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CASPER, WY--(Marketwired - February 16, 2017) - Despite the fact that nearly 80% of Americans are attempting to eat healthier meals and nearly 20% are dieting actively, obesity rates have been rapidly rising in the U.S. for the last 50 years. In the meanwhile, the weight loss market has reached over $64 billion. With the excessive amounts of fatty foods and sugary drinks in the American diet, weight loss supplements alone may not affect obesity rates much. Nutritional counseling and medical weight loss is a serious option to consider, particularly for overweight and obese individuals who are consistently struggling with weight loss.

In such cases, one weight loss solution that may be recommended is a customized hCG diet plan, which is different from the original Simeons hCG diet. The original hCG diet, also called the Simeons method, was developed in the 1950s and known to be dangerous because it was was practically a starvation diet that limited daily consumption to 500 calories. Diet Doc, a nationally recognized weight loss center, has discouraged the Simeons method since 2009, determining it to be too risky through in-house studies. Since the 1950s, medical experts have managed to better understand hCG and the dietary conditions it necessitates to be safe and effective at the same time. Now, hCG can be applied in a safer, non-harmful setting and the Simeons method is unnecessary and unrecommended. After thorough research over the last several decades, Diet Doc has created a flexible diet program that involves consuming no less than 800 calories (and up to 1250 calories) daily without negatively affecting the rate of rapid weight loss. These high-calorie programs offering safe weight loss are advised for patients considering hCG treatment.

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. Genetic testing is particularly recommended as it results in effective weight loss in the long run. All Diet Doc programs, including the hCG diet for moderate to extreme cases, 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 lose 20 or more pounds every month.

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/DietDocMedicalFacebook: 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 Safer Weight Loss Results For New hCG Diet With ... - Marketwired (press release)

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When it comes to weight loss, nutrition advice is all over the map. With so much information and conflicting recommendations from weight loss experts, its hard to know what to eat to meet your goals. If youre looking to drop a few pounds and get in shape, youll need a nutrition plan that sets you on the right path.

To begin with, stay away from diets that promise quick and easy results, says Kelly Devine Rickert, registered dietitian with Franciscan Health and media spokesperson for the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A sound weight loss program will consist of education, menu planning, label reading, food preparation, exercise, weighing in and food journaling. These are components of sustainable weight loss.

Slow progression can help lead to long-term changes, adds Terri Sakelaris, registered dietitian/nutritionist and certified diabetes educator for Community Hospitals Diabetes Center. She has her clients keep a food, beverage and activity log from the beginning to get a good picture of what theyre taking in. I encourage small changes at a time, so these can be manageable. For example, I have them try making clean, no processed foods for breakfast for several weeks. If this is manageable, then we advance to adding clean lunches.

Weight loss is a slow and steady process, no matter which avenue you choose. Weve broken down some of the most popular methods of eating for weight loss so you can better understand which one, or which combination, might work for you.

Calories in; calories out. This is perhaps the best known way to slim down. The calorie is a unit of measurement of the energy we take in or expend. To lose weight, the theory goes, we must expend more than we take in.

Calorie counting is a simple system. Each food has a certain number of calories in it, and there are numerous phone apps and websites to help you calculate how many you should be eating to lose weight. You can potentially eat whatever you want, as long as it falls within your calorie allotment.

On the other hand, calories tend to go fast. For example, if your calorie allotment for the day is in the range of 1,500 and you have your eye on a slice of bakery cake that costs you 550 calories, youre down to 950. Low calories can equal low energy; some calorie counters report feeling tired and hungry by the end of the day.

Low Carb/Low-Glycemic Index

Low-carb, or low-carbohydrate, diets have been on the upswing in recent years. When we eat carbs (think bread and pasta), they are broken down into simple sugars in the intestines. The sugar is then absorbed into the blood, raising blood glucose levels. This increases the production of insulin, our fat storing hormone. Therefore, more carbs equals more fat. Low-carb eaters restrict the amount of carbs they consume so that instead of using the food they are consuming as fuel, their bodies burn the fat theyve already stored.

Similarly, the glycemic index is a rating system that ranks carbs according to their ability to affect blood sugar levels. Its often recommended that patients with diabetes eat low on the index.

You can eat as much as you wantof the right foods. As long as your carb count is low, eat all the steak your stomach desires. Low-carb eating is a potential refuge for calorie counters discouraged by their lack of energy.

