Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 1,175«..1020..1,1741,1751,1761,177..1,1801,190..»

Home » Page 1175

The agriculture ministry will encourage people who have lost their jobs due to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic to work in the farm industry by offering financial support.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, approximately 1,900 Chinese and other foreign technical interns have been unable to come to Japan, affecting work in which foreign trainees have played major roles, such as vegetable harvesting.

The ministry plans to subsidize costs for training and accommodation to back up re-employment of those who previously worked at such industries as hotels and restaurants. At the same time, the support measure is aimed at helping resolve a labor shortage in agriculture.

In soliciting applications, a senior ministry official said that work in farmland is less likely to create a closed and crowded environment involving close contact with others, a setting thought likely to cause coronavirus infections.

The ministry expects applicants to be engaged in farm work near their residences so as not to arouse concerns that people relocating may spread the novel coronavirus.

The subsidies will cover part of transportation and accommodation costs for a wide range of assumed applicants, including working adults, housewives and students.

The aid program will also pay half of the costs of agricultural cooperatives and farmers for recruiting people via private-sector staffing services.

Those who have experience in working in the farm industry will be given opportunities to learn how to operate cutting-edge agricultural machinery at universities and other facilities. The ministry will subsidize costs for introducing such machinery used in training.

As part of a government economic stimulus package now in the works, the ministry plans to earmark some 4.6 billion under a fiscal 2020 supplementary budget. If the extra budget is approved by the Diet, the ministry hopes to implement the subsidy program retroactive to April 1, officials said.

Read more here:
Japan to help those left jobless by virus find work in farming - The Japan Times

Read More..

Whats the most important organ in your body? Without your heart, your blood wouldnt flow, and your cells would die. Without your lungs, no oxygen would get to your blood. And without your kidneys, you couldnt get rid of nitrogenous waste. OK, so theyre all crucial to your survival.

But when it comes to taking care of yourself, theres one organ that often gets overlooked: your brain. Whats truly ironic is, its your brain thats doing the overlooking. Just think about it for a moment: Your brain tells your heart how fast and how powerfully to beat. Your brain tells your lungs how often and how deeply to breathe. Your brain tells your kidneys OK, you get the picture.

And your brain also allows you to read, write, and speak, to form memories, and to experience moods. In short, your brain is the engine of your very identity.

The upcoming Food Revolution Summit, a free online summit featuring 25 of the worlds most trusted food and nutrition experts (including Dr. Greger and Dr. Barnard) will discuss the brain in relation to lifestyle and diet. Running from April 25-May 3, the summit will present the most up-to-date research and information about food, nutrition, disease prevention, immune health, and environmental stewardship.

Download the FREE handbook and find out more

When something goes wrong in the brain, it can be pretty terrifying. Take Alzheimers disease, for example.

Alzheimers is one of the most feared diseases on the planet for many sad reasons. Worldwide, nearly 44 million people suffer from it. And in the U.S., 1 in 3 seniors dies with some form of dementia.

Not only is the incidence of Alzheimers rising rapidly, but the human costs of the disease can far exceed those for diseases that affect the body but leave the mind intact.

From the disease sufferers themselves, who experience losing their memories and identities slowly and painfully, to the family members who watch their strong and wise elders reduced to husks of themselves, and who often have to step into overwhelming responsibility as caretakers, Alzheimers exacts a tragic toll.

While Alzheimers may be the most visible brain disease, medical science has now identified over 1,000 other neurological diseases, not even counting the disorders that may produce neurological symptoms like brain fog and headaches.

Medical science has now identified more than 1,000 neurological diseases(Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)

It would be hard to find anyone who doesnt agree that a healthy brain is required for a good life, especially as we age. Despite this fact, most people today are eating foods and engaging in lifestyle behaviors that dramatically increase their risk of Alzheimers, dementia, depression, and many other brain problems.

Whats worse is the groundwork for these issues is often laid decades before the onset of symptoms. Meaning you could be at risk right now and not even know it.

Thats all pretty bleak. But heres some very good news: Your brain is resilient! And if problems havent progressed too far, it can recover and heal when you give it the right support.

Since you cant change the past, its what you do right now that matters most.

Easier said than done, though, right? A 2015 AARP study found nine out of 10 people believe brain health is important, but most werent aware of how to improve it.

