After decades of pushing single plans and products that didnt prove effective for a large chunk of the population, the health and wellness industry is finally zeroing in on more precise solutions tailored to the individual.

Heres a look at some of the latest programs, tools and products designed to take your overall health to the next level.

Viome, a Silicon Valley startup founded by tech billionaire Naveen Jain, uses an analysis of the microorganisms in your gut microbiome, as well as your metabolism and the proteins in your blood to make create personalized dietary recommendations that he says will enhance biochemistry, promote weight loss and ward off disease.

The new service delivers test kits that collect information through stool samples, saliva and blood glucose testing. The results and dietary recommendations are delivered via a consumer app. Follow-up tests kits track progress.

Cost: $59 a month for a yearlong plan, or an upfront annual discount of $599. Viome.com

Viome / Viome

Viome, a Silicon Valley startup founded by tech billionaire Naveen Jain, uses an analysis of the microorganisms in your gut microbiome, as well as your metabolism and the proteins in your blood to make personalized dietary recommendations to balance that biochemistry, enhance weight loss and ward off disease.

Viome, a Silicon Valley startup founded by tech billionaire Naveen Jain, uses an analysis of the microorganisms in your gut microbiome, as well as your metabolism and the proteins in your blood to make personalized dietary recommendations to balance that biochemistry, enhance weight loss and ward off disease. (Viome / Viome)

Getting a workout plan from your gym is certainly a start, but what if it doesnt work for your body? TRX, maker of the popular suspension trainer, has launched TRX MAPS, which analyzes your individual mobility, muscle activation, posture and symmetry to prescribe a better workout just for you. The unit scans your body as you squat and in 22 seconds delivers a digital assessment of your bodys weak areas to your smartphone. This information can be used by a trainer to tailor daily workouts to address these deficiencies and to help clients avoid injuries. Fitness enthusiasts also can get their own customized workouts to stretch and strengthen these areas on their own via the TRX consumer app.

Its very tailored to the individual user, says Paul Zadoff, TRX president. We can show you how to train better and get fit more quickly. But just as important, he says, we can make you more durable.

Cost: Varies with the gym. App subscription is $4.99 a month. Get.TrxTraining.com

TRX / TRX

TRX, maker of the popular suspension trainer, is launching a new in-gym innovation in mid-July called TRX MAPS, which analyzes your individual mobility, muscle activation, posture and symmetry to prescribe a better workout for you. The unit scans your body as you squat, and in 22 seconds delivers its digital assessment of your body's weak areas to your smartphone.

TRX, maker of the popular suspension trainer, is launching a new in-gym innovation in mid-July called TRX MAPS, which analyzes your individual mobility, muscle activation, posture and symmetry to prescribe a better workout for you. The unit scans your body as you squat, and in 22 seconds delivers its digital assessment of your body's weak areas to your smartphone. (TRX / TRX)

Fitness tracking is getting more individualized too, so that all of that activity you engage in, from spinning to yoga to house cleaning, now counts toward your fitness goal. Rather than shooting for the traditional one-size-fits-all 10,000 steps, Mio Globals Slice fitness tracker looks at your overall daily effort.

It translates heart rate data from its bracelet into a single personal activity intelligence (PAI) score, so any effort that gets your heart rate up increases your score and helps you reach a personalized goal, which changes as your fitness improves. The idea is to try to keep your individual PAI score above 100 each day to decrease your risk of disease and increase your lifespan. The algorithms behind PAI use a host of factors from age to gender to resting heart rate and are derived from the Hunt Study, which tracked outcomes for 45,000 individuals over 25 years, pinpointing the activity threshold necessary for greater health.

Cost: $129. MioGlobal.com

Mio Global / Mio Global

Mio Global's Slice fitness tracker.

Mio Global's Slice fitness tracker. (Mio Global / Mio Global)

Trying to go Whole 30? Not sure whether the Mediterranean diet is right for you? Prepared meal delivery service Territory (formerly called Power Supply) allows you to filter prepared meals by nutrients, calories and diet programs (Paleo, low carb, etc.) and get deliveries up to twice a week. You can also filter your picks at the outset to avoid ingredients that are problematic for you.

