When Ryan Grover sat down with Coach Philip Tabor at CrossFit Coordinate in Cary, North Carolina in April 2019, he had no idea he was about to embark on a journey that would help him lose nearly 100 lb. in just nine months.

The 29-year-old weighed 348 lb. at the time. Today, hes down to 250 lb.

The first thing Tabor got Grover to do was to come up a selfish reason he wanted to lose weight. After some soul searching, Grover had a breakthrough.

I never had a dad I could throw a ball with, or just go outside and play and be active with. And I realized that when its my turn to have kids, I dont want to be this way. Through conversation with (Tabor), we talked about what my dad was like, and it helped me realize what I wanted, Grover said.

Thus, what he really wantedhis real reason whywas to lose weight and become healthier and fitter so he could be a more capable father than his father was to him.

Identifying this purpose is a big part of what helped him stick to his commitment to exercise and clean eating in the months that followed, he explained.

The reason Tabor asks his clients to find their selfish reason is simple: Nobody loses weight for others. They might say it, but at the core we only make changes when they are selfish in nature, Tabor said.

Some people say (they want to be able to have) better sex. Others say (to live a) long life. One client did it because his dad just died and he was headed there next. But whatever the reason, its their reason and I keep that in front of them. It drives them, he added.

When people are able to find their deeper reason for wanting to lose weight and get healthy, theyre then able to change their identity and their perception of themselves, Tabor explained.

In Grovers case, it allowed him to shed the idea that he was an obese man, and start doing the things healthy, strong, fit people do, Tabor said.

Thats why the weight came off so fast, he added.

Clearly the approach works, as Grover is one of four clients at CrossFit Coordinate who have lost 100 lb. in the last year, while five others lost at least 60 lb.

A second key to Grovers success is having a coach to keep him on track, Grover explained.

The accountability part was the big piece for me, so I could do simple things like send (Tabor) pictures of my food. He would give me advice like, Next time. shrink the portion of potatoes. Having that constant nudge from someone has been really helpful to keep me on track, Grover said, adding that the nutrition coaching he received from Tabors wife Holly Tabor, also played an integral role.

Today, Grover no longer eats at fast food joints, and he doesnt overeat regularly like he used to. Instead, he mostly eats lean protein, a lot of vegetables and some starch.

And because Grover feels like he has made habit changesas opposed to embarking on a strict, short-term diethe said he knows these changes are here to stay.

It took a while to get used to the new routine, but now I dont have a lot of cravings. I do want a pizza every now and again, but I dont miss fast food. It actually hurts when I eat it because my body is working on a much cleaner diet, he said.

He added: Its definitely a lifestyle change. I dont want to go back.

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Ryan Grover Took Up CrossFit and Lost 98 Pounds in 2019 - BarBend

The New England Journal of Medicine is widely regarded as perhaps the most prestigious medical journal in the world. It has an acceptance rate of five per cent, meaning that only one in 20 articles submitted is judged by experts to be worthy of publication. That doesnt mean the rejected papers are not based on sound research; most eventually get published in lesser journals. But the New England Journal looks for the cream of the crop. Thats why I pay particular attention to papers published in this journal, such as a recent article on the Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Health, Aging, and Disease. Even more so when the article is the work of Johns Hopkins University neuroscientist Dr. Mark Mattson, renowned globally for his research in the area of intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting does not mean cutting out a Snickers bar between meals. It refers to a systematic eating pattern that places emphasis not on what food should be eaten, but rather on when it should be consumed. Intermittent fasts fall into three general categories. In alternate day fasting, days of very low-calorie intake are alternated with days of regular eating. The 5:2 variety dictates eating normally on five days of the week but restricting calories to under 700 on two non-sequential days. In daily time-restricted feeding, all food is consumed in a six-to-eight-hour window, essentially resulting in a 16- to 18-hour fast. Most people who engage in this version finish supper by about 7 p.m. and do not eat again until lunch the next day.

Of course, the question is why anyone would want to engage in any of these torturous regimes. Simply put, it is because there is accumulating evidence that calorie restriction provides benefits beyond the obvious weight loss. It has long been known that reduced food intake in animals results in an increased life span. The assumption has been that the benefits of reduced calorie intake are due to a reduction in the generation of free radicals as a consequence of metabolic processes. However, it appears that there is another factor involved. Typically, in experiments in which rodents are put on a low-calorie diet, they are given their daily allotment of food in one dose that they generally consume within a few hours. This means that essentially, they are on a 20-hour fast. This results in metabolic switching, a term with which we have to become familiar to understand the benefits that are attributed to intermittent fasting.

The main source of energy for cells is glucose. During respiration, glucose serves as fuel, providing energy as it reacts with oxygen to yield carbon dioxide and water. It is this process that is also accompanied by the production of those troublesome free radicals. The main source of glucose are carbohydrates in the diet and when these are severely restricted, as in fasting, the body switches to fats as an alternate fuel. But fats are not used directly, they are converted in the liver to ketone bodies that then are metabolized yielding energy. This is commonly referred to as a state of ketosis.

