Category Archives: Lose Weight Fast

About 18.9 million Americans 11.4% of the workforce either switch occupations or exit the labor force entirely each year. Many of these workers may have made the choice to leave their jobs for a higher-paying job, a better work environment, a career better suited to their skills or interests, or simply to retire. In other cases, these workers may not have had a choice and were either laid off or terminated.

But not all occupations have the same conditions, and conditions in some may encourage more workers to leave willingly or not. In these occupations, turnover rates far exceed the national average.

Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program, 24/7 Wall St. identified the occupations Americans are most likely to lose. Occupations are ranked by their turnover, or separation rate the annualized share of workers projected to leave the occupation, either to retire or start a new career voluntarily or not. The separation rates on this list range from to 16.4% to nearly 25%. In the case of a tie, the occupation with more workers ranked higher.

The occupations with the highest turnover tend to share several characteristics. Some of them are physically demanding and can take a toll on workers health. Many of them require little in the way of formal education or training and involve simple, repetitive tasks. Additionally, in nearly every job on this list, the median compensation is well below the median salary across all occupations of $39,810. Here is a list of the 25 lowest paying jobs in America.

Other occupations on this list are simply becoming less common. Six of the 24 jobs on this list are projected to have a decline in overall employment from 2018 to 2028. Waning demand for these workers suggests that high turnover rates are more likely to be driven by layoffs.

It is important to note that these projections do not account for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Recent fluctuations in economic activity due to the coronavirus outbreak and efforts to contain it, as well as government relief programs for employers and workers, are likely to have significant impacts on separation rates in coming years. Many of the occupations on this list are in the industries hardest hit by COVID-19, including accommodation and food services, arts, entertainment and recreation, and leisure and hospitality. Here is a complete list of the industries being devastated by the coronavirus.

Click here to see the 24 jobs you are most likely to loseClick here to read our methodology

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These Are the 24 Jobs You Are Most Likely to Lose - 24/7 Wall St.

I started this year, as I do every year, with the goal of losing weight. As I made plans for my hot girl summer and festivals fitting back into my size ten cut offs, the pandemic took hold and like many, booze, takeaways and minimal movement was the approach I took to dealing with the stress. When the time came to buy a size 14 pair of jeans to actually leave the house in, my 18 24-year-old-self hated me. For her, a size 14 body was disgusting, unthinkable, and she fiercly kept her size eight one by restricting her calorie intake to triple figures and never, ever missing a workout.

But while in the intervening years Ive worked to disregard the idea that the only worthy body is a thin one and that mental and physical wellbeing is more important that the number on the scales, Id be lying if I said that girl didnt still keep me up at night, planning what I will (and wont) eat the next day. Id be lying if I said I wasnt disappointed in myself when a GP warns me to watch my weight because my BMI is tipping and that my old life of restriction and emotional turmoil seems like it would be worth it just to be thin again.

After his own brush with Covid, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was urged by doctors to lose weight, with the virus affecting those in the overweight or obese categories more severely. Johnson dutifully lost a stone in a month through exercise and moderating his calorie intake and has now suggested a number of measures to tackle rising obesity such as a ban on two-for-one deals on unhealthy food and adverts for fast food chains until after watershed.

But his third proposal to have major food chains include the calorie counts of dishes on their menus will be triggering for nutritionists and the eating disorders community who have been actively working to dismantle the damaging conditioning that obsessively counting calories over generations has caused.

We know that calories are not a comprehensive (or even a particularly good) measure of nutrition, but counting them can very quickly develop into an obsessive behaviour and a deeply disordered relationship with food that can take years to unpick.

Occasionally Ill half-joke that Id like just a touch of anorexia the same condition that, for a decade of my life, dominated every waking moment with numbers and deficit and how calories translated into seconds on the treadmill and how many I would have to do to burn off the porridge I ate beforehand. Lots of people seem to welcome the idea of calories on menus, if only to make their own disordered relationship with food easier to manage. For me, training myself not to constantly check the calories in a shop bought sandwich or a coffee has taken years and its only since Ive stopped doing it that Ive really been able to enjoy eating again.

READ MORE: Obesity, Coronavirus And The Uncomfortable Conversation Were Not Having

One of the major addictive pathways that is triggered by the sugar/fat combo in processed food is dopamine the reward hormone, says Functional Health Consultant and Health Coach

Fran McElwaine. Dopamine is also the hormone behind a lot of addictive behaviours such as gambling and gaming (and social media). Each little win (or like) floods the neural pathways with dopamine. Counting calories and macros can have the same effect every time the numbers add up, we get a dopamine hit and this can easily become addictive as we require more and more dopamine in order to get the same lift.

In so many cases, disordered eating is entirely a numbers game. What I was feeding my body while in the grip of anorexia had basically nothing to do with the nutritional value of it and everything to do with how the calories would add up and fit into my daily allowance, which, predictably, got lower and lower as I became more unwell.

We Need Empathy, Compassion And A Focus On Mental Health Not Calorie Counts On Menus

What calorie counting doesnt account for is that the ingredients in most processed foods are addictive and that every time we eat them we are re-setting our addictive pathways and dooming ourselves to cravings, says Fran.

The whole premise of the CICO model is that weight gain is our fault and that the food system is blame-free it is us that are either too greedy or too lazy too to conform to some sort of un-attainable ideal.

I was gutted when I learned that there were about 400 calories in a salmon fillet, and 250 in a standard avocado. These good foods that Id believed that I, as a good woman doing what good women do and striving for thinness, was allowed to eat had actually screwed me over by amounting to far more calories than Id normally allow on my plate. I didnt need to see the calorie count on a menu to know I would never order them in a restaurant again, despite them being dense in nutritional value and also, you know, delicious.

Registered Associate Nutritionist Jemma Joel says, Labelling the nutrients, instead of calories, in a dish could help people to understand more about the nutrients included. This could help us to mindfully choose a balanced meal when eating out. We should be aiming to get a balance of nutrients in each of our meals.

For example, pesto chicken on whole-wheat pasta with veggies = pesto (fat), chicken (protein), pasta (carbs), veggies (fibre, vitamins and minerals).

If you were to focus on the calorie content of this dish, it would be high because fat is higher in calories compared to protein and carbs - but it is still a nutritious dish. Again, its balancing out the portion size and focusing on hunger and fullness cues.

While calorie counting may seem an easy and straightforward option for someone looking to lose weight, the reality is effectively losing and maintaining weight isnt straightforward and theres far more to be said of the relationship between our mental health, body image and the number on the scales than Boris proposal takes into account. For people who maybe have no prior nutritional knowledge or have never tried to lose weight before, to approach weight loss from a calorie perspective could so easily trigger disordered eating because a numerical measure of what youre putting into your body would be easy to track and thus to obsess over (and thats not to mention the people who have or are recovering from eating disorders, which is hardly a small minority.)

Loosely counting calories can help to educate individuals about the calorie density of different foods, says Jemma. This doesnt mean you should steer clear of calorie-dense foods - it just means you should keep an eye on your portion sizes and how often you eat them.

The image of a woman picking over a salad (dressing on the side) while her date tucks into a burger and chips is so standardised women often already feel guilty about ordering what they fancy while eating out (and lets not forget, most restaurants already have low calorie sections of their menus that lots of us will order from automatically).

Lynn Crilly is the author of author of Hope With Eating Disorders (Hammersmith Books) and mother to a daughter suffering with an eating disorder.

If a person is consistently confronted with the numbers, it can distort the choices they are making and in turn make them hyper aware of what they are having, she says. They may start to feel external and internal pressure to make the lowest calorie choice, which over time could become obsessional and a once relaxed person with a healthy attitude towards food could soon fall into the clutches of disordered eating.

This is something that resonates with me, because like the binge and purge cycle of Bulimia, restricting calories can seem like a magic fix for losing weight. Its just maths, right? All you have to do is keep those numbers down, make sure those subtractions at the gym count for some of (if not all) your food consumption and viola thinness. The fact that I was never underweight never took away from the severity of my mental disorder.

