Inside every week or so numerous Britons can be placing themselves on a weight loss program to deal with the Christmas extra.

A 12 months in the past every girl right here resolved to deal with her weight and has now reaped the advantages for his or her well being, too, from banishing power again ache and despair, to placing bronchial asthma and sort 2 diabetes into remission in addition to shedding an incredible 70 stone between them.

Because of this every is going through a far more healthy, happier future than they had been final 12 months. From Christmas puddings to Christmas crackers, right here they inform their tales . . .

A 12 months in the past every girl right here resolved to deal with her weight and has now reaped the advantages for his or her well being, too. Pictured left to proper:Debbie Chesters, 51, Kate Mincher, 54, and Georgie Cox, 33

Debbie Chesters has misplaced5st since becoming a member of a slimming membership

DEBBIE CHESTERS, 51, a mom of two, works in a caf. She lives in Connahs Quay, North Wales, with husband Gareth, 55, a machine operator.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 5st (from 17st 7lb to 12st 7lb; peak, 5ft 4in).

DEBBIE SAYS: Two years in the past I used to be requested to get off a trip at Alton Towers theme park as a result of I used to be too giant for the attendants to close the protection bar over me. It was soul-destroying.

My weight affected every thing in my late teenagers I developed bronchial asthma that received worse as I put extra weight on.

I had to make use of an inhaler repeatedly and couldnt do any train or stroll very far as a result of it will set off an bronchial asthma assault.

Eight years in the past I used to be recognized with kind 2 diabetes too which meant doing fingerprick exams twice a day to observe my blood sugar ranges and taking two varieties of remedy.

Even then, attempting to regulate my blood sugar was a nightmare and I developed problems akin to numbness in my toes, brought on by nerve harm, and this can by no means restore.

However since becoming a member of a slimming membership, Ive misplaced 5st its reversed my kind 2 diabetes, so I dont should take remedy any extra and I dont undergo from bronchial asthma assaults both! Ive received a great deal of power a lot I stroll 30,000 steps every day. My docs are amazed by what Ive completed.

Kate Mincher has misplaced6st 3lb and stated her blood stress is now regular and her acid reflux disorder is gone

KATE MINCHER, 54, a mom of 1, is a enterprise improvement supervisor for an animal well being firm, and lives in Stockport, with companion Andy, 54, an engineer.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 6st 3lb (from 19st 1lb to 12st 12lb; peak, 5ft 6in).

KATE SAYS: At the beginning of final 12 months, I used to be so fats I might lie awake at evening frightened I used to be going to die and go away my son [aged 19] with out a mum.

From the age of 49, Id be puffing and panting even simply strolling a number of steps. My knees had been actually painful, and I suffered from dangerous acid reflux disorder and wanted day by day remedy for it the physician stated I may need to have tablets sooner or later for my blood stress, too.

This frightened me as we have now a historical past of coronary heart illness and sort 2 diabetes within the household and my mum had a stroke in her 50s and my dad had a coronary heart bypass.

I knew nothing was going to alter if I didnt change myself, so in January I went on a weight loss program.

Inside ten months Id misplaced six stone and I really feel fabulous. Now I play badminton repeatedly, and I feel nothing of swimming 30 lengths at a time.

My blood stress is now regular, my acid reflux disorder is gone and I dont pant once I stroll.

Ive turned my life round and have given myself the very best probability to see my son develop up.

Georgie Cox misplaced9st 1lb. She stated she struggled together with her weight all her life

GEORGIE COX, 33, who collates most cancers sufferers therapy plans, lives in Manchester with husband Trevor, 50, a pc analyst.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 9st 1lb (from 21st 4lb to 12st 3lb; peak, 5ft 3in).

GEORGIE SAYS: We had been about to take off on a flight final 12 months once I needed to ask for a seatbelt extension. I used to be mortified I felt that everybody was gazing me.

It wasnt simply embarrassing over the earlier three years, my toes had change into swollen and painful due to my weight. I limped and will solely put on delicate becoming sneakers and I used to be taking eight anti-inflammatory painkillers each different day. My physician instructed me the perfect factor I might do could be to shed weight.

Ive struggled with my weight all my life I used to be a secret eater. I might sit within the grocery store automobile park and gorge on chocolate and florentines earlier than driving residence.

After the seatbelt incident I modified my weight loss program: my plate was at all times a 3rd fruit and greens, and I didnt snack.

Since dropping pounds, my toes arent swollen any extra and I dont want painkillers. We went on a cruise in Could and I did each exercise going mountain climbing, bungee leaping, and ice skating. It was superb.

Cath Younger misplaced 9stafter reducing out cheese, butter, chocolate and crisps, pizza and ice-creamand consuming extra residence cooked veg dishes and contemporary fruit

CATH YOUNG, 56, a retired nurse and mom of two, lives in Cheadle Hulme, with husband Alan, 55, a pc design engineer.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 9st (from 19st 3lb to 10st 3lb; peak, 5ft 6in)

CATH SAYS: Two years in the past my again harm a lot that I used to be taking codeine 4 instances a day, and in October 2017 I needed to cease working for 3 weeks.

I requested my GP if my weight was making my again downside worse, and he or she stated that it was.

Ive struggled with my weight all my life, however on vacation in Wales final 12 months, once I might barely stroll a number of steps on the seashore, was the second I realised that issues needed to change.

As a result of Ive a household historical past of kind 2 diabetes I requested a health care provider the place I work to test my blood sugar ranges, which confirmed that I used to be pre-diabetic, too I actually didnt wish to go on to develop diabetes; as a nurse I knew the place it could lead on.

After reducing out cheese, butter, chocolate and crisps, pizza and ice-cream and consuming tons extra residence cooked veg dishes, with contemporary fruit, the load simply dropped off.

And as quickly as I misplaced even a number of kilos my ache improved.

My blood sugar is now regular, I dont have again ache, and dont want the paracetamol and anti-inflammatories I had been taking day by day. A 12 months in the past I might solely shuffle down the seashore: now I run 5km three or 4 instances every week.

I can hardly consider it.

Left to proper: Cath Younger has misplaced 9st, Michelle ONeill has misplaced almost 7st and Michele Rogers has misplaced 8st

Michelle ONeill joined the Cambridge Weight Plan and misplaced almost two stone within the first month

MICHELLE ONEILL, 45, lives in Manchester together with her fianc Dominic Danger, 43, a supervisor for a bus firm. She has two youngsters Kaya, 20, and Cenk, 24.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 6st 4lb (from 20st to 13st 10lb; peak, 5ft 7in)

MICHELLE SAYS: Eight months in the past I had my first correct evenings sleep since 2017. Thats once I developed sleep apnoea once I lay down at evening, the fats round my neck would crush my airway and briefly interrupt my respiration, that means I woke round 30 instances an evening.

Dominic by no means slept correctly both as he was terrified I used to be going to die, so he would preserve checking on me.

The docs stated sleep apnoea put me at a larger threat of dying from coronary heart illness as a result of it was placing stress on my coronary heart. I used to be additionally at all times drained in the course of the day, and would go to sleep anyplace. That wasnt my solely challenge.

In 2017 I wanted a proper knee substitute after an accident at work however due to my weight I wanted a wheelchair for a 12 months: each knees prompted me horrific ache and my physician warned me in the summertime of 2018 I would want it completely until I misplaced weight.

That basically frightened me, so I joined the Cambridge Weight Plan and misplaced almost two stone within the first month. By the point Id misplaced 5 stone, the ache in my knees had diminished a lot I didnt want a wheelchair any extra.

And my sleep apnoea had gone, too. I get up feeling refreshed life is regular once more.

