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Perez Hilton Shows off Impressive Weight Loss And He Looks Totally Different! Life & Style Weekly "Like so many people, I have struggled with my weight throughout my entire life. Thankfully though, at the beginning of 2008, I made a commitment to my health and I have stuck to it," Perez has said. Now, nine years later, the 39-year-old digital maven ...

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Perez Hilton Shows off Impressive Weight Loss And He Looks Totally Different! - Life & Style Weekly

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Anne Burrell Steps up Her Weight Loss in 2017 See the TV Chef's Complete Transformation! Life & Style Weekly The Food Network star is still rocking her signature bleach blonde hairdo but is looking slimmer and healthier than ever. MORE: Perez Hilton Shows off Impressive Weight Loss And He Looks Totally Different! The 47-year-old co-host of Worst Cooks in ...

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Anne Burrell Steps up Her Weight Loss in 2017 See the TV Chef's Complete Transformation! - Life & Style Weekly

NOW: Is weight-loss surgery for you?

WCSH 6:21 PM. EDT March 30, 2017

(NEWS CENTER) -- We do watch and listen when you post on our Facebook pages, and judging by all the comments we've seen, you've definitely noticed a change in Governor Paul LePage's appearance.

He has lost more than 50 pounds and counting after undergoing weight loss surgery. When we caught up with him for our "day in the life" story that aired yesterday, he said it's a decision he is glad he made.

Since it is working so well for the governor right now, we decided to take a look into the pros and cons of weight loss procedures, and what you can expect if you ever decide to bring it up with your doctor.

And at Maine Medical Center, getting weight loss surgery is not a quick fix, it's a lifestyle change. Dr. Roy Cobean says you have to show you can commit to a wellness plan and demonstrate the ability to make long-term changes before surgery is even on the table.

That can be difficult task and may drive some people away, but Dr. Cobean says what shouldn't have you running for the hills is the stigma that historically surrounded the procedure.

"It was shameful or it was it's lazy, and you should be able to eat less and exercise more," Dr. Cobean says. "And that is so wrong for many people who can achieve 100 pounds over weight."

Those people, he says, are often fighting against genetics.

"If you have one obese parent, you have an elevated risk of being obese yourself, no matter how thin you were as a child."

What makes you a candidate for bariatric surgery? Having a Body Mass Index of 40 or more, or a BMI of 35 with other complications like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea.

Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass are the two procedures performed here, and they do come with risks, such as leaks, but the overall mortality rate is about 0.1%, which is less than gallbladder or hip replacement surgery. Dr. Cobean says bariatric surgery is also covered by MaineCare, and even though many people in this state are eligible, only a fraction of them inquire about it.

"A lot of the reasons that I am aware of that people don't come here is they don't know it's an option," Dr. Cobean says.

The governor's success is shedding some light on it, and showing others that they do have options when it comes to weight loss and overall health.

2017 WCSH-TV

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Weight loss surgery: is it for you? - WCSH-TV

Most people take it for granted that weight loss is a good thing it's why you probably say "thank you!" if someone says you look skinny.

But Ijeoma Oluo, 36, a Seattle area writer who's lived both above and below the "ideal" body mass index, no longer sees the benefit in her body being small or anything besides happy.

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She recently shared her story in a moving Facebook essay that has received more than 500 comments so far and has been shared by more than 2,300 people, who are likely intent on clarifying that your weight isn't linked to your worth.

In short, Ijeoma recalls an ex-boyfriend sexually assaulting her at age 22. "I decided that as long as I was fat, nobody who wasn't abusive was going to want to be with me," she wrote. In the year that followed, she counted calories, weighed herself multiple times a day, ran past the point of pain, skipped entire meals to allow for small treats, bought into weight loss books and magazines, and kept meticulous tabs on her progress. "And all of this work that took over my entire life," she wrote adding that her efforts did amount to weight loss that she maintained for five years.

