While more hospitals are meeting minimum volume standards, the majority are still electing to perform high-risk procedures without meeting the volume standards required to do so safely.

Thats the consensus of independent national healthcare watchdog, The Leapfrog Group, which outlined its findings in its report, Safety In Numbers: Hospital Performance on Leapfrog's Surgical Volume Standard Based on Results of the 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey.

"Research is clear that patients undergoing high-risk surgeries have a higher likelihood of experiencing errors, complications and even death at a hospital that performs a lower volume of these procedures," Erica Mobley, vice president of administration of The Leapfrog Group, told HCB News. "Both surgeons and hospitals need adequate, ongoing experience with that specific procedure in order to be able to operate safely. The Leapfrog standard isnt looking to see how many procedures a hospital can do as an indicator of quality; it looks at whether a hospital and surgeon are doing enough procedures to be safe."

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More than 2,100 hospitals representing 70% of U.S. hospital beds participated in the 2019 Survey, which used final hospital data from the 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey, the flagship initiative of The Leapfrog Group. The eight surgeries included in the Survey were identified by Leapfrog's National Inpatient Surgery Expert Panel as procedures for which there is a strong volume-outcome relationship. They include bariatric surgery for weight loss; carotid endarterectomy; esophageal resection for cancer; lung resection for cancer; open aortic procedures; mitral valve repair and replacement; pancreatic resection for cancer; and rectal cancer surgery.

A higher percentage of hospitals met Leapfrogs minimum volume standards in 2019 than in 2018, with 70 percent having implemented protocols to monitor appropriateness for cancer procedures. Compliance for appropriateness of other high-risk operations evaluated in the survey ranged from 32-60%, depending on the procedure. Such efforts potentially protect patients from undergoing unnecessary procedures.

Esophageal resection for cancer and pancreatic resection for cancer ranked the lowest among hospitals that met the volume standard for patient safety, at less than 3% and 8%, respectively. Hospitals were most likely to meet the safety standard for bariatric surgery for weight loss, at 48 percent.

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Majority of hospitals still performing high-risk procedures without meeting volume standards - DOTmed HealthCare Business News

Donate your weight 2020

Its time to donate your weight loss at Inwood Athletic Club. Those participating in Donate Your Weight can weigh out on March 4th or 5th. You must weigh out at the location where you weighed in. So if you weighed in at Nowell Park Rec Center you must weigh out there. Regardless of your results everyone who weighed-in and then weighs out will get a t-shirt.

Last year, the Donate Your Weight event had the highest rate of return weigh-outs EVER. In 2019, 69% of people returned to weigh out, and inn 2018 it was 65%. The total amount lost last year was 1,780 pounds.

Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female participants, based on highest percentage of body weight lost. Winners from the 2019 Donate Your Weight challenge are not eligible for the 2020 prize package. All participants that weigh in and weigh out will receive a t-shirt. Participants must weigh in and out at the same facility.

The more we lose the more money will be donated by sponsors to the Special Recreation of Joliet and Channahon which is a cooperative extension of the Joliet and Channahon Park Districts. Sponsors include, DArcy Buick GMC, and DuPage Medical Group.

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The 6 Week Weight Loss Challenge Ends Thursday At Inwood and Nowell Park - 1340 WJOL

Mama June: From Not Hot star Lauryn a.k.a Pumpkin recently got a lot of heat from followers over her weight loss promos. Now, fed up with critics who say it makes no difference at all, she went on the offensive on Wednesday. Pumpkin shared two comparison pics.

Theres no doubt that Mama Junes daughters share a lot of her physical attributes. From young Alana who constantly battles her weight, to Pumpkin, they strive for healthier bodies. TV Shows Ace noted that Alana (Honey Boo Boo) seems to have really made a go of it lately. She lost some weight, but trolls still hit on the young girl. Its a hard journey losing weight, and it involves watching what you eat, exercise, and some people turn to supplements.