Michele Rogers stated gazing pictures of herself at New 12 months final 12 months shocked her into motion

MICHELE ROGERS, 46, a housewife, lives in Stockport with husband John, 48, a elements supervisor for a automobile firm. Theyve two youngsters Danielle, 22, and James, 19. 46, a housewife, lives in Stockport with husband John, 48, a elements supervisor for a automobile firm. Theyve two youngsters Danielle, 22, and James, 19.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 8st 1lb (from 20st 1lb to 12st; peak, 5ft 7in)

MICHELE SAYS: Gazing pictures of myself at New 12 months final 12 months I couldnt consider how huge Id received. It shocked me into motion. It wasnt nearly how I appeared Id additionally had a protracted battle with breast most cancers, and docs instructed me that shedding the load would reduce the chance of it returning.

Id been recognized with triple damaging breast most cancers, an aggressive type, in December 2014. After chemotherapy and a double mastectomy I additionally had my ovaries eliminated as a result of I used to be at raised threat of ovarian most cancers, too. It was terrifying and I consolation ate lots once I was first recognized.

However that image made me confront my weight: I wished to be round for my youngsters. I threw out the white bread, and stopped shopping for biscuits, truffles and crisps and I reached my goal weight in August.

I really feel implausible. Ive simply celebrated 5 years in remission. Initially I used to be instructed I had an 80 per cent probability of the most cancers coming again, however now docs say dropping pounds has drastically diminished that determine.

Left to proper: Georgia Lawton has misplaced 7st, Elanor Darman has misplaced 10st and Rebecca Mellor has misplaced 6st

Georgia Lawton stated for years her temper spiralled down as her weight elevated

GEORGIA LAWTON, 22, lives in Stockport together with her companion Louis Waldron, 24, an accountant. Georgia, a assist employee, has dropped from a dimension 26 to a 10/12.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 7st (from 18st to 11st; peak, 5ft 7in)

GEORGIA SAYS: For years my temper spiralled down as my weight elevated. At instances my despair may very well be so crushing I couldnt get away from bed. Simply over a 12 months in the past I hit all-time low and wanted six months off work.

My physician prescribed antidepressants Prozac and citalopram however they didnt assist and I used to be consolation consuming much more. Id have takeaways a number of instances a day.

My weight affected my relationship with Louis I by no means wished to exit, so he had a separate social life. Then, simply earlier than final Christmas, a buddy begged me to go together with her to a slimming membership.

I didnt have any intention of becoming a member of, I used to be going to maintain her firm. However one of many members had misplaced half a stone and was so excited, I joined.

For the primary time in years, I felt a spark of one thing optimistic. The subsequent day I modified what I used to be consuming breakfast was now fruit and yoghurt, and a jacket potato for lunch. No extra takeaways.

Inside 4 weeks Id misplaced a stone: stepping on the scales was giving me such a buzz I realised I didnt want antidepressants any extra so I finished them my physician was completely satisfied for me to do that.

By August Id misplaced 7st and for the primary time in years, Im actually having fun with life. Melancholy and anxiousness are previously now.

Ellie Darman stated sheat all times wished to shed weight however struggled to regulate her consuming

ELLIE DARMAN, 44, lives in Leicester and works as a configuration and information engineer for Rolls-Royce.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 12st (from 24st 3lb to 12st 3lb; peak, 5ft 11in)

ELLIE SAYS: Ive at all times been obese however ten years in the past, I used to be recognized with an auto-immune situation, psoriatic arthritis my joints grew to become actually painful and since I used to be carrying an additional 12 stone, I struggled to maneuver.

All my joints are affected knees, ankles, elbows, wrists and hips and Ill in all probability want a number of joint replacements at some stage, however being so obese meant that Id have them sooner.

Id at all times wished to shed weight however struggled to regulate my consuming. Then a 12 months in the past, I made a decision to hitch WeightWatchers as Id lastly had sufficient of my weight making my issues worse.

In addition to making higher selections swapping my cereal and toast for granola and yoghurt I began batch cooking meals from scratch.

As quickly as the load began to fall off, my joints grew to become extra versatile. My marketing consultant has instructed me my weight reduction has considerably delayed the necessity for joint replacements.

I nonetheless have this situation it is going to by no means be cured, however now I can transfer round with out getting out of breath and have halved my remedy, which is implausible as a result of there are side-effects to it illness, hair loss, even an elevated threat of most cancers.

Its by far the perfect factor Ive ever completed.

Rebecca Mellor stated aged 32 she might solely crawl up the steps as her knees had been so painful

REBECCA MELLOR, 41, a deputy head instructor, lives in Cheadle, Cheshire, with husband Stu, 42, a decorator.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 6st 3lb (from 18st 11lb to 12st 8lb; peak, 5ft 11in)

REBECCA SAYS: Aged 32 I might solely crawl up the steps as my knees had been so painful. I needed to take two anti-inflammatory painkillers day-after-day simply to stroll round. My GP stated if I didnt slim down I may very well be taking a look at knee replacements.

I additionally had very hypertension and since I used to be 39, Id been on two varieties of blood stress tablets.

My weight loss program was very unhealthy. I wouldnt have breakfast lunch could be sandwiches and crisps, and Id have a pizza or a takeaway at evening.

I joined Slimming World final 12 months and my weight loss program is far more healthy now.

Losing a few pounds has given me a brand new lease of life. My knees arent painful weve simply received a canine and I stroll him for hours every day, no downside.

And my blood stress remedy has been halved. Good.

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Meet the inspirational women who lost 70st between them in 2019 - Herald Publicist

CALL OF THE WILD

ICYMI: Were in the midst of the sixth mass extinction, and we humans are responsible.

If it sounds bad, thats because it is. Earlier this year, the UNs Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services released a dire report clarifying the extent of this planetary crisis. Around one million species of plants and animals on Earth face extinction an unprecedented loss scientists and activists are racing to curb.

Now it appears that changes in biodiversity over time are a lot more complicated than we thought. The findings of a new study, published in Science, indicate that at the local level, the actual number of species in a place are holding steady or even going up. So, whats going on?

It turns out that every decade or so, almost 30 percent of all species are being swapped out for other species in any given ecosystem. The relative constancy of species numbers actually masks changes in their identities. These findings have led scientists to question whether species richness (the number of species living in a given area) is actually a misleading metric for biodiversity. The global biodiversity crisis isnt just about loss its about a large-scale reshuffling.

As McGill researcher and study coauthor Andrew Gonzalez put it, The Earth is going through a great geographic reorganization of its biodiversity in response to human activities and climate change. Given what we know it is likely this will continue for decades to come.

The researchers also noted that, while this reorganization is happening everywhere, in some environments, its happening much more quickly. For instance, the turnover in tropical marine hotspots is twice as fast as on land.

Will clarifying these temporal and spatial differences in biodiversity change help refine conservation planning across ecosystems? We hope so.

FINDINGS

Microplastics, it seems, are pretty much everywhere these days.

Theyre in our water, our air, and yes, our soils. And evidence of potential repercussions is mounting, including for the humble earthworm.

New research indicates that worms in microplastic-polluted soils dont do as well as their non-plastic-ingesting relatives. Specifically, scientists found that worms in soil contaminated with high density polyethylene (HDPE), which is commonly used to make bags and bottles, lost 3 percent of their body weight over 30 days, while worms in HDPE-free soil gained 5 percent of their body weight over the same amount of time.

The researchers arent entirely sure how microplastics contribute to weight loss, but suspect it could be related to digestion, including, as Bas Boots, lecturer in biology at Englands Anglia Ruskin University and lead author of the study, put it, obstruction and irritation of the digestive tract, limiting the absorption of nutrients and reducing growth.

Given worms role in soil ecosystems, the findings, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, raise some alarm for the health of soils across the world that are the foundation for our agricultural lands, forests, and grasslands.

