Authorities around the world continue the fight to curb the spread of Covid-19. While safe distancing measures are slowly easing, with the phased reopening of Singapore and the government announcing the launch of a "fast lane" for the limited essential travel between Singapore and mainland China this month, many people are still unsure when commercial travel will be safe again.

This means foreigners working and studying in Singapore wont know when they will be able to travel home to visit their loved ones again. For now, they can only rely on a phone call or video call to connect with them.

For Chinese nationals living in the city-state, China Mobile International is doing its part to offer seamless connections to help them link up with their families, friends and business partners in mainland China and Hong Kong. With its new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) CMLink Singapore, subscribers from Chinese immigrants to students and professionals here wont have to worry about staying connected with ease.

With CMLink Singapore, you dont have to stress over expensive charges when making calls or maintaining two numbers. To those who have a constant link with mainland China and Hong Kong, heres a list of why you should make the switch to CMLink Singapore now.

Making overseas calls can be nerve-racking for two reasons: getting an unstable connection that may result in spotty calls and paying hefty fees. With CMLink, you can expect crystal-clear calls to mainland China and Hong Kong with its bundled IDD minutes that range from 100 minutes to 300 minutes, depending on your selected plan. Any excess minutes are charged at local rates. Apart from mainland China and Hong Kong, CMLink Singapores bundled IDD minutes can also be used to call numbers in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the United States.

Frequent travellers to mainland China and Hong Kong, rejoice! On your next visit, you can forget about ordering a Wi-Fi router, the hassle of changing your SIM card or topping up your mobile plan to get overseas data. CMLink Singapores plans, which range from 5GB to 60GB, have bundled data that can be shared across Singapore, mainland China and Hong Kong.

For existing China Mobile subscribers, you can opt to receive SMS sent to your Chinese number* through your CMLink Singapore number. This is made possible by the MVNOs CM Numbers Link service, which allows its subscribers to access any Chinese website and service that requires an OTP. This service is free for all subscribers until Dec 31.

*Chinese number refers to an active mainland phone number of China Mobile

Mobile plans often highlight the data they offer but getting good deals on call and text services are equally important too. CMLink Singapore has four plans that offer call number display, incoming calls and bundled SMS at no cost. This takes away the hassle of deciding which plan to subscribe to.

Several deals await when you sign up for any CMLink Singapore mobile plan. PHOTO: CHINA MOBILE

There is no contract and sign-up fee when you make the switch to CMLink Singapore. You can enjoy a number of promotions when you sign up with the MVNO too.

Till June 30, get a $20 discount for six consecutive months on plans that are $30 and above, or enjoy a $10 discount for six consecutive months on the $15 plan.

For China Mobile subscribers availing of a CMLink Singapore plan, a reward of 15 (~S$2.98) in monthly credit for 12 consecutive months awaits upon your sign-up. This promotion will run till June 30 as well.

So hurry and sign up for CMLink Singapore now. You can get the $15 plan for as low as $5 for 5GB of data, inclusive of 100 local minutes, 100 SMS, free incoming calls and caller ID, free SIM registration and delivery, as well as mobile number port.

Find out more about what CMLink Singapore offers or sign up now by visiting this link.

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Connect with loved ones in mainland China and Hong Kong with CMLink - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - The importance of having good workplace safety and health practices has increased in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, but such measures need to be fine-tuned to ensure that they can be implemented effectively, said MPs.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday (June 4) during the debate on the supplementary Fortitude Budget, three MPs came up with suggestions on how such measures can be improved, including giving business more support with compliance costs.

Employers and regulators should also be mindful of the approach taken in setting out and implementing such measures, so as not to compromise workers' safety, said Mr Melvin Yong (Tanjong Pagar GRC).

For instance, in the construction and marine engineering sectors, mask-wearing could affect the ability of workers to carry out physically demanding work safely. In other types of work that require clear communication and coordinated teamwork, speaking through a mask and keeping a distance from others may also lead to a higher risk of workplace accidents.

"Whichever the approach, safe management measures must not inadvertently cause poor safety at the workplace," said Mr Yong.

Mr Yong and Nominated MP Douglas Foo, who is president of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), also highlighted how businesses may face higher compliance costs. Mr Foo said that while a majority of businesses surveyed by the SMF agree that health and safety aretheir top priority, implementing such measures will also lead to an increase in operational costs.

Some SMF members have also seen almost four-fold increase in monthly cleaning expenses, he noted. Companies also have to maintain their own inventory of personal protective equipment that will likely be required for daily operations for an extended period, added Mr Foo.

Employers are also concerned about having to bear the costs of Covid-19 swab tests that some workers have to undertake, said Mr Yong, highlighting how nursing home and pre-school staff now have to go through such tests before returning to work. In the construction sector, workers are also required to be tested once every two weeks. The Building and Construction Authority had said in May that the Government will waive the cost of swab tests for construction workers until August, for those involved in works resuming by then.

"Many businesses are already reeling from the increasing costs of putting in place the ever-evolving set of protective measures to keep workplaces safe ...Coupled with a sharp decline in revenue, our businesses are hit with a double whammy," said Mr Yong.

Mr Foo also appealed to policymakers to ensure that regulatory bodies have enough staff and resourcesso that approvals that are required for businesses to start or resume operations do not end up hindering efficiency.

Nominated MP Arasu Duraisamy, who is also the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary for financial affairs, said that while such safe management measures may bring about some inconveniences, businesses understand that they are necessary.

The NTUC has been working with the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute and NTUC LearningHub to train union leaders, management partners and union staff as safe management officers, he said. This will help union leaders work with their management partners to coordinate and implement measures on the ground.

"Each one of us must do our part in adhering to these measures, and I hope that more companies can come on board and get trained so that businesses can continue to operate safely and workers can work in a safe environment."

Continued here:
Parliament: Safe management measures in workplaces need to be fine-tuned, say MPs - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - More than $7 million has been lost to technical support staff impersonators in the first four months of this year, an increase of more than 40 times from the same period last year.

The scammers deceive victims into believing their Internet connections are compromised, and victims lost some $3.2 million in April alone, when circuit breaker measures were in full force and more people were working or learning from home.

One victim lost $958,500, the highest sum cheated in a single case between January and April.

Similar scams had defrauded people of $169,600 between January and April last year, said police on Thursday (June 4).

Around 70 per cent of victims were aged between 40 and 75, said police, adding that scammers typically persuade their victims to install software applications like Teamviewer or Anydeskunder the pretext that this would solve the connection problems.

Once the applications are installed, however, the scammers would have remote access to the computers, and can transfer money out of their victims' bank accounts.

Some fraudsters use a similar tactic by pretending to be with the "Cyber Crime Department of Singapore" or the "Cyber Police of Singapore" - both of which are non-existent organisations.

Victims are told that they have "committed an offence", and must download the applications to help in investigations, said police.

Criminologist Olivia Choy from Nanyang Technological University said people have more opportunities to become victimsas they are often with their devices and this is more pronounced as people rely even more on them to communicate with others during the circuit breaker.

"We are all on our devices these days, that's how the majority of people are communicating with each other, so these problems are going to be more prominent and significant," she said.