Others, like June Shannon, turn to surgery. The Sun reported that Mama Junes two other daughters, Jessica and Anna went under the knife in LA recently. Meanwhile, Pumpkin seems to stick with using Boom Bod products to help her. And, she promotes them often on Instagram. Fans, unimpressed that it seems to make zero difference at all, slap at her for promoting a product that doesnt seem to work for the Mama June: From Not To Hot star.

Pretty much, all fans need to do is visit any Boom Bod promo on Pumpkins Instagram to find people angry that the product seemingly makes no difference. Yet, she keeps plugging it. On one post, one person wrote, Girl please stop with the false advertising. Another noted, Im sorry but I just cant see that this Boom is doing anything. Then one person wrote, Lol Pumpkin its been a year and you still look same .

In response, the Mama June: From Not To Hot star posted another Boom Bod promo and this time, she went on the offensive. She shared two pics of herself standing in a similar position. In her caption, Pumpkin noted, making a lasting lifestyle change is HARD. Then she said that the product does help her take control over certain parts of it. Then she points out that her journeys still just that a journey.

Elaborating further, Pumpkin told her followers that keeping out of the snack cupboards important. She feels the product really helps her control those cravings. Then she indicated that the two photos show she really is making some progress. Many fans encouraged her, and one person noted, Absolutely, progress is progress. @pumpkin You look wonderful girl!!! Im wanting to start my weight loss journeyso this looks worth checking outthank you and keep up the hard work, its definitely paying off .

But that didnt stop the trolls and some of them simply told her she looked bigger than ever. What do you think of those comparison pics? Do you think Pumpkin shows some weight loss? Do you think shes rather brave putting those pics out there, knowing body-shaming trolls are waiting to hit on her? Sound off your thoughts in the comments below.

Remember to check back with TV Shows Ace often for more news about the cast of WEtvs Mama June: From Not To Hot.

Woryn is a writer who started a small book publishing company. She wrote three books, one of them published by Domhan. Woryn also writes as Jane Flowers for The Destination Seeker and Blasting News.

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'Mama June: From Not To Hot' Star Pumpkin Goes On The Offensive About Her Weight Loss - TV Shows Ace

BUSY mum Rachel Falcus feared her children would be overweight and bullied at school, just like she had been.

She had tried every fad diet going but always regained any weight she lost.

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But after discovering Slimming World she dropped an incredible six dress sizes with the added bonus that her kids learned about healthy eating too.

Rachel, 39, from Newcastle upon Tyne, says: I was really overweight, ordering in takeaways every night, and I just thought, I cant do this once the children grow up.

I worried my children would be overweight at school, like I was, and didnt want them to be picked on because of their size.

She lost 3st 7lb in a year and a half and the proud mum of three, says: The best part for me has been having my children on this journey with me. Theyve loved learning to cook meals from scratch with me.

"Now its a way for me and my family to maintain a healthy lifestyle."

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Rachel had struggled with her weight ever since childhood.

She said: "I was overweight from the age of nine. I didnt play any sports and my mum worked nights so food was always convenience over health.

"We had a lot of takeaways and ready meals, as mum rarely cooked from scratch.

"I dont know what my weight was back then but I was always the biggest in my class at school and, by my teenage years, I was a size 12."

I was always the biggest in my class at school

After college, Rachel began work as a civil servant and started trying fad diets in a desperate attempt to lose weight.

And she continued to balloon after meeting her husband Craig, who she has children James, 15, Liam, 12, and five-year-old Emily with.

"I did at least two a year and, although Id lose around a stone, it never stayed off because the diets were unsustainable, so Id yo-yo up and down," she said.

"After I met Craig, we married when I was 23 and I walked down the aisle in a size 12 dress after two months of crash-dieting.

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"I fell pregnant with James less than a year later, and gained three stone in nine months.

"The minute I became a mum, I knew I wanted more children, so I just put the weight to the back of my mind.

"I had my second child three years later and gained another three stone with that pregnancy, taking me to over 15st and a size 22."

