Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 1,319«..1020..1,3181,3191,3201,321..1,3301,340..»

Home » Page 1319

Dubbed the pleasantly plump friend at school, a size 18 professional told how she feels sexy for the first time, after taking up pole dancing.

Embracing her curves, tech developer Nicola Martin, 32, who has see-sawed between a size 12 at her slimmest to a size 18 now, confessed to eating on depression, especially when a significant relationship ended in 2016.

Struggling for years with binge eating, then purging, as well as being diagnosed with the hormonal condition polycystic ovary syndrome in 2012, which can cause weight gain, Nicolas salvation came in 2017, after a counsellor suggested she tried pole dancing.

The singleton, of Kineton, Warwickshire, who dances twice a week at Pole Sensations in her village, said: I had just come to the end of a horrific relationship and I felt really bad about myself.

Then a counsellor I was seeing suggested pole dancing to see how it made me feel.

Its something I had thought about for quite some time, but lacked the confidence in myself to do it.

She added: I was very nervous at first, but the people were all really lovely at the studio. There were about 12 of us who started at the same time and everyone was so welcoming it was a right giggle.

Nicola, a graduate in accounting and financial management, includes veterinary nurses, doctors and police officers among her fellow dancers who, she says, like her, are using the activity to improve their body confidence, as well as their strength and fitness.

You dont wear a great deal of clothing for it and at no point does it feel like anyone is judging you, said Nicola, who dances in high-waisted shorts and a sports bra, which she bought from a specialist pole apparel brand.

She explained: You need more skin out for the poles anyway so you can grip. It makes it easier. You cant get up the pole if you are wearing longer shorts.

People do pole for different reasons. Some go for building up strength, some do it for exercise and some people do it for confidence.

Nicolas low self-esteem began in her teens, when other schoolchildren referred to her as the pleasantly plump friend.

I think they meant well, but when I looked back at photos, I realised I was not even big, she said. It really affected my confidence.

In her 20s, after following the Cambridge Diet, she dropped to a slim size 12, but when she ate normally again she piled on the pounds faster than before.

I developed an eating disorder in my final year at Sheffield Hallam University, partly down to how I viewed myself, she said.

She continued: It was years before I got it under control. I would try not to eat anything for as long as possible, then binge-eat fast food or sweets and purge.

Looking back at pictures at the height of my eating disorder, I really wish I had the mentality I have now. Maybe it would have stopped sooner. Instead, I struggled with it for 10 years.

Then, in 2012, when Nicola was 24, a routine blood test led to a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal condition which affects one in five women in the UK, according to the NHS, and can cause irregular periods and weight gain.

A lot of women who have it really struggle with their weight, said Nicola, who did not want to reveal how much she weighs.

My doctors never said I need to lose weight or anything. But I would like to be slightly slimmer a comfortable size 16 as I do worry about the risk of type 2 diabetes, as Im overweight.

Nicola finally sought help with her 10 year eating disorder and emotional difficulties after her relationship ended in 2016, when she went to see a therapist.

She said: They suggested I tried pole dancing.

Its made me so much happier and I dont feel like I need to be in a relationship to be happy. Its changed my life.

Its also helped me develop some new friendships. Some of the people at pole classes are now my best friends.

She continued: I have one general class a week and one private lesson. One is static and one is spinning so the pole spins in one and it stays still in the other. When its static, you have to find the momentum, which means having a whole body workout.

While some of the upside down moves can be difficult for larger ladies, like Nicola, mostly size does not matter when it comes to pole dancing.

She said: You need to be a little bit stronger than other girls. But I just enjoy it as an escape and as a hobby. It feels amazing.

Since she started pole dancing in 2017, Nicola has made it to the Kick Ass Curves UK final through a video entry a competition for pole dancers who are size 16 and over.

And in just under four weeks, she will be performing her specially choreographed routine to an audience in Derby at a theatre venue.

It makes me feel beautiful, she said. Thanks to pole, my size no longer defines me and other peoples opinions do not define my worth. People at my office know that I do it and Im not ashamed of it in any way.

She added: I will never be skinny its not in my bone structure to be skinny but I can still be proud of how I look.

Nicola even runs the reception on some days at her pole studio, greeting newcomers and putting people at ease before their first class.

Im more confident, Im happier and I will not let anybody treat me badly ever again, she said. I am comfortable with the way I look now, 90 per cent of the time.

Read more from the original source:
Woman who struggled with weight finds confidence by pole dancing - MyLondon

Read More..

If you want to lose fat, you have to do more than just put your trainers on and go for a run. Here are five tips and facts that you should definitely consider if you want to finally get the body youve always wanted.

Losing fat is normally the main goal for people when they take up sports or exercise - especially when summer is just around the corner. Although these people always have the best intentions, they often get sucked in by myths and clichs that are not necessarily true and as a result, they often make mistakes with their training and diets.

So you before you embark on a drastic diet and exercise program that is far too difficult and not at all suitable for you, read these five basic tips and facts about losing fat. Its always best to start from the beginning.

1. Don't count calories

In order to lose fat, you normally have to consume fewer calories than you use so the body uses up its fat reserves to replace the energy you are now missing from food. As a result, people tend to count calories in order to help them lose fat.

Yes, it can be frustrating. And someone who is frustrated with their diet will most likely not stick it out and throw everything out the window rather quickly. So its important to make sure you have a balanced diet that you enjoy. Its best to leave counting calories to the fitness professionals and experts.

2. Dont eat more meals during the day

because you will definitely not lose fat this way. Eating all throughout the day reduces your feelings of hunger and your body is supposed to lose fat after meals.

This is true, of course, but it often also leads to an increased calorie intake - despite what you might think. If this diet works for you, then great, but as a general rule, this usually only works for people who burn a lot of energy during the day.

