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12 ways to make dieting easier Men's Fitness "To be successful in the long run, I don't think absolute restriction is all that important," Mazur says. Rather, it's more important to find balance, moderate, and take the time to fit in those foods you really enjoy. "Take an 80/20 approach," he ...

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Postmenopausal women who intentionally lost weight over the course of three years had a much lower risk of endometrial cancer up to 11 years later compared to women whose weight didn't change, a U.S. study finds.

Overall, women who intentionally lost 5 percent or more of their body weight had 29 percent lower risk of developing endometrial cancer during the study period, and the effect was most pronounced for obese women, whose risk dropped by 66 percent with weight loss.

"We decided to do the study because we realized that, although obesity increases the risk of endometrial cancer, research couldn't say if intentional weight loss, especially among older persons, could reduce that risk," lead author Juhua Luo, of the School of Public Health at Indiana University in Bloomington, told Reuters health in an email.

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S. and the fourth most common cancer among women. About 2.8 percent of American women will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer at some point during their lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Body fat is thought to increase risk of this hormone-sensitive cancer by increasing the amount of estrogen a woman produces, the researchers write in Journal of Clinical Oncology.

For their study, Luo and her colleagues analyzed data on more than 36,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79 who participated in the larger, long-term Women's Health Initiative study.

All the women were weighed at the beginning of the study period and again three years later when they were also asked if they had intentionally tried to lose weight in the previous few years. The study team followed the women for an average of 11 more years and found that 566 women were diagnosed with endometrial cancer during that time.

With women whose weight remained stable as the reference point, researchers found that women who dropped pounds were significantly less likely to develop endometrial cancer, and those who gained weight saw an 8 percent to 23 percent increase in risk. For women who had not used hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms and gained weight, risk rose by 30 percent.

"It is not too late to lose weight to reduce cancer risk, even if you are older," Luo said.

The study only looked at older women, but Luo said she thinks it is reasonable to think the effects might apply to younger women too, and more research is indicated.

"The majority of women with endometrial cancer are diagnosed with early-stage tumors that are associated with a high cure rate. However, despite this paradigm, not only is the incidence of endometrial cancer increasing, but the number of women who die as a result of the disease also is increasing," Dr. Jason Wright, chief of gynecologic oncology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York Presbyterian Hospital, writes in an editorial accompanying the study.

In 2016, the number of deaths from endometrial cancer in the United States reached 10,170, which is a 25 percent increase compared with just five years earlier, he writes.

Luo's findings suggest that weight loss, even by a modest amount, can lower a woman's risk of endometrial cancer, Wright told Reuters Health by email.

"Fatty tissue releases estrogen which can stimulate the endometrium and increase a woman's risk of endometrial cancer," Wright said.

At present, the only women for whom screening is recommended are those with Lynch syndrome, a genetic abnormality that predisposes women to the development of endometrial and colorectal cancer among other cancer types, Wright noted.

"Most endometrial cancers will have symptoms early such as vaginal bleeding. Women with vaginal bleeding should consult with their physician for evaluation," he said.

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Older women reduce their endometrial cancer risk with weight loss - Fox News

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A shocking Facebook photo proved the key factor in motivating one Co Fermanagh woman to do something about her weight.

Jeanette Wilson from Enniskillen says she had "always been a bit chubby" and had failed on numerous occasions to lose weight by herself.

But after seeing a photo of herself posted on Facebook , Jeanette says it was the motivation she needed to take action.

She said: I had always been a bit chubby, I was always hovering around the 14/16 dress size mark, and although I had tried to lose weight by myself, it never worked.

"Then in October 2015 I went to a friends 70th birthday party and afterwards someone posted at photo of me up on Facebook as soon as I saw it, I thought, no way! So I found a local Weight Watchers class and off I went."

Jeanette said she quickly learned the mistakes she had been making with her diet, including skipping breakfast.

"I soon realised I had been making lots of mistakes, I never had breakfast and I ate a lot of take-away dinners.

"I was always nibbling at food, and buying all sorts of rubbish instead of having proper healthy meals. So when I got home from my first class, I gave the cupboards a good clear out.