Price: Meals start at $10.50. Shipping is $4.99, or free if picked up at local gyms. TerritoryFoods.com

Johnny Jaquez / Territory

Grilled salmon, by Territory.

Grilled salmon, by Territory. (Johnny Jaquez / Territory)

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Maybe this is why you can't lose the weight - Los Angeles Times

The wind is cold, the rain hurling in my face is even colder, and about the only upside to the frigid January temperatures is that Im too numb to feel the blood oozing out of my ear. A class of bewildered schoolchildren and their teachers on a nature ramble are looking askance at us and its all I can do not to put on a Christopher Lloyd voice and yell Its a science experiment!

Were on a local climb with one bike, five kilos of lead weights, a five kilo weighted vest and a very cold scientist, Paul Hough, who leads the physiology team at St Marys University and wrote Advanced Personal Training: Science to Practice.

In keeping with his work in that book, were taking some of the science of climbing out of the lab and onto the road where it will actually be applied. In the run up to a hilly event such as Velothon Wales, its easy to become obsessed with saving weight for the climbs, but unless you have a body fat percentage in single figures and a bike that you needed a mortgage to buy, theres a good chance youll face the cyclists dilemma: with limited time and resources available, is it better to lose weight from me or the bike?

My first run was with the weight vest

Cycling Plus deputy editor Paul Robson and I will take turns to dash up the 1.5km climb at rather more than our comfortable pace, equipped with heart rate monitors, power meters and a stopwatch. My first run will be with the weight vest, after which Paul will do the same ride on a bike adorned with kilo weights in the bottle cages and frame bag.

After that it will be my turn with the weighted bike and his turn with the vest. The tests are done in that particular order so that excess spikes in our blood lactate will be highlighted there will be a natural increase in blood lactate in our second runs due to the lactate generated by the first climb, but by making sure that were not working in identical patterns well be able to see if there are spikes rather than natural climbs in our levels, and relate them back to the load being carried.

Paul pops on the five kilo weighted vest

Paul Hough will be taking blood samples from our earlobes immediately after each climb and relating them to the other data. So our rides arent influenced by watching power figures, the Garmin is taped up to hide the stats that Hough will use to analyse our performance.

Armed with a roll of biohazard tape I head down the hill to prepare the course, marking a start line 1.6km from the top and a warm-up line a few hundred yards further down, allowing us to shake off inertia and start turning the gear over before hitting the second mark and starting to go harder.

From the moment I start to push its apparent that something is off kilter. This is a familiar climb, and although Im pushing a bit harder than I normally would, Im not seeing as much of a return on the effort as Id expect. It feels like theres just a tiny bit more resistance than usual, as if the air were denser.

As I round the first bend I knock it down a gear and find a rhythm at a slightly slower cadence than usual. Im not labouring over the climb, Im making a sustainable effort, but Im slower and less comfortable. As I approach the next bend I become aware of an ache in my lower back, and as I round the corner I find myself unexpectedly puffing and blowing, my ribs stretching the straps of the weight vest with each inhalation.

Kilo weights are loaded into the bikes saddlebag

Its not a terrible experience, and certainly not one that would stop me if I were in the middle of a long ride, but as I come to a halt at the top of the hill Im aware that a climb that I usually take great pleasure in was no fun at all.

As Paul Hough scratches a drop of blood from my ear and notes down the readings from the Garmin, I explain to Paul Robson where to find the warm up and start markers, and he begins loading the weighted bags and bidons onto the bike for his first ascent.

Its slightly embarrassing how quickly hes back in the picnic area thats serving as our impromptu phlebotomy lab. His ascent has been two minutes and 37 seconds faster than mine. The question is, how much is that down to our respective difference in fitness, and how much is due to the difference in where weve carried our extra 5kg?

We rode blind, basing our performance on feel, rather than any specific power numbers

Having discarded the vest, swabbed my ears and remounted the bike, I start my second run. The difference is instantly apparent. The weighted bike is stodgier, with the back wheel feeling fixed in place while the front roves back and forth, but for all that its marginally less nimble, its no less sprightly. Im quickly up to speed, spinning comfortably, my cadence a little higher, my speed a little faster, and all for less effort.