It turns out that these ketones are not just fuel for cells, but are also signalling molecules that regulate the expression and activity of various proteins and other biochemicals that influence health and aging. It seems that metabolic switching, which is a result of periods of fasting, is perceived by the body as a signal to go into survival mode since no food is coming in. Cells respond by improving control of blood pressure and blood sugar, producing more antioxidants and curbing inflammation.

Most of the fasting studies that have produced promising results have involved animals, but some human trials are starting to emerge. Improvements in insulin sensitivity, verbal memory, resting heart rate, and cholesterol levels have been noted in short-term clinical trials. In rodents, experiments have shown reduced occurrence of spontaneous tumours with daily calorie restriction or alternate-day fasting. Suppression of the growth of induced tumours has also been observed. Furthermore, the animals show increased sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapy. Stimulated by these observations, a number of human trials examining the effect of intermittent fasting on breast, ovarian, prostate, endometrial, colorectal and brain tumours are underway. Pilot studies are also examining possible benefits of intermittent fasting in multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, surgical outcomes and athletic performance.

Obviously, we have to temper this discussion with the all-too-often-stated disclaimer that more research is needed. But it is forthcoming. Dr. Valter Longo at the University of Southern California has some interesting results with his Fasting Mimicking Diet. For five days, people consume only special prepackaged foods that provide 1,000 calories the first day and 725 the other days and are said to have a unique combination of nutrients that trick the body into thinking it is fasting. Repeating the cycle monthly for three months has resulted in weight loss as well as a drop in blood sugar and cholesterol. But going hungry for five days is challenging and the meals are expensive.

It is always meaningful to ask experts what change they have made in their life as a result of their research. Mattson says he eats within a six-hour window every day. And thats from the horses mouth.

joe.schwarcz@mcgill.ca

Joe Schwarcz is director of McGill Universitys Office for Science & Society (mcgill.ca/oss). He hosts The Dr. Joe Show on CJAD Radio 800 AM every Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m.

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The Right Chemistry: Intermittent fasting is hard. But does it work? - Montreal Gazette

It seems like everyone shares a common struggle and common goal: How do we get healthier, look better and feel better? We all agonize over the search for the easiest diet and the fastest weight-loss tricks. And there is no shortage of supplements, weight-loss fads and diets. There is so much noise it is hard to really understand what works and what does not.

Can CBD be the answer to our weight loss and fitness goals? The rumors are true: You really can lose weight with a combination of CBD and terpenes.

With CBD weight loss, you dont have to overcomplicate the pathway to your goals. Ive seen it firsthand with Tune CBD Weight Loss Elixir. It works with your body to achieve a natural, gentle and longterm positive change in your health.

Whether our desire to lose weight is rooted in aesthetics, wellness or both, the pursuit for a leaner lifestyle seems to be cyclical and never-ending. This frustrating pattern of diet and weight gain is due to one simple fact: Most of us are doing it wrong. Science and studies have shown us time and again that fad diets dont work. While they are sometimes quick fixes, the results seldom stick around.

However, there is one proven way to lose weight and keep it off: calories in vs. calories out. All you really have to do is curb your overeating and Tunes CBD and terpene blend can help do just that. To me, Tunes CBD Weight Loss Elixir is the diet that works.

As we all know, limiting ones caloric intake is easier said than done. Its frustratingly difficult to get our urges in line. Tunes Weight Loss Elixir is made with CBD and enhanced by a proprietary blend of terpenes that use the natural powers of hemp to tell your body when to stop eating.

Weve tried just about every tactic there is and have finally settled into a comfortable and results-driven CBD routine that has increased our wellbeing tenfold. Here is what weve learned on our journey, broken down into 10 quick facts to help build the foundation of your new whole-body wellness habit.

Everyone holds fat in their body good fat and bad fat. Good fat helps you to maintain a healthy weight, and those who are lean and metabolically healthy tend to have more of it. Bad fat accumulates under the skin and gathers around our internal organs. Bad fat is what causes weight gain, cellulite and generally affects our overall physical and mental health negatively.

Fat increases when you consume more calories than you burn. On the plus side, this also means that fat decreases when you consume less calories than you burn.

You dont control your hunger. Being hungry is not due to a lack of motivation or willpower, but rather a very natural and biological response to our bodys signals. We cannot simply will ourselves to eat less; the reason for this exists in a tiny part of your brain called the hypothalamus.

The most active part of the hypothalamus tells us we are hungry and must eat more to survive. The weaker portion tells us when we are full. Most of the time this stronger part of the brain wins and we are left unaware of our bodys actual limits, causing us to overeat.

To ease false urges and be aware of our bodys limits, we must learn to better understand its signals. We can improve communication by using an expertly crafted CBD formula to stimulate the brain during meals, shutting down the desire to overeat.

