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Welcome to The Workout From Home Diaries. Throughout our national self-isolation period, well be sharing single-exercise deep dives, offbeat belly-busters and general get-off-the-couch inspiration that doesnt require a visit to your (likely now-shuttered) local gym.

I was jogging the end of a four-miler late last week when I spotted my elementary school gym teacher running on the other side of the street. Shes probably interacted with 5,000 kids since the early 2000s and I hadnt seen her in years, but there was still enough recognition for us to each wave and call out a hello.

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to avoid the shame-and-pain gym class nightmares of Freaks and Geeks lore. My gym teacher didnt humiliate kids who couldnt scale the climbing ropes or arm 10-year-olds who were already stealing their dads Coors Lights with dodgeballs. She was approachable, genial, ubiquitous; wed see her every year at the towns Memorial Day 5K and Fun Run. She taught us how to play four square, jump rope like Rocky and ride around on butt scooters. There were no mandated meshy uniforms, and while sweating was a priority Im from New Jersey, where at least 150 minutes of health, safety and physical education are required per week, per grade, and going beyond that limit helps school systems earn awards we also learned bizarre activities like speed stacking.

In retrospect, speed stacking (a game where kids pile a bunch of cups on top of each other as fast as they can) was a harbinger of shifting attitudes in physical education. It signified a retreat from exclusively celebrating the same feats of strength and agility that were already on full display at recess, or in Pop Warner and Little League on the weekends. Skills like speed cups, hula hoops, scouts knots and tag noodles were noble attempts by American gym teachers to bring other athletic skills like strategy, communication and teamwork to the fore.

There was one practice, however, that contradicted this new approach to youth fitness until the 2012-2013 school year, when it finally met its quiet, little-reported demise. I speak of the Presidential Fitness Test, the infamous multi-day annual assessment meant to determine the strength, speed and flexibility of the countrys unwitting, unwilling bairns.

Way back in the 1950s, an Austro-Hungarian physical educator named Dr. Hans Kraus developed a 90-second fitness evaluation with his colleague Sonja Weber of the New York Presbyterian Hospital. It involved a series of six different movements which tested for basic strength and flexibility. Dr. Kraus eventually teamed up with Bonnie Pruden, an American mountaineer, to administer the test to schoolchildren around the United States; the pair would watch as children tried to raise their feet while lying on their backs, or bend forward to touch the floor while their knees were kept straight. Proper completion of these moves, along with the four others, proved enormously difficult for most young Americans. Of 4,458 children between the ages of 6 and 16 tested over a span of seven years, 58% failed.

Dr. Kraus and Pruden were able to present their somber findings to President Eisenhower in 1955, after a well-connected Philadelphian named Jack Kelly whod won Olympic gold in rowing three times in the 1920s brought them to the White House for a luncheon. Willie Mays was in attendance, along with Jack Fleck (a golfer who once beat Ben Hogan in the U.S. Open) and a 25-year-old Tony Trabert, whos now a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. They shared the numbers written out above, alongside a kicker: Dr. Kraus and Pruden had also administered their test to children in Italy, Austria and Switzerland, and the European tots had a significantly lower failure rate, at just 8%.

This didnt sit well with Eisenhower, who, according to an ensuing Sports Illustrated article titled The Report That Shocked the President, promptly recalled his apoplexy during World War II that more than 50% of American men had been unfit for service (it should be noted here that 20% of those men were rejected for illiteracy). Fearing that the nation was turning soft, Eisenhower established the Presidents Council on Youth Fitness in 1956. Just a year later, it debuted the first ever iteration of the Presidential Fitness Test, which was closer in DNA to the NFL Combine than Kraus and Prudens simple assessment. It included pull-ups, sit-ups, the standing broad jump, the shuttle run, the 50-yard dash, the softball throw and the 600-yard run.

How did Eisenhower leap from an ahead-of-its-time test meant to measure functional mobility to a mini field day? America was at war, again. The Korean War had just ended, the Vietnam War had just begun, and most high-ranking officials in Washington, even those in charge of something as trivial as adolescent athleticism, were forever influenced by their experiences in WWII. The exercises they chose were those familiar to the nations cadets: the agility needed to storm a beach, the throwing strength needed to toss a grenade into a trench. These events could be easily quantified and administered by anyone; the Kraus-Weber test, meanwhile, required a measure of medical discernment.

In 1960, President-elect John F. Kennedy penned an op-ed in Sports Illustrated suggesting his administration would continue the Presidential Fitness Test as it was, and make a special effort to combat an onslaught of softness amongst American children. He wrote:

The name of Eisenhowers original program changed under Kennedy, to the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness, and under President Lyndon B. Johnson to the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. (Today, its called the Presidents Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.) Lest it ever lose any attention or credibility, presidents often assigned famous sportsmen or sportswomen to function as chairman of the council: President George H.W. Bush famously appointed Arnold Schwarzenegger from 1990 to 1993. This, plus the introduction of an actual award for excellence on the test the Presidential Physical Fitness Award compounded its de facto standardization all the way through the late 2000s, when gymnast Dominique Dawes and quarterback Drew Brees were named co-chairs.

