In February last year, Kevin Smith performed 90 minutes of standup for a TV special, padded back to the green room and started to worry that the joint he had smoked before the show was too strong. He was sweaty and nauseous, which was not entirely out of the ordinary. But after he lay down on the tile floor and vomited, he was rushed to hospital, where a doctor broke the news that Smith was having a massive heart attack.

Smith stayed calm. Honestly, he tells me, as we talk at his Hollywood Hills home, he was still stoned. On learning that he might die, he says: I was like: Im going to make peace with this right away. You did way more than you ever set out to do, you got to do some cool shit, and if its done, its done.

For 25 years, Smith, a director and actor as well as a comedian, has grappled with his own dumb luck. In 1994, his debut film, Clerks, a raunchy comedy about the convenience store where he worked, was a hit with Sundance audiences charmed by Smiths on-screen appearance, as a slacker known as Silent Bob, and his behind-the-scenes stories of selling cigarettes during the day and shooting the movie at night. Made for just $25,575, Clerks was funded by credit cards and favours from friends, some of whom even had parts in the film: Brian OHalloran, for instance, plays Dante Hicks and delivers the catchphrase, Im not even supposed to be here today! and Smiths middle-school chum Jason Mewes, who agreed to play Jay, the talkative half of Jay and Silent Bob (Smith), two friendly morons with flashes of brilliance. Harvey Weinsteins Miramax bought Clerks and, as its publicists had done with Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, turned the filthy-mouthed former altar boy, the 24-year-old son of a New Jersey postal worker, into a star.

Ive been living on that one trick for a long time, admits Smith. Like, come on, that movie was cute but 25 years on the back of one black-and-white movie? Lighting a branded Jay & Silent Bob joint with his face on the packaging, he describes that Sundance wunderkind as if he were someone else.

I love that guy. I dont understand why he had the confidence. I think he was undereducated. I was never ambitious. I think that was a fluke.

A fluke that became the cornerstone of his future, of his gorgeous three-story house decorated with memories: a table-top football game inspired by the roof hockey in Clerks, iron fireplace statues of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in Dogma, a walrus ceramic that nods to his screwball gothic Tusk, crayon sketches, movie posters and souvenirs from the live stage monologues in which Smith extemporises on everything from phone chats with Bruce Willis to his dogs genitalia. (He has sold out Carnegie Hall.) The upstairs living room is dominated by a collage celebrating his 20-year marriage to Jennifer Schwalbach. Squint, and you can find his first email to his future bride: Youd be surprised how many Schwalbachs there are in the phonebook

The house is a me-seum that highlights the accomplishments of Kevin Smith, he jokes. When he looks around, he is reminded of everything he did that he never expected to do. Thats why, when I almost dropped dead, I was OK with it, he says. Most days Im like: Oh, I probably did die on the table and this is heaven.

Back to that operating room. The doctor asked if the Smiths had a history of heart disease? No, replied Smith. Only that his father died of a massive heart attack and that his mother, who is still alive, had stents inserted in her arteries after her heart stopped for a full minute, during which she claims to have seen his deceased dad and grandmother. She was probably pumped on fentanyl when she saw heaven, Smith chuckles, so I dont know if I want to invest in that.

I was a fat kid, he continues. At 14, he joined Weight Watchers, but felt awkward being the only teenage boy and left after a month. As the third child of parents who were strapped for money and time, the only health food he saw was tinned spinach. Thats why I dont like vegetables.

When he earned money to buy his own snacks, he devoured low-fat cookies not realising they were packed with sugar. Oh, I fell for it all, he says. The biggest hurdle, however, was mental. Over the years, he had embraced his weight, turning fat jokes from a problem to a comedic purpose. The key early on was realising if I make fun of myself for this, then somebody else cant. One day you think: I could be funny for a living.

He marketed himself as a character the happy schlub in a hockey jersey and literally became a cartoon, as Clerks went from indie movie to comic book to sequels to animated series. Success, Smith notes, gave him an extra padding of protection.

For years, people were just like: Hey, big guy! And I was like, I am the big guy, arent I? says Smith. Nobody ever says: Hey, fat-ass!