CALL OF THE WILD

For centuries, ayahuasca, a psychotropic plant brew, has been central to shamanic rituals across much of South Americas rainforest region. Today, its a life-altering, mind-opening trip thats sought out by thousands of tourists chasing the holy grail of highs, one thats turned a traditional Amazonian healing ceremony into a booming industry.

Ayahuasca tourism has been criticized on many levels. The teas main ingredients, the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and chacruna leaves (Psychotria viridis) are now wildly over-harvested, destabilizing an already fragile Amazon ecosystem. And of course, the whole practice smacks of Westerners appropriating and commodifying the spiritual practices of other cultures, yet again.

As Mongabay reports, theres another reason to be wary: it turns out that commercialized ayahuasca tourism is a driver of trade of jaguar body parts. Recent research, published in the journal Conservation Science and Practice this October, found that pendants made from jaguar canine teeth, jaguar skin bracelets, jaguar paws, and other jaguar products are being sold to tourists to supposedly enhance the ayahuasca experience.

Jaguars are listed as nearly threatened on the IUCN Red List, and their population is already at risk because of habitat destruction, trophy hunting, and retaliatory killings by ranchers. Jaguar body parts are also highly sought after by the Chinese market; the study found that the recent ayahuasca boom has heightened this demand.

Unless stronger regulations on ayahuasca tourism and wildlife trafficking are enforced soon, researchers and conservationists fear we will lose more jaguars as we try to find ourselves.

NO COMMENT

Since early September, oil has mysteriously been washing up on beaches across northeastern Brazil. Locals say the toll on wildlife and the fishing industry has been high. But in a Facebook Live event in November, Brazilian Secretary of Aquaculture and Fisheries Jorge Seif Jnior said otherwise, suggesting theres little risk to fish. The fish is an intelligent animal, he explained. When it sees a blanket of oil, it flees.

THE BIG OPEN

This past summer, the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) made a big announcement: After mulling the possibility since 2016, the bureau confirmed that it would be moving its headquarters from Washington, DC to Grand Junction, CO. Then, in September, the Interior Department doubled down on the plan. Not only would the BLM headquarters be vacating the capital, their new Colorado office would be located in a building shared with oil and gas companies, including Chevron and Laramie Energy, and the industry trade group West Slope Oil and Gas.

To say its concerning is an understatement, Jim Ramey, state director for the Wilderness Society, told the Denver Post. It really struck me that on the same day as an international climate change strike, the BLM has no shame announcing that its going to set up shop with fossil fuel companies.

The BLM, a bureau of the US Department of the Interior, manages some 250 million acres of public lands, mainly in the West. The move is being touted as an opportunity to put BLM officials closer to the land they are responsible for, and ironically, given the new office space farther from special interests.

But critics have pointed out that, even before the announcement, only a paltry 4 percent of BLM staff were located in Washington, and that the move could result in the loss of career employees hesitant to uproot their lives.

As Michael Saul, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, put it: Putting the BLM office in the same building as the West Slope Oil and Gas Association makes it clear that [Interior Secretary Bernhardt] means to make it absolutely clear to BLM staffers that if youre not putting oil and gas first, youre not loyal to the mission.

CALL OF THE WILD

California has been ahead of the pack when it comes to ending the controversial fur trade. After signing a bill to ban the trapping of animals for their fur this summer, in October, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a second bill banning the sale of fur products in the Golden State.

The new law, which will go into effect in 2023, makes it illegal to sell or make clothing from fur, though it includes exceptions for religious and cultural practices. It also bans the use of most animals in circus performances.

California is a leader when it comes to animal welfare, and today that leadership includes banning the sale of fur, Newsom said in a declaration when he signed the bill. But were doing more than that. We are making a statement to the world that beautiful wild animals like bears and tigers have no place on trapeze wires or jumping through flames.

The statewide law follows several local bans on fur sales, including in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Los Angeles.

CALL OF THE WILD

This fall, Hawaii officially jumped into the climate liability fray. In late October and early November respectively, the City of Maui and the City and County of Honolulu announced that they would both sue fossil fuel companies for their contribution to the climate crisis.

The evidence is piling up that just as big tobacco misled the public and policymakers about the danger of smoking, big oil waged a decades-long deception campaign and covered up the origins of todays climate crisis, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said of the decision.

With these plans, Maui and Honolulu join the ranks of more than a dozen cities, counties, and states suing fossil fuel companies to recoup some of the costs associated with the climate crisis. Hawaiis infrastructure is particularly vulnerable to climate-related sea-level rise, and global warming is expected to increase the risk of drought and wildfire. As Hawaii News Now reported, this year, some 23,000 acres have burned in Maui County, nearly six times more than last year.

The Honolulu suit is part of a joint effort between Mayor Caldwell and the City Council, and is expected to name Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, and ExxonMobil, among several other oil and gas companies, as defendants. Maui will likely name similar corporate actors.

This lawsuit is about accountability, Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said at a press conference announcing the decision. Fossil fuel companies knew their own experts warned them about the potentially severe or catastrophic effects of doing business as usual, and the damage that could be caused by producing, marketing, and selling their products. We can no longer allow fossil fuel companies to shift the cost of paying for the effects of sea level rise and climate change to our taxpayers.

UPWELL

On the night of November 12, as the historic lagoon city of Venice was battling the worst flooding in half a century, the council for the northeastern region of Veneto which includes Venice and is headquartered in the city rejected proposed budget amendments to tackle climate change. Mere minutes later, floodwaters reportedly rushed into the councils chambers on Venices Grand Canal.

Sharing pictures of the council chamber in Ferro Fini Palace as it was filling up with water, Andrea Zanoni, the Democratic partys deputy chairman of the councils environment committee, wrote on Facebook: Ironically, the chamber was flooded two minutes after the majority League, Brothers of Italy, and Forza Italia parties rejected our proposals to tackle climate change.

Amendments to the 2020 budget proposed by the center-left Democratic party included measures to fund renewable energy sources, replace diesel buses with less polluting ones, scrap polluting stoves, and reduce the impact of plastics, Zanoni said. The environmental campaigner took particular aim at Luca Zaia, the Veneto president and League politician, for presenting a budget that contained no concrete plan to tackle climate change.

The councils president, the Leagues Roberto Ciambetti, rejected Zanonis accusations in a statement to CNN. Beyond propaganda and deceptive reading, we are voting (for) a regional budget that spent 965 million Euros over the past three years in the fight against air pollution, smog, which is a determining factor in climate change, he said.

Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was hit with the unprecedented flood thanks to a combination of seasonal high tides, heavy rainfall, and ongoing subsidence of the city. Reuters reports that a nearly 6-foot tide sent waist-high water flowing through St. Marks Square, cast the citys world-famous gondolas onto walkways, and threatened its medieval, Baroque, and Renaissance art and architecture. The city has about 50,000 residents, but about 20 million tourists visit every year.

The Italian government declared a state of emergency in the city on November 14. In a Facebook post Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called the damage to the city a blow to the heart of our country.

AROUND THE WORLD

Its sometimes said that water is worth its weight in gold. While that may not be strictly true in an economic sense, its hard to think of any other natural resource as vital to life as simple H2O. (Well, air maybe!) Our reliance on water for everything from quenching our thirst, to agriculture, industry, and energy production, becomes all the more obvious in water-scarce times, when conflict over freshwater resources can quickly escalate.

Water-based conflicts are nothing new humans have been fighting over finite resources for millennia. But in a warming world, they are poised to become more common, making efforts to improve water management, efficient water use, and water equity all the more urgent across the globe. Here are just a few examples of recent water-based conflicts compiled in the Pacific Institutes Water Conflict Chronology, which has been tracking water-related conflicts since the 1980s.