"I cut down on all the bread I was eating and I make sure to have lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, its all second nature to me now. "We get lots of recipe ideas in the class each week, so I follow those.

"I have a slow cooker so I put my food on before I leave the house and when I come back home its all done. Preparation is a really important part of staying on track."

Jeanette says going to her local classes helped give her the motivation and support she needed.

"The first week after I started, I lost five pounds and from then on I knew it was working, so I was determined to stick with it it was just a case of getting my head around it and staying positive. The weight kept coming off slowly but surely.

"Of course there were bad weeks, but I kept going. Just before I joined Weight Watchers we got a dog, and when I see those eyes looking up at me, I cant say no, so Im out a couple of nights walking three or four miles.

"I still go to class every Tuesday morning, its almost like a social event now; I really enjoy it. Sharon is more than a leader, shes a friend; shes always there when I need her, and if I ever feel stuck I just send her a wee message.

"Everyone in the class is helpful and supportive, we all share our stories and our tips."

Delighted at losing 2 stone 4lbs in total, Jeanette said she feels so much better and has more energy.

"When I finally received my Gold Card, it was like getting a million dollars! It feels so good to have slimmed down, I took part in the Weight Watchers fashion show last year and to be able to fit into a size 10 without any problems is amazing.

"I have so much more energy than I ever had, and I feel so much better in myself, Im delighted!

Here are Jeanettes tips for success:

Get up and go to Weight Watchers now!

Even if you do slip up, you have to stick with it it does work; it certainly did for me!

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Facebook photo shocked Co Fermanagh woman into weight loss - Belfast Live

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Having a bub is an extraordinary experience - but the body changes and weight gain can be out of the ordinary also!

I piled on a whopping 20kg plus, with my two babies (that's each peeps) - and I took a while to lose it too.

With a new baby to care for, sleepless nights, a lack of energy and very little time for mum - losing the weight can be tough for many mums.

9Mums chatted to Renee Scott, former professional ballet dancer, mother of one and founder of theBarre Attack movement, for her realistic approach on getting your body healthy and lean after baby.

Rest

Give your body a rest for six weeks post birth before entering into any physical activity. Being present in the moment and connected to yourself is very important during this time of change. Remembering to take some time out for yourself.

Focus on the right areas

Core: Gentle core activation will help to rebuild and activate core muscle groups, which is important for strengthening the pelvic floor muscle and preventing injury. It will also help with the demand of having a newborn.

"Post birth I had an eight by five centimetre abdominal separation (the biggest my physio had seen) and this was due to my professional career as a ballet dancer," says Scott. "The standing stability and core work in Barre Attack helped me to safely rebuild my internal corset'."

Postural exercises: breastfeeding and holding bubs can put your body alignment out of whack. Postural exercises, such as rowing with a resistance band or the knees side to side move below, can help maintain your upper body strength and range of motion through the shoulders and lower back. Try resistance

Resistance training in Barre Attack, uses resistance bands, balls and your own body weight, so its not too taxing on the body. Due to these low impact movements, most women can workout safely throughout their pregnancy and post six week check up post baby. Resistance training also helps to build greater body awareness, retain core muscle structure, helps with posture and builds endurance, physically and mentally for the birth and post-birth recovery. Here are some moves to try at home: 1. Pelvic tilts

- Lay flat on your back with knees bent and hip width apart.

- Bring the hands either side of the rib cage and breath in expanding the chest and exhale drawing the hands in towards each other, feeling the core activation from the base of the pelvis lifting and lengthening up to the crown of the head.

- Keep feeling the stomach drawing in and up, while keeping the shoulders relaxed. Create a tight internal corset through the centre of the body and gently release.

Moves hands to waist, hips and lower tummy repeating five to 10 breaths each, in each position.

2. Internal corset breathing exercise

- Lay flat on your back with knees bent and hip width apart.

- Scoop the belly to the spine while exhaling and flattening the lower back to the floor, inhale lengthen the spine back out gently aching through the lower back.

