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How a homegrown fitness class became one of go-gos enduring legacies.

Go Go Fitness

Shortly after 9 a.m. on a dank spring Saturday, in the brightly lit basketball court of the Glenarden Community Center, the women of Go-Go Fitness are working a move known as the Little Benny.

Go-Go Fitness is a dance workout set to popular go-go songs, and at this particular moment, speakers flanking the elevated stage are blasting Rare Essences Rock This Party Feat. Killa Cal. Everyone is doing the step named after go-go icon Anthony Little Benny Harley, a coordinated movement that instructor Danette Dani Tucker later describes as a straight crankin movetwo-step knee-up WOOP to the right, then same to the left and a rock, rock dip in the hips.

Tucker and her partner, Erica Berry Wilson, launched Go-Go Fitness during the winter of 2012. The first class, at Heat Haven on Good Hope Road SE, consisted of Tucker and her scheduler along with a total of six students. By the second week we had 15, says Tucker. And by the third week, we were sold out and looking for a larger space.

These days, Go-Go Fitness offers 10 to 15 classes per week throughout the DMV, with most classes in Prince Georges County. Go-Go Fitness has also traveled, with classes in Fayetteville, Miami, Seattle, and Puerto Rico. Theyve released three exercise-at-home DVDs. And this year, on its fifth anniversary, Go-Go Fitness was honored with a D.C. City Council resolution.

***

Tucker, 47, grew up in Southeast Washington, steeped in go-go culture. Were a three-generation go-go familymy dad and his brothers, and then me and my kids, she says. As a child, she studied at Bernice Hammonds Northeast Academy of Dance. Years later, dance fitness proved to be Tuckers preferred workout, from 80s Jazzercise all the way up to 90s-and-beyond Zumba. For a while she taught Zumba.The problem was, there was never any go-go music in those classes, she says.

Most everyone Tucker knew preferred to work out to go-go. If a go-go head was working out, 10 times out of 10 they would be listening to go-go music, she says.

As Tucker developed Go-Go Fitness, her inspiration always went back to go-go founder Chuck Brown. Chuck made the music go on and on. That beat would just keep going, just like in Africa, and we would just keep dancing, old and young, men and women, childreneverybody. He would call out and we would respond. Thats go-go, she says.

I didnt do anything but take Chucks original formula and put it to dance fitness, Tucker continues. Thats what has made us popular. Our students dont think theyre coming to class. They think theyre coming to the go-go, just like when they were teenagers. They get their crews together and where the go-go at?

Many Go-Go Fitness regulars are past the stage in life when theyre good to hit the clubs for late-night shows. Were giving them the opportunity to go to a go-gonot at 1 a.m., not for four hours, cause we cant do that no more, says Tucker.

In a throwback to the historic Washington Coliseum holiday shows, Tucker occasionally schedules a two-hour holiday Crankfest celebrating specific go-go artists. The first, honoring Little Benny, was on Memorial Day 2013, at the Panorama Room in Southeast and drew 459 people. The following year, Team Familiars Donnell Floyd attended GGFs July 4th celebration of his contributions to go-go. They played all my music, and it was a great feeling to see that many people jubilantly exercising to music that I put together, says Floyd.

Floyds wife, Jennifer Floyd, is training to become a GGF instructor, and Donnell couldnt be happier about it. People excited about go-go music and using it for a positive thingnot just losing weight, but staying healthythats just great, he says. I think the go-go beat is the greatest beat in the world. The energy thats inside the beat, to me its incredible, so this application makes absolute perfect sense. I wish that I had thought of it.

Other go-go artists take a more active role in Go-Go Fitnessby actually taking the classes. What caught my interest was the beat that they was working out to, says Trouble Funks Big Tony Fisher, who as a GGF regular, lost nearly 40 pounds before his kidney transplant last year.

Id be lyin if I didnt say it wasnt hard work, but the way Dani do it, its fun, Fisher says. If you love go-go music, you dont look at it as work, or even working out. You almost look at it like its dancing.

***

Nearly every GGF class features a Junkyard Band medley, some Little Benny & The Masters, Rare Essence, Huck-a-Bucks, Backyard Band, Experience Unlimited, and Chuck Brown. Tucker also draws on classic go-go dances, and theres a Beat Your Feet segment set to T.O.B.s Know Meee. Every class also features Michelle Obama timefor arms and shoulders, of course.

Fisher points to Tuckers inventive recasting of the Trouble Funk hit Lets Get Small as an example of her creativity. Shell take that song, and create a workout around it, and give it a whole different meaning, he says. I really think Go-Go Fitness is just another positive outlet for go-go, and its something that has potential to go all around the world.