The cannabinoid THC is almost legendary for creating an appetite, or, the munchies. THC increases your bodys hunger communication, encouraging excess calorie consumption and weight gain. Luckily for us, enhanced levels of certain cannabis-derived terpenes suppresses appetite. How does it do this? By doing just what we want it to, stimulating the right portion of the brain thus shutting down the desire to overeat.

The fat reducing effects of CBD were first observed in a 2012, when it was shown to significantly reduced total food consumption by:

An alternative to harmful diets and snake oil supplements has long been searched for, and has finally been found in a combination of CBD and enhanced terpenes. After multiple studies and success stories, this CBD diet has emerged as a safe and effective alternative to fight unwanted weight gain.

Most of us living in Southern California are no stranger to CBD. Los Angeles is virtually littered with advertisements and products; we often dont go more than a mile without seeing its presence. However familiar with the name we are, most of us arent experts in the subject which makes us targets for inflated and exaggerated promises. In order to see actual results from CBD weight loss, we have to find a product that is rooted in science with proven results.

Tune Wellness CBD is a THC-free, terpene enhanced, broad-spectrum liquid that helps promote fat loss through three separate physiological channels including increasing energy at the mitochondrial level, increasing fat burning by improving the ratio of good fat to bad fat and appetite suppression.

If You Are Ready For A Lasting Change, Try Tune Wellness

Tune Weight Loss Elixir is a cannabinoid, terpene and cannaflavin rich hemp extract standardized to a specific total quantity of CBD and enhanced with specific appetite suppressing terpenes. It works with precision, opening the communication channels between your brain and your body, putting a stop to harmful overeating.

If you want to lose weight quickly or just need a diet that works, Tune Wellness is the best dieting trick on the market.

Charles Stebbins is a biochemist and an iconic 40-year veteran in the nutraceutical products industryand the founder of sports and performance nutrition. In addition to creating the worlds finest hemp-based terpene enhanced products, he has authoredFrom Seed to Cell: The True Science of Cannabis, the only completely evidence based, fully annotated cannabis specialist certification program, in use by advanced educational entities supporting licensed medical and pharmaceutical personnel nationwide.

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A New Foundation for Whole-Body Wellness and Health - L.A. Weekly

My name is Kassandra Denisse Olvera (mrs_olvera). I'm a 25-year-old office coordinator at Christus Spohn Cancer Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. After a scary doctor's visit about a year ago, I was motivated to lose 150 pounds.

I tried several times to go on diets throughout my life, given that I was always overweight. But I would always stop after a couple of weeks or a month at the most. I remember when I was in school, I would use summer break to crash diet, and Id end up gaining all the weight back quickly once school began.

My biggest issue was that I thought of my attempts at weight loss as exactly that: diets. I didn't view weight loss as a lifestyle change. I would restrict too many foods, which was not sustainable long-term. I wouldnt eat enough and would burn myself out before seeing any real progress.

I ignored it as much as I could, but I developed a respiratory infection that forced me to go to the local urgent care. When I stepped on the scale, I discovered I was at my highest weight of 320 pounds. I wouldve cried had I been alone in the room. Then the nurse checked my vital signs, and my blood pressure was extremely high, which explained the headaches and sharp shoulder pains I was having. I remember telling the nurse practitioner I had just drank coffee, that maybe it was the caffeine causing it to be elevated. But who was I kidding? That was not caffeine causing my blood pressure to be that elevatedit was me being severely overweight.

The nurse sat down next to me and told me that I needed to begin seeing a doctor regularly to manage my BP and begin taking medication. I left the urgent care that evening overwhelmed. I knew I needed to lose weight, but I didn't feel ready to do that.

He told me the change had to come from me. So I dug deep emotionally that evening and prepared myself mentally for this lifestyle change because I wanted to be the healthy wife, mom, daughter, and sister that my entire family needed me to be.

The following day, I told my husband that I was ready to begin my journey, and he supported me 100 percent. He researched different recipes to make for lunch and dinners (he makes amazing food, and I tell him he should be a chef) and made our weekly menu as I began my journey.

Old me used to get out of work and pick up fast food almost daily. But I started off by eliminating sodas completely and focusing on portion control. Doing that alone helped me lose weight. About one month into my journey, though, I transitioned into doing the keto diet because it was simple enough for me to incorporate into my busy lifestyle. I am a fan of eggs, cheese, veggies and meatwhich are all foods you can have on the keto diet.

I have recently begun adding healthy carbs into my meals, because I run a lot and lift light weights on the days I'm not running. So technically, my eating has developed into a modified keto diet. My husband has poured his heart and soul into cooking all my meals and meal prepping all my lunches. He is always exploring new recipes to change it up for me.

My relationship with food is totally different now. I dont stress eat, or eat for fun, or because I'm bored. I eat to fuel my body.

I was out of shape when I started out. But now, I exercise an average of five to six days per week. I started off on the treadmill, just jogging. I remember feeling great after I pushed myself to jog and I slowly began increasing the speed and time I spent on the treadmill. Although it was challenging, I fell in love with outdoor running and found a running buddy in my friend Taylor.

