Marc and Julie Lowitz first met as law students at Syracuse University in 1988 and fell in love. They married three years later. The Chappaqua,N.Y. couple has since celebrated 27 years of marriage, raised two children and, most recently, embarked on a plant-based journey together to get healthier. What happened next is they lost a combined 70 pounds and stayed symptom-free!

Although they'd always shared a common interest in health and wellness, the Lowitzes' lives changed forever when Julie, now 52,was diagnosed withbreast cancer back in 1996 and then again in 2001. Upon receiving the news, the mother-of-two immediately went into research mode,devouringbooks andafter reading about how dairy and meat contribute to breast cancer she cut out all meat and dairy.

Marc, 53, soon followed suit, trading old-standby foods like turkey and chicken and his favorite barbequed brisket for a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables. Here's the story of how these college sweethearts changed their habits by switching to a plant-based lifestyle and lost a combined 60 pounds in the process.

Breast Cancer Sent Me on a Quest toDiscover What to Eat

Julie: After my cancer diagnosis, I started reading about nutrition and became a vegan. Dairy, in particular, was something I knew would not be good for me. I stopped eating all poultry after seeing the movie "Food Inc." in 2009 and went totally vegan after reading The China Study in 2004.Ikept on reading, most recentlyMichael Greger's bestseller,How Not to Die, which convincedme to cut all animal products frommy diet.It was a learning process for both of us. I had a doctor who wanted to give me a prescription for a statin when my LDL was elevated. I told him I could fix it with diet, which he didn't believe. Six months later, I was retested and my numbers were fine.

Marc: In July 2017, I watched a Netflix documentary called What the Health? about not eating meat or poultry. Julie had done that, so I decided, I'll give it a try. Then came Thanksgiving...I was like, I'm going to have turkey tonight, until I saw my plate filled with other things and realized I didn't even want the turkey! The funny thing is, I used to love poultry. Now I have zero desire to have chicken or poultry.

Julie: Everything we've done, I've done first then Marc eventually does it, too. I gave up meatand dairy first. Then I started intermittent fasting. Now he does, too. We definitely share a lifestyle, which is amazing for our marriage. We prioritize exercise and healthy eating. We have the same interests and talk about them all of the time. We send each other articles regarding nutritionalstudies and recipes. We shop for food together. We cook for each other.

I Lost Most of My Weight Very Quickly

Losing weight was fastlike 2-3 monthsafter I started intermittent fasting/no sugar and low carb (following Dr. Fung). Marc was slower to adopt but his weight melted off when he started IF with LCHF (low carb/healthy fat). We both had to start adding some healthy carbs back as we were losing too much (never thought Id say that!). Ive actually gained five pounds back because I was getting too thin.

Marc: On Sundays, I'll roast a ton of vegetables for the week. I'll be in the kitchen for four or five hours cooking chickpeas and cauliflower and brussel sprouts. That pretty much gets us through the week for work lunches. Most mornings, I'll also make a smoothie with flaxseeds, chia seeds, coconut, raspberry, blueberry, spinach or kale, cinnamon, turmeric and lemon, black pepper and garlic.

Julie: Marc makes the best cauliflower crust pizza with caramelized onions and pesto! In the eighties and nineties, we thought low-fat was healthy. We used to eat a lot of chicken, turkey, pasta, and rice. Now we eat plant-based and have a ton more energy, sleep better, and Ihave fewer aches and clearer skin. We still drink bourbon and tequila, too. I went from 150 to 125 pounds and Marc went from 220 to 175 pounds. (His 45-pound weight loss and her 25-pound loss adds up to a grand total of 70 pounds between them!)

I Started Feeling More Productive

Marc: It was a gradual thing. At one point, I definitely felt more productive, like there was a brain fog clearing. The way we eat has definitelytransferred toour kids, too. My son avoids gluten and my daughter is now experimenting with intermittent fasting. Their friends come over and look in our pantry and there's like a box of flaxseed crackers, you know?