To be sure, theres more go-go in Go-Go Fitness than its soundtrack. In go-go, the bands lead talkers provide the genres essential sense of community by leading call-and-response chants and by spotlighting various folks in the audience. Because there are several instructors for each GGF class, Tucker is free to work the room as a lead talker. Danette Dani Tucker instructs a class.Go Go Fitness

Sure, she calls out the usual fitness single-single-double directives, but there are also distinctly go-go styled shout-outs, including We got Upper Marlboro in the house, yall and Go head! I see you! On a recent Saturday, she admonished the classyall better wake upbut also made them laugh: Go-go songs all long, she said, but we aint tryin to kill you.

Tucker addresses the class as go-go family, and there are plenty of opportunities for the family to talk back. Danette has taken go-gos call and response and used that to get the class involved, says Wilson, who serves as Go-Go Fitness Chief Operating Officer. In go-go, you want to hear from the people youre partying with, and in this case, you want to hear from the people youre exercising with.

For Big Tony, Tucker is more than just a lead talker. I call her my go-go motivator, he says. Dani is like a lead talker, hype person and the coach, all wrapped together. She knows how to bring out the best in you. I would leave that place sometimes soaking wet, and shed be sayin, You alright, Big T?

One of the reasons I feel that Go-Go Fitness is so important is that I think that we, as blacks in particular, we really dont have a healthy diet and a lot of us dont exercise the way we should, continues Big Tony. I think Dani found a wonderful strategy to get more of us into exercise without making it feel like exercise, and that gives go-go a positive look.

Tuckers role as lead talker is just one of the ways that the classes echoes the community feel of go-go shows. Go-Go Fitness no-judgement zone attracts a wide range of fitness levelsbig women in baggy sweats and lithe women in tight spandex, and some big women in tight spandex, too. Some regulars come with their mothers and daughters, too. On a recent Saturday, one woman clutched an inhaler for the duration of the class. When another woman couldnt continue, Tucker chatted with her until she was ready to go again.

It doesnt matter what size you are in here, says Tanya Beverly, 54, of Forestville. Since I started, Ive lost 56 pounds. Beverly grew up in Southeast, and back in the day she used to enjoy free go-go shows in the parks. I grew up with Chuck. I still love all Chucks music, she says. Now I can dance to Chuck Brown here.

Even before Browns death in 2012, local media has occasionally questioned the longevity of the music he created. While its true that many go-go bands dont play as often as they once did, and that too many local venues and radio stations dont adequately support the music, adaptability has always been a crucial aspect of go-go culture. Go-go-driven gospel animates many local church services on Sunday mornings, and Go-Go Fitness is yet another example of the durability of the go-go groove.

Go-go is part of our DNA now, says class regular Camille Franklin, 47, who grew up in Ivy City and followed Chuck and Rare Essence for years. Go-Go Fitness just helps to keep it alive.

Along with getting its go-go family in shape, sustaining its precious culture is of paramount importance to Go-Go Fitness. With the ever-changing demographic of this area and gentrification, I think go-go has been the one thing Washingtonians can hang onto as part of our identity, says Wilson. Go-go does carry a sense of nostalgia for many of us. It reminds us of the good times in the city, what we had, and what we should be proud of.

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Bustin' Moves - Washington City Paper (blog)

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Free Fitness Classes In Boston This Summer CBS Boston CBS Boston / WBZ BOSTON (CBS) To get into shape for the summer, you don't have to choose between groceries or the gym, when there are free fitness classes available. and more »

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Free Fitness Classes In Boston This Summer CBS Boston - CBS Boston / WBZ

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WATCH LIVE

San Diego police are investigating a shooting in the parking lot of a 24 Hour Fitness gym on Balboa Avenue.

The shooting happened at approximately 1:50 a.m. Thursday at the 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport gym, located on the 7700 block of Balboa Avenue. The location is just east of Interstate 805.

Police say a Nissan Maxima, reported stolen a few hours before the shooting, was found crashed at the gym.

Witnesses at the gym saw the tail end of a shootout between the Maxima and possibly two other cars.

Everyone fled from the scene before police arrived.

Maintenance workers from the Applebees, right across the parking lot, told police they saw a silver or light colored older model Honda Civic and dark colored Toyota Camry taking off from the scene.

It is unclear if anyone was injured. There do not appear to be any victims.

No further information was available.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Published at 7:02 AM PDT on Jun 8, 2017

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Police Investigating Shooting at 24 Hour Fitness Gym in Kearny Mesa - NBC 7 San Diego

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By Donna Gregory Burch.

