Posted: May 19, 2012 at 12:10 am
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Name: Tammy Garcia Age: 29 Height: 5'5" Before Weight: 204 pounds
How I Gained It: I was never really a thin person, but I grew up doing ballet and other various forms of dance since I was 3 years old, so I was a healthy size up until I graduated from high school. At that point, I quit dancing, started college and I let the freshman 15 get to me. But it didn't stop there. I kept gaining weight through my time in college, and graduated at about 155 pounds. Once I graduated from undergrad, I moved away from home. That was the first time I was required to do all my own shopping and cooking, and it did not go well. Have you ever noticed that the foods on sale are the unhealthy ones? Chips, sugary cereals, cookies, bagels -- I got caught in that trap. I got caught in the "I'm too busy to cook between work during the day and school at night, so I'll just have fast food" mentality.
After four years of eating unhealthy and focusing more on work and grad school studies than on making sure I was healthy, I had allowed myself to get to over 200 pounds. Only once did I even try to lose weight. In 2009, when I couldn't fit into a bridesmaid dress I had just ordered about two months before, I knew I needed to do something about it. I tried a fad diet plan I was recommended. It worked in the short term, and I lost almost 30 pounds and ended up having the dress taken in for the wedding. But then I moved to a small, backwoods town. I stopped the fad diet, and I allowed those excuses to be in charge again. It was back to fast food and making excuses that it was "too hard" to find the healthy foods in a small southern town that didn't believe in eating healthy. So that weight came right back on in a matter of a few months.
Breaking Point: My breaking point came in August of 2010 when it was time for me to buy some new pants. My work pants were old and they were getting kind of tight so I went shopping for some new ones. But I couldn't fit into a size 14, and I struggled to fit in a size 16. I refused to buy pants that were a size 16 or bigger. It would have been the biggest size I would have ever bought and I just couldn't allow myself to do it. I had simply had enough of being big. I had enough of being unhealthy. I wanted something better for myself. I knew that I had lost weight before, so I was sure I could do it again.
How I Lost It: I had family coming into town in about two months and so I created an eight-week challenge for myself. It was "Operation Make Pants Not Fit in a Good Way in Eight Weeks." I realized this time that I didn't want a gimmicky fad diet. I wanted something that I would be able to maintain for the rest of my life. I wanted to really learn how to live healthy instead of relying on some sort of pre-packaged nonsense that wouldn't really teach me how to eat in the real world.
I knew the best way to do that would be to cut out fast food, cook healthy meals at home and start exercising. I went to the bookstore to buy some healthy food cookbooks, hit Amazon.com to buy some workout videos and the sporting goods store for some exercise clothing. I joined the site Livestrong.com to track my calories and joined a group challenge.
At first, I only did cardio (I didn't have a gym membership, I had my workout videos and an elliptical machine at home, but no weights). By the time my family came into town, I was able to buy a size 12 pair of pants, and I had lost around 20 pounds. I was proud, but I knew there was a long way to go. So I kept at it, adding in weight training with a nice little set of weights my husband bought for me and learning how to make more and more healthy meals using fresh ingredients. Now, I sit down with my husband every Sunday and we plan out our meals for the week, and then hit the grocery store together. When we plan vacations, we make them active vacations where we can go hiking in the mountains, for example. It makes it so much easier being in this new lifestyle journey together.
I've been maintaining my current weight for almost a year now, but I've worked on getting stronger. I'm always challenging myself to lift more weight or go one more rep when I'm weight training. I've done the Insanity program and I throw in those workouts on my cardio days and it's still a challenge. I'm always pushing myself to go further, harder and longer.
The biggest realization I've had, and why I've been able to maintain this time around, is that I've realized there is no "easy" way to lose weight. There's no magic pill, no magic "diet," nothing like that. It's a matter of working out, staying active and eating healthy. It really is a lifestyle, not something you do for a little bit and then go back to what you were doing before. It is simple, but it takes dedication and commitment to make the changes that are necessary. It takes time and effort. But the rewards are more than worth it. I've gone from not being able to fit into a size 14 to wearing a size 0 or 2. I am happier, more positive, less sick, in pain less and I just feel better all around.