But by 2013, the test was disbanded, with organized fitness at school tending more toward meaningful cooperation and less toward quantitative assessments of speed and strength. A visit to an HHS.gov page devoted to the test now features the heading What happened to the Presidents Challenge? It turns out the federal program has rebranded as the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, a health-related initiative with participation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), meant to function as a helpful, barometer-style check-in on the fitness of students. The U.S. Army was notably not consulted, and though gym teachers havent returned to the Kraus-Weber test, they now assess more forward-thinking attributes like aerobic capacity or body composition. Results (which boil down to Healthy Fitness Zone, Needs Improvement or Needs Improvement Health Risk) are shared confidentially with students and parents. Nobody gets a certificate Hancocked by the president.

While the decades-old padding beneath elementary school basketball hoops will likely stay the same, gym classes, which leave lasting impressions on all students, must continue to evolve. Its not an easy ask, balancing mindless fun (lava tag) with upsetting facts (18.4% of American children between the ages 6 and 11 are obese), especially when gym class rarely receives enough attention or funding to greet the dilemma head-on. But were headed in the right direction, and I was pleased while researching this piece to learn how American officials have finally grappled with the hawkish history of the countrys physical education system.

At the same time, though, the fitness nut in me felt a slight, silly pang of loss. Despite the Presidential Fitness Tests twisted history and excessive mission, there was something messy and beautiful and uniquely American in its inefficiency. I decided, fueled by nostalgia and quarter-life competitive fury (I passed my elementary school on that four-miler too, I should note), to give it a proper send-off, and see if I still had the chops to hang around with the cool kids.

This past weekend, I completed the entire Presidential Fitness Test, in its final, 2012 iteration. The softball toss was long gone, and the test had been whittled down to the following: curl-ups in a minute, the mile run, max pull-ups, the 30-foot shuttle run and the V-sit and reach. Below, find my results, and an explanation of how to perform each stage of the test. One boon Ill say, right off the bat: while this sort of examination is unhealthy when delivered to a group of 10-year-olds, its a novel, harmless way to discover what youve got left in the tank, whether youre 30 or 60. Just make sure you stretch up beforehand, and hit a massage gun when youre done.

The Presidential Fitness Test was famous for strict regulations on correct form, which may be a rare positive for its legacy. Poor form is all too common at the gym (I still struggle to throw a kettlebell around properly) and often leads to injury, so thats one aspect of military-inspired fitness that the test was actually right to dig its heels on. Its just the exact form the test requires for its curl-ups in a minute challenge is a bit odd. Youre supposed to cross your arms across your chest with palms resting on the opposing shoulder. Your feet should be held down against the ground by a partner, and only 12 feet out from your butt. Your partner gives a countdown, then hits the clock, and youre off to the races.

I struggled with this method. Very few trainers would recommend performing abdominal work for speed, and as Im used to performing crunches my feet cross in the air, hands laced behind my head the action of slamming my back into the mat again and again came across as herky-jerky and uncomfortable. I tried my best nonetheless, and managed 40 in a minute, which was good for the 85th percentile (test-takers must reach 85% in all five events) for here goes an eight-year-old. Ill go on the record here that Americas numbers are probably slightly inflated, as theres only one adult present in class, but more importantly, Im just not much to call home about on this exact exercise.

Im a lifelong runner. You can read about my time on the road in other editions of this column. One reason I was compelled to revisit the Presidential Fitness Test, despite memories of not being able to perform a single pull-up, was that I always excelled on my elementary schools boxy, gravel track, where something like nine laps constituted a mile. Mile Run Day was the only occasion I ever had my mile timed growing up, and I always looked forward to seeing how many seconds I could knock off. To be sure, that day was definitely a living hell for other members of my class, so I wont go ahead and credit the test for cementing a yearly, timed 1600 meters as a pre-pubescent rite of passage; Ill just acknowledge it was a byproduct that I happened to appreciate. Anyway, Ive been running lately and feel good. I ran a 5:14, which puts me well ahead of the 85th percentile for 17-year-olds (who ran a 6:06).

Redemption! I logged 11 pull-ups, which places me in the 85th percentile for 16-year-olds. (17-year-olds nabbed 13, apparently.) Similar to the curl-ups, the council was very precise on what counted during the pull-up test: horizontal bar, palms facing out (so no chin-ups), chin must clear the bar, body must return to the starting position, and they should be performed with a smooth cadence. No swinging. I remember lots of kids would do their best Shakira impersonation in an attempt to steal one more rep. Thats not kosher.

I dont actually remember ever having to do this. Its pretty simple, though, and a staple at summer football camps: Set up two cones on lines 30 feet away from each other. Put two small objects (blocks or tennis balls) on the opposing line. When your partner says go, sprint to the opposite line, grab an object, and bring it back, setting it down (no throwing!). Then go grab the other one, and head back, sprinting through the starting line. This is meant to test agility, and I actually think is one of the most functional assessments here if not for time, at least as a way to judge ones capacity for lateral movement, which is often locked up or adversely affected by improper mechanics, even for youngsters. Of course, we were timing. I managed an 8.87, which puts me just behind the 85th percentile of the 16-and-17-year-olds, at 8.7. Rats.