Exercise is a sore subject (literally!) in the fibromyalgia community. Thats why Ive avoided writing about it for so long. I know a lot of fibro warriors will agree with me when I say Im sick of hearing doctors and researchers tell me that Ill feel better if I just exercise. But I also know, based on the current research, theyre probably right.

Donna Gregory Burch

The problem is when were struggling to get the basics done each day, like showering and prepping meals, the idea of taking a power walk around the neighborhood is just ludicrous. Even 10 minutes of yoga is enough to send most of us into a days-long flare.

As someone who used to do 5Ks, I really WANT to exercise, but when Ive attempted it in the past, it just made my pain and fatigue so much worse. (Theres actually a name for this:post-exertional malaise, and its a real thing, despite the fact that most doctors have never heard of it.) I learned very quickly that standard exercise programs just dont work for me. Theyre too strenuous and stressful for my body.

Over the years, Ive wished there was an exercise program designed just for people with fibromyalgia and similar conditions, and now Ive found one! Andrea Wool developedAutoimmune Strongafter becoming ill with fibromyalgia, Hashimotos thyroiditis and celiac following the birth of her second son. Like many of us, she couldnt find solutions for her health issues within the paradigm of conventional medicine and decided to see if lifestyle changes might improve her symptoms, but that only led to yet another challenge: Most exercise programs are designed for (at least semi-) healthy people and dont address the physical limitations of living with a debilitating chronic illness. Normal exercise would cause her to crash.

Eventually, Andrea decided to devise her own exercise program to heal her body and is now sharing it with others. Ive watched the first few videos of Autoimmune Strong, and I immediately knew I wanted to share it with my readers. Andreas approach is so slow and gentle that I think her program may help those of us who want to begin an exercise routine, but dont have the stamina for traditional workouts.

So today, Im sharing a Q & A with Andrea where we discuss her health struggles, how those inspired the creation of Autoimmune Strong and how her program answers the need for gentle movement within the fibromyalgia community. I hope you enjoy our interview.

Youve had a number of health challenges, including fibromyalgia, Hashimotos thyroiditis and celiac disease. Can you share your story of chronic illness?

Almost 6 years ago, I was very sick. I had just given birth to my second son, and I just knew something was really wrong with my body. I was exhausted with mind-numbing fatigue. I was rapidly gaining weight, and I had constant, fiery and intense pain all over my body at all times.

Andrea Wool

I was on maternity leave with a newborn and a 3 year old at home, and I was completely unable to care for my babies, my household or myself. I needed constant support from my mom and my husband just to make it through each day. Simple everyday things like playing on the floor with my son, or carrying my infant up the stairs, or going to the grocery store would be impossible, debilitating. I spent the days in tears, in incredible pain all over. The exhaustion was intense and overwhelming.

I saw many medical doctors, most of whom told me that I was fine. But obviously, I was NOT fine. I was so sick I had to quit my job. I was desperate for anything that could help me get better. I started to look at the things I could control what I ate and how I moved my body. Over time, I pieced together a food-based healing protocol I thought could work. I started by eliminating gluten, then sugar, dairy, alcohol, and caffeine. I started eliminating processed foods and buying only organic produce and meat.

Having been an athlete all my life, I knew movement needed to be a part of the healing as well. I hired a personal trainer and started to move again, but it was really tough. I was too weak to do any of the things I used to do, and the workouts we were doing were causing intense flare-ups in my body. I would feel great for a week, and then crushed for two weeks with exhaustion and fatigue. After a few months of this self-designed protocol, I was starting to feel better, and I realized that I was on the right path. But I was by no means back to normal, and I needed to know how to get there. I wanted to know what I was missing. So I made a big decision I decided to go back to school. I became a nutritional therapy practitioner and a certified personal trainer so I could learn more and go deeper into my own healing.

Two years into this process, I finally was diagnosed with Hashimotos [thyroiditis], celiac and fibromyalgia, and my doctors continue to be amazed at my personal healing journey using only food and movement. I now hope to inspire others, that they too can create their own healing journey and that they dont have to suffer in pain forever.

How are you feeling these days?

Actually, I am feeling great these days. I cant even believe, looking back at this story, that I am the same person. It has been a slow recovery, and its not finished yet. But 6 years later, I am now capable of doing things I didnt think was possible. I have been able to return to the active lifestyle I used to enjoy. I run, I do yoga and I have recently started to learn how to powerlift. I can deadlift 185 pounds! Not only am I healthy enough to hold down a job, but I am capable of running my own business.