It was only then that something switched in Rachel's attitude towards her weight and she decided to make a change so she could be a good role model for her children.

Rachel was at a parent-toddler group when one mum told her she was a Slimming World member.

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"She said it was amazing, because she could cook the same healthy meals for herself and her family," Rachel said.

"It was what I was looking for, so I went home, researched my local group and signed up."

It was May 2007 when Rachel first walked through the Slimming World doors - which she found daunting at first.

I was eating the same foods I was eating before pizza, burgers, chips and kebabs

However, as soon as Rachel found out she could still eat her favourite foods she instantly fell in love with the weight loss group.

She added: "The minute I heard about the Food Optimising plan and the recipes, I loved it.

"I couldnt believe I was eating the same foods I was eating before pizza, burgers, chips and kebabs and losing weight at the same time.

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"I was in the kitchen cooking up these healthier versions of the foods I loved and the weight just dropped off.

"It felt so good to be cooking for my family, knowing it was healthy, and seeing how they enjoyed the meals."

Rachel lost 3st 7lb in 18 months and says she felt "like a new woman".

"Everyone was amazed at the difference, not just in my looks but my confidence, too," she said.

"When I fell pregnant again, at the age of 33, everything was different third time around.

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"During my pregnancy I ate healthy, home-cooked meals and, instead of feeling sluggish like I had during my first two pregnancies, I had energy.

"I only gained a stone over nine months and lost it straight away after giving birth. I felt so good."

By sticking to the Slimming World Food Optimising plan, Rachel has lost another two stone - taking her down to a dress size ten and 10st 7lb.

It gave Rachel the confidenceto join a gym and she now goes to spin and body-pump classes.

ROLE MODELI lost 8st so I could support son after he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy

WEIGH TO GOI lost 3st after my daughter pointed at my tummy and asked if I was pregnant

WEIGH HEYFormer air hostess says weight loss 'cured' asthma as she reveals transformation

WEIGH TO GORevenge body mum shamed for dealbreaker legs by ex now loves 'thunder thighs'

TOP PRIZEWoman, 26, crowned Miss Great Britain after shedding HALF her body weight

massive no murOlly Murs shows off his incredible weight loss in just ONE month

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WEIGH-HEYI was a size 24 but I've finally got my sex drive back after losing 8st in a year

TAKES THE CAKEWoman loses 10st after dream job at a food company made her balloon to 23st

WEIGHT OFFI lost 10st after piling on weight after the deaths of my parents and brother

She added: "Ive become a Slimming World Consultant and even my mum Lorraine, whos 64, signed up to one of my groups and has lost two stone.

"Clothes shopping is great fun now and the compliments from friends and family give me a buzz."Ive also saved hundreds of pounds by not getting takeaways cooking healthy food at home is much better value. If I can do it, you can too."

Continued here:
Mum-of-three reveals 5st weight loss and still ate same diet of pizzas, burgers & kebabs - The Scottish Sun

By Kris Gunnars, BSc

Apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy. People have used it for centuries in cooking and medicine.

Many people claim it can relieve a wide range of health complaints, but you may wonder what the research says.

Apple cider vinegar has various healthful properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. What's more, evidence suggests it may offer health benefits, such as aiding weight loss, reducing cholesterol, lowering blood sugar levels, and improving the symptoms of diabetes.

However, little research exists, and further studies are needed before it can be recommended as an alternative therapy.

This article looks at the evidence behind 6 possible health benefits of apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is made via a two-step process.

First, the manufacturer exposes crushed apples to yeast, which ferments the sugars and turns them into alcohol. Next, they add bacteria to further ferment the alcohol, turning it into acetic acid the main active compound in vinegar.

Acetic acid gives vinegar its strong sour smell and flavor. Researchers believe this acid is responsible for apple cider vinegar's health benefits. Cider vinegars are 56% acetic acid.

Organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar also contains a substance called "mother," which consists of strands of proteins, enzymes, and friendly bacteria that give the product a murky appearance.

