by Tom Witosky |AHL On The Beat

John Odgers knew at a young age he wanted to work in the world of professional hockey.

After all, the 26-year-old native of Spy Hill, Sask., and son of NHL veteran Jeff Odgers is what one might call a hockey brat.

I lived in locker rooms from September to April growing up and on the family farm from May through August, the Iowa Wilds strength and conditioning coach said. We lived in San Jose, Boston, Colorado, almost in Minnesota, but then finally in Atlanta.

Odgers experiences and family travels with a father who played more than 800 games in the NHL speaks volumes about how someone of his age could become the first full-time strength and conditioning coach for Iowa.

We got along right away when we met in development camp, Iowa head coach Tim Army recalled. He came highly recommended by the Minnesota staff. It was an easy decision to make.

Odgers, known as Odgie around the Wild weight room in the basement of Wells Fargo Arena, already has received a lot of credit for helping several Wild players, whether it was Mason Shaws rehabilitation of his third knee surgery or providing a weight loss regimen for forward Dmitry Sokolov and defenseman Matt Register.

Hes been great for me, said Shaw, who only recently returned to playing after an eight-month recovery from a knee injury sustained in last years playoffs. Im really happy with the work he did with me to get where I am. He brings a great attitude every day. Hes very fun to be around and were very lucky to have him.

Similarly, Register, who recently signed his first standard AHL contract after seven seasons in the ECHL, gave a lot of credit to Odgers to get him to lose weight and improve his overall conditioning to land the contract.

He helped me a lot, Register said. Its a process and he worked with me to stay on it. He had my back throughout all of it and he helped me get to that level and goal where I wanted to be.

While some players came to the team in need of weight loss, others require Odgers services to keep weight on.

With players like Reggie or Sokolov, we work hard at improving the ability to move more quickly and to have better stamina by losing weight, Odgers said. Someone like Sam Anas, however, we are trying to get him to stay where is or gain weight.

Odgers oversees the daily workout routines of each Wild player from his desk positioned right inside the weight room. Workout sessions differ throughout the season with more of an emphasis on increasing strength in the offseason and early season to maintenance of strength and muscle recovery as the year progresses. He also works with Wild head athletic trainer Masa Takaiwa on all rehabilitation exercises for injured players.He also monitors the players nutritional needs, including the ordering of food for breakfast and lunch for practices and morning skates.

Odgers interest in strength training and conditioning began when playing junior hockey for Yorkton Terriers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

I was somebody who always enjoyed being in the weight room and working out during the season, he said. And then, as I got into it more, I discovered that I liked reading about it and learning more about it.

As his junior hockey career ended, Odgers understood his playing career didnt hold much promise, but a career combining hockey and strength training and conditioning did.

I wanted to have a career that combined the two things that I enjoyed the most, which is hockey. And then the other side of it was strength conditioning, lifting weights, health and fitness, he said.

Odgers received a bachelors degree in kinesiology from the University of Regina and just completed his masters degree in November at the same school.

Ironically, the biggest problem for Odgers in deciding to study kinesiology was having to explain to his grandfather that he didnt want to work on the family farm a nearly 2,500-acre spread that raises cattle and grows wheat and flax.

The farm, located about a 2.5-hour drive southeast of Regina, is a century farm this year and has had five generations of the Odgers family work and own it.

Odgers said his brother, Dakota, will be the one to take over the farm once he decides to stop playing hockey. He currently plays for Carlton University located in Ottawa.

I always joke that Im lucky that he wanted to take over the farm because I would have to tell my grandpa that I didnt want to farm, Odgers laughed.

His decision to get a masters degree came as a result of a four-month internship with one of his fathers old teams, the San Jose Sharks, under the direction of Mike Potenza, the Sharks strength and conditioning coordinator.

The hiring of a full-time strength and conditioning coach a position filled as a part-time post until this season, was a huge priority for Army, who emphasizes how the AHL team must replicate the Minnesota Wild as much as possible.

Army said he talked with Tom Kurvers, Iowas general manager, about establishing a full-time position strength and conditioning position beginning in 2019-20.

