In the case of nutrition, one of the major issues is finding a common ground of basic facts and tenets. What diets are best? What foods are healthy? Frequently, were not even beginning at the same starting line, and for many people diet is personal. Diet is cultural. Therefore, people often have significant investments in believing what they believe. Putting that aside, it is undoubtedly true that people dont want to fail in their health goals whatever that may mean. And, lets face it, change is hard. In terms of weight loss, I try to suggest individuals focus less on numbersper seand more on how they feel and their overall health and consider the fact that while pounds may not reduce as much or as fast as they would like, their body composition may be changing in a favorable way (e.g., more muscle, less fat).

Ihad the pleasure to interview Eric Gumpricht, Ph.D.. A nutrition and mechanistic-based scientist with 30 years experience in academia and the private sector, Eric Gumpricht, Ph.D., serves as Isagenix Internationals Director of Research and Science. His responsibilities include overseeing the companys research study program (clinical and experimental studies), scientific claims and product development support, and product education to consumers. Eric joined Isagenix in 2011 as a Research Scientist. He was promoted to Manager of Research and Science in 2015 and to Director of Research and Science in 2018. Prior to Isagenix, he had positions at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the nutrigenomics company Sciona Inc. In addition to his position at Isagenix, Eric serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at Arizona State University in the nutrition program within the College of Health Solutions. As part of this role he provides one or two lectures annually at the university. Eric has a successful track record of scholarship, with approximately 20 peer-reviewed publications and 35 conference abstracts. His excellent interpersonal, communication, and educational skills have resulted in frequent speaking engagements. Eric received a bachelors degree in nutrition science, a masters degree in veterinary science (now pathobiology), and a doctorate in nutrition science from Pennsylvania State University.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you share with us the story about how you first got involved in fitness and wellness?

Igrew up in homes where my parents and stepparents were hippies and generally followed a lifestyle that included outside-the-box nutritional thinking. As a child and teenager, I had very bad bouts of asthma, and I became aware that nutrition improved my asthma when consuming fresh-squeezed orange or carrot juice (still have no idea how or why that worked for me!). This potential use of nutrition as therapy has always resonated with me and led me down further scientific explorations of interest including: anti-aging therapies, free radical biochemistry, and detoxification. Especially from an anti-aging perspective it wasnt a far leap into the world of caloric restriction (CR) and intermittent fasting (IF).

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

Likely not the most interesting, but I do recall a funny incident some 30 years ago as a graduate student at Penn State University. My adviser was organizing a conference back in his home country of India on biological oxidation mechanisms (our lab focus), and knowing I was into rap music at the time (still am to a much lesser degree), he asked me to write a free radical rap! I believe MC Hammers U Cant Touch This was a huge hit around that time? Picture me trying to create verses rhyming such terms as superoxide, glutathione, active oxygen, mitochondrial respiration, etc. I probably got one verse into it when I realized he wasnt taking me to India for the conference, and both he and I lost interest.

Can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority in the fitness and wellness field? In your opinion, what is your unique contribution to the world of wellness?

Part of what I believe provides me with unique perspectives is my combination of professional experiences and an innate ability to simplify typically complex science into more easily digestible components. First, I had 20 years or so of pure academic research training. This training included obtaining my Ph.D. in nutrition sciences at Penn State, followed by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) training grant and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Accompanying my professional academic career were many published studies in very high-quality scientific journals.

Second, as fate would have it, I transitioned into the private sector where I worked first at a nutrigenomics company before ultimately landing at Isagenix International, where I am Director of Research and Science. Isagenix is a global health and wellness company, and to my knowledge, one of the first companies to feature and combine core principles of CR and IF, two very hot dietary strategies for their potential health promoting and weight loss benefits. As a trained scientist, I enjoy scientifically documenting and researching these benefits!

Luckily, I can still participate in and benefit from both worlds. So, while I do what I can to advance the role of science at Isagenix whether it be via novel product formulation recommendations, writing blog posts, or educating consumers I also collaborate with esteemed scientists at various universities such as the University of Florida and Arizona State University, documenting the health benefits of our products and systems. I also serve as an adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University in its nutrition program, where I lecture on topics including the transition from academia into the private sector.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I have had a few mentors and colleagues who I am indeed grateful for. A key mentor was the individual who hired me at Isagenix, Susie Rockway, Ph.D. She clearly saw something in me that allowed her to take a chance on this erstwhile academic scientist. She would frequently praise my writing or edits and conclude her praise with I cant believe youre not a professor somewhere! Indeed, I never doubted many of my key professional and personal attributes and skills would translate from academia into the private sector. I always assumed some of her praise was due to her background, which was also that of a former academician.

Ok thank you for all that. Now lets move to the main focus of our interview. We all know that its important to eat more vegetables, eat less sugar, exercise more, and get better sleep etc. But while we know it intellectually, its often difficult to put it into practice and make it a part of our daily habits. In your opinion what are the 3 main blockages that prevent us from taking the information that we all know, and integrating it into our lives?

In the case of nutrition, one of the major issues is finding a common ground of basic facts and tenets. What diets are best? What foods are healthy? Frequently, were not even beginning at the same starting line, and for many people diet is personal. Diet is cultural. Therefore, people often have significant investments in believing what they believe. Putting that aside, it is undoubtedly true that people dont want to fail in their health goals whatever that may mean. And, lets face it, change is hard. In terms of weight loss, I try to suggest individuals focus less on numbersper seand more on how they feel and their overall health and consider the fact that while pounds may not reduce as much or as fast as they would like, their body composition may be changing in a favorable way (e.g., more muscle, less fat).

Heres a place where I love introducing someone to the potential health benefits of IF and CR.

Collectively, the science supports many benefits from IF and CR, alone or in combination. In fact, in the largest and longest clinical study evaluating CR the multicenter CALERIE trial (1) the investigators were targeting a 25% reduction in calories. And how many calories did the subjects typically reduce? Only about half of the targeted goal. Yet despite this failure to adhere to the target calorie reduction range, the subjects not only lost weight and kept it off, but also improved or modified many risk factors for disease. All of that said, I would recommend people consult with their healthcare practitioner before incorporating CR or IF into their routine.

Can you please share your 5 Non-Intuitive Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve Ones Wellbeing? (Please share a story or an example for each, and feel free to share ideas for mental, emotional and physical health.)

There are many things I would suggest for improving ones well-being. Included here are having fun and having outlets and hobbies that bring joy to you. Mine include our pets, listening to music, reading books on virtually every category of topics imaginable, and definitely cooking. Also, of extreme importance I would think would be to find ways to manage stress. Finally, I believe in simply being a good person, like following the golden rule of treating others the way you want to be treated.

From a nutritional perspective, I favor the potential benefits of IF, which comes in many versions and modifications. For example, theres the alternate-day diet and the 5:2 diet. The version Isagenix has created and scientifically documented in two independent, peer-reviewed studies (26) involves fasting either one day a week or fasting two consecutive days every other week. This IF is not a water fast but a fast that allows for a very small caloric intake, approximately 200450 calories per day, which helps minimize excessive fluctuations in plasma glucose, hormones, and electrolytes. Our fast-day products include dietary supplements such as Cleanse for Life, a scientifically formulated blend of herbal botanicals and antioxidants that afforded significant protection against toxins and oxidative stress in a cell study (7). Needless to say, weve observed great responses with this IF protocol.