Some people believe that the "mother" is responsible for most of its health benefits, although there are currently no studies to support this.

While apple cider vinegar does not contain many vitamins or minerals, it offers a small amount of potassium. Good quality brands also contain some amino acids and antioxidants.

Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting the sugar from apples. This turns them into acetic acid, which is a main active ingredient in vinegar and may be responsible for its health benefits.

Vinegar can help kill pathogens, including bacteria.

People have traditionally used vinegar for cleaning and disinfecting, treating nail fungus, lice, warts, and ear infections.

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used vinegar to clean wounds more than 2,000 years ago.

Vinegar is also a food preservative, and studies show that it inhibits bacteria like E. coli from growing in and spoiling food.

If you're looking for a natural way to preserve your food, apple cider vinegar could help.

Anecdotal reports also suggest that diluted apple cider vinegar could help with acne when applied to the skin, but there doesn't seem to be any strong research to confirm this.

The main substance in vinegar acetic acid can kill harmful bacteria or prevent them from multiplying. It has a history of use as a disinfectant and natural preservative.

To date, one of the most convincing applications of vinegar is helping treat type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels caused by insulin resistance or the inability to produce insulin.

However, people without diabetes can also benefit from keeping their blood sugar levels in the normal range, as some researchers believe that high blood sugar levels are a major cause of aging and various chronic diseases.

The most effective and healthiest way to regulate blood sugar levels is to avoid refined carbs and sugar, but apple cider vinegar may also have a beneficial effect.

Research suggests that vinegar offers the following benefits for blood sugar and insulin levels:

The National Centers for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says it's very important that people do not replace medical treatment with unproven health products.

If you're currently taking blood-sugar-lowering medications, check with your healthcare provider before increasing your intake of any type of vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar has shown great promise in improving insulin sensitivity and helping lower blood sugar responses after meals.

Perhaps surprisingly, studies show that vinegar could help people lose weight.

Several human studies show that vinegar can increase feelings of fullness. This can lead you to eat fewer calories and lose weight.

For example, according to one study, taking vinegar along with a high carb meal led to increased feelings of fullness, causing participants to eat 200275 fewer calories throughout the rest of the day.

Furthermore, a study in 175 people with obesity showed that daily apple cider vinegar consumption led to reduced belly fat and weight loss:

However, keep in mind that this study went on for 3 months, so the true effects on body weight seem to be rather modest.

That said, simply adding or subtracting single foods or ingredients rarely has a noticeable effect on weight. It's your entire diet or lifestyle that creates long-term weight loss.

Overall, apple cider vinegar may contribute to weight loss by promoting satiety, lowering blood sugar, and reducing insulin levels.

Apple cider vinegar only contains about three calories per tablespoon, which is very low.

Studies suggest that vinegar can increase feelings of fullness and help you eat fewer calories, which may lead to weight loss.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death.

Several biological factors are linked to your risk of heart disease.

Research suggests that vinegar could improve several of these risk factors. However, many of the studies were conducted in animals.

These animal studies suggest that apple cider vinegar can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as several other heart disease risk factors.

Some studies in rats have also shown that vinegar reduces blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and kidney problems.

However, there is no good evidence that vinegar benefits heart health in humans. Researchers need to do more studies before reaching any strong conclusions.

Several animal studies have shown that vinegar can reduce blood triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood pressure. However, there is no strong evidence that it leads to a reduced risk of heart disease in humans.

Apple cider vinegar is a common remedy for skin conditions like dry skin and eczema.

The skin is naturally slightly acidic. Using topical apple cider vinegar could help rebalance the natural pH of the skin, improving the protective skin barrier.

On the other hand, alkaline soaps and cleansers could irritate eczema, making symptoms worse.

Given its antibacterial properties, apple cider vinegar could, in theory, help prevent skin infections linked to eczema and other skin conditions.

Some people use diluted apple cider vinegar in a face wash or toner. The idea is that it can kill bacteria and prevent spots.

However, one study in 22 people with eczema reported that apple cider vinegar soaks did not improve the skin barrier and caused skin irritation.