Instead of taking joy in her success, though, she was utterly disgusted: Although the only physical thing that changed was her appearance, her weight loss shed light on the way people from potential partners to employers and strangers and environments, like theaters designed for people who can fit into standard-size seats, are kinder to people when they're smaller.

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"I resented it all while desperately clinging to it, terrified that the moment I stopped dedicating my every waking moment to shrinking myself, the world would go back to treating me like a failure, and I would no longer be allowed to love myself," she wrote.

Despite the celebratory compliments and VIP treatment, Ijeoma upheld that weight loss did not make her a better person, let alone more interesting, creative, or kind. "I became me, only smaller, and absolutely obsessed with what I put in my mouth," she wrote.

When Ijeoma got pregnant with her youngest child, she gained back some of the weight she'd lost. Three years later, during which she's built a family, bought a house, and launched her career, she has returned to her original weight.

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"These were the years where I packed my life with more accomplishments than I had ever before imagined. Or, these are the years I got fat again it depends on who you ask," Ijeoma wrote, ultimately concluding that her allegiance lies with the heavier version of herself. "I will not support the harmful notion that a smaller body is a moral victory," she wrote.

It's no wonder people are applauding Ijeoma for getting R-E-A-L about the way she figured out what matters: treating people with kindness and decency, regardless of their weight. After all, size-shaming won't stop until we stop doing it to ourselves.

Get all the ~FiTsPiRaTiOn~ directly in your feed. Follow Facebook.com/CosmoBod.

Follow Elizabeth on Twitter and Instagram.

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The Surprising Reason This Woman Regrets Her Weight Loss - Cosmopolitan.com

by Consumer Reports and Connie Thompson

Contrave weight loss pills (Photo: Screen shot from website)

You may have seen the television commercials for the prescription weight-loss pill Contrave.

Contrave is the combination of two older drugs: the antidepressant bupropion and the addiction-treatment drug naltrexone.

Its ads say the drug works on the brain to reduce hunger and control cravings. The Food and Drug Administration approved Contrave is for people with a body mass index of 27 or higher and who also suffer from serious conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type-two diabetes.

The commercial cites studies in which patients took Contrave in addition to diet and exercise. The patients lost approximately two to four times more weight than those who did diet and exercise alone.

However, a Consumer Reports analysis of the three clinical trials used to gain FDA approval of the drug shows the drug works but the amount of additional weight loss is small and could pose serious health risks.

In addition to anxiety, insomnia and headaches, Contrave can cause serious health problems, such as liver damage, seizures, increased blood pressure and possible heart risks.

The people who took it up to 56 weeks lost only five to nine pounds more on average than those who took a placebo.

Consumer Reports advises consumers to speak with their doctor about the risks and different weight-loss options. Consumer Reports health experts say it is best to lose weight the safer, proven way - by eating less and exercising.

If you've 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 a healthier diet and increase physical activity.

Manufacturer's response

I reached out to the makers of Contrave for their comments on Consumer Reports' analysis.

I received the following response from a representative at Orexigen Therapeutics:

Consumer Reports is an outstanding service to the American public but, as a representative of Orexigen Therapeutics, we believe there area few key areas that may be missing some data and context.

From a data perspective, Contrave has a well-studied safety and tolerability profile. The efficacy results presented in the Consumer Reports article focus on the intention-to-treat population data, including patients who discontinued study medication and non-responders.

Our mission, and what drives the actions we take as an organization, is to help improve the health and lives of patients struggling to lose weight.

People who are overweight or obese often blame themselves for having a lack of willpower or discipline to lose weight. While diet and exercise are crucial and fundamental components of any weight management plan -diet and exercise alone doesnt work for everyone. We now understand that the brain plays a role in weight loss as it controls hunger and cravings. Contrave, which is believed to work on the hunger and cravings centers of the brain, is an FDA approved weight loss medication to be used in combination with diet and exercise.

