Ever since her rise to fame in 2007, Khlo Kardashian has battled with her body image after being constantly compared to her sisters. In 2015, the star recalled being made to feel like the fat sister by the media, and opened up about the devastating impact that it had on the way that she viewed herself. I didnt really realize that I was the fat sister, if you will, until I went on TV and the media started saying that about me, she told People magazine at the time. I almost let that take ownership of me. [But really] I wasn't fat. I wasn't obese. But I would let society make me believe that I was." Khlo went on to admit that shed never felt negatively about her body until she found fame, and growing up, she felt beautiful despite looking different from Kim and Kourtney Kardashian. "I knew I didn't look like my sisters and I didn't have those shapes, but I didn't think that was wrong," she explained. "I had parents who were incredibly loving and nurturing and always made me feel beautiful so I never really questioned that." But as her star power grew, Khlo began to transform her body and before long weight loss had become an established part of her brand whether it be through her 2017 reality series, Revenge Body, or her book, Strong Looks Better Naked. Despite her image overhaul throughout the years, her ongoing, deep-rooted insecurities were highlighted in April 2021, when an unedited bikini picture went viral after it was accidentally posted online. Khlo looked sensational in the unauthorized photo, but she was reported to have been embarrassed and freaked out by it, and social media accounts that reposted the image were threatened with legal action in her bid to scrub it from the internet. The star addressed the leak on Instagram a few days later, where she admitted to struggling with body image her whole life. Khlo went on to add: In truth, the pressure, constant ridicule and judgment my entire life to be perfect and meet [others'] standards of how I should look has been too much to bear. Its almost unbearable trying to live up to the impossible standards that the public have all set for me, she continued, before declaring: My body, my image and how I choose to look and what I want to share is my choice. It's not for anyone to decide or judge what is acceptable or not anymore." And when Khlo was left heartbroken by her then-partner Tristan Thompsons paternity scandal eight months later, she appeared to lose even more weight. On Thursday, a source told BuzzFeed News that Tristan and Khlo were secretly engaged when it was revealed via leaked court documents that he was expecting a baby with personal trainer Maralee Nichols. Tristan had attempted to keep the scandal from Khlo and appeared to have no intention of telling her that he had a baby on the way with another woman. It has since been revealed that Tristan was also encouraging Khlo to go forward with their surrogacy plans for their second baby, and the embryo was transferred to the surrogate just days before news of Maralees pregnancy broke online and Khlo found out with the rest of the world. Khlo opened up about the devastating impact that Tristans betrayal had on her in last weeks premiere episode of The Kardashians Season 2, where she also discussed her surrogacy journey and sons birth in July for the first time. And in this weeks episode, which was filmed earlier in the year, Kim revealed that their younger sisters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, had expressed concern for Khlos extreme weight loss amid all of the drama. Looking at her sister as they lounged on a bed together, Kim said: You look very skinny. I will say that Kendall and Kylie not that Im trying to out them but they did text me and say that they were a little concerned for you because youre really skinny. I said, 'I think she's a bit stressed.'" As the camera cut to Khlo, she appeared to be elated by the comment as a huge smile crept across her face and she held a hand to her chest in disbelief. And Kendall said it? she grinned as she asked Kim. The model?! Kendall said it, Kim confirmed. I said, 'no, guys, shes fine,' and I said, 'you absolutely have every right to be concerned, but Im telling you shes fine.' Ignoring the concern from which these comments were made, Khlo let out an excited gasp and playfully posed with her leg in the air while smiling to herself. Later in the episode, Khlo visited Kendall at her home and as they hugged and said hello, Kendall exclaimed, Youre so skinny! to which Khlo replied, Oh my gosh, youre so skinny! Kendall then repeated, Youre so skinny! And both scenes left viewers at home feeling a little uncomfortable, with many expressing their sadness at Khlos gleeful reaction to being told that people are concerned about her due to her weight loss. So sad to see Khlo look delighted when Kim tells her shes skinny and theyre all worried about her, one person wrote on a Reddit thread. Someone replied: And then her and Kendall hugging and celebrating being skinny wtf. Yeah. I was kinda done with that. Sisters apparently expressing concern about her health & she celebrates? another user wrote. The sentiment was echoed in a second Reddit thread, where a user commented: So fucking sad to watch Khloe react with pure elation as Kim told her the siblings expressed concern over her dramatic weight loss Its almost as if the only thing her self worth is tied to now is her BMI Why was Khloe literally excited that Kendall thought she was getting too skinny ?! another asked. One person replied: Shes been told for so long that shes overweight by her family and media that it can be validating to hear the opposite, especially when people think youre skinny enough that they get concerned. Its sad though. Others werent impressed with the way that the show presented the concern, with a fan writing: Then they just glossed over it? Completely erasing the severity and complexity of her new weight loss they couldve turned the moment into a meaningful conversation and also maybe added a trigger warning. This isn't the first time that the Kardashians have been called out for glorifying weight loss. In 2018 Kim was forced to apologize after her sisters shared a series of videos where they praised her for being "skinny," and she joyfully responded to being called "anorexic." And earlier this year Kim was also criticized by a registered dietician for setting a "terrible example" and "perpetuating eating disorders" by boasting about losing a significant amount of weight to fit into her Met Gala dress. Elsewhere in Thursday's episode of The Kardashians, Khlo did go on to admit that she was struggling, explaining: Its a lot, but I just like to isolate and deal with things on my own and everyone has problems so why would I bring it, youve just got to deal with that. What I do know is that all of it sucks and its humiliating, its hurtful, I just dont have anything else to give, she added. Khlo and Tristan have had an on-and-off relationship since 2016, which has been dogged with infidelity. Just days before Khlo gave birth to their first child daughter True in 2018, it was revealed that Tristan had been cheating on her throughout her pregnancy. The following year, he was caught kissing Kylies thenbest friend Jordyn Woods at a party, and it has now been revealed that Tristan proposed to Khlo that December, even though they werent officially back together at the time. Khlo turned him down, but a source told BuzzFeed News that they revisited the subject of an engagement in February 2021 and she accepted, but they did not publicly announce the news. One month after their engagement, Tristan left the 30th birthday party that Khlo had thrown for him to have sex with Maralee who hed been seeing sporadically for sex for months prior. Maralee got pregnant and ended up filing legal documents against Tristan for child support and pregnancy-related expenses. In the paperwork, she claimed that Tristan had offered her $75,000 to get an abortion and warned her that hed play no role in their childs life. Khlo was unaware of Maralee, her pregnancy, and Tristans lawsuit until it was reported in the press in December 2021, shortly before Maralee gave birth to her son, Theo. Khlos second child with Tristan, a baby boy, was already on the way at this point, but Khlo ended their engagement and is now said to only speak to Tristan about parenting-related matters. incoming