Victims said scammers are often very convincing, and are quick to "verify" their own identities and allay further concerns.

A victim, a Singapore permanent resident who wanted to be known only as Bavara, 61, was contacted by a man purporting to be from Singtel in mid-April, a week into the circuit breaker period.

Without prompting, the man offered his name, his "employee ID" numberand a telephone number, before informing her that her IP address had been compromised, she said.

The man then referred her to another person, who claimed to be with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore. They needed her assistance in tracking down hackers, she was told.

At their behest, she downloaded the Teamviewer application, and they told her they needed to make a "fake transaction" with her bank account to track down the hackers.

When she raised concerns, they reassured her that she would be reimbursed, even producing a letter of authorisation from her bank, she said.

"(The impersonator) was very confident, polite, knowledgeable. I asked all kinds of questions and he had good answers to everything," said Bavara, who runs a business development consultancy service.

"I was pretty much overwhelmed with all the details," she said, adding that the circuit breaker had added to her anxiety.

The scammers attempted to siphon away $170,000. Fortunately, her bank spotted something fishy and stopped some of the transactions, she said.

Bavara only realised she had been tricked when the police called her to find out more about the suspicious transactions flagged by the bank. She was swindled of around $94,000 in the end, as some transactions were not stopped in time.

"I'm not an expert doubter... that's probably why I paid for it with this kind of experience," she said, adding that she will double-check the identities of unknown callers in future.

Read the original:
$7.7 million lost to tech support scams from Jan to April in big spike over same period last year - The Straits Times

This is an edited excerpt of Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's round-up speech on debate on the Fortitude Budget in Parliament.

Government interventions have become the cornerstone of the Covid-19 response, as populations look towards the one institution that can organise and mobilise.

There has been a "flight to leadership". Administrations, regardless of where they sit on the political spectrum or their belief in government intervention, have responded with substantial support packages. Some have also stepped in to support distressed corporates, from airlines to carmakers.

We, too, have mounted a strong response, because lives and livelihoods are at stake. We are committing almost $100 billion, or close to 20 per cent of our GDP, to our Covid-19 response.

Adding the Covid-19 response to our usual spending, the total size of our four Budgets stands at $193 billion. This is more than double the size of our annual Budgets in preceding years.

In other words, we are looking to spend in one year what we would have done in two years or more in normal times. This is a very big commitment!

Beyond the size of headline numbers, what matters even more is whether resources are directed to the right areas, to enable our people and our economy to rebound faster and stronger. Design and implementation are critical...

I thank many Members for recognising that Singapore's fiscal response has been timely, comprehensive and decisive. And that it is commensurate with the widespread and unprecedented impact of the crisis.

Our strong response is projected to stabilise economic activity during this difficult period, and position Singapore for recovery.

Based on a recent study by MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore), our four Budgets are estimated to help our economy avert an average output loss of 5 percentage points, or $23.4 billion per year, over 2020 and 2021. This is significant.

Some are of the view that we have spent too much, while others think it is too little. These contrasting views show that crisis budgeting is anything but straightforward.

These decisions have been made after careful deliberations, based on the best information available at the time. As the Covid-19 situation develops, we have continued to enhance and refine our schemes, as evidenced by our four Budgets.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa, in opening the debate, highlighted a distinctive feature of the Fortitude Budget - that we are setting aside an additional $13 billion in the Contingencies Funds.

The Covid-19 crisis has underscored the importance of upholding the prudence and discipline of Singapore's forefathers to spend responsibly, and prepare for the future, says Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. This is why, even as Singapore devotes considerable resources to overcome the immediate challenges posed by Covid-19, the country must continue to plan ahead to secure a fiscally sustainable future. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Such contingency budgeting reflects both the unprecedented levels of severity, as well as uncertainty, of this crisis.

As designed, the Contingencies Funds can be drawn upon if there is a need to do so. And as designed, we have not designated specific purposes for the Funds. In sizing it, we have run some "what if" scenarios, including the possibility that we may experience a setback in our fight against Covid-19 or the global economy does much worse than currently expected.

So unlike our usual annual Budget, where we seek to provide as much details as possible, we are setting aside a sum to meet future events or circumstances that are possible, but for which we cannot yet predict with certainty. This is indeed a special feature to allow us to respond swiftly to unforeseen developments.

The use of Contingencies Funds is not new. We have used it every year to meet urgent and unforeseen needs. With greater uncertainties this time round, it is natural for us to cater for a bigger quantum.

The Singapore Constitution includes safeguards over its use. First, the Government will need to seek the President's concurrence for drawing down the Contingencies Funds. Second, these drawdowns must be replaced through a subsequent Supplementary Supply Bill or a final Supply Bill that has to be presented to and voted on by Parliament, before seeking the President's assent.

This provides additional checks and balances over new spending from the Contingencies Funds. We will continue to ensure judicious use of the Contingencies Funds for urgent and unforeseen needs. When the uncertainty subsides, we can reduce the amount set aside in the Contingencies Funds.

Another exceptional feature of our Budgets this financial year - the draw on past reserves. For most countries, borrowing is the only way to fund their large stimulus packages. This increases the risk of unsustainable debt financing, which has severe consequences for the economy in the long run.

Countries that have taken on significant additional debt to pay for their support measures will have to find ways to repay the debt and interest accrued.

Future generations will be required to shoulder this debt, in the form of higher taxes, higher inflation or lower returns on their retirement assets. In order to service debt repayment, there will be less fiscal room to invest in human capital or infrastructure. The "Lockdown Generation" in these countries will end up paying for this crisis a long way down the road.

We are fortunate that in this hour of crisis, we have our national reserves to depend on. Our reserves allow us to deal with this crisis from a position of strength, and give us options in a period of uncertainty like this. Our reserves are our rainy-day fund. Our reserves are our key strategic advantage in the current environment.

First, it assures Singaporeans that we have the means to navigate the challenges ahead, to protect our lives and to sustain our livelihoods.

Second, it fosters confidence in global investors, that our economic fundamentals are sound and stable in the long term, and that we have enough resources to emerge stronger from the crisis.

Third, it protects us during this period of flux. Detractors and speculators know well enough not to take advantage of this crisis, to attack our economy and currency.

We did not get here by chance or good fortune. We have designed and implemented policies that discourage waste or over-consumption. We have run our public services based on outcomes, not on size of spending.

In short, we are in this fortunate position because of consistent hard work, prudence, long-term planning and discipline of those who came before us. Such prudence and discipline are not always appreciated.

Even as recently as January this year, before the Unity Budget was unveiled, many commentators inside and outside of this House speculated on how large our accumulated reserves would be. Yet, it took us just three months into FY2020 to use up the accumulated surplus that we had built up over the current term of government, since the start of this term of government. Even that is not enough.

Mounting Covid-19 packages amounting to nearly $100 billion, of which more than half is funded from the reserves, is not a trivial matter, especially when our yearly Budget is about $80 billion.

The total of our four Budgets, including the Covid-19 packages, is more than double the size of our annual Budgets in preceding years. Our reserves are a limited resource, and we must not take them for granted.

We owe it to our people - seniors, middle-aged, young and those yet to be born - to be prudent and ensure good governance, so that they, too, have the resources to navigate future challenges in an uncertain world.

