A dad who dismissed his rapid weight loss as working too hard and not eating properly was diagnosed with cancer which was spreading through his body.

Rob Gore, aged 40, ignored the symptoms, which included passing blood when he went to the toilet, until his wife Kirsty persuaded him to visit the GP.

The supply chain logistics manager, from Warrington, said: "By the time I received my diagnosis, I'd resigned myself to the fact it was something serious. I had bowel cancer and it had spread, with nodules in my liver and lung."

With nearly 43,000 people diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, it is the fourth most common cancer and the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, according to the charity Bowel Cancer UK, Liverpool Echo reports.

More than nine in ten new cases are diagnosed in people of 50 years of age, and it is more common in men than women, but it can affect anyone of any age.

Rob had six rounds of chemotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre's outreach clinic in Halton Hospital's CanTreat unit, followed by treatment to help stop the cancer from spreading further. He still visits the Clatterbridge team to collect cancer medication and to get regular scans and check-ups.

One scan, a year ago, detected potentially cancerous growths called nodules in his lung, requiring a further six rounds of chemotherapy. He later had a lung ablation at Royal Liverpool Hospital. This non-surgical procedure uses heat to kill cancer cells, allowing them to treat a nodule they suspected was returning.

Three years since his diagnosis in March 2019, Rob is back at work full-time, having recently visited London and Belfast with family to celebrate his 40th birthday. He said: "My wife and the kids have been brilliant. I have two stepchildren and a daughter and they've just climbed Moel Famau in north Wales to raise money for a charity that supports children whose family members have cancer. They were really keen to give something back and I'm so proud of them.

"We're just making the most of everything we can trying to get out there, do stuff and enjoy life. It's been really nice to be back in work as well, seeing people, because I'm not one for sitting around."

Rob shared his story for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this April to encourage others not to ignore possible symptoms of cancer. He said: "I always tell friends, family, anyone if you have any signs at all, please go and see someone. It feels huge when something in your body isn't right, but there's no need to be scared. Getting diagnosed with cancer isn't all doom and gloom. There're treatment available, so it's always best to get symptoms checked out and either put your mind at rest or get the care you need."

He added: "The care I've had from the NHS has been great I can't say enough about how amazing everyone has been. I see my nurse consultant, Jeanette, regularly. She's fantastic and I have a lot of trust in the team. I'm just getting on with things and living my life."

Colotectal nurse consultant at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust Jeanette Ribton said: "Rob did the right thing by going to see his GP when he noticed blood and that he had lost weight without trying. People sometimes dismiss early signs of bowel cancer, either from embarrassment or thinking it's just a dodgy tummy.

"If you have persistent changes in bowel habit lasting three weeks or more, blood in your poo or abdominal pain or bloating when you eat, ask your GP for advice. It's also important to take part in bowel cancer screening if you're invited to do so."

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Dad's rapid weight loss diagnosed after he thought he was 'just working too hard' - Daily Record

The next time youre making oatmeal, think twice before reaching for the cinnamon sugar as this dishs health effects depend largely on how its served.

You can make numerous additions to oatmeal to boost its taste and nutrition profile. Certain ingredients even make this popular morning porridge a good option to support weight loss goals.

This article provides various oatmeal toppings based on your preferences and health goals.

Oatmeal is made from oats that have been cooked in liquid to form a creamy porridge.

You can use any type of oats. Some of the most common kinds include:

While all are derived from whole oats also known as oat groats they differ in how theyre processed. In general, those above are listed from least to most processed.

While Scottish oats are made by grinding oat groats into meal, steel cut oats take whole oats and chop them into pieces with a steel blade. Rolled and quick oats differ because theyve been steamed and flattened.

All oats are high in fiber, provide carbs to give you energy, and contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial compounds (1).

The soluble fiber in oats, known as beta glucan, may help reduce cholesterol levels. Since high cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease, eating oatmeal regularly may lower your risk (2, 3).