So, do you want to know what you can do for your brain health, right now?

Then check out our top seven brain health resources designed to give you the science-backed knowledge you need to protect your brain and help prevent diseases like Alzheimers, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's from ever getting a foothold.

Even if youve eaten poorly and abused your body and mind in the past, heres what you need to know, and to do, right now to reverse the damage and protect your brain for the rest of your life.

Research suggests curcumin (the primary active compound in turmeric) has brain protective qualities(Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)

Its becoming increasingly well known that we can prevent most heart attacks, strokes, and type 2 diabetes through diet and lifestyle. And that we can prevent many cancers. Its not as widely known, though, that we can prevent many diseases of the brain.

Weve rounded up our best brain health resources for you (including a bonus special report) to show you how to optimize your brain health for the long haul.

You may have heard about antioxidants, but do you know how they can protect your brain?

Find out what the key antioxidants are, their benefits for brain (and all around) health, and the most antioxidant-rich foods, herbs, and spices here.

Discover the immense amount of research surrounding curcumin (the primary active compound in turmeric) and its brain protective qualities.

Plus, youll find out what eight other herbs, vitamins, or natural compounds are being studied for Alzheimers disease and prevention in this brief but informative article.

Food Revolution Summit speaker, Dr. Neal Barnard, tells you why diet and lifestyle changes are essential for brain health.

And he shares the evidence for the specific foods that will increase your risk of Alzheimers and which ones can fight against it (and why).

Food and mood go hand in hand. If youve ever struggled with anxiety, depression, or even just experienced a 'bad mood', this summit will empower you.

Discover the nutrients and specific foods to eat in order to boost your mood and the ones that are worst for your mental and emotional health.

A diet rich in healthy whole foods is good for general health(Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)

An excerpt from The Alzheimers Solution: A Breakthrough Program to Prevent and Reverse the Symptoms of Cognitive Decline at Every Age by Food Revolution Summit speakers and leading edge neurologists, Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, MD.

Find out all about the Sherzais Alzheimers research, including their strategies for preventing and reversing the disease through crucial lifestyle changes.

In this TEDx Talk by neuroscientist, Sara Lazar, youll find out the scientifically proven brain health benefits of yoga and meditation.

Plus, the results of two different studies Dr. Lazar conducted around meditation and the amazing changes witnessed in the brain as subjects continued their practice over time.

In this special report, previously only available during our Food Revolution Summit, youll discover eight different superfoods (including two popular beverages!) that have been scientifically proven to prevent and even reverse brain diseases like Alzheimers and dementia.

It also features a handy checklist to help you remember which foods are best for your brain, so you can put them all to work for you.

In the Food Revolution Summit, we dive into all of these topics. You can hear the worlds top experts on food and health, as they share the latest breaking insights on how you can use food to prevent chronic illness, helping your body stay healthy and be more vibrant and resilient in the face of whatever challenges come your way. These are crazy times were living in, and none of us can control what goes on in the world around us.

But we do get some say in the choices we make. And those play a fundamental role in shaping our destiny.

You can find out more about the free summit, and sign up for your place, here

View post:
7 Diet And Lifestyle Resources To Help Protect Your Brain Health - Plant Based News

Read More..

Kelly was obsessed with junk food and cola (Picture: Triangle News)

A mum who was obsessed with food and drank five litres of cola a day has lost more than a third of her body weight after doctors told her diet or die.

Kelly McCracken reached a size 28 and weighed 20 stone after getting hooked on drinking Coke and eating junk food for most meals.

She spent most of her time in bed and was eventually hospitalised with diabetes and high blood pressure because of her unhealthy lifestyle.

There, the doctor told Kelly that she wouldnt make it to Christmas unless she lost weight.

So Kelly embarked on a healthier lifestyle, since losing seven stone in ten months.

Kelly, of Hull, said: My little boy used to go to school and tell his teacher he was scared Mummy might not pick him up because she might die.

He knew his mummy was bigger than the other mummies. I found out at a parents evening and I just broke down.

The truth was I was obsessed with food and couldnt stop. I even thought I was happy but I obviously wasnt

We used to go out as a family to all you can eat restaurants and I would tell myself I have had enough now for the day but by the time I got home I would be eating crisps.

