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Former members of alleged sex cult Nxivm have spoken out about founder and leader Keith Raniere's various manipulation tactics, like providing family secrets and notarized house deeds under the guise of personal accountability.

During Raniere's lifetime prison sentence hearing on October 27, former members talked about Raniere's request for diet restriction among multiple women members, including those in Nxivm's secret sorority DOS.

According to India Oxenberg, who executive produced the docuseries "Seduced" about her seven years in the cult and two years as a DOS sex slave, Raniere framed diet restriction as the ultimate show of self-improvement and convinced some followers to believe that.

In reality, Raniere restricted women's diets to make them look more child-like, Oxenberg said during her victim impact statement at the sentencing.

Oxenberg, who was also branded with Raniere's initials, isn't the only former Nxivm member to say Raniere restricted her diet.

When Ivy Nevares defied Raniere's strict diet, eating pumpkin seeds to stave off her hunger, he became angry, Nevares said during her own victim impact statement.

Camila, who didn't share her last name during her testimony, said Raniere raped her when she was 15 and he was 45. She said Raniere was obsessed with her weight for the entirety of their relationship, which lasted until she left Nxivm at 27.

"From the time we started having sex, he would ask me my weight every single day," Camila said at Raniere's sentencing. "This continued into my adulthood. His goal for me was to be 100 pounds or less."

During an appearance on Dr. Oz that airs October 29, former member Tabby Chapman said Raniere falsely told her diet restriction was a useful tool for self-improvement.

"I was originally food-restricted because Keith had everyone convinced that the fastest way to work your issues was to work your relationship with food," Chapman told Oz.

She said she often wondered how eating fewer calories would lead her to business success, but continued to eat between 500 and 900 calories daily as Raniere requested.

Bonnie Piesse, a former member, left Nxivm when she noticed various women were restricting their food intake and looked dangerously underweight, she said in HBO's docuseries "The Vow." She said one of those women was "Smallville" actress Allison Mack, who recruited Oxenberg and others into DOS. Mack now awaits her own sentencing, and pleaded guilty to racketeering for her involvement in the cult.

Raniere, 60, was sentenced to 120 years in prison after being found guilty of child sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit forced labor.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you can call NEDA's Helpline (1-800-931-2237) on weekdays for support, resources, and information about treatment options. In crisis situations, NEDA offers 24/7 support just text "NEDA" to 741-741.

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Ex-members of Nxivm say leader Keith Raniere brainwashed women into starving themselves - Insider - INSIDER

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Staying at home has never felt as good as before. But it also adds on the kilos. The virus has forced people to turn to technology as a solution to better health, physical and mental, in more entertaining ways than just pushups on the bedroom carpet.

YouTube workout videos of Leslie Sansone and Lucy Wyndham tell you how to walk in one place at home and sweat it out. Tarun Gills tough fitness videos.

And then there are FitTuber and Beer Biceps. Bicycle helmets with wireless backup and 3D modelling.

The Apple Watch has a heart monitor, which alerts you of an impending heart attack.

Garmin Venu sells a smartwatch boasting health tracking for various functions, including menstrual cycles. Drone racing gets the body parts moving.

Drones are integrated into outdoor fitness and exercise programmes or used in the home gym to capture a 360 view of training and performance, constantly reviewing, adjusting and urging you to push the envelope.

Holographic tennis and workout podcasts are new regimens. Amaresh Ojha, CEO & Founder, Gympik, observes, Podcasts offer the right counselling on health and fitness by industry professionals. Food and nutrition or weight loss and muscle gain, podcasts bring the latest news in wellness and fitness trends.

Got a pool at home? Alternate Augmented Reality (AR) Form goggles with a Google Glass head-mounted display strapped to your eyes.

The accelerometer in the goggles tracks strokes and speed in real time to monitor metabolism during aquatic AR. E-sports are the new frontier in muscle construction.

Diksha Chhabra, Fitness Expert, Nutritionist & Founder, Diksha Chhabra Fitness Consultation, notes, A client of mine who had no time confessed the online programme gave her better results. She did not miss her exercises and she was emailed the schedule in advance with the necessary instructions and guidelines.

Nintendos home workout kits combine legendary villains with a silent Adventure mode.

Then there is the ultimate rock star in the digital wellness spaceArtificial Intelligence (AI). AI-based personal trainers integrated with wearable devices follow and correct workout posture and provide real-time feedback like a trainer does.

You can also customise lifestyle and diet with AI apps such as Millie Fit and Aaptiv Coach. There are apps such as Lifesum that integrate your diet with lifestyle habits to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. Most of them can be paired with other health apps such as Apple Health, Fitbit, Google Fit and Withings.

Theres more to wearable tech than watches. Nocturnal tech to save cyclists and bikers from careless drivers is getting more sophisticated by the day.

A unique jacket has a cape sphere4,000 glass globes embedded in each sq cm that reflect and scatter light. During the day, it has a psychedelic look with shifting metallic sheens of colour.

Another has phosphorescent membranes to catch and store light: the stronger the light the brighter the glow. Strobe-lit spheres clipped on to your shoes warn errant motorists when you are on a jog.

Many apps are built with data gathered from professional athletes. BlazePod, a Bluetooth flash reflex training system, uses reaction-training lights, and works by tapping touch-sensitive pods with your hands, knees, or feet during a workout.

The pods light up in different colours during the exercise, signalling reaction time, coordination, balance, and strength. E-games cater to every need.

The Stealth Plankster acts on your core using a balance board plugged into a cellphone and works out up to 29 muscles.

Virtually the best

The most exciting universe in e-exercise is Virtual Reality (VR), which is pushing boundaries of gadgets and games.

This essentially involves pulling on a VR headset attached to a computer or a cellphone to run apps and games, hands-free or connected.

Top-quality headphones and hand-controllers that operate specially designed treadmills enhance simulated experiences of being in another world.