We needed to hire a full-time strength coach here; that was a huge priority. It doesnt matter who the player is. They all need this kind of attention, Army said. Its an important piece of their ability to be able to play to their full strength.

Army added young players are the ones who likely need it the most, making it even more important to establish a full-time coach in Iowa.

Our younger players need somebody because they dont know this process, he said. They need some oversight on what theyre doing.

Army said Odgers won the job while working with Minnesota Wild staff during last summers development camp. Ever since, hes been a valuable part of the Wild staff.

I just took to him right away. I really liked him, Army said. He worked well with all of the players and got a high recommendation from the Minnesota staff. Its been a good fit.

Read the original here:
Addition of Odgers brings strength to Wild | TheAHL.com - American Hockey League

COLSON Smith turned heads at The Television and Radio Industries Club Awards this week - as he showcased his impressive weight loss.

The Coronation Street star, 21, looked remarkably trim as he sported a fitted suit and waistcoat for the star-studded bash.

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And many fans, desperate to follow in his footsteps, were left asking exactly how Colson, who plays fan favourite Craig Tinker in the ITV soap, managed to trim down.

In particular, Colson has been hitting the gym regularly to make sure he's fit for his storyline on Corrie.

His police officer character has taken up running after finding that he was out of breath while chasing shop lifters.

Craig told his Weatherfield pals that he was going to make an effort to get healthier after being bullied at work.

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Despite overhauling his fitness, Colson also admits that food poisoning caused him to lose one and a half stone in December.

He ignored advice not to eat some seafood while holidaying in Thailand.

Speaking on his podcast Sofa Cinema Club - which he hosts with Jack P Shepherd, 31, and Ben Price, 47 - the star explained: "I was in Ko Lanta. I was sat on the beach and the waiter came over and was like, 'What would you like?' And I said, 'I'll have the prawns to start please.'

"I had avoided seafood but I was sat on the beach and I was like, 'How can you not have seafood on the beach?'

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"I had avoided seafood [on Ben's advice] but I was sat on the beach and I was like, 'How can you not have seafood on the beach?'

"Well, anyway. I'm not doing that again. I've lost about a stone and a half."

Colson was only able to eat a banana and three slices of toast for a whole week before recovering.

The drop in Colson's natural daily calorie intake put his body in a calorie deficit state - a state which has been proven to help slimmers stimulate rapid weight loss.

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Of course the way Colson lost weight was not a healthy way to shed pounds but to lose weight in a similar manner, a slimmer needs to also reduce their daily calorie intake.

Harry Thomas, owner of No1 Fitness and nutrition expert said: "So the first thing is to reduce calories and get yourself into a deficit, this means burning more than you are consuming.

"The best way is too create awareness on what you are currently consuming, including all food and liquids.

"This is a great way to learn about how much we are consuming."

Another simple way you can lose weight is by simply doing more exercise.

Harry added: "The best way is to move more - this will all help to burn more calories."Make it simple and pay attention to your step count.

"I recommend a minimum or 10000 per day, but if you are way short of that, aim to beat your average score. The more you move the better."

Original post:
Colson Smith weight loss how the Coronation Street star shed over a stone - The Sun

New York, March 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Weight Loss Management Market: Global Industry Analysis, Trends, Market Size, and Forecasts up to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05874294/?utm_source=GNW 5% over the forecast period from 2019-2025. The study on weight loss management market covers the analysis of the leading geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW for the period of 2017 to 2025.

The report on weight loss management market is a comprehensive study and presentation of drivers, restraints, opportunities, demand factors, market size, forecasts, and trends in the global weight loss management market over the period of 2017 to 2025. Moreover, the report is a collective presentation of primary and secondary research findings.

Porters five forces model in the report provides insights into the competitive rivalry, supplier and buyer positions in the market and opportunities for the new entrants in the global weight loss management market over the period of 2017 to 2025. Further, IGR-Growth Matrix gave in the report brings an insight into the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider.

