Today I officially became a life time member of Weight Watchers.

What that means is that I achieved my official goal weight, and now six weeks from that weigh in Ive been able to stay within four pound range of my achieved goal weight (two tenths of a pound over the mid-point, thank you for asking). And now as long as I keep within some parameters, mainly not exceeding that goal weight by more than two pounds and weighing in at least once a month, there are no continuing fees for my participation at Weight Watchers.

Im feeling really good about this. My spouse Jan, without whom this really would have been unlikely, is herself within three pounds of her goal weight. So, together weve had quite the year. And it has been a year and change since we began this process. So, here we are.

Ive been fortunate enough to write for all three of the major Buddhist magazines, although I seem to have the most regular relationship with Lions Roar, writing for both their online and print versions. The current print issue actually has an article I wrote about weight loss, Weight Watchers, and dharma practice. I hope youll consider buying a copy of the magazine, there are actually much better articles in that issue than mine.

But if weigh is an issue, the article might be useful. I explore some of the ways my experience with Weight Watchers is informed by and in turn informs my dharma practices. Although published recently, due to the lead-time in magazine writing, it was written at what turned out to be roughly the mid point on my WW path to life time. Now, the truth of it is that if this is going to be a success, as defined for me by keeping most of that weight off for some extended period of time, Id really like it to be the rest of my life, it means Im in no sense at the end. Ive only arrived at a new beginning.

But this does give me an opportunity to pause and reflect.

What Im finding most about the experience so far is what Im calling the consciousness diet. I used that term in the past, when I discovered a tracking application and used it. The principal is being aware of what one is eating. Pretty simple in theory. A bit harder, it turns out, in application. Still it is the foundation. With consciousness of what one is doing, one (in this case that one is me. But, maybe it can be you, as well) may then start making choices that are more healthful than not.

Some people, as they say, eat to live, and others live to eat. For the first category the deal is fuel. The joy of eating is secondary. Me, I belong fully, unabashedly, in the second category. I love to eat. I eat when Im sad. I eat when Im happy. I eat when Im bored. I eat when Im engaged. Food is a delight. A pleasure. There are a number of reasons Ive become the principal cook in our family. But, my enthusiasm for food is a big part of it. I suspect these two different broad categories of people might need to engage the issues of eating differently, at least in some ways. But, for both, noticing what were doing is that first step.

Important. Critical. And it turns out I need a bit more. The app, where I simply had to record what Id consumed, well, it worked for a couple of weeks. Me, Im in the other oriented group of humans, so a gathering is a good thing for me. The weigh in in front of a human being has been critical in my keeping honest in my tracking not fudging to myself about what Im actually eating. After all, I can write down it was a smaller quantity than it was, and it is amazing how easy it is to justify that fudging. But then I have to weigh in in front of that other person. And well, the scale tells a lot of tales about what one did or did not do between weigh ins. Coaching on specifics is also a benefit of the group. Finding pointers that may come from the leader (and a special shout out to Lisa, leader-extraordinaire), but as likely as not come from the other participants, are enormously helpful.

Anyway.Ive hit that marker. Ended one phase. And, embarked on my next.

I actually hope to trim down a few more pounds, five for sure. Maybe even ten. My goal was set by my doctor and Jan and what they think I can actually live with. Im sure it was a wise call. But it was fifteen pounds above what the charts call for. And so losing five or even ten more pounds would still put me above the charts. But the fire burns and I want to go for losing a few more pounds. And, if that doesnt happen, thats okay. I have a place to arrive that feels quite good. That said, Im not cutting back on my weekly meetings. And, Im going to continue to track. And walk. And all those little things that have made this a success and have become, well, a life style.

And with that.

My word to you who are reading this is that if weight is your issue, you might check out Weight Watchers. And, if for any reason that doesnt feel right, just start writing down what you eat. If you can use one of those free applications that help you track the calories (WW uses points, but obviously theyre ultimately based in calories) you are on your way. Finding some friends to walk with as you walk is a good thing, as well.

But, the bottom line, as with dharma practice, as with Zen, you start here. There is no other place.