It is a combination of two medicines that have been used clinically for decades. With over 10 years of clinical development experience and over 10,000 patients studied in clinical trials we have a very clear understanding of the risk-benefit profile of Contrave.

Medical weight-loss may not be appropriate for everyone, but with about 110 million adults who are obese or overweight in the US population we believe Contrave represents an important therapeutic tool to put in the hands of physicians. We want patients to engage with physicians to discuss what works best for them.

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Consumer Reports reviews Contrave weight loss pill - KOMO News

High Altitude Health Deborah Holmes MedX of Estes

While I was recently liquidating, and packing up a bunch of household items in an effort to de-clutter my house, I came across a handful of old exercise and health books that were written years ago. We picked them up at one of our annual Library Book sales. Some of these old books along with various pieces of exercise equipment are collectibles now.

As with everything in the world, the health and fitness industry has gone through many changes. In some aspects of this industry it has even returned to its roots of discovery and recommendations. One of the books that we picked up is titled "Total Fitness in 30 minutes a week." It was published in 1975. It is written by Laurence E. Morehouse, PhD and Leonard Gross.

In this world of crazy "fad diets" it seems that each and every one of them have made weight loss complicated, time consuming and nutritionally unbalanced. Today, we have lost the simplicity of exercising and losing weight. When it really is not that difficult of a task.

So, using the information gathered from this book, I want to take you back 40-plus years to share what the "fad" of weight loss was back in 1975.

A pound of fat is 3,500 calories. Calories are recognized as a form of energy. Calories in must balance calories out. For weight loss, we are interested in losing permanent weight in terms of fat, not temporary weight loss in terms of water.

To burn off a pound of fat a day, you'd have to not eat anything and attempt to exercise enough to physically burn 3500 calories. This is not possible with the human body. However, weight loss becomes more realistic when we consider losing a pound of fat a week. This brings the calorie expenditure down to 500 calories that need to be burned off each day of the week. Most people do not have the time or the inclination to burn off 500 calories a day.

However, if you combine burning calories with dietary restraint, you could produce a 500-calorie deficit a day without either strain or starvation. Isn't this a concept! The authors of this book recommend lowering your daily intake of food by 200 calories and burning 300 calories a day. Burning 300 calories will not only make you lose weight it will help you reap the benefits of being in better health and shape. With this combination, your metabolism will not be disrupted, all your body processes will stay in balance, proteins will be preserved and normal pH will be maintained within the body. Losing a pound of weight this way will result in a permanent pound of fat gone from your body. In 3 months, you'll lose 12 to 15 pounds of fat, which adds up to 52 pounds of fat in a year and you won't put it back on! It'll be gone for good!

Look how simple it is. These are examples of 100-Calorie food portions: a cup coffee with cream and sugar, one pancake, two plain cookies, two tablespoons of sugar, one fried egg, a 5-ounce glass of milk, 8 oz soft drink, one ounce of cheese, half cup of soup, five french-fries, six potato chips, one baked potato. Just take out two of these simple portions.

Look how simple it is to add exercise into your day. These are examples of activities that burn 100 calories: 7 minutes running, 9 minutes cycling (or 2 miles), 9 minutes swimming (or 400 yards), 10 minutes downhill skiing, 14 minutes of tennis, 20 minutes of golf, 20 minutes of gardening, 20 minutes of walking at 2.6 mph, 22 minutes of bowling. Just pick three activities or do your favorite activity three times every day.

The take home message from 1975 is: it's easy to drop 200 calories out of your diet and it's not difficult to burn 300 extra calories every day.

So, there you have it, written before all the "fads," a simple plan towards weight loss. I think the world needs to get back to "simple thinking" regarding weight loss, health and exercise.

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1975 thoughts about weight loss - Estes Park Trail-Gazette

GETTY

The chemical enzyme is sent by fat cells as a sensor to indicate enough food has been eaten.

This stops any more eating - preventing us from putting on too much weight.

The breakthrough could could also lead to treatments for eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa.