Report Findings1) Drivers Technological advancement and increasing number of bariatric surgeries Increasing incidence of obesity among the population2) Restraints High the cost involved in low-calorie diet food3) Opportunities Rising health and fitness consciousness and increasing expenditure on health and fitness products

Research Methodology

A) Primary ResearchOur primary research involves extensive interviews and analysis of the opinions provided by the primary respondents. The primary research starts with identifying and approaching the primary respondents, the primary respondents are approached include1. Key Opinion Leaders associated with Infinium Global Research2. Internal and External subject matter experts3. Professionals and participants from the industry

Our primary research respondents typically include1. Executives working with leading companies in the market under review2. Product/brand/marketing managers3. CXO level executives4. Regional/zonal/ country managers5. Vice President level executives.

B) Secondary ResearchSecondary research involves extensive exploring through the secondary sources of information available in both the public domain and paid sources. At Infinium Global Research, each research study is based on over 500 hours of secondary research accompanied by primary research. The information obtained through the secondary sources is validated through the crosscheck on various data sources.

The secondary sources of the data typically include1. Company reports and publications2. Government/institutional publications3. Trade and associations journals4. Databases such as WTO, OECD, World Bank, and among others.5. Websites and publications by research agencies

Segment CoveredThe global weight loss management market is segmented on the basis of services, and diet.

The Global Weight Loss Management Market by Services Slimming Centres Fitness Centres Consulting Services Weight Loss Programs

The Global Weight Loss Management Market by Diet Food Beverages

Company Profiles Herbalife Ltd. Atkins Nutritionals Inc. NutriSystem, Inc. Kellogg Company Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd. Arena Pharmaceuticals Health Biotech Ltd. Avestia Pharma Olympus Corporation Cybex International

What does this report deliver?1. Comprehensive analysis of the global as well as regional markets of the weight loss management market.2. Complete coverage of all the segments in the weight loss management market to analyze the trends, developments in the global market and forecast of market size up to 2025.3. Comprehensive analysis of the companies operating in the global weight loss management market. The company profile includes analysis of product portfolio, revenue, SWOT analysis and latest developments of the company.4. IGR- Growth Matrix presents an analysis of the product segments and geographies that market players should focus to invest, consolidate, expand and/or diversify.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05874294/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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Global weight loss management market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 6.5% over the forecast period from 2019-2025 - GlobeNewswire

SOAP stars are some of the hardest working actors in showbiz as they have to be on screen up to five days a week.

But the hard slog doesn't stop there for our favourite celebrities, with many of them inspiring viewers to get fit in real life with staggering body transformations.

Here, we delve into some of the most dramatic weight loss journeys from the stars of Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and EastEnders.

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The 36-year-old actress, who plays Sonia Fowler in EastEnders, has lived most of her life in the public eye and amazed fans when she shed a staggering three stone.

Many of Natalie's fans were left asking exactly how she managed to trim down - and drop from a size 16 to a size eight.

The mum-of-two now feels "much more confident and comfortable", telling The Sun: "I have learnt how to eat and how to be comfortable with who I am."

And Natalie credits training for the London Marathon last year for helping her to lose weight.

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The 56-year-old Coronation Street actress, who plays Eileen Grimshaw in the ITV soap, has wowed viewers as she dropped from a size 14 to a 12 in recent months.

Her secret to losing weight has been going on a Mediterranean diet, which is high in foods that are good for you, and low in naughty foods, such as those with a high sugar content.

It's high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, cereals, grains, fish, and unsaturated fats such as olive oil.

This diet has been proven to be beneficial for the heart, even helping to reduce the risk ofheart disease.

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Jennie, 36, plays Fiz Brown in Coronation and has grown up in front of the cameras having joined Corrie in 2001.

She impressed fans when she lost two stone back in 2009 when she was 25 years old, and said at the time: "Ice cream is bad, salad is good - it's not rocket science!

"If you eat more of the good stuff and take more exercise then you'll lose weight."

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Alan, 37, dedicated himself to four-hour workouts after his split from wife Lucy Jo-Hudson.

The actor, who plays Tyrone Dobbs in the ITV soap, has been on a health kick since last year and the Sun Online revealed Alan had been burning more than 4,000 calories during his sessions.

