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Nirmala George, Associated Press 3:16 a.m. ET June 20, 2017

A doctor examines a pregnant woman at the district women's hospital, in Allahabad, in India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh.(Photo: AP)

NEW DELHI Indias government is advising pregnant women to avoid all meat, eggs and lusty thoughts.

Doctors say the advice is preposterous, and even dangerous, considering Indias already-poor record with maternal health. Women are often the last to eat or receive health care in traditionally patriarchal Indian households.

Malnutrition and anemia, or iron deficiency, are key factors behind Indias having one of the worlds highest rates of maternal mortality, with 174 of every 100,000 pregnancies resulting in the mothers death in 2015. Thats better than five years earlier, when the maternal mortality rate was 205 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, but still far worse than Chinas 27 per 100,000 or the United States 14 per 100,000, according to UNICEF.

The government is doling out unscientific and irrational advice, instead of ensuring that poor pregnant women get to eat a nutritious, high-protein diet, said gynecologist Arun Gadre, who is based in the western Indian city of Pune but works in rural areas.

The government booklet, titled Mother and Child Care, smacks of religious dogma and ignores widely accepted medical evidence that pregnant women benefit from eating protein-rich meats and can safely engage in sex, doctors said.

It says pregnant women should also shun impure thoughts and look at pictures of beautiful babies to benefit the fetus.

Pregnant women should detach themselves from desire, anger, attachment, hatred and lust, reads the booklet, released last week by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, a part of the governments ministry that promotes traditional and alternative medicine.

The traditional medicine minister defended the booklet as containing wisdom accumulated over many centuries, and said it did not advise specifically against sex, only against all thoughts of desire or lust.

The booklet puts together relevant facts culled out from clinical practice in the fields of yoga and naturopathy, Minister Shripad Naik said.

It is the latest push for vegetarianism by Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu-nationalist government, which already advocates avoiding beef and strictly limits the transportation and slaughter of cows, which are considered sacred by Hindus.

But the latest homily to pregnant women has outraged the medical community.

This is a national shame. If the calories of expectant mothers are further reduced by asking them to shun meat and eggs, this situation will only worsen, Gadre said. This is absurd advice to be giving to pregnant women in a country like India.

About a third of Indias 1.3 billion people struggle to live on less than $2 a day. Many are lucky to eat more than one full meal a day, and women often give their portions up to their hungry children or husbands.

Malnourished women are more likely to give birth to underweight babies, who then are in danger of being stunted or not growing to their full height and weight. A full 48 percent of all Indian children under the age of 5 are considered stunted, according to a 2015 report by UNICEF.

Undernourished girls grow into undernourished women. Married by their families while still in their teens, these girls become pregnant by the time they are 17 or 18, when their bodies have not matured enough to safely deliver a child, said Amit Sengupta, a physician and health care activist with the Delhi Science Forum, a public advocacy organization.

He said the governments advice to pregnant women betrayed backward thinking and hostility toward evidence-based science.

This kind of advice is detrimental to womens health, he said.

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Read more from the original source:
India's no-meat, no-lust advice for pregnant women ridiculed - USA TODAY

Randy's story

Faced with sleep apnea that nearly cost him his life, arthritis in his hip, and other problems due to being overweight, Randy knew it was time to make serious changes in his lifestyle. In this series we will follow Randy's journey as he attempts to lose over 80 lbs. on the Dr. Bernstein Diet through medical supervision.

For over 40 years, the Bernstein Diet & Health Clinics have used the weight loss program developed by Dr. Stanley K. Bernstein, MD, General Practitioner, to help people solve their weight problems. Our specially-trained team of doctors and nurses can show you how to lose weight quickly, safely and naturally while you regain your energy, vitality and confidence.

On our program, you can safely lose up to 20 lb every month.* Thats 4 to 5 inches off your waistline every single month!* It is incredibly motivating to see the pounds melt away.

The Dr. Bernstein Weight Loss Program eliminates many of the barriers to success by helping to prevent cravings, headaches, fatigue and rebound weight gain. Thats why our patients stick with it, lose the weight, and are happier, healthier people. Our program is based on sound medical principles that have been clinically proven over four decades of dedicated practice. We never use any questionable diet pills, herbal potions or magical miracle cures and there are no contracts to sign, so you can feel comfortable that youve made the right choice.

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As excess weight contributes to or causes health complications, it is important that trained medical professionals supervise your weight loss progress. If you have medical conditions linked to your excess weight, such as high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, and osteo-arthiritis that require medication and medical supervision, we can help you regain your health while you lose weight.

As you lose weight, you can also reduce or eliminate your need for medications to control related medical conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, osteo-arthritis, asthma and COPD. And you can do all of this without diet pills, appetite suppressants, exercise or surgery.

Imagine living free from the burden of medical conditions!

Visit link:
About Dr. Bernstein - CTV News

The National Cancers Survivors Day Foundation celebrated over 15.5 million cancer survivors alive on June 4, and the American Cancer Society wants to ensure they remain healthy by following six steps it posted on its website.