There are side effects associated with the switch to low-carb eating (but not necessarily low-GI eating). They include foggy-headedness and digestion problems due to lack of fiber. Consider investing in fiber supplements and make sure to eat your veggies.

Many clean eaters have success losing weight by eating fresh, whole foods. The idea is that our bodies are designed to digest foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. The focus is on a high-quality, balanced diet and portion control.

Youll eat a variety of nutritious foods that fall under these categories: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fats and protein. Focus on nutrient-dense foods, which provide your body with optimal energy.

Eating clean requires some meal prep time and possibly more frequent trips to the grocery store for fresh meat and produce. When eating clean, you also remove refined sugar from your diet, which can be difficult to give up.

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How to make sense of popular diets in Northwest Indiana - nwitimes.com

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As we age, our metabolism and muscle mass start to decrease. Did you know that adults lose between five and seven pounds of muscle every decade after age 20?

To combat these signs of aging, add exercise into your daily routine. Whether its tracking your steps, running outside during your lunch break or taking your favorite fitness class. Its important to set aside this time to improve your overall health.

Here are just a few of the key benefits to improving your quality of life through strength training:

Improved overall ability to do everyday activities. Think: picking up groceries, holding your child, pushing the lawnmower, etc. The stronger your muscles are, the greater chance you have of staying injury-free.

Decreased risk of osteoporosis. Inactivity and aging can lead to a decrease in bone density, causing brittleness. Studies have shown that consistent strength training can increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis.

Increased calorie burn. Strength training increases the bodys metabolic rate, causing it to burn more calories throughout the day. This aids significantly in long-term weight loss.

Improved flexibility. Incorporating yoga or stretching into your week is an important part of sticking with your workout plan. Exercising without a high level of flexibility makes the body extremely prone to injuries that can throw off an exercise routine for weeks or even months.

Stronger heart and lungs. According to the American Heart Association, you should be exercising at a moderate-intensity for at least 30-minutes, 5 days a week. If youre ready to take things up a notch, aim instead for 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity at least 3 days a week.

Its never too late to start exercising. The only person that is holding you back is you, so why not start today.

Robyn Weisman provides in-home customized personal training, corrective exercise programs, and nutrition counseling services in the Center City area. She specializes in corrective exercise for improved movement, muscular imbalances, and injury prevention, as well as overall strength conditioning and lifestyle improvement. To learn more, visit resultsbyrw.com.

Read more Sports Doc for Sports Medicine and Fitness.

Published: February 16, 2017 4:00 AM EST

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5 anti-aging benefits of exercise - Philly.com (blog)

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While diet, exercise and behavior modification are essential components of obesity management, a successful long-term weight loss strategy should also include avoiding or minimizing medication-related weight gain, according to a new report from Weill Cornell Medicine.

The paper was published Feb. 10 in Gastroenterology.

Researchers from the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine underscore the necessity for physicians to evaluate the potential side effects and interactions of medications they prescribe for patients with obesity.

Physicians know that some medications can increase weight, but they dont always know what alternatives are out there, said lead author Dr. Leon Igel, an assistant professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Weill Cornell Medicine.

We want physicians who treat patients with obesity to feel more comfortable prescribing these alternatives. Our paper looks at how to practically manage patients with obesity by prescribing the optimal medications for them.

Numerous factors contribute to obesity and the bodys inability to shed excess weight, including commonly used medications such as steroids or contraceptives.

Additional impediments to weight loss may include medications such as insulin, metoprolol and paroxetine, which are vital for treating, respectively, diabetes, hypertension and depression chronic conditions that are common among people with obesity.

However, a patients weight loss desire does not typically guide a physicians prescribing practices. Each practitioner has a goal in mind, Dr. Igel said.

A cardiologist wants to lower blood pressure. A psychiatrist wants to make sure that mood is well regulated. Theyre not necessarily focusing on which medications will affect weight, but rather what will achieve their treatment goal.

It is essential, therefore, that internists and other physicians be aware of what medications their patients are taking and how they are likely to interact; recognizing when they can prescribe one medication as a substitute for another, or pair a medication that causes weight gain with one that minimizes its effect.

Not everyone can be taken off insulin, Dr. Igel said. But some patients might be able to couple insulin with other agents that promote weight loss to neutralize insulins effect on weight.