Originally posted here:
Weight Loss Success: Tammy Garcia Ditched The Fad Diets And Lost Nearly 80 Pounds
Posted: May 16, 2012 at 10:11 am
Congratulations! When you take the formal steps to becoming an investor, you're becoming that much more self-determined. You start life relying on your parents to make your financial decisions, and by the time many of us advance to young adulthood, we might go so far as having someone at our employer's accounting department recommend a 401(k) for us. Sure, this is technically the desirable "passive income" under some definition, but with too much emphasis on the adjective and not enough on the noun.
What It Means to InvestMany people get intimidated at the idea of buying their own investments, and thus never commit to doing so. On the other end of the continuum are people who are only interested in buying Google at its initial public offering price ($100) and selling it four years later at its $714 peak.
You can do that - somebody must have - but the chances of succeeding at it are tiny. It's important to remember that investing is not defined as "trying to build wealth with as little effort as possible." That's not investing, that's speculating. We have lotteries for that. Investing is deferring spending in the hopes of a greater return. Get a dollar today, by whatever means, and you can either exchange that dollar for something or hold onto it. In that way, investing is analogous to saving.
In fact, it doesn't hurt to think of "save" and "invest" as synonyms. Put your money in a hollowed-out tomato can instead of spending it on something perishable, and you're investing. Granted, you're investing with a zero rate of return, but you're still investing, instead of consuming. (Also, in the event that the currency deflates, you'll actually enjoy a real rate of return, when you store your money in said tomato can, instead of investing in the conventional way.)
There's no general-purpose form of investing for everyone, just as we all require different diets, or different wardrobes, depending on where we are and what we're trying to achieve. The Upper West Side society matron can probably forgo a pair of steel-toed work boots, just like she doesn't need a portfolio heavy on growth-company stocks. The 22-year old unmarried coal miner could get tremendous use out of both.
What Happens Next?When you contact an investment professional, the first thing you'll be asked is, "What are your objectives?" Most people will respond to that by sitting there agape and trying to formulate an answer, without betraying their naivet. To be fair, it's a complicated and overarching question that you need to have spent time figuring out the answer to, long before someone asks you.
Before you meet with an investment professional, step back. Schedule the meeting at least a couple of weeks down the road, because you're going to need to do your homework with regard to answering the above question. You do that by asking yourself, and giving frank responses to, some other questions:
How's your financial situation right now? Your investment advisor is going to lay your financial life bare in ways you might find uncomfortable. That universal taboo about never discussing money? Money is all that investment advisors discuss.
If you're already drowning in consumer debt affixed to high interest rates, then you're not ready for formal investing yet. Say you have a $13,000 credit card balance that you're making minimum monthly payments on, on a card that charges 17.9% per annum. The best investment you can make at this point is living like a Paris underground dweller for as long as it takes to pay the debt off. Unless you know of some investment that can guarantee you an 18% return, and if you do, please tell us about it.
If you're paying your bills with room to spare, and are building a savings account balance every month without knowing what to do with it (a good problem to have), proceed.
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So You've Decided To Invest ...
Posted: May 16, 2012 at 10:11 am
By Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Now there's another reason to hate your commute.
New research has found that the longer your driving time between home and office, the less likely you are to exercise, the more your waistline widens and the worse your overall heart health becomes.
The findings come from a study of nearly 4,300 workers in Texas cities whose daily commute times were compared to their odds of various health risk factors.
"Previous studies have looked at sedentary behavior like TV viewing and total time spent driving," said study lead author Christine Hoehner, an assistant professor in the division of public health sciences at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "But we wanted to look specifically at commuting distance, since it's an important part of people's daily routine."