3. Dont force yourself to do hours of cardio

Unless you are preparing for a big race, there is no point spending hours running on the treadmill (or outside). Yes, you will definitely lose fat at first, but your body will quickly adapt to this routine.

Therefore, you have to make sure to change up your training routine, and especially the intensity of your exercises. Sometimes ten minutes of very intensive training is more efficient and beneficial than an hour of slow running. And since we have already revealed a list of sports that use the most energy, you are now spoiled for choice.

4. Eat fats, but good fats

Most diets will tell you to avoid all kinds of fats and high-calorie foods are completely off-limits. But small amounts of foods that contain more calories may actually be better for you than foods that are less fatty but contain more carbohydrates. Avocados are a perfect example of this and are therefore an ideal ingredient to add to your salads.

Well say this one more time. Eat a little bit of everything in moderation and treat yourself to something from time to time. You dont have to feel bad for eating bad food occasionally, as long as it is only occasionally.

5. Fat turns into air

If you want to build muscle, you need to keep this goal in mind. It is wrong to assume that fat simply melts or burns away when you sweat. In reality, however, this applies to just 20 percent of the total fat that you lose. The other 80 percent turns into carbon dioxide, meaning you breathe it out.

Sweat consists primarily of water and electrolytes and therefore, it is important you make sure to drink enough water throughout the day to replace it. And just as a reminder, adding a little lemon juice to your water will not make you lose weight faster.

Go here to see the original:
Fat Loss: These Five Tips And Facts Will Make Your Life A Lot Easier - Gentside UK

Read More..

At his heaviest, 27-year-old Alex weighed more than 500 pounds and felt uncomfortable going to the gym. Now, after changing his diet and taking up CrossFit, he has dropped 300 pounds and is in the best shape of his life. Sharing his story with Barcroft TV, Alex explains what inspired his weight loss transformation.

"I've always had a problem with my weight, I've always been the big kid in the class, I was always picked last in gym," he says. "My weight just started to spiral and get out of hand right after high school. Food was always a comfort, and I just abused it. I was eating all the wrong stuff in all the wrong amounts. 12 packs of Mountain Dew, eating tons of Oreos, pizza, Chinese buffet, ice cream, you name it, I was just eating it. I had no knowledge of what calories and eating all these foods was doing besides making my weight go up."

Subscribe to Men's Health

"Every year since I can remember, my yearly checkups have been 'You need to lose weight, we need to consider surgery,'" he continues. "At one point, the doctor actually told me if I didn't lose weight I wasn't gonna live."

Everything changed one day during his job a courier, when he was making a delivery to a warehouse with a pallet scale: "Just out of curiosity I stepped on, and I was shocked. I saw 480 pounds," he says. "But if I look back at pictures a couple of months prior, I was bigger. So I believe I was 500+ at one point. From that day forward, I just completely changed my life. I knew that this was my time, this was my final chance, my last, last shot. Knowing that I'm an adult now, this is my life, it can either end really soon or I could start taking care of myself, it was all on me."

He ditched the vast volumes of soda in favor of just water, and cut the fast food from his diet, which led to a weight loss of 40 pounds in the first month alone. And Alex soon got over his anxiety around working out in front of other people, hitting the gym six or seven times a week and throwing himself into rigorous CrossFit workouts which constantly changed and challenged his body to adapt.

"The gym used to make me uncomfortable, now I'm doing CrossFit every morning at 5 a.m.," he says. "I lost 280 pounds. The lowest that I hit was 199 pounds. 200 to 205 pounds is where I feel healthy and where I feel like I can perform the best physically."

Read the original here:
This Guy Lost 300 Pounds by Ditching Fast Food and Doing CrossFit Every Day - menshealth.com

Read More..

Kelly VanEngen decided to change her life after one visit to the gym.

Ten years later and 100 pounds lighter, VanEngen feels healthier and happier.

The 37-year-old Bellevue woman started her health journey after seeing a picture of herself and not feeling happy with it. Now she works out five days a week at Fitmade Training and Nutrition in Papillion.

She said her trainers and the owners of the gym, Tara Payson and Jason Reese, have been very supportive and inspired her weight loss journey.

Her transformation has inspired and caught the attention of many, including her co-workers at Creighton University, where she works as a finance specialist. Creightons Wellness Council recently recognized VanEngen with the Transformation Award for her health journey. She said it was an honor to receive the award for something that has changed her life and taught her to love herself, acknowledge her self-worth and realize her strength.

Get the latest health headlines and inspiring stories straight to your inbox.

Q: When did you start working out and why?

A: I started working out in January 2009 because I saw a photo of myself that really caught me off guard. I had really let myself go. I knew I needed to make a change, not only for my physical health, but also for my mental health.

Q: Describe your workouts. How many days per week do you exercise?

A: I participate in the boot camp, which is run by Tara Payson. She instructs the class, so its a combination of weightlifting, cardio and some circuits. We do class in the gym five days a week, and then we have an at-home workout on Friday. The gym includes the meal plan and nutrition, too. The most important part is following the meal plan in order to fuel myself for the workouts shes giving me. They break down the meals as far as carbs, proteins and fats, so we eat a certain amount for every meal. We eat about five times a day.

Q: What is your current fitness goal?

A: My fitness goal is to get my body fat into the teens. If I lose weight, great, but Im really trying to tone and lean out more and get my body fat down. When I started my journey, my body fat was like 40%, and now its 20.7%. My goal is to get 19% body fat, just because that shows Im getting leaner. Its also about being consistent every day.

Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment?

A: My biggest accomplishment has been losing 100 pounds and 28% body fat. Ive been able to keep my weight off for three years. The internal changes that Ive had far outweigh the outside. Ive made such dramatic changes on the inside, such as being more self-confident. I have a strength that I didnt know I had, and I gained that by continuing to push myself and overcoming obstacles that were in my way.

