ARKPORT This time of year, were all looking for a fast and easy way to lose weight and theres no shortage of suspicious claims out there.

Fad diets create a buzz because they often promise just that. But anyone who is serious about losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle shouldnt be fooled. Katie Ferraro, MPH, RDN, CDE, nutrition expert for TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, provides five sound reasons to avoid the fad diets and eat sensibly instead.

Water Weight Is Not Fat Loss: The initial weight loss with most fad diets is water weight. It is easily gained back and then some when normal eating resumes.

Carbs Are Still King: Glucose is the preferred energy source for your body and brain. Healthy sources of carbohydrates, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, are optimal to fuel your body. Keep in mind: Nobody ever gained weight from eating raw veggies.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Research indicates that 1 to 2 pounds per week is the ideal rate for sustainable weight loss. Your friends may be losing over 5 pounds per week, but they will likely regain that and more.

Your Diet Shouldnt Deprive You: To truly follow some of the craziest fad diets out there, you would never be able to eat at a restaurant or enjoy food at a social event. The way you choose to craft a healthy diet should fit into your real life rather than being a barrier to living a full life.

The Scale Isnt All That Matters: When you eat healthy foods and exercise more, not only does your weight drop, but other metabolic measurements, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar, will improve. A fad diet might help you shed pounds quickly, but if its raising your cholesterol and stressing you out, the weight loss isnt worth it.

TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization. Founded more than 70 years ago, TOPS is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind. TOPS promotes successful weight management with a Real People. Real Weight Loss. philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise and wellness information. TOPS has members male and female, age 7 and older in thousands of chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is $32 per year in the U.S. plus nominal chapter fees.

Local chapters meet in Arkport, Hornell, Canisteo, Dansville, Wellsville and Bath.

To find a local chapter, visit http://www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

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Local TOPS Club offers five reasons to forgo fad diets - Hornell Evening Tribune

Dear friend,

If you want a natural and very effective method to lose belly fat, reduce unwanted fat in the hips, thighs, abs, arms of the Christian mother and lose weight in the shortest possible time, without taking slimming pills, diets and gym

then this will be the most important message you will read this year.

First, let me introduce myself. My name is Mrs. Rita, 47, currently living in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

A few months ago, I was really overweight and went to the gym twice a week, went on keto diets and several diets you must have heard of it.

I continued to make my diet more and more strict, excluding meat, bread, fries and sweets. I ended up eating fruits and vegetables and only drinking water. I tried terribly expensive teas and weight loss patches, but nothing seemed to work for me. After a while, the lost weight would return to my exhausted body.

Neither diets nor exercises are useful, they are just a scam!

Training is too difficult and takes too long to see progress.

After trying various unnecessary methods to lose weight, spending hours in the gym and paying the personal trainer thousands of dollars, I gave up completely.

One day, I got in touch with a longtime friend, now a health researcher, who told me about the Fat Blaster Max program. I decided to try it even if I was skeptical. But after trying everything and desperate, I had no choice!

Besides, I checked the reviews and they were really impressive!

Thousands of women in Nigeria have shed their extra pounds with this product. According to research, 96.7% lost 12-17 kg in 2 to 3 weeks!

I started using the Fat Blaster Max pack, read the instructions and started taking 2 cups a day, before my breakfast and before light supper.

Results

After just 7 days, my results were staggering I lost 4 kg! The pockets have disappeared and my complexion has improved a lot!

The hips and belly have become much smaller and my mood has improved! I started to believe that I could become beautiful without diet or exercise!

So I continued to eat whatever I wanted! I was too sick and tired of starving and training

At the end of the third week, I lost another 12 kg! I got fitter and it inspired me to go up the stairs instead of using the elevator every time. What seemed like a difficult workout has become an easy pleasure for me!

I couldnt believe this happened just because I was following these simple instructions on the Fat Blaster package!

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Trust me for over 3 months now, I have lost over 37 kg of unwanted fat. I recovered my beautiful form with so much energy.

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So, because I have used this and it has worked for me, I want to help other women like me achieve a similar result. This is why for the next few days only, I present to you

Fat Blaster MAX Slimming Shake

The Fat Blaster Max slimming shampoo contains green coffee rich in chlorogenic acid, which actively distributes fatty deposits throughout the body. It facilitates metabolism stimulation, detoxification of your body and eliminates free radicals.

Natural antioxidants take care of your well-being and your beautiful appearance.

Only 3 packs of the Fat blaster pack are enough to achieve visible results.

Whether youre looking to burn belly fat quickly or need to get rid of facial puffiness, slim waist, slender hips, toned arms, sleek legs,

or simply need to lose excess weight in your arms, hips, baby fat

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Over the next 2 weeks, you will begin to get closer to your ideal body shape every day.