Julie: I feel like the best version of myself. I weigh less now than I did when I graduated from high school.That's exactly how I feel.To be honest, we were eating healthy and exercising for years, but that healthy doesn't feel as good as this healthy.

You hit 50 and you say to yourself, I have choices here. I want to be around to see my grandchildren. My children are getting closer to the age where they're going to have kids of their own and I want to be around as long as possible. Food really is medicine. We know that what you eat can actually prevent disease. Period.

OurNew Goal is to Be Healthy for Life!

Julie: Once you adopt this lifestyle its really not very challenging.We do a lot of homework to keep up with health and nutrition news (through podcasts, websites, etc.). Its frustrating when there is a lot of conflicting information, so the challenge is to weed through it and decide what works best for you. Now, I dont really focus on being a survivor. Im just a really happy mom who has a passion for health and nutrition!

Thinking of going plant-based? Read our starter guide.

The Beet wants to hear from you!Want to share your storyof how goingplant-based or vegan changed your life?

We would LOVE tohear your story about how you transformed your health. Please send us a write-up and make sure to cover the following. (Send pics and date them, please! Everyone loves a "before" and "after.")

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How These College Sweethearts Became Healthier (And Happier!) and Lost 70 Pounds - The Beet

The motivation to lose weight and get fit can come from anyone and anywhere, including your friends, family and popular culture. 27-year-old Neelanjan Banerjee tells us that for him the motivation to lose weight and trim from 87 kgs to 62 kgs came from his immediate environment. And, not only did it drive him to transform from being an overweight individual to a fitness enthusiast but also an award-winning bodybuilder.

For the lack of a better word, let me start by saying that I was always fat all through my childhood to school, high school and even college. In fact for most of my life, Ive only heard people address me as Fat and not Neelanjan. Theyd laugh at me and crack jokes at my expense. I think only my teachers and professors called me by my proper name, he says.

After college ended, I made a conscious decision to kickstart my weight loss journey, and as soon as I got a job, I started working out. In fact, I started working out in my offices gym only, under the guidance of a trainer, he adds.

In a span of four months, by following the below weight loss plan, I lost 25 kgs, before building my muscles to compete professionally as a bodybuilder and win the IBBFF Mr. UP - GOLD, the IBBFF Mr. North India - 5th Position and the IBBFF Mr. India - Top 15th Position titles.

To lose weight in a healthy manner, I followed a dedicated 4-week workout plan on a rotational basis and also only ate meals made from a specialised diet chart, created by my trainer. He also gave me a list of all the food items one should avoid if they are trying to lose weight, which I am happy to share with you."

Vegetables: Tomatoes, spinach, eggplant, mustard greens, okra, onions, bitter melon, cauliflower, mushrooms and cabbage

Fruits: Mango, papaya, pomegranate, guava, oranges, tamarind, lychee, apples, melons, pears, plums, and bananas

Nuts and seeds: Cashews, almonds, peanuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and watermelon seeds

Legumes: Mung beans, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, lentils, pulses and chickpeas

Roots and tubers: Potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, turnips and yams

Whole grains: Brown rice, basmati rice, millet, buckwheat, quinoa, barley, corn, whole-grain bread, amaranth and sorghum

Dairy: Cheese, yogurt, milk, kefir and ghee

Herbs and spices: Garlic, ginger, cardamom, cumin, coriander, garam masala, paprika, turmeric, black pepper, fenugreek and basil

Healthy fats: Coconut milk, full-fat dairy, avocado, coconut oil, mustard oil, olive oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, ghee

Protein sources: Tofu, legumes, dairy, nuts and seeds and ISO Protein powder

Sweetened beverages: Soda, fruit juice, sweetened tea, sweet lassi and sports drinks

High-sugar foods: Candy, ice cream, cookies, rice pudding, pastries, cakes, sweetened yogurt, high-sugar cereals and digestive biscuits

Sweeteners: Jaggery, sugar, honey and condensed milk

Sweetened sauces: Salad dressings with added sugar, ketchup, barbecue sauce and sweetened curries

High-fat foods: Fast food such as french fries, chips, fried foods and bhujia

Refined grains: Products including white bread, white pasta and biscuits

Trans fats: Margarine, vanaspati, fast food and highly processed foods

Refined oils: Canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil and grapeseed oil

As I said, I started working out in my offices gym itself, my trainer crafted the below 4-week workout routine for me to follow on a rotational basis to trim to 62 kgs."

