Credit: Associated Press

Above: A closeup of a beam scale in New York, April 3, 2018.

The holiday season is all about family and food, which might have you concerned about your waistline. Scientists at the Salk Institute in La Jolla have uncovered a science-backed strategy that could help some people keep the pounds off.

And this strategy has to do with biological clocks, says Salk chronobiologist Emily Manoogian.

The biological clock system is amazing. Its this internal system you have within your body. Pretty every cell in your body has a molecular clock and its going to control each function within each individual cell," Manoogian said.

Examples include times when people naturally wake up in the morning or start to feel cold and shiver around the same time every night.

Manoogian says these clocks get cues on when to reset, so they can work better.

"So light and food are actually two of the biggest cues to tell our bodies the time of day. So when we are talking about light it tends to have the biggest influence on our activity sleep cycles. But food is gonna more directly regulate your metabolism, heart function, pretty much any organ within your abdomen," Manoogian said.

People tend to eat for 15 hours a day, Manoogian said. That means seemingly harmless activities, like getting a midnight snack, could be telling the body work when functions, like digestive systems and metabolism, should be resetting to work properly the next day.

So, Salk scientists decided to conduct a trial with 19 people, who had metabolic or cardiovascular conditions, to eat within a 10-hour time frame for 12 weeks. The strategy is known as time-restricted eating.

"We have found that combining time-restricted eating with medications can give metabolic syndrome patients the ability to better manage their disease," said Satchin Panda, co-corresponding author and professor in Salk's Regulatory Biology Laboratory.

"Unlike counting calories, time-restricted eating is a simple dietary intervention to incorporate, and we found that participants were able to keep the eating schedule," Panda said in a press release.

Participants experienced improved sleep and a three to four percent reduction in body weight, body mass index, abdominal fat and waist circumference. Many also experienced reduced blood pressure and cholesterol.

Salk scientists will be conducting a much larger trial with more than 100 participants to test out the strategy further. But, Manoogian said, its a free and simple diet intervention people can try on their own.

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Time-Restricted Eating Could Lead To Weight Loss, Scientists Find - KPBS

After beginning aweight loss journeyat 90 pounds, Wolfgang the beagle is all the #healthgoals we need this holiday season.

Erin McManus began fostering the overweight dog and didn't want to give the adorable guy up, so she decided to adopt him and help him lose the weight.

Wolfgang's goal weight? 25 pounds.

He's losing about a pound a week, McManus told InsideEdition.com. Knowing that it was going to be a journey with him was a big reason why we did adopt them. He's just such a nice dog. Hard to say no to that face.

To stay on the weight loss train and shed pounds, Wolfgang is now on a 600-calorie diet.

I make his own food. It's lean turkey as the base, lots of vegetables, and some supplements, McManus said.

He swims in the pool now, goes on walks, and even exercises on a water treadmill weekly.

He takes his toy with them. He always has a toy, McManus said. "We don't know why he likes to work out with a toy, but I guess most people like working out with a friend, so I think he thinks the toys are his workout buddies.

While McManus said she doesnt know much about Wolfgangs previous life, she said he has a minor thyroid problem that he is now on medication for.

McManus created an Instagramaccount for Wolfgang, which has already racked up 37,000 followers. So Wolfgang has all the support he needs. The dog mom said she definitely wasnt expecting all of the attention.

I was expecting maybe my mom would follow on Instagram, and maybe one or two other people. But you know, I mean, his personality I think, shines through, McManus said. Everyone likes feeling encouraged. And a morbidly obese dog trying to get fit, I think has encouraged a lot of people. I know he encourages us.

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This Once 90-Pound Beagle Is Nailing His Weight Loss Journey - Inside Edition

Statistics on weight gain in the U.S. can give the impression that it is happening everywhere, to everyone, and in every season of the year. The best science on the subject, however, reveals that weight gain primarily occurs in a smaller and predictable set of circumstances. Surprisingly, these circumstances frequently defy conventional beliefs about how and when weight gain occurs. For example, working adults yearn for weekends, purportedly for greater recreation, yet research shows that we become less active and gain more weight on weekends versus weekdays (1). Similarly, schools often receive criticism for their role in childhood obesity usually directed towards school lunch quality and lack of PE classes yet longitudinal data indicate that the strongest predictor of a child developing obesity during their school years is being overweight before entering kindergarten (2) and that fitness declines and weight increases are more common during the summer months instead of the school year. Despite decades of research, these kinds of mistaken beliefs about weight gain remain remarkably popular and resistant to correction (3).