Drugs that target the protein known as BH4 by boosting or lowering levels could suppress the appetite of those hooked on food or increase it for others addicted to dieting.

Our study indicates fat tissue sends a molecular signal to the fly brain to regulate feeding behaviour

Professor Walton Jones

Experiments on flies found it plays a key role in reducing eating in flies - offering hope of a similar chemical pathway in humans.

Professor Walton Jones, of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejeon, said: "Our study indicates fat tissue sends a molecular signal to the fly brain to regulate feeding behaviour.

"Further studies will be needed to determine if a similar system acts in mammals, and if so, whether it can be safely manipulated to help achieve weight loss, or gain, in people."

The study published in PLOS Biology said fat is the primary long-term energy storage chemical in animals and controlling levels is critical for survival.

GETTY

In mammals the hormone leptin induces eating in response to fat loss but so far no corresponding signal has been identified stopping eating in response to fat gain.

Fruit flies replicate many of the feeding-related regulatory mechanisms and genes known to operate in humans.

Professor Jones, a neurobiologist, explained this is why they make a good model for the search for such an inhibitory signal.

His team focused on bits of DNA called microRNAs as they are well-known inhibitors of gene expression.

GETTY

This identified the chemical miR-iab-4 in fat tissue which increased feeding by more than 27 per cent and a gene called purple which was expressed in fat bodies.

Blocking the gene increased feeding - suggesting its normal function was to inhibit it.

Purple is known to be one of two enzymes that build a molecule called PTP which is released by fat bodies and circulates in the fly brain.

There, a third enzyme converts PTP into BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin) where neurons produce the protein NPF that regulates feeding.

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Loss of purple in the fat body - or of BH4 in brain cells - led to increased release of NPF and increased feeding.

Conversely, increasing BH4 in neurons reduced NPF release and decreased feeding.

Finally, the researchers showed feeding flies a low-calorie diet reduced expression of the fat body enzymes that control BH4 production - and led to increased feeding.

They said the results suggest BH4 plays a key role in suppressing appetite in flies - and that PTP released from fat bodies delivers a signal to the brain indicating energy stores are sufficient and feeding can stop.

Professor Jones said: "Because the enzymes that produce BH4 and the enzymes that require BH4 are all highly conserved, it will be interesting to see whether our results in flies also apply to mice or humans."

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Obesity pill 'on horizon' after enzyme that tells brain when its full is discovered - Express.co.uk

By Garrett Ohlmeyer Staff Writer

The Fitness Center of Thibodaux Regional announced a new expanded cycling studio this week with 54stationary exercise bicycles for 14 classes.

The new bikes on the fourth floor are a part of a $400,000 reinvestment into equipment and technology into the wellness center, Greg Stock, CEO of Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, said in a video on Twitter.

Thebikes are easy for novices and experts to use, Stock said.

This area here is a really nice area for people to come into, Stock said. It has the feel that cyclists like where they are sort of close together on a journey. Theres a video that they play where they go up and down hills, so on and so forth to make it as real as possible.

Cycling gives similar benefits to riding a bicycle outside, including contributing to lower blood pressure, weight loss, increased joint mobility and improved heart health.

Chrisy Myhand, director of the wellness center, said she enjoys seeing people become healthier from cycling.

You really can lose weight, but more importantly, decrease stress and decrease blood pressure, Myhand said. Ive seen a lot of results of people getting off of their blood pressure meds just from cycling two or three times a week."

Myhand said cycling is a low impact type of cardio workout, so people with knee and hip injuries can exercise safely.

There are different types of cycling classes offered, including high-intensity workouts, lower-intensity workouts and some that combine cycling and other activitiessuch as yoga and core exercises.

For information, visit http://www.fitnesscenterofthibodauxregional.com ordownload the free app, Fit@ThibReg.

Story: The Fitness Center of Thibodaux Regional announced a new expanded cycling studio this week with 54 new stationary exercise bicycles, making a total of 14 classes.

