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Launches Active Zone Minutes, a new personalized heart rate metric that tracks your physical activity beyond steps to help you move efficiently every day and improve your overall health

Fitbit Premium delivers new programs, challenges, workouts and mindfulness tools, plus free 90-day trial, giving users support and guidance to stay healthy in any environment

Fitbit (NYSE: FIT) today announced the latest evolution of its most popular family of devices,1 Fitbit Charge 4. Featuring Fitbits most advanced combination of sensors and features, now with built-in GPS and Spotify - Connect & Control,2 Charge 4 delivers what you want most in a health and fitness tracker, paired with essential smart features and up to seven days of battery life3 in a sleek, swimproof4 design - all at an approachable price. Charge 4 includes Fitbits latest innovation, Active Zone Minutes, a new personalized standard based on your resting heart rate and age that tracks any workout that gets your heart pumping, from indoor biking to yoga, measuring the time you spend in each heart rate zone toward a weekly goal of 150 minutes.5 For more guidance and motivation in todays environment, new content has been added to Fitbit Premium, including programs, workouts from brands like barre3, Down Dog and Physique 57, mindfulness tools, challenges and more. Along with 40 new pieces of free content, Fitbit is offering a free 90-day trial for new Premium users. With the launch of new tools, software and content, being "on Fitbit" offers even greater value for users looking to manage their overall health.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005222/en/

Fitbit Charge 4 Lineup (Photo: Business Wire)

"Our mission has always been to help people around the world get healthier. In todays extraordinary times, that mission is more important than ever, but we realize how hard it is to focus on your health and wellness. However, staying active, eating well and getting enough sleep can help reduce stress and boost immunity," said James Park, CEO and co-founder. "To help support our users, were offering a free trial of Fitbit Premium and added content so our users have the right tools at home to help them stay healthy; and, with Active Zone Minutes, we are giving users a new personalized standard for health and fitness so they can get the most out of any activity that works for them and help to keep them motivated."

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Fitbits most advanced designed tracker uplevels fitness and deepens health

Active Zone Minutes will launch first with Charge 4, with an innovative design made to optimize GPS performance plus house other advanced sensors and capabilities while maintaining a slim, lightweight tracker form at the same approachable price and battery life. Its premium, lightweight, swimproof4 design is comfortable for all-day (and night) wear, featuring an inductive button, a scratch-resistant screen and a bright, crisp touchscreen display that is easy to view in natural light.

As the first Fitbit tracker with built-in GPS, you can leave your phone at home and get optimal performance for activities like running, walking and other outdoor excursions. Now with the ability to track your pace and distance in real-time, in addition to the 20+ goal-based exercise modes, you can access seven GPS-enabled exercise modes, including a new outdoor workout mode for any outdoor activity like hiking, running or a brisk walk. After completing a GPS-enabled workout, sync your device for a GPS-powered heat map6 in the Fitbit app where you can see your workout intensity, based on your different heart rate zones along your route, to help you visualize and improve how you are performing against different terrain.

Active Zone Minutes helps you workout more efficiently and unlock better health

Because activity looks different for everyone, Fitbit developed Active Zone Minutes to help you understand how your activity contributes to your overall health, beyond the number of steps you take.7 With Fitbits PurePulse 24/7 heart rate tracking, Active Zone Minutes uses your personalized heart rate zones to track your effort for any energizing activity, whether doing a HIIT workout, power yoga or taking a vigorous walk outside. Earn credit for each minute of moderate activity in fat burn zone and double the credit for vigorous activity in cardio and peak zones Active Zone Minutes does the math for you so you can quickly understand how many you need to reach your daily and weekly goals.5 Get real-time alerts on your wrist each time you change zones so you can push harder or scale back to make your workouts more efficient. After a workout, see a detailed summary of your heart rate zones in the Fitbit app, including progress toward your goals, so you can continue challenging yourself to make every minute count.

Active Zone Minutes is based on recommendations from leading health organizations, including the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association, who recommend getting 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week, which has been linked to better overall health and well-being, disease prevention, improved cognitive function, less anxiety and better sleep.5

Sleep better and achieve your goals with Charge 4

Sleep is a critical component to maintaining overall health and wellness, and boosting immunity. As such, Fitbits leading sleep features are included with Charge 4 to help you understand and improve your sleep. Previously only available on Fitbit smartwatches, smart wake (coming soon) uses machine learning to wake you at the optimal time. Sleep Score provides deeper insights into your sleep with a daily look at the quality of your sleep, now available on-wrist for Charge 4. Other sleep features on Charge 4 make it easy to improve your sleep, all from your wrist: quickly set alarms and activate Sleep Mode to maintain routines and sleep schedules.8

Charge 4 also features a relative SpO2 sensor, which powers Fitbits Estimated Oxygen Variation Graph in the Fitbit app. With the graph, see an estimate of the oxygen level variability in your bloodstream, which may indicate variations in your breathing during sleep.

In addition, Charge 4 comes standard with the health and fitness essentials you know and love from Fitbit, including SmartTrack automatic exercise tracking, Cardio Fitness Level and Score, floors climbed, Reminders to Move every hour, female health tracking, food, water and weight logging, motivation from the global social fitness network of nearly 30 million like-minded individuals around the world to help you stay connected, and free educational insights about activity and sleep in the Fitbit app to better understand how your health and wellness tie together.