At his heaviest, Smith, who is 5ft 9in, weighed 23st 8lb (150kg). About a decade ago he was escorted off a plane for being unable to squeeze into one seat. The story made headlines around the world, and internet trolls were merciless. For the first time, Smith felt naked. Suddenly, I was like: They know Im fat I thought I was hiding it!

For a while, he swaggered through his insecurities, titling that years live show Too Fat for 40, then launching the podcast Fat Man on Batman and publishing a memoir called Tough Sh*t: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good. But he also quit sugar, an experience he likens to withdrawing from heroin.

Finally, the craving for desserts stopped and 5st melted away. An hour before his heart attack, Smith had been boasting on stage about dropping five underwear sizes from 5XL to XL.

I would have thought I was in pretty decent shape that night, he says. But now its weird to look at me and go: Jesus, did I know I was that unhealthy? Or did I just not care?

Since then, he has lost almost another 6st by going vegan, at the insistence of his 20-year-old daughter, Harley Quinn. Most days, he fasts until noon, then grabs vegan nachos from his favourite fast food joint. He has stocked a two-foot-wide snack bowl with crunchy chickpeas and vegetable puffs in case he gets the munchies. Treats galore! he grins.

Now his wedding ring wobbles when Smith waves his hands.. The first time he realised he was too skinny for the Big and Tall clothing store, he nearly cried. His purple sports coat droops on his shoulders, but he worries that if he has it taken in to fit his new frame, he will jinx himself and regain the weight he has lost. Part of him still cant help crediting luck over effort. He did, however, give away all his signature hockey jerseys. I started looking weird in them, says Smith. Although, he adds: People were like: You looked weird the whole time.

This year has been surreal. Smith posed for a photo shoot for Mens Health magazine. Somebody told me online: Youre like a Walmart Robert Downey Jr, says Smith. Ill take that! A website stole his picture to hawk diet pills.

Last month, he and Mewes were invited to put their handprints in the cement outside the legendary Graumans Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Smith brought his fathers ashes to the ceremony. Four decades ago, on a family vacation, his dad had offhandedly told him he might be here some day. Now he was. Smith ground an urn print into the wet pavement.

In his new film, Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, Jay and Silent Bob are still where he left them in 2006s Clerks 2, loitering outside the Quick Stop, although the video rental shop next to the Quick Stop has been supplanted by a Redbox kiosk. The world has moved on, says Smith. As for Jay and Silent Bob, now visibly in their 40s, they are out-of-touch apolitical white males. We needed to introduce them to this is woke culture.

Smith chose the one-year anniversary of his heart attack for his first day of filming. Its not macabre, he chuckles, Its a fuck you to death! The movie finds the pair trekking, again, from New Jersey to California to fight for the film rights for their fictional likenesses Bluntman and Chronic, as they did in 2001s Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

The script is a greatest hits of inside jokes. Smith settled on calling it a reboot, which one character explains, is when they take a flick you loved as a kid and add youth and diversity to it. That is exactly what Smith has done, recasting the film with a pro-LGBTQ anti-Nazi and hiring Harley Quinn to play the leader of a pack of rebellious vegan girls.

This is the most bloated and self-indulgent movie anyones ever made, and I might get away with it because of the heart attack, he laughs. As for his star-studded cast, which includes Damon and Affleck, plus Chris Hemsworth, Rosario Dawson, Fred Armisen, Craig Robinson, Val Kilmer, Tommy Chong and rappers Method Man and Redman, he jokes that, apart from Affleck, most of them probably showed up out of guilt. Affleck was like: I didnt even know about the heart attack. Smith pauses. I dont know how I feel about that.

Smith doesnt agree with the Joker director Todd Phillips insistence that woke culture has destroyed comedy. I dont feel that way because I always punch in, he says. Jokes that punch down are just boring. But as he is punching in, the tenderest bruise is why he has not tried harder to direct serious comic book movies when he is famous for taking comic books seriously. The other film-makers in his indie clique Tarantino, Rodriguez and Richard Linklater made good-looking movies when they won bigger budgets. Whereas me, I could do cheap, and then people gave me real money and theyre like: It looks cheap.

Every once in a while, I wonder if I should have done better? he says. If you just concentrated on the thing that brought you into the conversation, directing, would you be better now?