Perhaps the weight gain circumstance where conventional beliefs are most accurate is the widely held view that holiday weight gain is common in the U.S. The best prospective research affirms that adults gain more weight during the November-January holiday interval relative to the rest of year (4). However, even this rare instance of weight gain opinions aligning with science comes with conditions. What is the condition? That the average weight gain is .48 kilograms (converting to 1.06 pounds if your calculator isnt handy). This seemingly trivial pound of weight gain, however, is generally maintained the rest of the year, slowly accumulating over time for the average adult.

Source: Pixaay: TeroVesalainen

Rarely discussed in all the above research is the consistency of weight gain occurring in a one-sided pattern. Specifically, in most of the circumstances where weight gain reliably occurs, it primarily occurs among those already struggling with their weight. Adults with overweight and obesity are the least active and most weight gain-prone on weekends; Children who are overweight entering school are at highest risk of unhealthy weight gain across both their school years and during the summer months; and, finally, adults with excess weight are those most prone to gain weight during the holidays. This pattern can seem unfair and even cruel; thankfully, it also comes with explanations that can be useful to us. Firstly, weight gain science is a persuasive reminder that it is easier to prevent excess weight gain than to lose excess weight afterwards. The human body possesses an assortment of mechanisms designed to resist weight loss that we are best off avoiding when the option is available. Secondly, there is considerable variability in holiday weight gain patterns among the normal weight and overweight that are largely explained by different behavior patterns. It is both encouraging and instructive to consider holiday weight gain to be the result of modifiable behaviors than some sort of predetermined metabolic destiny.

Although tips about preventing holiday weight gain dominate the internet this time of year, the sad truth is that little of this advice has any empirical support. Mostly, these tips consist of well-intended but unsubstantiated opinions from experts, being about as useful as a Dr. Oz supplement recommendation. Many holiday tips are simply repackaged generic advice about weight loss that do not consider the unique challenges of the holiday season or possess any evidence to suggest whether or how they apply during this time of year. Some tips, finally, are more sinister, acting as disguised sales pitches intended to help you shed excess weight from your wallet or purse. A person determined to get the best results should settle for neither of these sources of information. For those committed to improving or at least maintaining their weight and fitness during the holiday season and wary of this minefield of advice from the media and internet What are the highest quality scientific recommendations?

1). Increase physical activity levels ABOVE normal. In the same seminal study from the New England Journal of Medicine that shed light on holiday weight gain patterns, the authors observed a linear relationship between physical activity patterns during the holidays and their weight changes during the same period. Predictably, those who became less active during the holiday season gained the most weight (about 50% more than average). More surprising was that maintaining a normal activity level also did not prevent weight gain. Those who kept up their regular activity levels gained only slight less weight on average than the overall group. The only group in which weight loss occurred during the holiday period were those reporting being much more active than usual. Unfortunately, the authors didnt quantify the meaning of much more, leaving us to fill in the blank ourselves. As a health scientist, I translate much more to 50%+ more activity than normal; for example, aiming for 7,500 steps/day instead of 5,000 for the moderately active, and 15,000 steps/day instead of 10,000 for the more active.

2) Weigh yourself AT LEAST 2-3 times per week. In independent treatment studies published in 2018 and 2019, regular weighing was shown to effectively prevent holiday weight gain (5). This makes sense for several reasons. Typically, people avoid the scale even more than usual during the holidays and ignorance is bliss does not apply when it comes to preventing holiday weight gain. Instead, research suggests we adopt a knowledge is power mentality. Doing the opposite of the norm by weighing ourselves anywhere from daily to at least 2-3 times/week provides us with feedback about weight gain/weight loss trends while they are small and easily correctable. The 2019 study authors took this a step further than others by combining daily weighing with a graphical display of the results to provide people with an even more potent form of feedback.

3) Use HOLIDAY-SPECIFIC tips and information. In contrast to the generic weight loss advice proliferated by the media this time of year, authors of a 2018 clinical trial from the journal, BMJ (6), showed that holiday-tailored advice and information (e.g., providing calorie information for common holiday foods and drinks, and minutes of walking/running required to burn those calories) prevented holiday weight gain compared to a control group provided with standard healthy lifestyle information.