Q: What has been the toughest hurdle and how did you overcome it?

A: The toughest hurdle for me has been self-sabotage. I will eat something I know Im not supposed to have. My hurdle has been reminding myself that its what I do consistently that will show results. The way that I do that is through my great support system around me. My gym is my family, my family is great, my work family is great. Everybody is just really supportive, so its allowed me to not get stuck, which is hard. Thats when I have to draw on the people around me and the strength that I know that I have inside as well.

Q: What helps you stay on track?

A: I dont ever want to go back to that place. Especially because I dont want to go back to the place mentally where I wasnt healthy, where I wasnt inspired and working out. Working out for me is like my therapy, it makes me feel better. We have a Fitmaker Facebook page, too, so all the gals are on there and we often bounce off ideas and support to each other. When you see results, you get inspired and you kind of get obsessed with it. It just becomes your lifestyle.

Q: What is your gym pet peeve?

A: People who dont rerack their weights correctly. We all have our own little stations, and sometimes youre like, Wheres the other 10? Clean up your space. If you use it, put it back.

Q: What do you do when you arent in the gym?

A: I love to spend time with my family and friends. Most of my family is in Lincoln. My sister and I like to go on road trips with my mom or go to craft fairs. I have a niece and nephew that I like to spend time with and spoil. My sister and I have recently gotten into this women in the outdoors program, and weve done different womens retreats where weve done things like canoeing and hiking. Thats been a lot of fun, too. I dont think I would have wanted to do any of those things had I not lost weight and felt better about trying new things.

Q: What is the piece of equipment, supplement, clothing, etc. that you cant live without?

A: I cant live without weightlifting, because to me, that makes me feel strong and its also what has completely transformed my body and my shape. Its how you feel after you do it. Its such an adrenaline rush. I cant do without weights and high-waisted yoga pants.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their fitness journey?

A: Consistency is key. Make sure you find something that is going to work for you in the long term. Fad diets are not going to sustain you for the long run. Its not going to happen overnight. You really have to be consistent. Ive been eating real food to lose weight for the last 10 years now. Its possible. Find what works for you, surround yourself with great people and be consistent. If I can do it, anybody can do it.

After Joe Adams had a heart attack, he underwent numerous procedures to get his heart in working order. Just when it seemed things were on the right track, his heart started to fail again. Read more.

Tamara Mosby-Montegut started working out as a stress reliever. Now she wants to keep up with her husband when he tackles 50 pushups in a row. And she wants her daughter to follow their healthy examples. Read more.

Varun Narayanan wanted to shed the pounds he packed on during the holidays a few years ago. He dropped from 230 pounds down to 195. Now he treks up active volcanoes. Read more.

After giving birth to her fourth baby, Susan Sawyer wanted to drop the baby weight. She took up Jazzercise. Sawyer's stuck with the dance-based exercise for nearly 35 years. Read more.

Jessica Hawley thought her third pregnancy was different because she was having a girl. But baby number three was another boy. The pregnancy felt different because she was more fit this time around. Read more.

When Gary Gundy started having trouble getting up after squatting down for target practice, he knew it was time for a change. The La Vista man dropped 80 pounds in three years. Read more.

Valerie Heath started shedding pounds by using the family's Wii. Now she belongs to a CrossFit gym and works out six days a week.Read more.

To be around for her family, Ashlei Spivey needed to get in shape. She joined a boxing gym. Now her workouts leave her feeling like she stepped out of a movie. Read more.

Betty Watt survived a sometimes trying career as a middle school teacher. Then she beat cancer twice. And the whole time she was a regular at the gym. Watt and her husband Charlie workout at least five days a week. Read more.

Erika Hanna sometimes has a pint-sized workout buddy during her morning classes. Her son Henrik, 18 months, offered hugs as she held a plank position and occasionally chased a loose exercise ball around the room. The studio gives Hanna a chance to stick close to her kids while staying on top of her own health and fitness. Read more.

Gwen Leyden wound up spending a week in a wheelchair because of a chronic condition. Leyden gradually was able to walk without using a cane. Later she started using the treadmill and eventually worked up to weightlifting. Read more.

With high blood pressure and the possibility of needing cholesterol meds Rich Hazuka was headed down a dangerous path. He dropped 75 pounds thanks to diet changes. When he plateaued, he took up exercise. Now he's off his blood pressure meds and has no need for any cholesterol medication. Read more.

George Mach can't help but wake up well before dawn. With that free time, the early riser started a gym routine. He hits the gym three days a week. Read more.

As Gregg Learned aged, arthritis made physical activity a chore. He struggled to walk across the parking lot at work. But joining a gym has helped Learned to stay on his feet. Read more.

At one time, Laura Adams could barely finish a lap around the walking track. But the Bellevue woman, who weighed 300 pounds, stuck it out and dropped 115 pounds. Read more.

Vince Huerta has always tried to keep active. He decided to give powerlifting a shot and now, the Omaha South grad holds a number of records for the weight he's hoisted. Read more.

Paul Stultz takes swimming seriously. He joined a Masters Swimming club and is working on nailing strokes like the freestyle and butterfly. But one of his biggest accomplishments was hiking the Grand Canyon. Read more.

Read more here:
Bellevue woman down 100 pounds after 10 years of dedication to gym, nutrition - Omaha World-Herald

Read More..

