Some Jefferson County employees are finding it easier to leave food on their plates and nosh a bit more slowly at social functions.

During a 10-week period, 30 employees lost a total of 328 pounds and 102 waistline inches, said Cary Erickson, director of human resources and risk management.

All of those pounds were dropped, according to Erickson, through a program called Naturally Slim, which is provided as part of county employees' health benefit package.

The three "biggest losers" report higher energy levels, greater mobility and decreased cholesterol and blood pressure as well as decreasing risk for diabetes and other health problems.

None of them minded their new, trimmer profiles either.

Capt. Mike Kirkpatrick of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office topped the list, dropping 50 pounds in about 2 months. He said that the most challenging thing was changing old habits and mindsets.

"I was always taught to clean your plate - that it's a sin to waste food," he said.

Read more in Thursday's Beaumont Enterprise.

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County employees start weight loss competition, shed 113 pounds

A COUPLE who shed 15 stone between them following pioneering weight loss surgery have been hailed as shining examples by medical staff.

David and Debra Brassell, husband and wife from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, have struggled with weight issues for most of their lives.

After being referred to the bariatric service at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, they were both keen to undergo weight loss surgery and change their lives for the better.

Mother-of-one Debra, 47, who works for Asda, had always been overweight. She was just nine when she had her first GP appointment to discuss her weight.

Tipping the scales at 20 stone, it was a holiday to the Dominican Republic in May 2011 which made Debra start thinking about weight loss surgery.

She said: While on holiday we got talking to another holidaymaker who had recently had weight loss surgery and was very pleased with the results.

It set me off thinking about my weight and I decided that I would go on a diet when we got back home and try to lose weight before going to Florida in the September.

However, I was disappointed to discover that during our break in Florida I was actually heavier than when we had been away earlier that year. Id been thinking about weight loss surgery so when we got home I said to David that Id been considering looking into surgery and he actually said hed been thinking the same thing.

Husband David, 44, had gained weight gradually over the years and weighing in at 21 stone, decided that he also needed to discuss the options with his GP.

Debra continued: Around September last year, we both went to see our GPs and I was referred straight away to the bariatric service while David was advised to try a course of medication first.

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Bishop Auckland couple's weight loss surgery commended

Sara asks, "Why is it more difficult for women to lose weight than men?"

This goes back to the age old question: what's the difference between the sexes? We have for centuries compared male verses female, and attempted to explain the difference in just about every category. We've seen the rise of feminism, and have established equality (in theory) in every aspect of human life. But, there really is a difference between the sexes, and it has to do with the basic functions for each through evolution. By evolution, I don't mean the evolution from lower species to a higher species, but by evolution for survival. Females ensure the survival of the species by the ability to reproduce. Males, while also necessary for that process, were necessary for protection, hunting and gathering. These basic roles allowed our species to evolve, and prosper. Each generation of offspring, naturally selected for the best possible options for each of the roles per gender. Meaning that the females that were the most fertile, and the males that were the most effective in hunting and protection, had the best chances of survival. So let's break down the basic differences between the sexes from a medical point of view. I am only going to compare the body in relation to weight. I will leave the more complicated and politically charged areas for those much smarter than me!

Men vs. Women

15% more weight - M>F

6inches taller - M >F

Larger chest, heart, lungs, and blood volume - M>F

Skeleton denser - M>F

Higher % of body fat - F>M

Higher estrogen content - F>M

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Priority Health: Women weight loss

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is raising awareness of the link between hearing loss and some chronic diseases during National Men's Health Week (June 11 17). Research shows that people with heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and/or Alzheimer's disease may have an increased risk of hearing loss. Research also links hearing loss to a three-fold risk of falling among working-aged people (40 to 69), depression and anxiety, cognitive decline, and reduced earnings.

BHI also is urging men to get their hearing checked and to be fitted with hearing aids, when needed, to reduce the toll that unaddressed hearing loss can take on their lives. BHI has made available a free online hearing check atwww.hearingcheck.org, where anyone can quickly and confidentially assess if they may have a hearing loss and need a more comprehensive hearing evaluation by a hearing healthcare professional.

"Hearing health is integral to a man's whole health and wellbeing," says Sergei Kochkin, PhD, Executive Director of BHI. "It affects his quality of life, relationships, family life, job performance, and even his earnings. And because hearing loss is linked to several chronic diseases, it's important that men and their healthcare providers routinely address hearing health as part of their medical care."

BHI hopes to raise awareness of the importance of hearing health among men, their healthcare providers, and their employers. And BHI is urging doctors to screen for hearing loss as part of annual physical exams. The institute is also encouraging employers to include hearing health in their workplace wellness programs.

Sixty percent of the 34 million people in the United States with hearing loss are male. And more than 15 million men in the United States suffer from unaddressed hearing loss. Yet the vast majority of them can benefit from hearing aids.

