum recovery period, especially if you had a C-section. Molaka Reese, RN, a labor and delivery registered nurse says, One must-have item to aid in recovery is a postpartum belly band. During the early days of one's postpartum phase, you may have pain or soreness. The belly band provides support and stability.

C-section is different from a vaginal delivery. With a C-section, surgery has to be performed where numerous layers of tissues and muscles have to be cut through. Compared to moms who have delivered vaginally, the recovery period for moms who have had a C-section is much slower and much more uncomfortable.

Belly bands can help to ensure that incisions heal properly. According to Dr. Ava Williams, a primary care doctor at Doctor Spring, Using a binder, girdle, compression band, belly wrap, or whatever you want to call it can help you secure your incision site.

RELATED:Why You Should Document Your Post-Partum Recovery (& How To Do It)

Wearing a belly band provides compression over the incision which reduces pain while sneezing, coughing, and walking. These bands are designed to offer support to the abdominal muscles. The bands apply pressure to the muscles post-surgery which helps to reduce the pain that comes from swelling and contractions of the muscles.

According to Dr. Ava Williams, Its recommended to hold your abdomen (incision site) when you need to sneeze or cough, and wearing a girdle can help with this. Some women also reportedly experienced less pain and discomfort while wearing one.

To manage pain, recovering moms are often given pain medication. Dr. Ava Williams advises, Ask for a prescription from your doctor, and dont justtake any kind of pain medication, especially if youre breastfeeding. She also recommends using heating pads if you want to avoid taking pain meds or when your medication is not enough to alleviate the pain.

Apart from helping to reduce pain and discomfort, belly bands also offer gentle compression that holds ligaments and muscles safely in place during recovery. Additionally, they provide support to the pelvic floor when applied to the abdomen and around the hips. Although research is lacking on its actual benefits, this can help you keep your posture while you are healing. Says Dr. Ava Williams.

One study showed that wearing belly bands can help improve blood flow to the scar tissue from a C-section. Blood carries oxygen which is vital to the healing of wounds. Belly bands assist in producing muscle activity and constant pressure to the incision area during activity and rest.

Recovering moms are encouraged to be more careful about their daily physical activities. Always be gentle when moving and try to walk around during recovery as it is necessary for your healing- it helps prevent clots and constipation. Says Dr. Ava Williams. Also, Dont use anything on the incision side other than soap and water. Keep the area dry and clean to avoid any infections, she adds.

There have been claims of belly bands helping with weight loss after giving birth. While some women say the bands have helped them lose weight, this claim has not been medically proven. Some women appreciate the postpartum belly bands because they have a soothing effect that makes them easier to fit into normal clothes.

Moms who have had a C-section are advised to wait before they can start losing weight until they have fully recovered. According to Dr. Ava Williams, Never attempt to do a crash diet; instead, ask your doctor when is the safe time for you to start losing weight. Remember, the postpartum period should be all about bonding with your baby and nourishing your body not losing weight!

Belly bands should not be worn all day. While they may help with hip and back pain, wearing them all day, every day can cause core muscles to weaken even further.

If you've had a C-section, you need to talk to a pelvic floor therapist or a doctor before using belly bands.Belly bands are safe as long as you aren't experiencing birth complications and you don't wrap them too tightly.

A belly wrap won't necessarily change your body permanently, but when used correctly, can make your postpartum days much more comfortable.

NEXT:Will Marijuana Help With My Post-Partum Recovery?

Sources:painttheworldwithyou.com,doctorspring.com,kiddipedia.com,healthline.com,srchealth.com,whattoexpect.com.

Reasons Why Realistic Motherhood Truths Need To Be Discussed Early

I have been a writer since 2012, and have enjoyed the journey thus far. When I am not busy writing like there's no tomorrow, I enjoy spending time with my three daughters and watching Netflix.

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C-Section Recovery Must-Have: Belly Bands | BabyGaga - BabyGaga

Hello,

Man, what an end to the week. The coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa was found in the US, and we got vaccine results from Novavax, and from Johnson & Johnson's one-shot coronavirus vaccine.