Assuming you dont have a sit-and-reach box on hand at the house (if you do, email tips@insidehook.com, sounds like youve got a good story), pull out a measuring tape and sit on the ground with your legs spread out at a slight V angle. Stretch the measuring tape out a few feet and align your feet with the 24-inch mark on the tape. This is the base, the relative 0, for testing flexibility. Folding your hands one over the other, like a reverse Communion, push slowly forward and see how far (if at all) you can tap an inch mark past 0. I managed a measly +2, which did not qualify for the 85th percentile at any age available. Children are more flexible than adults we lose elasticity in our connective tissue as we age, and we sit around all day staring at screens and trying to make sure we can pay for dinner so I wasnt particularly surprised. Even as a kid, Id never come close to the gaudy numbers put up by some of the gymnasts in my class (the 85th percentile for 16-year-old girls is +8). Still, I took the result in stride, and resolved to focus more on stretching, on keeping my back healthy, on performing those basic movements that characterize a functioning, young(ish) body. In other words, the sort of movements Dr. Hans Kraus and Bonnie Pruden advocated for all those years ago before their test became something else altogether.

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Revisiting the Infamous, Twisted, Now-Defunct Presidential Fitness Test - InsideHook

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We tend to dread the idea of weight loss because we associate it with being difficult and a lot of work. Sure, it can be, depending on how you look at it. You already have so much going on kids soccer practice, work, cooking meals for the family, etc. By the time you even think of working on your weight loss, you feel so overwhelmed by it that it feels like, Why bother? I get it. But losing weight doesnt have to be stressful or overwhelming. Weight loss is as much of a mental battle as it is a physical one, so its time to shift your perspective. You look in the mirror and pick your body apart If only my stomach were flatter and my legs were toner. You step on the scale and feel disappointed. Your clothes no longer fit you the way they did when you bought them, so you feel discouraged. The stress of knowing you have allowed yourself to get to this point starts to increase cortisol in your body, causing you to turn to your comfort foods and activities like binge-watching Netflix to help reduce your stress. Numerous studies have proven that increased cortisol levels, in combination with increased insulin levels, will increase the intake of high fat and sugary foods, which is why you are turning to your favorite foods instead of weight loss activity. This is what we in the fitness industry call the spiral effect. You are stuck maintaining the bad habits that have lead you to where you are now. The spiral effect has you feeling defeated and maintaining a negative correlation with weight loss before you even start. So how do you release yourself from the spiral effect? Well, for one, start looking at weight loss with a positive perspective as opposed to a negative one, starting with learning to be patient with yourself. It took you months, maybe even years to get to where you are now. Give yourself the same amount of time to reach your weight loss goals as it took you to gain the weight in the first place. Next, give yourself some love. Would you talk to your friends the way you have been talking to yourself in your head? Give yourself some compassion. Just because you are where you are doesnt mean you have to stay where you are. You are strong, capable and ready, so start to fall in love with the process of working on you. Love yourself for where you are while working toward where you want to be. Lastly, no more all-or-nothing approaches to your weight loss. You will only cause yourself more stress by trying to add in more activity than you can maintain with your crazy lifestyle. Its time you learn to fit your weight loss activity into your lifestyle, instead of your lifestyle around your weight loss. Choose one nutritional aspect to focus on at a time and set a maintainable activity schedule for yourself; anything extra, consider them bonus days. Alex Garzaro is a lifestyle strategist, weight losss expert for women and transformational speaker. The views expressed are her own.

We tend to dread the idea of weight loss because we associate it with being difficult and a lot of work. Sure, it can be, depending on how you look at it.

You already have so much going on kids soccer practice, work, cooking meals for the family, etc. By the time you even think of working on your weight loss, you feel so overwhelmed by it that it feels like, Why bother? I get it. But losing weight doesnt have to be stressful or overwhelming. Weight loss is as much of a mental battle as it is a physical one, so its time to shift your perspective.

You look in the mirror and pick your body apart If only my stomach were flatter and my legs were toner. You step on the scale and feel disappointed. Your clothes no longer fit you the way they did when you bought them, so you feel discouraged. The stress of knowing you have allowed yourself to get to this point starts to increase cortisol in your body, causing you to turn to your comfort foods and activities like binge-watching Netflix to help reduce your stress.

Numerous studies have proven that increased cortisol levels, in combination with increased insulin levels, will increase the intake of high fat and sugary foods, which is why you are turning to your favorite foods instead of weight loss activity. This is what we in the fitness industry call the spiral effect. You are stuck maintaining the bad habits that have lead you to where you are now.

The spiral effect has you feeling defeated and maintaining a negative correlation with weight loss before you even start. So how do you release yourself from the spiral effect?

Well, for one, start looking at weight loss with a positive perspective as opposed to a negative one, starting with learning to be patient with yourself. It took you months, maybe even years to get to where you are now. Give yourself the same amount of time to reach your weight loss goals as it took you to gain the weight in the first place.

Next, give yourself some love. Would you talk to your friends the way you have been talking to yourself in your head? Give yourself some compassion. Just because you are where you are doesnt mean you have to stay where you are. You are strong, capable and ready, so start to fall in love with the process of working on you. Love yourself for where you are while working toward where you want to be.