Sources: Pacific Institute, Reuters, Al Jazeera, Times of India, Water Education Colorado, Circle of Blue, Amnesty International

1 Mali

This year, hundreds of civilians in central Mali have been killed in conflicts between nomadic Fulani herders and the Dogon ethnic group. The conflict is rooted in ethnic tensions, but has been exacerbated by disputes over land and water, and may be escalating as droughts become longer and more frequent in the region. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes to escape the violence, and are now living in tent encampments. (Water- and land-based disputes between farmers and pastoralists have been reported in Chad and Kenya this year as well.)

2 India

This June, India experienced one of its longest heatwaves in recent history. Dozens of people died as temperatures in parts of the country reached 123 degrees F. Some regions are now dependent on tankers to meet their water needs during the dry months. For example, in the western state of Maharashtra, more than 6,000 public and private tankers bring water to 15,000 villages daily. During the heatwave, multiple conflicts broke out at water distribution sites around the country, some of which resulted in serious injuries. With some 600 million Indians now facing acute water shortages, more conflicts seem likely.

3 United States

The Colorado River has long been a flashpoint when it comes to decision-making over limited water resources in the American West. The rivers water is diverted to quench the thirst of tens of millions of people, and to irrigate millions of acres of cropland. This August, tensions over the river escalated when suspected eco-activists caused some $1 million in damage to a water collection system on Berthoud Pass in central Colorado. The collection system is part of a larger network of canals, pipelines and more that divert water from the upper Colorado to population centers in the Front Range. Plans to divert more water from the upper Colorado River, as well as the Fraser River, have also been met with lawsuits from environmental groups like the Sierra Club and WildEarth Guardians.

4 Mexico

In the Mexican state of Morales, environmental activists have been fighting a thermal-electric plant and pipeline that they worry will contaminate local water supplies. In February, the controversy over the project came to a head with the murder of project-opponent Samir Flores Soberanes. The Peoples Front in Defense of the Land and Water for the states of Morelos, Puebla, and Tlaxcala alleges Flores Soberanes was killed because of his activism against the plant. (Late last year, two vocal opponents of a dam in western Guatemala were also murdered near the hydroelectric project they opposed.)

5 Iraq

Last year, more than 100,000 people were hospitalized in Iraq after drinking contaminated water in the southeastern city of Basra. The crisis led to steep increases in water costs which hit the citys poorest residents the hardest and led to widespread protests. At least 15 people died during the protest, many at the hands of security forces. Basra isnt alone when it comes to water conflicts in Iraq: Water shortages prompted the government to ban the planting of summer crops across the country last year, inflaming protests as well.

TEMPERATURE GAUGE

Its not always easy being green, but a bunch of big banks are giving it a try. In September, 130 banks representing some $47 trillion in assets took the major step of adopting the new UN Principles for Responsible Banking. By signing on to the principles, the banks agree to align their businesses with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

A banking industry that plans for the risks associated with climate change and other environmental challenges can not only drive the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies, it can benefit from it, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said in a statement after the banks signed the document. When the financial system shifts its capital away from resource-hungry, brown investments to those that back nature as solution, everybody wins in the long-term.

This responsible banking initiative was launched just ahead of the UN Climate Action Summit in New York. The core principles were developed through a partnership between 30 founding banks and the UNEP Finance Initiative. Among other things, they encourage lenders to set targets to increase positive impacts, and reduce negative impacts, on the environment; encourage clients to adopt sustainable practices; and ask them to be transparent about progress towards these goals.

Ultimately, banks that are not in line with their commitments and do not make progress can be stripped of their signatory status, Simone Dettling, banking team lead for the Geneva-based UNEP Finance Initiative, told Reuters.

CALL OF THE WILD

With species dying out all around us on a daily basis, news of an assumed-extinct creature reappearing out of the blue is always a thing to celebrate. So members of the global conservation community were all a-cheer in early November when news broke that the silver-backed chevrotain, a tiny deer-like species not seen by scientists for nearly three decades, had been photographed recently in a forest in southern Vietnam.

Also called the Vietnamese mouse-deer, the silver-backed chevrotain was listed as one of the worlds most wanted mammals. Like other assumed lost species that havent been spotted for decades such as the Himalayan quail in India, the New Zealand greater short-tailed bat, and Venezuelas scarlet harlequin frog conservationists have long suspected that this species might not yet be extinct.

First described by British zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1910 based on four dead specimens, the silver-backed chevrotain was last seen, dead again, in 1990, when a team of Russian researchers obtained a specimen from Vietnamese hunters. But it now appears that the animal has somehow managed to hang on in a region of Vietnam ravaged by poaching.

There are 10 known species of chevrotain in the world, primarily located in Asia. Despite their nickname, chevrotains are neither mice nor deer, but the worlds smallest ungulates (hoofed mammals). Typically weighing less than 10 pounds, they are shy and solitary creatures who appear to walk on the tips of their hooves and have two tiny fangs.

After a number of interviews in recent years with local villagers and government forest rangers who reported seeing a gray chevrotain rather than the more common, reddish-brown lesser chevrotain researchers with Global Wildlife Conservation and its partners, Southern Institute of Ecology and Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, set three camera traps for five months in the area of southern Vietnam where locals indicated they may have seen the animal. The cameras recorded 280 sightings of the animal within nine months. The teams findings were reported in the November 11 issue of the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

For so long this species has seemingly only existed as part of our imagination. Discovering that it is, indeed, still out there, is the first step in ensuring we dont lose it again, and were moving quickly now to figure out how best to protect it, An Nguyen, a conservation scientist at the Leibniz Institute and lead author of the journal report, said in a statement.

Like all ostensibly lost species, conservationists know very little about the silver-backed chevrotain. The researchers will now have to determine how large, and stable, this population of the Vietnamese mouse-deer is, the wider distribution of the species, and the threats to its survival.

TEMPERATURE GAUGE

Trump v. California (and the climate)

Trumps barbs and snipes against California have been unrelenting (just scroll through his Twitter feed). But hostilities between the president and the nations largest state have recently escalated.

In October, the US Justice Department sued California, for wait for it trying to ensure clean air. According to CNN, prosecutors claim that the states 2013 environmental agreement with Quebec, Canada, bypassed federal authority. The cap-and-trade system between the two regions limits the amount of greenhouse gases that industrial and power plants can emit a move that would probably be lauded if the country werent helmed by a climate change denier.

In a statement released by the Justice Department, Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark accused the Golden State of veering outside of its proper constitutional lane and undermining the Presidents ability to negotiate competitive agreements with other nations.

The suit is just the latest in a long string of salvos geared towards dismantling Californias progressive environmental policies. Trump recently revoked the states authority to set its own vehicle emission standards. Hes pushing to drill for oil off the California coast, and his fracking plan threatens one million acres of the states public land. Earlier this year, the administration cancelled nearly a billion dollars in funding for Californias high-speed rail project, calling it a green disaster. And in early November, as wildfires blazed in the northern and southern parts of the state, he yet again took to Twitter to criticize Californias forest management, threatened to cut federal firefighting aid, and repeated his old trope about how Governor Gavin Newsom must clean his forest floors regardless of what his bosses, the environmentalists, DEMAND of him.

Thankfully, Newsom isnt backing down. He described the Justice Department suit as part of a political vendetta against California, our climate policies, and the health of our communities, noting that the states cap-and-trade program has served as a model for similar policies around the world.

TABLE TALK

New guidelines: No need to reduce red or processed meat consumption for good health.

No, thats not a headline grabber from some beef industry shill, its from a press release for a review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this past September.

