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ANN ARBORThe constant temptation of tasty foods high in calories and fat make it difficult for people to make healthy choices, but talking to yourself in the third person may help, say researchers at the University of Michigan and University of Minnesota.

A new study published in Clinical Psychological Science finds that a technique known as distanced self-talk, which refers to an internal dialog using ones name or non-first-person pronouns such as you, he or she, is an effective strategy for making healthier food choices.

Reflecting on ones decisions using ones own name might enhance ones ability to follow through with their goals, which can often be undermined by strong situational lures (such as tempting foods), said study lead author Celina Furman, a former University of Michigan researcher who is now a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota.

Furman and University of Michigan researchers Ethan Kross and Ashley Gearhardt found that psychological distance facilitates self-control by shifting peoples focus away from the highly arousing features of a stimulus.

For example, a piece of chocolate cake can be viewed as highly delicious, but a distanced perspective may lead one to pay attention to abstract features relevant to health goals, such as its high-calorie content.

In the study, young adults disclosed if they were currently dieting or trying to lose weight. They were randomly assigned to watch a two-minute video of health-related commercials that emphasized eating healthy and exercising (health video) or home improvement commercials (control video).

After watching the video, the participants chose between healthy and unhealthy food items on a computer screen. For each pair of foods, participants were instructed to use either first-person self-talk (What do I want?) or distanced self-talk ([Name], what do you want?) in a counterbalanced order.

Among the findings:

Since people are regularly confronted with cheap and accessible tasty foods, self-control strategies that are easy to implement when encountering these foods are more likely to be effective for improving dietary choices, said Kross, a professor of psychology who has extensively researched distanced self-talk.

The researchers said making minor changes in eating can make a difference in peoples lives.

We do know that even reducing caloric intake by a couple hundred calories a day can be important for preventing unhealthy weight gain and promoting weight loss, said Gearhardt, an associate professor of psychology. We need to do additional studies in the future about the impact of distanced self-talk on actual caloric intake, but even small improvements can lead to big public health gains over time.

More information:

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Talking to yourself in the third person can promote healthier eating - University of Michigan News

Delaware News Desk

TuesdayMar17,2020at11:00AM

Wyoming woman recognized statewide

The nonprofit weight-loss support organization Take Off Pounds Sensibly crowned a woman from Wyoming as Delaware Queen for losing more weight than any other female TOPS member in the state.

Joan Duphily lost 45.25 pounds and attributes her weight loss success to the support she receives from her fellow TOPS members, portion control and regular exercise. She started the program as a way to lose weight before a total knee replacement surgery and continued through recovery.

"I cannot thank my TOPS support group enough for all the encouragement they've given me," she said. "Because of this, I will continue to go every week and will be able to keep the weight off the rest of my life.

Delaware tips the scales as the 23rd heaviest state in the U.S., where 31.8% of adults are affected by obesity. TOPS offers an individual approach to weight loss and overall wellness. Consistent group support, health education and recognition are all key components to successful weight management, a representative said.

We are so gratified by our TOPS members amazing weight-loss accomplishments, President Rick Danforth said. Commemorating their life-changing achievements is an essential component of TOPS winning formula, whether by losing weight or maintaining goals.

There are eight TOPS chapters in Delaware. Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is $32 per year in the U.S., plus nominal chapter fees. To find a local chapter, view http://www.tops.org or call 800-932-8677.

Continued here:
Nonprofit helps with weight loss - Dover Post

Keith Bense of St. Peter, hoped to work out March 17 at Live Well Fitness Center at Rivers Edge Hospital, but it closed its doors that day at noon, after the governors statewide order closed all health and fitness centers.

Its too bad it had to close, Bense said. I like to try to get up here four of five times a week. (I've been doing that) for about six years.

Bense,a teachers aide at St. Peter High School and retired teacher at Le Sueur-Henderson Schools, started working out to lose weight and rehab his knee after surgery. He had his left knee replaced six years ago and the second three years ago. He also stays active by riding his bike, lifting weights, a lot of walking and playing baseball with the St. Peter over 50 team.

His predicament is familiar for many across the region, as gyms and fitness centers are forced to close.

River's Edge Fitness Center

It was sunny and 44 degrees March 17, which made it a good afternoon for riding a bike. But when its bad weather, Bense cant safely ride his bike outside, and he likes to work out on the stationary bikes in the fitness center. However, he understood the reason for the closing: to limit groups of people as part of efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic virus.