Kellys weight spiralled after giving birth to Curtis her sixth child.

She says she never realised how big she had become because she only looked at her face in the mirror.

I look at photos now and cant believe I was that big, Kelly said.

I was comfortable with family life and just oblivious to what I was doing to my body.

She says her partner of 22 years, Steven Hall, 51, had to become her carer, even though he has a full-time job as an accountant.

He had to help her get dressed and bathe her as she was too big to do it herself.

Kellys daily diet consisted of a 12 inch vegetarian pizza and fries, cakes, two family-sized chocolate boxes of mini Daim bars and boxes of celebrations or heroes along with crisp sandwiches.

She says she could barely walk and would often have conversations with Steven about changing her life.

But I was obsessed with food and loved it so much, she said. I kept telling him I would start tomorrow but tomorrow never came.

He used to say I was the queen of excuses because I always had one.

I would have sausage and chips for tea with the kids as normal but when Steven came home from work I would pretend I hadnt and would get a pizza takeaway.

One Friday night in March last year Kelly went to bed early after telling Steven she felt ill.

Her eyesight had been blurry all week and her whole body was shaking.

Kelly woke up in the early hours in a panic with chest pains before an ambulance was called.

She was rushed to the Hull Royal Infirmary and it took lying in a hospital bed to make Kelly realise something needed to change.

The mum-of-six said: The doctor told me I would die and would not make it to Christmas if I didnt do something about my weight.

I felt sick and was terrified I wouldnt see my boy grow up. I vowed to diet and I havent touched coke or junk food since.

It was the wake up call I needed.

I was lying in the hospital bed and I made Steven sign me up online to Weight Watchers and that was the day my life changed.

Kelly started attending her weekly WW classes, recording her daily diet in a food diary, and going on little walks.

Before:

After:

After losing three stone, Kellys partner bought her a little sausage dog called Frankfurter to keep her motivated and get her out for a walk twice a day.

On 25 January Kelly reached her target weight of 13 stone and seven pounds. Shes now a size 14 and feels so much better, despite finding ditching takeaways a challenge.

She no longer drinks any fizzy drinks, just sticking to water, and avoids junk food.

It has all been worth it, she said I can finally be a mum to my boy. He deserves having his mummy able to move around with him.

Life is so different I feel like I have a new one. I can wear clothes that would never have fit before and I have become a gym bunny.

I go four times a week and do legs, the treadmill, exercise bikes, resistance band training and tyres and it is really helping.

I even go to the shops and buy clothes I want rather than ones I can find that fit.

I dont recognise myself when I look in the mirror and I feel independent again.

But the magical thing about this journey is my son now puts his arms around me for a hug and says Look how thin you are mummy.

I was too big for him to fit his arms around me before.

Im now always on the school run and have no shame about the way I look.

Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE: Coronavirus seemed a million miles away, until it took my mum

MORE: Doctors get married at work as colleagues set up makeshift wedding in hospital

Go here to see the original:
Mum who drank five litres of cola a day loses more than a third of body weight - Metro.co.uk

Read More..

Adam Shell, Special to USA TODAY Published 6:01 a.m. ET April 15, 2020 | Updated 8:01 a.m. ET April 15, 2020

Debt is a financial drag. But digging out from a blizzard of bills requires a plan no matter whats happening in your life. The good news isthe money you owe doesnt have to be paid back overnight.

One debt-reduction strategy worth considering is the debt-snowball method made popular by personal finance expert Dave Ramsey.

How does it work? You pay off debt in order of smallest to largest, no matter what the interest rateowed on the cards.

So, if you have a Visa with a $150 balance, a Mastercard with a $285 balance and a Home Depot with $415, youll tackle the lower-balance Visa debt first. Just pay the minimum payment on the other cards until the Visas paid in full.

Its a good strategy for the type of person that wants to see some type of progress, says Daniel Milan, managing partner at Cornerstone Financial Services.

When you knock out your smallest bill, then move on to the card with the next biggest balance. The idea is just as a snowball rolled down a hill gains momentum, so will your bill-paying.

One debt-reduction strategy worth considering is the debt-snowball method made popular by personal finance expert Dave Ramsey.(Photo: AP)

If youre in debt now, or fear you will be, youre not alone.