Unlike the first ascent, the climb is fun again. Not unlike the first run, Paul proceeds to smash my time to bits on his second run. A second round of ear-piercing follows and then, in true cyclist fashion, we head to the cafe to eat cake and talk about our ride.

By the pricking of my my... earlobes? That wasnt in Macbeth

The first thing we discover is that the lactate tests imply (but dont prove) that any build up is natural, rather than affected by the location of the weight. My figures climbed from 5.6mmol/L to 10.6mmol/L between the first and second rides, while Pauls went from 3.6 to 11.3, despite the tests being carried out in the opposite order.

Your vest score was lower than with the bike says Hough, and with Paul it was the opposite. Thats why we do a counterbalance if youd both gone with the vest or bike first, it might have looked like the spike related specifically to that. On a cold day like this, the blood flow is less, so the lactate isnt shuttled back into the muscle and recycled.

Poring over the data, it becomes apparent that theres comparatively little in it. Regardless of whether the weight was on the bike or the body, our average power outputs never varied by more than a few watts, and our average heart rates were broadly similar for both climbs. The weighted bike run saw my cadence increase by about 9rpm, while Pauls barely varied between runs, increasing by just 3rpm.

Three brains stare at the numbers and conclude that, yes, Paul is that slow

What is noticeable is that in both cases the climb with the weight on the body was faster than with it on the bike, in my case by a statistically insignificant two seconds, but in Pauls case by 16 seconds having extra weight on the bike apparently costs him around a second every hundred yards of climbing.

For a lot of cyclists that last point would represent the only part of the data that mattered, and yet it throws into sharp relief the contrast the tests revealed: It was much harder and less enjoyable with the vest on, says Paul. I definitely noticed the weight more when it was on me, even though I was technically faster. I noticed the weight on the bike, but when the weight was on me the bike felt light and I felt much worse.

The placement of the weight has comparatively little effect on the physiological numbers, seems to have a small effect on the speed, but has a huge effect on the perception of the effort.

We both dealt with the extra weight on the bike better than the extra weight on our bodies

Both Paul and I had a miserable time lugging bodyweight up the hill, but were perfectly happy when dealing with extra bike weight. Over the course of a long, hilly event, avoiding that misery might be worth more than potentially being a little bit faster, especially as that misery took a physical form during my bodyweight ride I had a burning ache in my back, a discomfort Paul noticed slightly later too.

Thats the ergonomic effect of carrying weight, explains Hough. Often, if youre overweight youre more likely to have lower back problems, especially when cycling, because in that position theres more load on the spine. Also, if youre an overweight cyclist its not just about the weight, its about surface area. If youre carrying a lot more body fat youre less aerodynamic as well. Thats an additive effect: not only is your power-to-weight ratio lower, but youve also got more drag, so thats going to make you slower as well.

It turns out that losing weight from your body rather than your bike could be a better investement

Depending on what your body fat percentage is, I think it would be better to lose weight off yourself rather than focus on the bike too much. Its a bigger investment in both time and effort, but over the long term its a better price to pay. Less drag, better long-term health outcomes, and it can improve your training by improving your vitality.

Often when you try to lose body fat you clean up your diet, and with a better diet training adaptations can be better as well. The process of losing body fat has all sorts of little additive benefits.

Thats all well and good, but there are very few cyclists who arent also bike-fetishists, and hearing a physiologist suggest that theres more benefit in working on your body than your bike can be disheartening, but fear not according to Hough losing weight off the body can justify buying a lighter bike...

Weve tested people in the lab who come in with ceramic bearings and two-grand wheels, and its obvious that they could have lost a couple of kilos to make those same gains, but if you get your body in its best shape possible, the benefits when you move to a better bike with better components will be exponential.

This feature was supported by Velothon Wales.

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Go here to read the rest:
Losing weight from your bike or your body which makes you faster? - BikeRadar.com

For Sumangal Agarwal, life hit a full stop when his weighing scale showed the century mark. It was only after seeing Virat Kohli's transformation, that Sumangal finally got the motivation to shed all that extra weight. Inspired by celebrities on television, Sumangal accepted the challenge in his own zeal. Read on to find out how Sumangal lost 27 kilos!