The indie wave he helped to inspire has become a tsunami. If I started my career now, you might not hear about me, Smith says. I couldnt break through this noise. To sell tickets to Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, Smith will tour with the film for five months offering audiences a post-screening chat that tends to climax to an inspirational sermon about how if he made it, anyone can. His biography not his films is becoming his legacy.

Maybe Ill just become one with the art where Kevin Smith is no longer an individual, hes just a concept of these series of movies. Until people are like, Who is Kevin Smith? because they dont watch movies any more but thats what the handprints are about.

The weed he has been smoking during the interview has definitely kicked in. Yet he sees his career with clarity.

I dont think Im a film-maker, says Smith. I think Im a salesman. I could sell you Kevin Smith all day. Not a lot of people are buying any more, but enough are where I still get to do this.

Two years ago, he got a call from the man who launched his fame: Weinstein. They hadnt spoken for about 10 years, after falling out over the marketing for their final film together, Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Weinstein suggested they partner on a sequel to Dogma. Smith was thrilled. Hopefully people understand, but getting that call meant the world. I felt like: Oh, he remembered me.

A week later, the first article about Weinsteins sexual assaults broke. All I knew was that he was a philanderer, he cheated on his wife, says Smith. Of course, he realised that Weinstein didnt care about Dogma, or him.

He was circling his wagons, says Smith. I am not a victim here. But I felt used a little bit. Days later, to help the real victims the women whose dreams Weinstein crushed Smith pledged his future residuals from the films Weinstein produced to the non-profit Women in Film.

If youd gone back in time and told that kid: This is all youll do, but it will be connected to a person who does all of this to all these people, I definitely wouldnt have done it, says Smith. I was way too Christian. Smith is no longer religious (Dogma, he claims, revoked his invitation to heaven), but he still seems guided by guilt, obligation and gratitude. Career-wise, I always felt like I was playing on house money, says Smith. Now life-wise, this is just a bonus because it was supposed to end in that emergency room.

To him, his own Clerks catchphrase Im not even supposed to be here today now echoes even louder. Lets be honest, says Smith. Were all insanely lucky to be here. Im just insanely lucky I get to stick around a little longer.

Jay & Silent Bob Reboot is out on 29 November

Continued here:
Director Kevin Smith on heart attacks, happiness, extreme weight loss and Weinstein - The Guardian

IT's said to be the most important meal of the day.

And by making a few simple swaps, you could make breakfast the healthiest too.

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In particular, top nutritionist Susie Burrell says that there are some simple steps you can take in the morning to maximise weight loss.

And she emphasises that while many think avoiding breakfast is key to weight loss, having a hearty meal first thing can "keep you full" and stop you from snacking throughout the day.

Below are her top tips on how to kickstart your day in a healthier way...

While many people believe anything carb-heavy can ruin an otherwise good diet, Susie says they are a vital part when it comes to starting the day.

She says: "Unless you are specifically following a low carb or keto program, adding some wholegrain low GI carbs to your breakfast mix is the best way to help replenish your body after the overnight fast, and ensure your brain and muscles have all the energy they need to be at their best.

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"If cereal is your thing look out for low sugar granola options or oats, fresh fruit is a great option and there is a growing number of lower carb breads in supermarkets that combine wholegrain goodness with fewer carbs than white breads and wraps."

Foods to pick or ditch:Go for a piece of granary toast and butter or a bowl of granola but make sure to avoid pastries and croissants.

Having protein at the start of the day is a great way to help stay healthy and remain lean.

Susie says: "One the most powerful things you can do to ensure you breakfast keeps you full for several hours is make sure you include 20g of good quality protein in your breakfast mix.

One the most powerful things you can do to ensure you breakfast keeps you full for several hours is make sure you include good quality protein

"A couple of eggs, a serve of Greek protein yoghurt, smoked salmon or high protein breads are all easy ways to boost the protein content of your breakfast."

Foods to pick or ditch: Pick a small portion of eggs and bacon but try to avoid that greasy full English.

We're all guilty of not having enough fruit and veg - but Susie says that adding it to your diet first thing can really make a difference.

Susie says: "Few of us get the recommended number of vegetable serves each day and dont forget that breakfast is a meal in which we can easily add some extra vegetable serves.