As you play, your body moves fast with the controllers applying real-world gestures in the game or app. Standard gaming joypads are cheaper.

There are special app stores to browse and download games and apps on the VR device itself. Some VR games stores can be browsed on the computer.

Many built-for-VR games such as Beat Saber, Iron Man VR or Star Trek: Bridge Crew do not really work anywhere else except on their download gadgets.

Facebook-owned company Occulus has launched Occulus Quest 2, the most sophisticated VR gadget available at present. Strap it to your head using rubber and Velcro straps, and youre ready to go. Its field of vision and higher refresh frame rate make the screen expansive and crisp with improved resolution.

The headset features 6GB of memory and uses Qualcomms Snapdragon XR2 chipset. Hand recognition is smooth. HTC Vive, its direct rival, has singular features, including a front-facing camera to bring the real world into your virtual world using specific apps.

Two hand-worn gestural controllers and a base station track your movements inside VR space. The greatest advantage of VR workouts is data.

The aquatic AR goggles use data collected from a multitude of champion swimmers to monitor user performance.

VR is a gift to the routine exercise buff, since it breaks the monotony of regular gymming, which has anyway been put off due to the pandemic.

You can upload an immersive boxing VR game on your headset to duck and weave, and burn calories because you are in the game.

The Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise that researches the effect of VR on the body has concluded that these workouts with the right games burn more calories than sweating out in a conventional gym.

Being an internet device, you can play with people across the world. Rookies in the gym are often subjected to self-conscious gymtimidationa term that defines people ashamed of their physical shape and ignorance of weights and routines in a gym.

This is no longer a problem with VR. You can download avatars like in computer games that hide your identity while looking like Salman Khan.

This is a great psychological leg-up since you are essentially competing with yourself. A study by the USs National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests that VR exercise has a positive impact on an individuals physiological, psychological, and rehabilitative outcomes compared to traditional exercise. Sanjay Sehgal, CEO, MSys Technologies Pvt Ltd, says, VR workouts can be done on rowing machines, exercise bikes, resistance cords, and elliptical machines at home or in the gym.

This combination of the complete immersion and dedication helps people to forget that they are working out. The gamification and competition encourage them to push the limits, making the experience more appealing. Like Rishi Baveja, Co-Founder, BoxFit, admits that he gained a lot of weight during the lockdown. He got back into shape using online training.

We conducted a survey which suggested 84 percent of people would continue with online workouts even once everything opens again, he says. Some apps such as Box VR and Dance Central enable high-impact workouts. Sanjeev Singhai, Founder, Wellnessta explains, In a VR workout, the environment is completely replaced by digital surroundings. The thought that you can be shipped to a lovely area like the Swiss Alps for your next bicycle ride, as opposed to gazing at the sweat-soaked back of your fellow gym mate is motivating.

App you like it

There are many apps that monitor weight and suggest lifestyle changes. G Nivedith, travel and tech blogger from Bengaluru, weighed 126 kg in March 2020. My body fat was 46 percent. After some online research, I made my low carb-high protein diet plan and focused on losing fat without losing muscle. I bought an Omron weighing scale with the Omron connect app that gave me indicators like body mass index, visceral fat and other parameters. I now weigh 75 kg, losing 51 kg over the last seven months, he explains. Sohini Ghaie, video creator and a freelance publicist, also tracks her calories using an app, Healthifyme. I was so excited when I saw Nora Fatehi conduct a dance session of 30 minutes on Cure.fit. Gyms do not give you that sense of satisfaction because you get a complex while your gym trainers compare you with the others who are working out, she says.

The ability to track and quantify health parameters is also serving as a motivation to get fit. Nikhil Arora, Vice President & Managing Director, GoDaddy India, who has been following an exercise and running regimen for over a decade, now uses fitness tech to calibrate his workouts based on input parameters such as running cadence, speed, distance, heart rate, calorie burn rate, and output or performance metrics like VO2 max (a kind of oxygen efficiency parameter), weight loss and calorie density.

Ive always believed that you cant manage what you cant measure. Technology gives people a lot more control over their fitness by giving them access to a whole lot of data about their regimen and health. This, in turn, makes them more independent and self-driven. I use technology to track basic health metrics such as hydration levels, sleep cycles and stress. Being able to measure this data has given me a lot more confidence to keep trying out new stuff and see what works best, says Arora.

Mallika Parekh, MS, MPH, owner of Physique 57 India, notes, We are in the middle of launching a Video on Demand platform, which will allow clients to do shorter workout bursts using specially applicable scientific methods, pause and rewind when required, and not stick to a schedule if they choose. These videos will be accessible through social media channels as well as app stores.

FITTING ANSWERSZoom is not just meant to hold meetings; it also helps you get fit on your phone or computer. Celebrity fitness coach Shivoham observes, Ive been using Zoom and Instagram for my classes and clients. We will be coming up with something more user-friendly and personal soon. If you have an eye for detail and are good at communication, then virtual classes are great for you. Decathlon launched self-powered bikes and ellipticals to help users practice in any environment.

With Kinomap (a fitness reality application), users can connect their fitness equipment with this reality software to experience running a marathon in Delhi or rowing on a beautiful lake, or even participate in Tour de France, says Jade Dutta, Omni Merchandiser, Domyos, Decathlon Sports India. Incidentally, Decathlons All For Sports platform provides various fitness live sessions for users to stay fit at home. Sumaya Dalmia, celebrity trainer, fitness and wellness expert, adds: The pandemic has really forced people to look at virtual fitness differently and online fitness. When we didnt have a choice, people had to learn how to connect with the trainers online like kids have learnt how to study on Zoom. Likewise, we have learnt how to do a Zoom workout or an online workout. Numerous gyms are presently streaming expertly trained classes through apps that permit clients to reproduce the experience of individual instruction with a mentor through their earphones.