Obesity, which is defined as a body mass index of greater than or equal to 30, affects approximately one-third of all Americans.

Taking multiple medications to manage chronic conditions is common among this population. Less common is the use of dedicated weight loss medication, which many insurers do not cover, and few physicians are trained to prescribe.

Still, physicians should know which patients would be optimal candidates for each weight loss medication, and when certain weight loss medications should be avoided, Dr. Igel said.

For example, patients with uncontrolled hypertension, coronary disease, hyperthyroidism, or glaucoma should not take phentermine, an appetite suppressant that is also a stimulant.

We wanted to provide extra guidance, so that practitioners are using the right types of medications for the right types of patients, Dr. Igel said.

Want more Weight Loss news? Follow Knowridge Science Report onFacebook.

News source: Weill Cornell Medicine. The content is edited for length and style purposes. Figure legend: This Knowridge.com image is credited to Weill Cornell Medicine.

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Avoiding drugs that promote weight gain when managing obesity ... - Knowridge Science Report

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NEW CITY Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert remind residents that February is Heart Month a good time to learn how to prevent heart disease and stay heart healthy.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. The good news is that by living a healthy lifestyle, you can help keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar at normal levels and lower your risk for heart disease and heart attack, said Dr. Ruppert. A healthy lifestyle includes eating a healthy diet, staying at a healthy weight, getting enough physical activity, not smoking or using other forms of tobacco, and limiting alcohol use.

Follow these steps:

People with diabetes have a higher-than-average risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Our free 16-session National Diabetes Prevention Program can help you gain the skills you need to make lifestyle changes to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, if you are at risk or have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes. The next program begins Wednesday, February 22 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Spring Valley. Call 364-2651 for more information and to find out if you are eligible to participate.

Ready to lose weight? The Lose to Win Weight Loss Program uses the latest guidelines to help you lose weight safely and successfully. There is a $10 fee due at the time of registration. Call Nyack Hospital at 348-2004 to find out when the next free eight-week program begins.

To learn more about preventing heart disease, speak with your doctor, or visit the American Heart Association website at http://www.heart.org and the CDC website atwww.cdc.gov/heartdisease/prevention.htm

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Take Steps to Help Prevent Heart Disease - Hudson Valley News Network

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Its a big temptation, after eating yourself through the holidays, to want to crash diet.

But nutritionists, including Anita Bermann of Bainbridge Island, say that will only lead to more problems.

Bermann, who owns Ideal Feast Nutrition, tells her clients that fad dieting juicing, liquid diets and cleansing can bring on health issues such as anorexia, bulimia, osteoporosis, pancreas problems, heart issues and diabetes.

Radical diets are not sustainable, she said. They dont last. You become weak and fatigued and you go off that diet. Then you begin to feel like a failure.

Instead, she suggests that if you was to lose weight, read the labels on the food you are eating.

Processed food can negatively affect you, Bermann said. Look for fresh vegetables, fruits and lean protein.

She also warned against diets that totally eliminate things like fruit or bread.

On diets where you have no carbs or sugars, you ultimately will begin to crave those things, she said. What you need to do is limit those things and make good choices.

For example, she said, look for whole grain breads. They are healthier and will make you feel fuller faster.

And speaking of that, she teaches something called intuitive eating.

When we are babies we eat when we are hungry, she said. Thats the natural way to eat. As adults, we often eat because the clock says its time to eat.

We need to be in touch with our own hunger and fullness signals.

The focus should be learning how to tell when you are truly hungry and knowing when you are full, she said.

Our bodies are meant to be fueled every few hours, Bermann said. So eating small meals throughout the day can be a way to keep hunger at bay.

When crash dieting happens, the dieter often times doesnt get enough vitamins and begins to feel sluggish.

And they become susceptible to disease and infection because their immune systems is weak, she said.

In order to diet safely, she suggests doing some research first.

If you cant afford to see a nutritionist, look online. Figure out what a balanced diet is for you and how much food intake is safe.

She suggests the Academy of Nutrition website at http://www.eatright.org.

In the first few days of your diet, think about when you truly are hungry and when you are full.

Listen to your body, she said.

As for breakfast being the most important meal of the day, she subscribes to regular meals throughout the day as the most important.

But if you skip breakfast, you are allowing your body to go without food and fuel for too long, she added.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 35.7 percent of adults and 17 percent of children are obese. Obesity puts stress on every part of your body and increases your risk of developing major health problems, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, liver disease, infertility and sleep apnea.