(Some members) asked if we would restore the $52 billion drawn from our past reserves, and how long that would take. There is no legal or constitutional obligation for the Government to do so.

The Government put back into the past reserves the $4 billion it had earlier drawn on in 2009, during the global financial crisis. And not a single cent of the $150 billion of reserves that backed the Government's guarantee of bank deposits was used, when our banking system emerged safely from the global financial crisis.

This current crisis is of a significantly larger scale and reach than the global financial crisis. We are facing huge uncertainties regarding the course of the pandemic and its economic and social implications. What we do know is that there will likely not be a V-shaped recovery, unlike in past crises. And the amount that we are tapping is $52 billion. So how long would it take to build this back? We cannot be definitive.

At this moment, we must focus our minds fully on making the best use of the resources that we have deployed, be prepared to work hard in the years to come, and have the resolve to rebuild our economy. In this way, the Singapore economy can emerge stronger, and we will then be in a strong position to build up our resources. But rest assured that we are committed to not just rebuild our reserves, but also to continue developing Singaporeans and building Singapore.

Mr Faisal Manap and Mr Dennis Tan asked if the President was given information on the amount available in the reserves when the Government sought her in-principle support for drawing on them. It is public information that under our Constitution, the President has access to information about the size of reserves. Under Article 22F of the Constitution, in the exercise of her functions under the Constitution, the President is entitled to any information regarding the reserves. In addition, on the MOF (Ministry of Finance) website, it is already mentioned that the President has full information about the size of the reserves.

In the process of seeking the President's approval, the Government has conducted two briefings to the President and the Council of Presidential Advisers. These briefings covered the Government's assessment of the global and local health and economic situations, the details of the measures, and the resources needed.

In our system, the President is the custodian of our past reserves. She needs to concur with any draw, and her decision is made in full knowledge of why the draw is necessary, and the size of our reserves. In fact, Members have also heard the President's message in the Resilience Budget, delivered on her behalf by the Speaker, just before my Ministerial Statement then. We have a strict governance system scrupulously observed.

Now, some have also asked why the Government does not reveal the size of the reserves and let the public decide if we should use more.

The size of the reserves invested by MAS and Temasek is public information. But the amount invested by GIC is not disclosed. It is not in our national interest to reveal the full size of our reserves.

Besides being a buffer against crisis and providing investment return to supplement our annual Budget, our reserves also form our strategic defence against threats. And as a strategic asset, we will be diminishing its value if we disclose this for potential adversaries to use against us. No responsible leader will lay bare their nation's defence plan.

Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked if we should take advantage of the lower interest rates now, to borrow more to fund expenditure.

Fiscal discipline is one of the fundamental principles underpinning Singapore's fiscal system. We spend prudently within our means, and responsibly with a value-for-money culture. The rule to run balanced budgets for each term of government remains relevant. We also spend equitably, with the principle that each generation bears the cost of the benefits that it enjoys.

That is why we do not borrow to fund our recurrent spending. Doing so means getting our children to fund our current spending. There will be less resources for our children, after repaying such debt.

While interest rates may be low now, there is no certainty that we will be able to repay accumulated debt obligations in the future. This is especially so with the uncertain economic outlook, where all countries, including Singapore, will be operating in a tighter fiscal space.

While we have good reasons not to borrow for our current expenditure, the Government is already using debt productively and equitably to generate long-term returns for Singapore.

First, the Government issues debt securities domestically. For instance, to develop the domestic debt market. The borrowing proceeds are invested and we are able to cover the debt servicing costs through the investment returns.

Second, as announced in Budget 2019, the Government will guarantee the borrowing by Changi Airport Group to fund the development of Changi East, including Terminal 5. In this way, we leverage the strength of the Government's balance sheet to reduce borrowing costs. The debt repayments will be made during a period when the airport will be generating economic returns.

Lastly, as I had also mentioned in Budget 2019, the Government is considering borrowing for major long-term infrastructure. Long-term infrastructure requires hefty upfront investments and the costs are lumpy. But once built, they benefit many generations of Singaporeans. Borrowing for such developments allows us to spread costs equitably across current and future generations, without the need for sharp increases in taxes.

We have done so in the past, to borrow for many worthwhile investments that have benefited several generations such as the first terminal at Changi Airport and our first MRT lines. They will continue to generate growth for future generations of Singaporeans.

The crisis has underscored the importance of upholding the prudence and discipline of our forefathers to spend responsibly, and prepare for the future.

This is why, even as we devote considerable resources to overcome the immediate challenges posed by Covid-19, we must continue to plan ahead to secure a fiscally sustainable future.

In the medium to long term, our structural needs will persist, and significant fiscal outlay will be required. We need to continue investing in healthcare, education and training, and infrastructure - so that we have adequate capacity to take care of our elderly, and support an ageing population; so that we give every child a good start, and give every Singaporean the opportunity to re-skill and up-skill to access good jobs; and so that Singapore remains a liveable city and a place we are proud to call home.

These heavy and rising expenditures were known even before the outbreak of Covid-19. Covid-19 has increased the urgency for some of these investments, such as developing advanced medical research and production capabilities, and expanding training capacity for our workers.

It is hence critical that we deploy the right mix of fiscal instruments that meets our principles of prudence and equitable spending.

Major long-term infrastructure spending, which requires hefty upfront investments but benefits many generations of Singaporeans, may be financed through borrowing to fairly distribute the cost among those who benefit.

On the other hand, recurrent spending should be met with recurrent revenues. Such spending primarily benefits the current generation of Singaporeans, and so it is fair and responsible for all of us to do our part and chip in.

In the Unity Budget, I announced that the GST rate increase will not take effect in 2021. However, we will not be able to put off the increase indefinitely, and this will still be needed by 2025.

When the GST rate increase does take place, we will cushion the impact for Singaporeans; $6 billion in funds has already been set aside during the Unity Budget for the Assurance Package. This is sufficient to offset at least five years' worth of additional GST expenses for the majority of households, and more for lower-income ones. We will continue to absorb GST on publicly subsidised healthcare and education.

Overall, our taxes and transfers system will remain fair and progressive.

With this differentiated and principled fiscal strategy, each generation rightly pays for the benefits that it enjoys, and we do not saddle future generations with our bills. This is an equitable approach, and will continue to be the cornerstone of fiscal sustainability for Singapore.

The Covid-19 situation is a mighty storm that has damaged sails, and forced ships around the world to go into harbour. While waiting for the storm to subside, we must make the best use of this downtime to build new strengths and capabilities. Let us take this rare chance to repair, upgrade our ship and install new instruments, re-orientate our mental compass, and strengthen our sailors, so that when the fair wind comes, we will sail out faster and further than ever before. This is what our four Budgets enable us to do - let us make the best use of them!

Read more:
A principled fiscal strategy that gave S'pore four Budgets - The Straits Times

To be completely honest, when we first heard about this one, we were a little hesitant to Google "Snake Diet" for fear of what we'd find. Fortunately, this diet doesn't involve actually eating snakes, but instead, eating like a snake.

The Snake Diet encourages followers to eat as little as possible while drinking a salt-and-water concoction dubbed "snake juice."