The new bikes on the fourth floor of the wellness center are a part of a $400,000 reinvestment into equipment and technology into the wellness center, said Greg Stock, CEO of Thibodaux Regional, in a video on Twitter.

The new bikes are easy for both novices and experts to accommodate to, said Stock.

This area here is a really nice area for people to come into, Stock said in the video. It has the feel that cyclists like where they are sort of close together on a journey. Theres a video that they play where they go up and down hills, so on and so forth to make it as real as possible.

Cycling gives similar benefits to riding a bicycle outside, including contribution to lower blood pressure, weight loss, increased joint mobility and improved heart health.

Chrisy Myhand, director of the wellness center, said she enjoys seeing people become healthier from cycling.

You really can lose weight, but more importantly, decrease stress and decrease blood pressure, Myhand said. Ive seen a lot of results of people getting off of their blood pressure meds just from cycling two or three times a week.

Myhand said cycling is a low impact type of cardio workout, so people with knee and hip injuries can exercise safely.

There are different types of cycling classes offered, including high intensity workouts, lower intensity workouts, and some that combine cycling and other activities like yoga and core exercises.

More information about the classes can be found at http://www.fitnesscenterofthibodauxregional.com or by downloading the free app, Fit@ThibReg.

Link:
Thibodaux Regional adds stationary bikes - Houma Today - Houma Courier

If youre a new mom, you might be counting down the days when you can trade in your maternity pants for your favorite pair of skinny jeans.

Yet experts say just as it took you nine months to put on the weight, losing it can take several months or more. If the weight isnt coming off as fast as you want it to or your weight loss has stalled, there are several factors that could be hindering your efforts. Here are 10.

1. You weighed too much before or during pregnancy More than 50 percent of women are overweight or obese when they get pregnant, and only about a third gain the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If you became pregnant while you were overweight or if you gained more than you should have, it can make it that much more challenging to lose the weight. In fact, women who gain more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy are more likely to keep the weight on even up to 15 years postpartum, a meta-analysis in the journal Nutrition Reviews found.

Although you cant go back in time, its important to recognize that it could take you longer.

HOW TAKING A HOT BATH COULD HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT

2. Youre not getting enough sleep Sleep is hard to come by with a new baby, but when you are sleep-deprived, the hormones that affect appetite are unbalanced. In fact, people who slept for only four hours ate more calories the following day than when they had enough sleep, a study presented at the American Heart Associations scientific sessions in 2011 found.

Sleep deprivation causes your body to up its production of ghrelin, which increases hunger, and slow down its production of leptin, which regulates appetite.

If your partner can take a feeding at night or you can catch a nap during the day, it can help you get the rest you need.

Also, eating at the exact same time every day will regulate your hormones and your appetite. Although your babys sleep schedule is inconsistent, you can actually train your body to maintain a consistent schedule, Dr. Susan Albers, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic and a New York Times bestselling author of 50 More Ways To Soothe Yourself Without Food, told Fox News.

3. Youre not being patient enough Trying to stack up to those celebrities who are back in their bikinis two weeks after giving birth isnt healthy. The time it takes to lose the baby weight is different for each woman, but it will take at least six months, if not more, Angela Ginn-Meadow, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Baltimore, Maryland, and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Fox News.

Dont beat yourself up, but do make sure your diet and exercise habits are consistent and realistic for your life.

It might not happen overnight, but small, simple steps to getting back will be key, Ginn-Meadow said.

If you think youve been doing everything right but your weight loss has stalled, seek advice from a registered dietitian nutritionist, who may be able to help.

6 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER SAY TO SOMEONE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT

4. Youre skipping meals Between feedings, diaper changes and an unpredictable schedule, making time to sit down to a meal can feel like an afterthought. Yet if you dont make regular meals a priority, youll feel irritable and more likely to eat more at the next meal. In fact, fasting is linked to abdominal weight gain and may increase your risk for type-2 diabetes, a study out of The Ohio State University suggests.