But dont take my word for it, youll find below before and after transforming real people like you used this Fat Blaster program to lose weight and burn belly fat in a matter of weeks.

She regained self-confidence and saved her marriage using this big blaster package

This is a great way to lose extra weight. I took the cups twice a day before breakfast, lunch and dinner. I managed to lose almost 15 kg after 6 weeks, WOW! - Ms. Veronica

Yet another success of christabel, she was able lose 27.5 kg in 6 weeks!

It works great for men with a potted belly

Another testimony from a satisfied customer

More testimonials

Would you like to get a similar result, lose all the unwanted fat, get a flatter stomach without side effects or sweat at the gym?

If you honestly answer yes to the above question, the Fat Blaster Max program will help you achieve your goal of losing unwanted fat, burning belly fat and also losing weight quickly without rebound.

This product, which is created with the help of health experts, has been developed as an internal body cleansing system with 100% natural ingredients each overweight person can take to lose weight and get a flatter stomach. as soon as possible without any side effects.

Why is this Fat Blaster Max package so effective and different?

There are 4 reasons that make the Fat Blaster max program very effective and different from other supplements, diet pills and green tea that you have used in the past.

Fat blaster max Ultimate Diet Shake contains a green coffee fat burner that acts on the body at the tissue level. Its active components find the locations of fat deposits, enter and accumulate there.

The chlorogenic acid is concentrated in the fat deposits triggering their rapid and efficient combustion. Up to 80% of the fat deposits in the body are thus divided.

Thanks to antioxidants and vegetable fibers, the fat blaster max pack quickly and effectively purges the body of toxins and excess fluids by washing them naturally through the intestine.

It also contains natural antioxidants which not only facilitate rapid weight loss but improve the renewal process of skin cells. As a result, your appearance improves every day!

The main ingredients: Soy protein isolate, fructose, soluble dietary fiber, whey protein, soy protein, rice protein, medium chain triglyceride, wheat protein, green coffee bean extract, inulin, oat fiber, calcium carbonate , salt, magnesium sulfate, zinc lactate, mineral vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamins B2, vitamins B6, vitamins B12) Nicotinic acid, folic acid and natural vanilla flavor

USE: Drink a cup of drink 2 times a day between meals. The minimum usage period is 2 weeks. Each packet of the fat blaster contains 10 sachel of the shake (the total you get is 30 sachets).

We are currently running a promotion on the Fat Blaster Max package, if you place an order for 3 packs of the Fat Blaster Package today, you will get it for N25,000.

Fat Blaster Package (3packs) costs 25,000 (recommended)

But to make it even better, when you order today, you will also receive a free bonus included to your package * NOT available elsewhere

FREE BONUS: FIBROID CAPSULES

100% HERBAL, NAFDAC APPROVED

fibroids are muscle tumors that develop in the lining of the uterus (uterus). Fibroids are almost always mild (not cancerous). Not all women with fibroids have symptoms. Women with symptoms often find it difficult to live with fibroids. Research has estimated that 70 to 80% of women will develop fibroids during their lifetime. Fibroid capsules are excellent in the treatment of fibroids, stomach tumors and internal parasitic growth. It helps get rid of it without undergoing surgery. Fibroid capsules are approved by NAFDAC and contain 60 capsules.

When you order the Fat Blaster pack, you will also receive the Fibroid capsules, absolutely free.

But now, supplies are limited and this offer will not last long. If you procrastinate, I cant assure you that you will get it at a reduced price with the free bonus.

So go ahead and order today before the available stocks run out.

Follow the instructions below to order and get the products delivered to your door (Cash on delivery) This means that you will not pay for the products until they have been brought to you face to face by our courier agent Cash on delivery option available in all states of Nigeria

Heres how to order your Fat Blaster package today at the special reduced price

FAT BLASTER PACKAGE (3 packs) + Fibroid capsules N25,000

To order, send the following information by SMS

Pack Fat Blaster + fibroid capsules, your full name, Your phone number, Delivery address (home or office)

Send this information as an SMS to 08174860522

Please note: Your delivery address must include (your street name, city, local government and state). Detailed enough to make it traceable by our courier who will deliver you.

You will receive an SMS and a call from us within 24 hours to confirm your order before sending it back to you.

DELIVERY TIME

Once we have received your order and your details are correct, you will receive an SMS or call confirmation from us.

Your products will then be sent to our courier and the items should reach you within 2 to 4 days for nationwide delivery in another state and 1 to 2 days for orders in the state of Lagos.

Note: The product will be discreetly packaged and no one else will know. whats inside, and all the other information will be kept private and 100% confidential.

