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Its no secret that gluten-free, Paleo, vegan/vegetarian and plant-based lifestyle diets have been on a steady rise. Many of these lifestyle changes are motivated by specific health concerns, however more and more shoppers are browsing the shelves in hopes of improving their overall health through these lifestyle changes. With this, comes the question of whether this is simply a trend with room to grow and concerns of whether some of these diets are actually healthy for consumers who dont necessarily need them.

Why Are Alternative Diets Being Adopted Now Like Never Before? According to a report released by The Canadian Celiac Association and the Allergen Control group in January of 2017, one reason for the demand in gluten-free foods is due to 83 percent of Americans going undiagnosed. The report states that expected methods of accurate diagnosis will increase and, combined with increased awareness spurred by marketing and activist consumer groups, will create new avenues of growth in the market(1).

In addition to the American population increasingly getting diagnosed with celiac disease or similar food allergies, Lola ORourke, education supervisor of the Gluten Intolerance Group, Auburn, WA, believes since many foods which consumers commonly associate with gluten are often traditionally of relatively low nutritional quality (e.g. cookies, pizza, bread, donuts, etc.), many consumers who do not have a gluten-related disorder erroneously believe that going on a gluten-free diet will benefit their overall nutrition and health.

In the case of vegan and vegetarian diets, category growth is being spurred because of the environmental impact. It takes less water to make plant-based food and the carbon footprint is significantly lower, said Greg Blake and Andre Kroecher, founders of Daiya, Vancouver, BC, Canada. This is also a major factor in finding a more sustainable and cost-effective way of feeding the worlds population. Generally, as consumers become more conscious of how their food is made and where it comes from, they tend to make more conscientious, ethical and compassionate choices choosing plant-sourced food over animal-based products.

According to Jaqui Karr, CGP, CSN, CVD, weight loss was a driving factor for many without a food sensitivity when turning to a gluten-free lifestyle. However, once consumers figured out there were fattening and toxic foods in the gluten-free world, the misconception lead to a decline in growth, but eventually consumers looking for true results have caused the growth we see today.

Nutritional Benefits & Top Priorities Paleo. A Paleolithic diet, or Paleo, is an effort to eat a diet better suited for our ancestors, due to the strong presence of processed foods in the modern human diet which are incompatible with our bodies. While everyone experiences different results, the nutritional benefit that some consumers experience while on a Paleo diet is an increase in nutrient absorption and an improvement in gut health. Also called the caveman diet, the Paleo diet consists of high-protein, high fiber and low carbohydrates. Allowed foods consist of grass-fed meats, fish/seafood, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, eggs, nuts, seeds and oils such as olive and coconut.

However, because the diet seeks to emulate that of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, not farmers, wheat and dairy along with grains and legumes such as peanuts and beans should be avoided. In addition, refined sugars, potatoes, processed foods, any candy, salt and refined vegetable oils like canola oil are also not permitted on a Paleo diet. To help maintain a balance or fill nutritional gaps, Eileen Forte, president and CEO of Paleo Simplified, Clearwater, FL, suggests eating a colorful plate, avoiding white, processed foods and eating a balanced diet. In addition Taylor Collins, co-founder of Epic, Austin, TX, suggests a shoppers top priority should be focusing on quality meat, such as grass fed and pastured animals, not only due to the nourishment they provide when compared to conventional meat, but also due to the animals more appropriate diets.

Vegan & Vegetarian. Maintaining a vegetarian diet involves eating lots of fruits and vegetables, greens, nuts, seeds and legumes while avoiding meat, fish, poultry as well as dairy and eggs, unless an lacto-ovo vegetarian or lacto-vegetarian which allow for dairy and eggs or dairy, but not eggs, respectively. A vegan diet, in addition to being vegetarian, also involves not using animal products and by-products of any kind such as honey, eggs, fur, cosmetics, wool and more. Veganism is more deeply rooted in ideology, specifically the ethical treatment of animals. Both these camps may require that people acquire nutrients that would have been otherwise acquired from meat from plant-based sources. This is crucial for being a healthy vegan or vegetarian.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the more restrictive ones diet is, the more challenging it can be to get all the nutrients consumers may need. A vegan for example, eliminates natural food sources of vitamin B-12, as well as milk products, which are good sources of calcium (2). Although a multi-vitamin may help supplement any nutrients that are lacking, the main nutrimental benefits of a vegan and vegetarian diet are usually high in dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid, vitamins C and D, iron and phytochemicals, and they tend to be lower in calories, saturated fat and cholesterol, long-chain n3 (omega-3) fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B-12 (3). Protein is important to maintaining health, so those switching to a vegan/vegetarian diet should make sure they get adequate protein from plant-based sources, said Brad Lahrman, director of marketing of Lightlife Foods, Turnee Falls, MA. Also, vitamin B12 is most commonly found in animal proteins so make sure to supplement this vitamin into ones diet.