The next time you see a headline titled twenty tips to prevent holiday weight gain, and you almost certainly will, consider that few or even none of these tips have any proven merit. Instead, we can more confidently set and achieve our holiday weight goals by adopting specific strategies shown to work in quality research.

Read more from the original source:
The Science of Holiday Weight Loss And Weight Maintenance - Psychology Today

Eating during a specific window of time could help with weight loss, sleep, and high blood pressure, research suggests.

The small study involved 19 participants who had metabolic syndrome, characterized by a person having a number of conditions such as high blood pressure, high fasting glucose levels and obesity. The syndrome affects around 23 percent of adults, according to the American Heart Association, and raises the risk of a patient having conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and experiencing stroke.

To test the potential benefits of what is known as time-restricted eating, researchers asked the volunteers13 men and six womento eat all of their food in a 10-hour window of their choosing for 12 weeks.

The volunteers were told to eat and exercise as normal, and drink water whenever they pleased. Participants also used an app to track their calorie intake for two weeks before trying time-restricted eating and during the 12 weeks. Of the total, 16 participants were taking were taking a statin or blood pressure medicine.

Over the course of the 12 weeks, most participants found they ate breakfast around two hours after waking up, and ate dinner around two to three hours before going to bed, study co-author Professor Satchidananda Panda, of the Regulatory Biology Laboratory at the Salk Institute, told Newsweek.

At the end of the study, the patients on average saw a 3 to 4 percent drop across body weight, their body mass index, abdominal fat, and waist circumference. They also had lower blood pressure, lower levels of fats linked to cardiovascular disease, and slept better, overall. The subjects did not report any unwanted effects from the regime, like feeling sick.

Pam Taub, a cardiologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine who also co-authored the study, said some participants stopped their medications after the study was over.

"TRE [time-restricted eating] is a potentially powerful lifestyle intervention that can be added to standard medical practice to treat metabolic syndrome," the researchers said in their paper published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

However, they acknowledged time-restricted eating could have simply made the drugs people were taking work better.

In the journal, the researchers explained patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome are often told to make radical changes to their diet and lifestyle, including cutting down on calories, switching to a healthier diet, and exercising more. But if, for whatever reason, this does not work, patients are put on medication.

Evidence suggests eating at irregular times and throughout the day upsets our 24 hour biological clock, or circadian rhythm, which in turn could increase the risk of the conditions linked to metabolic syndrome, they said. So the team wanted see if eating during allotted times would make a difference to patients with the syndrome.

Panda explained his team had previously found "significant benefits" of 10-hour time-restricted eating in mice. The approach returned their blood glucose to a normal level, even when the animals were fed a diet known to exacerbate signs of diabetes.

Emily Manoogian, a postdoctoral fellow in Panda's lab who co-wrote the study, said in a statement that eating and drinking everything except water in a consistent 10-hour window "allows your body to rest and restore for 14 hours at night."

"Your body can also anticipate when you will eat so it can prepare to optimize metabolism," she said.

Panda told Newsweek: "Most people with diabetes or a metabolic disease are usually on one or more medication after they try diet and exercise. So, the idea has been these people may not benefit from a behavior intervention.

"Our study showed that there is still room for health improvement beyond what medicines can offer.

"On a personal note, I have seen this approach has helped many of my family members reverse their early stage diabetes who have been controlling their blood glucose for four plus years without medication. So, we had a strong hunch that this approach might work in patients," he said.

The study also offered an insight into how easy the regime is to follow. Panda said the team didn't expect as many as 70 percent of the patients to stick with the method, with some continuing for at least a year after the study was completeeven though they were not required to do so.

However, Panda highlighted the research involved on a small number of patients, and a larger clinical studywhich the team has already started will shed more light on the potential of time-restricted eating.

Should the average person adopt this approach off the back of the research? Panda responded the average healthy person can try eating within 10 hours for at least six days out of seven.

"Those with some medical issues and taking medications, they should consult their physician," he advised, as doctors can regularly monitor their progress, adjust medication dosage and check if they are susceptible to hypoglycemia.

Time-restricted eating is sometimes referred to as a type of intermittent fasting. But Panda argued the method should not be considered a form of fasting.

"Fasting typically means a form of deprivation from food, feeling hungry and does not imply when and how long one should avoid food. I would connect it to circadian rhythm," he said, adding that the term "fasting" puts patients off an approach to eating which could improve their health.