Option 2

If you live in or near Lagos or Abuja, you can also enter our marketing department office to pick up the products.

You will meet our team ready to offer you these products at the same price

You pay at our office, and you get it instantly

Vantagesoft Marketing EnterprisesBlock B, Suite 9, Primal Tek Plaza, next to the ECO center, by the Mokola bus stop, opposite the Gowon property market,Egbeda-Idimu, Egbeda, Lagos road.orSuite 3B, first floor, shopping center next to the NNPC filling station,in front of the LHS school, Ilo awela road, by Toll Gate Bus stop, Otaoff the Lagos-Abeokuta highway

orAbuja office Hub: EFAB MALL Extension, suite A-75, 3rd floor, off Gimbiya Street, Garki, zone 11, Abuja, Fct.

(Monday Saturday 9 a.m. 5 p.m.)

Customer support line: 08174860522

Thats all you have to do to get the Ultimate Fat Blaster MAX diet program today.

Limited supplies are available and I hope you wont miss them.

Expect your fat loss stories in a few weeks from today.

Yours,

Ms. Rita 08174860522

More:
47-year-old Abuja woman explains how she went from 85 kg to 54 kg in a few weeks, burns fat without coffee, diet, diet pills [Sponsored] - The Media...

If you prefer the A/C blasting on high when you do your squats and planks, hot Pilates may not be the class for you. But for thousands of people taking hot Pilates classes across the country, the buckets of sweat rolling down your back as you work your muscles are the whole point of this sizzling new workout.

Hot Pilates is a low-impact, high-intensity workout performed in a room heated to 95 degrees, explains Gabriella Walters, the founder of Inferno Hot Pilates in Las Vegas. Walters first created her class back in 2008, when she was recovering from a knee injury. I was doing a lot of zero-impact exercises like yoga and Pilates, but I got frustrated because I wasnt getting the cardio I wanted. Walters held her first classes outdoors, where the desert temps could reach 105 degrees, which, she says, helped her heart rate speed up quickly. But when I did the same workout during the winter, I didnt get the same results.

The solution? Walters moved her workout indoors to a hot yoga studio, and her popular Inferno classes were born. If youre interested in trying a hot Pilates class near you, heres what you should know:

Classes differ studio to studio (unlike hot yoga, which usually follows a set routine). But basically, you'll do high-intensity strengthening moves such as squats, lunges, and leg lifts in a room heated over 90 degrees with a high humidity. Youll be surrounded by a lot of very sweaty people.

Though both workouts are meant to tone your body and make you sweat, the workouts themselves are very different. Most hot yoga classes are based on the teachings of Bikram Choudhury (in fact, the practice was widely called Bikram Yoga until Choudhury was accused of sexual harassment by several women in the 2010s and many studios dropped his name); teachers lead you through a series of 26 poses in a room where the heat is cranked up to 105 degrees. In hot yoga, you hold each pose, whereas in Pilates, you are always moving, says Walters. I think the biggest difference is that hot Pilates is a fitness class. We are always moving, getting as many repetitions as possible within a 20-second period.

Because the workout is relatively new, there arent any studies comparing hot Pilates to cold Pilates, or hot Pilates to hot yoga. In fact, there is little research about Pilates and weight loss at all. One small study sponsored by the American Council on Exercise found that people taking a Pilates class burned about 175 calories in a 50-minute beginner routine and 254 in a 50-minute advanced routine (compare that with about 450 calories from 50 minutes of swimming or 430 for aerobic dancing).

The added heat doesn't increase the calories burned, says Jessica Matthews, DBH, an assistant professor of kinesiology and integrative wellness at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. "Many individuals mistakenly believe that the more they sweat the more calories and fat they're burning," she says. "However, sweating is a biological response to help regulate your internal body temperate and there is no correlation between how much you sweat and how many calories are burned." A recent study comparing the energy expenditure of people doing hot yoga and room-temperature yoga found that while the heart rate increased among those in the hot room, the number of calories burned was the same.

Stacy D. Hunter, PhD, an assistant professor at Texas State University who has studied the effects of hot yoga, points out that there are cardiovascular benefits of yoga and Pilates, but those benefits are independent of the temperature in the room, so it's a personal choice. "I enjoy doing hot yoga, even if Im not burning any more calories," she says. "I like the feeling that I've worked really hardthere is a sense of accomplishment when Im done with the class." Research has also shown that Pilates can increase flexibility and build strength, and flexibility exercises are most effective when your muscles are warm, says Dr. Matthews.