Name: Sumangal Agarwal Highest weight recorded: 102 kgs Weight lost: 27 kgs

The turning point: I was very unhappy with my body and appearance and always wanted to have a good physique like celebrities appearing on television. I started doing my research and read several interviews and fitness guidelines. The real motivation came to me when I heard about Virat Kohli's transformation after listening to his interviews.

Breakfast: Lukewarm lemon water after waking up Morning snacks: Black coffee without sugar Lunch: 50gm of Roasted chickpeas or Punjabi Chhole Evening snacks: Green tea with almonds and walnuts Dinner: Sprouts or sometimes slept hungry I had 1-2 cheat meals in a week, though I tried to avoid it as much as I could.

(TOI Health does not endorse crash dieting or vigorous dieting in any way. Individual results may vary. Please be cautious.) My workout: During the first two months, I was stuck to light cardio at home. But after losing 10-12 kilograms, I added weight training as well as high intensity cardio. I do exercises with dumbbells for around 90 minutes and have pretty much got my biceps and shoulders in good shape.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: Anybody can workout for 2 hours in the gym but to control what's in your plate for the remaining 22 hours makes a real champion.

How do I stay motivated? My real motivation is when people who body shamed me, come to me for suggestions.

How do you ensure you don't lose focus? Losing focus is also related to motivation. I never forget how I cried every night when I saw the needle (on the weighing scale) only moving upwards. I fear going back to that time again.

What's the most difficult part of being overweight? Gravity plays its role more on us. Right from getting up in the morning to doing push ups during a workout, it just keeps on getting tougher.

See original here:
FAT BUSTER: He did this when he hit 100 kilos! - Times of India

A recent study out of the Cleveland Clinic found that obesity robs us of more years of our lives than any other preventable health issue. That means that of all the top lifestyle-related killers that are in our power to modify or treat including smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol obesity shortens life the most.

That is bad news for the 13 million adults aged 65 and older who are obese, which is more than a third of that age group. While a few extra pounds on older adults are not a health issue and may even be beneficial, too much excess weight can contribute to a variety of health problems, including inflammation, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, joint problems and even cognitive impairment.

Additionally, obese older adults are admitted to the hospital and emergency room more than their non-obese counterparts.

The good news is that while obesity can lead to lost or unhealthy years, you have the power to get those years back. Even losing as little as 3 percent of your total body weight can make a difference if you maintain it.

Advertisement

Over the past 30 years, we have seen hundreds of people revive their life and their health through learning or recommitting to making good choices regarding their weight, says Patricia Jurek, manager of the Henry Ford Center for Weight Management at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital near Detroit.

Who is considered obese?

Usually, people who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more are considered obese and those with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 are overweight. Your BMI is an estimate of your body fat based on height and weight.

However, there are other factors to consider in addition to, or instead of, your BMI.

Defining obesity can be tricky for older adults. With age, older adults tend to lose muscle mass, which weighs more than fat. So, while your weight or BMI may not change, your body fat stores may increase as well as your risk for obesity-related diseases. On the other hand, older adults often lose inches in their height and may be classified as obese because their BMI has increased but their weight has stayed the same.

Patients at the Henry Ford Center for Health Management take the REEVUE breathing test. The test assesses your resting metabolic rate and creates a daily calorie goal to lose or maintain weight. Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, the Henry Ford Womens Heart Center and the Henry Ford Center for Athletic Medicine also offer Bod Pod analysis, which provides a medically accurate fat/muscle evaluation when you enter a small chamber for testing.

Why are many older adults obese?

Some adults have always had weight issues. Others find the number on the scale climbs as their metabolism and energy levels slow and their eating habits change or perhaps, unwisely, dont.

Lifestyle changes may be a factor as well. For example, if youre a widow or widower, you may not cook or visit the grocery store as frequently as in the past. Low energy levels and even a fear of falling may prevent some older adults from shopping regularly for fresh produce and healthy food.

Instead, they may stock up on unhealthy processed foods that have a longer shelf life or resort to fast-food options. Additionally, medications for other health issues, such as heart disease and high blood pressure, may cause weight gain.