"Achieve and maintain a healthy weight," Stacy Simon, senior editor for the American Cancer Society, said in the posting. Simon recommends cancer patients avoid overeating, unhealthy foods and weight gain while in treatment or thereafter, and if help from a physician is needed, ask about how to safely lose weight.

The second step is to be physical, move and get active. "Studies show that exercise is generally safe during cancer treatment and can improve many aspects of health, including muscle strength, balance, fatigue and depression," Simon said. In fact, data has shown that those who engage in physical activity after cancer treatment live longer and have a lower possibility for returned cancer.

Next, Simon said to eat a balanced diet of healthy foods including fruits and vegetables. Simon said studies have shown immense health benefits are related to diets filled with these healthy foods. Processed foods such as sugary items, deli meat and fried foods are discouraged.

The next two steps are similar in nature and focus on cancer surviviors' futures. Simon said to get routine cancer screenings and draw up a care plan. Follow-up screenings will keep health records up to date and check for new cancer. A care plan allows survivors to know in detail their doctors and specialists. This is an organized way to keep track of all medicare care, Simon added.

The last step in ensuring continued health is to effectively manage emotional and mental health. Simon recommended to spend time with loved ones, focus on things that make one happy, and join local support groups if needed.

These six steps should help in maintaining health for cancer survivors and allow them to live prosperous, long lives, Simon said.

Excerpt from:
American Cancer Society posts 6 steps to help survivors live longer lives - Patient Daily

My fitness journey started with a climb up the spiral staircase to my office. It is a short, spiral staircase, consisting of fewer than 30 steps. But to me, it might as well have been my Everest at the rate it left my lungs breathless and my legs burning.

This will not do, I told myself. And thus began yet another search for fitness.

In the past, the aim to lose weight was an annual resolution. But 20 years have gone and 10 kilos have come - and stayed.

It was time to try a different tactic and this is why I decided to sign up for The Straits Times Run on July 16.

In the past four months, while training for the 5km run, here's what I've picked up about losing weight and getting fit.

As noted above, losing weight was an annual resolution but my targets were never specific enough.

Signing up for a run gave me a clear goal (to finish the 5km without stopping) and a deadline to work towards. In other words, there's pressure.

For me, this meant trying to remove as many excuses that could crop up. So I decided to pick a gym (True Fitness in Ang Mo Kio) that was only a five-minute drive from my home, as opposed to a swankier and newer outlet that was in town but would entail me spending as much as 30 minutes on the CTE in the morning in order to reach it.

If not heading to the gym, I also sleep in my running gear, so as to psyche myself up and remind myself I have a "date" with the road.

For newbies like me, this has been an invaluable tool. Not only have I learnt to train safely and efficiently, but my trainer, Mohamed Faizal, is also my motivator and cheerleader.

This is where the value of having a PT comes in as opposed to training on one's own. Faizal keeps a strict eye on my form, ie he ensures I do a movement correctly, which reduces the chance of injury.

He also ensures that I use my muscles - and not just momentum - in executing a move. When performing any exercise, doing it correctly is more important than doing it fast, or doing more reps because you are working the correct muscle.

I have learnt not to dismiss the small stuff in this aspect. One doesn't need big, huge movements to get an effective workout. For instance, when I was doing leg raises, I started by raising my legs 10 to 12 centimetres upwards but Faizal corrected my movement and limited it to only 5 centimetres and, boy, is that harder than lifting my legs way higher because it targets the correct muscles (lower abs).

I run on my own and on the treadmill in the gym. That takes care of the cardio element.

But my workouts with Faizal focus on building up my core muscles, which ensure proper posture while running, and also my leg muscles.

Maintaining a proper posture has been key to helping me feel less fatigued on a run. It was a huge challenge initially, correcting years of poor posture where my shoulders in particular were hunched, and I would always lean forward. But my posture has since become slightly more upright although it is still a work in progress.

To me, running is about as interesting as counting rice grains. I admit it. Particularly if one is on a treadmill. By mixing things up in the gym, be it doing lunges or a farmer's walk and core workouts, I am challenged in different ways at each gym session with Faizal and this keeps me going.

Simple exercises, such as lunges, when executed with good form, can serve as a strenuous workout. PHOTO: ST FILE

I learnt that one does not need to use fancy machines to become more fit.

Very often, the workouts I do with Faizal require minimal equipment and sometimes nothing besides my own bodyweight. This is particularly true for things like calf raises and lunges. I have found the hardest exercises to be simple things like sideways lunges with a simple band. As I said before, form is king. If you execute a movement with good form, it will give your muscles a workout.

When the dietician told me this, I remember thinking: "Why don't you just kill me now."

Sad but true. But this is a simple case of mathematics, plus and minus. Make sure you can burn off what you put in, or if you put in something that you're not going to burn off through exercise, then make up the difference somewhere else by taking something out that day. For instance, if I know I am going to have a Coke that day, then I know I have to "minus" something else from my calorie intake.

I will be the first to admit that this is easier said than done. Especially when I am stressed and usually head for comfort (ie fattening) food as a habit, cue Milo dinosaurs and Mac & Cheese.