Attempting any type of workout in extreme heat always adds extra risk, especially for older adults, says Dr. Hunter. Make sure you drink plenty of waterright before the class as well as during the classand take a break to cool down if you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or nauseous. or if your heart starts racing. Everyone should check with their doctor before doing anything strenuous, especially if they have any specific reaction to heat, says Walters, who adds, The heat isnt for everyone.

You will definitely tone up and build strength with Hot Pilates, but if weight loss is your goal, you'll need to add cardio to burn more calories. And always be sure to take extra precautions in the heat.

Like what you just read? Youll love our magazine! Go here to subscribe. Dont miss a thing by downloading Apple News here and following Prevention. Oh, and were on Instagram too.

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What Is Hot Pilates? - Benefits of Hot Pilates Workout - Prevention.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It wasnt finger-pointing. It wasnt criticizing one specific player -- or a coach. Wasnt intended to be malicious or damaging.

But Cleveland Cavaliers team leaders -- Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance Jr. -- wanted to make something clear late Thursday night, as they were trying to grasp their latest double-digit loss against a team in a similar rebuild position: The Cavs should be better, further along, than they are right now.

Were kind of just at a standstill, Thompson said. Teams are trending up, playing better basketball, weve got to figure out what were going to do.

Members of the organization knew a fast start was highly unlikely this season. Eleven of the first 15 games were against either playoff teams from last season or ones projected to be in that mix in 2019-20. They were relying on a young backcourt, starting 19-year-old Darius Garland at point guard and 20-year-old (now 21) Collin Sexton in a new position. As one scout said to cleveland.com at a recent road game, Young guards will get you beat. A stranger in his own locker room, head coach John Beilein was trying to avoid the numerous chuckholes along his first-year NBA journey.

But after that early onslaught, playing what has been labeled the third-toughest schedule according to basketball reference, things were supposed to soften a bit. And they have, with matchups against Memphis, Chicago, New York and Washington -- all teams sitting below .500 on the season. Only the Cavs havent capitalized. If anything, as a team, when judging the sum as opposed to the parts, theyve regressed.

Asked if the Cavs should be better, Love quickly said, Yes.

I think we start taking steps forward and then we just a take a step back here and there, he admitted. Definitely tough. Obviously we have had injuries, were coming off a long road trip and now we have to find ways to get better in less than 10 games before the All-Star break.

"We have to start trending in the right direction again because we felt like we were playing good basketball, even in a couple of the losses we had, and these are uncharacteristic -- losing by double-digits to these two teams. Nothing against them, we just feel like similar records and these are teams we can compete with, especially on our home floor. We should have a chance to really win.

The Cavs are just 2-20 this season against teams with a record above .500. Competing with those high-level foes is out of the question. The Cavs recognize that. They shouldnt be measured that way. Not for another, say, three or four years? But while the losses were piling up early in the year, many were clutching to an ability to compete -- and beat -- teams on their own level as a sign of progress.

Thats not happening anymore and its fair to wonder why. They are 1-7 in those matchups over the last three weeks -- a disheartening stretch that began by blowing a game against Charlotte. Thats been a trend in many of these defeats. The Cavs will play well for stints. But with little margin for error, theyve been unable to sustain it, not quick enough to make the requisite adjustments.

I think theres good moments in every game for us, Love said. But were a young team that needs to continue to put it together. We just have some slip-ups. Weve had a number of times now in the past two weeks where weve got up double-digits, had leads and it seems like in minutes we let them slip away. We have to find ways as players to continue to stop the bleeding, get buckets and slow the game down or speed the game up and dictate the pace on that end.

Coming off the 11-day road trip that began in Detroit, went west and finished in Chicago, the Cavs were exhausted -- and sick.

Illness hit Dante Exum, which led to him losing around five pounds. He didnt even join the team until they were about to head to Los Angeles, their third stop on the six-game trek. Then rookie Darius Garland was hit hard by the flu bug, he told cleveland.com, and is still trying to recuperate after losing some weight. Hes felt that sickness in the last two losses, which helps explain some of his struggles. Right as Ante Zizic was pushing his way into the rotation, he got clubbed in the head by Denvers Mason Plumlee and Zizic has been dealing with scary vertigo-like symptoms that have sidelined him indefinitely.

Add in injuries to both Brandon Knight (knee soreness) and rookie Kevin Porter Jr. (sprained knee) because they clearly have hampered Clevelands bench, one that is still feeling the loss of Jordan Clarkson. The Cavs were hoping Porter would be ready to take the bulk of that second-unit responsibility, that he would give the group a similar shot-making and scoring profile. Then Porter went down awkwardly in early January, exacerbating the Clarkson loss, contributing to persistent bench woes and late-game issues.