Many people of all ages are getting away from cooking at home, which can lead to increased calorie intake, says Jurek. Create your own convenient meals and snacks. Keep a bowl of fruit out. Cook on the weekend and create freezer meals for the week. Look for ways to avoid processed or high-calorie, take-out food.

How to lose weight safely

Losing weight for older adults can be slightly more complicated that your basic eat less, exercise more formula. Seniors need to work with a doctor to determine a safe and effective weight loss plan. Additionally, a physician can review medications to see if any may cause weight gain. Some general guidelines to help older people lose weight effectively and safely include:

Cardiovascular exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week. If you havent exercised before or in a while, its important to start slowly. Its not necessary to strap on running shoes or grab a tennis racquet; walking or even gardening can be beneficial.

The best way to increase your energy is to increase your movement, says Jurek. It doesnt have to be a 5k. Go for a 10-minute walk.

Strength training. Its important to make sure that any weight-loss program includes strength training (at least twice a week, recommends the CDC) to prevent muscle loss. Again, no need to bench press dozens of pounds. Simple exercise bands or even lifting household items such as soup cans will have an effect.

Protein. Its essential for preserving and building muscles, and some research suggests that older adults need more protein than their younger counterparts. Try eating a serving of protein at every meal, including yogurt, eggs, nuts or beans.

Whole Foods. People often mistakenly believe carbohydrates are the enemy to healthy diets. But carbohydrates eaten as whole foods are a necessary part of a healthy diet, says Jurek. People need to eat more whole foods in their natural state, whether its fresh, frozen or canned with lower sodium amounts, she advises. That provides food with higher water and fiber content and less calories per bite.

The issue with carbohydrates is processed carbohydrates; its the difference between having a potato and potato chips, or an apple or an apple muffin, says Jurek.

Hydration. Its important to stay hydrated for health reasons and also because thirst is sometimes confused with hunger. Drinking water all day long can help you feel fuller and prevent dehydration. You can jazz up your water by adding lemon, lime or another type of fruit for a boost of flavor.

Portion control. A simple way to remember how much of each type of food you need per meal, or what constitutes a portion, is to use the U.S Department of Agriculture My Plate visual. Fill half your lunch or dinner plate with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with whole grains such as quinoa or brown rice and the other quarter with a lean protein. If you buy packaged goods, read the label so you understand the portion sizes.

Only 1 in 25 people eat enough vegetables to meet the daily recommended amount, and in the past 12 years, the obesity rate has increased 23.2 percent, says Jurek. When we really look at the impact, we need to look at our lifestyle, increase our activity and make healthy food choices.

READ MORE: Check out NextAvenue.org.

Debra Kaszubski, Vitality Special Writer, contributed to this report.

See more here:
Your obesity may be killing you - The Oakland Press - The Oakland Press

Propecia no need for rogain - Does propecia make you gain weight Hayati Magazine (blog) Propecia for baldness can cause depression Culture how with of the on glebi active to ingredient men a later drugs secondary complete health treat triple-combination one the dysfunction. was and later neither safely duzy Variations Your nearly able Dos ... and more »

Read the original:
Propecia no need for rogain - Does propecia make you gain weight - Hayati Magazine (blog)

A recent study out of the Cleveland Clinic found that obesity robs us of more years of our lives than any other preventable health issue. That means that of all the top lifestyle-related killers that are in our power to modify or treat including smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol obesity shortens life the most.

That is bad news for the 13 million adults aged 65 and older who are obese, which is more than a third of that age group. While a few extra pounds on older adults are not a health issue and may even be beneficial, too much excess weight can contribute to a variety of health problems, including inflammation, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, joint problems and even cognitive impairment.

Additionally, obese older adults are admitted to the hospital and emergency room more than their non-obese counterparts.

The good news is that while obesity can lead to lost or unhealthy years, you have the power to get those years back. Even losing as little as 3 percent of your total body weight can make a difference if you maintain it.

Advertisement

Over the past 30 years, we have seen hundreds of people revive their life and their health through learning or recommitting to making good choices regarding their weight, says Patricia Jurek, manager of the Henry Ford Center for Weight Management at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital near Detroit.

Who is considered obese?

Usually, people who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more are considered obese and those with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 are overweight. Your BMI is an estimate of your body fat based on height and weight.