36-year-old Renuka Pamnani Vaswani was done with the constant body-shaming. Her weight had touched a whopping 127 kilos and she realised that it was now or never. This is her weight loss journey where she shares how she lost a whopping 43.5 kilos by revamping her lifestyle. Read on to know her incredibly motivating journey and get inspired to lose weight.Name: Renuka Pamnani VaswaniOccupation: BankerAge: 36 years

Height: 5 feet 7 inches

City: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Highest weight recorded: 127 kgs

Weight lost: 43.5 kgs

Current Weight: 83.5 kgs

Duration it took me to lose weight: 2.5 years

The turning point: There was a point where I weighed a massive 127 kilos and was about to hit 130 kilos. I started feeling really low and depressed and used to wonder whether I will ever have a partner or not. Since I was the only kid in the house. I used to get really pampered but I had never thought that my weight would touch 3 digits. I decided to get in shape and started my weight loss journey. My dietician Khyati Rupani and my fitness coach Rakesh Pawar helped me immensely to achieve the same.

My breakfast: I have smoothies with oats or egg whites with a toast. At times I go for idli and dosas as well.My lunch: I eat a bowl of salad, some protein in the form of dal or chicken accompanied with 1 roti or rice and a portion of sabzi made in low oil.

My dinner: I choose from grilled chicken or sauteed vegetables with paneer and whole wheat pasta.Pre-workout meal: Bullet coffee

Post-workout meal: Dymatize ISO 100 Hydrolyzed Protein Powder.I indulge in: I do not believe in the concept of cheat days.

My workout: In the year 2019, I realised that I was not really taking care of my body as my skin had started to sag. Hence, I decided to start my journey to fitness. My coach Rakesh Pawar helped me a lot during this journey. He used to correct my posture and helped me understand the purpose behind each and every movement. My work out routine includes cardio, strength training and functional training.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: The word diet itself is a negative word as it just makes you feel that you are depriving yourself of certain things. Hence, I have removed the word diet from my life as I solely focus on lifestyle changes.

How do I stay motivated? When you hit the gym every day and follow a healthy lifestyle, it is enough to keep you motivated. When you workout, your body releases happy hormones. Once you begin to see the difference in your body and when people begin to compliment you on your transformation, there is no going back!How do you ensure you dont lose focus? Looking at how far I have come and how hard I have worked, I don't want all of it to go to waste. This in itself is enough to keep me focussed and motivated. My parents and husband are the pillars of my support, so whenever we are out, they support my choices of eating.Whats the most difficult part of being overweight? When you are overweight, you have to constantly battle low-self-esteem and lack the confidence to lead your life. No matter how much you say that you are comfortable in your own skin, deep down you know that is not the case. You cannot wear the clothes of your choice as they dont have your size in it. Being overweight also brings a lot of health conditions including PCOD, joint pain, rising levels of cholesterol and even diabetes. You feel lethargic and down and out all the time.

What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line? I want to lead a healthy and energetic life and also want to have a super fit physique.

More here:
Weight loss story: This banker lost 43.5 kilos WITHOUT dieting and her transformation is jaw-dropping! - Times of India

Read More..

Kerri Hwang, a 34-year old middle school cafeteria worker from Burleson, Texas, has struggled with her weight for years. At her heaviest in 2017, she topped the scales at 316 pounds.

Kerri Hwang's get-fit journey has helped her lose nearly 100 pounds.

Credit: Kerri Hwang/LIVESTRONG.com Creative

"I may have gained even more weight, but I stopped getting on the scale after that," she recalls ruefully.

But 18 months ago, Kerri wandered into a local gym at the advice of a friend and left motivated to get herself into better physical shape. Today, she's gone from being barely able to walk around the block to deadlifting 300 pounds. Here's her story, in her own words.

I've been overweight my entire life and have always struggled with my self-esteem. Over the years, I bounced through every single diet and supplement you can imagine: Weight Watchers, Plexus, Herbalife, Slimfast, Hydroxycut. Nothing worked. I never lost more than 30 pounds, and I still wasn't happy with what I saw in the mirror.

Then, one of the women I'd met through one of my diet attempts suggested I try an exercise session with her trainer at her gym. I went, and I loved it. Even though I had severe back pain, I found I could do basic moves like air squats and light weight-lifting. I felt strong, and capable, and proud of myself.

After that, I was hooked. I kept wanting to go back to that gym, which was filled with so many warm, welcoming, supportive folks. I felt like I had truly met my people. After a couple weeks, my clothes were big on me, and I realized the exercise program was working.

At the beginning, it was all about strength training. I went twice a week for personal training sessions at my gym. We broke it up by body parts: At the beginning of the week, we'd do an hour of upper-body exercises, such as lat pull downs, back extensions, chest presses and bicep curls, and then later in the week, an hour of lower-body activity such as lunges, squats and abdominal work like crunches.

As I gradually got into better shape, my trainer added little 30-second spurts of physical activity like marching in place or jumping jacks between the exercises in my workout.

I know cardio is always touted as a way to lose weight, but I think it's a tool that can be abused sometimes. My trainer never forced it on me he just encouraged me to be more active.

Before I started exercising, I would sit all the time. But I made it a goal to get in 10,000 steps a day. I began taking walks on my lunch break, parking farther away from the office or grocery store and, instead of watching TV, going outside with my 11-year-old daughter to play with the dogs. I tried to sit as little as possible when I was on the phone, for example, I'd stand up and walk around.

"I quickly realized my problem: I was restrictively calorie-counting, not macro-counting. Once I adjusted my protein intake, I saw the results really pay off in terms of my strength-training goals."

As I got into better shape and began to feel better, I found I naturally gravitated toward wanting to eat a healthy diet. I realized that I didn't have to restrict foods I loved, like cookies, entirely it was all about just eating everything in the right amount.

I started simple, with LIVESTRONG.com's MyPlate app. It helped me set daily goals in the important food groups: three servings each of fruit, veggies and whole grains, as well as at least 6 ounces of protein.

Then, in April 2019, I hired a nutrition coach who helped me fine-tune it. She gave me advice on how many fat, carb and protein grams I should eat every day, and encouraged me to log them so I'd get a better sense of how much I should be eating.