The press release announced that a panel of experts from seven countries had conducted a series of systematic reviews and concluded contrary to nearly all other existing guidelines that most adults could continue to eat red meat and processed meat at current levels. The evidence of any impacts on heart disease, diabetes, or cancer outcomes was too weak to suggest cutting back, they claimed.

The resulting outrage was widespread. Scores of nutrition experts, including food policy advocate Marion Nestle, noted that this contradicted decades of observational studies, including the latest recommendations from the US Dietary Guidelines, the EAT Lancet commission, and the World Health Organization. (It turns out that the panel used a research-rating system that discounted previous nutrition studies to arrive at its controversial findings.)

Others noted that red meat consumption isnt just about human health, either. The environmental impact of meat production is well established, but the panel chose to overlook it entirely, not to mention the killing of more than 150 billion animals for food every year. We know that meat and dairy provide just 18 percent of the worlds calories, but produce 60 percent of the agricultural sectors greenhouse gas emissions. If were trying to limit warming and ensure a livable planet for future generations, then wed do well to skip the steak a bit more often, and pile our plates with plant-based foods.

CALL OF THE WILD

Less than two months after announcing a countrywide ban on six different single-use plastic products, the Indian government has backtracked, saying it will rely instead on voluntary measures to reduce plastic pollution.

Just this summer, India made the much-celebrated announcement that it would implement a nationwide ban on six single-use plastic items, including bags, cups, and straws. The ban was meant to be imposed on October 2, the 150th birth anniversary of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. However, when October 2 rolled around, the government back-tracked, saying it wouldnt impose a blanket regulation on those products after all.

Officials indicated that the policy reversal was made in response to industry concerns. There was a conscious decision within the government not to hit businesses hard for now and discourage use of plastic only on a voluntary basis, said a government representative who asked not to be identified due to government rules.

The six-item ban was meant to be part of a larger effort to rid the country of single-use plastics by 2022. For now, it seems, India will rely on education and recycling initiatives to reduce its plastic footprint a heavy lift, given the 14 million tons of plastic used annually there.

Link:
Talking Points: Winter 2020 - Earth Island Journal

Whether you like it or loathe it, the trend for veganism and plant-based meals has really taken off over the past 12 months.

As with all trends, it is bound to reach saturation point soon and will be overtaken by the Next Big Thing.

Quietly simmering away alongside veganism has been the rise in flexitarian diets. These are mostly plant based, with the occasional bit of meat, fish, egg, or dairy a sort of best-of-both-worlds diet.

According to food trend forecasts from Waitrose and Whole Foods, these flexitarian and plant-based options are set to continue their popularity next year, with celery juice, tahini and seaweeds all set to be big news.

Seaweeds have always had a devoted fan base. Their distinctive taste adds depth and saltiness to soups and casseroles and makes a great sprinkle topping for salads. Rich in iodine, zinc, selenium and fibre, seaweeds are especially good for weight loss and healthy metabolism a useful food for any New Year weight loss resolutions!

I fell for the vibrant green crunchy stems of samphire this summer in Norfolk. While not strictly a seaweed (samphire is classed as a succulent halophyte: a plant that grows in salt water) it grows all over the salt marshes and is sold in bundles at garden gates for a couple of pounds. Delicious raw or quickly blanched, its an easy sea vegetable to include in meals.

Tahini is mostly used to make houmous and it can be hard to know what to do with the rest of the jar! It is a great source of calcium and worth experimenting with; add it to salad dressings with honey and lemon juice, or spread on griddled aubergine with a dash of soy sauce.

Other foods to watch in 2020 include fruit based sugar substitutes such as pomegranate syrup and coconut syrup; different kinds of noodles, and unusual types of flour think cauliflower flour and banana flour rather than self-raising!

Whatever foods you choose to buy in 2020 I hope they nourish your health as much as your taste buds. As this is my last column for The Press Id like to thank you for reading and wish you a happy and healthful Christmas and New Year.

Sally Duffin is a Registered Nutritionist (MBANT). Find her online at nutritioninyork.co.uk or join the Facebook group Nutrition in York

Original post:
COLUMN: What foods will we be eating in 2020? - York Press

As if the pace of the world wasnt fast enough, movements in Miami nightlife somehow move even faster. Its not easy to assign a single adjective or attribute to the last decade of after-hours happenings in the city: the 2010s saw both the rise and subsequent commercialization of Wynwood, the decline of South Beach as a nightclub mecca, and the dawn of downtown Miami as a haven for after-hours misfits. Although we lost Grand Central, Electric Pickle, and countless more spots, we gained the promise of a renewed Club Space and accumulated countless anecdotes that made Miami nightclubs the subject of fascination around the world.

Here are ten moments that defined Miami nightlife over the last decade:

Nightclubs come and go in Miami all the time, but few end up with the kind of long-lasting legacy left by the Electric Pickle. When Will Renuart and Tomas Ceddia decided in 2008 to open up a venue in Wynwood, the neighborhood was effectively desolate after dark, with the neon "Bar Open Liquor" sign on the club's building serving as the only sign of life. Over the course of its ten-year lifespan, Pickle managed to punch well above its weight despite its diminutive size. Influential electronic acts like Ed Banger figurehead Busy P, Maceo Plex, Nicolas Jaar, and Seth Troxler all stopped by at some point to get behind the decks. So when the Pickle announced it was closing for good at the end of June 2019, Miami's dance music community mourned the loss of the institution the best way it knew how by packing the dance floor all the way until last call. While Electric Pickle may be gone, its spirit lives on at ATV Records, Renuart's latest project with event producer Poplife, former Grand Central owner Brad Knoefler, and Casa Florida's Gaston Gonzalez. Even with an inviting new space and Pickle's iconic disco ball in tow, it's hard to imagine even Renuart will be able to recreate those ten magical years on North Miami Avenue and NE 29th Street. Jose D. Duran

Trick Daddy performed Grand Central's final show.

Photo by George Martinez

The pulse of Miamis nightlife once beat on the corner of North Miami Avenue and NW Seventh Street. Grand Central, one of the most vibrant venues in Miami's history, was born on March 24, 2010. Under Poplife's guidance, its off-kilter bookings which encompassed everything from indie rock and hip-hop to dance music impressive lighting and raucous dance floor made the downtown club was a safe haven for Miamis freaks. Upstairs laid the Garret, a club within a club that hosted live shows and unforgettable parties such as Peachfuzz and Catwalk. After a solid five-and-a-half years of spilled beers and sweat-tinged memories, the Grand Central met its demise and closed its doors on September 26, 2015. While the club never outright explained the reason for its untimely closure, all signs pointed to the construction of the Miami Worldcenter, which mowed down other nightlife fixtures such as Will Call and Mekka in its wake. Grand Centrals closure left a crater-shaped hole in the hearts of local nightcrawlers and music lovers, but its legacy will live on forever. Jessica Gibbs

LIV got a refresh in 2017.

Courtesy of LIV

Often derided by electronic music purists as a tourist trap made for people who care more about bottle service than actually hitting the dance floor, LIV has wound up having the last laugh this decade. In 2008, the Fontainebleau reemerged from a two-year, $1 billion renovation that saw it transformed from a fading resort to a leader in the hospitality industry. The opening of LIV whose name actually derives from the roman numerals for the year the hotel opened, 1954 in the former Tropigala Lounge was a large reason for this. The nightclub got off to a rough start, as its opening coincided with the start of the Great Recession never mind that Miami Beach's nightclub epicenter was located in South Beach, far away from the Fontainebleau's Mid-Beach locale. However, thanks to its charismatic main man, David Grutman, it was able to keep chugging along until the economy recovered and tourists with disposable income returned. Since then, LIV has repeatedly appeared on the Nightclub & Bar Media Group's list of the 100 Highest-Grossing Nightclubs in the U.S. However, its highest honor might be the consistent name drops it gets from hip-hop artists. In 2017, LIV underwent a $10 million renovation that brought in an upgraded lighting system and refreshed decor. Sure, LIV isn't an underground haven, but it's demonstrated it doesn't have to be. EDM and open-format DJ sets have always been its key to success, and Grutman wouldn't have it any other way. Jose D. Duran

Opening night at Wood Tavern.