Lastly, no more all-or-nothing approaches to your weight loss. You will only cause yourself more stress by trying to add in more activity than you can maintain with your crazy lifestyle. Its time you learn to fit your weight loss activity into your lifestyle, instead of your lifestyle around your weight loss. Choose one nutritional aspect to focus on at a time and set a maintainable activity schedule for yourself; anything extra, consider them bonus days.

Alex Garzaro is a lifestyle strategist, weight losss expert for women and transformational speaker. The views expressed are her own.

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LET'S GET PHYSICAL: Simple mindset shifts that will help you lose weight - The Bakersfield Californian

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Walnut For Weight Loss: Nutrients present in this nut aids weight watchers to lose extra kilos. Read on to know more.

How to lose weight is one of the most searched topics on Google as many people, especially now, during coronavirus pandemic have gained few kilos as locked down has restricted our movements and gymming. And many people have been sharing how being locked down has also made them prone to unwanted snacking. Instead of munching on packaged foods, one should include dried fruits and nuts as they are not only healthy but also prevents weight gain. Having said that, today we are talking about a nut which is beneficial for weight watchers.

Walnuts are a nutrient-packed nut and can help you to lose extra kilos. Speaking of its nutrition profile, the same boasts of several nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, copper, vitamins A and D among others. The high levels of monounsaturated fats aka MUFAs and polyunsaturated fats aka PUFAs and other nutrients has several health benefits such as reduces inflammation, reduces the chances of heart diseases, controls diabetes and delays ageing and of course weight management. So, if you are watching your waistline then aside from a healthy balanced diet and physical activity, the inclusion of walnuts will only help you further to achieve your weight loss goal.

Alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA (a form of omega-3 fatty acids) which are found in walnuts prompts our body to burn fat.

As per one of the studies, PUFAs found in walnuts can lower the level of a hormone called ghrelin, which signals our body to feel hungry.

As per some reports, walnuts can stimulate the right insula in the brain. This region regulates food cravings and appetite.

The consumption of walnuts also leads to the production of a hormone called peptide YY (PYY) that increases satiety.

Did you inflammation and poor gut health can lead to weight gain and towards weight loss in some? Eating walnuts can fight inflammation and improve metabolism, thereby leading to weight loss.

Contrary to the belief that walnuts lead to weight gain, the healthy calories in walnuts will only help you. However, make sure to eat them in moderation.

Eat a handful of walnuts and drink a glass of water after half an hour, you will feel longer and the same will keep away from extra calories. You will also not have unwanted cravings post that.

NOTE: The above article is for informative purposes and should not be substituted for medical advice. Consult your physician before making changes in the diet.

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Walnut For Weight Loss: Here's why you should add it in the diet to lose extra kilos - PINKVILLA

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THIS POWERFUL REMEDY WILL HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT, CLEAN YOUR COLON AND REDUCE THE INFLAMMATION IN YOURSubscriber channel Life Well Lived https://goo.gl/oJ3EdI for a better lifeLife Well Lived is a channel that offers free videos about natural remedies, home remedies, alternative medicine, physical health advice, mental health and care of our body.

Disclaimer: Please consult a physician before beginning any treatment program or making any adjustment to your health care, diet, and/or lifestyle. Do not remove yourself from any prescribed medications or treatments without consulting your doctor. Any and all dietary supplements or nutritional products and treatments discussed on this video are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. The information contained in this video is for general information and for educational purposes only. Nothing contained in this video is or shall be or considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should always seek the advice of a physician with any questions regarding their health or medical condition. Never disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical advice or following the advice of a physician because of something you have seen or watch on this video.

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THIS POWERFUL REMEDY WILL HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT, CLEAN YOUR COLON AND REDUCE THE INFLAMMATION IN YOUR - 360aproko

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There have been many things to help getting up for PE with Joe Wicks in the morning, extra play time with my children and all your fabulous ideas, which we will get to in future columns.

However, being at home all day brings with it the temptation to graze.

Who doesnt enjoy raiding the fridge, or the cupboard, or the secret chocolate stash, or even the kids Easter eggs when you are feeling a bit peckish?

It is like my evening has extended into a full 24 hours no wonder biscuits appear to be among the items supermarkets are particularly short of at the moment.

But shopping is also the thing that is going to help me get on the straight and narrow.

To be honest, the less we all have to go out at the moment, the better.

As the official message goes: Stay at home, help the NHS, save lives

And anyone who has ventured to the shops these past few days will know what a difficult experience it is.

Aside from the anxiety it brings and the challenge of staying two metres from people who want to pick up the same products, there is a case of having to make do with what is on the shelves. There is no point going out armed with a shopping list for a complex recipe, and the freezer aisles are also looking a little bare.

This is far from a complaint though in fact, perhaps we can all learn to cook a little better, a little healthier during this time. Get creative, pretend you are a Masterchef champion and, if it is not a hit with the family, try something else tomorrow.

People are sticking to what they know at this time, and understandably so, but be brave and try a new vegetable or a new fruit. Try mixing up your normal meals everything else has changed, so why not your meal planning?

Hopefully the penny has dropped with me in time for my first weigh-in next week.

I started this journey at 18 stone if I want to make inroads into that then I am going to have to put down the biscuits and pick up some cooking skills.