Today, I run three to four times a week and typically clock 25 miles per week. I'll do five- to six-mile runs on a given day during the week, and on Saturdays I take advantage of the extra time and run eight to nine miles. When Im not running, I am in the gym doing weight training to help build muscle.

There were (and still are) days throughout my journey that I am *not* motivated to work out, especially on cold, rainy days. But when I'm not feeling motivated, I remind myself that I'm dedicated and committed to the whole journey, and that I will never regret a workout (or a healthy food choice). I also dont see working out as a chore; I view it as my time to push and work on myself.

When I first began losing weight, I wrote down my starting weight, which was 320 pounds. Then I wrote down a goal weight of 199 pounds. Then I wrote out all the months for the year, and wrote my goal weight for each month. This helped me see my journey on a month-to-month basis, and not as, oh my goodnessI have over 100 pounds to lose.

On average, my goal was to lose 10 pounds a month, and I surpassed my goal. (I lost an extra 30 pounds by the end of 2019!) I hung my weight-loss chart on my cork board next to my bed so I could see it every day and keep myself accountable. I have kept the paper to see how far I have come.

I created a new chart for 2020, but my goals are a little different this year. I emphasized how many miles I would like to run weekly, and I set a goal to run two half marathons and a full marathon this year.

I also dont weigh myself anymore on a scale. I cant tell you how many times I anxiously awaited weigh-in day to see how much I had lost the past week, and how disappointed I would be if I saw it stayed the same or even increased slightly, even though I was on track completely with my meals and exercise. Water weight and muscle really do affect the scale number. So now I have a different perspective on measuring progress. As much as I love to see the scale move, I really just tune into how my clothes fit these days.

I used to be a size-24 pant and a 3X shirt. Today, my size-10 jeans are a little baggy, and a medium-size shirt is even a little loose. My weight-loss journey has been one of the best investments. I cant even imagine where my health would be had I not made the lifestyle change. Yes, I did want to change my physical appearance, but what I was really focused on was wanting my husband and daughter to have a healthy wife and mom around for many more years.

My weight-loss journey has changed my life in so many ways. I wake up with a different kind of energy. I used to just roll out of bed and always felt so blah. Now I have my week planned, my workout schedule set, and my gym bag is packed the night before. I ran my first half marathon a couple weeks ago, came home and showered, and then went out to run errands for the rest of the day.

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'I Tried A Modified Keto Diet And Started Keeping A Weight-Loss ChartAnd I Lost 150 Lbs. In 1 Year' - Women's Health

I felt the only thing I had control of was what I ate, says Baldric Shyer, a 33-year-old screenwriter from Los Angeles, CA. Hes struggled with weight most of his life, coming from an obese families; like a lot of people, hes had ups and downs. At one point he was down to 170 pounds, but he didnt like himself or his relationship, and so hed stay up late gorging: a half-gallon of ice cream, pizza, or fast food. Hed write screenplays and eat.

At my heaviest, I felt so defeated, lost, and hopeless, he says. He remembers waiting an hour to make it to the top of a water slide, only to be turned away after they put him on a scale. Walking back down past everyone in line was the worst walk of shame Ive ever done, he says. He hit 275 pounds.

Shyer decided he needed a radical change. He left his relationship behind and moved to Vietnam. Being alone in a new country let him focus on himself; it was hard, but he felt he needed it to survive. Even in the smog of Ho Chi Minh City, he says. I started to breathe again.

Of course, he wanted to try all the food. That led to gaining 15 pounds. Ready to lose weight, he instead wrecked his kneecap in a motorbike accident. He didnt give up, though; he used his rehab time to walk the city, listening to self-improvement podcasts and soaking up the visual novelty of his new home. It wasnt much exercise, but for someone as overweight as me, it was a start and the weight started melting off.

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He aimed to hit 200 pounds, then began eating like someone who weighed that much. As extreme as it sounds, his move to Vietnam meant he could no longer eat a half-gallon of ice cream a night. With generally healthier food (think soups and tuna onigiris) and regular walks, he quickly lost 50 pounds in the first four months. The cost of living is so cheap that the only thing I had to worry about was loving and being healthy with myself, he says. I had all the time and money I needed to really focus on myself for the first time in my life.

When hed advanced beyond walks for exercising, he started playing basketball twice a week, with a group of local Vietnamese on a full-sized court with no circulation. Within a couple months his weight plateaued around 200 pounds.

Get the Ultimate Guide to Intermittent Fasting

Then he turned to intermittent fasting, which hed heard about on his podcasts. He started in May 2019, fasting 16:8 (16 hours of fasting, with an 8 hour window in which to eat). Hes now down to 155 pounds, which hes held for the past three months. I feel amazing, he says. Im back in Los Angeles with a newfound love, gratitude, and confidence. He still plays basketball, albeit at a lower intensity, and hes taken up indoor bouldering. He still walks every day.

For him, getting healthy meant his had to make himself a priorityeven if that meant moving to a new country, alone. But in some ways, that move made things easier. In a foreign country, he had nothing to do but lose weight. My advice for someone getting started, he says, would be to make things easy as possible to get started, and then start.