But most importantly for me, I can keep up with my boys. They love to run around, and I am totally capable of running around with them. I go rock climbing with them, I can carry them on my shoulders, I play tag, I can tackle them and rough-house, and my body can manage it. They have no memory of a sick mom. They only know me as I am today. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

I think all of us with fibromyalgia have been told that we should exercise to reduce our symptoms, but its so hard especially in the beginning because exercise tends to cause even more pain and fatigue. How did you get started and stay motivated to continue?

Yes, I have found that with fibromyalgia, as well as other chronic pain issues, exercise is a double-edged sword. Movement is essential, but too much movement can stimulate a flare of the worst kind. It took me a long time to figure out where the balance needed to be. As I shared above, I hired a personal trainer, but she did not understand my body at all. I have found that with most personal trainers and fitness professionals out there, they want you to push your body so you can get stronger faster. No pain, no gain, right? Well, I tried that, and it did NOT work for me. Instead, it made me sicker. But as a former athlete, it was hard to wrap my brain around the concept that I needed to SLOW DOWN. Pacing is the most important part of a fitness regime for people with fibromyalgia. Slow, steady and consistent over time is what I believe works the best.

I stay motivated because now that I exercise in the right way for my body, it actually does make me feel better! I find that when I feel a flare coming on, exercise can help rather than harm. For me, exercise is now my medicine. Its not something I do to get skinny or work off my last meal. Its something I do to further my own healing process.

Why is it important for those of us with fibromyalgia and similar conditions to stay physically active?

If done properly, exercise can help us manage our symptoms and flare-ups. Chronic pain conditions are exacerbated by inflammation, and, if done properly, exercise can help to reduce inflammation. Additionally, the right exercises can teach our bodies to adapt to a pain response, which can help us get through the pain and exhaustion of our daily activities. Our bodies need to learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

What is Autoimmune Strong and what led you to develop it?

Autoimmune Strong is an online fitness program designed specifically for people struggling with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, autoimmune disorders and Lyme disease.

I developed it because I was so frustrated that nobody in the fitness community knew how to handle my body. I spent a ton of time trying to find someone who could help me exercise without a flare-up, and I couldnt find anyone who even knew what I was talking about. I created this program for myself, and it felt good. So I started using it with my one-on-one personal training clients, and they felt good, too.

Based on these great results, I was inspired to create a program that was accessible to everyone, easy to do at home, that helped people with chronic pain conditions like myself start getting stronger and feeling better. Autoimmune Strong was born!

For those who are interested in starting an exercise program, how is Autoimmune Strong different than other programs on the market and what can participants expect?

Autoimmune Strong is the only strength-training fitness program specifically designed for people struggling with chronic pain. The thing that sets Autoimmune Strong apart most is the program design. First, Autoimmune Strong is designed to target specific postural muscles without doing big movements. These movements are effective in building strength, but they dont trigger stress and inflammation on the body.

Second, the pacing of the program sets it apart. Most exercise programs push you to your max. Autoimmune Strong starts off very slow, so that your body can adapt properly to the movements, so you can progress through the movements without a flare. And finally, Autoimmune Strong has a community component, where members can chat with each other in a private Facebook group so we can share our goals, our successes and our struggles. Chronic pain is an invisible disease, and its hard for the people around us to understand what we live with. The more we can support each other, the better we will be!

Where can people learn more about Autoimmune Strong?

Go toAutoimmune Strongfor more info! There is a 7-day free trial so you can check the program out in its entirety for 7 days and see if its right for you. And you can always email me at andrea@getautoimmunestrong.com. I would love to hear your stories of struggle and healing so please share with me. (And of course, you canfind me on Facebook,too!)

Donna Gregory Burch was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2014 after several years of unexplained pain, fatigue and other symptoms. She was later diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease. Donna covers news, treatments, research and practical tips for living better with fibromyalgia and Lyme on her blog, FedUpwithFatigue.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter. Donna is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared online and in newspapers and magazines throughout Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania. She lives in Delaware with her husband and their many fur babies.

More:
Fibro Warrior Creates Exercise Program Just For Us! - National Pain Report

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If you're looking for a way to spice up your exercise routine this summer, there are lots of new options to help you get fit. From competitive spinning to high-energy dance classes to workouts that focus on strength and flexibility, these exercise regimens make a great compliment to or replacement for your regular workouts. Try one or try them all and get ready to take your fitness to the next level.