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With the pharma giant tapping out, all eyes have been on the next wave of results, with more than 200 vaccines still in the works.

And as new, more infectious variants have emerged around the world, a big question has been around how they'll interact with vaccines.

On Monday, Moderna said that it is designing a new version of its COVID-19 shot to fight the variant first found in South Africa.

The news was followed shortly after on Friday morning with the long-awaited results from Johnson & Johnson's one-dose vaccine. The company said its vaccine is 66% effective against COVID-19 based on a global trial run in places including the US, Latin American and South Africa.

The results - while not as high as Pfizer and Moderna's - come with some big questions. For one, having only one dose could be a game-changer. J&J shared that its vaccine was 85% effective at preventing severe disease, across all variants, which would be a big help in curbing the pandemic.

Patricia Kelly Yeo spoke to experts in the Dakotas about how they're approaching administering vaccines. For the more rural areas, having a centralized systems has been a big help.

On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal broke the news that Walgreens had found its next top exec.

Shelby Livingston has a full look at what analysts think is ahead for the company with the pick.

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Broussard told her about competing with some of the health-insurance startups taking on the red-hot Medicare Advantage market, like Oscar and Devoted.

Humana for its part has its own answer: a new venture called Author. It launched in 2021 in South Carolina, and already has 15,000 members, Broussard told Shelby.

While health-insurance startups are gaining a bigger foothold in the lucrative Medicare Advantage market, they're still no match for established insurers.

As part of Shelby's conversation with Broussard, they discussed what led Humana to invest heavily in primary care. The conversation turned into one about the future of health insurers, medicine, and Humana itself.

That's especially the case for companies as part of the Alphabet umbrella. She and Alphabet reporter Hugh Langley teamed up over the past week on some dispatches from Google's parent company.

One of the pockets of the healthcare industry tech companies seem to be focused on is monitoring health at home. Blake mapped out how those strategies are playing out so far at Apple, Amazon, Verily, and Google (hint: it's a lot of smart watches).

With that all in mind, I wanted to let you know about an event Megan is moderating on February 10 at 3 p.m. ET. She'll be talking to top healthcare VCs about the year ahead for startups trying to make a dent in the $3.8 trillion healthcare industry.

I hope you all have great weekends! I'll be spending mine outside, probably double-masking to stay extra safe.

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What we know about vaccines and variants - Business Insider India

No one had ever questioned his work ethic. No one had ever questioned his loyalty and willingness to do whatever it took to protect and serve his familyespecially his family. Everyone who knew him knew they could rely on him to be there for them, even before they asked or realized they needed help. He was everyones early threat detection system, combing not only his own horizon for hints of danger, but theirs as well. No one ever doubted Trev, except Trev.Somewhere early in life, Trev had co-authored a script (with an unknown ghostwriter) for a one-man performance featuring him as the go to guy. Ive got it, was his mantra and motto, as evident in his behavior as if it were emblazoned on his chest. He was a man with a mission; always thinking, always planning, always one step ahead of whatever came or might. But somewhere along the path from childhood to adulthood, worry had hopped aboard, burrowing deeply into his psyche and taking on the unsolicited role as navigator. Always sitting, always watching, always sending up warning flares, doing what it thought it needed to do to help Trev through the hardships and challenges, worry was there.

By the time Trev realized how committed worry was to the success of his mission, it was too late, and he couldnt quite shake it loose. Or perhaps he really didnt want to, because worry also kept him on his toes, preparing him not only for the possibility of threat and danger, but also for everyday challenges and obstacles.

Years later, when a pandemic hit, Trevs steady companion, as always, was right there by his side, ready to help him make sure that all his bases were covered, all protections had been put in place, and all efforts had been made to ensure that he and his family would be safe and healthy. Together, they hunkered down to do whatever it took to keep the ravages of the pandemic from their door.

But it came at a cost, and thats when I entered the picture as his therapist. While I initially had it in my mind that this was going to be individual therapy, it soon became evident that couples work was to be done to help Trev manage the painful separation from his companion, who had grown tiresome and burdensome to him.