An ED sufferer faced with calorie content on all the menus in restaurants may find that dealing with the constant numbers will not only exacerbate the anxiety around being able to eat out and socialise (which is challenging in itself for the sufferer) but also that they disconnect because they can become so focused on ensuring that everything they eat fits neatly into their personal allowance of calories for the day.

We already know were supposed to be thin and that to achieve this were supposed to eat very little. Weve worked hard to accept diversity in our bodies and for those of us recovering from the psychological trauma of EDs and for whom intuitive eating is a daily battle, calorie counts on menus is likely to, at best, take the enjoyment out of eating out and at worst, trigger old behaviours that could easily become obsessive again.

The pandemic has thrown the health of the population under the spotlight and theres no denying that rising obesity has been a concern for years. But its also stretched our mental health facilities to the limit and with being kind to ourselves currently top of the agenda for many, this measure could cause more harm than good.

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'When I Was In The Grip Of An Eating Disorder, Counting Calories Seemed Like A Magic Fix - But It Fuelled My Obsession' - Grazia

The determination of Singaporeans to stand firm together in the face of adversity since the nation's birth is why he is confident the Republic will get through the Covid-19 pandemic, as it has previous crises, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

Every year since the first National Day Parade (NDP) in 1966, Singaporeans have come together without fail to celebrate the making of this nation, and to renew their commitment to it, PM Lee said in his televised National Day message.

Despite the coronavirus, Singaporeans have been determined to still hold the NDP as a symbol of their unity as a nation - a unity more important than ever, given the severe economic challenges ahead, he said.

"In good years, our parades rejoice in our progress, and look forward to a better future together. In difficult years, we still hold National Day Parades, to renew our resolve to weather the storm and take Singapore through to better days."

This year's NDP was also an opportunity to salute those on the front line fighting Covid-19, and the many who have stepped up to help others in need, PM Lee said in his address, which came ahead of the scaled-down parade at the Padang yesterday morning.

He hailed the many who have gone beyond the call of duty and shown great generosity, such as retired doctors and nurses who volunteered to serve at hospitals and migrant worker dormitories, donning personal protective equipment to do so.

Thousands of public-spirited Singaporeans also volunteered to be trained in swab operations and served in hot zones like dorms and community care facilities, where they were joined by migrant workers playing their part to support these operations, said PM Lee.

"Their help was deeply appreciated by our SAF, Home Team and public officers," he said. "These selfless acts have made all the difference to our response to Covid-19."

Singapore will need this unity and resilience more than ever as the crisis is far from over, he added. Many countries brought infections under control and eased restrictions only to see cases surge again, something that can happen here too, despite various precautions.

"It will most likely take a year or two before a vaccine is widely available and the threat of the virus is blunted," he said. "Until then, we have to maintain our vigilance and resolve, to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbours all safe."

The economic climate will also be tough in the near term, with business closures, retrenchments and unemployment all likely to go up in the coming months. Singaporeans are thus understandably anxious and worried, said PM Lee.

But Singapore has weathered multiple economic crises in the last quarter-century alone, including the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the aftermath of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001, and the global financial crisis in 2008.

"Each time the outlook was ominous, and we feared the worst, but each time we worked hard to secure our position, gritted our teeth, and came through together," he said. "I am confident we will get through this current crisis too, though it may take longer. All of us must do our part, but none of us will be alone."

PM Lee outlined how the Government is actively helping people find new jobs and acquire new skills, with the Jobs Support Scheme and Self-employed Person Income Relief Scheme to ease the burden on employers and individuals.

The labour movement is also working with employers to create job training programmes and career pathways. "It will ensure that every worker is treated fairly and with dignity, especially when job losses cannot be avoided," he said.

"Employers too must make every effort to keep their workers, and not drop them at the first sign of trouble. This will build loyalty, and encourage the employees to help their employers rebuild when conditions improve," he added.

PM Lee, who has attended almost every NDP since the first in 1966, also recalled being on the Padang as it rained during the 1968 parade.

"The rain poured down, but the contingents stood steady, and marched past proudly, drenched, yet undaunted," he said.

Then a student at Catholic High School, PM Lee played the clarinet in the combined schools brass band. Founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew had decided the show would go on that year, despite the torrential downpour.

"We showed ourselves and the world that Singaporeans were rugged people, and had the steel in us to stand firm in adversity," said PM Lee yesterday.

Grim and hard as the nation's fight against Covid-19 has been, the experience has brought Singaporeans closer together and will deepen their bonds as one united people, the same way separation from Malaysia and independence had tempered the Pioneer and Merdeka generations, he said.

"Let us brace ourselves for the trials ahead, so that many years from now, when our grandchildren celebrate National Day, they will look back on these times and say yes, this generation stood together, sacrificed for one another, and built Singapore for us."

PM Lee added: "Let us show the world that whatever the challenges, Singaporeans will stay united, and prevail once more."

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NDP 2020: Let's show the world Singaporeans will stay united, says PM Lee Hsien Loong - The Straits Times

Do you feel like youre constantly battling your body rather than working with it to enjoy every run and nail some personal bests? Youre not alone. Like many runners, youre likely fixated on reaching a certain ideal weight that doesnt necessarily matchand may even be at oddswith your physiology.

Too many runners allow themselves to be defined by a number on the scale that is often grounded in nothing more than a notion of what they think they should weigh.

My first bit of advice is to step off the scale for at least a month, says Stacy Sims, Ph.D., author of ROAR, How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong, Lean Body for Life.

I would also encourage you to identify your somatotype, which is your natural shape and size, says Sims (who, though she specializes in womens physiology, makes these recommendations for men as well as women).

Most of us can slot our overall build into one of three general categories (recognizing that there are a wide variety of shapes and sizes even within these three categories, and you can be a combination of two, rather than just a single type):

The concept of somatotypes dates back thousands of years to Ancient Greece and Hippocrates. In the 1940s, William Sheldon, M.D., Ph.D., came up with the three somatotypes that we know today.

At the time, Sheldon, who was a psychologist as well as a physician, assigned specific personality and psychological characteristics to them as well, positing that mesomorphs were assertive; endomorphs were easy-going, and ectomorphs were introverted, for instance.

Those ideas have largely been debunked, but the fundamental physical characteristics have endured with research finding relationships between somatotypes and specific types of sports performance.

On the power and strength end of the spectrum, a 2018 study published in the journal PLoS One found that, among active men, those with mesomorph and ectomorph builds performed better in lower body strength exercises like the back squat and a 30-second max sprint test on a stationary bike. Mesomorphs performed better in upper body strength tests like the bench press.

Overall, the researchers found that about one-third of strength performance could be predicted by the exercisers somatotype.

On the cardio endurance side, a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that, among active men, those who had mesomorph and blended mesomorph-ectomorph builds showed the greatest improvements in aerobic capacity (measured by VO2max) after performing 12 weeks of twice-weekly track interval training sessions compared with other somatotypes.

People with endomorph builds may not outperform their peers with lighter and/or leaner somatotypes in research studies, but that doesnt mean they cant be fast runners, Sims says. Being an endomorph does not automatically mean youre overweight, she says. You can be strong and muscular and fast.

Many things influence your somatotype, including your genes and ethnicity. Research shows that diet and exercise can influence your somatotype, bringing you closer to one build or another, but there may be a limit to how dramatically you can change your build (especially without a lot of focused effort).

Former Olympic marathoner Ryan Hall, now 37, is a prime example. During the heyday of his running career, at 5-feet, 10-inches, he weighed 127 pounds, but maintaining that weight came with a price of chronically low testosterone and extreme fatigue.

After he retired in early 2016, he ran less, lifted more and put on 38 pounds of muscle in a matter of months, which is a strong indication that hes naturally more meso than ectomorph. Today, he can deadlift an impressive 455 pounds and though he only runs a little here and there, he could still bang out three miles at a 5:40 pace weighing nearly 40 pounds above his race weight.

Ultimately, thats the goal. To identify your body type and to work with it rather than against it for the healthiest, happiest, and naturally fittest you. Heres what Sims recommends.

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You tend to be long limbed and not particularly muscular; can be skinny without necessarily having lean body composition.