Plant-Based. A plant-based diet includes eating whole, unprocessed, whole plant foods such as beans, fruits, lentils, nuts, seeds, vegetables and whole grains. Unlike a vegan diet, a plant-based diet does not include processed foods, which include oil, white flour and refined sugar, and for some consumers may also exclude or minimize the consumption of animal products such as dairy, eggs and meats (including fish and poultry). Someone who follows a plant-based diet may or may not be vegan and a vegan may or may not follow a plant-based diet. Nutritional benefits that are commonly associated with a plant-based diet include a lower rate of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity (4).

To ensure there is a balance and/or nutritional gaps are filled, Blake and Kroecher suggest adding plant-based staples that are rich in vitamins and minerals like protein and nutrient-dense nuts, seeds and whole grains [that] provide protein, fiber and essential fatty acids. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables [that] provide antioxidants, enzymes, fiber and healthy and sustaining carbohydrates. Pulses, such as peas and legumes, are also great for boosting protein. When choosing a plant-based diet, Lahrman says, Variety is the key, as well as incorporating easy changes into recipes that someone currently enjoys by swapping in a plant-based option. Blake and Kroecher believe the three top priorities should always be taste, texture and ingredients/nutrition. Being healthier shouldnt mean you have to sacrifice great-tasting food. For us, plant-forward eating isnt about limiting your options, but a means of expanding ones view of food.

Gluten-Free. Primarily implemented to avoid the symptoms of celiac disease, a gluten-free diet excludes the protein gluten that causes inflammation of the skin, small intestines, and respiratory symptoms. Gluten is found in grains such as barley, rye, wheat and a cross of rye and wheat called triticale. For those without a food sensitivity, the main concept behind adopting a gluten-free lifestyle is to help boost energy, and to help alleviate headaches, depression, ADHD, brain fog, IBS and so much more can disappear within weeks, said Karr.

Karr also points out that it is important to note that going gluten-free is not a miracle instant fix for everyone and to work with a qualified health care professional with specific training with gluten damage. As for the top priorities that should be considered when going gluten-free, ORourke suggests looking for certified gluten-free labels by companies such as the Gluten-Free Certification Organization to ensure shoppers are picking out products that are legitimate. Karr suggests avoiding empty calories, whether theyre gluten-free or not and to also understand and compare nutrient density.

Will Growth Continue? Over the past 2 years, the plant-based foods industry has seen an 8.7% growth, but there is still much work to be done in terms of educating consumers on the benefits of plant-based foods, said Blake and Kroecher. As a founding member of the Plant-Based Association, we are now able to advocate for better policies to meet the growing demand for plant-based foods. Over the coming years, we intend to increase visibility for plant-based foods and boost social acceptance while eliminating policies and practices that place plant-based alternatives to meats, milks, eggs, and butters at an economic disadvantage. Lahrman also believes launching new lines of frozen items for time-crunched consumers and updating formulations such as plant-based faux-chicken products to remove egg whites to make them 100% animal free will allow shoppers who are following a full or part-time plant-based diet able to enjoy the products better.

According to ORourke, there is still much work to do. Many consumers still feel that gluten-free is a fad and do not realize that millions of people who have celiac disease or a non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) require this diet for their personal health. In addition, ORourke believes there will be a strong area of growth in the food service industry, but first, there needs to be an understanding of safe processes and the dangers of cross-contamination by our restaurants and food establishments. Programs such as the Gluten-Free Food Service (GFFS) Certification are helping to lead the way in this area. Kerr also believes a ton of work needs to be done, but more in helping consumers become aware of their options. Pricing is still a factor, which is why demand for organic is not that high. The consumer is thinking as long as I avoid the worst of it GMO then I should be okI think that demand for organic will rise as consumers learn what non-organic food is doing to their bodies. Product formulations will be evolving faster in the next few years than weve seen in the past.

Like a gluten-free lifestyle diet, Collins believes the Paleo diet has the potential to be mainstream. The Paleo diet is for everyone, not just shoppers in the natural grocery segment. I believe that Paleo productshave made a lasting impact in the natural foods world and are here to stay, Collins explains. However, there is very littleavailability in conventional channels. This makes sense because all major food revolutions begin in thenatural space. One particular new formulation that could help is the reformulation of products. We recently reformulated all of our wild salmon products to incorporate the addition of coconut oil, he says. Wedecided to make this change in order to increase the levels of healthy fats within the product. Consumers arebeginning to seek our products rich in high quality fats as a source of energy as well as an establishednourishing macronutrient.

Like Collins, Forte has also made changes in formulations, which could entice consumers with ethical concerns. For me, it was the removal of egg white protein and adding in hemp protein, she explains. I could not verify what the chickens were eating so, even though they were farm raised, I opted to discontinue it.

Ten years from now, Jennifer Hryciw, customer service manager at Field Roast, Seattle, WA, believes all shoppers will be incorporating more vegan food into their daily lives. Vegan food is a growth leader in the food industry, she says. We are all becoming aware of the impact we can make by shifting our choices regarding what we eat. It makes a difference. One meal a week or a purely vegan diet, it all moves the needle. People are finally starting to see that they dont have to go all in with a vegan diet, although all the benefits are amplified when you do.