Beta glucan may also help people with diabetes control blood sugar. Thats because it slows down digestion, leading to a steady increase in blood sugar instead of a quick spike (4).

Its worth noting that less processed oats may have more advantages than more heavily processed ones (1, 5).

For example, steel cut oats raise blood sugar less than more processed oats. They may be digested even more slowly than rolled or quick oats, causing a slower increase in blood sugar (5, 6).

In addition, what you add to oats may either contribute or detract from its health benefits.

Oatmeal is a healthy breakfast option that may help lower cholesterol and prevent blood sugar spikes. Still, the toppings you use make a difference.

Plain oatmeal is very nutritious but tastes bland without toppings.

Although countless toppings are available, many oatmeals served in restaurants or sold in stores are high in sugar. To keep your sugar intake under control, you can simply make it at home.

To sweeten oatmeal without going overboard on refined sugar, try these additions:

You can flavor oatmeal with savory toppings, such as:

You can boost oatmeals flavor by adding your own toppings without the need for excess sugar. Try fruit and spices to make it sweet or veggies and cheese to make it savory.

While plain oatmeal boasts several health benefits, its primarily carbs and doesnt offer much fat or protein (7).

Pairing it with sources of fat and protein makes it more well rounded, which is important to help you stay full for longer, meet your nutrient needs, and stay energized throughout the day (8).

Here are some foods to pair with oatmeal to bolster its protein or fat content:

You can also consider making overnight oats.

Mix 1/4 cup (23 grams) of rolled oats with 1/4 cup (71 grams) of Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup (60 mL) of a milk of your choice, and healthy toppings. Divide into jars, seal, and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, youll have a thick, cold oatmeal to enjoy.

To make oatmeal more balanced, add sources of protein and fat like eggs, Greek yogurt, or peanut butter.

Depending on what you add to it, oatmeal may support weight loss.

Still, no single oatmeal topping can promote weight loss on its own. Instead, focus on low calorie swaps if youre trying to lose weight, as eating fewer calories than you burn may lead to weight loss (9).

Here are some ideas for swapping oatmeal toppings to help with weight loss:

In addition, be sure to add a protein source like Greek yogurt, egg whites or eggs, or nuts or nut butters. Protein helps you feel full and prevents overeating, which in turn may promote weight loss (10).

Low calorie toppings and protein-rich foods are good additions to oatmeal if youre trying to lose weight.

Oatmeal is a delicious breakfast food thats full of healthy nutrients.

Adding nutritious toppings to oatmeal can boost its flavor and contribute to its health benefits. Try adding fruit for sweetness, veggies or eggs for a savory twist, or sources of protein and fat to make it a balanced meal.

Simultaneously, its best to steer clear of high sugar toppings like brown sugar, white sugar, candied nuts, and sweetened fruits.

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The Best Oatmeal Toppings for Flavor, Weight Loss, and More - Healthline

If you're trying to get into shape and jumpstart weight loss in your 40s, the first step is getting into three good-for-you habits: eating a healthy diet, performing regular cardio, and strength training. Although cardio and aerobic exercise is great for your heart health and working on your general fitness, prioritizing strength training is key to losing weightespecially as you hit 40 and above. This is because as you age, your metabolism drops, and you lose lean mass each year if you don't do anything to maintain it.

Lifting weights helps build muscle, elevates your metabolism, and burns more calories post-workout when compared to aerobic exercise. This is because of the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) effect. Your body will require more energy to get back to baseline after a strength session compared to cardio. So if you want to lose fat and age gracefully into your 40s and beyond, make strength exercises your focus.

When it comes to strength training, a majority of your exercises should include compound movements. They're the biggest bang-for-your-buck, engage more muscle groups, and burn more calories. If you're just starting off and not sure what to do, I have you covered. Here are a few strength training exercises you can do to help jumpstart weight loss goals. And next, be sure to check out The 6 Best Exercises for Strong and Toned Arms in 2022, Trainer Says.

