Paul Lindley OBE, founder of the hugely successful organic food company, Ellas Kitchen, child welfare campaigner, author and advocate for small businesses and start-ups will be the keynote speaker at the Darwin Festival Evolution of the Workplace lecture.

Mr Lindley has worked extensively to support small businesses and entrepreneurs through the Consumer Forum and Business and You to help build the next generation of world-class British brands.

Joining Mr Lindley at University Centre Shrewsbury on Thursday, 13th of February, at 5pm, will be four local business thought leaders:

Chairing the Event: John OBrien MBE, Shropshires bestselling business author, EMEA Head of the One Hundred marketing agency working with major corporates on strategy and communication needs;

Mark Walton, local-based serial entrepreneur and CEO of the paradigm-shifting, employee-centric, customer support company, Sensee;

Kate Holbrook, founder of Turtle Doves, a Shropshire-based, award-winning ethical recycling business which has received national recognition; and,

Gary Dee, Shropshire-based UK Managing Director of Bostik, the global manufacturer of adhesives.

What are the trends affecting the workplaces of tomorrow? How does humanity and people-centric thinking potentially empower businesses with their employees and customers? How does technology, Gen Z and millennial thinking, localization, ethical and sustainable thinking affect our attitudes to business and offer routes to success?

Join in with a thought- provoking discussion on the evolution of the workplace. The event is free, but booking is strongly suggested. You may book your place through UCSs website at: https://www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk/public-events

Here is the original post:

Ella's Kitchen founder to speak at 'Evolution of the Workplace' lecture - Shropshire Live

OPERATION Transformation star Tanya Carroll was shocked after failing to lose any weight on this weeks show - despite following the diet and exercise plan closely.

The mother-of-four's surprising 0lb weight loss stunned fitness expert Karl Henry, who admitted he was surprised as her Fitbit stats were strong.

2

2

However, the shows resident medic Dr Sumi Dunne insisted that Tanya's failure to shed weight was down to her time of month coinciding with the weigh-in.

Commenting after Tanya missing her 2lb target weight loss, Karl Henry said: "Im surprised, your Fitbit stats are brilliant.

"Youve got the biggest inch loss of any leader - 20.5 inches. Im at a loss for words. Your stats are good."

However, Dr Dunne said: "When we come around our menstrual cycle, part of it is that we hold onto water.

"That makes us feel bloated and heavy. Pants can be tight, bra straps dig in."

Tanya, from Glanmire in Cork, insisted she wouldnt let the results of the weigh in hold her back.

She said: "(If this happened last year) I probably would have been back on the chocolate. Im not disappointed."

Dietitian Aoife Hearne also backed the busy mum and insisted her progress is remarkable.

She said: "Im absolutely not worried. Some big takeaways are that youre up muscle and down body fat.

"The body composition is changing and thats the most important thing - those things are moving in the right direction.

"Over the past four weeks, you have seven per cent weight loss. Thats a big thing."

Last week Tanya got emotional as she got to spend some time with her ill father.

The leader revealed in the circle of truth that her dad has had a number of health problems over the years.

During the truth circle Tanya broke down in tears saying: "My dad has everything. He has diabetes, he has stints, four kidney disease.

Exclusive

Exclusive

Exclusive

"He has heart disease, heart failure, liver disease, you name it he has it."

But this week her father joined her and her family to watch her back on the show.

Her father said on the show: "She means the world to me. She's outstanding. Sure there's six of them there and I'm proud of them all."

Read more:
OT leader Tanya shocked after failing to lose any weight this week despite sticking to diet and exercise p - The Irish Sun

You probably wouldn't recognize actor Ethan Suplee if you saw him out in public these days, even though he's been onscreen, both in TV and movies, for the better part of the quarter century (he's been in everything from Boy Meets World as a kid to Mallrats, American History X, Remember the Titans, My Name Is Earl, Wolf of Wall Street, and most recently Motherless Brooklyn). Suplee has pulled off one of the most dramatic and impressive transformations we've seen from someone living under the public eye, but his workouts weren't to pack on the muscle needed to play a superhero. Suplee was more focused on transforming his relationship with food and fitness. Then the pounds dropped, and muscle followed.