Ectomorphs are the body type that is the most resistant to weight and muscle gain because of a fast metabolism. People with this body type have little observable body fat, are only lightly muscled, and have a small frame and joints. Long-distance runners often have ectomorph builds because they have less weight to move over the many miles. Your goal is to optimize your body composition by maintaining healthy muscle tissue to protect your joints and produce power.

Eating as an ectomorph: Ectomorphs are sometimes more lax about healthy eating because they dont gain weight easily. But not having visible body fat does not mean youre healthy or well-fueled. Eat high-quality fats and aim to get 25 to 30 grams of muscle-making protein with every meal, along with good-quality, whole-food carbohydrates to fuel your runs.

Training as an ectomorph: Your slighter build can leave you susceptible to injuries. With less muscle, you may also lack power to sprint for the finish. When training, focus on power and resistance training to build strength and protective muscle tissue as well as to build bone.

You find it relatively easy to build muscle mass, are medium boned, and generally proportionally built.

Mesomorphs generally lose and gain weight and are able to build muscle quickly. This body type tends to have a long torso and shorter limbs. Mesomorphs excel in explosive sportsthat is, sports calling for power and speed. The reason for this lies in the type of muscle mesomorphs possess. Mesomorphs have a higher percentage of fast-twitch fibers and will gain muscle mass more quickly than any other body type. Its common to see triathletes with this build. Your goal is to manage your muscle, so you have what you need to produce power without more than you need weighing you down.

Eating as a mesomorph: Mesomorphs generally can maintain a healthy body composition by balancing their macronutrients, taking in fairly even amounts of fat, protein, and complex carbohydrates. You can adjust your intake according to training days, taking in more carbohydrates on long endurance days and fewer on shorter and/or easier days.

Training as a mesomorph: For training, focus on moderate endurance training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and plyometrics. If youre focusing on longer distances like marathons, you can rely on bodyweight training like Pilates to add strength without unwanted muscle.

You tend to have larger bone structure, have a stockier and/or curvier build, and generally store fat relatively easily.

Endomorphs naturally tend to be stockier and/or have curvy, fuller figures. This body type may have a hard time keeping body fat in check and may put on weight easily. This doesnt mean you are destined to be overweight, and plenty of runners fall into this body type category. You may need to pay attention to details like body glide to avoid chafing and finding supportive, but not constricting attire for maximum comfort on your runs.

Eating as an endomorph: Because you can put on weight easily, youll be better able to optimize your body type by eating fewer carbohydrates outside of training to help control insulin and blood sugar, and focusing on good quality fats and protein. Aim to have breakfast within 45 minutes of waking up to bring down cortisol (which can encourage fat storage). Be careful, too, not to under-eat, which some endomorphs do to try to lose weight. That generally backfires. Instead, focus on fueling your runs with carbs as needed and then focusing on high-quality fats and proteins and getting more of your carbohydrates from vegetables outside of exercise.

Training as an endomorph: You may find it easier to change your body compositionincreasing muscle and decreasing fatrather than strictly losing weight. Training-wise, along with your regular running, high-intensity activities such as HIIT and CrossFit style training are great for fat loss and muscle maintenance. Incorporating more general activity and less sitting time into your day can also boost your generally slower metabolism.

This article has been adapted from ROAR, How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong, Lean Body for Life.

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Body Types | The 3 Somatype Body Types, Explained - Runner's World

Oh, to be a celebrityfame, fortune, and the ability to have personal trainers and nutritionists on speed dial when you want to lose a few pounds. For mere mortals, however, weight loss isn't quite so easy. (Actually, that's generouslosing weight is hard AF.)

That's where Noom comes into playa fitness and weight-loss program. But, uh, what exactly is it? And what makes Noom any different than any other weight-loss program or app out there? Here's my personal take on Noom, as a registered dietitian. The short version: I see real potential with the Noom weight-loss app, and a few cons for some groups of peopleso read on.

So, Noom claims to be the "last weight-loss program you'll ever need," according to its website. Its like having a trainer, nutritionist, and health coach all in one place (e.g., your phone).

Where Noom differs from other apps, however, is its focus on making behavioral changes surrounding dieting and weight loss.

The app will show you, for example, the best foods to eat (it rates them on a scale from green to yellow to red). While I typically dont like to label certain foods as red or badI do think Noom does a good job of not instilling fear around certain foods, rather taking an educational approach to help its users understand how to make balanced choices and why they recommend certain foods over the others. The app also prompts you to read tidbits on healthy habits and rate your motivationand will quiz you after.

The app may sound kind of tedious (who has time to read and take quizzes throughout the day?), but it could be the key to successful, sustained weight loss. The education elements that the app includes, like how it teaches you about calorie reduction and carbohydrate intake, as well as how to increase physical activity, is really helpful and crucial information if you want to lose weight in a sustainable way.

It also has the ability to provide support and feedback from others doing the programall 45 million of them. And it's not just message boards or automated blurbs: You can actually talk to others in a group chat in real time.

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(It should be noted, too, that Noom provides users with "health and wellness coaches" that are approved by the National Consortium for Credentialing Health & Wellness Coachesthough that doesn't necessarily mean they are trained professionals like registered dietitians or certified trainers.)

You can also receive rewards when you change your behaviors, plus you have access to social supportand positive reinforcement and accountability coaching have both been show to help with long-term goal success.

When you first download the free app, Noom asks how much weight youd like to lose, how fast youd like to lose it (on a scale from tortoise to hare), plus your age, height, and current weightall pretty standard diet-tracking stuff.

From there, the app asks for permission to access your smartphone's Health app. It automatically logs your exercise, but asks you to log everything you eat during the day (the app has a database of foods to choose from). Noom actually takes those calories and subtracts them from a daily calorie goal (depending on those factors you shared with it earlier) to show you how many calories you have left in the day.

Noom also tracks your actual weight loss. You enter your weight each week, and the app make a graph of your progress.

If you want to shell out, though, Noom also has paid versions (it's about $59 a month, but you can buy multiple months at the same time for less money). In the paid version, you fill out a more detailed questionnaire about your lifestyle and health goals, plus what might be holding you back from achieving your weight-loss goals.

But it's not all questions: Noom's paid app also relies heavily on an education componenthelping you realize, for example, that your salad is less calorie-dense and more nutrient-dense, instead of just telling you salad is a healthy option.

Basically, it's a diet app that wants you to learn why you want to lose weight and how to do it, instead of just helping you blindly drop pounds.

So, Noom doesn't exactly give you a daily menu or have a specific food program that you follow. Instead, it asks you to input everything you eat in daily food logs, and it uses traffic light colors (red, green, yellow) to help you understand how healthy you're eating.

Interested in trying Noom? Click here

Green foods, like fruits and veggies, are the least calorie-dense and contain the highest concentration of healthy nutrients. Yellow foods have more calories but arent necessarily bad for youthink: meat and dairy. Red foods, like processed foods and desserts, are the most calorie-dense, and the least nutrient-dense.

Red foods aren't off-limits; the app just aims to make you aware that they're high in calories and less filling, so you can be aware of what that means for staying within your daily calorie goal.

It's definitely possible, but it really comes down to whether you'll actually use it consistently (more on that in a minute).

FWIW, according to a 2016 study in the journal Scientific Reports, Noom can help with weight loss. Researchers analyzed data from 35,921 Noom app users over the course of about nine months and found that 77.9 percent reported they lost weight. One interesting tidbit: Those who neglected recording their dinner in the app lost less weight than those who recorded their dinner regularly.

So while the app can definitely help you lose weightyou have to actually use it, as I mentioned. If you really take advantage of the app daily and put in data that's honest and truthful, the Noom program should help you lose weight. In other words, listen to the experts and follow the plan and youll squash some goals.

The ideal user is probably someone with a busy lifestyle (hi, almost everyone on the planet!). And those who enjoy virtual support from like-minded peeps (shout-out to millennials) may also benefit.

Personally, I like that the app is realistic about long-term results and doesnt try to get its users to conform to a restrictive or fad-diet style of eating (e.g. keto, gluten free, raw, etc.).