References 1. Canadian Celiac Association, Demand for gluten-free foods expected to substantially increase as awareness and diagnosis of celiac disease continue to rise. http://gfstakeholdersession.com/asset/ALLERGEN_STAKEHOLDER_SESSIONS_REPORT_.pdf, Accessed, February 1, 2017. 2. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Nutrition and healthy eating, http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/vegetarian-diet/art-20046446?pg=2, Accessed February 3, 2017. 3. Winston J Craig. Health Effects of Vegan Diets. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (2009) http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/89/5/1627S.full, Accessed February 3, 2017. 4. Tuso, P. J., Ismail, M. H., Ha, B. P., & Bartolotto, C. (2013). Nutritional Update for Physicians: Plant-Based Diets.The Permanente Journal,17(2), 6166. http://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/12-085, Accessed February 3, 2017.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine March 2017

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More Than a Diet, It's a Lifestyle - WholeFoods Magazine

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Singer Judy Collins, pictured in New York, has written a book about overcoming an eating disorder.(Photo: Brad Trent, 2015 Brad Trent)

Singer Judy Collins burst on the scene in the 1960s and shes still going strong at age 77, even scoring a Grammy nomination this year for best folk album. Always candid, she has a new memoir, Cravings: How I Conquered Food (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday), in which she writes about overcoming alcoholism and an eating disorder. Bulimic for 11 years until the early 1980s, she now adheres to a program she swears by called GreySheeters Anonymous. She avoids foods she says she is allergic to, such as sugar, flour, grains, wheat and corn, but eats fats (butter and cheese) and proteins like chicken (with the skin on!). Its not a diet, I dont restrict, I have wonderful, wonderful meals, says Collins. She spoke with USA TODAYs Jocelyn McClurg:

Q: You have always been honestabout your personal issues, your alcoholism (you have been sober for decades) and bulimia. Why are these stories important for you to share?

A: I really wrote the book so that I could help people understand there is a solution and they dont have to go through all the years of struggle that I went through. We are addicted to sugar, grains, flour, wheat and junk, and they will increase the chance of bulimia, obesity and anorexia. Those (foods)contain alcohol and they set up a craving and a compulsion to have more. I dont have any cravings now, and for years that was the problem. Id get in and out of these diets, and sure, they work for a while.

Q: You write about your childhood, that your father was an alcoholicand your mother made wonderful desserts, and how much you craved sugar. How big an impact did your childhood have on your subsequent addictions?

A: I think it was fundamentally in my DNA. They say these things are inherited; there are chemical imbalances that we get;the color of our eyes; how tall were going to be. And I think the same thing is true for alcoholism and addiction. And there are people who may have it in their DNA, but they dont gethooked. Maybe they dont eat as much sugar as I did or maybe they are just sane and sensible! Discipline has very little to do with itIts not a moral issue.

Q: Why did you want to share in Cravings stories of historical diet gurus? Lord Byron and his food issues might surprise people!

A: Oh my, he was our first celebrity dieter, really.He was a little nuts. I always say you have to be careful which demons you kill, because one of them may be being able to write poetry like Byron.

'Cravings: How I Conquered Food' by Judy Collins(Photo: Doubleday)

Q: You write about your love of reading. What have you read recently that you really liked?

A: Im looking forward to Ron Chernows new book about Ulysses S. Grant (Grant is due from Penguin Press in October). I read a lot of history. I read recently a book by John Kelly called Never Surrender, which is the story of Churchills fight with those who wanted to appease Hitler. John Kelly writes brilliantly about that. Thats what I say:"Never surrender."Life is a lifelong fight and youve got to be up to it, youve got to get in battle gear for all the differentthings that happen to you. In this culture, you have to be almost as vigilant as anybody who suits up and goes over to battle in some foreign country. Youre in a foreign country when youre fighting food and alcohol, and you have to have help.

Q: It looks like you have a busy touring schedule this year.What keeps you going and singing at this point in your career?

A: Im just so lucky, so blessed... I do about 130 shows a year.I get to go all over the world and make TV specials and sing Sondheim and write albums with Ari Hest. I told him, "Youre the one who got me back on the Grammys, otherwise theyd have totally forgotten about me!"I love it.

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How singer Judy Collins conquered her eating disorder - USA TODAY

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PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwired - February 27, 2017) - Even after following a consistent weight loss process and achieving positive results, many obese and overweight individuals experience weight regain. Weight maintenance depends on a variety of factors, including genetics, personal behavior, and the environment. Following a regular diet and reducing daily caloric intake also has a significant effect. Behavioral therapy may be provided to those continuously struggling with weight regain. The stability of body weight can also be increased by avoiding harmful behaviors like emotional eating, late-night snacking, consuming excessive amounts of sugar, binge eating, and relapsing into an inactive lifestyle.