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Intermittent Fasting Helped This Guy Lose 120 Pounds and Get Healthy - menshealth.com

Making a crock pot recipe over the weekend is a great way to spend some of your spare time to incorporate weight loss friendly foods into your diet, and also meal plan for the week ahead. However, with so many recipe options out there, narrowing down your choices can be a difficult task.

To make it easier, we found a healthy crock pot recipe that can help you reach your weight loss goals and give your body a detox.

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Adding a detox soup in your diet routine can make a huge difference in how quickly you see weight loss. With ingredients like kale, onions, garlic, carrots, and olive oil, this recipe has a lot of detoxifying ingredients that can help boost your weight loss.

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What You Need: butternut squash, carrots, potatoes, celery, green lentils, yellow split peas, onion, garlic, vegetable or chicken broth, herbs de provence, salt, kale, parsley, olive oil, sherry (or red wine vinegar or lemon juice)

Full Recipe: Pinch of Yum

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Plus, the prep time is only 30 minutes--making it easy to incorporate into your routine.

With that in mind, this is a great recipe to boost weight loss without it taking up too much of your weekend--making it both convenient and healthy.

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This low-calorie soup dish is also pretty easy to make. The crock pot cooks the ingredients, and then a blender helps create a delicious texture--putting it back in the crock pot warms it up perfectly.

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This Is The Best Crockpot Recipe You Can Make This Weekend If Youre Trying To Lose Weight - SheFinds

Components such as Vitamin E and other antioxidants help to prevent signs that come with premature ageing?(Shutterstock)

Avocados are one of the most insta-famous fruits of all time. People love to put them in their smoothies, food or even have them plainly as a snack.

ALSO READ: Should you be taking an Omega supplement?

Theres no doubt that avos are delicious and can be combined with almost everything. But what about their nutritional content?

Most of us focus on how they look and taste but dont really know all the benefits we get while we enjoy them. Here is a list of health benefits you get just by eating this super fruit.

Whenever we think about diets, we focus on weight loss, yet there are so many people who struggle to gain weight. Many people rush for unhealthy foods and drinks packed with sugar and fat to gain weight quickly. Unhealthy options only lead to more health problems, so a better alternative is avocados.

They contain healthy fats and vitamins that help you gain the weight you want. So, if you struggle to consume enough calories in a day, just add avocadoes to your meals and youll see great progress in no time

Avocados are good for both weight gain and weight loss. They contain very many essential minerals and vitamins like vitamin B6 that are essential for your overall health. Also, its texture and consistency help to fill you up for a long time. Youre basically able to be contently full while getting so many nutrients at the same time.They contain healthy fats and vitamins that help you gain the weight you want(Shutterstock)

Eating avocados daily does wonders for your digestion. Youre able to have regular bowel movements, which is healthy and keep digestive issues such as constipation and bloating at bay. Thanks to its high fibre content, your body can metabolize and digest food better. The long term advantage is that serious illnesses like colon cancer are avoided and this is a huge benefit that comes with eating avocados often.

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the world today. People are constantly getting sick from high cholesterol levels and dying due to strokes and even heart attacks. Avocados are able to eliminate unnecessary cholesterol from your body by giving room for good and beneficial cholesterol. All this helps us maintain healthy hearts which is something we all want.

ALSO READ: Why constant anger is a sign of insecurityAvocados are able to eliminate unnecessary cholesterol from your body by giving room for good and beneficial cholesterol(Shutterstock)

Good eyesight is an essential part of life. Thats why we are constantly given recommendations on what to eat to improve our eyesight, what to do whenever we use our devices and other important facts on preventing eye-related issues. When you add this superfruit into your diet, your body is able to form resistance from eye diseases like cataracts. It also contains powerful antioxidants like zeaxanthin which are good for vision.It contains powerful antioxidants like zeaxanthin which are good for vision(Shutterstock)

Although there are many products out there that help us maintain good skin, diet also plays a crucial role. We often spend money on creams and lotions when the problem is actually on the inside.

By adding something as simple as avocados to your food, salads or smoothies, youre able to maintain healthy and glowing skin without doing too much. Components such as Vitamin E and other antioxidants help to prevent signs that come with premature ageing like fine wrinkles.

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Five health benefits of eating avocado - The Standard

No parent should ever have to bury their own child, but Will and Natalie Decker have endured that painful experience twice already and within 18 months apart.

From the time the Deckers expanded their family in 2014, life had been wonderful chaos, Natalie, 39, tells PEOPLE. That year, she and husband Will, 44, welcomed identical twin boys, Seth and Joel, who joined big brother Nathaniel, almost 5.

It was very busy and hectic, Natalie says of their life over the next two years. We enjoyed every minute of having three boys in the house, and the laughter and the noise, and how much they loved each other, and we just had fun together.

Joel was outgoing and a little bit mischievous and Seth was a little bit more quiet and sensitive, she adds. They were always together and they had a very strong and close bond.