Noom also helps users bring a sense of awareness to what theyre eating throughout the day. That's usually the first step to sustained weight lossfocusing on what youre eatingwithout judgement or without labeling your eating habits good or bad. Then, once you have a sense of awareness, you can tackle the reason you might be eating when youre not hungry, or why you turn to food out of stress, and then make any adjustments as needed.

If you have an underlying medical condition that prevents you from shedding weight, well, the app wont know thatand that might leave you frustrated.

I would suggest speaking with your doc before you try it (as you should before jumping into any weight-loss program). Then youll know if you have an issue like insulin resistance, thyroid problems, or hormone imbalances, and you can address those first.

Another thing: It's also pretty pricey, at just about $50 per monthwhich makes it a little less than the most expensive Weight Watchers plan, for comparison, but definitely more expensive than just counting calories on your own.

Remember it is what it says it is, a weight-loss app. Therefore if you have struggled with obsessing over your weight in the past or have a history of eating disorders or disordered eating habits, it may be best to stick with one on one coaching with a registered dietitian.

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Alsoobvious alertbut the app isnt going to head to the grocery store and cook for you (or drive you to the gym), so you have to take some initiative to actually follow through with the healthy habits suggested.

Mary Leuthauser, 30, previously told WH that Noom is what finally kickstarted her weight-loss journey, and she lost 40 pounds using the app. "It taught me how to eat again, as silly as that may sound." Leuthauser also explained that the program taught her how to choose foods that "fueled my body instead of just filled me up."

But she really stuck to the app and took advantage of all the educational resources. "Once I finished my course with Noom, all of the habits I learned actually stuck."

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Siani Peterson, a pediatric nurse in San Antonio, Texas, also uses Noom. She shared with WH: "Noom works for me because it holds me accountable. I use the app, which has a calorie tracker and a step tracker. Im able to enter in what I eat, and the food log is honestly 90 percent of why I have lost weight. I also like to see how active I am, and it also has a weight tracker that tells me how much progress Ive made."

Peterson, who lost 50 pounds in seven months with the app, also added that while you have to hold yourself accountable, Noom was a great additional tool. "I used Noom to take all the guesswork out of eating."

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In the App Store, you can find mostly 5-star Noom reviews, of the diet and the app itself, though a few users didn't think the diet was realistic at all, that the program wasn't worth the price, and that the app could be improved. Here are some honest reviews of the Noom program you might want to consider, pulled from the App Store:

"I was skeptical when I first started the trial. Roughly a month into this program, I have lost almost 10 pounds without much inconvenience. The things I mark it down for are a limited data base when you go to scan in a food to add it to your daily intake.

"I'd have to say that these people are on your case 24/7 to help keep you on track. You also have access to multiple other people who are doing this at the same time you are. I think the message board could be organized in a better fashion, to be more user-friendly and allow you to have access to multiple threads at once without being confused.

"All in all, I'm going to stick with this because it fits into my life at this time. It addresses psychological issues as to why people choose to eat what they eat, and why they overeat the wrong things. you are given the tools, should you choose to use them, to deal with these situations that affect those of us who have always had a complicated relationship with food."

"I've had good success with the program. It took twice as long as predicted, but then again I didn't try very hard. In fact, I feel like I did very little and it still worked! The group stuff is great, the goal specialist is ok so long as you keep your expectations in check. The content is excellent. It would be better slowed down and stretched out a bit, so it's easier to retain. The red, yellow, green ratio for foods doesn't quite work for vegetarians."

"I had really high hopes for this app! You start off with a 2,000 calories budget and then it drops lower and lower. I feel as if Noom wants me to starve myself. I work outside, I am constantly sweating and walking around. I'm going to eat, and I shouldn't have to feel bad about going over 1,300 calories while eating healthy foods.

"Second of all, they list some foods that are high in nutrition like almonds/peanut butter and oatmeal as 'red foods.' This makes me feel like I can't eat anything, I only have so much time to make something quick and healthy that will fill me up until lunchtime. Overall, I'm really not please with this app!"

"What I liked: the motivation to weigh in, the weight chart, most of the content, and the ability to log exercise. What I thought was pretty good: the calorie-logging function. I have nothing to compare it to short of reading labels and writing on paper, so I don't know how it compares in simplicity and accuracy with other apps that might be out there. I thought it was pretty easy.

"What I didn't use [or] find helpful: The weekly check-in from my goal specialist and the group coaching. Once a week I would get asked a generic question by my specialist. They only communicate with you once a week. Also, group coaching on an app is just not for me. I don't want to be looking at my phone all day and reading other people's responses and trying to figure out what to say back. That is way too time-consuming. So after the first introduction I never went back to the group. I didn't have too much weight to lose, I signed up to give me some accountability for what I was eating. It was eye-opening.

"I liked Noom for tracking what I ate and making me think differently. I did it for two months and it helped, I took off the few pounds I wanted to lose and have maintained within a couple pounds. I have to say, when following the program, I was almost always hungry! Losing weight is no joke."

I would really evaluate if youre ready to make that commitment before downloading it so you dont start, find you dont have the time, and feel like you've failed, when in fact, it just may not have been the right plan for you and your lifestyle.

Also, just know that different folks respond to plans differently. Some people like having a clear outline of what to eat and why, some people like working face to face with a coach, and some people like doing it all through the convenience of their phoneit really comes down to the individual.

The bottom line: An app isnt the only way to lose weight or build healthy eating habits, so know yourself and find a plan that works for you.

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What Is The Noom Diet? An RD Reviews How The Weight-Loss App Works - Women's Health

This article was reviewed by Jes Harvey, RD. Harvey is a registered dietitian specializing in the ketogenic diet for children and adults. She is a certified specialist in pediatric nutrition and educates children with epilepsy on the ketogenic diet as an anti-seizure medication. Harvey also manages a private nutrition practice consulting adults on the ketogenic way of eating.

There's no denying that the keto diet still reigns as one of the most popularand highly researcheddiets out there right now. In fact, keto was one of the top 10 diets listed as part of Googles 2019 Year in Search report. And per Reddit's 2019 Year in Review, keto was the most-discussed diet trend of last year, plus the r/keto sub-Reddit was the number-two overall fitness/wellness community in 2019 and saw a 65 percent increase in subscribers from last year. Wowza.

But there are two clear sides to the keto debate: There are folks who are alllll for the high-fat lifestyle and those who, well, absolutely aren't.

Jenna Jameson, for example, is clearly a proponentas is Mama June, Halle Berry, and Savannah Guthrie. Jenna, for example, credits the keto diet with her more than 80-pound postpartum weight loss, while Halle swears that it helps her maintain her health (she has type 2 diabetes).

Then there are the people who don't love the diet: Tamra Judge, who was on the keto diet for about a month, decided to quit, saying it "doesn't do anything" and noting that it made her feel sick (#ketofluproblems). And Jillian Michaels told WH last year that people should "avoid the keto dietcommon sense. A balanced diet is key."

Amidst all the positive and negative reviews, though, you may still be a little hazy on the details of the keto dietlike what it is, how it works, and exactly how much butter and cheese you get to eat. Don't worry, I got you.

Short for ketogenic diet, this eating plan is all about minimizing your carbs and upping your fats to get your body to use fat as a form of energy, says Scott Keatley, RD, of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy.

While everyone's body and needs are slightly different, that typically translates to:

That usually means eating no more than 50 grams of carbs a day (some strict keto dieters even opt for just 20 grams a day).

After about two to seven days of following the keto diet, you go into something called ketosis, or the state your body enters when it doesn't have enough carbs for your cells to use for energy. That's when you start making ketones, or organic compounds that your bod then uses in place of those missing carbs. At this point, your body also starts burning fat for more energy, says Beth Warren, RD, founder of Beth Warren Nutrition and author of Living A Real Life With Real Food.

Believe it or not, the keto diet was originally designed to help people who suffer from seizure disordersnot to help people lose weight, says New York-based RD Jessica Cording. That's because both ketones and another chemical produced by the diet, called beta hydroxybutyrate, may help minimize seizures.

Women's Health Keto Made Simple

But people who started following the keto diet noticed weight loss for a few reasons: When you eat carbs, your body retains fluid in order to store carbs for energy (you know, in case it needs it). But when youre not having much in the carb department, you lose this water weight, says Warren. Also, it's easy to go overboard on carbohydratesbut if you're loading up on fat, it may help curb cravings since it keeps you satisfied.