Then theres the reality of playing at home for the first time after a road trip, Mondays confusing blowout against the Knicks, who entered the night with just 11 wins and left tied in that column with Cleveland, which has now lost six straight and eight of the last 10.

But the latest puzzler against the Wizards called for a different response.

A loss is a loss, so anything in that L column hurts, Nance said. But this team, the Knicks, our last game in Chicago, these are all games we should be very competitive in. The fact that we havent been, other than Chicago, especially on our home court, is a little bit disheartening. Go back to the drawing board. Its not like anybody feels sorry for us, so we cant for ourselves.

The Cavs justly had low expectations entering the season. There wasnt any talk of an outside chance at the postseason. At least one member of the front office said 24 or 25 wins would be a good outcome. Most nights, they are out-talented. Beilein is making rookie coach blunders. The rotation has been a constant experiment. One of their best players in the first few months is now in Utah. The organization-wide inexperience has shown, with growing pains on and off the floor.

Weve got a lot of young on this team, Nance said. Darius is young, KP is young, Collins young. Theres a learning curve for Coach as well. Its something that weve all got to figure out and what are we, 45 games in? Half the year isnt something that Im going to sit here and get too down about. We still have half the year left. Who knows what can happen in that half?

Even though many of these stumbles were anticipated, players have become perturbed with the occasional lack of competitiveness. A few who suffered through last seasons injury-filled struggle, stretches where they had to use two-way guys for big minutes and didnt have Thompson or Love for extended periods, have pointed to the obvious talent difference between the two groups and wondered aloud why, with more talented -- and healthier players -- they arent better this season.

Technically, they are. But not by much, which is getting harder to accept.

Id rather be in a close game than get boned by 30, Thompson said recently.

Last season, the Cavs finished 19-63. They had a point differential of -9.6. Their defense was the worst in NBA history, allowing a whopping 116.8 points per 100 possessions.

This season, the Cavs are currently 12-33. They have a point differential of -9.2. Their defense, which was surprisingly respectable early on, has plummeted to 29th, allowing 114.8 points per 100 possessions. When asked for the common denominator during this losing skid, thats where Thompson pointed first. But the problems, clearly, run much deeper than just that end of the floor.

Were not defending at all, not at a good level, Thompson said. Youve got to do that consistently in this league for a long period of time and were not doing that right now.

Reality is were at where were at. Just got to keep plugging away, keep pushing through, thats all we can do. We cant feel sorry for ourself. Teams know they can be physical with us and if they move the ball, they can get in our paint. No ones going to feel sorry for us.

Get Cavs Insider texts in your phone from Chris Fedor: Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with one of the NBAs best beat reporters -- just like you would with your friends. Its just $3.99 a month, which works out to about 13 cents a day. Learn more and sign up here.

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Cleveland Cavaliers at a standstill,' players believe they should be further along than they are - cleveland.com

By SARA ARTHURS

STAFF WRITER

Years ago, when you made that New Years resolution to exercise more or quit smoking, you might have told a few friends. But today, you can tell all your Facebook friends.

Technology has changed how people can communicate their goals and hold themselves, and one another, accountable.

Alisa Agozzino, Ph.D., is associate professor of public relations at Ohio Northern University. She teaches on social media, which she said can be used for good or evil.

She said the average person has 220 friends on social media. Ten to 20 years ago, I dont think we were going out and telling 200 people about our New Years resolutions. Maybe a handful of people at a New Years Eve party would have heard about those goals, as opposed to today, when you can announce youre planning to do something and Im putting it out there for all of you to see.

Agozzino said this doesnt necessarily mean youll stick to your goal. If you dont post anything to follow up, will anyone notice? But if you do, they will most certainly notice.

It gives people something to talk about, too, she said.

That is, if you post that youre going to exercise more, people can ask how that is going or what fitness apps you used along the way.

Engagement on social media is where all the power is, Agozzino said. She said just clicking like when a friend states a goal, or leaving a comment like You got this! means the Facebook algorithm will boost the post so more people will see it in their feed.

Agozzino said if youre criticizing yourself for being overweight, Thats the pressure that you put on yourself. No one else will say, You didnt lose any weight!

No ones going to write that or say that, and most people wont even think it, she said.

When someone posts that theyre quitting smoking, usually its because they do want others to hold them accountable, Agozzino said. When you see someone in person and theyre smoking, you might say, Hey, I thought you gave that up.

Rachel Niermann, a registered dietitian with Blanchard Valley Health System, said setting a resolution for 2020 is different than it was in 2000. Nowadays, we have technology attached to us all the time and we can definitely use it to our advantage, she said. People walk around with watches and wearable technology that tells them its time to get up and move, for example.