"What we found ... is that long commutes can take away from exercise and are associated with high blood pressure, higher weight and generally lower fitness levels," Hoehner said. "This may make a lot of sense, because it's extremely intuitive. But it nonetheless suggests that longer commutes are really getting under the skin and affecting people's health."
The findings appear in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
According to the researchers, the number of workers driving to work by private car more than doubled between 1960 and 2000, increasing from more than 41 million to nearly 113 million. The average distance traveled to work also has grown in recent years, from nearly nine miles in 1983 to more than 12 miles in 2001, the researchers said.
The new study focused on adult Texans living in either the Dallas/Fort Worth or Austin regions.
No participant had a history of heart attack, stroke or diabetes, and none were pregnant. All were employed in jobs that required a commute of some kind.
Here is the original post:
That long commute may be harming your health
Posted: May 16, 2012 at 10:11 am
DAKAR, SENEGAL--(Marketwire -05/15/12)- Canadian partners the Micronutrient Initiative, the Government of Canada and Teck launched a major project with the Senegal Ministry of Health today that will save young lives from diarrhea, a condition that can be deadly if untreated.
Each year, 1.5 million children under the age of five die from complications associated with diarrhea, including 6,000 in Senegal. Zinc is an essential micronutrient that can prevent and treat diarrhea, yet two billion people around the world do not get enough zinc through their diets.
The Zinc Alliance for Child Health (ZACH) project in Senegal will scale up the use of zinc supplementation and oral rehydration salts (ORS) to treat diarrhea across the country. This simple solution, that costs as little as 50 cents per treatment, reduces the severity of diarrhea and can save lives.
The project will aim to treat more than two million cases of diarrhea in children under the age of five over the next three years. Zinc and ORS treatment will be delivered through health care workers at 4,000 service delivery points in Senegal.
The project is being launched as part of Senegal's wider diarrhea prevention and treatment program under the "Division d'alimentation, nutrition et survie de l'enfance". It will contribute to the country's overall efforts to reduce child mortality rates and to meet its commitment to the United Nations Millennium Development Goal Four: Reducing Child Mortality.
"Our government values strong partnerships that make a difference in the lives of children and women in developing countries. The Micronutrient Initiative has been a Canadian partner that has helped improve the health of millions recognizing the importance of good nutrition and food supplementation," says Canadian Minister of International Cooperation Beverley Oda. "We are proud to have Teck join our existing partnership to promote the benefits of zinc to ensure healthier families."
This project is recognized as a high impact solution that supports Canada's Maternal and Under-five Child Health objectives.
"As one of the world's largest producers of zinc, we recognize the ability we have to make a difference," says Doug Horswill, Senior Vice President at Teck. "Through this partnership with the Micronutrient Initiative, the Government of Canada and the Ministry of Health in Senegal, we will improve local awareness about zinc deficiency, enhance distribution systems and ultimately save children's lives."
Project components include behaviour change communication and increasing knowledge so that more caregivers, health practitioners and community members know of the importance of treating diarrhea with zinc and ORS. The project also aims to make the management of childhood diarrhea a key part of reducing of child mortality. ZACH will work with all levels of government to help ensure the availability of supplies and treatment that is affordable for families, communities and the health system as a whole. Treatment will be monitored to track progress on the project.
"With the Government of Senegal's clear commitment to reducing child deaths, launching the first ZACH project in this country was a natural choice," says Venkatesh Mannar, President of the Micronutrient Initiative. "We will prove how effective zinc and ORS is in treating diarrhea and saving children's lives. This could very well be the next revolution in child survival."
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The Micronutrient Initiative, Government of Canada and Teck Launch New Initiative with Senegal Ministry of Health to ...
Posted: May 16, 2012 at 10:11 am
GUELPH, Ontario, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeLearn, Inc. announced that it has received three Communicator Awards of Distinction for multimedia educational programs that the company developed for Bayer Animal Health (Bayer), Nestle Purina, and Novartis Animal Health (Novartis) during 2011. These programs used multimedia games, activities, and simulations to teach scientific principles to healthcare staff.