Cardio:

Walking/Running - 15 mins

CrossFit:

500 Box jumps

100 Overhead squats

50 Pull ups

100 Push ups

Weight Training:

Day 1 Chest

Flat bench barbell press 4 sets of 8 12 reps

Incline dumbbell press 4 sets of 8 12 reps

Incline dumbbell flyes 3 sets of 10 reps

Cable crossovers 3 sets of 15 reps

Push-ups 4 sets of 20 reps

Day 2 Shoulders

Seated dumbbell shoulder press 4 sets of 12 reps

Standing barbell military press 4 sets of 10 -12 reps

Dumbbell lateral raises 4 sets of 12 reps

Rear deltoid flyes 3 sets of 15 reps

EZ bar upright rows 4 sets of 15 reps

Dumbbell front raises 4 sets of 12 reps

Day 3 Legs

Barbell squats 4 sets of 8 10 reps

Leg press machine 3 sets of 10 reps

Leg extension machine 3 sets of 10 reps

Hamstring curls 3 sets of 10 reps

Calf raises 3 sets of 20 reps

Day 4 Back

Chin-ups 4 sets of 10 reps

Wide grip lat pull-downs 4 sets of 12 reps

Close grip lat pull-downs 4 sets of 12 reps

Barbell bent over rows 4 sets of 8 reps

Dumbbell rows 4 sets of 8 10 reps per arm

Hyperextensions 4 sets to failure

Day 5 Arms (biceps, triceps)

Double arm dumbbell curls 4 sets 10 12 reps

EZ bar curls 4 sets 10 reps

Preacher curl machine 4 sets of 12 reps

Triceps rope pushdowns 4 sets of 15 reps

Overhead triceps rope extensions 4 sets of 15 reps

Skull crushers 4 sets of 10 reps

Day 6 - Mixed Muscles

Flat bench barbell press 4 sets of 8 12 reps

Barbell bent over rows 4 sets of 8 reps

Dumbbell lateral raises 4 sets of 12 reps

EZ bar curls 4 sets 10 reps

Triceps rope pushdowns 4 sets of 15 reps

Leg extension machine 4 sets of 10 reps

Cardio:

Walking/Running

CrossFit:

200 Jumping jacks

200 Burpees

100 Pull ups

100 Push ups

50 Dumbbell lunges

50 Front squats

Weight Training:

Day 1 Chest

Flat bench dumbbell press 4 sets of 8 12 reps

Incline barbell press 4 sets of 8 12 reps

Incline dumbbell flyes 4 sets of 10 reps

Chest Fly Machine - 4 sets of 15 reps

Cable crossovers 4 sets of 15 reps

Day 2 Shoulders

Seated Arnold press 4 sets of 12 reps

Standing barbell military press 4 sets of 10-12 reps

Dumbbell lateral raises 4 sets of 12 reps

Dumbbell front raises 4 sets of 12 reps

Dumbbell upright rows 4 sets of 15 reps

Barbell Shrug 4 sets of 10 reps

Day 3 Legs

Leg extension machine 4 sets of 15 reps

Leg press machine 4 sets of 15 reps

Barbell squats 4 sets of 10-12 reps

Hamstring curls 3 sets of 10 reps

Excerpt from:
How to lose weight in 4 months according to a bodybuilder who got ripped after following this weight loss plan - GQ India - What a man's got to do

Patriots coaches Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels and Jerod Mayo spoke with the media via conference call on Tuesday, getting back into their weekly routine as they put the bye week behind them.

McDaniels said they spent their time evaluating what the team has done well, what they can do better and a small amount of extra preparation on the upcoming opponents.