Begin this movement by holding one dumbbell in a vertical fashion in front of your chest. Keeping your core tight, push your hips back, and squat down until your thighs are parallel to the ground. Drive through your heels and hips to stand back up, flexing your quads and glutes to finish. Complete 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps.

Related: The 5 Best Floor Exercises To Increase Your Visceral Fat Burn, Trainer Says

Grab the wide grip attachment on a seated row machine, and place your feet firmly on the footpad. Pull the handle out, then straighten your legs fully. Keep your chest tall, and drive your elbows back towards your hips, squeezing your back and lats hard to finish. Straighten your arms all the way, and get a good stretch in your shoulder blades before performing another rep. Perform 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Sit back into your chest press machine with your arms on the handles. Keep your core tight, and press the weight forward until your arms are fully extended. Flex your chest and triceps to finish, then lower the weight back under control to starting position before performing another rep. Complete 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps.

Related: Speed Up Belly Fat Loss In Your 50s With These Exercises, Trainer Says

For this exercise, you'll hold a pair of dumbbells, and take a long stride backward with one leg. Firmly plant your heel down, then lower yourself until your back knee touches the ground. Push through with your front leg to come back up, then repeat with the other side. Perform 3 sets of 10 reps for each leg.

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Tim Liu, C.S.C.S.

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Jumpstart Weight Loss In Your 40s With These Strength Exercises, Trainer Says Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

THE Easter eggs have been chomped and those roast dinner leftovers are taking up half the fridge.

But with the summer holidays on the horizon, we will all be thinking of shedding some troublesome Bank Holiday pounds.

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As the cost of living goes through the roof, trimming the budget can be just as important as reducing the waistline.

Nutritionist Amanda Ursell reveals how to tighten your belt in more ways than one with some simple swaps and tips that can save you calories and cash.

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YOU can fool yourself into thinking you are eating more than you are. Swap a take-out pizza for a supermarket own-brand, then bulk it up with lots of tomatoes. This trick is known as the art of volumetrics.

Substitute a Dominos Pepperoni Passion (11.5in pizza, 18.99, 1,988kcal) for Sainsburys cheese and tomato (12in pizza, 1.09, 919kcal). Add cherry tomatoes (250g, 48p, 63kcal).

Youve got a healthier meal for 1.57, which at 982kcal is only half as bad for you.

SAVES: 17.42 and 1,006kcal

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SCIENCE shows snacking can help or hinder weight loss.

Sugary snacks such as biscuits and cakes will raise sugar in our blood and trigger the release of insulin. This lowers blood sugar but makes us hungry again.

Choose snacks that keep blood sugar stable.

Swap a Greggs hot chocolate and Belgian bun with 77g sugar (2.55, 609kcal) for a Greggs bottled water and a 30g pack of KP peanuts (1.25, 184kcal), 1.5g sugar.

SAVES: 1.30, 425kcal, 75.5g sugar

WHEN we are trying to shed those pounds, drinking water or having a bowl of clear soup before eating a main meal has been shown to reduce our calorie intake.

One study has revealed that following this simple advice led to an extra weight loss of 5lbs over a 12-week period.

This makes both options water or soup a great value way to lose some weight with minimal effort.

SAVES: 5lb weight loss

A MEDIUM 175ml glass of white wine costs 4 or more in bars, so order one with a fizzy water on the side.

Mix the two to make a spritzer and share it with a friend. This halves the cost and calories and slashes your alcohol units, which cause weight gain, by half to 1.15.

SAVES: 2, 80kcal and 1.15 alcohol units

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A RECENT trial by a team at the US National Institutes of Health found that people feel fuller, eat less and lose weight when eating foods that are minimally processed compared with highly processed versions.