The 43-year-old actor recently documented his progress, sharing that he had shed over 200 pounds and started packing on muscle with a consistent weightlifting routine. Suplee is all-in on this newfound health kick, to the point that he's started his own podcast, American Glutton, that focuses investigates obesity, diet culture, and the ways that he has engaged with his own health over the last 20-plus years.

But this isn't the first time Suplee, who has weighed over 500 pounds before, has slimmed down. So far, though, it feels like it's the first time that all of his hard work will help him to actually maintain a healthy lifestyle. He opened up about his journey in a phone interview with Men's Health, along with sharing his go-to chest push day workout on video.

Suplee says that he was always a "heavy kid," and that's when his relationship to his weight and food developed. His grandparents put him on a diet, so he began sneaking food and preferring to eat alone, a cycle that would become hard to break as an adult. Food became just like every other drug, and I didnt understand how my body used it, he says. But there was still a long road ahead, and many of Suplee's earliest roles showcased his size as much as they did his talents.

ABC Photo ArchivesGetty Images

By 2002, Suplee knew he had to change. "I had this girlfriend at the time, and I just realized at some point that in order to have a lasting relationship with her and be able to lead the life I wanted to lead, I would have to do something about my health." He opened up to her about his goals, and they set out to live a healthier life. Suplee started by putting himself on a liquid diet and estimates that he lost 80 pounds in two months, an extreme drop and lifestyle change that he would never advocate now. He shifted to a diet that only allowed him small portions of lean meat and vegetables, got down to around 400 pounds, then the weight loss slowed down. That wasn't good enough for Suplee.

"You have this immediate massive drop in weight, and you go okay, I want to keep riding that roller coaster to the finish line," he says. "But there's no thought to the long term practicality of weight loss."

Once 2005 rolled around, his wife was pregnant with their first child and Suplee was an exercise fiend, practicing Muay Thai and jiu jitsu. But his weight loss had plateaued, and he was thrown off his routine when he started filming My Name Is Earl. "I wasn't factoring in how I was going to maintain my weight at work when I was working like, 14 hours a day, five days a week," he admits. "Over the course of five years, I gained 100 pounds."

Coming out of the show, Suplee picked up a new hobby, cyclingbut the way he went about it wasn't healthy. He restricted how much he was eating, doing "all kinds of really crazy stupid diets"he once only allowed himself to eat while he was actually on the biketo go along with a grueling cycling regimen, and dropped all the way down to 220 pounds. This was the least weight he'd ever carried, but that in itself was not satisfying. "I was really, really unhappy with how I looked, and I didn't feel comfortable in my skin," he says. "I felt like a light breeze would knock me over. I don't know if I'm just big boned or a big dude, but 220 felt really, really small."

After all the hard work, Suplee was still unhappy with his body. He also had loose skin from all his weight loss, something that negative media outlets used to shame him for his progress. "TMZ stopped me and was like hey, you look great, what're you doing? And I said I ride bikes," Suplee recalls. "Then they had people talk about it and someone said 'well, he's still a fat guy." Suplee had 14 percent body fat at the time. Worse, Suplee says that paparazzi began to take photos of his loose skin for stories about the downside of weight loss, turning his hard-earned progress into a source of shame. "For the news to be kind of negative, I was like, fuck you guys," he says.

Worse still, he crashed his bike, badly. He dropped cycling, then picked up CrossFit, but busted his knee and gained "easy" 150 pounds. He was back to square one.

Then, Suplee was cast in a new show, Hulu's Chance. He began lifting weights for the role of D, a big, tough guyand something clicked. "I found that I really enjoyed lifting weights and I could get my workout in an hour, and so that wasn't like a huge part of my day," he says. "Even if I had a really long work day, I could go before or go after."

More importantly, Suplee decided to dig into the most difficult part of the equation, his nutrition. He started with keto, but everything finally clicked when he came across a TED Talk by Dr. Mike Isratel, "The Scientific Landscape of Healthy Eating". "I probably watched it four times in a row," Suplee says. "I was just like, this is not what I was being told." Suplee had bought into the theory that all carbohydrates are bad in any form, so being told that the macronutrient is actually a necessary source of fuel was eye-opening.

He switched to a low fat diet, gained 8 pounds in three days, but stayed the course after doubling down on the science and checking his lean body fat percentage using a DEXA scan.