U.S. household debt, including money owed on mortgages, was $14.15 trillion at the end of 2019, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Money owed on plastic was $930 billion. Last year, the average American household carried a credit card balance of $6,194, according to credit bureau Experian.

Staying cool amid debt woes is key. Executing the debt snowball plan has five key benefits:

1. Its motivational

Just like success on the job or the golf coursecan incentivize you to keep improving, so can paying off a bill even a tiny one using the debt snowball approach.

(It) gives you motivation, and motivation is the secret sauce, Ramsey explains on his web site. When you pay off that smallest debt first, you get a taste of victory. And that feeling of success is the momentum you need to tackle the next debt with vengeance.

2. Provides psychological boost

Winning boosts morale. Even knocking out a small bill is good for the psyche, says Chrisanna Elser, a financial planner and founder of personal finance site ThefinU.

Elser says the debt snowball approach is the most accepted (debt-reduction) method by psychologists because it rewards you for terminating one debt at a time in its entirety. The idea is that the little wins will keep you focused on your goal of reducing debt.

3. Delivers quicker results

Paying off a small debt likely will take less time than if you target a bigger debt, or one that carries a high interest rate.

The snowball method is like the Keto diet, Elser says, referring to the low-carb, high-fat diet that trims fat fast. The reward center of the brain sees quick results in debt reduction, so youre more likely to stick with the program.

4. Creates accountability

Ignoring debt isnt a plan. Warming up to the debt-snowball approach is a way to stay focused on the task at hand. And to lower your odds of falling off the debt-paydown wagon, says Elser.

The importance is in the execution and accountability, she says. Much like posing a picture of a bikini on the fridge to prevent binge eating, posting your debt repayment schedule in a commonly viewed place, like the laptop you use for Amazon binges, is very helpful.

5. Begets behavior change

Paying off any debt, even a small one, will get you out of a rut.

Those in heaps of debt typically are depressed about it and feel there is no way forward, says Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group. By starting with small balances, the individual begins to feel the rewards of debt reduction, (and) is behaviorally more motivated to keep trying to payoff money they owe.

Whats the key to success?

Sticking to the plan, says Bryson Roof, investment advisor at Roof Advisory Group, a division of Fort Pitt Capital Group. And that means, if at possible, try not to take on fresh debt.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2020/04/15/debt-why-snowball-method-paying-off-credit-cards-works/2952695001/

See the original post:
5 reasons why the snowball strategy for paying off credit cards works - USA TODAY

Read More..

While goat milk may seem like a new trend in the United States, it's actually popular internationally and has been around for ages: over 65% of the world's population drinks goat milk. Packed with vitamins and minerals, this alternative to cow's milk is gentler on the stomach and provides a solution for some with lactose sensitivity. And believe it or not, goat milk is actually closer to human milk than cow's milk. Here's everything you need to know, including nutrition facts and more!

Serving Size: 1 Cup (brand: Meyenberg)

Any milk product by an animal is considered dairy, but depending on the animal there can be differences in nutrition profile and composition. Because of these differences, some people who are sensitive to one type of milk may tolerate another type of milk better. Goat milk comes from, you guessed it, goats and has a slew of health benefits that make it easier to digest for certain people that commonly have lactose-sensitivity. The flavor is overall mild, with a bit of an almost nutty flavor and earthy undertone. Goat milk is creamy and also has a gentle tang.

Goat milk can be replaced 1:1 for milk products in any recipe. It blends well in shakes and smoothies, and makes the perfect addition to any latte. You can add goat milk to overnight oats, creamy soups, and even decadent sauces. Goat milk is also a great digestive-friendly substitute when baking. You can use goat milk butter in frostings and pastries, and goat milk itself makes a delicious ice cream if you have your own ice-cream machine at home.

Read more here:
Goat Milk Nutrition - Health Benefits of Goat Milk - GoodHousekeeping.com

Read More..

EDEN HAZARD admits he is finding it hard to resist pigging out on buns during isolation.

The Real Madrid forward is working with an online physio to strengthen the ankle that has ruled him out of 17 games this season.

2

But the Belgian - who was blasted for being overweight after sealing his 150million move from Chelsea last summer - did not hide the fact he is also battling the urge to snack on buns at home.

