Humboldt Countys Public Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich has been answering questions since the stay-at-home orders were instituted on a two question per media outlet roughly three times a week basis. The Emergency Operations Center takes the questions, and staff reads them on camera for her response. The resulting video, called a Media Availability, is then provided to news outlets at the end of the day.

Here are some of the main points covered in the July 6th Media Availability session with a summary of answers from Dr. Frankovich, followed by questions we would have liked to ask in response if appropriate.

Media Question: There have been some anecdotal reports of Redwood Acres testing site losing tests (and thereby not having results for those tested) as well as delays as long as nearly two weeks on getting test results. Is that something that you are aware of and how is it being addressed at the county level?

Answer by Dr. Frankovich:

So you know the Optum site that we have at Redwood Acres was initially an enormous gift for the county and and it still is a really good resource for us, but at the outset we were one of a small actually were the first county to begin using the Optum site and whats happened as testing has expanded across the state and vastly more people are being tested, these sites such as Optum and Verily that send their specimens to large commercial labs are finding that those labs are getting backed up and so its causing a delay in processing specimens and reporting specimens which is hugely problematic.

You know no one wants to find out six days after they have been tested that theyre positive; both the individual and for contact investigation purposes we need to have speedier test results. What Ive been hearing recently is that turnarounds have been as long as six to eight days in general and we need it much quicker than that so we are very actively at the county level investigating other opportunities for testing that we may be able to utilize and have some better turnaround times in the system.

2 mins in:

Media Question: Also, are there any other similar problems being seen at other local testing sites (ie Garberville and Willow Creek)?

Answer by Dr. Frankovich:

Well again, when were talking about Garberville, that was our Optum test site from Redwood Acres. Although it is not designed to be a mobile test site by Optum, we pleaded with them to be able to take the set up off site so that we could get to some areas that are underserved. And we are able to continue doing that, although were somewhat limited in how often we are able to. In Willow Creek that is a Verily, which is sort of a just another entity like Optum that was doing that through Trinity County, that site actually has been challenged by you know low turnout and so Trinity is no longer going to come on a regular basis to Willow Creek but said that they would be able to come and help us out if there was an increased need in that area. To the question- the previous question about losing tests- that is not, as we understand it, an issue of the local company losing the test; its an issue of the tests getting sort of lost at the lab; at the referral lab. Sometimes its not really a question of being lost, but specimens may just, you know, not be able to be tested for various reasons or have indeterminate results and not satisfactory and so they have to be redone to have an accurate result.

3 mins 25 sec in:

Media Question: At the Redwood Acres site, residents are seeing long wait times to get an appointment, long turnaround times for results, and even instances of being asked to get retested. How confident is Public Health that our case count (of both positive and negative cases) is accurate? Also, how can Public Health and the community understand how widely the virus is circulating if there are issues with testing?

Answer by Dr. Frankovich:

So, good questions; in terms of the case counts, you know the issue really is one of delay. So ultimately these tests that have long turnaround times we do get the results but it takes much longer, so on a day-to-day basis were not able to report as accurately about results for that reason.

In terms of the accuracy of those tests, I have confidence in the accuracy. The actual number of tests that are not able to be run or have problems are actually relatively small; the real issue is the delay. So once we have the results you know we feel confident in them in terms of how widely its circulating, frankly you know the lag time for this testing being about a week to sometimes slightly longer means that our numbers are delayed but ultimately from a surveillance standpoint you know were able to see trends over time. I think whats a more important issue is the one we discussed which is that the turnaround time being long makes it less useful for contact investigation being able to promptly isolate and quarantine people.

4 mins 50 sec in:

Media Question: Mendocino and Lake counties both are very rural like Humboldt, each has fewer total cases than we do as well as smaller populations, and yet they release current hospitalization data. Could you please provide that information or explain why you feel our situation is different than theirs?

Answer by Dr. Frankovich:

Well, I think you know, weve talked about this before. Public Health historically has had great sensitivity to concerns about revealing peoples identities- basically, publicly stating their confidential health information. I think most of us appreciate the fact that thats a good idea. You know, that we dont want our personal health information discernible to our neighbors. And so in small communities, if your neighbor gets hospitalized and then you hear theres a new hospitalized COVID patient, sometimes thats enough to make you go Hmm, I think thats whats going on here, that type of thing. And so for that reason historically again, Public Health has not put out small numbers at a time.