Nonetheless, just having that knowledge has helped me be more conscious and to make more careful choices in the food I eat.

I must underline the fact that I am by no means an expert on running, although I am pleased to say that I have lost 1.3kg of fat and built 500g of muscle since embarking on this.

But if I can do it, you can too.

The closing date to sign up for the ST Run is now extended till June 28. Sign up at straitstimesrun.com

Read this article:
The ST Guide To... losing weight and getting fit - The Straits Times

My fitness journey started with a climb up the spiral staircase to my office. It is a short, spiral staircase, consisting of 17 steps. But to me, it might as well have been my Everest at the rate it left my lungs breathless and my legs burning.

This will not do, I told myself. And thus began yet another search for fitness.

In the past, the aim to lose weight was an annual resolution. But 20 years have gone and 10 kilos have come - and stayed.

It was time to try a different tactic and this is why I decided to sign up for The Straits Times Run, which will take place on July 16.

In the past four months, while training for the 5km run, here's what I've picked up about losing weight and getting fit.

As noted above, losing weight was an annual resolution but my targets were never specific enough.

Signing up for a run gave me a clear goal (to finish the 5km without stopping) and a deadline to work towards. In other words, there's pressure.

Participants at The Straits Times Run last year. Training for the run this year, to be held on July 16, gives one a clear goal to work towards, says the writer, as there is pressure to be ready. The closing date to sign up for the run has been extended till June 28. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

For me, this meant trying to remove as many excuses that could crop up. So I decided to pick a gym (True Fitness in Ang Mo Kio) that was only a five-minute drive from my home, as opposed to a swankier and newer outlet that was in town but would entail me spending as much as 30 minutes on the CTE in the morning in order to reach it.

If not heading to the gym, I also sleep in my running gear, so as to psyche myself up and remind myself I have a "date" with the road.

For newbies like me, this has been an invaluable tool. Not only have I learnt to train safely and efficiently, but my trainer Mohamed Faizal is also my motivator and cheerleader.

This is where the value of having a PT comes in, as opposed to training on one's own. Faizal keeps a strict eye on my form, that is, he ensures I do a movement correctly, which reduces the chance of injury.

He also ensures that I use my muscles - and not just momentum - in executing a move. When performing any exercise, doing it correctly is more important than doing it fast, or doing more reps because you are working the correct muscle.

I have learnt not to dismiss the small stuff in this aspect. One doesn't need big, huge movements to get an effective workout. For instance, when I was doing leg raises, I started by raising my legs 10cm to 12cm upwards but Faizal corrected my movement and limited it to only 5cm and, boy, is that harder than lifting my legs way higher because it targets the correct muscles (lower abs).

I run on my own and on the treadmill in the gym. That takes care of the cardio element.

But my workouts with Faizal focus on building up my core muscles, which ensure proper posture while running, and also my leg muscles.

Maintaining a proper posture has been key to helping me feel less fatigued on a run. It was a huge challenge initially, correcting years of poor posture where my shoulders in particular were hunched, and I would always lean forward. But my posture has since become slightly more upright although it is still a work in progress.

To me, running is about as interesting as counting rice grains. I admit it. Particularly if one is on a treadmill. By mixing things up in the gym, be it doing lunges or a farmer's walk and core workouts, I am challenged in different ways at each gym session with Faizal and this keeps me going.

I learnt that one does not need to use fancy machines to become fitter.

Very often, the workouts I do with Faizal require minimal equipment and sometimes nothing besides my own body weight. This is particularly true for things like calf raises and lunges. I have found the hardest exercises to be simple things like sideways lunges with a simple band. As I said before, form is king. If you execute a movement with good form, it will give your muscles a workout.

When the dietitian told me this, I remember thinking: "Why don't you just kill me now."

Sad but true. But this is a simple case of mathematics, plus and minus. Make sure you can burn off what you put in, or if you put in something that you're not going to burn off through exercise, then make up the difference somewhere else by taking something out that day. For instance, if I know I am going to have a Coke that day, then I know I have to "minus" something else from my calorie intake.

I will be the first to admit that this is easier said than done. Especially when I am stressed and head for comfort (fattening) food as a habit, cue Milo dinosaurs and mac and cheese. Nonetheless, just having that knowledge has helped me be more conscious and make more careful choices in the food I eat.

I must underline the fact that I am by no means an expert on running, although I am pleased to say that I have lost 1.3kg of fat and built 500g of muscle since embarking on this.

But if I can do it, you can too.

The closing date to sign up for the ST Run has been extended to June 28. Sign up at straitstimesrun.com

Send an e-mail to askST@sph.com.sg

Excerpt from:
Staircase climb was her first step to fitness - The Straits Times

Who: LeeRoy Allan Swackhammer Occupation: Personal Support Worker City: Prince Edward County, Ont. Height: 5'8"

By The Numbers: 367 pounds at my heaviest, 236 pounds currently, for a total weight loss of just over 130 pounds.

The Weight Gain: From birth up to my mid-teens, I was a normal, average weight. I was very active, involved in baseball, soccer, volleyball and wrestling.