The great thing about it is that you neednt be overweight or obese to benefit. Intermittent fasting and CR interventions have been shown to not only support weight loss but also to positively influence cardiovascular and metabolic measures, mood, and even sexual health (1, 811). I cannot tell you how many individuals Ive met through the years who confide in how much happier they are after undergoing our IF protocols. These include women and men whove lost weight and maintained that weight loss as well as serious athletes who have incorporated IF into their training without any negative impact on performance or workout goals.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

Given that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 70% of US adults are classified as either overweight or obese (12), I have no doubt that the greatest good from a health and wellness perspective would be for most Americans to simply achieve and then maintain a healthy weight. Intermittent fasting can certainly contribute to these goals by not only reducing caloric intake but also by changing metabolism and some underlying mechanisms responsible for weight gain or regain. Again, I would always suggest individuals consult with their healthcare provider before embarking on any weight loss program or protocol incorporating IF.

Can you please give us your favorite Life Lesson Quote? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?

I do often think about the quote sometimes attributed to Mark Twain: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. We live in a world (and scientists can be just as guilty as anyone else in this context) where everyone confuses having an opinion with having an informed opinion. Another quote I like is Youth is wasted on the young, usually attributed to playwright George Bernard Shaw. As I get older you can understand my affection toward this one.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them

Although hes no longer alive, among scientists theres no one I would have loved to have met more than the only person to have ever won two unshared Nobel Prizes: Linus Pauling. Im simply in awe of his scientific contributions. The man was a genius in chemistry, physics, crystallography, molecular biology, and of course his proselyting of vitamin C. Another departed but tremendous influence on me was John Coltrane. I would go as far as saying the most spiritual I ever find myself feeling is when listening to Trane. Among living individuals, Im very politically active, so in that realm I would love to have a meal with Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, or Barack Obama.

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Having fun and having outlets and hobbies that bring joy to you. With Dr. William Seeds & Eric Gumpricht, Ph.D - Thrive Global

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J., March 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tris Pharma, Inc., Inc. ("Tris"), a specialty pharmaceutical company with a robust portfolio of approved products for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related disorders, amidst the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, reiterated its commitment to the ADHD community by assuring ADHD patients, caregivers and health care professionals of the continuity of supply of its family of ADHD products. Specifically, Tris reminded the ADHD community that:

Additionally, Tris is proactively addressing the maintenance and potential increase of product availability by:

"We are honored to be entrusted with providing the highest quality prescription ADHD medications to our many patients affected by ADHD," said Ketan Mehta, Chief Executive Officer of Tris Pharma."We will continue to monitor the ever-changing pandemic environment and will adjust as necessary to meet the needs of our patients and their health care professionals."

Quillivant XR, QuilliChew ER, and Dyanavel XR are approved for treatment of ADHD in people 6 years and older. See products' Approved Use and Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning about Abuse and Dependence, below.

About Tris Pharma

Tris Pharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicines that address unmet patient needs. Tris has pioneered the delivery of long-acting liquid, chewable, orally-disintegrating, and film strip dosage forms that can accommodate the unique needs of a wide variety of patients. Tris' fully integrated research, manufacturing, medical and commercial facilities are located in Central New Jersey. For more information, please visit http://www.trispharma.com

APPROVED USE

Dyanavel XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER are central nervous system (CNS) stimulant prescription medicinesused for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)in people 6 years and older. These medicines may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in people with ADHD.

It is not known if Dyanavel XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER are safe and effective in children under 6 years of age.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Dyanavel XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ERare federally controlled substances (CII) because they can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep these medicinesin a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away these medicinesmay harm others and is against the law. Tell your doctor if you, your child, or any family members have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs.

Dyanavel XR, or Quillivant XR and QuilliChew ER,should not be taken if you or your child are allergic to amphetamine or methylphenidate hydrochloride, respectively, or any of the ingredients in these medicines, or are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an anti-depression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI.

Dyanavel XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ERcan cause serious side effects. Tell the doctor:

Common side effects of amphetamine products include:

Common side effects of methylphenidate products include:

Talk to your doctor if you or your child have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Dyanavel XR, Quillivant XR, or QuilliChew ER.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch,or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

See Medication Guide and Full Prescribing Information for Dyanavel XR,Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER,including Boxed Warningabout Abuse and Dependence.

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SOURCE Tris Pharma, Inc.

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Quillivant XR, QuilliChew ER and Dyanavel XR are 100% Made in the USA and Remain Consistently Supplied During COVID-19 Pandemic - BioSpace

Breaking a sweat and getting your heart thumping may or may not be your idea of a fun afternoon. But getting in a cardio workout a few times a week has health benefits your body will thank you for (and were not just talking about weight loss).

In fact, were not into the idea of exercising only for weight loss, especially since moving your body is great for so many aspects of your health. For example, doing weekly cardio is associated with better heart health, better sleep, a stronger immune system, and improved mood.

If weight loss *is* your goal, though, keep this in mind: Many articles online promise X minutes of cardio minus X calories equals X pounds lost. But thats not necessarily true for everyone age, sex, weight, body composition, and many other factors (even down to the size of your heart) all affect how your body carries weight.

If youre really keen on doing the math, using a calorie tracker that accounts for some of those factors like this one may be helpful.

These gym-free, weight-free, machine-free exercises are simple and accessible for beginners and experts alike. Try keeping your routine in the 10- to 15-minute range when youre starting out, with 30 to 60 seconds of rest between exercises.

No mountains necessary for this one.

If this feels tough, modify by using your abs to bring your knee toward your chest at a rhythmic pace that feels more accessible.

Beloved by high school sports coaches everywhere, this classic move involves your whole body.

Were assuming you did jumping jacks in elementary school PE, but on the off chance you didnt, heres a refresher:

The basic lunge is a great exercise for building muscles in your legs and getting your heart rate up. Heres how to do it:

You dont have to be an Olympian to do this quick cardio exercise. Plus, sprint training might help improve your overall fitness in a shorter period of time.

Note: One hundred meters is just 0.06 miles, which is about the length of an average city block.

Note: The quicker you go, the more cardio youll get. Dont sacrifice form for speed, though! Keep your abs tight, your shoulders away from your ears, and your muscles activated.

If a 30-minute run sounds daunting, keep in mind that you can jog as slow as you need. A general rule of thumb is that softer surfaces (like grass and sand) are easier on your joints but harder on your muscles, while asphalt and concrete are a little harder on your joints but easier on your muscles.

Some tips for running:

Pro tip: We looked into it, and it turns out you dont need to spend a ton of money on running shoes.

These exercises require a little out-of-home work, as well as equipment. So find a gym or grab yourself some gear, and lets get to it.

Running outside on a public set of stairs will provide a little more room and might make you more comfortable, but you can also race up and down the stairs in your house or apartment building. The more stairs, the better, but if its a short set, you can just do more reps.

For more high intensity stair workouts, check out our guide.

Theres a reason boxers start their workouts by jumping rope: Its a killer endurance exercise! And even though this workout technically requires equipment, you can easily order a jump rope on Amazon for less than 10 bucks.

Here are some tips for good jump rope form:

Cant get enough jump rope? Check out our special jump rope workout.

You dont have to be Michael Phelps to get a good pool workout. Whether youre doing laps or just treading water (which is totally considered cardio too!), an aquatic cardio sesh is easy on your joints and works a ton of muscles in your body.

If youve never done any kind of swimming, you may want to take a free class at the community pool to be sure youre doing it safely. If you have some experience, try the crawl or front stroke.