Now, Suplee is about 260 pounds, and feels much healthier. He uses progressive overload principles very slightly over a four-week periods, then comes back a little heavier and repeats the process. He's mostly focused on hypertrophy, not lifting a house full of weights. "I don't give a crap about how many plates I have on there, that's irrelevant," he says. "The only thing I'm trying to do at this point is lose fat and hold onto the muscle." Suplee's biggest goal is to get to 10 percent body fat, then see how much muscle he can pack onto his frame. He calls it a "crazy, kind of science-y fun project I'm looking forward to."

The public reception to his recent weight loss is much more positive as well, with no TMZ hit pieces or shame paparazzi photos. Suplee credits that shift in part to being totally in control of the narrative, through his posts on Instagram and his openness on his podcast about his journey.

"The more I feel that I understand, scientifically, the more power I have over it."

No matter what anyone thinks, Suplee is training hard now, and he plans to continue that going forward. That also applies to his acting career. "I made my career as the fat guy," he says. "I dont want to be fat anymore. If the podcast is what I have to do make a career, thats fine."

All of the effort has been worth it to Suplee for the knowledge he's gained. That's what he hopes everyone who marvels at his before and after photos can learn.

"The most important thing I would want anyone to take away is that for me, the biggest change was understanding how food works," he says. "And the more I feel that I understand, scientifically, the more power I have over it."

Suplee is hard at work at achieving his goals, so the Men's Health team met up with him at Grant Roberts' Granite Gym in Beverly Hills, where the man himself, strength coach Grant Roberts, helped to walk us through his chest push day workout split.

Power Plate Pushup

1A. Dumbbell Incline Fly - 3 sets of 10 reps

1B. Dumbbell Incline Press - 3 sets of 8 reps

2. Low Bench Press (Machine Press) - 3 sets of 10 reps

3. Cable Scoop - 3 sets of 10 reps

4A. Dumbbell Pullover - 3 sets of 10 reps

4B. Dumbbell French Press - 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps

5. Double Skullcrusher with Hold - 8 reps, 5 reps, 3 reps, 1 rep

See more here:
Ethan Suplee's Workout To Stay Fit and Maintain Healthy Habits - menshealth.com

Music therapy isn't the same for everyone, so find some joy in the music of your real-life and maybe even push away a moody cancer funk.

Martha lives in Illinois and was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in January 2015. She has a husband and three children, ranging in age from 12 to 18, a dog and a lizard.

I remember when my middle daughter was a baby - she was not an "easy" baby - and I'd drive around sometimes for hours just to try to get her to fall asleep. Once, or more precisely "if", she did, I would either just sit in the car quietly reading or sleeping until she woke or I'd risk bringing her into the house, where I'd put her in the crib, car seat and all.

It was during this time that I got a lot of advice from doctors, family, friends, magazines and pretty much every mother or grandmother whose path I crossed that music would soothe this savage beast. Not just any music, though. Classical music.

I still smile when I think about that advice. Classical music was the one surefire way to enrage this baby.

Music is often put forth as a complementary therapy for people with cancer. In the same way I tested out classical music on my daughter, I've tried to get into the calming "cancer music", like the flutes, the music my qi gong instructor puts on at the start of each class. I'm just not soothed by the tones though. I can appreciate the beauty of this music, and classical recordings don't send me into a fit the way it did that little baby in her car seat. Still, for me, music therapy has to sound a little different.

Starting with the early days of my diagnosis, I've actually made good use of my own music-as-therapy. At chemotherapy appointments, putting on my headphones and hitting play on my phone are the first things I do once those drugs are hooked up to the IV pole. It's not dulcet tones though. What I'm listening to is often whatever that same daughter has been playing in the car. It's loud, it's feminist, it's danceableand it has the power to pull me out of a moody funk.

It reminds me of the days when my daughters enthusiastically practiced their songs for Junior High plays, of the fun I've had at small concerts with them and the long days at huge music events in Chicago, where I am certifiably in the old-lady category.

It's music therapy for my real life.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that what people recommend when you're getting cancer treatment may simultaneously not work for you and work great with slight modifications. For me, music therapy falls into that category.

I'm probably never going to be calmed by listening to an Indian flute recording, but with different music, I can wind up in the same place. Sure, I get there with a bit more volume and a lot more movement (and some out-of-tune singing) but this is definitely a situation where it's the destination that matters and not the how-you-get-there.