Libby Dowling, senior clinical advisor at the charity Diabetes U.K., who did not work on the paper, told Newsweek: "While there's a lot of interest in the effects of intermittent fasting, research into its use in diabetes is still at a very early stageas is this study.

"Since it is only looking [at] whether time restricted eating is feasible in people at risk of type 2 diabetes, not whether it's effective, we can't fully understand its potential benefits yet. Until we do, we can't make any assumptions about the real world implications," she said.

"However, if you're overweight or obese, losing weight is one of the most impactful ways to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. If responsible intermittent fasting helps you do thatgreat. It's important you find a way that works for you," she said.

Originally posted here:
Eating All Your Food During This Window of Time Could Help With Weight Loss - Newsweek

MONCTON, NB, Dec. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Using artificial intelligence, FITIV PULSE can intelligently predict a user's rate of weight loss and provide curated activity and nutrition advice to help them reach their goals. This new feature is called FITIV Insights - making it easier than ever to interpret health and fitness data by displaying data trends and providing expert advice to help users create actionable fitness goals and receive objective measures of their progress.

Founder Sylvio LeBlanc's early life was fraught with years of gaining and losing the same 20 pounds, over and over, without consistent and sustainable progress. "I developed FITIV for myself, primarily. I'm the kind of person that needs to know that what I'm doing is working. Seeing those numbers really kept me motivated and tracking my calories was the key to my success." Now, Sylvio is happy to unveil a feature that will help more people take control of their health. "The sky's the limit," says LeBlanc, "...with all of the data users are already tracking we have an opportunity to really make health and fitness information accessible."

The first edition of FITIV Insights will be available on the App Store on December 5, 2019 and will include the aforementioned weight management insight as well as an activity insight: demonstrating, at a glance, whether a user is hitting daily activity goals.

Future insights will provide information on whether users' heart health is improving and how their fitness performance is changing over time. "You don't need to be a professional to interpret your health data anymore." LeBlanc says. "...whether you're worried that you're overtraining or are wondering if you're getting the right kind of exercise, FITIV Pulse can now provide that analysis for you".

About FITIV Pulse:FITIV Pulse is a health and fitness tracking application for iOS and Android that uses heart rate tracking to give users one of the fitness industry's best tools: heart rate zone training. With an in-app community, a customizable fitness and nutrition dashboard, and a huge number of workout tracking options, FITIV Pulse truly is an all-in-one solution. Leveraging wearable technology FITIV keeps users informed in real-time, helping them level up their workouts and train according to their fitness goals.

fitiv.com

SOURCE FITIV

Excerpt from:
FITIV Pulse: Using Artificial Intelligence to Take the Guesswork Out of Weight Loss - PRNewswire

Im Mari Sierra (@cake_2_5k), 29, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I work in finance for a food service company. A personal loss put me in a depressionso I turned to WW to find my groove again and lost 90 pounds in the process.

I had struggled with my weight my entire life. My earliest memory of being aware of my weight when I was about 6, when my pediatrician advised my mom to incorporate diet and exercise into my daily routine. It was the first time I remember feeling sadness about my weight.

It was my second pregnancy and my husband and I were over the moon about welcoming a second child. After we learned the pregnancy wouldn't continue, I became depressed and gained about 30 pounds. Later, we became pregnant again and had our sonand we were overjoyed. Three months after he was born in September 2017, I decided I needed to make a change for myself and for my children that I felt so lucky to have.

I was scrolling through Instagram and I saw a video of a mom running next to her daughter on a bike. I remember thinking that I could never do thatbut I wanted to. I wanted to be able to keep up with both of my children.

Im on the Team Blue plan. WW has really worked for me because no foods were restricted and it helped me learn balance.

WW

Want to learn more?

$3.07

Before WW, I had tried keto-style diets and was successful for a short period of time. I would lose 15 to 20 pounds but I wasn't able to maintain the lifestyle because I felt deprived. I love cake and potatoes, and I wasn't able to find a way to live on keto and still incorporate those things into my diet. WW allows me to still eat what I love.

This is what I typically eat in a day now:

In December 2017, I started training with the Couch to 5k app. I had not been active at all; I couldnt even run for one minute. To not overwhelm myself, my first fitness goal was to make it to the gym to run one time a week. I gradually added more days. Eventually, I would run three to four times a week on a treadmill following the app program. I ran and completed my first 5k in May 2018.