- Really feel the awareness through the lower tummy. The pelvic floor is like a sling on the lower part of the pelvic, feel it gently lift as you scoop the tummy, keep it active as you lengthen the spine then release and re-activate again.

- Repeat five to 10 times.

3. Knees from side to side - Lay flat on your back, arms straight from the body at shoulder height, knees bent and knees and feet together.

- Draw knees to one side inhale, exhale return to centre. Keep chest and shoulders back, engage your core and waist to move legs back to centre. Repeat to other side.

- Repeat 20 times

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How to get your body back after baby - 9Honey

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Being physically fit is a standard requirement for joining most police departments but in Point Township, Police Chief Joshua VanKirk is taking it one step further: He is mandating his five officers to maintain fitness for the entire length of time they are employed or face job forfeiture.

At the moment you are hired thats where the fitness testing usually ends, VanKirk said Tuesday night as he unveiled this new department standard, at Point Township supervisors meeting.

Thats all going to change beginning sometime in early April. "We will start testing twice annually throughout someones entire career here, he explained. Its something every one of my officers thinks is a good idea.

All job applicants have to undergo a physical fitness battery of tests as part of the Point Township entry program. This new policy is the next logical step, VanKirk said. If you are fit enough to come in the door, that same standard should be held for you to stay.

There will be no age or gender difference in the testing, he explained. You need to run when it counts. If someone were to ask me, should a 50-year-old officer be as fit as a 25-year-old, I would say, Yes. If someone were pursuing a suspect running away on foot, that suspect doesnt care how old you are.

Officers wont be held to outlandish standards; no sub-four-minute miles. And the times between testing will be no less than four months.

The new standards will become standard policy, and board chairman Randy Yoxheimer agreed it was a good idea, and makes a lot of sense.

Other policies

VanKirk noted that holding officers to a fitness standard was not policy at any other Valley departments he knew of, although at one time, Milton had an incentive program that did involve fitness, he said.

"Sunbury does not have anything like this because I believe it would be a contractual issue, Sunbury police Chief Tim Miller said. "Although I agree that a police officer should be put through these tests. No matter one year on the job or 20 years on the job. There are a lot of issues with a policy like this to be worked out. But I do agree with it.

VanKirk noted that before initiating the policy, all of his officers were in on the plan and agreed to it.

The Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department also does not have physical fitness standards after hire, but does have a physical fitness test as part of the hiring process. That includes being able to jump 15 inches high from a standing position, running 300 meters in 70.1 seconds, a 1.5-mile run within 15 minutes and 55 seconds and push-up and sit-up requirements.

In Selinsgrove and Shamokin Dam, the officers are under the civil service. All are required to take the civil service exam to be eligible for consideration. Shamokin Dam Police Chief Timothy Bremigen said his two officers are not required to pass a fitness test, but they do undergo yearly physical exams.

We encourage our officers to stay physically active, Bremigen said.

Riverside Police Chief Kerry Parkes said his department has fitness requirements for applicants conducted by Phoenix Physical Therapy. Parkes said they are standards for municipal police officers in accordance with Civil Service Commission requirements. The top three candidates following written and oral testing undergo the physical agility testing, he said.

Danville Police Chief Eric Gill said his department follows those same standards for applicants. The two departments dont have other testing once an officer is on the job.

Reporters Karen Blackledge, Marcia Moore, Eric Scicchitano and Francis Scarcella contributed to this report. Email comments to rdandes@dailyitem.com.

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Point adds ongoing fitness requirement for officers | News | dailyitem ... - Sunbury Daily Item

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Enlarge / Various versions of the Apple Watch are displayed at a December 2016 press conference in an Apple store in Saint-Germain, Paris.

Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images

A patent troll that has sued more than80 companies by laying broadclaims to Internet-connected "wearables" may be nearing the end of its road.

Thepatent appeals board at the USPatent and Trademark Office has agreed to reconsider 16patent claimsowned by Sportbrain Holdings, LLC. The Patent Office's decision comes just three days after Sportbrain filed a lawsuit against Apple (PDF). Taking on itshighest-profile target yet, Sportbrain claims thatthe Apple Watch violates US Patent No.7,454,002, titled "Integrating personal data capturing functionality into a portable computing device and a wireless communication device."