HUGE news, #Orangetheory Nation! @yelp just ranked our Melrose, CA studio the #1 fitness studio in the entire COUNTRY. As you know, Yelp considers every element of the consumer experience in their rankings, so to be ranked #1 is a tremendous honor and also speaks to the incredible quality, talents and efforts of not just our staff and studio at Melrose, but at each of our 500+ locations. A big thanks to Yelp, and to YOU, Orangetheory Nation, for your continued support! #KeepBurning!

A post shared by Orangetheory Fitness (@orangetheory) on Nov 12, 2016 at 6:51am PST

Orangetheory Fitness is a franchise of gyms located across the country. Unlike traditional gyms where you workout independently from your fellow gym-goers, Orangetheory hosts classes in which you complete workouts at your own pace, but along with other exercisers.

Each instructor brings their own vibe to the classes, but every Orangetheory class is comprised of some combination of cardio on the treadmill and the rowing machine plus strength training. And what makes it truly unique is that every participant wears a heart rate monitor with results that are displayed on a screen for all to see. (You can see the screen to the side of the treadmills in the pic above.)

The theory behind Orangetheory is that you should get your heart rate into Zone 4, or the orange zone, for 12-20 minutes of your workout because that's where the magic happens when it comes to calorie burning. Any higher or lower and you're not really getting everything you can out of your workout or yourself.

If you're looking to get strong and sculpted, BootyBarre might be just the class for you. It uses a barre, similar to the ones that ballet dancers use, but don't worry, you don't need any dance experience to join. BootyBarre classes are low-impact, but you can expect to work up a good sweat thanks to the combination of strength and flexibility moves.

While instructors are certified to teach BootyBarre classes, they have a lot of flexibility to change up the moves, reps, and music, as long as they stick to the basic framework of the class. Expect to lift some light weights while focusing on intentional movements that work to improve flexibility and build strength.

If grassroots fitness is your thing, you need to find your way to a November Project class this summer. November Project has an awesome and simple backstory: Two guys from Boston wanted to stay fit over the winter so they made a promise to meet to work out every morning for the month of November.

There are now over 40 November Project branches throughout the world where organizers lead exercisers through a series of cardio and strength training moves which feel more like adult recess than set workouts. While there's no standard format to a November Project workout, two things are found at every session, whether it's held in Amsterdam or Austin, Texas: They are always outdoors regardless of the weather, and they're always free.

Remember how those TRX contraptions changed the name of the game in fitness a few years ago? That's the idea behind Fitwall. The moves are familiar think squats, planks, pull-ups and burpees but you perform them in unique ways using a machine that's part rungs on a ladder, part attached bungees, and part medieval torture device. The moves can be modified from beginner level to beast mode by moving your hands up or down on the rungs or stepping closer or further away from the wall. Fitwall gyms can be found in Arizona, California, Colorado and Michigan.

Gyrotonics is unique exercise that looks a lot like some combination of t'ai chi, ballet, swimming and Pilates. Most of the movements are performed on a Gyrotonic Expansion System (or GXS) which is a wooden machine with pulleys and rotational discs that allow you to use lots of flowy circular motions in the workouts.

Gyrokinesis workouts use similar principles but the movements are performed on the floor or on a stool and not with the GRX machine. Unlike a lot of exercises that keep the movements in one plane of motion, Gyrotonics and Gyrokinesis focus on three-dimensional range of motion moves that work to open up the joints, stimulate acupressure points and build strength.

Love to dance? UJam is the workout for you. These high-energy dance classes are less traditional gym workout and more late-night rave. UJam sessions lead you through the latest dance moves while you work up a good sweat. And don't worry, you don't have to be a good dancer to get started. With the theme of "United We Jam," UJam classes aim to be welcoming, uplifting, and most of all, fun.

If you're a fan of SoulCycle and other spinning classes but also have a competitive streak, you may be interested in trying a Flywheel class. The setup for Flywheel is very similar to your standard spin class the room is dark, the music is loud and proud, and the circuits take you through a range of hill work, sprints and pedaling with resistance that can be adjusted by a knob on your bike. The difference is, at most spin classes, your torque or the amount of energy created by your resistance level and cadence is only displayed on your bike. But at Flywheel classes, a screen above the instructor's head displays the torque for every bike. "Flyers" might compete during short 30-second sprints or 45-second hill climbs, and at the end of the class, bikes (and flyers) are ranked according to the torque generated.

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7 new workouts to try this summer - Mother Nature Network (blog)

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Georgia ranks 41st among states on older peoples health, down two spots from last years ranking, a new report says.

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The state improved on several measures despite the lower ranking, according to the fifth annual Americas Health Rankings Senior Report, produced by United Health Foundation.