Indoor cycling bikes provide low impact, high intensity workouts (without the fear of a car swerving into your path!). If you have access to a Peloton bike, you can choose from a list of guided workouts of different intensity levels.

For a DIY cycling workout, start with 20 minutes at a moderate intensity level (this is the amount of resistance programmed into the pedals). This will likely be enough to break a sweat, but if you want more, play around with more resistance or a longer duration.

Perhaps the most underrated machine in the gym, the rower is a total-body workout that gives you a blast of cardio while working your core, butt, legs, and arms all at once (86 percent of your muscles!).

Fun fact: NASA astronauts train with a device similar to a rowing machine.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

The original StairMaster 5000 was created in the early 80s, but you dont need a neon bodysuit to do this butt-blasting cardiovascular exercise. The rotating steps allow you to consistently climb stairs (using all those backside muscles) at a pace you select. Think: treadmill with a significant incline.

Hop on this machine when you want to get a combination of strength and cardio work your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves are in for a good burn.

Obviously, the faster you go, the more aerobic exercise youre getting, but be careful and watch your pace to make sure youre working out safely.

Whether youre shadowboxing at home (punching an invisible enemy, perhaps) or getting into the ring in a boxing gym, this high intensity cardio exercise can transform your body, sharpen your mind, and leave you drenched in sweat.

Following a boxing workout program, whether at home or in a class at the gym, will teach you proper form for stances and punches. Boxing typically also involves a jump rope warmup, so get ready to be a little out of breath.

This explosive move strengthens your legs and will leave even the fittest among us sweaty and out of breath, especially if youre doing em right. Heres how it goes:

These muscle-building exercises are all about coordination, stamina, and pushing yourself.

Perform each move below for 30 seconds, with 10 seconds of rest between moves. Once youve made it through all six, rest for 45 seconds. Thats 1 circuit. Repeat everything for a total of 6 circuits.

Check out a more detailed explanation of this workout here.

This workout is a little bit like AMRAP from CrossFit (that means as many reps as possible). Go through the list of moves, doing all your reps as quickly as you can, and then start over. Repeat until the 15-minute timer is up.

Check out a more detailed explanation of this workout here.

Another 15-minute cardio workout, but Tabata-style.

This interval style of training alternates 20 seconds of intense work with 10 seconds of rest, repeated for 4 minutes at a time for each set. This includes a warmup and 3 superset rounds, with a 30-second rest between rounds.

This workout, which starts with a warmup and ends with a cooldown, is challenging but pretty darn effective. These moves will work almost every muscle in your body while giving you a cardio blast.

This two-part running workout is made for the treadmill, so you can control your exact speed and incline. Get the full workout here.

The gist of this workout: Run at an incline, recover, repeat.

In the first half, youll have seven 1-minute runs at a particular incline, six 1-minute recovery periods (walking or jogging), and one 2- to 3-minute recovery after the final 1-minute run.

The second half increases the intensity both speed and incline and shortens those runs into 30-second sprints with 1-minute recoveries (and, again, a 2- to 3-minute recovery at the end).

Even though doing cardio can give you all the great benefits we mentioned, it is possible to get too much of a good thing. Overtraining is a real syndrome that can do serious damage.

Be sure to give yourself rest days between high intensity workouts so your muscles have a chance to recover. If youre sore AF, thats a great indication your body needs a breather.

Whenever youre stepping up your fitness regimen, remember to step up your nutrition too. While youre burning extra calories, youll need to replenish (calories = necessary energy to keep working out). Eat healthy carbohydrates (whole grains, fruits, veggies) and lots of protein to nourish your body.

Dominique Michelle Astorino is a health and wellness writer who has authored more than 5,000 stories on the subject. You can follow her at @dommymichelle on Instagram and Twitter, where she shares her unending love for healthy living, travel, the beach, and her dog Stella.

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The 21 Best Cardio Workouts for Every Level of Fitness - Greatist

Just last week, a coronavirus expert warned Brits to stay away from big blokes in the gym as those who regularly pump iron could become super spreaders.

Pandemic expert Dr Norman Swan fears that gyms are the perfect place for COVID-19 to spread because there is so much sweat.

So if youre in need of a good workout to get you through this tough time, heres a simple circuit to try which could help you maintain your weight loss.

From YouTube videos to free apps and Instagram, if youre lacking inspiration you could always follow a personal trainer for ideas.

Otherwise, here are some simple moves to try at home to lose weight and burn calories.

How to do: Set your feet shoulder-width apart, toes slightly turned out. Slowly bend at the knees and drop your hips to lower your body.

You must slowly bend at the knees and drop your hips to lower your body, then at the bottom of the exercise pause for a moment and strongly push back up to the starting position.

If you want to make it harder for yourself and have some equipment at home, use weights or resistance bands.

How to do: Starting in a high plank with a flat back, lower your chest to the floor by bending your arms and sending them back at 45-degree angle.

Make sure you keep your neck in a neutral position and then push everything back up in a straight line, breathing out as you lift.

How to do: Make sure you have plenty of space when you try this. Start by standing, then jump down into a plank and quickly lowering yourself to the floor.

Push yourself up from the floor, jump your feet towards your hands as you stand up, finishing the move with another standing jump at the top.

How to do: Use a bench or a chair, place hands on the outside of your hips, fingers pointing forwards.

Then you should slowly lower your upper body down, making sure that your back is as close to the bench as possible.

Lower until your arms are at 90 degrees, then use triceps to push yourself back to the starting position.

Again, if youve got any weights lying around you could put them on your lap as you slowly lower your upper body down.

How to do: Start with your feet together and step forward, lunging with your right leg. Stand up, then repeat with your left leg.

This is a great workout to use with booty bands if you want to increase the resistance as you lunge.

How to do: The isometric core strength exercise involves maintaining a position similar to a push-up for the maximum possible time.

If youre new to planking, try it for 30 seconds then keep increasing the time to boost core strength.

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How to lose weight simply at home if youre avoiding the gym during coronavirus - Daily Star

Kevin Lee fell to Charles Oliveira via a third round submission on Saturday night at UFC Brasilia, tapping out after he got caught in a guillotine choke.

Yet after the fight was called, Lee seemed confused as to why things were stopped and Jorge Masvidal didnt like that one bit.

Masvidal quickly took to Twitter to call Lee out almost instantly after the bout, mad that he attempted to keep fighting and claimed he didnt tap out after the fight was called even though he explicitly did.

Warning: The following tweets contain language that is NSFW

He kept going, too, mad that Lee had missed weight by 2.5 pounds just before the fight.

Whether theres more to his frustration with Lee or not isnt clear.

What is clear, though, is that Lee tapped out and lost his bout. Its easy to understand why Masvidal, and others in the UFC world, would be mad about his attempt to keep going.

The fight was held without fans in Brasilia, Brazil, amid the COVID-19 pandemic which seems to have paralyzed the sports world across the globe. Gilbert Burns topped Demian Maia in the first round of the co-main event on Saturday, too.

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Jorge Masvidal slams Kevin Lee after loss at UFC Brasilia: One of the lowest things you can do - Yahoo Sports

There are a couple of apps that can help you lose weight. So, when you download these apps on your mobile phone, you can not only keep a tab on your lifestyle and habits but also keep a check on your exercises and the calorie intake. A few of these apps have some exquisite characteristics and features, too, such as support forums, and financial rewards. These rewards help you stay motivated and be on top of your weight loss game. The good thing is all these weight loss apps are easy for you to use.

Here, we have come up with 3 most useful and helpful apps that will help you shed off the unwanted kilos. So, let us take a look at these apps one by one.