For example, Bayer's Parasite Scene Investigation online accredited continuing education program mimicked the popular show "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" to teach veterinary technicians to correctly identify, diagnose, and treat common parasites found in pets. Nestle Purina's Veterinary Diets Challenge computerized game was used at industry trade shows to engage attendees while teaching them about proper pet nutrition. And the Novartis It's a Pet's Life game is a team-based activity that educates veterinarians and their staff members on parasite prevention and treatment.
"Every educational program, meeting, and event we produce is geared toward enhancing the education of our clients' target audiences to achieve corporate goals, and we're thrilled to receive this recognition for our creative, results-oriented work," said Leah Stephenson, chief creative officer at LifeLearn. "Bringing learning to life through fun activities and multimedia stimulation results in better retention and application of knowledge. The value we provide to clients is simply marrying complex scientific principles with creative learning techniques for longer-lasting results."
The Communicator Awards are judged and overseen by the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA), a 550+ member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts.Current IAVA membership includes representatives from acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms such as Conde Nast, Coach, Disney, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Estee Lauder, HBO, Keller Crescent, Monster.com, MTV, Polo Ralph Lauren, Sotheby's Institute of Art, Tribal DDB, Victoria's Secret, Wired, Yahoo!, and many others.
For more information about LifeLearn's Corporate Solutions, visit http://www.lifelearn.com/for-corporate-partners/ .
About LifeLearn
LifeLearn is an industry leader in developing quality and trusted educational products for the human and animal health industries. LifeLearn's mission is to Bring Learning to Life, and its Corporate Solutions group provides integrated, full-service marketing solutions that develop effective learning experiences. LifeLearn began in 1993 as part of the Veterinary Continuing Education program at the Ontario Veterinary College. Today, LifeLearn is a privately held company with headquarters in Guelph, Ontario. For more information, visit http://www.LifeLearn.com.
About The Communicator Awards:
The Communicator Awards is the leading international awards program honoring creative excellence for communication professionals. Founded by communication professionals over a decade ago, The Communicator Awards is an annual competition honoring the best in advertising, corporate communications, public relations and identity work for print, video, interactive and audio. This year's Communicator Awards received thousands of entries from companies and agencies of all sizes, making it one of the largest awards of its kind in the world.
Originally posted here:
LifeLearn wins awards for three multimedia education programs
Posted: May 16, 2012 at 10:11 am
Getting more fish in your diet could lower your risk of developing colorectal cancer, according to a new review of studies.
Researchers from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School looked at the research to find that people who ate fish as part of their regular diets have a 12 percent lower chance of developing colorectal cancer, than people who don't eat much fish at all, Reuters reported.
The association was stronger for rectal cancer, but a "modest trend" was still seen for colon cancer, according to the study, published in the American Journal of Medicine.
But "if you eat fish very frequently, it's not clear whether your benefit continues to go up (by eating even more)," study researcher Dr. Michael Gochfeld told Reuters.
Earlier this year, a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that eating at least three servings of fish a week can lower women's risk of some kinds of colon polyps -- which can turn into cancer.
Researchers of that study, from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, said fish may work in this sense because the omega-3 fatty acids in fish can decrease inflammation, thereby lowering risk of colon polyp development.
Colorectal cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., according to the CDC, but the number of new cases and deaths are both decreasing, due to better treatment and early detection. While more adults are being screened, one in three adults still isn't getting screened for colorectal cancer when they should be.
Want to take action against colorectal cancer? Check out this slideshow of foods and behaviors that are linked with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer, or its risk factors:
Researchers from Britain and the Netherlands found that the more total dietary fiber and cereal fiber people consumed, the lower their colorectal cancer risk. For example, people who consumed an extra 90 grams of whole grains a day also had a 20 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer, according to the British Medical Journal review.