It has sued over software, too, filing cases againstpopular fitness apps like Strava and evenAetna (PDF). Sportbrain argues that the health insurance company infringes itspatent with its "Get Active" online platform.

Sportbrain Holdings, LLC follows a familiar track for patent-holding companiesa demise after the first dot-com bust and then a reincarnation more than a decade later as a patent enforcement company. In the year 2000, SportBrain Inc. launcheda kind of early wearable, a smart pedometer called the SportBrain tracker that connected to a computer via a special "SportPort."

"We believe the SportBrain personal fitness assistant (PFA)should become an essential part of everyone's lives," said Andreas Bibl, SportBrain CEO and cofounder, in a press release sent out that year. "As a nation, we need to get moving."

SportBrain's website in 2011 advertised a kind of smart pedometer. Today, the company has shut down and turned to patent enforcement.

http://www.sportbrain.com via archive.org

The owner of thesecond incarnation of SportBrain appears to bea man named Harry Heslop, who's a co-defendantin theinter partes reviewjust instituted at the Patent Office. Patent Office records show that Heslop moved the patents from SportBrain Inc. into Sportbrain Holdings LLC in January of 2016, when the campaign of lawsuits began.

Heslop couldn't be reached for this story, and the attorney for SportBrain Holdings didn't respond to a request for comment. The lead inventor of the '002 patent, Deane Gardner, also didn't respond to acall requesting comment.

"As one of the first to market, successfully traded for 10 years, and then [to be] squeezed out by a plethora of Goliaths was unquestionably devastating,"Heslop told Law360 when his litigation began last year. "As the 'David' in this story, we will slingshot our IP at all the offenders and unleash the full extent of the law until justice is served."

A petition for inter partes review (IPR) against the '002 patent was filed last year by Unified Patents, a defense-oriented patent company that bills itself as "The Anti-Troll."It was part of Unified'scampaign to challenge the "three most prolific patent trolls" of 2016: Sportbrain,Shipping and Transit, and Uniloc USA.

Thecase against Sportbrain Holdings has passed a key hurdle,with the Patent Office agreeing last week to institute an investigationover all 16 of the claims in the '002 patent.

In its decision (PDF), the Patent Office finds that it's likely that two earlier patents teach "collecting, storing, and compiling performance data at a web server." A Nike patent filed in 1999 by designerAlbert Shum, now at Microsoft, describes collecting use information for a product, "such as an article of footwear," and offering "rewards" based on the level of use. In 1998, a company called Liquid Spark filed for a patent on a GPS-based performance monitor.

IPR proceedings, created as part of the 2011 America Invents Act, have proven effective at knocking out patents at lower costs than traditional court proceedings. Most IPRs that are instituted by the Patent Officeresult in some or all of the patent claims being thrown out.

"This is a great example of a patent that we believe is invalid, and never should have issued in the first place," said Unified Patents CEO Kevin Jakel in an interview with Ars. "We're happy the USPTOinstituted the IPR, and the patent is well on its way to ultimately being canceled."

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Patent troll that sued over Apple Watch and 80 other fitness products ... - Ars Technica

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ELKHART It's being called an "unprecedented community collaboration." Officials confirmed Wednesday that the Elkhart Health, Fitness, Aquatics and Community Center will become a reality.

The $65 million project will be a mix of community meeting space, a Beacon Health and Fitness Center and an aquatic center that will be open to the public, but also will support Elkhart high school programs and regional competitions.

The project's total cost includes a $10 million endowment to ensure its sustainability into the future.

The 170,000-square-foot facility is being built over the former Elkhart YMCA/EYCC location along Jackson Boulevard and is expected to open in early 2019. The YMCA/EYCC closed about two years ago.

The Community Foundation of Elkhart County is only about $5 million away from raising the project's total cost, Pete McCown, president of the foundation, said. All of Elkhart's major businesses have donated to the center, he said, with Elkhart schools contributing $6 million and Beacon Health putting in $16.5 million. The community foundation committed $10 million, the largest grant the foundation has given in its history, McCown said.