So if you want to get rid of some pounds, try switching from a product such as Kelloggs Crunchy Nut Bites (0.9g gram of fibre, 24p, 134kcal per 30g serving) to Tesco porridge oats (2.5g of fibre, 3.6p, 109kcal per 30g serving).

SAVES: 20.4p and 25kcal

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THE average Indian takeaway consisting of starters such as poppadoms and bhajis, and mains like chicken tikka masala and pilau rice, can rack up more than 2,000 calories.

Try a supermarket pack for a fraction of the cost and calories.

Swap a takeaway of onion bhajis, mango chutney, chicken masala, pilau rice and peshwari naan (19, 2,287kcal) for Asda chicken korma and chicken tikka masala meal for two (with pilau rice, naan and bhajis: 3 per head, 1,145kcal).

SAVES: 16, 1,142kcal

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EASY vegetarian swaps save cash and calories. They also pack in plant fibre, which changes the bacteria in our gut, leading to weight loss without lifestyle changes.

A spaghetti bolognese meal of 600g minced beef, can of tomatoes, large onion and 500g spaghetti is 4.66 for four, 461kcal per serving.

The veg version is 600g canned lentils, can of tomatoes, onion, 500g spaghetti, 2.05 for four, 281kcal per serving.

SAVES: 2.61 for four and 180kcal per serving

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BEING active helps to maintain muscle mass, which in itself burns calories, but the average gym membership is 30 per month and most members manage to go only three times a week.

On the other hand, a brisk walk, an hours housework or dancing to your favourite playlist for 60 minutes burns the same calories per hour as a gym session.

Not only will you save cash and get a sweat on, your family members or housemates will thank you too!

SAVES: Average 30 a month

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A STUDY of 80 overweight people published this year proved how integral slumber or lack of it affects our tendency to put on pounds.

The Massachusetts General Hospital study in the US revealed that people who sleep less consume more calories and crave higher-calorie foods compared with those who sleep for longer periods. Experts urge us to aim for six to eight hours per night if we can.

SAVES: More than 6.5 hours of sleep a night saved 270 calories per day

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PEOPLE who eat later in the day lose less weight than those on the same weight-loss programme who consume their main meals earlier, research has shown.

Dieters are advised to consider eating within a set period, such as between 7am and 9pm, and to stop eating at least two hours before bedtime.

Studies have also shown that night-time fridge raiders typically make poorer food choices, adding pounds to their waistlines.

SAVES: Hundreds of calories in late-night snacking.

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Ten easy weight loss tips to help you shed pounds AND save money including savvy trick to still enjoy b... - The US Sun

If you have excess fat in the belly area, you know how frustrating it can be to deal with. It can hang over your jeans, preventing you from wearing anything the least bit form-fitting. Cutting calories can help, but we spoke to an expert. What you need is an effective exercise routine that will speed up belly fat loss and get you to the gym. Put on some workout clothes, because we have just the plan for you.

Although the struggle can be real when it comes to how your clothes look and fit with unwanted belly fat, this type of fatknown as visceral fatis an extremely serious health risk. In fact, it can be the cause of serious health issues, including stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol. To give you an indication of just how serious the problem is in the U.S., belly fat is a health issue for over half the people in the country, as per the National Institutes of Health (via AARP). Now that we really have your attention, let's get started.

We spoke with a personal trainer from Fyt, Victoria Brady. Fyt happens to be the nation's largest personal training service that makes fitness under the expert guidance of an in-person or virtual, certified fitness professional convenient and accessible for everyone. Brady put together the following three exercises that are ultra-effective if your goal is to speed up belly fat loss at the gym. And next up, be sure to check out The 6 Best Exercises for Strong and Toned Arms in 2022, Trainer Says.

Brady explains, "Cardio-based equipment in the gym can be used for more than just steady-state training. Depending on how they are utilized, these machines are also great tools to aid in speeding up fat loss, specifically in the belly area."6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

The three ways cardio equipment is most effective for losing belly fat are:

Incline Walking on Treadmill: For incline walking, Brady explains the ultimate preset program is the "hills" modality. There are several variations in this preset, including interval, and it's a replication of going up and down a hill. Brady recommends you start at level 3, and go up one level per week (start with level 3, then level 4, then level 5, and upward).

