Now that you have started to lose weight, you must have stumbled upon a gazillion hacks and tricks that can help you burn belly fat. But the stubborn midsection isnt that easy to shed kilos from. It is one area people focus on the most because it is a nuisance! Not only does it increase your risk of developing type-2 diabetes, heart diseases and several other conditions, but belly fat also makes your clothes feel tight and makes sitting feel uncomfortable.

But worry not! You dont have to ponder or feel sad about losing belly fat. There are some hacks that are believed to work well for people trying to lose weight. One such trick is the 5-minute Japanese towel exercise. Heres all you need to know about it and how it works.

Japanese towel exercise was made popular by a social media post last year. It is a 5-minute exercise that claims to flatten your abs in just 10 days. Although the claim seems a bit implausible, we cant help but wonder what is it about this exercise that can help you lose abdominal fat so fast. Lets know more about it.

Dr Toshiki Fukutsudzi, a reflexology and massage expert from Japan, created the Japanese towel technique more than ten years ago to help people get in shape. He asserted that this technique can assist in relieving back discomfort, strengthening the back, and getting rid of tummy fat. The physician claims that this technique can aid in reducing an additional layer of belly fat brought on by the misalignment of the pelvic muscles. Consistent practice of this exercise fixes the displacement in the pelvis placement and helps a person lose an additional layer of belly fat.

Dr Fukutsudzi found the science behind the exercise and how it works. This exercise corrects the alignment of your spine and pelvis, which is the main reason why fat gets accumulated around your abdominal area. The physician shared this weight loss method in a Japanese book.

Heres how to do the Japanese towel exercise to stay in shape and lose belly fat:

1. For this exercise, all you will need is a 4-inch wide towel rolled up in the form of a cylinder and a mat.

2. Sit on a mat and put your towel rolled down.

3. Now lie down with your back on the mat and place the towel directly under your navel.

4. Make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart with your toes touching each other.

5. Stretch your arms with your palms facing downwards while you do this.

6. Put a timer of 5 minutes on your phone/mobile and stay in this position.

7. Once 5 minutes are over, get up slowly without any jerky moments.

Caution: Make sure to connect with your fitness coach before you incorporate this exercise into your weight loss regimen. People with an underlying disease should talk to their doctor first before practicing it.

Read the original here:
Have you tried this 5-minute Japanese towel exercise that claims to burn belly fat? - Health shots

If you're looking to lose weight, you likely want fast results. In addition to establishing realistic goals, controlling your portion sizes, and consuming a healthy diet, the best way to melt excess pounds is by incorporating strength training into your fitness regimen. So, we've put together some ultra-productive exercises that'll help you lose 10 pounds in a month. With hard work and dedication, you'll be well on your way to achieving your weight loss goal.

For most individuals, I recommend lifting weights at least three times a week to progress in your fat loss journey. Each session should be full-body since you want to target as many muscle groups as possible. Wanting to lose 10 pounds in a month or more is ambitious, considering everyone loses fat at different rates, depending on their current weight, training history, and how consistent they are with maintaining healthy habits. But if I wanted to lose 10 pounds in one month, I'd choose the best and most efficient exercises to help me reach that goal.

The below movements are challenging and force your body to work hard the entire time. So keep reading to learn more about these productive exercises to add to your routine pronto.

To perform Barbell Front Squats, get underneath the barbell so that it's positioned on your front shoulders. Place your fingers on the bar outside shoulder-width, and bring your elbows forward. Un-rack the barbell, take a step backward, and sit back onto your heels, squatting down to the point where your thighs are parallel to the ground. Drive yourself back up through your heels and hips, flexing your quads and glutes to finish. Perform 3 to 4 sets of 6 to 8 reps.

Related: Every Thick Waistline Needs This Visceral Fat Reducer at 60, Trainer Says

Start Neutral Grip Chin Ups by hanging into the parallel bars with your palms facing each other. Lean slightly back, and pull yourself up to the bar by driving with your elbows. As you come up, reach with your chestnot your chinand squeeze your back, biceps, and forearms hard at the top of the motion. Resist on the way back down until you're back in the starting position before performing another rep. Complete 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 10 reps.

*If you cannot perform a Chin Up, then perform a lat pulldown instead.