Improved motivation and convenience with all the right smarts

For an even more powerful health and fitness coach, Charge 4 has added convenience and smart features to manage your day and stay connected but not distracted, right from your wrist. The first Fitbit tracker with Spotify - Connect & Control, Charge 4 helps you stay motivated with your favorite playlists and songs with easy-to-access music controls that let you choose the music output, play, shuffle and skip content, and like songs right from the wrist.2 Never miss an alert with on-screen call, text, agenda and app notifications, and keep in touch with family and friends with quick replies on Android to respond on-the-go9 or mute alerts with Do Not Disturb mode. Now standard on all Charge 4 devices, make secure payments from your wrist with Fitbit Pay with nearly 500 issuers at retailers in 44 countries and 10 transit systems worldwide, including New York MTA.10

Charge 4 is powered by up to seven days of battery life11 so you can stay motivated and connected. It provides an intuitive touchscreen experience with interactive graphics that allow for seamless navigation so you can access the most important information you need, right from your wrist.

Expanded offerings from Fitbit Premium add even more value to the Fitbit platform

For users looking to build on the device experience with extra guidance, support and motivation, which is even more critical these days, Fitbit Premium is a paid subscription service in the Fitbit app that you can access conveniently from your phone, whenever you need it and no matter where you are. Leveraging insights from 10+ years of data along with academic and medical expertise, Premium delivers customized guided programs, advanced sleep tools, personal insights, thousands of workouts, new challenges and a health report to help you move more, sleep better and eat well.

"Since launching Fitbit Premium last year, consumer retention and engagement results are improving, and were seeing positive health and wellness benefits for our users," said Jonathan Oakes, EVP of Product & Design. "For example, users who took less than 5,000 steps per day before trying Premium took 16,000 more steps per week during the first two weeks of joining12 - a testament to the power of our Premium experience in improving users health and fitness."

To support our users and help people stay active at home during todays difficult times, Fitbit is offering 40 new pieces of Premium content free in the Fitbit app. In addition, anyone new to Fitbit Premium can get a 90-day free trial of this paid subscription, which includes personalized health insights, guidance, advanced sleep tools, customized programs and 200+ workouts from brands like barre3, Daily Burn, ob fitness, Physique 57, POPSUGAR and Yoga Studio: Mind & Body. If Premium is not available in your region and you have not tried Fitbit Coach yet, we are offering a 90-day free trial so you can stream video workouts on your phone or computer. To access Premium or Coach, visit the Fitbit app.

Fitbit now has 16 programs available to Premium users. New guided programs include strength training, gym cardio and mindful eating, tailored based on your goals, fitness level, schedule and preferences. In addition to a wide range of workouts categorized by time, activity and fitness level to easily find whats right for you, Premium members have access to new mindfulness content from brands like Ten Percent Happier, in one single, convenient place. Coming soon, Fitbit will also offer workouts for both free and Premium users to help you reach your Active Zone Minutes goal.

Three customizable challenges are also available to Premium members, including Get Fit Bingo, where users can compete with family and friends on a health and fitness bingo board with different activities such as meeting your step or Active Zone Minutes goal for the day. Premium will continue to add more content to support users on their health and wellness journeys.

Pricing, availability and accessories to match your style

Pre-order for Charge 4 and Charge 4 Special Edition begins today at Fitbit.com and select retailers online such as Amazon.com, Bestbuy.com and Walmart.com; available online at all retailer sites worldwide and in stores in markets where they are still open, starting April 13, 2020. Charge 4 is available for $149.95 USD in black, rosewood and storm blue/black.13 Charge 4 Special Edition is available for $169.95 USD in an exclusive granite reflective/black woven band plus a classic black band to easily swap out for workouts or a sportier look.14 Charge 4 will also be added later this year to UnitedHealthcare Motion, a wearable device walking program available to employers. Charge 4 is also available as a fitness benefit in certain UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans across the country.

Customize Charge 4 with a variety of new accessory bands and colors including REPREVE recycled woven reflective bands in midnight and rosewood; breathable silicone sport bands in evergreen and frost white; and premium Horween hand-crafted leather in black.15 Charge 4 accessories are sold separately in store and online, and are compatible with Fitbit Charge 3 devices, starting at $29.95 USD.

Active Zone Minutes will be available first on Fitbit Charge 4, then will roll out to all Fitbit smartwatches, coming soon.

Fitbit Premium launched late last year and is available now for $9.99 USD/month or $79.99 USD/year.

Table 1: Charge 4 International Pricing

Australia (AUD)

$249.95

Canada (CAD)

$199.95

Europe (Euro)

149.95

Hong Kong (HKD)

HK$1,328

India (INR)

14,999

Japan (JPY)

21,980

New Zealand (NZD)

$269.95

Singapore (SGD)

S$248

UK (GBP)

129.99

About Fitbit, Inc. (NYSE: FIT)

Fitbit helps people lead healthier, more active lives by empowering them with data, inspiration and guidance to reach their goals. Fitbit designs products and experiences that track and provide motivation for everyday health and fitness. Fitbits diverse line of innovative and popular products include Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Inspire HR, Fitbit Inspire and Fitbit Ace 2 activity trackers, as well as the Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa family of smartwatches, Fitbit Flyer wireless headphones, and Fitbit Aria family of smart scales. Fitbit products are carried in approximately 39,000 retail stores and in 100+ countries around the globe. Powered by one of the worlds largest databases of activity, exercise and sleep data and Fitbits leading health and fitness social network, the Fitbit platform delivers personalized experiences, insights and guidance through leading software and interactive tools, including the Fitbit and Fitbit Coach apps, and Fitbit OS for smartwatches. Fitbits paid subscription service, Fitbit Premium, uses your unique data to deliver actionable guidance and coaching in the Fitbit app to help you reach your health and fitness goals. Fitbit Health Solutions develops health and wellness solutions designed to help increase engagement, improve health outcomes, and drive a positive return for employers, health plans and health systems.