Photo by Logan Fazio

It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment when a neighborhood becomes gentrified, but the opening of Wood Tavern in December 2011 seems as good a marker for Wynwood as any. The outdoor patio and hipster vibe of the NE 25th Street and NW Second Avenue bar got Kendall residents to dip their toes into a part of town that used to be considered off-limits after dark. Long lines to enter Wood Tavern soon became commonplace on Saturday nights, and competitors such as Gramps and El Patio began popping up in its radius. Wood Tavern played a major role in empowering Wynwood to take the crown from Coconut Grove and South Beach as the Miami neighborhood where locals go to party. David Rolland

DJ Shadow at Mansion.

Photo by George Martinez

DJ Shadows forced removal from the decks at the now-closed nightclub Mansion in December 2012 was a flashpoint in the debate over the effects EDM was having on dance culture. After the celebrated beatmaker was forced to stop playing by a promoter for apparently being too future for the Miami Beach crowd, a social media shitstorm ensued, dragging the reputation of South Beach and Miami clubs at large down with it. The fallout of the event saw Mansion issue an apology and Shadow share the mix with a cheeky note attached. Fortunately, he returned less than a year later in October 2013: III Points deliberately sought Shadow out as a headlining act for the first year of the festival, a gesture designed to show Miami was ready for sounds beyond bass drops and chants of 1, 2, 1, 2, 3 lets go! in its dance music mixes. For as ridiculous as the whole thing was, the incident embodied several of the trends and competing ideologies that dominated Miamis after-hours culture in the 2010s. Zach Schlein

The 2010s was the decade of EDM and mega-club excess, and while Las Vegas may be the nation's capital for confetti cannon chicanery, no bottle-service palace out VIPs LIV on Miami Beach. Although everyone from Lil Wayne to Drake has name-dropped LIV on Sunday and Kanye West famously rapped about owner David Grutman kicking out a groupie in "On Sight," EDM kingpin Calvin Harris is the only DJ to actually get on the mic and call for the removal of a loud-mouthed fan from the club, as he did in August 2013. On the night in question, the Scottish superstar was hot off then-recent hits "We Found Love" and "Feel So Close," the latter of which he stopped abruptly when a woman yelled at him to "play something original." "That song was originally written by me," he replied. "Why do you come to a fucking Calvin Harris show where Calvin Harris is DJing and don't even know Calvin Harris tracks you dumb fucking bitch?" The rest of the audience roared as Harris threatened to play the song all night just for her before demanding that Grutman kick her out. Hey, that's the VIP EDM crowd for ya. Kat Bein

The 24/7 party palace E11even has quickly become one of the city's most popular clubs.

There was a time when the building opposite Club Space was occupied by a dingy strip club called Goldrush. Unfortunately, the spot relied more on the fact that it operated on a 24-hour liquor license to attract clientele than its actual talent (or lack thereof.) Everyone knew if you wanted to see Miami's best strippers, you had to travel up to the county line and check out places like King of Diamonds or Tootsie's. Goldrush quietly closed in 2013 and was partly demolished; since then, a barely clothed behemoth had opened in its place. In February 2014, Miami was introduced to E11even and the city's 24-hour party district would never be the same. While scantily clad dancers are the norm here, the club prefers to refer to itself as a "cabaret." Whatever it is, this hedonistic destination has attracted the likes of Jamie Foxx, Diplo, Rick Ross, Kaskade, and Drake since it started doing business. However, its greatest achievement may have been breaking Space's unilateral dominance in the area. For well over a decade, Space was the unquestioned after-hours spot for all of Miami; but with the lure of big-name acts, an incredible light show, and, yes, X-rated entertainment, E11even quickly became an alternative for those who'd rather party under LED lights than the sun. (Space later gained back much of its footing after the Space Invaders took over the legendary club in 2016.) E11even was also part of the larger movement that saw South Beach's nightlife offerings decline as areas like Wynwood and downtown started to exert their dominance. Jose D. Duran

Closing night at Tobacco Road.

Photo by Alex Markow

Were gathered here today to celebrate the life of the Vagabond, White Room, Bardot, the Stage, Heart, Foxs Sherron Inn, Tobacco Road, Wynwood Yard, and Sidebar. These legendary venues provided countless moments that defined Miami nightlife in the past decade, whether they caused permanent hearing loss from epic performances hosted on their stages or waking up to an empty bank account after a night of debauchery. From ongoing battles with the City of Miami and noise complaints from neighbors to making way for a giant apartment building, these local venues shuttered far before our fragile cafecito-fueled hearts were ready. It is with a heavy heart that we leave behind this decade and move forward with the fond memories of all things lit. Jessica Gibbs

Mokai's horse stunt.

Screengrab from video

On March 9, 2018, someone decided it might be cool to walk a horse into Mokai nightclub. It was extremely fucking not, because the horse fell down and bucked a poor VIP hostess of its back. Inevitably, a video went viral, there was an earthquake of online outrage, and Mokai's business license was revoked. But this is Miami, where consequences stick to the rich like a magnet on plastic, and just ten days later Mokai was allowed to open again. Its still in business too, a shining example of the worst parts of Miami nightlife. And Mokai's owner Roman Jones - who denied any prior knowledge of the stunt, even though his Instagram page shows the judgment of a man who might think this is all just a great idea is still enjoying a booming career in local hospitality. He also ended up buying that horse in a nauseating PR stunt. Apparently he renamed it "Hope" and relocated it to a barn, where it hopefully got a running start and kicked him in the balls as hard as it could. Ryan Pfeffer

Sunrise at Space.

Photo by Karli Evans

The year 2000 always sounded like some kind of sci-fi dream, which may or may not explain the name of Club Space. It opened at the edge of the millennium and welcomed a new era of Miami nightlife extravagance. For years, the Club has welcomed international DJs to play marathon sets on its famed open-air Terrace where partiers revel in the year-long warmth many hours past sunrise. The downtown institution survived Eminems era when nobody listens to techno to enjoy the fruits of the EDM explosion, changing hands a couple of times in between, but by the middle of the decade, Club Space had become infamous for things like strippers on the first floor and having your phone stolen. It always commanded top-tier talent, but it started to leave a gritty taste in club-goers mouths, until 2016 when Justin Levine and a group of investors bought the place out. Club Space is now managed and programmed by Davide Danese, Jose Coloma, and David Sinopoli, who represent years of experience booking for Link Miami Rebels and III Points respectively. The new team, who dubbed themselves the Space Invaders, renovated the world-famous Club Space and breathed new life into its sturdy bones. Club Space has once again become a premier destination for house and techno lovers around the world, as well as an empowered venue for live music with the Ground downstairs. Kat Bein

The rest is here:
Ten Moments that Defined Miami Nightlife in the 2010s - Miami New Times

Adeleis showing off her impressive weight loss in her latest Instagram post.

On Monday, the Rolling in the Deep singer, 31, took Instagram by storm with a photo of her rocking a sleek, long-sleeved gown alongside the Grinch and Santa Claus ahead of the holidays.

ADELE AND HUSBAND, SIMON KONECKI, HAVE SEPARATED: REPORT

We both tried to ruin Christmasbut then both our hearts grew, the singer prefaced the caption. Thank you for coming to my party and making us feel like kids Grinch Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone x.