Mia, who works with a platform that offers online write my essay for me services, says that Lose It is a user-friendly app that will help facilitate weight loss and calorie counting for you. It is also a good app to help you keep track of your everyday weight. On using the app, you can keep track of your health goals, weight, and age. With the help of the app, you can generate your calorie requirement daily. It will also provide you with a personalized plan to help you lose weight.

So, once your plan is finalized, you will have to enter in the food intake requirements in your app. There is a massive database of more than 7 billion foods, brands, and items from the restaurant. Further, there is also a barcode scanner available for the app.

So, you can also add foods to your log. If you frequently enter a particular food or brand, it will save it. This will help you quickly select from the list when you have to eat it. Additionally, you can also get a report of the weekly and daily calorie intake. When you use the app to keep a tab on your weight, your weight changes will be presented on the graph.

The Snap It feature of the app makes it different from the other weight loss apps. So, by taking the pictures of your meals, you can keep a tab on your portion sizes and food intake. The community component of the app is also helpful as it helps you participate in the challenges with the other users. You can ask them questions in a forum or share information with them.

Gargi, who offers online do my statistics homework services, says that you can log your weight, exercise, and meals with the user-friendly tracking panel of the SparkPeople. The nutrition database of the app is huge and it has more than 3,00,000 food items available. Further, the app also has a barcode scanner, which makes it easy for you to keep a track of all the packaged items that you consume.

On signing up for the SparkPeople, you get access to their demo component. It will include the descriptions and the photos of all the common exercises that you can include via proper workout techniques. You have a point system also included in Spark People. So, whenever you log in your habits or if you achieve a particular goal, you will bag some points. You can use these points for your motivation.

Sophie, who offers online assignment help, says that one of the most effective means to lose weight is via calorie tracking. So, with an app like My Fitness Pal, you can keep a tab on your calorie needs and then log on all that you eat in a day. The app has a massive nutrition database of 5 million food items. In addition to it, there are also restaurant food items included in the app that are usually not easy to keep a track on.

After you log in your calorie intake, the app will give you a breakdown of the nutrients and the calories that you consumed in the day. Further, the app also generates a few reports, such as a pie chart, which will give you an overview of the total protein, carbohydrates, and fat consumption.

Rhea, who offers the best product management courses online, says that the most useful feature of the app is that it has a barcode scanner that makes it easy for you to log in to the nutritional information of the packaged food items. You can even look for a few healthy recipes and track your weight with the app.

So, these are the three most incredibly useful apps that will help facilitate your weight loss journey.

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Top 3 Weight Loss Apps That Are Incredibly Useful - Nerd's Magazine

Each lash strip's wide and stable base is also transparent, so it blends into bare eyelids whether or not you choose to pair it with eyeliner. What's more: The band's thin and flexible material makes them so comfortable, they're nearly undetectable. "After five minutes of wearing it, you don't feel that you're wearing the lashes," Gapare says. "They just blend with your skin, and you just like somebody who's wearing normal false eyelashes."

According to the brand, each pair lasts up to 10 hours. Each pack also comes with a separate adhesive that can be applied to worn-down base strips for re-use.

Of course, like any other pair of falsies, C-Lashes require just a little practice and adjustment. If you aren't used to having lashes, Gapare recommends starting with the Natural set. "The Natural lash mimics your own existing lashes, so you're not going to constantly feel like you've got something foreign on your eye," she explains.

Eyelur C-Lash Replacement Lashes in Volume, $8 (Shop Now)

And if you're using C-Lashes while getting treatment for cancer, pay extra mind to sanitation. Michael Grossbard of NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center says cancer patients, especially those who are currently receiving chemotherapy or just completed treatment, often have weakened immune systems. "Making sure cancer patients adhere to thorough handwashing is critical in all daily activities," he says. As Gapare points out, that also applies to applying false eyelashes.

Thankfully, the application process itself isn't too difficult, according to Gapare. The thickness and transparency of the band, she thinks, makes it very easy to locate your lash line and guide the falsies into place. "Start [applying] from the center of the eye going up outwards because then it's really easy to position the lash and make it stick where you're supposed to," she advises.

Though Gapare developed these lashes with cancer patients and survivors in mind, anyone who's experienced eyelash loss from other causes (like alopecia, for example) can use C-Lashes. Regardless of the reason someone has lost their natural lashes, Gapare understands how it can impact their happiness. That's where the name of her product comes in.

Eylure London C-Lash Replacement Lashes in Lengthening, $8 (Shop Now)

Plenty of people assume that Gapare named her product C-Lash as a nod to her cancer survival, but as she explains, the "C" actually represents reclamation. "When you wear your C-Lash, it's what you want it to be that day," she says. "If you want to look cute, then C-Lash is for cuteness; if you're going out for an interview, then it's for confidence; if you're going out to present an award or something, it's for champion."

In short? Her goal was simply to create something positive. And we'd bet her customers would agree that she's done just that.

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Eylure London and C-Lash Release the False Eyelashes for People With No Eyelashes - Allure

Britain's blue chip index closed up over 143 points, or 2.8%, at 5,294, just before the UK Prime Ministers daily briefing

FTSE 100 index closed in positive territory on Tuesday and Wall Street also bounced back as markets cheered efforts to minimise the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Britain's blue chip index closedup over 143 points, or 2.8%, at 5,294, just before the UK Prime Ministers daily briefing and UK chancellor Rishi Sunak announced more emergency economic measures to keep UK Plc afloat.

Saying the government woulddo 'whatever it takes', Sunak detailed new measures including330bn of government-backed loans or credit to businesses, equivalent to around 15% of GDP.

Also extended for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)will be a loan scheme, which will offercredit of up to 5mln. Talks will take place coming days on how to aid airlines and airports, he added.

Despite these fiscal measures concentratingon the UK, the moredomestically focusedFTSE 250 index finished lower, shedding over 424 points to 13,924 as it benefits less from the pound's weakness.

Joshua Mahony, senior market analyst at online trader IG, said European markets are on the rise thanks to "global efforts to minimise the long-term impact of this epidemic helping allay fears over huge unemployment and economic decline".

"Investors have started to strategically pick over the damaged pile of UK stocks today, with traders becoming more selective and strategic about their approach following a dramatic period of declines which has seen both risk and haven assets hit hard."

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones added over 442 points at 20,662, while S&P 500 added over 80 points at 2,467.

It was the best of days, it was the worst of days but at the end of the day (nearly) it was a welcome rally.

The FTSE 100 was up 87 points (1.7%) at 5,239 with half an hour of trading to go, helped somewhat by sterling plunging two-and-a-half cents against the US dollar to US$1.2015.

The dollar has strengthened after the US Federal Reserve set up a commercial paper funding facility to make it easier for corporations to get debt-based funding.

Just as investors were starting to seriously flag once again, the Fed actually managed to pull-off a market-boosting intervention after a string of false dawns.

The central bank announced on Tuesday that it would be launching a Commercial Paper Funding Facility, i.e. a way for it to buy up short-term debt issued by struggling companies seeking to raise cash.

It seems that, after being sceptical of the Feds rate cuts and trillion-dollar stimulus injections, the creation of this new special credit facility was the kind of thing investors were hoping for, said Connor Campbell at .

The greenback went on a tear once the CPFF was revealed, surging 1.6% against the yen and pound, and 1.9% against the euro. Cable is now stuck under $1.2065 for the first time in close to six months, Campbell noted.