There are workouts that cater to all ages, metabolic capacities, illnesses and even time constraints. From five minutes of intense HIIT to 90 minutes of relaxing yoga, all are now available with the click of a button. Yoga expert Samiksha Shetty explains, While online fitness was already happening on a smaller scale, it has become the go-to for the past eight months. It allowed people to change a common belief system that working out is only worth its while when you are in a specific kind of environment. Timing matters.

Dr Nila Paul, who works at Vellore Government Hospital and has been with F45 Neelankarai (a gym in Chennai) for the past six months, agrees, Being a doctor, the timings of the sessions have been very convenient as I spend most of my day at the Covid-19 wards at Vellore. The 45-minute morning cardio sessions with F45 Neelankarai gives me the mindset to go out and conquer the world. Workouts are modified as per my fitness level every day and the trainers make it a point to challenge me constantly. With growing awareness on mental health, people are more mindful about the vitality of yoga and breathwork. Its also easy on the wallet.

Grin and wear it

Wearable technology such as smartwatches and fitness bands has been around for a while, being constantly upgraded to become more accurate than before. Since the appetite for data is increasing each day, we are seeing innovation and better application of technologies that push the limits to improve overall health and fitness with personalised regimens. Privacy and security protocols must be prioritised to make tech safe, says Darshan Lama, Chief Commercial Officer, Question Whats Real (QWR). According to Forbes, the wearable technology industry is estimated to be over $27 billion by 2022. Vishal Gondal, Founder & CEO, GOQii, points out, Wearables that include fitness trackers, smartwatches, heart rate monitors and GPS tracking devices help in the monitoring and tracking of Covid-19 symptoms.

The future of personal tech is invisible wearables. Super thin and almost transparent gadgets with powerful sensors combined with AI that download genetic and other data are being tested in labs. Harvard-MIT researchers have come up with a smart tattoo with sensors powered by subcutaneous fluids. As celebrity motivational speaker Jim Rohn advised, Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live. Log in for better health.

Virtual Reality

Involves pulling on a VR headset attached to a computer or a cell phone to run apps and games, hands free or connected. Top-quality headphones and hand controllers that operate specially designed treadmills enhance simulated experiences of being in another world.

Built-for-VR gamesBeat Saber, Iron Man VR or Star Trek: Bridge Crew

Facebooks Occulus Quest 2 is the most sophisticated VR gadget available at present. Strap it to your head using rubber and Velcro straps, and youre ready to go.

HTC Vive has singularfeatures, including a front-facing camera to bring the real world into your virtual world using specific apps.

Virtual trainers

Stealth Plankster works on your core using a balance board plugged into a cellphone and works out up to 29 muscles

BlazePod, a Bluetooth flash reflex training system, uses reaction-training lights, and works by tapping touch-sensitive pods with your hands, knees, or feet during a workout

Decathlons self-powered bikes and ellipticals make practice possible in any environment. With Kinomap app, users can connect their equipment with this reality software.

Podcasts

Holographic tennis and workout podcasts are new regimens. Podcasts offer the right counselling on health and fitness by industry professionals. Food and nutrition or weight loss and muscle gain, podcasts bring the latest news in wellness and fitness trends.

Online Workout Sessions

Numerous gyms are presently streaming expertly trained classes through apps such as Zoom and Instagram that permit clients to reproduce the experience of individual instruction with a mentor through their earphones.

There are workouts that cater to all ages, metabolic capacities, illnesses and even time constraints. From five minutes of intense HIIT to 90 minutes of relaxing yoga, all are now available with the click of a button.Decathlons All For Sports platform provides various fitness live sessions for users to stay fit at home.

Wearables

Bicycle helmets with wireless backup and 3D modelling

The Apple Watch has a heart monitor, which alerts you of an impending heart attack. Garmin Venus smartwatch boasts health tracking for various functions, including menstrual cycles.

Google Glass: The accelerometer in the goggles tracks strokes and speed in real time to monitor metabolism during aquatic AR.

AI-based personal trainers, integrated with wearable devices, follow and correct workout postures real-time

Nocturnal tech to save cyclists and bikers from careless drivers is getting more sophisticated by the day. A unique jacket has a cape sphere4,000 glass globes embedded in each sq cm that reflect and scatter light. During the day, it has a psychedelic look with shifting metallic sheens of colour. Another has phosphorescent membranes to catch and store light. Strobe-lit spheres clipped on to your shoes warn errant motorists when you are on a jog.

App-ropriate for Fitness

Aaptiv Coach Comes with a virtual personal trainer known as Coach for every individual with different fitness goals

Lifesum Integrates your diet with lifestyle habits to help you achieve your health and fitness goals

Ring Fit Adventure The latest fitness game for Nintendo Switch blends exercise routines with adventure

Fitness Boxing Its more like kickboxing and helps you tone your arms and upper body

Burn It Up The Zumba session allows you to have a private session at home, with 30 different kinds of classes and lessons

Wii Fit Plus Helps you work on the aerobics and exercise part. There are multiplayer activities that allow one to play and do workouts with friends.

Healthifyme Provides services such as calorie tracking, one-on-one nutrition and fitness coaching, and diet and workout plans

Millie Fit The AI-powered, on-demand virtual fitness trainer offers live feedback and correction during workouts

Omron Connect Works together with Omron health devices to help you manage your health data. It gives indicators such as body mass index, visceral fat and other parameters.

Box VR Brings music-enhanced, boxing-inspired workouts to VR gaming

Dance Central Tracks your estimated calories burned as you play

Drones

These flying machines are integrated into outdoor fitness and exercise programmes or used in the home gym to capture a 360 view of training and performance, constantly reviewing, adjusting and urging you to push the envelope.

E-sports

Nintendos home workout kits combine legendary villains with a silent Adventure mode

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The WiFi fit list: Virtual training apps, sessions to help you combat weight gain amid COVID house arrest - The New Indian Express

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Extra emission controls, but with a difference.