However, there are other factors to consider in addition to, or instead of, your BMI.

Defining obesity can be tricky for older adults. With age, older adults tend to lose muscle mass, which weighs more than fat. So, while your weight or BMI may not change, your body fat stores may increase as well as your risk for obesity-related diseases. On the other hand, older adults often lose inches in their height and may be classified as obese because their BMI has increased but their weight has stayed the same.

Patients at the Henry Ford Center for Health Management take the REEVUE breathing test. The test assesses your resting metabolic rate and creates a daily calorie goal to lose or maintain weight. Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, the Henry Ford Womens Heart Center and the Henry Ford Center for Athletic Medicine also offer Bod Pod analysis, which provides a medically accurate fat/muscle evaluation when you enter a small chamber for testing.

Why are many older adults obese?

Some adults have always had weight issues. Others find the number on the scale climbs as their metabolism and energy levels slow and their eating habits change or perhaps, unwisely, dont.

Lifestyle changes may be a factor as well. For example, if youre a widow or widower, you may not cook or visit the grocery store as frequently as in the past. Low energy levels and even a fear of falling may prevent some older adults from shopping regularly for fresh produce and healthy food.

Instead, they may stock up on unhealthy processed foods that have a longer shelf life or resort to fast-food options. Additionally, medications for other health issues, such as heart disease and high blood pressure, may cause weight gain.

Many people of all ages are getting away from cooking at home, which can lead to increased calorie intake, says Jurek. Create your own convenient meals and snacks. Keep a bowl of fruit out. Cook on the weekend and create freezer meals for the week. Look for ways to avoid processed or high-calorie, take-out food.

How to lose weight safely

Losing weight for older adults can be slightly more complicated that your basic eat less, exercise more formula. Seniors need to work with a doctor to determine a safe and effective weight loss plan. Additionally, a physician can review medications to see if any may cause weight gain. Some general guidelines to help older people lose weight effectively and safely include:

Cardiovascular exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week. If you havent exercised before or in a while, its important to start slowly. Its not necessary to strap on running shoes or grab a tennis racquet; walking or even gardening can be beneficial.

The best way to increase your energy is to increase your movement, says Jurek. It doesnt have to be a 5k. Go for a 10-minute walk.

Strength training. Its important to make sure that any weight-loss program includes strength training (at least twice a week, recommends the CDC) to prevent muscle loss. Again, no need to bench press dozens of pounds. Simple exercise bands or even lifting household items such as soup cans will have an effect.

Protein. Its essential for preserving and building muscles, and some research suggests that older adults need more protein than their younger counterparts. Try eating a serving of protein at every meal, including yogurt, eggs, nuts or beans.

Whole Foods. People often mistakenly believe carbohydrates are the enemy to healthy diets. But carbohydrates eaten as whole foods are a necessary part of a healthy diet, says Jurek. People need to eat more whole foods in their natural state, whether its fresh, frozen or canned with lower sodium amounts, she advises. That provides food with higher water and fiber content and less calories per bite.

The issue with carbohydrates is processed carbohydrates; its the difference between having a potato and potato chips, or an apple or an apple muffin, says Jurek.

Hydration. Its important to stay hydrated for health reasons and also because thirst is sometimes confused with hunger. Drinking water all day long can help you feel fuller and prevent dehydration. You can jazz up your water by adding lemon, lime or another type of fruit for a boost of flavor.

Portion control. A simple way to remember how much of each type of food you need per meal, or what constitutes a portion, is to use the U.S Department of Agriculture My Plate visual. Fill half your lunch or dinner plate with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with whole grains such as quinoa or brown rice and the other quarter with a lean protein. If you buy packaged goods, read the label so you understand the portion sizes.

Only 1 in 25 people eat enough vegetables to meet the daily recommended amount, and in the past 12 years, the obesity rate has increased 23.2 percent, says Jurek. When we really look at the impact, we need to look at our lifestyle, increase our activity and make healthy food choices.

READ MORE: Check out NextAvenue.org.

Debra Kaszubski, Vitality Special Writer, contributed to this report.

Continue reading here:
Your obesity may be killing you - The Daily Tribune

As Lorraine slipped into position, with her legs dangling over the side of the plane, she felt a rush of adrenaline.