However, COVID seems to be a different environment and information that normally would not have been given out in this fashion is, and its actually now becoming available at the state level. And what wed like to do actually, is there is a state site that reports on the daily hospitalizations, so well make that site available to the public; provide that link so that you can see that information if youre interested. It may not be exactly accurate on a day to day basis but it will give people a general idea about hospitalizations.

Media Followup questions were unable to ask because of the format:

Apart from any surge capacity, please tell us exactly, using a numerical identifier, how many ICU beds are available in the county- not occupied, but rather open and available?

6 mins 30 sec in:

Media Question: When doing local contact tracing, does/can the health dept ask people whether or not they have gone to a recent protest?

Answer by Dr. Frankovich:

We can ask about everything and we typically do. What were looking at is where have you been and what have you done in, you know, the 48 to 72 hours before you develop symptoms, or before you had your test date that was positive. And so, anything that youve been doing in terms of gatherings and contacts with other individuals is relevant and important. and so, yes that is information that we do ask in the context of our larger investigation.

7 mins 10 sec in:

Media Question: Before 4th of July, the governor said, Any public or private events this weekend that include people who do not live together in the same household should not happen. This includes family get-togethers. What message do you have for the people who ignored that suggestion over the holiday weekend locally?

Answer by Dr. Frankovich:

Well its probably no secret that Ive been frustrated by this, and I think you know I completely understand the desire to socialize and have a bit of normal life as we had known it. The problem is, is that I can tell you absolutely, that as were dealing with new cases coming in, and calls even that were over the weekend here, that there are people who are becoming ill or exposed in settings like birthday parties, visiting family. Either our residents going elsewhere to visit family and coming back exposed, or exposed family members coming here and exposing the household. And so there is no doubt in my mind that a lot of what is driving our increases going forward is gatherings. And as much as I hate to say it we really, really need people to be able to limit those gatherings outside their household unit and it wont be forever, but its important now.

Again the real issue is not trying to make our cases zero. We need to control our number of cases so that again, people have access to the health care they need when they need it. And you know as weve pointed out before in pandemics or epidemics of this sort, people die not only because of the direct effect of the virus on their body but sometimes they die because they cant get care that they need at the level they need for the infection or they die of heart attacks, car accident injuries, strokes, because they cant get the care they need when the hospital is full of COVID patients, or the ICUs are full of COVID patients. So its really an investment in each other to just really be cautious at this point, knowing that when we can do it more safely well open up more.

9 mins 35 sec in:

Media Question: With more and more places reopening and people out and about more, how do you feel residents have been doing overall when it comes to masking, social distancing, etc? Do you think residents acted responsibly this 4th of July weekend?

Answer by Dr. Frankovich:

Well, I hope that a lot of people did and when I go out and about and see people masked in the grocery stores and different places around the community I find that encouraging. And you know, I feel proud of the community, because you know its something, again, that isnt really meant to protect you; its meant to protect everybody around you.

So you know I think that compassion for our neighbors and friends is really important.

You know, I think that a lot of people restricted what they would normally be doing on these holiday weekends and I appreciate that. Although I can also certainly say that, you know were probably all aware of people who were gathering with extended family and having parties.

I do want to remind people that well you know large gatherings, you know, 100, 200 or more people increase your risk increase the risk of the community dramatically and when I hear of weddings and things like that being planned that involve hundreds of people, all I can say is nobody has the capacity here to do contact tracing investigations and that for hundreds of people at one time. You know it is just not a feasible thing to do and so I want to tell people that while large gatherings are particularly problematic and worrisome to the community, what were seeing right now are a lot of smaller gatherings. Its 10 to 20 people, at birthday parties, barbecues, things like that each of those generating additional cases and quarantine people who are exposed so again we just really need to limit these activities right now; it should be your household unit and you, outdoors and doing all the things we love, just not with other families right now.

View original post here:
Dr. Frankovich: Slow Test Results, Why We Can't Have the Same Info as Our Neighboring Counties, and More - Redheaded Blackbelt

Expert Tip 1. Shop and Meal Prep in Advance.

The first day on the diet you are so excited to get started, finally lose weight and keep it off. But before you hit go, it helps to do a little meal prep. It's so much easier to succeed if you set yourself up in advance. The easiest way for Is to meal prep on Sunday. Only focus on making your Monday through Wednesday lunches and dinners, since breakfasts and snacks you can make the same day.

Most diets fail, we know, but by being held accountable to a partner or group can help you reach, and exceed, your goals. By being accountable to a partner or group, you raise the success of your diet and exercise program to over 95 percent. If no one is around as you embark on this healthy weight loss journey, join a community. The Beet's The VegStart Diet group lets you check-in, compare successes or struggles, and get support. So join The VegStart Diet FB group and success is in the bag.