The results of his exercise regime have been clear, as he has shed a noticeable amount of weight and changed his overall body shape.

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His on-screen character Craig Tinker is dropping pounds after being bullied by his fellow police officers for poor fitness.

And 21-year-old soap star Colson Smith looked noticeably slimmer in a slick three-piece suit and trainers at the TRIC Awards last week.

But Colson said he actually lost a stone a half after getting food poisoning on holiday in Thailand.

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The mum sensationally dropped from a size 22 to a size 10, the actress spoke about life before she lost weight.

Catherine, 36, told The Mirror: "I took control of my weight, and I slowly and steadily lost more than five stone. I was always the fat, funny friend.

"Along the way, I learned to understand just how important a healthy, balanced diet is. It sparked my huge interest in healthy living and nutrition."

"It has to be a lifestyle. Diets do not work. Fact. I have done every diet going. Ill do a big gluten-free pizza with lactose-free cheese. Now that I eat so clean and avoid all junk, I just feel ill when I eat it. We make our own sweet potato chips too as a treat. Im so rock n roll arent I?"

She lost even more weight thanks to her recent stint on Strictly Come Dancing.

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The36-year-old star opened up about being in the public eye and her time on ITV soap Emmerdale, playing troubled Kerry Wyatt.

At her heaviest, Laura consumed an extra 1,700 calories a day - the equivalent of a large pepperoni pizza.

She said would also guzzle two large bottles of Coke daily on set - but is now proud of how far she has come with her fitness.

She said on Lorraine last year: "Do you know, in the eight years that I have been there, I have never once had a pudding.

"I can't. It's just a slippery slope."

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Shayne Ward, 35, said he would be the first in line to tuck to sweet treats when playing Corrie knicker-factory boss Aidan Connor.

However, he ditched his "dad bod" in favour of a sizzling six-pack after leaving the ITV soap.

Shayne enlisted the help ofUltimate Performancepersonal training and cut his body fat down from 29 per cent to 16 per cent.

The X Factor winner said goodbye toWeatherfield in 2018 but blamed the soap for his expanding waistline.

The heartthrob, who previously piled on THREE stone while starring on Coronation Street, said about his new fitness regime: "I'm happy to not be in that place I was 21 weeks ago. I was sluggish, I was stressed and I didn't really want to do anything."

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Lisa, 43, overhauled her life after losing 12 stone, saying she no longer drinks alcohol or eats carbs.

The Emmerdale star admitted that even she can have bad days with her diet, saying: "Everyone is bound to have little blips along the way, but dont see that as failure and a signal to give up just draw a line under it and move on...

"I had made myself fat by gorging on bread, crisps, crumpets and red wine. Once I accepted responsibility for my health, weight and lifestyle it made it easier to take control. You dont have to have starter, main and pudding."

Lisa also previously told the Sun that she used to overcompensate for her large size by trying to be the centre of attention and making everyone laugh.

The star also revealed that she lost a stone in saggy skin alone.

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Katie, 26, shed an impressive one stone after feeling "dowdy and frumpy" during her last weeks of filming Coronation Street in 2019.

The actress, who played cancer stricken mum Sinead Tinker, confessed she felt "very down" about her appearance.

She said her hectic schedule and late working hours meant she was often eating unhealthily and not able to go to the gym.

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After leaving Corrie, Katie has found she has had more time for a healthy lifestyle.

Her diet now includes nutrient and protein high meals and green, fibre rich veggies.

This includes superset weight workouts targeting compound exercises and bigger muscle groups.

The rest is here:
Soap stars biggest weight loss transformations from Natalie Cassidy, Catherine Tyldesley to Alan Halsall - The Sun

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Fast, safe and effective medically supervised weight loss - 9News.com KUSA

For three consecutive years,The Mediterranean diet has been awarded diet of the year by the U.S. News & World Report.

As far as overall health is concerned, the ancient regimen is hard to beat but there are plans that emphasize nutriments of more material to individuals living with chronic conditions.