And it can help offer some encouragement, as you see progress. If you can look back and see that you did accomplish three workouts this week, that is encouraging and may make you more likely to stick with it, Niermann said.

She said its best to make goals realistic and attainable. Apps allow you to keep track of how youre doing to hold yourself accountable, but if your goal is very far-fetched it may be hard to stick with it, even with the use of apps.

Niermann said a very general goal like I want to eat better or exercise more is harder to stick to than one that includes a specific plan.

The more specific your goal is, the more likely you will accomplish it, she said.

So instead of wanting to eat better, you might commit to eating two more servings of vegetables every three days. This has a number attached to it and is something you can track, making it easier to hold yourself accountable.

Niermann said apps allow you to keep track of how youre meeting your goals. You can measure activity, nutrition, sleep and meditation.

In the past, of course, you could keep a journal of all these things.

Theres still power in writing things down, Niermann said.

And she said some people may find it meaningful still to write by hand after all, it takes longer to write it down than to quickly enter something into your phone, which may give you time to reflect. She said you could also write down a goal on paper and put it on your desk or mirror, or in your car, so you see it often.

Niermann recommended the app MyFitnessPal, which also offers a website users can access from a computer rather than a phone. Users enter their height, weight and gender along with their goal such as to lose, maintain or gain weight.

MyFitnessPal has a validated tool that calculates an appropriate calorie range for safe weight loss. Theres nothing drastic like fad diets, Niermann said.

Social media can be a source of encouragement and allow you to keep yourself accountable, Niermann said. But at the same time, if you look at a lot of pictures online of fitness bloggers, people who are very thin, it might make you feel bad about yourself. She encouraged finding someone out there who is going through a similar experience as you, with a comparable lifestyle.

Arthurs: 419-427-8494

Send an E-mail to Sara Arthurs

Twitter: @swarthurs

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Weekend: Got a health goal? There's an app for that - The Courier

Taibat Ibitoye, registered dietitian and PhD researcher, University of Reading

WHILE the obesity crisis is still considered the foremost public health epidemic in the west, one often overlooked condition is quickly becoming a growing concern. Malnutrition, sometimes referred to as under-nutrition, affects an estimated 3million people in the UK alone. Globally, around 462million adults are malnourished.

Malnutrition is a condition where a person is deficient in nutrients, such as protein, vitamins and minerals, or not getting enough calories. This has many effects on health and body function, including increased frailty, delayed wound healing and higher mortality.

Not only that, malnutrition will cost UK health services 13billion this year alone and is predicted to cost 15billion in ten years. Reports also show that its two to three times more expensive to treat someone who is malnourished, compared with someone who is well nourished. This is because they need more resources to treat them, and a range of health conditions may develop as a result of malnutrition.

But data shows that people aged 65 years and over are more likely to be malnourished compared with any other age group. And this number is on the rise. In the UK, adults over 60 admitted to hospital with malnutrition increased from 1,405 in 2008 to almost 5,000 in 2018.

Several things might contribute to malnutrition in the elderly, including swallowing difficulties, poor dentition (such as having missing teeth), mobility issues, acute and chronic illnesses, and not meeting changing nutrient demands such as not getting enough protein. Another reason might be because almost 93 per cent of people who are malnourished live at home, which means their nutritional health is often not monitored. Loneliness, depression, being unable to cook for themselves, having trouble accessing shops and low income also contribute to poor nutrition in this age group.

A person is considered malnourished if they have a body mass index (BMI) under 18.5, or have unintentionally lost greater than 10 per cent of their weight in the last three to six months. People with a BMI of less than 20 with an unintentional weight loss greater than 5 per cent within the last three to six months might also be considered malnourished.

But its not always easy to spot the signs of malnutrition. Part of this is because it can happen gradually over a long period or signs often being considered as a natural part of ageing. But some common signs of malnutrition in older people may include their clothing, jewellery and dentures becoming loose, having a reduced appetite, lack of interest in food and drink, tiredness, altered mood and weakness.

Healthcare providers in primary care or care homes will use screening tools to identify those at risk of malnutrition, or needing further assessment. These tools look at a persons BMI alongside the amount of unplanned weight loss theyve experienced in the last six months to determine their risk. But for those living on their own, their nutritional status could still be overlooked. As malnutrition numbers continue to grow, friends and family members of older people are being urged to look for possible signs of malnutrition.

The first step in preventing and managing malnutrition is to focus on increasing calories and protein intake using a food-first approach, which aims to improve a persons nutrition through diet alone. This includes:

Encouraging people to eat little and often throughout the day, such as having three small meals plus two snacks between meals.

Drinking more nourishing fluids, such as milk, soups, or having powdered supplements that are high in energy and protein.