In my mid-teens, I started to put on weight. At the time, I didn't know or understand what was going on. As a child, I was emotionally, physically, and sexually assaulted. As a result of these traumas, I acted out and took on the crown of class clown, keeping everybody at a safe distance. I turned to sports as a temporary relief to the turmoil and pain inside. I pushed my emotions and feelings down. I was confused and embarrassed and felt guilty and ashamed.

Final Straw: Over the years, there were multiple final straws. In my early 30s, I met my intelligent and beautiful wife. In April 2009, I had the first of three heart attacks. Later that year, my wife started having seizures due to a brain tumour. Shes no longer able to live at home. So, for all intents and purposes, in 2016 I became a single parent of seven children. It was the year of discovery and the beginning of recovery.

The Plan of Attack: I had to stay focused, develop discipline, and be honest with myself. I learned to accept help and compliments.

It took nine to 10 months, but in that time I lost more than 70 pounds.

The biggest motivation for me was my own well-being. I had always been busy taking care of my family, my friends, and my community. This is good as long as it's not detrimental to myself, my wife and children, and my fellow TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) and KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) members. In one small way, it helped when I encouraged others that there is hope to meet your goals.

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Father Of Seven Loses 130 Pounds While Parenting Solo - Huffington Post Canada

Yuh still holdin me up, Daddy? I yelled over my shoulder, as dusk fell on a Belfast park. Uh-huh, came a faint reply. Peeking behind, I realised, with a surge of exhilaration, that I was on my own and that Daddys economy with the truth had eased me through one of lifes rites of passage: learning to ride a bike.

And what better time to discover the joys of cycling than during Irelands National Bike Week, which takes place from June 10th to June 18th. Perhaps, having attended Cycling Irelands recent Bike Fest on June 11th, youre keen to experience life on two wheels, and Cycling Irelands communications officer Heather Boyle is especially keen to share with The Irish Times some biking benefits.

Benefits of cycling

Socially, she says, cycling offers great opportunities to meet like-minded people from all walks of life. With over 400 cycling clubs in the country, theres bound to be a group for you. Cycling offers something to everyone: from adrenalin-fuelled racing to social touring, to a head-clearing cycle home after a hard days work.

And Boyle reminds me that Ireland has some of the most beautiful country roads in the world, with relatively low levels of traffic: On the bike, she enthuses, you see the country at a slower pace and from a different perspective. And from an environmental point of view cyclings a zero-emission activity, so while enjoying its health and fun benefits, youre also helping reduce our carbon footprint.

Cycling and health

The health benefits conferred by cycling are probably best explained by a leading surgeon for whom pedal power proved life-changing. Prof Chris Oliver who is on Twitter @CyclingSurgeon, is the professor of physical activity for health at the University of Edinburgh, and consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. I cycled as a schoolboy, Oliver told The Irish Times, and as a medical student, I rode all over London. But later I became obese, weighed over 28 stone, developed Type 2 diabetes and couldnt cycle. However, I underwent gastric band surgery and got fit again; so fit that in 2013, I rode 3,500 miles across US from Los Angeles to Boston. The Type 2 diabetes disappeared when I lost weight.

Regular cycling, says Oliver, is a great way to increase longevity: Middle-aged people who cycle regularly typically enjoy the fitness level of someone 10 years younger, and gain two years in life expectancy; and cycling, combined with a healthy diet, helps control weight and lower the risk of diabetes. It raises the metabolic rate, builds muscle, burns body fat, and is a comfortable form of exercise which you can vary and build up slowly. A daily half-hour bike ride burns nearly five kilograms of fat over a year.

Oliver also notes that cycling can reduce ones risk of contracting cardiovascular disease, with regular cycling stimulating heart, lungs and circulation, reducing the risk of stroke, high blood pressure and heart attack: In addition, exercise reduces your risk of colon and breast cancer, and research has found cycling reduces the risk of bowel cancer. For bones and joints, he says, cycling improves co-ordination, strength and balance and may help prevent falls and fractures: Being low-impact, with little stress on joints, cycling is an ideal form of exercise for osteoarthritis. Around 70 per cent of body weight goes through the saddle and handlebars instead of your ankles; and the bigger you are, the more important that is!

As for mental health, Conditions like depression, stress and anxiety, explains Oliver, can be reduced by regular cycling. This is due to the effects of the exercise, producing endorphins, and because riding a bike can bring great enjoyment.

Boyle agrees: The mental health benefits are phenomenal, as highlighted, for example, by the huge support for Irelands annual Cycle Against Suicide event, which took place from April 23rd to May 6th this year, and whose message was Its okay not to feel okay; and its absolutely okay to ask for help.

With Cycling Ireland the countrys national governing body for cycling boasting a membership of over 29,000, which has grown by 720 per cent over the last decade, it is clear that the benefits conferred by cycling on all age groups, from primary schoolchildren to retirees, are being enjoyed by increasing numbers of people.

So come on; get on your bike and start cycling: its a life-enriching experience.