"You cant do everything in a bye week; its impossible to go over every single thing," said McDaniels. "If you try to do too much sometimes, Ive found out in the past nothing ends up getting accomplished. I try to pick out a few things that we can figure out to try to make progress in and work with your guys on."

A big takeaway from the Ravens loss was the Patriots offensive success at times as they ran a no-huddle attack. Despite losing the game, the offense showed spurts of being their old selves, even if the results didn't jump off the stat sheet. They finally looked comfortable moving the ball through the air, with Tom Brady directing things from the line of scrimmage.

Could the no huddle be a more extensive tool for the second half of the season? McDaniels liked it as a tool but stopped short of assembling an all-no-huddle-attack all the time.

"I think tempo is one of those variables that you certainly can implement each week if you feel like its the right thing to do," explained McDaniels. "I think some of that is dependent on our numbers, or our health in terms of how we need to play the game.

"And at the end of the day, its one of the questions you ask yourself about: Is this the best way for us to be productive on offense?' which is ultimately the goal every week."

This week brings another challenging team that is on a hot streak. The Philadelphia Eagles have won two-straight games and, at 5-4, sit tied with the Cowboys atop the NFC East standings. Their defense poses a number of challenges for the Patriots offense.

"The Eagles are an aggressive group," said McDaniels. "Coach [Jim] Schwartz does a great job of getting them to play fast and aggressive. Theyre physical. Their front is really impressive, very disruptive. Their philosophy has always been they want to try to limit you in the running game, force you into obvious passing situations and then get after the quarterback. They seem to be doing that very well now."

Tight end Zach Ertz leads the Eagles with 46 catches for 527 yards with two touchdowns and with Patrick Chung missing from Monday's practice and dealing with multiple injuries, could be a match up problem for the Patriots defense. Jerod Mayo said it will be a group effort in stopping Ertz regardless.

"Anytime you have a player like Ertz or any of these guys, a special player like that, its not just one person, right?" said Mayo. "Its multiple people, covering him with different people, hitting him from different angles. You just cant show him the same look. Hes been doing it what now, this is year seven for Zach and hes been playing at a high level. So, definitely going to take all 11 guys on the field to try to slow him down."

The Patriots defense will be looking for a bounce back effort against the Eagles, but it's the offense that is still looking for a signature game. Tom Brady's 505 passing yards in Super Bowl 52 against Schwartz's defense with limited weaponry could provide optimism the Pats will start clicking this weekend. But McDaniels cautioned the Eagles will make the Patriots offense work for everything.

"The one thing that stands out when you watch them is that theyre all on the same page, and they all play fast and aggressive because they know what theyre doing," said McDaniels. "Any time you play a defense like that, you know theyre not going to beat themselves. You know theyre not going to make a bunch of simple mistakes and give you easy yards and opportunities. They make you earn everything you get, which is why its such a great challenge, and theyve got really got players and they are extremely well-coached. This is going to be a huge challenge for us."

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Unfiltered Notebook 11/12: Patriots prep for fast and aggressive Eagles defense - Patriots.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila expects to see a slim, motivated Miguel Cabrera arrive at spring training in three months.

Ive talked to Miggy. Ive talked to his agent. Hes committed to make sure that these last four years go as well as possible, Avila said Tuesday at the MLB General Manager Meetings.

Four years is the magic number for Cabrera, 36, because it represents the number of seasons left on his monstrous contract, a span in which hell make $124 million no matter what happens.

Cabreras weight ballooned in 2019, which put pressure on his balky knee.

There is no surgical solution for Cabrera, but Avila is convinced hes making the appropriate lifestyle changes.

Cabrera has hired a full-time, in-house chef who serves up meals approved by his personal nutritionist.

Of course theres a workout routine, strength-and-conditioning, weight loss, the whole bit. Its full-scale, Avila said. If he follows that program, I have no doubt that hell come in in really good shape. Obviously he would have to continue that throughout the season to stay strong and healthy.