Generally speaking, reducing the number of calories consumed contributes to weight loss. As a general rule, one pound of weight is equivalent to 3,500 calories and in order to lose 1-2 pounds each week, one needs to reduce caloric intake by 500-1000 calories per day. Following this general rule without nutritional counseling or doctor-supervision is dangerous, however. Many individuals lack weight loss education and blindly follow a starvation diet that limits daily caloric intake to extremely low levels that have harmful effects on health. For instance, the original hCG diet, also known as the Simeons Diet, limits daily consumption to a mere 500 calories. This is not only considered an unsafe diet by the Obesity Medicine Association but also discouraged by weight loss experts like Dr. Nishant Rao at Diet Doc, a nationally recognized weight loss center.

At Diet Doc, patients are encouraging to follow healthier alternatives to dieting and regularly consult an in-house doctor throughout the weight loss process. With various prescription medications available, it is possible to adopt a more flexible diet program that involves consuming 800-1250 calories daily without impairing weight loss. The Simeons method for hCG dieting is not only outdated but also unnecessary and unrecommended. High-calorie programs offering safe weight loss are the ideal option for patients considering the hCG diet treatment. Doctor-supervision and diet customization based on nutritional needs is highly recommended.

At Diet Doc, patients can get a thorough understanding of the weight loss needs and develop an individualized diet based on their nutritional needs or even their genetics. All Diet Doc programs, provide a doctor-supervised, customized diet plan. Instead of encouraging patients to adopt harmful dietary practices with no prior medical knowledge, Diet Doc consults with patients to provide a detailed weight loss plan based on their nutritional needs and medical history. Losing weight with Diet Doc is safe, simple and affordable. Nutrition plans, exercise guidance, motivational support, and dietary supplements are all part of the package. More than 90% of Diet Doc patients report an average weight loss of 15-20 or more pounds every month and long-term weight loss maintenance is made possible through continuous counseling.

Patients can get started immediately, with materials shipped directly to their home or office. They can also maintain weight loss in the long-term through weekly consultations, customized diet plans, motivational coaches and a powerful prescription program. With Diet Doc, the doctor is only a short phone call away and a fully dedicated team of qualified professionals is available 6 days per week to answer questions, address concerns and support patients.

Getting started with Diet Doc is very simple and affordable. New patients can easily visit https://www.dietdoc.com to quickly complete a health questionnaire and schedule an immediate, free online consultation.

About the Company:

Diet Doc Weight Loss is the nation's leader in medical, weight loss offering a full line of prescription medication, doctor, nurse and nutritional coaching support. For over a decade, Diet Doc has produced a sophisticated, doctor designed weight loss program that addresses each individual specific health need to promote fast, safe and long term weight loss.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DietDocMedical

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DietDocMedicalWeightLoss/

LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/company/diet-doc-weight-loss?trk=biz-brand-tree-co-logo

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Diet Doc Offers Weight Loss And Weight Maintenance Alternatives ... - Marketwired (press release)

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Youre trying to shed excess pounds and have not faltered on your New Years resolution to get to the gym. So why isnt the weight dropping off?

You can work out all you want but unless you cut back on calorie consumption, youll continue to struggle with the scale. You cannot outrun a bad diet, say the authors of a new editorial in the BMJ.

"U.K.'s Academy of Medical Royal Colleges described 'the miracle cure' of performing 30minutes of moderate exercise, five times a week, as more powerful than many drugs administered for chronic disease prevention and management," the authors wrote. "Regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and some cancers by at least 30 percent. However, physical activity does not promote weight loss."

It's true, said Maryland-based fitness trainer Alex Haschen.

"If you trying to lose weight, relying 100 percent on exercise will not help you reach your goal," said one fitness trainer.

"There are two main pieces to the weight-loss puzzle exercise and nutrition. If you're trying to lose weight, relying 100 percent on exercise will not help you reach your goal," he told LifeZette.

He added, "You can reduce your caloric intake and still eat a terrible diet. A diet lower in calories but consisting of low-quality foods will not make you healthy, nor will it help you lose weight as quickly either."

Here are the two most important things people need to keep in mind as they attempt to lose weight, according to Haschen:

Exercise It helps improve the health of your heart, lungs, and muscles. It leads to an improvement of every process in the body. You burn calories and if you burn calories, you can lose weight; however, the main function of exercise is to tune up your body.

Nutrition If you fuel any machine with low-grade fuel, it will perform less than optimally. If you over-fuel by overeating, you will also operate poorly.

"In order for our bodies to 'let go' of stored fat, we need to provide high-quality foods in appropriate amounts. There's no need to starve yourself, no need to count calories just listen to your body," said Haschen. "Hunger is and always will be the best indication of how much you should eat, but oftentimes we mistake hunger for other emotions."

If you think you're hungry, go for a walk or eat a few raw veggies. Then wait 20 minutes and see if you are still truly hungry, advised Haschen.

Related: The Number One Rule of Weight Loss

Portion control is also directly related to this sensation of hunger. "Put less than you normally would on your plate, eat it slowly, wait 10 minutes, and evaluate your hunger. A portion that is 'too small' at first will soon become your new normal once your mind stops intervening with your hunger," he said. "Eat less, eat slowly, wait and evaluate."