Waterford Greenway: Irelands longest greenway was officially opened on the March 25th with 46km of a dedicated cycling and walking trail along the old railway line. The trail stretches from Waterford City to Dungarvan, taking in 11 bridges, three viaducts and a 400m tunnel, and the route is a mix of coastal and inland section.

The Great Dublin Bike Ride: This is the only Dublin City-based leisure cycle; it offers a closed-road tour of Dublin City and County, and is on September 24th.

The Sport Ireland Cycle Series: This is a five-cycle series; you can do as many events as you like of the five that are on offer, with a variety of distances and routes that take in some of the best roads in Ireland like the Wild Atlantic Way, Copper Coast Drive, the Burren and the Ring of Beara.

Ring of Kerry: This is one of Irelands most scenic routes, the jewel in the crown of Kerrys world-renowned wondrous landscape. You can tackle it at your own pace at any time of year, or you could join the 10,000 cyclists up for one of Irelands best loved challenges on the July 1st, 2017.

The Gran Fondo Giro dItalia Northern Ireland: This takes cyclists around some of the spectacular countryside of Northern Irelands east coast, following similar routes to those taken by the professionals when the Giro dItalia visited Ireland in 2014.

The Mizmal: Prof Oliver says, Next year, Im planning to ride the Mizmal (about 550 miles) in a week from Mizen Head to Malin Head. It should be great! See mizmal.com

Irelands cycling boom, according to Heather Boyle, can be attributed to several reasons, with the introduction of the Bike to Work Scheme (biketowork.ie) one of the key initial drivers: Bike rental schemes in Dublin, Cork and Galway, she says, made cycling accessible to everyone, and the increased and ongoing investment in cycle lanes, greenways and blueways has created safer environments for commuters, families and individuals. This investment is crucial if Ireland is looking to increase active travel, and together with cyclist.ie, Cycling Ireland is pushing for 10 per cent of the transport budget to be allocated to cycling.

But as Boyle explains, although cycling is enjoying a resurgence in popularity among middle-aged people, Cycling Ireland is keen to promote it to children: Trends have shown, she says, that fewer children cycle to school than in previous years. For example, in primary schools the number of children commuting by bike dropped from 22,400 in 1991 to 6,200 in 2011, according to the census.

One means of addressing this challenge is the Sprocket Rocket cycling skills programme, aimed at children aged 5-12, with a focus on basic cycling skills like cornering, balance, braking and pedalling. Its a programme, says Boyle, thats particularly popular with our clubs, who have recognised a significant improvement in the confidence and competence of the children who completed the course.

Then there is Cycle Right, launched in early 2017, with over 3,000 participants at 80 schools throughout Ireland signed up for training. Boyle explains that this is the first time Ireland has had a national standard for cycle training, and particular emphasis is placed on educating participants to become competent, confident cyclists who will have the skills to move safely on the road network.

The Scottish experience

Across the Irish Sea, Prof Oliver is actively engaged in turning policy into pedalling. Bike usage, he says, is best promoted by governments having an active travel plan and a good targeted, driven cycling policy. My best cycling project that has got people active is Play on Pedals (playonpedals.com). I raised the grant funding for this project, that not only engages pre-school children in cycling to improve the mental and physical health of future generations, but aims to give every pre-school child in Glasgow the opportunity to learn to ride a bike before starting school.

The project worked with 7,148 children over 2.5 years and trained 388 instructors and instructor trainers to deliver across Glasgow, a city with large areas of multiple deprivation and recognised health inequalities. Play on Pedals, says Oliver, has been a hugely popular programme. It has provided a fun and engaging way to increase physical activity, confidence and resilience among pre-school children and families in Glasgow. As one head teacher commented, There will be a generational change within the community because we have children who are leaving the nursery who can cycle and that can only add to how our environment will grow.

Is there scope in the future for a mutually beneficial cross-fertilisation of ideas between Dublin and Glasgow?

Heather Boyle emphasises cyclings many facets: While many think of road cycling, Irelands mountain bike scene is one of the most vibrant and growing communities, with hubs of activities around the country attracting those with a love for adventures off the beaten track. The Emerald Enduro is a great day out for the family.

And BMX cycling enjoys a healthy resurrection. This is an area that has attracted many younger riders. While there are several top-class racing tracks for serious competitors, there are BMX tracks in most towns nationwide, making it extremely affordable and accessible.

Track cycling, says Boyle, is a fast, exciting and competitive discipline, with cyclists on single-gear brakeless bikes riding around in circles! Ireland has three outdoor tracks Dublin, Cork and Belfast and Irish riders such as Martyn Irvine, Caroline Ryan and our paracycling team have won many world medals.

However, road cycling is the most popular discipline in Ireland, with 65 per cent of Cycling Irelands members being leisure cyclists, participating in the many sportives held around the country. Ireland, adds Boyle, also has a booming competitive scene, with races like the An Post Rs and An Post Rs na mBan driving up the standard of the domestic riders, and feeding people into the Irish national teams and professional cycling teams.