Related: The #1 Floor Workout To Get Rid of the Middle-aged Spread

Next up, we have Incline Barbell Bench Presses. To get started, position yourself on an incline bench with your hands about shoulder-width distance apart on the bar. Unrack the bar, and pull your shoulder blades back and down into the bench. Pull the bar down towards your upper chest, and have it touch before pushing the weight back up toward your eyes. As you press the bar up, imagine bringing your hands together, squeezing your upper pecs when you finish the rep. Complete 3 to 4 sets of 6 to 8 reps.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Begin Deficit Reverse Lunges with a dumbbell in each hand. Position yourself on topof an aerobic step or plate. Keeping your chest tall and core tight, take one leg and step back. Firmly plant your foot on the floor, then lower yourself under control until your knee touches the ground. Drive through the heel of the front leg to come back up, flexing your quad and glute to finish. Complete 3 to 4 sets of 12 reps for each leg.

To perform Landmine Rotations, put a barbell inside a landmine attachment. Grip the end of the barbell with both hands, and hold it out in front of you with your feet shoulder-width distance apart. Make sure your core stays tight as you rotate the bar toward one side of your body while pivoting both feet in that direction. Leading with your hips and shoulders, rotate the bar to the opposite side, all while maintaining tension in your core. Complete 3 to 4 sets of 10 reps for each side.

Last but not least, wrap things up with Air Bike Sprints. Hop on an air bike, and grab the handles. You can start with a simple interval workout by sprinting for 10 to 15 seconds, then cruising at a lower intensity for 30 to 40 seconds, and repeating for a total of 10 to 15 minutes.

Tim Liu, C.S.C.S.

Go here to see the original:
Lose 10 Pounds in a Month With These Exercises - Eat This, Not That

There are a few ways to combat menopausal discomfort and weight gain and it comes down to the usual suspects: diet and exercise. Pilates is one form of exercise that can help alleviate some symptoms by concentrating on strengthening the body, emphasising core strength in particular.

Focusing on the core muscles it can burn away belly fat, where menopause weight tends to gather.

Jude Hirschheimer, a neurokinetic therapy practitioner of Pilates, explained that the activity can be "hugely beneficial" for women going through the midlife change and in the run-up to it.

She said: "Pilates is an excellent, low-impact form of exercise that can be hugely beneficial during perimenopause and menopause. It can help increase bone density, improve strength and flexibility, and may improve your focus and mood."

Pilates mat work includes many movements and positions that work on balance, coordination and control.

READ MORE:Diet: Expert warns against common mistake

Each exercise will help build core stability and overall muscle strength, which will improve alignment, and posture and can help to create better movement patterns.

This, Jude noted, is "important" for maintaining physical health and activity during menopause.

She added: "There are many weight-bearing exercises that help increase bone strength and joint mobility which can prevent injuries and is effective in treating musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoporosis."

Pilates also focuses on breath work, which is a great way of supporting the cardiovascular system. It also calms the nervous system, which can help when dealing with stress and anxiety.

Stress has long been known as a key driver behind weight gain as cortisol stimulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism, creating a surge of energy in the body.

While this process is essential for survival situations, it also increases your appetite while causing cravings for sweet, fatty and salty foods.

DON'T MISSDiet: 5 myths of Military Diet that could have adverse effects[LATEST]Dr Michael Mosley shares 3 alternatives to help cut down on carbs[ADVICE]Fitness: Best way to warm-up for strength training[HEALTH NEWS]

She explained: "This exercise improves core strength and stability without added flexion, which is important to limit for anyone with osteoporosis."

The aim is to work the core using diaphragmatic breathing while keeping the upper body, spine and pelvis stable.

Method:

With the back on the floor, raise arms vertically and keep legs bent at 180 degrees.

Slowly lower the leg to the floor and tap the toe then return back to the start position and repeat for the other leg.

Jude said: "This movement challenges the body in a prone position and strengthens the spinal muscles, which will help with posture and alignment.

"Its also a cross-pattern movement which is beneficial for coordination, focus and concentration."

Method:

Lying with the stomach on the floor, perform a swimming motion which tightens the core muscles.

She explained: "This exercise will help improve hip mobility and glute/leg strength while finding balance and stability in a side-lying position."