The Dash Diet was conceived back in 1992 by the National Institute of Health in an effort to curb rising hypertension and CVD statistics in the United States. The intervention method, which called for a surplus of fresh ingredients and disallowed heavily processed foods, is inching back towards relevance in the midst of a global viral crisis.

Half of the first 170 patients who died of COVID-19 suffered from hypertension before contracting the novel infection.

From what I was told by other doctors and the data I can see myself, among all the underlying diseases, hypertension is a key dangerous factor, said Du, director of the intensive care unit at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in the Chinese capital of Beijing in a press statement.

The Dash Diet is designed to eliminate dietary agents that spike inflammation and clog arteries. Pending pandemic aside, heart disease remains the number one killer in the US by a sizeable margin.

In the last 50 years in the US, clinicians have seen a rise in diseases including hypertension (HTN), diabetes, obesity, and coronary artery disease (CAD). An estimated 2000 people die of heart disease every day in the US. Chronic diseases related to diet and obesity have become major causes of death in the US across all ethnicities. Obesity has been linked to the major etiological factor in diabetes, HTN, cancer, and CAD, write the team of researchers that established the regimen.

The diet allows 2,000 calories a day, primarily composed of whole-grain ingredients.

Five hundred-thousand Americans go bankrupt on behalf of medical debt a year, making diet science more pertinent than ever.

Heres what you can eat

And heres what you shouldnt

If youre dealing with elevated blood pressure or other cardiovascular risks, theres no question about it; but even if youre looking to lose weight before hitting the beach this summer, the DASH diet may be safer for you compared to the keto diet or Whole30, explains Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN, a registered dietitian within the Good Housekeeping Institute

All of the probative data on the COVID-19s development suggest we might be in the trench for longer than previously assumed. In the meantime, remember to sanitize and fortify your body against harmful agents.

The Dash Diet is a good place to start if you have a history of CVD, high blood pressure or hypertension.

Here is the original post:
The surprising weight loss diet that may protect you from Coronavirus - Ladders

Tongan prop Ben Tameifuna has revealed an incredible weight loss in a video just months after was told he couldnt play for a French club because he was too overweight!

Racing 92 had ordered Ben Tameifunato lose weight with the club unhappy with theTongainternationals condition following his return from the Rugby World Cup.

The Tongan prop was seriously overweight going into the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Here is a video showing how big he WAS.

According to reports in France, Tameifuna tipped the scales at 160kg when he reported back to the Top14 club.

It is not the first time Racing have been unhappy with the 28-year-olds weight.

The former Chiefs player was reportedly at 140kg when he left for the tournament but has packed on the beef despite playing and training in France over the past month.

The 28-year-old Tameifuna, the heaviest player at the tournament, is no stranger to weight issues with the latest reports bringing a reminder of Big Ben returning from a summer vacation last year weighing 166kg.

In 2018, Tameifuna returned for pre-season weighting 166kg.

An incredible video shows just how much weight the prop has now lost and it looks like he has lost around 20kg just by looking at his waistline!

Much in the past have been made of Props and their distinct lack of athleticism in some cases. Weve recently spoken at length about the size of Ben Temifuna who is one the biggest players to EVER have played in a World Cup. If you look at this kicking attempt here though, you wouldnt think that man weighs 21 stone!

Tonga may be out of the competition but videos like this will certainly keep them on the radar for rugby fans out there.

This is after the Tonga rugby Twitter account sent a message to head coach Toutai Kefu with a video of Ben The Boot Tameifuna nailing a kick from 40 metres, whilst also telling current kicker Sonatane Takulua that he has a new rival in the team.

Continued here:
The massive tongan prop who was 'too overweight' to play rugby reveals incredible weight loss - Rugby OnSlaught

Caesar dressings are a staple at most restaurants and is a favorite for many new and regular salad eaters. The much-adored taste of the sauce comes from the Parmesan cheese, oil and egg yolks with which it is made. The cheese and the oil in the ingredients make the dressing fatty and salty. Anybody looking to lose weight should stay away from Caesar dressings.