After I accomplished my goal of running a 5k, I wanted to explore other types of exercise and I started doing boot camp style classes. The classes are generally 45 minutes long and are a mix of cardio and strength training. I enjoy this style of exercise now because I love seeing myself develop strength and tone my body. I try to workout at least twice a week these days.

My biggest tips for success? First off, make small attainable goals. For example, another one of my very first goals was simply to bring lunch to work every day for one work week. Then, when I accomplished that, I'd set another small goal.

Second, plan ahead as much as you can. Having a plan helps to stick to your goals. Especially when you have social events, create a plan to help you stay on track and enjoy the moment.

I am more confident. I value myself more. I prioritize myself and my health. I am taking more chances on myself and I know that I can accomplish anything.

I want other women to use my story as an example to see that it truly can be done. When my weight-loss journey began, I never in a million years thought I was capable of losing 90 pounds. I am no superwoman. Any woman can decide to make a change and be successful. I'm rooting for all of those women out there.

My weight loss has changed my life in so many ways, but what I am most proud of is that I get to set a good example for my daughter. It feels amazing that I get to help her learn that taking care of our bodies is so important. Mostly, I am happy I get to run around with both of my kids...and that *they* get tired first.

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'I Joined Weight Watchers After A Devastating MiscarriageAnd I Found My Joy And Confidence Again' - Women's Health

Idli in itself is a low-fat food that is quite popular among people in health and nutrition circuit.

Highlights

Would you believe that the very same veggie that is used to prepare the decadent gajar ka halwa could also help you shed a few kilos as well?! Intrigued? Well, if you're on a weight loss diet and are bored of having the regular leafy salads, today we bring to you a weight-loss-friendly recipe that has the perfect balance of both taste and nutrition. We're talking about carrot idli. Idli in itself is a low-fat food that is quite popular among people in health and nutrition circuit. The addition of carrot in it would increase the fibre content and further promote a feeling of fullness and prevent you from bingeing. According to the book 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishing House, "Carrots also aid digestion, help weight control, contain silicon, which benefits skin and nails, and promote eye health due to their beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein content."

(Also Read:Indian Cooking Hacks: Tips To Get Soft, Fluffy Idlis Every Single Time!)

Ingredients:

Fermented idli batter - 2 cupsCarrots - 2 medium-sized (grated)Red chilli powder - half a tspSalt to tasteChaat masala - half a tspCurry leaves - 8-10Coriander leaves - 1 sprigChana dal - 1 tbspUrad dal - 1 tbspTurmeric powder - a pinchMustard seeds - half a tspOil - 1 tsp

Method:

To begin with, take a pan and heat a teaspoon of oil over high flame in it. Add mustard seeds along with curry leaves to it. Allow them to splutter for a while.

Then add chana dal and urad dal along with chopped green chillies, grated carrot and all the spices. Mix well and ensure that all these ingredients are sauteed well.

Now mix the sauteed carrot mixture in idli batter.

Meanwhile add water to the idli maker and allow it boil. Grease the compartments of the idli maker with little oil and then pour a ladleful of batter into each unit. Place the same inside the container and cover with a lid.

Allow the idlis to steam for about 10-12 minutes or until they are properly cooked; insert a toothpick to check the same.

Serve the delight with piping hot sambar or chutneys of your choice.

Now, that we have shared with you a stellar recipe of low-fat carrot idli, make the most of this winter veggie and add this nutritious delight to your weight loss diet. Try making it at home and do share your feedback with us in the comments section below.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

About Deeksha SarinAn eccentric foodie and a die-hard falooda lover, Deeksha loves riding scooty in search of good street food! A piping hot cup of adrak wali chai can make her day bright and shiny!

Excerpt from:
Weight Loss: This Low-Fat Carrot Idli Can Be A Great Addition To Your Weight Loss Diet - NDTV Food

Family By The Ton cast members Casey King, Amanda Johnson and Amy Long all embarked on a family journey to lose weight. As seen on the TLC show, the family went through many ups and downs when it came to their health. But, now the familys giving an update on their journey and how far theyve come. Check out how Casey, Amanda, and Amy look now.

Casey King was the heaviest of the family. He weighed over 700 pounds. Casey often blamed his dad for him gaining weight. This lead Casey to have a rough start to his weight loss journey. He had a hard time focusing on exercising and eating healthy. However, with the help of his mom, Casey was able to start shedding some weight.