Safety tips from Cycling Ireland

More here:
I started cycling, lost weight and the diabetes disappeared - Irish Times

WhenAmerican Idol premiered 15 years ago today, on June 11, 2002, it had two hosts, one well-known judge in Paula Abdul,a British pedigree and a fetching premise: One talented singer would be plucked out of obscurity and become...

A star!

The success of that quaint premise would end up changing the entire entertainment landscape, turning unscripted programming into must-see TV and send networks racing to find their own flagship competition shows to add to the mix.

In fact, ABC just went ahead and picked upAmerican Idol for itself after Fox decided it was time to pack it in after15 seasons.

The question of whether ABC's version will be a shell of its former self (basically an extension of the conversation that started aroundseason 13 or so) or whether Fox foolishly gave up on a classic is still to be answered.

Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX

Not that everything was perfect right out of the gate. The show didn't need two hosts.Ryan Seacrest had brought his earnestly frosted '90s hair with him.No one quite knew what this acerbicSimon Cowell character was about yet. And it was on during the summera situation Fox immediately remedied the following season once the network knew it had a hit on its hands.

FOX

Irrefutably glorious and cringe-worthy moments would pile up over the years. Eventually Seacrest was the onlyringmaster left from the original show, with Randy Jacksonopting to leave after 12 seasons. The formula persisted. On every season premiere, right up until the end, Ryan's introduction and then the strains of the theme song never failed to delight. It's no one's fault that there are just so many darn shows now, many only in existence because Idol came first, that it becamehard to get that excited about an entireIdol season.

Or maybe it'sIdol's fault.Its last year at the top of the prime-time ratings,2011, was also the yearThe Voice premiered.

Fault is such a strong word.

YetinAmerican Idol's earliest days, there was nothing like it. More polish would be added, the production would become slicker in due time and the show would start firing on allcylinders a few seasonslater, whenin 2005 it became the most-watched seriesof the year (the two nights a week it was on were No. 1 and 2), despite only being on from January to May (half of the barely still in existence "traditional" TV season).

But it was Kelly Clarkson's triumphant sprint to the finish line in 2002 that started it all. She's the first one, out of all of the aspiring starswho would follow in her wake, to comeout of nowhere and become exactly whatIdol promised its winners they'd become.

In honor of the anniversary of one of the biggest TV game-changersof all time,this is Kelly's inaugural AmericanIdol journey:

J. Viles/FOX

The first round of auditions were held inLos Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta and Miami. Roughly 10,000 people tried out.

"The numbers were nothing like what they are now," executive producer Ken WarwicktoldBillboardlast year, "but it was good enough. We got Kelly Clarkson out of it, didn't we?! There were fewer people, but the talent level was a bit higher because no one had ever done it before."

A then 20-year-old Clarkson tried out in Dallas at the Wyndham Anatole hotel,wearing a strapless denim top she'd crafted herself out of a pair of jeans. The Burleston, Texas, nativehad already moved to L.A.and back after not being able to make a living as a singer during her first go-round. She waited tables, worked as an extra and came across "expert" after "expert" who told her she needed to lose weight, her voice wasn't right, blah blah blah. When the apartment she'd been sharing caught fire in 2002, she tried living out of her car for a bit, but then decided to cut her losses and go back to Texas.

Her outfit and sweet demeanor caught the producers' attention outside the audition room, and she was one of the bunch who got a little extra face time with the camera before her tryout.

"I'm going to be a fashion designer if this doesn't work out," joked Clarkson, who had been working as a cocktail waitress and a part-time Red Bull promoter in Texas. "Call it a hunch, but we don't think Kelly's going to need that plan," ye olde co-host Brian Dunkleman intoned as she went in to meet the judges and audition with a few bars of Madonna's "Express Yourself."

"I love that song. I worked on that song, Madonna, you did a very good job," Randy offered, prompting immediate snickers from Paula and Simon, who were already used to Randy'sname-dropping ways.

Have we forgotten that Kelly's one of the few hopefuls to ever get Randy out of his chairand into the spotlight, no less? "Not in a trillion, billion years will this man ever make it to Hollywood," Simon observed.

However, none of this was seen on Idol's series premiere.Clarkson was cute and talented, but as a vocalist she didn't stand out all that muchand she ended up being the only eventual winner whowasn't featured during the regional audition round. (She was obviously worth the highlight by the timeAmerican Idol Rewind aired in syndication in2010.)

DuringHollywood Week (which aired the day after the premiere), Kelly wowed almost everyone with herunaccompanied rendition of Vanessa Williams' "Save the Best for Last."

But yes, thatwas Simon saying quietly at the judges' table, "I just don't like this girl."

Despite Simon's reservations, Clarkson made the top 30, from which only 10 would move onto the live shows.

"I honestly don't know what to say," the still-unforgiving Simon told Clarkson after her semifinal performance of "Respect." "You have a good voice. But I couldn't remember you from the previous rounds, other than the fact did you not swap places with Randy?" His memory jogged, he added, "That's the only thing I can remember."

Still,Kelly advanced. Joining her from her group of 10 were Justin Guarini and A.J. Gill.

So, the inauguralIdol top 10 consisted of Clarkson, Guarini, Gill, Nikki McKibbin, Tamyra Gray, R.J. Helton, Christina Christian, Ryan Starr, Jim Verraros and EJay Day.