About $9 million was also awarded to the project from the Regional Cities Initiative.

Officials called the center "world class," and said it will be one of only four in the nation offering a high-level combination of aquatics, medical fitness and community engagement opportunities. The aquatic center will have a 66-meter by 25-meter competition swimming pool, an attached diving well with 5-meter and 3-meter platforms and multiple 1-meter boards. The natatorium will seat 1,200 spectators and is expected to host many local and regional competitions.

Between the areas dedicated as the community center and Beacon Health's facility, there will two full-sized gymnasiums, flexible meeting spaces with movable walls, an elevated track, fitness equipment, exercise rooms, an Elkhart General Hospital therapy center and child care center. There will also be parking for roughly 800 cars.

Beyond the millions of dollars in jobs that will be created, the center is estimated to have an economic impact of $4.7 million a year, Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese, said.

"This community's excitement has been building for months," Neese said. "This facility has the potential to transform our city."

Meanwhile in Plymouth, construction is set to begin in August for another major sports complex, said local consultant Chad Barden. A 25-yard indoor pool with 10 lanes would link to the existing Fitness Forum Sports & Wellness LifePlex, which offers a therapy pool and a four-lane recreation pool.

It will rise near U.S. 30 and Pioneer Drive at the west end of Plymouth.

Also at the site, the roughly $13 million project calls for a 130,000-square-foot building with two regulation-sized indoor soccer fields and another indoor field for an array of sports, from baseball to lacrosse. Outside, there would be two soccer fields.

Barden, who has brought the financing and partners together, said the project will draw $2 million from Indianas Regional Cities Initiative, plus $2.2 million in tax increment financing from the city and the rest from the developers, Rick and Barbara Miller of Plymouth.

The pool will fill a need after Plymouth High School shuttered its pool almost five years ago, and it will serve Ancilla College as it starts a swimming team.

Staff writer Joseph Dits contributed to this story.

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Elkhart fitness and community center closer to becoming a reality ... - South Bend Tribune

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Colorado Skate Fitness, Imagine Charter School, 5753 Twilight Ave., Firestone, coloradoskatefitness.com

Instructor: If you know anything about roller derby you know that skaters often take on pseudonyms. They are sometimes satirical but often pun-ny (see what I did there). Brittany Strachan and Jessica Gravel are no exception with their skate names, Joanna Gruesome and Misty Molish, respectively. Strachan helped to start the Boulder skater derby team in 2011 where she met Gravel. In 2013 they left roller derby to teach skate fitness classes.

This is a classic example of people taking their passion for a sport and turning into something everyone can enjoy. Roller derby is a contact sport, so it can be difficult to keep playing after injury, and there is a time commitment that isn't always feasible. Running into these challenges and not wanting to give up skating all together, Strachan and Gravel started their own skate fitness company.

"It's so fun to be able to give people the opportunity to do this without having to commit to derby, just a fun community where they can get a workout," says Strachan.

What is the workout? I can't remember the last time I put on skates. Just putting them on and getting off the floor was a workout for me. Luckily, Strachan and Gravel were kind enough to supply me with knee pads, elbow pad, hand guards and the skates. I brought my own bike helmet. I'm pretty sure this made me look like a total amateur. They helped me get the basic moves, like rolling forward, stopping and going backwards.

Dorothy Vernon and Vickie Parker during a Skate Fitness class at Imagine Charter School in Firestone earlier this month. (Jonathan Castner / Daily Camera)

The warm-up consisted of "walking" in skates little steps in all different directions and burpees. You read that right: burpees, in skates. If you think burpees are hard, try them this way. They are logistically difficult and mentally taxing for a newbie. Trying not to fall was my supreme goal.

Small cones were set up around the gym for a circuit. I had to weave in and out of a series of cones, then balance on one foot, do a jump, then a 180, which put me back at the beginning again. By the time we switched directions I could turn my skates to go around the cones. It wasn't smooth, but I did it. The one-leg skating was harder. Balance is key here, and figuring out how far to lean forward. The jumping wasn't so bad. It was more of a little hop, but I felt like a boss anyways. I never got the 180, where you flip your feet so you're rolling backwards. Fear of falling on my face limited my ability here, but I did try it every time.