Type 2 Diabetes: Obesity is one cause of Type 2 diabetes, but another is unstable blood sugar levels. When you consume a lot of refined grains and sugar-rich foods, your glucose levels spike and drop repeatedly. Over time, these dramatic changes in your blood sugar levels can lead to insulin resistance, which is characterized by a decreased sensitivity to insulin. If this condition is not corrected, it can advance to Type 2 diabetes.

Heart Disease: Unhealthy foods are often high in sodium, fat, cholesterol and sugar. Eating these unhealthy foods on a regular basis can increase your blood pressure as well as your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Over time, high blood pressure and high lipid levels can put a great deal of stress on your heart, increasing your risk for heart attack, stroke and coronary artery disease.

Source: Bermann at http://www.idealfeastnutrition.com, Harvard School of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control

Nutritionists provide these guidelines:

Improper nourishment: Your body needs a certain amount of calories the basic energy unit of the body to function. Almost all foods have at least some calories, but not all foods have the proper nutrients your body needs. Sugary snacks, for instance, are often high in calories, but they are empty calories, meaning they have none, or very little, of the important nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, that you need. Not getting enough nutrients can result in malnutrition. Mild symptoms of malnutrition include dizziness, fatigue and weight loss. In severe cases, symptoms such as hair loss, fainting and lack of menstruation can occur.

Disease: If you body doesnt get enough of the proper nutrients, particularly antioxidants, your immune system will feel the effects. A weakened immune system makes you susceptible to ailments, such as the flu or common cold. Lack of proper nutrients can also affect your major organs, leading to or contributing to a variety of ailments. For example, one common problem that results from a diet high in sugar and processed carbohydrates a complex form of sugar is that your pancreas can become overworked. The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which helps break down sugars in the body. If you body doesnt utilize insulin properly, a diet high in sugars causes insulin production to increase exponentially, which can lead to the pancreas eventually shutting down or limiting insulin production a condition known as Type 2 diabetes. When untreated, Type 2 diabetes often leads to other problems, including fatigue, increased hunger and thirst, blurred vision and erectile dysfunction.

Nutritional deficiency: Most vitamins and minerals are found in whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Neglecting to include these foods in your diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

This article originally appeared in Kitsap Living Winter 2017.

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Eating right: Make sure you stay healthy when you are dieting | Kitsap Living - Bainbridge Island Review (subscription)

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Fitness coach Alan Williams has blasted TV shows and social media experts for causing the spread of unhealthy weight loss programmes.

He believes that some fitness professionals are exploiting people with unrealistic expectations and causing competition over who can generate the most rapid weight loss.

Fitness has become the cool thing. Its almost turned into a competition of who can look the best, said Williams, who is based in Sligo.

We are being pressured into thinking we have to look or act a certain way to comply with societys expectations.

They (fitness professionals on TV and online) seem to be in a competition among themselves to see who can post the best stat online with their clients results.

Williams, who is one of Irelands leading fitness coaches, believes that people flaunting their dream bodies online can shame others and create unrealistic expectations.

He has warned that rapid weight loss can cause serious health issues, such as headaches, irritability, fatigue, dizziness, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, muscle loss and, in some cases, an increased risk of developing gallstones.

No client can safely lose more than two pounds a week, Williams added.

Im all for people getting in shape but it has to be done in a healthy way. Now things seem to be about losing weight in the quickest time possible. Whatever happened to training for health?

Getting in shape is as simple now as it was fifty years ago, because the truth doesnt change. What works long term is healthy eating and exercise. For sustainable weight loss, aim to lose on average 1 2lbs a week.

When clients feel like thats not enough for their efforts I always remind them that even losing one pound a week would leave them almost two stone lighter in six months time.

With every client I work with, I encourage them to set training and exercise goals. Take the focus off the scales. Try to enjoy your training and eating healthily. If you do that, everything else will take care of itself.

Williams is hosting a Change Your Own World seminar at the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, on Wednesday, February 22 at 8pm. The seminar will cover healthy eating, exercise, mindset and motivation. See: http://www.alanwilliamscoaching.com.