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Kendall And Kylie Jenner Expressed Their Concern Over Khlo Kardashians Extreme Weight Loss And Her Reaction Was Heartbreaking - BuzzFeed News

Whether you call Boston home sweet home or consider yourself a passionate foodie (or both!), you may know of Michael Scelfo. This proud father and Boston-based chef owns internationally acclaimed restaurants, including Waypoint, The Longfellow Bar, and Alden & Harlow. Scelfo has also been featured in Food & Wine's "Best New Restaurants," Cond Nast Traveler's "Best Restaurants in the World," and Bon Apptit's "America's Best New Restaurants." Recently, Scelfo has taken his family, friends, and fans through an inspirational journey, documenting his just-under 100-pound weight loss transformation on Instagram.

If you're trying to lose a substantial amount of weight, but feel like nothing's doing the trick, or you need a solid dose of motivation to get back on track at the gym, we're here to share this chef's moving story with you. Keep reading to learn more about his just-under 100-pound weight loss.

Four weeks ago, Scelfo posted side-by-side shirtless photos of himself on Instagram, writing, "85 pounds, 306 days ago. focus, determination, willpower, perspective, healing." Most recently, on September 21, the chef posted another comparison before and after he dropped almost 100 pounds, captioning his post, "A little mid week motivation for us, just over a year ago, and almost 100 pounds heavier. I've started adding some daily physical routine to the diet (walking, planks, etc), nothing too crazy, but it's adding another dimension and another layer for me to latch on to. Doing what works for me, in the hopes you'll do the same. Gonna hit you with some healthy turkey stuffed peppers on the reel soon too. Keep at it! LFG."

We had the opportunity to speak with Scelfo, and he shares exactly what his routine consisted of to lose almost 100 pounds.

Related: This Man's 30-Pound Weight Loss Has Him Feeling Younger Than 50

With a history of heart issues within his family, Scelfo was motivated to begin his weight loss journey. "My blood pressure was becoming a problem, and emotionally, I was at the bottom and really needed a life change," he shares.

How did Scelfo accomplish his just-under 100-pound weight loss? His exercise consisted mostly of walking, saying, "I really wanted to make changes that felt comfortable and sustainable to who I am. As time has gone on, and I've been motivated by results, I've added more physicality to the routine because I want to add levels now."

Related: The #1 Machine Workout To Shrink Belly Fat and Slow Aging

As far as nutrition is concerned, Scelfo followed a "very regimented diet." Now that he's lost a substantial amount of weight, he occasionally indulges "modestly" on weekends. On an everyday basis, he maintains a strict diet, keeping his calories to about 1,500. That number is reevaluated consistently based on his doctor's feedback. Scelfo tells us, "It's very protein-forward, tons of veggies, and a bit of certain fruits. Generally, it's no sugar, carbs, oils, and fats and very minimal dairy."

This chef's goal was to drop 50 pounds within six months, then hit 190 on the scale, which he accomplished four months after. Now, Scelfo is focusing on tightening things up and developing his muscles. He weighed 279 pounds when he first started his weight loss journey and is currently 189 pounds.

Scelfo reveals the journey has been life-changing in many ways. His motivation and positivity have increased dramatically, and he's able to breathe so much better.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

He shares advice for others who hope to lose a significant amount of weight or simply kickstart their fitness journey, "I would just say, at the risk of being cliche, that you just really have to commit and believe in yourself. You really have to find the bottom in a lot of ways before you can truly make a change. At least for me that's what happened. And that's different for everyone. The thing I tell people the most is that 'it feels good to feel good,' and that's about so much more than weight."

Alexa Mellardo

Read more:
This Chef's Just-under 100-Pound Weight Loss Journey Is So Inspiring Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

More than 70% of adults in the US are overweight or considered obese. Its important not to advise a patient to simply eat less and exercise more, said presenter Irene W. Bean, DNP, APRN, PMHNP, PNAP, FAANP, FAAN, executive director and founder of the Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Association.

Obesity is a chronic disease and global health issue, Bean said, and clinicians know that, if left untreated, obesity can lead to insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, and cause further complications, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and in some cases, death.1

It is important to know what your options are as a provider and understand which methods of treatment might be the best fit for your patients. It is important to familiarize yourself with the proper dosages of obesity and weight loss drugs, according to Bean. Some providers may be unfamiliar with prescribing, she said, and begin at too high of a dose or raise the dosage too quickly, which can cause indigestion, nausea, and vomiting.

Bean began her presentation highlighting the mechanisms of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which she explained are preferred to amphetamine-based therapieslike phenterminewhich can worsen blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety, and insomnia.