READ MORE:

How will Miguel Cabreras career end? Albert Pujols path may provide clues

New Miggy milestone tracker: When will he reach 3,000 hits?

Despite his knee problems, Cabrera never missed more than two consecutive games until the final week of the 2019 season. But in a year notable for an explosion of home runs, he hit only 12 in 549 plate appearances. He posted a .744 OPS, just under league average (96 OPS+ and 96 RC+).

The injuries that hes suffered are not going away. Theyre there to stay, Avila said. "'Theres no more surgeries for me.' Thats what he said. Theres no surgery thats going to fix what hes got."

The first challenge for Cabrera will be the off-season weight loss. Then hell have to commit anew to in-season work.

Its no different than a pitcher going through a shoulder program, Avila said. "If a pitcher does it throughout the season religiously, chances are hes going to stay healthy. If a guy gets lazy and then abandons that program. If he does it off-and-on and hes not committed to it? Then chances are hes not going to make it through the season.

Now, injuries will happen no matter how hard you work, but at the end of the day its about doing everything you can stay healthy.

FURTHER READING

Niko Goodrum best bet to be Tigers starting shortstop in 2020, Al Avila says

Tigers announce staff changes: New development director, pitching strategist

Heres how I voted for AL Rookie of the Year

Hall of Fame vote: Lou Whitaker and 9 other candidates for Cooperstown in 2020

Tigers 2020 projections: Offensive production nowhere to be found

5 free agents the Tigers should call right now

MLB 2019-2020 offseason calendar: What to expect this winter

Tigers 2020 projected payroll: Lowest in a decade?

2019 Tigers report card: This offense was beyond bad

2019 Tigers report card: Pitching wasnt great, but reinforcements on the way

The rest is here:
Tigers GM expects Miguel Cabrera to stick with nutrition plan to ease pressure on knee - MLive.com

By Nicholas Drahush, MD, FACS

Chattahoochee Surgical Group, a Northside Network Provider

Heartburn is something nearly all of us will experience at some point in life. For some, it will be an occasional discomfort, and others a severe daily (or nightly) occurrence. Persistent heartburn multiple times a week can be a sign of something more serious: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

This condition typically occurs when the lower muscle of the esophagus does not close properly, allowing stomach acid or food to flow from the stomach back into the esophagus. If left untreated, it can cause serious problems including bleeding ulcers or Barretts esophagus, a precursor of esophageal cancer.

In many instances, lifestyle changes alone can help alleviate GERD symptoms. Here are a few:

Avoid foods or drinks that increase symptoms. Certain foods and drinks cause the lower esophageal muscle to relax, allowing acid to enter and irritate the lining of the esophagus. Avoidance of tomatoes, peppermints, chocolate, fatty/fried foods, and citrus drinks are recommended. Caffeine and alcohol are also major contributors to reflux and should be minimized in your diet.

Eat small meals. Eating large meals increases the amount of acid needed to digest the food. Try to eat six small meals a day instead of three large ones, and eat slowly. Also, avoid eating within two to three hours of bedtime.

Maintain a healthy weight. Weight loss often helps decrease GERD symptoms. Being overweight puts more pressure on your stomach and can cause symptoms.

Take an antacid. These medicines neutralize the acid in the stomach and esophagus, thus relieving symptoms. Before taking any medication, it is important to check with your health care provider.

Often people continue to experience symptoms despite making the above lifestyle changes and are prescribed acid suppressing medications such as Nexium, Prilosec or Zantac. These are helpful in decreasing symptoms by lowering the amount of acid produced, but do not fix the weakened lower esophageal muscle.

Anti-reflux surgeries are also an option for those patients with reflux despite medical treatment or patients that do not want to take these medications the rest of their lives. These surgeries are minimally invasive with just a few small incisions and patients typically go home the day of or day after surgery. The newest surgical option, the LINX procedure is now being offered at Northside Forsyth. This system consists of a flexible ring of small magnetic beads that is implanted around the lower esophagus. It expands to allow food to pass safely into the stomach but resists opening and prevents acid from pushing back into the esophagus. By restoring the function of the weakened lower esophageal muscle, the LINX implant decreases GERD.