Image Credit: d3sign/Moment/GettyImages

Without giving it all away, that's where the good news ends when it comes to this diet. If you've heard about this trending diet and have wondered if it's legit, here's what you need to know (hint: you'll most likely want to give it a hard pass).

Snake Diet?

The Snake Diet was created by "fasting coach" Cole Robinson, who has amassed a large social media following about 145,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 50,000 Facebook followers as of this writing. It's on these channels, as well as the website SnakeDiet.com, where Robinson promotes his "prolonged fasting focused lifestyle," which essentially means going as long as you can without eating that might mean eating once a day or once every couple of days.

"I promote fasts that aren't hours but days, weeks and months," he shouts (literally) in one of his YouTube videos.

During these periods, Robinson encourages followers to subsist solely on snake juice, which is made up of water, potassium chloride ("no salt"), baking soda, Himalayan pink salt and food-grade Epsom salts.

Robinson appeared on the TV show The Doctors, where he reported one of his clients lost 50 pounds in one month by eating just one meal a week, and still managed to practice martial arts every day. Other success stories on his site show a woman losing 100 pounds in five months and a man losing 25 pounds in just two months.

Aside from the weight-loss benefits, Robinson claims that the Snake Diet "melted a tumor down in two months" and cured his own herpes.

Did you know that keeping a food diary is one of the most effective ways to manage your weight? Download the MyPlate app to easily track calories, stay focused and achieve your goals!

Eat on the Snake Diet?

The Snake Diet protocol is simple. Stop eating, and drink only snake juice. Continue this as long as you can. When you have to eat, keep it to a tight one- to two-hour window. It's also suggested that you don't vary the types of foods you eat; try to eat the same foods during your refeeding window. (We said it was simple, not easy.)

The Snake Diet is similar to the OMAD Diet or the 16:8 Fast Diet in that you have a specific window of time that you eat. The theory behind this diet, though, is that the fasting period varies for each person. The more body fat you carry, the more excess energy you have to live off of (Robinson's words, not ours) and therefore, the longer you can go between meals.

to Avoid the Snake Diet

We don't recommend this diet for anyone. Here's why:

1. No Clinical Trials or Scientific Evidence

There is no credible, evidenced-based research to support this diet. When challenged about this, Robinson goes back to the anecdotal results he sees in the Snake Diet Facebook group. Anecdotal results are no replacement for scientific evidence for many reasons, not least of which being that there's no way to know if they're true.

It's been reported by other outlets that Robinson has no medical or nutrition background, and we were hard-pressed to find a bio or any credentials to give him any credibility. (He is a self-proclaimed fitness trainer).

2. Promotes Nutritional Deficiencies

If you were able to maintain this diet for an extended period of time, it would be an absolute miracle if you did not develop some sort of nutritional deficiency. It's virtually impossible to meet all of your needs eating one meal a day let alone once every few days or even once a week or longer.

3. Can Create a Food Obsession

This diet is not appropriate for anyone with disordered eating tendencies or a history of an eating disorder. In fact, this diet checks many of the symptoms defining disordered eating, as described by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, including:

You certainly can lose weight on this diet and that may motivate you temporarily, but this diet is not sustainable. Once you begin eating normally again, you'll gain the weight back, and maybe more than you started with.

But Are the Results on Instagram for Real?

Maybe, maybe not. But does it really matter? These are snapshots in time. Any diet can work in the short term.

What you don't see is the long-term effects of this diet. The pictures don't show this person one, two or even three years from now. They also don't show what's happening on the inside physically (let alone mentally) as these people subsist on just water, salt and minimal eating.

As we know, social media is a highlight reel. It doesn't show real life and what someone is truly going through or experiencing. Take everything you see with a grain of salt (no pun intended), especially when you're being sold a product.

Approach to Weight Loss

The Snake Diet is an extreme form of fasting. A healthier approach may be a less-stringent form of fasting, like the 16:8 fast diet. This type of intermittent fasting involves an eight-hour eating window and 16-hour fasting window each day.

There is a growing body of research supporting intermittent fasting, including the 16:8 fast, and you don't have to go to the extremes of eating just once a day or every few days. Research shows intermittent fasting supports weight loss, reduced inflammation and improved blood glucose control, among other potential benefits.

Intermittent fasting is not appropriate for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding or those who struggle with hypoglycemia, have a history of disordered eating or an eating disorder, are taking certain prescription or have a chronic condition. It's always best to talk to your doctor before starting any new diet plan to make sure it's a healthy approach for you.

Read more:
The Snake Diet: Review, Results and a Better Approach - LIVESTRONG.COM

On this page:BasicsTypesCausesRisk FactorsSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentLifestyle ChangesLife With Arrhythmia

When your heart beats normally, you probably dont give it a second thought. But when that steady thump-thump changes, it could be a sign that something more is going on. There are numerous conditions that can cause your heart rate to speed up, slow down, or lose its regular rhythm. Some are nothing more than an annoyance. Others can be much more serious. We'll help you sort through the differences so you can get the treatment you need.

Weve all heard the sayings my heart skipped a beat and my heart was pounding out of my chest! Maybe thats why so many of us think of irregular heart rhythms as occasional episodes that are triggered by unusual levels of happiness, fear, or excitementand its true, they sometimes can be. But for people who live with irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias, their symptoms occur for a variety of reasons, often triggered by a combination of factors, including genetics, underlying physical conditions, stimulants like cigarettes and alcohol, and/or those external stressors or high emotions.

So, lets get to the details. Arrhythmias are abnormal heartbeats that interfere with your hearts ability to pump blood efficiently and effectively. They can make your heart beat much faster or slower than it should, and sometimes it beats in an out-of-sync manner.

Most arrhythmias wont harm you, but the more serious types can prevent your brain, heart, and other organs from getting the blood and oxygen they need to survive and thrive. Some arrhythmias can be fatal.

For example, one type of arrhythmia, called atrial fibrillation, can cause blood clots to form. Such clots can travel to your brain and trigger a stroke, or, less commonly, cause a pulmonary embolism, a blockage in one of the arteries in your lungs. As scary as this is, these conditions can be treated when they're detected in time.

Before we dive into the details, though, lets start with how your heart beats when its doing its job the way its supposed to:

You know that your heart is a pump, and each beat or contraction moves blood through the body.

It has four chambers: On top are the left and right atria. On the bottom are the left and right ventricles.

To keep your blood flowing at a rate necessary to meet your bodys needs, the walls of each chamber contract and relax in a steady rhythm.

Thats your heart beating. It gets faster when you exercise or move around, as the demand for oxygen grows, and it slows down while youre at rest.

What controls this complex process? The heart has its own pacemaker. Called the sinus node, it's located at the top of the right atrium. It sends electrical signals to each part of your heart telling it what to do and when. Here's how it works:

First, the signal instructs the atria to contract, which pushes blood into the ventricles.

Next, it pauses at the atrioventricular (AV) node, which is med-speak for the electrical connection between atria and the ventricles. That little time-out gives the ventricles a sec to fill up.

Finally, the signal tells the ventricles to contract. Blood in the right ventricle heads over to the lungs to pick up oxygen. Blood on the left flows out to the rest of the body.