Withthat, Simon Cowell's reputation for getting it right every time was born.

But now it was up to America to actually pick up the phonethere was no other way to do it yetand vote.

When the top 10 performed on July 16, 2002, Motown Week, Kellypowering through laryngitiswent with Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "You're All I Need to Get By."

And that was indeed all she needed, because even Simon complimented that she had just "raised the game."

Which merited this reaction from the stage:

Fox

As well as this proposal from a fan:

Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX

The next night, she found out she had made the Top 8.

The following week, '60s Week, Clarkson's rendition of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" became one of her signatureIdol performances.

Top 7, '70s Week, she didn't fall into the disco trap, choosing Ben E. King's "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)." By then, she had three fully sold fans at the judges' table, Simon having forgotten his initial issues with "remembering" who Kelly was.

By the end of July, she had a Patsy Cline-reminiscent quality to her voice and Cowell was predicting she'd never forget her fans if she made the big time.

Justin Guarini survived landing in the bottom 2 that week to sing another day.

FOX

Top 6, Big Band Week, Clarkson warbled Betty Hutton's "Stuff Like That There." Paula called her a "triple threat," someone she could picture on TV,on film and on stage.

Top 5, Burt Bacharach Week(Idol also was fairly instrumental in teaching a new generation about the classics, while also providing entertainment that parents and grandparents wanted to watch too).

Kelly's rendition of "Walk on By" didn't earn the highest marksRandy went with "not your best week," Paula started with "interesting choice" and Simon focused on had she'd already proven herself.

Simon also claimed that, at first, "we didn't pick up on you early in this competition," though it wasn't exactly "we," was it?

But Clarkson was safely into the Top 4, two songs apiece, '80s and '90s.

"It's Raining Men" was a crowd-pleaser, as it always is pretty much wherever it's sung.

Her second song was Cline Dion's "I Surrender," impressing even Randy, who spent 12 years decrying the difficulty of singing "the big three," Cline, MariahCarey and Whitney Houston. Simon even said Kelly had put herself in the same league as those divas.

It was around this time thatIdolproducers revealed that about 100 "phone phreaks" had set up software that was allowing them to auto-dial in as many as 10,000 votes apiece at a time. But Fremantle Media insisted the robo-votes were "statistically insignificant" when it came to the overall total of votes being dutifully phoned in properly.

Meanwhile, Clarkson went through to the Top 3, but it was the end of the road for Tamyra Gray, an early favorite whom all of the show's head honchos had picked to go all the way from day one.

Instead, Kelly, Justin and Nikki were the last contestants standing.

After the big hometown visit, where she was shocked to find hundreds of people cheering outside her old high school, Kelly went with more Cline, "Think Twice"a song choice that the judges weren't loving.

But she ended the show on a high note, or many high notes, with Badfinger's "Without You."

And into the finale she went, with Justin Guariniwho, along with Tamyra, had been an early pick to make the finale.

On Sept. 3, 2002, Clarkson sang three songs: "Respect," again, and the two songs penned specially to be either finalist's debut singles, whoever won"Before Your Love," and the song that stole all the thunder, "A Moment Like This." Guarini sang both of them, too (could you imagine that still being a thing, having to watch two performances each of the same two songs, neither of which you know?), and then they teamed up for "It Takes Two."

The next night, Sept. 4, 2002, nearly 23 million people watchedKelly Clarkson be named the first-ever winner ofAmerican Idol.

Her emotion-choked performance of "A Moment Like This," which she kicked off with an ecstatic shriek, remains a live TV moment for the ages.

Hundreds of thousands of people have tried out over the years, and billions of voteshave been cast, including 110 million that first season (by phone!).

Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX

And after 15 seasons, Kelly Clarksonmistaken for just one of the pack early onremains one of the most famous and enduringly successful contestants in Idol history. She's sold 25 million albums and won three Grammys (including Best Pop Vocal Album in 2006 and 2013), three MTV Video Music Awards, four American MusicAwards, two ACM Awards, a CMA Award and more.

So it's no wonderThe Voice snatched herand fellow Idol alum Jennifer Hudsonup to be a coach next season, meaning she'll soon be commanding her own swiveling chair. A reminder of just how bigAmerican Idol gotso big,it was no wonder that everyone wanted a piece.

Clarkson's 2015 album Piece by Piecemarked her final contribution to the six-album contract she signed with RCA Records as part of herIdol prize, meaning she's only been untethered from herIdol-instigatedobligations for barely two years.

Before Fox announced that the show's 15th season would be its last, Rolling Stone asked Kelly, who had performed multiple times on Idol over the years,if she was interested in returning to where it all began as a judge.

"I actually love the mentoring process," said the singer, who was a few months away from getting pregnant with her second child at the time. "It was nostalgic to be thereit was the same hallway that I was warming up in 13 years ago, when I was 19. It did make me feel a little old. But it was really cool. When I went on that show, I thought maybe I would end up being a backup singer for someone. So I couldn't have wished for more."