Georgia had a 12 percent decrease in senior poverty in the past two years; a 16 percent increase in health screenings over that time; and a similar rise in seniors with high health status. It also has a low prevalence of excessive drinking and a high percentage of hospice use.

But the state also has a high hip fracture hospital rate; a low percentage of quality nursing home beds; and a high smoking rate.

As in other health rankings, Southern states were aggregated at the bottom of the rankings. Mississippi ranked 50th, trailing Kentucky (49), Oklahoma (48), Louisiana (47), Arkansas (46) and West Virginia (45). Tennessee was 44th, Alabama 43rdand Missouri 42nd.

Minnesota was ranked first, followed by Utah, Hawaii, Colorado and New Hampshire.

Georgia has more than 1 million people 65 and older a number that is expected to increase over the next two decades, like senior populations in other states.

Nationally, the report found significant improvements in care quality and outcomes for seniors since 2013, including:

But obesity prevalence rose to 27.6 percent of adults aged 65 years and older in 2017, representing a five-year high. Georgias obesity rate among seniors was 29.7 percent.

Food insecurity which refers to a lack of dependable access to nutritious foods rose to 15.8 percent of U.S. adults aged 60 years and older, with Georgias at 17.8 percent.

The report is a call to action for stakeholders, Dr. Linda Britton, medical director of UnitedHealthcare of Georgia, told Georgia Health News on Thursday. We have a dramatically growing population of seniors with increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, she added. Those two health conditions, she said, are going to be a huge problem.

We clearly need to improve access to healthy food and increase the ability of seniors to exercise safely, Britton added.

Among positive trends she cited were the decline in unnecessary hospitalizations and in readmissions of recently discharged patients.

Georgia specifically should work on increasing the number of quality nursing home beds, Britton added.

The national data also show that 62 percent of retired seniors age 65 and over, and nearly three out of four non-retired adults age 50 to 64, have less in total retirement savings than what experts recommend saving for health care costs alone. (Heres a link to the report.)

Glenn Ostir, director of the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Georgias College of Public Health, said Thursday that programs spearheaded by state and local agencies could be advanced to create a sustainable Healthy Aging Initiative.

This initiative could build on and advance the notable successes of the past two years, such as lowering the overall poverty rate in the state and increasing the number of health care screenings, Ostir said. For example, opportunities exist in providing community support to older adults living in poverty, promoting low-impact exercise programs to reduce the risk of bone fractures, especially hip fractures, and providing high-quality affordable nursing home care for elders.

Shifting state demographics toward an older, more ethnically diverse population will increase age-related health risks, he said. Early identification of areas of need and the rapid implementation of programs designed to address these needs will increase the quality of life and independence of older Georgians in the coming decades.

Andy Miller is the editor and CEO of Georgia Health News.

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Georgia Slips To 41st In National Senior Health Rating - WABE 90.1 FM

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Is there no limit to what people will do to avoid proper diet and exercise? A diet whose roots date back to the early 1950s and that has seen a recent resurgence, uses the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) also known as the pregnancy hormone to suppress appetite.

The diet was originally developed by British endocrinologistDr. A.T.W. Simeons who was using hCG to treat low testosterone levels in boys. During treatment, he noticed that the boys were losing weight, and especially belly fat, which led him to conclude that the hypothalamus gland (which is responsible for the production of hormones) contributed to the regulation of fat.

WATCH BELOW: Gluten-free diet warning

Over the course of a decade, Simeons experimented with different foods and amounts of the hormone to fine-tune the hCG diet, which when followed precisely, led to men and women losing weight much faster than through diet and exercise alone.

But doctors today point out that theres one key factor driving this weight loss: the diet only allows for a consumption of 500 daily calories.

The essence of the diet is that youre only eating 500 calories a day, said Dr. Tom Hannam, director of Hannam Fertility Centre. Its wildly insufficient.

Hannam explains that hCG is made by the placenta when a woman gets pregnant. Its purpose is to stimulate the ovaries to get them to keep making progesterone, which thickens the endometrial lining so that she can hold on to her pregnancy. By the time she makes it to eight weeks of gestation, the placenta makes its own progesterone and hCG is no longer needed. Coincidentally, the diet only lasts eight weeks.

READ MORE: TLC diet is good for lowering bad cholesterol, not weight loss

Looking at the time frame, then, its obvious that hCG is crucial in the beginning stages of a pregnancy, which is the same time that many women experience nausea and vomiting.

And that, saidDr. Shafiq Qaadri, author of The Testosterone Factor, could be one of the reasons behind taking hCG for weight loss.