We then did a partner skate, where one person held the other by the waist, pushing them forward while the other person did the circuit. It was good to have someone stabilize me while I focused on my feet. At one point we had everyone in a congo line with me at the front. I was so focused I didn't even notice. The last exercise was partnered as well. One person was in the center of the gym doing pushups, donkey kicks, Russian twists or rolling bridges while the other person had to do 5 laps around the gym before switching I apologize to my partner here, I was a slow skater. Then we stretched, while still in skates, another new experience for me.

What's different? Everything was different about this workout for me, despite my having done many traditional exercises. It felt like I was trying to learn how to walk again. Moving in any direction was a challenge at first. I had to keep reminding myself to bend my knees. It's so much harder when your center of gravity is high. I had this constant fear of falling, which is silly since I was covered in protective gear. As long as I fell forward I wouldn't get injured.

I really wasn't aware that I was working out. It felt more like I was trying to make it through an obstacle course then a traditional workout. "We are adding an element of distraction so you're not thinking about working out. You're just doing it and having fun, so you're getting a really good workout, but you're having a really good time too," says Strachan.

Cost: Drop in classes are $17. You can register for the entire session for $119 or get a 5 class punch card for $79.

Level: "We cater to all levels, we can teach people how to skate if they've never been on skates before. We try to have all of our drills as 'choose your own adventure.' Any of our drills can be scaled to any skill level," says Gravel. This is very true. I probably could have just skated in a circle the whole time if that's what I wanted to do.

When: Classes are held in 8-week sessions. The current session goes until March 9 . You can drop in at any time during the session. Classes are usually on Thursdays from 6:30-8 p.m. There are some schedule changes, due to events at the school. Double check on their website, coloradoskatefitness.com.

They like to hold the sessions back-to-back. In summer, they hold classes at the Hartmann Inline Rink in Boulder.

What to prepare: If you don't have all the gear, never fear. They bring spares with them so you don't have to invest until you're sure the class is right for you. All you need is some workout clothes. Preferably your legs should be covered whether that's shorts with long socks or crazy colored tights, that's up to you.

Muscles worked: My inner thighs were burning the next day. I was in a kind of constant squat while skating, moving my legs side to side and front to back. I was so engrossed in getting the technique right, I didn't even realize I was getting a thigh workout until the next morning. This is predominantly a lower body workout and a very good one at that.

What I loved: I felt like a kid again, like the first time you go to a roller rink. We didn't do the limbo, but it was equally as fun. There is something very freeing about rolling around. As Joanna Gruesome says, "Everybody loves to skate." Everyone was very supportive, reminding me to bend my legs and congratulating me when I did something right. They have a great community that focuses on adult skating, not something that is easy to find. "Seeing people do something they've never done before, it's the best feeling, to see people smiling, laughing and having fun," says Gravel.

What I didn't like: I did end up falling. It only happened once though, which I was proud of. Once I did, I realized it wasn't that bad and I didn't need to freak out about it.

How I felt after the class: I was really excited, it brings out the child in you. The child that would go really fast and then stop against the wall of the rink. The child that had no fear and just enjoyed skating around with friends.

Know of any interesting workouts? Tell us about them so we can check them out: quentin@dailycamera.com.

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Workout: Lower body burn with Colorado Skate Fitness - Boulder Daily Camera

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The Robinson Theatre Community Arts Center in Church Hill rocked Saturday night as 30 individuals who have spent the past six months encouraging people all around Richmond and the Tri-Cities areas to move were celebrated for their blood, sweat, tears and maybe most importantly, their hearts.

Fitness Warriors trains people to be fitness instructors, who then move out into underserved communities to teach free exercise classes. Now in its third year, the warriors teach all over the area, from Charles City County and Hopewell to Henrico County. They teach classes in public schools, libraries, churches, apartment complexes, local community centers and more, and classes are open to everyone.