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Why You're Not Losing Weight - LifeZette

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Forbes

Yes, There Is A Type Of Pot That Helps You Lose Weight Forbes One of the key characteristics of consuming marijuana is the increased desire to eat, commonly referred to as the munchies. But what if there was a marijuana that could help you lose weight? Mind blown. The increased appetite symptom of cannabis ...

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Yes, There Is A Type Of Pot That Helps You Lose Weight - Forbes

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Weight-Loss Win is an original Yahoo series that shares the inspiring stories of people who have shed pounds healthfully.

Michael Ferrara is 46 and weighs 230 pounds. In 2014, after gradually gaining for many years, he was able to take control of his weight using a low-carb diet. This is the story of his weight-loss journey.

The Turning Point

My weight became an issue a few years after my family bought a pizzeria in 1983. Over the next few years, my weight started to balloon. After the store closed, I had a few low-activity jobs which compounded the problem. After being married in 1999, I continued to gain weight as fun times with my new wife led to fun fat!

There were a couple of different turning points that started my journey. The first was in 2014: I saw a picture of myself and was completely horrified about how I looked. I always took pride in my appearance and never noticed how terrible I looked because the weight gain was so gradual.

In addition, my brother lost around 75 pounds at the time that I was at my heaviest and he gave me a huge bag of his old clothes. I was always lighter than my brother all throughout our lives but I couldnt even button those jeans he gave me! They were a size 40 and I was snug in a 48. The next day, I started my diet.

The Changes

I tackled losing weight by being practical. I knew it wasnt going to come off in fiveminutes, so I basically took it day by day. I decided to follow the Atkins diet, which is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet. One amazing thing about the Atkins diet is that you really dont have to exercise, which was good because, at 300 pounds, there wasnt much I could do. I chose Atkins in the first placebecause being a chauffeur, my schedule is pretty much all over the place. I do not have set hours, which makes it hard to plan meals ahead of time. Atkins afforded me the luxury of being able to eat on the road as long as I avoidcarbs or sugars. In a pinch, I could still go to a fast food restaurant for burgers and eat them without the buns, or go to a pizzeria for a sausage and peppers platterwithmozzarella but no sauce. It really opened me up to many different opportunities so I wouldnt get bored eating the same things over and over.

After the first month, I started to feel energized! I had never had so much energy before. I dropped around 12 pounds that first month. That made me feel incredible because I now wanted to go out for walks something I had no interest in before. As the months progressed and people started to notice I was losing weight, it was another incredible motivator.

Plus, Im a clothes horse and love to dress nicely. My fat clothes were literally hanging off my body and when I went to the bag with my brothers smaller jeans, they fit! I dont know if I can put into words how that felt. Seven months after starting Atkins, I went from a size 48 to a 40! At this point, giving up wasnt an option.

The After

After hitting 70 pounds lost, I felt unstoppable. Physically, I was walking more and doing more activities with my kids. Even on days where I am very active, nothing hurts anymore. When I was at my heaviest, if I went for a short walk, my knees and back would kill me. In April of 2015, I did a Color Run with my family at Citi Field and without realizing it, did a 5k! Never in my life would I have thought I could do that. Now we are planning more 5ks to do as a family.

Before starting my journey, there were days where I was unhappy because of my weight. In fact, I was giving more work to my drivers because I was embarrassed about how I looked. No one knew that except me. Today, I look forward to going to work because I dont feel like I look terrible; my confidence is sky high.

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I think the only surprise is how quickly the weight came off. My ritual would be to weigh myself once a week to track my progress. The first few weeks felt like hitting the lotto. Three pounds one week, five pounds the next it was all happening so quickly. Once it stabilized, the weight came off slower, but I was still losing consistently.

I try to go for walks 3to 4times a week. I never would have done that before. I also park my car the farthest I can from a store or mall just so I can get in more walking. I take the stairs instead of the elevator. Ive also become more cognizant of what Im eating and listen to my body. There are plenty of times Ill just have a salad or an Atkins meal bar for dinner because Im not that hungry. Ialsodrink at least 2 liters of water a day.

The Maintenance

Today, I make sure to think about what Im going to eat ahead of time.If Im going to be in the car for 10-11 hours, I make sure to take a couple of meal bars in case there isnt a healthy choice for meals where Im going.

My progress really motivates me. Now when I step on the scale, it doesnt shoot upto 300 pounds. To further motivate myself, Ill go out and purposely buy a shirt that I like which is a size smaller, to give me a goal to aim for. I love when people compliment me on how much weight Ive lost. It makes me extremely proud.

The Struggles

Even after two years, there are still days when I emotionally feel fat and want to eat. Being Italian, I really miss eating pizza, pasta, cannoli, and New York bagels. What motivates me not to eat an entire pizza is when I see pictures of myself from two plus years ago. I vow that I will never look like that again.

Advice

Ive done numerous diets before, but since I wasnt mentally ready, I always failed. Keep in mind that Babe Ruth struck out more than1,300 times on the way to hitting 714 home runs. Never believe that youre too old to lose weight or change your lifestyle. I was one of those people who always saw other people losing weight and never thought I could do it. But I found a diet that works for me and so can you!

Need more inspiration? Read about our other weight-loss winners!