This whole signaling system works thanks to your autonomic nervous system, which also controls your liver, kidneys, and other bodily organs. They all function without any input from you (imagine if you literally had to think through every heart beat!). When all works as it should, your heart will beat approximately 60 to 100 times each minute.

Arrhythmias can be grouped in a couple of different ways, including where in the heart they occur and how they affect your beat.

Now, lets break it down even further.

Lets go back to the saying, My heart skipped a beat! Youve probably had one of these before. In fact, nearly everyone experiences them on occasion. This can occur spontaneously or with stress, excessive exercise, smoking, or too many cups of coffee rather than from an underlying heart condition.

These types of arrhythmias, officially called premature atrial contractions (PACs) or premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), are the most common types and are rarely cause for concern. They can originate in either the atria or ventricles. Theyre often found in children and teenagers. But if they happen frequently or they bother you, talk to your doctor. Its rare, but they can be a sign of an underlying heart problem, such as injury to the heart, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

This type of arrhythmia, which can sometimes be life-threatening, starts in the atria. When it occurs, your heart can beat faster than 100 beats per minute at rest (which is another way of saying youre experiencing tachycardia).

Supraventricular arrhythmias include:

Atrial fibrillation (afib): This is the most common type of arrhythmia that requires medical intervention. Afib causes an erratic and often rapid heartbeat. During an episode, your heart cant pump as well as it does normally, and blood may pool in your left atrium. Clots can form there, and if one gets into your bloodstream, it can travel to your brain and cause a stroke. Afib can also lead to heart failure.

Most people who develop afib already have underlying heart disease and are 65 or older, though this condition can occur in young, healthy people as well. Episodes tend to be short and infrequent at first, coming and going on their own. However, as the disease progresses, episodes happen more often and will eventually require medical intervention to stop. For example, your doctor may have to shock your heart to correct its beating.

People with afib commonly take medications to prevent stroke, such as blood thinners. Other drugs and procedures may be needed to correct the hearts rhythm and rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that between about 3 and 6 million people in the U.S. have atrial fibrillation.

Atrial flutter: Similar to atrial fibrillation but rarer, it causes a super-fast heartbeatsometimes more than 300 beats per minutethats regular rather than erratic. Because the same type of pooling and clotting can occur, atrial flutter can also lead to a stroke or heart failure. However, such complications can usually be avoided with proper treatment.

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT): This is another very rapid heartbeat (up to 250 beats per minute) that starts and stops suddenly. Its often not dangerous. However, some PSVTs are cause for concern. People with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, for example, are born with an extra electrical pathway that connects the hearts upper and lower chambers. While this PSVT only rarely causes cardiac arrest, it can cause fainting.

These arrhythmias, which can also cause fast and irregular heartbeats, start in the ventricles, your hearts lower chambers. While they can be life-threatening without treatment, there are procedures and medications available that restore a normal heart rate when it occurs.

Ventricular tachycardia: This type of rapid heartbeatoften greater than 170 beats per minutedisrupts the ventricles ability to fill and pump properly. When this type of arrhythmia lasts only a handful of heartbeats, it does not cause problems; however, if it lasts longer, it can cause dizziness, shortness of breath, fainting or, in extreme cases, cardiac arrest.

Ventricular fibrillation: The most serious of the arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency requiring an immediate call to 911. When this arrhythmia strikes, it causes the lower chambers (venticles) to quiver instead of contract, which stops the heart from pumping blood. If the heartbeat is not corrected within minutes, ventricular fibrillation leads to cardiac arrest and death.

This type of arrhythmia causes your heart to beat too slowly. For the average adult, that means under 60 heart beats a minute at rest or while doing non-strenuous activities (although a slowed rate during sleep is not unusual or always cause for alarm, according to the American Heart Association).

Your heart's natural pacemaker (remember, it's called the sinus node), is located in the right atrium. It sends electrical impulses across the atria, triggering them to pump blood into the ventricles. Bradyarrhythmias occur when those signals are blocked. This slowing or blockage can be caused by tissue damage from aging, previous heart procedures, inflammatory diseases, birth defects, and more.

In some people, slow heartbeats are perfectly normal. Athletes, for example, are very physically fit and therefore have hearts that work super efficiently, both when theyre working out and, say, sitting behind a desk. Thats because people who are in top physical condition can pump sufficient blood with fewer heart beats at restas few as 50 each minute.

Still, for regular Joes and Janes who are not daily gym bunnies or Olympic track stars, when the heart beats too slowly to meet the body and brains needs, there is a risk of passing out. The lack of oxygen may also cause confusion and shortness of breath. In extreme cases, cardiac arrest can occur.

This arrhythmia compromises the ability of your hearts pacemaker, or sinus node, to properly control your heart rate, causing it to swing from too slow to too fast or to wildly erratic. It can lead to stroke, heart failure, and cardiac arrest.

Your hearts electrical signals travel a route from their origin in the sinus node to their destination, such as your ventricles. If the route gets blocked, the signals may slow down, causing a dip in your heart rate.

Most arrhythmias occur in people who already have some form of heart disease. They can also occur in people who possess structurally normal hearts with no sign of disease, but rather have issues with how the electrical pathways in their hearts are working.

Having had a heart attack, for example, can increase your odds of an arrhythmia because the scarring that results can form along the path that the electrical signals interfering with transmission. Arrhythmias can also occur during a heart attack, as cells die off and scar tissue develops.

Specifically, the heart disease-related causes of arrhythmia include:

This buildup of plaque narrows and stiffens the heart's arteries. As blood flow and oxygen to the heart is reduced, the way it responds to electrical signals may change. This can cause atrial fibrillation.

CAD also frequently leads to heart attack, and the scarring can increase your risk of both ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Both can both also occur during a heart attack due to the sudden loss of blood flow in the heart.

This disease weakens your heart and alters the way electrical signals travel through your heart, setting you up for arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, sick sinus syndrome, and ventricular tachycardia.

When your hearts system of valves does not work properly, it can put extra strain on your heart. That causes the heartyour most important muscleto enlarge and stiffen. Heart-valve disorders are among the most common causes of atrial fibrillation. They can also trigger ventricular tachycardia.

Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune disorders often affect the heart and can cause arrhythmias, likely due to the chronic inflammation that occurs in such diseases. For example, lupus raises the risk of faster than normal heartbeats (above 100 beats per minute) as well as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition to these causes, many risk factorssome in your control, others notup your odds of developing an arrhythmia. Many of them also increase your risk of heart disease more broadly. They include:

Hypertension makes your heart work harder. As a result, your left ventricle grows thick and stiffens, which interferes with your hearts electrical wiring. Electrical signals can no longer move as easily, which increases your risk of atrial fibrillation.

This disease significantly boosts your odds of developing HBP and CAD, and people with diabetes have as much as 40% higher risk of atrial fibrillation. Inflammation associated with diabetes is once again the likely culprit.

Excess weight makes the heart work harder, and that extra strain can cause the heart to enlarge, making it more susceptible to atrial fibrillation. Obesity also often accompanies other arrhythmia risk factors, such as HBP, sleep apnea, and diabetes.