If you experience heartburn or regurgitation, or suspect you may have GERD, you should contact a health care provider to be evaluated. To learn more about GERD and its treatment, please visit https://chattahoocheesurgical.com/gerd.

Read more:
Treating GERD | Sponsored - NorthFulton.com

This story was originally published on the PCN website in May 2018.

Scott: Healthier weight while taking anti-psychotic meds

My health issue is schizophrenia and the side effects associated with the anti-psychotic medication I take. I had a conversation with my family doctor about the bariatrics clinic at the hospital and he assessed my obesity and referred me to the Health Basics course. I had hoped to get control of my body weight because I have had chronic pain, injuries, and intense frustration with my physical abilities.

A major barrier to my mental concentration was the lack of structure regarding my knowledge around health. I had been advised to control my eating by family and friends but I felt that my weight would naturally sort itself out if I could just get my medications decreased. I had previously connected with a dietitian through AHS however I could not keep a food journal or make adjustments that she recommended.

In the Health Basics program, I committed to the group therapy process and began journaling for the first time. I increased the proportion of fruits and vegetables in my diet. I now plan snacks and focus on in-control eating. Further, I practice the 80/20 rule regarding the Healthy Road vs. Easy Street and this keeps my spirits up when I slack off. I simply remind myself that I can make a better choice in any moment to save the day.

The last I weighed myself, I had dropped fourteen pounds and my waist was quite a bit smaller. I am getting comments about my physique. I am working through the side effects of my medication with gratitude for the treatment team that helps me, and I am overall noticing less symptoms of depression. In addition, I am maintaining my active lifestyle and achieving the high level of performance that I demand from myself.

I recommend anyone needing weight loss and a healthier lifestyle to take the Health Basics course and attend and participate for yourself AND the others in the group. Make your nutrition a priority because I believe you are what you eat. Find a career that forces you to exercise at a high intensity. One big motivator to me is that I need to start a family and I believe that I can have more fun in life with a body that I am happy with.

I am on track to continue to be healthy. I eat enough fruits and vegetables. I continue to journal my food intake. I drink water as my main beverage. I stretch daily. I make my soccer referee job the priority in my career. I am currently participating in the sleep course at the PCN to make sure that I am improving other areas of my health as well.

Here are some other stories from Primary Care Network:

Finally the dam broke

Achieving Mental Health is an Everyday Task

About theRed Deer Primary Care Network:

We (RDPCN) are a partnership between Family Doctors and Alberta Health Services. Health professionals such as psychologists, social workers, nurses and pharmacist work in clinics alongside family doctors.

In addition, programs and groups are offered at the RDPCN central location. Thisimproves access to care, health promotion, chronic disease management and coordination of care.RDPCN is proud of the patient care offered, the effective programs it has designed and the work it does with partners in health care and the community.

Read the original post:
Scott: Healthier weight while taking anti-psychotic meds - Todayville.com

Growing up, my biggest secret was that I had epilepsy. I have had it since I was 5. Neurologists kept saying, Shell grow out of it. Ive tried medication after medication, trying to control the seizures and limit the number of side effects. Ive tried weaning off medication, only for a seizure to return within one or two days. Life becomes more bearable when my seizures are controlled, but I never feel carefree. Epilepsy is much more than having seizures.

With my epilepsy comes fear. I am constantly cautious and afraid. I am afraid of having a seizure during school, at work or in public. Although Ive been seizure-free for over a year, I am afraid of driving down the road and feeling that tingling in my stomach and not being able to pull the car over quickly or safely enough. I am afraid of injuring my brain and body beyond repair. I am afraid of who will see me. I am afraid of waking up from a seizure and being alone. I am afraid of forgetting my medication.