Fitbit and the Fitbit logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fitbit, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Additional Fitbit trademarks can be found http://www.fitbit.com/legal/trademark-list. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and share your Fitbit experience.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties including, among other things, statements regarding the future availability of Fitbit Charge 4 and Charge 4 Special Edition, enhanced Fitbit Premium offerings, Active Zone Minutes or any other product features or services described in this release; future potential of products or services described in this release; and our ability to help users manage or improve their health and wellness. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors, including the effects of the highly competitive market in which we operate, including competition from much larger technology companies; any inability to successfully develop and introduce new products, features, and services or enhance existing products and services; product liability issues, security breaches or other defects; the impact of the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 virus; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained herein are based on information available to us as of the date hereof and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events.

1 The Charge franchise remains popular as the top-selling family of health and fitness trackers in the U.S. for nearly four years. Source: The NPD Group, Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Health & Fitness Trackers, based on units, Jan. 2016Sep. 2019.2 Spotify Premium subscription required, not available in all countries. Allows for music and podcast control from device.3 Battery life varies with use and other factors.4 Water resistant to 50 meters.5 Suggested daily goal for Active Zone Minutes is based on American Heart Association, U.S. Health Department and World Health Organization recommendations to get 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, which has been linked to better overall health and well-being, disease prevention and improved quality of life. American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf. World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_adults/en/.6 Workout intensity map available in the Fitbit app for all activities using built-in or Connected GPS.7 You can customize your Active Zone Minutes goal in the Fitbit app. Default daily goal is 22 moderate minutes or 11 vigorous minutes per day.8 Sleep Mode is available only on Fitbit Charge 4, Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa family of smartwatches.9 When phone is nearby.10 Fitbit Pay and transit availability at fitbit.com/fitbit-pay/banks.11 Battery life up to 5 hours with continuous GPS usage; battery life varies with use and other factors.12 Based on average data from Fitbit Premium users who started a free-trial or subscribed between January 1, 2020-February 27, 2020.13 Storm blue/black sold exclusively at Fitbit.com.14 Fitbit Charge 4 Special Edition comes with an additional black classic band.15 Leather accessories made of Horween leather and other leather materials. Accessories sold separately.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005222/en/

Contacts

Fitbit, Inc.Media: Jen Ralls 415-941-0037, PR@Fitbit.com

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Fitbit Introduces Fitbit Charge 4, its Most Advanced Health & Fitness Tracker with Built-in GPS, Active Zone Minutes, Spotify, Sleep Tools, Fitbit...

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Adopting a healthier lifestyle can be challenging, especially if youre trying to lose weight.

With most weight loss diets focusing on consuming smaller portions and fewer calories, many people struggle to stick to these diets due to feelings of frustration when they dont experience results even if they follow the plan perfectly (1).

That said, many people are reporting success by adding a refeed day into their weekly eating routine.

Simply put, a refeed day is a planned increase in calories for one day on a weekly or biweekly basis. Its intended to give your body a temporary respite from calorie restriction.

This article tells you all you need to know about refeed days, how to do them properly, and whether theyre right for you.

A refeed day is a day on which you intentionally overconsume calories after a period of being in a calorie deficit whether it arose from eating fewer calories or increasing physical activity, or both (2, 3).

The idea behind a refeed day is to counteract the negative effects of being in a calorie deficit, such as lower hormone levels, increased hunger, lethargy, tiredness, and hitting a weight loss plateau (2, 3).

Although this sounds similar to a cheat day, the two should not be confused.

Cheat days involve uncontrolled and unplanned eating for one day. On most cheat days, any type of food is allowed in unlimited quantities (4).

In contrast, a refeed day involves thoughtful planning and controlled food intake. Unlike cheat days, only a moderate increase in calories is permitted, and the type of food matters, as most refeed days emphasize calories from carbs over fats and protein (2, 3).

While refeed days can vary from person to person, the main goal is to eat in a calorie surplus in a controlled manner.

A refeed day is a temporary break from calorie restriction that involves a controlled day of overeating with a focus on carbs. It aims to counteract the negative effects of calorie restriction and aid weight loss.

You may wonder why a temporary calorie surplus would lead to weight loss, but the reasoning behind it addresses one of the main problems most people have when losing weight a weight loss plateau or slowdown.

As you decrease your calorie intake and begin to lose body fat, a change in hormones occurs, which tells your body that youre experiencing a calorie deficit. At this time, your body will begin to look for ways to reduce it as much as possible to limit weight loss (2, 3).

In particular, a hormone known as leptin begins to decline. Leptin is produced by fat cells and tells your body that it has adequate fat stores, helping regulate appetite and encouraging calorie burning (2, 3, 5, 6).