In efforts to keep diesel-fuelled engines on the right side of emissions laws, manufacturers are turning to more and more aggressive means of reducing the kind of bad stuff coming out of the tailpipe.

And when things like exhaust gas recirculation and diesel particulate filters arent cutting the mustard, something called selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is employed.

Such technology is particularly prevalent in European vehicles, where ever-tightening emissions laws are forcing the hand of manufacturers.

So, what is it? And how does it work?

AdBlue is a trading name that has gone into common vernacular, like Hoover and Kleenex. A more common name is diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), which enables that process called selective catalytic reduction. In particular, it targets your exhaust's nitrogen oxide (NOx) content and looks to reduce it.

Essentially, a bunch of sensors in your exhaust system monitor the contents of your exhaust gasses. When required, a spray of DEF is injected into the exhaust system.

This fluid, which is a solution of urea and distilled water, causes a reaction. Urea contains ammonia, which reacts with the nitrogen oxide inside a catalyst and breaks it down. So, instead of nitrogen oxide leaving the tailpipe, its nitrogen and water.

DEF consumption is typically very low, around 25 per cent of your fuel consumption. For example, a Ford Everests 18-litre tank will cover 2400km of driving. Other vehicles will have enough range to only require top-ups at service time.

However, its worth knowing that under law, a vehicle with an empty DEF fluid tank will not start. And under hard working conditions (like four-wheel driving and towing), consumption will increase along with your fuel consumption. Dont get caught out; its just as bad as having no fuel.

This technology has allowed diesel-powered vehicles to remain on sale in some markets, but has also allowed manufacturers to turn up the wick, so to speak, with efficient and high-performance diesel-powered vehicles. Heres looking at you, Audi SQ5.

While most vehicles have a filler point next to the fuel tank, they are sometimes tucked away in the boot. Its worth knowing where your filler point is, and knowing how to check on the level. Often, its hidden somewhere within your multifunction display.

Not all diesel-powered vehicles require this system, and it depends mostly upon emissions laws for particular vehicles in different markets.

For example, Volkswagens early and higher-specification Amaroks with 580Nm made in Hannover Germany have selective catalytic reduction. As production has been taken over by the Argentine factory at Pacheco, the additional emission controls were removed.

As time rolls on, the availability of diesel exhaust fluid (or AdBlue) is becoming greater and greater. While some of your country and outback servos might be a bit hit-and-miss, the fact that many trucks have SCR means you should be able to find it in most places these days.

Some service stations will have AdBlue available through a bowser, which often works out to be the cheapest way to top up. Other service stations (and auto stores) will have bottles in various sizes. This is handy if you want some spare in the boot for that long road trip you are planning.

For example, Caltex has 130 locations around Australia with AdBlue available at the pump, along with 330 additional locations with bottles.

Diesel exhaust fluid has a shelf life of 12 months. We arent sure how bad out-of-date stuff is, but if youve got an ageing bottle sitting around, you might as well dump it in your tank and buy a fresh one.

Diesel exhaust fluid is another complication that serious 4WDers will need to accommodate. Along with calculating your fuel range on big trips, know how long you can comfortably go between DEF refills, and carry some extra with you.

Additionally, depending on how your four-wheel drive is designed, the DEF tank might be in an unprotected location underneath. Consider some additional protection if you're planning on dragging yourself over plenty of rocks, especially if its a plastic tank.

While human urine also contains urea, its only a few per cent (depending on your diet). The concentration isnt strong enough to act as a substitute, and it contains all manner of other things (once again, depending on your diet) that could damage your AdBlue system. Repairs and replacement will cost well in the thousands, not the hundreds.

MORE: Which fuel type do I need? MORE: Fuel economy testing: What is WLTP and how does it work?MORE: The cars with the best (and worst) driving range in AustraliaMORE: All advice stories

What is diesel exhaust fluid (AdBlue), and how does it work?

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What is diesel exhaust fluid (AdBlue), and how does it work? - CarAdvice

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With everyone indoors during spring and summer, and restricting physical activity to the confines of living rooms and basements, the New York Harbor Healthcare Systems prosthetics team and the Veterans they serve had to adapt and overcome.

But adapting to new challenges is a part of who they are.

Golf can be adaptable to a wide array of impairment groups including individuals with limb loss. Exercises and golf-specific activities can be tailored to achieve the requisite strength, flexibility and balance to successfully participate in the sport.

The smell of freshly cut grass and bright warm sun at the Toptracer Golf Course and Driving Range was a pleasant change of pace for a Thursday afternoon.

Golf courses and driving ranges avoid the restrictions affecting other recreational activities because of the physically distant nature of the sport.

Because of the restrictions regarding physical distancing, weve had to think outside the box. I sought out this opportunity to bring some Vets out here to the driving range for a physical therapy session, Dr. Jonathan Glasberg, clinical coordinator for the VA prosthetics team covering New York and New Jersey said.

Glasberg arrived decked out in a red, white and blue polo shirt, khaki shorts, a baseball hat, and sunglasses looking the part of a quintessential golfer.

William Bill Alvarez arrived a few minutes later, riding a bright red electric scooter, U.S. Army sticker affixed to the front, and a tote bag housing a hand towel and a bottle of water. Hes in the white shirt in the photo above.

A Veteran of the 101st Airborne Division who served in Vietnam, his right leg was amputated from the knee down, as well as his left leg at the ankle. He now wears prosthetic legs which allow him to stay active and stay mobile.

I started doing adaptive sports with New York VA about six years ago, beginning with hand cycle marathons. The first one I did was Pedals with Honor in Central Park. Got all the way around the park, and I had the handbrake on! That was my introduction to adaptive sports.

As Glasberg laid out a training mat and an exercise ball for warm-up repetitions, Alvarez explained that transporting training equipment is usually the biggest hurdle for adaptive sports.