Talk to your healthcare provider before trying new remedies, especially on damaged skin. Avoid applying undiluted vinegar to the skin, as it can cause burns.

Apple cider vinegar is naturally acidic and has antimicrobial properties. This means it could help improve the skin barrier and prevent infections. However, more studies are needed to know how safe and effective this remedy is.

The best way to incorporate apple cider vinegar into your diet is to use it in cooking. It's a simple addition to foods like salad dressings and homemade mayonnaise.

Some people also like to dilute it in water and drink it as a beverage. Common dosages range from 12 teaspoons (510 mL) to 12 tablespoon (1530 mL) per day mixed in a large glass of water.

It's best to start with small doses and avoid taking large amounts. Too much vinegar can cause harmful side effects, including tooth enamel erosion and potential drug interactions.

Some dieticians recommend using organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegars that contain "mother."

Bragg's seems to be the most popular option, which is available online along with reviews and ratings. However, several other varieties are also available.

Read more about the right dosage of apple cider vinegar here.

A common dosage for apple cider vinegar ranges from 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons (1030 mL) per day, either used in cooking or mixed in a glass of water.

Many websites and natural healthcare proponents claim that apple cider vinegar has exceptional health benefits, including boosting energy and treating disease.

Unfortunately, there's little research to support most claims about its health benefits.

That said, some studies suggest it may offer some benefits, including killing bacteria, lowering blood sugar levels, and promoting weight loss.

Apple cider vinegar appears to be safe, as long as you don't take excessive amounts of it.

It also has various other non-health-related uses, including as a natural hair conditioner, skin care product, and cleaning agent.

Reposted with permission from Healthline. For detailed source information, please view the original article on Healthline.

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6 Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar, Backed by Science - EcoWatch

Airway Heights resident Shawn Impett decided to restrict carbohydrates and sugar in his diet, leading to a 130-pound weight loss.

Impett, 43, once tipped the scale at 335 pounds but dropped to his goal weight of 205 in December 2018 after starting the ketogenic diet in the previous year. Along with keto, he follows an intermittent fasting plan and has kept the weight off for more than a year.

He also attends a Spokane Valley Take Off Pounds Sensibly group, which he joined in 2010 and credits for its members support. His mother had first tried ketos high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating plan, so he began soon after.

When my mom and her friend found the keto diet, I started doing it, he said. I found that I had more energy, and the pounds were dropping off quickly, so I thought, There is something to this.

I started doing it more seriously, and I kept showing better and better results.

Keto is short for ketosis, a metabolic state when the liver begins to use stored fat to produce ketones for energy. It happens if the body loses access to its preferred fuel from carbohydrates. Health professionals often caution people to incorporate foods such as green vegetables and whole grains.

Impett cut out certain foods such as one favorite: chips. He consumes more fatty proteins, including eggs and beef, and has gone to a one-meal-a-day model.

He said his health and energy have improved significantly. With the weight off, Impett doesnt have the symptoms of two prior-diagnosed medical conditions essential tremors and atrial fibrillation.

The symptoms of those have pretty much gone away, he said. Its really beneficial to lose the weight and to get rid of the bad foods.

About eight years ago, the atrial fibrillation had caused heart palpitations and, at times, a racing heartbeat.

Back in February 2012, I woke up with my heart just beating rapidly. I went to the hospital, and my heart beats were at 220 beats per minute. Plus, I could kind of feel light flutters, which were the palpitations.

Thats when I was diagnosed with AFib. For a while, I was on a very light dosage of medication, but it was just to keep my heartbeat regular. Since Ive lost the weight, every once in a while Ill have a little flutter here and there, but its very rare now. Im off the medication.

He no longer takes medication for tremors, which previously caused problems for writing and eating soup, he said. Talking about health is part of Impetts comeback when people tell him they cant cut back on certain foods.

A lot of my friends have asked me what I have done, and when I tell them, You have to get rid of the sugar and the carbs, they say that they cant get rid of those, he said.