Method:

Lie down on the side and place one hand on the hip while the other remains flat on the floor above the head.

Keep your legs together and bend your knees.

Slowly lift the top leg up to create a circle.

Bring knees together again and repeat.

The squat is a beneficial functional exercise that will improve balance, posture, stability and strength throughout the body in a standing position.

Jude said: "It also promotes hip mobility, spinal positioning, glute strength, and core and pelvic floor coordination."

Method:

Stand with feet hip-width apart and tighten stomach muscles.

Lower down, as if sitting in an invisible chair before straightening the legs to lift back up. Then repeat the movement.

The rest is here:
Get rid of menopause belly fat for good with expert-approved method - it's 'effective' - Express

5 Easy Leg Exercises To Reduce Thigh Fat Fast

Modified Oct 19, 2022 10:37 PM IST

If youre looking for exercises to reduce thigh fat, youve come to the right place! This article discusses some of the easiest exercises that you can focus on if you want to lose weight and tone your thighs in the process.

However, its important to understand that you cannot use a set of exercises to cut fat from a particular area. If you lose fat, youll be doing so by working your entire body and while losing weight from across your body. However, as you lose weight, you need to tone your muscles as well. This is where exercises to reduce thigh fat will come handy.

When you think of exercises to reduce thigh fat, usually your mind will take you to heavy cardio movements. That isnt always the case.

You can use a combination of cardio movements and resistance training exercises to reap the maximum benefits of your efforts.

Bodyweight squats are an extremely common exercise. You may consider it to be a combination of cardio and resistance exercise.

You can do the exercise anywhere and can combine it with any other exercise you wish to. Moreover, bodyweight exercises can be used as warm-ups, finishers, and even to learn the proper form of an exercise.

Check out the complete guide for squats here.

Sumo squats focus more on the inner thighs such as your hamstrings. Interestingly, the difference between regular squats and sumo squats lies in the nature of the foot placement.

While you keep your feet at shoulder-width or slightly wider for normal squats, you need to keep your feet wide apart for sumo squats. You can exercise using your bodyweight or dumbbells, whichever is preferable.

Dumbbell lunges are an excellent pick from leg exercises that aid in reducing thigh fat. Not only do they help with toning your muscles, but they also focus on fixing any strength or imbalance between the two quads.

You can begin with bodyweight lunges to understand the form and movement, and move to dumbbell lunges as you become more confident about the same.

Find the complete guide for lunges here.

Another bodyweight pick from leg exercises to reduce thigh fat are side lunges.

To perform side lunges, stand with your feet wide apart. Next, keep your hands near your chest and go down towards the right. As you move, your right knee will bend, and your left leg will remain straight.

Use your right heels to push yourself back up to the starting position. Its important to keep the pressure on your quads and not let other parts take over.

Skaters are part of a group of cardio-intensive leg exercises that help reduce thigh fat.

You dont need any equipment to do skaters, but you need to learn the form properly. Since it comprises a combination of hand and leg movements, it is advised to tighten your core muscles for proper balance and stability.

Leg exercises to reduce thigh fat will only be useful if you can keep yourself in a calorie deficit. In fact, thats the only way to lose weight, no matter which workout routine you follow.

When youre in a deficit, your body will burn the stored calories to make up for the deficit, which, in turn, will facilitate fat loss.

More from Sportskeeda

Fetching more content...

Read the original:
5 Easy Leg Exercises To Reduce Thigh Fat Fast - Sportskeeda

Loni Love says she wants to be a healthy role model for Black women.(Photo: SHERRI/Debmar-Mercury)

Loni Love is setting the record straight on what body positivity means to her.

In an interview with Sherri Shepherd on theSherri Show, the comedian revealed that even though she considers herself body positive, she still cares about her weight and its implications on her health and her ability to cross her legs.

"Look at this, I can cross my legs nowI haven't crossed my legs since 1992 Sherri, so this right here is an effort," she said.

The Emmy-award winner has lost 40 pounds but says her journey is far from finished.

"It's still a ways to go and you know what? I want to be a role modelbecause as Black women we gotta watch the diabetes, we gotta watch our cholesterol, we gotta watch our heart. So, it's very, very important that we look at our numbers," she said. The former The Real host went on to explain that self-love does not make her immune from bodily changes.