I never thought Id be able to do a marathon. It was very hard, but I kept going. Once I finished my first marathon, I thought to myself, I wonder what else I can do? So now Im here with Jonathan learning to golf for the first time in my life.

After some stretching and calisthenics, Glasberg showed Alvarez how to properly hold a golf club while staying balanced. Alvarez sent a few golf balls flying down range.

While they trained, they discussed the importance of staying active.

There are different types of prosthesis. We mostly use suction sockets, which requires a technician to measure and fit a prosthetic. When people gain or lose weight, or otherwise change their physiology, it affects how the prosthetic fits. Its a constant, ongoing relationship with your health care provider, Glasberg said.

As Alvarezs physical therapy session came to an end, he thanked Glasberg for teaching him how to golf.

Who knew that when all this began Id be learning how to do something totally new! I dont know what Id do without the amazing staff at New York VCA. Thank you.

The Veteran in the top photo is Dominic Romano.

Michael A. Drake is a public affairs officer for VA New York.

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Veterans adapt and overcome thanks to New York VA prosthetics - VAntage Point Blog

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Sure, you might feel great this morning. You could be sleeping as well as you ever have. But your partner? Well, its possible they havent had a good nights sleep in years.

Why?

Because of you.

Its not like youre trying to rob your closest ally of beauty sleep. It just sort of happens. Once you find your groove in deep slumber and youre fully relaxed, you could start snoring. Unfortunately, your partner pays a hefty price.

It could be affecting your relationship or lead to health problems for your partner. You may even find yourself being awoken by elbow jabs and kicks in the middle of the night.

Getting snoring under control could be the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season.

There are several safe lifestyle measures that may reduce the likelihood of snoring. If noise in the bedroom has become a contentious issue, here are a few things that may help.

Avoid Alcohol: Staying away from alcohol within three hours of bedtime can help cut down on snoring. Booze relaxes airway muscles that can increase the chances of snoring.

Watch Medication Intake: Muscle relaxers sold as sedatives or prescription anxiety medications can have a similar effect as alcohol. Avoid taking these at night to reduce the chance of snoring.

Lose Weight: Losing weight may be the most effective and long-lasting measure to cut down on snoring.

Sleep on Your Side or With an Elevated Head: Back sleepers may have a greater susceptibility to snoring because of tongue positioning. Your tongue may fall back to press against the roof of your airway when sleeping on your back, and shifting to the side is an easy fix.

Body pillows can help you stay on your side.

Tend to Allergies: Allergens may also cause snoring. If you suffer from a stuffy nose, try rinsing sinuses with saline. Also, be sure to regularly clean sheets and surfaces in your bedroom to remove dust mites.

If youre sharing a bed, you have to think about more than just your sleep quality. Do your partner a favor and give them the gift of great sleep.

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Give Your Partner the Gift of Restful Sleep - Bel Marra Health

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Whether you are planning or not, keep an eye out to these visible signs and symptoms that are most common in early pregnancies. Some of them are clear signs while some could cloud your usual health issues. In any case, if you notice discrepancies in your menstrual cycle, it is always safe to first consult with your gynaecologist immediately.

Women usually have a 28-day menstrual cycle which means there are about 5-6 days every month as a window when you can get pregnant. Youre the most fertile at the time of ovulation which 12-14 days before your period. It might be helpful for you to keep track of your cycle and the time you engaged in sexual intercourse. However, otherwise, a missed period is a big signal that you need to check if you are pregnant.

Pregnancy is no easy by any means. Your body undergoes many biological and physical changes to provide a safe and nutritious incubation for the child. Thus, you might experience bloating or uneasiness due to higher levels of progesterone that slow down your digestive system. This condition makes your stomach looks puffier and fuller than usual. If you have missed your period and you experience bloating, then its time for you to keep an eager eye out on that pregnancy stick!

When the baby presses on the bladder, the pressure increases and so does the need to urinate. These breaks can start early. The extra blood flow to the kidney along with the swelling uterus cause frequent urination. That does not, however, mean you cut back on your fluid intake. Keep that consistent and unless theres a hint of burning sensation, urgency or any kind of infection, theres nothing to worry about.

Probably the best part (or worst) is the fact that you can eat anything and everything (except a few) of your choosing. Food cravings are a part and parcel of pregnancy throughout, and also the early signs. One day you might crave for a pickled cucumber and on the other, you might have a rush for sauerkraut. Nevertheless, besides a few vegetables that can pose a risk for miscarriages, you can indulge yourself in whatever you like.

Well, its not PMS, but it can get that intense. This happens due to the increasing levels of hCG hormones which also causes fatigue and prone to moodiness. So the next time you find yourself enraged because you have nothing decent to watch or if your gardener took the day off, dont worry. Give yourself some time to cool off and have something that you were craving upon.

Changes in breasts are the earliest signs you can spot, as early as two weeks after conception. Hormonal changes turn your breasts tender and sore. Sometimes, you may also find them grow fuller and heavier. However, it is not uncommon as they develop due to increased blood flow and the growing needs of the baby. You can wear a supportive, wire-free bra, loose-fitting clothes or maternity clothes. A regular warm shower might also help soothe the soreness.

Mild spotting and vaginal bleeding, also known as implantation bleeding, are also early signs of pregnancy. This happens when the fertilised egg attaches to the lining of the uterus after two weeks of fertilisation. According to a study by the Department of Epidemiology, the University of North Carolina, one-fourth of participants out of a study of 1207 experienced bleeding but only 8 per cent reported heavy bleeding. Some women also experience cramping in their lower abdomen early on in their pregnancy.

A miscarriage indicates the loss of a foetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. Factors causing miscarriage vary from age (women above 35 years of age are at a higher risk of having a miscarriage), previous histories of miscarriages, smoking or alcohol addictions, cervical problems and so on.

1. Genetic or hereditary factors: Around 50 per cent of all the miscarriages may be attributed to the genetic disposition of the mother to be.