Best wishes!

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The Zen of Weight Loss: Further Reflections on my Consciousness Diet - Patheos (blog)

FORT MYERS, Fla. (CONSUMER REPORTS) A drug that safely melts the pounds away would be a dream come true, but our analysis shows that the prescription weight loss pill Contrave is not that miracle drug.

In three clinical trials, people who took Contrave up to 56 weeks lost only five to nine pounds more on average than those who took a placebo. And Contrave can cause serious side effects, such as liver damage, seizures, and possible heart risks. Thats why Consumer Reports medical advisers say most people should skip it: such a small amount of weight loss is not worth the risk of those possible side effects.

Contrave is actually two older drugs, combined: the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin and generic), and the addiction-treatment drug, naltrexone (ReVia and generic). We took a closer look at Contrave because as part of our Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs program, we routinely review the safety and efficacy of weight-loss drugs, and wanted to check how well Contrave measured up on both of thoseor didnt.

To do that, we worked with two drug safety expertsSteven Woloshin, M.D., and Lisa M. Schwartz, M.D., both at Dartmouth Colleges Geisel School of Medicine and the Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practiceto review the studies Contraves manufacturer, Orexigen Therapetutics, used to gain approval of the drug from the Food and Drug Administration. From there, they developed a Drug Facts Box for Contrave, which is a consumer-friendly translation of the drugs FDA-aproved drug label.

Heres what they found:

The FDA approved Contrave in late 2014 to be used along with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, in those people who are either obese or who are overweight and have another serious condition, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes. The Contrave drug labelthe FDA-approved information about the drugdefines obese as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater; and being overweight as having a BMI of 27 to 29.9.

Modest Benefits One of the largest clinical trials to date of Contrave shows obese and overweight people who took the drug for up to 56 weeks lost an average of 12 pounds (or about 5 percent of their body weight), compared with an average of 3 pounds (or 1 percent of their body weight) among those who took a placebo. Both groups were also put on a reduced calorie diet, exercised, and received behavioral counseling.

To put that into perspective, we estimated that a person weighing 220 pounds who takes Contrave for a year could expect to lose about 12 pounds total: 9 pounds from the drug itself and 3 pounds from diet and exercise.

In another study, obese and overweight people who took Contrave for up to a year shed an average of 18 pounds (or 8 percent of their body weight) while the placebo group lost 11 pounds (5 percent of their body weight). Both groups were also put on a reduced calorie diet, exercised, and received behavioral counseling. The result is that Contrave contributed to losing an additional 7 pounds.

And the findings were even less impressive for people who had diabetes. Overweight people with that disorder who took Contrave for up to a year dropped an average of 9 pounds or 4 percent of their body weight, while those who took a placebo lost 4 pounds, or 2 percent of their body weight. In that case, Contrave helped people lose only 5 additional pounds.

Also, not everyone who takes Contrave will experience meaningful weight loss: In one trial, about 42 percent of people who took Contrave lost 5 percent or more of their weight compared to 17 percent of those who took a placebo.

Serious Risks The studies show that Contrave caused many people to feel sick, says Schwartz. Nearly 1 in 4 people in the clinical trials stopped taking the prescription weight loss pill because they couldnt tolerate the common side effects, including nausea, headache, and vomiting.

Contrave can also cause increased blood pressure, anxiety, and insomnia. Other side effects include constipation and dizziness.

Like other drugs that contain the antidepressant bupropion, Contrave carries a black-box warningthe strongest type issued by the FDA. Although Contrave is not intended for those under the age of 18, the warning states that the drug can, in rare instances, increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescents and young adults. It could also cause mania and depression to return in people who have previously suffered from those conditions. Other rare but serious side effects include seizures and a condition where eye pressure rises rapidly (angle-closure glaucoma).

The FDA was particularly concerned that Contrave might also raise the risk of heart problems, such as heart attack and stroke, so it required the manufacturer, Orexigen, to conduct a clinical trial to figure out if the drug is safe for the heart. But Orexigen has started and stopped two heart trials before they were finished. Now, the company says it plans to launch a third trial, but the results arent expected to be available until 2021.