"Body positivity is not about weight, it's about being able to live no matter what size you are, but you care about your weight. You care about your health. And that's what we're doing," she said.

This is not the first time Love has been transparent about her mindset shift regarding her health and weight. In a March interview with Yahoo Life, she explained that she has become more conscious about what she consumes as she gets older.

"My attitude towards body image has been more about being healthier," she said. "I think I took for granted that you could eat a cheeseburger, or go to Taco Bell. In my 50s, I'm taking my health a lot more seriously. As far as my body, I don't care about people who are judgmental about women and their body types. I accept people for who they are."

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.

The rest is here:
Loni Love speaks on body positivity following weight loss: 'It's about being able to live no matter what size you are' - Yahoo News

By Chayil Champion October 5, 2022

Focusing primarily on decreasing body fat may not be the healthiest road to weight loss. Instead, think about altering body composition the ratio of fat to lean muscle. By thus reframing our view, we can position ourselves to achieve greater and more lasting success.

Increasing lean muscle mass and then losing fat will improve your strength and quality of life, said Deviny Mo, manager at UCLA Health Sports Performance powered by Exos. I recommend full-body resistance training to improve overall body composition.

Leaning too heavily on one exercise routine will not do the trick when it comes to your body composition sustainably said Mo.

Instead of working body parts, work body movement. Make sure a balanced resistance program includes a variety of pushes, pulls and rotations, Mo said.

Our bodies are capable of moving in a lot of directions, so make sure you expose yourself to a variety of exercises.

These include:

There are many variations of these workouts, and they can be done whether you are a beginner or an experienced gym-goer. While some exercises can be done at home, it is best to have a coach or trainer first show you how to do them properly to get the best results and avoid injury.

A strength coach is helpful because we can design a program that is balanced and progresses over time, explained Mo.

Going all-out in hyper mode at your local gym seven days a week does not mean youre going to see quicker or, for that matter, better results. Nor does running for 30 minutes on a treadmill and doing 200 sit-ups a day necessarily mean youre going to shrink the area around your midsection. There are other factors involved.

Changing your body composition comes down to a healthy balance of exercise, nutrition and rest.

If youre exercising hard every day but not optimizing your diet and not getting enough sleep, chances are you may not see the results you want. Your body needs premium fuel and appropriate rest to perform and look its best.

The good news is you can start small, with manageable exercises such as walking a lap or two around your neighborhood. You can also add portions of fruits and vegetables of your choice to meals. Gradually build your workouts and healthy diet until they become a part of your lifestyle, and youll see the changes in your body over time.

Stop focusing on the fat. Instead, focus on strengthening your entire body with exercises that target movement patterns for that day. For example, you can focus on upper body push exercises on Monday, lower body push exercises on Tuesday, recover on Wednesday, upper body pull exercises Thursday, and lower body pull exercises on Friday.

Spot treatments are a myth, she said. You cant reduce body fat in a certain area by doing exercises in a certain area. You will gain muscle and get stronger with that specific movement you are working at, but a change in body fat only happens as a result of consistent full body exercise and proper nutritional fueling.

Mo added, "To get the best results, emphasize whole-body movements during exercise, maintain a sustainable relationship with food, and prioritize your sleep," Mo said. "If you can integrate these three things into your current lifestyle, you will be able to make lasting changes while improving your quality of life."

Learn more about diet and exercise.

Tags: body composition, burning fat, diet, exercise, exercise tips, Fitness & Nutrition, nutrition, Top Stories, Uncategorized, weight loss, Wellness

Related Posts

Chief strategy officer at UCLA Health talks baseball, behavioral health and belonging to a classic Chicano family

The new recommendation expands earlier guidance to screen all adults for depression

We have a very large clinical trial profile which allows us to have access to novel therapies and new treatment strategies, says Dr. Ritu Salani

Continue reading here:
A healthy road to weight loss: Rethinking fat loss - UCLA Health Connect

DEAR DR. ROACH: Im 72, and I have had arthritis for three years: two years in both knees, one year in my right hip and the base of my spine. I am 53 and weigh 221 pounds, with a body mass index (BMI) of 39. I lost 23 pounds from January to June.