There are several options for obesity and weight loss treatment, including oral medications, but Bean directed her presentation toward GLP-1 receptor agonist injectables.

First approved on June 4, 2021 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the once-weekly semaglutide injection 2.4 mg (Wegovy) became the first and only prescription weight loss medication with a once-weekly dosage. The approval was based on results from the Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP) clinical trial program, which progressed through 4 phase 3a trials and involved approximately 4500 participants. In the STEP 1 trial, Bean pointed out, the 83.5% of patients achieved a loss of 5% or more body weight reduction compared to placebo (3.1%). Patients also saw an average body weight reduction of 15.6% at 68 weeks, according to study results.

The once-weekly semaglutide injection had previously been approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes under the brand name Ozempic. When used with diet and exercise, it improves glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes, Bean said. It has been proven to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke in adults with Type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease.

Next is tirzepatide (Mounjaro), a once-weekly glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 receptor agonist. The first and only FDA-approved dual-action GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist for diabetes, tirzepatide is also being studied as potential treatment for non-alcohol steatohepatitis.

A 3mg injection of liraglutide (Saxenda) is another option, Bean pointed out. This GLP-1 receptor agonist influences certain brain receptors that control appetite, and cause feelings of fullness and reduced hunger, which may result in reduced calorie consumption. It is the first and only GLP-1 receptor for weight management in adolescents (ages 12 to 17), meant to be combined with exercise and a low-calorie diet. Weight loss with liraglutide can start within 2 weeks and continues for 9 months to a year, Bean said.

This dosage of liraglutide showed significant results for lowering BMI-for-age during the clinical stages, Bean said, citing a study that followed adolescents ages 12 to 17 years with obesity. Those receiving liraglutide for 1 year reduced their BMI-for-age by 0.23%, whereas the BMI-for-age in adolescents not treated with liraglutide did not change at all.

While weight loss results can be achieved with GLP-1 agonist receptors, it is important for clinicians to know potential side effects, especially when counseling patients. These include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, dizziness, fatigue, constipation or diarrhea, heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, mood changes, and drug interactions. Less common side effects include allergic reaction, acute pancreatitis, acute cholelithiasis, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and risk of thyroid C-cell tumors.

It is important for providers to assess patients for contraindications including heart disease, sleep apnea, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcohol steatohepatitis, cholelithiasis, and cancer.

Reference

Continue reading here:
A glimpse into GLP-1 receptor agonists: what to know about the market of obesity and weight loss drugs - Contemporary Obgyn

High adherence to the palaeolithic diet helps reduce sleep apnoea in menopausal women who are overweight, with the benefit linked to weight loss, according to a secondary analysis of a trial comparing a 2-year intervention of a palaeolithic diet with a low-fat control diet according to the Nordic Nutritional Recommendations.

The analysis included 70 healthy, nonsmoking women (mean age 60 years, mean body mass index [BMI] 33 kg/m2). Two years of palaeolithic diet intervention led to greater weight loss compared with the control diet (mean, 7.2 kg, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 5.39.2 vs 3.9 kg, 95 percent CI, 1.95.9; p<0.021). [Int J Obesity 2022;46:1833-1839]

Weight loss translated to a reduction in the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) in the palaeolithic diet group (p=0.034) but not in the control group (p=0.69). BMI changes also showed a significant correlation with AHI changes in the palaeolithic diet group only (p=0.03 and p=0.70).

After 2 years, AHI improved in women who lost weight by >8 kg, regardless of the diet group. About 40 percent of women in the palaeolithic diet group and 20 percent in the control group had lost >8 kg at follow-up.

The present data support the finding that the more weight that is lost, the greater the reduction in the AHI found in previous trials, according to the investigators. [BMJ 2009;339:b4609;Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009;179:320-327; Arch Intern Med 2009;169:1619-1626;JAMA 2012;308:1142-1149]

Caveman diet

Palaeolithic diet typically includes meat, fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables, seeds, and nuts, along with healthy fats and oils. It is the modern interpretation of the diet that humans ate during the Palaeolithic or "Old Stone Age" era and centres on the idea that eating like them can promote good health. [Eur J Endocrinol2019;180:417-427;Adv Nutr2019;10:634-646; Obes Rev2019;20:1132-1147]

How palaeolithic diet can help with weight loss and sleep apnoea may be related to the previously reported improvements in components of the metabolic syndrome, notably waist circumference and triglyceride levels, that the diet induces, with close relationships having been established between the metabolic syndrome and the AHI. [Am J Clin Nutr 2015;102:922-932;Sleep Med 2011;12:329-334]

A palaeolithic diet can therefore be recommended to women who are overweight after menopause, with the understanding that it will only affect the severity of sleep apnoea if weight is reduced by more than 8 kg, the investigators said.

However, they stressed that the diet had no effect on excessive daytime sleepiness, which is suggested as the most important symptom of sleep apnoea.

It is possible that daytime sleepiness in women with overweight after menopause is primarily due to factors other than sleep apnoea. This may explain why no effect was found between weight reduction and daytime sleepiness in the present trial, the investigators explained.

Further studies with large sample sizes are needed before a palaeolithic diet can be recommended to people with obstructive sleep apnoea, they added.

Continued here:
Palaeolithic diet-induced weight loss extends benefits to sleep apnoea in women | Latest news for Doctors, Nurses and Pharmacists | Respirology - MIMS

Ree Drummond is an American blogger, photographer, and television personality. She lives on a ranch on the outskirts of Oklahoma with her husband. In 2010, she was listed at number 22 on Forbes top 25 web celebrities.

Drummond recently lost a lot of weight. She wrote in her blog that years of writing recipe books, owning a restaurant, and having a cooking website slowly caused her to gain weight.

What motivated her to lose weight was that she was at her highest weight ever and that her daughters wedding was around the corner.