That, plus the fact that ketosis encourages your body to burn fat, means you can end up with pretty dramatic weight loss.

While its easy to think that the keto diet is one-size fits all, there are actually several different types of keto diets, and they all have different benefits, depending on what your nutritional goals are.

They all have the same gistsuper low-carb, high-fatbut they each have their own set of unique guidelines, says Vanessa Rissetto, MS, RD, CDN. Below are the four most common variations of the keto diet.

The cyclic keto diet is similar to standard keto, with the exception of one to two days per week, explains Rissetto. Five to six days per week, a cyclic keto dieter will eat according to standard keto guidelines. Then, for one or two days, they will have a carb cyclealso commonly known as a carb refeed day. On this day, they will eat about 140 to 160 grams of carbohydrates.

This type of keto diet is often followed by athletes, since they require a carb refeed day to replenish glycogen stores in their muscles. High levels of athletic training drains nearly all glycogen from their muscle stores, so its necessary to replenish them, says Rissetto.

Its important to note, though, even if you choose to do this diet, that doesnt mean your days off should involve tons of processed foods and desserts. Instead, look to whole grains, starchy vegetables, and fruits for your carb intake.

On this diet, you follow all the guidelines of the standard keto diet, with one exceptionbefore intense workouts, you eat carbohydrates, explains Rissetto. Typically, targeted keto dieters will consume anywhere from 25 to 50 grams of carbohydrates about 30 minutes to an hour prior to working out. Dieters often find that this helps them feel stronger and more capable during workouts.

While this does take the body out of ketosis temporarily, it will resume within a few hours, depending on how many carbs you consumed. Essentially, the theory behind this diet is that since the additional carbs are immediately burned off, they wont get stored as body fat.

The vegan keto diet is for individuals who want to follow a high-fat, low-carb diet, but do not consume animal products, says Rissetto. This can be difficult to achieve, as many keto dieters rely on animal products for a large portion of their diet.

Common protein sources for vegan keto dieters include tofu, tempeh, nuts and nut butters, and beans and legumes in moderate amounts.

Though challenging, a vegan keto diet isnt impossibleit just takes a lot of advance planning.

When something is popular, its pretty much a guarantee that people are going to come up with new or easier ways of doing it. Enter the lazy keto and dirty keto diets. With lazy keto, people try to limit their carb intake to 20 to 50 grams a day but dont really track it; with dirty keto, people generally follow the same macronutrient breakdown as "regular" keto, but it doesn't matter where those macronutrients come from.

Keatley has somethoughts about those. Dirty keto is a waste of your time since good habits have not been developed and it is simply too easy to fall back into a high-calorie diet, he says. If youre trying to do a lazy keto diet, he recommends following the USDAs MyPlate instead and monitoring your meals based on proportions vs. macros. Its easier, more flexible, and has shown, when combined with moderate exercise, to be effective over the long term, he says.

Youve probably noticed that plenty of people rave about combining keto with fasting diets. Just in case youre not familiar with intermittent fasting, heres a quick primer: Intermittent fasting centers around a pattern of eating and fasting periods, i.e., times when you dont eat.

This can look different for everybody, but some popular forms of this are the 16:8 diet, where you fast for 16 hours (usually from dinnertime until a late breakfast) and eat all your food within an eight-hour span. Another is the 5:2 diet, where you eat less than 500 calories for two non-consecutive days a week and then eat normally for the rest of the week.

Plenty of people claim that doing keto along with intermittent fasting is awesome for weight loss, but its likely any results youd see with this would be short-lived. Meaning, when you start eating regularly again, youll probably gain the weight back.

Combining a super restrictive diet with long periods of non-eating is not good, says Keatley. The body will cannibalize its own muscle for energy if intake from food is too low but the body does not differentiate between something like a calf muscle or a heart muscle. Keep in mind all your important organs are made of smooth muscle and going on a diet like this may harm something like your bladder or lungs just as much as provide fat loss.

The science thus far on IF has been pretty clear that weight loss from intermittent fasting is due to calorie restriction, Keatley points out. And, research has shown, just eating less, or healthier in general, usually does the same thing.

You are literally starving on an intermittent fasting diet, Keatley says. Methods such as this are attractive as weight loss can go from one pound a week to four pounds, but this is mostly lean muscle which is essential to healthy functioning as you age and is very hard to get back once it is gone, he adds. Soits not really recommended that you try this unless you hash it out with your doctor or nutritionist to make sure it's a fit for you and your lifestyle.

Okay, so while there are different versions of keto, let's say you're thinking of following the standard keto diet, for the sake of convenience. Just because you're not eating all your fave carb-y foods, that doesn't mean you're going to go hungry. You'll be loading up on healthy fats (like olive oil and avocado), along with plenty of lean protein like grass-fed beef and chicken, and leafy greens or other non-starchy veggies. (Check out this printable keto diet grocery list, plus this additional comprehensive list of keto foods recommended by nutritionists, to get started.)

More good news: Snacks are totally allowed (and I'm not just talking about carrot sticks). There are plenty of packaged options out there designed for keto fans. FATBAR is one of them. These snack bars have 200 calories, 16 grams of fat, and four grams of net carbs. They're also plant-based and are made with almond or cashew butter, cocoa butter, coconut, pea protein, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds.

For coffee drinkers mourning the loss of their vanilla lattes, Bulletproof coffee's an option. This is your standard coffee but with grass-fed butter and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil added to help give you a boost of healthy fats in the A.M.

If you're looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, keto fat bombs have a solid following. As the name implies, these are little snacks that are high in fat and low in carbs, so you can be on-point with your diet, even when you indulge.

And if you can't survive without your pasta, there are plenty of products out there like Explore Cuisine's organic black bean spaghetti that give you the pasta experience without the carbs. There are also tons of keto-friendly restaurantslike Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Texas Roadhousethat can allow you to treat yourself to a night out without coming out of ketosis.

Because you'll be focusing on fat and proteinand going easy on the carbsbig bowls of pasta (or any grain, really) definitely won't be on your menu. It also means that starchy vegetables like potatoes and carrots, as well as legumes like chickpeas, lentils, and black beans are off-limits, too.

Another thing you can't have: sweetsartificial or natural. Candy, cakes, and doughnuts are a no; and even many fruits aren't allowed (apples, bananas, pearsthey all have tons of sugar, which is definitely a carb).

Alcohol's another grey area on the keto dietmany beers and sugary cocktails are banned on the keto diet, as well as some sweeter wines.

Note: Because you'll be excluding some major food groups on the keto diet (grains, many fruits) you should definitely think about taking a multivitaminespecially one that contains folic acid, which helps your body make new cells and is often found in enriched breads, cereals, and other grain products, says Julie Upton, RD, cofounder of nutrition website Appetite for Health.

Tbh, a lot of keto meals sound pretty decadent and delicious, and it's easy to see how they could be super filling. Below, check out a weeks worth of meal options that all adhere to the standard keto diet guidelines, going low on the carbs, and heavy on fat and protein.

Green omeletteKeto biscuits with gravyKeto banana muffinsGo green smoothieHam and cheese breakfast boatsBaked egg avocado boatsKeto quiche

Avocado chicken saladEasy broccoli cheddar soupMason jar Greek salad with chickenShrimp salsa verde salad boatsChicken pesto tomato bitesGarlic herb grilled chicken breastEgg roll in a bowl

Keto cauliflower rice with chickenTuscan butter shrimpGarlic rosemary pork chopsTaco stuffed peppersKeto spinach artichoke chicken casseroleBroiled salmonPhilly cheesesteak stuffed portobello mushrooms

It usually takes three to four days for your body to go into ketosis because you have to use up your body's stores of glucose, i.e., sugar first, Keatley says. Any major diet change can give you some, uh, issues, and Keatley says he often sees patients who complain of IBS-like symptoms and feeling wiped out at the beginning of the diet. (The tiredness happens because you have less access to carbs, which give you quick energy, he explains.)