This meal plan will provide you with a sufficient amount of nutrients, both macros and micros, which is awesome! Still, most people would benefit from taking avitamin D and vitamin B12, since those are harder to get from diet alone. I recommend picking up a Vitamin D3 (1000 to 2000 IU) + a B12 (500-to 1000 mcg). These are two nutrients that you will most often have to supplement on any plant-based diet.

We know that dieting is easier during the week and a little harder on weekends. That's why we built in some wiggle room, so you can be stricter on yourself on weekdays and let out the leash a bit for social events like a Friday dinner, Saturday picnic or Sunday BBQ. But remember: Consistency wins. If every time there is a birthday or holiday or occasion you take it upon yourself to "go for it," you can undo all the hard work you've already put in. A study in Obesity found that losing weight and keeping it off depends on changing the way you eat and sticking with it, daily, and not drastically losing weight quickly since it will make you want to cheat more. For long-term loss stay consistent and eat healthily day after day.

We all have a tendency to stay glued to technology while eating. This leads to more focus on whats happening on the screen rather than the food we are eating. Try to eat attentively during every meal to cut down on overeating or snacking. A study found that mindful eating influences how much you eat during and between meals. The more you are aware of your meals, the more you will enjoy every bite and feel satisfied after meals. Make your technology-free.

For some people going for a walk in nature helps their stress levels, or taking a luxurious bubble bath. Others enjoy reality TV or reading a good book. Whatever makes you laugh, breathe deeply, and relax will lower your stress hormones and help your body let go of stubborn fat. The ancient fight-or-flight response means that stress signals the brain's hormones to hold onto fat, in case you need fuel to fight for your own survival. Unwind this process by meditating, breathing deeply twice a day and focus on positive thoughts. Take a quiet moment to reassure yourself that you are safe: "Life is good, everything is going to be okay."

Stay away from processed foods because they're filled with sodium, sugar, hydrogenated fats and preservatives. They can also be loaded with chemicals such as food coloring, and have been engineered to make you eat more. A recent study found that participants who loaded up on processed foods ate an average of 500 more calories a day than those who stuck to whole foods, which will keep you fuller longer because they're full of nutrients that fill you up, like protein and fiber.

Share your photos of your meals with us, and with your community. Sign up and join the VegStart Diet page on The Beets Facebook account. Make it a party when youre cooking. This doesnt have to be gloomy and un-enjoyable process. Everyone wants to eat healthy, and sharing the recipes is a way of spreading the word about this new plan.. Tell your friends to try it. Hashtag #VegStartDiet and let others know how doable this diet is!

When you practice mindful eating, before you reach for food, first assess if you are truly hungry or bored or stressed or upset over something. Ask yourself: What do I really want? A new job? A more loving relationship? It may have nothing to do with hunger. If youre bored, go for a walk, or listen to a podcast. Cant stay away from the fridge or snack cabinet? Prepare yourself a satisfying snack from the VegStart Diet for a little energy jolt. Look for a new activity. Soon youll get out of the habit of using food to prop up your mood.

I hope youre already aiming for 10,000 steps a day. Taking an early morning walk or after-dinner stroll is a great way to destress and burn calories. But the fun thing about trying a new diet is to challenge yourself to reach a loftier goal, so why not add in trying a new type of movement too? Make it something you dont do often or have never tried. Maybe thats a HIIT workout (High-Intensity Interval Training) which burns an insane amount of calories, or starting a running program, which also burns fat fast. Trying something new and energizing is the name of the game.

A good way to help stay accountable is to keep a journal or log detailing your personal goals, and track your progress. It also serves as a nice reminder of how far youve come. A study on goal-setting showed that if you write down your goals youre much more likely to achieve them. Check out the log in the back of this VegStart Diet book for a great way to start.

Sleep is the unsung hero of your diet. When you sleep the hormones that regulate hungerghrelin and leptinare impacted. Ghrelin is the gremlin, since it drives appetite up. Leptin is the hero, as an appetite queller, it calms hunger down. When youre sleep-deprived, ghrelin spikes, while leptin levels dip, so you feel hungrier the next day. Move your bedtime to before midnight, even if it means waking up earlier for a few days as you reset your clock. Youll have diet success and get your beauty sleep.

Omega 3 fatty acids, typically sourced from fish oil, can also be found in vegan sources such as walnuts and algae. Your body does not produce this fatty acid on its own, so find a vegan source of it that you like. In one study, researchers found evidence that Omega-3s helped to speed up the bodys own tendency to burn body fat. Now, go get those Omegas.