The fitness center at River's Edge normally is open from 4 a.m. to midnight. In addition, four group exercise classes on arthritis, balance and Parkinsons disease taught by Live Well Fitness Exercise Physiologist Nicole Boelter have been postponed. Boelter also understands the importance of avoiding the virus, but she emphasized the importance of people staying active for the health benefits.

Its especially important for older people, who makes up the majority of the members at Live Well Fitness.

We understand the importance of staying active, Boelter said. Of course, Its also especially important for older people who are more at risk of getting sick or dying from the virus to stay safe and healthy at home.

She has designed home exercise ideas as the weeks progress, and she is putting ideas to stay active on the fitness centers Facebook Page. Boelter also is helping people in her classes to keep moving by emailing videos and written explanations of exercises.

She suggests people use any home exercise equipment they have and get up and walk every 30 minutes. Live Well Fitness could reopen March 27, but that's the earliest possible, and it will be closed until further notice, depending on the governors directive.

Snap Fitness, Waseca

Snap Fitness center in Waseca had to shut its doors, too.

Members are disappointed that we closed, Manager Jarius Volkman said. Its for the best to have it in check for the next couple of weeks. More than half of our members are 65 and over. Its better to be safe than sorry. One person can ruin it for everybody.

Volmann said they already were having problems with people not following the rules of keeping a safe their distance from each other.

The club also cancelled eight classes including a senior fitness class taught by Volkman, running six days a week with 20 to 30 people. In the meantime, Snap Fitness is offering members an app for free, which includes workout videos on Facebook so they can continue to work out. And, with the weather getting warmer, Volkman said people can exercise outside more by going for a walk or run to stay active and healthy.

Volkman said Snap Fitness is considering reimbursing members for each day they lose in their membership fees.

However, he noted, For each day its closed, were losing income."

It has been a busy time for Volkman, because his wife, Courtney, just had a baby Thursday. They were concerned about possibly getting infected, so they induced their childs birth. Courtney is a nurse at Mankato Clinic.

The baby is healthy and my wife has three months off paternity leave, so were doing well," Volkman said.

Cannon Strength, Northfield

Cannon Strength fitness center in Northfield is adapting to the closure. The club allowed members to take home small exercises equipment, such as barbells, weights, medicine balls and exercise bands.

We opened up the gym Tuesday for members to take equipment home, owner Donavan Bellcourt said, noting that 10 people took advantage of the opportunity.

The club also is going virtual, offering home workout programs, plus workout videos on Facebook.

We closed all operations and went to an online presence. In the end, it will be for the better to shut down for a couple of weeks," Belcourt said.

Belcourt said they have gotten a good response from people in the Northfield community to the online workouts.

Its a way to reach the people; we reached more people than before.

Cannon Strength also offered 10 organized group fitness classes which were cancelled.

Its obviously necessary to close, Belcourt said. If it doesnt reopen soon, businesses will have to come up with more creative ways to serve our members. We hope people will come back to the gym and potentially have a surge in business. Fitness centers have to adapt and change up how to serve customers virtually one-on-one and at home. Most people adapt and make do.

Belcourt said his business will see a drop in income with the current state of the economy, but he added that, Were in the middle of a large expansion in a new building with four times the amount of space by April 1, so the center is looking to the future, regardless.

Original post:
Fitness centers aim to stay in shape amid closures as clients look to stay healthy - Southernminn.com

Recently, while at dinner with a group of girlfriends, a friend said, I dont really care that Ive never had a boyfriend, but I feel like I should have because Im 25. This comment sparked a conversation among the girls around the table about how societal norms and imposed time lines often lead women to think they should have their first kiss, have a boyfriend, or get married by a certain age.

Its not just the timeline of romance that elicits suchshoulds,though. Many women feel societys implicit pressure regarding their careerswhat they should be doing and when they should be doing it. Likewise, many women feel the shoulds as they apply to motherhoodI should be home more, I should take part in more of my childrens activities, I should be having fewer children, I should be having more children. It seems like no matter what we do or dont do, there is a silent but not-so-subtle should suggesting we do it a certain way or in a certain (often limited) amount of time.

And, of course, the shoulds dont stop there. We know all too well there are implicit and explicit standards and expectations that come with what we should look like as womenwhat we should wear, what we should eat, how our physique should look, how and how often we should be working out. Between our romantic lives, our careers, our family life, and our appearance and lifestyle, there seems to be a should for everything in a womans life. Figuring out how to cast off the pressure of all these shoulds and live from within, then, is no easy featbut certainly worth the effort.