In the meantime, the FDA still approved the drug without requiring the trial be completed, so Contrave remains available in the U.S. while its effect on the heart is still being investigated. In a statement to Consumer Reports, Orexigen Therapeutics, said preliminary data from its first heart risk trial provide valuable information and support our confidence in the overall safety for Contrave.

However, the FDA told us that Contraves heart risks remain unknown. Eric Pahon, a spokesman for the FDA, said it was premature to draw any conclusions from Contraves first heart trial, so determining whether Contrave poses a risk to the heart will require completing the new study.

Steven Nissen, M.D., chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, who led one of the trials, agrees with the FDA. We dont have a definitive answer about the safety of this drug and we wont have one for a very long time, he says.

Bottom Line Weve previously advised against the use of weight loss medications, such as Alli or Xenical, Belviq, Qsymia, and Saxendaand now Contrave joins that listbecause they dont help most people lose much, if any, weight, and they all carry potentially serious risks. For most people, the limited benefit of Contrave isnt worth the risk of side effects or unknown heart risks, so our medical advisers recommend skipping it.

To be sure, our analysis suggests that Contrave can help people lose a meaningful amount of weight, if they are able to tolerate it and stick with an exercise and reduced-calorie diet over the course of a year. But they would also expose themselves to the serious risks of the drug. Instead, CR medical advisers say lose weight the safer wayby eating less and exercising.

If youve been unable to lose weight on your own, ask your doctor about intensive behavioral programs that have at least 12 sessions a year and include multiple strategies to help you switch to healthier diets and increase physical activity. Such programs can lead to an average weight loss of 9 to 15 pounds (or 6 percent of body weight) in the first year, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Also good to know: If you still decide to try Contrave, and havent dropped at least 5 percent of your weight after three months of taking the drug at the target dose, you should stop taking it because its unlikely that you ever will, according to information on Contraves drug label.

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Contrave diet pill: Is it safe? - Wink News

ABU DHABI // A medical team in the capital will perform highly complex surgery to help save the life of one of the worlds heaviest women.

A major logistical operation is under way to move Eman Abd El Aty from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi for bariatric surgery.

Doctors have been measuring the risks of flying 177 kilogram Ms El Aty to Burjeel Hospital, against the benefits the surgery will have for the 36-year-old Egyptians long-term health.

Ms Abd El Atys case has created headlines around the world with a row developing between her family and the Indian hospital treating her.

Her sister, Shaimaa, posted a video on social media claiming she was unable to move or speak since undergoing rapid weight loss up to 4kg a day after bariatric surgery at Saifee hospital in Mumbai in March.

Reports in India state Ms Abd El Aty, who is believed to have weighed close to 500kg when she first entered hospital, has lost about 330kg but requires further medical procedures in Abu Dhabi before being fit to return home to Alexandria.

Sanet Meyer, director of medevac at Burjeel Hospital, is responsible for bringing Ms Abd El Aty to the capital.

"There are many factors that are being considered ahead of Emans safe transportation," she said. "Loading is vitally important in this process, in Mumbai and Abu Dhabi.

"We have a highly skilled medical support team in place that is assisting in the mission."

The team will use a Boeing business jet for the move, modified for medical evacuations. A pneumatic high loader similar to a fork-lift truck will carry the patient on and off the aircraft at either end of the journey.

Ambulances fitted with reinforced equipment for obese patients will transport Ms Abd El Aty from hospital in Mumbai to the airport then to Burjeel Hospital.

"This will be a life-changing operation for Eman and she will require an indeterminate period of recovery in Abu Dhabi," Ms Meyer said.

A stroke left Ms Abd El Aty paralysed on her right side and she suffers seizures as well as other obesity-related health problems, such as hyperthyroidism, renal failure and a severe heart condition. All are being controlled with medication.

Air travel puts her at further risk of neurological complications but doctors said the risk was worth taking for her long-term health.

The family chose a hospital in India to treat Ms Abd El Aty after failing to find the right medical help in Egypt.