Weight-Loss Win is authored by Andie Mitchell, who underwent a transformative, 135-pound weight loss of her own.

Have a weight-loss win or beauty story to share? We want to hear it! Tell us at YStyleBeauty@yahoo.com.

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Michael Ferrara Lost 70 Pounds: 'Never Believe That You're Too Old to Lose Weight' - Yahoo Health

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When a fighter almost dies from a weight cut you have to start taking the issue seriously.

Fighters have been going to extremes for many years to make weight for a fight - you only have to look at UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor at the UFC 194weigh-in to see the visually shocking toll it can take on a man's body.

But the practice of cutting weight and extreme dehydration 24 hours before a fight almost cost Bellator's Dada 5000 his life.

The heavyweight reportedly cut 40lbs in the weeks before his headline fight with fellow former street fighter Kimbo Slice to make the 265lbs heavyweight limit.

But Dada, real name Dhafir Harris, collapsed midway through the third round and reports stated his heart stopped on the way to hospital before he underwent life-saving treatment for kidney failure.

It's a dangerous game fighters are playing, but one man looking at the science of MMA weight-cutting is sports scientistBen Crighton.

He is about to launch a study into British amateur and professional MMA fighters at Liverpool John Moores University.

SportsJOE spoke to Crighton about an issue which could come to define the sport of MMA.

Ben Crighton: As long as he does it the right way, then yes. I'm sure he's got the right guys on board. As long as your time frame is big enough, it's possible to start gradually cutting that weight.

For example, he's walking around at round 168lbs now - if he had four weeks to get down then it's not going to be doable. Or it's not going to be doable safely, because you're going to have to starve yourself, your energy intake is going to be super low and then on top of that you've got to do a massive water cut.

The UFC 200 card is July 9. If he did fight at featherweight he's got more than three months.

Any time you're losing muscle mass, you're probably going to lose some punching force. But I think that will be in relation to bodyweight. So relatively speaking his punching power may still be as heavy as it was.

It all comes down to how sensible you are with the weight cut. This is the interesting thing - depending on your body type, depends on how easy it is for you to cut weight.

You look at Gleison Tibau. He fought Terry Etim at 155lbs but he was something ridiculous like 192lbs on fight night. He could have potentially fought at middleweight - it's frightening to think he was fighting a guy at 155lbs.

But if you look at him, he's heavily muscular and the more muscle you carry, then the more water your body can carry. Some guys have got the body type and shape to be able to cut more water.

It's like physique athletes. You can diet down to a low body fat percentage and you will lose muscle as a result of it. McGregor has packed a lot of muscle on because of the training he's been doing and because of the extra calories.

He will be able to lose that weight over a prolonged period of time. But the longer the time period you have to lose that weight, the safer it's going to be.

However, regardless of whether you've got 20 weeks or you've got eight weeks, it's not going to be fun because any time you want to shed body fat you're going to lose a bit of lean tissue and your body doesn't necessarily know you're doing this for a sport - so you're going to get hungry all the time, you're going to be irritable because you're not getting enough energy.

Long term if he wants to go between featherweight and lightweight and maybe welterweight, then those cycles with him fighting three or four times a year at different weights isnt necessarily going to be good for his long term health.

If he's going to be doing big water cuts several times a year and going up and down in weight, the chances are he may have issues with his kidneys either short term or long term.

That seems to be one of the major problems we're finding now with the guys that do the big water cuts. Especially if they're doing water loading on top of other methods like hot baths or saunas. Your body wasn't designed to be dehydrated so drastically and then rehydrated to fight the next day.

I would say the dehydration is even more extreme in MMA than in bodybuilding. Because in bodybuilding you want to be 'dry', as they say, so you look as ripped as possible - but you also need to have fullness in the muscle so you've got to have enough water to hold onto the glycogen and carbohydrate stores in the muscle, so you look 'full' on stage.

Whereas the MMA guys are dry as a bone. McGregor against Mendes - look at how bad McGregor looked. He looked like a concentration camp victim or something, that was how dehydrated he was.

If you go to any weigh-in events around the UK there are guys hobbling onto the stage because they can barely walk because they're that dehydrated.

We've seen deaths in the sport in the past few years because of dehydration. Okay, it's linked to diuretics and other extreme methods. But fighters want to gain an advantage over their opponents. There was a death of a judoka in 1995 and three deaths in college wrestling in 1997 and as a result the NCAA brought in new regulations about weight making in college wrestling.

But what we find with MMA are that these methods that were banned in wrestling are trickling down into MMA. If you can suck that weight and then be bigger than your opponent on fight night, then it enables you to be heavier and dominate your opponent.

Most guys will diet down over a number of weeks on the fight camp, then the final week before fight night they will drop their carbohydrate intake right down. It's fine to do that because carbohydrates aren't essential to the body, as long as you get enough protein and sufficient fats it's not a problem.

They will cut their carbohydrate content so that means they will lose the glycogen stored in their muscles. Along with that you lose the water that's attached to glycogen.

There's roughly 3g-4g of water per 1g of glycogen. So you will lose a few kilograms in that final week just from restricting carbohydrate intake. On top of that guys tend to 'water load'. This is similar to bodybuilding.