The program is a partnership among Sports Backers, the Richmond City Health District, Fit-To-Go and the American Council on Exercise and is funded, in part, by the Windsor Foundation Trust. Saturday nights fete was a graduation for the most recent class of warriors, who started training last July and began teaching classes in September. They are required to teach at least one class each week and, since September, they have taught more than 800 people at 32 locations around the area.

Their mission may be attacking social health issues such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, said Jacki Quinlan, Sports Backers director of community outreach. But something else happens when these warriors begin to work in their communities.

They become role models ... (and) this is how you get a culture change, said Quinlan, adding that anyone 18 and up can apply to be a warrior, but only the most committed are chosen.

Because the warriors typically work in low-income communities, we need the best of the best for that, Quinlan continued. Were looking for people who are really passionate and really ready to commit, because its more about that than the fitness side for us.

We can teach someone how to lead a fitness class, but the other side, she said, referring to the human element, you cant teach that.

Lakeshia Allen is a warrior who not only graduated Saturday night but also was recognized with the programs first Raymond D. Patterson Award, in honor of the late Patterson, who served as Sports Backers manager of community affairs until his death last August.

Allen lives in Richmond and, through Fitness Warriors, teaches family group classes in the Fairfield Court public housing development. She also coaches youth in the Sports Backers Kids Run RVA program.

It has really opened my eyes to wanting to do more for the community, Allen said. As an instructor, people gravitate to us, they feel welcome (and) even after the class is over, they just want to talk.

Among those in attendance Saturday night to cheer on their favorite warrior was Sylvia Burnett, who took classes with warrior graduate Cheryl Easter. Burnett said Easter made it feel like more than a fitness class, always ending their Tuesday night classes with an inspirational saying. Burnett said Easter also adapted the class to include movements for people with limited mobility. Everyone, Burnett said, was included.

If you need to be motivated ... if you need to be encouraged, this is your class, Burnett said. She makes it fun, but her focus is for us to keep moving.

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Fitness Warriors sends new graduates out to make communities healthier - Richmond.com

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Fitness trackers are legitimately excellent tools for getting into shape. While they cant magically turn you into a lean, mean, healthy-eating machine, they do encourage an increased mindfulness when it comes to calories consumed and steps taken, and often thats enough tomake a dent in your fitness goals.

But while this is true, its also important to recognize that fitness trackers have a dark side, too. In fact, fitness trackers can sometimes cause more harm than good.But the problem is not with the hardware but with the wetware. So how can you make sure youre getting positive results?

7 days ago

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of the best ways to lose weight or get fitter with a fitness tracker is simply to monitorthe calories youre consuming and then to subtract the calories youre burning. If you maintain a deficit, then you should find that the pounds gradually fall off.

Also read: How to use your fitness tracker to actually get fit a comprehensive guide

You may also find that this encourages you to walk just a little more, to train just a little more and to perhaps turn down the occasional snack. And as you do this, you will find you build up a glorious picture of your health, filled with regular workouts, long walks and prestigious badges and awards given to you by Fitbit, Garmin or Microsoft.

Success begets success begets addiction. The more you build this perfect picture of health, the harder it will be to let there be a gap in that data or a bad day. You can become jealously protective of your perfect profile.

In the worst case scenario, thiscould be a one way ticket to an eating disorder. Conditions like bulimia and anorexia are caused precisely by the addictive nature of losing weight and seeing gradual progress and adding numbers to this can only make matters worse.

Success begets success begets... addiction.

Thats not to say that using a Fitbit is going to give you an eating disorder not at all. I want to emphasize that this isnt likely for most people. It is simply to say that there can be too much of a good thing and if you are predisposed to this kind of mental illness, then lifelogging could well becomea catalyst.

More likely for the rest of us, is that we can lose sight of why we began exercising in the first place. Its gutting when you go to do a workout and then find out that your band has run out of battery. So gutting in fact, that you might even consider skipping the workout entirely I have known people to do this!

Training this morning with my vvoactive HR. Ironically, I genuinely forgot to start it until halfway through the workout!