What is the BMI needed for an orthopedic surgeon to do a hip replacement for someone with osteoarthritis -- without a broken hip? I recently had an assessment of my hip X-rays. I was told Im at the outer cutoff of a BMI of 39, so Im eligible for a hip replacement operation. Then, a few weeks later, I saw the surgeon, who rejected me -- claiming that 39 isnt the outer limit, 35 is.

After a long talk, the surgeon said hed do it for me, but Id get a better result if I lose 20 more pounds and get my BMI down to 35. I felt jerked around, but said Id wait and lose weight. Im also trying to find a surgeon I like more than him.

So, what is the BMI needed for knee surgery: 35 or 39? -- L.C.

ANSWER: There is no standard cutoff BMI for joint replacement surgery. It is true that people with a BMI over 40 are at higher risk for medical complications; however, it is also true that people with severe arthritis and a high BMI still get improvement in their quality of life with surgery. Denying a person a cost-effective surgery that can greatly improve their quality of life simply because of a BMI number (which, in itself, is a flawed metric) is inappropriate.

I can understand why you would want to see a different surgeon, as it sounds like you were not treated well. However, the surgeon was right that surgical outcomes are better if a person can lose at least 20 pounds, according to a 2019 study. This included shorter lengths of stay in the hospital and a lesser chance of needing surgical revision. I wonder, though, if part of the benefit seen in the study was due to increased exercise prior to surgery, which is known to be beneficial in surgical outcomes.

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 45-year-old son has hemochromatosis. The treatment is phlebotomy of a pint of blood, sometimes every two weeks, until the iron level is normalized. My understanding is that the blood is discarded. Is there anything wrong with the blood? If not, I would think blood banks would welcome the donation. What are your thoughts on this subject? -- E.B.

ANSWER: Hereditary hemochromatosis is caused by the body absorbing too much iron due to a genetic defect. With no way to get rid of iron, it builds up and damages many organs, especially the heart, bone marrow, joints and adrenal gland. As you say, the best treatment is to remove iron in the form of red blood cells. This is effective at preventing most of the organ damage, if started quickly enough.

There has never been anything wrong with the blood of people with hereditary hemochromatosis, and the FDA here in the U.S. has always allowed the blood to be donated. However, until recently, the American Red Cross has not accepted blood donations from people with hereditary hemochromatosis. I am pleased to say that they have just changed their policy and will now be using this precious resource to help others, so long as the person meets all the criteria for being a blood donor. The blood will undergo all the standard and rigorous testing prior to being pronounced safe for use.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2022 North America Syndicate Inc.

All Rights Reserved

See the original post:
Dear Doctor: Weight loss before knee surgery is helpful, but even patients with a high BMI see benefits - OregonLive

A post is being shared on social media which claims that slim patches help in weight loss. A WhatsApp number is also provided in the post to place an order. Lets fact-check the claim made in this post through this article.

Claim: Slim patches/ weight loss patches are effective in weight loss.

Fact: Patches are a Transdermal way of administering a drug to the body. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states, Nothing you wear or apply to the skin can cause substantial weight loss. So weight-loss claims for patches, creams, lotions, wraps, body belts, earrings, and the like are false. Research on the effectiveness of Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems (TDDS) is also in its nascent stage to confirm the efficacy of TDDS in treating obesity. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.

Before knowing about the effectiveness of slim patches in aiding weight loss, understanding patches in general and the method they employ to deliver the drug to the human body is essential.

Transdermal Drugs

Transdermal Drug Delivery (TDD) is an alternative to oral and injection-based drug delivery. According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Transdermal drug products are administered to the skin, through which the drugs permeate into the systemic circulation and are delivered throughout the body to the site of action. These transdermal drug patches are placed on the skin like an adhesive bandage. A nicotine patch is an example of a Transdermal drug used by persons trying to quit smoking.

Effectiveness of Slim/Weight-loss patches in aiding weight loss.

According to medical news today,Weight loss patches contain different ingredients that manufacturers claim can assist people in losing weight. The patches supposedly work by releasing active ingredients from an embedded delivery system onto the skins surface. Then, the skin must absorb the particles of the active ingredient to allow them to enter the persons bloodstream.

U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states, Weight loss is an internal metabolic process. Nothing you wear or apply to the skin can cause substantial weight loss. So weight-loss claims for patches, creams, lotions, wraps, body belts, earrings, and the like are false. They also warned consumers not to fall prey to advertisements that claim one can lose weight with a patch.