Related: To the Parents of a Chronically Ill Child

With my epilepsy comes depression. For me, epilepsy has always brought along depression for company. With each anti-seizuremedication, the depression waxes and wanes, but it always lingers like a permanent resident in my brain. When I am honest about my suicidal thoughts, doctors prescribe an antidepressant. We both hope the depression will fade, but I am usually met with a new set of side effects. Together, both conditions appear invincible, but I always fight back. Depression tells me to die instead of taking the pills from the container. Depression tells me the darkness is here to stay. Depression steals my energy and my smiles. When I am always outnumbered, and the fight is unfair, I wonder how much of who I have become is due to the medication and how much is truly me.

Too often, with epilepsy comes shame. All through grade school, I heard kids at school make fun of seizures and even pretend to have seizures. I listened and watched. As one of the quietest students in class, my lips felt zippered shut, but my face turned red. They did not know what it feels like to lose control of your body. They didnt know what it was like to wake up confused and disoriented, not knowing how long the seizure lasted or what was happening before it. I was not brave enough to speak up.

Related: Pedaling My Way to Success as a Champion Cyclist With Epilepsy

My closest friends didnt know I had epilepsy. I snuck away at sleepovers to take my medication at 8:00 p.m. I made excuses as to why I couldnt drive, why I wouldnt drink alcohol, why I occasionally arrived to school late, why I visited a hospital that was over an hour away rather than the local doctors office, or why there was a bruise on my forehead. When I started telling people outside of my family, they would reply with phrases such as I didnt know that you were an epileptic, I need to be careful around you, or At least its not something terminal. They may not have known their words were insensitive or hurtful, but I have never been met with comfort or acceptance after telling my story. Only shame.

Epilepsy can be somewhat of an invisible illness. Sometimes I can hide it. Other times, I cant. Epilepsy is much more than having seizures. For some people, myself included, its a lifelong challenge.

Related: What Life Looks Like When You Have Seizures Every Day

Having epilepsy can mean battling depression, anxiety, insomnia, muscle weakness, lethargy, weight gain, and a host of other negative side effects from seizures and medications. It can mean staying home from work or school because of an aura. It can mean keeping secrets from best friends. It can mean refusing to give up regardless of what others think and say, how many medications youve tried, and the side effects that never subside. I have often wondered who I would be without epilepsy. While I fight the shame and stigma within myself, I have learned and accepted that epilepsy is a part of who I am.

But only one part.

When a Doctor Dismissed My Seizures as 'Anxiety'

How My Definition of Privacy Has Changed as the Mom of a Medically Complex Child

It's Time to Talk About Epilepsy and Employment Discrimination

Continued here:
The Parts of Epilepsy We Often Don't Talk About - Yahoo Lifestyle

LA JOLLA, Calif., Nov. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Regulus Therapeutics Inc.(Nasdaq: RGLS), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs (the "Company" or "Regulus"), today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019 and provided a summary of recent events.

"We recently received the final reports from the chronic toxicity studies in mice and non-human primates and are preparing our submission of our complete response to Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") in our efforts to address the requirements to reinitiate the Multiple Ascending Dose ("MAD") clinical study for RGLS4326," said Jay Hagan, CEO of Regulus. "We look forward to FDA's feedback and continued productive dialogue."

Third Quarter 2019 Corporate Highlights and Recent Updates

Program Updates

In September 2019, the Company announced that Nature Communications published an article entitled, "Discovery and preclinical evaluation of anti-miR-17 for the treatment of polycystic kidney disease." The article highlights preclinical research that identifies RGLS4326, a first-in-class anti-miR-17 oligonucleotide, as a potential disease-modifying treatment for ADPKD. In addition, a poster highlighting this work was presented at the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society (OTS) Annual Meeting held October 13-16, 2019 in Munich, Germany.

Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Cash Position:As of September 30, 2019, Regulus had $14.6 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Revenue: Revenue was less than $0.1 million and $6.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, compared to less than $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was attributable to revenue recognition of the upfront payments received under the 2018 Sanofi Amendment related to the transfer of RG-012.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $2.4 million and $10.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $6.9 million and $28.7 million for the same periods in 2018. The decreases were driven by decreases in external development expenses, primarily attributable to the voluntary pause of the RGLS4326 Phase 1 MAD clinical study in the third quarter of 2018 and commencement of the transfer of the RG-012 program to Sanofi in the fourth quarter of 2018. Additionally, the decreases were driven by reductions in personnel and internal expenses, primarily attributable to a reduction in costs subsequent to our corporate restructuring in the third quarter of 2018.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $2.6 million and $9.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $3.0 million and $10.1 million for the same periods in 2018. These amounts reflect personnel-related and ongoing general business operating costs. The decreases were driven by a reduction in costs subsequent to our corporate restructuring in the third quarter of 2018.

Net Loss: Net loss was $5.4 million, or $0.26 per share (basic and diluted), and $13.7 million, or $0.86 per share (basic and diluted), for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, compared to $10.3 million, or $1.18 per share (basic and diluted), and $40.1 million, or $4.62 per share (basic and diluted), for the same periods in 2018. Historical and current period net loss per share values have been retroactively adjusted to reflect our October 2018 reverse stock split.

About Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)

ADPKD, caused by the mutations in the PKD1 or PKD2 genes, is among the most common human monogenic disorders and a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. The disease is characterized by the development of multiple fluid filled cysts primarily in the kidneys, and to a lesser extent in the liver and other organs. Excessive kidney cyst cell proliferation, a central pathological feature, ultimately leads to end-stage renal disease in approximately 50% of ADPKD patients by age 60.

About RGLS4326

RGLS4326 is a novel oligonucleotide designed to inhibit miR-17 and designed to preferentially target the kidney. Preclinical studies with RGLS4326 have demonstrated direct regulation of PKD1 and PKD2 in human ADPKD cyst cells, a reduction in kidney cyst formation, improved kidney weight/body weight ratio, decreased cyst cell proliferation, and preserved kidney function in mouse models of ADPKD. The RGLS4326 IND is currently on a partial clinical hold by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

About Regulus

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: RGLS) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs. Regulus has leveraged its oligonucleotide drug discovery and development expertise to develop a pipeline complemented by a rich intellectual property estate in the microRNA field. Regulus maintains its corporate headquarters in La Jolla, California. For more information, please visit http://www.regulusrx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements associated with the expected ability of Regulus to undertake certain activities and accomplish certain goals (including with respect to development and other activities related to RG-012, RGLS4326, RGLS5579 or its other preclinical programs), its estimated cash runway, the projected timeline of clinical development activities, the sufficiency of data supporting its complete response and the timing of regulatory submissions regarding RGLS4326 and expectations regarding future therapeutic and commercial potential of Regulus' business plans, technologies and intellectual property related to microRNA therapeutics and biomarkers being discovered and developed by Regulus. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "goal," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Regulus' current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. These and other risks concerning Regulus' financial position and programs are described in additional detail in Regulus filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Regulus undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Regulus Therapeutics Inc.

Selected Financial Information

Condensed Statement of Operations

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

Three months ended

September 30,

Nine months ended

September 30,

2019

2018

2019

2018

Revenues:

Revenue under strategic alliances

$

18

$

18

$

6,814

$

54

Operating expenses:

Research and development

2,440

6,879

10,259

28,720

General and administrative

2,571

2,993

8,954

10,115

Total operating expenses

5,011

9,872

19,213

38,835

Loss from operations

(4,993)

(9,854)

(12,399)

(38,781)

Other expense, net

(430)

(419)

(1,299)

(1,365)

Loss before income taxes

(5,423)

(10,273)

(13,698)

(40,146)

Income tax expense

-

-

(1)

-

Net loss

$

(5,423)

$

(10,273)

$

(13,699)

$

(40,146)

Net loss per share, basic and diluted

$

(0.26)

$

(1.18)

$

(0.86)

$

(4.62)

Weighted average shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share:

20,849,083

8,703,626

16,016,515

More:
Regulus Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Recent Updates - PRNewswire