This characteristic of pregnancy thats largely driven by this hormone nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite is what health practitioners are trying to capture so that their patients will lose interest in food, he said. The dose will vary so as not to induce full-blown [symptoms], but that changes from day to day.

The other point of hCG could be to offer muscle protection, much in the way that any anabolic hormone might, he says. Due to the severe restrictions of the diet (patients eat two daily meals consisting of a lean protein, a vegetable, a piece of fruit and a bread product, like one breadstick or slice of Melba toast), the first thing people are bound to lose is muscle mass.

That may be okay when you look at yourself or see the number on the scale, but its bad for the body, Qaadri said. Youre basically eating yourself. And depending on how fast you drop the weight, it can lead to other metabolic issues.

But not all doctors see the point of the hCG. Dr. Jason Fung, a nephrologist and author of The Obesity Code, says that the hormone is little more than a placebo.

READ MORE: Kim Kardashian faces backlash for saying the flu is an amazing diet

Theres no evidence that it does anything aside from offer a placebo effect, he said. If you give people a shot of salt water and tell them it will suppress their hunger, in a high percentage of those people, it actually will. By that rationale, you can inject anything in them [and tell them it will aid in weight loss], and it will.

In a study published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, researchers asserted that even after more than half a century of studies, no scientific body has concluded that hCG has any effect on weight loss. This particular study looked at some preparations of the drug and found some alarming correlations.

The study we performed was to look at the components of some pharmaceutical grade preparations which are often not pure hCG, said Dr. Stephen Butler, lead author of the study. From our extensive earlier work we know that some of these impurities are associated with aggressive cancer.

Butler concludes:From the global peer-reviewed published literature, there is no evidence to suggest how hCG could promote any kind of weight loss.

Qaadri stresses that only a doctor can prescribe hCG and it comes in the form of an injectable. Any homeopathic preparations of it are fraudulent.

The other thing to consider about hCG, Hannam points out, is that in the right dosage, it can elicit a really good feeling in the body. After all, there are women who love being pregnant.

The point of hCG is to create a response in the ovaries to make hormones, and most of us feel great when we get a hormone boost. Your energy and your libido go up, and you feel pretty awesome. In this case, it would probably improve your mood and take your mind off your hunger [from following such a restrictive diet.]

In an interview with CTV News, a spokesperson from Health Canada explained the agencys stance on using hCG for weight loss.

When used to treat a condition for which it is not indicated, such as weight loss, [hCG] could cause serious side-effects. In women this could include painful cysts occurring as the result of over-stimulation of the ovaries.

READ MORE: Heres why the Mediterranean diet could preserve your brains health

Hannam says that hCG isnt routinely used to stimulate egg growth in the ovaries, so hyperstimulation wouldnt be a common side effect. But there is one that could make it an undesirable option for women:an increased risk of pregnancy.

This hormone stimulates the ovaries, and the thing with doing that is that you could increase your number of eggs and risk getting pregnant, Hannam said.

While there are no definitive studies on what long-term hCG use will do to the body, he says the diet overall isnt built for health.

Its an extreme diet, he said. Only eating 500 calories a day and taking a steroid that is untested for this indication is an extreme choice on top of another extreme choice. Its not sustainable and therefore not medically advisable.

2017Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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People are taking pregnancy drugs to lose weight: Is it safe? - Globalnews.ca

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WOMEN are resorting to ridiculous measures in order to lose weight.

GETTY

Anyone whos tried to lose weight has probably gone to a semi-drastic measure.

While diet and exercise are the tried and tested method, juice cleanses that promise 5st weight loss can often be tempting.

However, some women have taken these measures to a new level.

Reports have revealed women are injecting themselves with a pregnancy hormone in order to lose weight fast.

The chemical, called human chorionic gonadotropin, is certainly not a recommended weight loss technique and we urge you not to try this at home.

The pregnancy hormone is supposed to support weight loss of up to 30lb per month.

HCG doesnt have any approval for weight loss and we strongly recommend against it, Professor Bu Beng Yeap from the Endocrine Society of Australia said.

The chemical is mainly being sold online and these would most likely contain homoeopathic quantities.

Amazingly, these reality TV stars have lost more than 40st between them... all thanks to healthy eating and exercise

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Scarlett Moffatt shows off her weight loss

The weight loss plan that comes with the chemical bought online advises dieters to eat just 500 calories per day for the initial few weeks.

Nutritionists advise if a woman is looking to lose weight she should aim to eat between 1,200 and 1,500 calories a day and then 2,000 calories to maintain her weight.