Quick breakfast tips

Source: Diabetes UK

"Think sliced tomato on toast, grated veges added to egg dishes or veges blended into juices and smoothies for an extra fibre and vitamin boost."

Foods to pick or ditch:You can't go wrong with a bowl of fruit salad but try to avoid anything too sugary like a sweet latte or carton of juice.

We don't always need to cut out fat when it comes to weight loss.

Susie says: "Goods fats that come from a range of foods including olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds and peanut butter not only offer a range of key nutrients but adding some good fat to a meal helps to ensure that you will be kept fuller for longer after eating.

"Avocado works well with toast and smoothies, as do nuts and seeds.

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"In particular 100% nut spreads such as Mayvers Peanut Butter add good fats and protein to toast, smoothies and breakfast baking whilst adding plenty of taste and flavour.

"Aim to add at least one serve of good fats to your favourite go to breakfast of choice."

Foods to pick or ditch: Peanut butter on toast is a great breakfast choice or if you're feeling fancy pick an avocado.

See the article here:
Weight loss: Top tips to maximise fat burning first thing and the best breakfasts for dieters - The Sun

To lose weight, you only need three thingsdiscipline, determination and consistencysays 30-year-old Kshitij Khanna and not an exorbitant gym membership as countless targeted ads on the Internet will tell you. No, we are not saying that gyms dont help; they do. But you dont necessarily need to join one to lose weight.

You can lose weight at home, like Kshitij did by brisk walking and following an intermittent fasting pattern of eating. One of the most unique components of my weight loss journeyfrom 120 kgs to 79 kgswas that I did not join a gym! Kshitij says.

Last year, my family (read: my brother and my mom) thought my weight had surpassed all thresholds and I should do something about it. I had also developed varicose veins and got breathless while climbing a short flight of stairs. Plus, none of my clothes would also fit beyond a point. Well, right now I can keep going on and on about why I needed to lose weight, but you get my point, right? he adds.

Kshitij elaborates that he decided to commence on a hassle-free weight loss journey by making simple changes in his lifestyle. I started brisk walking daily, and to be honest, I cannot stress how beneficial it was for me. I also indulged in some simple home workout routines but brisk walking (at the right time) coupled with intermittent fasting helped me lose 41 kgs in 6 months.

Walking is the best form of free physical exercise that burns calories and belly fat. It also helps preserve lean body muscle. Club it with a healthy diet plan and routine, youll start noticing an improvement in your body soon. Read more about its benefits here.

Intermittent Fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It doesnt specify which foods you can or cannot eat. It only focuses on when you should eat them.

There are many IF plans and patterns that you can follow, but the most effective one, according to studies is the 16:8 IF diet. The 16:8 IF diet entails one to observe a 16-hour fasting period, followed by an 8-hour eating window.

You can commence a 16-hour fast at 10:00 pm in the night, after you eat your last meal of the day and go to sleepthats 7-8 hours gone right there. You can break the 16-hour fast at 2:00 pm with your lunch and eat small meals till 10:00 pmthis makes up the 8-hour eating window. Alternatively, you can also begin your fast at 8 pm and break it at 12 pm, the next day.

Kshitij tell us that he initially followed the 16:8 intermittent fasting pattern and then moved on to following the 18:6 fasting pattern. For a while, I also followed the 20:4 Warrior Diet (fasting for 20 hours and eating only during a four-hour window) and even experimented with the OMAD (One Meal A Day), 22:2 and 23:1 diets.

QUICK READ: Intermittent fasting vs. normal dieting: Whats better?

When I was fasting, Id go for a walk during the 18th hour or an even later hour of the fasting window. And since I was doing this, my body had no option but to cut the stored fat or excess fat to get energy."

I feel at the core level, weight loss is the result of a simple calculation between calories in (the calories you consume in the day) versus calories out (the calories you burn in a day). If you eat lesser than what your body can burn in a day, you create a calorie deficit. The deficit allows the body to burn stored fat to generate energy.

QUICK READ: How many calories should you eat every day to lose weight?

There are several options of exercise, including going to the gym that act as different medium to reach the same goal as I did by walking and intermittent fasting.