However, low levels of this hormone signal your brain that youre entering an unknown period of calorie deprivation. As a result, your body receives signals to eat more food and burn fewer calories. This process is known as adaptive thermogenesis (2, 3, 5).

Adaptive thermogenesis is a protective process that alters your bodys metabolism to increase energy intake and decrease energy output to slow weight loss.

During this process, your body releases various hormones and increases food cravings to push you to consume more calories (2, 3, 7).

Additionally, the rate at which you burn calories can change. For example, you may experience a decrease in exercise activity thermogenesis (EAT) and non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT).

EAT involves deliberate physical activity while NEAT includes any energy used for daily tasks, such as walking, fidgeting, and general movement. Other components of your energy expenditure include your basal metabolic rate (BMR) and the thermic effect of food (TEF) (2, 3).

Due to the changes that occur as you lose weight, you may feel less energetic about exercise, opt for the elevator instead of taking the stairs, and move less in general.

Combined, the reduction in the number of calories you burn and increase in calorie intake lowers the likelihood of continued weight loss (2, 3, 7).

Though this may be viewed as a problem, its an evolutionary process that helped people survive during times of famine or starvation (7).

When youre trying to lose weight, you may be in a calorie deficit most days, therefore progressively forcing your leptin levels to drop (7, 8).

By introducing a refeed day every week or so, you might temporarily increase your leptin levels through increased calorie intake, which may help keep your bodys fat-burning process working more efficiently (3).

Carbs are the main focus of refeed days due to their superior ability to increase leptin levels, compared with fats or proteins. Therefore, by eating carb-rich foods on your refeed day, youre likely giving your body the best chance to balance its leptin levels (3).

Refeed days may elevate hormone levels, such as leptin, reducing the effects of adaptive thermogenesis, a survival process that has been shown to slow weight loss.

Refeed days may provide certain benefits.

The main reason for refeed days is to prevent a weight loss plateau.

When people are trying to lose weight, they may see immediate results initially, but this is usually followed by a period during which no weight loss occurs. This is partially due to a survival process called adaptive thermogenesis (9).

By feeding your body excess calories mostly in the form of carbs, your leptin levels temporarily increase, which may prevent adaptive thermogenesis from interfering with your weight loss (10).

However, more research is needed to better understand the effects of temporary refeeding and leptin levels (3).

Most research has found that food restriction ultimately leads to overeating or binging, which is why cheat days have become popular in the fitness community (4).

However, cheat days are designed as a way to binge on an unlimited amount of food, which may lead to a distorted relationship with food and limit your progress. In contrast, refeed days are designed to gently and purposefully increase calories, which may reduce binging (4, 11).

Introducing a refeed day may help limit binging by permitting foods typically discouraged on many diet plans, especially carb-rich ones. Furthermore, it may help satisfy cravings and decrease feelings of deprivation (12).

However, a refeed day coupled with an overly restrictive diet wont likely resolve this. Therefore, opt for an eating pattern that welcomes a wide-range of foods that you enjoy (12).

Refeed days may help improve physical performance.

During periods of calorie restriction, your bodys ability to store glycogen is limited. Glycogen is a long-chain carbohydrate thats stored in your muscles and liver and used as a quick energy source during physical activity (3, 13, 14, 15).

Since refeed days emphasize carb intake, this may help replenish glycogen stores, potentially improving your performance in the gym, on the race track, or on the field.

Though more research is needed, refeed days may help you overcome a weight loss plateau, avoid binging, and improve athletic performance.

Despite the possible benefits, some potential downsides need to be considered before introducing a refeed day.

Though the theory of refeed days makes sense, there isnt much research on the topic. Moreover, adaptive thermogenesis is still a contested topic among researchers, further calling into question the effectiveness of refeed days (16).

Moreover, the human body is incredibly sophisticated and can easily adapt to changes in food intake. Your metabolism does not experience lasting changes from one day of being in a calorie surplus or deficit and is largely dependent on genetics and age (17).

Just as it takes many days to weeks of calorie restriction for leptin levels to decline and adaptive thermogenesis to take place, it likely takes more than a single day to adequately elevate leptin levels enough to support weight loss (17).

Even though you may have a thoughtfully planned refeed day, you may have a hard time controlling your intake once you start. Depending on the intensity of your calorie restriction during the week, you may experience intense cravings that override your good intentions.

Therefore, when trying to lose weight, it may be best to limit yourself to no more than a 500 calorie deficit per day through both increased exercise and a modest decrease in calorie intake (18).

Though this balanced approach may make weight take longer, you may be less likely to regain it in the long run (9).

Although refeed days encourage a temporary respite from calorie restriction, they still emphasize diets as a way to lose weight.

Considering most diets fail to produce long-term weight loss, following a healthy lifestyle that does not eliminate entire food groups or encourage an intense calorie restriction may be most sustainable (19).

Most guidelines recommend a conservative approach to weight loss for long-term success. It involves a modest calorie deficit through increased physical activity and the consumption of whole, minimally processed foods (20, 21).

Through this approach, weight loss may be achieved without the need for a refeed day.

Any diet comes with the risk of negatively affecting your relationship with food.

Though refeed days encourage carb-rich foods for one day, theyre usually paired with diets that vilify carbs or other food groups, creating an unhealthy good versus bad mentality (19).

