ROCKFORD (WREX) While most people at the Chicago Marathon were focused on the top runners, there was a Rockford native who took another step forward in his weight loss journey.

Ethan Taylor earned national recognition by dropping over 180 lbs in two years.

While most people would be satisfied with the tremendous weight loss, Taylor quickly set a new goal by aiming his sights at the Chicago marathon.

Taylor prepped for months, and also raised money for Action for Healthy Kids which raises awareness for childhood obesity.

He continued his success when it came to the marathon by finishing in four hours and 44 minutes which was faster than his goal time.

While Taylor ran the marathon for his benefit, he hopes that his continued weight loss journey encourages others to start their own.

I hope that when people see my story, they just realize that if Ethan can do it, so can I, Taylor said. Im really just an average person. I was a college dropout, I had depression, and I had a back injury, and I kind of dug myself out of it with a lot of help for some amazing people.

Taylor raised over $3,000 for Action for Healthy Kids leading up to the marathon.

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Rockford man continues his weight loss journey by finishing the Chicago Marathon - WREX-TV

It may sound crazy to start a weight loss program in October for the next year, but hear me out.

Think about what happens every year around Jan. 1: New Years resolutions. And this leads to a trillion ads on TV, radio, billboards, websites and social medial about weight loss. Right?

By then everyone you know has gorged themselves for the past three months and is then fervently searching for a magic answer to the extra weight they have added. People are willing to spend thousands of dollars for a weight loss program as long as they can lose 50 pounds in 30 days.

Im not going to spend much time in this article discussing that rapid weight loss is simply a combination of emptying the digestive tract and dehydration. This doesnt really help you lose the fat you have accumulated. Deep down, most people actually know that and the ones that dont know it already will not believe me anyway.

Most readers realize that the weight they really want to get rid of is accumulated excess fat. That change takes time. Any weight lost quickly is usually simply the result of emptying the digestive tract and excreting more water, both of which are temporary. This cruel little trick sells billions of dollars worth of ineffective weight loss programs each year.

A decade ago, I researched weight loss extensively in preparation to offer a weight loss solution for our patients. We offered a successful weight loss program in our office for a number of years and many patients lost body fat in a very healthy, sensible way. What I learned during that time surprised me with the simplicity of successful fat loss. I also learned a lot about human psychology that makes the problem much more complex than it has to be.

Some people including many healthcare providers tend to overgeneralize weight loss and conclude it is simply a math problem. More calories in adds weight restrict calories and lose weight. Or they may add exercise by saying use more calories through activity and lose more weight.

In theory, this works. And for most people it really can be this simple. Eat fewer calories consistently for several months lose fat. Although this approach doesnt work well for everyone due to a wide range of possible atypical metabolic conditions, it is the simplest approach for most people and is worth trying for most readers.

There are the three clues you need to consider in order to be successful in losing accumulated fat now instead of trying so desperately in January and falling prey to over-hyped, exorbitantly priced weight loss plans.

1. The real goal is fat loss. Rapid weight loss is never actual fat loss. It just isnt. And it is unhealthy. Dont do it. You will make your situation worse.

2. Most people can succeed in losing accumulated fat slowly over time by simply being truly diligent about significantly and persistently restricting the calorie intake for a period of several months.

3. One important key is being very intentional about literally everything you choose to put in your mouth. Everything. All day. Every day. Make intentional choices. Dont accidentally eat anything. Every time you make a decision to snack or overeat, you are deciding that the instant gratification from that moment is more important to you than accomplishing your intended goal of shedding fat. (Overeating is eating the amount of food you are eating right now. In order to lose fat, you will need to actually eat fewer calories and make better choices with each meal.)

The reason today is the best day to start this realistic and typically successful approach to fat loss is that if you dont, you are likely to actually gain weight during the next three months.

So, the choice is yours. Choose to be a healthy, self-determined person making wise decisions every day about the food you consume for the next few months or follow the crowd, snacking incessantly and gorging on unhealthy portions of holiday and cold-weather offerings and wait for the New Years weight loss ads.

Dr. Mark Kestner is a licensed chiropractic physician in Murfreesboro. His office is at 1435 NW Broad St. Contact him at mkestner@DrKestner.com

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Set a New Year's resolution in October to lose weight - Murfreesboro Post

I was in a small, unfussy coffee shop close to my cottage in rural Nova Scotia when I saw the poster advertising a womens empowerment retreat at a rustic lodge on the shores of the warm Northumberland Strait.

Ive become increasingly curious about the growing interest in new-age spiritualism, and in particular, how women are seemingly using it as a way to address chronic dissatisfaction. Without knowing exactly what I would get out of it I contacted the retreat organizers to ask if I could attend the weekends events. Two weeks later I was sitting in a chair with my eyes closed in the middle of a log-walled room. Around me, dozens of women circled, taking turns whispering affirmations into my ear: You are brave. You are loved. You are special. Even as I rolled my eyes, I felt myself start to cry.

Oh god, I thought. Its working.