Those issues can be part of what's known as the keto flu, Warren says. Other side effects of the keto diet, all of which are tied to carb withdrawal, can include lightheadedness, nausea, mental fog, cramps, and headaches, in addition to tiredness. Luckily, the keto flu doesn't usually last more than a weekwhich is coincidentally about when people start to see the number on the scale go down, says Warren.

Aside from the typical keto flu complaints, diarrhea and "keto breath" are also common keto diet side effects.

While, yes, diarrhea can be another symptom of the keto flu, it may also be linked to how your body processes fat, specifically (and, as you know, the keto diet is full of fat). The reason: Some people simply don't digest fat as well as they should, Barbie Boules, RDN, previously told WH.

Keto breath, on the other hand, is less of a side-effect and more of a harmless inconvenience (your breath literally smells like nail polish remover). Basically, when your body breaks down all that extra fat on the keto diet, it produces ketonesone of which is the chemical acetone, Keatley previously told WH. (Yes, the same stuff that's in nail polish remover.)

Your body then gets rid of those chemicals through urination, defecation, and, yes, breathing. Keto breath should go away once your body acclimates to the dietin the meantime, pay special attention to your oral hygiene, said Keatley.

As mentioned, there are a few reasons why the keto diet usually equals weight-loss gold, says Keatley. For starters, people usually reduce their daily caloric intake to about 1,500 calories a day because healthy fats and lean proteins make you feel fuller soonerand for a longer period of time. And then theres the fact that it takes more energy to process and burn fat and protein than carbs, so you're burning slightly more calories than you did before. Over time, this can lead to weight loss.

Everyone is different, and how much you weigh when you start the diet matters, but you could safely lose around one to two pounds a week on keto, Keatley says. "It's sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the individual's caloric needs," he adds.

Worth noting: The keto diet isnt a miracle fat burner, says Keatley. The calories in fat are still calories, so working out and keeping total intake at a reasonable level is the only way it works, he says. Being on a keto diet but eating more calories than you need will still add fat to your frame.

Some keto devotees swear the keto diet offers multiple health benefitsfrom curing acne to improving the risk factors of heart diseasebut a lot of these claims are unproven, have weak science behind them, or are purely anecdotal, says Sonya Angelone, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Heres what we do know: The keto diet may be useful in treating symptoms of epilepsy, a seizure disorder. The use of keto in treating epilepsy has the most evidence, Angelone says. One study conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine, for example, followed epileptic patients on the keto diet and found that 36 percent of them had a 50 percent reduction in seizures after three months on the diet, and 16 percent were seizure-free. However, experts aren't entirely sure why the keto diet has this affect, she adds.

Theres also some evidence that it might help with type 2 diabetes. An emerging body of research is finding that a keto plan may have some real benefits thanks to its ability to improve the bodys ability to use insulin and also help control appetite, which can result in easier weight loss, says Karen Ansel, RDN, co-author of Healthy in a Hurry. If you have diabetes, you'll want to check with your doc before starting a new diet, though.

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Beyond that, experts aren't convinced that the keto diet has any other scientifically proven health benefits. In fact, it may have some distinct downsides. If you follow the keto diet incorrectly, for example (like by eating lots of saturated fats, versus healthy unsaturated fats), you're at risk of raising your cholesterol levels.

The best strategy to keep your heart healthy is to get as much fat as possible from unsaturated sources such as olive, avocado and canola oils, nuts, seeds, avocados, and olives," says Ansel. For some people, it's possible to actually improve cholesterol if the fats in their diet are from varied and healthy sources, says Harvey.

Also, keep this in mind: This diet is not going to support good bones, a healthy brain, heart, colon, or gut microbiome," says Angelone, and it could lead to plaque in the arteries (which could cause a heart attack or stroke) later on.

The keto diet is not easyor necessarily healthyto follow over a long period of time (certain types of carbs are good for you!), say both Keatley and Warren.

Rissetto also cautions that several populations may not be suitable for the keto diet. The ketogenic diet is not appropriate for people with any stage of pre-existing kidney or liver disease, she stresses. The higher protein intake that is typical of the ketogenic diet can put a great deal of added stress on the kidneys. The emphasis on high-fat foods can potentially lead to, or exacerbate, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

You also shouldnt be on the diet if youre pregnant: Fetal growth depends heavily on glucose from carbohydrates, says Rissetto. So, a diet low in carbs will impact the growth of the baby.

It's also not advised that people with digestive disorders follow a ketogenic diet, says Rissetto. Fiber is an extremely important nutrient for digestive health, and it is common for keto dieters to under-consume this nutrient. Since whole grains and fibrous carb sources are omitted, its difficult to get the daily recommended amount25 to 35 gramsof fiber from non-starchy vegetables alone, as you'd have to consume a very large amount of them.

If you don't fall into any of those groups and youre interested in following keto for a short period of time, Cording says its important to set yourself up for success by making sure you have the right ingredients and tools to make it happen.

Good news for keto beginners: Because it's popular AF right now, there are tons of ways to get started.

21-Day Ketogenic Diet Weight Loss Challenge

Lots of apps and websites offer keto diet challengesbasically, a blueprint for the keto diet with a fixed starting and ending point (they typically last for a week to a month, though some may be longer). Speaking of apps, plenty of keto-centric ones are right at your fingertips (a.k.a., your smartphone), like the KetoDiet app, which can help you calculate your macros and track your keto diet effectively.

If you're looking for more of a DIY keto approach, there are recipes and cookbooks galore on the keto dietwhether you want to make keto recipes in your Instant Pot, or you're looking for more general recipes, snack options, or keto breakfasts that make waking up easier.

If you're interested in following the keto diet for medical reasons, Harvey recommends talking with a dietician about the best way to get started, and to continue being monitored by a professional.

The bottom line: Overall, if you want to go ahead and try the keto diet on for sizejust remember that it's not necessarily a diet you can or should stay on forever.

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What Is The Keto Diet? A Beginner's Guide To Keto Foods, Side Effects - Women's Health

This article was originally published on iHeart CBD Oil. To view the original article, click here.

The therapeutic benefits of Cannabidiol, or CBD, are making it popular all around the world. It is derived from the cannabis or hemp plant. CBD is able to bind with the cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system and modulates different body activities. It is not a psychoactive compound and is beneficial for alleviating many health problems like stress, anxiety, chronic pain, epilepsy etc. CBD oil is made by diluting the CBD extract with carrier oil.

Recent studies show that CBD oil may actually help with obesity and weight loss. Obesity is a medical condition that occurs due to excessive amounts of fat in the body. Research says that, by 2019, around 37% of adults and 17% of children in the United States were obese. Obesity or being overweight can lead to many diseases. Since CBD is beneficial in the treatment of many health problems, scientists are interested in looking at the effect of CBD oil on obesity.

Related: Looking to learn more about the different types of CBD products? Click here.

CBD Oil For Obesity

A recent study conducted by the University of Reading compared the effect of three different cannabinoids, including CBD, on reducing obesity. The study found that CBD was able to reduce the food consumption in rats. Another study found that CBD can regulate the expression of genes and proteins that are involved in causing obesity.

CBD has the power to inhibit the activity of the key proteins that are involved in the generation of fat cells and lipogenesis. It stimulates the breakdown of body fat by promoting the conversion of white adipose tissue to brown adipose tissue. CBD boosts the activity of mitochondria in the cells and helps the body to burn more calories. It can also decrease the formation of new fat cells.

Related: Want to learn more about the differences between THC and CBD? Click here.

CBD Lowers Lipogenesis

Lipogenesis is a metabolic process where the acetyl-CoA, a metabolic intermediate, gets converted into triglycerides for the storage of fat. Sometimes during a positive energy balance, the excess energy gets stored in the adipose tissue as fats, which can lead to obesity. Recent studies show that anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can help in limiting excess lipogenesis and thereby preventing obesity.

CBD Promotes Fat Burn

Fat deposition in the adipose tissue occurs when the calorie intake is high and metabolic rate is low. Regular consumption of high-carb and high-fat foods can cause the accumulation of excess fat in the adipose tissue and it may lead to obesity. Therefore, excess fat must be burned regularly. CBD is able to increase the metabolic rate in the body that helps in the breakdown of excess body fat.