Drummond made it clear that she did not use any special diets like keto or paleo, and neither did she try intermittent fasting. She made sure that she ate normal household food and did not splurge on any specialty diet foods. Furthermore, she did not hire any personal trainer to help her with her workout.

After listing out all the things that she did not do, Drummond turned her attention toward things that she did do to lose over 50 pounds of weight in one year.

Drummond swore by the science of calories in, calories out. She tried her best to be in a calorie deficit each day, which meant that she tried to eat fewer calories than she burned out. She took the help of online calculators to get a rough estimate of the calories that she should be consuming.

To be more precise when measuring calories, weighing food comes in handy. You can simply measure the grams and use apps to find out the nutritional value and calories. Drummond said that she ate good food, but leaned towards more nutritious items.

Drummond made exercise a regular part of her day. It could be something as simple as taking the dogs out for a walk or using the rowing machine that was there in her drawing room.

She insisted that exercising is something that just had to be done because theres never a good time. For the first time, she chose to prioritize exercise even if it meant a delay in work commitments.

Like every person on a weight loss journey, she hit a plateau and stopped losing weight about six weeks after she started her journey. After some research, she realized that she needed to lift weights and make more muscle mass as that helps burn calories too.

Although she was not able to do lunges or squats in the beginning, she did not give up on it.

While she was researching about weight loss plateau, she realized that a lot of people were able to push through it by increasing their protein intake. As she was already tracking her calories, this was just another step to add to the process.

Turns out that she was only consuming about 10-20% of protein, when she upped the intake to about 30-40%, it worked wonders for her.

Sugar is such an integral part of our diets that it is hard to cut out. But being more mindful of how much sugar you consume in a day can be helpful. Drummond insisted that choosing more nutritious food over sugary items helped reduce wasted calories.

But that does not mean that she did not indulge once in a while.

There were multiple reasons for her to quit alcohol while she was on her weight loss journey. One of the reasons was that it was loaded with calories. The second reason was that she wanted to give her body a rest after all the working out.

She ended up not having a sip of alcohol for over four months, although she does indulge in it now.

Another thing that she found to have worked out well for her was using an app called Happy scale. It only provided updates on how close she was to her weight goal, but it proved to be a game changer for her.

Before Drummond wrapped up the article, she listed some of the important learnings that can help people who are planning to lose weight or are already on the journey.

She assured the readers that the grueling routine of measuring food and counting out calories was limited to the initial months. Once you learned the portions and the calories of your frequent meals, you did not have to measure them anymore.

She reiterated how much building muscles helped her in the weight loss journey. The blogger also mentioned how she had become accustomed to eating smaller portions over time. She also insisted on the importance of moving around every day even if workouts were not possible.

For her, it was an important part of the process to weigh herself daily. It was because the excess weight had crept when she chose not to weigh herself. It was a way to hold herself accountable.

Surprisingly, she also mentioned how no food was on her list of bad foods. Now that she has lost weight, she focuses on her portions and tries to have a protein-rich diet.

One of the best piece of advice from Drummond was that it is better to take things easy rather than to go all in at once. Losing all the weight in the right manner ensured that she felt healthy physically and mentally. She said that now she felt more in balance, physically and mentally.

Feeling good about yourself shows in all aspects of ones life. For Drummond, she felt more energic and willing to take on projects and fill up her calendar.

Losing weight is winning a battle in itself. If one does it in a steady and healthy manner, then the maintaining part of the journey becomes much easier. Drummond took her time to learn about the process and understood what worked best for her.

She also paid enough attention to her diet for it to positively make a difference in her life. That helped her lose over 50 pounds in a matter of a year! And she chose to share all her learning with the rest of the world.

Read the original:
Ree Drummond Weight Loss: How She Lost 50 Pounds in a Year - TheTealMango

For some people who may be trying to lower their saturated fat intake, white meat, like that found in poultry like chicken and turkey, can be healthier to consume on a regular basis than red meats like beef and pork. But there are some dishes that call for the use of traditional red meats, like sausage, and if you're trying to lower you red meat intake, chicken sausage can come in handy. Like the turkey burger before it, chicken sausage is a healthy alternative to eating pork sausage and can be added into a variety of recipes as a lower-fat protein.

We've selected some chicken sausage recipes for you to try that are nutritionally-dense, while still packing in a ton of flavor. Read on, and for more healthy recipes check out 28 High-Protein Breakfasts That Keep You Full.

Per 1 serving: 360 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated), 450 mg sodium

When you combine pasta, cheese, and tomato sauce, you can't really go wrong flavor-wise. Unfortunately, health-wise can be a different story. Most lasagnas come packed with excess calories and fat, but this recipe is able to avoid much of that by swapping the traditional ground beef for chicken sausage, an alternative that's lower in fat and calories, but still great in flavor.

Get our recipe for Easy Chicken Sausage Lasagna.

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Per 1 serving: 395 calories, 12 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 750 mg sodium

Calzones aren't usually top-of-mind when you think up healthy meals. It's all too easy to rack up a staggering calorie count when putting in different fillings, but this recipe keeps it light by relying on the excellent flavor from sauted and roasted vegetables, as well as chunks of chicken sausage, resulting in a low-calorie, yet filling meal.

Get our recipe for Veggie and Chicken Loaded Calzone.

Per 1 serving: 250 calories, 14 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 890 mg sodium

Perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a snack, this quiche recipe doesn't contain the heavy cream and cheese that typically weigh quiches down with excess calories and fat. Instead, it's packed with healthy sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes, as well as two links of chicken sausage to add in some protein.

Get our recipe for Savory Artichoke Feta Quiche.