I felt simultaneously defeated and relieved.

The retreat, called I Am Worth It, was hosted by three wellness practitioners: a healing touch specialist, a reflexology therapist, and a naturopathic doctor. In addition to healthy meals, beach walks, and yoga, there were guided sessions that addressed letting go of past hurt, setting intentions, prioritizing self-care, and harnessing energy centers. It costs around $333 per person to attend. The duration of the retreat is two days. Rooms were shared.

Over the course of the two days, from early morning until well into the evening, women shared stories, exhaled a lot, dabbed their eyes with tissues, and formed a drumming circle under the full moon. Throughout we received advice from the practitioners, intended to help budge participants out of a rut once they returned home: make sure to get out into nature, light some scented candles while soaking in a deep tub, observe your chakras, and tell your mirrored reflection youre beautiful over and over until you start to believe it. We whispered affirmations in each others ears. At some point the naturopath explained that she tells clients, Were not going to talk about weight loss, but about how your parents treated you when you were little.

It was a rollercoaster of practical and obscure, out-there woo woo nonsense and disarmingly astute observation.

Wellness retreats are nothing new. Since the 2nd century B.C. and its Roman baths, people have fled to spas and health-minded resorts in an attempt to feel better. These early incarnations eventually evolved into the spa model of Golden Door in San Marcos, California, and Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, both of which offered opulent surroundings coupled with rigorous training geared toward weight loss and physical transformation. By the mid 2000s yoga retreats filled up Instagram feeds with photos of virtuous-looking activities, sun salutations on the beach, and fit people inhaling huge amounts of avocado.

And todays retreat culture has moved past the lose weight, feel great mentality, beyond a week of yoga and vegan meals in Puerto Vallarta, and squarely into the realm of self-empowerment.

These new retreat goers arent focused on losing weight, rehabbing, or escaping their problems. Theyre packing their emotional baggage and heading to places like Renew Breakup Bootcamp in upstate New York, a broken-heart retreat that helps women address subconscious patterns that keep them from the love they really deserve. At a Purpose in Paris retreat, participants cast negative self-talk into the Seine and make self-worth vows at the iconic lovelock bridge. In Miami, there are vision-boarding and manifesting retreats to help pinpoint limiting beliefs and evict the resident shit-talker living in your head. And one Costa Rica retreat combines self-defense, mindfulness, and self-care with the promise that your inner warrior princess is waiting to be unleashed into the world.

I believe people are understanding their need to turn focus inward and shine a light on the dark parts of themselves that maybe they weren't willing to face before, says Jennifer Sembler, whose Yemanya Travel company offers retreats for women with a 360-degree approach to mind, body, and spirit, including hiking, meditation, and life coaching sessions. This search for inner peace and truth is one of the driving forces behind this retreat movement, she says.

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Women's Retreats Are Changing Their Message From Weight Loss to Self-Empowerment - Bon Appetit

The Dukan Diet is a low-carbohydrate and high-protein weight-loss program. It was developed by a French physician in the 1970s. This diet includes four stages,attack, cruise, consolidation, and stabilization. The first two phases focus on losing weight and the next two focus on maintaining that weight loss. Read ahead to know more about the diet plan and its pros and cons.

Also Read |GM Diet Plan: The Complete 7-day Diet Plan Which Helps You Lose Weight

The Dukan Diet is based on the idea that you dont lose weight when you are hungry. It provides a specific list of the food items that you are allowed to eat during the different phases. These lists are made keeping in mind lean proteins and fat-free dairythat boost satiety. According to proponents of the Dukan Diet, it is expected to lose up to four to six pounds in the first week, the attack phase. It is further expected to lose two pounds a week during the cruise phase. Later, during the consolidation and stabilization phases, the weight remains constant. Lets have a look at the pros and cons of this diet method.

Also Read |PCOS Diet: Types Of Food That You Must Avoid If You Have PCOS

The Dukan Diet is an effective way of losing weight quickly. It sets realistic expectations for sustained weight loss with its concept. The plan also allows unlimited amounts of lean protein, which is filling and makes sure that no one following the dietgoes hungry. The Dukan Diet has a long consolidation phase, which helps in the transition from weight loss to long-term maintenance. Human bodies tend to resist maintaining weight loss buthaving a good long period of time focused on keeping weight stable can really help keep the pounds off.

Also Read |How To Control Body Heat 10 Body Cooling Foods That Reduce Body Heat Immediately

One of the main concerns of the Dukan Diet is that it restricts the consumption of several food items, which makes it difficult to get adequate nutrition. On about half of the days in this weight-loss process, no vegetables are allowed, only the intake of pure protein is allowed. Many vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients are lacking from the Dukan Diet guideline list. Supplements are allowed, according to the plan, but not required. Salt is also minimized in the diet, which reduces the palpability of meals, making it more difficult to stick to.

Also Read |Varun Dhawan's Workout And Diet Regime

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The Dukan Diet | Know about the pros and cons of the diet plan - Republic World - Republic World

The X Factor host revealed he adopted a vegan diet back in April and his changing eating habits have certainly paid off!