Take a moment today to think about the exuberance for life that you respond to in your favorite music and let that be a bit of complementary therapy for your heart and soul. Sing it out loud or play it quietly to find the joy we all deserve.

Go here to read the rest:
Music For The Cancer Life - Curetoday.com

Stephanie Ann Dudley knew something was amiss when she started gaining weight.

Dudley, 44, has been working out steadily since she was 13. And between her gigs coaching a Les Mills Bodypump class at the YMCA and her law enforcement career, shes always stayed active and athletic. Up until those first few pounds came on in 2011, shed never changed uniform size not even after two children.

It didnt make sense, said Dudley, who lives in Pearland. I was gaining a lot in my waist. I always had an hourglass figure. It was really odd.

And it didnt stop at her waist. Her hair began falling out. She felt nauseated at night.

I was getting angry at things; I had a low patience threshold, she recalled.

Dudley asked her doctor to check her thyroid. When the tests came back normal, the doctor suggested regulating hormones through birth control pills. Still, Dudley started to feel more and more fatigued. It was hard to get up in the morning and go to work, she said.

She opted for a holisitic approach and sought the guidance of a natural doctor, who diagnosed her with Hashimotos thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease. Dudley eliminated certain trigger foods and took the right supplements for her body. Soon, she felt better and she stopped gaining weight.

Then she turned to technology. She used IDLife to access her DNA and generate a specific plan for her individual needs, and began logging her caloric intake with an app called MyFitnessPal. She also found a coach on Macros Inc, an online coaching forum that focuses on macro diets, which go a step further than calorie counting, by developing certain thresholds to be met for proteins, carbs and fats.

Dudleys macro coach helped her add more carbs to her diet.

Everyone is scared of carbs, she said. The same is true of fats, but by consulting with her coach, Dudley learned exactly what worked for her.

She shifted from strict cardio exercises to lifting more weights at the gym and focusing on portion control. Now, she weighs her food with a scale she purchased online.

And its helped.

Now I sleep better; my energy is better, Dudley said. My body is working more efficiently.

Dudley now has lost 16 pounds. But she likes to remind people who struggle with weight loss that it wasnt easy. She had to pursue multiple paths to make it happen. She is convinced that each person is different and needs a unique plan of attack for his or her health.

Stephanie does not grasp the powerhouse that she is, said Dudleys friend and colleague Dana Kantara. Any of us that make major changes in our lives, we are inspirations to people who are watching. Maybe thats what they needed to see to make their own change.

Dudley said that patience is key. Its a learning process, she said. People get impatient. They want to lose weight immediately. They have to be patient with themselves and with the process.

That means sometimes the process is slow or theres a diet or exercise failure along the way.

Just because you have one bad day doesnt mean its over, Dudley said. People concentrate too much on what the scale says. You cant compare yourself to others. Thats not healthy.

She recommends people start by committing to one small change at a time.

If you want results, you have to put forth the effort, Dudley added. Then it becomes a habit. And once you see the results, youll be excited. Love your body enough to take care of it.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.

Lindsay Peyton is ReNew Houston's Transformation columnist.

See the original post:
Learning her body helped this Pearland woman lose 15 pounds - Houston Chronicle

A Cleveland Clinic survey finds that although heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, 68% of Americans do not know its the foremost killer of women.

According to the survey, many Americans incorrectly thought breast cancer was the leading cause of death in women, with men especially likely to think this (44% vs. 33%). Among Millennials, 80% could not identify heart disease as the leading cause of death in women. Heart disease accounts for one in every four deaths in the U.S.

The survey also found that many Americans didnt recognize key symptoms of heart attacks in women. Many do not know that chest pain (24%), shortness of breath or sweating (28%), pain in the neck or back of jaw (43%), new or dramatic fatigue (55%) and nausea/ vomiting (60%) are signs of a heart attack in females.

Americans also dont recognize that most heart disease is preventable for both men and women. Even though 90% of heart disease is due to modifiable/controllable risk factors, only 8% of Americans know that.

The survey found theres also a lot of confusion on what steps to take to prevent heart disease and when. The survey found that:

Treatment of heart disease has come a long way in the past few decades, but we still need to work on prevention, said Samir Kapadia, M.D., chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. There are so many simple changes that patients and the public can make that can provide significant improvements to their cardiovascular health.