Moreover, only allowing one day free of calorie restriction every week or two may create a heightened sense of stress and fear surrounding food and calories. This may ultimately lead to disordered eating thoughts and behaviors (22).

If you have a history of disordered eating or eating disorders, it may be best to avoid refeed days and diets altogether, or to consult a qualified health professional.

Although refeed days are popular, theres limited research on their efficacy. Moreover, theyre usually paired with extreme diets that may promote a negative relationship with food and disordered eating thoughts and behaviors.

If youre interested in incorporating refeed days into your eating routine, its best to spend time planning them out to ensure youre not going overboard. Moreover, you may need to adjust the rules to meet your bodys needs.

Generally speaking, most people in a calorie deficit should consider including a refeed day once every 2 weeks, although this will depend on your body fat percentage and goals. Those with lower body fat percentages may need to increase their number of refeed days (2, 3).

Use the following chart as a reference:

*Note: Most women should aim to have a body fat percentage above 15% to support reproductive and overall health.

Although there are no official guidelines, most refeed days should aim to increase daily calories by 2030%. For example, if you need around 2,000 calories per day to maintain your weight, you should aim to have 400600 additional calories per day.

Aim to consume most of your additional calories from carb-rich foods, such as whole grains, pasta, rice, potatoes, and bananas, as carbs have been shown to increase leptin levels more than protein or fat (2, 10).

You can continue to eat protein and fat at each meal. However, prioritize carbs first, then protein, and limit fats.

Most refeed diets recommend limiting fats to around 2040 grams per day and suggest consuming around 0.680.9 grams of protein per pound (1.52.0 grams per kg) of body weight.

To ensure youre meeting your bodys needs, it may be best to speak to a healthcare professional before implementing a refeed day into your eating regime.

On refeed days, aim to increase your total daily calories by 2030%, with most of the increase coming from carbs.

If youre wondering what a refeed day would look like, here is an example. Keep in mind that the portions of each food will vary depending on your weight and other needs.

Conversely, follow an eating pattern similar to that of your regular diet and add additional servings of carbs to each meal.

Meals on refeed days should emphasize carb-rich foods with moderate amounts of protein and limited fats.

Refeed days are designed to give a temporary break from calorie restriction.

The theory behind refeed days is to improve your hormone levels, namely leptin, to prevent weight loss plateaus caused by a process known as adaptive thermogenesis. They may also decrease your risk of binging and improve athletic performance.

However, more research is needed to better understand the purpose and role of refeed days in weight loss. Moreover, they may not be suitable for those with a history of disordered eating.

If youve reached a weight loss plateau, you may want to consider incorporating a refeed day into your routine.

Continued here:
Refeed Day: What It Is and How to Do It - Healthline

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After years of taking a cholesterol-lowering drug with side effects that are worse than death itself, I made the decision to stop the drug to see if I would either be free of painful side effects, or have my arteries plug up like a bus station toilet.

Oh no, youre not, the wife said when she heard of my plan. You need to stay on your meds so I can keep you around for at least five more years, or until I lose a little weight. I am not ready to date at my current, um, density.

But I cant tolerate these side effects, constant muscle aches and pains to the point that cartwheels are totally out of the question.

Whats a few muscle aches? Hey, at least your side effects dont include dizziness, vomiting and anal leakage.

Excellent point, I said. But Im still quitting those meds.

Well, the wife said, Let me do a little research and see what I can find out about how to lower cholesterol without medication. And with that, she went to the computer to do some research.

Thank you, dear. And I better not see you working on your Tinder profile.

Fine. Youre no fun.

After an hour or so the wife came to me with a new plan. Sitting next to me on the sofa with the laptop on her, well, lap (so thats why they call it that), she said, It looks like a Mediterranean diet would be perfect for lowering your cholesterol.

Perfect, Ill book a 60-day Mediterranean cruise, I said.

Not going to happen. We are both going to consume healthy foods like legumes, avocados, nuts, fish, whole grains and fruits.

Hey, Im a hunter, not a gatherer. Wheres the beef?

There is no beef, she said. No red meat, only fish and poultry.

I pondered. I pondered long and hard. And then I thought about the days of care-free cartwheeling and I said, Alright, lets do this.

Oh honey, the wife said all a-titter. I cant believe youre agreeing to do this. I promise Ill delete my Tinder profile. We are going to lower your cholesterol for sure and maybe even decrease our densities too. Who knows? Maybe youll last another 10 years.

Since the first of the year the wife has made amazing Mediterranean meals that are absolutely delicious. We have cut out all red meat and sugar. Its not an easy diet in terms of preparation. But fortunately the wife loves to research new recipes, and enlists my help in the kitchen to prepare meals. Im an excellent chopper, if I do say so myself.

The jury is still out on whether my cholesterol has gone down, but at least I know Im eating a much healthier diet. But the biggest plus is no more muscle aches, dizziness, vomiting or anal leakage.

Raul Ascunce is a freelance columnist for the Sentinel-Tribune. He may be contacted at RaulAscunce@gmail.com.

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Pirates of the Mediterranean diet | Community | sent-trib.com - Sentinel-Tribune

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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disease-causing abdominal pain or discomfort and a change in bowel habit. In many patients it can be a life-long illness that is subject to many periods of relapse. Currently there is no cure and patients have to control the symptoms through changes in diet and lifestyle.