Simon Cowell, is that you? The 60-year-old reality star shocked fans with his noticeably slimmer look on the premiere of The X Factoron Saturday, Oct. 12. Simon who was a self-proclaimed meat lover announced he had gone vegan in an interview earlier this year. The change in lifestyle was prompted by a severe accident: Simon fell down a flight of stairs in 2017, which later lead himto lead a vampire like lifestyle where he stayed awake until 8:00 a.m. each night.

After seeing a doctor, Simon was also informed he had a slew of food allergies, prompting him to eliminate some of his favorite foods. I cut out a lot of the stuff I shouldnt have been eating and that was primarily meat, dairy, wheat, sugar those were the four main things, he spilled to The Sun in April. His weight loss was also noticeable at a taping of Americas Got Talent in August, where he confirmed he had dropped 20 pounds.

HollywoodLife recently spoke with Simon on Aug. 20 and when asked for him to specifically name the diet he was on, Simon jokingly called it the Simon Diet. We spoke with him a few weeks later on Sept. 3 and he added, The secret is dont follow one of the fad diets because there are just too many and they contradict each another. The allergy tests are crazy dont have those. You have to just cut out the obvious . And once you get used to it you feel better. My memory is better. I feel betterI can still drink beer so I am happy.

The former A&R exec hasnt been shy about dabbling in cosmetic procedures either, admitting he had a facelift that hurt like hell but sharing it got rid of sun damage. He continued,Theres lots of things you can do now. You dont just have to stuff your face with filler and Botox, adding that he had too much filler at one point.

Fans quickly jumped on social media to share their thoughts on Simons changing appearance, expressing concern over his health. Mate I cant get over his is how Simon Cowell looks now surely its just a whole different person altogether, @benbradshaw1_ tweeted. Is Simon Cowell ok?? His face looks so thin. Hope he isnt ill! @LaurenJ77 posted, while @phooey_uk wrote Why does Simon Cowell look gaunt?

Hopefully I look better now, Simon also toldThe Sun. In addition to keeping busy withThe X Factor, Simon recently re-united with OGAmerican Idol judgesPaula AbdulandRandy Jacksonon formerIdol winnerKelly Clarksons new talk show. While theres no word on the trio doing another show again, the group seemed open to the opportunity!

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Simon Cowell, 60, Almost Unrecognizable With Slimmer, Fresher Look Before & After Pics - Hollywood Life

Brendan Romele can't remember a time when he was within a healthy weight range. Even as a kid, he was always the "bigger" guy in class. This fact never really bothered him until his late twenties, however, when his weight climbed to nearly 285 pounds. That's when he truly started feeling it: The extra weight that made his body behave like a much older man's.

Between the backaches and the shortness of breath, Romele decided it was time for a change. He also had his family history to consider: "My mother suffered from heart failure at an early age that almost cost her life, and my grandfather had diabetes," Romele says.

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"Even though it was scary at first, I began to track my weight and body fat percentage," he says. "When I started, I was 285 pounds with 37 percent body fat, which is in the obese range."

Romele also tracked his step count using a wearable, the Fitbit Versa. He went on walks every day to make sure he hit at least 10,000 steps, and quickly realized that fitting in physical activity didn't have to mean hours and hours in the gym.

"These walks would often be at lunchtime where I would go with coworkers to pick up healthier lunch alternatives, even to places a little further to get those extra steps," he says. "I began to take advantage of Fitbit's [coaching program], too, which helped motivate me through guided workouts and eventually became a regular habit."

With his workouts building momentum, Romele moved on to overhauling his nutrition. He started tracking his food, and to his great surprise, he had been eating around 4,000 calories a day thanks to copious amounts of takeout. He decided to start cooking for himself. Just four weeks into his new routine, Romele had already dropped 20 pounds.

"As a very data and visually focused person, once I started to see the downward trend in my weight through app, and I wanted to keep it going," he says.

Beyond losing weight, Romele also eased his back pain and found his lung capacity increasing. He even added running a few miles a week into his usual 10,000 steps a day routine. By combining tracking his calories and working out more, Romele was able to drop 100 pounds and 20 percent of his body fat to hit his new weight of 185 in just one year.

"A lot of friends and coworkers have told me how they have been inspired by my journey and helped them to lead a healthier life, which is great because so many have inspired and encouraged me," he says. "I feel better, mentally and physically. I've noticed I have more energy compared to when I started."

For people looking to follow his lead, Romele advises them to first get over the dread of exercise. "What I came to realize is that any exercise is better than no exercise, even if it means going on daily walks or doing as little as ten squats," he says. "Be patient, and stick with it. A lot of people are in the old mindset of thinking diet means temporary, but it simply isn't. Don't try to change everything at oncetake it day by day."

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This Guy Used a Fitness Tracker and a Daily Step Goal to Lose 100 Pounds in a Year - menshealth.com