A salad dressing makes a boring salad much more palatable, making them irresistible. However, a lot of them put all the effort you do at the gym to waste. Instead, you should consciously shift to healthier alternatives like vinaigrette or even plain vinegar for the much-needed tang in your salad. If your taste buds compel you to take creamier options, make sure you use healthier home-made alternatives to keep yourself on track for your weight loss goal.

Read more here:
5 unhealthy salad dressings that are sabotaging your weight loss routine - Times of India

A woman has talked about her weight loss journey after shedding 5st in five months.

At her heaviest, Caroline Angus, 45, tipped the scales at 17st 9lbs after carrying her bad eating habits from childhood into adult life.

It took a photo from a family day out to spur her into lose a massive 5st and overcome a lifetime of bad habits in just five months.

Now she revealed how she embarked on her transformation after joining her local LighterLife group in Hertfordshire.

She said: From an early age I remember my weight being a thing. I would hide food in my room and when it came to dinner time I would instinctively eat everything on my plate.

I began to form this unhealthy relationship with food that followed me into adulthood. My eating habits were never balanced, I was either starving hungry or binging.

Even in my 40s I had a secret chocolate stash. I hadnt quite realised the size Id got to until I saw a photo taken during a family day out to Madam Tussauds.

Caroline started her weight loss journey after spotting a LighterLife magazine in her doctors surgery.

She read how you could lose weight in just four weeks, which instantly encouraged her to begin her transformation.

Speaking about joining the LighterLife programme, Caroline said: In my first week I lost an impressive 8lb.

Once your body reaches ketosis you no longer crave carbs and the hunger just disappears. Most of my life all Ive wanted is to feel normal, to be able to shop in high street stores and cross my legs without struggling.

And after just five months on LighterLife, Im delighted to say I finally feel normal! Im so much more confident in myself and definitely stand taller now. I cant quite believe Ive gone from a dress size 24 to a 16.

Breakfast: Three slices of buttered toast with 2-3 cups of tea. Then a bacon or sausage sandwich and a raspberry and white chocolate muffin at work

Lunch: A hot meal, for example roast dinner, pasta dish, shepherds pie, pizza, or large jacket potato with cheese and coleslaw. This would be followed by crisps and chocolate

Dinner: Pie and chips, or pizza, or chicken Kiev and chips, lots of beige food

Snacks: Ice cream, crisps and more chocolate

Breakfast: LighterLife blueberry pancakes

Lunch: LighterLife creamy chicken noodle FastPot

Dinner: LighterLife shepherd's pie

Snacks: LighterLife chocolate mug cake

See the article here:
Woman talks about weight loss journey after shedding 5st in five months - Daily Star

Humans are obsessed with their weight. Were always looking for ways to lose it.

Ironically, its the ones that are slim and healthy-looking who ask me for weight loss tips.

Does dropping one or two kilogrammes really make a difference to your overall health, or is it purely for aesthetic purposes?

The overweight ones are not too bothered. Not until they are diagnosed with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol, that is. Then they spring into action.

These days, even animals are put on a diet because like their owners, they lack exercise and have joined the worlds growing girths club.

They eat our food scraps and enjoy air-conditioned living.

A pet lover friend puts her poodle in a special dog seat and takes him for a ride around town. In the park, his paws are covered with booties to protect and keep them clean.

This pooch is so pampered that when the owner is at work, he listens to recorded music, interspersed with the owners voice (to eliminate the feeling of loneliness).

After dinner, he gets his teeth flossed!

His only daily exercise is to walk from the couch to the bathroom a few times a day to take a pee break. By the way, his pampers are neatly laid out beside the toilet bowl!

No wonder the furry fella is fat, but charming nevertheless.

Last I heard, the vet has ordered him to exercise more so the friend is taking her four-legged companion on nightly walks.

To lose weight, you have to eat, poo and sleep well. Exercise is then added into the equation.

However, the scale isnt always the best way to measure your progress.

A lower number may boost your mood, but changing your body goes beyond this number.

And frequently weighing yourself may be discouraging as your water weight will always fluctuate.

But how can we measure weight loss without standing on the cold scale?

Well, here are some ways to indicate if youve gained or lost weight without using the weighing scale.

Do your clothes fit well?