When your breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, your heart gets less oxygen. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to atrial fibrillation and other usually less serious arrhythmias, including premature contraction.

If your body produces too much thyroid hormone, your heart may beat harder and faster. When left untreated, this can trigger afib.

As we get older, our hearts internal pacemaker loses cells, which causes it to slow down. Age-related heart changes can also affect the pathways that electricity follows. And with age we become more prone to diseases that affect the heart, like CAD, heart failure, and diabetes. Arrhythmias among the elderly include atrial fibrillation, bradycardias (slow heart beats), sick sinus syndrome, and other atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.

You can be born with structural abnormalities of the heart that affect the way it conducts electricity, leading to atrial tachycardias as well as life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

The genes that you inherit from your parents play a role in the development of some types of arrhythmias, called cardiac channelopathies. They can cause your heart to beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly whether or not you have other forms or heart disease.

The most common inherited arrhythmia is long QT syndrome, in which the lower chambers of the heart develop a rapid and irregular rhythm that can lead to ventricular fibrillation, a life-threating arrhythmia. Many people have no symptoms until they experience fainting, seizure, or even sudden cardiac arrest. Most first epsiodes occur before age 40. If you have a family history of this heart condition, ask your doctor for screening tests, which may include genetic testing, wearing event montoring devices, and an electrocardiogram (ECG).

Other examples of arrhythmias that you can be born with include:

Will you feel your heart speed up or slow down? Not always. Arrhythmias cause a variety of symptoms, but you may have no symptoms at all. Often, people learn they have an arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation by chance.

Maybe you get a required heart exam prior to knee surgery, for example, and your doctor discovers a problem. Or a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation may come after youve already had a stroke. For others, a rapidly beating or erratic heartbeat is both noticeable and uncomfortable. Every person is different.

Something else to keep in mind: Having mild symptoms or no symptoms does not indicate that you have a less serious arrhythmia. And the opposite is also true. You could have severe symptoms but have a harmless arrhythmia. Here are some of the common symptoms:

These can feel differently for different people, but you may experience a pounding sensation in your chest, or you may feel like your hearts racing that famous mile a minute.

Remember from above: Some arrhythmias can cause your heart to beat to more than 100 times each minuteand sometimes much faster than that. You may also feel like your heart has skipped a beat or a beat has come earlier than usual. Again, though, that you may not feel any abnormal beating during an episode of arrhythmia.

Some or all of these can occur when your heart rates off and your heart cant pump blood efficiently. That can reduce the amount of oxygen your heart delivers to the rest of your body, resulting in shortness of breath. Both fast and slow heartbeats can cause these symptoms, according to the AHA.

People can faint from dehydration, emotional distress, or even standing up a little too quickly, and then quickly recover. Fainting from an arrhythmia, however, is caused when your blood pressure dropssometimes to dangerously low levels. Such drops in blood pressure are medical emergencies, so if you have a history of arrhythmias, be sure to carry or wear a medical ID card, necklace, or bracelet so others know to call 911.

You likely will see an electrophysiologist, a specialized type of cardiologist who focuses on heart-rhythm disorders. Early treatment may lead to better treatment outcomes. This is particularly true of atrial fibrillation, which may cause a stroke if left untreated.

In addition to a physical exam and a discussion of your family health history, your doctor will record your hearts electrical activity with an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), a painless test that lasts about ten minutes. It will reveal any abnormalities with your hearts electrical wiring that take place during the test.

However, arrhythmias often come and go, and yours may not occur during your ECG at your doctors office. If that happens, there are options:

These wearable devices will monitor your hearts activity while you go about your normal daily routine. If you are given an event recorder, you will turn it on when your symptoms begin, and it will start recording your hearts activity. Holter monitors, on the other hand, are worn 24/7 (except when youre in the shower), for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. These smart-phone-sized devices automatically begin recording as soon as a change is detected. Theyre considered to be more effective because they capture irregularity during its first stages.

If your arrhythmia most often occurs during physical exertion, your doctor may order a stress test, in which you will get your heart rate going on a treadmill or exercise bike (or with medication if you cant exercise).

During this invasive surgical procedure, a catheter, or thin wire, is inserted through a vein, often in your groin, and threaded to your heart. Electrodes at the catheters tip stimulate the heart so that your doctor can evaluate its electrical function. This test helps find the cause of your arrhythmia and also helps guide treatment decisions. You will be awake but sedated for this one- to four-hour test. Often, youll go home the same day, but your doctor may decide to monitor you overnight.

Strapped onto a table in a horizontal position, you are slowly raised until you are vertical. This shows how your blood and heart rhythm respond to gravity and changes in position. This test is often done to trigger symptoms like lightheadedness, which can be caused by a heartbeat thats too slow or too fast.

A wide variety of treatments exist to help you manage your arrhythmia. Your doctor will determine which therapeutic approach is best for you depending on your specific symptoms.

For some arrhythmias, medications can be used to restore your heart beat to normal. They include:

Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digitalis

These medications slow the heart and may be prescribed if your arrhythmia causes your heart to race.

Anticoagulants and antiplatelets

These include drugs such as warfarin and aspirin. They prevent clots and reduce your risk of stroke.

Antiarrhythmics

These medications help correct your heart beat and to keep your heart beating normally. If your doctor prescribes one of these, you may start it in the hospital, where you can be observed to be sure its effective and safe for you at the prescribed dose. They include:

Nexterone and Pacerone (Amiodarone): One of the most commonly prescribe drugs for arrhythmia, its often taken for atrial fibrillation. It can also treat other arrhythmias, including dangerous ventricular arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation.

Tambocor (Flecainide): Used for irregular heartbeats, to slow a fast heart rate, and to maintain a normal rhythm, it works by relaxing the heart to improve how well it pumps blood. Its used to treat some types of supraventricular tachycardia as well as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. It also may be used for dangerous arrhythmias called sustained ventricular tachycardias, which are too-fast rhythms that require medical intervention to restore a normal heartbeat.

Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine, and Sotylize (Solatol): Prescribed for atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation, this medication, which comes in various brands names, is used primarily in patients with life-threatening arrhythmias.

When medications cant do the job, your doctor may recommend a procedure.

Catheter Ablation

A catheter is threaded to your heart via the groin. Once there, your doctor will apply heat or extreme cold to small areas of your heart, creating tiny scars. These block the pathway of the electrical signal thats causing your arrhythmia. Most often, its used to treat supraventricular tachycardia, but it can also treat both atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Cardioversion

When your heart beats irregularly or too fast, your doctor may have to shock it in order to get it back to normal. While sedated, two paddlesone on your chest, the other on your backdeliver brief electrical shocks to right your heart. The procedure takes about 30 minutes.

Implantable Devices

If your arrhythmia cant be managed sufficiently with medication and/or procedures, you may require a different kind of solution: a device that helps control the electrical signaling of your heart.

Pacemaker: A small device is implanted under your skin below one of your collarbones. Wires from the device run through a vein and attach to the heart. They deliver signals that tell your heart to beat faster and are used for bradycardias, or arrhythmias that slow your heart beat. Some pacemakers connect directly to your heart without the need for wires.