There are several subtypes of IBS, can chromatography help researchers use the differences to find a treatment? A recent study published in the Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology has investigated whether it is possible to use microbial analysis and metabolomics to distinguish between the types and the pain they cause.

IBS is a relatively common condition that could affect up to 1 in 8 people at some point in their life. It is a condition that affects the digestive system and can last a lifetime. It causes symptoms including stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. Patients have to rely on diet changes and some medicines to control their symptoms as there is no cure presently. The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown. Genetic factors are not thought to play a role, and common triggers to a first bout include food poisoning or gastroenteritis.

Irritable bowel syndrome can be broken down into three subtypes:

There are about equal numbers of patients with each type of IBS, and indeed evidence suggests that patients can switch between types. This makes it difficult for researchers to develop drugs and treatments that can help patients with the symptoms of IBS. The medications that work for IBS with constipation are different for the treatments for IBS with diarrhoea.

In the work recently carried out in Canada, researchers collected stool and urine samples from 30 patients with IBS-diarrhoea and 30 patients with IBS-constipation along with healthy controls. They analysed the samples for metabolites using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The use of chromatography to analyse biological samples is discussed in the article, Online Solid Phase Extraction and LC/MS Analysis of Thyroid Hormones in Human Serum.

The researchers found that both types of IBS patients had different microbiota compared with non-IBS patients. The different metabolomic and bacterial profiles between the samples suggests that it might be possible to define the subgroups based on phenotype. However, further studies are needed to determine if there are differences between the subgroups and healthy controls.

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Are There Different Types of IBS? - Chromatography Investigates - Chromatography Today

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United were fifth in the Premier League table when the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Solskjaer hopes to see his team use their extra time to work on certain parts of their games, including finishing.

"The players have got individual programmes and they've got their own diets, of course, and this period could be used to work on something special, something specific for them and their roles and tasks," the United manager told the club's website on Tuesday.

"I've been in the garden, with the kids, working on finishing and the strikers should be working on finishing or their movement.

"Most of the players have got good facilities and decent gardens so, hopefully, their wives and girlfriends will be able to put some passes and crosses in.

"So I'm in the garden, of course, as we've had time with the kids now. So I have to keep on top of it, you know."

Solskjaer has been spending his time with his family while remaining in touch with his players and staff.

The Norwegian said it was tough to plan for a return as it remains unknown when, and if, the season will resume.

"For the actual job, I keep in touch and communicate with the staff and the players. Of course, I'm used to seeing them every day for hours and hours, so it's different," Solskjaer said.

"I just keep in touch with them on WhatsApp groups and messages, and we plan for whenever we get back and what kind of sessions for when we do start.

"But it's such an unknown and we don't really have an idea and are not 100 per cent about when we'll start.

"That's the good thing now with technology and we're lucky in that sense. We can keep in touch and see each other. We can send messages and get a reply quickly, and we can do the old-fashioned phone call sometimes and speak just on the phone. So we keep in touch regularly."

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Work on finishing with 'wives and girlfriends', says Solskjaer - SBS - The World Game

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A new projection from a study being cited by national health officials shows that well over 700 Iowans will die from coronavirus by August 4th. The study shows the peak of the outbreak hitting Iowa by around April 17th.

The Gazette reports that the state-specific estimates are from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a University of Washington program cited by White House coronavirus advisers this week as being in line with the Trump administration's predictions. As of Tuesday, the state has reported 7 deaths from the virus.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has said that her administration predicts the outbreak will peak in the state by mid to late April but refuses to provide specifics. Governor Reynolds says that measures have been taken to help flatten the curve and not overwhelm Iowa's health care system. But many worry that not enough is being done.

The White House task force gave the public it's first look at their best case coronavirus projection. Even with the public's best efforts at social distancing and business closures, between 100,000 and 250,000 people will die from coronavirus in the next few months.

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Grim Coronavirus Projections For Iowa And The Nation - khak.com

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Human Growth Hormone (HGH) therapy has been around for decades but has been reserved for specific patients. Those with HIV or children with a hormone deficiency were some of the patients who benefitted. However, in recent years, a new focus has targeted therapy to help adults with hormone deficiencies.

HGH is aproteinproduced by the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus and hormones in the intestinal tract and pancreas help to balance it. It thrusts into production during sleep, exercise or trauma with more produced at night than in the daytime, given rising to the term beauty rest as the hormone is also linked to anti-aging.

Production of the hormone decreases as we age and that can lead to problems typically associated with getting older like:

The purpose of the growth hormone in children is to help bones and muscles grow. It also helps with organ function. Hormone therapy in adults is linked to:

Manycelebritiesare reportedly using hormones, but many are doing it illegally. They do it for anti-aging or for muscle mass. This is something all doctors warn against because the growth hormone has some possible side effects including water retention, high blood sugar, and joint and muscle pain. Plus, for those who have normal hormone levels, illegal use of it and then stopping will cause your body to produce less. That leaves you worse off than before.

Most celebrities who take legal hormone therapy dont like to talk about it for a variety of reasons. Its a controversial subject and many deem it private. However, a handful of aging stars have come out to talk about their decision to go on legal hormone therapy.

Benefits of therapy were noted in a New EnglandJournal of Medicine study. Men on six months of therapy increased their muscle mass 8.8 percent and reduced body fat by more than 14 percent. While it is linked to anti-aging, there are no conclusive studies to prove that.