Per 1 serving: 415 calories, 17 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 625 mg sodium

Burritos are just about the perfect lunch or dinner, so why not make them the perfect breakfast as well? This tasty recipe features chicken sausage as the main protein, as well as eggs, onion, black beans, and avocado to round out the burrito. Also, by swapping out white tortillas for whole wheat tortillas, pork sausage for the chicken sausage, and adding beans and avocado, this delicious breakfast item, which might just become a morning staple, cuts the calories in half and adds some much-needed nutritional value.

Get our recipe for Easy Breakfast Burrito.

Per 1 serving: 378 calories, 17 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 577 mg sodium

Some people enjoy a sweet start to the day with breakfast foods like pancakes, French toast, or yogurt, but for those who enjoy a more savory kickoff to begin the day, this breakfast hash with chicken sausage is the perfect choice. The hash, which is filled with veggies like kale, banana peppers, and cremini mushrooms, as well as crispy potatoes, is low in saturated fat and calories.

Get our recipe for Hearty Italian Hash with Eggs.

RELATED: 50 Healthy Dinner Recipes That Take 30 Minutes (or less!)

Per 1 serving: 494 calories, 24.2 g fat, 1400 mg sodium

Who doesn't love pizza? The beloved food can be prepared in so many ways, but rarely is it prepared with health in mind, until now. This recipe swaps fattening meat toppings like pepperoni and bacon for lower-fat chicken sausage, and also tops the pizza with spinach and diced tomatoes. While this recipe is relatively low in calories and fat, especially compared to other pizza recipes, it does have a high sodium content, so avoid any excess salt when putting this dish together.

Get the recipe from Pinch of Yum.

Sometimes the best recipes are the most simple, and this pasta dish is proof of that. The easy-to-put-together meal only has nine ingredients, including four links of chicken sausage, as well as orecchiette pasta and a pound of Brussels sprouts. As the pasta dish doesn't include more fattening meats, like pork or beef, and isn't weighed down with mozzarella, it's also lower in fat and more nutritious than many other pasta meals.

Get the recipe from Gimme Some Oven.

Per 1 serving: 138 calories, 8.8 g fat (3.7 g saturated fat)

Typically, muffins aren't going to be the healthiest thing you can eat. Loaded with sugar and white flour, while also being filled with common ingredients like chocolate chips, muffins made of flour should be a rare treat as opposed to a regular recipe if you're trying to lose weight. Egg muffins, on the other hand, are a great option for anyone looking for a healthier breakfast alternative. These muffins, which only take 20 minutes to prep and cook, are low-carb and a great source of protein, so they'll leave you feeling full through the morning.

Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

Per 1 serving: 230 calories, 11 g fat (4.5 g saturated fat), 290 mg sodium

Breakfast hash is a diner classic, but you don't even have to change out of your pajamas in the morning and step outside to have a delicious hash for breakfast. With this recipe, not only are you saving a trip out, but you're also saving yourself a lot of calories and saturated fat that's typically found in delicious, yet greasy and fat-laden diner food. This hash features crispy sweet potatoes, chicken sausage, and sunny-side eggs for a nutritious start to the day.

Get our recipe for Easy Breakfast Hash with Sweet Potato and Chicken Sausage.

Per 1 serving: 630 calories

For anyone pressed on time, one pot dinners are extremely helpful. All you have to do to get the meal going is dump all of the ingredients in one pot or Dutch oven and wait for it to be done, just like with this creamy, nutritionally-dense orzo recipe. This meal, which is filled with summer veggies like spinach and zucchini, is low in calories for such a creamy, cheesy pasta dish.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.

Per 1 serving: 318 calories, 11 g fat

One of the best parts of cooking in the fall is bringing the oven out of retirement and making all sorts of warm, delicious, oven-baked meals, including this healthy casserole. The meal is packed with Italian flavors because of the sun-dried tomatoes, and packed with protein from the chicken sausage. It's also extremely low in fat and is easily customizable, making it perfect for any of the pickier eaters who want to be healthy.

Get the recipe from Fit Foodie Finds.

For anyone with a busy lifestyle, sheet pan dinners are a key to making a nutritious meal, while not spending a lot of time preparing or cooking it. Sheet pan dinners are simple, all you have to do is place your ingredients on the pan and pop it in the oven. For this recipe, all you have to do is cut some red onion, kalette, and chicken sausage pieces and cover them in oil, red wine vinegar, and seasonings. Not only is it simple to make, it's also a nutrient-rich and protein-packed meal.

Get the recipe from Heartbeet Kitchen.

Per 1 serving: 290 calories, 18 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 1,514 mg sodium

There's nothing quite as perfect for colder weather than a big bowl of homemade soup, and this one, filled with chicken sausage and zucchini noodles, is perfect for any chilly weather day. By swapping carb-heavy pasta for zucchini noodles, this soup is able to remain low in calories while also packing in a ton of nutrient-dense vegetables, although it's relatively high in sodium, so be mindful of any excess salt you're taking in.

Get the recipe from Inspiralized.

Chicken sausage is a great alternative for those who are trying to lower their red meat intake, or for those who may just prefer the taste of chicken of pork or beef. These recipes can help you enjoy classic sausage-based meals with fewer calories and saturated fat. Choose your favorite recipe from the list above, gather the ingredients and your favorite chicken sausage, and enjoy!

Link:
13 Best Chicken Sausage Recipes for Weight Loss - Eat This, Not That

A pair of new drugs offer something many Americans desperately want: a way to lose weight.

In clinical trials, Novo Nordisks NOVO.B, +1.60% Wegovy helped adults lose about 15% of their body weight. The drug, which received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year, had such a successful launch that its now in short supply. Eli Lillys LLY, -0.56% tirzepatide, meanwhile, is still in clinical trials, but data from a Phase 3 trial showed that people taking the drug lost up to 22% of their body weight.