ADELE CHANNELS HER 'HERO' DOLLY PARTON

Fans praised Adele for her body transformation.

YESSSS! You look stunning as always, one user commented.

I just died and came back, another user noted.

Some users even compared her to American Horror Story actress Sarah Paulson, with one user writing, Omgg I thought it was Sarah Paulson when I first saw her post and didnt check the name. Omg she looks soo goodddd.

ADELE POSTS MEME OF HERSELF FOLLOWING SPLIT FROM HUSBAND

In October, the singer showed off her slimmer figureat rapper Drakes birthday party.

A source told Us Weekly the Oscar winner has dropped about 20 pounds from a mix of cardio, circuit training and Pilates.

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The insider noted, She really wants to be healthy and set a good example for her son. Shes more focused on feeling good and the health benefits than the weight loss.

Her transformation comes on the heels of her divorcefrom husband Simon Konecki after three years of marriage. They share a 7-year-old son, Angelo.

Read this article:
Adele shows off weight loss in festive Christmas snap - Fox News

'How Not to Diet' author Dr. Michael Greger discusses the approach people should take to effectively lose weight.

The year 2020 is just days away and people are getting ready to commit to their New Years resolutions.

Online learning company GoSkills revealed that the top two most popular New Years resolutions include exercising more and losing weight, but only 46 percentof people with resolutions were successful. So what makes the pursuit so difficult?

Dr. Michael Greger, author of How Not to Diet, told FOX Business' Maria Bartiromo that losing weight just wont happen with poor eating.

You cant outrun a bad diet, he said. In a few minutes, you can wipe out a whole hour of exercise.

Greger said this is why theres more power in controlling caloric intake than outtake.

PELOTON RIVAL ECHELON CYCLES INTO MARKET WITH LOWER PRICE TAG

In How Not to Diet, Greger discusses exactly how to form a diet that delivers optimal results, based on researching thousands of other dietary flops.

I just wanted there to finally be an evidence-based diet book, he said. I [dug] up every possible tip, trick andtechnique proven to accelerate the loss of body fat, to give people every possible advantage and basically build the optimal weight loss solution from the ground up.

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The criteria for Gregers plan include a commitment to permanent dietary change but itmay be the safest and cheapest approach, he said.

Permanent weight loss requires permanent dietary change

The optimal weight loss diet should be anti-inflammatory, clean, free from hormone-disrupting chemicals, filled with fiber-rich foods to trap calories and flush them out of the body, he said. Bottom line, we should eat real foods that grow out of the ground. A diet centered around whole plant foods.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

Greger said the healthiest food options include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

Modeling studies suggest that if half of Americans ate a single more serving of fruits and vegetables a day, it would prevent 20,000 cases of cancer every year, he said. That's how powerful produce is."

Read the rest here:
New Years resolution: 'How Not to Diet' author on trick to successful weight loss - Fox Business

Intermittent fasting has shown success in helping people lose weight, but some people can find it difficult to eat normally most days and then severely restrict their food intake other days.

A new study published in the journal Cell Metabolism offers an alternative time-restricted eating.

Time-restricted eating allows you to eat the same every day, but you limit the time during which you can have food to a 10-hour window. So, if your first meal is at 8 a.m., your last calories for the day will need to be consumed by 6 p.m. For the next 14 hours, you fast.

The new study is small, following 19 people for three months. At the time of enrollment, all participants met three or more criteria for metabolic syndrome:

1. Waist circumference of 102 cm (men) or 88 cm (women).

2. Triglycerides of 150 mg/dL or higher (or on drug treatment for elevated triglycerides).

3. Reduced HDL-C below 40 mg/dL (men), 50 mg/dL (women) (or on drug treatment for reduced HDL-C).

4. Elevated blood pressure, systolic blood pressure of 130 or higher and/or diastolic blood pressure of 85 mmHg or higher (or treatment with an antihypertensive drug with a history of hypertension).

5. Elevated fasting glucose of 100 mg/dL or higher (or drug treatment of elevated blood glucose).

Participants logged the timing of their meals and their sleep in the myCircadianClock app. They were encouraged to stay hydrated during their fasting periods.

We didnt ask them to change what they eat, NPR reported Pam Taub as saying. Taub is a cardiologist at the University of California, San Diegos School of Medicine, and an author of the study. Nonetheless, study participants consumed nearly 9 percent fewer calories.

In addition to weight loss a 3 percent reduction in weight and 4 percent reduction in abdominal visceral fat Taub said study participants cholesterol levels and blood pressure improved.

We are surprised that this small change in eating time would give them such a huge benefit, Satchidananda Panda, a professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and a co-author of the study, told NPR.

When you go into a fasting state, you start to deplete the glucose stores in your body and you start to use fat as your energy source, Taub said.

You can read the full study at https://bit.ly/2YEhHZW.

Go here to see the original:
Study: Time-restricted eating can lead to weight loss - The Columbian

DENVER (CBS4) A registered nurse, RN, at Denver Health always wanted to take to the skies. However, becoming a flight nurse seemed out of reach because of her weight.

Flying, man, its so cool, said Meghan.

For two years now, she has been living her dream of working with AirLife Denver, delivering critical care on board an aircraft.

The space is pretty cramped, she said squeezing into the seat of an AirLife helicopter.

Thats no problem, now, for Meghan. However, space and weight limits were what once kept the RN grounded.

I was overweight as a kid, overweight as a young adult and kind of shelved my dream to be a flight nurse, she explained.

In 2016, Meghan weighed 280 pounds. Short of breath on a family hike, she said she had finally had enough.

Everybody was focused on me, asking if I was okay and I was feeling ashamed and kind of disgusted with myself and decided to make a change, Meghan said.

Meghan was working as a nurse at Denver Health. She consulted the Denver Health Bariatric Surgery Center. In 2017, she had vertical sleeve gastrectomy, surgery removing a large portion of her stomach and creating a small pouch.

Which allowed me to lose about 100 pounds and kicked me into being able to fly, she said.

She was able to fly and flourish. Meghan is now a runner. She has completed two half-marathons and other races. She focuses on fitness.

She is thrilled professionally and personally.

Carrying laundry up the stairs without being short of breath, running with my kids, hiking, fishing, she said, Its huge.

The skys the limit with Meghans new way of living.

Read the original post:
Skys The Limit For Flight Nurse Thanks to Weight Loss Surgery - CBS Denver

If the one thing that seems to be missing from your weight loss efforts is the motivation to get started on a plan or to stick with it, you might be surprised at how much control you have when it comes to this seemingly mysterious, fired-up feeling.

While motivation seems like it comes and goes whenever it pleases, its not a random force. Maintaining motivation is a skill, and you can get good at that skill, explains Liz Josefsberg, who is the author of Target 100 and has been a weight loss coach to thousands of people, including Charles Barkley and Jennifer Hudson. And the discipline to stick with it doesnt have to be any kind of unpleasant struggle, either (more on that later).

To get your motivation where you want it, you have to let go of what motivation isnt. Its not this thing outside of your control, and its not going to be high all the time. Its supposed to have peaks and valleysthats what being human is, she says. And when you hit a valley, all isnt lost. You can move it toward the peak again with some simple steps.

If youve already been on a weight loss program but youre not as excited about what youre doing as you used to be, the first step to getting your momentum back is actually identifying that your motivation is waning. Sounds obvious, but too many people berate themselves or try to power through this feeling without stopping and noticing that its happening, and then trying to figure out why its happening. This doesnt have to be a major investigation. Just ask yourself whats up. Most people dont identify it, says Josefsberg. They dont recognize that theyre bored, or that something has changed. What has changed could be something as simple as you dont like going to the grocery store any longer because theres construction on the way and it takes forever to get there. And it can be worked with.