As a woman with a masters degree, I often feel like I should be working outside the home, rather than working from home as a writer while being a full-time mom. Despite enjoying the time with my daughter and the flexibility my current situation provides me, I often feel that I should be striking the balance of working and being a mom differently. Sure, part of the should comes from pragmatic concerns, including a potentially higher household income for my family.

But, if Im brutally honest with myself, the weight of that should be working more comes from seeing other moms in their careers. Seeing a friend or acquaintance succeed in her career often makes me wonder if I should be out there working, too. Is there something Im missing by staying home? Would that be better for my family? Anddeep under it allam I not a real modern woman because I opt not to work full-time? Who am I if I dont have a career title or paycheck to prove my worth? Its true that women have made so much progress in the workplace that now I have the opportunity to work and excel outside the home, if I so choose. But just because I can doesnt mean I have toor necessarily should.

As in my friends experience, societal messaging that a woman should have a boyfriend, have a first kiss, or be married by a certain age can be another instance of this phenomenon. A woman may not be interested in dating or marriage, or she might hope or even plan to be married at some point, but at this point in life she doesnt have the time to date, or simply has not found a suitable partner or spouse. Like my friend, she might be perfectly content being single, or she might be accepting her situation with more reluctance. In both cases, though, the implicit pressure of society whispering that she should be in a relationship puts unnecessary stress on her, and makes it more difficult to enjoy being single and/or to try to date.

Again, the should in this case ostensibly has a pragmatic reason for women who wish to have children; a womans fertility typically declines with age (to call out the elephant in the room). History plays a part in setting these timelines, too (e.g., when women have historically wed). But, just like the pressures of mothering and working, much of the pressure comes from social norms that arent necessarily rooted in anything substantialcomparing ourselves to what other women our age are doing now. As a woman sees her friends begin to couple, then sees them get engaged, get married, and have children, she can struggle with a case of the shoulds.

Like my feelings of insecurity about not being in the workforce, a woman may begin to question her values, her worth, and her decisions underneath the weight of this should:Am I being too picky? Whats wrong with me that Im still single? Was I right to choose this career? But the truth is, although there will always be an average age that Americans get married, that ultimately means nothing for a womans individual story and experience. Some women meet their future spouse in grade school, others not until they are 50. As we all know deep down, this status has nothing to do with a persons innate worthinessbut sometimes thats difficult to remember under the pressure of the should.

In addition to shoulds creeping up due to social pressure or awareness of what others are doing, they may come from our own personal experiences. They may be internalized voices of what a parent, relative, or authority figure has said or done in the past. A stay-at-home mom whose father emphasized how important it is to work, or who came from a family in which she was praised predominantly for what she did rather than who she was, may have internalized a voice that tells her she should work to prove her worth. A working mom whose own mother was a wonderful stay-at-home mom might question her own decision to work, thinking she should be home with her kids like her mom was.

Worse, these shoulds can come from actual, explicit voices of parents, relatives, peers, or authority figures currently questioning or telling a woman what to do. A grandma who asks, Do you have a boyfriend yet? every time you see her. Other moms who question your decision to stay at home or go to work. Co-workers who remind you that you should get married soon or you wont be able to have biological children. As inappropriate as these voices are, unfortunately they do exist for some women.

Its important to realize that feeling like you should live a certain way is different from wanting to live that way. Wanting to have a boyfriend because you have always wanted to get married and have a family someday, or because you value companionship is different than feeling like you should have a boyfriend because you are a certain age. Saying should implies youve internalized a societal norm or want to do something because others are doing it. Of course you might desire something that also happens to be in line with societal norms. But wanting to do something while also feeling like you should can add stress, pressure, or unhappiness. So, the key to avoiding shoulds is being able to distinguish your own personal values or desires from ones you have internalized from society.

Doing so, of course, is much easier said than doneparticularly when you want something that is also a societal norm. For example, if you want to have a boyfriend at age 25, this is also a societal norm, so it can be difficult to distinguish if this is from your own values or from a societal should. When you think about the thing you want, first consider your reasoning: why do I want to have a boyfriend right now? Am I lonely? Would I like to have someone to do activities with? Do I desire romance? Or, do I feel that a woman of this age should have a boyfriend by now? If most of my friends have boyfriends or are married, is that influencing my desire to have a boyfriend?

Or take the example of wanting to lose weight; we can ask similar questions: why do I want to lose weight? Where did I get the idea that I need to or should lose weightfrom a doctor, from a magazine, or from images I see? Do I want to lose weight to fit a societal mold, or is it for my health, or some of both? Do I want to lose weight via a diet I read I should try, or am I trying to make sustainable choices about what I put in my body? Am I trying to lose weight because I dont like my body and believe it should look different? Or, do I want to lose weight while loving my body as it is now and respecting all it does for me?