I quickly realized my problem: I was restrictively calorie-counting, not macro-counting. I was eating more carbs and fat than I needed, for example, but not nearly enough protein. Once I adjusted my protein intake, I saw the results really pay off in terms of my strength-training goals. That was more proof that I was on the right path!

"I'm not the person I was two years ago," Kerri says of her physical, mental and emotional transformation.

Credit: Kerri Hwang/LIVESTRONG.com Creative

Up until recently, I've always had a little voice in my head whispering that I'm not good enough. But I'm not the person I was two years ago. The changes I've made not only in my physical appearance, but mentally and emotionally are insane. My weight always made me shy because I didn't want people to look at me for fear I'd be seen as fat and gross.

Now, I'm totally OK with who I am. I'm not afraid to go to the pool anymore with my daughter, or get into a bathing suit at the beach, or run around with her at our local playground. I'm not afraid to try a new fitness class at my local rec center, and I'm not afraid to be silly and laugh when I'm out and about with my husband.

At first, I balked at spending money on a trainer. But the more I thought about it, I realized that over the years I'd already lost so much money on meal plans and workout DVDs and exercise memberships, that it was worth a try. It's the best financial investment I've ever made.

I found a wonderful support system at my gym first my trainer, then all the other clients who became my friends. Now, my husband and I just automatically calculate my personal training costs as part of our monthly budget. It's what I love, and working out keeps me healthy it's not a chore or an obligation.

"We all want instant results, but losing weight is about changing your lifestyle. You have to be consistent, and you also have to get out of your comfort zone to make those necessary changes."

Three times a week, I pick up my daughter from school and she hangs out and plays on her iPad while I work out. I joke that these times are also like therapy sessions. If I'm having a bad day, I can talk to others while exercising and work through my problems.

Never give up. We all want instant results, but losing weight is about changing your lifestyle. You have to be consistent, and you also have to get out of your comfort zone to make those necessary changes.

One of the biggest adjustments I had to make was the idea that I could make room in my diet for occasional indulgences. Every night, I reward myself with a small sweet treat, like two to three mini Reese's white chocolate peanut butter cups. I always thought it was a luxury I couldn't afford, but it turns out it's only an extra 80 to 120 calories.

Yes, sometimes I get impatient and want my weight to fall off more quickly but then I go shopping and realize that just a year ago I would never have been able to find anything in a regular department store that would have fit me. On those days or weeks when the scale doesn't seem to budge, I remind myself that I'm still losing inches around my arms and thighs and dropping clothing sizes. And I feel so much better! That's what's most important.

More:
Weight-Lifting Transformation: How One Woman Lost 93 Pounds in 2 Years - LIVESTRONG.COM

Read More..

We often do not realize the side-effects of obesity until it gets too late. For 38-year-old housewife, Salma, being detected with diabetes and thyroid issues at a young age invited health problems. Determined to reverse the same, she maintained a strict diet, enrolled herself in a Zumba class, fought off all the excess weight and got her life back. To learn her weight loss secrets, read the complete story below:

Name: Salma Zoeb Patrawala

Occupation: HousewifeAge: 38

Height: 5 feet 2 inches

City: Pune

Highest weight recorded: 91 kilos

Weight lost: 29 kilos

Duration it took me to lose weight: 8 monthsThe turning point: I was diagnosed with diabetes and thyroid at a young age. I realized losing weight was one of the ways to get my life back. When I did lose weight, I gained back my confidence, went back to my size 'M' clothes and most importantly, people showered me with compliments. All of this because of my transformation.My breakfast: I survive on desi khana. In the mornings, I usually have a couple of chapattis (small) with a cup of chai, with very little sugar in it.

My lunch: For lunch, a bowlful of subzi (whatever's in season) and 2 chapattis.

My dinner: I make sure to have limited carbs, that too before sunset. I keep my dinners fairly light and have something like a fruit salad on days.

Post- workout meal: A big glass of milk with honey mixed in it.

I indulge in (What you eat on your cheat days): If it's a cheat day, I am definitely having kheer, which I love eating. I am also a huge fan of chai so I drink another cup on my cheat day.

My workout: So the big change that I made in life was working out. I enjoy going on brisk walks, so I do that for about an hour and follow it up with a session of Zumba, which is an amazing way to burn up calories.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by: No recipe as such, but I truly believe that for losing weight, one has to practice mindful eating. Now, I think twice before eating something junk. You can say that the food first goes in my head before my mouth.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: There is nothing better and healthier than a balanced diet. Starving, or following fad diets is not going to help you burn the fat because you end up eating more. Maintain discipline, keep two-hour intervals between your meals and you are on your way to healthy living.

How do I stay motivated? : Motivation can be found within yourself. If I am feeling a little low, I look at myself in the mirror and promise to keep working on my goals I set for myself.

How do you ensure you dont lose focus? I follow workout tutorials on the internet (HIIT BURN, Step Workouts). When I look at the people in the videos online, I always feel inspired to be just as fit as them. More than this, every time my husband compliments me, I feel happy and focussed.

Whats the most difficult part of being overweight? Health complications at a young age made it all difficult. These were the scariest parts for me. Losing weight has turned my life around and brought in positivity.

What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line? I aspire to be a Zumba trainer in the future and motivate more people to work on themselves and life with full confidence and zeal. You only get to live once and it is important you make the most of it.

See original here:
Weight loss: Know how this housewife lost 29 kilos by doing Zumba - Times of India

Read More..

CLARKSBURG, Md. Bumping up 19 pounds to a higher weight class can be too much to handle for some wrestlers, especially in the lighter weight classes.

But North Hagerstown sophomore Thomas Monn is doing just fine with his ascent from the 113-pound weight class to 132.