The topsy-turvy day continues with the FTSE 100 now in positive territory after the latest move by the US Federal Reserve to ease a corporate credit crunch.

The central bank has established a commercial paper funding facility to support the flow of credit to companies, whipping a tool out of its locker that it used during the 2008 credit crunch.

Commercial paper markets directly finance a wide range of economic activity, supplying credit and funding for auto loans and mortgages as well as liquidity to meet the operational needs of a range of companies. By ensuring the smooth functioning of this market, particularly in times of strain, the Federal Reserve is providing credit that will support families, businesses, and jobs across the economy, the Fed said.

The FTSE 100 was up 57 points (1.1%) at 5,208, driven higher in part by grocery delivery technology company (), which is doing a roaring trade in this period of social distancing. The online grocer has stopped processing new customers bookings until further notice.

Ocados shares were up 18% at 1,347.5p.

In contrast, the postponement of the Euro 2020 football tournament were now going to have to refer to it as Euro 2021 has dealt a blow to terrestrial broadcaster (), which is down 13% at 65.28p.

Emulating what the Footsie did this morning, the US benchmarks opened higher but quickly went into retreat.

The Dow Jones index was down 228 points (1.1%) at 19,960 and the S&P 500 was off 7 points (0.3%) at 2,379.

Back home, the FTSE 100 was down 74 points (1.4%) at 5,081.

Gold is in favour, rising US$6.40 on futures markets to US$1,492.70 an ounce but the price of Brent crude has fallen below US$30 a barrel to US$29.42, down 63 cents.

There has apparently been no progress in attempts to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Russia, with sources saying that an OPEC+ technical meeting planned for Wednesday had been called off. Neither side appears likely to blink in the short term, with stating in an earnings call that it was likely to sustain higher output through May and was very comfortable with $30 oil, said Jack Allardyce, an oil and gas research analyst at Europe.

The company had said it would raise production to a record 12.3mmbopd next month [millions of barrels of oil per day], including 300kbopd from existing stocks, as it looks to capture increased market share following the dissolution of the previous OPEC+ pact. With major Russian producers also suggesting they would up supply, and demand in freefall due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, April is expected to see record surplus production and we would expect downward pressure on prices to continue in the near-term, he added.

We believe that current prices are below achievable breakevens for the majority of producers, meaning that benchmarks will recover in the longer-term, although the impact on balance sheets even in the best case is likely to be significant, Allardyce predicted.

While investors wait for the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to emerge with his replica bazooka, the Footsie is making an attempt at a lunchtime rally.

Londons index of leading shares was down 51 points (1.1%) at 5,096, having started the afternoon session at around 5,044.

The ongoing rout in equity markets raises an obvious question: what could break the circuit? Unfortunately, monetary or fiscal policy are less suited to break the circuit in a crisis of the real economy that stems from medical emergency than in a financial crisis, said Holger Schmieding at Berenberg.

The pandemic and the lockdowns to contain it are delivering a shock to the real economy on a scale that seems unprecedented in peacetime. Because of the unknown trajectory of the virus, with case numbers surging and lockdowns being tightened, it may be more difficult than during a financial crisis to deliver a policy announcement so stunning that it would restore market confidence and put an end to the equity bear market, he added.

Of course, a hypothetical central bank promise to buy almost unlimited amounts of equities and thus turn itself into a potential majority owner of a countrys productive capital could end the equity selloff. But we do not expect policy makers to go for this hypothetical variant of whatever it takes, he added, possibly to the regret of those singing The Red Flag in the background.

Schmieding goes on to suggest that bailing out equity markets could be at least as unpopular as bailing out the banks was in 2008/9, although possibly not with anyone with a pension plan.

Its not all doom and gloom on the Footsie, with a substantial minority of stocks defying the trend, including Paddy Power and Betfair owner (), which is up 4.1% at 5,944p, having been hammered yesterday after it made its best guess at how much the cancellation of major sporting events is likely to cost it.

Otherwise, todays winners include many of the usual suspects that people turn to in times of market turmoil, namely grocery sellers, such as () up 17%; essential household goods makers, such as Group PLC () - up 7.2%; utilities, such as PLC () - up 5.3%; and drugs companies, such as PLC () up 6.7%.

US markets are expected to open higher although spread betting quotes on the likely opening levels are changing rapidly.

The Dow Jones, which crashed by almost 3,000 points yesterday, is expected to open 421 points higher at 20,610.

The S&P 500, which plunged 325 points yesterday, is tipped to claw back 56 points of those losses this morning to open at 2,442.

In the UK, the FTSE 100 was down 84 points (1.6%) at 5,067.

The retail sector remains a war-zone, with () giving up the ghost and () seeking permission to rescind its final dividend payment after a reduction in footfall across its estate.

Laura Ashley has collapsed, with the company laying the blame squarely on the immediate impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Shares are suspended and it looks to be the first domino to go. It's a classic case of being able to service high debt loads when cash flow remains steady but as soon as the revenues dry up, the debt crushes you whatever interest rate you may be able to get. It highlights the very real limitation in monetary policy right now - debt is about cash flow, not interest rates, for businesses, said Neil Wilson at markets.com.

The Footsie has been up and down like the Assyrian Empire this morning as confusion and panic continue to reign.

The index is currently down 48 points (0.9%) at 5,103, having bottomed out at 4,979.

Somewhat lost in the torrent of coronavirus-related news this morning were the UK unemployment numbers.

The UK employment rate in the three months to January 2020 was estimated at a joint record high of 76.5%, 0.4 percentage points higher than a year earlier and 0.3 percentage points up on the previous quarter.

The unemployment rate was estimated at 3.9%, flat year-on-year but up from 3.7% in the previous quarter.

Estimated annual growth in average weekly earnings for employees in Great Britain was 3.1% for both total pay (including bonuses) and regular pay (excluding bonuses).

In real terms (after adjusting for inflation), annual growth in both total pay and regular pay is estimated to be 1.5% in the three months to January 2020, down from a recent peak of 2.0% in the three months to June 2019.

In real terms, annual growth in total pay is estimated to be 1.4% and annual growth in regular pay is estimated to be 1.8% in the three months to January 2020.

There were an estimated 817,000 vacancies in the UK for December 2019 to February 2020, which is 19,000 more than the previous quarter but 30,000 fewer than a year earlier.

This could be as good as it gets for quite some time, warned Sarah Coles, a personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Jobs in pubs, restaurants, hotels and other venues are at risk, airlines are warning of massive job losses, shops are under increasing pressure, and small businesses are laying off staff wherever they can, in an effort to keep going. For the 15% of the workforce who are self-employed, the prospect of losing work and getting ill without sick pay is particularly alarming.

People working in the retail, hotels and restaurant industry were already seeing the slowest wage growth at 2% for regular pay - so theres a real risk they havent had the opportunity to put any savings aside to get them through the tough times, Coles noted.

Samuel Tombs, the chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, concurs with Coless analysis, saying all was fine before the virus hit but now

Employment was 184K, or 0.6%, higher in the three months to January than in the prior three months, beating the consensus, 140K but the headline, three-month average, unemployment rate increased to 3.9% in January, from in 3.8% in December, above the no-change consensus.

Meanwhile, the headline rate of year-over-year growth in average weekly wages, including bonuses, increased to 3.1% in January, from 2.9% in December, marginally above the consensus, 3.0%.