Youve probably heard the phrase a thousand times over, but drinking enough water is crucial if youre looking to lose weight. It helps in three ways, by suppressing your appetite, increasing your body's metabolic rate and increase your energy expenditure. To figure out how much water you should be drinking, multiply your weight in pounds by two-thirds or 67 percent. Then, take this number in ounces, and that's how much water you should shoot to drink. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, multiply by two-thirds to get 94. So at 140, shoot to drink 94 ounces of water per day.

No one likes to count calories, and in fact, you don't need to when you're doing the VegStart Diet. It's much more productive to track things like fiber and protein, and just be sure you are in a calorie deficit for the day, which you will be if you eat according to the plan and get exercise every day.

Get More Fiber. The more fiber you add to your diet, the better. Studies show that 30 grams of fiber in your diet daily will help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure. According to the USDA: Women should aim for a minimum of 25 grams of fiber and men should shoot for 38 grams of fiber per day.

Hit Your Proteins. A high-protein diet has been linked to weight loss. You burn more calories when digesting and metabolizing protein because it requires more work to do so. Protein also leaves you feeling full, helps curb your appetite and is the building block of muscle. Aim for 20 to 30 grams of protein each meal, which for most people is optimal.

Get Into a Calorie Deficit. Everyone hates counting calories and so do we but you should have a general idea of what you're eating. The key is to choose nutrient-dense foods that are lower in calories per nutrient. The opposite, choose calorie-dense foods like sweets, should be avoided.

The VegStart Diet keeps your daily calorie intake to 1500 or so. Going below that can be counter-productive for long-term weight loss since youll slow your metabolism and make it harder to sustain weight loss longterm. If like most successful dieters, youre burning calories as well as counting them, you can probably afford to take in 250 more for every hour of intense exercise or working out you do per day.

View original post here:
The 15 Best Expert Tips to Succeed at Your Plant-Based Diet - The Beet

Chrissy Teigen doesnt always clap back at haters but, when she does, she basically always nails it. On Monday evening, that included responding to one particularly rude commenter who suggested Teigen had lost a dramatic amount of weight in a short period of time and, in demanding to know how Teigen did it, even implied Teigen may be suffering from a serious illness. But in true Teigen form, she responded with a solid zinger before giving the commenter a much-needed dose of perspective.

The thread kicked off on Monday evening when Teigen was trying to do fans a solid favor. For you kind folks asking me to drop the skincare regimen, I will admit I am def proud of my skin lately and feeling myself! Teigen said, sharing a list of facial products she has been using in the caption. But the commenter-in-question felt compelled to write, Ok this isnt her or some app that changed her face. I had to look back and forth like 4 times either she dropped 50 lbs overnight or has cancer this isnt right.

While Teigens true fans quickly came to her defense, she also fired off a witty barb. What would you prefer? she replied.

It didnt stop there, though. Despite an onslaught of criticism, the commenter continued, Your bone structure is prominent and recognizable this shot, looks like a completely different person. Did 2 3 double takes. How did you do it?

In another comment, said, Apologies for the lack of tact fullness [sic] should have thought ahead. But, why did I have to go back and forth 3-4 x to make sure it was you? Is it an app? Its not about skincare, but bone structure is completely different youreforth 3-4 x to make sure it was you? Is it an app? Its not about skincare, but bone structure is completely differentyoure unrecognizable.

Although no one would have blamed Teigen for just ignoring the commenter at this point, she dropped into the fray one more time with a bit of logic. Why are you carrying on with this?? Why do you think I owe you anything, especially after what youve said? she wrote. You dont actually know me in real life, right? Thank god.

Were calling it point and match go to Teigen.

Before you go, click here to see celebs who reject social media (probably due to trolls like this).

Go here to see the original:
Chrissy Teigen Slams Trolls Saying She Lost 50lbs. Because of These Crazy Reasons - SheKnows

With so many different diets available to try, it can be challenging to know which one might best suit you and your personal health goals.

Intermittent fasting can be a great way of burning fat and losing weight for some people. Numerous studies show that it has powerful brain and body benefits.

What is Intermittent Fasting?Intermittent fasting is a specific eating pattern in which you cycle between periods of eating and fasting. You typically choose a window of when you will be eating, and ensure that you only consume food during these hours. There are a few different types of intermittent fasting that each revolve around this main concept, but work around slightly different timeframes or fasting windows. The most popular form of intermittent fasting is the 16:8, which involves eating only during an 8-hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 hours. For example, you may choose to start eating at 12pm until 8pm and then fast during the morning and overnight.