The best way to get fitter is to be consistent with your exercise

Another risk is that a fitness tracking addiction can spur you on to over-train, possibly leading to aninjury. Its important that we listen to our bodies and dont chase after another badge for 10,000 steps when our legs are aching from the previous feat. I may have been guilty of this pushing to go for more runs and swims when really I should have called it a day.

My fitness tracker is constantly telling me to Move! too, even if I have just sat down for an hour after an entire day of hiking. It also says it when Im in the cinema, or when Im having a family meal I just have to breathe and rise above it.

The addictive nature of tracking calories and steps can also lead to people wearing their fitness trackers more than perhaps they should and possibly even refusing to take them off.You dont need to be a detective to see that there are some considerable disadvantages to wearing a wristband or watch of any kind 24/7.

There are some considerable disadvantages to wearing a wristband or watch of any kind 24/7

For one, fitness trackers are bulky and can get in the way when youre typing or wearing shirts. They also have a bad habit of catching on things and people. I have on regular occasions caught my wifes hair on my GarminvvoactiveHR or scratched her back with it when trying to be affectionate (affection fail!).

Fitness trackers can also be uncomfortable while sleeping, which is somewhat ironic when youre wearing them for sleep tracking purposes!

I had a 3 hour break from my vvoactive HR today and this is after having it back on for about 1.5 hours

And of course the big issue here is the matter of rashes Fitbit has had fairly high-profile struggles with customers reporting wrist rashes and now advises users togive their wrists occasional rests from their devices. They are not alone in this and even if you dont get a rash from the material itself, problems can still arise from trapped water, soap and grime as well as a simple lack of sunlight.

Even without the rashes, there are clear hygiene issues surrounding any device intended to be worn in the shower, in bed and to the gym. They can end up smelling pretty funky after a while, so take them off occasionally to give your friends noses a rest too!

During 2015-2016, I would usually be found wearing the first Microsoft Band as my fitness tracker of choice. Its not toocomfortable or attractive, but it is full of great metrics and smartwatch features. I enjoyed getting to know my own routine a little better and was shocked at how little I moved some weekends. All in all, it was a great device.

Fitness trackers, no matter how high-end, aren't always accurate

And even if your fitness tracker isnt broken, its important to note that its never going to be 100% accurate. You only have to wear two different fitness trackers at the same time to see instantly see how different the calories burned variable is according to each.

There are plenty of reasons for this. For one, your heart rate is not a perfect measure of caloric expenditure. Then theres the fact that most fitness trackers have no idea of your precise muscle mass, which means they are basing their measurements on body mass, rather than the far more accurate lean body mass (muscle is metabolically active). Theres no way to perfectly track your calories consumed either no two apples have the exact same number of calories. Heart rate monitors are imperfect too, even when using a chest strap. And so on.

December 1, 2016

Nor can a fitness tracker tell you anything about hormone balance; a condition like hypothyroidism would throw your results way off.

Heart rate is not a perfect measure of caloric expenditure

So if you think youre cutting it close to the line consuming 2,567 calories but burning 2,600 well, you probably arent.

None of this is to say that fitness trackers are evil, or that they have no use. I still wear my ownvvoactive HR most days and I would highly recommend anyone else interested in fitness to do the same. It actually isnt critical that your data be perfectly accurate so long as it is consistent (and you factor in a margin for error). That way, if the numbers are heading in the right direction, then you are making positive changes.

Fitness trackers are an excellent form of biofeedback, theyre great for motivation and the social element can add a whole extra level. Theres also just something very cool about being able to check your wrist to get a heart rate reading.

Fitness trackers are not perfect, and its worth taking a break from them occasionally. Taking a break is good for your skin, your smell, and your psychological well-being. Its also prudent to take their advice with a pinch of salt and to try not to get too hung up on your tracking. Eventually youll throw away your tracker or switch to another device, but your body will be with you for life.

So ultimately, the best fitness tracker is still your own body. If your fitness tracker says keep going but your bodysays stop, listen to your body!

Continued here:
The dark side of fitness trackers: how to avoid common mistakes that ... - Android Authority (blog)

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