For the roughly 42% of Americans who are obese, these results are nothing short of a miracle.

Wall Street is thrilled, predicting a global market for the drugs as big as $54 billion by 2030. And physicians feel they finally have a new treatment option for their patients. I was prescribing Wegovy almost as fast as I could, said Elizabeth Fryoux, a physician who practices obesity medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

And there is more research coming: Lilly and Novo are also running studies to figure out if the same drugs can reduce the risk of death or improve outcomes for conditions like high blood pressure and stroke that often go hand in hand with obesity.

But there are roadblocks to getting these therapies to patients who need them. Late last year, Wegovy ran into supply issues brought on by a combination of high demand and production issues involving the syringes used in the pens that inject the medication. The issues are expected to resolve sometime before the end of the year. The stigma surrounding obesity, meanwhile, may be discouraging insurers and policymakers from covering these drugs.

The drugs developed by Novo and Lilly to treat obesity have both been approved, in different formulations, to treat Type 2 diabetes. Those therapies Novos Ozempic and Lillys Mounjaro, which got FDA approval in May are covered by Medicare, the federal health-insurance program for older adults and people with disabilities. Medicare doesnt cover Wegovy or other FDA-approved weight-management therapies, including Vivus Qsymia.

If we have a drug that is Wegovy that is for weight loss, and its not covered, but we have a drug that is Ozempic, and its for diabetes, the exact same drug is covered, said Holly Lofton, a physician who works in obesity medicine at NYU Langone Health in New York City. Theres not a drug issue. Theres a we dont want to treat this patient issue. That comes from stigma or discrimination or lack of knowledge about obesity as a condition.

A decades-old law prohibits Medicare from covering prescription drugs to treat weight gain or weight loss. That means the roughly 49 million people in the U.S. who get their prescription drug coverage from Medicare would have to spend more than $1,300 a month for a Wegovy prescription, putting access far out of reach for many. Even for people with private health insurance, these drugs may not be covered. Less than 10% of people have commercial health insurance that covers weight-management therapies like Wegovy.

But an aggressive lobbying push in Washington and quiet support in different parts of the Biden administration indicate that the longstanding rule is being reconsidered. The House Appropriations Committee in June described Medicare coverage for obesity drugs as a matter of health equity. The Office of Personnel Management, the federal governments human resources department, this year reiterated that obesity drugs cant be excluded from insurance plans for federal workers. The bottom line is that we follow the science and, in this instance, the science is telling us that we should recommend uptake of anti-obesity drugs more strongly than we did previously, an OPM spokesperson told MarketWatch.

This line of thinking suggests that additional federal coverage may not be far behind, said UBS analyst Colin Bristow.

Ted Kyle runs ConscienHealth, an obesity advocacy organization. That momentum comes from people having a better understanding of what were dealing with, he said. Ten years ago, policymakers would come out and say, Fat people need to eat less and move more.

A vanity drug or an outdated policy?

Until recently, the medical community often blamed obesity on a lack of willpower or a mismatch between calories consumed and calories burned. The American Medical Association now considers obesity a disease, and doctors describe patients as having overweight or obesity, not as being overweight and obese, and refer to weight management, not weight loss.

But that shift in thinking is still relatively new the American Board of Obesity Medicine, which certifies physicians who work in this field, was set up in 2011 and challenges remain. A story published last spring in The New York Times reported that a health insurer had declined to cover Wegovy for a patient on the grounds that its a vanity drug.

That feels so stigmatizing, said Diana Thiara, medical director of the University of California San Franciscos weight management program.

The Medicare ban on covering weight-loss drugs, which was part of the implementation of the Medicare Part D program in 2003, likely results from that same stigma. It also followed the fenfluramine phentermine (fen-phen) crisis of the late 1990s, in which the stimulants fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine, prescribed for short-term use for weight loss, were pulled from the market when it was discovered they could cause heart-valve damage that in some cases resulted in death.

The newest class of weight-management drugs as well as therapies like Qsymia and Currax Pharmaceuticals Contrave, which were approved about a decade ago are not stimulants. Wegovy, which is the first new weight-management drug to have been approved since 2014, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, while tirzepatide is a GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1receptor agonist. When paired with physical activity and calorie reduction, they help slow digestion and increase the release of insulin so that patients end up feeling full faster and for longer.

These actually are now very physiologic, Lofton said. Most of them [are] hormones that were giving people to adjust their gut and brain pathways to send different messages about hunger and fullness and desire to eat.

Medicare does pay for bariatric surgery and behavioral weight-loss therapy. Over the years, legislative fixes to the medication ban have been proposed, including the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, which has been introduced several times over the past decade, most recently in March of 2021. Lilly and Novo are both lobbying to change the Medicare language, and physicians, including NYUs Lofton, have also been calling on lawmakers to do so.

So far, those efforts have not been successful.

Medicare is behind the times, and its hampered by its own outdated policies, said Dorothea Vafiadis, director of the National Council on Agings Center for Healthy Aging. If you look at the CMS stated commitment, they are designed to close gaps in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for underserved populations. And this really kind of flies in the face of that commitment.

The National Council on Aging, along with obesity advocacy organizations such as the Obesity Action Coalition, receive funding from the drug companies that market or are developing weight-management therapies. So do Kyle and Lofton, among other physicians and advocates. These financial relationships, though common in U.S. medicine and public policy, also underscore the billions of dollars in sales that may be at stake for Lilly and Novo.

A $54 billion market

Companies are racing not only to develop the most effective weight-management drug but to market the one that can best improve outcomes for obese patients beyond losing weight.