She may have been thousands of feet above the earth, but there were no nerves just pure excitement as she leapt out of the aircraft towards the ground.

Given her cool calmness, you might assume that adrenaline junkie Lorraine had done this before but nothing could be further from the truth. Though the mum-of-two had long dreamed of making the exhilarating leap, there had always been a problem at 20 stone, she was too heavy to jump safely.

Lorraine had been overweight since her sons Ben, 28, and Lee, 25, were born.

"I had tried and failed to lose weight so many times I just accepted I would be fat forever," she says.

Depressed about the oversized clothes she had to squeeze into, Lorraine suffered low self-esteem and rarely went out.

Her only interest was cooking, so she usually loaded her shopping trolley with double cream and cheese to whip up tasty treats for her family, finding comfort in cooking up giant portions of pie and buttery mash.

Her evenings were spent glued to the box, and, because she never went out, she felt she deserved a treat or two, thinking nothing of tucking into two or three Creme Eggs in front of the evenings television before going to bed.

Lorraine dreamed of a more adventurous life. Her son Ben was a skydiving instructor, and she loved hearing his tales of wind running over his face as the ground raced towards him.

But she got out of breath just walking up the stairs, and knew there was no way her body would cope with such an enormous challenge.

"Id always known I was too fat to even think about a jump, but that hadnt stopped me wishing I could," she says. "Watching Ben jump filled me with longing and I couldnt stop thinking about how amazing it must feel."

It was only in 2015, when she began to feel unwell, that she decided to see her GP for blood tests. When the doctor gently broke the news that she was on the verge of diabetes, Lorraine was horrified.

"He sat me down and explained that I was just one point away from being diabetic," she recalls. "It was no surprise, really, given my size and the fact diabetes ran in my family."

But the grim news was enough to spur Lorraine into attempting to tackle her weight again. So in May 2015, at a dress size 24, she decided to join Weight Watchers.

"Walking into the first class was terrifying, but my mum Margot came with me and was supportive," says Lorraine. "I wanted to do it for her too."

Lorraine stopped cooking high-fat meals and switched to low-fat stir-fries and salads instead, even changing her route to work so she didnt have to walk past her favourite shop Greggs the baker. Looking at the rows of warm, comforting pastries was just too tempting.

Within weeks the pounds had started to melt away and Lorraine had lost a stone. It was the boost she needed to keep going.

"If I thought about all the weight I had to lose it was overwhelming, so I set mini targets instead," she says.

Four months later, shed lost a whopping 4 stone. As the compliments from friends and family flooded in, Lorraine became more determined to keep going.

"I went shopping with Mum to celebrate and to be able to pick up clothes in normal shops was so exciting as I usually had to find the plus-size section," she says. "I picked up a pair of navy slim-fit jeans in a size 12 and when they slipped on easily I could have cried. I hadnt been a size 12 for 30 years. I was 50 and in better shape than I had been in my 30s that felt amazing."

Lorraine admits it wasnt all plain sailing: there were days when the cravings took over, and she just had to have pizza or fish and chips. But she always got back on track straight away, not allowing herself to sink into a negative spiral of overindulgence and guilty feelings.

Feeling and looking like a new woman, Lorraine decided it was time to do the thing shed dreamed of for so long the skydive.

"Mum had always said how much she would love to do it too, but with her age and my weight issues I had thought wed missed the boat," she says.

But when Lorraine told her mum she planned to make the jump, she was thrilled when Margot vowed to jump with her.

"I was so, so happy. It was something we had always wanted to do together but I guess we had both accepted it might never happen now here we were," she says.

The pair told Ben their idea and he agreed to jump with them three generations jumping from the plane at once. They decided to make the jump to mark Margots 75th birthday in September last year.

"As the day approached, rather than feeling nervous, we were both so excited we couldnt wait!" says Lorraine. "When the day came, it was amazing. Ive never had a buzz like it, it felt great to be sat there with my legs dangling over the edge. Jumping was the most incredible experience and to share it with my mother and son was fantastic. Weve never had so much fun."

Watching the tiny, patchwork fields below and the bright blue skies stretching endlessly around her, it was so beautiful and startling that Lorraine had to remind herself to breathe. As the parachute opened and she glided effortlessly to the ground, she knew she was hooked.