Eating high-energy and high-protein foods, such as full-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese.

Frozen, ready-prepared meals or home meal-delivery services might also ensure better nutrition.

But improving nutrition alone might not be the only solution to malnutrition. People might need help with eating and drinking, they may need better-fitting dentures, or they might need foods that are easier to chew and swallow. For those who are lonely, eating in a pleasant environment might also be key to building their appetite. And for those with financial difficulties, they might need help accessing food items.

In some cases, people with disease-related malnutrition might need oral nutrition supplements, which will provide them with energy, protein and other essential nutrients and minerals. But evidence shows that providing dietary advice, support and guidance with or without an oral nutrient supplement is effective in increasing nutritional intake and weight. In severe cases, nutrition can also be provided by tube feeding, which is usually done in a hospital or supervised by healthcare professionals.

Identifying those at risk of malnutrition early, understanding how to manage dietary needs and overcoming potential barriers to adequate food intake are essential, given the serious health and financial consequences linked to malnutrition.

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The Conversation: Malnutrition is on the rise in older adults how to spot the signs - Metro Newspaper UK

HANOVER Chris Knight isnt afraid to admit it.

Hes still growing up.

The 6-foot-7 power forward for the Dartmouth College mens basketball team has had to do plenty of growing in the last seven years, from moving to Wisconsin for high school to making the trek back east to play for the Big Green.

Originally from the New York City borough of Queens, Knight never had college basketball on his list of goals. He gives the example that he doesnt have some epic origin story he wasnt some kid dominating the courts in the streets of New York.

Instead, he said, he was just an uncoordinated kid with black Rec Specs whose first love was soccer.

I was super awkward, Knight said in a recent interview. Growing up, I was really bad at basketball. I used to be really goofy. I think its because I was growing into my body and growing too fast. I was tall for no reason.

Public high schools in New York City operate differently than most. Students must apply to attend a public high school, and applicants are matched to one of their chosen schools according to admissions priority, location and availability of seats. A private education is an option, too, but the bill can run pretty high.

When it came time for Knight to enter high school, he didnt receive the high school placement he and his parents were looking for. Thats when his big brother, Roger, stepped into the picture and offered his help.

Roger, who played college football at Wisconsin and pro football for five seasons with the New Orleans Saints, was living in DeForest, Wis., and offered to welcome his brother into his home. He and his wife had three boys, but they were open to letting his younger brother join them.

Chris and Roger are more than 20 years apart in age, and for most of the younger Knights childhood, his brother was off playing football. But the idea of the two uniting was worth taking the risk for a strong education and the chance of his athletic abilities flourishing.

My mom gave me a call and said she couldnt get him into one of the better schools in New York, Roger Knight said. I was like, You know what? Send him out here to school in Wisconsin. Id be happy to have him come live with me.

Out to Wisconsin Chris Knight went, soon making his way through the ups and downs of high school. He tried to play football but didnt like the contact. He played for the junior varsity basketball team, but it wasnt a full-blown obsession. He jokes that he didnt know what AAU basketball was until his sophomore year.

Before the start of his junior year, Roger and his family, now including Chris, moved to Madison. It would provide a more challenging academic workload and determine if Knight had what it took as a player at James Madison Memorial High to compete in college later on.

I remember his brother coming to register him at the high school, said Chris Knights coach at Madison Memorial, Steve Collins. I noticed his size very quickly. I coached volleyball, but that didnt go over well. He wasnt going to have anything to do with that.

Knight started to train with Jeronne Maymon, who played at Madison Memorial and went on to play college basketball at Tennessee. Then, at some point in that junior season at Madison Memorial, Northern Iowa gave Knight a call. It was the first contact a college basketball program made with him and made the idea of playing at the next level a realistic possibility.

He was a first-team all-state player averaging a double-double (15.8 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game) and a finalist for Wisconsins Mr. Basketball award by the end of his senior year of high school. Collins remembers when Madison Memorial lost in the state semifinals, Knight outplayed Sam Hauser, who beat Knight out for Mr. Basketball and is now competing at Virginia.

With success on the hardwood came plenty of offers from mid-major programs. Knight took official visits to Dartmouth and Furman, with unofficial stops at Yale and Brown. Something clicked in Hanover, however, as recently hired Big Green coach Dave McLaughlin sold Knight on the idea of helping the coach build a new tradition.

So I took my visit here. Just something about the area and how its in the middle of nowhere. I guess I kind of wanted to get away from people, he said. I also fell in love with the idea that I could come to Dartmouth and I could, like, change everything.

Freshman year didnt go as planned, though. Before preseason practices even began, he could tell he had a lot of catching up to do. His body wasnt ready to compete day after day, and his athletic ability was soon meaningless. The player with the better basketball IQ was going to beat him every time.