In a 2010 study, BHI found that people with untreated hearing loss lose as much as $30,000 in income annually, depending on their degree of hearing loss. The use of hearing aids, however, was shown to dramatically reduce the risk of income loss and unemployment.

Because most doctors don't screen or ask their patients if they have any hearing problemseven during annual examsit's especially important that men take the online hearing check (www.hearingcheck.org), Kochkin emphasizes.

BHI reminds men that there are simple things men can do to protect their hearing. Listening to their MP3 players at no more than 50 percent maximum volume and wearing earplugs while at rock concerts, using power tools, and riding motorcycles are a few examples.

"Hearing loss remains one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today, despite the pervasive ramifications it has on peoples' lives," says Kochkin. "We hope our participation in National Men's Health Week will raise awareness of the importance of hearing health and prompt men to seek help for their hearing loss."

Men's Health Week is celebrated each year as the week leading up to and including Father's Day. Its purpose is to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Men's Health Week gives healthcare providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. For more information on National Men's Health Week, visitwww.menshealthmonth.org.

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BHI Raises Awareness of the Link Between Hearing Loss and Some Chronic Diseases During National Men's Health Week

hCGDietJourney was voted as the #1 resource to obtain information and ask questions on their hCG diet plan blog according to a recent survey of other hCG diet blogs.

Anchorage, AL (PRWEB) May 24, 2012

hCGDietJourney was voted the #1 best diet resource blog as compared to other blogs during a recent survey.

hCGDietJourney offers extensive dieting resources, including information on the best diet, weight loss foods, weight loss supplements and states Julie Wright, president of hCGDietJourney.

hCGDietJourney provides unbiased information on various weight loss pills, weight loss foods and weight loss supplements, including prescription hCG and the best diet pills on the market.

Readers are welcome to ask any diet question they might have and answers are provided (free of charge) daily. No question will go unanswered reports Wright.

hCGDietJourney works with diet doctors and weight loss nurses across the USA and provides answers to common dieting questions reports Wright.

hCGDietJourney helps people gain knowledge so they can lose weight fast reports Wright.

hCGDietJourney offers an online store with the most popular weight loss products on the market reports Wright, including some of the best diets offered.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/5/prweb9528008.htm

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hCGDietJourney Voted as the #1 hCG Diet Blog in USA According to Recent Survey

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Name: Aaron Detweiler Age: 26 Height: 5'11" Before Weight: 263 pounds

How I Gained It: In my early 20s I was in really good shape, but after I started working full time I lost all ambition for working out. I would eat fast food almost daily for lunch, and even had more days than I wish to count where I had it for lunch and dinner. I work in an office, so on top of my horrible eating habits, I was in a chair eight hours a day and after work would just go home and eat dinner and watch TV. The scale slowly climbed -- first to 220 then 240, and I kept telling myself I wouldn't get heavier than that. In June of 2010, after a vacation to Texas, I got home and the scale read 263.

Breaking Point: After a few months of telling myself I was going to lose all the weight every Monday only to be back to my old habits by Tuesday, I got to the point where it all clicked one week in November of 2010, and I haven't looked back.

How I Lost It: The first few months were just eating healthy and completely eliminating fast food and snacking at night. I dropped around 30 pounds in six weeks by just doing these simple things. The first week was really difficult, but after I developed my new eating routine it never even fazed me.

During the week, my dinners are either chicken or fish with rice or pasta and a lot of raw veggies. On the weekends, I will loosen up a little with what I eat, but I try not to overdo it on portions if I do eat something unhealthy. Usually lunch is either a tuna sandwich or a leftover chicken breast and veggies from the night before. I always eat breakfast, either eggs or oatmeal, and I hardly ever snack between meals. I found hrough logging food on myfitnesspal that just a handful of snacks here and there throughout the day can easily add up to 300 to 400 calories, and you don't even know it.

Once I began to see my body changing it kept the fire alive and pushed me even harder. After the first few months I began lifting weights and running, which sped up my weight loss. I was down to 210 pounds by March of 2011. I have slowly been losing the last 20 pounds by working out five days a week, running and lifting. I started the process wanting to get to 200 pounds, and when I got there, I wasn't satisfied. Now I want to get in the best shape of my life.

Now, I have 20 times the energy I used to have. At my heaviest just playing nine holes of golf, even with a cart, would make me tired for the rest of the day. I can run around all day and rarely get tired. I'm so thankful I finally committed to doing this now, because I was going down an unhealthy path that could have led anywhere. I've completely rebooted everything I knew about eating and will carry these principles with me for the rest of my life. When I think back to how I used to eat and how lazy I was, I still get mad at myself, but I am thankful I was given the strength to correct it and start over before it was too late.

After Weight: 188 pounds

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Weight Loss Success: Aaron Detweiler Cut Out Fast Food And Lost 75 Pounds