Looking ahead, however, it wont be long before employment starts to fall. The election does not appear to have had a major positive impact on firms appetite for labour. The three-month average measure of job vacancies was a mere 19K, or 0.1% higher in February than in the three months to November, and remained a hefty 5.1% below its January 2019 peak. Moreover, COVID-19 looks set to mean that firms in the travel and discretionary services sectors cut headcounts aggressively, while most firms will pause on hiring plans. Wage growth likely will slow over the next year too, Tombs warned.

Talking of firms in the travel and discretionary services sectors, package tour operator () and sportswear seller (), down 14% and 10% respectively, are among the hardest hit blue-chips this morning.

Fergusons cautious outlook statement has had a knock-on effect on Ashtead PLCs ([emailprotected]) shares, which are down 6.5%; like plumbers merchant Fergsuon, Ashtead and its tool hire business is heavily dependent on the US construction industry.

Londons rally lasted barely half an hour and the Footsie is now sporting a loss that would have been regarded as severe a month ago.

The FTSE 100 is down 126 points (2.5%) at 5,025.

Blink and you missed it. The FTSE very briefly moved higher on Tuesday before resuming the sell-off. The move lower comes after the Dow closed on Monday down 12.9% in its worst one day sell-off in over three decades. US futures are managing to cling onto gains, reported Fiona Cincotta of GAINCapital.

Central bank action and the prospect of further fiscal support are in focus on Tuesday. Rishi Sunak has announced a major bailout scheme and extra measures for businesses after Wall Streets sell-off overnight. The new package will build on the 12 billion set out in last weeks budget.

With new social distancing measures coming in and the prospect of businesses grinding to a halt over the coming weeks, the markets have made it clear that the original measures of support were inadequate. Given the resumed sell-off, doubts exist over whether these measures will be able to contain the coronavirus chaos, she added.

Pantheon Macroeconomics in its daily coronavirus update an hourly update is going to be needed soon at this rate noted that the rate of the increase of cases in major western European countries has slowed from its peak pace in late February but the number of cases continues to rise rapidly.

The UK has abandoned its previous policy of allowing the disease to spread in the hope of creating herd immunity. This was always a crazy idea, and the UK is headed towards restrictions just as aggressive as in other parts of Europe, said Ian Shepherdson, Pantheons chief economist.

With the resumption of broader testing, UK case numbers are likely to rise rapidly, but probably won't reach continental European levels because the infection rate is lower at the time restrictions are imposed.

Reported US cases continue to accelerate as the pace of testing is ramped up, and the virus continues to spread. The number of daily US deaths is likely to rise for several more weeks, at least. City lock-downs are spreading, so the rate of increase of new infections ought to start slowing by early April, he added.

PLC () is the worst-performing blue-chip with a 20% fall at 888.6p after it issued a profit warning this morning.

Results from plumbers merchant () sent the shares down the pan.

"Given the strength of our first-half results, we had intended to confirm our full-year trading profit outlook for 2020; however, due to the dynamic situation unfolding with COVID-19 it is too early to understand its impact on current trading, the company warned.

Ferguson shares were down 15% at 4,426p.

The FTSE 100 made a positive start to proceedings Tuesday, though you suspect it wont take much to derail progress.

London's blue-chip shares opened 94 points to the good at 5,245.40

The VIX, a measure of market volatility that is also known as the 'Fear Index', overnight topped levels seen during the maelstrom of the financial crisis.

Overnight on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrials Average closed 13% or almost 3,000 points lower, with broader-based US stock indices following suit.

Until there is better knowledge of the situation on the ground, until the economic damage is known and until we see a genuine spike in cases in the US and Europe, volatility levels will remain extremely high, said Neil Wilson, senior analyst at Markets.com.

There had been chatter that regulators would start to think it's time to call a halt to this, that they will step in to shutter stock markets for a limited period in an attempt to regain control of the situation. Jay Clayton, the SEC boss, said otherwise, but it remains a possibility.

Heading the risers were presumed beneficiaries of the coronavirus outbreak.

So, Pearson (), electronic publisher for higher education, will, the market is guessing, receive a boost as universities move online for the final term of the academic year. Its shares advanced 8%.

Just Eat Takeaway.com () was being touted as a winner,winner chicken dinner (quite literally), adding 5% after the nations restaurants were effectively (but not officially) shuttered.

Pubs operators Wetherspoons () and Marstons () were off 11% and 10% respectively with Britains high streets expected to host to tumbleweed rather than revellers after the latest stay indoors advice from the UK authorities.

Also on the declinewas contract caterer Compass () after warning on coronavirus closures. It lost 11%.

() has agreed a doubling of its existing zero-coupon, second-ranking, unsecured convertible loan note facility by8mln to 16mln. The loan is provided by an institutional family-office investor based in the Bahamas The expansion of the facility will see immediate additional cash inflow of 1.8mln.

() has launched carrier billing payment services for Hatch, a monthly subscription-based 5G games streaming platform. Hatch allows users to stream top tier gaming titles to their phone without the need to use storage capacity on their devices. In a separate announcement reporting its results for the year ended 31 December, Bango reported that adjusted earnings (EBITDA) had swung to 450,000 from a loss of 870,000 in the prior year while revenues jumped 41% to 9.3mln.

() said it has signed an agreement that will see the medical formulation of its weight loss product sold in some of the worlds richest countries. The group has inked a one-year deal with Lebanon-based Prosperous Pharma, a pharmaceutical distributor that also supplies nutraceuticals to doctors, pharmacies and consumers. It will have exclusive rights over OptiBiotix's SlimBiome Medical for the Gulf Cooperation Council States and the Levant.

Stobart Group Limited () has responded to press speculation and confirmed it has had talks about selling a minority stake in London Southend Airport. No acceptable terms have thus far been agreed and discussions have been put on hold while both parties navigate the current coronavirus outbreak.

() is now considering reverse takeover targets in sectors other than oil and gas, following several months of commodity price volatility. The oil price has traded significantly down in recent weeks. The company has particularly focused its efforts on the environmental industries sector and is pleased to confirm that it is in discussions with several potential targets.

e-therapeutics PLC () is in late-stage discussions regarding a number of exciting potential collaborations, Ali Mortazavi, the executive chairman has revealed. Mortazavi, the former chief executive of Silence Therapeutics, took the helm last month and revealed in his first full-year results statement with the company that he did due diligence for more than three months before purchasing his stake in the drug discovery company.

() has initiated an independent analysis of the nuanced datasets from last years AEGIS-H2H clinical trial of its lead product, an iron deficiency drug known as Feraccru here in the UK and Accrufer in the States. It will assess the methodology used around determining the treatments non-inferiority against a leading intravenous medication in treating iron deficiency anaemia in adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

() (OTCQB:ITXXF) said it was making operational efforts to conserve its 300,000 cash reserves in the face of the mounting disruption to global business caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. It will maintain production, but reduce costs, negotiate payment terms and is assessing asset sales as well considering whether to maintain its AIM listing.

() has unveiled several measures to reduce costs and preserve cash as it moves to lessen the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on its operations. The AIM-listed group said it will reduce employee costs both at its head office and its pubs around the UK, which its directors will also have their salaries reduced by 25%.

Seeing Machines Limited () says it is implementing several contingency plans and cost containment initiatives which it says leave it in a strong position to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on its business. The AIM-listed firm, which develops driver monitoring technology, said that while the short to medium-term outlook was uncertain and that it may be impacted by current market conditions, there was positive momentum across all transport sectors and the company had significant confirmed order books for both its fleet and automotive divisions".