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Science Daily

Gluten-free diet may increase risk of arsenic, mercury exposure Science Daily A gluten-free diet is recommended for people with celiac disease, but others often say they prefer eating gluten-free because it reduces inflammation -- a claim that has not been scientifically proven. In 2015, one-quarter of Americans reported eating ... Gluten-free diet may increase exposure to arsenic, mercuryUPI.com The Scary Downside of a Gluten-Free DietShape Magazine Gluten-free diets have higher levels of arsenic | Daily Mail OnlineDaily Mail Medical Daily -Ars Technica all 13 news articles »

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Celebrity chef and paleo diet enthusiast Pete Evans has fired up on social media about reports on his controversial health claims.

Last year, Evans landed himself in hot water over his comments on toxicities in sunscreen and his recipe for baby broth that experts deemed highly dangerous.

Now, he has lashed out on social media and slammed reporters for writing fake news about his paleo diet.

Thank you to all the F grade journalists that continue to put out FAKE NEWS stories about Paleo or myself, he wrote on Instagram.

You do make me laugh when someone tells me of your lies, but I gotta say, I for one am one of your biggest fans and would love to give you all a big hug & cook you a delicious meal to say thanks.

Please keep doing what you are doing, as we could never have reached this many people as quickly as we have done without you.

Thank you to all the "F grade" journalists that continue to put out FAKE NEWS stories about Paleo or myself. Each and every time you create a lie, in your poorly researched article or sensationalist headline, you continually promote a paleo & low carb, healthy fat lifestyle approach to an even larger audience than we could have reached ourselves! Thanks to you, more people are becoming interested in what Paleo and LCHF is about, and they will have heard of someone that has reclaimed their health by adopting these simple principles and will do more research into the topic than you have ever done. You do make me laugh when someone tells me of your lies, but I gotta say, I for one am one of your biggest fans and would love to give you all a big hug & cook you a delicious meal to say thanks. Please keep doing what you are doing, as we could never have reached this many people as quickly as we have done without you. If you are interested in speaking and researching the TRUTH, then there is a ton of medical experts to speak to, that are getting amazing results by using paleo and LCHF as one of their tools for their patientsbut again that might not fit your job description as a modern journalist. The TRUTH.1. We promote breast milk as the number 1 form of nutrition for babies! 2. We do not promote drinking the milk of any other animal as it can cause so many health issues, however if you were to choose to drink it then camels milk has been shown to create the least problems. 3. We promote a healthy relationship to the sun to get adequate vitamin D levels and when choosing a sunscreen, then choose the least toxic. 4. The addition of fluoride to your families water supply should be a choice that families make. 5. We promote an abundance of vegetables (low carb) with a small to moderate amount of well sourced animal protein from land and or sea animals and enough natural fat to satiate with fermented veg and broths for good gut health. Basically meat and 3 veg! 6. You have a choice everyday of what you choose to eat. 7. Manu and I are great mates! 8. The writers for Womans day/weekly, daily mail/telegraph mamamiahilarious

A post shared by Healthy Paleo Chef (@chefpeteevans) on Feb 13, 2017 at 3:40pm PST

He goes on to explain that paleo is mostly a diet of meat and 3 veg and calls out magazines for printing misleading claims about him and his fellow My Kitchen Rules host Manu Feildel.

Manu and I are great mates! he said in response to reports they were feuding.

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Pete Evans releases another rant about his paleo diet - Starts at 60

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Not your average Android news -- a diverse mix of advice, insight, and analysis with veteran Android journalist JR Raphael. Try it with margarine for a low-cal treat!

This New Year's, I decided it was time for a change. I set out to make a resolution and stick with it. And now, a month and a half later, I'm happy to report that I've lost a huge amount of weight -- and I'm feeling more focused and less bloated than ever.

I'm not talking about body blubber here, mind you (though if we're being fully honest, I probably could stand to cut back on the ol' candy). I'm talking about my mobile tech habits -- and specifically about the apps on my own personal Android phone.

I've had a bit of an app problem for a while now. As I pointed out in December, I've had around 1200 different apps installed on my Android devices at various times over the years. Sure, some of them have been things I've merely tried out for work, but still -- I mean, c'mon. That's a lot of apps (even if only a fraction of them is present at any given point).

Having lots of apps, as I've realized from paying attention to my own phone-based behavior as well as from observing other people's on-screen swiping habits, has the tendency to result in a few different things:

First, it makes it more cumbersome to find the apps you really need. Sure, you can set up your home screens in a sensible way -- but whether you place all your shortcuts there or dig around in your app drawer for certain items, having more clutter certainly can't help.