You will drink a set amount of water - like two to three gallons of water for a few days and then you cut your water intake right down for a day or so. If you weigh in on Friday then those guys will cut their water intake out completely about midday the day before weigh-ins.

They go 24 hours without drinking. As well as loading up with water they drastically reduce their sodium intake. Salt is taken out of everything, because sodium makes you hold onto water. It's this manipulation of water intake and removal of salt which makes your body enter a 'flushing mode'.

This is whereby you've got such a large intake of waterfollowed by a cessation of water intake, your body still continues to produce urine even when you've stopped drinking water.

There's no definitive research to say this is the best way or whether it actually works, but fighters say it works and guys lose weight doing it. But until something better comes along, it will continue to be a go-to method.

Any more weight loss comes from getting in a sauna wearing a sweat suit, hot baths is another one.

What we have seen with the deaths in MMA is that one guy collapsed and died in the sauna. He had a stroke, which was linked to diuretics as well.

The guy that died in the sauna took a fight on short notice - maybe 21 days. He ended up losing a ridiculous amount of weight - like 33lbs - in the time frame he had.

Both deaths were in the flyweight division, which is 125lbs. It worked out at something ridiculous like over 20% of his bodyweight he tried to lose. Any time you're getting above 2-3% it might have an effect on performance. But when you're getting above 10-15% you've got a potential for a cardiac arrest and for you body just to shut down.

Not only are you losing so much water, but if you're reducing sodium and messing around with your electrolytes, your electrolytes are responsible for muscle contraction and making sure everything, including your heart, keeps going.

If you're playing around with this and pushing the boundaries,your body isn't designed to take this stress.

If guys are doing massive amounts of dehydration there's a chance that they're not going to be able to ensure the fluid volume around their brain is back when rehydrating.

If they're not completely rehydrated and haven't got all this fluid around their brain back then any strikes to the head are going to be more devastating because they haven't got that cushioning there.

Any impact on a dehydrated brain, the chances of sustaining some kind of brain trauma are a lot higher.

There's also a chance later in life of getting CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) which they're finding more and more in NFL players, which is a deterioration of the brain because of the amount of trauma.

You look at guys like Diego Sanchez. He's one of my favourite fighters and a legend in the sport. But the amount of punishment he takes. He's one of these guys that bites down on his gum shield and wades forward and is willing to take it. There will be a pay off later in life.

He cut down to 145lbs recently. The figure was something like 22lbs he put back on the next day - the majority of that is water. If you don't do that correctly or rehydrate properly then any impact you take on the brain is going to be intensified.

We have to protect young fighters coming through in the sport. You see young kids having to cut weight just to compete in amateur competitions. It's crazy.

The first part is getting as many guys as possible to interview. Asking them questions about the sport, how they got involved, problems they may have had with healthcare professionals and other things. All this information will be anonymised. We want amateur level guys, coaches, judges and doctors.

The next phase is to get the guys into the lab and just follow them on their normal weight cuts without intervening in any way.

Blood samples are just measured for liver and kidney functions - were not looking for PEDs at all. We're just concerned with some markers of health and some markers of vitamin profile to get an idea of how healthy these guys are.

We want to find out what effect the weight cut has on their body. We want to see what happens on the human body because there's not much research out there.

Fighters wanting to get involved in the study will benefit. Not many guys have access to a DEXA Scanner - it gives us a picture of people's muscle mass, bone density and fat mass. So if you're a fighter coming in throughout your camp you're going to have some real accurate scientific data to take back to your coaches, nutritionists and strength and conditioning coaches, if you've got them, and see how you're losing the weight and if you're losing the right type of tissue.

We do an RMR test to measure your metabolism too, because again we're interested to see how the energy deficits and weight cuts effect a guy's metabolism.

Check out Episode 4 of The Hard Yards rugby podcast as Donncha O'Callaghan, Mike McCarthy, Johnny O'Connor and Pat McCarry chat to Andy McGeady.

Go here to read the rest:
Sports Scientist explains to SportsJOE just why Conor McGregor is so reluctant to cut to 145lbs - SportsJOE.ie

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Its hard to believe, but we are celebrating 20 years in business this year. How time flies!!

My ambitions in 1996 were simple, to work for myself & provide the highest possible quality of care to my patients, with no waiting list. I had no interest in growing a huge company with dozens of employees and shareholders to answer to.

20 years later, nothing much has changed! We are a little bigger out of necessity; after all one person can only do so much. We are now a team of three, with 83 years of experience between us. We work out of 2 locations, our main clinic in Lanchester and a satellite clinic in Rickleton, Washington.

We specialise in the assessment treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal problems. These include, back & neck pain, shoulder, knee & elbow problems, strains, sprains, sports injuries, fibromyalgia & headache. Our treatments combine (as appropriate) manual therapy, massage and acupuncture for pain relief, exercise, injection therapy, and of course advice & education.