Youve got to make a decision on whats more important, the food or your health. I made the decision that my health is more important than the food. Are they themselves more important than the food? Once they have made that decision, it becomes easier to lose weight.

This time, he also did research and learned how to maintain his weight, he said.

I had previously lost weight through Weight Watchers and had gotten down to 160 pounds, but, after a bad marriage, I gained it all back, plus some, Impett added. But when I previously lost weight, I was almost starving myself. I didnt really know why and how to get the weight off.

This time, I knew what I was doing and how to keep it off. Ive already kept it off for over a year. Having more information makes it easier.

Today, hes a co-leader of his TOPS group. Impett received the 2018 TOPS Washington King award, recognized at a state conference last year. Impett uses strategies to keep on track such as what to do at restaurants.

Ive switched more to a kind of carnivore-type keto, but every once in a while Ill have vegetables, he said. Mostly, its when I go to restaurants with my TOPS friends because restaurants dont have plain meat plates.

So at a Mexican restaurant, for example, he said hell ask for fajitas but skip the beans and rice. Ill eat the guacamole that comes with it. Its a good source of fats.

His daily activity happens at work where he is a cook for a Zips restaurant, he said. On the job, he usually averages about 8,000 steps a day.

Im also doing whats called one meal a day, Impett said. Ive found for me that with intermittent fasting and keto together, its very powerful in a good way. It works a lot better than keto by itself or intermittent fasting by itself.

Continued here:
Tipping the scales: Keto diet, fasting and group helped man reach weight-loss goal - The Spokesman-Review

Even blocks away from the Forum, you can feel Oprahs gravitational force. Traffic snarls around the venue as motorists with Orange County license frames honk at hapless traffic guards, desperate to get into the parking lot. Still, the mood is jubilant. Im at the Oprah Winfrey show! a parking lot assistant exclaims into his phone while passing a group of anti-vaxxers holding signs.

No, Oprah is not swooping in to save the Democratic Partyat least not yet. Instead, she is doing elaborate branded content for a company that produces small frozen meals and assigns points to edible goods. Oprahs 2020 Vision Tour is an all-day eventlike schoolmeant to transform the mind, body, and spirit of attendees, and is sponsored by WW (or Weight Watchers).

At the media sign-in, a woman hands me a low-cal cookbook wrapped in a pretty bow before looking down at her phone and twisting her face in horror. Oh my god, she says. Oprah just fell down.

Oprah had been talking about achieving balance when she fell, her flowy white pantsuit rippling in the wind. Thankfully, she regrouped quickly and by the time I enter the auditorium, the 66-year-old billionaire media mogul is already deep into delivering a lesson about achieving the highest version of yourself to a rapt audience of nearly 14,000.

What is holding you back? she asks the crowd, channeling a very 90s strain of self-help that is more concerned with banishing internalized doubts than addressing things like structural inequalities.

Still, its comforting to think that we could all achieve anything we put our minds to, were it not for our own inner critic. And I quickly remember that Oprah is also funny as hell: she talks about being scared of her grandmothers giant breasts (which she pronounces breast-esis) and says thats why she now hugs children from the side. Even when shes describing a recent pneumonia scare, she manages to turn it into a joke about how her doctor was scared to have her as a patient, lest she die on his watch. The folks around me seem to be laughing not out of shock or surprise but deep relief and identification, her honeyed voice distracting us from the Coronavirus alerts bombarding our phones.

As we fill out workbooks meant to gauge our satisfaction with life, Oprah walks through the audience, peeking at our answers. (According to mine, Im an emotional basket case.) Oh Jesus! someone screams when she pops up behind them. This being L.A., it seems like everyone she talks to has something to promote, but our host knows how to handle it: when one man who lost 160 pounds starts shilling his book, Oprah gives him a hug and succeeds in getting him to shut up.