Now almost a year since Family By The Ton aired, Casey Kings still working to drop more pounds. Casey recently shared his new physique. In the photo, Caseys wearing jeans much different from the sweat pants he usually wore. He admitted that this was the second time he wore jeans in almost a decade. Now Casey feels like he is becoming more and more a normal functioning human being. In addition to the ing family, TLCs launching a new show1000-lb Sisters starting January 1 at 10 pm to chronicle another familys weight loss story.

Family By The Tons Amanda Johnson started her fitness journey weighing 700 pounds. Also, she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. However, Amanda wasnt able to get proper treatment since she was overweight.

She had to lose nearly half her weight if she wanted to get the treatment she needed. It seems like Amanda may be close to reaching her goal. Check out the Family By The Ton stars updated physique below.

The Family By The Ton reality star often shares updates on her journey online. Amanda Johnson recently shared that she is starting to notice the weirdest things. Like the fact that she can now see the seat when she sits in her car.

Since starting her journey of getting her health back, Amanda lost 400 pounds. But, she is not done yet. Now her next goal is to be under 300 pounds. And she seems to be well on her way and far from her starting weight on Family By The Ton.

Amy Long was 400 pounds at her heaviest. She had a hard time struggling with self-esteem. It was hard for her to see herself gain so much weight. Amy was the first to go through weight loss surgery on Family By The Ton. She hoped that the other family members would follow in her footsteps. Which they did. It wasnt an easy road. But, Amy was able to focus and work on herself.

The Family By The Ton TLC star is another member of the family that often gives updates online. Amy Long recently let fans know that she is now half the size she once was. She now weighs just under 200 pounds. Although, Amy noticed she hasnt been dropping pounds as fast as she once was. Yet, she is cool with that currently. For Amy small progress adds up and you can see her impressive results above.

So congrats to Casey King, Amy Long, and Amanda Johnson on their amazing progress and check out the new TLC weight loss show.

Come back to Soap Dirt daily for all the latest Family By The Ton news.

Continued here:
'Family By The Ton': Casey King and Family - Shocking Weight Loss Updates - Soap Dirt

Even as a child, I could never control how much I ate and would fill up on whatever I found in the kitchen. Then I had our first daughter, Jenny, when I was 19 and three more children after that. I had no time or desire to exercise so I just got bigger.

In 2007 I was diagnosed with a binge-eating disorder linked to my depression and anxiety issues. It had got to the point where I would wake up at 2am and eat a packet of biscuits. For 10 years I had my own jam- and chutney-making business and I would sell my produce at farmers markets. While there, I would also fill up on fresh bread, pasties and cakes. I reached 25st and was wearing size-32 clothes. I really hated summer, as I would be a red ball of sweat and feel constantly tired in the heat. I tried lots of diets but soon gave up, although in late 2014 I began an eating plan, which helped a bit.

In June 2017, my husband, Steve, and I were in Swansea on the day of its half marathon. I loved the vibe and felt it would be brilliant to do one day, but, then at 22st, it seemed unlikely. Around this time, I began a job as a postwoman, so I became more active and lost some weight. That September I began an online interval-style exercise plan that included doing a 1km run, which I enjoyed. In January 2018, I joined the Ampthill and Flitwick Flyers, my local club. By then I was about 17st. On the first night I tried its monthly 5km time trial and got halfway up the hill start before I burst into tears, saying,I cant do this! But other members encouraged me and we walked the course. I became hooked and started running three times a week.

I ran my first half marathon last year at the Richmond Running Festival. This year Ive done other half marathons, including Swansea, the one that first inspired me. Im fitter than Ive ever been in my life.

For me its all about finishing lines, not finishing times. I run with my club mates, but also with social groups like Run Mummy Run and Veteran Runners UK. I enjoy mixing it up while picking up tips and advice from different people I run with.

Im also going to be the Flitwick 10K race director next year, which should be an exciting challenge. My main goal is next years LondonMarathon. Im running for AsthmaUK, as Jenny has lived with it since she was four. Im sure being on the start line will be amazing, especially remembering how big I used to be.All going well, I would love to do an ultramarathon, too.

Three ways Vickie keeps herself on track:

Look back - Ive kept a pair of my size-32 shorts: Im now a size 16. On a bad day, to see how far Ive come stops me returning to my old eating habits.