However, that same study didn't show a link between eating fiber from fruits and vegetables and a lowered colorectal cancer risk, meaning there may be something else in whole grains at work, too.
Researchers from the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that people who take aspirin once a day have a 30 percent decreased risk of dying from colorectal cancer, if taken for at least a nine-month period.
And, the benefit extended to after a person had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The researchers found that people who had already been diagnosed and who took aspirin had a 23 percent decreased risk of dying from the disease, compared with people who didn't take it at all.
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Colorectal Cancer: Eating Fish, And 8 Other Things That Could Lower Your Risk
Posted: May 16, 2012 at 10:11 am
EDMONDS, WA--(Marketwire -05/16/12)- People who need to lose weight should forgo fad diets and instead should focus on sensible eating and exercise, says Dr. Gregory Jantz, a nationally certified psychologist, author of many books on eating disorders, nutrition and diet and founder CaringOnline.com, an Internet resource for eating disorder information and recommendations for eating disorder treatment.
"Losing weight can be hard because it requires destroying old, unhealthy habits and replacing them with new ones," says Dr. Jantz, "but trying to follow a complicated fad diet only makes weight reduction even harder. These diets seldom produce any result except frustration for the dieter."
Despite the promises they make and the celebrity endorsements they often garner, fad diets can lead to poor nutrition and even disordered eating, says Dr. Jantz. He points out that research consistently shows that weight loss is best achieved by eating balanced meals with appropriate portion sizes and exercising regularly.
Jantz cites a study published April 10 in the online edition of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Researchers who studied some 4,000 obese people found that those who lost 5 percent or more of their body weight over a year reported eating fewer fatty foods and exercising more. Following fad diets did not correlate with weight loss.
Some fad diets are worse than others in terms of the healthy foods they eliminate and the poor eating habits they encourage. A survey conducted by the Dietitians Association of Australia rated these popular diets as the three unhealthiest ones to avoid in 2012:
Dr. Jantz also founded and operates The Center for Counseling and Health Resources in Edmonds, WA, a residential treatment facility for those struggling with eating disorders and other major life challenges.
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Fad Diets Don't Work, Can Compromise Health, Says Dr. Gregory Jantz of CaringOnline.com
Posted: May 16, 2012 at 10:11 am
PLEASANTON, Calif., May 14, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZLTQ - News), a medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing products utilizing its proprietary controlled-cooling technology platform, together with the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), announced that the Mercantile Court in Spain on May 4 ruled in their favor regarding the patent infringement lawsuit jointly filed in Spain against Clinipro and Aquaestetica, its Spanish distributor.
The lawsuit against Clinipro alleged infringement of two European patents owned by MGH and licensed exclusively to ZELTIQ. After hearing the petition, the Mercantile Court in Spain granted ZELTIQ's and MGH's request for a preliminary injunction against further importation, distribution and sales of Clinipro's LipoCryo device in Spain. Furthermore, the court order allows for the removal and seizure of all of Clinipro's LipoCryo systems in Spain.
Mark Foley, interim President and Chief Executive Officer of ZELTIQ, commented, "We are very pleased to announce this ruling. Our clear victory reinforces both the strength of our intellectual property rights and our efforts to defend these rights on a global basis. This is our second legal win internationally defending our IP in the past two months. We will immediately have these infringing systems removed from the market per the court's ruling. As we previously announced, we also have a lawsuit underway against Clinipro in France and we are optimistic for an equally favorable outcome."
Separately, the Company announced that it has secured removal and undertakings regarding three separate web site infringement matters against Beijing Smart Light, Joyful Tech Group, and Create Beauty Technology Group. In each case, the infringing companies have agreed to remove all content and materials from their web sites that violate ZELTIQ's intellectual property. ZELTIQ will continue to monitor these entities and others to protect and enforce its IP rights in China.