Second -- and perhaps most pressing for me, personally -- having more stuff on your phone makes you more prone to engage in something I like to call mindless phone-meandering. You know the drill: You find yourself with a moment of "dead air" in your day -- a few seconds or a matter of minutes without some form of active visual stimulation. Maybe your dinner companion got up to use the bathroom. Maybe you're standing in a checkout line and have an entire 60 seconds without anything to do. Or maybe you're on an exercise bike at the gym and find your mind and fingers unusually free.

You feel that familiar itch and -- probably without even realizing what you're doing -- find your hand reaching down to grasp your phone. With nothing in particular that you truly need to accomplish right that very second, you find yourself mindlessly swiping around on your screen in search of a distraction. Maybe you open Facebook. Maybe you scroll around in a news app or two. Maybe you just open up your inbox or even your app drawer and swipe around in there, desperately seeking something -- anything -- to fill the mental silence. (You'd be amazed at how many people I've seen do exactly that in a brief moment of non-stimulation.)

Hey, I'm not one to judge; I've definitely been there. More times than I'd like to admit. Over the past several months, though, I've found I prefer being less connected and remaining fully present in my physical environment-- or with whatever primary activity I'm devoting myself to at a particular moment.

That doesn't mean I'm no longer interested in mobile technology or in Android -- far from it. It simply means I want to use my devices deliberately and in a way that enhances my life rather than passively allowing them to distract me. I want to actively perform tasks when I choose, in other words -- but I don't want to do the mindless phone-meandering dance in an effort to avoid any time alone with my thoughts.

I'd been working on this on and off, with varying levels of success, since sometime last year. But no matter how hard I tried, I kept falling off the wagon and shuffling back into my old habits. So after my latest news-cycle-driven slip, I decided to go nuclear. Technology was controlling me instead of my controlling technology, and that's exactly the opposite of what I wanted. It was time to make a change.

I went through my app drawer and carefully considered every item inside. With each app, I asked myself two questions: One, was this something I had actually used within the last six months? If not, it was just creating clutter and serving no meaningful purpose. ("Maybe I'll need it one day (even though I haven't touched it in half in a year now)" doesn't count.) And two, was this something I actively and deliberately used in a way that enriched my life -- or something I passively and mindlessly opened in a way that took away from my life?

With that two-pronged test, I ended up uninstalling more than half the apps on my phone -- including every news and social media app on the list. I realized that obsessively "checking in" on the news or scrolling through this-or-that social network in the evening had started to feel more like an obligation than something I enjoyed. And so it was time to cut those cords.

I still follow the news and keep up with social media, but I do so in limited doses during the work day -- at my desktop computer -- and rarely outside of that. And man, do I feel better as a result. Lighter, more present, and more focused and able to think. When I use my phone, it's for something deliberate and at the center of my attention. Digital distractions are still a mere few taps away, of course, but not having them readily available right at my fingertips makes an enormous difference. It's a whole new world I'm finding myself inhabiting, both online and in the physical space around me.

Your situation and your preferences may vary, and I'm certainly not suggesting that everyone should go out and uninstall everything on their mobile devices. This is not a one-size-fits-all sort of remedy. But on a broad level, it is something that can help you refocus your life and your phone on what matters to you -- what you actually use and what you want to use -- and cut out the surrounding bloat. Think of it as an early spring cleaning: You can eliminate unnecessary distractions and help yourself focus on what's really important. And whether you eliminate a few apps or axe several dozen like I did, you'll almost certainly be better off for it.

(There's also the more obvious surface-level benefit of freeing up space on your phone and cutting out pointless background processing tasks -- which may or may not be significant for you but could definitely make a difference on some devices.)

Here's the best part: If you uninstall something and genuinely miss it, you can always go back and reinstall it. That'll take a whopping 30 seconds to do. But if you uninstall something and realize you either don't miss it or are happier without it, well, that's a good sign that your own personal Android app diet has been a success. It's an easy way to figure out what you really want and need and to clear out all the other crap that's just getting in the way.

For me, trimming the fat and dropping dead weight has been a revelation. My Android phone is now both more useful and less distracting. I put off my commitment as long as I could, but this new digital diet turned out to be just what the doctor ordered.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some delicious frickin' candy in the other room with my name on it.

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I went on an Android app diet, and I've never felt better - Computerworld

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