() is to reduce costs at its Santa Cruz Sur assets in Argentina. In a statement, the AIM-listed firmsaid that, in light of the current weakness in oil and gas prices, the Santa Cruz Sur assets are no longer cash-flow positive. As a result, Echo is exploring all options available to it to preserve existing cash resources at a corporate level and, together with the operator of Santa Cruz Sur, has identified and prioritised a number of field operating cost reductions to seek to ensure that operations are sustainable at current commodity prices.

() (TSX:COG) announced that, following an exercise of warrants, it has issued 500,000 new ordinary shares in the company at a subscription price of 31p each, for which it received gross proceeds of 155,000.

PLC () confirmed that both its 2019 Annual Report and Accounts and Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) are available within the Investors section of its website, http://www.veronapharma.com. The AGM will be held at the offices of Shakespeare Martineau at 60 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0HR, United Kingdom at 10.30am on April 16, 2020.

The FTSE 100 is expected to rally a little on Tuesday as the country prepares to go into quarantine for several weeks to limit the spread of coronavirus after a dramatic announcement by the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson on Monday.

Londons blue-chip stocks were being called 124 points higher by spread betters ahead of the open, though this is small beer after more than 2,000 points have been lost in the past month as the coronavirus pandemic has taken its toll.

Read more from the original source:
FTSE 100 rallies as Fed"s silver bullet bolsters US dollar - Proactive Investors UK

We present our findings through four overarching and interrelated themes and sub-themes that emerged from the interviews (see Table4).

Most of the patients found that their nutritional status was deteriorating. Their family caregivers agreed: Her nutritional status is much poorer than it used to be. I think its due to her old age. She has lost a lot of weight the last 3 years; she eats less and is less active (FCG8). The patients described struggling with on-going health problems: My health is still very poor because I have cancer in my whole body (P9). They also experienced new health problems: Since I came home from the hospital, my mouth and tongue have suddenly become very sore. It really hurts and I cant taste the food. I dont understand what causes it (P5). All of the patients described challenges related to food and meals. Most of the patients described a lack of appetite, and many said they never felt hungry: I eat and it doesnt really taste bad, but. .. A lot of strange things have happened to me. It is just like I dont feel much like eating anymore. I dont know why. .. I probably dont want to become fat again (P8). Some patients experienced reduced appetite due to nausea, and some had difficulties chewing or swallowing food due to tooth problems, dysphagia and sore mouth and tongue. Patients also described that food no longer tasted like it used to: The food doesnt taste [like] much. I have been wondering about that. .. I make ham with mayonnaise and spices, but it just doesnt taste [like] anything. It may be due to the medications (P3). In general, the patients took many medications. Some of these had to be taken before food, some with food and some after food. Having to plan meals according to medications seemed to negatively influence their nutritional situations. They also described not being able to cook anymore because of functional limitations. Several patients made statements along the lines of I only eat because I have to. The patients understood that food was a necessity for their well-being, but the challenges described above made it difficult for them to ensure sufficient food intake: I feel full so quickly, and I cant force myself to eat, that cant be right, thats ridiculous (P8). One patient described becoming very ill because he could not eat enough: I was very sick and felt so dizzy that I almost didnt know where I was. This happened because I ate too little (P9).

Most of the patients had recently lost weight; this was a fact they were aware of, but for most, they were not worried. The weight loss only seemed to become problematic when it became visible to others or was related to practical problems such as not having any clothes to wear: I dont feel that I am undernourished. The only problem I can think of is that I dont have anything to wear, because all my clothes are too big (P14).

Many of the patients that lived alone experienced loneliness, and this seemed to affect their appetite and meal experience. Several patients described eating alone as depressing: I am very fond of food, and when I eat homemade bread with butter and honey, I feel that my mood gets better. But I can be quite depressed at times. .. I think it is pretty lonely being here all alone (P6). Some also talked about their inability to participate in social activities, such as going to a cafeteria with friends or to dinners, because of restricted mobility. They talked about eating more when they ate together with someone; this was also the family caregivers impression. One patient was interested in eating at a senior centre but was put off by the idea because she had been told there would be many people with dementia there. Some of the patients occasionally ate at a local nursing home for variety from the meals at home and to socialise, but this was not necessarily a good experience: A lot of the people there already know each other, and they sit together and talk. When I come from outside I dont know anyone and end up sitting alone. That feeling of loneliness hurts. I eat my food fast and then I leave (P3).

Most of the patients were very pleased with the care they received in hospital. The healthcare personnel were focused on their nutritional needs and the nurses tried their best to provide them with food to their liking. Some of the patients had a consultation with a nutritionist during their stay and were prescribed nutritional drinks and instructions on how to enrich their meals. However, they did not seem to follow these instructions at home after discharge. The care at home seemed to lack respect or consideration for each patients unique needs and preferences concerning food and meals. One patient said, No one has been here and told me that you need more of this and that and that we need to make your food richer in calories. It is more like, What do you want? And then thats what you get (P13). None of the patients could remember home care services asking them about their nutritional problems, the reasons behind the problems or discussing possible solutions. They believed that many of the staff lacked competence about nutrition and knowledge about their nutritional needs and preferences. The home care staff were often students studying other fields than healthcare who were working part time in home care while studying. The patients said that qualified nurses seldom visited them: The nurses seldom stop by. They are supposed to be here twice a week, but that doesnt happen very often (P13). In general, the patients experienced few changes in their care between the first and the second interview.

The food they were served by home care usually consisted of slices of bread for breakfast and lunch and ready-made meals heated up in the microwave for dinner. Some of the patients thought this food was ok, but several of the patients disliked these meals: I can actually make sandwiches on my own. I cant stand the sandwiches they prepare for breakfast and put in the fridge the night before. The next morning, they are ice cold and I think they are horrible (P14). Especially, the food prepared for dinner was problematic for some. All the patients living alone described eating ready-made meals for dinner regularly, and they described cooking as pressing a button on the microwave. They felt that because these meals had to be made within the sparse time the home care services had for each of them, their diets were limited. One patient said, I had to get a microwave oven, because that was the first thing they (homecare services) asked for when they started coming here. I dont like such food. I want to make homemade food. I dont know what kinds of food I am supposed to buy. I cant eat only ready-made meals. First of all, I cant stand the taste of these ready meals, and secondly, I find them too expensive (P1). The family caregivers explained that they bought these microwave meals for practical reasons even though they generally knew that the patients were not fond of them. Several patients described being served tasteless meals and food they disliked, which resulted in a reduced food intake: We get some fish cakes without taste with grated carrot without any dressing, with potato and maybe a spoonful of butter. You dont enjoy that. It doesnt taste anything. Then I just eat a little and leave the rest (P3).

Many of the patients described a longing for tasteful meals; this was often traditional foods or food normally served during holidays. The patients also described pleasurable meal experiences: Patient: You know, I get so happy when the food finally tastes good and we get a tasty sauce or something. Aah. .. today we had herring with onions, red beets and sour cream and I had two filets and two potatoes. Today the food was lovely and it made me happy. Interviewer: Im glad to hear that you had a good meal. Patient: Yeah, that is so important for my wellbeing and everything (P3). Tasteful meals, meals made by family caregivers and eating in social settings seemed to stimulate the patients appetite and inspire them to eat more: The other day I really ate too much for dinner. My daughter served fried sausages with red cabbage and potatoes and it was just so good! (P13).