2. Immunological factors: Some women have antibodies in their blood, which invade their own cells. Some of these antibodies invade the placenta or promote the formation of a blood clot, which affects foetal development and eventually causing a miscarriage.

3. Anatomical Factors: Some women have septum or walls in their womb, and some may develop fibroids that may hinder the required space for the foetal development in the womb.

4. Infection: Infection spread due to bacteria, viruses, or any other parasite may also lead to miscarriage, though such cases are very rare.

5. Hormonal imbalance: Certain hormones help in flourishing the placenta by providing the ambience and if there is an imbalance, this may lead to miscarriage as well. It is thus advised for women with complications in their menses (irregular periods, Endometriosis, PCOD etc) to be extra precautions as the vulnerability among them is high.

Dr Singh shares, it is of utmost importance to immediately connect with your gynaecologist to analyse the situation. Miscarriages may be due to an underlying cause of any reproductive ailment which may or may not be a serious condition. As this process cannot be reversed or stopped, supportive care can ensure the scope of improvement for mother.

A. The most reliable and foremost signs of pregnancy is a missed period. Keep a track of your ovulation cycles. If need be, take a stick test to preliminarily rule out the confusion.

A. Before starting to follow a fitness routine, consult with your obstetrician and gynaecologist as to what suits you based on your pregnancy type. The safer options are to do yoga asanas, walking, breathing exercises, meditation, aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises.

Also Read:Your Search For An Expert-Approved Pregnancy Diet Chart Ends Here

More here:
7 Most Common And Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy - Femina

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More Americans are trying to lose weight today than ever before. According to a massive 18-year study of nearly 50,000 people published last year in the journal JAMA: Diabetes and Endocrinology, the number of adults over the age of 20 who have embarked on weight-loss plans jumped to 42.2 percent in 2016 compared to just 34.3 percent in 1999. The sobering news, however, was that the study also notes that a startling number of those efforts simply didn't work at allregardless of the fact that the weight-loss strategies evolved over time to factor in the latest science and research.

If you're among the countless Americans who have adopted a dedicated weight loss plan and haven't seen the results you wantedwhether it's via a fad diet or cutting calories or trying to go full ketodoctors say there's still hope for you yet. In fact, there's at least one targeted weight-loss method you should definitely try before you consider giving up on losing that extra weight for good: Fine-tuning your diet to get your gut health in order.

For perspective, know that your body is actually home to roughly ten times as many bacteria cells as it is to human cells. They accumulate on your skin, in your mucus membranes, in your mouth, and all throughout your digestive system. (Be thankful your cells are much bigger than bacteria cells, or else you'd look a lot different.) "All of this bacteria perform vital protective, structural, and metabolic functions," says Anthony S. Padula, MD, a rheumatologist and Gut Council Member for Jetson Probiotics. "Perhaps the most important bacteria are present in your gut as they produce hormones that can affect your metabolism, immunity, and behavior. There are trillions of bacteria living in your gut. Together with other microscopic organisms like viruses and fungi, they form your microbiome, which is unique to every individual."

The bacteria in your gut have long been thought to serve one primary purpose: to aid in the digestion of food, helping you absorb the maximum amount of nutrients and ridding your body of any excess. What's actually going on is a more delicate dance than most of us recognize, with the specific balance in bacteria in our digestive tract working as the deciding factor in who gets to enjoy an effortlessly fit body and who's stuck trying to shave off the same stubborn weight year after year.

Story continues

"In most folks, the microbiome is not a healthy place anymore," says Florence Comite, MD, a clinician-scientist and founder of the Comite Center for Precision Medicine&Health in New York City. "It's not healthy because our environment has changed and our gut is the largest organ in our body to interact openly with the foods we eat, the air we breathe, and the fact that we take antibiotics and our whole structure has changed."

Making matters worse, when harmful bacteria take hold in your gut, your weight isn't the only thing to suffer. Harmful gut bacteria are linked to the development of leaky gut syndrome, a condition in which toxins borne from your gut bacteria inflame your digestive tract. Once your digestive tract is sufficiently angry, microperforations can develop, allowing those toxic substances to escape their confines and leak out into the bloodstream. This can lead to the development of chronic inflammation throughout your body, and that inflammation, in turn, can throw a wrench in your metabolism. The worst foods to avoid for your gut health will be foods that further inflame it.

"Processed foods, with their high sugar levels, omega-6 fatty acids, excess sodium, and junky additives, on the other hand, can stoke the fire of inflammation," Sydney Greene, MS, RD, told us recently. "When inflammation is high, it taxes the immune system leaving us more susceptible to disease and illness." (See here for the full list of The Worst Foods for Gut Health.)

So how can you restore balance to your gut? For starters, you need to exercise more. "Studies have shown that athletes, especially marathon runners, had higher levels of bacteria called Veillonella in their guts, especially after completing a race compared to inactive people," says Padula. "While you may not be a professional athlete, a good workout may boost different bacterial strains that will enhance your endurance and help you lose weight."

You should also take steps to relax. "Stress can affect your gut health as it directly alters the microbiome and increases intestinal inflammation," Padula continues. "Some 'bad' types of bacteria are increased in the presence of stress while other, 'protective' bacteria are decreased. Also, levels of short chain fatty acids produced by the bacteria can be decreased when exposed to stress."

However, the single best thing you can do restore balance to your gutand boost your chances of losing weightis to nourish your gut with the foods it craves. To know what those are, courtesy of Padula, read on, because we've listed them below.

"There are numerous prebiotic and probiotic foods that contain fat burning microbes and also boost your microbiome and weight loss efforts," he explains. "Probiotic foods contain live strains of bacteria that increase the population of good bacteria in your digestive system, while prebiotic foods contain types of fiber that act as food for good bacteria. Both sources are designed to increase the number of bacteria in your gut and improve your microbiome." And for foods you should definitely avoid, take note of these 50 Worst Foods for Weight Loss.