But life as they knew it was quickly flipped upside down in December 2016, when Seth was diagnosed with a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia. Three months later, doctors delivered even more devastating news: Joel also had AML.

It was pretty traumatic. I had a hard time just processing that Joel had cancer also, Natalie recalls. It was a terrible time it took several days to fully sink in that it had really happened.

The boys had just turned 2 when Natalie noticed small purple dots all over Seths torso. The pediatrician told the mother of three that it was petechiae, which could be a sign of low platelets.

Blood work confirmed the pediatricians suspicions, so Seth started seeing a hematologist. Not long after, she and Will realized that Joel also had petechiae on his body, leading to him joining his brother at the hematologist.

In the months following that day, Natalie says Seths health was noticeably declining with no clear answers, much to her and Wills concern.

Seth just wasnt feeling well. I could tell something was wrong throughout that fall He couldnt walk. He was having so much pain, Natalie recalls, adding that it wasnt until November 2016 that their pediatrician became almost certain that Seth had a cancer tumor.

Doctors later confirmed that Seth had AML, a type of cancer where the bone marrow makes an abnormally large number of blood cells, according to the National Cancer Institute. Research by the NCI has shown that having a brother or sister with leukemia, especially a twin, increases the chance of being diagnosed with the disease.

With this in mind, Seth started to undergo treatment with his mother by his side, while the Deckers had genetic testing done to see if Joel was also likely to be diagnosed.

We had already known that it was very likely that Joel was going to get sick, Will explains to PEOPLE. For us, it was kind of a matter of not if, but when.

At the time of Seths diagnosis, Joel appeared to be behaving normally and was showing no signs of illness, aside from his low platelets. But all of that changed in March 2017, when Joel started feeling unwell.

Seth and I had been in the hospital for months and Joel was going up to Texas Childrens Hospital once a week to get platelets, so it was hard to tell if he was upset from the stress of everything, Natalie explains. But finally I was like, Hes in pain. I dont think hes feeling well.'

A bone marrow biopsy soon confirmed the worst: Joel also had leukemia cells in his bone marrow a diagnosis Will says they tried to prevent by getting him a bone marrow transplant before he got sick, but we couldnt get things lined up in time for it to work out that way.

RELATED: 9-Year-Old Instagram Stars Ask Fans to Help Find Bone Marrow Transplant to Save Their Dads Life

The Deckers | Courtesy of The Decker Family

The heartbreaking news also came as his twin brother was receiving high-dose chemotherapy and preparing to get a bone marrow transplant, Natalie explains. Doctors told her that if things went well, Seth would finally be able to go home.

We had kind of been working towards this [that] we might all be home together, she explains. And then when Joel was diagnosed, we had to start all over Having a second child diagnosed with cancer was really devastating and I felt bad that I couldnt be there with both of them.

With no other choice, the parents put on a brave face and split up in the hospital, each staying with a twin Natalie with Seth and Will with Joel. Meanwhile, Nathaniel was back at their Webster home being cared for by Natalies mom, who moved in with the Deckers following Seths diagnosis.

To make things more difficult, Will and Natalie rarely ever switched caretaker roles and often spent weeks at a time away from each other, separated by just one hospital floor. (Seth was on the bone marrow floor, Joel was on the cancer floor.)

We switched back and forth a little bit for breaks, but its too hard to do it, Natalie says. We couldnt split 50/50 because you miss too much of whats going on with either Seths care or Joels care. Theres not enough continuity if were just bouncing back and forth.

Despite the severity of the disease they were battling, Natalie says the boys remained positive and tended to view their situations as normal.

They were just so strong and brave during everything, she says. No matter how much pain they were in or how bad they felt, they just had such great attitudes about it. They smiled every day.

I dont think they understood the extent of what was happening, she adds. To them, it just became kind of their normal life. Like they just knew, I have to.'

In April 2017, Seth finally returned home, a month after his transplant. Joel, who had just finished his first chemo round, also came home that month. He stayed until May, where he began his second round of chemo and then underwent a bone marrow transplant in June 2017.

By August, however, Joels health started to severely decline and he was readmitted for a relapse.

It was just a struggle to try and get him comfortable and do what we could to try and stop the leukemia, Natalie explains. We just didnt have a lot of options at that point.

He started to put on water weight and get heavier and less mobile, recalls Will. Basically he got too much fluid in his system that he had to go to ICU.

Joel and Seth Decker | Courtesy of The Decker Family

Joel spent the last two weeks of his life in the ICU before his parents spoke to doctors and felt comfortable enough to pull him off the respirator.

On that heartbreaking day, the extended family was called to the hospital and Joel was moved to a private room so he was comfortable in his final moments. A child life specialist was also there and broke the news to Nathaniel that Joel was about to die.

He started crying, but after that Nathaniel was amazing, Natalie says. He sat in the bed and he stroked Joels hand and head and talked to him he just loved on Joel, the little bit [of time] that we had with him.