Sprint Intervals on Treadmill: According to Brady, sprinting on the treadmill has been proven to be more effective at burning fat and building more speed when compared to doing a steady-state jogging/run. Here's a solid sprint interval workout:

Stair Climber, Elliptical, or Rowing Machine: Brady tells us, "The best preset programs on these cardio machines for burning belly fat are the 'Fat Burner' or 'Interval' modalities. Complete one of these preset programs starting at level 3 (or higher) for at least 20 minutes."

Related: Speed Up Belly Fat Loss In Your 50s With These Exercises, Trainer Says

This kind of training not only pushes you hard during each and every workout, but you'll still burn calories after you wrap up your sweat session. Brady recommends that you do a HIIT workout two to three times each week. When combined with consuming a well-balanced, healthy diet, the fat-burn will totally increase.

Here's an example of a cardio HIIT workout you can do to speed up belly fat loss at the gym:

Do each movement for a time of 40 seconds, then rest for 20 seconds. Do 4 rounds of the interval, and rest for 1 minute between each round. Brady tells us, "[The] best high-intensity exercises for burning belly fat in the gym (or at home) include: sled push, battle rope, [and] star jumps."

Related: The 5 Best Floor Exercises To Increase Your Visceral Fat Burn, Trainer Says

Even though your typical ab exercise such as situps can "boost definition," Brady warns, "It does not burn the belly fat that is covering the abdominal muscles. But, when you add strength training using a dumbbell or kettlebell, for example, you burn more calories, helping you to reach your goal of getting rid of stubborn belly fat faster. I always recommend practicing the exercises without weights first and gradually adding weights once you feel comfortable with the form." A workout that utilizes both core movements and strength training is a truly excellent method to speed up belly fat loss.

For more scoop on getting rid of belly fat and losing weight, check out The Most Productive Floor Exercises To Get Rid Of A Flabby Stomach, Trainer Says and Jumpstart Weight Loss With This 10-Minute Workout, Trainer Says.

Alexa Mellardo

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3 Ultra-Effective Ways To Speed Up Belly Fat Loss Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

If you are trying to lose weight, you might be someone who follows a diet plan, exercises, or runs a lot. But did you know that having a sound sleep is also a crucial part of the process of weight-loss?

Award winning nutritionist Loveneet Batra talks about how sleep is important for the weight-loss journey. She posted a video on Instagram in the form of a reel with the text Looking for the simplest weight-loss hack? Dont ever compromise on your sleep quality.

She explained it in the caption suggesting sleep to be like nutrition for brain. She then went to say that if the aim for someone was to lose weight, skipping sleep was like pocking sticks in your bicycle wheels.

Not having sufficient sleep could lead to increase in cortisol levels (cortisol is the stress hormone) causing more stress and stimulate hunger.

It can also interfere with the bodys ability to process carbohydrates causing the blood sugar levels to spike and lead to deposition of fat!

It can cause the levels of leptin hormone to drop making you crave more carbohydrates leading to a bad diet and hence weight gain.

It can lead to reduction of growth hormones too. These hormones help in maintaining the proportions between fat and muscle.

This is how the nutritionist linked lack of sleep to weight gain saying that poor sleep cycle leads to poorer food choices, more carbohydrate intake and less physical activity, all of which contribute to weight-gain.

Due to these reasons, Loveleen suggests sleeping at least 7 hours every night to achieve weight-loss and over health management. Other than that she also suggested to fix your sleep schedule, avoid blue light 1 hour before you go to sleep and use relation techniques like reading, meditating and having chamomile tea to have a sound sleep.

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Trying To Lose Weight? Sound Sleep Could Be The Answer - News18