I have been able to maintain my weight by following the same routine I followed to lose weight, and even taking it to the next level. I feel this is just the start for me, I want to run a half marathon the next year and possibly a full marathon in the next couple of years. I also intend to add yoga and meditation to my schedule and for sure some exercises to the mix.

QUICK READ: 10 reasons why men should do yoga

Discipline, determination and consistency are the most important factors in your weight loss or fitness journey. When I go for a walk or eat the right thing I just feel good, it makes me happy, you will have to feel it to believe it. It doesn't happen overnight but give yourself sometime.

Id also like to add that if you want to follow intermittent fasting or any other protocol for that matter, keep in mind that you can't leave them as soon as you are done with losing a desired amount of weight, because if you suddenly stop, youll regain the weight again. You have to follow pattern for a long tenure (I intend to follow IF as long as I can)."

"Also, please note that it takes the body some time to get adjusted to any new routine, so give yourself at least a few weeks before you quit.

Disclaimer: The diet and workout routines shared by the respondents may or may not be approved by diet and fitness experts. GQ India doesn't encourage or endorse the weight loss tips & tricks shared by the person in the article. Please consult an authorised medical professional before following any specific diet or workout routine mentioned above.

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Continue reading here:
How to lose weight like this guy who lost 41 kgs in 6 months without ever going to the gym - GQ India - What a man's got to do

Adults with Type 2 diabetes may have more to gain by participating in physical activity and exercise than healthy adults, but they may also have more to lose, according to University of Alberta exercise and diabetes physiology researchers.

Exercise can improve ones glucose levels, which can help slow the progression of diabetes and reduce the need for additional medications, said U of A diabetes researcher Normand Boul. On the other hand, (people with Type 2 diabetes) have more risk factors for cardiovascular events with exercise and, depending on the medications they take, may be at greater risk for low blood sugar, which can result in a variety of harmful symptoms such as shakiness, or even loss of consciousness.

According to the 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Physical Activity and Diabetes co-authored by Boul, who is also the director of the Physical Activity and Diabetes Labat least 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise and at least two sessions per week of resistance exercises are recommended for adults with Type 2 diabetes.

The guidelines also suggest reducing sedentary activities and recommend trying to interrupt sitting time by getting up every 20 to 30 minutes. Boul noted that incorporating a healthy, appropriate diet with exercise can help further reduce glucose levels for people with Type 2 diabetes.

Jordan Rees, a PhD student in Bouls lab, said finding an achievable balance between exercise and diet requires planning.

The overall health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity can help adults living with diabetes reach a variety of goals, such as increased fitness and energy levels, help with glycemic control, decreased insulin resistance, and reduction and maintenance of weight loss, she said.

Boul and Rees are recruiting subjects for a study to compare exercise in the morning, after an overnight fast, with the same activity performed after breakfast. In recent years, the importance of the timing of exercise has been a topic of debate and led to conflicting recommendations. The researchers hope the results can offer people with Type 2 diabetes simple strategies for more effective exercise.

Until then, Boul and Rees encourage people to start a regular exercise program by following a few simple steps:

Step 1: Have a conversation with your doctor about the risks and benefits of exercise, and discuss what may be best for you as part of your current treatment plan.

Step 2: Consider your past history with sport, exercise and physical activity to help determine which activities you most enjoy and feel comfortable participating in.

Step 3: Set achievable goals. Rees suggests a walking program is a great place to begin, and simple strategies like walking with friends or family, or joining a walking club, can increase your likelihood of sticking with it over time.

While incorporating a physical activity program is important for all adults, Boul said everyone has preferences and barriers for physical activity and exercise, and setting achievable, realistic goals is an important part to help favour participation.

For some people, exercise may not improve glucose levels as effectively as it does for others, or the rate of weight loss may not come as fast for some as it does for others, he said. Whats important to remember, however, is that for people with diabetes, exercise is not just about glucose or body weight; there are many other benefits such as improving your fitness, which substantially lowers mortality in people with diabetes and helps increase your quality of life.

Read this article:
How people with Type 2 diabetes can get the benefits of exercise while reducing the risks - Folio - University of Alberta

On Thursday, November 7Mary Cains New York Times story started a conversation about a pervasive culture in runninga culture that has persisted for years and that needs to be changed. Cains story is a particularly difficult pill to swallow for running fans and members of the sport because of the underlying theme of her narrative: that thinner means faster.