Novo expects to have the first batch of data from its Phase 3 clinical trial which will show whether Wegovy can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by mid-2023, according to a spokesperson. (The company also makes Saxenda, an older weight-management drug thats been shown to reduce body weight by about 5%.) Lilly, which is expected to soon file for FDA approval of tirzepatide as a weight-management therapy, also plans to launch a Phase 3 trial later this year to evaluate whether its drug can reduce morbidity and mortality.

If either study shows positive results, it could change the conversation with insurers and employers, because the value of an individual patient taking one of these medications will then be twofold. Not only will patients lose weight, but their comorbidities may improve, possibly averting costly medical care down the line.

Morgan Stanley predicts an obesity-drug market as large as $54 billion by 2030. UBS predicts $25 billion in peak sales for tirzepatide, which would make it one of the bestselling drugs in history, according to the banks analysts. SVB Securities puts peak sales expectations for tirzepatide, taking into account its potential use for both diabetes and obesity, a little lower, at roughly $21 billion. For context, Humira, AbbVies rheumatoid-arthritis drug, is the worlds top-selling drug, generating $20.7 billion in annual sales in 2021.

Historically, [insurance] payers viewed obesity drugs like they did Botox for wrinkles. They viewed it as something that was a cosmetic drug that should not be covered by insurance, said David Risinger, an SVB analyst. There needs to be a rethinking of coverage when there are drugs that offer transformational health benefits for a disease, even if its common.

If thats the case, think of these drugs less like Botox and more like a new knee.

No medication for weight loss to date shows reduction in morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease, Thiara said. [Insurers] say, This is an older population. Theyre not going to benefit from a longevity standpoint from treating their obesity. So, therefore, were not going to cover it. But there [are] other things, like quality of life, that matter. And Medicare covers other things like joint replacement or acid-reflux medication. Theyre not necessarily reducing morbidity and mortality either. Theyre just letting somebody whos older enjoy their life.

Lilly and Novo are both on track to spend more on lobbying in 2022 than either company has spent in the last three years. Lilly has lobbied this year in favor of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act and Medicare coverage of treatments for Alzheimers disease, as well as against legislation that would cap insulin costs, spending $3.9 million in the first half of this year, after paying out $7.5 million in 2021.

Novos lobbying this year has primarily focused on getting Medicare Part D to cover obesity drugs through legislation like the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, the Build Back Better Act, and the appropriations bill. The Danish drugmaker spent $2.2 million on lobbying in the first half of this year, after spending $3.6 million in all of 2021.

Theres no way that patients are going to be able to afford that

Mississippi has one of the highest rates of obesity in the U.S. Its also one of the poorest states, and its Medicaid program doesnt pay for weight-loss surgery, which means there are few options for the 40% of adults in the state who are obese.

Fryoux, the University of Mississippi Medical Center obesity specialist, began prescribing Wegovy to her patients in mid-2021, right after it was approved. At that time, Novo offered a coupon that allowed people with insurance to pay $25 a month for a prescription for six months. (People who have Medicare Part D coverage arent allowed to use coupons provided by pharmaceutical companies.)

But by the end of last year, Wegovy was in short supply and the coupons ran out, leaving patients on the hook for at least $1,000 a month if they wanted to keep taking the drug.

Theres no way that patients are going to be able to afford that unless youre a millionaire, I guess, or a celebrity, Fryoux said.

So for now, shes prescribing Ozempic the formulation of the same drug thats used for patients with diabetes off-label to her patients with obesity, because Ozempic is covered by Medicare.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly described tirzepatide. It is a GIP and GLP-1receptor agonist.

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Why arent new drugs that can help you lose weight more widely used? - MarketWatch

Bodybuilding legend Dennis James does more than host The Menace Podcast. He is also a promoter, and he held his NPC Dennis James Classic Arizona show in June of 2022. Among the winners of that contest was Kaylin Heisler, who won both womens physique and womens bodybuilding. Winning two different divisions in the same show isnt easy, but it certainly gets attention when it happens.

Alina Popa and Lenda Murray wanted to know more about this crossover athlete, so Heisler joined them on a recent episode of Femme Flex Friday. She shared that while she may be new to bodybuilding, she has always been active and into sports, including martial arts.

I started [martial arts] at six years old, she said. Being active was always there for me, but I didnt get into bodybuilding until I saw my coach doing it.

Heisler credited her family for supporting her in all of her endeavors. Her mom has even been to the bodybuilding shows she competed at so far, including the Dennis James Classic.

She was there screaming. Thats always fun.

The Arizona native also revealed that her initial connection to the sport came as a result of a weight loss journey.

II had a lot of health problems at the time, so I gained a lot of weight. I hired a trainer to kind of tone me back down and just kind of get back into it, she explained. Her family wanted her to become a police officer, but it appears that her future may be as an IFBB Pro. Considering her first show was in November 2020, that is a rapid rise through the amateur ranks. Clearly, she is focused on making it as a pro because she analyzed her physique and has an idea of what she wants to improve.

I just want to come in leaner, she shared. A little drier, a little harder.

Heisler shared more about her background as well as the feeling of competing with her partner in her first show, and a lot more. Go to http://www.wingsofstrength.net or subscribe to the Wings of Strength YouTube channel to see every episode of Femme Flex Friday. New shows are released every Friday at 6:00 PM Eastern time.

Read this article:
Kaylin Heisler's Weight-Loss Journey Led Her to the Bodybuilding Stage - Muscle & Fitness

Inflammation isnt just painful. Over time, if the issue becomes chronic, it can lead to serious diseases like diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and more. Additionally, the higher glucose levels resulting from inflammation may lead to weight gainwhich is why steering clear of inflammatory foods is important if youre trying to shed a few pounds, maintain a slim figure, or just keep your overall fitness in check.