I want to hear and see what you are up to sporting-wise during lockdown the good and the bad so email your pictures and videos to derek.bish@expressandstar.co.uk or contact me on Twitter@DerekBish_Star

I will include the best ones in this column and retweet plenty of ideas that everyonecan get involved with.

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Climbing the walls: Derek Bish cooking up a storm in race to lose weight - expressandstar.com

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British experts claim that this diet can get to lose up to 3 kilos per week

Since the singer is English Adele reappeared after his divorce, his obvious change of weight it became a topic of conversation on the web, because as she herself said it on their social networks before crying and now sudo, becoming, in a phrase iconic has motivated and inspired millions of their fans around the world, but now a specialist website in nutrition has revealed the mysterious diet that followed the singer of Hello to regain her figure.

Also read: Before I cried, now sudo: Adele on her shocking weight loss

A publication shared by Adele (@adele) the 24 Oct 2019 12:58 PDT

According to the portal Doctor NDTVthe singer in English followed by a diet that lets you eat chocolate and drink wine while you lose kilos. It is the diet Sirtfoodcreated by specialists british with the purpose of generating a type of protein in the body for weight loss.

According to the research consulted by the portal, this diet focuses on a group of seven proteins that are found in the body, of which it has been shown that they are capable of regulating metabolism, inflammation, and other bodily functions.

And it has been discovered that some foods can increase the level of these proteins, which are known as sirtfoods, some of them are: turmeric, buckwheat, onion, walnuts, coffee, strawberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, kale, olive oil and green tea. On the basis of this food group, the diet it is divided into two phases, the first is to restrict the first 3 days your caloric intake to only 1000 calories a day, after you drink 3 green juices and one meal a day. Then in the remaining days of this step is to lift the consumption to 1500 calories, reported by the site specialist.

Phase two of the diet lasts for 2 weeks, this stage is known as the maintenance in the diet sirtfood, according to the expert in this period, people often lose weight constantly, there are no limitations of calories that you need to follow and you can eat three full meals and a glass of green juice a day.

The experts on this diet, show that people can lose easily up to 3 kilos per week with this diet, however, it is not recommended to follow it without supervision of an expert or without first having consulted a specialist in the field.

Read also: The british Adele is losing weight and looks stunning in a tight black dress!

adele diet, which is diet, adele, as did adele lose weight, secret to the weight loss

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The eating plan Sirtfood would have helped the singer Adele in your weight loss - Play Crazy Game

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Medical doctor, specialized in Health Services Management from Griffith University Australia. I am also alumina of John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Most of us have been down the road where we have struggled to lose weight and keep it off. With the media portraying an image of a perfect body is, many of us try to keep at par with that flawlessness.

With ravishingly well-maintained divas and their smart male counterpart actors always insight on media, the common woman and man dream and desire to achieve the same level of body beautification at whatsoever be the cost.

Diet pills, plans and coaches boasting to peel off many kgs off our bodies in a matter of months; Facebook groups showing miraculously trimmed down people; Atkins, keto, Mediterranean diets, extreme calorie restriction diets are some of the few latest fad diets promising instant results.

Some people even opt for extreme measures bariatric surgeries, gastric balloons, liposuction or fat freezing to attain their dream bodies.

The bottom line remains that these current intervention approaches have significant shortcomings, playing more havoc than proving beneficial for our bodies. All these interventions are only shown to be effective when paired with lifestyle modifications.

Obesity is a global concern, the fifth leading cause of death, killing more than 2.8 million people each year (World Health Organization). The British Psychological Society (BPS) states that obesity is not a choice and psychological experiences play a significant role especially for people living with life challenges, traumas and those who are less incentivized to be more active.

Understanding food science is the key to realizing people and their food choices, as all foods are not created equal. Most meals are palatable or tasty to eat, such as an apple but certain foods such as pizza, cookies, chips or ice-creams are irresistible. According to scientists, a synergy between key ingredients; sugar, salt, fat or carbohydrates creates an artificially enhanced palatability experience activating brain reward neurocircuits similar to drugs like cocaine or opioids. Researches call this hyper palatability; eaters call it delicious. No wonder the obesity crisis has reached epidemic proportions.

A deeper understanding of how weight management and behaviour changes for obesity prevention are informed by psychology so that an environment is created in which people find it easier not to become overweight or obese in the first place. Today technology serves the purpose.

Recent emerging technological advances are now offering the promise to address challenges of losing weight and keeping it off. With more people than ever before now connected to the internet via their smartphones, advanced behavioural self-monitoring apps have resulted in the development of an assortment of eHealth weight management programs to achieve optimal health.

Thousands of health apps are available nowadays by mitigating barriers for healthier lifestyles via promoting weight management by automated prompts, reminders, information provision, self-monitoring, tracking and integration into social networking websites. These mobile apps for weight loss also include behavioural tracking and goal setting features.

Another breakthrough is the use of biosensors to detect and measure a substance of interest to provide an accurate picture of a persons health status.