Cardioverter-defibrillator: Implanted like a pacemaker but slightly larger, this device monitors your heart constantly. It can sense when a life-threatening arrhythmia, such as ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, occurs. It shocks the heart to restore a normal heartbeat.

In addition to sticking with your treatment planif your arrhythmia requires treatment, that isyoull need to focus on a healthy lifestyle to protect your heart and help prevent symptoms.

That means:

Eat well: Focus on foods that support heart health, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean meats, and fish. Avoid foods with saturated and trans fats, limit red meat, and choose whole foods over highly processed foods, which are often loaded with sodium and sugar.

Exercise: After getting your doctors OK, your goal should be 30 minutes a day five days a week. You and your doctor can discuss the right workout for you. To start, it may be something as mild as a daily walk around your neighborhood.

Weight loss: If youre overweight or obese, slimming down will help your heart. Losing weight can lower blood pressure, which reduces the risk of stroke.

Limit alcohol: Booze can stress your heart and make it beat faster. It can also trigger arrhythmias. Your doctor can help you decide if you need to cut it out altogether.

Quit smoking: Your hearts health will improve dramatically, and youll be less likely to have an arrhythmia if you break this habit. Visit the American Heart Association to get help to stop smoking today.

Sleep well: If you have sleep apnea, which disturbs your breathing constantly as you sleep, you will likely benefit from a device known as a C-PAP, which helps open your airways during the night and keeps you breathing normally. Good sleep will also help improve your blood pressure.

Tackle stress: Too much worry and anxiety can up blood pressure, boost cortisol levels, and increase your risk for arrhythmias. Try daily mediation, a walk with a loved one or friend outside, or focusing on doing the things you love to better manage stress.

Pay attention to side effects: Monitoring how you feel while on a medication is super importantit might not be the best medication for you, and in some cases, medication can actually trigger an arrhythmia. You may need a dose adjustment or a different medication altogether. Share all your symptoms with your doctor.

Theres no doubt that living with an abnormal heartbeat can be stressful, even frightening. Fortunately, theres plenty that you can do to help ease your worries, which is especially important because stress can be a trigger for an episode of arrhythmia.

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Heart Arrhythmias: Types, Treatment, Signs, and Symptoms - HealthCentral.com

SINGAPORE - The four Budgets assembled to date serve as the Government's strong response to preventing a "lost generation" of workers and students caused by Covid-19, which has turned out to be the global crisis of this generation, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Friday (June 5).

It is a response that seeks to stabilise economic activity during this difficult periodand position Singapore for recovery, he added, noting that a recent study estimates that the support packages will help the economy avert an average output loss of 5 percentage points, or $23.4 billion a year, over this year and the next.

Singapore is tackling these headwinds from a position of strength, he added. It is in a strong fiscal position, with sizeable reserves left by the founding generation that need to be built on. It also has deep social reserves, supported by mutual trust, close partnerships, strong values, and a sense of mutual responsibility and support, he said.

These have enabled Singapore to marshal close to $100 billion to fight the coronavirus and the huge impact it has had on the global economy - and weather the expected lengthy road to recovery - with a focus on people and jobs, Mr Heng said in his speech to round up debate on the Fortitude Budget.

While the world took close to a decade following the Great Depression and global financial crisis to recover to pre-crisis unemployment levels, Mr Heng said it will not be surprising if it takes even longer to bounce back from the effects of Covid-19.

In the same way that World War Iled to a "lost generation" of youngstersin the West, there is now talk of a global "lockdown generation" and fears that the young peopleof this generation "could have their skills, employabilityand incomes permanently affected, even after the world recovers from the pandemic", said Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister.

"We must work to prevent a 'Covid Generation' of workers and students in Singapore," he said. This is why the Government has committed a large war chest in this fight, with most of the money aimed at helping workers stay in their jobs through measures like the Jobs Support Scheme.

Taken together, the Fortitude Budget and the three preceding Budgets this year add up to $193 billion, more than double the size of Singapore's annual Budget in the preceding years.

Close to 80 per cent of the $93 billion set aside for Covid-19 response - or $72 billion - has been allocated to preserving jobs and businesses, as this in turn supports social resilience, said Mr Heng.

"As our labour movement firmly believes, a job is the best welfare," he said.

The support for jobs is crucial, as Covid-19 is likely to cause global unemployment levels to reach levels unseen even during the global financial crisis in 2009, he noted.

Singapore will not be spared, as the pandemic is likely to cause the number of unemployed residents to exceed 100,000 this year, more than the 91,000 registered during the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) epidemic.

"Even those who keep their jobs may suffer under-employment and significant income loss," said Mr Heng. "This could lead to a vicious cycle where income loss reduces consumption, and affected businesses further reduce labour demand."

But beyond the immediate priority of helping workers stay in their jobs, measures outlined include creating a multitude of new opportunities and providing additional help to harder-hit groups such as graduating students, mid-career workers, and self-employed people.

Singapore is fortunate, asthe Republic had started structural transformation of its economy before Covid-19 struck and accelerated deep changes in the global economy, said Mr Heng, noting that companies who made changes early are adapting better to the new conditions.

"The post-Covid-19 world will be different from today," he said. "We may not know the exact contours of how this world will look like, but we know the forces that are shaping it."

The Emerging Stronger Task Force, for instance, is studying key shifts and developing recommendations in the areas of technology and innovation, digitalisation, and disruption to global supply chains, said Mr Heng.

The task force will consult multiple stakeholders, said Mr Heng, in acknowledgement of several MPs' calls in the two days of debate that the Government include more diverse voices in its decision-making process.

While Singapore has been able to mount a strong fiscal response because of its national reserves, Mr Heng also called on Singaporeans to have strong social reserves both as individuals and across different levels of society, "working together and holding one another up with trust and in solidarity".

He likened Covid-19 to a mighty storm that has damaged sails and forced ships around the world to go into harbour.

"While waiting for the storm to subside, we must make the best use of this downtime to build new strengths and capabilities.

"Let us take this rare chance to repair, upgrade our ship and install new instruments, re-orientate our mental compass, and strengthen our sailors, so that when the fair wind comes, we will sail out faster and further than ever before," he said. "This is what our four Budgets enable us to do - let us make the best use of them!"

To surviveand emerge stronger, Singapore had to get three things right, added Mr Heng.

These aregood governance and strong, adaptive leadership; strong social reserves across all levels; and being crystal clear and unwavering about its values and mission.

The fundamentals are all the more crucial at a time of uncertainty, he added, saying that while the country's circumstances have changed over the years, the Government's aspirations for Singapore have not: To be a place where its people, regardless of race, language or religion, can build a better life.

READ THE FULL SPEECH BY DPM HENG HERE.

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S'pore in a strong position to prevent lost 'Covid Generation', says DPM Heng in Fortitude Budget debate round-up - The Straits Times

Frequent self-weighing is a key behavior associated with weight loss success. At the same time, frequent weighing can be a marker of unhealthy and disordered habits with potential negative psychological effects. Before you jump on the scale, consider how you are using this tool to further your health and fitness goals and whether its time to re-evaluate your plan.