To learn more about the affect if inflammation on the body and some of the worst ingredients out there that can put you at risk, we spoke to health expertsNataly Komova, RD, Kimberly Gomer MS, RD/LDN, registered dietitian Zo Schroeder, and functional nutritionist Amy Lippert. They told us all about why you should avoid margarine, sugar, and artificial sweeteners as much as possible.

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Although it was once hailed as a healthy alternative to butter, margarine is, unfortunately, actually quite bad for your overall health, according to experts. In fact, Komova says she discourages her clients from using it because it is "the unhealthiest of all spreads and butters." Yikes! This is because, as she notes, "It mostly carries large amounts of trans-fats and pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatsthe worst fats that increase LDL, leading to a risk of heart diseases. Additionally, higher trans-fats potentially cause insulin resistance, which lowers metabolism." Yikes! Gomer agrees, explaining that margarine is typically made with seed and vegetable oils like corn oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, and more. "All see oils cause inflammation in the body," she warns, adding that this can lead to a plethora of health issues (including weight gain) over time.

Okay, so it's no secret that too much sugar isn't great for you. However, you can never be told too many timesespecially when there's so much sneaky sugar in so many of your favorite food and beverages, even when they seem "healthy." Lippert reminds us that it's highly important to cut down on the sweet stuff whenever possible. "When you consume [sugary foods and drinks] they have a negative impact on blood glucose levels and will cause a spike, resulting in an immediate burst of energy followed closely with a crash as the body works to bring the blood glucose levels back to a safe level," she warns. "High levels of glucose are damaging to the body, so in response to this spike, the body releases insulin, a hormone that is the key to opening up the door to our adipose tissue (fat) to store the glucose (as glucagon) in order to reduce the levels in our blood, leading to weight gain." We'll definitely be keeping an eye on the nutrition labels to check sugar content next time we're at the grocery store.

Unfortunately, artificial sweeteners are a sugar replacement that can still do a significant amount of damage on your body when consumed in excess. The chemicals in this ingredient have been shown to cause inflammation, which we know can lead to weight gain in the long run. However, Schroeder says there's another reason too much artificial sweetener may add inches to your waistline: "Artificial sweeteners, although they do not have any calories or sugar, can actually increase your sugar cravings, which, if you're trying to reduce added sugar and processed foods, can be counterproductive and very frustrating," she says. Sugar or not, when your body and brain get a taste of the sweet stuff, you'll inevitably want more of it. This can lead to overeating and weight gain. Over time, too much artificial sweeteners can even end in insulin resistance, which Schroeder notes is a precursor to diabetes.

All in all, no diet is perfect. We're not going to tell you that you can never have sugar, artificial sweeteners, or margarine every again. However, being aware of the impact these ingredients can have on your body will allow you to make smarter decisions as you navigate your weight loss journey.

See the article here:
3 Inflammatory Ingredients That Practically Guarantee Weight Gain, According To Health Experts - SheFinds

If you have unwanted fat around your legs, there's no time better than the present to do something about it. Luckily, you can often implement some simple habits that can help you shrink your leg fat without becoming a full-time athlete!

Lower-body fat in general can really sneak up on you. According to Livestrong, consuming an additional 100 calories each day can result in 10 additional pounds in a year. Unfortunately, females typically find the extra weight goes to their thighs, hips, and buttocks. To help you address this area, I've come up with some simple tips you can apply to your healthy lifestyle that can make a huge difference in your health and more-rapidly reduce your body fat burning. Taking on these habits will ultimately result in decreased fat around your legs.

You've heard this one before, but for good reason. Eating fewer calories than you burn is by far the fastest and easiest way to lose fat. It's true that you can't spot-reduce fat. So if you're noticing unwanted tissue in your lower body, the best thing to do is start eating a little bit less. Try dropping your calories by about 200 or 300 until you start noticing a difference. Don't go crazy; you definitely don't want to starve yourself.

The overall reduction in body fat will occur by burning fat from a variety of places on your body, depending on your genetics and body type. If you are losing weight but not seeing if come off your legs, be patient! You are likely improving another area, and eventually, your body will burn the leg fat, too.

Related: Shrink Inner Thigh Fat Fast With These Productive Exercises, Trainer Says

Don't underestimate the power of hydration if you want to shrink your leg fat. Just one glass of water here and there will help curb your hunger, improve digestion, and help shed extra weight. The more you can make this a habitual habit, the easier it will be until you reach the point where you don't even think about it. Carrying a gallon jug filled with water may be the key if you're always on the go. So drink up!

Hiking hills is one of the best ways to sculpt muscle and build up strength in your legs without beating up your joints or lifting weights. This is especially true if you carry a backpack. Just remember to be careful when coming back down the hill.

If you go hiking every weekend, you will start to notice an improvement in the look of your legs and your cardiorespiratory system. You'll breathe better, which means a longer lifespan. Plus, you'll develop the ability to push yourself in the gym and beyond.

Related: The #1 Floor Workout To Lose Belly Fat and Slow Down Aging, Says Trainer

It's been proven time and time again that missing even a few hours of sleep over time can negatively affect your body. The lack of quality Z's can lower your ability to ward off disease and increase your craving for junk food.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

In addition, soaking up some sunlight early in the morning helps set your circadian rhythm for the day and will increase your energy and vitality. Sit outside in the morning with a cup of coffee, and turn off all lights at least half an hour before you go to bed at night. These habits will make it easier to get a good night's rest.

Going out for a 10-minute walk after every meal will help you get your step count for the day and improve your ability to digest the food you just ate. Do this every time you eat, and it will have a huge overall impact on your weight loss due to increased activity levels. It only takes 10 minutes, so it's some quick healthy goodness to give yourself.

Tyler Read

Link:
5 Little-known Habits That Shrink Your Leg Fat, Expert Reveals Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That