Samir Kapadia, M.D.

Whether it be regarding diet, exercise or other lifestyle factors, we need to continue to educate people about how to take control of their heart health.

Additional survey findings include:

The survey was conducted as part of Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institutes Love your Heart consumer education campaign in celebration of American Heart Month. Cleveland Clinic has been ranked the No. 1 hospital in the country for cardiology and cardiac surgery for 25 years in a row by US News & World Report.

For more information, go to: clevelandclinic.org/loveyourheart

Methodology Cleveland Clinics survey of the general population gathered insights into Americans perceptions of heart health and prevention. This was an online survey conducted among a national probability sample consisting of 1,000 adults 18 years of age and older, living in the continental United States. The total sample data is nationally representative based on age, gender, ethnicity and educational attainment census data. The online survey was conducted by Dynata and completed between September 23 and September 26, 2018. The margin of error for the total sample at the 95% confidence level is +/- 3.1 percentage points.

We'll personally contact you soon for confirmation.

See the article here:
Cleveland Clinic Survey: Most Americans Dont Know Heart Disease Is Leading Cause of Death in Women - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

By Mara Benner

Its that time of year. As we cheer in the new year, and in this case, a new decade, each person usually considers the obligatory resolution, intention or commitment to some sort of personal change.

One of the most popular resolutions always focuses on our health. It might be to stop smoking, go on a diet, exercise more, incorporate daily meditation or all of the above. This year, however, you might wish to consider a more holistic approach to your health and wellness.

Research by Dr. Margaret Swarbrick has been adopted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and encourages us to consider our wellbeing through eight dimensions of wellness.

Take a moment to consider each dimension and what, if any, improvements you might wish to incorporate with the new year.

Physical wellness

Physical wellness involves the maintenance of a healthy body, good physical health habits, good nutrition and exercise and obtaining appropriate health care. Areas to consider here include: physical exercise, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, having annual medical checkups, having adequate sleep each night and incorporating stress management techniques.

Intellectual wellness

Having a healthy mind involves lifelong learning, application of knowledge learned and sharing knowledge. Among the considerations in this dimension are learning new things, keeping up with current affairs, using your creativity, trying to see more than one side of an issue and asking questions to learn from others.

Environmental wellness

Environmental wellness involves being and feeling physically safe, in safe and clean surroundings, and being able to access clean air, food and water. This includes both our micro-environment, where we live and work, and our macro-environment, our country and our world. Important considerations in this dimension include: ensuring you have a clean living and working environment with natural light and fresh air and conserving energy and time to enjoy nature.

Spiritual wellness

Spiritually health involves having meaning and purpose and a sense of balance and peace. This dimension encourages us to name our personal values, describe our beliefs about life, make conscious choices to support our personal values, learn about others beliefs and values and have an optimistic view on life as well as gratitude.

Social wellness

A healthy social life involves having relationships with friends, family and the community, and having an interest in and concern for the needs of others. For social wellness, the reflecting points include: having a network of family and friends, contributing time and/or money to social and community projects, balancing personal needs with the needs of others and having an interest in other people.

Emotional wellness

Emotional wellness involves the ability to express feelings, enjoy life, adjust to emotional challenges and cope with stress and traumatic life experiences. This dimension encourages us to consider if we accept responsibility for our actions, see challenges and change as opportunities for growth, recognize and express feelings and appropriately cope with stress and tension.

Financial wellness

Health in our finances involves having the resources to meet practical needs and a sense of control and knowledge about personal finances. For financial wellness, considerations include: having a good handle on financial status, having money on hand to meet current expenses, having savings and being on track to meet life goals. Its important to understand how to balance the wants and needs and saving and spending.

Occupational wellness

Occupational wellness involves participating in activities that provide meaning and purpose, including employment. For this final dimension, your considerations include: actively pursuing work and/or training, using online resources to update skills and learn, continuing to build your professional network, being happy with how time is spent, doing things with people rather than being isolated and using time in a way that gives meaning and purpose to life.

Living life to its fullest requires us to see everything from a larger perspective and incorporating the whole of who we are. Remember that any modifications made to our life requires approximately three months to fully incorporate, ultimately changing the previous habit or pattern. Be kind to yourself and focus on living your fullest life, rather than focusing on your perceived flaws.