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Advantages Of CBD Oil On Weight Loss And Obesity - SPONSORED CONTENT - San Antonio Current

SEATTLE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Neuwave Technology Inc. initiates the development plan for ObeEnd. The project team consists of dozens of healthcare experts, with the goal to create an innovative wearable technology. ObeEnd would be a wristband that uses neuromodulation to help users overcome obesity.

Background of neuromodulation. Neuromodulation is the alteration of nerve activity through targeted delivery of a stimulus, such as electrical stimulation or chemical agents, to specific neurological sites in the body. Neuromodulation works by either actively stimulating nerves to produce a natural biological response or by applying targeted pharmaceutical agents in tiny doses directly to site of action.

ObeEnd would use targeted neuromodulation technology via precise electric stimulating on acupuncture point PC6 to control body weight. ObeEnd's developmental plan revolves around the following objectives:

1.Energy balance. With the increase in prevalence of obesity among both adults and children in the U.S., future generations are at risk of avoidable obesity-induced pathologies. In order to reduce obesity, it is important to control the balance between one's energy intake and energy expenditure.1 This could be achieved via targeted neuromodulation, which would lead to improved control of body weight.

2.Appetite reduction. ObeEnd would be an innovative fitness tracking device. While monitoring the physical activities of its users, it would be designed to use targeted neuromodulation to control the user's appetite. Through this high precision electrical stimulation, several activities involved in energy-intake, including gastric acid secretion and stomach peristalsis, could be significantly reduced (gastric acid output decreased by 30.5%).2,3 Gastro myoelectrical activity (period dominant frequency, PDF), another important factor in energy in-take, has been shown to be decreased by up to 78%.4 Several studies have demonstrated that, by reducing these activities via carefully administered neuromodulation, there could be increased control over long term appetite, leading to significant reduction in BMI, lipid mass, and waist size.3,5,6

3.WAT browning. Human body fat is composed of two types: white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). WAT the form of stored body fat that leads to obesity. BAT on the other hand, is responsible for generating heat within the human body via thermogenesis. Therefore, converting WAT into BAT would be an effective method to reduce obesity. This is also shown to be achievable via electrically stimulated expression of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), which is responsible for heat generation, body temperature regulation, and body weight control.7

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4.Post-exercise recovery. In addition to controlling energy intake via diet, it is also imperative to maintain regular energy expenditure. Enhancing exercise performance and promoting post-exercise recovery are two factors that are important in sustaining regular exercise habits. Electroacupuncture stimulation has been demonstrated to significantly improve both exercise performance and post-exercise recovery for athletes.8 ObeEnd would be designed to achieve this effect via its neuromodulation on acupuncture point PC6, in addition to tracking fitness activities of its users for optimal performance.

Obesity has become a global issue that affects over one billion people worldwide.9 it is responsible for numerous physiological consequences that could be avoided with adjustments in one's daily routine. Reduction in body weight has been shown to decrease risk of diabetes by 58%.7 By combining neuromodulation with fitness tracking, ObeEnd would be designed to remove common roadblocks to successful weight loss: poor diet control and lack of routine exercising. Users would receive the help they need to develop a long-lasting healthy lifestyle.

References

1.Spiegelman B, Flier J. Obesity and the Regulation of Energy Balance. Cell, Vol. 104, 531-543. 2001.2.Wu Y, Chen S, Pan L. Effect of Electroacupuncture on Gastric Acid Secretion and Gut Hormones. The Second Hospital China Medical University. 1994.3.Martin B. Complementary Medicine Therapies That May Assist with Weight Loss: A Narrative Review. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. Vol. 18, 2. 2019.4.Shiotani A, Tatewaki M, Hoshino E, Takahashi T. Effects of Electroacupuncture on Gastric Myoelectrical Activity in Healthy Humans. Neurogastroenterol Motil. Vol. 16, 293-298. Health Administration Center, Wakayama University. 2004.5.Darbandi M, Darbandi S, Owji AA, Mokarram P. Auricular or body acupuncture: which one is more effective in reducing abdominal fat mass in Iranian men with obesity: a randomized clinical trial. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2014.6.Wu B, Liu ZC. Xu B. Clinical observation on obesity and hyperlipidemia of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern in female patients treated with combined therapy of acupuncture and tapping method. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2014.7.Shen W, Wang Y, Lu S, Hong H, Fu S, He S, Li Q, Yue J. Xu B, Zhu B. Acupuncture Promotes White Adipose Tissue Browning by Inducing UCP1 Expression on DIO Mice. Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Vol 14, 501. 2014.8.Urroz P, Colagiuri B, Smith C, Cheema B. Effect of Acute Acupunture Treatment on Exercise Performance and Postexercise Recovery: A Systemic Review. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Vol. 19, 9-16. 2013.9.Zhang R, Tan J, Li F, Ma Y, Han L, Yang X. Acupuncture for the Treatment of Obesity in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Postgrad Med J. 2017.

Media Contact

Company Name: ObeEndPerson: Peter W.F. JiPhone:5105900789ObeEnd@hotmail.com

SOURCE: ObeEnd

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ObeEnd Combines Neuromodulation with Fitness Tracking to Promote Weight Loss - Yahoo Finance

For years, the idea of rapid weight loss has been deemed dangerous and unhealthy. However, recent studies have shown that rapid weight loss, when done in a healthy and controlled way, might actually be the most effective approach when it comes to achieving substantial and sustained weight loss.

To explain the theory and research further, POPSUGAR Australia spoke to diabetes expert, clinical dietitian, exercise physiologist and CEO and Founder of Be Fit Food, Kate Save, who unpacks this new research and answers all our questions rapid weight loss.

POPSUGAR Australia: What is rapid weight loss?

Kate: Rapid weight loss looks different for every individual as results can vary depending on age, gender, starting weight and lifestyle factors, such as activity levels. The range for rapid weight loss is generally between 3-7kg in the first two weeks, 7-10kg in the first four weeks and 10-15kg in the first eight weeks.

PS: For years, the idea of rapid-weight loss has been misunderstood and deemed dangerous and unhealthy. Can you please unpack this new research, and explain why rapid weight loss may be a more achievable and maintainable form of losing weight?

Kate: When undertaken in a nutritionally sound way, rapid weight loss is not dangerous or unhealthy. On the contrary, a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet that brings rapid weight loss has lots of other health benefits it triggers a range of favourable metabolic changes including a reduction in blood sugar levels, blood pressure, fatty liver and blood lipid levels (blood fats known as triglycerides). It also reduces our insulin levels in the blood which trigger fat storage and can lead to improved insulin sensitivity over time hence improved fat-burning capacity.

While historically research has indicated gradual or slow continuous weight loss to be the best form of weight loss for long-term success, current research into rates of weight loss is indicating that rapid weight loss is actually the most effective approach and an individual is more likely to achieve substantial and sustained weight loss if the initial weight loss is rapid.

To unpack this a little, individuals who lose rapid weight over four weeks are more likely to achieve and maintain greater weight loss reductions at six months and 18 months in comparison to those who experience gradual weight loss. We have seen this in our Be Fit Food 28 Day Challenge participants time and time again.

Studies have also shown that the amount of weight loss experienced in the initial weight loss phase is significantly associated with the percentage of weight loss maintained. Rapid weight loss results in a higher percentage of weight loss maintained at 12 months, two years and three years.

PS: Is it true that you're more likely to put the weight back on after rapidly losing it?

Kate: A common misconception is that rapid weight loss causes weight to regain plus more. New evidence demonstrates there is no difference between slow and rapid initial weight loss regarding weight regain. Individuals that experienced greater initial weight loss did not experience a greater weight regain than those who lost weight at a slower initial rate.

Rapid weight loss has also been shown to be significantly more likely to achieve a successful and beneficial weight loss maintenance of 10 percent bodyweight reduction at 18 months compared to slow weight loss. Studies have concluded that the greater the initial weight loss in obese patients, the larger the total weight loss at long-term follow up.

PS: What are the different effects of rapid weight-loss and slow-continuous weight-loss on the body?