Here are some scientifically-proven health benefits of intermittent fasting.

It helps regulate blood sugar and hormone levelsYour bloods insulin levels drop, causing your body to burn fat, and the blood level of the growth hormone may increase, helping to support fat loss and muscle gain.

It Can Help With Weight and Fat LossIntermittent fasting is known for helping people lose weight and burn body fat. It increases your metabolic rate by 3.6-14%, which helps you burn more calories. This, along with the decreased amount of time spent eating, your calorie intake is already likely to be reduced when fasting, leaving you in a deficit, which is one of the main ways of losing weight.

It May Improve Heart HealthIntermittent fasting has been proven to improve many different health risks, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood triglycerides, and blood sugar levels. It can help prevent you from developing diabetes, but it can also be hugely beneficial for heart health.

See more here:
The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting - YouBeauty

Continuing to eat unhealthy foods no matter how delicious they are is not in your best interests.

If you are on a disciplined exercise regimen and you still find out that you are not losing much weight, it could simply be because of some unhealthy foods which manage to sneak into your diet. There are a number of foods which are very easily and cheaply available in all stores. The hectic modern life can make you reach out to flavourful junk food or to any processed readymade foods but these could be the very reason youre not losing any weight.

A study published in the British Medical Journal in 2019 revealed that the consumption of processed foods increases the risk of cardiovascular, coronary heart and cerebrovascular diseases. Another study in Health Promotion Perspectives in 2015 showed that consumption of fast foods or processed, readymade foods dont just lead to weight gain, obesity and cardiovascular diseases, but also does irreparable damage that therapies later cannot correct.

So clearly, continuing to eat unhealthy foods no matter how delicious they are is not in your best interests. Here are 10 unhealthy foods you might be consuming a lot of without realising, and 10 healthy substitutes for them.

1. Chocolate with dark chocolate

When it comes to chocolate, the darker the better should be your mantra instead of grabbing at milk or white chocolates stuffed with all the dry fruits and nuts in the world. This is primarily because cacao beans are rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and dark chocolate is one of the most undiluted forms to get these nutrients from.

strong>2. Chips with baked veggie crisps

No matter what the slogan on that bag of potato chips might declare, you should know that these manufactured chips are indeed processed foods and have additives to increase their shelf life. Why depend on them when you can thinly slice all sorts of veggies (carrots, beetroots, sweet potatoes) and bake veggies crisps at home?

3. Ice-cream with frozen yoghurt

Sugar, high-fat dairy or cream, add-ons like chocolate chips, fake fruit flavours etc. make ice creams extremely unhealthy. Instead of buying a tub of ice cream, you could just freeze some yoghurt at home for the same creamy texture, and add chopped fruits and nuts to give it some flavour and crunch.

4. Butter with olive oil

Sure, the best cuisines in the world promote the use of butter, and it has a brilliant flavour indeed. But its also very high in calories and fat. On the other hand, people from the Mediterranean region (who live long and healthy lives too) use olive oil to cook because its got (healthy) monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, iron and potassium.

5. Red meat with soy chunks

You might already know how bad eating red meat regularly can be for your arteries and heart, and you might think soy cannot possibly meet its flavour profile - but soy chunks, chaanp and steaks can give you that meaty texture while also giving you a healthy, plant-based source of protein.

6. Sugary breakfast cereals with whole grains

Most breakfast cereals are loaded with sugar and preservatives. You can replace those with simply cooked whole grains like oats, barley, quinoa, millets, etc. and jazz up the meal with fresh fruits, yoghurt, nuts and seeds.

7. Sugary jams with smashed fruits

Putting a spoonful or two of jam on toast makes for a sweet breakfast and treat, but its sugary, full of preservatives and absolutely not good for you. You could just smash some bananas, strawberries, blueberries or avocados and put them on your toast for a naturally sweet, sour and totally healthy meal.

8. Mayonnaise with hummus

That jar of mayo might be tasty but its also packed with fat and preservatives. But when you can whip up some protein and fibre-packed hummus with chickpeas at home which can be used as a dip and as something you can put on toast why would you want mayo anyway?

9. Creamy salad dressing with vinaigrette dressing

Youll find shelves packed with creamy salad dressings in most stores nowadays. While eating a salad daily is great, using these unhealthy dressings is not. Instead, you can simply mix olive oil and vinegar/lemon juice to make a quick and nutritious vinaigrette dressing any day.