These answers may not be as obvious as we think, so taking a little intentional quiet time to think about it can be beneficial. Maybe sit down with a journal if youre an external processor, and write down your why. Chances are, you may discover you feel both personal reasons and social pressures that influence your desire.

Next, write down or think about some of your personal values that are relevant to the topic. For the topic of wanting a boyfriend, values may include important qualities you seek in a partner, the value you place on marriage, what place you believe sex has in a relationship, if you want children, religious beliefs that pertain to partnering, and so on.

In the case of wanting to lose weight, consider your values around physical and mental health. Values around this topic heavily relate to what your relationship with your body is likemaybe what your familys emphasis (or lack thereof) on body image was like growing up. Think about, too, what the media you consume says about dieting, exercising, and body image, as well as your values around body positivity. Consider or jot down how your values (this question) and your reasoning (first question) align or dont align.

Finally, consider how your body physically feels and any emotions that come up around this topic. Do I feel a sense of stress and pressure, manifested as anxiety or tightness in my chest? This might represent a should I have internalized that is weighing on me, rather than living from my own values within. Do I feel calm and confident, without the physical signs of anxiety or stress (chest tightness, tight jaw, jitteriness, etc.)? If so, this may be a sign that I am living from withinthat what I desire is aligned with my own values rather than what society thinks I should do.

To give an example, in my internal battle of balancing motherhood and career (which many mothers struggle with), I recognized that much of the pull I feel to work outside the home actually comes from internalized notions of what it should mean to be a modern, millennial womanbut not what I necessarily value. I have felt the weight of the un-asked question about whether I am wasting my education by caring for my children. I see what women are capable of in the workplaceand how those rights have been fought for over decadesand feel pressure that I should be there, too. I see female peers succeeding in their careers and feel the weight of the lie that I need something tangiblea job title, a paycheck, an awardto prove my worth. But when I follow the process outlined above, I can recognize that these all come from internalized societal shoulds. Im also able to tune into my own values and remember why I intentionally chose the path Im onto prioritize my family life and invest emotionally in my children while they are so young and impressionable. Of course, this might not be the right choice for another family or mom, but for my family and our values, I can tune out the noise of the shoulds and know it is the right choice for me.

Clearly, shoulds sneak into both our language and our thoughts. Without realizing it, we may be wishing for something that doesnt even align with our values or true desires, but our culture has insidiously told us that this is something we should have. Other times, societal norms and shoulds add unnecessary pressure, stress, timelines, and frustration to already deeply rooted desires. Being able to separate the shoulds from our own true value-based desires allows us to live a more peaceful, content, and personally-rooted life from within.

See the article here:
How to Cast Off the Pressures of Society and Live from Within - Verily

ST. LOUIS At a time like this... National Puppy Day is just what we needed.

Meet the puppies of 5 On Your Side! And yes we know some of them are considered 'dogs.'

Kay Quinn's pup: Ginger

"Hugging my poodle tight on National Puppy Day! Shes now 12, but she still acts like a puppy. I cant imagine life without her!" Kay said.

Kay Quinn

My pup (Ashley Cole): Weston

Weston is still technically a puppy! I got him in August 2019. He enjoys long walks to my closet to find shoes to chew up. He sleeps and sleeps until it's time for me to go to sleep and then it's playtime.

You can follow him on Instagram: westonthefrenchbulldog

Ashley Cole

Brandie Piper's pup: Pippa

"Pippa Piper Kramer is a 3-year-old lab mix. Also known as the Queen of Holly Hills, her favorite activities are going to camp, eating snacks, and doing dog stuff with her friends," Brandie said.

Brandie Piper

Kelsi Anderson's pup: Spuds

"We think hes about 7 to 8 years old and is some sort of Dachshund mix. He loves his toy carrot and is never satisfied with how much attention hes receiving. He used to be very obese before we adopted him. Hes still trying to lose weight but the struggle is real," Kelsi said.

Kelsi Anderson

Kyra Lopinot's pup: Murphy

"He's a 90 pound baby, that thinks he's a lapdog. He loves his toys which includes our firewood that he has strategically put all over the backyard," Kyra said.

Kyra Lopinot

Melissa Spears' pup: Louis

"Ill be 2 in May. Im half bichon frise and half lhasa apso. My favorite thing to do is play with my endless amount of toys. I especially love little balls that fit in my mouth. I also LOVE string cheese sticks and come running when the fridge door gets opened. When the freezer door opensI come running for puppy cream (ice cubes)" Louis said.