Doctors in Mumbai wanted to send her home to Egypt to recover but further treatment is required to help her adjust to her rapid weight loss with further surgery and a long period of recovery needed.

After being contacted by her family, Burjeel Hospital offered to provide that treatment if she could be brought to the UAE.

Bariatric surgery is used to treat people who are classed as dangerously obese, usually with a body mass index more than 40 or with other obesity-related health conditions, when all other lifestyle changes and treatments have failed.

VPS Healthcare is covering the costs of the Ms Abd El Atys surgery and physiotherapy as part of its corporate responsibility programme.

nwebster@thenational.ae

Original post:
World's heaviest woman transported to Abu Dhabi hospital for life-saving surgery - The National

Demi Lovato has made a name for herself as a body-positive activist. The singer-actress, who has been open about battling bipolar disorder and bulimia, regularly posts photos and messages to fans on social media about the importance of loving onesbody.

Photo: demilovato/Instagram

Thats why so many of her fans are upset about a recent Instagram post in which Lovato promotes a detox tea.

This year is all about#selflove, Lovato wrote in the post. Truly taking care of myself and exercising has changed everything for me. @teamiblendshas#sponsoredmy 30 day detox challenge to help get rid of toxins and my bloating for summer. Im on Day 7 right now & its so easy! I just drink their tea every single day in my favorite purple tumbler. I love taking it to shoots and the studio with me. She also offered up a promo code so that fans could save 20 percent off the product.

Reaction from fans was swift, and it wasnt positive. Many pointed out that Teami Colon, a tea made by the company, contains senna leaf, a laxative that has been cited by health officials for its potential to irritate thecolon. Teami also sells a tea called Teami Skinny that promises to help users lose weight quickly. Overall, fans expressed disappointment that someone who promotes a healthy body image would plug a product by a company that sells a weight-loss product, especially one thats unregulated.

Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, dietary supplements including weight-loss and detox teas do not need approval from the Food and Drug Administration before theyre marketed or put on shelves. It is the companys responsibility to make sure its products are safe and that any claims made about such products are true, the FDA says on its website. Meaning, just because you can buy a product doesnt mean its safe or healthy.

Wow and you claim to be someone who [is] an advocate against eating disorders and someone who promotes body acceptance? This is disgusting, one follower wrote. Theres a SKINNY version of this tea, and for someone whos had an [eating disorder] to be promoting this is unacceptable, another said.

Eating-disorder experts agree that its not great for people who are already struggling with body image and their relationship with food to hear confusing messages from those they look up to. Trish Lieberman, RD, LDN, director of nutrition at the Renfrew Center of Philadelphia, an eating-disorders facility, tells Yahoo Beauty that people constantly hear mixed messages about food and weight in the media, and something like this just adds fuel to the fire. Celebrities have an important opportunity to positively influence how we experience body image, [and] when celebrities promote health products of any kind, they are having an influence on millions of people, she says. There is also the risk that people may assume a product is healthful when its promoted by a body-positive activist and not realize the potentially dangerous side effects.

Ashley Solomon, M.D., executive clinical director of Eating Recovery CenterinOhio, tells Yahoo Beauty that staying body positive is challenging, which is why its so important for celebrities and activists to promote a body positive message. We need examples in our culture of people whocelebrate body diversity and treat their bodies kindly, she says. When we see that those who we thought had areally healthy relationship with food and their bodies not demonstrating that ideal, it can be a hardblow [and] a lot of people will question if its even possible to live free of the pressures of our culture.

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Soloman points out that even body positive activists feel societal pressure to look a certain way and, just like everyone else, they may stumble, too. Its areminder of the need to not only look to activists andcelebrities for inspiration, but to find that strength inside ourselves and to create our body-positivecommunities, she says.

Those who struggle with body acceptance, yo-yo dieting, and eating disorders are more vulnerable to messages promoted by detox teas and more likely to try them, Lieberman says. But theres a big risk in using these products. The use of detox teas can be a slippery slope leading to more extreme behaviors and negative side effects, she says. And, she points out, use of laxatives (even so-called natural ones like senna leaf) may cause dehydration, weakness, kidney damage, chronic constipation, and electrolyte imbalances affecting the heart.