Our work was a blend of cognitive reframing and narrative therapy, with just a bit of psychic- surgery aimed at carefully excising worry without harming the highly effective problem-solving skill center of Trevs threat-detection system. But these are not the metaphors I alluded to in the title of this essay.

As our work progressed and Trev became better able to understand the toll worry had taken on him, he also began to feel freer to live in the moment and to appreciate the small moments of joy that worrys dark shadow had so effectively obscured. He realized that the heavy psychological lifting he had done in and for his life that had gotten him and his family to a place of security and safety was behind him. He finally understood at a deep and impactful level that he had earned the right to enjoy those small moments of joy that came with playing with his children, buying a few un-needed but highly desired jazz LPs, (safely) enjoying small family get togethers, and strolling through the garden center at the local home improvement store.

He was finally emerging from a state of hibernation of sorts (my metaphor, not his) having shed the worrisome winter weight of worry. He thought it was a mid-life epiphany. I thought epiphany sufficiently described his awakening because mid-life is a socially constructed marker, the manifestation of someone elses or a collective notion of how long a life is or should be and the need to place arbitrary signposts along the wayyou know, steep developmental curve aheadmidlife, 5 years.last exit before death. But again, those are my metaphors, not his.

Trevs metaphor was a bit darker and less comedic than mine, so perhaps thats why I struggled to contain myself from sharing it with him. Following a medical visit where Trev learned that he had lost 20 pounds over the last several months, roughly coinciding with the impact of the pandemic, he was horrified, or perhaps scaredno doubt worrys lingering legacy. He attributed the weight loss to the lack of physical activity and worry that came with months of fear and isolation. Trev perceived the weight loss as a breaking down and weakening. I, on the other hand, preferred the metaphor of shedding the unwanted weight of worry and trimming down psychologically in preparation for a lighter and more fulfilling journey through lifefree to live.

I must confess at this point that I am a metaphor junky who falls in love with his own metaphors. So, it makes sense that my metaphor for Trevs metamorphosis was more attractive to me than his was. And I was bursting at the seams (metaphoric pun intended) to share it. After all, arent analysts obligated to share their interpretations and cognitive therapists compelled to point out irrational thoughts and offer corrective ones in their place? So didnt I have that same therapeutic license or imperative to share my metaphor? It was as if the damn thing was sitting on my shoulder poking me, saying, Tell him, tell him, tell him. But I refrained.

Back to the title of this essay. Whose metaphor is it, anyway? What might have happened in that moment were I to have inserted my metaphor in place of his? Might he have accepted it? Might he have rejected it? Would doing so have advanced his progress or slowed it? Might it have reinforced his insight or created the impression that my insight was more important than his? Might I have diminished him in doing so? Was my role to have been active and directive in that moment, or supportive and non-directive?

In my lighter moments when I am not quite as hard on myself, I believe that our work together brought him to the point of clarity and a metaphor that made sense to him, and him alone.

File under:Musings and Reflections

Link:
Whose Metaphor Is It, Anyway? - Psychotherapy.net

I usually eat homemade food (dal-sabzi-rice-chicken-dosa), but once a week, I 'restart' or tweak my diet which has benefitted me greatly. So according to that, my diet chart is mentioned below. This helps me stay full and never have cravings whatsoever:

After waking up: A glass of warm water

Before heading for a walk, a glass of buttermilk

After coming back, a glass of tender coconut water.

For my breakfast, 3 egg whites/ 1 whole omelette/dosa or upma

Pre-lunch: A bowl of curd/ raita

Lunch: 110 grams of chicken/ tofu (if I have a cheat meal later)

Else, I have chapati with sabzi or dal rice.

I again have a bowl of curd around 4-5 pm, followed by two bananas a while later.

An hour before dinnertime, I again have a glass of buttermilk.

For dinner, it's usually tofu/eggs/chicken in small quantity. I hit the bed 1-2 hours after my meal.

I indulge in (What you eat on your cheat days): Ice cream, Pasta or Noodles. Whenever I have my cheat day (weekly once), I ensure I just have eggs/ chicken/tofu the previous day in small quantities.

The rest is here:
Weight loss: This 11-year-old replaced milk with curd and buttermilk to lose weight - Times of India