Dietary apps used for monitoring and recording daily intakes of food and fluids, and calculating the requirements based on the physical statistics such as age height weight would become more efficient and effective when used with non-invasive biosensors. Many studies already show that clinical outcomes have improved where technologies have been implemented. Many overweight people have reduced the intake of sweet foods and drinks when using these apps by getting immediate feedback on the foods they are choosing. Some such apps are My Fitness Pal, Easy Diet Dairy, Kidney Diet, Sodium Manager, Carb Manager etc.

Other latest technologies introduced to the battle of the bulge are wearable devices that monitor fitness and personal health levels. The most recent of those is Apple Watch.

Many fitness-conscious individuals are widely using another wearable, Fitbit which tracks activity level, quality of sleep and other health data.

Technology holds the solution to our problems, but perhaps the ultimate answer lies in some combination of technology and human touch

Apps linked up with biosensors would be extremely beneficial in remote settings where access to a healthcare facility is limited for early detection of disease and self-assessment. With the epidemic of obesity spreading vivaciously, especially in the younger generations, the increased use of smartphones can be used efficiently to develop interventions to combat obesity.

Mobile app-based interventions are being used in Ireland, where more than 100,000 children are clinically obese. When used along with biosensors, they can not only be used to record but also monitor the health status of an individual. These can be shared electronically with medical professionals and centres.

To track the calorie intake-expenditure balance necessary for weight loss, exercise and food/drink consumption must be accurately measured. However, traditional methods of monitoring these factors are taxing and unreliable, resulting in poor adherence and accuracy. Accelerometers (e.g., in a band, watch or phone) now automatically capture movement and upload data to a tracking application. Automatic tracking of eating may soon be possible through bite, photographic or chemical analysis. For now, web and smartphone apps allow relatively simple tracking using extensive food databases and barcode scanners that are linked to nutritional data.

Researchers and clinicians have capitalized on the use of technologies, such as the internet and mobile devices (e.g., PDAs, smartphones, cellular phones), to deliver weight management interventions. Such platforms are attractive because they help overcome resource and access barriers encountered when delivering traditional face-to-face individual or group interventions. Consequently, these platforms may enhance our ability to produce a significant and healthy change in larger segments of the obese population.

This can serve as a practical and cost-effective intervention which has always been a bottleneck in health, capable of reaching millions and serve as a life-saving device by monitoring obesity and its related risk factors. Such apps can then calculate and make a comprehensive specialized chart catering to the individuals requirements comprising of the daily caloric count, type of foods to be consumed and level of physical activity needed.

An amalgam of increasing life expectancies, sedentary lifestyles and chronic debilitating diseases, technology can play a significant role to mitigate these challenges.

The smartphone acts as a gateway to developing solutions to many of our health-related problems and pressures. Wearable biosensors can demonstrate most up to date and valid data at every single point in time giving a clear picture of a persons health status and establish a relationship between patients and providers continuum of care.

Many companies like Zephyr and AliveCor have already developed biosensors to monitor vitals and assess when medical intervention is needed. Taking it further, these biosensors can provide testing, imaging and diagnosis, all by the help of a simple biosensor operated mobile app even in resource-poor settings.

The biggest challenge to biosensors remains regulations, compliance and standards of biosensor technologies in providing sensitive, specific and quality data to ensure optimal patient safety and security.

Technology holds the solution to our problems, but perhaps the ultimate answer lies in some combination of technology and human touch, in other words, what some call touch plus tech.

The writer is Health Services Management from Griffith University Australia, alumina of John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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Technologies vs the Bulge - Daily Times

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Though Adele not releasing new music for 5 years, from her new album 25 in 2015, continues to show fans that is focused for the moment on your own well-being before returning to the recording studio and the stage.

In late 2019 and early 2020 showed an extreme change in body to lose 40 pounds. Going to be a woman curvy to have a figure quite thin, as ever.

Although the interpreter of Hello does not offer statements about their personal lives, various media have claimed that he managed to lose that amount of pounds by changing their diet, leaning towards the diet sirtfood, which is focused on the rejuvenation and cell repair through the intake of many smoothies in a diet of a maximum of 1500 calories a day.

Recently he was also caught leaving the gym. So the exercise has been the perfect complement and ideal in this new life style.

The physical transformation of Adele has been impressive and admired by all, as it requires a lot of willpower and persistence to make changes in your life of that magnitude.

I recently came out to party with his friends James Corden and Harry Styles, who just turned 26 years old this 1st of February, and celebrated in a big way.

Of course, he drew attention to how it has changed the face of Adele right now which is very thin. Your cheekbones look more pronounced than before, his chin more in-tune and seems like such a runway model.

But there were mixed reactions about his new look. While many were filled with praise, others claimed that it no longer looks like the Adele that they knew and that is abusing the makeup.

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Not only she lost weight Adele surprised her with her face totally transformed into a party with James Corden - Play Crazy Game

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With all thats going on in the world today, people are talking about health now more than ever. And while some folks make health a priority everyday, there are many who wait until something happens before making any changes. And still others are doing things they think are beneficial, but really arent doing much. Regardless which one you identify with, theres always something more you can do to improve and restore health. At any age.

Fact; your health is either improving or declining. Even though you may feel like youre health is constant, it actually fluctuates based on what you do to, and for your body on a daily basis. Think of your car. It may be running just fine today. No breakdowns or weird noises, but you know that every kilometre you drive without proper maintenance, will wear it out faster. Same with our bodies.