He told RTBF: "It's complicated for me. I'm trying not to eat a lot.

"I'm trying not to go into the pantry to eat a lot of buns, but it's not easy."

The 28-year-old has managed just one goal in his 15 appearances this season, and missed the start of the season with a hamstring problem.

Hazard had returned to the squad briefly in February before missing another three games with a second ankle fracture picked up against Levante.

But despite football coming to a halt amid the coronavirus pandemic, the winger continues his road to recovery through home therapy.

Hazard added: "I'm working with the physio online.

"He can't come here anymore because he fell ill and has to stay at home.

"We started ten days ago, but he sends me videos from home.

"I'm working to strengthen my ankle and I'm doing what I can from home."

2

Continue reading here:
Eden Hazard admits he is struggling with diet and weight with Real Madrid star tempted to pig out on buns at - The Sun

Read More..

In a new Instagram post, Cristina Cuomo says her husband of 19 years, Chris Cuomo, has "successfully turned the corner away from his severe symptoms and the potential danger of pneumonia" with coronavirus.

Cristina, who has a long career in journalism and media, has been keeping friends, family, and fans updated on his improving condition via her lifestyle and wellness platform The Purist, where she details Chris's daily diet, exercise regimen, and even his temperature. In her latest Instagram update, she went on to say that her husband, "still feels consistently light-headed, week, fever on, fever off." So, she's continued working with Dr. Linda Lancaster, an energy medicine physician who Cristina says helped cure her "aggressive" Lyme disease last summer, on a diet strong in herbs and vitamins. "It takes a lot of energy to break down raw foods, especially when youre sick," she wrote on Instagram. Chris has been eating a "stress-free diet," according to the post, so as not to tax his liver or consume his energy.

The first photo in Cristina's post featured Chris looking healthy and happy with their son, Mario Jr., 14, named after Chris's late father, the former governor of New York. Swipe, and you'll also see a photo of Chris standing in his pajamas and face mask on the stairs to their basement in Long Island, where he's quarantining. You can see a tray with food, a tissue box, and a tub of Lysol wipes.

Tons of well wishes poured into the comments section, like this note from Chris's CNN co-worker, Lisa Ling: "You are amazing CGC. Chris is so lucky to have you." Another friend wrote, "Hes got the best home nurse ever.... sending well wishes ."

Despite his ups and downs with coronavirus, Chris has still been making appearances on CNN, where he hosts Cuomo Prime Time. As recently as last evening, he told Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, "I'm scared by this. And it frustrates me because I can't get out of this basement."

Chris added something new about the emotional toll the virus takes on people as well: "People are afraid to talk about it, and I'm not," he told Dr. Gupta. "This virus creates psychological illness. It is in my head. It is causing people depression, and it's creating brain fog, and it's creating edginess in people. The experts I'm talking to are saying yes, yes, we've seen that. But how do you treat it and what does it mean down the road? We don't know."

We're hoping for Chris's full recovery and discharge from the basement soon. In the meantime we know he's in the best of care thanks to his wife Cristina and their kids!

Support from readers like you helps us do our best work. Go here to subscribe to Prevention and get 12 FREE gifts. And sign up for our FREE newsletter here for daily health, nutrition, and fitness advice.

Excerpt from:
Cristina Cuomo Says Husband Chris Cuomo Has "Turned the Corner" With Coronavirus - Prevention.com

Read More..

One thing I know a lot of us are being challenged with right now in the midst of all these quarantines is how to stay in shape, and how to control what you're eating and drinking. It's even more of a challenge with our gyms being shut down, and spending more time at home close to the refrigerator.

I've always worked out, but I also like to joke that, as acombat veteran,I suffer from Post Deployment Celebration Disorder.I end up eating or drinking too much, especially after getting home from a deployment. Thankfully, I've figured out how to shed that post deployment weight gain, and how to keep it off- so I thought I would just share a few things that seem to be working for me in the middle of these quarantines (although I gotta admit it is definitely more of a struggle for all of us in this quarantine).

That's just a few things that have been working for me. What's been working for you? Any apps you'd recommend? Shoot me a note aaron(at)montanatalks.com

And, if you just need a good laugh (and missed my previous post)...check out Tim Montana's "Quarantine" song with Black Rifle Coffee's Mat Best:

Visit link:
How I'm Staying in Shape from Home Here in Montana - newstalk955.com

Read More..