Unfortunately, from a musculoskeletal perspective at least, modern life is bad for us! Most of us sit far too much, dont exercise enough, or occasionally too much. Either way aches & pains are a common side effect. Isnt it strange how we are only too happy to give our cars a regular service to help stave off problems, but when it comes to our bodies we tend to wait until the wheels have fallen off! A regular maintenance session every few months can help prevent problems.

Indeed, why wait until you have an issue at all? Injury prevention is very much the way forward. We are all being encouraged to be more active, lose weight and improve our levels of fitness. But how do you go about it without injuring yourself? We can advise on which types of activities might suit you best, given your current level of fitness, weight & personal goals.

Our population is aging. Chronic degenerative conditions which cannot necessarily be cured are therefore also on the rise & need to be managed. We can help with advice on does & donts, tailored exercise programmes & hands on therapies or acupuncture for pain relief, as appropriate.

Another consequence of an aging population is falls in the elderly. 30% of over 65 year olds & 50% of over 80 year olds fall at least once a year (NICE, 2013). Falls & even the fear of falls causes a huge amount of anxiety, loss of self confidence, loss of independence & reduced quality of life. Muscle weakness & impaired balance are risk factors underlying many falls. We offer a tailored falls prevention programme.

I know not everyone is a fan of needles, but seriously, if you have a flare of arthritis in your knee, thumb or shoulder a small volume of corticosteroid can start to settle stubborn inflammation within 48 hours. In arthritic joints relief can last for months & injections may be repeated safely every 6 months in most cases, if required. As an alternative we can use drug free Ostenil Plus.

In August 2015 we started opening 7 days a week to give our patients more choice. This has proven very popular with those working away from home during the week, shift workers & those whose lives are slightly less chaotic on a weekend!

Check out our website at http://www.kiwiphysiotherapy.co.uk for more details of the services we provide & our current prices. Remember we offer morning, afternoon, evening & weekend appointments.

Dont suffer in silence! Go on, pick up the phonewe are here to help you 7 days a week.

Call us on 01207 528 332

Go here to see the original:
Kiwi Physiotherapy Ltd - Consett Magazine (blog)

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Learn more about our approach, our staff and the benefits of turning to us for your needs. For information about us and our services, click here.

If you would like to do something for your health and well-being, NYC Diet Center with its professional services is definitely the right place for you. See what NYC Diet Center and its experienced team can do for you.

Who You Are:

Some Of Your Typical Patterns:

What will be different in your life when you get the weight issue resolved

How would your relationship with yourself change With your family, your co-workers, your friends What impact would it have on your social life

Your self-loathing would be replaced with a greater sense self-esteem.

What You Need Most Right Now:

Shifting your mindset is crucial to getting you out of your own way. Its time to reduce your overwhelm and increase your self esteem by creating a weight loss program geared specifically for your lifestyle. Its time to set up an enjoyable AND manageable program where you are not physically hungry a program that will allow you to succeed not just for a brief time, but for a lifetime. It is also time for you to get clear on your priorities. Once you do that, you will alleviate your feeling of being overwhelmed and avoid the inevitable burnout headed your way. If anything, its time for you to let go of the control, get support, and finally take care of yourself. You need to be in a peaceful environment where you feel taken care of, not the one taking care of everyone and everything else. What you need most is Diet Center on E. 56th St.

For over 40 years Diet Center has encompassed the gold standards in weight loss programs nationwide. We pride ourselves in providing programs designed in accordance with healthy weight loss practices recommended by the American Heart Assoc., American Cancer Society & the American Diabetes Associations. Diet Center provides you with professional guidance & behavior modification. This is not just another diet. It needs to be viewed as a lifestyle change for future health & well-being.

What sets us apart from other weight loss facilities is the one on one coaching from a staff that genuinely cares. You will never get lost in a crowd at Diet Center. Whether you have special dietary needs or just want to start taking care of yourself, Diet Center can help.

See more here:
Weight Loss | Healthy Weight Loss | Diet Center NYC

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Heres some good news if you are female: Research published online in The FASEB Journal, shows that in mice, what is eaten during adolescence or childhood development may alter long-term behavior and learning, and can even rescue females from the negative effects on behavior resulting from a poor maternal diet during pregnancy.

These are provocative findings, said Thoru Pederson, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. So many effects during pregnancy have been touted as irreversibleperhaps not always so.

In their study Reyes and colleagues used four groups of female mice. The first group was fed a control diet during pregnancy and lactation. The second group was fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation. The third was also fed a nutrient-enriched diet during early life. The fourth group included offspring from the mice fed a high-fat diet that were fed the nutrient-enriched diet during early life.

When all mice were adults, they were fed the same control diet for the remainder of their lives. Researchers then used operant behavior chambers (chambers in which a mouse must nose-poke into a hole to get a reward) to examine learning and motivation. They found that the female offspring who were fed the nutrient-enriched diet during early life learned faster and were more motivated to obtain the sugar reward. Furthermore, the nutrient supplementation also reversed some of the deficits observed due to high-fat feeding during pregnancy.

Here is the original post:
Effects of a poor diet during pregnancy may be reversed in female adolescent offspring - ScienceBlog.com (blog)

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