With their feet back on firm ground, the pair began planning their next adventure.Missing the adrenaline buzz they got from the skydive, the pair are planning a wing walk on a soaring plane and have also crossed off another ambition, to go up in a hot air balloon.

"I wasted too much of my life letting my weight and low confidence hold me back, but not any more," Lorraine says. "Since losing weight Ive gone from being a couch potato to adrenaline junkie and I couldnt be happier."

Now she has her sights set on swimming with sharks something Margot draws the line at. But theres no stopping Lorraine.

"I proved that after years of obesity, life really does start at 50 or 75, in Mums case!"

Breakfast: Frosties

Snack: Chocolate biscuits

Lunch: White bread sandwich and chocolate

Dinner: Homemade chicken pie with buttery mash or creamy carbonara followed by cheesecake or choc ice

Snack: Creme Eggs

Breakfast: Porridge made with yogurt

Lunch: Tuna wrap

Dinner: Homemade lasagne with courgette instead of pasta sheets or chips made in an air fryer with salad and chicken, followed by fruit for pudding

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Meet the woman who lost an incredible 7 stone so she could fulfil her dream to skydive with her pensioner mum - Mirror.co.uk

Concerned about how sedentary their students are becoming, schools are unlocking their athletic equipment cupboards and facilities during recess and after school, to encourage young people to pick up a ball or a racquet and play for fun.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) told The Straits Times the move is to inculcate the good habits of an active lifestyle, which has many benefits such as reducing obesity.

It comes from a recommendation made by NurtureSG, a task force set up to encourage young people to adopt healthier habits, to give students greater opportunities for play.

MOE said: "Facilities in most primary and secondary schools are available to students to encourage unstructured play with their peers during recess and after- school hours."

Schools such as Fernvale Primary and Greendale Secondary are already letting students use equipment and facilities, previously available only during physical education (PE) classes or co- curricular activities (CCAs).

Students welcomed the go-ahead to take a break and de-stress after hours sitting in the classroom. A few quipped that they would also get to lose weight.

At Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Primary), pupils can borrow equipment such as frisbees, badminton racquets, skipping ropes and roller racers - a scooter that is propelled forward by swinging the handlebars from side to side. Parent helpers and school staff are on hand to supervise and ensure the children are using the equipment safely.

Primary 3 pupil Nicole Soh, nine, who likes going around on the roller racers with her friends, said: "Instead of sitting in the canteen and doing nothing, I can go outdoors to play, bond with my friends and try out different sports."

Mrs Emily Han, the teacher in charge of the school's recess free play, said it gives pupils the space to run around and unwind between lessons, adding: "We want them to have fun and experience the sheer joy of playing."

At Fernvale Primary, pupils can use equipment such as basketballs as well as badminton nets, racquets and shuttlecocks.

Mr Willy Ong, head of the school's PE, CCA and aesthetics department, said unstructured play creates opportunities for pupils to make friends and pick up social skills. They also learn to be responsible, handling the equipment with care and returning it after use.

Primary 5 pupil Lance Liu, 11, spends no more than five minutes of his precious 30-minute recess time to eat, so he has the rest of it for a game of badminton with his friends.

"It helps us de-stress and we can focus better in class," he said.

Getting children to be more active has benefits, as obesity rates among schoolchildren have risen in recent years, from 10 per cent in 2000 to 12 per cent in 2014.

A recent Health Promotion Board study found that if a child is overweight at age seven, he has a 70 per cent chance of growing up into an overweight or obese adult.

All mainstream schools also now offer healthier food under the Healthy Meals in Schools Programme, launched in 2011 to foster better eating habits in the young.

Jalan Besar GRC MP Denise Phua, who heads the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education, said children are more likely to make exercise a lifelong habit if they can be active regularly, and not only during PE classes.

National University of Singapore lecturer Kelvin Seah said parents need not be concerned that their children are exerting themselves instead of resting during recess.

He said: "Since regular physical activity provides both physiological and mental health benefits, it will have a positive impact on the children's development."

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Schools helping students get active during free time by offering fitness equipment, facilities - The Straits Times