The COVID-19 global pandemic has brought about a whole new set of challenges for people of all kinds. Whether youre someone who is dealing with chronic depression, anxiety, or any other mental health problem, chances are that this new situation has made things a little more difficult. Even for those without any mental health problems may notice a decline in their overall mental health as a result of the current pandemic. In any case, the good news is that there are several things you can do to take care of your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heres our list of a few things you can take action on today.

If you have a regular exercise routine, whether its running a few miles, lifting some weights, or holding yoga poses, then you know just how much of a difference it can make on your mental and physical health. However, with so many people stuck inside on shelter at home orders, its all too easy to allow regular exercise routines to take a back seat. But this is not the time to quit your exercising. When you maintain a healthy exercise schedule, you can help to keep a level of normalcy and resilience that is necessary to keep alive during such a trying time.

The same goes for your diet. Not only do the foods you eat contribute to your bodys immune system and longevity, but they also play a vital role in your mental health. If youre constantly eating unhealthy foods, then its likely that your mental health will also see a steep decline. If you need a fun challenge while passing time in quarantine, why not try making a new healthy recipe at least a few times each week. The novelty of trying new foods will keep your diet interesting. Plus, you may even emerge from all this with some awesome new recipes up your sleeves.

Diet and exercise are important as routines, but surely you have other routines in your life that may have been disrupted as a result of the global pandemic. Keeping up your regular schedule in light of the current situation is an excellent way to maintain your sense of strength and stability, both of which are feelings that contribute to an overall state of improved mental health. Are you used to watching your favorite TV show every Thursday night? Stick to it. Are Mondays the day you usually get work done and call friends? Dont forfeit the routine. These habits and schedules can help you to stay on top of your mental health.

Isolation is the last thing we need during this global pandemic. Sure, you may be practicing social distancing and staying physically separated from the people in your life, but that doesnt mean you have to cease contact with them. As a matter of fact, increasing your amount of social interactions may be one of the best ways to take care of your mental health, whether in the midst of a pandemic or not. Take advantage of the many modern tools of communication we have available to us to keep in touch with the people in your life. Whether its a phone call, a video chat, or an email, there are endless opportunities for maintaining a connection throughout these challenging times.

Checking in on the older members of your family is certainly important during the global pandemic as well. Many public places are closed for gatherings right now, which tends to isolate people even further. While slip and falls are the number one cause of accidents in restaurants, hotels, and public buildings, there are definitely still concerns to be had in regards to the elderly population. This makes it that much more important to make sure youre staying connected to the older people in your life, whether theyre family members or members of your local community.

Mindset is everything when it comes to mental health. Sure, it may seem impossible to keep a positive outlook during a global pandemic, but its more important now than its ever been before. Do whatever it takes to look on the bright side of things. Some days this may mean taking a nice long walk outside in the sunshine. Some days this may mean getting your thoughts and feelings out by journaling and mentioning some things you are grateful for. Whatever works for you is fine. There is no wrong method of maintaining a positive mindset. Doing so will work wonders for your mental health and well being.

If youre inside a lot as a lot of us are right now, its tempting to skip out on some basic hygienic measures. However, doing this will only lead to further feelings of imbalance and loss of control. Make sure you do all those little things that make you feel happy, healthy, and confident.

Dont skip out on brushing and flossing, either. Its important for people of all ages to get regular dental checkups every six months. You dont want to come out of quarantine having some dental issues to deal with because you skipped out on your hygiene. Even doing something as simple as putting on a nice outfit can have a tremendously positive effect on your mental well-being.

Finally, its not a bad idea to shift your focus to your interests. Sure, it may be tough to focus on other things, but doing so can provide you with some much needed relief. You could even learn more about a skill or hobby that youve wanted to take up, but havent had the time to learn about. Take something like boating, for example. Even if youre not able to get involved in boating until after the global pandemic, you can get a head start by educating yourself now while you have extra time. After all, did you know that there over 15 million boats currently in use in the United States?