10. White rice with quinoa

White rice is loaded with carbohydrates and quinoa with protein and fibre. This easy replacement makes a lot of sense and you know it. So make the swap in your diet today.

For more information, read our article on Healthy recipes.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.

Originally posted here:
Strict exercise regime without correct diet is unhel..ace mayonnaise, eight other foods for fast weight loss - Firstpost

Keeping Up with the Kardashians was a little harder than usual this week.

Not only did Kim Kardashian debuted one of her most dramatic hair changes yet, but the super-private Rob Kardashian made a stunning comeback on social media this week, leaving fans with their jaws on the floor. Oh, andKourtney Kardashian gave fans a glimpse at what she would look like without eyebrows and it definitely blew their minds.

Joining the Kardashian siblings with some transformations this week were JoJo Siwa, as the popular YouTuber debuted not one but two new looks in the span of a few days, a Riverdale star took to Instagram to show off his quarantine beard, and a reality TV star showed off his weight loss journey over the last several months, posting a selfie to show off all of his hard work. Pics or it didn't happen and all that, you know?

Original post:
Check Out the Most Surprising Celeb Transformations of the Week - E! Online

Leading a sedentary lifestyle is one of the biggest culprits behind unexpected obesity. It also increases the risk of developing other health problems. Nilesh, a Chartered Accountancy student watched his weight go up in a similar way and the constant judgement and health issues made him undergo a transformation.His weight loss story is a true example which shows that discipline goes a long way in promoting good health. Read his story below to gain more tips and tricks:Name: Nilesh Choudhary

Age: 26Highest Weight recorded: 85 kilosTotal weight loss: 16 kilos

City: Delhi (Originally from Bihar)

The duration took me to lose fat: It took 3 months for me to lose weight and I have been able to sustain it.The turning point:

I was preparing for my CA exams in Delhi. During my finals, I put on a lot of weight. I didn't even realize I had gone from 67 kilos to 85 kilos. There was a time, I developed such a big belly, it was difficult to stand straight and see my feet.

During this phase, I was bullied by people, even those close to me. I knew, either I could get the weight gain get the worse of me, or fight it out.

I enrolled in a gym and started following the Ketogenic diet.

Breakfast- Paneer- 100gm (home made with low fat milk) + Butter -100gm +Veggies-100gm.I used to make any thing like Chilli paneer, Paneer dopyaja with these three things.

Lunch- Nuts (Soaked Almonds-25, Walnut-4, Friend Peanut-50gm-100gm & Anjeer -2)

Dinner- Mutton 500gm -750gm.

Any snacks I prefer: NoPre workout meal/drink- No pre workout meal/drink.

During workout- Water -1-2 liters with BCAA -1 scoop.

Post workout meal/drink- Whey Protein -25gm (Isolate) + Coconut oil- 25 g

My workout: My regime is a mix of cardio, weight training and functional training. These helped achieve fat loss as well as maintain it. During my transformation days, I worked out for six days a week and never skipped the gym.

Fitness secret: Workout became a priority in my life. I made a commitment to myself that for me to have a body like this, I have to put in efforts to take care of it no matter what it takes.

How do I stay motivated:- I do not look for motivation anywhere outside. I was my only source of motivation and inspiration. In the gym also, it was always ME Vs ME. I try to beat my yesterday, every today. I feel that one needs to scout for motivation from the inside. It has always been ME vs ME. I compete against myself and motivate my own self. Comparison against others isn't going to help.

Since there is no one else who knows my body better than myself, I, along with my elder brother designed my diet plan and workout. This kept me super focussed and meticulate.

How do you ensure you don't lose focus: My hard work and its result kept me focused. I feel, if, you are doing anything for your own self, anything that makes your inner soul happy, then no one in this whole world can divert your focus, except you.

What's the most difficult part of being overweight: I knew that all the extra weight was putting me at the risk of developing health issues. I used to sweat profusely and developed breathing problems. Then there's always the society. Life becomes problematic as people start to judge and look at you in a different way.

What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line? I want to be the best and fittest version of myself. I want to be in a shape where I can do anything possible-be it acro yoga, stretching, gymnastics, or run a marathon.

What are the lifestyle changes you made: I make my own food every day and minimize my spice and sugar intake.I keep a count of my micros and macros with every meal.I also drink a minimum of six litres of water every day.

See the original post:
Weight loss: ' I was bullied because of my weight. Here's how I lost 16 kilos with Keto' - Times of India