1

"Fermentation is a process that uses yeast and bacteria to preserve foods," says Padula. "Fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, sourdough, and some cheeses are great sources of probiotics and therefore boost the population of your microbiome's bacteria."

2

"These are good sources of the prebiotic fiber called inulin, which helps good bacteria grow. Two bananas a day are enough to boost your bacteria and reduce bloating."

3

"Research shows that leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale have a specific type of sugar that stimulates healthy bacteria's growth. They are perfect sources of fiber and nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin A."

4

"For your colon to work optimally, it requires at least 25 grams of daily fiber. Unlike other refined carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta, whole grains provide a lot of fiber. The bacteria in your gut are the only ones that can break down fiber. When that happens, it creates acids that protect your gut from harmful bacteria."

5

"Polyphenols are powerful antioxidant chemicals found in plant-based foods. Some examples are teas, soybeans, chili peppers, sesame seeds, and many others. These prebiotic foods maintain your gut health by moderating the gut's microbial balance." And for more great advice for living and eating healthier, don't miss these 21 Best Healthy Cooking Hacks of All Time.

Read the rest here:
The #1 Way to Lose Weight You Haven't Tried Yet, Say Doctors - Yahoo Lifestyle

Read More..

Eating disorder activists are complaining to Apple that a popular diet app promoted on the App Store is harmful and should be banned.

CARROT Fit promises to transform your flabby carcass into a Grade A specimen of the human race. The app encourages users through playful and irreverent humor thats a similar style to other apps in the range such as CARROT Weather.

But while the app is popular and successful in helping people lose weight in a fun way as is the case these days, theres always a group that wants to spoil the fun.

Critics feel that the language used is irresponsible.

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The App Store featured the app in the list of recommended apps for fitness. Tap for a much-needed motivation boost, reads the description of the app.

The app uses funny language such as meat bag, threats such as lay off the ice-cream or else, and tips such as permission to watch your friend eat a bag of potato chips.

The way they are addressing weight is inappropriate and scary. Its not a healthy body image, and its irresponsible, said Gemma Oaten, who runs Seed, an eating disorders charity. She recommended the banning of the app.

The content and language could be very triggering for an individual with an eating disorder and, in my professional opinion, should be restricted or banned, said Dr. Khanya Prince-Evans.

The app, which currently has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, claims to have helped thousands of users achieve their health goals.

Most of the positive reviews say the app is entertaining. People who like it feel it makes working out less daunting.

The developer, Brain Mueller, referred to the positive reviews, saying, The funny comments from CARROT turn exercising and fitness into a positive experience for users, rather than a negative one.

The safety and wellbeing of CARROT Fits users is my primary concern, and I have included a number of safety warnings inside the app, Mueller added.

However, the warnings are not enough, complains Dr. Dawn Branley-Bell, a psychologist at Northumbria University.

The app does state that if users lose weight too fast, the CARROT character will get angry suggesting that the developers have, to at least some degree, considered some of the risks. But this may not be sufficient to limit the negative psychological impact, particularly in relation to the language used in the app, Dr. Branley-Bell said.

Read the original post:
Activists complain that successful weight loss app CARROT Fit uses "triggering" language, want it banned - Reclaim The Net

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More Americans are trying to lose weight today than ever before. According to a massive 18-year study of nearly 50,000 people published last year in the journal JAMA: Diabetes and Endocrinology, the number of adults over the age of 20 who have embarked on weight-loss plans jumped to 42.2 percent in 2016 compared to just 34.3 percent in 1999. The sobering news, however, was that the study also notes that a startling number of those efforts simply didn't work at allregardless of the fact that the weight-loss strategies evolved over time to factor in the latest science and research.

If you're among the countless Americans who have adopted a dedicated weight loss plan and haven't seen the results you wantedwhether it's via a fad diet or cutting calories or trying to go full ketodoctors say there's still hope for you yet. In fact, there's at least one targeted weight-loss method you should definitely try before you consider giving up on losing that extra weight for good: Fine-tuning your diet to get your gut health in order.

For perspective, know that your body is actually home to roughly ten times as many bacteria cells as it is to human cells. They accumulate on your skin, in your mucus membranes, in your mouth, and all throughout your digestive system. (Be thankful your cells are much bigger than bacteria cells, or else you'd look a lot different.) "All of this bacteria perform vital protective, structural, and metabolic functions," says Anthony S. Padula, MD, a rheumatologist and Gut Council Member for Jetson Probiotics. "Perhaps the most important bacteria are present in your gut as they produce hormones that can affect your metabolism, immunity, and behavior. There are trillions of bacteria living in your gut. Together with other microscopic organisms like viruses and fungi, they form your microbiome, which is unique to every individual."

The bacteria in your gut have long been thought to serve one primary purpose: to aid in the digestion of food, helping you absorb the maximum amount of nutrients and ridding your body of any excess. What's actually going on is a more delicate dance than most of us recognize, with the specific balance in bacteria in our digestive tract working as the deciding factor in who gets to enjoy an effortlessly fit body and who's stuck trying to shave off the same stubborn weight year after year.

"In most folks, the microbiome is not a healthy place anymore," says Florence Comite, MD, a clinician-scientist and founder of the Comite Center for Precision Medicine&Health in New York City. "It's not healthy because our environment has changed and our gut is the largest organ in our body to interact openly with the foods we eat, the air we breathe, and the fact that we take antibiotics and our whole structure has changed."

Making matters worse, when harmful bacteria take hold in your gut, your weight isn't the only thing to suffer. Harmful gut bacteria are linked to the development of leaky gut syndrome, a condition in which toxins borne from your gut bacteria inflame your digestive tract. Once your digestive tract is sufficiently angry, microperforations can develop, allowing those toxic substances to escape their confines and leak out into the bloodstream. This can lead to the development of chronic inflammation throughout your body, and that inflammation, in turn, can throw a wrench in your metabolism. The worst foods to avoid for your gut health will be foods that further inflame it.