Those considering hormone therapy must get a prescription in order to go to Hormone Clinic. That includes going to a doctor, getting a blood test and probably some specialized testing on the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. Or, you can just call for free consultation toHGH Therapy Clinicand get all the instructions. This clinic, as long as other top-rated clinics, does not provide therapy for bodybuilders and only provides it to those with a hormone deficiency.

This therapy is administered by injection and should be part of a routine health management plan under a doctors care to avoid side effects. For more information about hormone therapy, fill in the contact form and the knowledgeable advisor will call you back.

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Celebrities that take HGH: Why do they need it? - - VENTS Magazine

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascendis Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ASND), a biopharmaceutical company that utilizes its innovative TransCon technologies to address unmet medical needs, today announced that the company will hold a conference call and live webcast onWednesday, April 1, 2020at4:30 p.m. Eastern Time(ET) to review its 2019 financial results and provide a business update.

Conference Call Details

A live webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investors and News section of theAscendis Pharmawebsite atwww.ascendispharma.com. A webcast replay will be available on this website shortly after conclusion of the event for 30 days.

About Ascendis Pharma A/S

Ascendis Pharmais applying its innovative platform technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharma company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients lives. Guided by its core values of patients, science and passion, the company utilizes its TransCon technologies to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies.

Ascendis Pharma currently has a pipeline of three independent endocrinology rare disease product candidates in clinical development and is advancing oncology as its second therapeutic area of focus. The company continues to expand into additional therapeutic areas to address unmet patient needs.

Ascendis is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with offices in Heidelberg, Germany and Palo Alto, California.

For more information, please visit http://www.ascendispharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding our future operations, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to (i) our ability to apply our platform technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharma company, (ii) our expectations regarding our ability to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies and (iii) our product pipeline and expansion into additional therapeutic areas. We may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions, expectations and projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make, including the following: unforeseen safety or efficacy results in our TransCon hGH, TransCon PTH and TransCon CNP or other development programs; unforeseen expenses related to the development of TransCon hGH, TransCon PTH and TransCon CNP or other development programs, general and administrative expenses, other research and development expenses and our business generally; delays in the development of TransCon hGH, TransCon PTH and TransCon CNP or other development programs related to manufacturing, regulatory requirements, speed of patient recruitment or other unforeseen delays; dependence on third party manufacturers to supply study drug for planned clinical studies; and our ability to obtain additional funding, if needed, to support our business activities. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to our business in general, see our current and future reports filed with, or submitted to, theU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year endedDecember 31, 2018, which we filed with theSEConApril 3, 2019. Forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future in-licensing, collaborations, acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments we may enter into or make. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Ascendis, Ascendis Pharma, the Ascendis Pharma logo, the company logo and TransCon are trademarks owned by the Ascendis Pharma group. March 2020 Ascendis Pharma A/S.

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Ascendis Pharma A/S Announces Full Year 2019 Financial Results and Business Update Conference Call on April 1 - GlobeNewswire

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Name: Amy MosherAge: 38Occupation: Payroll ClerkHometown: Cohoes, New York

Start Weight: 375 poundsEnd Weight: 180 poundsTime Running: 8 years

My entire life I had been overweight. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, with some healthier food thrown in for good measure. I hit my peak weight of 375 pounds in 2011, and while I was a happy person at that weight, I knew I should try to improve my health.

Obsessing over a number on the scale wasnt something I wanted to do. In early 2012, a friend suggest I join Freihofers Run For Women 10-week, couch-to-5K training program. With the help of coaches and mentors, I got down to about 320 pounds on race day in June 2012. I continued racing for a bit, and even got my weight down to 310 pounds. But when I took on a more stressful job, I fell off the running wagon for a while.

When I left that job in 2015, I restarted my weight loss journey. At 337 pounds, I had some work to do. I started by going to the doctor for the first time in a while, and there I received the bad news: I had type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, and I needed to go on medications.

I was in disbelief. Sure, I was bigger than all my friends, but I was more active than they were, so why was this happening to me? I feared for my future, and I didnt want to be dealing with medications and doctors appointments every three to six months for the rest of my life.

After doing some research, I started thinking about gastric bypass surgery. Weight loss surgery, which would change my physiology, is definitely not the easy way out that some people think it is. As much as I thought that I could do lose the weight on my own, this was the tool I needed for my success in both weight loss and health. Plus, being big enough to qualify for the surgery forced me to come face to face with just how much I weighed. Its not easy to admit numbers to ourselves, let alone the worldeven if its just our own little world.

Luckily, I wasnt alone. My older sister and her husband had the surgery two years before I did, and with their help, I went from 356 pounds at the beginning of 2019 to 315 by the time of the surgery in April. When it was over, I was 299the first time I had been under 300 in my adult life.

[Discover how to run 10, 50, or even 100 pounds off with Run to Lose.]

I followed my new guidelines to a T. I went through the bariatric clinic at Albany Medical Center and they told me exactly what to eat, when, and how much. To be successful, I had to follow their instructions and food restrictions, especially at the start. I am learning to recognize the difference being true hunger and just wanting to eat.