According to R.O health guide Weight loss patches often contain ingredients that have been studied as oral supplements for weight loss. But, that doesnt mean the ingredient will have the same weight loss effects when used in patch form (Pastore, 2015). At least one clinical trial has evaluated the topical application of natural ingredients for their slimming effect and the results werent particularly promising (Berardesca, 2011).

A study says, At present, drugs through transdermal administration to treat human obesity have not been reported. In general, TDDS for the treatment of human obesity still needs further study to investigate the effectiveness of drugs on the human body.

Several other articles that state that there is no evidence to prove the effectiveness of the weight-loss patches in aiding weight loss can be read here, here and here. With all this evidence, we can conclude that slim or weight loss is not a proven way to lose weight.

To sum up, there is no evidence to prove the effectiveness of weight loss patches (Transdermal) in burning fat.

More here:
There is no evidence to prove the effectiveness of weight loss patches (Transdermal) in burning fat - Factly

David Harbours Weight Loss Transformation: How He Lost More Than 75 Pounds?

Modified Oct 11, 2022 06:23 PM IST

If you're a fan of Netflix's Stranger Things, you've probably noticed some major changes in the character of Jim Hopper played by David Harbour.

In one memorable scene where Harbour takes off his shirt to show off his lean, toned physique, he reveals the aftermath of his time spent locked up in a Soviet labor camp.

As Harbour told GQ, he worked intensely with his personal trainer David Higgins to go through eight months of training, including a rigorous exercise and diet plan to lose weight for the role.

So, how did he lose more than 75 pounds for the leaner version of Hopper seen in season 4? Heres what we learned from an Instagram live video Harbour did with Higgins.

Growing up as a nerdy kid who had never played sports before, David Harbour was never athletic for most of his life till he realized in his 40s that his body could not sustain a sedentary lifestyle.

Harbour told People Magazine that he was crossing the street one day when a car came into view. He attempted to sprint, but his body wouldn't let him. He realized that if he wasn't capable of running across the street, it was a part of growing old.

While preparing for the role of Hopper in season 4 of Stranger Things, David Harbour started working out.

He also began a healthy relationship with his body that made him feel good about himself and resulted in an increase in confidence. Harbour said he does an hour-long Pilates session five days a week.

He credited the exercises for fixing his injury and imbalances in his body, including his knee, toe ankle, hip, and back. Harbour started off with simple movements on a reformer machine.

When asked what his ab routine was to build his six-pack, Harbour laughed and said that his trainer made him do 200 ab crunches five times a week.

David Harbour told GQ that his major weight loss was due to intermittent fasting, a popular way that involves restricting when or how much you can eat in a given period.

Harbour said it was the fad diet of the moment but later found out that it did help him with his weight management. Research hasn't proven that intermittent fasting can lead to healthier habits, but there are studies that have shown no health risks associated with it.

The actor said that he wasn't making any drastic changes to the food he ate as much as he was changing how much he was eating, which made his lifestyle better.

Harbour told GQ that he had his meals within a six-to-eight-hour time frame during the day and fasted for 24 hours twice a week. He didn't change what he was eating; rather he limited his mealtimes to specific time frames.

After practicing intermittent fasting and cutting out sugar for a while, Harbour decided to eat more vegetables and make his diet cleaner by eating more vegetarian foods. He still follows intermittent fasting and mostly vegetarian eating even after his transformation for Stranger Things.

Even after completing his training for Stranger Things, David Harbour told People Magazine that he still keeps up a regular exercise routine. He likes to do weight training twice a week and runs at a low rate four or five times a week, keeping his pace at about 65 to 75% of his potential heart rate.

In an interview with GQ, Harbour told the magazine that he learned a lot from his experience on Stranger Things, especially the relationship with his body and what health means to him.

More from Sportskeeda

Fetching more content...

" + posts[i].title + "

End Page ' + pageNumber + '

Start Page '+ pageNumber +'

End Page '+ pageNumber +'

End Page '+ pageNumber +'

Start Page '+ pageNumber +'

Follow this link:
David Harbours Weight Loss Transformation: How He Lost More Than 75 Pounds? - Sportskeeda

Often posted by proud personal trainers, fitness app founders or weight-loss programme accounts, before and after photos are all over social media.