"Processed foods, with their high sugar levels, omega-6 fatty acids, excess sodium, and junky additives, on the other hand, can stoke the fire of inflammation," Sydney Greene, MS, RD, told us recently. "When inflammation is high, it taxes the immune system leaving us more susceptible to disease and illness." (See here for the full list of The Worst Foods for Gut Health.)

So how can you restore balance to your gut? For starters, you need to exercise more. "Studies have shown that athletes, especially marathon runners, had higher levels of bacteria called Veillonella in their guts, especially after completing a race compared to inactive people," says Padula. "While you may not be a professional athlete, a good workout may boost different bacterial strains that will enhance your endurance and help you lose weight."

Story continues

You should also take steps to relax. "Stress can affect your gut health as it directly alters the microbiome and increases intestinal inflammation," Padula continues. "Some 'bad' types of bacteria are increased in the presence of stress while other, 'protective' bacteria are decreased. Also, levels of short chain fatty acids produced by the bacteria can be decreased when exposed to stress."

However, the single best thing you can do restore balance to your gutand boost your chances of losing weightis to nourish your gut with the foods it craves. To know what those are, courtesy of Padula, read on, because we've listed them below.

"There are numerous prebiotic and probiotic foods that contain fat burning microbes and also boost your microbiome and weight loss efforts," he explains. "Probiotic foods contain live strains of bacteria that increase the population of good bacteria in your digestive system, while prebiotic foods contain types of fiber that act as food for good bacteria. Both sources are designed to increase the number of bacteria in your gut and improve your microbiome." And for foods you should definitely avoid, take note of these 50 Worst Foods for Weight Loss.

1

fermented foods in glass jars

"Fermentation is a process that uses yeast and bacteria to preserve foods," says Padula. "Fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, sourdough, and some cheeses are great sources of probiotics and therefore boost the population of your microbiome's bacteria."

2

bananas with individually wrapped stems

"These are good sources of the prebiotic fiber called inulin, which helps good bacteria grow. Two bananas a day are enough to boost your bacteria and reduce bloating."

3

Woman picking out kale and leeks at a farmers market or grocery store

"Research shows that leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale have a specific type of sugar that stimulates healthy bacteria's growth. They are perfect sources of fiber and nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin A."

4

different types of grains

"For your colon to work optimally, it requires at least 25 grams of daily fiber. Unlike other refined carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta, whole grains provide a lot of fiber. The bacteria in your gut are the only ones that can break down fiber. When that happens, it creates acids that protect your gut from harmful bacteria."

5

bowl of chili peppers

"Polyphenols are powerful antioxidant chemicals found in plant-based foods. Some examples are teas, soybeans, chili peppers, sesame seeds, and many others. These prebiotic foods maintain your gut health by moderating the gut's microbial balance." And for more great advice for living and eating healthier, don't miss these 21 Best Healthy Cooking Hacks of All Time.

Original post:
The #1 Way to Lose Weight You Haven't Tried Yet, Say Doctors - Yahoo Canada Shine On

Read More..

Welcome to You Got This, news.com.aus weekly slice of fitness inspiration featuring tips and advice from real women whove experienced it all.

Molly Sprocket reached breaking point two years after the death of her mother.

The 39-year-old retail manager from Sydney said watching her terminally ill mum pass away impacted her both emotionally and psychologically.

As a result, Ms Sprocket she stopped taking care of herself properly, developing a poor relationship with food.

She didnt realise how it was affecting her until she stepped on the scales and it reflected almost 100kg.

I thought to myself, that is not who I am. I know that life is so short and the only person I was hurting was myself, Ms Sprocket told news.com.au

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At the time she weighed 98.8kg and her diet mainly consisted of burgers, chips and soft drinks, amounting to roughly 2500 calories a day.

She skipped breakfast and instead went straight for biscuits and finished her day with ice cream and sweets.

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Being overweight prevented me from living my best life, Ms Sprocket said.

I was not active and sat on the sideline rather than participating.

Generally I was always covered up and a bikini or bathers would not have been an option.

However, that all changed in 2019 after an emotional conversation with her doctor which resulted in her deciding to make changes.

The 39-year-old went on to lose 32kg after she was put on a low calorie diet which consisted of three main steps meal replacement shakes, plenty of water and a low-impact daily 30-minute walk.

Changing my lifestyle helped me process the emotional toll the death of my mother had on me, she said.

When I accepted that I needed to lose weight, I began to take control back.

I still miss my mother every day, but I feel far happier mentally and at peace with both myself and my mothers passing.

Today, Ms Sprockets diet consists of two Optislim shakes a day alongside a balanced meal made up of either beef, chicken or fish with salad or vegetables.

Ill usually have a snack throughout the day which is either an Optislim bar, some fruit, or some low fat yoghurt, she said.

When it comes to exercise, she tries to keep her step count to a minimum 10,000 a day.

Exercise is primarily walking 30 minutes a day. I do have a cardio HIIT (high-intensity interval) trainer that I use if I cant go on a walk due to the rain.

While her journey was never about appearance, Ms Sprocket said she certainly feels more confident and happier when looking in the mirror prior to her transformation.

My journey was more about taking control of my life and losing weight so that I can live a healthy and active life, which I find is incredibly helpful in maintaining mental health too, she explained.

Having achieved a total weight loss of 32kg, Ms Sprocket believes anything is possible so long as you are honest with yourself.

If you are overweight, you are most likely in denial and if youre in denial, you wont do anything about it, she said.

For me it was a willingness to accept the truth, and a willingness to do something about it that turned my life around.

If youve got a transformation story youd like to share, get in touch with shireen.khalil@news.com.au

See original here:
You Got This: Mum shares 30-minute habit behind 32kg weight loss - NEWS.com.au

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