Mara Benner is the founder of Four Directions Wellness, intuitively connecting body, mind, emotions and spirit. The organization is affiliated with the GW Center for Integrative Medicine and offers individual sessions, classes and consulting. Learn more at http://www.fourdirectionswellness.com.

Link:
Life Well Lived: Seeking positive alignment with wellness in 2020 - Alexandria Times

When I was a young veterinarian, many moons ago, I had a patient named Heidi. A quintessential Island Lab. Short, stocky, sensible. An all-around great dog. When I first diagnosed her with diabetes mellitus, her elderly owner was overwhelmed. I cant give shots every day, he protested. Cant we control it with diet? Unfortunately, diabetic dogs really need insulin injections. I convinced Heidis dad to try, and he soon discovered it wasnt difficult. Pet owners often have these questions and reservations. This month Im working with both a newly diagnosed diabetic cat and a dog. Right now, both need insulin. Canine Lassie will need insulin the rest of her life. Feline Jennyanydots might ultimately go into remission, meaning we might eventually be able to control the disease with dietary management alone. Why are cats different from dogs? Well, first lets review diabetes basics.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder caused by an absolute or relative insulin deficiency. When animals eat, the body digests food, breaking it down into simple sugars (glucose) that are absorbed into the blood. As blood sugar rises, an organ called the pancreas responds by secreting insulin. Insulin is a hormone that works like a courier, transporting sugar molecules from the blood into the cells, where it can be utilized to fuel the body. Without sufficient insulin, sugar cannot get inside the cells where it needs to go. The animal eats and eats, but loses weight. High blood sugar makes her feel thirsty. She drinks and drinks, and pees and pees.

So why isnt Heidis pancreas making enough insulin? There are three types of diabetes mellitus. In Type III, some other illness, such as Cushings disease, interferes with insulin activity. Relatively uncommon, Type III may resolve with treatment of the underlying disease. Type II diabetes afflicts many of us chubby, sedentary baby boomer humans. It is also the most common form in cats. Often triggered by obesity, as well as genetics, the body becomes resistant to insulin, requiring increasing work from the pancreas, until it just cant keep up with the demand. In people, Type II diabetes can often be controlled with diet, exercise, and oral medication. In cats, it is best to start with insulin injections along with diet changes. If aggressive treatment, including insulin, is begun soon after diagnosis, up to 60 percent of cats will eventually be able to stop insulin and maintain with just diet. But without fast, aggressive intervention, remission rates drop to 30 percent.

Dogs are different. Dogs are almost always Type I insulin-dependent. Thought to be an autoimmune disease compounded by genetic and environmental factors, the immune system gets confused and attacks the pancreas, destroying the cells that produce insulin. Treatment invariably requires daily insulin injections. In people, Type I used to be called juvenile diabetes, because typical age of onset ranged from infancy to early 30s. In dogs, Type I diabetes usually occurs in middle-aged to senior animals. Breeds predisposed include German shepherds, beagles, schnauzers, cairn terriers, Samoyeds, and poodles. Juvenile onset is rare, but more common in golden retrievers and keeshonden. Females are more often affected than males (although the reverse is true in cats). I talked to both Lassies and Jennyanydots owners. Youre going to take over the job of her pancreas by giving insulin injections, I said. A normal pancreas responds to blood sugar fluctuations, constantly adjusting insulin output. We make do with just two injections daily, starting with low doses, then monitoring to adjust. Both pets need a predictable diet fed on a specific schedule. Because cats are usually Type II, choice of food is very important. Cats fed only canned food with less than 7 percent carbohydrates have much higher remission rates. For dogs, diet is less of a factor, though low-carb, high-fiber food will keep blood sugar more level throughout the day.

Ideally, each pet will come into the hospital periodically for a glucose curve, during which we check blood sugar every few hours throughout the day to assess when the insulin effect peaks, and whether to increase or decrease the dose. At home, clients can monitor in various ways. One easy way is testing urine glucose with a dipstick. Normal urine does not contain glucose, but when blood sugar is elevated, glucose spills into the urine. By testing urine sugar levels, we can get a rough idea of how well blood sugar is being controlled. Too little insulin is a problem in the long term, but too much insulin can be rapidly fatal, causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which manifests as weakness, staggering, vomiting, incoordination, seizures, coma, and sometimes death. Nowadays, owners sometimes learn how to test blood sugar at home with a Glucometer. Pricking the ear or footpad to yield a drop of blood, owners can measure pets blood glucose at home. Although not approved for use in animals, some veterinarians are trying continuous glucose monitoring devices marketed for people. These devices are implanted on pets backs, allowing owners to take blood glucose readings without having to obtain blood samples. If blood sugar drops too low, the pet needs to be fed immediately, or even given a dose of concentrated sugar, such as Karo syrup.