After the surgery, I cant eat as much as I once could. My pouch is little, so it can only hold a little at a time. Even when all food restrictions came off, I decided to treat some foods as they were still a restrictionfor example, I dont eat bread, because I recognize that it is a weakness for me. There are other foods that I havent had because I don't want to know if my stomach can tolerate them.

My doctors also encouraged movement, so as soon as I was cleared, I started walking and then running again. Sometimes its hard to force myself to go out; in my head, I still think running is going to feel challenging like it did before my surgery. At my previous weight, I was embarrassed that I couldnt run for a minute.

But my desire to work towards running faster and longer distances is helping me persevere. Running is so freeing for me, and I love the sense of accomplishment I feel when Im done.

A year post-operation is coming up in April, and Ive since gotten my weight down to 180 pounds. I still have a ways to go, and I still think Im slow when I compare myself to others, but when I compare myself to my old self, I see that I have come so far.

To be honest, it has been a much harder process mentally than physically. Accepting the new me when I liked the old me has taken time to get used to. The biggest thing is I have to remember that I like what the new me can do now, and I cant wait to see how much more she can do.

I am healthier than I have ever been. I run easier and (a bit) faster than I ever did. I can do things without looking up the weight limits ahead of time, and I can shop in the normal-sized clothing stores.

I am never going to be an elite runner, and if I never get a PR, thats fine, as long as I keep persevering. My journey is far from over and there is going to be more twists and turns that I wont be able to anticipate. I just want to be able to make sure every single person knows what I know: That they are capable of more than they think they are capable of and that no one, not one person, is in this life alone. Seek out and find your community.

We want to hear how running changed you! Send your story and submit your photos to us via this web form. Well pick one each week to highlight on the site.

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Weight Loss Transformation Amy Mosher Run to Lose Weight - runnersworld.com

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About a year and a half ago I headed to the doctor for my annual exam. I was expecting to discuss my high A1C, low iron and low Vitamin D numbers. I wasnt expecting to get on the scale and realize I was 123 pounds. There were several problems with this:

1. I am 4-foot-9. I cant stand to be much heavier or I will roll away.

2. It was the highest weight Id ever been at in my life; and the last time I was 123 pounds, I was pregnant.

3. My doctor said I was still in normal range.

I left the doctor with a good bill of health, but I was not happy. I knew I had to do something about this growing belly fat that was contributing to my 123 pounds. I immediately called a friend who directed me to take a food sensitivity test to determine what foods I should stay away from because they cause leaky gut syndrome. I took the test, got the results and continued to eat the foods.

I started working out with a trainer. I paid for this online group to create a specialized diet just for me. I had a breast reduction and began eating less meat and more live foods. I lost 3 pounds.

I was devastated, but I soon found out why I wasnt losing weight. I wasnt honoring my body. I didnt truly understand my body and I wasnt listening to it as it told me what was wrong.

Losing weight is as unique to you as your fingerprint. There is no one-size-fits all diet. Each person is a unique individual with their own set of nutritional requirements that are impacted by many different things environment, anatomy, metabolism, body composition and cell structure. The concept that one mans food is another mans poison is called bio-individuality.

Achieving optimal health means that you have to completely understand your body and what foods are good for you and which ones are poison for you. If you want to truly lose weight and achieve optimal health, you will need to:

1. Keep a food journal. Food journaling is the first step in helping you understand how your body reacts to food. Write down in your journal what you eat for 30 days breakfast, lunch and dinner. Take note of how your body feels, your emotions and energy levels when you eat. Pay attention to any changes in your skin, hair and nails as well.

Our bodies are always talking to us. We just have to pay attention to what it is telling us. Take into account any regular monthly bodily activities and note the symptoms that you have with those changes that may or may not be connected to your food.

2. Take a food sensitivity test. Within two weeks of starting your journaling practice, take a food sensitivity test. This is a blood test that will help you determine what foods trigger an immune reaction in your body. The food triggers are different for each person.

When you eat these foods, it damages the lining of your intestines, allowing food particles to get into your bloodstream, which causes inflammation in your body and can cause the body to begin to fight the food like it is bacteria or a virus. This is called leaky gut syndrome. Symptoms of leaky gut syndrome include bloating, food sensitivities, fatigue, digestive issues and skin problems.

Knowing which foods trigger this response can help you remove them from your diet, decreasing inflammation and the potential for an unwarranted immune response.

3. Evaluate your microbiome. There are good and bad bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). When the bacteria in your GI tract becomes unbalanced it can lead to chronic illness and digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Chrons disease, colitis, diabetes, obesity and leaky gut syndrome. Getting a microbiome test will test the bacteria in your system and help determine the best way to rebalance the bacteria for optimal health.

There are several online tests for food sensitivities and microbiome testing that can help you evaluate your microbiome, but this is best done under the care of a functional medical doctor or nurse practitioner. They can help you evaluate the results and prescribe medical-grade probiotics or supplements. A certified health coach can also guide you through the process and make recommendations to qualified medical professionals who are committed to finding the root cause of your illness.

Remember, the most important part of your health journey is honoring your bio-individuality by observing and listening to your body. Our bodies are always talking to us. We just have to listen to what they are saying.

Brandi Bea Williams is a life and health coach, trainer and cultural curator in holistic health. Register for a free health consultation, health tips, recipes and everyday tools at http://www.beahealth.care.

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Honor your body and improve your health in the process - Charlotte Post

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