Kate: A loss of as little as 5 percent of your total body weight, i.e. 3.5kg for a 70kg female, will significantly reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, plus it may also lower your risk of getting two of the most common kinds of cancer (breast and bowel). This is because rapid weight loss lowers inflammatory chemicals and hormones in the body which are linked to being overweight or obese, which in turn are attributed to boosting cancer rates in developed countries.

There are also many studies now showing that rapid weight loss is more effective for Diabetes management and even putting Type 2 Diabetes into remission than traditional low-fat diets. Be Fit Food's study found that just one week on a rapid diet resulted in lower blood glucose levels than the daily average. But the real magic of very-low-calorie dieting though is in the way your body and mind feels even after just one week you start sleeping better, your energy levels are better and your self-esteem is boosted as your clothes start to feel looser. The natural ketones produced with mild nutritional ketosis even assist with suppressing your appetite at a brain level so that the diet starts to feel much easier.

PS: What are the risks associated with losing weight so quickly?

Kate: There are no evident risks associated with rapid weight loss outside of specific medical concerns and medication implications. In fact, a 5-10 percent decrease in body weight can bring about health benefits including blood glucose control, lowered cholesterol, improved mobility and sleep quality. It may also reduce the need for certain medications.

If there is a history of complex health conditions though, it is important to seek a health professional's advice before embarking on any weight loss program.

PS: Are there any red flags we should look out for?

Kate: Some individuals should avoid a very low-calorie diet, or at least consult a health professional before undertaking this kind of weight loss program, including:

PS: Do you have any tips for monitoring rapid weight-loss to ensure we are remaining healthy and safe?

Kate: It's a good idea to track weight loss results and weight loss averages to ensure effectiveness of a rapid weight loss program. Average weight loss should be between 1.5kg and 2.5 kg a week so if it was exceeding this you should see the advice of a health professional. You can also record measurements and photographs of your weight loss, to monitor and maintain its effects. People with diabetes or metabolic syndrome should, of course, monitor their blood glucose levels throughout a very low-calorie diet. If you have any of the health conditions listed above, you should also maintain frequent follow up with your GP. It's recommended that a very low-calorie diet is only undertaken for between two and eight weeks you should consult a health professional or dietician before extending the diet beyond eight weeks.

You can also ensure you stay and feel healthy while dieting for rapid weight loss by managing the symptoms of ketosis appropriately, e.g. headache, lethargy, brain fog in the first three or four days. You should also maximise your water intake and rest time and avoid high-intensity training or exercise.

PS: Does rapid-weight-loss work for everyone?

Kate: Most individuals can participate in rapid weight loss. For those individuals with underlying health conditions or who are identified in the list above, it is best to consult a health care professional first. People with a high BMI along with metabolic issues, such as diabetes, or pre-diabetes, fatty liver and high cholesterol are ideal candidates for a rapid weight loss diet as they have significantly improved health outcomes when they lose 5-10 percent body weight.

PS: If people are looking for ways to lose weight this way, what simple, at-home steps can they take to start their journey?

Kate: The key to successful long term weight loss is dieting the right way, using only whole foods rather than synthetic meal replacements, plus enjoying what you are eating so you are more likely to maintain this new way of eating. Be Fit Food's Be Rapid program consists of meals that each include four-12 vegetables, is nutritionally complete and is designed to help you lose 5kgs in two weeks.

An ideal rapid weight loss diet consists of loads of plant-based foods including low carb vegetables, salads and fruits plus moderate amounts of proteins from meat, chicken, fish and tofu and healthy fats from nuts, seeds and various oils. This low-carb, Mediterranean style of eating helps you feel satisfied while preventing muscle mass losses, plus it stops your metabolic rate from crashing as you successfully achieve your weight loss goals.

PS: Can you recommend specific programs?

Kate: Be Fit Food's Be Rapid Program is a very low-calorie diet consisting of 3 meals and 1 snack per day. The Be Rapid Program provides approximately 820-920 calories and around 40-50g of carbohydrates per day, depending on what meals you choose. Weight loss on the Be Rapid Program occurs through two metabolic processes:

1. Mild Nutritional Ketosis

Mild nutritional ketosis is a state in which our body switches from using sugar (from carbohydrates) as its primary energy source to using our stored body fat. This process creates ketones. Mild nutritional ketosis is a state in which the ketone levels in our body are only slightly elevated (0.3-1.5mmol/l). Typical high fat ketogenic diets induce high levels of ketones, but evidence demonstrates that the weight loss results are the same regardless of whether the ketosis is mild or extreme. Mild nutritional ketosis is also associated with milder side effects.

How do we Induce this state?

Decreasing calories and carbohydrates induces mild nutritional ketosis. This results in a calorie deficit and promotes effective fat loss. The average weight loss of between 1kg and 2.5kg a week can be achieved when replacing all three meals each day with low carb, low-calorie meals from the Be Rapid Program. Our studies show that our customers have lost an average of 5kg in the first two weeks of following this program.*

2. Calorie Deficit

Calories are a measurement of the amount of energy a food provides. Adults typically consume around 2,000-2,500 calories per day on a standard Australian diet. When undertaking the Be Rapid Program we reduce your daily calorie intake to the level of a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) which is approximately 850-950 calories. This forces your body to use its body fat stores for energy. When you eat fewer calories than what your body requires to meet total energy expenditure, then you lose weight.

PS: Who should be consulted before embarking on a rapid weight-loss program?

Kate: Before starting any diet, it is always a good idea to see a dietitian, GP or other health care professional to ensure the diet is suited to you.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Studios

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Gabby Slazyk had struggled with her weight since childhood, but when she realized she couldnt get healthy on her own, the teen turned to an operation in December 2019.

Ive always kind of struggled with my weight, its always been an issue, then 17-year-old Gabby said. You do have a lot of self-esteem issues when you are heavier, you look in the mirror and you hate what you see.

The percentage of children who are obese has more than tripled since the 1970s. As such, the American Academy of Pediatrics says surgical treatment should be considered a safe and viable option for kids who have not shown improvement or success with diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes.

Gabby is among a growing group of young patients opting to fight obesity with weight-loss surgery, which has been shown to help reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.

Dr. Ann OConnor, Gabbys pediatric surgeon at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, said the procedure is a life-saving option when it comes to preventing life-altering diseases.

I try to explain to the patients, sure its nice to look better and feel more like your peers, but what were really trying to do is either treat or prevent you from getting some really bad future diseases, Dr. OConnor said.

Before the procedure, Gabby shared her lifelong struggle with food, saying she often turned to eating when she felt stressed.

I go for the junk food or whatever is in the fridge, anything that makes you feel good for a little bit, she said. But then you eat a whole pizza, and you dont feel good after that. It became clear I couldnt lose the weight on my own.

Leading up to her procedure, Gabby took medications to help her lose 55 pounds. Then a robotic surgery removed 80 percent of her stomach, shrinking it from the size of a Nerf football to a banana without a hitch.

But its been an adjustment. Post-surgery, patients have to limit portion sizes and learn to eat slowly. Now, Gabby said she slowly eats, just a couple bites of everything.

Dr. OConnor warns surgery is not a lifetime cure, as 30 to 50 percent of patients will experience significant regain of the weight they lost.

Its not just a simple fix, Ill have surgery, and Ill never have to think about this again. No, thats not how it is. Its every day for the rest of their lives, OConnor said. They have to be aware of what they are eating, how they are eating, how often they are eating and staying active and fit is really important also.

Nearly seven months later, Gabby is down 86 pounds but her confidence is up. She says she has more energy and is able to do a lot more.

I had this giant pair of shorts, and I noticed they were getting rather loose on me. And thats when I realized I was starting to lose weight, she said. It is definitely a lot easier to like what I see in the mirror right now.

Gabby knows what shes up against, but hopes to help herself and others by sharing her story.

A lot of people struggle with the same thing I do, unfortunately, and I know the pain and the uncertainties that come with it, she said. Its a good feeling to know I can help other people because, at the time, I thought it was just going to get worse.

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Teens turn to weight-loss surgery to address obesity, related health issues - WGN TV Chicago