Studies show that self-monitoring of eating habits, physical activity and weight are interventions that can help with weight loss and prevent unintended weight gain. Unlike tracking food and exercise, self-weighing is quick and relatively easy. Those who monitor their weight closely may find frequent weighing helpful as they are able to notice a pattern of weight change sooner and make small dietary adjustments to curb unwanted weight gain.

Losing weight is hard, but keeping it off is even harder. In fact, long-term maintenance of substantial weight loss is very unlikely with most people experiencing weight cycling, or the regaining of weight. Weight loss maintenance is affected by multiple complex factors including those that are environmental, behavioral, biological and cognitive. Frequent self-weighing may help some people keep off the weight for good, but for others weighing leads to frustration and other harmful consequences.

Keep in mind that the information provided by a standard scale is quite limited. Changes in weight do not necessarily reflect changes in body fat. While weight is just a number, our bodies are quite complex. For many people, goals related to weight loss are about body composition. Some people want to get leaner, others want to gain muscle, but the average scale is limited in its ability to assess these changes.

It is normal for body weight to fluctuate over the course of the day and from day-to-day. Therefore, daily weight check ins do not necessarily represent changes in body fat or muscle mass, but merely fluid shifts or food consumed. For example, if you drink two cups of water, you can expect your weight to immediately increase a pound. In addition, it is not unusual for weight to be lowest in the morning and at a mid-to-late week weigh-in and highest later in the day and right after the weekend. The point is that these normal fluctuations can make the scale a not-so-useful tool for measuring actual weight loss.

Here are some things to consider when deciding if and how a scale may be a useful tool for you to manage your health and fitness goals:

Choose the Right Scale for You

There are many home scales available at different price points. Some scales are designed for those with impaired vision while others have tech-savvy features like the ability to measure body composition and sync with health and fitness apps to track progress. Use a scale with the features that are important to you, which may mean trading out an old scale for a new model.

Determine How Often to Weigh and Be Consistent

Decide on a plan for when and how often to weigh yourself and stick with it. Weighing too often can lead to excess focus on weight that may only impede progress. Avoid comparing early morning and late afternoon weights. Remember to look at the bigger picture to gauge your true weight pattern.

Weight is Only a Number

Its okay if you dont want to weigh yourself or own a scale. The number on the scale is not the only or best measurement when it comes to body composition. You can use a tape measurement or a clothing item to monitor change over time. During medical visits, you may ask to not be told your weight if it makes you feel more comfortable. Do what feels right for you.

Know When Weighing is Causing More Harm than Good

Lastly, if you notice that weighing creates distress or causes you to restrict your food beyond your eating plan, you may benefit from taking a step back from the scale or speaking to a professional about these concerns. The scale should not have the power to dictate self-worth nor should it be the sole measure of progress.

LeeAnn Weintraub, MPH, RD is a registered dietitian, providingnutritioncounseling and consulting to individuals, families and organizations. She can be reached by email atRD@halfacup.com.

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Nutrition: Weighing your health options when using a scale - LA Daily News

This Aussie mum-of-three dropped an incredible 30kg in just nine months after completely changing her outlook on food.

Wendy Hernandez, from Sydney, went from 98kg down to 68kg thanks to the 12WBT program and says the biggest thing that changed for her was her knowledge about food and portion sizes.

Wendy went from 98kg down to 68kg thanks to the 12WBT program. Photo: Supplied

Ive always loved bread and rice, Wendy tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Id eat toast almost every day for breakfast and rice or pasta for dinner. I would always eat the kids leftovers as well.

I grew up with parents saying not to waste food so instead of throwing it out, I would eat it.

Now I have learnt so much about different types of food and tried food I never thought Id like. Ive also learnt about portion size. I used to eat for two or three people. I now eat five smaller meals per day and Im rarely hungry.

Wendy completely changed her outlook on food. Photo: Supplied

She also says meal prepping has now become a huge part of her routine.

If I know what Im eating for a few days, I wont reach for something unhealthy because my food is ready to go, she explains.

I prep overnight oats on a Sunday for four days. I normally leave home at 5.30am everyday so I dont have time to muck around.

I will prep some grilled chicken and grilled vegetables for a few days and take a Mountain Bread wrap and that will be my lunch. I also prep dinners which I make a big batch of beef and beans chilli or quinoa and lamb pilaf that I can keep in the freezer.

Wendy would also constantly make excuses for not exercising, putting her procrastination down to being too busy or not being able to find the time. Now, exercise is just a normal part of her life, training at the gym 3-4 days a week.

I never exercised, she tells us. I had three young children and all my time was doing things for the kids. I never took time out for myself.

She's managed to keep the weight off now for seven years. Photo: Supplied

Wendy has been able to keep the weight off for over seven years now and says her life has completely changed because of it.

I am more confident as a person and as a mother. Im a lot more active. I love river walks on Saturday mornings, and I enjoy training at the gym 3-4 days a week, she says.

I prioritise time for myself now. I talk to my kids a lot about being healthy and teach them the importance of living a healthy balanced lifestyle.

She has recently competed in a number of 5km fun runs, and last year she ran the City to Surf, cutting a whopping22 minutesfrom her finishing time the year before.

Wendy now goes to the gym 3-4 days a week. Photo: Supplied

For anyone considering embarking on their own journey towards a healthier lifestyle, Wendy says its all about being organised.

You just need to be organised and stick to it. You will get results, she says.

It will truly change your life. Im forever grateful for the person Ive become. Im happy and healthy and have never looked back.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.

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Biggest change that lead to Aussie mum's incredible weight loss transformation - Yahoo Lifestyle Australia

Counting calories is essential to lose weight. The problem is that you have to know how, since not everyone should ingest the same. In fact, it is very important to also take into account the physical exercise that is performed daily to calculate it. A study from an American university published by Mens Health magazine reveals some simple tricks that can help those who want to lose weight quickly and in a controlled way.

The key to the calories is as follows. Depending on the work carried out daily. For this, the following guideline must be followed. If no weekly exercise is performed, the persons weight must be multiplied by ten and added to a thousand, for example: a person who weighs 85 kilos must ingest about 1,850 calories to lose weight. If you do one or two weekly training sessions, you must multiply by 12 and add a thousand; if he carries out between two and four sessions, for 14 more thousand; and if there are more than five times that you exercise, it is multiplied by 16 and a thousand are added.The study revealed by Mens Health explains that the caloric deficit to lose weight should never exceed 500 calories, as it could be harmful to health.

Another key that the study reveals is that approximately 10 percent of the calories ingested are burned in digestion.

As for exercise, the same study by the American magazine reveals that a person burns around 20 percent of the total calories ingested throughout the day thanks to exercise. You dont need that high intensity exercise. For example, a person who weighs 85 kilos burns about 180 calories just by walking for half an hour.

Another aspect to consider according to the study is that when counting calories, liquids should not be left out. This is not a problem when the only thing ingested is water, but it is not so much if we talk about other drinks, such as beer. For example, a cane has about 150 calories. If we take two and we are doing a diet in which we reduce the daily intake by about 300 calories, we will have thrown overboard the sacrifice made in the food.

Also keep in mind that it is highly advisable to have a varied and balanced diet and put yourself in the hands of a professional.

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Weight loss tricks: An American study reveals the two keys to keep in mind to lose weight - Explica