Joel was very peaceful, she adds. We were able to hold him and talk to him. He, at least, looked very comfortable. So I think that made it easier.

Seth, meanwhile, refused to go into the ICU terrified of the ventilator and noise and even had trouble being in the private room, according to his mother.

He was there, but he did not want to come in the room, Natalie explains. I think he sensed something was happening but was not able to understand all of it.

About an hour and a half after taking Joel off the respirators, he died at age 3 on Nov. 1, 2017.

Seth and Joel Decker with big brother Nathaniel | Courtesy of The Decker Family

Devastated, the Deckers say they were also terrified of the uncertainty of Seths future. Still, they had to move forward and stay strong for their two sons.

Honestly, I dont know [how we did it], Natalie says. I guess God just kept us moving because we just kept going forward. We knew that we had to and you just put one foot in front of the other and do the best that you can.

You really dont have a choice because you cant just fall apart and not take care of your family, adds Will.

After Joels death, Will says Seths blood count numbers were improving and he appeared to be getting better.

He was getting more and more active and returning to closer to what a normal child would be, he explains. Natalie adds that he was able to go for walks, visit the zoo, and play with Nathaniel.

But just as quickly as it went upwards, Seths health started declining. After multiple tests and biopsies, doctors determined that he needed a second transplant in November 2018, given to him by his perfect match, big brother Nathaniel.

However, the second transplant brought multiple complications for Seth, including graft versus host disease, when the new bone marrow attacks the host. By April 2019, Will and Natalie learned that their sons cancer had relapsed.

At that point, the Deckers opted to take Seth home, with Natalie noting that we knew as fast as everything had happened with Joel, we wanted to spend as much time at home together.

Like his twin brother, Seths condition also quickly worsened and the Deckers were forced to bring him back to the hospital. This time, they stayed in a regular room by the 4-year-old boys side until he died peacefully on May 10, 2019.

Natalie Decker with her sons | Courtesy of The Decker Family

The death of their second child hit even harder for the Deckers, who said they had more time together to think about the shocking loss.

After Joel, we had to put a lot of effort into taking care of Seth, Will explains. But after Seth died, all that extra work went away. We had, what felt like, a lot more time on our hands, so that made it probably even more difficult.

With Will and Nathaniel and I all grieving together and being around each other, it was just hard, Natalie adds, noting that Nathaniel, now 10, even felt a sense of guilt because the bone marrow he donated to his brother didnt work.

We just try to take it a day at a time, she says. Some days we do okay and sometimes we have bad days.

Today, the Deckers focus their efforts on St. Baldricks Foundation, where they have been helping raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer an area Will believes is highly underserved, especially ahead of International Childhood Cancer Day on Feb. 15.

A number you hear a lot is 4% of the NIH, National Institutes of Health Funding, goes to childhood cancer. The rest of it goes to adult cancer funding, Will says. We wanted to do something to help make things better for other kids.

Joel and Seths Hero Fund, established by their parents in their memory, has raised over $35,000, and the twins have also been honored by the foundation as their 2020 posthumous ambassadors.

RELATED VIDEO: One Mans Mission to Stop Childrens Cancer

Its bittersweet, Natalie says of the roles. I think it makes us feel good to see them acknowledged Were so proud of them and to help keep their memory alive, it makes us so happy.

I just feel like they were such loving, wonderful little boys, she continues. I mean, even feeling horrible and all they had to endure, they just wanted a hug from us and kisses, and they smiled even when they didnt feel well. They were just amazing.

Adds Will: We think about them all the time anyway And this gives us a chance to share their personalities and things they like, in addition to raising awareness for research.

As difficult as this experience has been for the Deckers, Natalie says theyve found a principle to live by amid the unimaginable losses.

Seth and Joel didnt focus on their limitations. They just found joy in the little things around them that made them happy, Natalie explains. Will, Nathaniel, and I want to try and live our lives that way.

So many people get stuck on things that, to us, seem insignificant, she continues. Sometimes we laugh if we hear someone complaining about something because Seth and Joel went through so much more and they had such a better attitude. We think about things a lot differently than most other families do I feel like its really changed our perspective.

Those interested in helping the Deckers with their mission to fund childhood cancer research can donate to their hero fund, Double Deckers Destroy AML, here or on the St. Baldricks Foundation website.