On Saturday afternoon at Clarksburg High, Monn captured his second straight 4A-3A West region title and did it against a formidable foe.

With 50 seconds left in the third period, Monn surprised Northwest junior Siavash Sarvestani with an ankle pick and his takedown was the lone scoring in the 132 final, a 2-0 victory for Monn.

Monns decisive move came immediately out of a restart and Sarvestani, a region champ and state runner-up last year at 126, never recovered.

I hit him right off the bat, Monn said. I saw him leaning with that left foot 95 percent of the time. As soon as it was there, I knew I could get it. It might have been my only chance to get it.

Monn wasnt sure what to expect with his weight-class bump.

Ive had a humongous jump from 113 to 132. And Ive been doing good this season, Monn said. I knew I would have to wrestle someone as good as him and now I cant wait to see him in the finals.

Monn was the lone winner from Washington County in the meet. South Hagerstown seniors Caleb Everhart (138) and Nick Kelbaugh (160) reached the finals, but lost to top-seeded wrestlers.

North Hagerstown junior Isaiah Dorsey (220) made a surprise run to the finals considering he entered as the No. 7 seed. He also fell to the top-seeded wrestler in his weight class.

Other Washington County wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament next week in Prince Georges County were third-place finisher Will Klein (285) of North and fourth-place finishers Cameron Ashby (126) and Vince Salgado (132) of South and Saxx Redick (195) of North.

Monn was the last of the county wrestlers to take the mat and put on a fine performance. It was a very mild upset considering Monn (38-1) was seeded No. 2 and ranked No. 11 in the state compared to the top-seeded Sarvestani (36-5), who was ranked No. 7 in the state.

That opponent was hard. He was definitely one of the most difficult opponents Ive had all year, Monn said. I feel like were definitely going to wrestle again.

According to North coach Greg Slick, Monn has displayed a similar desire to that of former Hubs great Aaron Brooks, now a standout at Penn State. The longtime coach said that Monns approach has helped him bridge the weight-class jump.

For years and years as wrestling coaches, people have thought, you gotta lose weight, you gotta lose weight, you gotta lose weight because youll be bigger than everyone else, Slick said. But it doesnt work like that. Kids have to eat and they have to grow.

Slick compared Monns weight gain to that of Brooks, who went from 126 as a freshman to 182 as a senior and continued to thrive as a four-time state champion.

I dont think Thomas is going to get that big, of course, Slick said. His parents are average-size people. But his work ethic is unbelievable.

Kelbaugh, who was seeded second, improved on his fourth-place finish at the region tournament last year, but wasnt happy with his performance in a hard-luck 3-1 loss to top-seeded Nicholas McCarthy of Richard Montgomery.

It was a tie match and appeared to be headed to overtime when McCarthy (32-4) took Kelbaugh (42-3) down along the circle.

I knew I wanted it more than him and he got it, Kelbaugh said. But I gave it to him. That was horrible. I felt like I could have done way better.

Kelbaugh absorbed a scratch to his eye in the opening minute and appeared to be in great discomfort. But he settled in and countered the quickness of McCarthy, who started the match aggressively before turning frustrated and passive.

But McCarthy, a junior, found the energy to make the winning throw in the closing seconds, a call that South coach Dave Kenderdine disputed.

They both looked like they went out of bounds, Kenderdine said. But (the referee) said that because he covered the hips, they gave him the two at the very end. Its a shame.

Kelbaugh wasnt the only South wrestler disappointed with his showing in the finals. The second-seeded Everhart (43-2) expected to fare better in his first-ever match with Michael Emerick (46-3) of Damascus, but fell 4-1.

He came in ranked above me (No. 7 vs. No. 9) and our records were about the same, Everhart said. He just wrestled better than me. But I look forward to the states. Its hard to beat somebody twice.

Both finished third at the state tournament last year, Everhart at 138 and Emerick at 126.

Ive got to get back in the wrestling room, Everhart said. I got a lot of things Ive got to work on. I need to wrestle my match, have more control.

The appearance of Dorsey (26-13) in the finals was a revelation. The junior, who wrestled for the JV last year, rolled to a 7-2 win Friday over Thomas DeCastro of Quince Orchard, then decisioned second-seeded Daniel Kalai of Magruder, 4-1, who had entered with a 31-10 record. Then Dorsey needed just 65 seconds to pin Santiago Burke-Carreno of the host school. Burke-Carreno went on to capture the consolation round.

In the finals, Dorsey battled through a scoreless first period before getting pinned via a cradle by No. 1 Sam OBrian of Damascus (42-5), who is ranked No. 10 in the state.

Hes a good athlete, wrestled for the first time last year, Slick said of Dorsey. He just keeps getting better, learning positions, gaining some mat sense. Hes really starting to put things together.

Another wrestler who has showed vast improvement over his career is Klein (27-8), a senior who is going to the state tournament for the first time.

I didnt win a single match my freshman year, Klein said. To think I could go from that to qualifying for states, its a special feeling.

Klein lost his opening match Friday to Edwin Galo of Gaithersburg, 3-2. But came back in the consolation finals and beat the same wrestler by the same score in a static match that went the distance.

I dont think I wrestled smart in the first match, Klein said. I tried to take too many high risk/high reward picks. In a match like that you kind of have to wear out on the guys head and be smart about your positioning. You have to have a lot of resilience. A lot of things didnt work, but I kept my head.

Another North senior, Redick, also has overcome a lot in his career to reach the state tournament. He suffered his second ACL tear in his freshman year playing football. He turned away from the sport and pursued wrestling.

Unfortunately for Redick on Saturday, his same balky leg failed him as he suffered a debilitating hamstring pull in the second period of his consolation round final with Michael Schifano of Urbana. After a long delay, Redick finished out the period but then decided he couldnt continue.