If the way youve been doing things isnt working any longer, change it a little bit. Dont be afraid to get away from the one program fits all mentality. Ask friends what theyre doing and see if any of their principles or recipes make sense for you.

You dont have to make dramatic changes to get your weight loss motivation going again. For instance, if keto is really working for a friend, you dont have to go all in, but you might try a keto recipe or two. Or ask yourself what aspects of a keto lifestyle you might want to play around with, Josefsberg says. Similarly, if intermittent fasting appeals to you, try skipping breakfast for a week and see how it goes. Instead of berating yourself over whats not feeling right at the moment, experiment with new strategies that might get you excited about weight loss again.

Once you play around with something appealing, put it into practice and see what happens. Doesnt work? Try something else. The process is an exploration of trying new things so you look forward to your plan again. It sounds simple, and thats the best partit can be. You dont have to do something drastic in order to get your motivation on the upswing.

Once you have that motivation rolling again, all it takes is discipline to keep it going, right? I think discipline is highly overrated, Josefsberg says. Sometimes, what gets you to do the healthy thing is simply remembering to do it.

It sounds oversimplified, but you have schedules and alarms for everything else you do, so why not set up your weight loss strategies that way, too? Suppose you want to stop cruising the office at 3 PM for somethinganythingto snack on. Set your alarm for 2:50 and go to the fridge to get the healthy snack you packed (because you set a reminder on Sunday night to put it in a container so it was ready for work on Monday).

It doesnt have to be complicated. Andanother myth busted hereit doesnt even have to require a lot of discipline. When it comes to being healthy, discipline is totally overrated. The trick to sticking with something is to set up your environment to support your decision to be healthier, says Josefsberg. Its about being a little bit prepared and creating an environment for success.

In other words, you dont have to have the discipline to resist cookies if there arent any in the house. You also can bias your healthy life to success by indulging your natural tendencies in setting up this environment. That means if youre not the type to do one big shopping trip for the whole weekno matter how many people on Instagram it works fordont do it if you dont like it. Want to grab a few things a few times a week? Theres your plan.

All of thisunderstanding whats going on behind the scenes with weight loss motivation and disciplinehelps you the kind of short- and long-term weight loss success youre looking for.

Read more:
Tips to Get Motivated and Have Discipline to Lose Weight - menshealth.com

OMAD, which stands for One Meal A Day, is a diet approach aimed toward shedding some pounds and improving certain aspects of health.

Its a branch of intermittent fasting where you allow your body to go 23 hours without food (including sleep time) and then you eat only one meal per day, typically during a 60-minute period.

And like many diet approaches, there is plenty of opposition when it comes to the decision to implement the one meal a day regime.

But lets dissect this approach so that you can have a better understanding if you were considering OMAD, or if youre already implementing it

Note: OMAD is not recommended for everyone and especially those with certain health issues. So, always consult with a medical professional before making any drastic changes to your diet.

Eating one meal a day will help anyone to lose weight simply due to the fact that most people will consume fewer overall calories this way (although, there are exceptions to this). We have to consume fewer calories than our bodies need to maintain certain body weight, in order to lose weight.

So, for example, about 3,500 equals one pound of body weight whether lost or gained. Well, to lose weight youd have to ensure that your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) exceeds your caloric intake consistently to maintain a deficit; which is required for weight loss. (1)

Evidence for the efficacy of eating one meal a day for improving health is very mixed, although there are some positive effects associated with fasting in general.

One study had one group of healthy, normal-weight adults eat 1 meal a day and another who ate 3 meals a day. The 1 meal a day group experienced higher blood pressure, an increase in cholesterol levels (HDL and LDL), and a significant increase in hunger.

However, subjects also experienced also a large reduction in fat mass and lower cortisol. (2)

And according to a different study, intermittent fasting is an effective approach for staving off and improving type-2 diabetes, while reducing body weight as well. And although the study followed the 16:8 protocol, there would have to be some positive effects for the 23:1 approach as a result of the fasting state. (3)

Check out our intermittent fasting calculator to make reaching your goals way easier

But interestingly, one published article of scientific literature suggests that the positive effects of fasting may be from a reduction in calories rather than putting it all down to the actual act of fasting and the potential effects on the body. (4)

Brooke EnceThe reason for this belief is that most fasting studies performed on animals show that a reduction in calories in what prolongs life and decelerates disease, as opposed to when the animal subjects fasted and then followed it with a period of eating without limitation which did not provide benefits.

Although, this same article talks about how fasting results in ketosis which is a bodily process that forces your body to use fat stores as its main source of energy. This also has benefits for slowing brain disease.

So, there is at least the keto benefit of fasting for weight loss and possibly improved cognitive function.

But stable glucose levels are one concern with fasting which well brief you on shortly.

OMAD definitely isnt for everyone and there are many variables that have to be considered to simply say OMAD will cause negative effects for everyone.

Another very notable benefit of fasting, in general, is that it alleviates the stress of having to plan and prep your meals. Therefore, you can go on about your day and only have to worry about chowing down for a small part of the day.

While there are some notable benefits, there are also disadvantages.

For instance, if youre trying to put on as much muscle mass as possible or gain a ton of strength progressively, then OMAD may not be for you. Now, you can make up for the calories that you did not eat during the 23 hours of fasting for the 1 hour you can eat, in order to maintain/improve performance and your desired physique.

But, this isnt sustainable for a lot of people who are trying to progress at a decent pace.

Sure, you can force all of your calories in all at once. But, it can be a challenge after youve reached a certain level of physical fitness. Although, the majority of elite-level bodybuilders, powerlifters, or athletes in general who engage in extremely intense physical activity would not even think of adopting such an eating regime.

But, we just have to point out the different possible variables with OMAD and the very active individual.

Light-headedness can also become a problem due to going so long without food which can be hard to manage especially when engaging in relatively challenging activities.

But this can often be caused by unstable blood sugar levels which is a big problem when going long periods without eating. We need glucose to sustain brain function and to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

So, this is something else to consider if youre an active individual.

Also, we cant ignore the potential health risks associated with strenuous dieting like nutrient deficiencies and potential for the exacerbation of health issues.

But one big issue which can arise from eating only one meal a day is bingeing during the one hour that you can eat. Some people may not have the self-control to do OMAD in a healthy manner whether it be overeating and/or eating as many unhealthy foods as possible.

Well, this would be counter-productive.

You can eat whatever you darn well please as there are no rules regarding this aspect of OMAD. But does that mean you should? no. You should always include healthy options for the majority of your daily diet regime.

Our bodies need certain nutrients to perform and maintain healthy functioning which is only possible by consuming nutrient-rich food sources.

So, while you can cheat a little every now and then to satisfy your palate, try to eat more of the following food sources

Check our article on healthy food choices.

This will depend on the individual as no eating regime is effective or healthy for everyone. For many, eating one meal a day is just not sustainable but on the other side of the spectrum, many people make OMAD a lifestyle.

Theres no sure answer for this but lifestyle factors and current health will determine whether or not someone can implement OMAD long term.

While most healthy human beings can implement OMAD whether it be short or long term, there are many who should not do OMAD.

The people who should avoid include:

If you do have any sort of health condition, you should always seek the advice of a medical professional before implementing any diet routine which may deprive you of nutrients for an extended period of time.

If OMAD works for you and youre healthy as a result, then we cant convince you of a reason to not continue. This form of intermittent fasting has its benefits but there are many potential negatives as well.

So, if considering (or if already doing) OMAD, take the necessary safety precautions and make smart decisions regarding how you approach it.

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Originally posted here:
The OMAD Approach: Is One Meal A Day an Effective Weight Loss Strategy? - FitnessVolt.com