Melissa Spears

Robert Townsend's pup: Rocket

Robert Townsend

More here:
Meet the pups of 5 On Your Side - KSDK.com

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The constant temptation of tasty foods high in calories and fat can make it tough to eat healthy. Talking to yourself in the third person may help, a new study shows.

Researchers say a technique known as distanced self-talk, which refers to an internal dialogue using ones name or non-first-person pronouns such as you, he, or she, works effectively for making healthier food choices.

Reflecting on ones decisions using ones own name might enhance ones ability to follow through with their goals, which can often be undermined by strong situational lures (such as tempting foods), says lead author Celina Furman, a former University of Michigan researcher, now a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota.

Furman and University of Michigan researchers Ethan Kross and Ashley Gearhardt found that psychological distance shifts peoples focus away from the highly arousing features of a stimulus to make self-control easier.

For example, a piece of chocolate cake can look delicious, but a distanced perspective may help you pay attention to abstract features relevant to health goals, such as the cakes high-calorie content.

In the study, young adults disclosed if they were currently dieting or trying to lose weight. Researchers randomly assigned them to watch a two-minute video of health-related commercials that emphasized eating healthy and exercising (health video) or home improvement commercials (control video).

After watching the video, the participants chose between healthy and unhealthy food items on a computer screen. For each pair of foods, the researchers told participants to use either first-person self-talk (What do I want?) or distanced self-talk ([Name], what do you want?) in a counterbalanced order.

Among the findings:

Since cheap and accessible tasty foods regularly confront us, easy to implement self-control strategies when encountering these food temptations have a better chance of improving dietary choices, says Kross, a professor of psychology.

Making minor changes in eating can make a difference in peoples lives, the researchers say.

We do know that even reducing caloric intake by a couple hundred calories a day can be important for preventing unhealthy weight gain and promoting weight loss, says Gearhardt, an associate professor of psychology.

We need to do additional studies in the future about the impact of distanced self-talk on actual caloric intake, but even small improvements can lead to big public health gains over time.

Source: University of Michigan

Read more:
To avoid tempting food, talk to yourself in the third person - Futurity: Research News

"; images = images + ""; images = images + ""; images = images + ""; images = images + ""; images = images + ""; images = images + ""; images = images + ""; images = images + ""; images = images + ""; images = images + ""; images = images + ""; jQuery('.imgGallery').prepend(images); jQuery('.each_image:first').show()}function navigateSliderNext(){coutner_img = parseInt(jQuery('#thecnt0').html());counter_img++;if(counter_img>total_img){counter_img=1}jQuery('#thecnt0').html(counter_img);jQuery('.each_image').hide()jQuery('.each_image[id="is'+counter_img+'"]').show()}function navigateSliderPrev(){coutner_img = parseInt(jQuery('#thecnt0').html());counter_img--;if(counter_imgAbout Dr. HE Obesity Clinic

Dr. HE Obesity Clinic in Istanbul, Turkey offers expert assessment and surgical treatment for obesity from leading bariatric surgeon, Assoc Prof Dr Hasan Erdem, and his team. With extensive pre- and post-operative counselling and a one-to-one patient-orientated approach, the clinic is committed to finding the best treatment solution for each individual case. All surgery is carried out at partner hospitals in Istanbul. Treatment options available include sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and non-surgical weight loss (gastric balloon).

Assoc Prof Dr Hasan Erdem is one of Turkey's leading bariatric surgeons and has performed more than 5000 weight loss surgeries to date.

Dr Erdem qualified from the Istanbul Medical School of Istanbul University in 2002 and completed his specialist training in general surgery at Bezmialem Vakif Gureba Teaching Hospital in Istanbul. Following his national service at a government hospital, he worked as Chief Assistant in General Surgery at the Training and Research Hospital of Istanbul, where he carried out research into advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery.

Dr Erdem established his private clinic in Istanbul in 2016. The author of a number of scientific publications in the fields of obesity, metabolic and robotic bariatric surgery, he was granted the title Associate Professor of Obesity and Metabolic Conditions in 2018.

Read what patients have to say about Dr. HE Obesity Clinic on Trustpilot

Sleeve gastrectomy or gastric sleeve, is a keyhole procedure to remove approximately 80% of the stomach, including the area where the hunger hormone, ghrelin, is produced. The resulting smaller gastric volume and loss of appetite thus leads to rapid weight loss.