Fact; billions of cells in our body die off everyday and must be replaced with new ones in order for us to continue living. When we were young, the old cells were replaced with new ones that were equal to or better than the ones that died. As we get older, the quality of those replacement cells diminishes. This causes the body to age, heal more slowly and potentially give way to disease. Although we cannot stop the aging process entirely, there is much we can do to slow it down. By keeping the quality and integrity of our cells elevated, we can effectively slow down the aging process, which in turn lowers the risk of disease, giving us a better quality of life, longer. Stick with me while I unpack four immune boosters and busters that can help you get a better handle on your health.

IMMUNE BUSTERS

The first big immune buster is stress. A lot of stuff happens inside your body when stress hits. Cortisol and adrenaline are released into the body, blood sugar is elevated, insulin spikes, heart rate goes up, digestion slows down, blood flow is directed away from the organs and out to the extremities, all to help you fight off hostile natives or run from the tiger lurking at the edge of your village. Ill go out on a limb here and say its highly unlikely youll be chased by a tiger when you walk out your front door, but regardless the source of your stress, your body responds the same.

For those living high stress lives, their bodies remain on high alert with all of these things happening, all the time. Its the same as driving your car top speed, revs maxed, every single time you drive. Your car wouldnt last long if you treated it that way, and frankly neither would you.

Sugar (and processed foods as they are converted to sugar when digested) is our second big immune buster. According to pediatrician, Dr. William Sears, Simple sugars, including glucose, table sugar, fructose and honey caused a 50% drop in the ability of white blood cells to engulf bacteria. Id like to add any and all sweeteners to the buster list. At a 50% drop in immune function, you may want to reconsider those little indulgences for the time being or consider using green, organic stevia instead.

Big buster number three is excessive alcohol. Dr. Sears defines excess as three or more drinks and says that amount will deprive the body of essential nutrients, creating an overall nutritional deficiency. . . . like sugar, consumed in excess (alcohol) can reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs.

Dieting is fourth on my immune buster list as it truly is something that can do your body more harm than good. Diets require restricting calories, giving up certain food groups, exercising like a fiend in order to lose weight.

You can absolutely lose weight on a diet, but at what cost? Without enough of the right calories and proper, balanced nutrition to nourish your cells, the body becomes stressed and once again immune health is put at risk. There are more busters out there, but now lets focus on we can do daily to boost our immune systems and protect our health.

IMMUNE BOOSTERS

Big booster number one is sleep. A good nights sleep allows the body to restore, repair and improve immune cells called T cells. Dr. Stoyan Dmitrov, PhD from the University of Tubingen, reported, T cells are a type of immune cells that fight against intracellular pathogens, for example virus-infected cells such as flu, HIV, herpes and cancer cells. Keeping those T cells working is a good reason to turn in early.

Stay hydrated. Booster number two, water, is needed for every function your body and brain does. Picture your cells like grapes. On the vine supplied with water, they are nice and plump and juicy. Pick them, and after a while they become raisins. Healthy cells means a healthy immune system. So be grape.

Booster number three is exercise. Getting regular exercise not only strengthens your heart and lungs, and helps maintain mobility, it also encourages white blood cells to move about the body more quickly, possibly detecting illness sooner.

And the last big booster is nutrition. Choose hormone-free, grass-fed proteins whenever possible, healthy fats, and eat more antioxidant-rich fruits and veg. And when you put them together in a way that stabilizes blood sugar and balances the body, stored fat is released and weight drops off, cholesterol and blood pressure normalize, hormones are balanced, overall internal inflammation is reduced and immune function is increased.

There are many things in life we cant control. But what we can control is how we take care of our health. Join the 8 Weeks is All it Takes group on Facebook for information and support in achieving your health and weight loss goals.

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Immune boosters and busters | Opinion - The Daily Courier

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A couple overhauled their lifestyle and lost 15 stone between them after being mortified by a photo of them dressed as Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

When Becky Ember, 47, met her now-husband, David, 50, in 2005, they bonded over their love of football and partying.

David would drink up to 15 pints on a night out, and Becky would drink a dozen or so Smirnoff Ice alcopops before finishing the evening with an extra-large kebab and chips.

Tipping the scales at 34 stone between them when they first became a couple, they continued to pile on the pounds in the years that followed.

They did manage to slim down a little in 2015 by religiously following a diet plan but a freak accident in 2018, when teaching assistant Becky damaged some of her vital organs after becoming impaled on an upturned badminton net, saw her weight creep back up during her five month recovery.

Eventually, the pair, of Southampton, Hampshire, who have two children together, Darcey, 10, and, Charlie, eight, reached their heaviest weights hers an 18st 6lb size 26, and his a 21st 7lb size XXXL.

But, after logging into Facebook in January 2019, and spotting an unflattering throwback snap of them at a fancy dress party, they vowed to change for good, and have since shed 15 stone between them.

Becky, who is now a 10st 6lb size 12, while her groundskeeper husband is a 14st 10lb size XL said: Its definitely brought the spark back. Sometimes I look at him and think, Oh my God, hes fit. He has such a peachy bum now.

We fell in love with each other for who each other was but now weve got the added bonus of getting 100 per cent fitter.