While the global pandemic is presenting a host of problems for mental health, its important to do what you can to stay on top of things. By sticking to some of these tips, youll be that much closer to looking after your mental health for the duration of the global pandemic. Good luck out there and stay healthy!

Stay updated with all the insights.Navigate news, 1 email day.Subscribe to Qrius

More:
Taking Care of Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Qrius

Read More..

Marisa Meltzer writes about beautiful, thin people for a living. She interviews models and actresses over meals they pretend to eat with abandon. And shes often wondered if her size-16 body, so unlike theirs, invites them to open up to her.

I think, subconsciously, its sort of a signal that Im not their competition, says the journalist, whose profiles of stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Busy Phillips have run in the New Yorker and Elle. I think theres something about the fat body that people interpret as being sort of maternal.

But when she set out to write her new book, This Is Big: How the Founder of Weight Watchers Changed the World and Me, Meltzer was not-so-secretly hoping shed end up looking like one of her svelte subjects. After reading a 2015 obituary of Jean Nidetch, the founder of the weight-loss giant, Meltzer became intrigued by the story of the housewife-turned-entrepreneur. On the brink of 40, the author had struggled for decades with her weight, and thought returning to WW which her parents put her on as a young child while exploring Nidetchs life might generate some compelling personal transformation.

But about six months into the journey, she had to contemplate a different ending. The result is not a memoir of radical self-acceptance or saccharine inspiration, but a candid at times dark look at what it means to be an overweight woman in 2020.

From her loft in Brooklyn, wearing a kimono and eyeing a hot lemon and ginger concoction simmering on the stove behind her, the 42-year-old joined The Times via Skype to talk through it all.

Jean Nidetch believed that fat people needed to be demoralized and hurt in some way in order to be jolted into taking action. What do you think about that weight loss philosophy?

Jean had this really traumatic experience where someone mistook her for pregnant, and that was enough to kind of scare her straight. I have been mistaken for pregnant dozens of times. I had a saleswoman in Rome tell me that I wasnt allowed to buy a pair of socks. Im always kind of wondering: Is anything going to be able to shock me to my core and scare me straight? Which is kind of a dark way to lose the weight. I dont think starting from a place of shame is great, but I also think its kind of unavoidable, because people are so unkind in the most casual way.

I dont know if were losing weight for reasons other than shame. I, for example, am constantly being harassed by my doctors to lose weight. And I get it. . But can I ever just do something purely for health when it comes to my body? Its always going to be caught up in all the other parts of: Will dating be easier? Will I able to finally fit in a pair of pants that I want? Will no one ever be rude to me again? You start allowing yourself to have more and more fanciful daydreams about the good things that can come with losing weight.

Jean Nidetch founded Weight Watchers International in 1963 after having lost a large amount of weight herself.

(Associated Press)

How is your life different in the fantasy where youre thin?

I think that I would be one of those writers like Candace Bushnell. The fantasies always end up very nineties. Id be one of those writers who is in party pictures in magazines wearing a slip dress. Its very Carrie Bradshaw, which is sort of embarrassing. I think Ive gotten old enough and smart enough that I dont necessarily even want those things or think those things would make me very happy, but thats what comes to mind. Its a very adolescent fantasy of being a writer in a big city with a handsome, successful boyfriend and wearing outfits that look good on skinny people. Disco-y flared pants and tiny dresses you can get away with if you dont have any kind of back fat or boobs or stomach.

Your friends, you say, often call you an inspiration, but they dont understand that youve quite rigorously assembled something that looks really good from the outside. What dont they see?

They certainly dont know all of the microaggressions. They dont know about the salespeople who will really pointedly say, We have more sizes in the back. Or the people who assess you while online dating and ask if you have a big ass. Part of that is because I dont tell everyone those things that stuff is painful, and the last thing I want to do when I see my best friends is talk about the worst part of my month. I want to gossip and eat Mexican food. I think I have a very good, polished facade. Part of that is wanting to not be whatever a typical fat girl is. I am a person who is really fashionable and loves clothes. I want to look together. I dont want to be the person who is a fat, lonely loser even though sometimes I privately feel that way.

There are many more plus-size celebrities on magazine covers and onscreen than there used to be. Do you think that indicates real societal acceptance?