Sleeve gastrectomy is suitable for people aged between 18 and 65 who have failed to lose weight by means of diet or exercise and who have a BMI of 40 or higher. It may also be considered in patients with a BMI of 35-40 who have co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnoea.

With the lowest complication risk and highest lifelong comfort compared to other methods, sleeve gastrectomy has become the favoured procedure with bariatric surgeons worldwide.

Gastric bypass offers a permanent solution to the diseases associated with obesity, particularly type 2 diabetes. It is suitable for patients who have a history of multiple unsuccessful attempts at losing weight with diet, those with excess weight that may jeopardise health, people with a BMI of 40 or higher, or people with a BMI of 35-40 with any obesity-associated co-morbidity.

Performed laparoscopically (keyhole surgery), the procedure shrinks the stomach to a small pouch and causes the food to bypass the upper portion of the small intestine. This has a dual effect: both the amount of food that can be ingested and the amount of nutrients that can be absorbed is reduced.

Most patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery successfully lose weight and maintain their excess weight loss in the long term. The role of a dietician is important in the postoperative period to ensure that patients adapt to the dietary changes required, however the rates of postoperative patient satisfaction are high in terms of the psychological and physical effects.

An intragastric balloon is a soft, expandable balloon that is inserted endoscopically into the stomach. Once placed, the balloon is filled with liquid, generating a feeling of fullness when smaller food portions are ingested. A gastric balloon may be in place for 6 or 12 months.

The gastric balloon is designed to work in conjunction with dietary and lifestyle changes. It is suitable for overweight people with a BMI over 25 who have failed to lose weight with diet or exercise, who have lost motivation or who do not want to undergo a surgical procedure.

Dr. HE Obesity Clinic welcomes patients from around the world and has dedicated patient coordination and consultation services in English, German, Bulgarian, French, Spanish, Armenian, Italian and Arabic.

For more information, call the clinics 24/7 Obesity Help Desk on 90 543 346 10 37 or fill out the online form to get a free consultation.

Link:
Dr. HE Obesity Clinic: Weight loss clinic in Turkey - Treatment Abroad

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As I sit here writing this column on voluntary old peoples lockdown, because of the coronavirus, I find myself thinking more and more each day about how this experience will no doubt have some unintended consequences, and, most likely, some far-reaching changes to our society. Here are just a few.

First, with the schools closing, colleges and universities, as well as K-12, even if the students educational needs are met by online and distance learning, will families be getting refunds for appropriate unused room and board, unearned fees, and unused meal plan monies? Much like the travel industry vendors, will schools initially be pushing back and offering credits for the future, rather than refunds? With the disruption to peoples lives, financially and otherwise, refunds may be very important for some families.

Second, with this experience of online and distance learning by the colleges and universities, will families demand more of this in the future, as a way to, in part, keep college costs and student loan debt down?

Many years ago, I had lunch with the president of a local university. We were sure that within a very few years, state university systems, like our own New York SUNY System, would be using distanced learning to cut costs.

As an anecdotal example, I speculated that many of the (last time I checked) 64 SUNY campuses have a Psychology 101 lecture class with a professor and 100-plus students in an auditorium. What if the SUNY system hired one of the nations most distinguished psychology professors, and streamed or replayed his Psychology 101 lectures to every campus?

I am not advocating eliminating college teachers, since I dont think that they are one of the major reasons for increased college costs, but, I believe that we are going to see that online and distanced learning can work, and save money, and it may change higher education. By the way, in my opinion, as we have discussed, the major factors for increased college costs are the National Student Loan Program, which floods the colleges and universities with money, but no underwriting; the amenities wars; the prestige wars; and the explosion in the administrator-to-student ratios.

Third, there is no doubt that this experience will result in changes to our health systems, and to our compensation systems, which will have to revisit things like paid sick leave, eligibility for unemployment, and more.

Fourth, there will be any number of financial effects from this experience, for individuals, businesses, the stock market, and the overall economy. There has already been much written about how the stock markets drop in value may affect the income stream for many retired individuals who depend heavily on their IRAs; how families with 529 plans may have to make different college choices; and how, if the market does not come back in the nearer future, whenever that may be, many individuals may have to delay their retirements.

However, this is one financial effect that I have not heard addressed. Perhaps Congress will put this on its long to do list. When the stock market was up at near record highs at the end of December, retired people, over 70 at that time, received their notices of the asset values of their IRA accounts, as well as the 2020 Required Minimum Distribution that they are required to withdraw from the accounts, as taxable income (its a formula based upon asset values and life expectancy). Given the, at least for now, drop in the market, those RMDs may represent a greater portion of their remaining accounts asset values than normal, and may artificially affect their future retirement income stream.