New York-based registered dietitianJessica Cordingaffirms to Yahoo Beauty that detox teas are potentially dangerous, from both healthful-eating and health-safety perspectives. Theres always that risk that youre getting stuff in them thats potentially not safe, she says. Thats kind of scary. Detox teas and detoxes in general arent even necessary, she says. Your liver does a great job of processing things that you take in, Cording says. You dont need to detox your body does a great job for you.

Heather Senior Monroe, director of program development atNewport Academy,tells Yahoo Beauty that detox teas can also be harmful because they cantrigger disordered eating behaviors and body dysmorphia, especially in people who are already susceptible to them. Getting into a weight-loss mindset can lead back toward self-destructive habits, such as excessive dieting, over-exercising, anorexic tendencies, and/or bulimic patterns, she says.

Cording says shes especially upset that this promotion is coming from Lovato. Shes been really outspoken about her history with eating disorders and body challenges, and it bums me out to see her posting about a detox challenge, she says.

Lovato hasnt yet responded to the criticism.

Read more on Yahoo Style + Beauty:

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Link:
People Are Outraged Over Demi Lovato Promoting a Weight-Loss Tea - Yahoo Health

Losing weight shouldn't mean giving up all the foods you love. Try these small changes, and you may notice big results.

1.Spice up your coffee. With cinnamon, that is. Sweetening your drink with a dash of cinnamon instead of sugar and sugary creamer can save upward of 80 calories per drink.

2.Have egg-y French toast (or pancakes). Order your eggs over-easy, and use that delicious egg yolk to add moisture to your breakfast no butter or syrup needed! Youll get a bonus boost of protein, too. Need some recipe inspo? Try this egg-topped Protein-Rich Cherry French Toast, with no added sugar.

THE 14 HEALTHIEST ITEMS AT YOUR FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS

3.Make hummus your new favorite condiment. Next time you have a baked potato, top it with hummus instead of butter. Dont dismiss this until you have tried it, Keri Gans, RDN, author of The Small Change Diet, told Fox News. Creamy hummus adds a lot of flavor to a baked potato, with a lot less calories than butter. Thats 77 calories less per Tablespoon, to be exact. The bonus is you also get fiber and protein from the chickpeas, Gans added.

4.Turn on slow jams during dinner. The speed of music influences how fast we eat, Christy Brissette, MS, RD, owner of 80 Twenty Nutrition in Toronto, told Fox News. Quick-serve restaurants sometimes use this trick to get people in and out of their seats faster. Playing slow music could have the opposite effect helping you eat more slowly and realize youre full faster.

WHAT TO ORDER AT OLIVE GARDEN IF YOU'RE ON A DIET

5.Vinegar down your salad dressing. Dilute your favorite salad dressing with balsamic vinegar. Youll pucker up for the intense flavor, while practically slashing your calories in half,Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, author of Read It Before You Eat It told Fox News.

6.Eat fragrant cheese. Yes, this means you can eat cheese and lose weight! But choose the super flavorful varieties so a little goes a long way, Brissette advised. Try Manchego or Parmesan, so just a sprinkle adds tons of flavor to your salad or pasta. You wont need those big chunks of cheese you might be tempted to add when using less flavorful versions.

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7.Add beans to Bolognese. I am a die-hard meat lover, but I love to add black beans to a Bolognese so I can reduce the amount of chopped sirloin used, Gans said. This not only cuts calories it also adds health benefits from the beans, like helping to decrease your risk of heart disease.

8.Mix your drink differently. In lieu of tonic water, use club soda as a mixer for your next drink. It contains zero calories, whereas tonic water has 124 calories per 12 ounces. This is nearlyas much as cola, Ginger Hultin, MS, RDN, owner of Champagne Nutrition in Seattle, told Fox News.

Amy Gorin is freelance writer and owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in Jersey City, NJ. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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Lose weight with these 8 little changes - Fox News