5. Youre hitting the gym too hard You might think it will take hours at the gym to lose the baby weight, but thats not the case. In fact, doing too much too fast can put you at risk for injury, pelvic organ prolapse a condition that causes the pelvic organs such as the bladder or uterus to bulge out of the vagina, and even halt your weight loss efforts.

A lot of cardio also stimulates your appetite to increase to match it and sometimes to exceed it, Leah Keller, a pre- and post-natal fitness expert in San Francisco, California, and creator of The Dia Method, a prenatal and postnatal fitness program, told Fox News.

Instead of pushing yourself to do a HIIT class when you get the all-clear to exercise again, resistance training that targets the major muscle groups is the most effective way to torch calories. Aim for 25 minutes, twice a week.

Cardio isnt off limits, but make sure its low impact especially when you start to exercise again. Then as you feel stronger, you can move onto intervals on the elliptical or bike. As you push the heart rate up and down, you get more benefit long-term both for your cardiovascular fitness and calorie burn, Keller said.

MULTITASKING MOM BREAST-FEEDS WHILE SHE WORKS OUT

6. You have a thyroid issue Up to 30 percent of postpartum women likely have thyroid dysfunction due to an iodine deficiency, Dr. Prudence Hall, founder of The Hall Center in Santa Monica, California, told Fox News.

During pregnancy, your baby takes iodine from you, which in turn can cause hypothyroidism, a disorder whereby the thyroid gland doesnt make enough thyroid hormone. After you give birth, symptoms like fatigue, depression and weight gain can show up.

If you suspect that you have a problem with your thyroid, ask your doctor to run a comprehensive thyroid panel, which includes TSH, free T3, free T4, and reverse T3 and the thyroid antibodies. If the test determines there is an issue, your doctor may prescribe iodine and a thyroid medication. Theres also some evidence of women reversing their thyroid problems through diet.

7. Youre eating the wrong foods To lose weight, you need to eat meals that regulate your blood sugar and keep you feeling satiated. Make sure you eat plenty of vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats throughout the day to fill you up, but be sure to keep empty calories to a minimum.

We all love treats, we all love indulgent foods. But those occasional foods really need to be once or twice a week they dont need to be a habit, Ginn-Meadow said.

5 CRAZY NEW WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT

8. Youre snacking at night You might get a hankering for a snack after your babys middle of the night feeding, but those extra calories can add up. Instead, drink a cup of chamomile or cinnamon tea, which studies suggest may lower blood sugar in people with diabetes.

9. You have a leaky gut Breastfeeding causes low levels of estrogen, which surprisingly can affect the GI tract and lead to intestinal hyperpermeability, or leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut syndrome occurs when tight junctions that line the inside of the intestines open and allow undigested food particles and pathogens through. Research suggests that this increased permeability in the gut is linked to increased visceral, or deep, fat.

When the GI tract goes out and doesnt digest food as well, thats a major cause for weight gain, Hall said.

To boost your gut health and lose weight, try probiotics, along with digestive enzymes, eliminate gluten, minimize dairy and of course, eat a healthy diet, she said.

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10. Youre eating your feelings When youre sleep deprived and feel overwhelmed and stressed out, its common to rummage through the pantry for something to make yourself feel better. Yet if you dont break that habit, it can prevent you from losing weight.

Instead of turning to food to feel better, have a list of healthy activities you can do when youre trying to cope with your feelings.

That might include putting your baby in the stroller and taking a brisk walk, signing up for a mommy and me Yoga class, journaling, or simply escaping to the bathroom to take a few deep breaths for a moment of peace. Five minutes away of [or] getting a few moments to yourself can [be] so refreshing, Albers said.

Julie Revelant is a health journalist and a consultant who provides content marketing and copywriting services for the healthcare industry. She's also a mom of two. Learn more about Julie at revelantwriting.com.

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10 reasons you can't lose the baby weight - Fox News