It was a scoreless match when Redick was hurt.

I felt my hamstring pop, Redick said. I couldnt put any weight on it.

Redick appeared distraught as he left the mat. It wasnt so much the pain of the injury, according to Redick, it was having to surrender to a bitter rival.

This match meant a lot to me, Redick. Me and this kid had a lot of history together. We went into overtime in the Hub Cup and I edged him in a hell of a match. Then in our dual meet with them, he pinned me Senior Night. So I was really emotionally invested in this match.

At 126, Ashby wanted a shot at top-seeded Rodrigo Cornejo of Quince Orchard. But the South junior lost in the semifinals to second-seeded Nate Eig of Rockville.

In the consolation finals, Ashby fell to Colton DeValle of Damascus.

Salgado (38-8) lost twice in the tournament to the same wrestler, Frankie Dickenson of Linganore, 10-7 in the semifinals and 8-7 in the consolation finals.

I wanted of course to be a regional champion, Salgado said. Im mad that I fell short. But thats alright. Everything happens for a reason. It will make me hungrier for next week.

4A-3A West

Championship finals

106 Jason Liau (Wootton) m.d. Christian Simpson (Bethesda-CC) 17-6; 113 Isaac Guttentag (Bethesda-Chevy Chase) d. Jhondy Fuller (Tuscarora) 5-0; 120 Alex Gonzalez (Clarksburg) d. Garhett Dickenson (Linganore) 8-3; 126 Rodrigo Cornejo (Quince Orchard) d. Nate Eig (Rockville) 4-0; 132 Thomas Monn (North Hagerstown) d. Siavash Sarvestani (Northwest) 2-0; 138 Michael Emerick (Damascus) d. Caleb Everhart (South Hagerstown) 4-3; 145 Kaeleb Jones (Magruder) d. Jeo Martinez (Bethesda-CC) 6-4; 152 Drew Guttentag (Bethesda-CC) d. Jaden Selby (Winston Churchill) 3-1; 160 Nicholas McCarthy (Richard Montgomery) d. Nick Kelbaugh (South Hagerstown) 3-1; 170 Jaedyn Harris (Gaithersburg) d. Sebastian Turkewitz (Walt Whitman) 3-0; 182 Aiden Beall (Damascus) d. Yoann Olympio (Northwest) 7-2; 195 Timothy Furgeson (Damascus) p. Ryan Jones (Quince Orchard) 3:07; 220 Sam O`Brian (Damascus) p. Isaiah Dorsey (North Hagerstown) 2:36; 285 Isaac Righter (Magruder) p. Scott Hummel (Linganore) 0:58.

Third-place bouts

106 Romeo Tsai (Watkins Mill) d. Ethan Nasvaderani (Winston Churchill) 3-1; 113 Ari Kefer (Walter Johnson) fft. Eric Liau (Wootton); 120 Peyton Casamento (Walt Whitman) d. Shyler Clark (Damascus) 7-2; 126 Colton DeValle (Damascus) p. Cameron Ashby (South Hagerstown) 1:41; 132 Austin Rohn (Urbana) p. Colton Houldsworth (Magruder) 2:49; 138 Kooper Clark (Tuscarora) fft. Navid Ighani (Gaithersburg); 145 Frankie Dickenson (Linganore) d. Vince Salgado (South Hagerstown) 8-7; 152 Seth Holt (Damascus) d. Shamyr Douglas (Gaithersburg) 9-6; 160 Hayden Parkhurst (Linganore) d. Vincent Barnaba (Winston Churchill) 7-5; 170 Anson Gentry (Urbana) fft. Noah Bowers (Bethesda-CC); 182 Chase Shultz (Linganore) p. Conner Pace (Rockville) 1:48; 195 Michael Schifano (Urbana) fft. Saxx Redick (North Hagerstown); 220 Santiago Burke-Carreno (Clarksburg) d. Daniel Kalai (Magruder) 2-0; 285 Will Klein (North Hagerstown) d. Edwin Galo (Gaithersburg) 3-2.

Fifth-place bouts

106 Johnny Pisano (Clarksburg) d. Ilya Siamashka (North Hagerstown) 6-1; 113 Sean Mullineaux (Linganore) d. Josh Liebowiz (Northwest) 10-8; 120 Marcus Reid (Rockville) d. (Wootton) 8-3; 126 Aidan Moffitt (Bethesda-CC) t.f. Maxwell Butler (Frederick) 17-2; 132 Isaiah Zack (Winston Churchill) d. Joe McKneely (Damascus) 8-4; 138 Fabio Martinez (Bethesda-CC) p. Colin Acton (Urbana) 2:20; 145 Justin Steele (Richard Montgomery) fft. Evan Cawthorne (Blake); 152 Farid Akhmedov (South Hagerstown) m.d. Dewey Pittenger (Linganore) 11-2; 160 Victor Kum (Watkins Mill) fft. John Wallmark (Northwest); 170 Isiah Bell (Damascus) p. Scott Wilson (Frederick) 2:30; 182 Alec Kollmar (Frederick) p. Charlie Imperial (Walt Whitman) 4:28; 195 Luke Cullinane (Walt Whitman) p. Elver Ortez (Magruder) 3:51; 220 Alejandro Roberts (Blake) d. Alhassane Kouyate (Bethesda-CC) 3-1; 285 Ernest Mallette (Tuscarora) d. Reilly Vich (Northwest) 5-4.

See the original post:
Monn the man in 4A-3A West - Herald-Mail Media

Read More..

FODMAP is an acronym that stands for Fermentable Oligo- Di- Monosacharides And Polyols. Our team at Monash University coined the term in 2005 when we showed that this group of carbohydrates trigger symptoms of IBS in susceptible people, and reducing all of them together would have a greater impact on IBS symptom relief than reducing any one of them alone.