RELATED: Mary Cain tells NY Times of abuse by Salazar & NOP

Fortunately, I believe the more devastating elements of Cains story, including her self-harm and suicidal thoughts resulting from her coachs relentless focus on her weight, are not experienced by most runners. But the ethos that got her there is one that almost all runners are aware of and have experienced on some level. Im referring to the culture of disordered eating and weight loss in the pursuit of becoming faster.

Ive been involved in track and field for over ten years. I remember my parents bringing me to my first race the summer before I entered grade nine. I wonand thats when I started to love the sport. Running is really simple, and thats one of the things that has always attracted me to it. In my case, its two laps around an oval as fast as you can run. But over the past few months it has become clear that when you scratch the surface, running is more complicated. It is now obvious that running has some big problems.

I consider myself lucky. Ive only ever had coaches who were supportive, kind, responsible and professional. Ive never felt outside pressure to lose weight, compete when injured, or do anything for a coach that jeopardizes my emotional or physical safety. Its unfortunate that I have to say I consider myself luckywhat Ive experienced shouldnt be exceptional. It should be the standard.

Despite my solid support network, Ive struggled with my weight, my body image and my confidence at times. As a varsity runner, eager to achieve, I found myself wanting to do everything possible to get better. In my mind, and in the mind of many runners, this includes losing weight.

When I was 19, I committed myself to a strict diet for about six months, one that excluded foods like chocolate and pasta. My list of bad foods included carb-heavy, sugary foods that would make me gain weight, and therefore (so I thought) make me slow. As I continued with this diet I got thinner and faster. But I didnt get away with this for long. Despite having what would be the best cross-country season of my life, my support network intervened. Instead of reinforcing my actions, the people around me noticed a change, and were quick to help me correct it. Had I not had such vigilant supporters, my story could have ended quite differently. I have never had a better cross-country season than that fall, but since reconsidering my relationship with food I have improved enormously on the track, which is where my big goals still are.

A lot of runners dont have people around them who see them as a whole person. Like Cain, they have parents, coaches and support staff who are seeing only their performances.

When girls and women drop weight beyond what their body needs to fuel their training and racing, theyre at risk of losing their period and compromising their bone health, which leads directly to stress fracturessomething Mary Cain experienced five times. Had I only been seen for my performances four years ago, I likely wouldve ended up with a string of injuries, and become discouraged to the point of deciding to pursue something other than running. Thankfully, Im still running today.

RELATED: Young female runners: dont fight your body

Dylan Wykesis a co-founder of Mile2Marathon, one of Canadas largest coaching companies. Hes also an Olympian and one of the countrys best-ever marathoners. Wykes has seen both sides of the coin, with experience both coaching runners and as an elite runner himself, competing at the highest level of sport. Hes reflected a lot in the days since Cains story came out, and he plans to make changes in his own coaching going forward. During my time as an elite marathoner, I recognized if I was bit a lighter I was also a bit faster. But it was a slippery slope. Theres a big difference between optimal race weight and optimal training weight, and I was trying to maintain this race weight all year round. This makes you fragile. I had a lot of sickness and stress fractures, and that led to a few years of inconsistency. Its a hard thing to get over once youve fixated onto a number on the scale.

Wykes believes that creating a support network for athletes is part of a coachs responsibility and that coaches shouldnt underestimate their influence on a runner. Especially when working with young women and men, a coach needs to consider how much of their role is about performance versus supporting the growth of a human being. Thats what we as coaches and as a sport need to address. Is our role to get people to run as fast as they can, or is it more than that? How can we contribute more to a young runners life?

Eric Gillis is the head coach at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish and an Olympian over the marathon distance. Gillis speaks to Wykes point, and says that when he started coaching at the university level he realized he could do more harm than good in the short time he has to coach young runners. I only have these varsity athletes for four short years. In that time, they have a lot going on. I could do more wrong than right if Im not careful.

The coach also says that he holds himself accountable when it comes to listening to the athletes and mediating the culture on his team. I had a year where the scale meant too much. It wasnt me trying to lose weight, it was me trying to control things. I know that feeling well, and I know it doesnt lead to better performance. One little notion can easily turn into something bigger. I try and listen for red flags in conversations.