Fifth, I have found it interesting that the psychological advice being given to Americans who are being encouraged to stay home in order to practice social distancing and stop the spread of the coronavirus is very similar to much of the non-financial retirement advice that I have been giving for years. It includes creating a daily and weekly schedule, in order to replace and put structure into your life. Also, try to get up and go to bed at the same time. Eat healthy and get some daily aerobic exercise. Also, put some new goals and objectives into your new life; for example, read a personal improvement book, or work to lose weight. Perhaps most important make sure that you find a way to meet your personal socialization needs. For some, this may be the time for more phone calls, emails or Facetiming.

Sixth, I cant help but remember how my came through the Depression parents always stored a healthy supply of non-perishable food and supplies in the basement (not a bomb shelter like some). They consumed things as their use by date approached, but then immediately replaced them. We may all be doing that again in the future.

Last, I am enjoying at least one very pleasant experience as a result of the crisis. What were kind of dead neighborhoods have come to life. There are more people out for runs and walks, young children are playing in their front yards, young people are taking the family dog for a walk, and people that I am pretty sure never do yard work are doing some to keep busy.

On a different subject, my next column will run the Sunday before April 1. As in past years during Financial Literacy Month in April, I will continue my advocacy of a one-semester financial literacy course being mandated for graduation for every high school student. In my opinion, it is more necessary than ever.

STAY SAFE!

John Ninfo is a retired bankruptcy judge and the founder of the National CARE Financial Literacy Program. Find his previous weekly columns at http://www.mpnnow.com/search?text=Ninfo or at http://www.monroecopost.com/search?text=Ninfo.

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COMMENTARY/JOHN NINFO: Online learning, and other likely COVID-19 effects - MPNnow.com

Do you have ten minutes? Thats roughly how long it might take you to read this article. But reading it could seriously add value to your work and life.

Andy Warhol famously said, In the future, everyone will be world-famousfor 15minutes. Cool, but how about using just a spare ten minutes instead, not to be famous but to be better. Heres how:

Why?

Well, think about it. Were all human. Most of us when the alarm or the clock radio goes off dont immediately open our eyes and jump out of bed, pull open the curtains and start singing Oh what a beautiful morning. Instead, we punch the snooze button, pull the duvet back over our heads and relish every second of the extra few minutes we think we have stolen back from our working day. So, in fact, what we are doing is adding stress to our lives already before the day has even started. We wake up a bit later and then start worrying about traffic, about being a few minutes late for a meeting, about not having had time to finish off that document or send that important email.

Lets take back that ten minutes and re-imagine our day. A gentle wander to a warm shower, a couple of minutes extra to enjoy the tingle of hot water and thinking of whether you are going to have avo on toast or coffee and cereal or maybe both.

The point really isnt about having some extra time for breakfast. Its about not starting your day with stress levels already activated the minute you open your eyes. Stress is what ruins our day, our productivity and sometimes even our lives.

Why?

Well, we cant guarantee the traffic is going to be better or the crowd on the train, but you wont be spending the trip checking your watch every twenty seconds. Those ten minutes you got up earlier gave you a license to sit back and look at your social media or even read a couple of pages of a good book.

Why?

Because the first person in the meeting room is immediately in control of the meeting. Thats just a fact of life. Your more senior colleague walks in and sees you there already going through your notes and immediately feels a bit vulnerable but also instantly respects you.

Why?

Because you can. Walk out ten minutes early, enjoy your lunch. Yeah sure, everyone will think why he or she is leaving so early but they will have subconscious respect for you. The confidence you project by doing that will serve you in great stead. Call it the ten-minute CV check. You are good, just keep remembering that.

Why?

See above. You are too good and too smart at what you do to do the bum on the seat stuff. A great admin genius in London once stipulated that if anyone stayed in the office after 5 PM they would be fired. His reasoning was simple. If they hadnt done their work by then, they were obviously not very talented.

Working for ten minutes less in an hour has scientific benefits though. Science shows that we can concentrate and focus for around about fifty minutes. We need the last ten minutes of the hour to get our brains back to normal. So, even if you are still at work, switch yourself off every now and again just for ten minutes. Go have a coffee or talk small stuff to a colleague. Better still go outside and walk around for ten minutes.

Why?

Well, there are differing opinions about eating at night in terms of health. Some doctors saying eating late is bad if you are trying to lose weight especially. Others have differing opinions. Try eating healthier and less heavy foods at night though and you may see a big difference.

Why?