Read the rest here:
Out of Nowhere! American Idol Premiered 15 Years Ago: Remembering Kelly Clarkson's Remarkable Journey to the ... - E! Online

SALEM, Va. Camryn Dolby picked her high spots and worked through a lineup determined to bunt and run. Counterpart Cheyenne Van Pelt responded with a left-handed screwball that twisted away from bats.

The all-Loudoun Virginia 4A softball final between Woodgrove and Freedom-South Riding was a pitchers duel. After the heart of their lineup safely loaded the bases by mere inches, the Wolverines pushed home a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Then Dolby struck out the final three batters, and Woodgrove won, 2-0, at the Moyer Complex.

In their seventh straight state final, the Wolverines repeated as champions for the first time.

Everyone talked about how its inevitable that we were going to lose on odd years, senior Lexi Acton said. It was our goal to break the curse and be the seniors who did it.

Acton started Woodgroves final rally with a soft popup that dropped out of the air between a retreating shortstop and a charging center fielder. Next up, senior Emily Alexander directed a moving bunt down the first base line and sprinted safely to first.

I was bunting for a hit, the senior insisted.

After Dolby laid down a bunt and Acton beat the fielders choice throw to third, senior Jenna Dunn knocked a groundball to second base to score the games first run.

I wasnt trying to hit the fence or anything, just keep the ball on the ground, Dunn said.So happy I didnt ... pop out.

In Fridays semifinal, Van Pelt had ended the game with three strikeouts after the tying run reached second base.

Even after they loaded the bases, I still thought we could get three outs, Van Pelt said.I have all the confidence in my team.

Sophomore Maxine Barnes added an RBI single to score Alexander, but Dolby didnt need the insurance run, as she ended the game with her 15th strikeout. Sophomore Camryn Munroe produced Freedom-South Ridings lone hit on bunt that landed between the pitchers circle and second base in the second inning.

Woodgrove (24-0) cruised to last years title with a pair of double-digit wins in the state tournament. This time around, the Wolverines appreciated the challenge.

Last year we knew we were going to win in the first inning, Acton said.Today was so close with two great pitchers. Its more exciting to finish it off with a game like this.

Freedom South Riding (16-9) had never reached a softball state final. Van Pelt struck out six batters in her final game for the Eagles.

Before the season started, wed be in the weight room and coach would tell us were going to regionals at least, and wed laugh and say no way, Van Pelt said.Its still a great accomplishment that we even made it here.

The rest is here:
Woodgrove wins Virginia 4A softball title in a pitchers' duel with Freedom-South Riding - Washington Post

A NEW technique can lead to dramatic weight loss in just four months, research suggests.

GETTY

Weight loss experts have revealed that a bizarre swallowable balloon could benefit millions of people tackling obesity.

A study found that obese people lost a whopping 2st 6lbs on average over a 16-week period.

The device, which makes people feel full, could even be used as an alternative to drastic weight-loss surgery.

The Elipse Balloon is fitted inside a capsule which can be easily swallowed with a drink of water and itdisintegrates and is safely excreted by the body after four months.

If you are looking to lose that belly fat, try these simple easy to follow tips that will help you on the road

1 / 10

Eat every three hours - Passing on breakfast will send your body into starvation mode, meaning your body starts to store everything youve eaten as fat, and youre midsection is the first to suffer the consequences

ALLURION.COM

In the new study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Porto, Portugal, the balloon was given to 42 obese people (29 men and 13 women).

They had an average age of 46, a body mass index (BMI) of 39 and typically weighed just over 17st.

After four months, participants lost more than 14% of their total body weight (around a third of their excess weight).

The balloon, which costs around 3,400, is available in several countries around the world and privately in the UK. The NHS is investigating similar methods.

Lead study author Dr Roberta Ienca, from the University of Rome, said: "The reaction of patients is incredible.

They are very happy about the results they were able to achieve.

The reaction of patients is incredible

"During my daily phone contacts with my patients, they shared with me their pictures and the amount of weight they lost."

She said people were "very satisfied" with the results.

But the researchers also made sure to work with the patients to change their eating habits long-term.

Take a look at these exceptional body transformations.

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Elora Harre, 23 has lost eight stone

Professor Jason Halford, treasurer of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, from the University of Liverpool, said the device helped people manage their appetite and modify their food intake.

He said: In that context, it could be a solution for people who don't want to go for full bariatric (weight-loss) surgery.

"With bariatric surgery, there are potential complications, it's a very permanent change in your life and it's not easily reversible.

"People are looking for alternatives."

Professor Jason said the balloon could also be used as an alternative to anti-obesity drugs and may even be useful for people who have found that drugs dont work.

"I think if studies are there and it's cost-effective I think it should be considered (on the NHS)," he added.

But Dr Simon Cork, from Imperial College London, warned that patients were likely to regain weight once the balloon was removed.

"Nevertheless, gastric balloons are still useful for some patients and the introduction of a device which doesn't require surgery to implant is a positive step forward," he said.

See the article here:
Scientists reveal how you can lose 2.5st in four months without diet or exercise - Daily Star

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