When Becky first met David after being invited to a regular meet up for Southampton F.C. supporters, she admitted they did not exactly hit it off.

We were introduced over a pint, she recalled. He thought I was stuck up and I thought he was miserable.

It took a few weeks before he realised I was a just bit aloof, and I realised he had just been hungover.

From there, the pair would catch up every fortnight at the supporters meet up before watching their team play, and also began exchanging regular texts and phone calls.

Then, when Becky was given a devastating lung cancer diagnosis in June 2005 after flagging a persistent cough and breathlessness during a check-up through her private medical insurance, she found herself turning to David for support.

She added: They told me there was a tumour in my right lung. I found myself relying on David more than I could have expected, even though we werent even official at the time.

In June 2005, Becky, who has never smoked, making her diagnosis all the more shocking, underwent a lobectomy, where part of on her upper right lung was removed, at Spire Southampton Hospital.

Throughout her 10-day hospital stay, David was a regular visitor.

He came to visit me every day, and thats when I realised he was special, she said. So many men would have run for the hills.

Luckily, the surgery was a success and Becky did not require any further treatment, but had annual check-ups until being given the all clear in 2015.

Making things official with David in November 2005, just four months later, keen to put her cancer ordeal behind her, Becky was delighted when the couple moved in together.

But they soon fell into an unhealthy pattern, often enjoying a pre-match fry up before watching football together, washed down with several pints.

The foundation of our relationship was based on unhealthy habits, Becky said.

She continued: Because wed already bonded over football, we fell for each others personalities and not what we looked like so we just didnt care about the weight.

Spending the first four years of their relationship doing nothing more than eating and drinking, Becky and David would paint the town red every weekend.

Then, in November 2009, they welcomed their first child, Darcey, and though they curbed their party lifestyle, they soon swapped one vice for another.

Instead of nights in the local pub, they began splurging on fast food, eating takeaways five times a week and consuming an estimated 8,000 calories between them a day far more than the recommended intake by the NHS of 2,500 for men and 2,000 for women.

Becky said: We swapped nights out on the town for date nights in front of the telly. We would basically live off takeaways. Chinese, Indian, Kebab, pizza we really werent fussy.

On a typical day, the pair would skip breakfast before having a supermarket meal deal for lunch and a huge takeaway dinner.

But, despite their penchant for calorie-laden food, Becky insists her children have always had a well-balanced diet.

We always made sure the children ate well, she said. Wed give them a healthy meal and get the takeaway menus out when they were tucked up in bed.

In 2015, Becky got her first wake-up call when she was getting dressed for work, and realised she could not do her size 24 trousers up.

She added: I looked in the mirror and thought to myself, You are a disgrace. Youve beaten cancer and now youre going to let your weight beat you.

Signing up to the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Loss at the recommendation of a friend, Joanne Collins, 49, Becky restricted her diet to 1,000 calories a day, swapping snacks and takeaways for 1:1 Diet substitute products and healthier foods.

With David following a similar diet, the overhaul worked, with her losing an impressive seven stone, and him three.

For two years, the pair maintained their new physiques but a freak accident in April 2018 saw Becky fall off the wagon.

She explained: I was playing a game of badminton when I fell over and grabbed the net. The whole thing collapsed, and I landed on the upturned feet of the net.

Rushed to Southampton General Hospital, Becky was told by doctors that, although the net had not pierced her skin, the impact of the fall had ruptured her liver and severely bruised her adrenal gland, pancreas and kidneys.

They said the force of the fall has caused severe damage to my organs. I was given a load of anti-inflammatories and painkillers, but apart from that all I could do was rest, she said.

The liver is incredible at repairing itself although it still meant I wasnt able to work for five months.

Recovering at home, Becky found herself turning to calorie-laden food for comfort.

By January 2019, she was four stone heavier than before the accident, undoing all her hard work following the 1:1 Diet plan.

That same month, she logged onto Facebook one day, and was left red-faced by a throwback snap from 2005 that had been posted to her profile as a memory.

Its from David and mines first proper New Years Eve together, she said. Wed gone to the fancy dress shop and there was only one outfit that fit Tweedledee and Tweedledum from the Lewis Carroll book Through the Looking Glass.

It pops up every year, and normally we laugh it out but last year it was all too much and I realised I needed to change. I couldnt go back to that way of life.

Enlisting the help of Joanne, who was by then a qualified 1:1 Diet coach, Becky got back on the bandwagon with David, then weighing 18st 9lb, once again joining her for support.

Following the plan, kick starting their day with porridge, followed by a 1:1 Diet product for lunch and grilled fish and steamed vegetables for dinner, the pair reached their goal weights in less than a year.

Now, not only their diets, but their entire lifestyles have been completely transformed.

Becky concluded: We used to be so sedentary before all of this, now were totally different really outdoorsy people.

Before the coronavirus lockdown, we would spend basically every weekend exploring the local countryside.

She continued: Its not just benefited us two its benefited the whole family.

Its like I have a new hubby. David has a new wife and the kids have parents who can finally live up to the role of mum and dad.

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Couple lose 15 stone after being left mortified by picture of them dressed as Tweedledee and Tweedledum - MyLondon

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