Yet Knight couldnt just use the year to catch up on the learning curve. Forward Evan Bordeaux announced on the eve of the season opener that hed be sitting out so he could transfer.

Knight averaged more than 20 minutes a game that first season and contributed 10 points a game, but things werent right. He was only 17 year old as a freshman in college, and trying to take on college basketball and his course load was a lot.

So that summer after his first season, he rededicated himself to basketball and the weight room. He made sure that once school started, he could focus on academics and make sure he wasnt playing catch-up on the court. The payoff was second-team all-Ivy League selection last season.

Its one of those reasons why you coach someone like him, McLaughlin said. You can see young men mature in many ways mentally, physically, socially. Hes just become the best version of himself.

Everything seems to be much better for Knight these days. The junior turned 20 on Nov. 17 and is enjoying school. This summer, hell be a product-control intern for Goldman Sachs.

Id love my daughter to date a kid like Chris, Collins said.

It has been a little rocky on the basketball court, however, with Dartmouth sitting at 7-9 and on a four-game losing streak. The Big Green lost its Ivy League opener last Saturday at Harvard, 67-62, and hosts the Crimson at Leede Arena on Saturday night.

Knight is scoring 13.4 points per game, good for 10th in the conference. He had a double-double in the season-opening victory at Buffalo and a career-high 23 points at Georgia State.

But recently, he said, his production isnt as explosive as it can be. At UNH on Dec. 30, a 70-56 loss, he shot 5-of-14 from the floor. When the Big Green hosted Vermont on Jan. 2, he was 3-of-9 from the free-throw line, something that hurt his team down the stretch, resulting in a 77-68 loss.

His coaches are trying to get him to be a bit more vocal on the court. The even-steven personality of Knight is trying to play the leader role, and he knows the best way to do it is by leading by example.

It will come with time, he hopes. Hes already done so much growing, but he knows he has plenty more to do.

Pete Nakos can be reached at pnakos@vnews.com.

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Progress? It's Knight and day - Valley News

Many health conditions are worsened by excess weight, and the stress of extra weight on joints can lead to painful conditions, particularly of the knees and feet. It makes sense, then, that losing weight often helps to relieve some kinds of pain.

Finding an eating plan that is healthful and enjoyable will help you stick with your weight loss goals for the long term and maintain any weight loss you manage to achieve.

To manage your weight, follow these simple rules to cut back on calories:

As for physical activity, you'll find that many forms of exercise are more difficult for people with hip or knee pain. Exercises that are easy on the joints include swimming and water aerobics. Talk with your doctor or physical therapist, who can recommend other ways to incorporate physical activity without making your joint pain worse.

There is no magic answer as to how much weight you need to lose in order to make a difference. As few as 10 pounds or 10% of your overall weight might help, but this can vary from one individual to another.

For more tips on relieving pain naturally, check out Pain Relief Without Drugs or Surgery, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.

Image: Natnan Srisuwan/Getty Images

Disclaimer:As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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Losing weight can help you lose the pain, too - Harvard Health

There are plenty of people who pick up a food product at the store and immediately turn the container around to see what the nutritional label looks like. Per serving, how many calories does it have? What about carbohydrates and fiber? What kind of numbers do the fats have?

Its all relative, depending on what kind of food plan you might be on, or if youre trying to cater to a specific type of workout routine.

One study recently found that instead of just listing the details that we see now, we should also be able to see the physical activity calorie equivalent, or the PACE.

PACE labels show consumers how many calories are in a food item, but they also list what kind of and how long an exercise someone would need to engage in to burn that food off.

For example, a figure provided by a study in the United States Library of Medicine shows that after eating a regular burger, one would need to walk 2.6 miles to burn off said burger.

[Click here to see an example of a PACE label.]

The values on PACE labels were pulled from an activity table for an average 160-pound adult with a guesstimated walking pace of 30 minutes per mile.

In the study, a few things worth mentioning about those who participated. The people were:

The participants were randomly assigned to one of four generic fast-food menus: No label; calories only; calories and minutes; or calories and miles necessary to walk to burn off the calories.

The results were, those who ordered from:

[Read the full study by clicking here.]

During the study, participants said PACE labeling would not only influence their food choices, but the likelihood of them engaging in physical activity.

In conclusion, researchers found that PACE labels could certainly be helpful in reducing the number of calories ordered in meals, as well as adding the benefit of encouraging exercise.

Do you have more opinions on PACE labels? Wed love to hear them in the comment section below.

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Could different labeling on nutritional menu be key to weight loss? - KPRC Click2Houston