On Instagram alone, youll find 13.8 million posts under the tag #weightlosstransformation, many showing side by side images of people in gym kit (or sometimes just their underwear) showing off how many pounds theyve shifted since embarking on a new diet and/or exercise regime.

Theres nothing wrong with feeling proud of your achievements, of course, but is this focus on physical changes actually the best way to encourage healthy life choices?

New research from Asics reveals that 80% of people feel demotivated by before and after pics, while 73% believe societys obsession with the perfect body image is damaging our mental health.

"An after picture, it doesnt give you any context," says online creator and activitist Jada Sezer, who was a plus size model for 10 years before leaving the industry to pursue other interests.

"You can definitely have an after picture that might have this idealised body type, yet [that person] could be hungry, could be really moody, it could affect their periods, they could be angry and have lost out on some relationships around them because of their moods."

While social media users might think their impressive weight loss journey photos are inspirational to others, thats not always the case. The research found that 48% of people feel insecure about their bodies after seeing exercise transformation pictures.

We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

Sezer, who in 2019 ran the London Marathon in her underwear with journalist and author Bryony Gordon and is also an ambassador for UN Women UK, wants to encourage a more balanced approach to exercise and social media.

We caught up with the 33-year-old Londoner to talk fitness, body confidence and building a inclusive community online.

We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

Do you think personal trainers and companies use before and after photos as a tool to get other people to sign up to their diet and exercise programmes?

"I think the fitness industry is a very, very large industry with a lot of profits to be made. And the fact that transformation pics have become a big part of that is to try and sell this idealised ideal of what you could become, its like selling a dream.

"It doesnt take into account different peoples body compositions. Its not very individualised. Its very one [size] fits all. Were all really different. I just find it can be quite reductive."

Do you think theres a healthy way to share your fitness journey on social media?

We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

"The thing with Instagram is its always going to be a snapshot of someones experience its not going to ever show anyone the full human experience of what that one person is going through.

"And then when youre congratulated with likes, and these positive strokes that the algorithm of Instagram can often give us thats a whole other conversation to be had.

"But is Instagram the best place [to track your progress]? Or would it be maybe working with your personal trainer or a fitness coach and have that one-to-one relationship where you can also get that offline support?"

How does exercise benefit your mental health?

"Exercise helps me to realise how strong I am, [that I can] achieve certain milestones and challenges Ive set myself. But also on a day-to-day maintenance basis, it helps me to get out any pent-up stress.

"That doesnt necessarily mean it has to be a really sweaty, hardcore HIIT session four times a week. It can be literally just doing movement in my room, just doing some yoga and sun salutations for 20 minutes or whatever."

Some people still believe you cant be fit or healthy if youre not a certain size, what would you say to those people?

We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

"Fitness doesnt look like one thing. The fat on your body doesnt determine your fitness level, although weve been told for years that is the case through movies that show larger actors as the sloppy ones, the messy, dirty, lazy ones.

"Theres a lot of very skinny fat people that are internally not very healthy. They might have fast metabolisms but are on a McDonalds diet. You might assume that they are really, really healthy. They must workout, their life must be perfect. And I think its about changing that narrative."

Youve built a really supportive online community but how do you deal with negative comments?

"I always feel really inspired and motivated when I get negative comments. It often happens when big media campaigns come out, because I reach an audience thats outside my current community. It gives me a really good indication of how far we still need to move with body positivity.

"We should be appreciating our bodies even more, and sharing that with other women that may feel theyre in a situation whether its online or offline and have had criticism from other people, to remember how special our bodies are."

What are the most encouraging kind of messages you receive?

We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

"I think its really beautiful that people share their stories [such as] really harrowing experiences theyve had, that have really destroyed them at times.

"Even mums that share my profile with their daughters, or women that have said, Weve got into running because of your experience, or I went to the gym for the first time, or send me pictures of them wearing shorts.

"Or I wore that bra that you recommended and its changed the way I wear a top, because Ive been shopping the wrong bras for so long. Things like that make me feel really, really proud."

Follow this link:
Is it time to stop posting 'before and after' weight loss photos? - RTE.ie