In many ways, though, its a bizarre moment in time to be taking Oprahs advice seriously. The television host-turned-tycoon has long offered spiritual guidance and materialist solutions to middle-class anxieties, but they seem out of step with the plans proposed by nearly all of the Democratic presidential contestants. What good is a wellness intention, which her workbook encourages us to set, when so many people cant afford to see a doctor?

Likewise, when Oprah says Life is going to give you the experience you need for your own evolution, the mantra sounds similar to the idea that its god or the universes plan for bad things to befall certain peoplesay, being evicted or become homelessbecause it will help them grow. These ideas dont necessarily seem to reflect where Oprah is at politicallyin her Golden Globes speech, she linked her mothers struggles to those of abused women workers and called out systemic sexual harassment and gender discrimination in Hollywoodbut they make up the philosophy she is selling to tens of thousands across the country.

Her thinking on weight-loss seems a little more evolved. She treats her own journey as fodder for a standup set: [Longtime partner] Stedman and I went on a cleanse together, she says. Dont do it! You get evil without bread. She then does an impression of Stedman begging her to eat a biscuit. Shes quick to note that some people feel comfortable at any size, and thats OK! When a local teacher is trotted out on stage for losing over a hundred pounds, she tells the audience that we should love ourselves at every stage of our weight loss journey.

Our own travels involve a simple boxed meal from Panera. As we file out of the auditorium for our lunch break, we find a ring of selfie-stations where we can pose alongside Oprahs beaming face or hold vegetables in front of a backdrop of Oprahs farm. (To the surprise of no one, a representative tells me the veggies arent actually plucked from Oprah-owned soil.)

Im in the Oprah cult, says Beatrice Friedman, a retired speech therapist who drove from San Diego to attend the Vision 2020 tour for her birthday. This particular tour is different from anything shes done before, and Im just in that spot where Im ready to dive in for some more wellness.

A group of sorority sisters whod stayed in touch well into their professional lives told me they appreciated Oprahs take on FOMO (she says she has JOMO, or Joy of Missing Out) as well as answering questions like Whats your why? to figure out why they want to accomplish a certain goal.

I wondered about my own life goals as we filed back into the auditorium for a dancing class led by Julianne Hough, a meditation session from Jesse Israel, and an interview with Jennifer Lopez (elsewhere on the tour, O was joined by Dwayne Johnson, Tina Fey, Michelle Obama, and other huge names). Was my highest calling endlessly refreshing Twitter, desperate for the freshest memes? Was I living my lifes purpose by obsessively washing my hands?

Theres a Hallmark card quality to the kind of life advice Oprah is selling, but its potency stems from its deep familiarity. What kind of American isnt nostalgic for an afternoon spent sitting in the living room, enjoying a deeply satisfying parasocial relationship with a rich, empathetic woman who seems to have it all figured out?

Even when Oprah later bragged about the number of trees in her backyard (6,300; she hired a tree counter to tabulate), I didnt think much about how absurd it was that one person could own so much property. Exhausted and desperate for some kind of truce, the rational part of my brain had temporarily short-circuited. All I could think was, Wow, seems nice.

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Oprah Takes Her Brand of Self-Improvement on the Road - LA Magazine

It was a swing game, a significant one. And it swung away from the Vancouver Canucks, as too many games have over the past week.

Aside from a pair of early Arizona Coyotes power-play opportunities in which the Canucks struggled to contain their opponent, Vancouver played superb hockey for almost 50 minutes.

Down early on a strange bouncer that deflected off Carl Soderberg and shot up, the puck spinning and arcing, a zany parabola, before landing on Thatcher Demkos head and into the net, Vancouver found their footing and controlled 35 minutes of the game ably. They built a territorial advantage, generated chances in bunches and tested Darcy Kuemper repeatedly.

Until the Canucks took the lead on a Tanner Pearson goal in the third period, Vancouver looked the better team. And then it rather quickly fell apart.

The club just seemed to stop playing. They managed only six even-strength shot attempts in the entire third period.

Of course, as...

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The Armies: A high-leverage loss, radio wars and the Jake Virtanen thing - The Athletic