About ZELTIQ Aesthetics
ZELTIQ Aesthetics is a medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing products utilizing its proprietary controlled-cooling technology platform. The Company's first commercial product, the CoolSculpting System, is designed to selectively reduce stubborn fat bulges that may not respond to diet or exercise. CoolSculpting is based on the scientific principle that fat cells are more sensitive to cold than the overlying skin and surrounding tissues. CoolSculpting utilizes patented technology of precisely controlled cooling to reduce the temperature of fat cells in the treated area, which is intended to cause fat cell elimination through a natural biological process known as apoptosis, without causing scar tissue or damage to the skin, nerves, or surrounding tissues. ZELTIQ developed CoolSculpting to safely, noticeably, and measurably reduce the fat layer within a treated fat bulge without requiring the patient to diet or exercise.
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ZELTIQ Aesthetics Granted Preliminary Injunction in Infringement Case Against Clinipro in Spain
Posted: May 16, 2012 at 10:11 am
CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --As the Charlotte area prepares for the upcoming All-Star Race, select Walmart stores will offer authentic NASCAR merchandise and host exclusive fan events starting May 15. Customers are invited to attend these special events and enjoy real show cars, special appearances by Trevor Bayne and Jeff Burton, and racing simulators perfect to safely get behind the wheel and feel the power of NASCAR on May 15-18 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., depending on the location.
"Walmart is the champion of the racing fan, and we are committed to providing customers with savings on authentic merchandise, as well as unique race time experiences," said Walmart market manager David Cruse. "We want to give fans affordability and accessibility, so they can enjoy race time with their families and friends."
Legends of Racing
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Walmart is sponsoring racing legend Bill Elliott driving Walmart No. 50 at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona on July 7. Bill Elliott and the Walmart No. 50 show car will also make appearances at select Walmart stores nationwide leading up to the race. Trent Owens will serve as crew chief of the No. 50 Walmart Chevrolet. Owens currently calls the shots for Turner Motorsports' No. 30 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) entry and recently led the team to victory in the 2012 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Through the Legends of Racing online engagement, fans have the opportunity to share their memories and voice their opinions about the top moments in NASCAR history, as well as vote on Bill Elliott's uniform and helmet design.
Fans can vote online at Walmart.com/NASCAR March 28 - May 14.
Race Time at Walmart
In addition to the fan events happening in Walmart parking lots, area Walmart stores will feature savings on all the food and snacks you need to enjoy the race, plus authentic NASCAR merchandise such as T-shirts and racing flags, with an even bigger selection of exclusive products available at Walmart.com/NASCAR.
Participating stores in the Charlotte area include:
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
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Walmart Stores Bring NASCAR Driver Appearances, Fan Events and Unique Race Time Experiences to Charlotte
Posted: May 16, 2012 at 10:11 am
Experts now know why so many dieters pile the pounds straight back on Slimmers need to eat less than someone of the same weight who has not dieted The phenomenon is caused by the effect dieting has on the way muscles work
By Fiona Macrae
PUBLISHED: 17:29 EST, 15 May 2012 | UPDATED: 02:14 EST, 16 May 2012
As every slimmer knows, it is when the diet ends that the hard work really begins.
Despite the best of intentions, only a few lucky ones manage to avoid piling the pounds straight back on.
Now experts think they know why and its nothing to do with a lack of willpower.
Hard work: When a diet comes to an end a long-term cut in calories is needed to keep the weight off, new research suggests
To stay at their new weight, it seems, slimmers needs to eat less than someone of the same weight who has not dieted.
To be precise, they need to eat at least 300 fewer calories a day. This equates to a bag of Maltesers and a Milky Way the sort of treats they were probably looking forward to enjoying after the pounds had come off.
And over the course of a week, it amounts to 15 cans of cola or 17 slices of buttered toast.
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Diet tips: Cut out 300 calories for good or you'll pile the pounds straight back on