I think theres definitely a broader range of what is considered attractive. Vogue has someone like Paloma Elsesser or Ashley Graham on the cover. Theyre very beautiful, proportionate women, but theyre many dozens of pounds larger than any model that graced the cover of Vogue when you or I were growing up. I think that counts as progress. I think having someone like Lizzo as this pop icon who also is a fat woman and also seems to take pleasure in her body is a huge amount of progress. I hope theres more people like that.

But I also think we as a culture get really caught up in this cheering of fat women to feel better about ourselves. We want Lizzo and Roxane Gay and Adele to love their bodies so we can feel happy for them. But that doesnt give a lot of space for what it might actually feel like to be Adele, who has clearly lost a lot of weight. I have my theories about how that was achieved. I think she got weight-loss surgery.

Adele after accepting her Oscar for Skyfall in 2013.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

You write that you believe youre not thin because you havent tried hard enough, but also note that youve worked your way to the top of a really competitive industry.

Bodies are unruly and bodies dont do what we want. Its not so simple as just going on a diet and following it and then youll lose weight and youre OK. Its not like Monica on Friends where its like, she lost the weight and now she gets to live like a normal person. If youre on a diet, youre on a diet for the rest of your life and it has to become even more strict as your metabolism changes. But its also hard because there are some people like Jean the people on The Biggest Loser or People magazines Half Their Size issues that you see that it does work for. And I think: what is wrong with me? Ive spent so much time and energy and money trying to right myself, why cant I just do it?

Youve tried many things, including Kybella injections to minimize a double chin and liposuction. Did those procedures result in you liking your body more?

Yeah, sometimes. But sometimes not. I think a lot of times the cosmetic procedures we get, they kind of beget: Whats next? It can give you a little lift, but it can also feel like its never quite solving things. Theres also a lot of shame around it. Ive talked about those things to like one or two people. Its just embarrassing. And its a weird kind of vanity. Im so ambivalent about dieting and my body, but Im also happy to futz with my double chin.

This Is Big: How the Founder of Weight Watchers Changed the World (And Me), by Marisa Meltzer.

(Hachette Group Publishing)

By the end of your book, you still dont love your body. Was that difficult to admit?

I wrestled with that a lot. As the year went on, I was like, I dont have some big weight loss to show for it, but I also dont have some giant paradigm shift where Im like, Guess what? I learned to love myself! Or some kind of Eat, Pray, Love thing where I met a boyfriend and he thinks Im so hot the way I am! Let the confetti fall! But were also in this time where everything feels really complicated in the world and neat endings dont really ring true. I decided to lean into that ambivalence.

You say very clearly at the conclusion that you dont think loving yourself more would make the world treat you better. That goes directly against the ethos of recent movies like I Feel Pretty or Isnt It Romantic that tout self-love as the ultimate game-changer.

I would probably be more at peace if I was happy with myself beyond what I got from the outside world. But we get a lot of that kind of hollow assurance. It often comes from people who are really successful and rich and get to wear really great clothes and have millions of followers who think theyre amazing. Maybe its easier when you have all those accoutrements, but thats never how I felt. Ive known my whole life that I was smart and I never had to remind myself. No one is telling beautiful people, remember youre beautiful. They know. It feels remedial and kind of cruel that I have to be like, I, too am beautiful! Maybe being beautiful or thin is not my thing. The least I can do is to be honest about how nuanced and difficult it is.

Are you still doing Weight Watchers?

I havent been to a meeting in several months. But I sort of flirt with it. There will always be some element of guilt or dieting in my life. Sometimes Ill be tracking my calories and sometimes Ill be eating a whole pint of ice cream and not even wanting to figure out how many points is in a pint of Ben & Jerrys. And it was important for my author photos to be full size so people wouldnt be like, what is she trying to hide? As of a few months ago, I wondered if I should go to the Ranch in Malibu for a week to lose as much weight as possible for the book tour. But its prohibitively expensive and quarantine has canceled all those appearances. I also recently put in an order to Russ & Daughters where I spent so much money I got a fraud call from my bank. So thats the level were dealing with right now.

See the original post here:
Marisa Meltzer still doesn't love her fat body and that's OK - Los Angeles Times

Read More..

Contact Us Today

Page 1,175«..1020..1,1741,1751,1761,177..1,1801,190..»

Home » Page 1175