Like Gillis and Wykes, many coaches are looking for ways they can do better for their runners. A 2014 study from the Journal of Medicine and Science suggests that one way to discourage disordered eating is spending time fostering good relationships with athletes. The study found, athletes who describe a poor quality relationship with their coach, characterized by high levels of conflict and low levels of support, report higher levels of eating psychopathology than those who describe a good relationship.

Jennifer Sygo is a registered dietitian and sports nutritionist who works with Athletics Canada, among other sporting organizations. She says that across endurance sport theres a 30 to 50 per cent rate of signs and symptoms of RED-S in athletes. These are things like menstrual disruptions, disordered thoughts and stress fractures. This all exists in non-endurance sport as well, but its certainly more common in sports like distance running.

Sygo mentions that theres been a lot of improvement with regard to athlete resources over the past few years, but that theres still a long way to go. Not all Canadian universities have a dedicated dietician on staff. I still see runners in my practice who were referred to me by a sports medicine doctor because their school didnt have these resources.

Her advice to coaches is two-fold: one, that talking about an athletes menstrual cycle shouldnt be taboo. And two, that a coach shouldnt be responsible for every level of an athletes care, but they are responsible for providing them with the tools to keep them healthy.

RELATED: What to do if you think you have RED-S

Read the original post:
Mary Cain started the conversation we needed to have - Canadian Running Magazine

Sage herb is used in many cuisines across the globe.

Highlights

Herbs have fast caught the fancy of gourmet chefs and health freaks alike. The class of food has become a refreshing culinary addition that can liven up any dish with its strong flavours. There are so many herbs commonly available that we can pick out from, as per our liking. A pizza is not the same without a generous sprinkling of oregano or roasted chicken suddenly becomes tastier with a smattering of rosemary leaves. There are so many more herbs - thyme, parsley, basil and so on - that we have now started stocking up in our kitchen to expand our culinary horizon. There is another lesser known herb that may not have climbed up the popularity charts yet, but deserves every spot on it. We are talking about sage, known as sadhoo in Hindi.

Sage herb is used in many cuisines across the globe, and is hidden somewhere in many avant-garde meals we try in fancy restaurants. There are many varieties of sage available, but the ones that are used for culinary purposes are common sage, garden sage and Salvia officinalis (mint family). The herb has been used for decades in herbal healing practices owing to its innumerable medicinal properties and high nutritional profile. It is easily available in markets now, so there's no reason why it should not grab a place amidour collection of herbs in our kitchen shelves.

(Also Read:Fresh or Dried Herbs: Which Is A Better Pick?)

1.The herb is abound with vitamins, especially vitamin K. It is also a good source of vitamins A, C and E.

2. Now coming to minerals, you can find a good amount of magnesium, zinc, and copper in it.

3. Sage is low in carbohydrates and calories, so can aid in weight loss.

4. It contains powerful antioxidants - polyphenols, which are plant-based chemical compounds.

5. Sage is also known to be a great muscle relaxer and can rejuvenate tired body and mind.

It would be an excellent move to include sage in your diet, not just for its nutritional profile but also for the alluring earthy flavour it oozes. Here's how you can use sage to enhance you food.

(Also Read:10 Dried Herbs You Must Have in Your Kitchen Cupboard)

Sage herbal tea is very relaxing

1.Sage herb is best had as herbal tea. Boil its leaves and make a relaxing herbal like you do with other common herbs.

2.Crushed sage can be sprinkled on soups, salads, chicken, or even your pasta or pizza for a unique taste.

3.Add the herb to your smoothies or vegetable juice for added flavour and healthfulness.

4.Another interesting way you can use sage is by adding it to your cocktail recipe.

These are only some of the common ways of using sage in your kitchen. Be experimental, be creative, and use this amazing herb to come up with tastier and healthier foods.

About Neha GroverLove for reading roused her writing instincts. Neha is guilty of having a deep-set fixation with anything caffeinated. When she is not pouring out her nest of thoughts onto the screen, you can see her reading while sipping on coffee.

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Herb For Health: Why and How You Should Add Sage Herb In Your Diet - NDTV Food