Fools rush in - However far you run, its better than sitting on the sofa doing nothing. Dont expect too much too soon I built up gradually.

Cut back - Dont totally deny yourself what you enjoy eating or you will crave it even more. Instead, reduce your portions of it or make it an occasional treat you will savour it much more when you do have it.

See the original post:
How this runner ran off nearly 10 stone - Runner's World (UK)

If you are a fitness enthusiast, you have probably heard of ice baths. Also called cold-water immersion (CWI) or cryotherapy, the technique is thought to speed up muscle recovery, reduce inflammation and help in weight loss.

Those who swear by CWI immerse themselves in ice-cold water for 10-15 minutes, even in this cold weather.

Representational image. Image source: Getty Images.

So should you rush to turn off your geysers and fill the bathtub with ice-cold water, too? Consider this research before you decide whether to opt for an ice bath or not:

A few years ago, a team of sports scientists led by Dr Jonathan M. Peake asked a simple research question: do ice baths speed up muscle recovery after an intense workout?

To answer this question, the team studied nine test subjects who tried both ice baths and active recovery sessions after leg-focussed workouts over two separate days.

Their conclusion: CWI had no impact on inflammatory measures and cellular stress in comparison to the active recovery trial.

In other words, they found that ice baths are not better than active recovery sessions like practising Yoga, Tai chi or light resistance training for reducing pain.

The team published their findings inThe Journal of Physiologyin 2017.

Adipose or fat tissue is of two types: brown and white. White adipose tissue stores energy - this is also the type of fat that can add inches to your waist and thighs. Brown adipose fat, which is primarily located around the neck and collar bones, is metabolically active and can burn or oxidise white adipose tissue, thereby helping you lose weight.

Ice baths and cold showers can activate the brown adipose fat and muscles. Once activated, they release two hormones: irisin and FGF21. These hormones then burn white fat tissue and help you lose weight.

That this is even possible was shown by endocrinologist Dr Paul Lee of Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney. In 2014, Dr Lee undertook the study of brown adipose tissue at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US. Here's what he found: During cold exposure and exercise, the levels of irisin (produced by shivering muscle) and FGF21 (produced by brown fat) rise.

Specifically, 10-15 minutes of shivering increases irisin to such a level that it has the same effect as an hour of moderate exercise.

Additionally, Dr Lee found that around 50 grams of white fat stores more than 300 kilocalories of energy, and the same amount of brown fat could burn up to 300 kilocalories a day.

Dr Lees findings were also supported by the previous research on irisin by scientists at Harvard University.

Word to the wise: While the benefits of ice baths for fat loss are undisputed, you must be very careful about how to go about itmany experts even suggest that it should not be done without proper medical supervision because it can lead to hypothermia, which can turn fatal very quickly.

Studies have shown that what activating irisin does is that it converts white fat into healthier brown fat - this improves the glucose tolerance of the body. The latter effect can help prevent diabetes.

People living with diabetes and high cholesterol are often advised to lose weight for better health management. By helping in weight loss, ice baths also help to deal with obesity-related disorders. But the same precautions apply here, too: Do not try ice baths without medical supervision and do not overdo them. If you have a medical condition, ask your doctor before starting any new therapy.

Earlier this year, Cas J. Fuchs and his associates at the University of Maastricht focused on another claim that proponents of ice baths sometimes make: ice baths help in muscle recovery and building new muscles.

Heres what they did: they got 12 healthy men aged 21 years, give or take two years, to perform a single resistancetype leg exercise for two weeks. Each session was followed by immersing the legs in water for 20 minutes - they dipped one leg in ice-cold water and the other one in a thermoneutral or room temperature water. Next, they took protein samples from these test subjects and analysed them for myofibrillar protein synthesis rates.

Their findings: ice baths during recovery from resistancetype exercisereduces(emphasis added) myofibrillar protein synthesis rates and, as such, likely impairs muscle conditioning.

So, contrary to popular belief, the researchers said, ice baths impair the growth of new muscles, thereby blocking the recovery!

For more information on this topic, please read our article onMuscle Pain.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.

Updated Date: Dec 06, 2019 16:35:12 IST

Tags : Belly Fat, Brown Fat, Build Muscles, Fat Loss, Gain Muscles, Ice Bath, Ice Bath For Weight Loss, New Muscles, NewsTracker, Pain Relief, Weight Loss

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Do ice baths help in muscle recovery and weight loss? - Firstpost