Studies have shown that even ten minutes of light exercise can significantly increase the amount of oxygen that gets to your brain and therefore increases your brainpower. Its not just brainpower though, you are going to have more energy and again probably more confidence as you go about your work.

Why?

Easy. Your brain gets stimulated by things. The TV, your phone, a video game, the radio, even reading a book. Go to bed ten minutes earlier without any of those stimulations. Just lie and try and think nothing for those ten minutes or so. If you think that it is going to be super boring, think again. Your brain will naturally take you somewhere where it doesnt have to use all those complex wiring systems.

So, if you are thinking hard about where your life is going, just sit down and take a minute. Or maybe even ten.

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The 10 minute earlier solution to everything - Ladders

PUBLISHED: 17:02 22 March 2020 | UPDATED: 17:02 22 March 2020

Matt Powell

Laura and Matt with their daughter Elle. Picture: Supplied

Archant

A Welwyn Garden City mother has shared her journey IVF treatment to raise awareness of some of the misconceptions that still exist around fertility.

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A WGC mother has shared her journey IVF treatment to raise awareness of some of the misconceptions that still exist around fertility.

It was incredible, almost surreal, suddenly holding her. This is the little family we wanted for so long, said Laura OMalley, who celebrated her first Mothers Day on Sunday.

Baby Elle was born after IVF treatment at Bourn Hall and Laura is sharing her story to raise awareness of some of the misconceptions and to give hope to others struggling to have a baby.

Laura and her husband Matts fertility journey began six years ago after they got married and started trying for a baby. When Laura didnt get pregnant she admits she was surprised. We didnt have a clue that we would have a problem, she says.

When you start looking into it, you appreciate how remarkable it is that anyone gets pregnant. The tiny percentage chance that its going to happen started to become a fixation. Also you realise that the assumption is that infertility is a womans problem. I was looking at what I could change and what to do differently, trying to get fit and lose weight.

The couple would have benefited from expert advice at this stage, which is why Bourn Hall Clinic is hosting a free fertility awareness event at Hatfield House on April 18, 2020 which coincidently is Elles first birthday.

Dr Thanos Papathanasiou, Medical Director at Bourn Hall Clinic, says that 80 per cent of couples will become pregnant within one year of trying so couples who have been trying for longer than this should seek advice.

While there are a number of steps which couples can take to improve their natural fertility this wont work for everyone fertility tests can reveal blocked tubes, endometriosis, issues with sperm count or morphology and other underlying conditions which compromise the chances of natural conception, says Dr Papathanasiou.

When Laura still hadnt got pregnant after a year, she and Matt sought advice from their GP in WGC, and were referred immediately to the hospital for tests the results took them completely by surprise.

At the consultation we were both completely stunned, recalls Laura. We hadnt thought for a moment that there was going to be a problem with Matts sperm. The results were pretty bad, and it came as a shock.

Matt had been a heavy smoker but had given it up some years ago and he had lost a lot of weight. There was nothing more he could do. It was a really tough time for us.

Many people dont realise that 40 per cent of infertility cases are due to male factors, 40 per cent are due to female factors and the remaining 20 per cent are either a combination of both partners factors or are unknown/unexplained.

Laura and Matt were referred for NHS-funded IVF treatment and chose Bourn Hall Clinic in Cambridgeshire. Bourn Hall Clinic was the worlds first IVF clinic and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

At Bourn Hall Clinic Laura and Matt were treated using IVF and ICSI stimulating Lauras ovaries with medication so that she would produce many mature eggs at the same time and then injecting selected high quality sperm from Matt directly in to each egg to form an embryo. ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) can help overcome the problem of having only a few good sperm available.

Elle was born following the couples third cycle and this also produced other good quality embryos that have been frozen for future treatment.

Sadly, although the couples first two treatments both resulted in pregnancies, Laura miscarried within a few weeks.

She says that was when she realised how people still consider fertility a womans issue. Everyone was lovely, looking after me but no one asked how Matt was. Matt was devastated too, he had always wanted to be a dad.

Laura thinks that more openness would help men to talk about their feelings and make people more aware of male factor infertility.

The 34-year-old distinctly remembers the overwhelming emotions she felt at holding her daughter for the first time: I was amazed, over the moon; it was incredible.

The family are already looking forward to celebrating Elles first birthday on April 18 and Bourn Hall is also marking the day with a free fertility event at Hatfield House. Visit: http://www.bournhall.co.uk/news-events for more.

Read more here:
Welwyn Garden City mum to have first mothers day after IVF treatment | Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield News - Welwyn Hatfield Times

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