Jennayanydots and Lassie have started on insulin. We will rely on a combination of in-hospital and at-home monitoring while getting them regulated. It is always a steep learning curve for both owners and pets, but in general I find both humans and animals soon get the hang of managing their diabetes. Heidis owner did brilliantly for a year, but when the old Lab developed cataracts and went blind, a common sequela to diabetes, it was just too much for him. We discussed euthanasia, but I had gotten so attached to the old girl, I took her home myself. It gave me useful, firsthand experience dealing with the day-to-day challenges of owning a blind, diabetic pet. More important, it gave me a wonderful year of companionship with a truly special dog. Thanks, Heidi. I hope Jennyanydots and Lassie do as well.

More:
Visiting Vet: Diabetes and your pets - Martha's Vineyard Times

Maybe you have been preparing to rocks abs on the beach this summer, or maybe you're just looking for the magic formula for weight loss. Unfortunately though, there is no miracle pill (at the moment) that will help us achieve our ultimate body goals. So we can only resort to diet and exercise for now. Sure, it takes time, but it is also the most effective formula without a doubt. However, if you'r wondering what is really better for weight loss: diet or exercise, then we have the answer.

Both are recommended not only to lose weight but also to have a healthier lifestyle. But according to scientific studies conducted over the years, one of these two techniques is more effective than the other.

Eating fewer calories is much better than exercising. Because although it is always recommended to do both at the same time, it is shown that physical activity does not make us spend as much energy as we would think compared to the energy expenditure of the body when it receives fewer calories.

And turns out, our body adapts faster and better to the lack of food than to exercise for losing weight. At first you would notice changes with physical activity, but in the long run although we use more energy our body does not respond as expected.

Eating less is more effective for weight loss, but of course, only if done correctly. There is a formula to determine how many minimum calories we need to be able to follow our lifestyle without problems and burn fat. However, this is not something that can be done in the long run. Diets such as intermittent fasting are recommended for this reason, because we eat less (or for a certain period) only for a couple of days a week.

In the end, the ideal method is a mix of both: exercise and diet. The former is good for your health and it will help you lose weight, but without diet it will cost you a lot to reach your goal.

via revistagq.com

NOW READ

7 easy fitness hacks thatll make you healthier by tomorrow morning

Intermittent Fasting or Keto Diet: Whats better for weight loss?

How to lose weight like this guy who lost 58 kgs by following this diverse yet sustainable routine

More on Fitness

More here:
Weight loss tips: What is more effective, exercise or diet? Here's the answer - GQ India

Losing over 100 pounds in a year may sound almost impossible, but it's Jeffrey Hadley's reality.

Jeffrey Hadley lost over 100 pounds and took charge of his health.

Credit: Jeffrey Hadley/LIVESTRONG.com Creative

The 50-year-old landscaper from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, topped 270 pounds four years ago, when a health scare that landed him in the hospital for almost a week served as a wake-up call. He was discharged with a diagnosis of adult-onset asthma, COPD, high blood pressure and a determination to change.

Today, at 160 pounds, his health issues have vanished, and he's never looked or felt better. Here's his amazing story, in his own words.

Most of my life, I'd never had a weight problem. I worked as a landscaper, an active job that easily burned 10,000 calories a day. As a result, I could pretty much eat anything I wanted.

But in 2013, I got promoted to general manager at my company, a desk job that didn't involve much activity. I kept on eating the same way, though, and within a couple years I'd gained 100 pounds. The more weight I gained, the more sedentary I became, and over the months I noticed I was becoming winded doing relatively easy activities like walking across the room.

"A little lightbulb went off in my head and I realized that my health problems were most likely due to my being so overweight."