The easiest way to tell if youve lost weight is by looking at how your clothes fit.

Do they hang loose, are they bursting at the seams or is the zip on your pants unable to close?If your clothes have become looser, then youve definitely shed some weight.

If you are no longer able to button your shirt, then clearly, your belly has expanded.

But if you need a belt to hold your pants in place, thats progress.

However, when your muscle mass increases, your clothes may sometimes still feel snug, but the softer, fleshier parts of your body will feel hardened as muscles replace fat.

Feeling more comfortable in your clothes or going down a size is more important than stepping on the scale, as they are more accurate indications of fat loss.

There are those who prefer wearing baggy outfits to camouflage whats beneath.

Sorry, but this isnt going to help much in your weight loss journey.

Snap a weekly selfie

Im not a fan of selfies, but the majority of people are.

Take a fortnightly or weekly picture of yourself at several different angles to keep track of your progress.

Wear the same outfit and stand in the same place every time.

Dont be discouraged if there are no drastic changes in the photographs. If youre doing everything right, the results will come in time.

After all, weight loss is a gradual process that doesnt happen overnight.

And dont believe people who tell you its possible to lose 5kg in a week. The faster you lose, the faster you will gain it back.

Measure your sleep

When youre expending extra energy working out and feeding yourself with better foods, youre more likely to get a good nights sleep.

Parents often tire their children out during the day so that they sleep better at night.

The same rule applies to everybody, no matter what age you are.

When your sleep goes down, your weight goes up. Sleep deprivation causes changes in hormones that regulate hunger and appetite.

Inadequate sleep increases the hunger hormone called ghrelin and decreases levels of the satiety/fullness hormone called leptin, which can lead to overeating.

The less you sleep, the more you tend to eat, as you stay awake for longer hours.

When you lack sleep, your brain cant make rational decisions, and youre also more likely to be impulsive and give in to junk food desires.

The better you sleep, the less the chances of weight gain.

There are many wearable devices in the market to track your sleep patterns, so try them out.

Get a measuring tape

Measuring your body parts can give you a rough estimate of where youve lost weight and how many inches have come off.Take out your old-fashioned measuring tape and measure the parts of your body you want to see change in.

It doesnt tell you whether youve lost fat or muscle (you need an equipment to measure your body composition for this), but its still a good starting point.

We all lose weight at different rates and some areas show faster results than others.

So, take out your old-fashioned tape and measure the areas you want to see change, such as the waist, arms, thighs, buttocks and chest.

Do this every two weeks and note the difference.

Believe it or not, one student told me she had lost weight on her ankles because all her leggings were now loose around the ankles and it wasnt because she put them in the washer!

Ive heard of people being able to slip into their wedding bands again after they got trimmer, but ankle weight loss is new to me!

Increased energy levels

With weight loss, you can tackle everyday tasks better.

Small efforts like getting in and out of the car, walking up a flight of steps or carrying the groceries up your apartment block become easier. Panting and puffing become things of the past.

All of these activities are deemed important because they deal with real life.

Yes, you enjoy living once more and feel empowered when your energy levels are high.

When you have increased energy levels throughout the day, it means your blood sugar levels are balanced.

Your diet or regular fitness routine could have contributed to this, but the scale will not reflect this.

A sharper mind

Many studies show that exercise boosts memory power.

As you shed weight, mental tasks become easier as you will be able to think clearer your attention span, concentration, planning and coordination all improve.

Naysayers might say that certain herbs can also increase memory power. They might, but they dont bring about other benefits.

Ultimately, get in tune with your body. Listen to it, treat it with care and it will reveal plenty of insights, besides serving you well.

Gauge how youre feeling instead of focusing on numbers on the scale.

You may have started your fitness journey for aesthetic reasons, but as you continue on your path to better health, you may begin to discover a new you.

And that new you wont become a slave to the scale.

Revathi Murugappan is a certified fitness trainer who tries to battle gravity and continues to dance to express herself artistically and nourish her soul. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information contained in this column is for general educational purposes only. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

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How to measure your weight loss without a weighing scale - The Star Online