FODMAPs attract water as they pass slowly through the small intestine. They then pass undigested into the large intestine where bacteria ferment them. In people with IBS, this leads to excessive gas production and changes in bowel habit, along with many other typical IBS symptoms including pain, bloating and distension.

One in seven Australian adults are thought to have IBS. Our research, which has been replicated by groups all over the world, has shown the diet reduces IBS symptoms in three out of four sufferers.

Loading

While a limited number of studies indicate weight loss is an unintended consequence of a low FODMAP diet, the diet is ill fit for this purpose. For people needing to lose weight, the food restrictions the FODMAP diet imposes are unnecessary.

Unless carefully implemented, the diet can compromise intake of nutrients such as fibre, iron and calcium. This can lead to a shortage of these nutrients if the diet is followed strictly long-term.

One example of this is the diet restricts intake of prebiotics, the fuel source for good bacteria in our bowel. Numerous studies have shown an unintended consequence of the FODMAP diet is it changes the composition of the gut microbiota. While the long-term consequences of these changes are unknown, it is not advisable to restrict FODMAPs unnecessarily.

There is no scientific evidence to suggest the FODMAP diet reduces acne.

A FODMAP diet is a three-step diet best followed under the guidance of an experienced dietitian.

People follow the diet strictly at the start, and relax and personalise the dietary restrictions over time. The aim is to strike a balance between adequate symptom control and a minimally restrictive diet.

In step 1, people reduce intake of all FODMAP groups below a threshold level. The aim of this step is to reduce IBS symptoms. If IBS symptoms improve sufficiently, people progress to step 2.

In step 2, people undertake a series of food challenges to determine which FODMAPs they can tolerate.

Loading

In step 3, well-tolerated FODMAPs are brought back into the diet, while poorly tolerated FODMAPs are restricted, but only to a level necessary to control IBS symptoms.

The success of the FODMAP diet is due to its widespread uptake among patients with IBS. Backed by scientific evidence, the diet is recommended in various local and international clinical guidelines as a first-line IBS treatment.

As consumer demand for low FODMAP food choices grows, some companies have started to adopt Monash Universitys low FODMAP certification. Brands like Vegemite, Kelloggs USA, and Bakers Delight now offer low FODMAP-certified products.

But with bloggers and health gurus promoting fad diets under the FODMAP name, our research team is spending more time combating disinformation. This takes time away from our research and the support we can offer IBS sufferers.

To learn more about the FODMAP diet, visit monashfodmap.com.

Jane Varney, senior research dietitian in the Department of Gastroenterology, Monash University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

Go here to see the original:
The FODMAP diet is everywhere, but experts warn it's not for weight loss - The Sydney Morning Herald

Read More..

The saying goes that summer bodies are made in winter, but when the alarm goes off at 5 a.m. and the only thing that waits you in the bleak cold is a round of burpees and some high-knees, you can guarantee that well merely hit snooze and sink deeper into the comfy, warm caress of multiple blankets and a hot water bottle.

Working out in adulthood is hard enough. Sure as a kid youd have a lunch break in which school ovals and parks were turned into makeshift soccer tournaments, or the monkey bars demanded strength out of your teeny-tiny twig arms. But come adulthood, this spontaneous desire to exercise is harder and more difficult to generate.

You cant just decide on a whim to run around outside on your work break. Youve got to prepare for it: not only do you have to have the gear and motivation, but then youve got to pack enough deodorant and grooming supplies in your arsenal to ensure that when you do get back to your desk, youre not the most pungent person on the office floor with a B.O. so bad it practically becomes its own live entity.

Consequently, if you cant make it to the gym in the morning or lunch, but manage to find the courage to head out for a workout after a six or even eight hour day, we salute you. Science however, is a little less enthusiastic.

According to a recent study called Midwest Exercise Trial 2, people who exercise before noon seem to lose more weight compared to those who complete the same workout later in the day.

Results from the study drew on 100 overweight young men and women participants, who worked out five times a week at a physiology lab where they jogged or performed another exercise that would make them sweat. Each person would work out until they had burned about 600 calories. Participants worked out any time between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and after 10 months of the trial everyone had lost weight, but the numbers varied greatly.

As researchers began to examine the results closer, they found that the exercise schedules of participants had a huge impact on the amount of weight lost. Those who worked out before noon had lost more weight on average than others who hit the gym after 3 p.m.

They also discovered that early exercisers were more likely to be more active throughout the rest of the day, and ate less than their counterparts (although the study notes that the food difference was only about 100 calories.

Erik Willis, a data analyst with the Centre for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the University of North Carolina, believes there may be a correlation between early morning exercise and weight loss, but says more research needs to be done specifically in this area.

Ultimately, any exercise is good exercise. Lets face it some of us just dont have the inclination to get up in the morning, and when youve got early morning meetings and a full-day of work, even finding time to squeeze in a work out at all is a battle. So to find out that your late night gym session might not be as beneficial as pounding the pavement in the darkness that precedes the dawn, tell them theyre having a laugh!

Even as Ellis suggests, exercising at any time is beneficial for your health. I would not want anyone to think that its not worth exercising if you cant do it first thing in the morning, he said in an interview with Mens Health. Any exercise, at any time of the day, is going to be better than none.

via gq.com.au

NOW READ

Weight loss tips: How to lose weight and get fit like this guy who lost 42 kg with the help of this one thing

6 tips to lose weight before summer hits

Weight loss tips: How to lose weight in 4 months like this guy who lost 33 kg by following an Indian diet plan

More on Fitness

Go here to see the original:
Weight loss tips: This is the best time to workout during the day to shed those extra kilos - GQ India

Read More..

Contact Us Today

Page 1,319«..1020..1,3181,3191,3201,321..1,3301,340..»

Home » Page 1319