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Parents Lose Their 'Loving' Twin Toddlers to Cancer 18 Months Apart: 'They Were Just Amazing' - Yahoo Entertainment

Characterized by inflammation and joint pain as a result of a collapse of the cartilage problem, arthritis of all kinds affects more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States alone. Of the more than 100 different types of arthritis and related diseases, two of the most common are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While the former causes pain, swelling and stiffness by wearing down the cushioning between the joints, the latter produces uncontrolled inflammation when the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints and other parts of the body. Any type of arthritis can cause pain and persistence. Joint damage Fortunately, there are effective home remedies that can slow the progression of the disease and ultimately treat arthritis and its symptoms. Symptoms of arthritis Home remedies Water exercises Since ground exercises such as running or jogging exert tremendous pressure on joints, water exercises such as swimming are excellent. Alternatives for those who suffer from arthritis. This is because the water serves as a natural source of resistance for the intensity of the exercise, in addition to providing buoyancy that supports the body weight for the relief of the necessary joint pressure.In fact, it was found in a 2015 scientific review that adults with osteoarthritis who participated in a water exercise program not only lost weight, but also improved their coordination, range of motion, mood and quality of life, apart from (often short term) pain reduction. The current recommendation of 40 to 60 minutes of water exercise three times a week was supported by researchers for continuous pain relief.Weight loss Weight loss relieves pressure on joints, reducing pain and stiffness. This is because, according to the Arthritis Foundation, there are three pounds of additional knee stress and six pounds of additional pressure on the hip joint for every pound of body weight, which causes cartilage between joints to break down. quickly and exacerbates osteoarthritis. Tai Chi Tai chi is a low impact exercise (and therefore joint friendly) that promotes flexibility, muscle strength and balance through slow and smooth movements. A 2013 review of seven studies that focused on the effectiveness of tai chi in improving arthritis symptoms concluded that a 12-week tai chi course was beneficial in reducing pain and stiffness while increasing the physical function of People suffering from osteoarthritis. Yoga specifically, Iyengar yoga, which focuses on the correct alignment of the body, using accessories to support the body and relieve the inflammation and tension that characterize arthritis. A 2013 study that investigated the effectiveness of a 6-week Iyengar yoga program for young women with RA found that those who practiced Iyengar yoga reported significant improvements in health, mood, quality of life, along with the ability of dealing with chronic pain. Cold treatments Although they differ in methods, both heat and cold therapy offer a reduction in arthritis pain, each with remedies available in the market. Heat therapy helps circulation and relieves joints and muscles. It includes a warm bath / shower and relaxing joints through warm paraffin wax, heating pads or a hot water bottle. On the other hand, cold therapy restricts blood vessels, slows circulation, reduces swelling and numbs pain. The cold treatment includes the use of a cold compress, soaking an affected joint in ice water and relieving pain with an ice pack wrapped in a towel. It should be noted that its effectiveness, which can alternate between cold and heat, depends on the condition of the skin. If it results in damage or injury to the skin, it is better to suspend the use of any of them. One caveat when applying cold treatments is that their use should be limited to 20 minutes at a time. Mindfulness Meditation Mindfulness is a form of medication that helps people try to focus their attention on their feelings, as well as on what their bodies are experiencing right now. Related to mindfulness is a program called stress reduction based on mindfulness (MBSR), which uses mindfulness in the management of stress and pain, boosting immune function in the process. In a 2014 study that lasted six months, it was discovered that those who practice MBSR showed a reduction in the symptoms of RA, including pain, stiffness early in the morning and numerous sensitive and inflamed joints. Massage caused by arthritis can be relieved with a regular massage. Muscles and joints, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Experts believe that massage reduces the production of stress hormone cortisol and neurotransmitter substance P, which is associated with pain, and also increases serotonin levels to improve mood. Two studies on the effects of arthritis massage, one for people with RA in the upper extremities and another for people with knee arthritis, found that moderate pressure massage produces less pain, greater grip strength and greater range. of movement. in the affected limbs. TENS Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a form of pain relief that involves the use of electrodes through adhesive pads attached to the surface of the skin to supply small electrical currents to the body, canceling pain signals while causing The body releases endorphins for natural pain relief. One study concluded that, although more trials and studies are needed to determine the best doses and outcome measures, the administration of TENS at tolerable intensities could help reduce the pain of osteoarthritis. Take nutrients to fight arthritis The following nutrients are proven to overcome arthritis and its symptoms: Vitamin D: not only builds strong bones, but also helps maintain the body's immune system. One study found that those who suffer from RA have lower levels of vitamin D compared to those without the condition, and also tend to experience the highest levels of disease activity. Solutions to vitamin D deficiency include exposure to sunlight and the consumption of nutrient-rich foods, in addition to the vitamin D supplements available in the market. Omega-3 fatty acids: found in nuts, seeds and cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines, studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation in the body, in addition to playing a role in the regulation of the immune system. One review concluded that although more studies are needed to support the claim, omega-3 seems to improve the symptoms of RA. Chondroitin and glucosamine Both crondroitin and glucosamine help maintain bones, cartilage and joints. While chondroitin sulfate (CS) blocks cartilage-destroying enzymes and helps improve the absorption of joint impacts, glucosamine hydrochloride (GH) focuses on the maintenance of cartilage, as well as its growth and repair . A 2016 study found that a combination of CS and GH was as effective as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) celecoxib to reduce joint pain, stiffness and inflammation after 6 months. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, which commonly affects the hands, hips and knees. Pixabay (TagsToTranslate) arthritis (t) symptoms (t) home remedies (t) (t) arthritis symptoms (t) home remedies (t) home remedies for arthritis

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Fight the symptoms of arthritis with these home remedies - NewsDio