Eating just 500 calories a day is a quarter of a womans recommended daily intake, so people who do this will lose weight whether or not they are injecting themselves with the hormone.

Jade Larue West tried the diet and called it a terrible experience: It did not take me long to realise this diet was a terrible mistake.

Not only did it fail provide me with lasting results, but it also left me in a worse state than when I started. And the entire time I was on the diet, I was unhappy.

If you do want to lose weight, a healthy diet and exercise three times a week is the way to go instead of injecting yourself with unknown chemicals.

The Daily Star Online have approached a medical professional for comment.

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Turning 30 can be the beginning of weight-loss woes.

After leaving our 20s, when it wasn't such a challenge to lose five pounds in less than 10 days, the 30s are the decade when metabolism slows and our schedules and eating habits may be dictated by the stress of a career, marriage or family. Even the best laid plans to maintain and lose weight can be difficult to manage. Difficult but not impossible.

Here are some tips to help you drop the pounds during your 30s:

If metabolism in our 20s is like a raging inferno, metabolism in our 30s is more like a comfortable campfire. Its still burning, but its in serious need of wood to keep it going. That wood is protein.

We lose muscle throughout every decade of life. However, the third decade is when it really starts to creep in. Weight-bearing exercises are vitally important, but keeping and building muscle also consists of consuming protein. How we split up our daily food sources could make a difference.

A 2009 study from the University of Texas found when individuals in their mid-30s spaced out protein consumption to slightly less than 30 grams per meal, they built more muscle than when they clumped all their protein needs at the end of the day.

The studys authors suggested most Americans eat the majority of their protein at dinner and consume less at lunch. Therefore, they suggested this excess amount of protein at night get shifted to our other meals. Daily intake could include:

The journey into motherhood may start in your 30s. If it does, you can expect an abundance of joy, laughter ... And chicken nuggets.

I speak from experience. When I was 39 I realized my weight was creeping up due to my 2 year old's foods creeping into my mouth frequently. Toddlers preference for nuggets, pizza, goldfish-shaped crackers and chocolate milk often prevail over your desires for them to eat broccoli. These foods are also very tempting to the busy, and often exhausted, mom.

It wasnt easy, but once I put habits in place to avoid eating off my childs plate, I noticed my weight began to drop.

For yourself, make sure you have nutrient-dense meals ready when your child dives into his macaroni and cheese. Or pop some gum in when you put your babys plate down.

If youre serious about losing weight, sleep is just as important as diet and exercise. The 30s are not the most restful time: Work, kids, cleaning the house and stress may all play a role.

Studies have found lack of sleep is associated with weight gain, increased appetite, decreased metabolism, and less motivation to exercise. Make sleep a priority by altering things you can control like your bedroom sleep basics.

Obesity and inactivity are contagious.

In a 2007 landmark study, the New England Journal of Medicine found a direct relationship between your friends who were obese and your own weight. In fact, if your friend is obese, your chances of becoming obese increased by 57 percent. Additionally, having mutual friends who are obese puts your chances at 171 percent. Those arent good odds if youre trying to lose weight.

While Im not suggesting dropping friends who dont fit into a certain size pair of jeans, I am urging you to be aware of how powerful and influential your friends may be on your weight. If youre trying to lose weight, I would suggest buddying up with someone else in their 30s with similar weight-loss goals. Perhaps you can even spend more time with friends who are considered a normal weight.

Thinness is contagious, too.

A 2017 animal study found when the body sensed food was scarce it protected itself by inhibiting calories and burning fat.

So, if youre 30-something and you think starving your way around bad eating habits will help you drop pounds, you should think again. Instead, focus on shifting how you look at starting and stopping your meals and snacks. The secret eat until youre no longer hungry, not until youre full.

I tell my patients they should never have fullness and should embrace a little hunger right before bed. You can also consider a fasting plan, which is different from starving every day. Fasting has been shown to help with weight loss and prevent some of the diseases that may be lurking around the corner in a few decades.

Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, R.D., is the manager of wellness nutrition services at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, and the author of "Skinny Liver." Follow her on Twitter @KristinKirkpat.

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We Got A Ton Of Nutritionists To Share The One Tip They Give Clients Who Want To Lose Weight Women's Health Losing "just five pounds" may sound easy in theory. All it takes is a good buffet and Netflix to gain five pounds in a weekend so why shouldn't it be that easy to lose it again? Unfortunately nothing in weight loss is that easy. (Question for the ages ...

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We Got A Ton Of Nutritionists To Share The One Tip They Give Clients Who Want To Lose Weight - Women's Health

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