Then, in 2015, I ended up in the hospital for six days because I was having so much trouble breathing. My oxygen levels were hovering around 80 (normal is between 95 and 100). I ended up on oxygen 24/7 with constant nebulizer treatments and three inhalers. The doctors diagnosed me with adult-onset asthma, COPD and hypertension.

On my fifth day there, one of the physicians who came in to see me began asking me a lot of questions about my diet and exercise habits. Before he walked out, he turned to me and said, 'You know, if you just lose some weight, all of this would stop.'

A little lightbulb went off in my head and I realized that my health problems were most likely due to my being so overweight.

I was released the next day. The first thing I did when I got back home was to research the term 'clean eating.' I learned that all the processed foods like pizza and calzones that were the staples of my diet were loaded with calories, added sugars and chemicals that had caused all my weight gain.

In the beginning, I just ate a ton of fruit and veggies, some meat and eggs and lots and lots of chicken. I cut out starches like bread and processed food as much as possible.

Breakfast was usually eggs, oatmeal and fruit, while lunch and dinner were usually some type of lean protein paired with fruit and veggies. I only let myself snack on fruits and veggies.

I'm single and don't have much time or space to cook, but even when I ate out I focused on healthier choices: Instead of my usual cheesesteak, for example, I'd have plain chicken.

The weight came off fairly quickly, and I think it's because I had been overeating so much. I'd order a family-style Stromboli entre at work, for example, and end up eating it all myself. I was consuming a ton of food without even realizing it.

Did you know that keeping a food diary is one of the most effective ways to manage your weight? Download the MyPlate app to easily track calories, stay focused and achieve your goals!

It was tough at first, because although I wasn't really physically hungry, I was so used to snacking all day that it felt like a real void. I bought a motorcycle and went on a ride every day as my "reward" for clean eating.

While he was losing weight, Jeffrey rewarded himself for eating well by taking his new motorcycle for a spin.

Credit: Jeffrey Hadley

When I first got home from the hospital, I was in bad shape. I was 270 pounds with a 48-inch stomach and I was barely able to climb three steps without getting out of breath. Just walking to the bathroom required a rescue inhaler. I knew if I wanted to lose weight, though, I had to become physically active.

I asked a friend who owned a kickboxing gym what I could do that would get me moving while being easy on my body. She told me to just walk. So that's exactly what I did.

At the beginning, I couldn't walk two steps without having to use my inhaler. It would take me an hour to walk a quarter mile. But I refused to quit, and as the weight came off, it became easier and easier.

Within a couple months, I was walking 2 to 3 miles a day, until I eventually worked up to 10 miles a day. Now, I regularly run 5Ks.

The medical problems that landed me in the hospital asthma and hypertension have vanished. It turns out all my excess stomach fat had been crushing my lungs and my heart.

"At the beginning, I couldn't walk two steps without having to use my inhaler. Now, I regularly run 5Ks."

Consistency was key for me. I never did cheat days, or cheat meals, or even cheat snacks. I made sure I was 100-percent dedicated to what I was doing. It wasn't easy I'm normally a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of guy.

I decided to keep everything very basic, with five main food staples: veggies, fruit, chicken, rice and eggs. I swear, I ate scrambled eggs with chicken every morning for a year, but I needed to keep it simple.

As time went on, I tried different diet programs, like keto and intermittent fasting, but I found them very restrictive and hard to stick to long term. I felt I was more successful if I followed what I dubbed JERF, or Just Eat Real Food!

The first piece of advice I'd offer to others who are looking to lose weight is to simply cut out processed food. If it comes in a bag or a box, it's probably not good for you. I found I was more satisfied and naturally ate less if I just focused on fresh, real food.

Secondly, focus less on the scale and more on how your clothes fit and how you feel.

After I'd lost about 70 pounds, I decided it was time to start going to the gym. That was tough, because I'd never lifted weights before. I was scared to death. Again, I decided to keep it simple: the first time I went, I used three machines, and that was it.

But as I gained confidence and began using more machines (and lifting heavier weights) I realized that while my stomach was getting smaller and my shirts were fitting better, my scale wasn't moving as much anymore. I was losing fat, but replacing it with muscle.

I gauge my progress now by how my clothes fit. At my heaviest, I wore a triple-extra-large shirt. Now, I easily can slip into a medium.

The rest is here:
'I Lost 100 Pounds in a Year by Walking and Cutting Processed Foods' - LIVESTRONG.COM