The patients reported that care was organised in a way that seemed to lack respect for their daily routines. Home care staff often did not turn up when they were supposed to, and patients described not being able to go out because they had to wait for staff, which restricted their freedom: On Sundays, they phone me at quarter to twelve and say, Hi, we are a bit delayed today. They come to make me breakfast at quarter past twelve! It is a bit like that. It is often because of shortage of staff (P13). The patients also told stories of home care services not turning up at all. Additionally, when they tried to phone them, they could not reach anyone: It is impossible to call them, and no one answers the phone during the day. No one. You cant get hold of anyone (P13). One patient who was almost blind and unable to prepare food experienced this several times. Fortunately, she could call her daughter who lived close by for help. When home care staff did not show up or did not turn up at the right time, the patients were not in charge of their life situations.

Sometimes, the home care visits were scheduled too early or too late and were not in accordance with the patients preferences. When being dependent on help for meals, bad timing of the meals could result in patients not eating for many hours or eating less: I dont eat much besides dinner. I: At what time is that? P: At one oclock, that is a ridiculous time. .. I set my alarm clock at 1011, I then get up and sort out my medication and Im not hungry, and then I just wait for dinner. If dinner had been at three oclock instead, I would have made some breakfast (P3). The patients reported that the care services were always in a rush, not having time to care for them or talk to them: For many people living alone, the only human conversation they have during a day is with the people from home care services. I think it is important that they take the time to talk to these people, not just rush in, make food and goodbye (P13).

Most of the patients were striving to maintain independence and control, and they wanted to manage their food and meals themselves; however, they needed help. For some, becoming dependent on help from others was an inner struggle: When you are used to managing everything yourself and then you suddenly become dependent on help to prepare a sandwich. Can you imagine? It is a bit depressing just thinking about it (P13). One patient valued her independence so much that she kept her problems with food and meals hidden from her family for a long time and rejected care services help. One of her family caregivers said, She never told us about her problems. They reduced the home care from every two weeks to every third week. The weaker she got the less help she received. But then they told us in one of the meetings that she has been offered help several times, but she has not been interested. She prefers to manage on her own (FC14).

The patients emphasised the importance of having a voice in the matter of food and meals I want to have a say in the matter too (P15) and the importance of being able to eat the food they wanted whenever they wanted. The patients who needed assistance preparing meals did not have this freedom; they had to eat what the care services could manage to prepare within their short timeframe.

Although the patients expressed a desire to be independent, they were not offered any self-management support from the care services. They were dependent on additional help from family caregivers, neighbours and friends to manage their daily lives, to understand information and to communicate with healthcare services, indicating a paternalistic approach to care. These disempowering experiences with home care resulted in dissatisfaction with care.

The patients described a lack of mutual comprehension of information about their health, treatment and care. They told stories about not understanding or remembering information they received in hospital. In fact, most of the patients who received a consultation with a nutritionist in hospital could not remember the content of this conversation: Two nutritionists came to talk to me when I was in hospital. Interviewer: what did they say? Patient: I dont know, it was so complicated, I just gave up (P9). The reasons they gave for this were that they were too ill, there were too many different people involved in their care and that they experienced medical terminology and information overload. Many of the patients were not able to understand the written information they received in hospital: I received a lot of written information, but I dont understand half of it (P8). Family caregivers generally had to help the patients communicate with the healthcare services and explain written information.

The patients experienced a lack of essential information about their own treatment. One patient who was seriously malnourished and almost blind could not obtain information about her nutritional treatment. During the first interview, she showed us an envelope she had received at the hospital; it contained a detailed nutritional plan that she was supposed to follow. She had no previous knowledge of this plan and could not remember if anyone at the hospital had informed her about it. She was not able to read it herself because of her poor eyesight. Her daughter, who did all her food shopping, had not been informed. She said, They have made her a nutritional plan. It must be this one. They didnt talk her to about it they just put it in the envelope with the rest of the papers (FC13). The patient was supposed to inform the home care services about this nutritional plan herself, but as she did not know she had received it, the care services were not informed and did not provide her with this necessary treatment.

The patients said that no one had talked to them about the risks associated with weight loss. Interviewer: did the doctor tell you why it is important not to lose any more weight? Patient: No, he did not. He is so thin, and probably thinks I shouldnt be any bigger (P8). Several of the patients were happy to finally have lost some weight: I dont understand why this has happened, but I am happy that my waistline is reduced. It doesnt bother me that I lose some weight (P3).

The lack of mutual comprehension undermined the patients involvement in their healthcare decisions. Many experienced a lack of shared decision-making, and for some, this caused distress. For instance, decisions about their nutritional care were made without consulting them; receiving help against their will caused resistance: Patient: They have started to prepare sandwiches for me, but I have told them to stop doing that. I can manage on my own. Interviewer: Did they start doing this after you came home from hospital? Patient: Yes, but I dont know who have told them to do that (P9). Another patient said, I dont know whats wrong with me. I just got a prescription for some new vitamin tablets. They cost a lot and I have refused to pay for them. I need an explanation of whats going on (P3).

The patients experienced a way of communicating that lacked respect and sensitivity to their needs and values. The dialogue about food and meals with the home care services generally consisted of What have you eaten?, What would you like to eat? and It is important that you eat. Some of the patients found this stressful. One family caregiver said, They constantly urge her to eat and she says that she is fed up by it. Thats what they do, the people that visit her in the morning and the afternoon (FC14). Some felt like they were disrespected in the dialogue about food and meals or that food and medication was served to them without them agreeing to be helped or in a way that felt violating. One patient said, Would you believe it, they went over and felt the casserole to see if it was warm. It was just like they didnt believe us (P10). Another patient said, They gave me some vitamin B and said you should take these. I dont understand why. They just give me the pills and say take these, and then they leave (P2). Another patient experienced poor communication with the home care services when they just stopped visiting him without telling him why. He suspected that it was because they meant he could manage without help. The poor communication negatively affectedthe participants perceptions of thenutritional care.

Not being provided with care according to their individual needs at home resulted in patients being dependent on additional support from family caregivers, friends or neighbours. All of the family caregivers that participated in this study regularly did the grocery shopping for the patients. Occasionally, they brought homemade food and accompanied the patients during meals. They provided support that was essential for the patients nutritional well-being; still, they were generally not involved or informed by the healthcare services about nutritional care, and some lacked knowledge about the patients nutritional situations and needs: I really think you need to be good at asking the right questions to get the information you need as a family caregiver. I myself may also seem a bit ignorant about these things? (FC1). One family caregiver described conflicting opinions between her and her mother about how much help she needed with meals at home: They used to come four times a day, and then she told them that she only needed them to come three times a day. Sometimes when I come to visit around six oclock she says, Im so hungry, they havent been here. It was her that wanted them to come three times a day. But now I have asked them to change back to four visits a day so they can cook for her (FC6).

Although the caregivers were generally thankful for the care that was provided to their loved ones, some family caregivers experienced disempowerment during meetings with the care services and felt they were not given the necessary support as caregivers. They felt it was demanding and sometimes exhausting caring for their loved ones because the care services were not able to provide care according to the patients needs. One daughter said, I am her only family and I just cant take it anymore. It is so exhausting, especially since she is so depressed (FC6). When the patients were living together with or close to family caregivers, home care services relied on the caregivers to provide nutritional care, which in some cases resulted in inadequate patient follow-up and burdened the family caregiver: I experience that they keep on asking me to do things. And then I find out that that no, that is not my responsibility (FC6).

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Older patients' and their family caregivers' perceptions of food, meals and nutritional care in the transition between hospital and home care: a...